PHOTO: Amb. Michael McCarthy at the EDA launch
The United States government over the weekend launched a new US$16 million five years project on Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA) in Liberia.
Launching the project at a local hotel in Monrovia on Friday, October 15, 2021, US Ambassador Micheal A. McCarthy said, the quality of any Democracy Depends on the active participation of all members of society.
This, he said, includes youth, women and marginalized populations, transparent institutions, effective accountability mechanism, a free press, an independent judiciary and outlets for civil society to actively engage elected officials on issues that matter to their families and their communities.
Amb. McCarthy revealed that the new program is a US$16 millon investment in Liberia from the American people paid for with US taxpayers’ dollars and demonstrates the continuing spirit of partnership between our two countries.
He said the program reflects the core American belief that stronger democracies around the world are not only good for their citizens of those countries, but for the United States as well he added.
The US Ambassador said that as critical as they are to a stable democracy, free and fair elections alone do not make a democracy.
Mr. McCarthy noted that Liberia’s recent history teaches us all too well that tolerance is vital to the functioning of any true democracy.
Liberia’s democracy, like all democracies, is strong and resilient only when Liberians are willing to tolerate views and beliefs with which they disagree only when they recognize that the ties of blood, history and culture that bind Liberians are greater than the differences that divide them adding that Liberia belongs to all its people no matter their tribe, religion or county of origin.
According to the American envoy, a strong democracy provides its people more than just right to vote in elections.
He explained that evidence shows that democracy leads to greater economic growth than the alternative and that the quality of democracy can improve the inclusiveness of that growth and deliver better outcomes and better public services to all the people of a country, including the poor.
Amb. McCarthy expressed enthusiasm about the elections and democracy program that was launched yesterday October 15, 2021. Not only will the project work closely with the National Elections Commission and support election observation and voter education, it will also work to increase political participation and leadership among women, youth and others whose voices are too often left unheard, the American envoy narrated.
USAID and democracy international will also be working with the Ministry of Education to reintroduce civic education curriculum into primary schools US ambassador added.
The introduction of Civic education in primary school is important because nurturing Liberia’s leaders of tomorrow depends on their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of citizens and elected officials.
In remark, the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission Davidetta Browne Lansanah lauded USAID and other partners for their initiative and pledged her commitment in working with them for the good of the country.
Also making remarks at the ceremony marking the launch of the EDA via Zoom was Liberia’s Education Minister, Prof. D. Ansu Sonii who said that curriculum has been developed to teach Civic education in every school from grade one to grade 12.
Minister Sonii said that students are taking ownership of their own education and pledged his Ministry corporation and collaboration to the program.
MOE Minister further indicated that learning learning must not be limited to only classroom, because “we are living in a technology and global world”.
Naomi Harris president of the National Union for the Organization of the Disabled also made remarks at the ceremony.
Madam Harris said there must be a democracy where the visually impaired can exercise their electoral rights, express their views.
And she added that Liberia should have a democracy where people with disabilities will be privileged to use parking lot in public places and the opportunity should be given to them to access public facilities and to information. Report by Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com