Liberia: ECOWAS Envoy Warns of Self-Centered Politics
Josephine Nkrumah “You must serve as a platform [through which] Liberian citizens can express their aspirations, interests, and grievances which drives the process of development and the nation’s destiny.”
“The refining of our democratic processes that oil the wheels of Liberia's development cannot be achieved without the active involvement of vibrant objective citizen-centered (and not leader centered) political parties of any country and Liberia cannot be any different,” Nkrumah said yesterday at a meeting with leaders of political parties in the country.
The new Ecowas envoy to Liberia has warned political parties to do away with politics that are self-centered and divisive and instead promote the dividends of democracy, which is healthy for keeping the country's peace.
The envoy, Josephine Nkrumah, noted that while political parties, whether in ruling or opposition, must fiercely protect and defend the rights and freedoms of citizens through the systems of justice and governance but should do so with a concentration on peace for development.
“The refining of our democratic processes that oil the wheels of Liberia's development cannot be achieved without the active involvement of vibrant objective citizen-centered (and not leader centered) political parties of any country and Liberia cannot be any different,” Nkrumah said yesterday at a meeting with leaders of political parties in the country. “You must serve as platforms through which Liberian citizens can express their aspirations, interests, and grievances which drive the process of development and the nation's destiny.”
“Perhaps for Liberia, it is even more important as we fiercely guard our evolving concretization of peace for development coming on the backdrop of a past we must not forget but MUST not relive.”
Citing the Abuja 1991 ECOWAS Treaty, Nkrumah said it is time that political parties in Liberia harmonize their national policies for the promotion and integration of programs in food production, agriculture, national resources, the industry as well as transportation, communication energy, and trade.
She said that such a move shows the difference between true politicians and politicians — and when issues draw discourse, it makes it people-centered and not personality centered.
“All of these touch on lives and matter to every Liberian. These are the issues that should drive our discourse, our agenda, and the raison d’etre as political parties in our roles as political actors, development agents, and accountability partners. That is why the people reposed confidence in political parties and its leaders-to serve them, to be citizen-centered and not personality centered, to have unifying principles and not divisive tactics.”
The ECOWAS Commission’s new representative in Liberia emphasized that those political parties as institutions of democracy must cultivate, nurture and bring into fruition the dividends of this democracy for its citizens.
Nkrumah added that political parties in Liberia must fiercely protect and defend the rights and freedoms of citizens through the systems of justice and governance.
“The abuse of any citizen’s rights should not be countenanced and appropriate channels and, or institutions of redress must be used to pursue justice,” Nkrumah added. “As we inch into 2023 general elections, there are the issues that must be on our front burners, drive our agenda for Liberia, what matters to the ordinary Liberian, what is reflected in our manifestos and utterances.”
“What do we propose for the equitable distribution of our natural resources for common and shared prosperity while exercising our rights and freedoms but equally important that enables us to fiercely pursue the fulfillment of our civic responsibilities.”
Nkrumah then added that while there may be deficiencies in the way political parties represent the views of ordinary citizens, of how responsive they are to their aspirations, they must however double their efforts, commitment, and passion to serve.
The ECOWAS envoy added that, as the country inches towards 2023 elections, the discussion should be issues-based — driven “by what matters to ordinary Liberians, what is reflected in manifestos and utterances.”
“What do we propose for the equitable distribution of our natural resources for common and shared prosperity while exercising our rights and freedoms but equally important that enables us to fiercely pursue the fulfillment of our civil responsibilities?”
“You must serve as a platform [through which] Liberian citizens can express their aspirations, interests, and grievances which drives the process of development and the nation’s destiny," Nkrumah said.