Liberian Council of Churches Plays Key Role in Presidential Elections

The Liberian Council of Churches has been commended for its involvement in ensuring successful presidential elections in Liberia earlier in the month, reports Church World Service.

|TOP|“The Liberian Council of Churches did so much good work to recruit and train election monitors,” observed Susan Sanders, a United Church of Christ member, U.S. citizen, and Church World Service board member who served as an observer in the October 11 presidential election in Liberia.

A team of international ecumenical observers was welcomed to the country by the LCC, including members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (USA), the United Church of Christ (USA), the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa and the World Council of Churches.

The heads of Liberia’s own churches and Christian organisations in Liberia also acted as observers and monitors for the elections, dubbed as “by far the best” by one German ecumenical observer, according to Sanders.

“Many young people participated in the election as observers, poll workers, and voters. There was a real desire and commitment to get this election right – and I think Liberia did itself proud,” said Ms. Sanders.

The Church World Service also supported the Liberian Council of Churches through its Education and Advocacy Programme, helping with voter education, as well as to build civil society and raise awareness of human rights.

The LCC dedicated itself to mobilising voter registration and voting among its members, contributing to the estimated 1.3 million who registered to vote and the estimated turnout for the election of over 70 per cent.

“I don’t know about the statistics, but from my view many more women came than men,” said Kollie Mulrah, presiding officer at a polling station in an impoverished section of Monrovia. “They are very zealous about this election,” she stated, adding that women in particular are invested in the outcome of the election.

The Liberian Council of Churches issued a public statement after the election in which it commended the good behaviour of voters.

“The Council is pleased to note the orderliness and peacefulness of the voting process, especially the resilience, tolerance and patience exhibited by voters, particularly the youth, pregnant women, mothers with babies, and the elderly.

“The turnout and peaceful demonstration of Liberians on Elections Day gives a clear and undoubting indication of Liberians’ commitment to usher in democratisation and recovery,” read the statement.