– LMA Calls For Peaceful Elections
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson
With a cardinal interest in the peaceful conduct of the October 20, 2023, general elections, the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) has called on all political parties and aspirants to respect the rule of law and remain peaceful conduct throughout the elections.
The LMA made the call through its president, Elizabeth Finda Sambolah, during her appearance at the official launch of the biometric voter registration process on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at the headquarters of the national elections commission.
“A peaceful election lies in the hands of you, the political parties, so we want you to have respect for one another, knowing that the most important thing to protect is the peace of Liberia”.
Madam Samholah urged politicians to engage in the conduct of the elections in October of this year in a more peaceful manner that will give the country a facelift among the community of nations.
“The peace of this process is in the hands of you, the politicians, so you people should not incite violence against one another; if you maintain peace, other countries will take Liberia as a peaceful country.”
Madam Sambolah noted at the same time, she lauded the National Elections Commission for including the Marketing Association in processes leading to the general and presidential elections and further stated that it shows the openness of the commission to have more local women aware of and educated about the biometric voter registration process.
Madam Sambolah also called on all members of the Liberia Marketing Association to see the biometric voter registration exercise as an important process that all must engage in in order to shift the future of their children and the country in general.
“To all my fellow market women, if you want a better future for you and your children, please go and register when the registration process starts; don’t say it’s a people thing because the decision that will come from the elections will affect everyone tomorrow, and the government will be everyone’s government.” She pleaded.
Moreover, she admonished the national elections commission to continue to create the enabling environment that will provide the opportunity for every political party and individual Liberian to freely participate in the democratic process.
The President of the Liberia Marketing Association further asserted that the NEC is the referee in a political game, and as such, the referee determines how the game is played. She concluded by appreciating the international community for the level of support given during these times of preparation for general elections.
At the same time, she urged the international community to be more supportive of the national elections commission to ensure the smooth conduct of the 2023 general elections.