By Nyantee G. Togba
nyanteetogba@gmail.com
Monrovia-The National Elections Commission says the government of Liberia has again made available over One Million United States Dollars to the initial 5 hundred thousand it earlier submitted for the senatorial by-elections in Montserrado and Bong Counties.
“This brings the total amount provided by the Government of Liberia to US$1,509,938,” Cllr. Korkoya disclosed.
NEC Chairman Jerome Kokoya at a news conference in Monrovia Wednesday also revealed that the commission received over 5 hundred thousand from international partners while the United States Agency for International Development through IFES also committed 11,450 United States dollars.
Earlier, the Commission had told the Liberian government that it needed at least US$3.9M in order to conduct success by-elections in both counties.
Korkoya also informed journalists at the press conference Wednesday, May 23, that with the amount on hand, the Commission is consummating agreements for international procurement for the printing of ballots and provision of pre-parked kits for the by-elections.
“With the financial issue significantly resolved, the next issue of concern is the new date for the holding of the by-elections. As you are aware, the NEC is without authority to set a new date. The Commission is therefore holding consultations with relevant authorities of the Government to remedy the date issue.”
Like the issue with setting a date, NEC is also faced with the challenged of cutting back on some activities that lead to hold successful elections. According to Chairman Korkoya, the Commission will not print the “Know Your Candidate Ballot,” as it is normally done during election.
He said, unlike other elections where NEC will move into communities to replace people missing voters cards, they are going to designate one magisterial area in each of the two counties, where people will go to replace missing voters cards at the appropriate time.
“We will not be printing the ‘know your candidate’ ballot. The ‘Know Your Candidate’ ballot is a sample ballot papers given the candidates to educate voters about their positions on the ballot. The candidates will have to do it themselves. We will cut down on gender mobilizers; we cut down compensation for poll workers and we also cut down on voters education information to bring the budget to US$2.7M,” Korkoya said.
Despite the availability of the fund now, he stated that they are not sure what date the by-elections will now be scheduled on as the issue of date is the sole responsibility of the Legislature.
Meanwhile the NEC Chairman has disclosed that the commission is holding consultation with the national legislature for the setting up of new date for the by-election.
Up to present, NEC disclosed that it has concluded nomination of candidates for the two by-elections with 11 of the 12 aspirants processed have been notified of acceptance of their nomination applications but only one with an issue.
A complaint, according to the Elections Commission, has been brought against Representative Marvin Cole, the aspirant on the ticket of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in the Bong County by-election.
Cllr. Korkoya didn’t provide details on what the complaint is about but said the complaint is being heard by NEC Independent Hearing Officer.
