Liberia Country Report
2017 1st Ordinary Session
ECOWAS Parliament
10th May – 25th May, 2017
Abuja, Nigeria
I. Introduction
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II. Status of Implementation of the Community Texts
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a.) Ratification of the Community Protocols and Conventions ................................................. 3
b.) Implementation of the Community Programs and Community ............................................
Levy ............................................................................................................................................ 3
III. Political Situation:
4
IV. Security and Refugee Situation in the Region
6
V. Status of Implementation of the ECOWAS Macro-Economic
Progr
ams: Level of Achievement of Convergence Criteria
7
VIII. Conclusion
9
1
Mr. Speaker,
Deputy Speakers
Distinguished Colleagues
Ladies and Gentlemen
I. Introduction
It is with a deep sense of honor and great delight that I report on behalf of
the Liberian delegation to this August body, Liberia’s developmental
achievements since our last meeting here.
We do so with a renewed determination to working with other critical
stakeholders both at home and within the Sub-region in accelerating the
transformation of ECOWAS from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of
Peoples.
This report represents Liberia’s Country Report to the ECOWAS’ Parliament.
It discusses, amongst other things:

The political and security situation in Liberia;

Status of the implementation of the community texts;

Ratification of the community protocols
implementation of the community programs;

Refugee situation in the region;

Status of implementation of the ECOWAS macro-economic
program as it relates to level of achievement of convergence
criteria;

Status of implementation of the ECOWAS infrastructural and
transportation policies and programs;

Sensitization activities carried out by parliamentarians;
and
conventions,
2
II. Status of Implementation of the Community Texts
a.) Ratification of the Community Protocols and Conventions
Currently, Liberia has ratified all outstanding protocol conventions
and has begun implementation of said instruments. For example,
through the Ministry of Transport, the government has mandated all
vehicles to sign up for the ECOWAS Brown Card for the 2017 FY for a
nominal fee. Similarly, Liberia has begun working towards the
operationalization
Scheme
of
the
ECOWAS
Trade
Liberalization
(ETLS) and the Common External Tariff (CET) as it has
begun
exploring
capacity-building
transition to the Value
Added Tax (VAT) System
opportunities
for
b.) Implementation of the Community Programs and Community
Levy
As it stands, Liberia is in compliance with the ECOWAS’s Trade Levy as far
as its contribution of payment is related. In the same vein, Liberia has
begun working on the establishment of the National Platform as part of
the Community Program initiatives. Through the ECOWAS National Office
has developed a concept proposal for onward submission to the Liberian
Legislature for the enactment of an Act for the establishment of the
National Platform. The establishment of this act is a part of the
requirements for the formation of such body as agreed upon and
mandated by the Authority of Heads of State on the ECOWAS’ Migration
Policy & Development.
Additionally, In April of this year Liberia hosted a Joint Economic
Community
of
West
African
States
(ECOWAS)
Parliament
Delocalized Meeting of the Joint Committee on Health and Social
Services, Trade, Commerce and Free Movement. The Delocalized
Meeting was held to discuss issues of “Health & Social Services, Trade,
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Customs, and Free Movement of citizens of its Member States under the
theme: “ECOWAS Policy on Combating Counterfeit Medical Products and
Expired Drugs: Role of Parliament in the Implementation and Monitoring of
the Policy”.
The Meeting was formally opened by the President, Madam Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf. On the third day of the Meeting, the President of the
Republic of Togo graced the meeting at which time he and Her
Excellency made separate remarks.
III. Political Situation:
Liberia continues to enjoy a peaceful democracy as we lead towards the
pending 2017 general elections. There have not been any major political
conflicts in terms of violence or crisis. Additionally, the National Elections
Commission (NEC) has just completed a nationwide voter registration
process without any incidences reported. It has also officially recorded a
total of 21 political parties that are registered to take part in the ensuing
legislative and presidential elections, while identifying 2,080 precincts or
voter registration centers across the country to facilitate and aid the
voting process.
The Release of 2017 General Elections Timetable:
In addition to the above referenced political developments in Liberia, the
National Election Commission has begun the implementation of timeline
for the below listed electoral activities leading up to the 2017 general and
legislative election:


Civil Society and Community-Based Organizations accreditation
(Completed)
Publication of Voter Roll Regulation (Completed)
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Regional Consultation on
Registration (Completed)
Civil
Voter
Education
for
Voter
Accreditation of Political Agents, Media and Observers for
Registration (Completed)
List of Registration Centers Published (Completed)
Official Launch of CVE for Voter Registration (Completed)
Voter Registration Period (Completed)
CVE for Exhibition (May 18th - June 17th)
Issuing Writ of Elections (Completed)
Accreditation of Party Agents, Media and Observers (August 5th October 5th)
Objections and Appeals on Exhibition held & determined (July 2nd
- August 9th)
Exhibition of Provisional Registration Roll (June 12th - June 17th)
Release of Final Voter Registration Figures (July 15th)
Objections & Appeals on Nomination held & Determined
(June12th - June 28th)
Candidate Nomination (June 19th - July 11th)
Launch of CVE for 2017 Elections (May 18th - June 17th)
Preliminary List of Candidates Published (July 14th)
Presidential & Representative Campaign Period (July 31st October 8th)
Final List of Candidates Published (July 31st)
Candidates’ Debate Period (August 15th - September 30th)
Election Day (October 10th)
Announcement of Final Results of Election (October 25th)
The Code of Conduct:
The Code of Conduct stood the test of the law when Selena MappyPolson of Bong County filed a Petition for Declaratory Judgment before
the Supreme Court of Liberia in 2015, claiming that Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of
the Code of Conduct Act of 2014 were discriminatory and infringed on
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her rights granted under the Constitution to freely partake in any
elections.
Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of the Code of Conduct seek to exclude from
candidacy, high officials {Presidential appointees or those with legislative
terms to serve in positions of trust} of the Executive Branch of Government
who did not resign from their positions Two (2) and Three (3) years
respectively before the elections. On March 3, 2017, after two years on
the dockets of the Supreme Court of Liberia, the Bench on March 3, 2017,
in a 3-2 vote ruled that the Code was constitutional and does not in any
way violate any provision of the Constitution
IV. Security and Refugee Situation in the Region
Liberia continues to support African Solidarity in the area of security as the
recipe to Regional Peace, Democracy and Good Governance. Currently,
Liberia is contributing troops to ECOWAS’ initiative towards the defense of
democracy, peace and security in Mali. Unfortunately, Sergeant Ansu
Sheriff of the Liberian Contingent lost his life when their base was attacked
wounding other members of his Unit. Liberia also played pivotal role in the
peaceful resolution of the Gambian political stalemate that ended
peacefully without bloodshed. As Head of the Authority of Heads of State
and Government of ECOWAS, Liberia is currently leading a peaceful
settlement to the ongoing political situation in Guinea Bissau.
On the other hand, besides disputes over farmland ownership along the
Liberian-Cote d’Ivoire border involving migrants mainly from Burkina Faso
and Cote d’Ivoire as well as movement of ECOWAS’ Citizens associated
with cross-border trade, goods and services, there has been no incidence
reported when it comes to major migration of refugees along our
respective borders.
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V. Status of Implementation of the ECOWAS Macro-Economic
Programs: Level of Achievement of Convergence Criteria
On the implementation of the ECOWAS’ Macroeconomic Program in
relation to the level of the achievement on the Convergence Criteria,
Liberia attained four of the targeted criteria in 2016. However, the
country’s performance on the macroeconomic convergence scale
changed in 2016, compared to 2015. Notwithstanding, the country
satisfied all four of the four primary criteria including budget deficit,
annual average inflation, gross external reserves and central bank
financing criteria. Unfortunately, on the Secondary Convergence Scale,
the country’s performance declined to one criterion in 2016, from two (2)
criteria in 2015. Thus, the country met public debt-to-GDP criterion, but
missed the exchange rate criteria.
The table below shows Liberia’s performance on Convergence Criteria:
Country
2014 2015 2016 position
Target
201
1
201
2
201
3
-7.5
0.5
-0.2
-1.6
-2.2
Achieved
7.8
9.9
7.9
8.8
Achieved
5.3
2.5
2.7
3.2
Achieved
Primary criteria
I.
Fiscal
Deficit/GDP(
%)incl grants
≤3%
0.5
II.
Annual
average
inflation
≤10%
8.5
III.
Gross
External
Reserves
≥3
months 3.3
6.8
2.8
7
IV. Central Bank
0.0
0.0
4
3
32.4
*Nominal
Exchange ± 10%
Rate Stability
Number of
Secondary
criteria attained
Financing
≤ 10%
Achieved
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
4
3
3
4
34.4
30.0
37.7
31.9
37.2
Achieved
0.7
1.8
12.1
0.0
6.8
15.8
Missed
2
2
1
2
2
1
5
Number of Primary
Criteria attained
Secondary criteria
Public Debt/GDP
≤ 70%
Sources: Liberian Authorities and WAMA/WAMI Staff
VI. Status of Implementation of the ECOWAS Infrastructural &
Transport Policies and Programs:
In March of 2017, Liberia hosted a high level panel meeting on
Infrastructural & Transportation policies and programs that brought
together Ministers from West Africa. The Dakar-Lagos as well as the LiberiaGuinea Road Corridors were highlighted on the agenda.
The renovation works at the Roberts International Airport are ongoing and
making significant progress. The renovation works include the expansion
and rehabilitation of the runway and construction of a new terminal.
Additionally, during the period under review, the Monrovia-Guinea
highway was completed and works are currently ongoing on the Liberia
Cote D' Ivoire highway whilst an agreement has been signed for the
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commencement of works on the Liberia Sierra Leone Highway which
would complete the connectivity with Liberia and all of its neighbors.
VII. Sensitization Activities Carried Out By Parlimentarians:
In the wake of growing concerns expressed over the constraints to free
movement of peoples, goods and services along the various ECOWAS’
borders as highlighted at the 50th Summit of the Authority of Heads of
State
of
ECOWAS
and
Governments,
the
Executive
Branch
of
Government and the Liberian Legislature initiated series of awareness and
sensitization campaigns on cross-border trade, security and integration as
recommended by the Authority in a mandate to the ECOWAS’
Commission.
In this vein, Liberia hosted awareness and sensitization campaigns in the
border towns of Bo-Waterside, Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia-Sierra
Leone Border and Ganta City in Nimba County, Liberia-Guinea Border
respectively, explaining the true intent of the various legal texts and
protocols. Also, feasibility studies have been completed to hold similar
sensitization and awareness in the Southeastern Part of Liberia in towns
along the borders in Maryland and Grand Gedeh Counties, Liberia-Cote
D' Ivoire Border respectively.
VIII. Conclusion
Liberia continues to make considerable progress on the regional front
achieving key deliverables under H.E. Madame Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as
Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of
ECOWAS. Liberia has demonstrated remarkable leadership in addressing
some of the critical political, social and economic crises confronting the
region. It has supported peace initiatives and political governance in the
region. Similarly, it has become a key player in driving the region’s health
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reform process as well as advancing critical agenda to address and
enhance its financial and economic viability.
Mr. Speaker, dear colleagues distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in the
spirit of unity, regional cooperation and integration, allow us to use this
opportunity of this occasion to renew the commitment of our delegation
in particular, and Liberia in general, to advance the attainment of our
community vision 2020 (ECOWAS of State to ECOWAS OF PEOPLES).
May God bless the work of our hands and save our Community!
Thank You! Merci! Obrigado!
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