Cllr. Gongloe, others to address governance dialogue

The dialogue seeks to sensitize Liberians on policy advocacy and citizens’ role in demanding justice and accountability in the public sector.

By Lincoln G. Peters 

Monrovia, August 23, 2024: Renowned human rights lawyer Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe and Dr. Jeremiah Z. Whapoe will, on Friday, August 23, 2024, address a governance dialogue outside Monrovia in the slum of Logan Town. 

The Lincoln Peace Foundation (LIPF) organizes the dialogue through its Policy Advocacy Network.

The dialogue aims to awaken Liberians’ consciousness regarding policy advocacy and citizens’ role in demanding justice and accountability in the public sector.

During the symposium, Cllr. Gongloe, a 2023 presidential candidate, Dr. Whapoe, who also tested the 2023 presidential election, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo, will serve as the keynote speakers.

The interactive dialogue will be held at Wisdom Ministries International in Logan Town, Zondo Town Community, under the theme “Enriching the Mind for a Better Society.”

The program will feature topics including “The responsibility of government and society in providing basic services and the Impact of climate change and government intervention.”

The group was founded on July 15, 2016, to provide training, mentorship, and humanitarian service to Liberians to strengthen stability, peace, and security.

The Policy Advocacy Network is a foundation component that seeks to analyze public policies, promote democratic governance, and ensure women’s political participation representation and adherence to the rule of law.

LIPF said the dialogue will focus on the government’s responsibility and the society’s role in holding the government accountable.

“This dialogue is intended to strengthen the capacity of Liberians on policy advocacy, accountability, as well as constitutionalism,” the group said.

With this training, LIPF said Liberians will be able to invoke the law to hold the government’s feet to the fire and deliver on its promises.

LIPF said Liberians have not been able to demand from their government because most people don’t understand or know the government’s responsibility when it comes to providing basic services for ordinary Liberians.

“You don’t need to wait for elections before exercising your rights. You don’t need to wait for elections before you take the government to task by threatening them with your vote,” the group said.

“At the early stage, once you see that the government is not providing the necessary results, it’s your right to use the law to demand from the government.”