-Gives the Media right to broadcast polling rooms on election day…
IPNEWS: The National Elections Commission of Liberia has announced that Liberia now has 46 registered Political Parties.
An additional 10 new Political Parties were recently accredited by the NEC raising the number from 36 to 46.
NEC Communication Director, Henry Boyd Flomo, made the disclosure Friday, 2 June during a Panel Discussion with students of the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism-PQSJ held at the US Embassy, near Monrovia.
The Panel Discussion focused on “Build-up to the October Elections: the Right to Vote”.
Mr. Flomo clarified that the increased in the number of Political Parties is in line with Liberia’s multi-party system.
On the question of holding free, fair and transparent elections, the NEC Communication Director assured that the media is allowed to broadcast all NEC polling rooms on the day of elections.
He also announced that poll watchers representing political parties and candidates are allowed to sign onto all tallied sheets and would be displayed at polling centers throughout Liberia.
Mr. Flomo explained that these are international best practices through which elections can be conducted free, fair and transparent.
The NEC PR Manager also committed to working with Internews, the USAID sponsored media development institution, to help train emerging journalists like PQSJ students on election reporting mechanisms.
At the close of the US Embassy Panel Discussion, Mr. Flomo presented copies of the Election Law and combined Regulations to MediaAid Foundation for use by its students.
MediaAid Foundation Founder/Executive Director, Titus W. Tokpah, Sr. described the extra session as an ‘eye-opener’ for the students on deepening election matters.
Mr. Tokpah assured that going forward the school will remain engaged with the NEC Communication Department as the country goes to elections this October.
The Panel Discussion was attended by nearly 40 media students selected from the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism-PQSJ, as part of the school’s quarterly joint learning session.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy American Center has reassured that its facility remains opened to the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism-PQSJ and other local organizations for the holding of educational programs, among others.
