USAID/OTI Liberia Success Story
April 2007
Meet the Candidates: Liberian Politicians Engage in a Public Debate
USAID/OTI's BRDG-Liberia program was initiated in September 2006 to support the political transition prompted by the free and fair election of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa.
The Building Recovery and Reform through Democratic Governance (BRDG) program assists the Government of Liberia and other key actors to further the following political objectives:
- Improving capacity in such areas as planning, budgeting, communication, and coordination with relevant counterparts
- Mounting effective responses to high-visibility issues
- Strengthening the Mano River Union by supporting cooperative regional activities
The USAID Mission in Liberia, USAID's Africa Bureau, and the Office of Democracy and Governance are key players in the coordination of the BRDG program.
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| Candidates for the vacant Speaker of the House position answer questions from the public during the 2-hour program. |
Providing citizens with access to candidates running for public office is an important aspect of democracy. This access yields information on voting records, personal and professional alliances, employment history, and experiences that define the candidate's character. In Liberia, while such information is often discussed in private, it has rarely been part of the public discourse with political candidates.
The election for a new Speaker of the House, following Edwin Snowe's resignation, provided an excellent opportunity for Liberians to interact with members of the legislature. Emerging from a protracted period of civil crisis that has undermined the social and political
fabric of their society, Liberians are now looking for responsible leaders who can make decisions and provide solutions that will contribute to the development of the country and its people.
In response to this heightened sense of accountability, BRDG-Liberia partnered with Renaissance Communications to produce a 2-hour interactive program featuring the three candidates running for Speaker. Simulcast on radio and television, the program aired on April 4, one day after the representatives tendered their nominations. The first hour of the program focused on issues of major concern to the Liberian people. During this hour, the host also asked the candidates about their credentials and leadership abilities. The second hour of the program was dedicated to interaction between the candidates and the public. The station received more than 75 phone calls and text messages, and more than 300,000 people tuned in for the program. Not only did the program demonstrate that the people of Liberia are eager to engage in the democratic process, the candidates realized that they need support from the public as well as their fellow legislators to become Speaker. The initiative provided Liberians with access to elected officials and a chance to address the candidate who ultimately received the majority vote in the House of Representatives.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington: John Gattorn, Program Manager, 202-712-4168, jgattorn@usaid.gov
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