MONROVIA-The National Elections Commission (NEC) has categorically denied reports of receiving US$40,000 from the Management of the National Port Authority to conduct recount in River Cess County.
Speaking in a news conference Friday, February 26, 2021, NEC Chairperson Davidattea Browne Lasanah informed the Liberian people that it has never been approached by authorities of the NPA or anyone on such issue.
Besides, Commissioner Browne Lasanah asserted that NEC does not receive funds for electoral activities from private entities or individual citizens as funding for elections is the sole responsibility of the Government of Liberia, which sometimes requests donor partners to assist the Commission.
It can be recalled that Senator Milton Teajah alleged that the National Elections Commission (NEC) has held discussions with authorities of the National Port Authority (NPA) in which the NPA offered to give the NEC US$40,000 to underwrite the cost of recounting ballots in Rivercess County as mandated in the recent ruling of the Honorable Supreme Court.
Following the decisions of the Board of Commissioners to recount the ballots in 104 polling places across Rivercess County, the NEC, being cognizant of the Government’s responsibility to finance elections, developed a proposed budget for the exercise in the tone of Fifty-eight Thousand Fourteen United States Dollars (US$58,014) and submitted it to authorities at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to source funding in the event the Supreme Court upheld the Board’s ruling.
This preemptive action of the NEC was necessary given that fact Government’s sourcing of funds to the NEC requires sufficient time for the NEC to receive the fund in time for the implementation of any electoral activity.
Madam Lasanah said as usual, the NEC is expected to receive the funds for Rivercess recount from the Government.
The Commission assured the public of its continued commitment to administering all electoral activities in credible, transparent, and accountable manner, guided fully by the constitution and electoral laws.
The NEC Chairperson noted that the NEC will do nothing, whatsoever, to circumvent these laws.
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