The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has launched a nationwide stakeholder sensitization campaign in Rivercess County ahead of Liberia’s Second-Generation Governance Review, seeking to strengthen citizen participation, promote accountability and encourage evidence-based assessment of the country’s governance system.
The engagement, held in Cestos City, brought together local authorities, young people and other stakeholders to educate citizens about the continental governance initiative and their role in Liberia’s upcoming assessment.
Speaking during the engagement, Attorney Wilfred K. Selmah Jr., Executive Director of the APRM National Secretariat at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), said the campaign is intended to ensure that citizens understand the review process and actively participate in assessing the country’s governance performance.
Selmah explained that the African Peer Review Mechanism is a voluntary African Union framework established to encourage member states to examine their governance systems, identify institutional weaknesses and develop strategies to address existing challenges.
He recalled that Liberia joined the continental initiative in 2011 during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
According to Selmah, Liberia is now preparing for its Second-Generation Governance Review, which will involve nationwide consultations and evidence-based assessments across six thematic areas: democracy and political governance, corporate governance, economic governance and management, socioeconomic development, state resilience to shocks and disasters, and e-governance.
He emphasized that public participation will be critical to the credibility of the exercise, noting that citizens’ experiences, concerns and contributions will help shape the findings and recommendations of the national assessment.
Selmah further disclosed that the review will identify governance achievements, shortcomings and existing challenges, which will subsequently inform the development of a National Programme of Action.
He cautioned against politicizing the exercise, stressing that the assessment would be guided by evidence rather than political sentiments, assumptions or propaganda.
He also noted that experts from other African countries would participate in the review, alongside a validation process intended to strengthen the credibility and reliability of the findings.
Meanwhile, Rivercess County Administrator Dennis Seeboe welcomed the APRM delegation and commended the institution for extending its governance sensitization efforts to the county.
However, Seeboe urged the APRM to ensure that the engagement goes beyond public awareness by maintaining consistent communication with local stakeholders throughout the review process.
He also recommended the appointment of a county-level coordinator to provide regular updates and strengthen communication between the national secretariat and communities in Rivercess.
For her part, Lydia Harris, speaking on behalf of the youth, welcomed the initiative and praised the APRM for involving young people in discussions surrounding governance and national development.
Harris encouraged the institution to sustain its engagement with young people and other local stakeholders as Liberia advances toward the second-generation assessment.
The Rivercess engagement forms part of broader nationwide efforts by the APRM National Secretariat and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to promote public understanding of the governance review, encourage inclusive participation and strengthen accountability across Liberia.
