In acceptance of a 15-count Petition presented to it by a group of Liberians under the umbrella of Ordinary People of Liberia, the Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND), has committed to championing their demand for public reform.
STAND through its Executive Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu received and pledged u unflinching commitment to the petition representing voices from all sectors of Liberian society including physically challenged individuals, students, market women, teachers, health workers, and others united by a common plea for transformative leadership and an end to longstanding national challenges.
STAND was cognoscente of the petition, backed by citizens deeply affected by decades of conflict and neglect, which was presented during the inauguration of STAND’s national headquarters and the launch of the organization’s Advocacy Manifesto.
The petitioners called on STAND to adopt these counts as a “People’s Advocacy Mandate” and urged the organization to be the voice of the voiceless. “We trust STAND to take the lead in a movement that elevates Liberia’s people and future,” the petition reads.
The citizens’ petition focuses on critical areas that they believe will foster an economically vibrant, politically accountable, and culturally resilient Liberia.
To address rampant corruption, citizens urged STAND to support and advocate for laws categorizing corruption as a serious, non-billable crime if the amount involved exceeds a specified threshold. The intent is to prevent those accused of significant corruption from fleeing justice or tampering with investigations. Proponents argue that such legislation would uphold the rule of law, prevent public resources from being misused, and build public trust in governance.
Acknowledging healthcare as a basic human right, the petitioners seek free healthcare services for all expectant mothers and children up to age 18. The petition calls for STAND to advocate for this fundamental reform, with the eventual goal of extending benefits to civil servants and their families.
As education is deemed essential for Liberia’s progress, petitioners implored STAND to advocate for free, compulsory education through 12th grade in all public schools. They also seek caps on private school tuition to make quality education accessible to every child, regardless of background.
A significant portion of the petition calls for urgent action to uplift Liberian women and girls and reduce the socio-economic factors leading to exploitation and vulnerability. STAND is urged to push for education, skill-building, and job opportunities as alternatives that honor and empower women.
The petition stresses the need for accountability by reducing the tenures of elected officials, including reducing terms for Representatives from six years to four and Senators from nine years to six. This measure aims to prevent complacency and corruption and create a responsive government that is continually accountable to the people.
As the “backbone of governance,” civil servants are often underpaid despite the essential roles they play. Petitioners call on STAND to champion higher wages and dignified working conditions, emphasizing the need for better support for those who sustain public institutions.
The Ordinary People of Liberia wants STAND to voice out the need for securitization and renegotiation of resource-based concession agreements, which have historically disadvantaged local communities. The Petitioners call for transparency, equitable revenue-sharing, and the reinvestment of proceeds from natural resources into local development to lift citizens out of poverty.
According to them, profit-sharing agreements should prioritize development in regions where resources are extracted, the petitioners argue. They ask for legislative amendments that would funnel corporate profits into local infrastructure, healthcare, and educational projects instead of recurring expenses for government officials.
Considering the prevalence of child labor in street trading as a troubling reality that, according to the petitioners, robs children of their education and future, calls on STAND to advocate for stricter laws and initiatives aimed at eradicating child labor and providing safe learning environments.
Other priorities included calls for protections against gender-based violence, low-interest student loans, structured vacation job opportunities, and increased agricultural investments to bolster food security.
The Ordinary People of Liberia made an urgent appeal for STAND to address drug trafficking and cross-border substance issues, which harm communities and endanger youth.
In presenting these counts, the petitioners seek more than policy adjustments; they call for reimagining Liberia’s social and economic fabric.
They entrust STAND with making Liberia a “just, prosperous, and equitable” nation for all. “This 15-count petition is a blueprint for real change,” a representative from the petitioners said. We are asking for a Liberia where ordinary people’s voices shape our future.”
For STAND, the petition represents a unique mandate from the grassroots, and its response will reveal whether the organization will indeed emerge as the people’s advocate.
The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) commitment could see a fleet of advocacies from civil society organizations to the Liberian government and international partners.
