President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared Saturday, December 20, 2014, the date set aside for the holding of the 2014 Special Senatorial Elections, as a National Holidayto be observed throughout Liberia.

A Foreign Ministry release quotes the Proclamation as calling on all citizens and foreign residents within Liberia’s territorial borders to observe the holiday as such.

The Proclamation says all government offices, business houses and market places are to be closed from Six O’clock Ante Meridian to Six O’clock Post Meridian during the observance.

The Presidential Proclamation further stated that the government of Liberia is fully cognizant of the importance of the democratic process which provides the opportunity for the people of Liberia to exercise their political franchise by electing their political leaders.

It can be recalled that the National Legislature in a Joint Resolution 002/2014 authorized the National Elections Commission (NEC) to select a new date for the holding of the Special Senatorial Elections which should not be later than December 20,^, 2014.  

The release recalled that after holding broad consultations with relevant stakeholders in keeping with the Joint Resolution of the Legislature and on the basis of said consultation, NEC accordingly set aside the 20^th day of December 2014 as the  new date for the holding of the Special Senatorial Elections across the country.