The Liberian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament has outlined series of achievements the country continues to make under the leadership of Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The Liberian legislators, in its 2017 Liberia’s Country Report to the ECOWAS Parliament, highlighted progress made in the country since it presented its last Country Report about seven months ago during the regional body’s Second Ordinary Session in 2016.

A release from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja says Montserrado County Representative Edwin Melvin Snowe, Jr. read the report on behalf of the Liberian Delegation on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 during the ongoing First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

Liberia’s other members to the ECOWAS Parliament include Senators George Manneh Weah and Prince Yormie Johnson of Montserrado and Nimba Counties respectively. The others are Representatives Jefferson Karmoh of Sinoe County, who is also the Parliament’s Third Deputy Speaker, and Haja Fatta Siryon of Bomi County.

According to the release, the report, among others, discussed progress relative to the political and security situation, status of the implementation of the Community Texts, ratification of ECOWAS’ Community Protocols and Conventions, implementation of the community programs and the refugee situation in the region.

The report also touched on the pending electoral process in Liberia, the status of implementation of the ECOWAS Macro-Economic Program as it relates to the level of achievement of convergence criteria, the status of implementation of the ECOWAS Infrastructural and Transportation Policies and Programs and sensitization activities carried out by parliamentarians.

On the political situation in the country, the report says Liberia continues to enjoy a peaceful democracy ahead of the October general elections: “There have not been any major political conflicts in terms of violence or crisis.”

The report then outlined progress already made by the National Elections Commission (NEC), including the Commission’s recently released time-table for the electoral progress.

On the Code of Conduct, the report added, “On March 3, 2017, after two years on the dockets of the Supreme Court of Liberia, the [Supreme Court] bench on March 3, 2017, in a 3-2 vote ruled that the Code was constitutional and does not in any way violate any provision of the Constitution”.

On security, the Liberian delegation observes that the country continues to support African solidarity in the area of security as the recipe to regional peace, democracy and good governance.

“Currently, Liberia is contributing troops to ECOWAS’ initiative towards the defense of democracy, peace and security in Mali. Unfortunately, Sergeant Ansu Sheriff of the Liberian Contingent lost his life when their base was attacked wounding other members of his Unit. Liberia also played pivotal role in the peaceful resolution of the Gambian political stalemate that ended peacefully without bloodshed.”

The report said that as head of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, Liberia is currently leading a peaceful settlement to the ongoing political situation in Guinea Bissau”.

On the regional front, the report noted Liberia’s considerable progress in achieving key deliverables under President Sirleaf as Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

“Liberia has demonstrated remarkable leadership in addressing some of the critical political, social and economic crises confronting the region. It has supported peace initiatives and political governance in the region. Similarly, it has become a key player in driving the region’s health reform process as well as advancing critical agenda to address and enhance its financial and economic viability.”

The Senegalese and Guinean delegations also presented their respective Country Reports during Tuesday’s session of the Fourth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament.

The ongoing First Ordinary Session, which opened on the 10^th of this month, closes on the 25^th of the same month.

Comprising of 115 members from all of the 15 countries of ECOWAS, the Parliament sits in session three times a year with two ordinary sessions in May and September. There may however be an extraordinary session at any time in the course of the year to discuss any urgent and specific agenda.