The professional conduct of general and presidential elections on October 10 and the runoff election between the incumbent President George Manneh Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC ), and the lead opposition political party, the Unity Party (UP) of Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai on November 14, 2023 by the National Elections Commission (NEC) has been lauded by several local and international organizations including the Government of the United States led by its President, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr., for the level of commitment and professionalism exhibited during these elections.
The negative perceptions of those individuals who felt that the current composition at NEC would have performed poorly during these elections have now been put shame by the level of professional, commitment and nationalistic services exhibited during these elections at the surprise of the very critics who earlier opted for the failure of this crack team led by madam Brown-Lansanah.
Liberians who witnessed the conduct of these elections can’t wait to express overwhelmingly their gratitude to the team at NEC for their restless days and sleepless nights spent just Liberians to have a free, fair and transparent elections which has now become a reality with international organizations including ECOWAS, AU, EU, the United States pouring praises, not forgetting local rights groups are all in high gear to laud the entire team at NEC for its high-level professionalism.
Many Liberians, especially those who witnessed previous elections felt the incumbent would have done to influence the current team at NEC under the watchful eyes of Madam Brown-Lansanah, but instead this went to the contrary with one of the rivals, the incumbent in the presidential runoff election conceding, the first in Liberia’s elections history.
Already African and world leaders have started commending the move by the Liberian leader to concede in these elections, calling on other leaders around the world to emanate the good example of the Liberian leader, H.E. George Manneh Weah.
Let’s look at the professional team at the National Elections Commission
NEC Chairperson Davidetta Browme -Lasanah
Mrs. Davidetta Browne Lansanah is the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC). She was appointed on 10th April, 2020 by the President of Liberia, H.E. Dr. George Manneh Weah who had earlier nominated and appointed her as Co-chair on 3rd April 2020 following her confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
Mrs. Lansanah hails from Maryland County. She holds double Baccalaureate Degrees in Public Administration and Political Science respectively, from the University of Liberia, and a Masters of Public Administration Degree in Public Sector Management from the Cuttington University Graduate School.
She is a veteran Broadcast Journalist who worked many years in the field at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), Star Radio, and the Talking Drum Studio (Search for Common Ground). The Acting Chairperson of NEC also worked for a decade as a National Professional within the UN System as Communications Officer with UNOMIL and UNDHA/UNHACO, and as Associate Gender Officer, in the Office of the Gender Adviser (OGA) with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
She loves working, singing, dancing and caregiving to her two daughters and a host of external relatives.
National Patriotic Party (NPP), People’s Unification Party (PUP), Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), Redemption Democratic Congress (RDC), Democratic Justice Party DJP)
Counties
Montserrado and Margibi Counties
Program
Procurement Section (Head of Procueement Committee), Operations Department, Administration Department, and Finance Section.
Objectives
My objective is to work toward strengthening the NEC’s Core Values of Independence, Integrity, Professionalism and Consistency which translate into NEC’s Vision of a credible
NEC Co-Chairperson, Cllr. P. Teplah Reeves
Cllr. P. Teplah Reeves is the current Co-Chairperson of the Commission since August 2020 following the fulfillment of all legal requirements, including the Senate confirmation and commissioning ceremony by the President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. George Manneh Weah. The experienced legal luminary hails from Rivercess County in eastern Liberia.
Cllr. Reeves possesses10 years of professional working experience in Law and Advocacy, working with Clients, Women Groups, Youths, Rural Women, and the Indigents. She has excellent analytical research and communication skills; legal research and writing, and ability to coordinate multiple tasks to achieve results. She has training in commercial mediation and conflict resolution, training in continued legal education, and an advocate for the rights of women, children, and the indigents.
The veteran lawyer also has experience in International development, working with International Donor funded projects in the areas of capacity building, program evaluation, program budgeting, and gender mainstreaming.
In 1993, the Co-Chairperson obtained a L.L.M degree in Comparative Law with emphasis in Joint Venture from the George Town University Law Center, Washington, D.C. the USA. Before then, in 1989, she graduated from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, University of Liberia with a L.LB degree in Law after earning a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration also from the University of Liberia in 1978. Between 1981 and1982, the Co-Chair also obtained an Associate Degree in International Relations and Development from the Institute of Social Studies, in The Hague, Netherlands.
Prior to her appointment as Co-Chair, Cllr. Reeves, during the 2017 Presidential and Representatives elections, served as Legal Consultant for the Commission. She was assigned to the Hearing Section on Dispute and Resolution. She is credited for adjudicating several high profiled cases.
From 2018 to her appointment in 2020, she served as the Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission of Liberia (PPCC).
Cllr. Reeves is also a former Vice President and President of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), 2009-2013.
Oversight Responsibilities
Political Parties: People’s Unification Party (PUP), Rainbow Alliance (VCP, VOLT, DJP, MOVEE, RDC, ULD, and TWP)
Counties: Sinoe and Grand Bassa
Program: Logistics…. Warehouse and Field Coordination
NEC Commissioners
Liberians who spoke to the GNN said they are indeed overwhelmed of the level of professionals at this country’s electoral house, extending their gratitude to the team under the leadership of Mrs. Davidetta Browme -Lasanah, stressing, All hail NEC team all hail!!!!
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