The electoral commission in Liberia has dismissed several of its employees after weeks of protests demanding unpaid wages and benefits, local reports confirmed on Tuesday.
The New Dawn newspaper reports that the workers, who had been demonstrating for nearly a year, were terminated following a series of escalating protests over outstanding salaries and insurance compensation.
Protests Reaching a Boiling Point
The protests reached their peak between November 12 and 24, when workers blocked the entrance to the headquarters of the National Elections Commission (NEC), reportedly preventing its chairperson, Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, from accessing the building to carry out her duties.
The workers, whose names have not been disclosed, accused the NEC of mismanaging funds intended for its operations.
They also demanded the formation of an internal committee to address their grievances.
Dismissal and Allegations of Mismanagement
A letter from Pauline G. Korkoyah, the NEC’s Director of Human Resources, confirmed that the workers had been fired.
Korkoyah accused the protesters of insubordination and obstructing the work of NEC officials.
She stated that their actions had “paralyzed the operations of the NEC” and tarnished the reputation of the electoral body.
The dismissed workers were instructed to return all NEC property immediately to the Human Resources office.
NEC Chairperson Denies Unpaid Benefits
In response to the dismissal, NEC chairperson Davidetta Browne-Lansanah denied claims that the workers were owed unpaid benefits. She asserted that all arrears had been cleared as part of the NEC’s 2023 budget.
As of now, the dismissed employees have yet to publicly respond to either their termination or Browne-Lansanah’s denial of the claims.
The situation has raised concerns about the functioning of the NEC and its ability to maintain a stable workforce amidst growing public discontent over electoral processes and financial transparency.
