“This Summit could not be convened at a more reflective and challenging time for our country. Today, perhaps more than ever before, we confront the daunting challenge of a dismal economic outlook and the increasing prospect of looking only to ourselves to improve the conditions of living in our country. To put it more bluntly, today, more than ever, we are on our own,” said the former President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf while addressing participants and guests at the second summit for democracy as a keynote speaker in Monrovia on March 5, 2025.

Sirleaf reminded delegates at the Summit of the courageous nature of Liberians who declared their independence, worked hard to end the civil wars, and defeated Ebola, stressing that courage is part of Liberians’ DNA.

“My fellow Liberians now is not the time for weakening legislative oversights; so that we continue to act in fulfillment of narrow self-interests and what is best for a party over what is necessary for our country,” Sirleaf underscored.

The 2025 Summit for Democracy and Political Accountability, under the theme ‘Exploring Pathways for Sustainable Democracy and Inclusive Development in Liberia’ was funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Liberia with technical support from UNDP in partnership with Naymote.

Sweden's Ambassador to Liberia, Mr. Karl Backéus, highlighted the Swedish long-term support for Liberia in various areas, emphasizing commitment to democracy, human rights, and good governance. Backéus mentioned support for Liberia’s civil society organizations like Naymote and government entities such as the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the NEC through partnerships with UN agencies and international NGOs.

The two-day summit, held at Bella Casa Hotel March 5-6, attracted around 120 participants from ten counties including Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Bong, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Montserrado.

During the crucial panel discussion on the future of governance in Liberia, the panelists, amidst a hush of anticipation presented the topics - Improving Public Sector Governance and Accountability: The Role of National Integrity Institutions; Strengthening Democracy and the Rule of Law: Protecting Human Rights and Ensuring Access to Justice.

Panelist Cllr Moriah Yeakula-Korkpor emphasized that every citizen must shape the future of their nation, noting that the government should not politically interfere with justice processes, especially when integrity institutions are working to combat corruption.

The UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Aliou Dia concurred with participants’ and panelists' views. “A strong democracy is anchored in the rule of law—ensuring that justice is accessible to all and that fundamental rights are protected,” he said.

Dia added that access to justice remains a challenge for many Liberians, particularly women, rural communities, and marginalized groups. “We need to strengthen legal frameworks, increase civic awareness, and ensure that justice is not a privilege but a right accessible to all Liberians,” he said.

Highlighting the role of UNDP in the summit, Dia said this year’s summit reaffirms UNDP’s collective commitment to strengthening democracy, fostering accountability, and ensuring an inclusive and just society for all Liberians.

The Irish Ambassador Gerald Considine acknowledged stating, “We believe empowering women, youth, and marginalized communities is essential to building a more inclusive democracy. As young leaders in this room, you have the unique opportunity to champion these values and help shape a Liberia that is inclusive, accountable, and just,” he pointed out.

Considine highlighted the strong relationship between Ireland and Liberia, emphasizing that both nations are deeply committed to peace, gender equality, the rule of law, and strengthening democratic institutions that empower every voice, regardless of background or social status.

Heads of diplomatic missions in Liberia joined their voices reaffirming their support to the government. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Ms. Christine Umutoni noted that the United Nations stands resolute behind Liberia’s efforts to build a more accountable and transparent system, working across all its agencies to support national priorities and ensure that the benefits of democracy are felt by all Liberians, particularly the most marginalized.

“The European Union has also been pivotal in supporting the Liberian government's fight against corruption, providing technical assistance to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), and helping build mechanisms to improve transparency in public finances,” said the EU Ambassador Nona Deprez.

During a panel discussion on increasing women's representation in politics, with a focus on grassroots participation and its impact on higher-level decision-making, UN Women Representative Comfort Lamptey stressed that Liberian political parties need to improve their internal structures to involve women in meaningful roles and support their candidacy for elections. Lamptey made these remarks in response to participants' questions about increasing the number of women in the House of Representatives, given the current low representation.

Panelist Esther S. Davis Yango also addressed the same topic, noting that more grassroots women needed to be empowered in leadership roles. She acknowledged that the current government is doing better by appointing more women to leadership positions. "When women are given the platform and the opportunity, they can deliver," she said, adding that empowering women in society is essential for building a better future for Liberia.

Delegates developed several policy recommendations that included actionable strategies to improve public sector governance and accountability, emphasizing the role of national integrity institutions, strengthening democracy and the rule of law by protecting human rights, ensuring access to justice, and promoting political equality by ensuring women's meaningful representation in politics.

They also proposed setting up a Community of Practice (CoP) comprising stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, and development partners. This CoP will serve as a platform for continuous dialogue, knowledge sharing, and collaborative actions to sustain democratic governance and political accountability in Liberia.

A resolution document drafted at the end of the summit included policy recommendations that outline changes and issues that the government needs to address as it strives to achieve the Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) 2025-2029.

Melvin L. Harding of the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled (NUOD), hailed the Summit’s organizers, describing the event as informative and educative. “Thanks to the donors for supporting this initiative,” he said.