ECOWAS Does Not Monitor Elections, But Observes – Snowe Jnr..

By Ferdinand Olise

The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Parliament’s Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. said ECOWAS does not monitor elections but observes the process.

Snowe Jr. stated this at a public forum at Gbab in the Bomi County, following Liberia’s preparations towards its Presidential and Legislative general elections.

Stakeholders at the public forum questioned why ECOWAS pass a clean sheet on election process in the sub-region, whereas the European Union, EU, among others in their report do otherwise.

“You see, some of the mistakes some of us make ECOWAS does not take part in domestic elections. When ECOWAS says it is free and fair what they do is to observe the process; we should get it clear.
“Again, for example you are here in Bomi and observe the elections nothing happens; but after you left someone slap someone what will you report? Some people are saying ECOWAS cheats; “no they observe the elections; some people call ECOWAS toothless bull dog, no”. Snowe Jr. pointed out.

He emphasized that, ECOWAS has contributed its part and played its role, stressing that ECOWAS has intervened in several ugly situations in member states to restore peace and security.
He pointed out that ECOWAS also intervened with ECOMOG in the case of Sierra Leone. “Today,ECOWAS has troops in Gambia, and Guinea Bissau; they are trying, he stated.

He therefore urged the people to embrace political tolerance as the whole political contest is a contest of ideas.
He stressed that coups should be condemned, adding that there is the need to focus on addressing problems that lead to coups.