Published: August 30, 2024
MONROVIA—The Liberia National Democratic Alliance (LINDA), a pro-democracy and progressive political movement, has announced plans to undertake a nationwide county tour aimed at documenting issues affecting the rule of law, social services, women’s and children’s rights, among other concerns.
Founded in 2020, LINDA seeks to champion transformational leadership and development, advocate for the reinvention of democracy, and push for the granting of voting rights to Liberians in the diaspora.
The Liberia National Democratic Alliance (LINDA) believes that granting voting rights to Liberians abroad will strengthen democracy in Liberia by ensuring that all Liberians have a fair share of the nation’s resources and equal access to political and social opportunities.
In an interview from the USA via mobile phone, LINDA’s Executive Chairman, Patrick Koloklah Johnson, disclosed that the nationwide county tour will include meetings with traditional leaders, women and youth groups, as well as community and town hall discussions. The goal is to identify and document the challenges faced by communities across different counties.
Koloklah Johnson further emphasized that the tour will prioritize documenting the health and education needs of local residents, as well as issues related to the rule of law and the justice system in rural Liberia. He also mentioned that during the tour, LINDA will establish local leadership structures in counties where the group is not currently active, to strengthen the presence and operations of the Liberia National Democratic Alliance across the country.
According to Johnson, the grassroots pro-democracy and political movement intends to address the direct needs of Liberians by engaging in major initiatives that will have a positive impact on communities, rather than engaging in empty rhetoric as allegedly done by other political institutions.
He highlighted pressing issues that many political institutions have failed to address, including the proliferation of women’s and children’s rights violations, poor health and education services in rural counties, unbalanced political opportunities, and high unemployment rates, among others.
Although the LINDA Executive Chairman did not provide an official date for the commencement of the nationwide county tour, he stated that the initiative will also review government projects, including those under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s announced 100-day deliverables. Johnson added that the tour will document the progress, shortcomings, and conditions of these projects.
Commenting on the clashes between supporters of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Liberia National Police on Thursday, August 22, Johnson called on all Liberians to protect the peace of the country. He also criticized the dismissal of some civil servants, including nine employees of the Monrovia City Corporation, without due process.
Koloklah Johnson stressed that every Liberian should be accorded equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their political affiliation.
Additionally, Johnson reiterated that LINDA, as a pro-democracy and progressive political movement that champions transformational leadership, development, and democratic reinvention, supports total accountability and transparency in public sector governance. He praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for initiating what he described as an aggressive fight against corruption, adding that the fight should include both past and present government officials to effectively discourage corruption in the public sector.
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