Published: February 16, 2026
Paynesville – Naymote Partners for Democratic Development over the weekend convened the 17th edition of its Carl Gershman Democracy Lecture Forum at the Liberia Learning Center in Paynesville, bringing together civil society actors—largely youth—to strengthen their ability to hold public officials accountable and actively engage in other democratic processes.
The forum raised awareness on the state of democracy across Africa, the role of young people in sustaining democratic governance, and practical strategies for legislative engagement using a legal advocacy guide developed for Liberia.
Addressing journalists after the event, Naymote’s Deputy Program Director Joshua Dennis Cleon said the lecture series is part of the institution’s broader commitment to promoting inclusive representation and strengthening citizen participation in governance. “The Democracy Lecture Forum is meant to inspire young people to remain committed to democratic values by providing them with information and civic education necessary to defend democracy,” said Joshua Dennis Cleon.
He noted that the session focused on two key issues: discussions on the State of Democracy Report and practical approaches to engaging Liberia’s legislature more effectively. “We brought together people from different districts, communities, and student groups to better understand how democracy is evolving across the continent and how citizens can gather the knowledge needed to engage lawmakers effectively,” added Cleon asserted. He further explained that the initiative was influenced by Naymote’s long-standing effort to develop legislative tools, including scorecards, to empower citizens with information to monitor elected officials and demand accountability. “Apart from developing civic tools, we saw the need to help citizens understand legislative procedures, committees, hearings, and debates so they can become more informed and drive democratic participation in their communities.”
About 50 participants attended the engagement, including students, youth leaders, and advocates from various communities. The participants described the forum as timely and impactful.
Youth leader and alumnus of the Young Political Leadership School Africa, Emmett N. Kekulah said the session strengthened his understanding of decision-making and responsible communication. “I learned a lot about decision-making, information dissemination, and the role of the media. I plan to share this knowledge with other leaders in my community so we can engage more young people,” Kekulah promised.
Kekulah also encouraged organizers to extend such training directly to communities to reach more young people.
Another participant, leadership program alumna, Princess Rogers, emphasized the importance of responsible digital behavior among youth. “Young people should be conscious of what they post online and avoid spreading information driven by sentiments, tribalism, or political bias. We must understand that we will be held accountable for what we share,” Princess cautioned. She commended the organizers and encouraged more youth to participate in civic education initiatives.
The Carl Gershman Democracy Lecture Forum forms part of Naymote’s continuing efforts to strengthen democratic participation, transparency, and citizen oversight in Liberia, with a particular focus on empowering the country’s youth to play a leading role in governance and accountability.
Discussion about this post