The Inquirer (Monrovia)
16 April 2008
The Governance Commission (GC), in collaboration with several Wednesday held the first working session on The Place of Constitutional Reform on the Governance Reform Agenda, a concept paper of the GRD that seeks to establish the basis for the implementation of constitutional reform in Liberia.
The groups and institutions include the National Legislature, the Cabinet, the United Nation Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), the UNDP, the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) and the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law.
Introducing the concept paper at the consultative meetings, the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Amos C. Sawyer, said the paper was an integral and indispensable component of Government's broad agenda for governance reform in Liberia.
The GRC, he said, has presented its ideas in the concept paper for the inputs of the relevant stakeholders, including Liberia's international development partners at the meeting, not to instantaneously derive a definitive document, but to build on the ideas of the GRC in coming up with a widely appreciated working instrument for the effective implementation of constitutional reform.
The GRC Chairman observed that the commission does not have on mind specific areas for amendment of the Constitution, but rather envisages the pursuit of a broad-based consultative process on prospects for constitutional reform, and in doing so derive a broad outline on the way forward. And given the nature of Liberia's reform agenda, there is a need for consultative sessions in which deliberations will focus on determining the best course of action to ensure that ultimately Liberia's constitutional reform is supportive of and consistent with the range of governance reform measures currently being pursued.
The GRC concept paper on constitutional reform essentially articulates the Commission's ideas and projections relating to the process.
It, among other things, discusses the methodology and purpose of Liberia's constitutional reform process, including the possible formation of a Constitutional Review Task Force (CORETASK) and a Law Commission to coordinate all initiatives leading to the drafting of constitutional amendments, the holding of a national constitutional conference, and subsequently a referendum in which a full set of reform-based possible formation of a Constitutional Review Task Force (CORETASK).
It also discussed a Law Commission to coordinate all initiatives leading to the drafting of constitutional amendments, the holding of a national constitutional conference, and subsequently a referendum in which a full set of reform-based legislative acts will be submitted to the Liberia electorate.
After going through the crucible of refinement, the final document emerging from rigorous consultations and debate will be submitted the Governance and Rule of Law Pillar of the Liberia Reconstruction and Development Commission (LRDC).
The procedural steps proposed by the GRC concept paper are intended to serve as a crucial prelude to making the relevant reform initiatives currently being pursued an integral part of the Liberian Constitution with the view to enhance the efficacy of Liberia's governance process on a sustainable basis.
Delivering closing remarks at the end of the consultative session, GRC Commission, Sandra Howard Kendor, said the inputs of the consultative session, GRC Commissioner, Sandra Howard Kendor, said the inputs of the participants have added value to the Commission's strategy of extensive consultation, engagement and research in Liberia's reform process, and in large measure justified its policy of encouraging broad-based participation of relevant experts and civil society in the process.
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