by Sesay Hassan

24 November 2005

Monrovia, Liberia: Even before the daybreak of the historic 11 October morning, voters started thronging the polling stations in order to secure a very early slot to cast their votes for President, Senate and House of Representatives. With the world’s media attention turned to Liberia again, people had the huge task of changing the perception the world has of it. It was a clear manifestation of a dream-come-true for me to witness the conduct of the remarkably peaceful and successful elections.

Being the first UN Volunteer in the Electoral Division (ED), I am a witness to the hurdles and challenges we’ve surmounted. Shortly after my arrival on 6 October 2004, I became the ED Focal Point to work with other UN agencies, NGOs and some government ministries in the Village Mapping Project to identify villages across the country, a pivotal project for all future electoral planning.

Travelling around the counties for the project made me realize that setting up electoral offices in all of these 15 counties would be a Herculean task due to the massive destruction wreaked on the country’s infrastructure as a result of the protracted civil war. However, ED gradually managed to open its 18 field offices and deployed 160 UN Volunteers as County Electoral Advisors and Electoral Support Officers to run all the field operations.

Identifying the 1,512 Voter Registration Centres countrywide was such a daunting task on the shoulders the UN Volunteer electoral staff. George Amponsah-Gyima, CEO in Grand Kru County, described the voter registration process as “the most difficult and challenging process” he has ever gone through in his mission life.

There was a strong temptation to conclude that elections would not have been possible in October this year because of what appeared to be “logistical impediments.” However, thanks to the hardworking electoral team both in headquarters and in the field, that was proved wrong. Despite all the challenges, we were all committed to giving the people of Liberia transparent, free and fair elections in 11 October as scheduled.

Indeed, UN Volunteers were true heroes of 11 October when they delivered materials and opened all 3,070 polling precincts countrywide. I see all the 183 UN Volunteers including those in the headquarters at the centre of the electoral process. Colleagues, be rest assured that when the role of the UN in post-war Liberia is written, we would be remembered as significant contributors towards peace and stability in this beloved West African country.

Sesay Hassan of Sierra Leone serves as a UN Volunteer with the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).