The National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL) made a democratic decision at the weekend with its members electing new corps of officials who will steer the affairs of the organization within the next three years. At the head table of the newly elected leadership, W. Lawrence Yealue, II, a famous voice within the CSO space was voted as Chairperson on white ballot at the Council’s General Assembly or GA held elections in Sinja, Grand Cape Mount County. Held after every three years, the GA is the highest decision making body of the CSO Council – the umbrella organization of all civil society organizations in the country.
This year's GA ran from the 17th to the 20th of December, and was climaxed with elections being conducted for different positions within the Council. The elections’ outcome saw Mr. Yealue, Country Director for Accountability Lab Liberia, elected as Chair of the Council. Upon a scheduled induction slated for early next year, Yealue will replace Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai, whose six-year reign as head of the civil society regulatory body, will come to an end. Outgoing Chairperson Pope-Kai opted not to seek re-election in respect to the by-laws and constitution of the NCSCL after serving her successive two-term mandate of three years each. For the position of Co-Chair, Alexander Nyan retained his position by beating veteran journalist and rights advocate, Madam Veronica Songor-Johnson by 78 to 49 votes – a margin of 29.
There were also with six invalid votes cast. Madam Songor-Johnson, a respected CSO figure, despite bringing gender and regional balance in leadership as issues to the table, fell short to secure the votes that would make her second in command of the CSOs’ umbrella body. At the same time, two vacancies for the positions of Member-At-Large were won on white ballots by Cecelia T. Nimely and Jennant Paye.
The Regional Coordinators (five slots) were won on white ballots also. There was no registered candidate for the Treasurer at the GA, thus leaving the position still vacant. Speaking at the close of the electoral process, outgoing Chairperson Madam Pope-Kai emphasized the significance of the group’s independent electoral process, noting that it’s a major shift from previous years when government intervention was required to manage internal voting processes of the council. She highlighted the credibility and transparency of the elections’ results, with assurance of a smooth transition of power to the newly elected executive team.
The CSO Council boss then sounded a clarion call for unity and self-governance, asserting that the successful electoral process served as a testament to the collective power of the people. Though Madam Pope-Kai would leave the stage as Chairperson after a formal induction ceremony, which is scheduled for early 2026, she vowed to play a continued role as a mentor and advisor to the incoming officials. The outgoing CSO Council Chairperson, known for her strong advocacies for women and human rights, media freedom, and grassroots empowerment, had endeavored to peacefully transition the Council to a new leadership having successful served well.
Following a period of reflection, constitutional review and the election, newly elected Chairperson Yealue stressed the need for more a transformative value of the civil society sector. Being cognizant of the group role as vital pillar of national governance, alongside the government, media, and private industry, he pledged that the Council under his mantle will endeavor to focus more on rigorous advocacy and holding institutions accountable through transparency and the rule of law. He promised to do constructive engagement with the Liberian presidency and the Legislature through active dialogue rather than treating the sector as a bystander.
By fostering innovation and legal compliance, Chairperson-elect Yealue asserted that the group aims to ensuring that the voices of the people directly influence the governance process. "This will be a shift to ending the era of being overlooked," said Yealue, signaling a future of active participation in the country's development. Mr. Yealue, a passionate advocate for youth and good governance, has been a leading voice in the fight against corruption, while at the same time empowering citizens to champion integrity building and system reform. In a brief statement, Co-Chair-elect Nyan lauded his supporters and members of the Council for conducting themselves maturely as watchdogs of society. He pledged to work collaboratively with the incoming Chairperson and all members of the leadership in ensuring that the goals of the organization are achieved.
Author: Alpha Lymas
