Civil Society Urges Stronger Partnership to Deepen Democracy

By Lewis S. Teh

Monrovia, June 24, 2026 – The President of the National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL), Lawrence Yealue, has called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, the private sector, the media and academia to promote good governance and strengthen Liberia’s democracy.

Speaking at a one-day policy validation workshop organized by the Governance Commission in collaboration with the National Civil Society Council, Yealue said effective governance requires cooperation among what he described as the country’s five key sectors—government, the private sector, civil society, the media and academia.

He stressed that civil society should be viewed as a strategic partner in governance rather than merely an implementing partner for development projects.

“We are partners in enhancing the forces that draw us together with government,” Yealue said, adding that trust and respect for the rule of law are essential to building an effective governance system.

He commended the Governance Commission for its continued engagement with civil society and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to implementing the Government of Liberia/Civil Society Accord and Partnership Framework adopted in 2016.

“The civil society community stands committed to ensuring that the 2016 documents continue to serve as the guiding instruments for government-civil society partnership,” he said.

Yealue called for a partnership grounded in mutual respect, accountability and national unity, emphasizing that government and civil society should engage as equal partners in advancing Liberia’s development agenda.

He also underscored the importance of academia in national development, saying knowledge and education should be used to advance the collective interests of Liberians rather than individual ambitions.

“This is our country. All we do, if one thing will be said about us, let it be that we lived our lives for the people,” he said.

The remarks were made during a validation workshop on the draft implementation strategy for the Government of Liberia/Civil Society Accord and Partnership Framework, which seeks to strengthen collaboration between government institutions and civil society organizations in promoting inclusive governance and democratic accountability.