The three-day workshop which holds from the 17^th to 19^th July 2017, in Monrovia, Liberia, will sensitize political parties on their role in ensuring the conduct of peaceful elections.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Halima Ahmed, stated that, the Commission believes training stakeholders of the electoral process is necessary and serves as a means of engaging with the political parties who are the main strategic actors involved in the forthcoming elections in Liberia.

Over seventy representatives from the twenty-six registered political parties in attendance of the workshop will be trained on media relations, effective campaign strategies, political party financing, campaign finance and the mobilization of women and youth into political parties and their activities.

Also, media organizations and journalists, have been identified as an integral component towards ensuring peaceful elections and will be sensitized on the electoral process and professional ethics in the development of sensitive content during the workshop.

The Special Representative of the ECOWAS President in Liberia, H.E Ambassador Tunde Ajisomo reiterated the importance of holding this training in Liberia which he stated comes at a time when the electioneering processes are gaining momentum.

The workshop which was officially declared open by the former Interim President of Liberia, Professor Amos Sawyer is in preparation for the first peaceful transfer of power from one elected president to another in Liberia since 1944.

Also in attendance of the opening session of the workshop were the ECOWAS Director for Political Affairs, Dr. Remi Ajibewa and representatives from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).