MONROVIA, LIBERIA local youth group working in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector wants citizens to reject candidates whose manifestos lack a plan for the country’s WASH sector.

The United Youth for Peace, Education, Transparency, and Development in Liberia (UYPETDL) says citizens should ensure candidates engaging them for election have a valid WASH plan or must have signed the organization’s WASH Pledge Card.

Addressing journalists in Monrovia on Tuesday, October 23, 2023, the organization’s Executive Director, Timothy Kpeh, noted that the move will enable citizens to hold the candidates accountable when they are elected.

“As an organization, we are saying to our government and those who want to take political power in this country that if you don’t prioritize water, sanitation, and hygiene, it means you don’t love the Liberian people,” Mr. Kpeh asserted.

He said the country’s WASH sector is struggling and needs the efforts of lawmakers to ensure the necessary budget allocations are made to help the sector.

Mr. Kpeh’s comments come as his organization in collaboration with the international organization, Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is leading an effort to get more commitments from would-be lawmakers to prioritize the issue of WASH when elected.

Currently, United Youth is engaging candidates vying for elected seats in four counties to sign on to a WASH Pledge Card which will enable citizens to hold them accountable to prioritize WASH issues if they are elected.