Liberia: Nimba Women Concerned Over Their Absence in Local Government

The Women of Nimba, especially those from the affected mining communities in Nimba have raised concern over their absence in the local government leadership, something they said silences them from taking part in major decisions in the county.

Making the disclosure at the one-day conference organized by a local civil society organization known as Community For Peace Development Advocacy (COPDA), held in Sanniquellie recently, the women said their absence in the local leadership makes them voiceless in any decision making process of the county.

“We deserve equal political rights and decision making like our male counterparts,” the women said.

COPDA, a Yekepa-based organization, is implementing a program known as ‘Advancing Women’s Participation in Political Leadership and Accountability in AML Operation Communities’, with support from Washington based National Empowerment for Democracy/NED. 

The conference brought together women from the nine affected mine communities, including, Gbapa, Zolowee, Sehyi-Geh, Mankinto, Bolo, Camp-4, Liagbala, Lugbeyee and Bonah.

In her remarks, the Executive Director of the Special Emergency Activity to Restore Children’s Hope (SEARCH), Atty. Sondah Geepea-Wilson, also buttressed the women, saying the limited number of women in local government is another form of gender

discrimination.

“Even to have no women representation in the local government as well as the 54th Legislative Caucus of Nimba is unfair,” she said. 

“It is a total shame and wickedness for a big county like Nimba, with over half a million population, to have a single female clan chief and just two female city mayors,” she said.

“Are we not educated too?” she asked rhetorically.

“Why should women be denied the opportunity to get appointed positions in the government in this way? This is a deliberate attempt by men of the county to discourage female education.”

Madam Wilson declared that there is a serious need for the nation to change such ugly mentality about women and think about having them part of key decision making.

Madam Wilson, who served as one of the key facilitators at the occasion, is meanwhile calling on the society at large to create the space for women to prove themselves, since the development of Liberia depends on everyone including women.

Nimba County Coordinator for the Ministry of Gender, Yah Belleh-Suah, contrarily urged the women to join their male counterparts around the country and exert efforts to gain greater influence, if they are to reach their goals. 

She indicated that over the years, women have not done much to compete with their male counterparts, despite tremendous global support. She admonished the women to be very strong.

The Nimba County Administration and the leadership of the Project Management Committee are dominated by males, a scenario the women consider as marginalization and isolation.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Community For Peace Development Advocacy (COPDA), Ted Brooks, has assured the women of his organization’s support for their advocacy for participation and inclusion, telling the society that women deserve to be given the space and opportunities to deliver.