Liberia: Men Top Boakai’s Early Nominations List

Out of the 51 appointments made by President Joseph Boakai, 34 (66.7%) are men, and 17 (33.3%) are women, according to new data released by SisterAid Liberia. 

Funded by the UN Women Liberia in partnership with the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia, Sister Aid Liberia is monitoring the trends of gender distribution by the Boakai administration of the Unity Party(UP). 

“As of the  51 appointments made, 34 men (66.7%) and 17 women (33.3%) 15 of 18 (83.3%) ministerial posts with portfolios have been nominated,” Sister Aid said in a Facebook post.  

The Boakai-Jeremiah Koung administration which took office on January 22, 2024, has made a series of appointments affecting the ministries of Health, Foreign Affairs, Public Works, Internal Affairs, and the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo Information Services.

Other areas include the Monrovia City Corporation, the Ministry of Gender Children & Social Protection, the Roberts International Airport, the Ministry of State, the National Port Authority, the National Investment Commission, the Ministry of Defense, as well as the Armed Forces of Liberia.

It also included the press secretary, Ministry of Finance Development Planning, Justice, Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, Youth & Sports, and Transport as well as the Liberian Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC).

The data released by Sister Aid Liberia highlighted key statistics such as the proportion of men and women appointed, the distribution of ministerial posts, deputy ministers, heads of agencies, and appointments in specific sectors like security, and state-owned enterprises. 

“This analysis shed light on current trends in gender distribution within the government’s leadership role,” the institution said.

Sister Aid, a Women’s rights advocacy group that has been at the forefront of Women’s political participation in Liberia, said out of the 15 ministerial posts with portfolios nominated by the president 11 (73.3%) are male, while 4 (26.6%) are female including ministers without portfolio. “The percentage of women nominees at ministerial level is 29.4%.”

According to the data, the total number of deputy ministers appointed so far includes 16 appointments, male 8 appointments (50%), and female 8 appointments (50%). 

For heads of Agencies, Authorities, and Commissioners, a total of 6 appointments: security sector appointments: male 6 appointments: male 5 appointments (83.3%), female one appointment 16.7%

State-owned Enterprises appointment: Liberia Petroleum and Refinery Company 1 appointment male: 1 appointment (100%)

Other appointments include the executive appointments and press secretary. Both female in the office of the president, controller, and accountant general (MFDP): male 

In Liberia appointing public officials is a strict way mandate executed by the president. The Constitution of Liberia article 45 (Chapter VI of the executive) gave the president the power to nominate, and with the consent of the senate, appoint and commission cabinet ministers, deputies, and assistants. 

Also, the chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and Judges of Subordinate courts, Superintendents, other county Officials, and Official of the other Political Subdivisions are appointed by the president including members of the military from the rank of lieutenant of its equivalent and above. 

Those nominated and confirmed by the senateateork at the “will and Pleasure” of the president, and can get dismissed anytime by the president. But there are so many factors that entail a president’s nomination including devoted party loyalists, foot soldiers, financial sponsors, and robust electoral management. 

For instance, many of those nominated by President Boakai are those who have been stewards and partisans of the Unity Party or those who were recommended by political parties who emerged during the second runoff of the 2023 Presidential elections that brought president Boakai to the presidency, defeating President George Weah, the former international football star with 50.64 percent of the vote, against 49.36 percent of the vote for Weah.

Boakai was elected on the popular “Rescue Mission”slogan with emphasis on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism (ARREST).  The President detailed his plans to leverage these key sectors to arrest and reverse years of economic downturn, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and interconnected development strategies.

However, there is not much about  that talks about section 4.5 of the new election law that calls for political parties to ensure 30 percent of women on their party ticket, rape, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Women’s Empowerment or Advancing Women’s political participation though he once served as vice presissnt to a female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. 

Activists and advocates have expressed concerns about the Boakai’s administration effort to advance women’s political particpation. Kula Bonah Nyei Fofana, Presidential Press Secretary did not responded to email, call and Whatsapp messenge for inquiries. 

As the nomination continues, all eyes are fixed on the president to ensure that women are given more appointments.