PRESIDENT JOSEPH BOAKAI has pledged his administration’s commitment to supporting the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (EJS) Presidential Center for Women and Development, emphasizing Liberia’s pride in being the first African nation to elect a female president.
THE EVENT, WHICH coincided with International Women’s Day and was held over the weekend in Monrovia, brought together former presidents, dignitaries, global advocates, civil society organizations, and supporters of women’s leadership.
THE GATHERING AIMED to support, uplift, and equip women leaders who continue to break barriers in governance and public service.
SPEAKING AT THE Center’s fifth-anniversary celebration, President Boakai highlighted the global recognition Liberia has received for advancing women’s leadership, calling it an honor for both the nation and the continent.
PRESIDENT BOAKAI STATED that the world often wonders how Liberia will be remembered for honoring womanhood and by electing Africa’s first female president, we have set a precedent and that’s while Liberians should remain committed to ensuring this legacy is preserved.
WHILE PRESIDENT BOAKAI’S pledge is commendable, Liberia’s legacy as the first African nation to elect a female president should not be reduced to mere words at ceremonial gatherings.
DESPITE THE NATION’S credential as electing the first female president in Africa, we are equally reminding other men of influential status to also reflect that women in Liberia still face systemic barriers in politics, governance, and economic opportunities.
IF PRESIDENT BOAKAI administration truly intends to support the EJS Center and the broader cause of women’s empowerment, it must implement policies that guarantee increased female representation in government, allocate substantial funding to women’s initiatives, and address gender-based discrimination from the grassroots to national-level levels.
WE CALL FOR transparency in how the government collaborates with the EJS Center by initiating tangible programs, scholarships, or leadership training funded by the state. It is our hope that commitment to the EJS Center will not become another political statement that fades with time.
THE GOVERNMENT MUST prove that Liberia’s recognition for advancing women’s leadership is not just a thing of the past but a living, evolving commitment to gender equality.
WE JOIN PRESIDENT Boakai to hail Madam Sirleaf for the lasting impact she continues to make through her actions, values and contributions that are shaping future generations by offering motivation, inspiration and a sense of purpose to emerging female leaders.
