Monrovia – A nine-member Board of Advisors of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) has elected and inducted its corps of officials to steer its affairs and regulate the Association’s activities in line with best practices.
The induction ceremony was conducted in Monrovia on April 4, 2018 at an acquaintance meeting organized by the leadership of FeJAL. Those inducted were Hattie Wreh Hunder, former Deputy Director for Administration at the Liberia Broad Casting System as Chairperson; Mr. Hassan U. Kiawu, a veteran broadcaster as Co-Chairperson and FeJAL’s President, Madam Siatta Scott Johnson, as Secretary General respectively.
Serving as induction officer, Ms. Maureen Sieh thanked FeJAL for the level of work done in organizing the Association and the setting up of its first Board. She pointed out that “When you create bylaws or policy document don’t let it gather dust, act and by that it shows that you are maturing and it will give you credibility to be able to help the younger generation and I do appreciate you”.
“FeJAL is always close to my heart because without FeJAL, we will still be struggling to get more women and give them the safe spaces that women in the Liberian media should have. FeJAL is an advocate for increasing women’s participation and for that; we trust that this Board will help them make the difference,” Madam Sieh concluded.
The establishment of this Board, whose members also include WONGOSOL’s Executive Director, Marpue Speare; the President of the West African Journalists Association, Peter Quaqua; Atty. Ade Wede Kerkula; Press Union of Liberia President, Charles Coffey and Tetee Karneh, is in fulfillment of Article 8 of FeJAL’s Constitution.
The chairperson, Madam Hunder, thanked her colleagues for the confidence reposed in her to serve at the helm of the Board in making FeJAL more viable and strengthening its activities thereby encouraging all female journalists to return to the Association to make their contributions to the improvement of the Liberian media.
“This is a perfect opportunity for lifting women and a perfect opportunity for improving the media and with women all things are possible. If any transformation should take place in the media landscape, it has to come from FeJAL. The Association has that strength and potential to make the difference,” she assured her colleagues.
Madam Hunder said FeJAL with one solid voice and strength can make that transformation happen. She acknowledged that even though the setting up of the Board is one year late, it is better late than never and it is this one step that keeps one going.
She assured that the Board will do all it can to keep FeJAL in the right path by building its integrity and ensuring transparency and accountability noting that, the members may not have all the knowledge but they will build networks to source information from partners and strengthen the Association.
Meanwhile, the Association’s one day acquaintance meeting was inclusive of a presentation on the role and responsibilities of a board considering the different kinds of boards which was led by the Senior Gender Specialist of Carter Center/ATI, Cerue Konah-Garlo.