MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia has denied reports that President George M. Weah vetoed a crucial aspect of the New Elections Law that would guarantee 30 percent women’s participation in the National Legislature.
In a statement released by the government, they revealed that the president had in fact expressed his support for the affirmative action bill that was sponsored by the Women’s Legislative Caucus, but also rejected some sections of the bill and provided details for his rejection in the letter to the Speaker.
According to the statement, some media entities and civil society actors, including Liberia’s Association of Female Lawyers (AFELL) and its president, Atty. Philomena Williams, have maliciously skewed the president’s position on the matter. The government urged the media and civil society to continue to be the moral conscience of society and avoid being made pawns by politicians.
The government also encouraged Atty. Williams to use her vocal advocacy in support of the president’s public and demonstrable commitment to gender balance in the National Legislature. The president’s letter, which made clear his support for the crucial aspect of the legislation, has been sent to the leadership of the National Legislature.
As Liberia moves closer to the elections scheduled for October, the government urges those expected to hold it accountable to ensure that the public discourse is grounded in fact instead of allowing themselves to be drawn into different political machinations.
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