Monrovia – The Women on Board Network are concerned about “creeping dictatorship” under the George Weah administration and have called for ‘effective and ethical purpose’ governance of Liberia.
Report by Willie N. Tokpah/0777039231 ([email protected])
On Monday, the Secretary General of the group Lillian Best told a gathering of women in Monrovia that women are being victimized by threats and intimidation during political process and that the situation must change.
“I don’t have to tell you right now, why that is so important because we have women who participate in politics and they are threatened and intimidated on a daily basis. That is why women must take up their space and find their voices in the public atmosphere,” Best said.
“All of us are counting the years that we spent helping to build this country and is not enough, and we cannot allow it to sink into dictatorship or conflict. We are going to safe this country and keep it in tight.
“No one is going to fight for us unless we ourselves, because they don’t know what our challenges are, what our issues are and the opportunities we need but we can explore better than men.”
Madam Best said Liberia’s democracy is now being threatened by the move of the government to cancelled tenure status of institutions against international best practice.
She noted that women in Liberia must now stand out against vices that are not only detrimental to their wellbeing but also to Liberia by taken actions that will affect the necessary changes they need.
“Government and entrepreneurs are not apart, the fact that there are certain public entities which by international standard should have tenure status is being question indicates that international best practice is under threat in Liberia,” Madam Best said.
“We need to say, we are going to close our legs and take our clothes out until you guys get back into that room and finalize that piece of document.”
Madam Best noted that Liberia must be seen as a treasure for all and taken as their own, while urging women to take the lead in strengthening governance in the country.
Best, however, alleges that women do not have access to capital as compare to their male counterparts, calling on government to empower women financially compare to their male counterparts.
Serving as keynote speaker at the event, Lonestar Cell Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Laurene Guilao called on women to take the challenge in pursuing opportunities that will improve their status.
Madam Guilao told the women attending the even that every experience in pursuing their future goal is important because it might lead them to their destiny, but she wants them hold on to entrepreneurship.
She outlines the lack of access to finance is a major problem affecting women’s improvement in businesses but said the variable must be change around.
Women should not learn to take the back seat but should prioritize network in their daily business activities, she said.
This, according to her, will enable female improve their businesses from small or medium enterprises to large institutions.
“Entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in advancing opportunity and this is why every one of you should see the need to take on entrepreneurship,” Madam Guilao averred.
According to her, financial elevation of women in entrepreneurship will enable them improve their communities, country and alleviate poverty among them.
November 19, each year is set aside by the Women on Board Network of Liberia to recognize the contribution female are making to the growth and development of the country.