Monrovia – A Liberian woman who recently returned home after reaching the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was on Thursday recognized by Defense Minister Brownie Samukai for her tireless effort in climbing the World’s second highest Mountain.
Marie Clarke of the Gbopolu Rural Women, who reached the peak of the mountain, said it was not easy because it took over 35 women across Africa—including two other Liberian women—four days to climb the Mount Kilimanjaro.
She said they started the first four hours on the first day and 10 hours on the second day, 13 hours on the third day and 10 hours on the last day.
Clarke said she alongside her other two colleagues climbed the mountain for their voices to be heard and their inheritance rights and demands as rural women farmers are met.
Meeting the women for the first time in person at his Ministry of Defense, Minister Samukai said the government was recognizing the efforts of the rural women.
“The government is taking the initiative to ensure inheritance rights for women. I think women rights will be recognized because it is your right to entitlement, and this government recognizes the effort of rural women,” Minister Samukai said.
“And I think the female lawyers have been championing the cost of women rights for many years.”
Minister Samukai, who donated US$500, said he supported the effort of rural women farmers because his mother is a farmer and used the proceeds of her produce to send him to school.
“I will call on others to support the cost of women and enhance the environment in which they work to make them more productive, and I know the government will support your initiative,” he added.
Speaking about the risk and difficulties in climbing the mountain, Samukai said he knew it was a challenge for women and not even men to climb the world’s second highest mountain.”
“If people knew the magnitude, they will appreciate you for climbing the World second highest mountain because it is first time for a Liberian to reach the Peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
” I want people to know that you have done something that just a few people in the world are able to do. I believe that your cost is good and I want all Liberians to support it. I am very proud of you for going that far,” said Samukai.
Speaking on behalf of the rural women, was Jesadeh Barzon, president of Grand Gedeh Rural Women thanked the Minister for recognizing their effort because they were proud to go and represent Liberia and fight for their rights.
“To you our leaders and policymakers, we depend on you people for our survival because the forest is the life of rural women, so we depend on you to make sure that our demands are met,” said Barzon.a