Monrovia – In an elaborate program held at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia, a group of women under the banner the Women of Liberia appreciated President-elect for selecting a woman as his Vice President.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
The program was held on Saturday – two days ahead of the official swearing-in ceremony of President-elect George Manneh Weah and Vice President-elect Jewel Howard Taylor on Monday, Jan. 22.
Speaking at the program, the executive director of Women of Liberia, Madam Grace Scotland Brimah, recalled that the Women of Liberia resolved in 2017 before the elections that they would support any presidential candidate who select a formidable female as vice running mate.
She thanked Mr. Weah for listening to the plights of women by picking Senator Jewel Howard Taylor as his Vice President.
“We believe Mr. President-elect, that you’re a ‘#HeforShe’,” she said.
She called on the President-elect to use his office to ensure that the rape law which was introduced by outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is not repealed under his administration.
She also called on President-elect Weah to ensure women’s participation in government and the democratic progress by ensuring that Equal Participation in and Representation Bill is passed by the 54th Legislature.
Madam Brimah further urged the incoming President to champion women’s and children rights and safeguard women peace, security and empowerment.
President-elect Weah thanked the Women of Liberia for giving him and his vice president for giving them the opportunity to serve.
He said his administration would work the women of Liberia side-by-side.
“We believe that women can compete and we believe that the Liberian women in our society can also perform. When they were requesting for 30 percent women, I was proposing 50 percent women participation,” he said.
He encouraged men in the homes to be open with their wives by making full disclosure of their finances as a step to safeguarding the security and empowerment of women.
He also urged women to break the barriers of shyness and always come forward to compete with the men.