Liberia

The Chairman of the opposition Liberty Party, Atty. Fonati Koffa, said the Liberty is in the lead pushing the gender parity. Speaking at a fundraising dinner organized by Senator Nyonblee Karngar Lawrence and held at the Cape Hotel on Friday July 25, 2014, Atty. Koffa said the party will support women candidates to ensure success in politics.

The passage of a draft law seeking to provide 30 percent women participation in all political parties was stalled recently by a motion for reconsideration made by Nimba County Senator Thomas Grupee.

Senator Grupee's motion for reconsideration angered several women leaders who have expressed disappointment in the senator's action.

Some of them told a local radio station that Senator Grupee is against women leadership.

Lofa County district #4 Representative Hon. Mariamu B. Fofana has frown on the creation of women's wing in political parties in the country. Representative Fofana said putting women on the wing side of political parties deprives them of actively participating in the decision making of the party they belong to.

Market women at the Rally Time Market in Central Monrovia have expressed gratitude to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for her unwavering commitment to women's issues since coming to office.

In a NewDawn interview, they particularly commended the President for opening free primary schools across the country to enable their children return to school while creating an enabling learning environment.

Continuing the celebrations marking ten years of uninterrupted peace, the women of Liberia presented a five-count resolution to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf highlighting their plight and how they can be resolved for the common good of Liberian women and girls.

Heated debate erupted on the floor in the Senate on Thursday after some Senators strongly opposed a provision in the election reform law that requires political parties to ensure thirty percent gender equality during candidates' registration.

Some of the Senators, who opposed with the thirty percent gender equality provision, said the committee on the election reform law should not legalize what is not part of the Constitution of Liberia.

Minority of female legislators at the House of Representatives have submitted a bill seeking political equity with their male counterparts.

They are, therefore, craving the indulgence of full plenary to amend section 4.5 the new election law of Liberia to enhance their objective.

This paper discusses Liberian women’s access to formal political influence and representation in the bicameral legislature. Even if women are visible and powerful in Liberian politics, their participation is dependent on government appointments rather than the will of the voters.