-Liberian Women Launch Fundraising Campaign for Edith Gongloe-Weh
By Jerromie S. Walters
Despite the election of Liberia’s former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Africa’s first female democratically elected president, 2006–2018), women in Liberia continue to face several challenges that hinder their political participation. These challenges, ranging from Cultural and Traditional Barriers, Violence and Intimidation, Lack of mandatory legal Quotas, and importantly Lack of Financial Resources have either resulted in less women’s representation in the Liberian legislature or discouraged other women from getting involved with national politics.
Now, it is from this backdrop that on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, women from diverse backgrounds across Liberia launched the #SheDeservesASeat campaign, in support of Edith Gongloe-Weh in the upcoming Nimba County senatorial by-election. They are dedicating April 15-19, 2025, to this endeavor ahead of the election which is slated for April 22, 2025. The election comes following the passing of the county’s longest-serving Senator, Prince Y. Johnson, on November 28, 2024, at the Hope for Women Clinic in Paynesville City, Liberia.
Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh is the only female among five men, including Nimba County District #5 Representative Samuel Gongben Kogar, former Representative of Nimba County District #4 Cllr. Garrison Yealue, former Representative of Nimba County District #9 R. Matenckay Tingban, former Inspector of Nimba County Mack Gbliwon, Torbor Tee Wonokay Farngalo, and Dr. George Parkinson Gonpu.
As demonstrated in the successful 2020 campaign for current Gbarpolu County Senator Botoe Kanneh, and Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh who’s now making another attempt, the women assemble at the Invincible Park, Fish Market, 10 AM – 5 PM daily and encourage others to join them in supporting Edith Gongloe-Weh who they believe is the best candidate for the Nimba County senatorial by-election.
At the fundraiser launch
Presenting their statement midday Tuesday, Mrs. Naomi Tulay-Solanke, a prominent Liberian women’s rights defender and the Executive Director of Community Health Care Initiative Inc. (CHI) noted, “Today, we come together to say with one voice: Edith Gongloe-Weh deserves a seat at the table,” the campaign’s organizers declared in a press statement.
She highlighted the vital importance of women’s representation in governance. “We have witnessed the consequences of excluding women from decision-making processes. Laws fail to protect us, budgets overlook our needs, and leadership remains unreflective of our society. This is why we are rallying behind Edith—her candidacy is not just about one woman; it symbolizes a pivotal shift toward equity and inclusion in our democracy.”
The women’s statement also referenced the challenges faced by women in politics. From online harassment to systemic barriers, they say the obstacles are significant. “This is not merely about supporting a woman because she is female; it is about endorsing a qualified, committed, and courageous leader,” they emphasized.
Additionally, the women extend an invitation to male allies across the country to join the fight for gender equality. “Real men make space. Real leaders lift others up,” the statement asserted, reinforcing that gender equality is a collective responsibility and a fundamental issue of democracy.
Rooting for more women’s representation
If Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh wins, she will sum up the female representation at the Senate to four, as there are currently three out of the thirty senators at the Liberian Senate. On the other hand, there are just eight females among the 73 members of the House of Representatives. This means that there are only 11 females out of the 103 members of the 55th National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia.
Also at the #SheDeservesASeat campaign launch on Tuesday, prominent Liberian lawyer and gender advocate Cllr. Charlyne Brumskine made a persuasive case for why both men and women should support Edith Gongloe-Weh’s Senate bid in Nimba County. “I just want to tell the men something today so you can understand why women stand for women. None of us here will benefit personally if Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh wins this election. She will not put money in any of our pockets. But I should tell you why we are standing for women? We are doing it for our sons and our husbands before we even talk about our daughters.”
The former presidential candidate argued that most of the successful countries in Africa and the world at large are countries where women have an equal say as men. “So this thing we are doing is not for us. We will not benefit personally. She believes it is time to close the gender divide. “There is no longer a gender divide. It is time to close the divide. It is time for the men to understand that this thing is not for us.”
Records show that countries with the highest gender equality (Rwanda, New Zealand, Sweden) consistently rank among the world’s most prosperous nations. African nations with over 30% female parliamentary representation show 12% higher GDP growth (AfDB 2024). However, Liberia currently ranks 142nd globally for women’s political participation (IPU 2025).
Like several other reasons responsible for this low political participation, it has been visibly proven that Liberian society is largely patriarchal, with traditional beliefs that often exclude women from leadership roles, especially in Nomba where Madam Gongloe-Weh is contesting for the senatorial seat. Many people, including a current lawmaker in the county, still view the seat or politics in general as a “man’s domain,” evidenced by recent comments during an engagement with some citizens in the county.
Also in most cases, women often struggle to secure financial backing compared to male candidates, who typically have stronger political networks. It is also in this vein that the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) and other women of Liberia are soliciting funds to support Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh’s campaign.
“We must break the barriers”
Prior to the campaign launch, Esther David Yango, Executive Director of the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), emphasized the urgency of supporting women in politics. She added: “When women are empowered to participate in politics and elections, the entire communities benefit.”
Madam David-Yango believes that “Women’s leadership brings fresh perspectives, inclusive policies, and a stronger push for peace, justice, and equality. Yet, despite making up half the population, women remain underrepresented in key decision-making spaces. We must break the barriers that hold women back, whether it’s lack of support, funding, or political will. Let’s support and vote for women. Let’s amplify their voices and create a system that values their leadership.
She called on Nimbaians to back Gongloe-Weh, citing her experience and commitment to representing women, youth, and marginalized groups. “This is why I’m calling on the people of Nimba County to vote for Madam Edith Gongloe Weh as the next Senator. She is a strong, experienced, and committed leader who will represent the voices of women, youth, and all citizens with integrity and vision. A stronger democracy is one where women lead boldly and equally. The time is now!”
Like Madam David-Yango and several other Liberian women, Liberian female lawyer and activist Cllr. Mariah Yeakula-Karkpor endorsed the fundraising campaign and rallied extended support. “Not only because she’s a woman but also because she’s a woman. Representation is powerful. Even if she was on UP ticket, I would support her because this generation of women has never seen a female Senator of Nimba since Catherine Cummings in the 80s and this generation must try to change that. Join Liberian women under the banner #DareToLead for a fundraiser beginning tomorrow. Let us help her to protect her votes.”
Though Liberia has laws promoting gender equality (e.g., the 2018 Gender Equity in Politics Bill), enforcement remains weak. Unlike some African countries (e.g., Rwanda, and Senegal), Liberia does not have a strong quota system to ensure women’s representation in government.
According to the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Service (LISGIS) 2022 population and housing census report, Liberia’s 5,250,187 population consists of 49.6% females and 50.4% males. However, they (women) are still underrepresented in the national legislature with less hope of equal representation and are hugely excluded from crucial decision-making tables.
