-Asking women to take the lead
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – As Liberia continues its efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in governance, It appears that some women are heading in the path of disregarding anti-corruption measures.
Despite local and international partners advocating for increased women’s political participation, six out of the 11 female legislators have failed to comply with the asset declaration laws. Section 10.1 of Liberia’s 2014 Code of Conduct mandates that “every public official and government employee shall declare assets before taking office, after every three years, and upon promotion, retirement, or resignation.”
However, data from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) reveals a troubling pattern of non-compliance, particularly among some of the country’s female lawmakers. Of the 11 women elected to the 55th Legislature, six have yet to declare their assets, despite having been in office for over a year following the 2023 general elections.
The Non-Compliant Lawmakers
In the Senate, Gbarpolu County Senator Botoe Kanneh is among those who have not adhered to the asset declaration requirement. In the House of Representatives, the following female lawmakers are also in violation:
– Moima Briggs-Mensah, Representative of Bong County District #6
– Massaley Bintu, Representative of Grand Cape Mount County District #1
– Gbessie Sonii Feika, Representative of Grand Cape Mount County District #3
– Julie Fatorma Wiah, Representative of Lofa County District #2
– Marie G. Johnson, Representative of Grand Gedeh County District #2
Howbeit, this non-compliance is not limited to women. The LACC reports that out of 73 members of the House of Representatives, only 36 have complied with the law, while 37 remain in violation. Similarly, in the Senate, 14 of the 30 senators have declared their assets, leaving 16 in non-compliance.
A Rocky Path for Women in Politics
The 2023 elections were a mixed bag for women aspirants. While seven new female lawmakers were elected—six representatives and one senator—this marked a decline from the 10 women elected in 2017. Notably, three female incumbents lost their seats, though the election of one new female senator brought the total number of women in the Senate to three.
Women now represent some of Liberia’s most traditional counties, including Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Bong, and Lofa. However, in Montserrado County, the nation’s most populous region with 17 districts, only two districts were won by a female candidate.
Despite these gains, the failure of some female lawmakers to comply with asset declaration laws has drawn criticism. Observers argue that these actions undermine efforts to promote women’s leadership and tarnish the path for future female aspirants.
Creating an ugly path for other women
President Joseph Boakai has made fighting corruption a cornerstone of his administration. Since taking office, he has suspended several high-ranking officials, including prominent women, for alleged corruption and other offenses. Among those suspended are:
– Davidetta Brown Lansanah, Chair of the National Elections Commission (NEC)
– Rustonyn Suacoo Dennis, CEO of the National Oil Company
– The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority
These actions have been widely praised by citizens and international partners alike, but the reasons for which these women were suspended undoubtedly paint an ugly picture for other women. All of these are happening after when women had a rocky path in 2023, they’re pushing their way to the national legislature.
The 2023 Elections
The 2023 elections saw 1,237,257 women registered to vote, slightly less than half of the total voter roll. In high-population counties like Nimba, Bong, and Montserrado, women outnumbered men in voter registration. However, only seven women were among the 100 senatorial candidates, and just two women ran for president.
Efforts to promote gender equality in politics were evident in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the NEC and political parties, which aimed to ensure that at least 30% of party candidates were women. Despite this, only two political parties met the target.
