-As her commitment leads to the election of a female town chief in the county.
The Paromount Chief of Jebebo Chiefdom Madam Etta Chaldah, was instrumental in mobilizing women and youth(girls) to vote madam Solfaria Theo as Town chief of Gbajeadiabo Town within her chiefdom.
She’s also a member of the peace hut women of Putu Tiama and served as clan chief for 3years before becoming a paramount chief of Jebebo Chiefdom of Putu Administrative District #2 Grand Gedeh County.
Hon. Etta Chaldah continues to champion the rights of women leadership since after learning the important of the Tranformative leadership and its approperate skill in July, 2022,as one of the local leaders Participated in the training organized and conducted by WONGOSOL with support from UN Women through the Irish aid funding.
According to the parmount chief, the new knowledge and skills gained from the training; “I am engaging men and women on the important of women participation and representation in the Jebebo cheifdom and today it has resulted to showing another woman ( Solfaria Theo) being voted for as Town chief for Gbayeadiabo Town; it is indeed history making that more women will have their space in leadership soon.”
Chief Chaldah narrates; since the death of the Town chief in last year. The people of Gbayeadiabo Town has been seeking another Town chief of which she learned about as paramountcheif. she further added that she were able to suggested that a woman be put in the position. But her suggestion did not met majority of the men of GbajeadiaboTown and some of the elders.
However, one of the elder ( Arthor Solo) who was very strong in his oppinion not to appoint a woman, something she said that the elders told her is against their traditional beliefs. Notwithstanding, the youth chairperson ( Henry Flay) then suggested to vote count upon the position by the citizens of the town. This was accepted by the marjority of the elders and the men.
Madam Etta Chaldah disclosed that with such decision; she mobilized women and held meeting with them including some of the youth (girls) to vote a woman and especially madam Solifaria Theo as town chief who could lead perfectly to also bring other young women like them into leadership space.
She also narrated her own story by informating women / youth (girls), that earlier after her appointment, she felt challenged by her male counterparts on why she as a woman must lead them!. She disclosed that men felt offended because the traidition has never permited so for their cheifdom. But with the support of women who are peace hut women today and other “He for She” men who learnt the importance of gender equality; supported her ascendency and currently she is like a consultant for the local leaders in the Jebebo Chiefdom of Putu Administrative District of Grand Gedeh County.
Furthermore, Madam Etta Chaldah, said through her encouragement; the creation of awareness among the women and the youth (girls) became important for the women to lobby with other females and even with some of the males to let Madam Soforia Theo become the next Town chief, based on her hard work and influence in the traditional system.
Madam Soforia Theo was overwhelmingly voted by women and youth (girls) as Town chief today.
Interestingly, Madam Chaldah has also been able to hold mediation among families, and elders. Recently, she held meetings with the Kimono district people and the people of Putu district over land dispute case. According to the paramount chief, the dispute land case has been existing since 2years, involving the citizens of Konobo district who are claiming that the forest between Konobo and Putu which is a customery land surrounding John David’s Town in Putu.
She said of late April, 2023, the issue was reported and a team led by the development supreintendent and others including her; attended the meeting and it was resolved that a meeting be scheduled in a week time, for intervention. Few days later, she again, received a report that a group of men entered from Wlabo, a Town in Konobo and burned down several villages including properties belonging to the people of John David’s Town in Putu.
With such alarming a news, she requested the intervention of the men of her chiefdom to rescure the town people in John David Town. While doing such, the men got to see eight (8) single barrel armed men which were used during their operations and one of the armed man was arrested by her men and currently in her possession awaiting the police.
Madam Etta Chaldah said as a leader , the transformative leadership training has strengthen her to use every opportunity to reach her people and allow her to embrace others to take responsiblilities in her leadership which is building the confidence of women, as well as her male colleagues who at first never wanted her to lead them. So, “I feel strengthen and confident in my leadership than before being the clan chief, at first where male colleagues could intimedate me and be afred.”
The Tranformative leadership and Women’s political participation is a project designed to capacitiate local leadership and peace hut women the opportunity to enhanced their leadership skill and knowledge to increasing women’s participation in elections, politics, public life, and peacebuilding mechanisms at grassroots and national level with the goal of : Women full and equal participation in leadership and decision-making that women and girls benefit from gender-responsive governance with suport from UN Women through the support of Irish aid.
