By: Jerromie S. Walters
It’s becoming vivid to believe that the uniqueness of the endeavor to effectuate a vibrant space for women on the national scene is simultaneously flourishing, especially now that the voters have been blessed with an experienced female presidential candidate, who has the burning desire to deliver a new Liberia.
The magnificent accomplishment and actualization of women’s involvement in national politics aren’t just unique to minor roles in political parties, but apt positions like party’s head, which the elegant, patriotic, and progressive female nationalist in Rev. Sara Beysolow Nyanti is demonstrating, now that Liberians are preparing for the October 10, 2023, legislative and presidential elections.
Amid the National Election Commission’s recent disclosure that at least fifty-one (51) females have been certificated to contest in the 2023 elections, Rev. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, is expected to be the only female presidential candidate comes October. She will contest on the African Liberation League Party’s ticket.
Rev. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, who is an international development expert, comes beyond preparedness for the presidency, with more than 20 years of professional experience and has been a United Nations Assistant Secretary-General since December 2021.
As a fountain of wisdom, experience, vision, and the mindset to liberate the Liberian state, Rev. Sara Beysolow Nyanti believes that it’s now time that she serve her people, especially after decades of working with different International NGOs.
Like a lot of Liberians, Rev. Sara Beysolow Nyanti acknowledges the demeaning effects of the senseless civil war in Liberia, but amid the crisis, she holds the perception Liberia isn’t where it should be as a nation.
She’s the Political Leader of the African Liberation League, which is a grassroots movement that is seeking ways to better the country and its people. She’s passionate about promoting gender equality and reducing gender-based violence, as well as making significant progress in the educational, health, security, agriculture, and all other sectors of government.
“When we look at where we are developmentally when we look at ourselves in terms of institution building; we are not where we are supposed to be, we are lacking far behind. Yes we had a crisis but many other countries have crises”. I’m here because I want to serve you the Liberian people. I have served others around the world, I served children around the world; I served men and I serve, I want to serve you now”, Sara Beslow Nayanti articulated.
With such thought, she wants Liberians to support her political quest, as she believes it is now time to deliver the state and its people from the current economic constraints they are engulfed in.
Just as other aspirants are unique in their different areas of specialization,
Rev. Sara Beysolow Nyanti is a Liberian with roots in Cape Mount, Margibi, and Montserrado Counties. Rev. Beysolow is a wife, a mother, a grandmother, an entrepreneur, a humanitarian, and a diplomat.
She is also a Baptist prelate. Sara Beysolow Nyanti’s incredible journey with the United Nations began in the early 2000s in Liberia and took her on a whirlwind journey managing teams to save lives and contribute to nation-building in many countries around the world such as Nepal, Namibia, Nigeria, Yemen, the Gambia and South Sudan amongst others.
Before going to the United Nations, she also worked for the Government of the Republic of Liberia as a Special Assistant to the Minister of Health, subsequently, she was appointed as director of the National Aids control program where she’s credited for writing Liberia’s first successful project for the Global funds for AIDs, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFATM).
While at the United Nations, Madam Beysolow exercised her strong leadership abilities my the integrity required to manage an annual budget of over 1 billion in conflict contexts with excellent audits and no case of misuse of funds or property of the United Nations. And the system that she designed to pay cash to the poor people of Yemen is now being used in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Sudan.
As the transformational leader that she is, the African Liberation League standard-bearer said, she’s back to contribute her services to Liberia through leadership.
She is the Political leader of the African Liberation League.
Recently, the National Elections Commission (NEC) revealed that a total of twelve (12) independent candidates and thirty-three (33) others from political parties certificated to contest the representative seats, including four (4) senatorial candidates, and two (2) Vice Presidential candidates making up the number.
The data from the commission can be interpreted that political parties and coalitions are realizing the significance of women’s inclusion in politics, and are working to achieve 30% or more women’s reflection on the candidate listing to breach inequality and gender imbalance in the decision-making.
This followed the 54 legislature amendment to some sections of the New Elections Law of Liberia to address gender inequality.
For instance, Section 4.5 of the new election law mandates 30% women representation in every political party during the submission of candidates listing to the National Elections Commission and 4.5(1d) also mandates every political party or coalition to have a female contestant for every primary at a convention for a constituency.
The legislature had bestowed authority on the National Elections Commission law to fine or delist any political parties that failed to adhere to the gender quotas.
However, the bill was vetoed by President George Weah citing that it contravenes several existing laws, and could lead to a constitutional crisis.
Meanwhile, several political activists and CSOs have expressed excitement over the number of female candidates so far, whilst encouraging more women to take advantage of the process.
