By Aaron Geezay
Solo Village, River Cess-If taking on leadership was a challenge for women, this is not an issue for Nancy Sowee who sees women as competitors to men.
Madam Nancy Sowee, a woman Town Chief of Solo Village Gold Camp in River Cess County wants her fellow women take take on leadership despite the challenges.
Solo Village Is a popular gold mining site in Yarnee District in River Cess County, which is home to over 5,000 inhabitants including artisanal gold miners, and business people pit Sawyer among others, from across Liberia and other West African states. It is one of the communities in River Cess that is in the middle of the long-standing land conflict between River Cess and Sinoecounties as well as home to illicit drug dealers and users.
But with these many existing challenges, Madam Nancy Soweesaid she was able to take the challenge by accepting the Position of the town chief; and has been able to deal with the prevailing situations with the support of other women and her male counterparts.
Speaking in an interview with reporters in Solo Village Gold Camp in Bearwor Administrative District, River Cess County, Madam Sowee encouraged her fellow women to rob shoulders with men in taking on leadership, no matter the challenges.
She said leadership all by itself requires bravery and as such, women should drop the garments of fear to set out to lead. According to Sowee, learned from other great leaders including her father who she watched serving other leadership positions that inspired her to be brave.
Madam Sowee named challenges such as acts of lawlessness among youth, and drug consumption among others as key issues that they are confronted with. The woman Town Master shared her experience about how she enjoys working with her people as a community leader in tackling the many problems her leadership faces.
“Oh the challenges too much, when they come we can battle it. This place you see here, the boys here can cause problems, and when they cause the problem we can call the police. We can’t sleep. The way today is Sunday we will not sleep because of the boy’s trouble “. Nancy explained.
Despite the many challenges outlined, the four-year leadership of Madam Sowee has had some major achievements as well.
An ongoing Town Hall construction Project, Advocacy for her fellow women, and uniting residents of the community are some gains the female town chief outlined.
According to her, the little a woman will do in leadership when given an opportunity can lead to bigger leadership opportunities. Madam Sowee is one of few women in River Cess who have braved the storm to take on town chief and other local leadership positions.
Other women have since monstered the courage to serve in leadership positions at their Town level. Blessing Nagbe, Town Chief of Zammie Town in Central River Cess, Madam Theresa Joe, Town chief of Bodowea Town, Winifred Seekey, Town Chief, of John Brown Town, Grace Missionmar Sahn, Town Chief, Taykon, Vero Pailey, Klaybae, Decontee Natt, Town Chief Timbo kru Town are among several women who have taken the challenge to serve in community leadership positions.
