"Ma Ellen"

The President, whom the Liberian people fondly and respectfully call "Ma Ellen," was inaugurated in January 2006. I could write an infinite number of blogs expressing my admiration for Madam President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – her bravery, her economic reform, her commitment to eradicating government corruption, her engagement of the international community, her devotion to rural Liberians, etc. But today I will write about her promotion of women.

In President Johnson Sirleaf’s inaugural address, she promised to give the Liberian women prominence in all affairs of Liberia. "My administration shall empower Liberia women in all areas of national life," said the President and, indeed, she has made considerably strides in ensuring that women are empowered and play critical roles in all aspects of Liberian affairs and at all levels of Government.

This is evident in the women appointed and elected to top-level positions in the last two years:

Executive Branch
• 6 women have held cabinet positions as Ministers of strategic ministries: Foreign Affairs, Justice, Finance, Commence and Industry, Gender and Development, Youth and Sports.
• Many women hold positions as Deputy Ministers and Assistant Ministers
• 5 women appointed as County Superintendents
• 5 female Ambassadors in key missions: Belgium, China, Germany, Ivory Coast, South Africa
• Female Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• Female Mayor of Monrovia and other cities
• Female inspector General of the Police

Legislative Branch
• 5 female Senators (out of 30)
• 8 female Representatives (out of 84)

Judicial Branch
• 2 of the 5 Supreme Court Justices are women
• Many other female judges appointed

President Johnson Sirleaf, a Harvard educated economist who has held top positions in the World Bank and the United Nations, has been nicknamed the "Iron Lady." Indeed, a documentary film called "The Iron Ladies of Liberia" profiles her and several of her top level officials: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/ironladies/

Liberia still has very far to go with respect to further empowering women and girls at all levels. But with President Johnson Sirleaf at the helm, a great course has been chartered.