By: D Abraham Cooper, Sr. | Grand Gedeh Correspondent
Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County |Feb. 6, 2026| A powerful coalition of rural women, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) is calling on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to break decades of gender disparity by appointing women to senior leadership roles within the Grand Gedeh County local administration.
The petition, which marks the second major push for female representation in the county in less than three years, was formally presented at the Jeff Koijee Forum in Zwedru.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, spokesperson Madam Albertie Siah acknowledged President Boakai’s commitment to good governance but stressed that true progress is impossible without intentional gender inclusion.
”Since 1964, Grand Gedeh County has recorded only one female Superintendent and one Assistant Superintendent for Development,” Siah noted. “This does not promote gender equality and denies women the opportunity to demonstrate their leadership potential.”
Key Demands of the Petition
The women’s group outlined several critical objectives aimed at shifting the political landscape in the region:
Strategic Appointments: A direct appeal for the President to appoint qualified women to top-tier local government seats.
Youth Support: A call for young Liberians to pivot away from traditional biases and support female leaders in strategic roles.
Safe Political Environment: An urge for the administration to create an enabling environment that protects and encourages female candidates during election cycles.
A Historical Disparity
The organizers highlighted a stark historical record, noting that for over 60 years; women have been almost entirely sidelined from the county’s executive leadership. The group argues that the expertise of rural women are “untapped resource” that is vital for the county’s development and peace-building efforts.
