Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
also known as the “Iron Lady” was born on October 29, 1938. She is the current
president of Liberia and considered as the world’s first elected black female
president and also the Africa’s first elected female head of the nation. Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf was named as the 51st most powerful women in the
world (Anonymous, 1). The “Iron Lady” was born in Monrovia, Liberia. Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf ahs played an important role in the civil conflicts in which she
denies being a part of the elite group. She gains her education at the College
of West Africa in Monrovia and continued her studies at the University of
Colorado in 1961.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
has made many contributions in line with politics. She started her political
career when she worked as Minister of Finance (1972-1973). However, because of
the disagreement in public agreement she left her position. During this time,
Liberia was under the power of one-party which became more polarised for the
benefit of the Americo-Liberian elite. On April 12, 1980, Master Sergeant Samuel
Kayon Doe has been able to seized the power in a military coup and the Liberian
leader (William Tolbert) was executed via a firing squad along with several
cabinet members.
As the People’s
Redemption Council under Samuel Doe controls the country, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
has managed to escape and go to Kenya. She served as Director of Citibank in
Nairobi from 1983 to 1985. However, when Samuel Doe declared himself as the
president of the Republic of Liberia in 1984 and disbanded different political
parties, Johnson-Sirleaf returned to the country. During the 1985 elections, the
Iron Lady campaigned against Samuel Doe which was placed her under house arrest.
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
was sentenced to ten years imprisonment but only spend short time in the jail
before being allowed to leave Liberia once again as an exile. During 1980s, she
served as Vice President of both (HSCB) Equator Bank in Washington and African
Regional Office of Citibank, in Nairobi. She also served as Assistant
Administrator from 1992-1997 and then became the Director of the UN Development
Program Regional Bureau for Africa. During that time, Liberia has been under an
interim government lead by a succession of four-unelected government officials
but in 1996, the presence of West African negotiators created a lull in the
civil war and has been able to run an election (Price, 1).
In 1997, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
returned to Liberia to become part of the election. However, she came second to
Charles Taylor which gains 75% of the vote out of 14 candidates. Such election
was declared free and fair by the international observers. Johnson-Sirleaf
played an essential role in the transitional government as the country prepared
for the election in 2005. She takes office after the controversial reign of
President Charles Taylor who has been accused as a corrupt public official and
accused of being connected with Al-Qaeda. After experiencing many lost in
gaining power, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf had never loses hope and became the
president of Liberia which happened as she took the presidency in January 16,
2006 (Gberie, 1).
Being the President,
she made many contributions for her country and her constituents. With her
election, the spirits of all those who believe in equality of gender has been
lifted. Her devotion on her country and her good intentions had lead her from
where she is right now. A true leader indeed, she never gives up from all the
experiences that she had before she achieves her goal (Chappell, 124).
Johnson-Sirleaf, has
vowed to cultivate closer and tight relationship with the United States.
Although she was known as the Iron Lady, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf doesn’t run from
her femininity. She embraces it and hopes to use this for being more sensitive
as a leader. Part of her achievement as a president is she instituted the tough
reform agenda which includes the revision of many political, economic and social
programs and practices within Liberia. She is a very optimistic leader. With her
enthusiasm and determination, Liberia is considered to be under a leader who
will nurture them as a mother but with tough strength.
Reference
Chappell, Kevin, Africa’s Historic
‘First’: President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf The Continent’s First Elected Female
Head of State Is Poised to Turn Things around in Liberia. Ebony, 1 (6),
2006.
Anonymous, The 100 Most Powerful
Women, 2006 http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/11/06women_Ellen-Johnson-
Sirleaf_BMW8.html>
Gberie, Lansana, Liberia: New Hope
for a Troubled Region; Lansana Gberie on What the Election of President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf Is Likely to Do to Liberia and the West African Region as a
Whole, New Africa, 447, 2006.
Price, Stuart, and Jarwalah Tonpo,
Liberia: A Lesson for Africa’s Big Men. New African, 446, 2005.
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment