Dr. Manjerngie Carpenter Cecelia Ndebe, a graduate of both Western Michigan University and State University of New York, hopes to contest the presidency in the October general and presidential elections as Standard Bearer of the proposed Liberia Reconstruction Party (LRC).
Madam Ndebe who is also former student of Cuttington University College in Suakoko, Bong County, now Cuttington University, holds a BSC degree in nursing.
A youngest of 10 children, Dr. Ndebe was born on October 16, 1964 in Bolahun, Kolahun District, Lofa County.
Her father, the late Momoh Carpenter Ndebe, hailed from the Gbandi ethnic group, while her mother, Madam Sobondo Yawa Ndebe, is of the Kissi ethnic group.
Prior to her advanced studies in the USA, Dr. Ndebe taught Chemistry and Biology at the Foya Mission High School in Lofa County from 1991 to 1993.
From 1990 to 1993, she was involved in business and development activities in Foya Statutory District. In 2001, she also took medications and food to Liberians at displaced centers in Monrovia and Lofa County.
Also in 2002, Dr. Ndebe opened a commodity store where she employed a number of youth in Foya, Lofa County.
Commenting on her political orientation, Dr. Ndebe pointed out that she is a democrat and subscribes to the ingredients of democracy including accountability, transparency and fiscal probity as well as free speech and free.
The Liberian medical professional firmly believes in the promotion of moral and ethical virtues, respect for, and adherence to human rights and the rule of law, gender equality, and freedom of religion.
The female presidential aspirant supports the doctrine of equal but separation of power between and among the Legislature, Executive and Judicial branches of government.
According to the presidential aspirant, she had no room for corruption including misuse, mismanagement and siphoning of state resources. She vowed to effectively apply the laws of the country to drastically deal with anyone who may be involved in the mismanagement of state resources.
Dr. Ndebe further noted that, she believed in the sanctity and inviolability of state sovereignty.
She further subscribes to the creation of an educated society and promotion of community development.
If Dr. Ndebe is qualified by the National Elections Commission (NEC) to contest the presidency in 2011, she would be the second Liberian woman to express interest in joining the males-dominated race for the nation’s highest office in the October 2011 general and presidential elections.
The first woman who, last year, expressed her desire to contest the presidency is incumbent President, Ellen Johnson Sirelaf.
Madam Sirleaf and the late Dr. Margaret Torh Thompson were the two women that contested the nation’s presidency in the 2005 general and presidential among more than two dozens presidential candidates.
Madam Sirleaf emerged as the winner, thus becoming the first woman to head a nation on the African continent.
Dr. Thompson, a few years later, died of breast cancer. Another woman who contested the 2005 race, not as a presidential candidate but as vice presidential candidate was Rev. Cecelia Koffa Duo of the All Liberia Coalition Party of University of Liberia Mass Communications professor, Alhaji. G. V Kromah. Another woman who contested the 2005 race as vice presidential candidate was former Planning and Economic Affairs Minister, Madam Amelia Ward. She was vice standard bearer to Liberty Party’s then standard bearer, Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine.