Source: Front Page Africa
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently met with the Women Situation Room of the 2014 Special Senatorial Elections and shared information and reflected on the just ended electoral process, their role and findings.
The delegation was led by the head of the Women Situation Room, Cllr. Yvette Chesson-Wreh.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf thanked the Women Situation Room for the service rendered the country relative to the electoral process and added that their contribution was crucial to the overall success of the Special Senatorial Election.
She pointed out that the elections may not have been perfect due to the different issues and circumstances, but stressed that it was held and was successful. President Sirleaf recognized the rights of those who have expressed grievances about the process and hope that they remain within the confines of the law.
"We had a single woman elected during the elections and so we need to do more to support women and enhance their interest to participate and support women candidates in electoral processes. The year 2017 is crucial for women and elections and the work to be done must start now," she pointed out.
Speaking earlier, Cllr. Yvette Chesson-Wreh briefed President Sirleaf on the different activities of the Women Situation Room during the just ended electoral process. "We engaged the candidates, NEC officials, preached peace messages, denounced violence, sent out Elections Observers and helped address issues as they unfolded," she informed the President.
Making interventions, other members of the delegation lifted issues such as the difficulty of some voters to locate voting centers, late start of voting in some places, complaints from some candidate about the process as issues that must be corrected in future elections. They frowned on the low turnout of voters, which they put at 25percent and low women's participation put at just over 2 percent.
Key members of the delegation included Sister Mary Laurene Brown, Liberia Marketing Association's President Lusu Sloan, Madam Theresa Leigh Sherman, Madam Miatta Beysolow, among others.
'A Blessed Childhood': President Sirleaf Names Two-Month Old Girl
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf participated in the naming ceremony of a two-month old baby girl recently. The child was born unto the union of Jefferson S. Mansaray and Aminata Fofana of Clara Town, Bushrod Island on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, the same day President Sirleaf celebrates her birth anniversary. Mr. Mansaray hails from Grand Cape Mount County while Miss Fofana hails from Lofa County.
According to an Executive Mansion release, the child was named by President Sirleaf as Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Mansary at the request of her parents. The Liberian leader wished little Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Mansaray a blessed childhood and life filled with love, care and the fear of God. She prayed that God will grant the parents the passion to effectively love and care for her namesake. "God has blessed you both with this little angel and it is my hope and prayer that you will care for her and bring her up in the things of God," President Sirleaf urged.
President Sirleaf prayed that her namesake will follow her good examples and grow up to become one of Liberia's most powerful and productive women and be a true representative of the dreams, hope and aspirations of her parents. The parents informed the Liberian President that they decided to name the child in her honor due to their personal love and admiration for the President and the wonderful leadership she has and continues to provide for Liberia.
"Madam President, I love you so much and was very instrumental in your election in 2005 and 2011 and hold no regret for my decision. My love for you, couple with the fact that my daughter shares the same birthday with you, we decided to name her in her honor," Mr. Mansaray emphasized. He thanked President Sirleaf for accepting to perform the naming ceremony and for sharing the same name with their beloved and cherished daughter.