Women, Peace & Security
Source: The Inquirer
Under the auspices of the Angie Brooks International Centre for Women's Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security, the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, RE. Olubanke King-Akerele today launch her book entitled: “Women's Leadership in Post Conflict Liberia My Journey”.
The book is expected to be launched simultaneously in the United States of America and Liberia via video conference, courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia in collaboration with the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for scholars and the Council of Women World Leaders in Washington D.C. as host. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will serve as the Chief Launcher.
The panel for the launch in Monrovia will comprise of Cur. Yvette Chesson-Wureh, Establishment Coordinator of the Angie Brooks International Centre for Women's Empowerment, Leadership Development, who will introduce the occasion, Dr. C. William Allen, Director General of the Civil Service Agency as Moderator; Dr. Emmet Dennis, President of the University of Liberia; Judge Emma Shannon Walser, Liberia's First Female Circuit Court Judge and 2006 Independence Day National Orator; H.E. Rudolph Von Bailmoos, Liberia's Ambassador to Ghana; and Mr. Charles T.O. King II, President of Liberia Finance and Trust.
In Washington D.C., officials of the Woodrow Wilson International Centre and the Council of Women World Leaders will constitute a panel including Executive Vice President, Michael Van Dusen and Director and head of its Africa Programme, Steven McDonald, who will moderate the event. Others on the panel in the U.S. will include Linda Thomas Greenfield, Former U.S. Ambassador to Liberia and current Director General Foreign Service, U.S. State Department, Ohene Owusu Onyanin, Former World Bank Country Director in Liberia; and Dr. Constance Morris Hope, Leadership development pro bono consultant to the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and executive coach/trainer during the tenure of former Minister Olubanke King-Akerele.
“Women's Leadership in Post Conflict Liberia — My Journey”, while highlighting antecedents and preparations to the journey of the Former Minister, traces her professional journey from her service as a young technocrat at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs in the late sixties through her 24 years of international service, focuses on her period of public service from April 2006 to November 2010. It is presented in the form of reflections on the challenges faced during post conflict reconstruction in Liberia; the response to those challenges within the context of the two portfolios held during that period- namely that of Minister of Commerce and Industry (April 2006 — September 2007) and subsequently Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet (September 2007 — November 2010)
The book addresses four audiences: the Liberian public; Africa's and Liberia's future leadership; policy makers, academia, development professionals and practitioners involved in reconstruction in post conflict countries; and lastly, women in leadership or aspiring to leadership positions in post conflict countries. Having demonstrated how, amongst others, she responded to the issue of capacity building and succession planning (current day's intergenerational change) the book ends with “Take-away” lessons to help others on their journey.
Supported by the African Women Development Fund and the Angie Brooks International Centre for Women's Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security, the book has been published by DigiBook publishing Company in Tema, Ghana.
About the Author
Hon. Olubanke King-Akerele, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and former Minister of Commerce & Industry is an international development professional, who trained as an Economist at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and at Brandeis University and Columbia University in the United States of America.
She has been on extended medical leave from the Liberian Government since November 2010 and has undergone two shoulder surgeries in the USA (the second recently some three months ago) from which she is currently recovering.