By P. Clarence Jackson, in Gbarnga, Liberia latifahkpah172@gmail.com
As Liberia recovers from the ashes of war, the Cater Center Liberia has ended a capacity building training for traditional female leaders of Bong County in Gbarnga, Bong County.
In the 1990s, the central city of Gbarnga served as headquarters of the defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL).
The training is part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of traditional leaders to advance and implement good governance and community justice practices,
Carter Center Liberia National Dispute Resolution Monitor Johnny K. Ndebe said, the training is meant to provide capacity building for local leaders in its project counties Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Maryland, Grand Geddeh, Grand Bassa, Margibi and Montesrrado.
Ndebe said, the training for the training women leaders as part of a weeklong traning activity and the second of three trainings to be held in Bong County.
Ndebe said, the first phase of the training brought together traditional male Chiefs from across the county and the last training began at the weekend, bringing together young people from across the county.
Ndebe told www.newspublictrust.com that the women are being taught on the importance of participatory governance as well as ensuring peaceful co- existence through cordial working relationship with the Chiefs, Commissioners and young people in their respective districts and communities.
“Because our program is about justice, we are first providing these women with legal information so that every action they take in their communities will be in accordance with the law”.
“We want these women to know what the law says about some basic legal issues including child support, marriage devoice among others.
According to Ndebe, the women are also learning how they can take part in leadership and ensure advocacy on their own behalf so that women issues affecting women in their respective counties are always highlighted.
“We don’t want these women to always sit aside but to be a part or sometimes take the lead in decision making in their communities at the county at large”.
Ndebe told www.newspublictrust.com that the women were concerned about several issues affecting local leaders in Bong County especially the manner in which some of them are being dismissed.
Ndebe in a group photo with the participants
Yellequelleh District Commissioner, Annie Reeves who was among women who participated in the training commended Carter Center for the knowledge and skills it continue to provide local leaders across the country as part of efforts to ensure they play a key role in the governance process.
In an interview with www.newspublictrust.com, Commissioner Reeves said:
“We are very greatful to Carter Center for what the organization continues to do for us because although some of are local leaders, it would have been difficult and almost impossible for us to even stand in front of people to express ourselves, had it not been for all these training we are getting from Carter Center”.
The female District Commissioner also said, the training broadens their understanding about cases they should preside over and the ones they do not have jurisdiction over.
Commissioner Reeves further appealed to local leaders of Bong County to desist from comprising cases such as rape if they government must succeed it its fight against sexual gender based violence across the country
Commissioner Annie Reeves
For her part, Jorquelleh administrative district number One Paramount Chief Mary Larteh described the training as a significant step in helping traditional leaders especially females in the respective communities.
Mdam Larteh then challenged her colleagues to put into practice what they learned during the training to enhance their work.
She further praised Carter Center Liberia for always taking interest in building the capacity of traditional leaders of Liberia.
Paramount Chief, Madam Mary Larteh
Supported by the government of Sweden and the United States Agency for International Development USAID, the training is part of Cater Center’s access to justice program which seeks to strengthen the capacity of traditional leaders to advance and implement good governance and community justice practices.