The Establishment Coordinator of the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC), Counselor Yvette Chesson-Wureh has cautioned Liberians to protect the peace by committing to it particularly that the country is going to election in 2023.
“We have to take the peace of this country in our hands. We have to lead the peace. No U.N coming, the people tire with us, so we have to do it for ourselves”, Dr. Chesson-Wureh said.
Madam Chesson-Wureh made the statement Friday, August 12, 2022 at the Gbarnga Administrative Building when she spoke to hundreds of grassroots women and youths in Bong County during the closing of the first phase of the project Title: Sustainable and Inclusive Peace in Liberia through Promoting Women Leadership and Participation in Civic and Political Life and their Strengthened Role in Conflict Resolution.
The initiative is a flagship program of the ‘’Women Situation Room (WSR)” initiated by the Angie Brooks International Centre for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security in partnership with ZOA-Liberia with support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.
The elaborate program brought together hundreds of people, comprising of chiefs, women and youth leaders from 10 communities including Gbarnga, Belefanai, Palala, Suakoko, Totota, Folobia, Gbartala, Salala, Cuttington, and Wainsue
The United Nations finally closed its peacekeeping mission to Liberia in 2018, 15 years after it was deployed in the aftermath of two civil wars that ended with the fall of then-president Charles Taylor.
By then the mission had already withdrawn most of its 15,000 troops in mid-2016, signaling that the poor West African nation can meet its own security needs. The mission contributed to the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia.
Speaking further she told the Bong citizens not to give in to rhetoric of politicians that would cause them to go against one another while their children are abroad attending quality schools after which they will return and take the helm of authority of the country.
“Those of you who I talked to, I told you that the politicians’ children not here, they are in Europe and America going to school to come back and take power for four or six years. They give you rice and chicken feet and you elect them because you are selling your votes. But, is it worth it?
“I also spoke to you about supporting women. When you open the door for one woman to step forward, she will bring one more woman in. Don’t be a women wing leader for any political party. You are the head to make decisions because it is you and the youth they are using”,she emphasized further.
Remarking at the program, was former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Cllr. Frances Johnson Allison who extolled the Woman Situation Room (WSR) and said it has been inspiring for her and useful to the community people of Bong County.
The activities of Angie Brooks covers a wide spectrum of the population. We assure you of our support because we want to see you doing better. Take advantage of the mediation in your communities to make sure that Liberia remains peaceful and stable, the former Chief Justice urged the beneficiaries.
Also remarking during the ceremony, the former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Liberia, Olubanke King Akerele told the grassroots women and youth that they were preparing themselves to take leadership. According to her, training is necessary for people who lead and urged them to follow the distinguished role of Chief Suakoko in building the nation.
All of the participants who spoke pay homage to the Angie Brooks International Centre for the massive support and discussion on the importance of peace with the women and youth of Bong County. A discussion which has inspired them to spread non violence and anti-drugs messages to their communities.
They further thanked ABIC for creating the space for them to speak out and their voices be heard, sometimes according to them, has given them insight to make greater impact in the interest of their communities and the country, mentioning that ABIC continues its good work for the sake of peace and women empowerment.
“My people let us keep talking to our communities about the good of peace and the bad of violence and continue to tell our people especially our children that drugs are not good. We thanked Angie Brooks for the good job they do for us”, said Florence S. Barron, Chairlady of Palala.
