MONROVIA – The fact that debates still continue to rave over women assuming leadership roles in traditional African patriarchies should be cause for concern, especially for a nation which prides itself for electing Africa’s first female president, Ellen Johnson, whose trailblazing works for women emancipation in her own country and beyond remain inspirational. But as Liberia’s Ambassador to Ghana Musu J. Ruhle recalls, women voices are still a far cry from being amplified to the point of becoming an all-encompassing inclusionary force for good; and that until the right things are done, women representation in leadership and politics will only remain symbolic.
Seizing the moment when she addressed the Conflict Prevention and Sustainable Peace Forum Panel on Amplifying Women’s Voices in Democratic and Political Transitions at the prestigious Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Teshi, Ghana on May 28, 2025, Ambassador Ruhle noted that at a time when democratic backsliding and protracted conflicts threaten peace, West Africa stands at a fragile crossroads. Yet, women across the region—whether in villages or foreign ministries, on frontlines or in parliaments—continue to demonstrate resilience, wisdom, and leadership. The question, therefore, Ambassador Ruhle opined, is not whether women should lead, but how systems can make space to, learn from, and be transformed by that leadership.
“First, we must look beyond visibility. Yes, women are more present in peace processes and frameworks. But too often, this presence is symbolic—more about appearances than influence. Representation alone is not transformation. We must ask: whose voices are heard, and whose remain silenced? Are we changing the power structures, or just decorating them?
“In Liberia, we are proud to have elected Africa’s first female president, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. But symbolic milestones are not replacements for the needed reforms. True empowerment demands structural change—in political parties, electoral financing, customary law, and transitional justice.
“Second, let us acknowledge that political transitions are rarely linear. They are complex, unpredictable, and often negotiated behind closed doors. And when decisions are made in such spaces, women are frequently left out. This is why we must expand our understanding of peace and security. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is the presence of justice and dignity. And security must mean that women live free from fear, exclusion, and economic disadvantage.
“Third, amplifying women’s voices must go beyond symbolic actions. It means placing women in decision-making roles and ensuring their experiences shape national policy. In Liberia, women-led grassroots peace initiatives played a major role in bringing an end to fourteen years of civil conflict and the post-war recovery. Yet many of these women remain excluded from formal political structures. That gap must be closed.
“We need more than declarations. We need resources, training, and leadership—both male and female—committed to equity and gender-responsive policies.
“Finally, we must practice radical inclusion—bringing in not only educated women or women in leadership roles, but also women in markets, refugee camps, and informal settlements. These women carry the heaviest burdens and often hold the deepest insights,” Ambassador Ruhle said.
Liberia, Ambassador Ruhle said, is currently campaigning for a Non-Permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2026–2027 under the Theme “Towards a Just and Peaceful World”.
“If elected, we will utilize the platform to champion inclusive peace and gender-responsive leadership through our proposed Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP).
“Peace cannot last unless women are central to it. Democracy cannot survive unless women have an equal say. And security will not be complete until every woman—wherever she lives—feels safe, heard, and respected. Let us not just invite women to the table. Let us transform the table itself,” Ambassador Ruhle stated emphatically.
Members of the high panel at the Conflict Resolution and Peace Forum included Cllr Amb Medina Wesseh, former secretary General of the Mano River Union; Hon Manty Tarrawaly, former Gender Minister who now serves as a Minister of State in the office of the Vice President of Sierra Leone; Her ladyship Prof Henrietta Mensah Bonsu, Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana; as well as the current Minister of Gender and Member of Parliament of Ghana, Madam Agnes Naa Momo Lartey.
The program was sponsored by the Australian High Commission to Ghana with concomitant accreditation to all four member states of the Mano River Union (MRU).