Published: September 22, 2025
MONROVIA — A survey by The Liberian Investigator has found that nearly all of Liberia’s leading female politicians and cabinet officials, despite their public calls for gender equality, employ men as their chiefs of staff and senior aides—a pattern that raises questions about whether advocacy is being matched by practice.
The findings, which cut across both the Legislature and the Executive, underscore what critics describe as a contradiction between rhetoric and action. At stake, analysts warn, is whether Liberia’s women leaders are preparing a new generation of women to inherit political power or reinforcing the same male-dominated structures they often condemn.
Male Gatekeepers in Women’s Offices
The survey shows that in the Senate, only one female lawmaker has appointed a woman to the top role of chief of staff. Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence has Philip Johnson, while Senator Dabah Varpilah relies on Prince Kamara. Senator Botoe Kanneh stands out as the sole exception, with Annie Paye serving as her chief of staff.
The House of Representatives tells a similar story. All eight female lawmakers employ men as their top aides. Among them: Anderson Murfee serves Rep. Moima B. Mensah of Bong, B. Boima Magona is chief for Rep. Bintu Massalay of Grand Cape Mount, and Fredie Zayzay holds the role under Rep. Ellen Amarkai Attoh-Wreh of Margibi. Rep. Attoh-Wreh is the chair of the women’s legislative caucus.
In the Executive, First Lady Kartumu Boakai’s office is headed by a male chief of staff, Foday Tarpeh. Female ministers, including Gender Minister Gbeme Horray-Kollie, Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, and Defense Minister Geraldine Janet George, also depend on male chiefs or special assistants. Only Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and Health Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto employ women in these critical support positions.
Who They Hire vs. What They Preach
| Institution | Female Leader | Chief of Staff / Senior Aide | Gender |
| Senate | Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence (Pro Tempore) | Philip Johnson | Male |
| Senate | Dabah Varpilah (Grand Cape Mount) | Prince Kamara | Male |
| Senate | Botoe Kanneh (Gbarpolu) | Annie Paye | Female |
| House of Representatives | Moima B. Mensah (Bong #6) | Anderson Murfee | Male |
| House of Representatives | Bintu Massalay (Grand Cape Mount #1) | B. Boima Magona | Male |
| House of Representatives | Gbessie Sonii-Feika (Grand Cape Mount #3) | Johnson Massaquoi | Male |
| House of Representatives | Julie Fatorma Wiah (Lofa #2) | Gabriel Sackey | Male |
| House of Representatives | Prescilla A. Cooper (Montserrado #5) | Resamuel Willie | Male |
| House of Representatives | Marie G. Johnson (Grand Gedeh #2) | Lawrence Yeoh | Male |
| House of Representatives | Ellen Amarkai Attoh-Wreh (Margibi #3) | Fredie Zayzay | Male |
| House of Representatives | Rugie Yartu Barry (Montserrado #1) | Bill Montgomery | Male |
| Executive | First Lady Kartumu Boakai | Foday Tarpeh | Male |
| Executive | Gender Minister Gbeme Horray-Kollie | James Mike Fayiah | Male |
| Executive | Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah | Abraham Daker | Male |
| Executive | Defense Minister Geraldine Janet George | William Toe | Male |
| Executive | Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti | Female aide | Female |
| Executive | Health Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto | Female aide | Female |
Out of more than a dozen female lawmakers and cabinet officials, only three have appointed women to these pivotal positions.
Talking Feminism, Practicing Patriarchy
At a March political gathering in Monrovia, Rep. Rugie Yartu Barry of Montserrado County declared: “When women lead, society prospers.” She pointed to her party’s gender balance in its executive committee as evidence of a commitment to inclusion. Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence similarly praised the Liberty Party’s efforts to promote women within its structures.
Yet the survey suggests that in their own offices, Liberia’s most vocal advocates of gender equity have entrusted the day-to-day management of power to men.
Sirleaf: Quotas Need Laws and Competence
Former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state, remains a leading global advocate for women’s empowerment. In a recent interview with The Liberian Investigator, she admitted that Liberia, including during her administration, has consistently fallen short of genuine gender equity.
“Once the General Assembly passes a resolution, it has to be domesticated, making a national law to demand its implementation,” Sirleaf said, urging Liberia to adopt the 30 percent gender quota already embraced by other African nations.
She emphasized, however, that quotas cannot come at the expense of competence. “Quotas should not be an exchange of capabilities,” she said. “Those who are given the opportunity must be capable and meet all the requirements of being a good leader.”
Pointing to her Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Presidential Center, where she deliberately appointed competent women to top posts, she argued that Liberia’s women in power can model the inclusion they demand.
Civil Society Calls for Mentorship
Civil society groups say that while quotas and laws matter, deliberate mentorship is equally critical.
Eddie D. Jarwolo, executive director of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, urged women leaders to create pipelines for young women. “Female leaders in all sectors should start to mentor other young females who are already in political processes,” he said.
He suggested internship programs in lawmakers’ and ministers’ offices, where young women could learn skills ranging from report writing to strategic decision-making.
Vickjune Excel Wutoh, founder of the Initiative for Youth Empowerment and Economic Development, argued that cultural barriers still confine women to “big titles” while keeping them out of practical leadership training. “If women are not trusted with roles like chief of staff, how can they be trusted with the presidency? Women leaders must walk the talk,” she said.
Liberia’s Regional Lag
The debate comes as Liberia risks falling further behind its counterparts. Rwanda leads Africa with 61.3 percent of its parliament seats held by women, while Sierra Leone surged to 28 percent after passing its 2022 Gender Empowerment Act.
Liberia, by contrast, saw its quota bill fail in 2022 amid political disputes. The setback left the country trailing regional peers in building a gender-inclusive political system.
Charlyne Brumskine, a lawyer and former vice-presidential candidate, has urged President Joseph Boakai’s administration to prioritize a new quota law that would ensure at least 40 percent female participation in elected and appointed positions. Yet, like many of her peers, she employs a male chief of staff.
A Question of Example
For many gender advocates, the central issue is no longer just passing laws but also the personal example set by Liberia’s women in power. The survey makes clear that despite their advocacy, most continue to rely on male gatekeepers in their immediate circles.
As Sirleaf noted, laws can help create structural change. But without leadership by example, critics argue, the calls for equity risk sounding hollow.
As Liberia heads toward the 2029 elections, the question remains: will the nation’s women leaders continue to talk about equity while leaving women out of their own inner circlesor begin to practice the inclusion they demand from others?
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