Liberia: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Urges Women Leaders to Lead, Build and Rise

Jun 12, 2026 | Tina S. Mehnpaine
The Liberian Observer
View Original

It’s almost midday. The atmosphere in this air-conditioned room is eye-catching. Everyone's attention is fixed on her, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who broke barriers as Liberia and Africa’s first democratically elected female president, paving the way for women's leadership across the continent. 

They are gathered for the launch of the fifth cohort of the Amujae Leadership Forum, a flagship initiative of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, which she founded to advocate and mentor women in public leadership, which aims to inspire and prepare women to take up roles and excel in public leadership.  

The two-day gathering is held under the theme "From Vision to Vanguard: Women Redefining African Leadership.”

Through the center, which not only served as her legacy but also as a place where she could share her experience with women leaders across Africa, build a network, and provide support for women navigating public leadership. The center also advocates for women to increase the number of women in public leadership, providing mentorship and technical support.

Their gathering in Monrovia marks the first time since the inaugural cohort was launched in 2020. “For the next two days, they will spend dedicated time with our founder, Madam President, and also with each other and network,” said Ellen Pratt-Harris, the executive director of the EJS Center. 

The presence of women in public leadership in Africa is still low despite electing a woman president. Currently, Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah of Namibia and Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania are the only two women serving as presidents. 

The EJS Center also tracks women's leadership through its data hub. Countries such as Sierra Leone and Rwanda have made progress, but many African nations are still lagging. Women advocates and activists say having fewer women in public leadership can lead to underdevelopment and poverty.

Beyond the EJS Center, the Amujae was established to address this gap.