THE RECENTLY UNVEILED 2025 Civil Service Agency (CSA) report is not just a collection of statistics; it is a stark indictment of Liberia’s failure to live up to its own promises and potential. The data reveal a government that systematically excludes women: they hold a mere 23.2% of civil service jobs, a paltry 14.6% of appointed positions, and just 11% of legislative seats. This places Liberia at 161st globally, lagging behind its West African peers.
WHILE THE NATION rightly celebrates the historic firsts of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Vice President Jewel Taylor, these milestones now ring hollow, masking a pervasive and entrenched bias within our state institutions. This is not a talent gap; it is a will gap. As Representative Moima Dabah Briggs-Mensah powerfully stated, the system is “structurally unfair to women.”
WHEN NINE OUT of ten appointed officials are men, it reflects a conscious pattern of exclusion, not a coincidence. The common retort that appointments must be based “on competence, not gender” is a red herring that perpetuates the status quo. It presupposes that qualified women do not exist in equal measure—a false and chauvinistic notion. Gender quotas are not about appointing unqualified women; they are about dismantling the biased filters that have consistently overlooked qualified women for generations.
WE HAVE SEEN this story before. Liberia has a long history of unenforced pledges. The 2005 election guidelines, the National Gender Policy, and the Pro-Poor Agenda—all championed the 30% target. All have failed to make a lasting impact. The 2022 amendment to the New Elections Law, which finally attaches a consequence by allowing the NEC to reject non-compliant candidate lists, is a positive step for the legislature.
HOWEVER, IT DOES nothing for the executive branch, where the power of appointment lies and where the new report shows the most severe disparity. Therefore, the call from advocates like Esther S.D. Yango of WONGOSOL is not just urgent; it is the only logical path forward. The Liberian government must immediately enact and enforce mandatory gender quotas for all public appointments. This policy is non-negotiable for three fundamental reasons:
A GOVERNMENT THAT excludes over half its population from decision-making is inherently illegitimate. Women bear the primary burden of family and community care; their lived experiences are essential in shaping policies on health, education, and economic development.
DIVERSE LEADERSHIP FOSTERSinnovation, reduces groupthink, and improves oversight. Inclusive governments are more stable and better equipped to address complex national challenges. Gender equality is not a “women’s issue”; it is a prerequisite for national progress.
VOLUNTARY TARGETS HAVE been an abject failure for 20 years. Only mandatory, legally-binding quotas with clear enforcement mechanisms—such as the rejection of appointment lists that fail to comply—can break the cycle of empty promises and compel the structural change needed.
DIRECTOR GENERAL JOSIAH Joekai is correct that the report provides a “clue” for intervention. The clue is glaring: persuasion has failed. The President and the Legislature must now move beyond acknowledging the problem to solving it with decisive action.
THE ARREST AGENDA promises inclusive development. That promise will remain a mirage if the halls of power remain a boys’ club. Liberia’s women are not asking for a favor; they are demanding their rightful seat at the table. It is time for the government to mandate, not merely muse, on gender equality. The credibility of Liberia’s commitment to democracy and justice depends on it.
