Why women should participate in politics, decision making by Cooper

A woman advocate and politician, MacDella Cooper, has called on women to be more actively involved in politics and the decision making process, saying this is imperative to address the peculiar issues confronting them.

Cooper, who is the founder of the Movement for One Liberia (MOL) and former Presidential candidate of the party, said the era of restricting women and youths to the background in political matters, is over.

The Liberian born philanthropist in an interview with The Guardian identified lack of resources as one of the major hindrances to women participation in active politics.

According to her, Liberia has nine per cent female representation, while other countries within the region are struggling with it as well.

She said: “During the Beijing conference, governments at all levels were asked to give women the opportunity to sit at the decision making table, whether through elections or appointments, but political parties are ‘boys club,’ created by men, for men, to serve men.”

Cooper, whose MOL political party recently endorsed the presidential bid of former vice president Joseph Boakai, lamented that political parties have relegated women to the background in the scheme of things.

“If women are on the board of executive of political parties, there is no way they would not be on the list of candidates to go to election commission. Women are only called to go and execute, and not to be part of the decision making process. So, it starts at the executive committee or board level, which is the decision making body of political parties. This is where I keep telling nations and leaders that we need to change the structure of the executive committees of these political parties because women have no power, no say in the decisions made,” she said.

The political advocate maintained that until female politicians start to create their own seat at the table, or start their own political parties, they may find it difficult succeeding in politics.

“I have built a political party to give women a platform to run for office, but we must make it a mission that when we get there, we pull as many younger women, especially those behind us up, because we cannot continue to allow men make decisions based on their interest,” she added.

Cooper urged political parties to give women a chance, encourage and support their aspirations.

On her alliance with former vice president Boakai ahead of Liberia’s October 10 presidential election, Cooper said the nation cannot afford another six years of rudderless government.

She lamented that Liberia is at a crossroads and if the President George Weah’s administration continues, the country may regress into a direction that would bring it back into the years of conflict again.

“What is a leader if you cannot make decisions to assist your people. Liberia needs every citizen right now to rescue it and this is why I feel this rescue team is so important to our nation. It is just like how madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf came in 2005 to rescue Liberia; we can do it again and even better. We have to fight for our nation; it is our duty as citizens to stand up for this nation now against the incumbent government,” Cooper stated.