A Patriot’s Diary
With Ekena Nyankun Juagbe-Droh Wesley
LIBERIA – The world continues to be an unfair, inaccessible, and voiceless terrain for women. It is all due to socialization cum cultural inhibitions. We are born into families. Nature or fate did not say there should be special roles and responsibilities for boys and girls or women and men. An eroded tradition from ages continues to bereft our sense of judgment as humanity.
Women’s struggles and the quest for greater participation are anchored on the basis – that to be effectively democratic, all must be at the table equally amid voice, access, participation, and visibility.
In spite of the odds, courage, tenacity, and audacity remain the fortress that undoubtedly continues to inspire and propel women from all walks of life to rise to the challenge. Mythically, it was ill-conceived that women could not sign up for the military; could not meet the requirement to go to space; did not have the IQ to become scientists, pilots, engineers, etc. Thanks to Algeria which has produced the most female engineers in the world.
When one of our respected mentors, Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin, the Regional Director of ABANTU for Development – headquartered in Accra, Ghana embarked on a journey to unmask whatever the chauvinism commonplace in men, she did so with an acumen so subtly. Mind you, Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin, the first female Editor-in-Chief at Ghana’s Premier Daily graphic newspaper, had her own experiences as she was confronted with an editorial staff predominantly chauvinistic of men’s kind.
Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin had come to the top post at Ghana’s leading daily from the position of strength; qualification, credentials, and years of newsroom experience. She knew the ‘A, B &C’ of the newsroom; acculturated to the ethos amid the trappings of ethical judgment, the fringes of balance, and impartiality, and could discern news from opinions whereas she brought to bear a unique managerial skill that left a legacy at Daily Graphic. In her footpaths, scores of young and enterprising Ghanaian female journalists followed assertively.
With the exception of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), the media landscape in Liberia has seen relatively scarce female editorial managers. We have seen just one female Minister of Information throughout our history as a nation – Victoria Reffel.
Comrade Prof. Weade Kobbah-Boley rose to become Assistant Minister at Information, and LBS Director General like her predecessor, Madame Olivia Shannon. Lest we forget, Comrade Hoff, a former PUL executive, also served as Deputy Minister of Information and former News Editor at The News newspaper.
The print has similarly yet scarcely seen the empowerment of women into editorial management roles, to say the least. Mind you, the Inquirer is good at making history. Comrade Melissa Annan served as former Editor-in-Chief at the Inquirer. the records are there to show.
We salute the Board of Directors of the Inquirer newspaper for its recent unanimous determination regarding the appointment of Comrade, Leader, Christiana Saywah Jimmy, as the paper’s Managing Editor. Comrade Jimmy, you have made history in the small West African nation – becoming the first ever female Managing Editor.
Your name will go down in history, as one with foresight, recognizing that journalism must grow, you stood tall with valor unpretending to make a difference in your native Liberia. History will surely be kind to you, Comrade Leader, Chris Saywah Jimmy. Although the task comes with hurdles, remember humankind must demonstrate the preparedness to change the course of history for the better.
Comrade Chris Saywah Jimmy, your ascendancy, bears testimony to the fact that journalism is not a man’s world. History has proved that women too have the capacity to make the fundamental change that society craves in light of the greater good. We urge you to remember that the Inquirer was birthed at a time our nation was at crossroads. It all started when a fragile ceasefire was brokered in a senseless war of self-destruction.
Comrade, Christ Saywah Jimmy, you come to the new role, not as a stranger. For the last couple of months, while the late legendary Philip Wesseh was on his sick bed, he professionally shadowed you in preparation for this day. You performed remarkably, creditably, and with distinction.
As you take on this crucial and critical role, let the word go forth that passion must consume your determination to aspire to greater heights. We urge you to give all sides equal access and that the spirit of ethical baptism runs parallel to the doctrine and tendencies of fairness, balance, and impartiality for the greater journalistic tenets. Your charge is to take the Inquirer to another level.
This is your moment! You either make or break the Inquirer by the standards you seek to uphold or compromise. Best of luck, Comrade leader, Christiana Saywah Jimmy along this professional sojourn!
