Alaric Tokpa Hails Madam Sirleaf -Describes Her As Beacon of Democratic Leadership

MONROVIA: The Governance Commission (GC) has honored former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as an enduring symbol of democratic leadership, urging Liberians to embrace good governance as essential to national renewal, peace, stability and development.

Speaking Tuesday at the inaugural ceremony marking Liberia’s Month of Good Governance, Acting Governance Commission (GC) Chairman, Professor Alaric K. Tokpa expressed profound appreciation to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for declaring October a month dedicated to promoting good governance across Liberia.

Tokpa called on Liberians and friends of Liberia to make good governance a shared national responsibility, emphasizing that the principles of accountability, transparency, inclusion, justice and effective public administration must remain central to Liberia’s development agenda.

The ceremony brought together former President Sirleaf, executives of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, diplomatic representatives, development partners, government officials, civil society leaders, media executives and members of the Governance Commission.

But the presence of Sirleaf, Liberia’s first elected female president and former Chairperson of the erstwhile Governance Reform Commission (GRC), now Governance Commission (GC), gave the occasion particular historical significance.

Tokpa said, the Governance Commission was especially honored that Sirleaf, who once headed the institution that preceded the current Governance Commission, had returned as its distinguished guest at the launch of the first Month of Good Governance.

He described her journey from political imprisonment to the Executive Mansion as an extraordinary chapter in Liberia’s political history and a powerful example of resilience, leadership and determination.
“From prison to the Executive Mansion,” Tokpa said, Sirleaf’s journey had helped challenge longstanding assumptions about women’s ability to lead in societies where political power has traditionally been dominated by men.

According to the political science lecturer, Madam Sirleaf’s presidency had generated broader discussion about women and political power while demonstrating, through practical experience, the capacity of women to occupy seats at the highest levels of national leadership.

Tokpa also praised Sirleaf for establishing the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, describing the institution as another significant contribution to leadership development and the advancement of women.

On behalf of the Governance Commission’s Board of Commissioners and its staff, he thanked the former president for continuing to invest her time and energy in efforts aimed at building a better Liberia.
He recalled the story of a young woman, identified as Daniella Berrian, who had reportedly insisted on attending the ceremony because she wanted to hear Sirleaf speak and learn from her leadership experience.

For Tokpa, the episode demonstrated that Sirleaf’s influence extends beyond the period of her presidency, particularly among young Liberians seeking examples of leadership and public service.
He expressed hope that her example and legacy would continue to inspire women and young people across Liberia, Africa and the wider world.

Tokpa used the occasion to outline the principles the Governance Commission considers fundamental to good governance.

These include transparency and accountability; government effectiveness and efficiency; public participation and inclusion; the rule of law; justice and equity; and the decentralization of political power.

He said, Liberia’s pursuit of good governance must be measured against these principles and translated into practices that strengthen public institutions and improve the relationship between citizens and government.

In paying tribute to Sirleaf, Tokpa said, the Governance Commission regarded her contribution to women’s political leadership as historically significant, particularly in Liberia, the Mano River region and West Africa.

He said, the Commission was therefore, “highly grateful and exceedingly glad” to welcome Sirleaf as its honored guest and speaker at the first official event of the Month of Good Governance.
The launch marks the beginning of a national conversation that places governance, institutional accountability and citizen participation at the center of Liberia’s development discourse.

Meanwhile, Tokpa ended his address with a message of national and continental solidarity: “God Bless Liberia! God, Bless Africa!”