Lofa County, situated in the western region of Liberia, is one of the country's 15 political sub-divisions, comprising the first-level of administrative division, with seven political districts. Lofa is bordered on the South by Bong County, on the west by Gbarpolu County, on the northwestern part by the Republic of Sierra Leone and on the northeastern part by the Republic of Guinea.
The Carter Center's Access To Justice Program Deputy Chief of Party, Pewee Flomoku told the Heritage following the three-day training in Saleyea Town, Lofa County, that the training focus was to empower Lofa County women leaders in the area of conflict resolution.
He disclosed that from Lofa County's 7 political districts, the training session brought together the total of 57 women leaders comprising female chiefs, chairladies and the county's first female Paramount Chief, to discuss topics such as the overview of the Liberian Constitution, mediation, methods of conflict resolution and social responsibility, among others.
"The conflict resolution training provided the women the needed space to discuss issues confronting them freely, without fear or intimidation from their male counterparts," said Flomoku.
He stated that at the close of the training, the women leaders were encouraged to share the knowledge acquired with other women, adding that that they [women leaders] were challenged to serve as peace ambassadors in Lofa County.
For her part, Lofa County Gender Coordinator, Esther G. Koryon, who spoke on behalf of the participants at the three-day training, the training was 'rewarding and educative."
She thanked The Carter Center for the training, especially for highlighting gender issues, and used the occasion to caution her colleagues to avoid keeping all they have learned to themselves, but to use the skills acquired by informing others on the relevance of conflict resolution and the rule of law.