Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
Republic of Liberia (Female suffrage 1946) Founded 1822 as a Colony for Freed American Slaves, Independent 1847

Also see Liberia Heads and Liberia Parliament

1948-52 Secretary of State of Education Ellen Mills Scarborough

1953-58 Assistant Attorney General Angie Elizabeth Brook-Randolph
1956-73 Assistant Secretary of State
1958 For some days she was Chief Executive as both the President and the Secretary of State were abroad
Delegate to the UN from 1955, 1956 Vice-Chairperson and 1961 chairperson of the Committee of Trust and Non-self Government Territories, 1961 Vice-President of the Committee on Information on Non-Self-government Territories, 1962 Chairperson on the Commission for Ruanda-Urundi, 1965 Vice-President and 1966 President of the Trusteeship Council, Ambassador-at-Large 1973-75, Ambassador to the United Nations 1975-77 and Judge in the Supreme Court from 1977. She lived (1928-2007).

1972-76 Minister of Health and Social Security (Edith) Mai Wiles Padmore
Executive Secretary to the President 1951-55, joined her husband, George Arthur Padmore, who was Ambassador to USA 1956-61, Special Assistant to the President 1963-71. She resigned from the government due to failing health but became active in the Episcopal Diocese of Liberia. In exile in USA 1980-83. Mother of five sons and lived (1916-88).

1972-73 Secretary of State of Finance Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
1977-79 Secretary of State of Finance
1979-80 Minister of Finance
2006- President
President of the National Bank in 1980, 1980-85 worked for the World Bank, 1985-86 in house arrest after her return, 1990-92 Leading member of exile-government of Amos Sawyer in United States of America, 1992-97 African Director of the UNDP (United Nations Development Program). From 1997 Leader of the Unity Party. Presidential Candidate in 1997 and Candidate for the Chairmanship of the National Transitional Government in 2003 and finally won the presidential elections in november 2005. She is divorced, mother of a number of children, and grandmother. (b. 1938-).

1973-77/81 Minister of Health and Welfare Dr. Kate Bryant

1975-79 Minister of Agriculture Florence Cheroweth

1975-78 Minister of Post Hanna Abedou Bowen Jones
1977-78 Minister of Communication
1978-81 Minister of Health and Social Security
Ambassador to the United Nations and 1981-85 Vice-President of the General Assembly of the United Nations 1983-84.

Ca. 1975-89 Deputy Minister of Economc Planning Amelia Ward
1991-95 and 1998-2001 Minister of Panning and Economy
1999-2001 Minister of Commerce and Industry
2001-02 Minister of Planning and Economy
Sometime Chair of the Planning and Development Committee in the Episcopal Church of Liberia, Vice-presidential Candidate for the 2005-elections and Chairperson, Board of Directors, Liberia Petroleum Refinery Corporation from 2005. Widow and mother of 4 children.

1981-87 Minister of Health and Social Security Major Martha Sandolo Belleh

1981-? Deputy Minister of State without Portfolio in Ministry of Presidential Affairs Captain Veronica Peagor

1985-87 Minister of Commerce, Industry and Transport McLeod Darpoh
1987-90 Minister of Post and Telecommunication

1993-94 First Secretary of the Council of State Dorothy Musuleng-Cooper
1994-95 Minister of Foreign Affairs (First in the Cabinet)
2001-03 Minister of Gender Development
From 1989 1. Vice-chairperson of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (The Guerilla-movement of Charles Taylor

1995-96 Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Victoria Refell
1996-97 Member of the Council of State
Ca. 1998- Advisor of President Charles Taylor

1996-97 Acting President and Leader of the Government Ruth Perry (2.9.-2.8.97)
A former senator, she was Chairperson of the Council of State in the final state of the civil war which had plagued the country for decades. (b. 1939-)

1997-98 Minister of Planning and Economy Sandra Howard

1998-2003 Minister of Education Evelyn White-Kandakai
From 2006 Member of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Company

2001-03 Minister of Commerce and Industry Cora Peabody

2001-03 Minister of Post and Telecommunication Emma Wuor

Ca. 2001-03 Deputy Minister of Finance for Revenue Juanita Neal

2001-03 Deputy Minister of Gender Development Madam Lwopou Kandakai
2003-06 Deputy Minister for Planning at the Ministry of Gender and Development

2003-06 Minister at the Ministry of Gender and Development Vabah Kazaku Gayflor
2006-10 Minister of Gender and Development
2006 Acting Minister of Commerce

2003-06 Minister of Youth and Sports Wheatonia Dixon-Barnes

2003-05 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Una Kumba Thompson
Acting Foreign Minister in May and July 2004. Candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)

2006-08 Minister of Finance Antoinette Monsio Sayeh
A former World Bank executive and Director of the African Department of the International Monetary Fund from 2008. (b. 1959-).

2006-07 Minister of Commerce and Industry Olubanke King-Akerele

2007-10 Minister of Foreign Affairs

Also known as Olubanke Akerele, Olubanke Yetunde or Olu Bankie, she worked 20 years as Deputy Director for the United Nations Development Program for Women and then United Nations Development Program Representative in Mauritius and Seychelles prior to her appointment to the government. She is the granddaughter of former Liberian president Charles DB King.

2006-07 Minister of Justice and Attorney General Frances Johnson-Morris
2007-08 Minister of Commerce and Industry
2008-10 President of the Anti-Corruption Commission

Chairperson of the Electoral Commssion until 2006. Acting President in September 2006 and February 2007 during the absence of President and Vice-President.

2006- Deputy Minister of Gender and Development Benetta Tarr

2006-07 Minister of Youth and Sports Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie
Supreme Court Judge from 2007.

2006-  Deputy Minster for Legal Affairs Krubo Kollie

2006- Deputy Minister of Post and Telecommunications Estelle K. Liberty

2006-07 Deputy of Gender and Development Annie Jones Demen

2006-07 Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare Vivian J. Cherue
2010- Acting Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Ministry of Health & Social Welfare

2006-  Deputy Minister of Information Elizabeth E. Hoff

2006-  Deputy Minister of Justice Cieaneh D. Clinton-Johnson

2006-07 Deputy Minister of Labour Sedia Massaquoi-Bangoura

2007-10 Minister of Youth and Sports Etmonia Davis Tarpeh

2007- Deputy Minister in the Ministry of State Pearine Davis-Parkinson

2007- Deputy Minister of Gender and Development Annette Kiawu

2007- Deputy Minister of Education Hester Williams Catakaw

2008-10 Minister of Commerce Miata Beysolow

2008 Deputy Minister of Justice Eva Mae Mappy Morgan

2008- Deputy Minister of Public Works Laurine Johnson,

2009-10 Minister of Justice Christiana Tah
Former Assistant Minister for correction and later Deputy Minister of Justice.

2009- Deputy Minister of Finance for Revenue Elfreda Tamba
2010- Acting Minister of Finance