WARD, Hon. Amelia Angeline
WARD, Hon. Amelia Angeline
amelia.ward@crc.gov.lr |
Madam Ward is a Development Economist with many years of professional working experience. She was employed at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs at the age of 19. The Ministry was instrumental in guiding and shaping her for a career. From its sponsorship, she obtained a diploma in Statistics, Achimota College in Accra, Ghana in 1966; BSC Degree in Economics from the University of San Francisco, USA, in 1971 and an MSc Degree in Development Economics from the University of Idaho, USA in 1977. In 2003, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Cause) was conferred on her by Cuttington University in Suakoko, Bong County.
Through the Ministry’s programs, Honorable Amelia A. Ward also pursued specialized studies in Trade Promotion at the ITC in 1974 in Geneva, Switzerland and the World Trade Center, USA in 1975, respectively. She underwent Economics Policy and Management Training at the World Bank in 1982 as well as Investment Promotion, World Bank, in USA 1984. Others include Population Policy and Methodology by Rapids and Pathfinder Group of Washington, DC in 1985 and Management of Development Assistance, Kenya Institute for Administration, sponsored by the World Bank in 1987.
Madam Ward served in many positions at the Ministry of Planning and economic Affairs. These positions were the following: Director, Economic Cooperation and External Assistant Coordinator; Economic Corporation and Integration; Senior Research Officer for Economic Corporation, Research Officer; Planning Officer, Statistician of the Miscellaneous Statistics Division, and Statistician for Coding and Verification, Foreign Trade Division. It is worth noting that most of the early period of her life in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs was centered on acquiring education and returning to the Ministry to handle greater challenges. She served as Governor or Alternative Governor for Liberia for the African Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, and ECOWAS Fund etc. Madam Ward led many delegates to the Mano River Union (MRU) Ministerial Council meeting, ECOWAS Ministerial meeting etc. She rose from the level of technician to the level of Minister on the Ministerial Council in the MRU and ECOWAS. She also served as Focal Person for International Cooperation dealing with international partners, as well as the UN System, eg: UNDP, UNFPA, UNCEF, and UNIFEM now UN Women etc. she significantly contributed to raising the UNICEF Liberia from a program headed by a Program Officer under the supervision of UNICEF Ivory Coast to a full fledge UN Agency headed by a Resident Representative now referred to as Country Director.
Madam Ward is a strong advocate for women’s rights and equality and was very instrumental in the establishment of various women organizations, including the Ministry of Gender and Development. She underwent several women leadership training including Conflict Prevention, Conflict Resolution, and Peace and Security and trained other women. She served as Focal Person for the Mano River Women Peace Network (MARWOPNET)-Liberia) for many years. She is presently 2nd Regional Vice President. Under MARWOPNET’s election program, she participated and led observation teams in Election held in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. From training received she trained other women to participate in the electoral process. Her involvements in the process enable her to work closely with the National Election Commission (NEC) in the three countries, particularly Liberia.
She was also invited on several occasions to share her experiences in the area of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and sustained peace and security. She was also invited to share experiences of the Mano River Union (MRU) electoral processes as it relate to MARWOPNET and how it could benefit those entity or countries from preventing conflict during elections held in the countries, the most recent Kenya. Due to her diligence performance, Madam Ward was appointed to the position of Deputy Minister and Principal Deputy at the Ministry and later rose to the position of Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs during Liberia’s most difficult and challenging periods under the Interim Government of National Unity led by Dr. Amos Sawyer, and the Transitional Government of Professor David Kpormakpor. During the administration of Her Excellency, Ruth Sando Perry, she was recruited by the UNDP to serve as Technical Advisor. She also served as Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs during the brief period of Taylor’s administration. She also served as Minister of Commerce and Industry.
When she was honored in Dakar, Senegal in July 2007 by the West African Women Association (WAWA), the caption used to describe her was “A Life Devoted to Government” for the many contributions she made to her country commencing from her early youthful days in government, including her active participation in programs and activities aimed at restoring peace to war torn Liberia, West Africa and Africa as a whole was highlighted. She was married to the late Moses S. Ward in December 1971.
The union was blessed with four (4) children. Madam Amelia Angeline Ward was born in Monrovia, Liberia unto the union of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Hooke, Sr. of Salala District, Bong County. Her late uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Crawford played a very major role in her upbringing and the shaping of her life. She grew up at an early age with reference for God, dedication, commitment and respect for hard work. She was honored by many organizations locally and internationally.