The first Liberian civil war struck in 1989; a combat that left over 600,000 people dead and also led to the involvement of the Economic Community of West African States; this was about the time MacDella Cooper was born.
Life, chance, opportunity, keep flipping but whatever it turns out to be, it definitely put this teenage refugee who flee to Côte d’Ivoire for her life unto a path, until she found herself walking the runways in New York, Paris, London and Milan, and then starting a foundation to cater for underprivileged children and women in Liberia.
October 10 2017, if successful, MacDella Cooper will become Africa’s fourth elected female head of state with a cynosure on free childhood education, healthcare, growth of the national electric grid, decentralization and land ownership.
If she wins, she will stand as the country’s second female president, succeeding President Johnson-Sirleaf. The 40 years old philanthropist is one of the 20 candidates in Liberia’s presidential tussle but she stands out as the only female in the race. According to Macdella Cooper, she is not running to ensure gender balance during the polls but to lead Liberia to where Johnson-Sirleaf leaves it.
During an interview with OkayAfrica, MacDella Cooper cited her reasons for leaving her ‘fashion coordinator’ job at Ralph Lauren to focus on MacDella Cooper Foundation – ‘the atrocities and loses that birthed from a civil war, the thought of knowing that your people back home, most especially children and women are finding it hard to live normal, everyday lives’. It was her way of giving back.
MacDella says Elizabeth Johnson Sirleaf’s presidency inspired her and she believes it will continue to inspire women across Africa. She stated:
The glass ceiling in politics remains and much work is left to address the lack of opportunities, justice and equity for women. Though the election of President Johnson-Sirleaf may have opened some doors, male-dominated political arenas and the belief that women cannot hold high political positions persist.
In spite of the fact that she has never held an elected political office, Madam Cooper appeals just as she says it – as that determined and daring lady, who spent her teenage years struggling not to become a victim of war.
Her campaign slogan: ‘Leading with hope and reform’, Liberia Restoration Party’s Flag-bearer (a newly certificated political party) is leveraging on youthfulness, contemporary, creative and fresh ideas to surface the prime. The campaign organization also set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds and make October 10, Cooper’s day of victory.
Once she was asked about the divide between Native Liberians and Americo-Liberians, Cooper was quick to correct saying:
I’m a native Liberian who was forced to leave her motherland because of war, We don’t have the luxury of encouraging divisiveness among ourselves, so I navigate this topic by putting my country and her pressing needs first.
In a few days, Liberians will return to the polling booths to make the big decision, is it Joseph Boakai, the current Vice President or Charles Brumskine? Maybe Alexander Cummings who happens to be CocaCola’s chief administrative officer or Prince Johnson – a former rebel leader? or m the philanthropist, Madam Cooper?
The rest of Africa and the world are waiting to see which side of the dice stays up.
For us at MB, we can only say good luck to MacDella.
