Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence

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Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence (born 2 July 1968) is a Liberian politician who has served as President Pro Tempore of the country's senate since January 2024. She is the leader of the opposition Liberty Party.

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Early life and education

Nyonblee Karnga was born on 2 July 1968 [1] and raised in Grand Bassa County, Liberia, [2] growing up during the civil wars. [3] Her father, Abba G. Karnga, was the presiding bishop of the World Wide Mission of Liberia and her mother was an educator and gospel singer. [2] [4] She has 12 siblings. [5] She has a degree in business management from the University of Liberia and an MBA from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in the United States. [2]

In October 2024, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University awarded Karnga-Lawrence an honorary Doctorate of Business Administration in recognition of her dedication to Liberia's progress. [6]

Career

Karnga-Lawrence was a public relations manager at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company before entering politics. [2]

Karnga-Lawrence was elected to the national legislature to represent Grand Bassa County in 2013 following the death of Senator John Whitfield. [7] She was the first female senator from the county and the only one in the senate during her first term. [2] She was then elected to a full term, endorsed by the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), in December 2020. [7] [8] Karnga-Lawrence was nicknamed "lioness" and "iron lady of the Senate" for her advocacy for gender equality and social justice. [2] [3] [5]

Karnga-Lawrence chaired the CPP, a coalition made up of the country's top four opposition parties. [2] She became leader of the Liberty Party in 2017 after the death of the party's founder Charles Brumskine. [7] She chairs the committee on Rules, Order, and Administration and is a member of the Ways, Means, and Finance, Public Accounts, Health and Gender, and Post and Post Telecommunications committees. [5]

In June 2022, Karnga-Lawrence was elected chair of the Women Legislative Caucus, laying out a plan to ensure all women lawmakers were retained after the 2023 elections. [9]

Karnga-Lawrence was proposed as a potential running mate for Unity Party candidate Joseph Boakai in the 2023 presidential elections, and was praised for her decision to support him despite not being selected. [7]

Karnga-Lawrence was elected Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate in January 2024 after being nominated for the position by Senator Prince Moye of Bong County. [7] She is the second woman to hold the role after Grace Minor. [3] Karnga-Lawrence has publicly committed herself to "transparency, accountability and responsible governance" as the country continues to reform. [10] [11] In August 2024, she attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago USA as part of the International Leaders Forum (ILF), seeking to give political leaders insights into America's democratic system. [12] In September 2024, she visited Beijing as part of a legislator's forum for friendly exchanges with China. [13] In October 2024, she received criticism from representative Clarence Banks, who suggested she had appointed county leaders based on political loyalty rather than competence. [14]

Personal life

Karnga-Lawrence was married to Adolph Lawrence, a geologist and member of the House of Representatives, until his death in a car accident on his 50th birthday in 2019. [5] [15] She has three biological and seven adopted chidlren. [2] Prior to entering politics, she established a local non profit foundation called Nyonblee Cares which focuses on improving the socio-economic wellbeing of impoverished Liberians. [16] During the Ebola crisis, her international advocacy and outreach resulted in the approval of $7billion to combat the virus. [2]

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References

  1. ↑ "About". Nyonblee.com. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence: A Beacon of Leadership for Liberia's Future". Montserrado Media Inc. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 Karmo, Henry (28 November 2023). "Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence Appears Being Preferred to be Next President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate". Front Page Africa. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  4. ↑ ""Stop Pitting Nyonblee Against Charlyne" -Massa Washington Pleads for unity". The Analyst. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Dodoo, Lennart (14 October 2021). "Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence: The lioness of the Liberian Senate". Front Page Africa. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  6. ↑ Wiakanty, Simon (31 October 2024). "Senate Pro Tempore Urges AMEZU Graduates to be Honest, Compassionate". Daily Observer. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Johnson, Obediah (15 January 2024). "Liberia: Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence Becomes New Senate Pro Tempore As Gbenzongar Findely Turns Down Nomination". Front Page Africa. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  8. ↑ David, Sampson (2 September 2020). "CPP Officially Endorses Sen. Karnga-Lawrence for Re-Election in Grand Bassa". The Bush Chicken. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  9. ↑ Milton, Bridgett (13 June 2022). "Sen. Karnga-Lawrence vows retention of all-female lawmakers". The New Dawn. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "Karnga-Lawrence Pledges Transparency, Accountability in Senate Operations". Daily Observer. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  11. ↑ Harmon, William Q. (10 June 2024). "Senate Poised to be More Rigid". Daily Observer. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence Graces DNC 2034". Daily Observer. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  13. ↑ Tumu, Jaheim T. (3 September 2024). "Liberia: Pro-Tempore Karnga-Lawrence Participates In Chinese Legislator's Forum For Friendly Exchanges". Front Page Africa. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  14. ↑ Gee, Gibson (15 October 2024). ""Nyonblee is Selfish and Greedy," Says Grand Bassa Lawmaker Amid Leadership Dispute". The Liberian Investigator. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  15. ↑ Koinyeneh, Gerald C. (24 March 2020). "Liberia: Sen. Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence Pays Homage to Late Husband One Year Following His Untimely Demise". Front Page Africa. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  16. ↑ "Nyonblee Cares Foundation Supplies Rural School in District #2, G. Bassa". Daily Observer. 21 October 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
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