Tributes have been paid to Liberian MP and former supermodel Munah Pelham-Youngblood, who has died at the age of 36.

She was one of only 10 women in the West African nation's 103-seat parliament.

A member of President George Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party, she died in Ghana after a protracted illness.

President Weah described her as a pillar of the CDC and a great stateswoman.

Her active leadership had "contributed enormously to nurturing the country's democracy", his statement continued.

"She was also a strong advocate for women leadership and empowerment," he said.

When she was elected in 2011, she was Liberia’s youngest MP.