Liberia: Stakeholders in Agriculture Call for Audit of Institutions in The SectorMonrovia – Several farmers are calling for an audit of institutions and organizations managing the agriculture sector in Liberia. “We the farmers don’t trust especially government institutions either spearheading or implementing various agriculture programs. They said experience has shown that whenever donor fund is available, “overnight” farmers or farming institutions emerge but cease to exist after the support dries up. (MSMEs) in the agriculture sector. Ms. Baffour noted that access to finance by farmers would unlock the potentials that exist in the agriculture sector.

MONROVIA — Delegates at the Liberty Party Special National Convention have endorsed the candidacy of Mr. Alexander B. Cummings, standard bearer of the opposition Alternative National Congress, to lead the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) ahead of the 2023 presidential elections. “The Liberty Party will ensure that Cummings is elected as standard bearer of the CPP because he has proven to be a man who believes in resurrecting Liberians,” he said. Party executives from both the ANC and Liberty Party graced the program, endorsing the decision reached Saturday. ” I’m happy for your peaceful national convention and I am happy for the manner and form the Liberty Party has pledged its support to Mr. Cummings. He pledged Cummings’ commitment to the confidence reposed in him by the Liberty Party, saying: “Cummings is a man of his words, a very trusted personality who will never disappoint the Liberty Party.”

Monrovia – FrontPageAfrica has reliably learnt in the past 24 hours that the Government of Liberia and ArcelorMittal (AML) have reached a deadlock in a marathon negotiation to ratify the 3rd Amendment that is currently at the national legislature. FPA has gathered that the deadlock concerns request from the Government of Liberia that AML brings additional US 25$million to address long term unresolved housing challenges in project affected counties of Nimba, Grand Bassa and Bong. It can be recalled at a Senate Hearing on the 3rd Amendment that several senators called for more resources from AML and for AML to do more in the project affected counties. On Thursday evening, AML officials requested more time to discuss with senior management of the company on a way forward. In the amendment, the Committee called on the government to take ownership of the Railroad, Buchanan Iron Ore Port and related Infrastructure.

Monrovia – The Chairman of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce of Liberia, Labour Minister, Cllr. Gibson was speaking on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at ceremony marking the official dedication of a newly established Unit on Human Trafficking at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in Monrovia. They are also working with Lawyers of the Taskforce to ensure that when cases go to court, there are evidence of proof to show convictions,” Min. He added that the GOL is putting a lot of money to ensure that the fight against human trafficking is successful. He assured Liberians and foreign partners of the LNP’s readiness in the fight against human trafficking Liberia.

MONROVIA – A 26-year-old Liberian woman has been sent to jail for allegedly selling her five months old baby. Police investigation established that the five-month-old baby, Safeyatu Bah, was sold to an unknown lady for US$60. She said because she had been suffering to take care of the child and meeting up with her needs, she consented. According to her, she had had three abortions and couldn’t do any further though the child’s father had allegedly pressurized her to abort the pregnancy. Castro and Jerome have both been charged with human trafficking and criminal facilitation.

The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission has been hooked for corruption, conflict of interest, and money-laundering by the Liberia Anti- Corruption Commission. The historic finding of the LACC investigation comes after NEC Executive Director Anthony Sengbe told the public that his boss did not influence the bidding process. But NEC claimed that only "Tuma Enterprises was the most responsive in the bidding process," hence their final selection and approval by a panel of procurement officials. If the NEC had purchased the equipment, it would have saved a whopping US$153,320, while owning the equipment out rightly, instead of leasing it. However, the LACC has cleared Bishop John Allan Klayee of the Jubilee Church and George Yuoh of corruption allegations of payroll paddling and financial impropriety at the Liberia Airport Authority.

KOKOYA, Bong County – Serious controversies have sparked over the disbursement of a $450,000.00 United States Dollars linking some current top and former officials of Bong County. The amount was meant for Saywhen Town, a community situated in the operational area of Turkish Mining Company MNG Gold in Bong County. In less than twenty four hours that year, 30 people were hospitalized after the exposure to the chemical spill from the company’s reservoir. Rep. Hills Representative and former Senator Yallah are said to have been the strong advocates in ensuring that the residents get the agreed amount. FrontPageAfrica Tcontacted Kokoyah Statutory Superintendent Conteh Yallah who claimed of being left out in the process both by Yallah and Moye.

The bills in question are the revenue sharing law and the investment incentive agreements between the government of Liberia and Jeety Rubber LLC, as well as the Mano Manufacturing Company. The three (3) bills were submitted by President George Weah and all three got their first reading respectively on December 14. Additionally, President Weah disclosed that the proposed processing plant will also produce condoms, hand gloves, rain boots, and rubber bands, among others. The President added that the establishment of the plant for natural rubber processing and production will be the first major rubber processing plant in Liberia and will be located primarily in electoral District 5, Margibi County. When ratified, President Weah said the agreement will last for a period of 15 years.

MONROVIA – A Local Women Civil society group, “Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia” (WONGOSOL) established as an organ for coordinating the activities of women organizations in Liberia in1998, is leading a campaign for a law to be enacted to mandated for women to occupy at least 30% of all national elected offices and leadership positions in political parties. “The only and biggest leadership positions given to women in all the Political parties is head of women wing of that party this I believed is not fair and must stop,” Madam Salue said. According to her, women are equally then even some of their men counterpart noting that there is a need that law be enacted to compel political parties for women to occupy at least 30% of all national elected offices and leadership positions in political parties. WONGOSOL is a network of 104 organizations committed to ending violence against women and achieving gender equality in Liberia. Madam Salue disclosed that currently WONGOSOL is a manifestation of their campaign for to occupy at least 30% of all national elected offices and leadership positions in political parties they have begun holding a four-day women political and leadership project aim at improving women’s Representation at the Liberian legislature.

The Armed Forces of Liberia has announced January 4, 2022, as the beginning date for its nationwide recruitment drive intended to augment the strength of the AFL. The AFL said it will recruit Liberian citizens between the ages of 18-35 years, who are desirous of being enlisted into the Armed Forces of Liberia. The four geographical regions are Central Region, Western Region, Northern Region, and South-Eastern Region. The Gbarnga Sports Stadium is the recruitment center, and recruitment will run from February 21 to March 5, 2022. South-Eastern Region recruitment center is the Zwedru Multilateral High School and recruitment will run from March 7 to March 19, 2022.

MONROVIA – The National Elections Commission (NEC) on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 certificated Erol Madison Gwion winner of the just-ended November 16, 2021 by-election in Grand Gedeh County. Three of the four winners certificated are Finda Lassanah of Bomi Independent Candidate, Samuel N. Brown Sr. of Nimba County an Independent Candidate and Erol Madison Gwion of Grand Gedeh County of the Liberia Restoration Party (LRP). Presenting the certificate to the Grand Gedeh lawmaker-elect, Commissioner P. Teplah Reeves said the November 16, 2021 by-election was successful conducted in four Counties Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Bomi Counties. According to Commissioner Reeves, the Commission subsequently declared winners to these four counties and certificated only the winners from Bomi and Nimba because complaints was filed against the process in Grand Gedeh and Bong Counties, respectively. According to Madison Gwion, people of this nation should be grateful to witness the enjoyment of this dispensation of multiparty democracy.

They claimed that the alleged action of “General” Broh and the team is detrimental to their survival, as the trading of banana, was their only means of living. Representative George claimed that about five trucks full with bananas and plantains were taken away by “General” Broh and her team to an unknown destination. Madam Broh was to appear and she did not appear. They came and apologized and Madam Broh said that she was sick and she couldn’t come. It remains unclear whether “General” Broh will appear before the lawmakers since in fact, there are reports that President Weah has already intervene in the matter.

The new headquarters of the Liberia Football Association, the first-ever to be owned by the football association, is nearing completion. Located in the Swankamore Community, SKD Boulevard in Congo Town, the construction project has reached the exterior finishing stage with final touches being done on the exterior walls. The project is one of FIFA’s funded and approved projects for Liberia and is valued US$1.5 million. The headquarters project was designed and is being implemented by CESAF-Liberia Limited, a Liberian owned construction company. Owning a headquarters is also part of requirements for a member association to meet up with in order to receive additional benefits from the FIFA Forward 2.0 fund.

The United States Embassy near Monrovia last week claimed that the Nimba County senator is being paid in order to maintain domestic stability through a pay-for play scheme. But the Nimba County senator has rebuffed the allegations, describing it as a shock and has no specifics. I have never received any money from any government agency or ministry to provide intelligence,” Senator Johnson said. Senator Johnson, who chaired the Senate’s Committee on Intelligence and Defense, said such committee doesn’t receive finance or budgetary allocation from government. “Also, sixty five percent of the local appointments in Nimba County were done with my consent.

Monrovia – The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) has benefited from Community Land Intervention Monitoring and Management Tools (CLIMT) launched through its partners, CADASTA, Lantmateriet and the Swedish Mapping. Mr. Bryen said that it will give the LLA better understanding of what phase they are, in terms of the costumers’ resurvey. “we promised this platform I am sure is going to be kept for sometimes but even when the support is withdrawn from the Land Authority, for this platform will make sure that it can continue, Atty. He aslo called on the government to step in to ensure that the Land Authority is not noted as spending entity of government, but a revenue generating institution. “We have the capacity, we have the ideas, we have the means but the land sector, we know, administration is not cheap and it is not an event.