MONROVIA — China Chongqing International Construction Corporation (CICO) says it remains fully committed to the completion of the Coca-Cola Factory to ELWA Junction Road Project which contract agreement was entered into in 2018 with the Government of Liberia. In a press release issue in Monrovia over the weekend, the company said it is seeking the cooperation from all project communities and motorists plying the road to strictly observe all road safety regulations as the project enters the final phase. The company pledged its full commitment to the completion of the road project, stressing that even under the heavy down pour of rain workers and engineers were exerting efforts in making sure that Coca Cola Factory to ELWA Junction Road Project meet all international standard and specification spelled out in the contract agreement. Also, the agreement leading to the Coca Cola Factory-ELWA Junction corridor was legislated in 2018 with financial support to come from the Government of Liberia and other partners, including the World Bank. China Chongqing International Construction Corporation or CICO, is acclaimed in Liberia for its specialized engineering performance in road network building and other engineering works and has successfully completed several landmark projects in Liberia.

District Two, Bong County — A coalition of youth associations and student groups, under the auspices of Gbansia Clan Students’ Campaign Organization, have drummed their support for the representative bid of J. Mulbah Totaye. Totaye is expected to contest as an independent candidate in the April 27 by-election in Bong’s District Two. The seat for the district has been declared vacant by the National Elections Commission (NEC) after Prince Moye, the district former representative, won as senator of Bong County in last year’s Special Senatorial Elections. It’s time I replicate my success as an agriculturist and a private citizen to the development of District Two. I will lead the campaign for real change of mindset of our people through reorientation,” he said.

Condo Reconciliation Group Incorporated, a United States based non-governmental organization, with an office in Monrovia, is primarily engaged in peace advocacy and reconciliation with the goal of making a meaningful contribution to peace and stability in Liberia. “Senator Johnson, Condo does not only need your blessing and support, but also your total involvement in its planned peace and reconciliation venture in Nimba County. We have come to you as our big brother to share our ideas with you in order for you to lead us to Nimba County. Mr. Keita further explained that his organization planned peace and reconciliation initiative in Nimba is part of series of peace and reconciliation initiatives earmarked on across the county. He warned that in order for any peace initiative to be successful, it must be done holistically and with boldness.

This temporary ban has now come to an end, leaving Liberian girls and women open to the risk of undergoing FGM once again. Currently, more than half of Liberian women are living with the consequences of the cut and many more are at risk. Let it be known that women rights are human rights and they should enjoy it to the fullest without stoppage and or molestation as it has been, most especially during electoral periods. Additionally, I also recognise that there are persisting and emerging threats specifically to young women and girls’ rights including shrinking civic space, illiberalism, religious/traditional fundamentalism and militarism amongst others. And, that achieving gender equality for young African women and girls is the shared responsibility of different stakeholders.

THE EDITOR,What good is a democracy when its Judicial System vomits and eats what it vomited or stops its previous ruling? Now I see why the United States has slapped travel restrictions to the US on the conflicted Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Francis Kporkpor. Thanks to collaboration between global philanthropist-billionaire Dr. George Soros’ Global Witness and US Treasury Department dirty money hunters for putting the brakes on Sherman and Sable Mining. In 2013, this very Supreme Court sentenced FrontPageAfrica newspaper journalist and publisher Rodney Sieh to the equivalent of 5,000 years in jail. The Supreme Court and others in our government are inviting a replay of our violent past, it seems.

MONROVIA — The Green Climate Fund (GCF) on Friday, March 19, 2021 approved a US$17.2 million grant for the Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project, aim at protecting West Point against coastal erosion and storm. The Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project intends to address life-threatening climate change-related impacts of sea-level rise, coastal erosion and urban encroachment into vital mangrove ecosystems. Coastal erosion has also exposed the fishery sector to serious risk. The Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project will address this urgent need by constructing a rock revetment to protect West Point against coastal erosion and storms. “I recently visited some of the areas where this coastal resilience work will be done.

Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee (right) and Learning Squared Liberia team doing an unveiling at official launch; inserted left is LSL President, Anthony S. KolacoMonrovia — Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee is admonishing Liberian parents and the government to invest in the education of the children of the country. Serving as keynote speaker at the official launch of Learning Squared Liberia (LSL) on Friday, March 19, Madam Gbowee disclosed that her Gbowee Peace Foundation has spent more than US$2.4 million on education for the last 10 years for over 700 Liberian children. Speaking further, Ms. Gbowee stated, “It is only investing in our children’s education, that will take Liberia where we want it to be. Let’s move them away from thinking that education is only when you are a doctor, a lawyer or a banker. “We are freeing women and children from poverty with innovative solutions based on our Quality Driven Impact (QDI) approach,” he added.

Monrovia — The opposition Unity Party (UP) says the decision by the Liberia National Police (LNP) declaring its secretary general Mo Ali “wanted” over a Facebook post is an attempt to intimidate dissenting voices in the country. And Moses Cater, spokesperson of the LNP, said the decision to declare Ali “wanted” is the result of his refusal to show up despite being invited twice by the police. The actions by the government to declare Ali “wanted” without being charged with any crime is a violation of his rights and endangers him and his family, according to the party. “In BBC addition, Chapter 2.2.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia provides an accused person the right to representation by legal counsels,” the party said. The government, the party says, cannot attempt to arrest Ali over a Facebook post without due process to establish any link between his post and that which the government alleges.

The EditorThe Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) is shocked by the news of the expulsion of a 6-year-old pupil, Catherine Karma, from your school. Karma in connection with some suspicions of ‘witchcraft’. Karma had the supposed magical powers, don’t you think that she would have used them to resist her expulsion from the school? AfAW urges you to take all the necessary measures and ensure that Ms. Catherine Karma continues her education without any further disruption. Thanks in anticipation of thoughtful consideration of this letterSincerely,Leo Igwe Ph.D Religious Studies(Bayreuth)Chief Executive Officer, Advocacy for Alleged WitchesAdvocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW)

Monrovia — The Liberia Maritime Authority clarifies that a recent media report attributing the removal of Liberia from the U.S Government’s Advisory List of countries that do not maintain effective anti-terrorism measures to the Global Tracking and Maritime Solutions Holdings (GTMS Holdings) is false and misleading. GTMS Holdings, a Cargo Tracking Note system, is not a consideration nor a factor for evaluation by the U.S. Coast Guard in assessing the effectiveness of a port’s security and anti-terrorism measures, LiMA’s Commissioner Eugene Nagbe has said. The Commissioner explained that the U.S. Coast Guard has a checklist of activities and benchmarks that a port must continually meet to be delisted from the Coast Guard Advisory List or Black List. In the March 5, 2021 Edition of the FrontPage Africa newspaper, GTMS Holdings falsely claimed that the removal of Liberia from the US Coast Guard Advisory List was the direct result of its “judicious work” through its CTN System. Commissioner Nagbe has however lauded the many support LiMA has gotten in ensuring the country remains compliant with national and international maritime instruments, including texhnical support by U.S. government to LiMA and the Liberian Coast Guard.

Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended the creation of a war crimes court over a decade ago. International law requires states to prosecute serious crimes, such as war crimes, which helps ensure victims’ rights to truth, justice, and an effective remedy, while combating impunity. Switzerland began the first prosecution of war crimes committed during Liberia’s first civil war in December. In February, Gibril Massaquoi went on trial in Finland for alleged crimes committed during Liberia’s second civil war. LIBERIA HAS THE POTENTIAL to be a leader on accountability for atrocities by establishing a war crimes court in accordance with international standards.

Mr. Ali’s March 1 post was vague but there is a general perception that he was referring to the delay in the certification of Lofa County Senator-elect, Brownie Samukai due to series of litigation. The opposition community has expressed belief that the delay in the certification is a maneuvering of the ruling establishment to ensure that Samukai is never inaugurated as Senator of Lofa County. Mr. Ali posted, ““Dear National Elections Commission (NEC), we understand the ploy. Mr. Ali told FrontPageAfrica on Thursday that he would honor the police invitation but would be going along with his lawyer. “There are plans to determine that the Lofa County seat cannot be occupied by Brownie Samukai – meaning that the decision of the Lofa people will be nullified,” he said during the interview.

Liberia: House of Representatives Passes Resolution Authorizing Central Bank of Liberia to Print New Families of Banknote in the tone of L$48.7 BillionCapitol Hill, Monrovia — Plenary of the House of Representatives has finally approved the Central Bank of Liberia’s request to print a new family of banknotes in the tone of L$48.7 billion to completely replace the ones that are currently in use within three years, beginning 2021. In the legislative piece named and style ‘Resolution 001-2021’, the House mandated the CBL to print 20, 50, 100 and 500 denominations, omitting the L$5 and L$10 bank notes. However, the House, in the resolution, nullified the L$1,000 banknotes and said that the denomination of bank notes to be printed shall only be 20, 50, 100 and 500. Because of the omission of L$1,000 notes, the House called on the CBL to reduce the printing but did not give a specific amount. “I have the honor to present my sincere compliments and herewith submit to you and the Honorable House of Representatives, Resolution No.

“The guys who did these things to us came from Sierra Leone. Witnesses in the Finnish war crimes trial have repeatedly said that “Angel Gabriel” was Massaquoi’s alias. The Finns had been investigating Massaquoi since 2018, interviewing witnesses also in Sierra Leone and Guinea. ULIMO fought some of its fiercest battles against the RUF in Sierra Leone and Lofa County in the 1990s. Despite the TRC’s recommendation for the setting up of war crimes court for the country, there is still no court more than 10 years later.

The by-election in District Two will be the fourth time Saybay will be contesting for an elective position in Bong. In 2011, he debuted his political ambition in District Two as representative candidate and lost to Moye. Matthew Siakor: Siakor is a protege of the late Hezekiah Siakor, a former aspirant for District Two who died in months to the election in 2017. Joshua Better: Better has reportedly gotten the nod of his boss, Moye. In fact, key political actors are planning to summon Moye over his reported decision to endorse Better over Gboe.