Monrovia – A group of Liberians comprising local officials, local and national civil society organizations have called on the Government of Liberia and international development partners for more support towards the full implementation of the Land Rights Act (LRA) of 2018, especially the customary land formalization efforts. Under the law, communities can claim ownership of customary land by presenting evidence such as oral testimonies, maps, and signed agreements with neighbors. However, there are several steps involved in customary land formalization process that must be completed before a community gets its deed, and in most cases, these steps are tedious and costly. Meanwhile, the conference, held at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town was organized by the Liberia Land Authority in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI), the Foundation for Community Initiatives (FCI) and Parley Liberia. Speaking to FrontPage Africa at the end of the conference on Friday, several participants lauded the organizers and said lessons learned will help in the successful completion of the customary land formalization process within their respective communities.

He made these comments when he dedicated three newly constructed concrete bridges worth US$250,000 in Larkayta Township in electoral district # 4, Margibi County. Dr. Cassell further observed that Liberians and others who killed their fellow humans to obtain public offices normally “die like dogs” and end their lives “miserably”. “This nation needs a spiritual deliverance and therefore, we need we need a spiritual leader in this country”. So, wherever God sent me, that’s the place I can go. I can’t tell you why God sent me here, but God knows what he sent me for.

MONROVIA – One of Liberia’s oldest churches, James Edward Marshall Memorial United Methodist, has announced the observance of its 110th-year of existence. A statement from the Anniversary Celebration Committee says the activities will commence on March 7, 2021, with a musical concert featuring seven churches. The statement indicates that on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 11:00 am, the Church’s Congregation will converge at the grave site of the late Father James Edward Marshall, in whose honor the church was named, for a memorial service and wreath laying. The statement adds that on Thursday, March 11, a memorial service in honor of all deceased members of the Church from 1911-2020, will be held at the church’s edifice and on Saturday, March 13, 2021, a grand parade of all JEMUMC members will begin at Iron Factory, (Sethi Brothers warehouse); the first site of the church and ends at the Gardnersville Town Hall Community field, where the church will battle E. J. Goodridge UMC in both football and kickball matches. The statement points out that the celebration will climax on Sunday, March 14, 2021, with a funds raising rally and closing service, while a Family Dinner will take place later in the evening in the courtyard of the church.

Monrovia – The Ambassador of Japan to Liberia His Excellency HIMENO Tsutomu with residence in Ghana will be visiting Liberia beginning Monday, March 1, 2021 to Friday, March 5, 2021. The Japanese Ambassador accredited to this capital is expected to meet with His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia and an array of other government officials. Ambassador Tsutomu will be accompanied by Ms. TERAGAKI Yuriya, First Secretary and Ms. UENO Hidemi, Coordinator of the Embassy. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Ambassador HIMENO visit is in two (2) fold, including conferring with President Weah on a number of diplomatic matters and Japan’s possible development cooperation projects as well as visiting the Japanese Counterpart Value Funded Projects in Liberia. As you may recall, the Government of Japan is financing a number of economic recovery projects under its KR Food Aid and Non-Project Grant Aid Programs in Liberia.

Harbel Margibi – A civil society organization, Girls for Change climax its National Debate Competition on Friday, February 26, 2021. Event is been supported by Oxfam, Liberia with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Denmark under the Danida Project. The competition was held with representatives representing two counties Margibi and Montserrado, these debaters were recruited form various youth and students organizations. The debate competition brought together University and High School Students with little over 85 participants in attendance. During the debate Girls for Change committed to give the two teams a cash price as a means of motivation to allow them rollout a policy action based on some of the key recommendations outline during the debate.

The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and CARI are collaborating with the implementers on the project. An impressed Agriculture Minister Cooper lauded AfricaRice for the innovations put into the project. So you have your rice and fish side by side.”Minister Cooper was even more fascinated about the floating cage. With the level of innovations AfricaRice has put in the project, he believes the agriculture sector would change rapidly. He lauded the initiators of the NAF, which he said, resonates as appear for investment in the agriculture sector.

Out of these statistics, Africa has so far recorded 3.5% of global virus cases and 4% of global deaths, according to Africa- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC, 2020). Now, the question that one would ask is where does Africa stand amid the power dynamics with regards to COVID Vaccines? These expressions could simply be pointed to conspiracy theories about outbreaks and global health threats because of a lack of trust from their governments. Out of these statistics, Africa has so far recorded 3.5% of global virus cases and 4% of global deaths, according to Africa- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC, 2020). Also, as advanced by the International Economic Forum on Africa, vaccines should be considered global public goods.

War crimes suspect Alieu Kosiah shouted during testimony in the first days of his trial in the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. Recruitment of a child soldier is one of the war crimes Kosiah is charged with. Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report in 2009 recommended a war crimes court for Liberia to try ex-warlords such Alhaji Kromah, the co-founder of ULIMO, and Charles Taylor, who is serving a 50-year sentence in Britain for war crimes in Sierra Leone. Kosiah is the first Liberian to be prosecuted for war crimes over the Liberian Civil War (1989-2003), which killed an estimated 250,000 and displaced a million. But he was arrested in the Swiss capital of Bern in November 2014 suspected of war crimes.

In surprising testimony on Wednesday, the first defense witness testified that Kosiah had recruited him to be a combatant at age 12. In short interviews outside the trial, Gianoli said Kosiah has been heavily involved in the choosing of his two defense witnesses. Both defense witnesses also contradicted that claim telling the court said Kosiah was in Lofa between 1993 and 1994. The second defense witness told the three-judge panel Kosiah fought in ULIMO’s capture of Voinjama and Foya. Kosiah told the court in December last year and again on Monday that he did not fight in those areas.

Monrovia – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. has pledged the Government of Liberia’s commitment to fully implementing the Land Rights Act (LRA). Under the law, communities can claim ownership of customary land by presenting evidence such as oral testimonies, maps, and signed agreements with neighbors. He said customary land formalization creates a pathway for the rural population to enter into the formal economy, to engage with financial institutions and the wider private sector, and enter into mutually beneficial business relationships. Confirmatory survey is the final step in acquiring a deed for customary land. It brought together major stakeholders including local and traditional leaders and CSOs to share lessons learned from early efforts to implement the 2018 Land Rights Act.

Circumstances surrounding the cause of death according to Representative Samuel Enders, in whose District #6 the 8 persons were found dead, is Carbon Monoxide. Rep. Enders also informed journalists that the dead included the graduate’s mother and her (graduate’s) daughter. Jefferson Larkay, a neighbor, told FrontPageAfrica: “She told me, we were going to go hang out a bit after the party at the house. By the time the PA system had gone off, I came calling her thinking she might be ready but when I got to the front door, it was already locked. Another neighbor interjected: “He (PA system owner) than said, ‘Oh what happening these people are still sleeping?’ We got concern and tried to peep through the windows.

HARPER, Maryland County — President George Manneh Weah has broken ground for the construction of a petroleum storage terminal facility (PST) as he commissioned the Harper Port refurbishment project on Thursday. At the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, February 25, President Weah noted that the facility will enable the storage of more petroleum in Harper for onward commercialization. Besides, President Wesh added that the construction of the multipurpose office complex and petroleum storage facility envisions economic viability at the Maryland Port of entry. Due to this, he added that only smaller vessels can dock at the Harper Port. The Harper Port refurbishment project is Private Public Partnership arrangement by and through a Liberian Owned Company – Express Oil Importation Liberia Incorporated.

Capitol Hill, Monrovia – The House of Representatives has approved a US$24.3 million supplementary budget for fiscal year 2020/2021 to enable government deliver on programs that are critically in need of funds. The House took the decision in Plenary on Thursday following recommendations from a conference committee comprising members of both House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate. Earlier, the House passed the supplementary budget at US$10.5m following a communication from President George Weah, and forwarded it to the Senate for concurrence. The Senate also called for the formation of a conference committee comprising of members of both Houses to deliberate and form a single and acceptable version of the Supplementary Budget for Fiscal year 2020/2021. It can be recalled that President George Weah, in a letter accompanying the draft a US$10.5 million supplementary budget said his government has “Realized a windfall amid mounting expenditure demands for service deliverables beyond allocations in the approved budget of the Fiscal Year 2020/2021.” The FY 2020/2021 budget was approved in the tone of US$570.1 million.

Two of the four judges in the trial of Gibril Massaquoi, presiding judge Paiho Juhani is on the left. The inconsistencies in testimonies are a challenge for the prosecution team because there is no physical evidence and witness testimonies form the key part of the case. He also pointed to the witness’s repeated references to Massaquoi as “Angel Gabriel” which prosecutors allege was one of Massaquoi’s aliases during the war. In Thursday’s proceedings a fourth prosecution witness corroborated the testimony of previous witnesses that “Angel Gabriel” had committed chilling crimes. A sixth prosecution witness said that he and his brother had also gone to Waterside where they heard people were looting food from a store.

MONROVIA — BETTOMAX Liberia formally launched its Web and Mobile Application to sports betting and games of chance players over the weekend at the company’s Head Office on 3rd Street in Sinkor. With this Mobile Application, players can now have convenient access to all sports and virtual games (football, boxing, and horse race), SPIN2WIN, bingos, keno, and etcon their mobile phones or computers. Hence, all new players are encouraged to sign-up to BETTOMAX mobile webpage by logging onto @https://bettomax-lbr.com or download the webpage, or simply reach 0778333733 or 0888333733 for help. By using the BETTOMAX app, customers can now do all transactions right from their phone and computer including crediting and debiting their accounts through vouchers and Mobile Money. BETTOMAX Liberia has been operating in Liberia for just over a year now and despite the impact of COVID-19, the gaming company provides employment for over 60 (sixty) Liberians and there are instant plans to increase that number in 2021 with the opening of more centers across the country.