Monrovia – Members of the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) avoided going to Prison on Tuesday, February 23rd, as was planned by the Senate’s plenary on Thursday, February 18, and all thanks to the Supreme Court of Liberia. Meanwhile you are hereby ordered to stay all further proceedings and actions in the matter to include the incarceration pending the outcome of the conference,” the Supreme Court writ stated. After that day, any election case heard by the NEC and the Supreme Court could be deemed unconstitutional according to the senators. Any political party or independent candidate affected by such decision shall not later than seven days appeal against it to the Supreme Court. If the court sustains the election of a candidate, the Elections Commission shall act to effectuate the mandate of the Court.”

War crimes suspect Alieu Kosiah in the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. New Narratives/Leslie LumehBELLINZONA, Switzerland – A Liberian women told the Swiss Federal Criminal Court prosecuting Alieu Kosiah for war crimes that the former rebel commander raped her four times in one night in Voinjama, Lofa County. “I heard them (rebels) calling him (Kosiah) ‘General Kosiah,’” she said, adding the dawn attack on the village was the first time she heard of Kosiah. She also said she had known the sixth plaintiff, who had told the court he knew her during the war. It is also the first war crimes trial in a Swiss civilian court in the medieval, mountainous city Bellinzona.

Rift over Little Things: Liberia’s President, Vice President at Loggerheads over Transfer of County Health Services AdministratorGbarnga — The decision by President George Mannah Weah to rescind the transfer of Jonah Nulee Togbah to Rivercess County against the wishes of Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor appears to signal yet another twist in the reported rift between the president and his vice president. The transfer letter states:The Ministry of Health extends its compliments and wishes to inform you that you’re hereby recalled from the Bong County Health Team and reassigned to Rivercess County Health Team as County Health Services Administrator. Your assignment takes immediate effect as of February 1, 2021 and your immediate supervisor will be the County Health Officer (CHO), Rivercess County Health Team to whom you’re to report for specifics at your duties. The reinstatement letter states:We present our compliments and wish to inform you that you’re to report back to Bong County and resume work as County Health Services Administrator. This letter is predicted upon a transfer letter dated January 22, 2021, transferring you to the Rivercess County Health Team as County Health Services Administrator.

Gibril Massaquoi appears on the first day of his trial in Tampere, Finland. As his trial continues in Liberia, he will appear by video link from Finland because of security concerns. Saila Huusko/New NarrativesMonrovia — The war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi that began in Tempere, Finland, continued in Liberia Tuesday with the first prosecution witness taking the stand. According to the witness, Massaquoi, now 51, warned that he would take anyone who resisted his commands under the bridge to kill or rape them. “He held my friend Felecia George by the hand and carried her,” the witness told the court.

Monrovia – Liberia’s Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus is being left to defend himself over an action he may have unilaterally taken when he wrote the National Elections Commission to halt the certification of Lofa County’s Senator-elect, J. Brownie Samukai. On Friday, February 19, Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus wrote the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC) instructing her not to certificate Lofa County Senator-elect J. Brownie Samukai whose conviction by the lower court was recently affirmed by the Supreme Court. Cephus’ letter to the Elections Commission Chairperson states, “You will recall that prior to the 8 December 2020 Election, Mr. Samukai was found guilty by the lower court along with his co-conspirators for the same crimes. But the court believes that Samukai and his colleagues did not exercise professional discretion. The trio have been ordered to restitute the amount of US$1.1 million – half of the amount within six months or face a two-year jail term.

MONROVIA — Scores of Indian nationals residing in Liberia have honored and appreciated their country’s former Consul General, Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva, for his indelible sacrifices and humanitarian assistance rendered the Indian community and Liberia and its citizens. Mr. Sachdeva, who is commonly known as “Jeety” in Liberia, was appointed Honorary Consul General of Indian to Liberia in 1998. On February 5, 2021, the Indian Government, through its Embassy in La Cote D’Ivoire, with immediate effect replaced “Jeety” as its Honorary Consul General to Liberia. ‘Jeety’ maintained that Indians should help build a stronger Liberian society that will incorporate everyone regardless of nationality or religion. He furthered that Indians residing in Liberia should not only respect the rule of law of the country, but they should also uphold and abide by it.

Bility is an international convict and he’s not a person to be chairman of Liberty Party”. Brumskine two hours to be alive today, a Musa Bility will not be anywhere around the Liberty Party Chairmanship. Too many of Liberty Party Executive Committee members sold their integrity for pickups”. He recalled the action taken against the former Liberty Party Chairman Israel Akinsanya by the party’s National Executive Committee during Cllr. The Liberty Party, which was once considered as a “party of integrity” in Liberia, received barrage of criticism and condemnations minutes after the election of Bility as the new Chair of the party.

Liberia: Efforts to Conserve Gola Forest May Go Down the Drain, If…MONROVIA – A group of illicit miners have evaded the Gola Forest National Park carrying on dredge mining in violation of the law establishing the Park. The mining is taking place on the Mano River that stretches through the Grand Cape Mount side of the Gola Forest National Park. “The FDA is having rangers around the Gola Forest National Park, dredge is not a small thing that you can move with without anyone see it so how come this one happened”, he argued. The Gola Forest National Park (GNFP) is home to some of the world’s endangered wildlife species which include but not limited to the African elephant, Zebra Deiker, the wild Chimpanzee among others. These illegal activities violate laws creating the Gola Forest National Park and the Wildlife Act of 2015.

Madam Glassco will speak on the topic “Effect of Fisheries Management Policies on Fishing Safety”. In her presentation, she is expected to highlight the benefit to be accrued through the application of hard and effective fisheries management program and policies. Her emphasis will be on ensuring compliance of these hard management policies to sever as deterrents and promote safety at sea in support of the 2012 Cape Town Agreement. The 2012 Cape Town Agreement(CTA), which has been adopted by the IMO, replaces the Torremolinos Protocol of 1993 on the safety of fishing vessels. Until the CTA enters into force, there are no mandatory global safety regulations or standards for the safety of fishing vessels at sea.

In fact, the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) are clear. THE CONVENTION insists that airport runway end safety areas be provided at each end of a runway strip. The standards state hat a runway end safety area shall extend from the end of a runway strip to a distance of at least 90 meters. REGARDING OBJECTS on runway end safety areas, the ICAO regulations says object situated on a runway end safety area which may endanger aeroplanes should be regarded as an obstacle and should, as far as practicable, be removed. The Liberia Civil Aviation Authority was consulted by the government and we offer our input prior to the decision.

The Liberia Civil Aviation Authority was consulted by the government and we offer our input prior to the decision. Adjacent the Park, the President plans to build a sustainable structure for the Peace Women that usually gather for prayers. Section 3.5.1 of the Annex 14 to the ICAO convention insists that airport runway end safety areas be provided at each end of a runway strip. The standards state hat a runway end safety area shall extend from the end of a runway strip to a distance of at least 90 meters. Regarding objects on runway end safety areas, the ICAO regulations says object situated on a runway end safety area which may endanger aeroplanes should be regarded as an obstacle and should, as far as practicable, be removed.

BELLINZONA, Switzerland – War crimes suspect Alieu Kosiah delivered a forceful rebuke to six plaintiffs who brought the war crimes case against him here in the Swiss Federal Criminal Court on Monday. The men had accused Kosiah of murdering civilians, forcing them to carry looted goods and eating human hearts among other atrocities. On Monday Kosiah accused Werner of failing to mention that the report said Ulimon killed Ndiminin because he was a Christian and carrying a bible. Werner reminded Kosiah at the court that Jabbateh, alias “Jungle Jabbah”, was convicted in connection to some of the crimes Kosiah is accused of, including murder, rape, cannibalism. Wavre countered that Kosiah’s omission from the 98 recommended for prosecution did not mean he had not committed war crimes.

MONROVIA – The National Elections Commission (NEC) of Liberia has denied and dismissed Madam Edith Gongloe-Weh complaint due to lack of substantial evidence. On Monday February 22, 2021, the Hearing Officer adjudicating the Edith Gongloe-Weh Fraud case against NEC, Cllr. NEC hearing officer based his ruling on the 2017 election case involving Cllr. He further noted that the burden of proof rest upon the person making the allegation and such evidence must always be produced beyond reasonable doubt. Harris further stated that, the testimonies and evidence produced by Madam Gongloe-Weh did not proof fraud and any basis for re-run or recount.

District #4, Grand Bassa — A four-year-old boy, Dehnyuwah Wheagon, is suffering from unprofessional circumcision which led to his penis being almost totally chopped off by a community “doctor” identified Solomon Goffa in District #4, Grand Bassa County. Report by Elton W. Tiah, ContributorAccording to reports, the penis of little Degyuwah Wheagon was allegedly cut off by the doctor when he carried out the circumcision. “When the doctors at the Liberia Government Hospital informed us that our son’s penis was cut off, we complained Solomon Goffa to the police,” George added. The child and his mother, Patience Wheagon are currently in Block B, New Buchanan Community, Grand Bassa County. Both Solomon Goffa and his assistant are currently being jailed at the Liberian National Police headquarters in Buchanan as investigation continues.

Monrovia – Liberia’s premier tertiary academic institution of learning, the University of Liberia (UL), has commenced its 101st graduation exercises for the academic year 2019/2020, graduating the first batch of 697 candidates from three colleges. This year’s commencement ceremony began with a joint program Monday, February 22, 2021 with UL’s foundational college, the Liberia College of Social Sciences and Humanities, the William V.S. “But I tell each of you, the backbone of success is service, hard work, is sleepless nights. Speaking to the Liberia College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ms. Fofana reminded them that they are from UL’s foundational college, challenging them to be the agents of change. Dr. Nelson appreciated the entire University of Liberia family for brightening the light to lead the institution to where it is.