Judges, prosecutors and the defense lawyer hear witnesses’ testimonies in Northern Liberia. Massquoi was arrested in Finland in March last year after Swiss victims’ advocates Civitas Maxima working with Global Justice Research Project, alerted prosecutors to Massaquoi’s alleged crimes in Liberia. Lennart Dodoo/New NarrativesThought other trials of perpetrators of war crimes in Liberia have taken place in Philadelphia and Switzerland, this is the first court to come to Liberia. “It is important to realize that this is all a Finnish Court which is we’re doing things according to the Finnish Legislation and our own legal tradition. The Finnish judges are expected to begin hearing witnesses on Monday with over 60 witnesses, some of who are ex-fighters would be providing testimonies to the court.

MONROVIA – Melvin Alex Early, an agent of the elite Executive Protection Service (EPS) responsible for the protection of the President of Liberia and all VIPS, on Friday morning reportedly shot himself three times in the head in Tappita, Nimba County while on duty on the President’s county tour. The incident reportedly occurred in front of the Jackson F. Doe Memorial Hospital at about 6:30 am. A source from the EPS said Mr. Earley began informing some of his colleagues that: “I am just here in Zwedru, but I am not to myself”. Meanwhile, the Executive Protection Service (EPS) said it regrets the sudden death of one of its agent. Agent Earley has been with EPS since the restructuring of the service after the Liberian Civil crisis.

Liberia: President Weah becomes First sitting President to visit Gbi & DuroGbi, Nimba County- As part of President George Weah’s ongoing National County tour, the President took a ten-hour historic drive from Tappita to Gbi & Duro, an administrative district in Nimba County. Since 1847, when Liberia was founded, no sitting President has ever visited the two of the remotest parts of the vote-rich county. Citizens of Gbi & Duro were seen wearing extra smiles upon the arrival of H.E. In appreciation of President Weah’s visit, he was offered an initial one thousand five hundred (1,500) acres of land for farming by the residents of Gbi & Duro. In his quest to improve the Country’s economy through the Agriculture sector, President Weah immediately set up a team to start cultivating said parcel of land.

The Swiss Federal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland where Alieu Kosiah, center, is being prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. New Narratives/Leslie LumehBELLINZONA, Switzerland – Alieu Kosiah sat near a bucket filled with human hearts in Foya, Lofa County in the mid-1990s, a man told the Swiss Federal Criminal Court prosecuting the former rebel commander on Friday. “Kosiah said, ‘If you can’t carry the load to Kolahun, you will die right here,’” the plaintiff told the three-judge panel. Now we return as lions.”The rebels sang the song with Morlu Kpandeh was killed, the plaintiff told the court. It is Switzerland’s first war crimes trial to be heard in a civilian court.

The PWD issues are being aired on ECOWAS Radio (91.5)In recent times, AIFO has joined the Liberia Labour Congress on a brainstorming session about employment/work-related issues facing Liberians living with disabilities. During the session a 46-page illustrations-decorated book, entitled “Sensitization Manual: Decent Work, Inclusion and Accessibility. The Liberia Labour Congress produced the Manual, with financial support from the International Labour Organization (ILO) of the United Nations. “The ILO’s support to the production of the Decent Work Manual presented at this Workshop shows its commitment to a decent work for disabled persons, as well as workers with no disability,” he added. The first presentation—“Myths, Truths, and Realities”—was done by Madam Mongana May-Cole, Disable Desk Officer, Liberia Labour Congress.

GRAND KRU COUNTY — Grand Kru County Senior Senator and President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate-Senator Albert Tugbeh Chie has called on the Citizens of Grand Kru County to make themselves available to be counted in the County during the pending 2021 national census. He said, there has been major population growth in the County, but that can only be captured in the national data when citizens and residents of the county take advantage of the upcoming numeration exercise. Grand Kru and River Cess are the two Counties in Liberia with only two Political Districts due to low population. Liberia’s next round of National Population and Housing Census which is likely to reveal the country’s constantly growing population, is set for March 2021 and it is expected to be the fifth in Liberia’s 173–year history. The current census, which was postponed, is in violation of the Constitution, which mandates in Article 39: “The Legislature shall cause a census of the Republic to be undertaken every ten years,”.

But the people of Lofa County have expressed fear that if stringent measures are not taken immediately, they will be a spillover of the virus in Liberia. For most residents of Voinjama City, closing the border now is one of the surest ways of curbing the spread of Ebola from Guinea to Liberia. Ebola first entered Liberia through Lofa County from Guinea. Rebecca Mulbah, a farmer in Voinjama said she has heard about Ebola in Guinea but does not know how true it is. Suspected CaseHealth authorities in Liberia on Thursday urged calm amid reports of a suspected case of the deadly Ebola Virus deriving from Guinea.

The defeated candidates claimed that the electoral processes conducted in their respective counties were marred with multiple fraud and irregularities. His complaint was filed after the NEC declared Simeon Taylor of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), as the winner of the election. In Bomi County, the NEC thrashed a complaint filed against the electoral process by CDC senatorial candidate former House Speaker Alex Tyler. The ruling compelled the defeated Grand Kru County Senatorial Candidate to file a complaint to the Supreme Court. According to the NEC, the winner of the Grand Gedeh County Senatorial election, Representative Zoe Emmanuel Pennue is being certificated as the winner.

Central Bank of Liberia Executive Governor Elected As Chairman of the Committee of Governors of ECOWAS Central BanksMONROVIA – The Committee of Governors of the ECOWAS Central Banks has elected the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Hon. The decision was made during the Committee Governors meeting held virtually on 15th February 2021. The meeting of the Committee of Governors of ECOWAS Central Banks was held alongside the statutory meetings of West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) and the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). Meanwhile, the Single Currency Programme should have been launched in 2020, but due to COVID-19 and other structural constraints, this was not possible. WAMA, located in Freetown, Sierra Leone, is responsible for the implementation of the ECOWAS Monetary Cooperation Programme aimed at promoting monetary and economic integration in ECOWAS.

After today, any election case heard by the NEC and the Supreme Court could be deemed unconstitutional according to the senators. Article 83 C of the Liberian Constitution states, “The returns of the elections shall be declared by the Elections Commission not later than fifteen days after the casting of ballots. Any party or candidate who complains about the manner in which the elections were conducted or who challenges the results thereof shall have the right to file a complaint with the Elections Commission. Any political party or independent candidate affected by such decision shall not later than seven days appeal against it to the Supreme Court. According to Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, the Chairperson of NEC, the Commission has now concluded on five election dispute cases.

The NPP is one of the political parties that make up the governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). The remaining parties that are part of the CDC include the Congress for Democratic Change and the Liberian People Democratic Party (LPDP). VP Taylor described the NPP as the “lifeblood” of Liberians. Let us all dropped our swords to do what is necessary to bring NPP under one umbrella”. Former President Taylor was willing to step aside, despite all the dangers it entails.

The health officials also informed members of the Senate that the country’s health sector is currently on high alert as countries bordering Liberia are being monitored by testing people entering from these countries bordering Liberia. We have five counties on alert which include; Lofa, Nimba, Grand Cape Mount, Bong Montserrado. “We are on alert and when I say alert, I mean really high alert so that if there is a case we are ready to respond. “We are also considering people from the international community residing in Liberia as people who will receive the vaccine and up to a million individuals will be able to receive the vaccine,” Dr. Jallah said. Meanwhile, the Senate has place a halt on the collection of expenditure fees for COVID-19 testing being collectedat the Airport until investigation is conducted.

President Weah has teacher guides demonstrated by School Supervisor at Bridge Liberia supported Bahn Extension public school in NimbaPresident George Weah was full of glowing words for Bridge Liberia after experiencing the educational provider’s use of technology in the classroom. President Weah underscored the significance of technology and advancing our education system to be 21st century compliant; pledging his government’s unflinching support to institutions like Bridge Liberia determined to improve the sector through its innovative use of technology in our schools. I’m happy to see that the Ministry (of Education) partnered with you to bring this type of support to our schools” – President Weah states to the Bridge Liberia team, gathered officials and county leaders as the school students and crowd applauds. Caption: President Weah explaining to staff the importance of technology in creating a modern education system at BridgeLiberia supported Bahn Extension public school in NimbaFor five years, Bridge Liberia has been an educational partner to the government of Liberia through the Liberia Educational Advancement Program (LEAP), running close to 200 public schools in eleven of Liberia’s fifteen counties. This style is already creating impressive progress with government partnered research showing that children in Bridge Liberia supported schools are getting years more learning than their peers who are not in technologically supported elementary schools.

Buchanan — Buchanan City, Grand Bassa was a colorful place on Wednesday, February 17, after the Grand Bassa Community College allowed 218 students to leave its walls with degrees in different disciplines. The Wednesday graduation was the fifth commencement of the college since it was established in 2008. Dr. Samuel Monwell, president of Grand Bassa Community College said “I have come to present to the people of Grand Bassa and Liberia 218 qualified and competent graduates.”Dr. Monwell mentioned that the graduates were amongst several students who risked themselves to acquire higher education at the community college, stressing that the bridge had been a major impediment to their education. She then crowned it up by setting up a financial aid program for deserving students at the college. They hailed former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for decentralizing tertiary education by initiating community college projects across the country.

Wee District, Grand Bassa — Several citizens in Wee District could not withhold their tears after the lifeless body of a 54-year-old man identified as James Mardin, was discovered dangling on a rope at his residence. By Elton Wroinbee Tiah, [email protected], ContributorFamily sources told FrontPageAfrica that the incident occurred on the morning of Wednesday, February 17, in Gbaynee’s Town, Wee Statutory District, Grand Bassa County. The deceased’s request was buttressed by his wife, who pleaded with the authority to honor her husband’s request or will. Mrs. Baby D. Mardin said she and her late husband were legally married and they have 12 children. The victim and his Wife lived happily in Wee District until his departure, neighbors said.