MONROVIA – The Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) have nullified complaints filed by J. Alex Tyler of the Coalition of Democratic Change (CDC) against the National Elections Commission and Edwin Melvin Snowe in the just-ended senatorial elections in Bomi County. In the Board’s opinion, the complainants in both cases did not provide enough evidence that could warrant cancellation of the results. Bomi ComplaintAmong the litany of complaints, the CDC and Tyler alleged that several tally sheets bearing Grand Gedeh County instead of Bomi were discovered in the county. According to the ruling party whose candidate in the Bomi senatorial race was J. Alex Tyler, they also discovered that several Senate record of the count exceeded the total distribution of ballot papers per polling place. “Additionally, on the tally sheet of the same polling place 139 [ballot papers] were discovered in the ballot box instead of 409, difference of 270 ballot papers,” the complaint stated.

Senator Dillon is representing the people of Montserrado County in the 54th National Legislature on the ticket of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) alliance. 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. “Abe Darius Dillon should have talked Martin Saye Kollah outta running for Liberty Party SG position. Biting TongueBut in reaction, Senator Dillon, on Tuesday, January 26, somersaulted by extending an apology to his supporters and critics for his “Saul to Paul” comments supporting Bility. He was severely criticized, with some of his supporters threatening to withdraw their support because his comments at the time amount to “security threat”.

MONROVIA – Scores of Indians residing in Liberia on Tuesday, January 26, celebrated “Republic Day,” to commemorate the emergence and effectiveness of their country’s constitution, with a vow to continue to serve and promote humanity across the world. He added that the coming into effect of his country’s constitution after several decades prompted the celebration of “Republic Day” by Indians across the world. Mr. Sachdeva further described humanity as the “best religion”, noting that, regardless of geographical locations, Indians and others should continue to serve humanity. You must serve wherever you are regardless of whether you live in your land or another land because, humanity is the best religion. He stated that Indians have been living, working and during businesses in Liberia since the early 1920s.

Gbarnga – Attorney Samuel Kofi Woods says restraint placed on Radio Bushord D-15 by the government not to relay the Costa Show is a glaring violation of the Constitution, regional and international human rights law and suppression of free speech that must be resisted by Liberians. The government said any act contrary to such will be a violation of the terms of the permit issued the station by the Ministry of Information and licensing conditions pulmugated under the Telecommunications Act of Liberia. Woods wants the government focus on the job or task of development, improve basic services and give citizens life they so desire rather than preoccupying with things that don’t matter. “Justice for all must be guaranteed otherwise we will resort to chaos. Woods said ordinary citizens are suffering from pains and agony everyday because of their faith and confidence in the system of justice have been bruised.

Covax is a global multilateral initiative to develop, manufacture and deploy COVID-19 vaccines on a fair and equitable basis. The initiative is coordinated by the World Health Organization in collaboration with the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the Coalition for Innovations in Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI). The latest US decision comes of the heels of many global pleas including recent analysis provided by Dr. Fallah. “The last I checked, the cost of the current COVID-19 vaccines (which demonstrated the most efficacy) ranged from $19.50 per dose (Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine) to around $37 per dose (Moderna mRNA vaccine). “So far, COVAX has secured contracts of two billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines which will be rolled out when they’re delivered.

MONROVIA – Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA), through its Community Forestry Department (CFD) has successfully supported the formation of 20-Community Forest Organizing Committees (CFOCs) in six designated counties in rural Liberia. The exercises were facilitated by Partners in Development (PADEV), a Liberian NGO hired by FDA to provide technical facilitation support. Community Forest Organizing Committees are elected interim forest governance entities that act on behalf of applicant communities seeking Authorized Forest (AFC) status. In the southeastern priority forest landscape, 17-CFOCs were organized in applicant communities in Grand Gedeh, Rivergee, Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties. The 20-forest dependent communities that benefited from this intervention are all applicant communities and are currently working with FDA and partners to acquire their AFC status.

Liberia: SWAL Veep describes Sports Omission from State Of The Nation Address as “Heartless”Monrovia – The Vice President of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) Varmah Kamara has described the omission of sports from President George Weah’s state of the nation address as “heartless”. The SWAL Vice President said the omission of sports is a clear manifestation that the CDC-led government has no plan to develop sports in Liberia. Mr. Kamara added that ignoring the immense contribution of sports in his personal life and Liberian youths at large is regrettable. He was speaking Monday, January 25, 2020 when the Liberian leader presented his one hour thirty-three minutes state of the nation address leaving out Sports. The SWAL Vice president asserted that sports must be the least area where the Liberian leader must not fail adding that he would have being no body if not for sport.

In this Commentary, I am writing about value addition to show that it is of highest importance for improving the living conditions of the people, especially the poor. The longstanding and widespread production of raw materials for export is the way of value subtraction rather than value addition because value is added abroad rather than locally. What continues to happen in Liberia is the dominance of the position of national leaders who continue to engage in value subtraction rather than value addition and such engagement results in poverty generation rather than poverty alleviation. With Liberianization in education, there is action for value addition rather than action for value subtraction. As there continues to be westernization in education, students, upon leaving schooling, become elected and appointed government officials and employees making decisions that promote value subtraction over value addition and the poverty generation syndrome continues.

Monrovia – An online Crime Statistics Information System (CSIS) has been launched at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police (LNP). The Initiative is under a joint UN Liberia Rule of Law Programme and brings together relevant UN Agencies under the UN Global Focal Point on Rule of Law. Mr. James Monibah who represented the United Nations Development Programme at the event, recognized UNDP’s long-standing relationship and trusted partnership with the Liberia National Police. For his part, the LNP Commissioner for Administration, Ambrose Nebo, thanked the United Nations for its continued support to the Liberia National Police especially regarding crime statistics. Nebo noted that capacity building adds values to the work of the Liberia National Police.

Gbarnga, Bong County – Human Rights activist Samuel Kofi Woods has admonished the opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) to ensure George Weah becomes a one-term president and send him packing in 2023, and called on political leaders of the four opposition parties to subordinate and negotiate interests and ambitions ahead of the 2023 presidential elections. “Liberians will become the real zombies rather than the musical zombies used to mock the citizens of this country by none other than this President,” Woods said. “Far from the mistaken belief that they are complacent and complicit, the citizens have debunked these assertions and delivered a rebuke to the CDC misadventures of governing the country,” Woods said. During the elections, Woods said, Liberians voted against mediocrity, disdain and arrogance in leadership, adding that Liberians are not “Zombies”. We become President and never recover 5 from the shock of becoming President until our Presidency is over.

The trial of Sierra Leonean national and Tampere resident, Gibril Massaquoi, will begin on 1st February 2021 before the Pirkanmaa District Court in Finland, and is expected to last for several months. Massaquoi’s indictment comes shortly after the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) concluded its pre-trial investigation of crimes allegedly committed by Massaquoi between 1999 and 2003. Concurrent to Massaquoi’s trial – for three weeks from 15th February – the trial of Alieu Kosiah will resume in Bellinzona, Switzerland, after it commenced in December 2020. This case has involved extensive investigations in Liberia and Sierra Leone since early 2019, with the cooperation and support of the Liberian and Sierra Leonean authorities. Taylor was convicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) in 2012 for aiding, abetting, and planning the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone by the RUF.

MONROVIA – The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Millennium Challenge Account Liberia (MCA-L) marked the successful closeout of the $257 million MCC Liberia Compact which aimed to address limited access to reliable and affordable electricity in the country and poor-quality road infrastructure. MCC programs are designed with partner countries to reduce poverty by addressing the binding constraints to economic growth. Analysis by MCC and the Government of Liberia showed that reliable access to power is a critical element to reduce poverty, strengthen economic growth, and improve living standards. The MCC Liberia Compact was a critical step for the country’s economic growth and development. About MCCThe Millennium Challenge Corporation is an independent U.S. Government agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth.

I appeal to the Honorable National Legislature to endorse these recommendations and act swiftly. Despite the printing and delivery of L$4billion Liberian dollars in July 2020, the economy was challenged by difficulty to access Liberian dollars in the financial sector, largely reflecting about forty (40%) percent rate of mutilation of the existing Liberian dollar banknotes in circulation. The General Auditing Commission is also auditing these indirect expenditures also as part of the total national COVID-19 response effort. This is an important component of our national development agenda, the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). In order to do so, however, it will require that you rally to the cause, and make your own personal commitment to national development.

According to the President, the call for printing new family of banknotes was based on the advice of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), which has the power to print pending legislative approval. Monrovia – President George Manneh Weah has called on the 54th Legislature of Liberia to act swiftly in authorizing the printing of a new family of banknotes to address the current liquidity crisis grappling the Liberian economy. President Weah made the request in his fourth State of the Nation Address to the joint session of the Legislature moments ago. According to the President, the call for printing new family of banknotes was based on the advice of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), which has the power to print, pending legislative approval. President Weah is expected to officially inform the Legislature, with detail information concerning the printing of a new family of banknotes through a written communication shortly.

Monrovia – The Liberia Land Authority (LLA), has received a consignment of deployment kits which include equipment, office supplies and eight motorbikes worth over USD$50,000. The initiative is part of efforts to support the government deal with land issues and maintain peace, security and reconciliation. The project is managed by UNDP and funded by the Liberia Multi-Partner Trust Fund/Peace Building Support Office (LMPTF/PBSO). It is geared towards supporting the LLA implement programs designed to help settle land and boundary disputes across the Country. She encouraged the Land Authority to think seriously about ensuring that all government land and structural properties are deeded.