MONROVIA – The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of a grassroot microfinance organization, Action for Community Matters (ACOMA), has expressed profound regret over the passing of one of her staff, Mr. Zehdeed Pearson. The late Mr. Pearson also worked along with ACOMA Liberia to introduce the micro credit program and the village saving loan for the Group of 77. Mr Pearson died at age 56, leaving to mourn his widow Nunah Pearson and five Children; two of whom have completed their high school while the others are yet to graduate. Born January 8, 1966, in Nimba County, Mr Pearson graduated from the Worldwide Mission High School in Monrovia. Though he’s gone, Mr. Pearson will never be forgotten.

MONROVIA – The Islamic Advisor to President George Weah, Sheik Usmane T. Jalloh has disclosed that two non-governmental organization, in Turkey Center for Humanitarian Activity in Africa and the Diyanet Vakifi foundation has begun constructing about 60 hand pumps in value over US$225,000 in the 15 counties of Liberia. Speaking in an interview with Journalist last evening Sheik Jallo said the Turkey NGO will construct five hand pumps in each of the Liberian counties as a means of providing safe drinking water for LiberiaHe said construction of hand pumps has already begun and each county in Liberia will have five hand pump and the Turkey NGO has completed five hand pumps each in Margibi and Montserrado counties and has already begun the construction of additional five pumps in Grand Bassa County. According to him, the Weah administration has exhibited religious tolerance therefore; he urged both Christians and Muslims to support the President in reconciling the entire country. He said what President Weah has done during three years in office is more than other presidents in promoting diversity and tolerance. He is also a debater, motivational speaker and prolific writeran Islamic Affairs Adviser in the Office of the Presidency for the first time since Liberia declared her independence in 1847.

Lofa County Superintendent, Hon. William Tamba Kamba, Sr, (with hat) during the stakeholders’ meeting in VoinjamaMonrovia – Lofa County Superintendent, Hon. Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting in Voinjama on Monday – attended by the World Food Programme (WFP), NGO partners, and other county leadership structures – Hon. Meanwhile, WFP’s Head of Programme, Amos Ballayan, has disclosed that COVID-19 household targeted food distribution is expected to begin in Margibi and Nimba Counties this weekend targeting around 30,000 and 58,000 households, respectively. WFP’s targeted food distribution is currently ongoing in rural Montserrado and will begin distribution in urban Montserrado by end of November.

Monrovia – The former Representative candidate of Montserrado County Distirct 7 Emmanuel Dahn has opened the “District Seven Skills Training Center” (DSSTC), a vocational institution that seeks to build the capacity of young people in the country. According to the Montserrado County Senator, skills training is essential to the growth and development of Liberia. He added that everyone needs to take advantage of the opportunity and build up their vocational skills and contribute to their country. Dahn who lost in the 2017 Representative Election in Montserrado County District#7 says his decision to establish a vocational institution in his district is to give back to society. We are going to make sure to make District Seven Skills Training is second to none in this country,” Dahn said.

On 10th November, 2020, the Government of Liberia received a rebuke from the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. The 73-page Opinion of the regional court is uncomplicated in its reasoning and instructive in the basic principles of human rights. Indeed, the ECOWAS Court of Justice will not ordinarily speak in such direct terms. Simply put, the run to the Ecowas Court of Justice testifies to an erosion of public confidence in the sworn commitments of national governments to deliver justice to their citizens. All Liberians should salute Associate Justice Ja’neh for the fortitude to pursue the violation of his rights to the Ecowas Court.

At the level of the parent body, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), there has been a single woman presidency since its inception/establishment in 1964. However, in a field dominated by male, and entrench in patriarchal practices, there is a gradual increase of women media managers. On October 25, 2019, I was disqualified by the Elections Committee of the Press Union of Liberia. In my application to the Elections Committee, I was transparent about my position/title at the IIC. For example, despite legitimately filing a case of mischaracterization and error of judgment before the Elections Committee, I was never given any semblance of due process by the Elections Committee – as would normally be expected in any democratic process.

Police IG Patrick T. Sudue and LRA Customs Commissioner Saa Saamoi signing the MoU as LRA Assistant Commissioner Blamo Kofa looks onMONROVIA – The Customs Department of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) have signed a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) for the training of Customs Officers at the Liberia National Police Training Academy (LNPTA). In line with the MoU, 350 LRA Customs Officers will undergo training in basic police science and other specialized courses with the aim of strengthening their capacities to regain their place in the national security architecture of the country. The training will also upgrade the skills of customs officers in carrying out trade facilitation, border security and collection of lawful customs duties and taxes. Speaking during the signing ceremony on Wednesday November 25 at the LNP Headquarters in Monrovia, LRA Customs Commissioner Saa Saamoi thanked the LNP for honoring the LRA request to train its customs officers. “The more we train our customs officers, the more the dividend will be shown by an increase in our budget and by extension, the financial revenue intake”, IG Sudue noted.

Grand Kru County District 2 Representative Fonati Koffa Set for 3rd Annual Constituency Visit to His District; Heads Senatorial Campaign ThereMONROVIA – The Office of Grand Kru County District#2 Representative Hon. Scores of Grand Kru students are expected to obtain degrees in various disciplines. On Tuesday, December 1, the Grand Kru County District #2 Representive who is also the Chairman of the CDC Grand Kru County Campaign, will arrive in Buah at his district office, which is currently dubbed as the Central Command Heaquarters of the Strike Force. It is there that the Lawmaker will officially begin campaign activities as the chairman of the Grand Kru campaign for the re-election of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) candidate, Dr. Peter Sonpon Coleman. After the election, Rep. Koffa will visit his projects including the three elementary schools nearing completion and and furthered do other annual development tour.

Record shows that Lofa County has three women currently on the ballot for the December 8, 2020, Special Senatorial Elections. Those contesting include incumbent Representatives Julie Wiah Fatormah and Mariamu Beyan Fofana of Lofa County Districts #2 and #4 respectively, along with Ms. Deddeh North Jones, a prominent women’s leader and activist. Representative Mariamu Fofana, is second term lawmaker who currently chairs the House’s Committee on Rules, Order and Administration in the 54th National Legislature. Mariamu Fofana’s senatorial bid, and urge all those interested in progress and development of our dear county (Lofa) and by extension Liberia, to lend support to Hon. Mariamu Fofana to ensure that comes December 8, she is overwhelmingly elected as the next Senator of Lofa county,” Vamadu Sheriff accentuated.

MONROVIA – Mr. Sylvester Lama, the husband of the late Gifty Lama, who was found, along with Mr. Albert Peters, dead in a vehicle on Broad Street on October 1, 2020, has rejected the autopsy report provided by the government. The state-sponsored autopsy concluded among others that the two Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) employees died from Carbon Monoxide. That report is a trash; we know we cannot fight because the report is from the Ministry of Justice; we cannot fight. That report is a trash, we know we cannot fight because the report is from the Ministry of Justice and we cannot fight. According to the autopsy report, post mortem total body Computer Tomography showed mild purification of the brain and mild autolysis of the soft tissue.

“Do Not Wait For Government Jobs” – Former Foreign Minister, Olubanke King-Akinrele Challenges Graduates Of The African Methodist Episcopal UniversityMONROVIA – Former Liberia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Madam Olubanke King -Akerele, has challenged graduates of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU) to use the knowledge acquired, self-innovations, and talents adequately if they must live a better life and immensely contribute to the betterment of their country. Madam Akerele maintained that the graduates must also constitute themselves into organizations and render consultancy services in their respective expertise to immensely contribute their quotas to Liberia’s development. According to her, the graduates are emerging leaders, and as such, they should possess the values of leadership to guarantee their success in the future. You don’t have to wait for government jobs; come together and provide services that are necessary”. Madam Akerele maintained that the realities of present-day Liberia should be critically looked at by the graduates to make a determination on which area to galvanize help and support for.

The guidelines, published by the Ministry of Health, require all ‘non-exempt” incoming and outgoing travelers to be tested for the disease. These measures also require the “exempt” travelers to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test result from an accredited lab within 96 hours of testing. The new Travelers protocols also require that the National Public Health Reference Lab tests all non- exempt travelers for COVID-19. Exempt travelers who do not have a valid negative COVID-19 test result will also be tested. The Ministry of Health says travelers who test PCR positive for COVID-19 will undergo treatment based on Liberia case management guidelines while travelers who test negative are to self-quarantine and monitor their symptoms via the Liberia Travel App for a period of 14 days, beginning the day after their arrival in Liberia.

The teachers were selected from all six schools that Educate Liberia affiliates with in four counties, including Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, and Gbarpolu. Right now we are doing phase one, which is teachers’ training, because without training the teachers, the children won’t learn; what the teachers learn will definitely spill over to the children. She hopes that in the future, Educate Liberia can add on other schools, in the other parts of the country, to the ones that they presently work with. And after the last five series, Educate Liberia will select other teachers from other schools, to begin from step one with the series,” Mrs. Scott-Caranda stated. We are assisting government in training their teachers.”Currently, Educate Liberia is self-funded by its 5-member Board of Directors.

MONROVIA – The remains of fallen Public Works Minister Mobutu Vlah Nyepan was Wednesday laid in state in the rotunda of the Capitol Building. Mr. Nyepan who died while serving as Public Works Minister also served as Senator of Sinoe County in the 53rd Legislature. At the state funeral held at the Capitol Building, President George Weah paid tribute to the fallen Works Minister, describing him as the “doctor of the bad road medicine”. President Weah remembered the late Works Minister for his dedication and commitment to serving his country with integrity. It was his responsibility as Minister of Public Works to concretize the vision of my administration which is building roads.

Liberia: Government of Liberia, with Support from Qatar Charity Foundation Breaks Ground for Construction of Islamic SchoolPaynesville – The Government of Liberia with support from the State of Qatar, through the Qatar Charity Foundation, in partnership with the Islamic Community has broken ground for the reconstruction of the United Garwah Islamic Center and Mosque in Paynesville. The United Garwah Islamic School about a year ago was gutted by fire, leaving twenty eight students, including their teacher dead. He told the gathering that the only survival of the fire incident, who was an Imam, coincidentally died in an accident on the day of signing the agreement for the funding with Qatar Charity Foundation. Sheriff said the project is hundred percent funded by the Qatar Charity Foundation and is expected to be completed at the end of May 2021. In September 2019, 28 children along with their teacher died in a tragic fire disaster at the Islamic School.