The Untold Story & Strives For Liberia’s Better Information & Telecommunications Technology (ICT) At the Ministry of Posts & TelecommunicationsTremendous changes and developments have been made through the efforts of the Minister, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr. and his principal deputies over the past three years with support of the President, H.E George M. Weah in the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector. The Ministry provides Administrative Guidelines for Postal and Telecommunications facilities that are operated in the country to ensure compliance to acceptable standards set by Universal Postal Union (UPU) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The Ministry has worked to ensure that the Information Communications Technology (ICT) policy, which outlined Liberia’s vision to utilized Information and Communications Technology for all institutional economic growth and development, has been induced by the Cabinet and has also gotten Presidential approval. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is an agency of the United Nations (UN) whose purpose is to coordinate telecommunication operations and services throughout the world.

“This is the third time in a row that the hearing of the victims we represent is postponed, despite the fact that our clients had confirmed their desire to come to Switzerland and testify.” – Alain WernerThe Swiss Federal Criminal Court announced that the Alieu Kosiah trial will be partially postponed until the beginning of 2021 – tentatively in February. The Court has decided to only proceed with the preliminary questions and the hearing of the defendant from December 3 to December 11, 2020. The rest of the trial – the hearing of the plaintiffs and the witnesses, and the final pleadings – should take place in February 2021. This is the fourth time that the trial has been postponed, either entirely or partially, since the Attorney General (OAG) indicted Alieu Kosiah in March 2019. Kosiah was arrested in November 2014 following several criminal complaints filed against him in Switzerland.

Liberia Internet Exchange Point Association Installs New Leadership; Promises to Bring More Value, Opportunities to LiberiaMonrovia – The Liberia Internet Exchange Point Association (LIXPA) has installed a new leadership which is headed by Madam Titilope Fakuade of Lonestarcell MTN, the Executive Chairperson. She has promised to bring more value and opportunities to Liberia. The Commissioner of Engineering at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), Maria G. Harrison, reminded the new leadership of the task ahead but expressed optimism that cordial efforts, the challenges can be overcomed. He said, as a subsegment to the telecommunications industry, the work of LIXPA leadership must have a reflection on the public. “This government has a lot to do in helping the poor people in Liberia, but cannot do it without the help of others in the telecommunications sector,” Minister Kruah said.

Monrovia – Impeached former Associate Justice Kabineh M. Ja’neh says his illegal removal from the Supreme Court Bench is due to the lack of respect for the rule of law under the George Weah-led administration. “What the ECOWAS Court did was just to say the same thing we said here [said] that our own people didn’t agree with. Following his impeachment, Justice Ja’neh through his legal counsel filed a lawsuit against the Liberian government to the ECOWAS Court. Also, speaking at the ceremony, the legal counsel of Justice Ja’neh, Atty. Woods told supporters who had gone to cheer Justice Ja’neh.

The two-day event was attended by Development Superintendents, City Mayors, Land use authorities, Resident engineers, representatives from other line Ministries and Agencies and civil society. Prof. Karmorh added that ‘threats’ caused by climate change hundreds of years ago was as a result of the burning of fossil fuels which in turn has accumulated into the atmosphere-leading to global warming. “In the 90s, the intergovernmental panel on climate change reported to the international community that the global temperature was on the increase and if we don’t take action to address the increase in the global temperature it means that we should be prepared to face the severe consequences of climate change,” he added. Tumbey, however, appreciated Sida and the UNDP Global Climate Promise Initiative for working along with the UNDP in Liberia in tailoring the necessary funds to the government of Liberia. He disclosed that the NDC is very important for Liberia because it allows Liberia to communicate its climate action as well as implement targeted actions to address climate change locally.

The flight from Paris to Monrovia marked the resumption of Air France’s flight to Liberia after it shut down flights to Liberia during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2011. He added, “By connecting Monrovia to Paris and the rest of the world, Air France aims to support Liberia’s economic dynamism. Needless to say, that business opportunities with Liberia are great and that Air France will be there to back them.”According to him, Air France never stopped the decision to fly to Liberia but has always been finding the best means possible. Therefore, it would travel to Liberia via Bamako, Mali which has a very good traffic for Paris while Liberia has traffic for the United States. He furthered that the return of Air France will boost the tourism opportunities offered by the exceptional diversity of Liberia’s heritage as well as by the beauty of its natural sites.

They have put up one of their trusted partisans, Thomas P. Fallah who currently represents Montserrado County District 5 for the December 8 midterm senatorial battle. “We are gathered here to show our support for Rep. Fallah for the Senate of Montserrado County,” President Weah said. President Weah wants partisans of the CDC to join forces in ensuring that Representative Fallah becomes victorious in the upcoming midterm election. “We call on every one of you to come together and let us support Representative Fallah. Remember, united we stand and divided we fall.”President Weah cautioned supporters of Representative Fallah to remain peaceful in their political quest to reclaim Montserrado County.

LAWMAKERS, UNDER THE watch of Speaker Chambers have repeatedly given the greenlight to the Central Bank of Liberia to print local currency while standing by and doing nothing as consumers and ordinary Liberians complain that there is simply not enough local currency on the market. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, commercial banks have been doing their best to manage the shortage of local dollars with no end appearing to be in sight for the shortage. IN THE WAKE OF all this, Speaker Chambers is failing to take responsibility by leading his peers to hold the Central Bank of Liberia’s feet to the fire. IN TRUTH, Speaker Chambers is shifting blame when he should be providing oversight through the Banking and Currency committee of the lower house which should be working hard to ensure the local currency is protected. SADLY, AT THE TIME, Speaker Chambers did not make any claims or lay any blame on the shortage on the local businesses.

“President Weah should make sure that people who are tasked with responsibilities are honest enough to ensure that they do their works professionally and with honesty”. Senator Johnson noted that President Weah should desist from exercising his constitutional powers based on friendship or partisanship and take actions in the interest of the nation. The government is bigger than a political party and he has to look at Liberia in that direction now. When this is done, he added, that public officials appointed by the Liberian Chief Executive will also follow suit. He maintained that President Weah should not allow himself to be “pushed around” over making decisions to move Liberia and its citizens forward.

They had raised several reasons for which they sought a prohibition on the December 8 referendum including lack of sufficient time for public awareness. They had argued that electorates have not been educated enough on the various propositions of the referendum and how to go about voting. The Supreme Court ruled that “Article 92 of the Constitution is devoid of any timeframe for the dissemination of information and awareness on the Referendum. The Supreme Court ruled, “The alternative writ of prohibition issued is sustained and the temporary writ prayed for is granted. The NEC is hereby prohibited from printing ballots for the Referendum contrary to Joint Resolution LEG-002/2019 of the Legislature and Article 92 of the Constitution.”

Session with the lead facilitator, Jonathan Chapman, Media Specialist of WaterAid UK through a visual presentationMONROVIA – A One Day Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Journalists Training designed to enhance WASH reportage into mainstream Media, has successfully ended in Monrovia, Liberia. The Training was organized and facilitated by WaterAid Liberia, bringing together at least 10 Journalists from the WASH Reporters & Editors (“R&E Media”) Network of Liberia. The WaterAid UK Media Specialist also stressed the need for WASH journalists to look at facts and figures, audiences, story ideas and themes, amongst others. The One Day Media Training is expected to improve WASH Journalists’ understanding of key WASH issues, inform WASH Journalists on how to find and present information in an accessible and simple manner and help Journalists capture WaterAid’s work and other sector issues using WASH data and telling compelling stories. The Training will further enable Journalists integrate WASH reportage in mainstream media, at an optimal level both to influence decision makers into accelerating improvements in WASH access and to educate and inform public opinion on their WASH rights.

Government of Liberia Signs Agreement With TRACOM Liberia, Ltd. For the Development, Installation and Operations of an Electronic Fiscal Device SystemMonrovia – The Government of Liberia (GoL) represented by members of the Inter-Ministerial Concession Committee (IMCC) namely, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), National Investment Commission (NIC), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), and Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) have signed a Framework Agreement for the development, installation, and operations of an Electronic Fiscal Device System (EFDS) within Liberia. The electronic system will enable the Government to install electronic fiscal devices to track the daily transactions and sales records of businesses in Liberia. He said the introduction of the electronic fiscal device for tracking sales data of businesses marked the beginning of more important undertakings to be initiated to promote accountability and enhance revenue collection. He assured the commitment of TRACOM Liberia Limited to diligently implement the electronic fiscal device project so as to yield the results intended. The fiscal device system implementation will be fully led by the Liberia Revenue Authority and supported by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

MONROVIA – National Civil Society Watch of Liberia (NACSWL) celebrates the president for the creation of the office of Islamic advisor to the president. Acknowledges that such creates balanced access to the presidency of Liberia for the two major religions of the Country; Islam and Christianity. Calls on the first occupant of the post, Sheik Usmane T. Jalloh to serve for the benefit of peace and a reconciled society. We further wish to join the National Islamic Organization through its head Mohammed A. Sheriff (Chairman) in celebrating the president H. E. Dr. George Manneh Weah on the 29th of this month for his works over the years which are specifically contributing to the growth and development of the country and reconciling its diverse people.

MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia and the European Union (EU) are expected to hold the 8th session of the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) meeting in Monrovia slated for November 24-26, 2020. At the meeting, the status of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, striving for the enhancement of Liberia’s forest governance, will be reviewed. The VPA was designed to address illegal logging, improve the law enforcement and forest governance and promote trade in legal timber products. Under the agreement, Liberia will ensure that its timber exports are legally corroborated before being shipped for the EU and other international markets. They will all be deliberating on pertinent issues bordering on the status of the forest governance in Liberia.

Ambassador Likely to be President-elect Biden’s Pick as Ambassador to the U.N.Former U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Linda Thomas-Greenfield is expected to be President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for ambassador to the United Nations and Jake Sullivan as his national security adviser, several people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. She served as assistant secretary of state for African affairs and was ambassador to Liberia during the Obama administration. Sullivan was one of Biden’s national security advisers during his time as vice president and was also a deputy chief of staff to Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state. Antony Blinken, Biden’s reported pick to be his secretary of state nominee, also served as one of Biden’s national security advisers while vice president.