MONROVIA – The Joint Security headed by the Ministry of Justice has issued a stern warning against the premature announcement of election results on social media, emphasizing the importance of upholding the democratic process. The call for responsible citizen journalism comes at a time when the nation is grappling with the challenges of ensuring a fair and transparent election. We wish to stress the warning against the announcement of results ahead of NEC,” stated the Ministry of Justice. The Joint Security assured registered voters of their security and the protection of their votes, urging everyone to participate in the electoral process peacefully. While expressing a commitment to restraint, the Joint Security warned that any unlawful aggressions would be met with reasonable and proportionate force.

Greenfield, who served in Liberia from 2008 to 2012, warns in repetition of what senior U.S officials have been saying since the October 10 elections process, which produced a runoff election. “The United States will continue to promote accountability and will call out anyone who undermines the electoral process through fraud, violence, or intimidation,” said Greenfield in a brief statement yesterday. “Once again, the Liberian people reaffirmed their commitment to democracy in yesterday’s runoff election. Premature declarations can be detrimental to the stability of Liberia,” said Professor Attahiru Jega, Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Liberia, and Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security at the ECOWAS Commission. Both parties also had media houses with ties to declare victory, creating a tense situation among many Liberians.

Former Vice President Joseph Boakai has taken a slim lead over President George Weah, the National Elections Commission disclosed as it began releasing results from the November 14 runoff election. Boakai has secured a vote of 193,041, accounting for 50.71% of the tally, while President Weah closely follows with 187,615 votes, representing 49.29%, according to initial results released by the electoral body on November 15. For Weah or Boakai to win, analysts noted it would depend on who performs better in areas traditionally loyal to their opponent. A potential victory for Weah would also be groundbreaking, with him becoming the first candidate in Liberian history to defeat the same political opponent twice. In the 2017 runoff, Weah secured a decisive win against Boakai, with a 61.5% to 38.5% margin in the runoff after winning the first round with a 10% margin.

-Applauds Liberians on Runoff ElectionThe Ambassador of the United States to the United Nations has warned that the US government will call out anyone who undermines the electoral process through fraud, violence, or intimidation. “Once again, the Liberian people reaffirmed their commitment to democracy in yesterday’s runoff election. We commend their dedication to exercising their right to vote broadly and peacefully,” she said. “The United States will continue to promote accountability and will call out anyone who undermines the electoral process through fraud, violence, or intimidation.”“At each step of this election, Liberians from all walks of life have expressed their desire for Liberia–one of the oldest continuous republics in the world–to become a beacon of peaceful citizen-centered democratic governance in the region. The United States remains committed to helping the people of Liberia achieve this goal,” the former US Ambassador to Liberia noted.

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has announced the first preliminary results of the presidential runoff between the incumbent President George Manneh Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), and Unity Party (UP) presidential candidate, Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai. Reading the first results, the Chairperson of the NEC, Mrs. Davidetta Browne – Lansanah said the commission has received 22.33% of the 1,315 of the 5,890 polling places, noting that the total valid and invalid 386,076 which equivalent 15.62%. In the first preliminary results, the Unity Party presidential candidate, Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai got 193,041 votes which also equivalent to 50.71%, while the incumbent, President George Manneh Weah got 187,615 equivalent to 49.29%. She informed the media at a well-attended press conference which included local and international observers from ECOWAS, AU, EU, and the United States that the next results will be release in the soonest possible time, and further supporters of the two candidates to stop claiming that they have won in these elections, noting that it is only the commission that is clothe with the authority to announce any election results. Visited 21 times, 28 visit(s) today

Chinese President Xi Jinping waves as he arrives at San Francisco International Airport to attend the APEC Summit in San Francisco, California | ReutersChinese President Xi Jinping landed in the US on Tuesday for the highly-anticipated three-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which will see the leaders from 21 nations converge in San Francisco. However, the highlight of the event is the bilateral meeting between Xi and US President Joe Biden, their second meeting after Biden assumed office in January 2021. Beijing would also demand rollbacks in tariffs on Chinese goods, sanctions on Chinese companies and export restrictions on high-tech products such as advanced chips. The Chinese president is also likely to address US business leaders in San Francisco and instil confidence in them that China is a safe place to invest. President Biden would like to reestablish them.

IN THE AFTERMATH of Tuesday’s runoff election, one glaring issue demands our immediate attention and introspection: the shockingly low voter turnout. Yet, the low turnout witnessed in the runoff election suggests a significant disconnect between citizens and their civic responsibilities. Economic growth and prosperity are intrinsically tied to the health of our democracy, and a low voter turnout threatens to undermine these foundations. AS WE REFLECT on the consequences of the low turnout in the recent election, we must brace ourselves for the impact it may have on our nation. LET THIS BE a wake-up call for all of us to rekindle the flames of patriotism within our hearts.

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has dismissed the Unity Party's (UP) allegations that the Commission sanctioned the public announcement of voters' names before allowing them to cast their votes. Lansanah, however, refrained from disclosing the party that did not attend to solidify the proposed agreement. At no point did this Commission endorse such an agreement,” she said.”We received letters from the Unity Party and the CDC on a similar issue. When you approach the polling staff, they take your card, check your name, and look into the FRR. However, party agents were instructing electoral staff to use the FRR in their possession to identify voters.

As Liberia anxiously awaits the final results of its historical first election, preliminary data suggests a nail-biting contest between incumbent President George Weah and former Vice President Joseph Boakai. The National Elections Commission is set to announce the official results tomorrow, adding to the suspense gripping the nation. In the 2017 runoff, Weah secured a decisive win against Boakai, with a 61.5% to 38.5% margin. “Material shortages and poverty have weighed upon Liberia for decades, with food and shelter being primary concerns,” Gallup said. Liberia, according to the Gallup survey, ranks among the least secure countries in the world, with residents ranking the country as unsafe on a variety of measures.

MONROVIA – The Ministry of Justice has denied any intentions to arrest prominent figures of the opposition Unity Party, including Rep. Yekeh Y. Kolubah (District #10, Montserrado County), and Senator Abraham Darius Dillon. A live Facebook podcast featuring Rep. Kolubah and key supporters of the Unity Party alleged that the police were not only planning to arrest key figures of the UP but also to intimidate them in the lead-up to the vote counting process. The Ministry of Justice, however, dismissed these claims, asserting that there are no plans to arrest or intimidate anyone. Reports from Montserrado County on election day indicated incidents of violence, with allegations that supporters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) assaulted Unity Party partisans—an accusation denied by the CDC. Anti-riot police were called to restore order, and the ECOWAS election observer mission chief, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, visited the scene to appeal for calm.

MONROVIA – Lonestar Cell MTN has debunked reports that it is planning to leave Liberia. In recent days, news has been circulating that the MTN Group, the parent company of Lonestar Cell MTN, might be contemplating an exit from Liberia. Bloomberg previously reported negotiations between MTN Group and Axian Group Ltd, a Madagascar conglomerate, potentially impacting these West African countries. Moreover, in Liberia, Lonestar MTN faces stiff competition from Orange Liberia. For Lonestar Cell MTN, it has been a key player in Liberia’s telecommunications landscape since its launch in 2001.

As polling centers were poorly attended to during the presidential runoff around the country as compared to the October 10, 2023 general and presidential elections, the former Nigerian President, H.E. Goodluck Jonathan today warned Liberian voters of any attempts to manipulate elections. The former Nigerian leader who is also the head of the West African Elders Forum, gave the warning today during his tour at various polling places in Monrovia and its environs to observe the ongoing process. He urged Liberian voters to be peaceful during the process, noting that such unscrupulous actions by Liberians which will have the propensity to disrupt the process are undemocraticVisited 18 times, 3 visit(s) today

Accra, Ghana – To accelerate the expansion of its carrier-neutral, open-access broadband infrastructure, CSquared today announces new equity investment from both new and existing shareholders to finance its ambitious growth objectives. CSquared Link Holdings (Mauritius) Limited (“CSquared” or the “Company”) is a pan-African technology company committed to digitally connecting Africa by making impactful investments in telecommunications infrastructure throughout the region. The new investment into the Company will be used for network expansion as CSquared continues to drive digital infrastructure developments across its footprint and the broader African region. Commenting on its investment in CSquared, Sarvesh Suri, IFC’s Regional Industry Director for Infrastructure, Africa, said “Broadband connectivity is critical for Africa’s development. For more information, visit www.ifc.orgAbout the IDA Private Sector WindowThe International Development Association’s (IDA) Private Sector Window was launched in 2017 to catalyze private sector investment in the poorest and most fragile countries.

“ECC Election Day Observation and Deployment Methodology In preparation for observing this election, the ECC trained and deployed 1738 observers — 1500 short-term observers, 73 electoral district supervisors, and 19 county coordinators. The 146 district observers, county coordinators, and supervisors will also be mobile, reporting on the general electoral environment on election day. “The ECC will issue two statements on its observation of the run-off election process, including a mid-day/situational statement on election day and a preliminary statement following election day. The election day situational statement will highlight observations of the opening and setup of observed polling places. The two major political parties are encouraged to inform their supporters to turn out peacefully and vote on election day.

MONROVIA – The early hours of the run-off Presidential election have witnessed a low turnout, particularly in some of the densely populated communities. Gibson Public School, C. Williams Brumskin Public School, Cathedral Catholic School, Solidarity Elementary School, West Central Mosque, First AGM High School, AB Massaquoi School, and others across Central Monrovia were noticeably empty. John Kerkula, an observer at Solidarity Elementary School in West Point, mentioned that despite the absence of electoral violence, the turnout is significantly low. She expressed concern about the poor turnout but remained optimistic, calling on all well-meaning Liberians to participate in the electoral process. “The turnout is poor, but I believe that people will come out during the day.