Ex-VP Boakai Indicates He’s Open to Prosecuting Benoni Urey in War Crimes Court
In the interview, Boakai expressed a strong desire for accountability for the horrors of Liberia’s civil war, arguing that impunity for crimes committed demand the formation of a War Crimes Court. Making matters more complex, some of those politicians named in the TRC report have publicly called for a War Crimes Court despite being likely targets should such a court be established. It is not just Boakai’s team that have expressed concern about Benoni Urey. And although, the sanctions were lifted, his critics has called for him to face the war and economic crimes court if it is established. I recall Benoni Urey to be very frank.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 09:35 UTC
People’s Liberation Party Cautions Public Against Doing Business With Its Expelled Chairman
The PLP was fully certificated by the National Elections Commission (NEC) as a full-fledged political party on December 21, 2021. Mr. Paye was removed as acting National Chairman, while Henry Sackie and Kansualism Kansuah were removed from the positions of acting Vice Chairman for Political Affairs and Secretary General respectively. Former student leader Carlos Tingban Edison was suspended from his position as acting National Youth Chairman of the PLP. The communication was signed by the Acting National Organizing Chairman of the PLP, Mr. Tapple E. Doe. This brings to two the number of times Mr. Paye has been removed as Chairman of a political party in Liberia and subsequently expelled.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 09:00 UTC
National Elections Commission Announces Issuance of 25 Nomination Forms, Expecting More in Coming Days
MONROVIA – The process to replace vacancy created in the legislature as a result of lawmakers who filled those seats ran and won in December 2020 to be senators is expected to be crowded as the National elections commission (NEC) announced that 25, forms have already been issued for four vacant seats. According to the Commission in a statement issued Monday, the total number of political parties and independent aspirants who collected Nomination Packages is 25, out of which only one Independent aspirant from Bomi County has returned the nomination package to the NEC nomination Center. The Commission says the Candidate Nomination process which began on 13 September 2021 will end on Friday 24th September 2021. The Commission says all aspirants who received nomination packages are encouraged to return those packages to the NEC Candidate Nomination Center on 9th and 10th streets on or before the 24th of September 2021 deadline for the Candidate Nomination Exercise. On 13 September 2021 the Candidate Nomination exercise began at the Headquarters of the Commission in Monrovia.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 08:47 UTC
UL Crisis Deepens
Helove Mark, Chairman of the campus based Progressive Students Alliance (PROSA) of the UL, said his student political party has joined ranks with the Student Unification Party (SUP) and all other campus based student political parties to compel government, through ceaseless protests, to do what is right. “The President of the University of Liberia is more loyal to the President of the Republic than the cause of the institution he serves. Unlike other past demonstrations that are led and held by a single campus based political group, yesterday’s protest saw all of the campus based student political parties amalgamating forces with a single goal calling on the government and the university’s authority to address the situation at hand. Additionally, they said they were demanding the UL authority to bring a stable internet on the campus and improve the laboratories using fees generated from entrance examination and other sources. Justin W. Jallah Jr., co-chairperson on the Intellectual Discourse Committee of Student Alliance, also said the learning environment at UL is unacceptable.
Source:Daily Observer
September 21, 2021 08:26 UTC
Liberia Gets Boost For Rural Telecommunications Development Under Universal Access Program
Signing of an agreement with a giant telecommunication provider in GhanaThe head of the delegation, The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications and Chair of the Governing Board of the Universal Access Fund, Cllr Cooper W. Kruah Sr. signed an agreement on behalf of the Government of Liberia with a company believed to be a giant telecommunication service provider in Ghana to boost rural telecommunications access in Liberia. This paper has reliably gathered that on September 16, 2021, the Chairman of the Board of the Universal Access Fund, Cllr. K-Net is believed to be the service provider in Ghana that help to transform the country from analog to digital Television broadcast. Recently, The Universal Access Fund endorsed the implementation of the proof of concept designed to bring telecommunication closer to the people of Liberia irrespective of their location to have access to telecommunications, to make and receive calls, receive mobile money and other remittances. Currently, the proof of concept project under the Universal Access Fund program is being carried out in Perlunken, Grand Kru and Gbankaborquiota in Gbarpolu Counties among others.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 08:03 UTC
National CSO Council Wants Liberia’s Solicitor General Respond to Allegation of Ritualistic Killing, Conflict of Interest
Monrovia – The National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL) has called on Solicitor General, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephas to respond to allegations linking him to ritualistic killings and to explain his relationship with Ellen Corkrum. The NCSCL said it believes the integrity, legal independence and judicial judgment of the Solicitor General of Liberia is crucial; and “strongly hold that the silence of the Solicitor General is a matter of concern. In addition, to the Council said there is” the need for the Solicitor General to explain the nature of his relationship with Ms. Ellen Corkrum in light of the earlier mentioned corruption case. Left unaddressed, the impression is that the Solicitor General is conflicted and compromised, the Council said.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 07:45 UTC
Rotary Int’l District Governor Arrives in Liberia Today, As Assistant DG Morgan Speaks of Successes in Liberia
Monrovia- The District Governor (DG) of Rotary International District 9101, Christopher Forster, is expected to arrive in Liberia on Tuesday for a weeklong assessment tour. According to the Assistant Governor, Rotary Clubs of Liberia, Eva Mappy Morgan, DG Forster who will arrive in Liberia on Tuesday, September 21 will depart on Sunday, September 26. Rotarian Mappy Morgan said currently there three clubs in Liberia which she named as the Rotary Club of Monrovia, the Rotary Club of Sinkor and the Rotary Club of Gbarnga Rotary. Rotarian Mappy Morgan said this time around DG Forster will not be visiting the Rotary Club of Gbarnga but his concentration will be only with the Rotary Clubs Monrovia and Sinkor. The Rotary Clubs in Liberia is among ten Rotary Clubs in the Sub – region that District Governor (DG) of Rotary International District 9101, Christopher Forster will be touring.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 07:41 UTC
Massaquoi Lawyer Confident of Acquittal in War Crimes Trial
Kaarle Gummerus, lawyer for Gibril Massaquoi, speaks with New Narratives’ Anthony StephensBy Mae Azango, Senior Justice Correspondent with New NarrativesMONROVIA, Liberia – The lawyer for accused war criminal Gibril Massaquoi’s says he is confident of his client will be acquitted. “Gibril Massaquoi told me that he hasn’t done anything here in Liberia and, of course, because he’s my client, I have to believe him,” Gummerus said. He had alleged that staff working with Global Justice Research Project, the Liberia-based justice organization, had paid prosecution witnesses to lie. Dozens of witnesses reported seeing “Angel Gabriel” commit crimes at the Waterside market during the attacks by LURD. “So they said Roland and his men were going to be assigned to Stockton Creek, Massaquoi was going to Waterside.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 06:45 UTC
Overseer of Forky Kloh Jlaleh Family Fellowship Collaborates with International Prelates to Launch Spiritual Cleansing, Peace & Reconciliation Prayer Summit for Liberia
Paynesville City– As part of effort to foster ‘genuine’ peace and reconciliation in Liberia, the Overseer of the Forky Kloh Jlaleh Family Fellowship Church, Reverend M. Emmanuel Nimely and a United States-based Liberian Prophetess, Sebe Juma Dalieh have announced a spiritual cleansing prayer Summit. The summit, under the Theme: ‘Liberia Spiritual Cleansing Peace and Reconciliation Prayer Summit’, will run from December 8 to 12, 2021 at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, and others will simultaneously be held across the rest of the 14 Counties, according to the organizers. She explained that over 100 pastors and spiritual leaders across the globe have agreed to grace the summit. Speaking further, she disclosed that they are now in the process of connecting with bishops, spiritual fathers, spiritual mothers, pastors, church leaders, and others to aid and support this call. Nimely, the Lord revealed that Liberia needs spiritual cleansing because the civil war has effected the entire country.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 06:40 UTC
Lawmakers Support Liberia’s Quest To Fight Illicit Financial Practices, Vow To Strengthen Financial Unit Regulatory Framework
MONROVIA – Several high-ranking members of the 54th Legislature have expressed full support for the strengthening of Liberia’s AML/CFT regime, which seeks to fight and prevent illicit financial practices in Liberia. Those unique commitments and policy statements to improve Liberia’s AML/CFT) laws were highlighted by Representatives Ben Fofana, Samuel Kogar and Kanie Weso, of the committees on Banking and Currency, National Security and Judiciary of the House of Representatives who participated in a legislative validation engagements workshop in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County. The district # 5 lawmaker of Nimba County noted that the enactment of international best practice laws like AML/CFT regulations and Proceed of Crimes Act of 2019 could greatly safeguard the future of Liberia and minimize financial crimes. He expressed optimism that the passage could help for the subsequent procurement of modern software which other countries are currently using to detect money laundering and other suspicious financial transactions. According to him, the passage of the law is in conformity with international best practice and could greatly aid Liberia to be considered as a reliable country for sustainable investments.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 06:23 UTC
Wilmot Paye Thrown Out of PLP
Wilmot Paye has finally been thrown out of the People's Liberation Party after the party financier Dr. Daniel Cassell approved his expulsion. Paye’s removal comes after accusations and counter-accusations between him and the party’s political leader Cassell. Considered one of Liberia’s rising political figures, Paye has in recent times faced troubles in his political career with parties. But Paye resisted the party decision and argued that the political leader’s action was contrary to the party’s constitution. The GPC is the highest decision-making body of the PLP and it comprises high-ranking officials of the party, including Dr. Cassell, whom Paye claims preside over the GPC meetings.
Source:Daily Observer
September 21, 2021 02:03 UTC
Liberia: Gov’t Refiles Indictment Against GT Bank
However, the refiled indictment carries the same crimes. This followed the dismissal of the previous indictment by Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge Ousman Feika after he ruled on a 11-count motion filed by the defense counsels to dismiss the indictment on account that it was wrongfully filed. Among other things, the defense counsels added that the proceedings were not drawn against specific individuals or entity but against designated positions and offices within GT Bank, meaning that the indictment was against the persons holding the designated positions within the bank who by holding of such offices are agents of the bank. However, in resistance, the Prosecution said even though GT Bank was not named in the caption of the indictment, the averments contained in the body of the indictment indicated that GT Bank was indicted through its top officers. The Prosecution asserted that not naming GT Bank before the officials as being argued by the movant was a harmless error which has no bearing on the substantive issue of the “criminal acts” contained in the indictment.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2021 00:45 UTC
Chief Imam Blasts Government
Sheikh Ali Krayee, Chief Imam of the Republic of Liberia, on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, called out the members of the 54th Legislature for what he described as their “failure” to work in the interest of the electorate. The Chief Imam Kreyee added that because the country’s leaders refuse to improve the health sectors, they seek medical attention in Ghana when they are sick. “The people are yet to understand how the first stimulus package was distributed and the international community will not send any support to this government who cannot account for the first distribution of the stimulus package,” Imam Krayee said. It’s time we stopped playing games with the devil.”Chief Imam Kreyee said as Muslims kill those animals as sacrifices, it is required of them to also kill their egos and the desire to put ahead what is in the interest of humanity. Some of us fail the simple tests of life; we cannot take care of the orphans and even give to the poor,” Chief Kreyee said.
Source:Daily Observer
September 20, 2021 18:45 UTC
Bureau to Probe Aircraft Accidents in Sight
… following signed resolution by national and regional aviation stakeholdersThe Liberia Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Transport, and the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency have signed a resolution to establish an Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in Liberia by July, 2022. The BAGAIA is an international organization that assists African member states in conducting independent investigations of aircraft accidents and incidents in accordance with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Bureau will be known as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB-Liberia) once it is created. He noted that Liberia is well on its way to ensuring continued safety and impartial aircraft accident and incident investigations, considering its good start. Lately, aircraft accidents have been few and far between but, when they do occur, the most important impact is always that of human life.
Source:Daily Observer
September 20, 2021 09:11 UTC
Foreign Ministry Denies US$4M ‘Clandestine’ Passports Saga
Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs, Deweh Gray, has denied claims of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ordering passports clandestinely as speculated in the media in recent days. The online news outlet in its article linked several current and past employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including acting Foreign Minister, Cllr. Knews alleged that, “there were 23 boxes of privileged passports (i.e., Official, Diplomatic & Service), which amounted to 5,750 blank privileged passports (23×250 passports per box). One of those dismissed worked in the office of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Henry Fahnbulleh. She said by March, the government had set up COVID-19 restrictions and had shut down the passport center and was only issuing emergency passports.
Source:Daily Observer
September 20, 2021 08:26 UTC