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
Liberia: ANC’S Alexander Cummings Wants Cape Mountinians Benefit from County’s Natural Resources
Cummings said given the resources that the people of Grand Cape Mount County have, they should not be living in such deplorable condition, the condition he observed during his three days tour in the county. Grand Cape Mount County has gold, iron ore, diamonds and other natural resources, but the ANC political leader said his observation established that those resources are not benefiting the livelihoods of people of the county. I am angry because the resources are leaving Grand Cape Mount County and our people are still living in abject poverty, that is unacceptable, that is something that must change,” Cummings said. Cummings said Senator Taylor would be the best Senator Grand Cape Mount County had ever had because of what he plans to do for the county during his nine-year stint. Cummings said: “We will work with Simeon to make him the best Senator Grand Cape Mount County had ever had.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 08:24 UTC
Our Legislators Must Do the Right Thing -- Make Public the Proposed Amended ArcelorMittal Steel Agreement!
However when President Sirleaf assumed the presidency in 2006, the Mineral Development Agreement was renegotiated with Mittal Steel. Under the terms of the then amended agreement, Mittal Steel committed itself to provide about US$73m over a period of 25 years, which constitutes the life span of the agreement. They maintain that ArcelorMittal Liberia has reneged on commitments agreed to in the amended agreement signed during the Sirleaf Presidency. However, in 2006, transparency watchdog Global Witness undertook a critical review of the 2005 amended agreement and made observations. We also call on our legislators to do the right thing this time by subjecting the proposed amended agreement to rigorous due diligence checks and opening the same for public scrutiny.
Source:Daily Observer
September 20, 2021 08:15 UTC
Liberia: Nimba Clans Square Off Over Customary Land Title Claims
A monument erected at the starting point of a boundary between Gayea and Gblor clans funded by USAID. The Gayea clan also says it wants to conserve a portion of its forest. Elder John Miah of Gboutuo, a boundary town in Gblor Clan, says his people were fooled by Gayean leaders during the 2014 negotiation. It may turn into a savannah land,” Bah says. Former Commissioner Sam Nappa Wehyee of Doe Administrative District which covers Gblor Clan, was part of the boundary demarcation exercise in 2014.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 08:10 UTC
Kailondo's US$930K Theft Case Dismissed
Criminal Court Judge Ousmane Feika has dismissed business tycoon George Kailondo's lawsuit against GTBank for illegally withdrawing US$930,500 from his account. And, that the naming of the corporate officers of the GTBank does not absolve them, because the Indictment seeks to prosecute their employer. According to Feika, the prosecutors had admitted that it is GTBank that was indicted and not its corporate officers, they have named it. Further Feika said, the elements of certainty and specificity as to the role each of the corporate officers named in the Indictment, is completely missing. The document further claimed that on December 12, 2014,the defendants debited Kailondo USD account #001126050020001000 with the amount US$50,000,00.
Source:Daily Observer
September 20, 2021 08:03 UTC
Liberia: The Truth Is Coming Out of The Bag
So the truth is out of the bag, or all coming out of bag. The truth is out of the bag as was analyzed by James Davis responding to a post in the comment section of FPA previous reports about concerning the Liberian delegation to Washington. With the law stating how much the government can spend on lobby, and how much the political party can spend. Hundreds thousands or quarter of a million or more to spend on lobby to a foreign country without legislative oversight, too dangerous. The two elephants are asking to be nominated by the White House to be President of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 07:52 UTC
Liberia: Court Dismisses Case Filed by Government and Kailondo without Prejudice to the State
MONROVIA – Criminal Court ‘C’ has dismissed the criminal indictment against six officials of GT Bank, Liberia Limited, without prejudice to the State. Businessman George Kailondo and the prosecutors in July this year indicted six top employees of GT Bank on charges of “Theft of Property and Criminal conspiracy. And, that the naming of the corporate officers of the GT Bank does not absolve them, because the Indictment seek to prosecute their employer. The document further claimed that on December 12, 2014, the defendants debited Kailondo USD account #001126050020001000 with the amount US$50,000,00. They also claimed that on January 8, 2016 up to March 28, 2016, GT Bank deducted US$50,000 on what they described as “reverse due to RTN CHK-Ecobank, without Kailondo knowledge.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 07:40 UTC
Liberia: Residents In Nimba Living with Fear Amid Mass Death of Chickens, Ducks
Bahn City, Nimba County – Residents of Bahn City in Nimba County are said to be living with fear following the mass death of chickens and ducks in the area. By Festus E. Frazer with Journalists for Human RightsThe animals, about 50 in numbers were owned by the residents. The District Health officer (DHO) of the area, Abraham Kargbo, told FrontPage Africa that one of the dead animals was sent to the Ministry of Health in Monrovia for testing. Back in the Bahn, residents there are anxious and awaiting results from Monrovia. Health authorities from Nimba and the Central office in Monrovia will be hoping that this latest incident is brought under control.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 07:30 UTC
Concern Liberians’ Professional Assistance Organization Identifies With Two Orphanages
Paynesville City- A non-for-profit organization, Concern Liberians’ Professional Assistance Organization Incorporated (CLPAO-Inc.) has donated food items including rice, oil and cooking cube to orphanages in Montserrado and Margibi Counties. CLPAO-Inc. was established in the United States by group of professional Liberians who intend to help less- fortunate children and orphans in Liberia. According to Neufville, during the 60-day state emergency imposed by the government, the organization were able to cater to 10 orphanages. Neufville further explained that there are plans to offer scholarship opportunities to children at various orphanages in the country. The founder of the Rock of Divine Orphanage, Mother Fatu K. Smith thanked the organization for thinking about the children.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 06:56 UTC
Minister of Health Describes the Launch of Digital Midwifery as Leap of Fate for Liberia
Minister of Health Describes the Launch of Digital Midwifery as Leap of Fate for LiberiaMONROVIA – Liberia has become the second African country to launch an online or digital midwifery examination system, following its first launch in the subregion of Ghana, which shares a similar idea to enable Liberia to get such history recorded. Liberia’s record follows the launch of the online midwifery examination by the Liberia Board of Nursing and Midwifery in Monrovia over the weekend. During the official launch of the digital midwifery examination system, Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah described the initiative as a ‘leap of fate’ for Liberia, as the second country in Africa, following Ghana which is already in full swing. She also noted that the digital process will support an environmentally friendly environment by avoiding cutting down trees to produce papers. At the same time, Minister Jallah then promised the Ministry of Health support towards the digital examination process to make it successful and to take ownership of the digital exam.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 06:50 UTC
Liberia: Forest, Wildlife Under Threat in Vahun
VAHUN, Lofa County – Forest and wildlife are said to be under threat in Vahun District, near the Liberian-Sierra Leone borders. LFMW observed that most of the pitsawers in Vahun forest are Sierra Leonean nationals. Also authorities of Vahun District are said to be overwhelmed with mining activities taken place in Vahun. On Monday, July 19, 2021, the Town Chief of Vahun, Foday Konneh disclosed that mining activities in Vahun district is affecting the forest. After hours of inquiries, both parties through the Sierra Leonean authorities blamed the Town Chief of Bandoma in Sierra Leone for the incident.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 06:38 UTC
LCAA, Ministry of Transport and Roberts Flight Region Signs Agreement with BAGAIA to Establish Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau
By Francis G. Boayue, InternMonrovia – The Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), Ministry of Transport and the Roberts Flight Information Region, has signed a resolution with BANJUL Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) to establish Liberia’s first Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau by July 2022. By Francis G. Boayue, InternBAGAIA is an international organization that assists African member states to conduct of independent investigation of aircraft accident in compliance with international standard. He added, “That the Minister of Transport in conjunction with the Director General of Liberia Civil Aviation Authority will communicate with YATRA to levy fees on ticket to fund AAID Liberia”. The resolution after being read, was signed by the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority Boss, Moses Y. Kollie, Ministry of Transport and the BANJUL Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency Commissioner. For his part, the BAGAIA’s Commissioner, Charles Irekefe Erhueh, lauded special thanks to the Minister of Transport and the Liberia’s Aviation Authority Boss for the hospitality and assured the Liberia’s transport sector joint effort for the establishment of the Liberia aircraft accident investigation bureau by July 2022.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 06:22 UTC
Liberia: Sweeping Financial Audit Underway in Grand Bassa
BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County – The Superintendent of Grand Bassa County Janjay Baikpeh has written the Bassa Legislative Caucus requesting for the endorsement and approval of a far-reaching financial audit in the county. Superintendent Baikpeh also wants an audit of Grand Bassa County Scrap Account with the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment for the same fiscal periods. The Grand Bassa Caucus Chair warned that the people Grand Bassa and laws of the Republic will hold anyone held responsible for any form of mismanagement to account. While other motives for the request of such sweeping audit remain unknown, there had been reports of continuous corruption and financial mismanagement of county and social development funds in Grand Bassa and all other counties across Liberia. A General Auditing Commission (GAC) reports of 2018 allegedly linked several Grand Bassa County former and current officials to missing scrap money between June 2014 and July 2016.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 06:21 UTC
Thomas Found Responsible for Lutheran Church Massacre by US Court
It would become known as the Lutheran Church massacre and bring international attention to the conflict that was unfolding. “For more than two decades, Liberians have known that their government perpetrated the Lutheran Church Massacre,” said Hassan Bility of Global Justice Research Project. “I know I was not part of the Lutheran Church massacre. And there was no evidence Thomas committed immigration fraud, the violation for which Mohammed Jabbateh and Thomas Jucontee Woewiyu were convicted in Pennsylvania in 2017 and 2019. Lutheran Church survivor shows scars from the massacre.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 03:11 UTC
Liberia: VP Howard-Taylor Inducted in the African Leadership Magazine Hall of Fame
Jewel Howard-Taylor has been inducted in the Africa Leadership Magazine Hall of Fame. This induction according to the Africa Leadership Magazine, is the highest cadre of membership of the prestigious African Leadership Council. Madam Vice President was inducted on the basis of her prolonged advocacy for quality education across Africa, women empowerment, gender equality and the respect for human rights. The Africa Leadership Magazine is published by African Leadership (UK) limited, which publishes stories and analyses of people and events in and out of Africa. It is an international platform which brings together the best minds across the African continent, in order to promote good governance, and economic development.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2021 00:45 UTC