Executive Governor J. Aloysius Tarlue Highlights Achievements at CBL
When President George Weah appointed Mr. J. Aloysius Tarlue Jr., as Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) on November 8, 2019, critics claimed that he was unfit for the job. The CBL has been able to contribute to macroeconomic stability through achieving low inflation, maintaining broad exchange rate stability and promoting financial stability. From a financial stability perspective, the CBL continues to maintain robust regulatory and supervisory systems to promote a safe and sound financial system. The financial system remained resilient during the period under review, but has been negatively impacted by COVID-19, leading to rising of non-performing loans (NPLs). The CBL is taking steps to address this situation and ensure that the financial system continues to support the private sector to create jobs and income.
Source:Daily Observer
September 09, 2021 20:48 UTC
Coups D’état and Democracy in Africa
However, the focus of the military coups has changed today. Military coups are now seen as a way to end corruption, bad governance, a bankrupt economy, and injustice. Despite this, history has many examples where soldiers launched military coups to side with the masses, rather than the authoritarian government. Military coups in Africa don’t pave the corridor to a successful and efficient path to democracy or civilian administration. Democracy in Africa:The tenets of democracy continue to face serious crises in modern African societies: Democracy in Africa is often fragile, especially in states recovering from civil conflict.
Source:Daily Observer
September 09, 2021 02:12 UTC
UNDP Supports Gender Stakeholders’ Conference on Women’s Political Participation in Liberia
Monrovia – Delegates at a gender stakeholders’ conference are reviewing and strengthening an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on women’s political participation, signed between the National Elections Commission (NEC) and nineteen (19) political parties in 2017. The MOU supports the 30% gender quota, as per section 4.5 of the new elections law and its proposed amendment. It contains five pillars with specified actions to be implemented by political parties, toward achieving the 30% benchmark set by the National Elections Commission. Conference participants are expected to re-enforce the MoU with concrete actions that address the current challenges confronting women’s political participation and the measures needed to prevent violence against women in elections. The conference brings together Political Party Executives, women-focus civil society organizations, members of the Women Legislative Caucus, Commissioners of NEC, the Women Coalition of Political Parties of Liberia and advocates on women’s rights.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 08, 2021 15:45 UTC
Liberia: CEMESP Trains Female Journalists, Bloggers on Women’s Rights Online Advocacy
MONROVIA – The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, conducted intensive training for female bloggers and journalists on ‘Women’s Rights Online Issues’ in Liberia. He said the training which is implemented in Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone seeks to increase public awareness and respect for online rights, particularly women’s rights online rights as well as improve the digital literacy of least 200 women (female journalists, women’s rights activists, among others) to advocate for women’s rights online in the three West African countries. “As a first step for the intervention in Liberia, a database of female journalists, bloggers, and activists in Liberia has been built,” Mr. Joseph said adding that a one-day training workshop on women’s rights online issues was earlier held in Liberia to train 40 female journalists, bloggers, and activists. Participants at Tuesday’s training were introduced to Digital Rights, Social Media and Online Privacy, Identifying and Dealing with Online Abuses against Women, Digital Storytelling, and Digital Content Creation. At the end of the training CEMESP setup a WhatsApp group which will serve as a platform to enable the participants to continuously engage and also support each other in times of promoting women’s rights online and countering violation of women’s rights online.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 08, 2021 12:33 UTC
Reflections on Guinea’s Military Coup
The military coup in neighboring Guinea undoubtedly took many Liberians by surprise. In Monrovia, there was a visible presence of beefed-up security around the Paynesville home of President Weah as if in ready stance to ward off an imminent attack. Such corruption and abuse of human rights were some of the key precipitating factors that propelled the country into civil war. Again, human rights abuse and corruption were reasons proffered for his overthrow. Under President Weah, public complaints about the spate of corruption including corruption in the electoral process have been treated with benign concern.
Source:Daily Observer
September 07, 2021 08:03 UTC
FIFA 2022 WCQ: Liberia 1-0 CAR
Sherman’s late goal restores hope for Lone Star in Group CKpah Sherman scored a late goal Monday to earn Liberia their first win in the CAF second round 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Central African Republic (CAR) at the Japoma Stadium in Cameroon. Both Liberia and CAR appeared to have settled for a draw, missing a couple of chances available to either side during the match. The President lamented what he described as "two soft goals" the team conceded against Nigeria despite their superior performance. The win moved Liberia second in Group C with three points, level on points with leaders Nigeria, who will take Cape Verde today in Praia, Cape Verde. Up next for the Lone Star is a back-to-back tie against Cape Verde during the next qualifiers window from October 6-10, 2021.
Source:Daily Observer
September 07, 2021 08:03 UTC
NAYMOTE: ‘Confidence in AFL Increases’
A survey report from NAYMOTE Partners for Democratic Development has unveiled that public trust in the Army Forces of Liberia (AFL) has grown considerably, while citizens’ views and perception of the quality of governance in Liberia is on the negative trajectory. The survey, which can be accessed on the NAYMOTE website, notes that the trust in the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has increased as 92% of respondents rated the AFL as the most trusted or fairly trusted security institution in Liberia, a remarkable increase from 2019 when 78% of respondents described the AFL as most trusted. It is conducted every year by NAYMOTE to assess what citizens across the country think about the quality of governance in the country. In the 2019 survey report, 57% of respondents said they were very satisfied and satisfied with the way democracy was working in the country. This suggests a sharp increase in citizens’ level of satisfaction with the quality of democracy in the country,” the report added.
Source:Daily Observer
September 07, 2021 08:03 UTC
Court Drops Charges against Singbeh, Others
… in US$5M Theft CaseJudge Ousmane Feika of Criminal Court 'C had dropped all criminal charges against Senate Secretary Nanborlor Singbeh, who was charged with economic sabotage, theft of property forgery, and criminal conspiracy. The Czech Republic-owned company was owned by the Miloschewsky brothers, with 35 percent shares each, while Singbeh held the remaining 30 percent share. And barely one court term after Armstrong was indicted during the May 2020 Term of Court, it was when Singbeh was indicted along with his co-defendants, Ecobank and Afriland First Bank, in the US$5 million case for economic sabotage, theft of property, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. By the Court ruling, it could likely take months or even years for the Miloschewsky brothers to get justice. Mulbah’s argument came when Judge Feika was in the process of arraigning Singbeh and his co-defendants to answer to the Indictment the State drew against Singbeh.
Source:Daily Observer
September 07, 2021 07:52 UTC
Rep. Mensah Wants Traditional, Western Medicines Used Together
-- As CHI Executive Director Calls for investment in traditional medicineBong County District #6 Representative, Moima Briggs Mensah has called for the use of both traditional and western medicines in the country. Rep. Mansah called on health authorities to look at sustaining traditional midwives who continue to make sacrifices for pregnant women and Liberia. Traditional medicine or indigenous medicine is the oldest form of the healthcare system in Liberia and many people are still believing in it. Mrs. Tulay-Solanke said the study does not just challenge colonialism and describes it as bad, but shows the importance of recognizing the traditional health practitioners and highlights the need for strengthening their capacity. Juston Kiamue, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator of Plan Liberia, lauded CHI and pledged the organization’s commitment to working with CHI.
Source:Daily Observer
September 07, 2021 07:30 UTC
Rice Price Still High
Amid growing concerns over sudden increment in the price of long-grain parboiled rice with the impression that the commodity is scarce on the market, the government through the Ministry of Commerce has said that there is no rice shortage, and business owners are only increasing their price based on speculations. According to Ministry of Commerce officials, importers and rice dealers agreed that they [wholesalers] will pay $US25 on each bag as transportation and unloading fees. No reason I sell rice,” says Joseph Zinneh, a dealer in Red Light. Zinneh said it is true that rice is sold for $13.00 but because of the transportation and other fees, the price of rice will increase. “On Friday or Saturday rice will be in the market but the price will increase to $L2,600, $L2,800, or $L3,000 depending on expenses made on transportations, offloading, and uploading.” The dealer added.
Source:Daily Observer
September 07, 2021 07:07 UTC
Guinea Border Partially Opened
-- After days of closureAfter three days of closure, the Guinean Authorities have partially opened their border to allow stranded commuters to pass through. With information reaching out from the Guinean authorities about the opening of the border, there was stampede on Monday evening. The river covered the main Guinean checkpoint that security officers there were forced to move far in. On Monday, the Liberia National Security beef up security at the border by deploying a well-armed Police Support Unit to back up the armed LIS Border Patrol unit. "This border needs to be demarcated and fence to avoid bypassing and breaking through the security corridor,' said another officer.
Source:Daily Observer
September 07, 2021 06:45 UTC
‘Pres. Weah’s Silence on Guinea Coup Unnecessary’
“I understand how close Condé and Weah's friendship was, and I also know how irresponsive Condé was to adhering to the tenets of democracy. But for diplomacy, Weah should condemn the act and ensure there is strict monitoring of our borders,” he said. In a statement released early Monday morning, President Weah called for the immediate release of President Alpha Condé, who has reportedly been detained by soldiers staging a revolt against his rule. President Weah reminded all concerned of the need for peace and security, adding that violence and political instability in Guinea will have negative ramifications for the entire region,” the President said. “In Guinea, the President had not been a listening leader.
Source:Daily Observer
September 06, 2021 06:22 UTC
‘No Rice Shortage’
-- Commerce Ministry dispels rumorsAuthorities of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) over the weekend vehemently rejected claims that there is a shortage of rice on the local market, contrary to speculations that the commodity was in short supply. Though rice is in recent days scarce on the market, Commerce Minister Mawine G. Diggs attributed the hike in the price of rice to speculations in the public that the commodity is not in the country. “I want to state clearly here that there is no, absolutely no, shortage of rice on the market and therefore no need for panic buying as we have observed,” she added. Minister Diggs, however, said offloading of the rice from the vessels at the Freeport of Monrovia by importers sometimes delays, which she said does not amount to rice shortage. According to Minister Diggs, the price of rice on the market remains on sale for US$13.00 for wholesale on the 25kg bag of rice, while retail is US$ 13.50.
Source:Daily Observer
September 06, 2021 04:52 UTC
Coach Butler Proud of Lone Star’s Performance Despite 2-0 Loss to Nigeria
-- Set to face Central African Republic todayLiberia senior men’s team coach Peter Butler is proud of his team’s performance against Nigeria despite losing 2-0. We were up against a very good team who possess excellent top-flight players, congrats to Nigeria, but we gave them a run for their money,” coach Butler tweeted after the match. Liberia: Williams; Segbay, Dweh, Balde, Macauley (Tweh 82′), Njei, Doeley, Soumaoro, Tisdell, (Kamara 57′), Kosiah, Sherman (Wilson 77′). CAR) to Match Day 6 (CAR Vs. Liberia). CAF agreed to both Fas as today’s match will count as Match Day 6, with CAR hosting Liberia.
Source:Daily Observer
September 06, 2021 04:18 UTC
Stores in Liberia Are Running out of Rice
“For the past two weeks, no rice has been in my store despite getting assurances that rice will be in the country soon,” he said. “When we go to the company, the people who are importing the rice, they tell us that they are not selling rice to us. We want the Commerce Ministry to intervene so as to avoid hoarding”. “You see, my store is empty, no rice here, even when you check to the next store, no rice there, all the stores are empty, when we go to the importers we cannot get the rice. They are responsible for the rice shortage.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 03, 2021 09:31 UTC