Liberia: Final Witness Backs Plaintiffs’ Allegations Kosiah Murdered Civilians
War crimes suspect Alieu Kosiah shouted during testimony in the first days of his trial in the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. Recruitment of a child soldier is one of the war crimes Kosiah is charged with. Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report in 2009 recommended a war crimes court for Liberia to try ex-warlords such Alhaji Kromah, the co-founder of ULIMO, and Charles Taylor, who is serving a 50-year sentence in Britain for war crimes in Sierra Leone. Kosiah is the first Liberian to be prosecuted for war crimes over the Liberian Civil War (1989-2003), which killed an estimated 250,000 and displaced a million. But he was arrested in the Swiss capital of Bern in November 2014 suspected of war crimes.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 28, 2021 12:00 UTC
Liberia: Foreign Minister Maxwell Kemayah Pledges Government’s Support to Land Authority, Partners to Scale Up customary Land Formalization
Monrovia – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. has pledged the Government of Liberia’s commitment to fully implementing the Land Rights Act (LRA). Under the law, communities can claim ownership of customary land by presenting evidence such as oral testimonies, maps, and signed agreements with neighbors. He said customary land formalization creates a pathway for the rural population to enter into the formal economy, to engage with financial institutions and the wider private sector, and enter into mutually beneficial business relationships. Confirmatory survey is the final step in acquiring a deed for customary land. It brought together major stakeholders including local and traditional leaders and CSOs to share lessons learned from early efforts to implement the 2018 Land Rights Act.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 27, 2021 09:00 UTC
Liberia: Day after Graduation Celebration, 8 Members of One Family Found Dead in House
Circumstances surrounding the cause of death according to Representative Samuel Enders, in whose District #6 the 8 persons were found dead, is Carbon Monoxide. Rep. Enders also informed journalists that the dead included the graduate’s mother and her (graduate’s) daughter. Jefferson Larkay, a neighbor, told FrontPageAfrica: “She told me, we were going to go hang out a bit after the party at the house. By the time the PA system had gone off, I came calling her thinking she might be ready but when I got to the front door, it was already locked. Another neighbor interjected: “He (PA system owner) than said, ‘Oh what happening these people are still sleeping?’ We got concern and tried to peep through the windows.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 09:11 UTC
Liberia: US$6 Million Petroleum Storage Terminal Construction Insight At Port Of Harper
HARPER, Maryland County — President George Manneh Weah has broken ground for the construction of a petroleum storage terminal facility (PST) as he commissioned the Harper Port refurbishment project on Thursday. At the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, February 25, President Weah noted that the facility will enable the storage of more petroleum in Harper for onward commercialization. Besides, President Wesh added that the construction of the multipurpose office complex and petroleum storage facility envisions economic viability at the Maryland Port of entry. Due to this, he added that only smaller vessels can dock at the Harper Port. The Harper Port refurbishment project is Private Public Partnership arrangement by and through a Liberian Owned Company – Express Oil Importation Liberia Incorporated.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 09:03 UTC
Liberia: House of Representatives Approves US$24M Supplementary Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021
Capitol Hill, Monrovia – The House of Representatives has approved a US$24.3 million supplementary budget for fiscal year 2020/2021 to enable government deliver on programs that are critically in need of funds. The House took the decision in Plenary on Thursday following recommendations from a conference committee comprising members of both House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate. Earlier, the House passed the supplementary budget at US$10.5m following a communication from President George Weah, and forwarded it to the Senate for concurrence. The Senate also called for the formation of a conference committee comprising of members of both Houses to deliberate and form a single and acceptable version of the Supplementary Budget for Fiscal year 2020/2021. It can be recalled that President George Weah, in a letter accompanying the draft a US$10.5 million supplementary budget said his government has “Realized a windfall amid mounting expenditure demands for service deliverables beyond allocations in the approved budget of the Fiscal Year 2020/2021.” The FY 2020/2021 budget was approved in the tone of US$570.1 million.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 08:51 UTC
Liberia: Inconsistent Testimonies Plague Massaquoi Trial
Two of the four judges in the trial of Gibril Massaquoi, presiding judge Paiho Juhani is on the left. The inconsistencies in testimonies are a challenge for the prosecution team because there is no physical evidence and witness testimonies form the key part of the case. He also pointed to the witness’s repeated references to Massaquoi as “Angel Gabriel” which prosecutors allege was one of Massaquoi’s aliases during the war. In Thursday’s proceedings a fourth prosecution witness corroborated the testimony of previous witnesses that “Angel Gabriel” had committed chilling crimes. A sixth prosecution witness said that he and his brother had also gone to Waterside where they heard people were looting food from a store.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 08:21 UTC
BETTOMAX Liberia Launches Mobile App
MONROVIA — BETTOMAX Liberia formally launched its Web and Mobile Application to sports betting and games of chance players over the weekend at the company’s Head Office on 3rd Street in Sinkor. With this Mobile Application, players can now have convenient access to all sports and virtual games (football, boxing, and horse race), SPIN2WIN, bingos, keno, and etcon their mobile phones or computers. Hence, all new players are encouraged to sign-up to BETTOMAX mobile webpage by logging onto @https://bettomax-lbr.com or download the webpage, or simply reach 0778333733 or 0888333733 for help. By using the BETTOMAX app, customers can now do all transactions right from their phone and computer including crediting and debiting their accounts through vouchers and Mobile Money. BETTOMAX Liberia has been operating in Liberia for just over a year now and despite the impact of COVID-19, the gaming company provides employment for over 60 (sixty) Liberians and there are instant plans to increase that number in 2021 with the opening of more centers across the country.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 07:52 UTC
Liberia: Senate Mandates Justice Minister to Withdraw Letter to NEC Halting the Certification of Lofa County Senator-elect Brownie Samukai
MONROVIA – The Liberian Senate has ordered the Minister of Justice to withdraw a communication served the National Elections Commission (NEC) by Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephas which instructed the NEC not to certificate Mr. J. Brownie Samukai, Lofa County Senator-elect. The Senate decision came after the Minister of Justice backtracked on earlier statement that he had no knowledge about the Cllr. However, on Thursday the minister told Senators that he approved the communication. Cephus told the Senate that he did what he did out of expediency and while the Minister was out of town. On Friday, February 19, Solicitor General Sayma Syrenius Cephus wrote the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC) instructing her not to certificate Lofa County Senator-elect J. Brownie Samukai whose conviction by the lower court was recently affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 07:52 UTC
Liberia: National Port Authority to Give Elections Commission US$40k for Recount of Ballots in Rivercess County
MONROVIA – Senator J. Milton Teahjay on Thursday made a startling revelation that the National Port Authority (NPA) headed by Mr. Bill Twehway, has committed to pay US$40,000 to the National Elections Commission for the purpose of recounting ballots in the county. challenged, arguingHowever, Tequah, not satisfied with the result, requested that the commission conduct a re-count in seven of the 111 polling places in the county. According to him, he had obtained 80 votes (35.7%) of 228 votes from the seven polling places that the electoral body representative had earlier declared to be invalid after recounting those areas. It was based upon the changes witnessed that compelled Tequah to demand a recount of votes from the remaining 104 polling places. Although the re-count kept Smith in the lead, the initial recount increased Tequah’s tally in the seven polling places, narrowing the margin between the two candidates.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 06:53 UTC
Liberia: LISGIS, Partners Assured of Modern Equipment to Conduct 2021 National Population and Housing Census
Tellewoyen made the remark Wednesday at the Kakata City Hall during the opening of the 16-day Refresher Training Workshop for Field Mapping Assistants and Cartographers of the National geographic Planning for the 2021 National Population and Housing Census. I can promise you that this census is going to be Liberia’s best census ever,” LISGIS Census Coordinator said. Liberia’s next round of the National Population and Housing Census is now all set for March 2021. Every 10 years, Liberia conducts a population and housing census with the last census being conducted in 2008. According to the LISGIS Census Coordinator, because of political transitional in 2018, the census was proposed in 2018.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 06:33 UTC
Liberia: Mano River Youth Network of Liberia Launches Community Awareness on Covid-19 Prevention And Violence Against Youths
MONROVIA – A civil society organization, the Mano River Youth Network of Liberia (MaRioNet Liberia) recently launched its community awareness campaign on the prevention of the coronavirus disease and to end violence against children. Parents sent them to sell, teenage pregnancy is in the increase, something the Mano River Youth Network Liberia and our sponsor, The Fund for Global Human Rights takes very seriously,” She said. Those communities to benefit are: King Gray Community, Slip Way Community, New Kru Town Community, and other communities. So, we hope that the campaign will help us in the fight against violence against children youths,” Madam Mendscole added. The Mano River Youth Network is a subset of the Mano River Youth Parliament that specifically focuses on youth leadership development, building youth capacity, and to end violence against youth and children.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 06:31 UTC
Liberia: “Completion of Fish Town-Harper Road Phase One Spurring Development”- Acting Public Works Minister Ruth Coker
Harper, Maryland County – Acting Public Works Minister Ruth Coker has hailed the completion of phase one of the Fish Town- Harper Road in southeastern Liberia, saying it is “contributing greatly to the growth and development of the region.”Phase one of the Fish Town-Harper Road project covers the 50 kilometers Harper to Karloken stretch and the 16 kilometers Harper Junction to Cavalla Customs road. According to her, the Fish Town Harper Road Project is part of the 510km road linking Ganta to Harper as part of the Trans West African Highway (Lagos – Nouakchott), and it seeks to improve roads connectivity, to reduce travel time, cost reduction for vehicle operation and maintenance and socio-economic development, amongst others. On September 5, 2013, the Government of Liberia signed the Protocol and Loan Agreement with the African Development Bank Group to prioritize the Fish Town Harper Road Project Phase I, as well as the maintenance of the existing laterite road from Karloken to Fish Town (80km)] in order to improve major road corridors within the Southeast. Addressing President Weah, Madam Coker said during the project implementation, over 300 Liberian youths were employed by the civil works contractors and several Liberian capacities were built. She said: “Your Excellency, the Fish Town Harper Road Project Phase I also comprised of capacity building activities (Master Degree Programs: four employees of the Ministry of Public Works returned with masters in Geotechnical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Transport Economic & Structural Engineering.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 26, 2021 06:22 UTC
Liberia: Ex-Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan Presents Letters of Credence as New County Manager of African Development Bank Group in Uganda
KAMPALA –– The African Development Bank Group’s new country manager in Uganda, Mr. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, formally presented his letters of accreditation to Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa in Kampala on 19 February 2021. The minister said the Ugandan government was highly appreciative of the African Development Bank’s support for projects in Uganda, especially those in infrastructure. Ngafuan expressed African Development Bank President Akinwumi A. Adesina’s personal commitment to strengthening the Bank’s cooperation with Uganda. The new country manager revealed that the African Development Bank would soon sign new financing agreements with the Ugandan government. Ngafuan said he was honored to be accredited as the African Development Bank’s country manager to Uganda and promised to build on the good work of his predecessors.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 25, 2021 12:11 UTC
Liberia: House Launches Inquiry over Delay of Gbarnga-Konia Road Construction Project
Capitol Hill, Monrovia – Plenary of the House of Representative has mandated its Committee on Public Works to launch an inquiry into the abrupt standstill of the Gbarnga-Konia highway project. Plenary’s decision was based on a communication jointly written by several lawmakers of Lofa County calling for the House’s intervention over the delay in the road construction project. The government at the time placed the cost of the 131 kilometers road project at US$184.7m over a duration period of 36 months as of the commencement date. Meanwhile, phase two of entire Gbarnga-Konia-Mendikoma Road Project covers the 143 km Konia-Voinjama-Mendikoma Road. Since as election, President Weah’s administration has made road construction its top priority, as it continues to negotiate with major donors and multilateral agencies to secure loan for construction of major roads connecting the counties and neighboring countries.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 25, 2021 12:00 UTC
Liberia Embassy in Washington to Host Business and Investment Forum
Washington D.C. — The Embassy of Liberia in Washington D.C. in collaboration with the Consulate General in New York and Honorary Consulates in Atlanta and Minnesota will on June 30, 2021 host The Liberia Business and Investment forum. According to Liberia’s Ambassador accredited to the United States of America, His Excellency George S.W. Patten Sr, the Forum will this year bring together speakers and experts in the fields of Agriculture, Health and Tourism. In a release signed by the Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs at the Embassy in Washington DC. Al-Jerome Anastas Chede Sr, Ambassador Patten explained that the purpose of the Liberian Business and Investment Forum is to attract United States and direct foreign investments to Liberia as well as stimulate private public and private government partnerships.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 25, 2021 11:48 UTC