Liberia: Kenneth Best on the Daily Observer Newspaper and Its 40-Year Journey
It is appropriate, I think, to mention the Liberian Daily Observer’s two grandchildren—The InquirerNewspaper in Liberia and the Daily Observer in The Gambia. Also imprisoned were seven of our reporters and editors, including the Daily Observer publisher himself, Kenneth Y. While the Gambian Daily Observer remained closed, the old Gambian Observer reporter, Sheriff Bojang, started his own daily, which he named The Standard. A third Liberian Daily Observer former staff who earned a PhD was Isaac Thompson, our first Copy Editor in 1981. Best, Mrs. Lindiwe Lindani, Mr. Bai Sama Gwenning Best and his wife, Mrs. Beryl Allen Best, Mr. Kenneth Y.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 18, 2021 05:48 UTC
Liberia: Deputy Speaker Vows to Robustly Advocate for Women’s 30% Political Representation
MONROVIA – Campaigns to increase women’s representation in political representation to 30 percent are picking up steam again in the country with Deputy Speaker J. Fonati Koffa promising to robustly advocate with his colleagues and support the Women Legislative Caucus for its passage. He furthered that, the 30% women political participation cannot be archieved by just a goal setting, but a firm legal freamework that will bring the 30% to reality through legislation and statutory mandate. He said this is no international pressure but a domestic pressure as numbers of women groups have overly called on government and international partners to address the 30% women political participation in the body poltics of Liberia. International partners noted that despite years of effort to bring more women to elective office, including the legislature, their representation remains low. The international partners further expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Legislature in formulating people-centered and progressive gender-responsive legislation.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 18, 2021 05:48 UTC
Liberia: First batch of Teachers in Early Childhood Education Receive In-Service C-Certificates
The distribution of qualified teachers in Liberia is also inequitable, with regions having economic advantage also getting more, and higher qualified teachers. That was a promise of a transformative education; an education system that will ensure system transformation. The project is targeting 700 ECE teachers, 700 primary teachers and 1,500 principals over the next two years. The Ministry of Education over the weekend graduated the first batch of Early Childhood Education In-Service C-Certificate Teachers with funding from Global partnership for Education service provider WE-CARE foundation. Speaking during the graduation ceremony held at the Kakata Rural Teachers Training Institute (KRTTI) in Margibi County, the guest speaker, Mrs. Thelma T.M.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 18, 2021 05:36 UTC
UMOVEMENT-Liberia Conducts Desk Review of Major Policies on Girls’ Education
Monrovia – Youth Movement for Collective Action (UMOVEMENT-Liberia) on Monday conducted a day-long Desk Review of major policy documents that protect vulnerable girls and young women from school-related sexual and gender-based violence in Monrovia. Policy documents reviewed included the National Policy on Girls’ Education, the Education Reform Action of 2011 and the Teacher Code of Conduct. The Desk Review is part of series of activities under the organization’s six months public policy advocacy titled: Girls’ Access to Education Information and Services (GAEINS) project supported by Mercy Corps through the Supporting Effective Advocacy in Liberia (SEAL) program. Stakeholders at the Desk Review included District Education Officers (DEOs), the Women and Children Protection Section of the Liberia National Police (LNP-WACPS), civil society actors, County Education Officer (CEO), the media, among others. “We are having problems with many girls getting pregnant while in school and yet much is not being done to address this issue.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 18, 2021 05:26 UTC
Liberia: Women Prayer Group Part Of ‘Invincible Park’ Plans, Government Says
Monrovia – The Government categorically refutes reports that the Invincible Park being constructed by President George M. Weah will remove the acclaimed Women Prayer group. The park, the government says, will instead have a separate center for the group as clearly pronounced by the President when he broke grounds a fortnight ago. The government also reiterates that the construction of the park meets all the guidelines set by the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority. The LCAA’s permission was sought and granted on grounds that all elevation and height in the park conform to LCAA’s guidelines. The building of the Invincible Park, which has already begun, will be completed within four months.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 13:41 UTC
Liberia Medical Health Products Regulatory Authority Awards US$1.5 Million Contract to Company Linked to Ruling Party Senator Saah Joseph
Senator Joseph is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Executive and a member of the Health Committee. Senator Joseph did not respond to or return several phone calls placed to him for comments. However, the LMHRA confirmed to FrontPageAfrica that Overseer Developmental National Group of Companies won the bid but said they followed the required procedure. Participating companies include: Woodstock Liberia, Seek Engineering & ConstructionAfrica Tiles, Desire Construction Company, Overseer Development National Group of Companies and B.K. This is not the first time Senator Joseph has been linked to a receiving contract from the government through a company he owns.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 01:06 UTC
Nine Liberians Merit Managerial Posts At Golden Veroleum Liberia
Nupolue Morris Nakamou and Kerpo Kambleh were promoted as Senior Assistant Managers taking over its Kpanyan and Kabada Plantations in the Agronomy Department respectively while Olando Klaybor, Cyrus Bladee, Fred Brown and Future Karr were promoted as Assistant Managers for Agronomy. Saar Kamara and Jerome Wleh Boye promoted as Assistant Managers for Finance and Control and Abraham Greaves, IT Technician, was promoted to IT Support Staff in its IT Department. According to Alphonso Kofi, GVL Communications Coordinator, the elevation of the nine (9) Liberians is in keeping with the company’s commitment to raise their employees, particularly competent Liberians, to higher managerial positions. This is the second time in 12 less then months that GVLhas promoted Liberians. In June of last year, Alphonso Kofi previously serving as Communications Officer was promoted to Communications Coordinator while Mark Threason Infra Assistant was promoted to Communications Officer.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 00:56 UTC
Independent Complaints Panel Finds Golden Veroleum Liable of Destroying Liberia’s Forests
The grievance was filed after field research in a sample of GVL’s palm oil plantations revealed that forests had been cleared. The findings also require the companies to conduct a human rights assessment and adopt a “Zero Retaliation” policy to guard against further human rights violations against local workers and communities. The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises also require companies and their financiers to provide remedy in cases of environmental and human rights abuse. GAR and GVL have largely failed to adhere to the requirements in a complaints process with the RSPO that was filed in 2012. Governments should act to regulate the financial sector to avoid financing deforestation and rights violations.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 00:56 UTC
Liberia: Alleged Victims Tells Swiss Court Kosiah Ordered Killings, Looting
The alleged victims who brought the case are known as the “plaintiffs” in the trial. “They burst the other man’s head with a big rock,” the plaintiff told the court. Dmitri Gianoli, lawyer of war crimes suspect Alieu Kosiah, before the Federal Criminal Court court Bellinzona, Switzerland. The first phase featured Kosiah’s testimony and the second defense and alleged victims. The court will hear from 17 more witnesses, including five alleged victims, eight prosecution witnesses, and four defense witnesses during the trial’s remaining weeks.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 00:45 UTC
Liberia: Rep. Seboe spends L$5.1 million on scholarship in New Kru Town
MONROVIA — Montserrado County Electoral District #16 Representative Dixon Wlawlee Seboe spent L$5.1 million on scholarship in the Borough of New Kru Town (which runs Bong Mines Bridge to St. Paul Bridge) for academic year 2019/2020. It made me overly excited and it gives me the courage to do more,” said Seboe. So it means we go beyond representation, lawmaking and oversight just to ensure that these kids are in school,” Seboe outlined. On lawmaking, Representative Seboe, who chairs the committee on banking and currency, highlighted the passage of the Central Bank of Liberia act, which gives it more operational independence. Representative Seboe plans to introduce an act to raise “D.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 00:45 UTC
Liberia: MMG Gold Risks Termination of Contracts with Gov’t for Failure to Live up to Concession Agreement
Liberia: MMG Gold Risks Termination of Contracts with Gov’t for Failure to Live up to Concession AgreementBong – President George Manneh Weah has warned concession companies operating in the country to live up to their social development mandate or risk replacement. MNG Gold, considered to be gold giant company in Liberia is situated in the area, while Apha Logging, which is in Lofa also used the route. They further complained that MNG Gold has also failed to provide them health center and safe drinking water facilities. Their complaint was reechoed by Bong County Senator, Prince K. More, who stated that the MNG Gold has breached the concession agreement signed with government. President, MNG Gold signed an agreement to carry out open pit-site mining, but instead, they are now carrying out underground mining,” Moye said.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 00:45 UTC
Daily Observer, Liberia’s First Independent Daily Celebrates 40th Anniversary; Dedicates Digital Newspaper Archive
MONROVIA – The Publisher of Liberia’s first independent newspaper, Mr. Kenneth Y. The Daily Observer newspaper was established in January 1981 during the brutal and cruel regime of military dictator Samuel K. Doe. The Daily Observer newspaper was again closed down”. But early the next day, he pointed out that he and his staffs woke up to news that the Daily Observer office had been set afire the night before. Speaking at the occasion briefly, Madam Sirleaf recalled that both Mr. Best and Mr. Stanton Peabody were journalists, who spoke truth, regardless of fear or favor.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 00:45 UTC
Liberia: Weah Rescues Challenged Theological Students in Gbarnga
MONROVIA – President George Manneh Weah has presented US$20,000 (to students of the United Methodist University School of Theological in Gbanga, Bong County. The amount was presented by President Weah, through the Chief Of Protocol at the Executive Mansion, Amb. Bundoo also presented food stuff, to include rice and other items to the students. The United Methodist Theological Students further narrated, that they had on several occasions presented their plights to some authorities of Bong County, but to no avail. The students in separate statements lauded President Weah for promptly responding to their aid, promising to utilize the opportunity wisely.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 00:33 UTC
Liberia: Freetown City Mayor Promises to Partner with Monrovia City Mayor in Fostering Development in the Two
Liberia: Freetown City Mayor Promises to Partner with Monrovia City Mayor in Fostering Development in the TwoMonrovia — The City Mayor of Freetown, the Capital of Sierra Leone, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has promised to join hands with the Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee to foster plans to develop both the City of Freetown and the City of Monrovia. Mayor Sawyerr made the statement Tuesday at the program marking the 45th Anniversary of Monrovia Day at the Monrovia City Hall. “We are going to work together in the area of sanitation and other things,” the City Mayor of Freetown Madam Sawyerr added. Also, at the 45th celebration of Monrovia Day, the Monrovia City Mayor, however, presented his annual message to the City Council and that of the residents of Monrovia. The Monrovia City Mayor called on residents to promote sanitation to keep their surrounding clean and green something he says will prevent them sicknesses.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 00:33 UTC
Liberia: Health Authorities Heightened Surveillance Following Confirmed Cases of EVD in Guinea
Monrovia – Following the confirmation of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in seven patients and three deaths in Guinea, the Government of Liberia has heightened surveillance in the country, with specific attention placed on counties bordering Guinea. Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a rare zoonotic disease but severe, often fatal illness in humans. This is the first outbreak of EVD since the 2014 – 2016 devastating outbreak in the region which claimed over 11,000 lives. Though there is NO CASE OF EVD currently in Liberia, NPHIL, MoH and MoA encourage the public to take the following public health measures:Avoid mass gathering. These are critical times, let’s follow all public health preventive measures to keep our population safe.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 17, 2021 00:33 UTC