Liberia: Coleman Leads Narrowly in Polls in Grand Kru
GRAND KRU COUNTY – Grand Kru County Senator Dr. Peter Sonpon Coleman of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) might be the third projected incumbent Senator to be reelected and the first Senator of Grand Kru to be given a second term. Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon and Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence have been projected as winners. The incumbent Grand Kru County Senator narrowly lead the polls according to CDC War Room, garnering 311 votes over independent candidate Numene T. H. Bartekwa. Trailing is another independent candidate, Dr. Alfred Toe Segbe, with 1,589 and Grand Kru County District #1 Representive Nathaniel Zoe Barway with 1,643 votes. Peter Coleman of the CDC is in the commanding lead in Grand Kru County.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 10, 2020 04:58 UTC
Liberia: ULIMO War Crimes Suspect Answers Rape & Child Recruitment Charges
Testifying to the three-judge panel, Mr. Kosiah denied recruiting any child soldiers for Ulimo. Mr. Kosiah, the first Liberian to face war crimes charges for his role in the Liberian civil war, said Ulimo leadership should be held accountable for recruitment of child soldiers, not him. Following that discussion, Mr. Kosiah recalled that after a long discussion, he agreed to join Ulimo within a week. Mr. Kosiah denied Madam F.’s claim that the house where the rape was alleged to have taken place was painted black. “We opened the gateway to Monrovia which was closed by Mr. Taylor,” Mr. Kosiah said.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 10, 2020 04:52 UTC
Liberia’s Health Minister Addresses High-level United Nations Event on Response to COVID-19—Hails News of Vaccine Development
New York – Liberia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, says the latest development of several vaccines with capacities to combat the coronavirus is a critical step to winning the unprecedented fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Jallah said Liberia, like many nations, is still combatting the coronavirus pandemic; but noted that the country has averted the worst of the pandemic and recorded an extremely high rate of recovery. The Health Minister attributed Liberia’s success in containing the spread of the virus to lessons learned during the Ebola pandemic six (6) years ago, and working in solidarity with the United Nations and international partners. Dr. Jallah made the assertions when she addressed virtually, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, on behalf of His Excellency President George Manneh Weah. The Health Minister used the occasion to extend Liberia’s sincere gratitude to the United Nations and all partners for the invaluable support the Country continues to receive as it battles the COVID-19 emergency and address challenges in the economy.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 10, 2020 04:18 UTC
Liberia: Clashes in Buchanan as Sen. Nyonblee-Lawrence, Findley Supporters Claim Victory
MONROVIA – Supporters of the two leading candidates in the Grand Bassa Senatorial elections have both taken to the streets and jubilating victory. FrontPageAfrica gathered at least two persons have sustained injuries from clashes among the two groups. According to reports, the incumbent, Senator Nyonblee-Karnga Lawrence who ran on the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) ticket was in a comfortable lead Wednesday morning, according to the results gathered from various polling places in the county. However, it was observed that supporters of Mr. Milton Findley, her main contender who ran on the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) ticket, gathered near Hotel Buchanan after which they also took to the streets in jubilation, claiming victory. Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and would be updated as more details emerge.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 09, 2020 18:48 UTC
Liberia: Snowe Takes Massive Early Lead in Bomi
TUBMANBURG – Bomi County district # one Representative Edwin Melvin Snowe has taken a massive early lead in the just ended senatorial election in the county. Early Wednesday morning, scores of residents including motorcyclists, women and children took to the streets to celebrate the early lead of Representative Snowe after the voting and tallying processes. They chanted slogans and rendered prayers for Representative Snowe. Speaking on behalf of the citizens at the residence of Representative Snowe in Weakama, Senjeh District, Madam Rita Bebeh urged Representative Snowe to extend his developmental initiatives to other parts of the country to ensure that Bomi comes on par with other counties in Liberia. Already, two candidates of the just ended senatorial election have conceded to defeat and congratulated Representative Snowe for his “victory”.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 09, 2020 17:25 UTC
Breaking: National Elections Commission Announces Conduct of Special Elections for over 3,000 Voters Deliberately Denied to Vote In Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties
Breaking: National Elections Commission Announces Conduct of Special Elections for over 3,000 Voters Deliberately Denied to Vote In Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh and Nimba CountiesMonrovia –The National Elections Commission (NEC), through its Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Brown Lasanah, has announced the holding of special elections for over 3,000 voters who did not cast their ballots in parts of Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh and Nimba Counties. The rare incidents, according to the NEC boss, occurred in Electoral District #2, at the Tiapa Public School Precinct with code number 33100, comprising two polling places with the total number 706 registered voters. The other place, also in Electoral #2 at a Public School, Precinct #33052, with one polling place of 290 registered voters. She also mentioned that in Lower Nimba, at the Tappeh Memorial High school in Tappita City, two temporary election staff were caught with polling boxes containing ballot papers. The local NEC office, she noted, has taken delivery of the boxes while investigation is ongoing.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 09, 2020 15:57 UTC
Liberia: GVL Dedicates High School For Over 350 Students in Butaw, Sinoe County
Sinoe County – More than 350 children in Butaw Community and its surroundings are enjoying a new High School and a teacher’s residence with a full sanitation facility valued at USD$128,000.00 constructed and dedicated recently by Southeastern Liberia’s oil palm company, Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc. (GVL). Speaking in separate remarks, the Acting County Education Officer (CEO) of Sinoe County, Mr. Moses Tuwleh, and Butaw District Education Officer, Mr. Jarhwleh, praised Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Liberia for the school project. Adding that the construction of the school will boost the educational system in Butaw District and its surrounding and will also put an end to students travelling long distances to acquire high school education as it was done in the past. “We are happy that GVL has put smile on our faces, the construction of this school will boost education not only in Butaw but in Sinoe and it will put an end to long distance walking by students to acquire high school education.” they asserted. Receiving the keys to the facility, the principal of the Butaw School, Charles Tarpeh thanked GVL for the facility and pledged that the School will be properly managed and taken care of for community children benefit.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 09, 2020 12:22 UTC
Liberia: December Special Senatorial Election Goes Peaceful In All Counties As Citizens Eagerly Await Results
These Propositions for amendment seek to affect Articles 45, 46, 47, 48 and 50 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia. There was, however, no health measures put in place at the voting precincts, though some voters were seen wearing masks. Anomalies ReportedAlthough the polls were considered peaceful, there were reports of several irregularities, including alleged voter fraud. When asked where he got the extra senatorial ballots, he accused the ballot paper issuer of giving it to him. In another incident, the situation Room reported that some youth of Normon-Datono Town in Kongba District seized election ballot boxes upon the instruction of elders.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 09, 2020 05:03 UTC
Liberia: Alieu Kosiah Laments Frustration over Trial, Imprisonment; Insists on His Innocence On Day 4 of War Crimes Trial In Switzerland
Testifying for the fourth day Tuesday, Mr. Kosiah lamented: “It’s difficult for me to understand what is happening to me. Mr. Kosiah also testified that he spent two and a half months in Zorzor before going to Voinjama. “Since we got someone for the first time who participated in capture of Zorzor and Foyah, where was Alieu Kosiah?,” Mr. Kosiah asked. This is why, Mr. Kosiah said he cannot understand why why he is being accused of a crime he did not commit. Asked What did Mr. Tate hold against him, Mr. Kosiah said: “If you check his background, Joe Tate was a cousin of Mr. Taylor.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 09, 2020 03:56 UTC
Liberian-American Development Corporation Launched to Help Rebuild Liberia
Yeadon PA – Prominent Liberian immigrants in the United States have launched a high-leveled partnership group seeking to mobilize resources towards the reconstruction of Liberia through a series of comprehensive and strategic development programs. The newly-launched Liberian-American Development Corporation (LADC) is headed by a board of renowned experts and former Liberian statesmen led by its founding chairman, Amb. J. Rudolph Johnson, a former Foreign Minister of Liberia. In a press release, the group declared that they felt “a moral obligation” to do the utmost to assist in reviving their ancestral homeland. In its mission document, the Corporation lists Health, Education, and Agriculture as the key sectors of their initial emphasis.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 09, 2020 03:33 UTC
Liberia: Poll Watchers Not Paying Attention to Counting of Referendum Ballots
MONROVIA – Poll watchers at some polling centers seem to be paying less attention to the referendum ballots while focusing more on senatorial ballots in the counting process. FrontPageAfrica reporter at one of the polling places at the St. Peter Lutheran School in Sinkor heard an observer there saying “we’re not here to waste our time on referendum, we came here for our senator ballot paper”. FrontPageAfrica also observed same at polling centers at the God of Mercy in Wroto Town and Len Miller High School. “For me, I am concern about my candidate and not referendum, I was paid only to observe for my candidate and not referendum,” a poll watcher stated. “My people did not give us any instruction about referendum so, let them do their own thing but once my candidate counting process is ended and we take down our record, were good,” said another poll watcher at the God of Mercy School.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 20:48 UTC
Heavy Downpour of Rain in Parts of Montserrado Stalls Electoral Activities
Paynesville – Heavy deluge of rain in some parts of the nation’s most populous county, particularly Paynesville, has slowed down election activities with voters abandoning the queues as the rain tumbles down. At some precincts, polling staff were seen relocating voting materials including ballot boxes from tents put together with tarpaulins and sticks, as political parties and independent election observers keenly looked on. “We can’t stay here with all these materials as you can see the rain is already coming down. All we can do is to find a place to carry to protect them from getting wet,” a polling staff, asking for anonymity told FrontPage Africa. So, we have no choice but to leave.”At the Baptist Field precinct in Duport Road, Paynesville, polling staff, election observers and voters all cramped in a small building while voting was ongoing.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 18:35 UTC
Liberia: Polling Places in Bong County District 4 Deserted Due to Heavy Rainfall
Belefania, Zota District Four – Several polling stations visited by FrontPageAfrica in Bong’s District Four have been deserted due to heavy downpour of rain. I hope it stops, otherwise they will have to extend the voting hours,” said Joshua Fahnbulleh, one of the few voters who had turned up at a polling station in Belefania, Zota District. The rain, which intensified by the minute, saw voters searching for shelters. Liberians are voting in a county-wide elections to elect new 15 senators after serving nine years. In Bong County, the incumbent senator Henry Yallah is contesting against seven persons in an election seen as a two-horse race between him and Deputy Speaker Prince Moye.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 15:54 UTC
Liberia: Low Voter Turnout in Kakata, Margibi County
KAKATA, Margibi County – The on-going voting process in the 2020 special senatorial election and the national referendum has been marred by low turnout in Margibi County, especially in the Kakata. Since Tuesday morning, the voting process started with a low attendance and has since been like that. FrontPageAfrica’s reporter who visited the Aminata’s precinct in electoral district# 4 which constitutes five polling places observed slow pace in the voting process. Yancy School Annex precinct in electoral district #3, Kakata, Margibi County, party observers’ complaint of low turnout, but expressed optimism that people could later show out to vote. Since this morning, less numbers of voters have been coming to vote” a party observer said.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 14:26 UTC
Liberia: Men Nabbed with 100 Voter ID Cards in Sinkor
MONROVIA – Two men, Prince Roberts and Trokon Davies, have been arrested for being in possession of one hundred voter ID cards in 19th Street Sinkor. Speaking to FrontPageAfrica, Spoon FM Reporter, James Goodday Flomo explained that he received a phone call from residents of the 19th Street community that there were men in the community distributing Voter ID to people in the community. According to him, he disguised himself on the advice of the residents and sought the assistance of a police officer. Spoon FM Reporter Flomo told FrontPageAfrica that upon arriving on the scene and after the men were identified to him from a distance, they began running when they noticed the presence of the police in the area. They were then chased and a black plastic bag with several pieces of voter ID cards in it was taken from them.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 14:00 UTC