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
Liberia: Huge Turnover, Poor Education on Referendum in Bomi
The senatorial election and the national referendum are being jointly conducted across the country today. Under a favorable weather condition, eligible voters in Tubmanburg were scene in long queues at various polling precincts to cast their ballots. No idea on referendumFrontPage Africa gathered that vast majority of the electorates had little or no idea on the national referendum. Poll workers interventionPoll workers are catching hell in educating or providing information to voters on the national referendum. Some poll workers are imploring additional means or options to ensure that the voters partake in the national referendum.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 12:18 UTC
Liberia: Youth in Gbarpolu County Run Away with Four Ballot Boxes; Voting Activities Halted
Liberia: Youth in Gbarpolu County Run Away with Four Ballot Boxes; Voting Activities HaltedMONROVIA – FrontPageAfrica has gathered that some citizens in Gbarpolu County have run away with four ballot boxes in retaliation to suspected Sierra Leoneans who reportedly crossed over to vote in the county. Thomas Bowier, a presiding officer there, told FrontPageAfrica that all four polling places are currently closed. He said NEC staff have engaged the paramount chief to intervene but the youth in the area insist they will not return the ballot boxes until they see the ‘foreigners’ return. FrontPageAfrica gathered that most of those who crossed over from neighboring Sierra Leone had come to vote for Botoe Kanneh. Bowier said all election activity is at a standstill until the ballot boxes are returned.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 11:54 UTC
Liberia: 'You Don't Need Mask to Vote'
MONROVIA – The chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Madam Davidetta Brown-Lansanah says no voter would be denied their right to vote whether they wear a mask or not. Speaking on the Prime FM on Tuesday morning, Madam Lansanah said though the NEC encourages voters to respect the COVID-19 health protocols, no citizen with a valid voter ID card must not be denied their right to vote. She encouraged voters who would be turned away to report to the NEC by calling 0770 326 028 or 0880 144 137. Madam Lansanah, however, said due to several reports of voters being rejected because of mask, she has dispatched teams in the field to visit various precinctsto have that action corrected. According to the NEC Chairperson, though everyone would be given the opportunity to vote, no voter would be allowed to join the queue after 6pm.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 11:03 UTC
Liberia: Mass Turnout in Montserrado County Senatorial Election
Monrovia – Voters in Montserrado County began turning out in huge numbers early Tuesday morning to cast their ballots in special senatorial election and referendum. A tour by FrontPageAfrica observed that very long queues at many voting precincts. By comparison, the turnout so far appears surpass that of the 2019 by-election that brought the incumbent Senator Darius Dillon who is seeking reelection to power. There is, however, no health measures in place at the voting precincts, though some voters were observed wearing masks.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 10:18 UTC
Bong Voters Wait in Hours-Long Lines at Polls for Early Balloting
Gbarnga – Early voting kickoff on Tuesday in Bong with hours-long waits at some polling locations amid what elections officials said is a record-high turnout. Beatrice Mulbah, 24, was at her polling place around 8:10 am. It took more than 30 minutes to work her way to the front of the line, she said, speaking to FrontPageAfrica as she was about to be allowed in to cast her ballot. “I have never waited this long before and I am hoping this is actually a good sign for this the turnout of this year’s election,” she said. Waits are even longer at the David Kuyon Sports stadium, Gboveh High School campus and the William V. S. Tubman Gray High School – three of the main polling centers in Gbarnga, with some voters telling our reporter they’d been in the line for more than an hour.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 09:11 UTC
ULIMO’s Alieu Kosiah Denies Cannibalistic Killing During Civil War in Liberia
Mr. Kosiah, 45, was arrested in Switzerland in 2014 and the indictment accuses him of participating in the killing of 18 civilians. Projecting himself as the victim, Mr. Kosiah accused the victims’ lawyers of being part of a conspiracy. Struggling with inconsistencies, Mr. Kosiah acknowledged that he was a member of the platoon with the rank of sergeant. Mr. Kosiah said he only had two names during the war – Coach Kosiah and Physical Cash. On the issue of how they survived, Mr. Kosiah said housing was not a problem for the rebels.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 08, 2020 00:56 UTC
Liberia: COVID-19 Election Monitoring Group Calls for Increased Security Presence in Liberia’s ‘Volatile’ Western region Ahead of Tuesday’s Polls
Monrovia – The COVID-19 Election Monitoring and Violence Prevention Situation Room (CEMViP-SR), otherwise known as the ‘Situation Room’ has called for increased security presence in violent prone areas of Liberia ahead of the December 8 senatorial elections and constitutional referendum. “The Situation Room is particularly concerned about the volatile situation in Western Liberia, particularly Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Countise that has characterized election violence and created a state of insecurity among the citizenry and eligible voters. It calls on residents in those counties to avoid all acts that have the propensity to derail the process and the sanctity of the areas concerned,” the Situation Room said. The group also cautioned the populace to adhere to the health protocols by the Ministry of Health and partners during tomorrow’s elections. The Situation Room is a government-backed platform set up to monitor, track and report on critical issues relating to COVID-19 and the Special Senatorial Elections that have implications for violence.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 07, 2020 23:26 UTC
Liberia: ‘Say No To Sitting Representatives’ – MARTERSEL Warns Voters on Election Eve
Monrovia- With just few hours to Election Day, the Movement Against the Election of Representatives to the Senate of Liberia (MATERSEL) has reiterated its call for voters to reject all members of the House of Representatives contesting for senatorial posts. We must open our eyes on the existing reality and as such, we must stand up to speak out against them. We cannot repeatedly replicate mistakes and blame it on those we elect because we ourselves are the creation of the mistakes. Our economy is traumatizing, and we must Vote them out.”There are several sitting members of the House of Representatives who are currently vying for seats at the Upper House. But MARTERSEL condemned the ideology and described such behavior as humiliating, lackadaisical and has the audacity of dumping taxpayer’s money into the state of jeopardy.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 07, 2020 23:14 UTC