Challenges to Democratic Values and the Rule of Law: A Qualitative Paper on the State of Democracy
For democracy to thrive, there are certain basic democratic values that are considered enablers or the key building blocks of democracy and the rule of law. Hence, the risk of conflict increases while corruption, intimidation, and fraud go unchecked, thereby rotting the entire political system from within. Meaning that, it is to thematize that without an implementation of a functional rule of law, such democratic system becomes a sham and pointless. It is the most fundamental requirement for a stable democratic society (civil society). The power and discipline are conditions, which in a democratic society, come from the community.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 20:15 UTC
Liberia: Opposition Collaborating Parties’ Chair Calls for Impartial Probe into Mysterious Deaths
Monrovia – Mr. Alexander Cummings, chair of the four-party opposition Collaborating Political Parties(CPP) has called on the Government of Liberia to speedily and impartially investigate the mysterious deaths of three employees of the Liberia Revenue Authority. “We are concerned about the wave of fear and insecurity creeping in our society, given the mysterious deaths of Matthew Innis, Albert Peters, Gifty Lama, and George Fahnboto. Said Mr. Cummings: “We are concerned about the wave of fear and insecurity creeping in our society, given the mysterious deaths of Matthew Innis, Albert Peters, Gifty Lama, and George Fahnboto. “Yesterday, I also spoke with the husband of Mrs. Gifty Lama, Mr. Sylvester Lama. The CPP leader’s comments came moments after the government through the Ministry of Justice, ordered that autopsies be performed on the remains of Mr. Peters and Mrs. Lamas.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 18:56 UTC
Liberia: Justice Ministry Orders Autopsies on Slain LRA Employees
Monrovia – The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, has ordered that autopsies be performed on the remains of Albert Peters and Gifty Lamas, two employees of the Liberian Revenue Authority (LRA) who were found dead in Monrovia on October 2, 2020. The decision followed a meeting on Tuesday, at the Ministry of Justice, with the families of the deceased to update them on the state of the investigation. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General Frank Musa Dean directed that representatives of the families be allowed at every stage of the autopsy exercise. The families, according to Minister Dean, are also availed the option of bringing in pathologists of their choosing to participate in the examination or conduct an independent examination, as government emphasizes its determination to conduct an open and impartial investigation in order to get to the cause of the unexplained deaths. Meanwhile, as the investigation unfolds, the public is urged to remain calm and refrain from conjectures that could serve no useful purpose, but to undermine the process.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 18:22 UTC
Passport Fraud: What Would Washington Do to The Mafia Regime in Liberia?
The neocolonial subjugation of the continent and its people continues as almost every African state is a valet of western imperialism. Mr Andrew Wanplo was dismissed in August 2019 and charged with passport fraud by the Liberian government. He was re-indicted days after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the public designation which barred Mr Wanplo, his spouse and children from entering the US. Mr Wanplo allegedly fled the country and has been speaking to the Liberian public from his hideout. Or would Wanplo endure his actions while others like Mr Weah, Mr Findley, and Mr McGill are left with impunity because they have mortgaged the management of the country’s economy to the IMF, World Bank, USAID, etc.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 15:22 UTC
Liberia: Husband of Slain LRA Researcher Suspects Foul Play, Slams ‘Extramarital Affair’ Chatters
Lama family members at the St. Moses Funeral Parlour. When we got the information that my wife body was in a car on Broad Street, the father and I got there only to see St. Moses was already there, LRA Commissioner General was there. Why they do that-they want to allow family members to have access. With this type of incident and people preventing family members from seeing the body, we are highly disappointed as a family”. But before that, other family members called my wife and they couldn’t get her”.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 10:18 UTC
Liberia: L$4 Billion Inadequate To Address Liquidity Needs – CBL Executive Gov. Tarlue
Monrovia – The Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Hon. The lifespan of the enhanced and legacy banknotes, the CBL Executive Governor noted is three years, hence the need to print additional banknotes. “The CBL will continue to gradually make available the remaining banknotes consistent with cash demands largely by commercial banks,” Executive Governor Tarlue assured the lawmakers. With concerns about why only series of banknotes was printed, Executive Governor Tarlue further said the L$500.00 denomination was selected and printed due to budgetary constraints. The Executive Governor informed members of the House that the Bank, through its Board of Governors, is exerting all efforts to sustainably address the liquidity situation.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 10:07 UTC
Liberia: Diaspora Unity Partisans Donates materials for education and COVID-19 Fight
One of such parties that has joined the fight is the Unity Party who’s partisans in the United States and Canada Women Congress over the weekend donated materials to the Unity Party National Women Congress in Liberia to strengthen the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The items, which include 2,000 locally-procured face masks and 1,000 notebooks, were delivered on last Wednesday at the United Party headquarters in Congo Town, Monrovia. The Deputy Secretary for the Unity Party National Women’s Congress, Cleopatra Taylor, said that the materials donated would be distributed to schools and to the partisans in order strengthen the fight toward the global pandemic. Girls and boys are being sodomized daily and nothing is being done,” the UP Women Congress said in the statement. Amin Modad, Unity Party Chairman, said the party would continue to engage its partisans both locally and internationally.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 07:41 UTC
Liberia: Another LRA Employees Dies in Car Crash
MONROVIA – The button to solve the mystery behind the deaths of two staff of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) who were discovered in a car on Snapper Hill, Monrovia had just been pushed, yet another death involving another staff of the LRA occurred on Sunday evening following a car accident. The police confirmed to FrontPageAfrica that Mr. George F. Fanbutu was pronounced dead at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center on Sunday after he reportedly lost control his steering wheel on the 72nd Boulevard, hit a pedestrian identified as Saar Fayiah and the car rested in the house of one Dr. Joseph P. K. Boika in the Roland Duo curve on the 72nd Boulevard. “George B. Fanbutu was taken at the JFK Medical Center in Sinkor, where he was pronounced dead on arrival (DOA) while the pedestrian is admitted at a local clinic in Roland Duo Community undergoing medical treatment. Investigation is ongoing,” the police said. The sequence of events is raising eyebrows with many linking the latest death as a chain to the deaths of Mr. Albert Peters and Mrs. Gifty Lama.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 07:07 UTC
Liberia: Foreign Ministry Claims Letter From Mexican Government Expressing Concerns Over Controversial Honorary Consul Akintunde Ojo is Fake
MONROVIA – A communication purportedly from the Embassy of the United States of Mexico denying knowledge Mr. Akintunde Ojo’s operating in Mexico as Liberia’s Honorary Consul General has been termed as fake by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Liberia. Mr. Pewee said, “Since 2015, the Mexican Embassy in Accra has had jurisdiction over Monrovia when it comes to Mexican relations. Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Henry Fahnbulleh during a press conference held last week told reporters that the Liberian government is not considering an investigation into the matter because there has been no complaint to the government. Mr. Ojo has also refuted the allegation and claimed to be a business man who represents the interest of Liberia and West Africa in Mexico. In a reaction to the allegation, the Liberian Consulate in Mexico’s website states that Mr. Ojo has been strengthening and pushing for Foreign Direct Investment in Africa, particularly Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 07:07 UTC
Silence Not An Option For Liberia Revenue Authority in the Deaths of Its Employees Albert Peters and Gifty Lama
Silence Not An Option For Liberia Revenue Authority in the Deaths of Its Employees Albert Peters and Gifty LamaFOUR DAYS AFTER the bodies of Albert Peters and his workmate, Mrs. Gifty Asmah Lama, were discovered dead in vehicle on Broad Street near the Sacred Heart Cathedral, details of how or why the pair were brutally murdered remain a scanty. ”He(Augustine) told me that we should pray,” Madam Peters told Prophetkey. MADAM PETERS HOWEVER NOTED that her husband was not the party type. IT WAS WHILE on the lookout Madam Peters revealed that she saw her husband’s car. SAID MADAM PETERS: “The driver shouted; and I ran to the car, and that’s how we started raising an alarm.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 06:56 UTC
Liberia: “Dangerous & Disgraceful Precedence” – Atty. Isaac Jackson Disappointed in Judiciary Inquiry Committee Failure to Investigate Chief Justice
Jackson reminded Associate Justice Yussif Kaba that although the head of the Liberian Judiciary, the Chief Justice is his colleague, and ‘first amongst equals’. Isaac W. Jackson, Jr. has described the Judicial Inquiry Commission’s response to his Letter of Complaint against Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor as dangerous and disgraceful for Liberia’s jurisprudence. Jackson also accused the Chief Justice of unjustifiably and illegally bundling his (Chief Justice’s) accusation of “egregious assault and insult” with Jackson’s claim against the President. He therefore accused the Chief Justice of acting unethically and prejudicially, and complained to the Judicial Inquiry Commission. Jackson reminded Associate Justice Yussif Kaba that although the head of the Liberian Judiciary, the Chief Justice is his colleague, and ‘first amongst equals’.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 06:56 UTC
Liberia: Govt to Cough out Thousands of Dollars to Settle Former Deputy Governor Charles Sirleaf or Termination of His Tenure at the Central Bank
Liberia: Govt to Cough out Thousands of Dollars to Settle Former Deputy Governor Charles Sirleaf or Termination of His Tenure at the Central BankMr. Charles Sirleaf was amongst several other Central Bank staffers who facec charges in connection with the alleged unlawful printing of local currency worth millions of dollars that reportedly disappeared in 2018. Mr. Sirleaf was appointed and commissioned in February 2016 to a five-year-tenured position. While the legal process was ongoing, President Weah appointed Madam Pearson to the position of Deputy Bank governor for operation. But the PIT also outlined that 15 of the companies listed by the central bank to have taken part in the “mop-up” exercise denied any involvement. Another eight companies listed by the central bank were not in operation when the PIT made their visit.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 06:45 UTC
Liberia: Female Senatorial Candidates Crave Support Ahead of Ahead of December 8 Special Senatorial Elections
It was aimed at showcasing and soliciting support for female candidates contesting in forthcoming elections. Still others are Represenatives Mariamu Beyan Fofana and Julie Fatorma Wiah (Lofa County) Dedeh Nohr Jones (Lofa County), and Princess S. Macauley (Margibi). Although some of them are rival candidates, all of the women that attended the forum spoke of a singular mission: to increase the number of women at the Liberian Senate. Speaking further, she said while no country has achieved gender equality it is now time to accelerate efforts with added momentum for the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in these difficult times. She said the General Assembly’s action is “clearly an effort to accelerate the realization of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 06:45 UTC
Liberia: Bong Residents Want Superintendent Esther Walker Audited amid “Missing US$9K” of County Development Fund
Nearly 75 protesters turned out to demand Walker restitute the money or resign as superintendent of the county. Gbarnga, Bong County – Bong County Superintendent Esther Walker went face-to-face with dozens of demonstrators who descended on the Gbarnga Administration building Monday to protest the alleged mismanagement of US$9,950 County Development Fund by the leadership of the county. Nearly 75 protesters turned out to demand Walker restitute the money or resign as superintendent of the county. Holder claimed Walker and Mulbah have turned the social development fund into a “cash cow’ that favors a select few. Attendees instead brought placards and chanted slogans such as “poor Walker has gotten rich in Bong County under President George Weah’s Administration,” and “President George Weah punished Bong County with mother Esther Walker”.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 06:45 UTC
Liberia: Senate Raises Concern Over Reported Passport Scandal
The US State Department of State designated Wonplo and his entire family blacklisted from entering the US. According to the US Secretary of State, the designation is made under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020 (Div. The law also requires the Secretary of State to either publicly or privately designate such officials and their immediate family members. In addition to Mr. Wonplo, I am announcing the public designation of his spouse, Dennice Wonplo, and their minor children. This designation reaffirms U.S. commitment to standing with the people and government of Liberia in their fight against corruption.
Source:Front Page Africa
October 06, 2020 06:33 UTC