Liberia: ArcelorMittal Reaches Agreement with Aggrieved Redundant Workers
Under the agreement, which was struck following discussions on Saturday, August 22 at the Ministry of Justice, the company is required to financially compensate the aggrieved employees. Monrovia – Following a tripartite meeting amongst the Government of Liberia, Arcelor Mittal Liberia (AML) and aggrieved workers who were made redundant by AML in 2015 and 2016, an agreement has been reached to end the standoff which resulted into a blockade of the rail tracks that Arcelor Mittal operates. Under the agreement, which was struck following discussions on Saturday, August 22 at the Ministry of Justice, the company is required to financially compensate the aggrieved employees. In a statement after Saturday’s meeting, AML thanked the government for its mediation efforts, while committing to negotiate a financial compensation package for “eligible redundant employees”. The Ministers of Justice, Labour and the Legal Advisor to the President led the talks while the aggrieved workers were represented by their Chairman, Kinston Nyandibo and several other representatives.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 22, 2020 19:07 UTC
Liberia: Bomi Hospital Lauds First Lady’s Intervention
First Lady’s Team flanked by Bomi Health add local authorities pose for picture around donated food and medical supplies, Aug. 19, 2020TUBMANBURG, Bomi County – Authorities of the lone referral hospital in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, were on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, full of gratitude for the Liberian First Lady, Clar Marie Weah, as they received a huge consignment of assorted food and medical supplies. Flanked by other local government officials and hospital staffers, Bomi County’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Augustus Quiah expressed profound appreciation to Mrs. Weah through her indefatigable team headed by the chief of office staff, Madam Gaelle Mediem, for the gesture. Also speaking, Bomi County Development Superintendent, Mr. Amos Cooper, conveyed his boss, the County Superintendent’s delight over the intervention, while registering his regrets for not being absent at the presentation owing to some pressing engagements. Mr. Cooper said the Superintendent and the people of Bomi County remain grateful to Mrs. Weah as he craved for more support. In a brief statement, as she presented the supplies, the First Lady’s Chief of Office Staff commended the Bomi County Health Team for the great job they are doing in responding to the health needs of the area, stressing that the First Lady salutes their dedication and commitment.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 22, 2020 18:11 UTC
ECOWAS, AU Tell Your Member States to Do The Right Thing
Dear ECOWAS and AU,I bring you greetings from my pro-poor corner (commonly used words in our nation) in Monrovia. Before some of us were born, your individual Member States created laws, called CONSTITUTIONS, to guide them on how they, Member States, run their respective countries and their citizens therein, even your own laws which I refer to as CONVENTIONS, TREATIES, etc., that you yourselves formulated, are to supplement those individual laws of your Member States, for the wellbeing and prosperity of all us. ECOWAS and AU, we children of your Member States are very peaceful and will always remain peaceful. Recently, one of you, ECOWAS, through a teleconference, the Heads of States of its Members condemned what happened in Mali. We deserve respect of our organic laws, we deserve better treatment and better lives, we deserve better healthcare, we deserve better education, we deserve safe-drinking water and better communication.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 22, 2020 17:48 UTC
Liberia: Mayors Association Supports March For Justice, Calls for Budgetary Allocation for Cities, Wants Capital Punishment for Rapists
The group said though it wants the laws on rape strengthened and fully enforced, capital punishment would serve as a deterrent for perpetrators. The Association of City Mayors in Liberia disclosed plan to organize anti-rape marches in their respective cities across Liberia and is encouraging other local authorities to form a part. While the Mayors believe the fight against rape and sexual based violence is cardinal, they also want government through the National Legislature help local governments with support to combat such vices through budgetary allocation. “Mayors of cities across Liberia join the plead of Senator Jonathan Kaipay to the National Legislature for the approval of direct budget to cities that are legally created. The Mayors believe it will help local governments move to places under their supervision to fight rape cases and to promote local empowerment, local participation, and local ownership.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 22, 2020 17:26 UTC
‘Affordable HealthCare, Job Creation Must Be Senatorial Candidates’
According to Joe Wilson, the urgency for better health services in the country cannot be overemphasized when people continue to die from preventable diseases due to the lack of basic healthcare services in the Country. “Liberia needs a comprehensive health sector reform,” he said, adding that the country cannot grow if access to basic health care services are inaccessible. Payment to access health services creates an extra financial burden for the already impoverished Liberians. “The Legislature is responsible to make laws and budgetary appropriations that would strengthen and support affordable healthcare for the Liberian masses. Economic reform that would spur growth and job creation is tied to creating innovative policies strategically targeting resource mobilization both domestically and internationally.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 22, 2020 17:01 UTC
Liberia: OSIWA Donates US$50k for CONVID-19 Fight
Monrovia – As part of efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic in Liberia, the Open Society Initiative of West Africa, (OSIWA) has donated US$50,000 as its contribution to the National Response Coordinator for the Executive Committee on COVID-19. OSIWA’s Country Officer, Ms. Massa Crayton, presented the check to the National Response Coordinator for the Executive Committee on COVID-19, Madam Mary T. Broh. Making the donation Thursday, through the National Response officer headed, who is the Director General of the General Services Agency Madam Mary Broh, Madam Crayton said the money was OSIWA “small contribution” to the fight against COVID-19. “OSIWA has implicit confidence in the Ministry to undertake the initiatives in line with OSIWA’s objectives for fighting Covid-19 especially through the National Youth Network on covid-19,” she noted. Speaking earlier, Madam Broh, the National Response Coordinator for the Executive Committee on Coronavirus (ECOC) in Liberia, welcomed the donation and said the support is on time while also asking the MYS to use the fund rightfully.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 22, 2020 16:41 UTC
Liberia: “Jay Nagbe Sloh Served With Distinction,” President Weah Remembers Fallen Lawmaker
Representative Sloh died on June 30, 2020 at the John Kennedy Memorial Hospital. President Weah noted that the late Sinoe County Electoral District 2 Representative served the House of Representatives with distinction. The late Sloh was Chairman of the House Committee on Communication, Broadcasting and Culture. President Weah said the late Rep. Sloh played his legislative role so diligently and faithfully. Representative Sloh died on June 30, 2020 at the John Kennedy Memorial Hospital.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 21, 2020 22:30 UTC
Eulogy Written For Flag Day 2020: Audacity to Still be a Gbagbatee Liberian Flag
In my thinking thoughts, I realized it would soon be August 24 and Liberians would be celebrating National Flag Day. Nonetheless, in spite of his unpleasant character, we always wished to be in GM’s company because he was our utmost entertainer and movie cinema since our parents did not allow us to “go to the show” except on Christmas Day, Flag day or 26 Day. Eulogies instead of pomp and pageantryBack in the day, Flag Day was marked by elaborate parades by schools around the country followed by indoor programs. If you were lucky to get at least a hug or a kiss before she ran back home like a little Cinderella, you would boast about it to your friends, “Bah, my Flag Day was super!”Fellow Liberians, I submit that instead of the traditional pomp and pageantry that usually mark Flag Day celebrations, Liberians should write eulogies on this Flag Day. Please joinNow fellow Liberians as we celebrate Flag day 2020, let us it with a deep reflection of the status.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 21, 2020 19:52 UTC
ECOWAS Heads of State Demand Coup Leaders in Mali Return to Constitutional Order
The body also took a decision to immediately dispatch the High-level Mediation team led by former President Goodluck Jonathan to Mali to ensure an immediate return to constitutional order. Monrovia – Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS) Thursday, suspended Mali from all ECOWAS decision- making bodies with immediate effect in conformity with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, until the effective reinstatement of the constitutional order. The body also took a decision to immediately dispatch the High-level Mediation team led by former President Goodluck Jonathan to Mali to ensure an immediate return to constitutional order. Additionally, the leaders decided to close all land and air borders, as well as to stop all economical, trade and financial flows and transactions between ECOWAS member states and Mali, and encourages all partners to do the same. During Thursday’s meeting, the leaders deliberateD on the best way to deal with the situation in Mali in line with Ecowas protocols.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 21, 2020 06:11 UTC
Liberia: Ruling Party Calls For Castration Of Men Who Engage in Rape
He further described the practice of rape in Liberia as a reprehensible culture that must be discouraged. MONROVIA – Mulbah Morlu, chairman of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), is recommending a legislation that would call for chemical castration of men who rape. He further described the practice of rape in Liberia as a reprehensible culture that must be discouraged. Morlu described himself as a moral voice on the debate against rape judging from his 12 years history in the fight against rape. “Rape is the second most commonly reported serious crime in Liberia,” according to the report.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 21, 2020 06:00 UTC
R.I.P. Corruption Culture Officially Entrenched, Embraced in Liberia
MILES ACROSS the Atlantic from Monrovia, Liberia, Jerry Manneh, a Liberian national employed with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority(MTA) was forced to resign after he told his employers that he had lost his lost his iPhone. THIS IS WHY we continue to remain baffle as to why President Weah and his advisors would see nothing wrong with what is unfolding with the Nwabudike dilemma. I further believe that the overwhelming mandate I received from the Liberian people is a mandate to end corruption in public service. PRESIDENT WEAH and his advisors need to seriously rethink their handling of the corruption issue. If the head of an integrity institution has integrity problems, no serious donor or stakeholder will take that entity seriously.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 21, 2020 06:00 UTC
Two-Horse Race In Bong County Senatorial Election
Rep. Cole last week assured residents of Bong County that Yallah would win the election, saying: “I am very optimistic that Yallah will emerge victorious because his achievements in the county for the past nine years show that he means well for residents,” Cole said. CPP and Rep MoyeThe CPP and Deputy Speaker Moye have a chance to win the December election. In terms of presence and candidate’s popularity in the county, Moye and CPP have what it takes to give the ruling CDC a good fight. Three members of the Bong Legislative Caucus including Moima Briggs-Mensah of Bong’s District Six, Rep. Robert Womba, lawmaker of District Four have all endorsed his senatorial bid. Thus, barring any unforeseen circumstances, a majority of Bong residents are waiting to see what the outcome of the ongoing power tussle would be in the county.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 21, 2020 05:48 UTC
Student Unification Party Condemns Slash in University of Liberia’s Budget, Calls for Normal Opening of School
The students said since the inception of the Weah-led government, there have been a ‘persistent reduction’ in the annual budget of the University of Liberia and ‘persistent increase’ in the allotments of some line ministries and agencies. The move, the students say is a direct contradiction to the advancement of education for national growth and development as espoused in the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). The University of Liberia, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak launched its e-Learning program for all of its students including undergraduates and postgraduates. But SUP says the E-Learning program is not working properly. The lack of computer knowledge or training by both instructors and students of the University of Liberia is a major obstacle to the prosecution of e-Learning program at the nation’s premier university at this time, the students told the lawmakers.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 21, 2020 05:48 UTC
Liberia: Female Town Chief Benefits From Gbowee Peace Foundation Training
While speaking at a women’s peace brigade training in Bensonville, organized by Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa in collaboration with EU/UN Women Spotlight initiative and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, Patience recounted how she successfully intervened in a case involving a man, who nearly killed his wife. At the Caldwell community, 10 women peace brigades sat under the voice of Cllr. She added that “political violence normally happens, during political campaigns and rallies and sometimes youth enter violence due to peer pressure”. The Gbowee Peace Foundation and partners said the training of the women is to sustain peace by mobilizing and empowering women in peace advocacy when addressing social vices in Montserrado, Lofa and Grand Gedeh Counties. We can also advise political parties to do away with political violence.”
Source:Front Page Africa
August 21, 2020 05:37 UTC
Action for Community Matters’ Anti-Covid-19 Intervention Benefits 108 Families
The donation, including 108 bags of rice (25kg each) and 115 nose masks valued at over US$2,000 United States Dollars, were presented to the women recently as part of ACOMA’s intervention supporting efforts to end covid19 in the country. Like Felecia, several others including eight staffers who benefited from ACOMA anti-covid-19 intervention in Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Rivercess and Nimba Counties were also grateful. Considering the average Liberian families of ten persons, the gesture benefited a little over 1,000 poor and marginalized people. Mrs. Peal, however, expressed deep gratitude to ACOMA’s many donors, especially Mrs. Michelle Lerach, for their unwavering support to the organization’s initiatives. She disclosed that Mrs. Lerach contributed US$1,700 United States Dollars toward ACOMA’s anti-covid19 intervention recently and about US$5,000 US Dollars during the 2014 Ebola pandemic.
Source:Front Page Africa
August 21, 2020 05:37 UTC