Liberia: President-elect’s Team Denies Bribery In Speaker Election, Despite Cash Offer to Each Lawmaker for ‘Inauguration Celebration’
Monrovia – President-elect Joseph Nyumah Boakai has reportedly extended a gesture of support to lawmakers, proposing a US$25,000 development fund for each representative’s district. He stated that, the President-elect only encouraged newly minted representatives to support the candidate of his choice for Speaker of the 55th Legislature. So, where is the money coming from?”Another lawmaker who asked for anonymity said, “The President-elect is only acting smart. In the House of Representatives, the CDC has 25 lawmakers, independent candidates are 18, while the Unity Party has 10 lawmakers. Rep. Koon of President-elect Joseph Boakai’s Unity Party says some of that money can be used to meet the needs of members and their constituents.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 13, 2024 04:24 UTC
Rep. Yekeh Koluba Raises Transparency Concerns Over President-elect’s Donation Source
In the letter, Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah acknowledged the credibility of President-Elect Boakai but stressed the need for transparency and adherence to the rule of law, especially given the influential position of the presidency in the investment sector. President-elect Boakai has yet to respond to the concerns raised by Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah. Section 1.3.2 focuses on bribery, defining it as any reward or inducement paid to a public official or government employee for performing or abstaining from performing any duty within the scope of their official responsibilities. It emphasizes the prohibition of anything promised, offered, given, accepted, or received by a public official for favors related to their official duties. However, this provision excludes gifts given during cultural and customary celebrations.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 12, 2024 22:14 UTC
US Navy helicopter crashes into bay during training exercise in Southern California
By Lawrence Richard Fox News |A U.S. Navy helicopter crashed in Southern California on Thursday night, according to a military spokesperson. A MH-60R Seahawk crashed in the waters of San Diego Bay shortly after 6:30 p.m., as the aircraft was participating in a training exercise, according to Cmdr. Helicopter on a ship’s deckThe MH-60R Seahawk is the Navy’s main helicopter for anti-submarine warfare. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chris Krucke)The MH-60R Seahawk is the Navy’s main helicopter for anti-submarine warfare. It can also perform a wide variety of missions, including reconnaissance and search-and-rescue operations, per a Navy website.
Source:GNN Liberia
January 12, 2024 15:31 UTC
Liberia: Boakai, Koung Urged to Declare Assets ‘Ahead of Inauguration’
It is therefore crucial for President-elect Boakai and Vice President-elect Koung to declare their assets, demonstrating transparency and accountability to the Liberian people. He warned that failure on the part of the President-elect and Vice President-elect to disclose their assets before the inauguration could cast a dark cloud over the ceremony. Harold M. Aidoo, Sr, Executive Director of Integrity Watch Liberia, emphasized the need for Boakai and Kpan-Koung to declare their assets and make them public. Anderson Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), expressed his support for the call to declare assets by the President-elect and Vice President-elect. “It’s the right of the Liberian people to tell the President-elect and his vice president-elect to declare their assets.
Source:Daily Observer
January 12, 2024 13:45 UTC
Liberia: Temple of Fraud?
The Temple of Justice in Monrovia, which houses the Supreme Court and various other courtrooms, is traditionally a symbol of fairness and justice. Reports emerged on December 14, 2023, that over US$100,000 had gone missing from a vault in the courtroom of the Civil Law Court ‘B’. The investigation into this matter came to light after Sheriff Wea was reported missing for a week, coinciding with the day he was supposed to hand over the funds to a litigant following a judgment. Judge Sammy, president of the National Trial Judges Association of Liberia, also acknowledged the prevalence of corruption within the judiciary. It is, therefore, no secret that these recent incidents of alleged fraud and corruption further underscore the urgent need to address the systemic issues within the Judiciary.
Source:Daily Observer
January 12, 2024 06:55 UTC
Iran’s Navy Seizes Oil Tanker in Gulf of Oman
Associated Press|DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Iran’s navy seized an oil tanker on Thursday in the Gulf of Oman that once was at the center of a major crisis between Tehran and Washington, officials said. The vessel was once known as the Suez Rajan and was involved in a yearlong dispute that ultimately saw the U.S. Justice Department seize 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil on it. Iran’s state-run television acknowledged the seizure late Thursday afternoon, hours after armed men boarded it. “The violating oil tanker Suez Rajan … stole Iranian oil by leading it to the Americans and delivered it to the Americans,” state TV said. It said Iran’s navy, rather than its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, conducted the seizure.
Source:GNN Liberia
January 12, 2024 00:40 UTC
Pentagon inspector launches probe into defense chief’s secretive hospitalization
Michael Gabriel Hernandez |WASHINGTON – The Defense Department’s independent inspector general announced Thursday that it will investigate the Pentagon’s handling of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization for prostate cancer. Austin and the Pentagon have faced increasing scrutiny for his secretive hospitalization, which even the White House was unaware of until last week. The Pentagon did not disclose the cause of Austin’s hospitalization until Tuesday when his doctors acknowledged he was being treated for an infection after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer. The White House said it was not informed that Austin was hospitalized until the afternoon of Jan. 4. US President Joe Biden was subsequently informed by his chief of staff Jeff Zients that evening.
Source:GNN Liberia
January 12, 2024 00:34 UTC
AML Operations Promotes Local Content that Impacts SMEs
In a concerted effort to empower and uplift the local population, ArcelorMittal Liberia has strategically prioritized the awarding of contracts to talented and capable Liberian men and women. This transparent and inclusive approach allows individuals and businesses to actively participate in the economic opportunities generated by the company’s operations. By actively engaging with local vendors, ArcelorMittal Liberia is not only catalyzing economic growth but also creating a pathway for SMEs to thrive. As local vendors register and become active participants in the bidding process, they become integral contributors to the supply chain, supplying goods and services essential to ArcelorMittal Liberia’s operations. As ArcelorMittal Liberia continues to champion local content initiatives, the economic implications on SMEs and poverty alleviation are significant.
Source:GNN Liberia
January 11, 2024 18:21 UTC
Nearly 200 Cows and Horses Stuck on Serbian River Island in Cold Weather Are Being Rescued
By The Associated Press |GARDINOVCI, Serbia—Serbian authorities on Tuesday started evacuating nearly 200 animals that have been stranded on a river island for weeks and were facing hunger and cold as temperatures dropped. The cows, calves, and horses got stuck on the Krcedinska Ada island in the middle of the Danube river after water levels rose sharply last month, blocking their way back to the shore. Krcedinska Ada island is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of the capital, Belgrade. This week, warm weather gave way to a spate of snowy and freezing weather that swept the Balkan region. The Serbian government’s Ministry of Agriculture has said that a total of 97 cows, 40 calves, and 70 horses were stranded on Krcedinska Ada.
Source:GNN Liberia
January 11, 2024 09:09 UTC
Liberia: PIH Donates Over US$14K Medical Supplies to Tanker Blast Victims
Partners in Health (PIH) Liberia has donated medical supplies worth over US$14,000 to the Ministry of Health and the Incident Management Team in response to the fuel tanker explosion disaster in Totota, Bong County. Dr. Maxo Luma, Partners in Health Liberia Executive Director, expressed condolences to the families affected by the fuel tanker explosion. “PIH Liberia would like to support the remediation and aftermath of the event in any way we can,” Luma said. Minister Jallah expressed gratitude for PIH's continued support and highlighted the importance of medical supplies in addressing the needs of patients in various hospitals. She said that the medical supplies donated by PIH will be used to support the ongoing care and treatment of the victims.
Source:Daily Observer
January 10, 2024 19:47 UTC
Liberia: Ex-Chief Justice Musu-Scott Sentenced for Life
Criminal Court 'A has sentenced former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and three of her family members to life in prison for the murder of Charloe Musu on February 22, 2023. Judge Roosevelt Willie delivered the sentencing after considering the pre-sentencing investigative report provided by probation officers. The report recommended that Judge Willie show mercy, as none of the convicts had any prior criminal records. Scott, Rebecca Youdeh Alice Johnson and Gertrude Newton were also convicted on charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, and raising false alarms to law enforcement officers. Scott implicated Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee in orchestrating the attack and murder of Charloe Musu at her residence.
Source:Daily Observer
January 10, 2024 19:11 UTC
Liberia: Slim Chance for Weah’s Supreme Court Nominee
There is a degree of uncertainty surrounding the confirmation hearing of President George Weah’s nominee for the Office of Associate Justice, Cllr. The UP argued that President Weah’s nomination of Cllr. Dean as Associate Justice to replace Justice Nagbe raises questions because of the circumstances and timing. “Retirement of the Chief Justice, Associate Justices, and Judges is clearly defined by the Constitution of Liberia (1986). Ultimately, the disagreement between the Unity Party and President Weah’s administration highlights the constitutional and procedural issues at play in the confirmation process.
Source:Daily Observer
January 09, 2024 23:08 UTC
Liberia - Stakeholders Brainstorm On Post-Harvest Losses Strategy Development
Post-harvest losses still remain a critical challenge, affecting the productivity of many smallholder farmers in Liberia. Though the government is making some efforts to establish infrastructure in order to address post harvest losses, smallholder farmers still struggle with the issue. This is partly due to the lack of a comprehensive strategy or policy in place to address the challenge of post harvest losses. Edward Perry, the Director for Extension Services at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of having a comprehensive strategy in place to manage post-harvest losses. "Getting a comprehensive strategy in place to manage post-harvest losses for the agricultural sector is important to improving the lives of smallholder farmers.
Source:Daily Observer
January 09, 2024 16:42 UTC
French prime minister resigns amid immigration law blowback
Associated Press |French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne resigned Monday following recent political turmoil over a new immigration law, paving the way for President Emmanuel Macron to seek fresh momentum by appointing a new government in coming days. The shakeup was widely seen as an attempt by the 46-year-old centrist Macron to head off a looming lame-duck status. Macron’s term is to end in 2027, and he won’t be able to run again for president in line with the French Constitution. Borne, 62, had been appointed in May 2022 after Macron’s reelection for a second term. She was France’s second female prime minister.
Source:GNN Liberia
January 09, 2024 09:02 UTC
Unveiling the Political Landscape: HPX and ArcelorMittal Liberia in the Mining Industry
This article explores the intricate relationship between politics and mining, with a focus on High Power Exploration (HPX) and ArcelorMittal Liberia, the country’s private sector leader. This rail system, however, remains under the contractual purview of ArcelorMittal Liberia, which still holds approximately seven years under its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA). ArcelorMittal Liberia had argued for operational control of the rail, citing their substantial investment of over $500 million to make it functional. In response, the Minister of Justice, Frank Musa Dean, emphasized Liberia’s sovereignty, asserting the government’s right to make decisions without intimidation from ArcelorMittal Liberia. The unfolding saga involving HPX, ArcelorMittal Liberia, and the Liberian government continues to raise questions about the intersection of business interests and political maneuvering in the mining sector.
Source:GNN Liberia
January 09, 2024 08:36 UTC