GOL/WFP Food Distribution Exercise? Some Hard Questions and Concerns that Must Be Addressed
In an attempt to dispel the concerns, the Government released the cost breakdown of the operational and administrative cost for the food distribution exercise today, but the breakdown had led to many questions than answers. Did the GOL and WFP sign any agreement for the food distribution exercise? What actually constitute supply chain costs and what constitute non-supply chain costs for NGOs doing the distribution? Nearly 95% of human capital working on the food distribution efforts constitute high paid public sector employees. The questionable allocations to unexplained lines items in the covid19 food distribution budget, heighten the need for more enquiries into procurement and expenditures.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 17, 2020 09:00 UTC
Liberia: Where Lies The Truth in WFP-Liberia US$9M COVID-Food Distribution Saga as Breakdown Unveiled
According to the CBL, the US$25 million was due to be received by WFP on Monday June 15 2020. Said Ali: “Breakdown of administrative costs for food distribution as released by the government this morning. “Judging from the breakdown of administrative costs for food distribution as released by the government this morning. “Any suggestions to the contrary are totally unfounded, James Belgrave, Communication Officer, UN World Food Programme in Rome, Italy told FPA Monday. “We have also demanded the Food Distribution Plan for the entire Country.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 17, 2020 04:18 UTC
US 2020 Report On Liberia Suggests Ways To Improve Fiscal Transparency
The minimum requirements of fiscal transparency include having key budget documents that are publicly available, substantially complete, and generally reliable. According to the State Department, fiscal transparency is a critical element of effective public financial management, helps build market confidence, and underpins economic sustainability. It reviews governments that were originally identified in the 2014 Fiscal Transparency Report and Equatorial Guinea. It makes specific recommendations of short- and long-term steps such government should take to improve fiscal transparency. Finally, it includes a detailed description of how funds appropriated by the Act are being used to improve fiscal transparency including benchmarks for measuring progress.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 17, 2020 04:07 UTC
‘A Man of Strong Conviction’: Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu Laid to Rest
PHILADELPHIA – Betty Woewiyu remembered her husband, Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu at a peaceful celebration of life in the city of brotherly love last Saturday, recalling a man full of conviction and one she remembers as her best friend. “Tom was a man with strong conviction and had a deep love for humanity. In addition to being a king and a servant, Tom was a man. Woewiyu leaves to mourn the Woewiyu, Kaneboh, Dousuah, George, Karzorbeh, Karmoh, Thomas and Dahnsaw families. Honorable Woewiyu also leaves the legacy of his beautiful family; his lovely wife, Betty Karmoh Woewiyu, children; Boyd G. Woewiyu, Hawa Zoe Dahnsaw, Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu, Jr., Monconjay Thomas Woewiyu, Naanco Tomaudina Woewiyu, KaymaNuokay Woewiyu; his eighteen grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 17, 2020 03:46 UTC
INTERVIEW: CPP’s Alexander Cummings Proffers Solutions to Liberia’s Economic Recovery; Political Uprightness
Cummings spoke to ECOWAS Radio Saywhar Gbaa on several cross-cutting national issues and proffered some considerable solutions to Liberia’s economy and political mishaps. ALEXANDER CUMMINGS: I was excited about the opportunity to be the first chairman after the signing of the framework agreement. To what extent would you agree that Liberia as a country doesn’t need strong men but strong Institutions in promoting public sector Ethics? ALEXANDER CUMMINGS: Yeah, clearly, we have to define democracy in our country; we should not just replicate the western model. ALEXANDER CUMMINGS: It’s even incorrect that the CPP is quote on quote sitting on the fence and being mute about everything.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 17, 2020 03:22 UTC
Former Central Bank Liberia Governor Weeks Requests Court to Fast-Track Hearing of the L$16Bn Case
Monrovia – Former Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Governor Dr. Milton A. Weeks has requested Criminal Court ‘C’ to advance his case on the docket for the May Term for speedy trial. Defendant Weeks made the application on Thursday, June 11, through a motion title:” Motion for the Advancement of Case on the Court’s Docket”. Meanwhile, Defense motion was expected to be heard on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 but has been postponed until further notice due to ill health of the judge. The indictment was issued on the former CBL Governor immediately after State prosecutors had dropped charges against him in the second indictment, making the current indictment the third.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 17, 2020 03:00 UTC
Nimba Diaspora Citizens Distribute Cash to Nineteen Administrative Districts As COVID-19 Intervention
Ganta, Nimba County – As part of its COVID-19 intervention, the Union of Nimba Organizations in the Diaspora (UNOD) COVID-19 taskforce has made a cash presentation to the 19 administrative districts within Nimba county. The UNOD COVID-19 Task Force is a special Committee established by United Nimba Citizen Council (UNICCO) to generate and manage resources for dealing only with the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Chairman of the Steering Committee, James Harris, in a special message delivered on his behalf by UNICCO Country’s Representative, Atty. “We want to show to the world that we are from a special County and we want to show to other counties that we are special people and we are together. Also speaking, Representative Joseph Somwarbi (District #3, Nimba County) and a member of the taskforce lauded the effort of the diaspora citizens for their patriotism and love for country and fellowmen.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 17, 2020 02:15 UTC
Public Works Minister Mobotu Nyenpan Assures Lawmakers of Ganta-Southeastern Road Maintenance Work
The 225 Kilometers road is one of the major road corridors in Liberia, linking several counties of the Southeast and neighboring Ivory Coast. By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]Capitol Hill, Monrovia – The Minister of Public Works, Mobuto Vlah Nyenpan has assured members of the House of Representatives that all is set for maintenance work on the Ganta-Zwedru road. The 225 Kilometers road is one of the major road corridors in Liberia, linking several counties of the Southeast and neighboring Ivory Coast. Speaking further, he said maintenance work will be split into two- a team from Zwedru towards Tappita and from Ganta to Tappita. Plenary then voted in favor of a motion by Rep. Kaine Wesso, mandating the Minister to submit copies of his strategies and plans for the road work to the House’s Committee on public works within one week.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 16, 2020 23:26 UTC
WAEC-Liberia Boss Tests Positive for Coronavirus
Gbotoe stated that he does not know how he contracted the virus. He urged the public to do voluntary testing for virus to know their status. Monrovia – The head of the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) Liberia, Mr. Dale G. Gboto, has been tested positive for coronavirus, FrontPageAfrica has gathered. I did my voluntary testing on June 9 and on June 10 I was pronounced positive and taken to the 14 Military Hospital. He urged the public to do voluntary testing for virus to know their status.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 16, 2020 22:41 UTC
Woman, 27, Charged with Murder After Stabbing Brother to Death
Defendant Demen after stabbing her brother, according to the police investigation, reported herself at the nearest Police Depot from where she was later transferred to the Police Headquarters in Monrovia. Monrovia – Police have charged a 27-year-old woman with murder after she allegedly stabbed her brother, who later died while he was being taken to the hospital. Louise Demen was formally charged by the police following an investigation and was sent to the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice on June 15 for prosecution. Defendant Demen after stabbing her brother, according to the police investigation, reported herself at the nearest Police Depot from where she was later transferred to the Police Headquarters in Monrovia. The deceased and the accused were biological brother and sister who were always at loggerhead, the Police said in its report.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 16, 2020 22:18 UTC
Liberia Making Strides Toward Budget Transparency, Says Global Initiative Group
Monrovia – The Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency(GIFT) and the International Budget Partnership has recognize the effort the George Weah-led government has made to promote budget transparency. In 2019, Liberia was selected to be part of the Fiscal Openness Accelerator, a project to pilot public participation mechanism in the budget process and further improve in budget transparency. Now, the organizations say, they would like to take some additional steps, small but with significant impact. GIFT also expressed interests in discussing with authorities at the Ministry of Finance, the concrete, possible and simple steps the Ministry could take to substantially improve budget transparency and public participation that are in line with the CBS 2019 results for Liberia as well as the targets set in IBP’s call to action on open budget. “These are times of profound, painful uncertain transformation, unlike anything we have ever experienced before.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 16, 2020 21:11 UTC
Liberia: Senate Contemplating Shutdown As Deputy Secretary Tests Positive for COVID-19
MONROVIA – Deputy Secretary of the Liberian Senate, Jannave Verdier-Massaquoi has been confirmed COVID-19 positive, the Senate Press Director, Jalawa Tonpo has confirmed. FrontPageAfrica has also gathered that the Senate leadership is contemplating taking an observatory two-week break following the disclosure of a staff within the administration being positive for the coronavirus. FrontPageAfrica has also received an unconfirmed report that a member of the House of Representatives has also been confirmed positive for the virus. More Details to follow.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 16, 2020 15:33 UTC
Sen. Lawrence Describes ‘Lack of Transparency in Food Distribution’ Program
SENATOR NYONBLEE KARNGA-LAWRENCE: “It would be a serious travesty if the Minister misled the Legislature. According to Senator Karnga-Lawerence, she and her colleagues were ridiculed when they asked the hard questions pertaining the US$25 million allotted by government for the food distribution exercise. Sen. Lawrence: “When we requested the National Response Plan for the fight against COVID-19 from the Executive, we were greeted with insults including from the Ministry of Information. Again, we received condemnation and insults, and were maligned as bent on working against the interests of our people. Blind loyalty, incompetence and partisanship are hurting the country and suffering our people”The Grand Bassa County Senator is still expecting to see a copy of the contract between the Liberian government and the WFP and the food distribution plan before the commencement of the food distribution.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 16, 2020 11:15 UTC
Liberia’s US$9M Question: WFP Says Only 6 Percent(1.8 Million) Charged to Govt. For COVID-19 Food Distribution
“The WFP’s $9M charge for $21 million food distribution is totally unappealing. Minister Tarpeh explained to the Senate that of the USD$30 million, USD$20 million will go to food cost while USD$9 million will go toward the operational cost. Minister Tarpeh explained to the Senate that of the USD$30 million, USD$20 million will go to food cost while USD$9 million will go toward the operational cost. Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, chair of the Food Distribution Committee told FPA, she will write the executive requesting the contract. This safeguards the quality of WFP food as well as ensures that tendering processes do not distort local markets.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 16, 2020 06:22 UTC
Liberia: When A Legislative 5G Passage Comes Back To Haunt
ON MONDAY, a member of the national legislature, Rep. Samuel Enders(District No. From the US, British and France to countries like Liberia and many other African countries with three branches of government. IN LIBERIA, checks and balance has been closed to non-existent in the national legislature and the judiciary branch has not been faring any better. In Liberia, the Government-led COVID-19 Household Food Support Program (COHFSP) has a total budget of US$30 million. REP. ENDERS’S ALARM, albeit late, should serve as a poignant reminder to those in the national legislature how important it is to read everything put before them.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 16, 2020 06:11 UTC