Liberia: Coalition of Opposition Political Parties Reviewing Allocation of Counties Format Ahead of Senatorial Election
He said, with the signing of a frame work to guide the four opposition political parties which include the former ruling Unity Party (UP), the All Liberian Party (ALP) and the Liberty Party (LP). But the sticky issue has been how the CPP would derive at candidates to contest each county in the mid-term senatorial elections. It is not clear how he became certain of being nominated by the CPP to contest Bomi County on its ticket. This continues to breed worries among some members of the CPP with intentions to run for the midterm elections. We will, in collaboration with the CPP, do extra work to campaign for our candidates.”In related development, the Liberty Party has again received two new members into the party.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 09:00 UTC
Food Distribution Would Not Stimulate the Economy
ABRAHAM DARIUS Dillon, Montserrado County Senator, on Facebook expressed his doubt over the free food distribution promised by the government as stimulus package to ease hardship during the COVID-19 lockdown. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE that spending such a whooping amount for the distribution of food to households, and of course said distributed food might not even feed a household for up to two weeks, maybe not even a week, is a waste of taxpayers’ money. IN ECONOMICS, stimulus refers to attempts to use monetary or fiscal policy (or stabilization policy in general) to stimulate the economy. WHAT WE FIND ironic is the fact that while the government is about to use US$25 million for nationwide food distribution, it is at the same time imposing extra tax of US$0.30 each gallon of petroleum products. INCREASING THE PRICE of petroleum products has the propensity of affecting the economy adversely in several means.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 09:00 UTC
Liberia: Woman Struggles to Fend for Children of Man Who Murdered Her Aunty
Tokpah is appealing to the Bong County Legislative Caucus and other humanitarian organizations to help care for the children. Tokpah said she has two children of her own. Since Porkpah was sentenced in 2017, I have been the one taking care of the children by engaging into farming activities. “I know education is important, but I do not have money to send my own children to school because we can’t afford school fees,’’ she said. She said she will inform the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to see how government can help Tokpah.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 08:26 UTC
SOS CALL: 24-Year-Old Lovina Narodoh Living In Agony As A Result Of Body Burns From A Fire Disaster
Her father is visually impaired and her mother, who is a marketer, are unable to pay the bill and pay for advance medical treatment. Paynesville – Lovina Narodoh,24, is living in agony after suffering severe burns on her body when fire gutted her home in December 2019. Lovina ordeal occurred when she bravely entered the blazing house to rescue her son, who was asleep. Lovina told FrontPageAfrica Thursday that the bruises on her skin are worsening daily, making it uneasy for her to sleep at night. Her father is visually impaired and her mother, who is a marketer, are unable to pay the bill and pay for advance medical treatment.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 08:25 UTC
Liberia: Traffic Beginning to Ease on Vai Town Road as Public Works Begins Preparatory Works for Bridge-to-Bridge Project
The Ministry of Public Works (MPW) has also begun the steel preparatory work for the bridge-to-bridge project. Last week, Public Works Minister Mabutu Nyenpan, Minister of State Nathaniel McGill and Finance and Economic Planning Minister Samuel Tweah toured the construction in response to the many concerns being expressed by commuters who ply the route daily. Minister Nyenpan explained to FrontPageAfrica at the weekend that COVID – 19 has had a paralysing effect on the progress of Road rehabilitation works. Additionally, Minister Nyenpan says, multiple teams are being deployed to work on various sections simultaneously. Plenary voted in favor of a motion proffered by Rep. Dixon Seboe (District #16, Montserrado), citing Minister Nyenpan on Tuesday, June 16, 2020.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 08:13 UTC
Liberia: CPP Forms Legislative Caucus to Speak in One Voice at the Legislature
Representative Papa Kolleh (ALP -District #7 Bong County) was elected chairman. Leadership positions were divided amongst the four collaborating political parties. The All Liberian Party (ALP) was elected chairman, Former ruling Unity party (UP) took the Secretary General position, while the Liberty party (LP) is the Co-Cahir and the Alternative National Congress (ANC) Assistant Secretary General. In an interview with legislative reporters, Representative Kolleh said, the meeting by the caucus was intended to solidify the CPP caucus in making a difference in terms of how they work on national issues. “We will work to strengthen the leadership of the CPP and engage the government positively on issues affecting the country,” Rep. Joseph P. Kolleh CPP caucus chairman.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 08:03 UTC
Liberia: National Payroll Clean Up Taskforce Institutionalizes National ID Number As The Sole Biometric Identity Of Government Employees
MONROVIA – The process of removing ghost employees from the already crowded Public Sector payroll has always been a tough nut to crack. The taskforce has institutionalized the national identification number as the primary and sole biometric identity of government employees, and Civil Service Agency & the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning have been granted full access to the electronic verification platform of the national ID system. Despite its huge development needs, Liberia spent more than 60 percent of its meager budget envelope on the payment of salaries for public sector employees. Unlike other reform processes, the strategy initiated by the taskforce is providing a catalyst for payroll reform efforts. This is a view espoused by Del Francis Wreh, Executive Director of the Liberia Macroeconomic Policy Analysis Center LIMPAC, “this provides a catalyst to all the other payroll reform processes.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 07:59 UTC
Commerce Minister Wilson Tarpeh Says Govt Has Deposited US$25M for Food Distribution as World Bank Also Provides US$5M
The total money available for the food distribution right now is US$30 million. With this amount, we are in the position of full swing for the food distribution,” Minister Tarpeh told journalists. That test run is the first in communities, outside of dedicated location like the orphanage,” Minister Tarpeh said. He called on the residents to cooperate with the World Food Program (WFP) which he says is going to head the food distribution process in the entire 15 counties. In the food distribution process, we will also prioritize frontline responders.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 07:59 UTC
Liberia: Parents Accuse Private Schools of Collecting Extra Fees to Prepare Home Work for Children During COVID-19 Lockdown
Maretha International School is among few private schools, where parents are asked to pay for resource materials for pupils’ instructional materials. However, many schools are accused of requesting parents to pay extra fees to procure instructional materials to enhance distance learning. One of such schools, accused by parents for requesting extra fees, is the Maretha International School in Monrovia. Maretha International School is among few private schools, where parents are asked to pay for resource materials for pupils’ instructional materials. “Schools should not impose upon parents and parents should not expect anything from schools, this is why PTA is important,” he said.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 07:58 UTC
The Untold Story Of COVID-19 And Its Mental Health Impact On Liberians
The Untold Story Of COVID-19 And Its Mental Health Impact On LiberiansMonrovia – In Liberia, the efforts to Combat COVID-19 largely revolves around people’s physical health whilst little or no attention is placed on mental health, in spite of the new challenges and realities the outbreak brings. The Carter Center Mental Health Program Lead adds that the MHPSS Pillar is responsible to address the mental health needs of people infected and affected, and that includes responders such as doctors, nurses, mental health clinicians, social workers, burial team and ambulance team. Without support from the IMS response, it is difficult for the pillar to effectively function and address the mental health needs of frontline responders,” Dossen said. All attempts to get the mental health division of the Ministry of Health to respond after weeks of email exchanges failed. But the Carter Center Mental Health Lead Benedict Dossen stressed that getting coronavirus should not be a sentence of guilt or punishment.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 07:56 UTC
Liberia: Clar Hope Foundation, Merck Distribute Food Items, Locally Made Face Masks to People with Disabilities
The donation include 100 bags of rice, three hundred tins (five gallons) of oil and dozens locally made masks to 100 households. She added that First Lady Clar Marie Weah, through her foundation is soliciting support for the needy and disadvantaged communities including people with disabilities, orphans, the elderly and vulnerable girls. “The role of the first lady is to go out and ask for help to support you. Madam Harris called on the First lady and her Foundation to support her organization undertake sustainable programs that will improve the livelihoods of people living with disabilities. At the end of April, the foundation, in partnership with GSM giant, Orange Liberia donated 15,000 locally produced face masks to the COVID-19 National Response Center.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 07:40 UTC
Liberia: Humane Society International Launches ‘Feed And Treat’ Exercise For Domestic Animals in Charlesville
Margibi County – Humane Society International Liberia on Thursday launched a “feed and treat exercise” for domestic animals in Charlesville, Margibi County. The animals benefiting from the exercise are dogs, cats, and other domestic animals. Speaking to reporters about the initiative, Humane Society International Liberia Country Director, Morris Darbo said the initiative is a respond to the fight against COVID-19. He said diseases diagnosed in these domestic animals are tick and flee, worms, skin diseases, rabbis, and pad virus among others. “Humane Society is not strange to us, so they are trying their best to do what they supposed to do [for us].”Humane Society International is an international organization that provides lifetime care for animals.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 07:40 UTC
The effects of Taxes on The Economic Growth of a Country: The case of Liberia
Abstract:This paper attempts to evaluate the impact of individual types of taxes on economic growth by utilizing regression analysis. The paper is based on entrepreneurs complains on the taxes imposed by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), qualifying some of them as arbitrary. Wolokolie, MBA, CFE, CA, CPA, CFIP, CTP, PhDKey words: Taxes, Liberia Revenue Authority, Economic Growth. Since economic growth is one of the fundamental economic objectives of the economic policy makers and it is the basic assumption of fulfilling other social objectives, the following can be stated resulting from this paper. In their effort to stimulate economic growth, countries like Liberia should try to lower taxation rate in the case of corporate taxation, personal income taxes and social security contributions.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 07:30 UTC
Liberia: Health Ministry Debunks Freedom FM’s Reportage
Deputy Health Minister for Administration, Ms. Norwu HowardMonrovia – The Ministry of Health has come out strongly to defend its Deputy Minister for Administration, Ms. Norwu Howard, against what it describes as “orchestrated attempt to ruin the hard-earned reputation. In a press release under the signature of Mr. Sorbor George, the Health Ministry’s Communication Consultant, the ministry said Freedom FM, in a series of radio shows, had reported that Dep. “Following a Technical Management Meeting on April 30, 2019, the Ministry then forwarded the company’s request to the Liberia Revenue Authority, which is the agency of government solely responsible to grant or deny duty free privileges. “LRA granted the company’s request in the interest of the government and People of Liberia, to ensure the successful end and a durable product.”The contract for the construction of the new Redemption Hospital was signed in 2017, long before Minister Howard took office. Minister Howard only renewed the contract after it expired and has been successfully facilitating its implementation.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 07:30 UTC
The Need for Youth Advancement in Liberia
The youth in Liberia are faced with formidable challenges which has exacerbated over time leaving them with less opportunities and limited options for advancement; not to mention females, the future of young women in Liberia is at stake. An estimated 51% of youth ages 15-24 are illiterate and approximately 60% have not completed primary school according to Liberia Youth Assessment Situational Analysis Report 2019. This is scaring for the future of Liberia because youth capacity is extremely essential to the sustainable economic and development of Liberia; it is important that the youth of Liberia be skilled, competent and erudite enough to deliver. The Liberia national youth policy shows that the youth constitute more than a third of the total population and nearly half of the labor force in Liberia. In addition, in 2009, African Union Heads of States and government declared the year 2009-2018 as the decade of youth Development in Africa to accelerate youth empowerment for sustainable development.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 12, 2020 07:18 UTC