Liberia: Pres. Weah Warns COVID-19 ‘Severe Impact’; Says Poor Public Service Could Undermine Economy Despite
President Weah sounded the caveat during the submission of Fiscal Year 2020/2021 national budget in the tone of US$535.4 million to the Legislature. Other challenges include severe macroeconomic imbalances, low economic development, poor private sector development and poor public service delivery and the severe impact of COVID-19,” the President said in a communication accompanying the resource envelope. With these inhibiting challenges, the President revealed that Liberia’s pre-COVID-19 real GDP growth rate for 2020 was projected at 0.5 percent. Other challenges include severe macroeconomic imbalances, low economic development, poor private sector development, and poor public service delivery, and the severe impact of COVID-19.” – Pres. President Weah, following a two-and-a-half-month delay, submitted the budget in the tone of US$535.4 million – three percent more than the 2019/2020 final recast budget of US$518 million.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:48 UTC
Liberia: FPA Discovers New Links Of Sen. Teahjay Influence On Employment
Monrovia – Four former staffers of Sinoe Senator Milton Teahjay have landed jobs at several autonomous agencies, FrontPageAfrica has learned. If I wanted money, Nwabudike would have been confirmed.”FrontPage Africa learned from reliable sources that Senator Teahjay was removed as chair of the Senate Committee on Autonomous Agencies. Chie issued a memo on June 30, 2020, stating the change in the leadership of the Senate Committee on Autonomous Agencies. The tenure for chair of Senate Committees is three years. According to Rule 15 Section 2 of the Senate standing rule, the Senate Pro-Tempore has the power to appoint co-chairpersons and members of the leadership committees.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:37 UTC
Liberia: Senate Summons CARI Boss Over Leaked Audio About Selling of Entity’s Assets
Senator Tokpa, Chairman of the House’s Committee on Autonomous Commissions and Agency, said the invitation is regarding a leaked audio revealing plans by Findley and a senior staff of CARI, David Tokpah, to loot assets belonging to agency. Senator Tokpa said the decision of the joint committees to invite Findley and the Board Chair of the entity is to authenticate the truthfulness of the leaked audio. In a FrontPageAfrica interview this week, Findley described as “stupid and nonsensical” the audio recording allegedly featuring the voices of her and a senior staff of CARI conspiring to loot the entity’s assets. “I haven’t listened to any leaked audio yet because it doesn’t worth my time. “This goes a long way to suggest that the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change and the president are not fighting corruption.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:26 UTC
Liberia: "House Did Not Sign Resolution to Print L$10 Billion"
The former Speaker was summoned by the Court to give details of the 53rd Legislature’s involvement with the authorization to print new banknotesMonrovia – Former House Speaker, Emmanuel J. Nuquay, has testified in open court that the House of Representatives did not sign a joint resolution for the printing of the L$10 billion banknotes. The House of Representatives did not sign any joint resolution to print L$10 billion dollars and there is no such resolution,” the former Margibi County lawmaker was responding to a question by the State: Whether the House of Representatives ever passed a joint resolution regarding the printing of the L$10 Billion dollars? “I have no information absolutely on the printing of L$10 billion by the CBL. “To the best of my knowledge, there is no paragraph in that communication that authorized the CBL to print L$10 billion dollars,” he said, adding that the Bank never acted in accordance with the content of the letter sent by the House. Further, the three-year budget was only capable of financing the initial L$5 Billion dollars that was printed last year.”Responding to the communication, he said: “By refreshing my memory, I cannot immediately recall receiving such communication.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:15 UTC
Liberia: River Gee Rep. Francis Dopoh Petitions House to Summon Ministers of Justice, Defense & Army Chief of Staff for Enforcing Unconstitutional State of Emergency
In a communication to House Speaker Bhofal Chambers, Rep Dopoh said despite the expiry of the constitutional time frame of the declared state of emergency to meet legislative approval, the Executive through these officials are enforcing the illegal presidential proclamation. The Legislature shall within seventy-two hours, by joint resolution voted by two-thirds of the membership of each house, decide whether the proclamation of a state of emergency is justified or whether the measures taken thereunder are appropriate. If the two-thirds vote is not obtained, the emergency automatically shall be revoked. The President said the decision to extend the state of emergency by 30 days was intended to afford the government the opportunity to re-examine its COVID-19 response strategy. Recently, members of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) Legislative Caucus called for the revocation of the State of Emergency because it has passed the deadline set by the Constitution to be approved by the Legislature.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:03 UTC
Liberia: Senate Staffs Backtrack On Ultimatum Given Their Bosses On Salary Deduction
Senate staffers had given their bosses a three-day ultimatum and threatened to stage a “peaceful protest” if circumstances surrounding their Liberian dollars component of their salaries were not addressed. They had alleged not receiving their Liberian dollars component of their salaries since July 2020. Appeared alarmed by concerns raised, the leadership of the Senate Thursday convened a meeting with aggrieved Senate staffers in a bid to address their concerns. Charles Brown, head of the Senate Interim Staffers’ leadership, commended the Senate for “taking the bullets” for them. Continuing, he added: “We are glad today to have met the Senate leadership.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 17, 2020 05:03 UTC
Liberia: MOH Adopts Passport COVID-19 To Strengthen Its Fight Against Coronavirus
MONROVIA – As prevention and eradication of the deadly coronavirus from the Country remain a paramount concern of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and government, the Ministry on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 adopted a digital innovation named ‘Passport Covid’ to strengthen its capacity in the fight against the global pandemic. It is also accessible on all categories of phones (Android, iOS and a web portal) and can be integrated with all mobile operators. The application does not record the movements of the phone and therefore, respects the privacy of its users. While adopting the solution at the Ministry, Liberia’s Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah called on Liberians to take advantage of the process to get quick access to their results. “we are adopting this new exercise so as to allow people access their own information when it is released”, she disclosed.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 18:33 UTC
Liberia: CDC Spokesman Expresses Dissatisfaction with Current Administration
Mr. Worzie told FrontPageAfrica on Wednesday, July 15 that he is dissatisfied with administrative lapses in the current administration but blame it on systemic practice. Worzie, who has been vocal on the administration he once served for poor working environment, said there is still more the Weah administration needs to do to improve the livelihood of Liberians. Worzie, a senatorial hopeful, believes no one from the CDC can better stand in such gap than him due to his ‘uncompromising’ stance of advocacy. He believes he can help when given the chance to serve the people of Montserrado County as Senator. Though dismissed by President Weah for “administrative reason”, Worzie says the Political Leader of CDC has no judgement over his ambition, because “it is his political right.’
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 11:48 UTC
Liberia: ANC National Cyber Defense Slams ‘Continued Killing’ of Peaceful Liberians by State Security
Officials of the National Cyber Defense of the Alternative National Congress Address Journalists at their party HeadquartersMonrovia – Partisans of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) under the banner the “National Cyber Defense” has slammed the killing and harassment of peaceful citizens by State security actors amid the COVID-19 health crisis. Sanders also recounted the many reports of abuses that have taken place since the inception of the CDC-led government more than two years ago. We demand an end to state securities barbarism and; vows to fight for victims until justice is served,” Sanders said. “The National Cyber Defense with the support of thousands of victimized Liberians by the current oppressive system of governance will not allow this to become business as usual. We stand firmly with our people in these troubling times and will always stand with them.”
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 11:37 UTC
Liberia: Court Dismisses Charges Against Passport Director Wonploe
Monrovia – Indicted Director of Passport of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrew Wonploe, escorted by several relatives, walked out of court on Tuesday, July 14 on the grounds of the Temple of Justice with smiles after charges were dropped against him. Tuesday’s ruling by the court came after Wonploe’s lawyer had filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the indictment and charges brought against him by state prosecutors in 2019. Reading the final ruling at the Criminal Court “C” Tuesday, Judge Yarmie Gbeisay stated that Defendant Wonploe was indicted by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County during its August 2019 sitting. The indictment added that the scam resulted to the Government of Liberia sustaining the loss of US$25,000. Acquitted passport Director Wonploe told FrontPageAfrica outside the court that he was of the strongest conviction that charges against him was going to be dropped because there was no evidence for the state to pursue the case against him.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 11:37 UTC
Liberian Gov’t Launches State of World Population 2020 Report
The report titled, “Against My Will: Defying the Practices that Harm Women and Girls and Undermine Equality”, is UNFPA’s flagship report, which focuses on issues of population and development. The focus of this year’s report is on the “Silent and endemic crisis of harmful practices” across the world. “In Liberia, girls and women are part of the Sande Society where FGM is practiced. The UNFPA report shows why harmful practices persist around the world and what can be done about them. Also speaking, Mr. Kingsley Amaning, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Liberia, said the World Population Day is significant because it highlights the problems of over population, raises awareness about the effects of population on the environment and development.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 11:26 UTC
The Madiba: A Legacy Of Selflessness
A century and two years ago on July 18, 1918, in a small South African town of Mvezo, the God of our Fathers sent a precious gift to the world. Instead, it was a culmination of decades of groanings, sufferings, dehumanization, including 27 consecutive years of incarceration on an isolated island. Certainly, he was not the first black South African to study law, but unlike others, he decided to put his knowledge and wisdom at the service of his people. Fiercely consumed by his ardent desire to serve his people, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) in the 1940s. Not only that Mandela was opposing white domination, but equally so, he rejected black domination.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 09:45 UTC
Liberia: Appointment of Paulette Findley as Officer-in-Charge at CARI Would Undermines Your Dream, Mr. President
Liberia: Appointment of Paulette Findley as Officer-in-Charge at CARI Would Undermines Your Dream, Mr. PresidentMr. President,Glad tidings of Liberia’s Independence President George M. Weah, Liberians home and the world over amidst these perilous yet hopeful times. Let these lines remind all in Public Service of our national and civil responsibilities owed Liberia – one we tend to ignore, forget too soon or later as leaders and Public Servants answerable to – The People. President Weah, the decision to appoint Mrs. Paulette E. Findley, Officer in Charge, Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) undermines your dream of combating food insecurity, poverty, discourages education, scares and drives away Global Partnerships of Acclaimed Research Bodies, Researchers, Scientists as well as obliterates our only apex Agricultural Research Institute – CARI. Moreover, this is an irreparable damage though not impossible to resolve but requires time and will to make the hardest yet difficult decision which is usually gold standard, Mr. President. Accept my assurances of the highest esteem.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 09:22 UTC
Liberia: Communications Officer at Governance Commission Reportedly Hired on Senator Milton Teahjay’s Recommendation
MONROVIA – FrontPageAfrica has gathered that one of the confidants of Sinoe County Senator, J. Milton Teahjay identified as Hugh Bladee was reportedly employed by Cllr. However, our source within the Governance Commission further informed FPA that based on the influence of Sen. Teahjay, the commissioners were prevailed upon have Bladee taken for the job. Sen. Teahjay denied the allegation, stating, “To say Milton Teahjay showed his hands and someone gave him five dollars, that’s not true. The Senate Pro-Tempore informed FrontPageAfrica Sen. Teahjay’s removal from the Committee was part of a regular routine at the Senate. Rule 15 Section 2 of the Senate standing rule gives the Senate Pro-Tempore the power to appoint co-chairpersons and members of the leadership committees.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 08:15 UTC
Liberia: ANC Former Vice Standard Bearer Quits Party, Cites Political Betrayal
Sulunteh had sought to contest on the party’s ticket as candidate in Bong County after the party’s political leader, Alexander Cummings, endorsed his candidacy in December 2019 in Totota, lower Bong County. By then, the ANC had not entered into collaboration with Unity Party, All Liberian Party and Liberty Party under the umbrella Collaborating Political Parties (CPP). The allocation given to Unity Party to select a candidate in Bong County ruled Sulunteh out from contesting on the CPP ticket. Let me wish the ANC good luck in its quest for political leadership.”Sulunteh didn’t announce his next political party but maintained that he will contest as an Independent candidate. Cummings wished Sulunteh best of luck on his political journey and promised to maintain the friendship and camaraderie they both shared.
Source:Front Page Africa
July 16, 2020 08:15 UTC