Liberia: Soldiers Impound Several Vehicles Between Bong and Margibi Counties
Nyanforllah, Bong and Margibi Counties – Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia have grounded dozens of vehicles at the boundary between Bong and Margibi Counties. Report by Selma Lomax, [email protected]As of 2:00 PM Tuesday, there were barricades at the Margibi County end of the Gbarnga-Monrovia highway. The exit out of Bong County witnessed slow-moving traffic as the soldiers allowed medical persons and trucks conveying foodstuffs and petrol to pass through. “We have been here for more than five hours,” said Nathaniel Seton, who is heading to Bong County from Monrovia. Most of the owners of vehicles told our reporter they were coming from Monrovia to Bong County, where most of them said they live.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 20:26 UTC
ArcelorMittal Liberia Announces Additional Support to MOH for COVID-19 Response
Buchanan – ArcelorMittal Liberia announces an increase in its level of support to the Ministry of Health with in-kind contributions of medical supplies and support for facilities to strengthen the national response to the spread of the new Coronavirus (i.e. The latest commitment by ArcelorMittal Liberia complements earlier support from the company toward efforts by the Government of Liberia and local authorities to combat the spread of COVID-19. Local communities are being educated about COVID-19, through awareness efforts supported by ArcelorMittal Liberia, working with the mediaEarlier this month, the Company delivered three oxygen concentrators and six medical oxygen tanks (dispensers) with fitters to the Ministry of Health. The company also chairs the West African Private Sector COVID-19 Liberia working group collaborating on strategies and interventions with the Government of Liberia (GoL), donor organizations, and civil society. We stand firm in our support and commitment to the Government and people of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 20:26 UTC
Jeety Scales Down Community Feeding Program; Hands Out Over 55,000 Plates of Cooked Meal to Liberians Living on the Margins in 22 Days
Jeety Scales Down Community Feeding Program; Hands Out Over 55,000 Plates of Cooked Meal to Liberians Living on the Margins in 22 DaysPictorial scenes of Mr. Jeety’s feeding on Sunday, May 24Monrovia – As he scales down his community daily feeding programs to thousands of poor Liberians living on the margins of the society, the Honorary Indian Consul General in Liberia, Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva has in the last 22 days handed out 56,347 plates of ready, cooked meal to these Liberians. However, Mr. Jeety said he’s not going to discontinue the feeding and that he will continue his usual five-days-a-week feeding he had been doing before the outbreak of this deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) or Covid-19. Mr. Jeety, along with his team, including officers of the Liberian National Police (LNP) riot unit, begins handling out the meals by 3 p.m. Mr. Jeety, who is a known Indian businessman, rarely talks about this aspect of his generosity to the press. Foreign Minister Praises JeetyRecently, Foreign Minister Milton Gbehzohngar Findley expressed satisfaction with the launch and sustenance of the Public Feeding Initiative being undertaken by Mr. Jeety.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 20:03 UTC
Liberia: How Did We Get Here?
In Liberia, our prevailing paradigm for the past two generations or more has fixated our minds on governments, policies, and corruption. They sadly lack the audacity to fairly tell President Weah his failure. Firstly, we cannot retract when we last saw a president that stood as a pivotal voice against the consistent sexual and domestic molestation of babies, teenagers, and women in Liberia. When we voted President Weah, we knew there were gains but our anger was the progress was stunted by massive corruption . The pomposity of President Weah egotistical personalities makes everyone conceal his failure thereby feeding the delicacy of his egos with unscrupulous narratives.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 20:02 UTC
World Bank Approves US$10M for Liberia’s COVID-19 Food Security Plan and Ministry of Agriculture’s Situation Report
The Smallholder Agriculture Transformation and Agribusiness Revitalization Project (STAR-P) is a World Bank funded project under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and the project is to increase agricultural productivity and commercialization of smallholder farmers for selected value chains in selected counties of Liberia. Liberia’s COVID-19 Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihood Plan –as formulated by the MoA in March –aims to mitigate Coronavirus’ threats and impacts on Liberia’s food security and livelihood; and targets vulnerable low income families and local farmers. The MoA, through the Program Management Unit (PMU), will manage the CERC funding with support from the STAR-P in partnership and collaboration with farmers’ groups, agro processors and cooperatives to support the plan’s implementation. Another aspect deals with support to organized distribution of seeds, fertilizers, and agro-chemicals to farmers in places where input markets are likely to face severe impacts. The grant component, the release notes will ensure support to on-farm irrigation equipment, procurement of equipment for poultry production, innovative solutions for small-scale preservation of food and biogas equipment for green management of agricultural waste, etc.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 19:52 UTC
Press Union of Liberia to Open Book of Condolence in Memory of Journalist H. Sally Gaye
Miss Sally Gaye died on Sunday, May 17, 2020 at the ELWA Hospital after a period of illness in Monrovia. Up to her death, Miss Sally worked for the New Dawn Newspaper as its Sports Reporter and also found time to work with secondary school students on the production of a high school particular newspaper. Monrovia – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) and its auxiliaries, the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL), Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) and the Reporters Association of Liberia (RAL) will open a Book of Condolence in memory of H. Sally Gaye on Thursday, May 29, 2020 in Monrovia. Miss Sally Gaye died on Sunday, May 17, 2020 at the ELWA Hospital after a period of illness in Monrovia. The Union again extends its deepest regret to the Gaye’s Family over the unfortunate death of H. Sally Gaye, describing it as the cruel early downing of curtains on a career which has just started to germinate.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 19:41 UTC
Why The Next WTO Director-General Should Come From Africa
There are two main issues which WTO members are considering as far as the selection process is concerned. THE FIRST WTO Director-General, Peter Sutherland was the Attorney-General of Ireland and later became the Competition Commissioner of the European Union. There is agreement among African countries and other WTO members on this issue that a person with a strong political background is needed to succeed Roberto Azevedo as the next WTO Director-General. Without a fundamental change in the attitudes of WTO members, the region from which the Director-General comes from is irrelevant. THIS IS MORE SO the reason for a qualified African to be appointed as the next WTO Director-General.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 13:18 UTC
Grand Bassa Muslim Community Names Lawmaker Vicent Willie ‘Mustapha’ at Eid Celebrations
Wee District, Grand Bassa County – The Muslim Community in Grand Bassa County like millions around the world ended the month of Ramadan which was characterized by weeks of fasting and praying. The ceremony, according to the District Muslims Association, was to appreciate and “offer a special prayer” for their lawmaker as he leads people of the district in these troubling times. “I have come to say thank you from my family and on behalf of the entire government,” said Rep Willie. “What hurts the Muslim community could probably hurt the Christian community in part and in general”. The Grand Bassa County’s District Four Lawmaker also assured the Muslim Community that they will be well protected, adding, “Not just in Wee Statutory District but in Grand Bassa County as a whole”.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 12:48 UTC
Give Life Donates Food To Vulnerable, Underprivileged Liberians
Monrovia – Give Life Foundation for Human Resource Development, a local charity organization, has reaffirmed its committed to helping rehabilitate wayward youths in the streets of Liberia. The organization made the assurance after completing a10 day distribution of food and COVID-19 preventive materials to people in Montserrado County. For this reason, he said his gesture to Liberians during the COVID-19 pandemic will focus on these disadvantaged youths as well as persons living with disabilities and other underprivileged people. Several COVID-19 prevention material and bags of rice were donated to persons living with disabilities, the Liberia National Police, and Armed Forces of Liberia among others. Aside from the donation in Montserrado, Mr. Harris said US$10,000 was also donated by his organization to Liberian Students in China.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 09:45 UTC
Liberia: 2014 Supreme Court Ruling Could Impact Quest to Change Midterm Elections Date
Monrovia –In 2014, when the deadly Ebola virus outbreak was wreaking havoc and threatening to disrupt the Midterm Senatorial elections, Cllr. Cephus Petition DeniedThe Court held that firstly, the Constitution gives the Legislature the power to make election laws. The Court held that a resolution passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the President is law. To put it all in context, none of the five countries that have Presidential elections this year in the region have postponed their elections. However, first-time contestants seeking elections to unseat the incumbent Senators, pushed for elections to occur.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 07:07 UTC
Liberia: Respectfully Disagreeing with Proposal to Forego Voter Registration for Senatorial Mid-Term Elections
Let’s also consider for a bit, the argument in support of our young people who will be impacted by the proposal-question, not to have voter registration during elections 2020. Let’s also consider for a bit, the argument in support of our young people who will be impacted by the proposal-question, not to have voter registration during elections 2020. In fact, Mid-term Elections 2020 is a constitutional mandate (for the legal sitting of the Liberian Senate in 2021). Elections were held in Liberia during the calamity of Ebola in 2014, despite objections being raised at the time. Elections 2020 should therefore proceed consistent with our constitution, and our electoral laws.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 01:41 UTC
Liberia: General Auditing Commission Raises Eyebrow on COVID-19 Account Signatories; Wants Finance Ministry Back Out
The GAC recommendationsThe General Auditing Commission wants the ECOC headed by Madam Mary Broh to ensure that a centralized financial management system and control is established to manage the accounting for the fund. All ministries and agencies receiving funding for the containment of COVID-19 should establish a separate accounting and reporting system for the COVID-19 funds. Will they be held accountable for reporting and audit purposes?” the Auditor General, Madam Yusador Gaye questioned in her communication to the Ministry of Finance and Development planning. The GAC recommended that the Ministry of Finance rather set out a clear guidelines and reporting requirements on the COVID-19 funding; and monitor and evaluate the outcome. Lessons from EbolaThe Ebola-related audits of Liberia documented substantial waste and abuse of funds, and pointed to key lessons learned for the COVID-19 crisis.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 01:09 UTC
Liberia: Two Ex-Press Union Leaders Red Flag Violations Against Journalists
The other is Mr. A. Ndubusi Nwabudike, a Nigerian fraudulently claiming Liberian citizenship, who is known to be a close associate of President Weah. Mr. Weah withdrew Mr. Nwabudike’s nomination after the Nigerian national was found to have fraudulently claimed Liberian citizenship during his Senate confirmation hearing. Upon becoming Solicitor General, Mr. Cephas used his position to have the government drop the charges against Ms. Corckrum in December 2019 without the knowledge of Justice Minister Musa Dean. A left-over from Charles Taylor’s murderous National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) rebel group, Mr. Cephas has become a law unto himself at the Ministry of Justice. In a joint statement in April, we called on President Weah to replace Dr. Laurence K. Bropleh, former Minister of Information, as head of the investigation committee, because Dr. Bropleh currently serves as Special Envoy and Advisor to President Weah.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 01:07 UTC
‘A United Press is Best for Journalism in Liberia” Says, ALJA President Mayson
ALJA President Joe Mayson speaking on State Radio recently said, having a split media will only set back gains made by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), and allow evil people against the media to exploit the situation and divide the media even more. The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas ALJA has expressed disappointment over the manner some journalists are breaking away from the mother’s Union of Journalists in Liberia. ALJA President Joe Mayson speaking on State Radio recently said, having a split media will only set back gains made by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), and allow evil people against the media to exploit the situation and divide the media even more. On the issue of free Press, ALJA’s President Joe Mayson said, gains have been made over the years between media and past governments but pointed accusing fingers at the George Weah’s administration for muzzling the Liberian media. “Of late there has been attempt by the government to muzzle the media.”He said, the special investigative committee to investigate insults and harassment against Liberia journalists was just a lip service as government has shown no interest in furthering the investigations.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 00:52 UTC
Weighing in on the CPP framework. CDC must Settle all infighting to Win 2023 Presidential Elections
Today, the Collaborating Political Parties ( CPP ), signed a legal framework document that would allow them hold together as a Coalition Party for the impending 2023 Presidential election. The four collaborating Political parties will be a force to reckon with, in all honesty, believe it or not. Any attempt to have arrears for civil servants, it will be used against you( CDC) by CPP during the 2023 Presidential elections. In the first round of 2017 Presidential election, the Unity Party obtained 446,716 votes, Liberty Party obtained 149,495 votes, Alternative National Congress obtained 112,067 votes, while All Liberian Party obtained 24,246 votes. If you combine the total number of votes obtained by the four collaborating political parties, it would amount to 732,524 votes.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 00:33 UTC