‘COVID-19 and State of Emergency: implication for freedom of expression in Liberia’
Under international and regional human rights laws, derogation of certain rights is permissible during an emergency. ConclusionThe Constitution of Liberia expressly provides the right to freedom of expression without limitation during a state emergency. As it is always the case, emergency powers risk being abused sometimes for political purposes such as stifling freedom of expression. Overall, the Government of Liberia must tread cautiously in dealing with COVID-19, because Liberia is State Party to many international human rights instruments that require accountability. Urias Teh Pour holds a Master in Laws (LLM) in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa from the University of Pretoria.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 00:22 UTC
Liberia: The Coalition of Political Parties & The Painful Question of Integrity in Politics
The Editor,Yesterday, Liberia and Liberians witnessed the most appalling political maneuver in contemporary Liberian political history – Mr Alexander Cummings official alignment with the Unity Party. A cursory observer of contemporary Liberian politics will note the damming – literally CRIMINAL – exploits of the Unity Party. For Mr Cummings, his political future cannot get any “BLEAKER”. Is Mr Cummings that desperate for political power ? We will leave those questions for Mr Cummings and his supporters to answer.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 26, 2020 00:00 UTC
Ex-VP Boakai, Global Outreach Foundation Donate COVID-19 Supplies to Tapita Hospital
The Global Outreach & Development Foundation, Inc. is a United States-based 501(c)(3) organization, approved by the U.S. Internal Revenue Services to provide charitable services to its citizens of the countries in which it operates. Monrovia – The Global Outreach & Development Foundation, Inc. (GODF), in collaboration with the Joseph Nyuma Boakai Foundation has donated medical, sanitary, protective, and self-care resources to augment the current efforts by healthcare professionals at the Tappita Hospital. The Global Outreach & Development Foundation, Inc. is a United States-based 501(c)(3) organization, approved by the U.S. Internal Revenue Services to provide charitable services to its citizens of the countries in which it operates. The Tappita Hospital is a major regional health facility serving a lot of people in Nimba and surrounding counties. The Global Outreach and Development Foundation and JNB Foundation have pledged to continue to work together with the hospital and other facilities helping communities all over the country in the fight against this scourge.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 23:54 UTC
Liberia to Strengthen Health Services, Expand the New Redemption Hospital in Caldwell as US$54M World Bank Credit Approved
Liberia to Strengthen Health Services, Expand the New Redemption Hospital in Caldwell as US$54M World Bank Credit ApprovedThe Redemption Hospital is the largest provider of secondary level services in the country, but currently functions at maximum capacity. Construction at the new site started in mid-2018 with a focus on maternal health (obstetrics and gynecology) and child health (pediatrics). Washington – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved a US$54 million International Development Association (IDA) credit to improve health service delivery to women, children, and adolescents in Liberia. According to a release from Washington D.C., the Institutional Foundations to Improve Services for Health (IFISH) project will support the expansion and operationalization of the new Redemption Hospital in Caldwell, rural Montserrado County. The hospital is the largest provider of secondary level services in the country, but currently functions at maximum capacity.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 21:33 UTC
Liberia: United Methodist Church’s Pastor, Dynamite Fishermen Escape Police Arrest in Grand Bassa County
Monrovia – The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has revealed that the host Pastor of the United Methodist Church located in the Pin-berry Community and a crew of dynamite fishermen have escaped police arrest after been cut in dynamite fishing recently. According to Emma Metieh Glassco, Director General of NaFAA, Pastor William Tarr and his crew of Dynamite fishermen were seen shouting dynamite in Benson River close to the Bridge of the Grand Bassa Community College recently. Meanwhile, the NaFAA Boss is quoted in a NaFAA press release as saying that the police arrested several items from Pastor William Tar and crew of dynamite fishermen upon their escape. The items include a Paddling canoe (Kru canoe) bearing NaFAA’s registration number (CN-0004-GBC-150), a single barrel gun along with several rounds and an ID Card of Pastor William Tarr. The NaFAA Director General is urging the LNP, Grand Bassa County Police Detachment to further pursue and arrest Pastor William Tarr of the United Methodist Church located in the Pin-Berry Community and crew of Dynamite fishermen for violations of the Liberian Fisheries Law.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 21:22 UTC
Liberia: Prince & Tawa Foundation Distributes Rice to Old Folks in Samukai Field Community
The Samukai Field Community is considered as one of those underprivileged areas where residents, especially old folks face lots of constraints in meeting their daily needsMonrovia – A group of elderly residents residing in Samukai Field Community within the Logan Town area over the weekend benefited from a donation of fifteen bags of rice from the Prince & Tawa Foundation, a local humanitarian group. The Samukai Field Community is considered as one of those underprivileged areas where residents, especially old folks faced lots of constraints in meeting their daily needs. Landa Massaquoi, chairman of the area said their challenges are numerous, and they anticipate more from other well-meaning Liberians. “We say thank you to our son, Prince for remembering us during these hard times in Liberia,” Mr. Massaquoi said on behalf of the elders. Prince Woods, former residents of the area now based in the United States of America, the Prince and Tawa Foundation seeks to help the underprivileged live a healthy and productive lives in local communities across Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 21:00 UTC
VOX Liberia Distributes Food, Non Food Items to Vulnerable Population, Church Leaders In Margibi County
The banning of all religious services was part of the social distancing measures put in place by the Liberian government to stop the spread of the coronavirus. VOX Liberia, as part of its humanitarian initiatives is also provided roofing sheets to some of the most affected people who were devastated by a recent violent storm that hit the community and other parts of Liberia. He thanked VOX Liberia’s Local and International partners for their contributions to the growth and development of the Liberian people. A local FM station, VOX FM, is one of the main sources of information for residentsKebbie, through his organization, has been impacting the lives of the residents of Boye Town. A local FM station, VOX FM, is one of the main sources of information for residents.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 21:00 UTC
Liberia Revenue Authority Arrests Fake Customs Officer
Fake Customs officer Jackclan Fahnbulleh was arrested in Paynesville while trying to extort money from a local businessMonrovia – The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has arrested a man claiming to be an employee of the Authority, extorting money from businesses in the name of collecting revenue for the government. The imposter, identified as Jackclan Fahnbulleh, was arrested following a tip off on Wednesday, May 20, in Paynesville at the Masarco Business Center. He was caught while attempting to extort money from the business as a staff of the Customs Department Anti-Smuggling and Intelligence Unit (ASIU) of the LRA. Jackclan Fahnbulleh has been turned over to the Zone-3 Depot of the Liberia National Police for investigation and based on the investigations outcome, he will be formally charged and processed to court. D. Blamo Kofa told the police that Mr. Fahnbulleh does not, and has never worked for the Customs Department or the LRA as a whole.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 20:59 UTC
Liberia, USAID Sign US$640M Grant Agreement
The agreement is intended to foster self-Reliance by spurring private sector led economic expansion through a focus on catalyzing reforms and cultivating a healthy, productive and educated workforce. It commits the US government through USAID to provide funds in grant to support the GoL’s national development priorities. Liberia macroeconomic framework with the IMF though budget support so that COVID 19 does not derail the country from its macroeconomic performance was strong. For her part, USAID Liberia Mission Director, Sara Walter, noted the collaborative effort to purposefully align USAID’s development strategy with the broad pillars of the Government of Liberia’s signature development plan, the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development. All three DOs will enhance Pillar III, which is sustaining the Peace: promoting a peaceful, unified society that enables economic transformation and sustainable development.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 16:41 UTC
Liberia: CPP Chairman to Reject Senatorial Election Deferment Beyond December 2020
The newly elected chairman of the Collaborating Political Parties said with the numerical strength of the CPP, he is optimistic that the CPP can win not less than 10 seats in the SenateMONROVIA – The chairman of the opposition political conglomeration, the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), says the CPP will not accept any midterm election beyond December 2020. “The CPP will not accept the election any date later than December 25, 2020. “The CPP will not accept the election any date later than December 25, 2020. What if a President wants to stay longer than his term, he might use precedence from Ebola and COVID-19.”Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NEC had been faced with inadequate financial support for the midterm election. The Commission was already faced with the uncertainty of having the election despite several commitments from the government to make funds available.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 15:31 UTC
Liberia: President Weah, Others To Partake In UBA’s Africa Day High Level Panel
Abuja – The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency, Dr. George Manneh Weah will on Monday, May 25, 2020 participate in the virtual United Bank For Africa (UBA)’s Africa Day High Level Panel. According to a release from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja, the high level panel discussion is the Second Edition of the UBA Africa Conversations in celebration of Africa Day. The virtual panel discussion will be held under the Theme: “Emphasising Economic Collaboration: Restructuring and Repositioning for the New African Order”. President Weah and his Senegalese counterpart, His Excellency Macky Sall, will participate in the high-level panel session with other global leaders. The panel will be moderated by Tony O. Elumelu, Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) & Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 12:33 UTC
Keeping Grand Gedeh Safe: Boley & Team Scale Up COVID-19 Awareness and Prevention Initiatives
Zwedru – In the face of the scotching COVID-19 pandemic, Grand Gedeh County District #2 Representative and Co-Chair of the House Committee on Health, Dr. George E. S. Boley, Sr., dispatched a team to the Grand Gedeh County, Liberia, to distribute preventive materials, awareness message across the county and financial assistance. Dr. Boley maintained. Due to the current pandemic, Dr. Boley’s team targeted beneficiaries in theHealth sector who are front liners in the County’s health care delivery system. Dr. Boley lauded the efforts, intervention and contributions of others, including members of the special task force established to fight the global coronavirus pandemic. The distribution of nationwide preventive materials across Grand Gedeh County is Dr. Boley’s personal initiative to ensure people of Grand Gedeh are kept safe during this global pandemic.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 07:52 UTC
Liberia: Suspect, 40, Goes “Missing” In Magistrate’s Custody
According to reports, the teenage boy told the court that suspect Zogbaye had threatened to kill him. Zogbaye, a father of eight, was then arrested and handcuffed in Zahn Banla Town and subsequently taken to Duo on a private motorbike. Zogbaye was allegedly manhandled by the arresting officer, Arthur Dolo, and Saye Papa, the motorcyclist, while enroute from Zahn Banla Town to Duo. It had been rumors that the family and some Zahn Banla Townspeople had been planning to use force to demand answers on the whereabouts of their relative. This newspaper was informed that the aggrieved Zahn Banla residents have written the higher court seeking its intervention.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 04:41 UTC
‘LBDI Has Implicit Confidence in Our Suspended Compliance Officer’—A Senior Executive
“Why is the FIU making the thing to look like Mr. Vaye had stolen or was caught in some dubious act for which he was suspended?” the LBDI executive wonders. Vaye is not a criminal; he didn’t commit any crime; he is a professional and one of the best Financial Compliance Officers this country can boast of,” this senior LBDI executive stated. He has been with the bank for about 8 years,” another executive at LBDI, also said. It is said that Mr. Vaye was among the principal persons who help set up the FIU. But the regulator recommended that the Mr. Vaye, who is in charge of compliance at LBDI, be suspended without pay for a month.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2020 04:41 UTC
Union of Liberian Association in the Americas Council of Eminent Persons Gets New Chairman
According to a press release from the office of the out-going secretary, Eminent David K. Flomo, those elected were: Eminent Dr. Jesse M. Cooper, Sr., Chairman, Eminent David K. Flomo, Vice Chairman and Honorary Eminent Dr. Felecia Lamptey, Secretary. The election ended the tenure of Chairmanship of Eminent Arthur K. Watson, who also served as chairman of the council for three years and was a former National President of the Union of Liberian Association in the Americas (ULAA). He is a founding member of UCEP and has served as Treasurer and Vice Chairman of UCEP. The Vice Chairman, Eminent David K. Flomo served as local North Carolina chapter president of ULAA, chairman of the Board of Directors of ULAA and Secretary of UCEP. He expressed his commitment to continue his work with the Council and with the Liberian Diaspora as a devoted servant.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 18, 2020 00:00 UTC