RETHINKING THE CONCEPT OF AFRICAN UNITY: WHY PROPER EDUCATION IS THE FIRST PLACE TO BEGIN?
Many academics that I spoke with had limited faith in the possibility of an “Africa Unity”, in fact to many; African Unity is an illusion that may never be realized. By JERRY B. TARBOLO, JR., Guest ContributorIt may interest some of you to know that the concept of African Unity was not clearly conceptualized by our forebears; thus, leading to the formation of the Organization of African Unity. The Monrovia bloc ideas ultimately prevailed, and in 1963 both groups joined to establish the Organization and African Unity. As I problematized the concept of “African Unity”, I have realized that the issue was not only about clarity of the concept, but also of “Identity Crisis”. If we must attain “African Unity”, then proper education of our new generation and emerging leaders should be the first place to begin.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2020 23:48 UTC
Liberia: Grand Cape Mount COVID-19 Preparedness Committee Launch
MONROVIA – Grand Cape Mount County has launched its COVID-19 preparedness team despite no case has been reported in the county. Grand Cape Mount County was one of the hardest hit counties during the Ebola outbreak that killed nearly five thousand people in Liberia. The state of denial of the existence of Ebola also led to the death of many in Grand Cape Mount County. We want all citizens of Cape Mount to support this process,” she said. According to the committee, their first engagement would be to have the two community radio stations in Cape Mount – Radio Cape Mount and Radio Piso on and running.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2020 20:15 UTC
Liberia: A Call Coming a Bit Too Late – COVID-19 Voluntary Testing Should Have Started Started with the President, Long Ago
Health Minister Jallah said the move was triggered by the realization that citizens were not coming out for testing. Israel’s health minister, who has had frequent contact with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tested positive for COVID-19, Iran’s health ministry informed in April. Britain’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that he tested positive for coronavirus on March 27, just 2 hours later the British PM tested positive. For many, the voluntary testing today by the health minister, the chief medical officer and key international players is long overdue. The Deputy Inspector General of Police for Administration, Ms. Sediatu Reeves, also tested positive.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2020 18:56 UTC
Liberia: Worshippers Express Delight in Opening of Churches amid Nearly Two Months of Shutdown
Churches had been closed for almost two months; the President last week relaxed the ban by allowing 25 percent of membership for each service. However, some Churches welcome the lifting of the ban and for the first time in almost 60 days held worships services. FrontPage Africa visited several Churches within Paynesville where Church leaders and members expressed happiness in coming together again to worship their God. “I think it is a very good decision for the Government to open Churches and I think that the churches should just put all of the measures in place. Because if the market places can be open, and there is no safety measure in the market places, I think the church should also open,” Pastor Gueh said.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2020 18:22 UTC
Liberia: National Christian Task Force of Liberia Wants Government Puts More Resources in Obtaining COVID-19 Test Kits
Report by J. H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]National Christian Task Force of Liberia is a conglomeration of different churches that aims at supporting the wellbeing of Christians in the country. Speaking to journalists in Monrovia, the National Director of the National Christian Task Force of Liberia David G. Benetoe said almost all of the reported COVID-19 deaths in Liberia are of people who died prior to their test results. Let’s cash in on our recent strong tides with Senegal and acquire as many test kits as they can sell to us. This will save lives down the road.” David G. Benetoe, National Director of the National Christian Task Force of LiberiaSuch deaths, he said could be avoided if there were sufficient and effective test kits in the country. Let’s cash in on our recent strong tides with Senegal and acquire as many test kits as they can sell to us.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2020 17:54 UTC
Winners’ Chapel Church Strengthens Liberia’s Efforts to Fight Coronavirus
Winners’ Chapel Pastor Charles Akporhonor along with GSA Deputy Director Williams Dakel at the compound of GSAMonrovia – As part of efforts to strengthen the fight against the deadly coronavirus that is ravaging not only Liberia but the entire world, the Winners’ Chapel in Liberia has donated 100 bags of rice and 1,000 nose masks to the Executive Committee on COVID-19. Report by J. H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]The donation to government follows the distribution of bags of rice to Winners Chapel members in all 34 churches within the network across Liberia. Winners’ Chapel pastor added: “The Lord blesses you all. COVID-19 shall soon become history in Liberia and the world at large.”Also speaking, GSA Deputy Director for Administration Williams Dakel praised the church for the gesture. GSA Deputy Director for Administration: “These nose masks and food will be used for the intended purpose.”
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2020 17:26 UTC
Is Freedom of Speech Suspended in Liberia?
Is Freedom of Speech Suspended in Liberia? The Solicitor-General used the occasion of Manikpakei’s detention to warn Liberians that freedom of speech was suspended on account of the existence of a state of emergency which was declared to fight the invading Coronavirus. Unarguably, by design and the reinforcing construct of the Liberian Constitution, the framers intended that Liberia be a free and democratic nation. So what does the Constitution specifically say about freedom of speech during emergencies? As such, to arrest anyone only for “irresponsible speech” is to chill free speech for everyone, and thereby undermine the quality of our democracy.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2020 16:52 UTC
Liberia: After President Summons Principal Aides, Will Inner Circle Infighting Subside?
Messrs. Shaw, Bernard, Twehway, Bright and Siryon are reportedly lobbying the President to part ways with McGill and Tweah. Escalating Tension in Public Glare“Why are they attacking Minister Tweah”, raged David Kolleh, assistant Minister of Information, Culture Affairs & Tourism, on his Facebook page Saturday. “Why are they attacking Minister Tweah”, raged David Kolleh, assistant Minister of Information, Culture Affairs & Tourism, on his Facebook page Saturday. I wonder what some of you will do when this very Freedom FM radio station wakes up one morning and start to rain insults on President Weah. When President Weah’s feud with his Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor was at its peak, the station used its platform to go after the VP and many within the party quietly celebrated.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2020 09:22 UTC
Liberia: Is Ex-CBL Governor Milton Weeks the Sacrificial Lamb in the ‘Missing Billions’ Saga?
The arrest followed the release of two major reports detailing widespread alleged malpractice at the Central Bank of Liberia. The Central Bank requested an additional 10 billion Liberian dollars, but the request was denied by the Senate. Former Governor Weeks who had stepped down when President Weah took office in January 2018 – surrendered to police. Solicitor General Sayma Cyrennius Cephus says three other officials at the Central Bank of Liberia – Hagba, Walker and Dennis – are also off the hook. This leaves former Governor Weeks as the fall guy in the LD16 billion saga.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 17, 2020 00:00 UTC
Liberian Journalist Presents LD60,000 to Help Fight COVID-19 in Nimba
Aced Journalist Jonathan Paye-Layleh has been making several humanitarian donations since the onset of COVID-19 in LiberiaMONROVIA – A seasoned Liberian journalist, Jonathan Paye-Layleh, says the best way to respond to global predictions that the coronavirus will cause more deaths in Africa is for people in places like Liberia to remain resilient and take the COVID-19 preventive measures seriously. He recalled when Ebola broke out in West Africa six years ago, there were all sorts of scary predictions, that tens of thousands of people were going to succumb to the virus. But, he said, affected countries managed to overcome and beat back the virus by following health protocols and remaining resilient. Journalist Paye-Layleh made the assertion over the weekend when he presented sixty thousand Liberian dollars (LD60,000) to mainly women organizations in an administrative district in Nimba County, as part of his ongoing effort to identify with the people there during the pandemic. Mr. Paye-Layleh, a native of the district, says he’s optimistic that Africa could surprise the rest of the world by instituting measures that would ensure the virus does not overcome the continent as being predicted in many quarters.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 16, 2020 21:15 UTC
Liberia: President’s ‘Kind Gesture’ to Muslim Community Launched
Making the pronouncement to representatives of the Muslim community, Mr. Varney Sirleaf, Minister of Internal Affairs, explained that the launch of the event came about when President Weah recently appealed to the Muslim community to offer more prayers for Liberia. Monrovia: The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched a food rationing scheme for the Muslim community in Liberia during the month of fasting activities dubbed “President George Manneh Weah’s Kind Gesture Toward Muslims in the Holy Month of Ramadan.”Making the pronouncement to representatives of the Muslim community, Mr. Varney Sirleaf, Minister of Internal Affairs, explained that the launch of the event came about when President Weah recently appealed to the Muslim community to offer more prayers for Liberia. The IA Minister it was in that light that the President decided to open all mosques and churches, so that religious communities can continue to pray for Liberia. Receiving the items, the National Chief Imam of the National Imam council of Liberia, Sheik Ali Krayee thanked President Weah for the gesture on behalf of the Muslim community in Liberia, adding that it is his fervent hope that whatever prayers the Muslim community offer during the month of Ramadan, will be excepted by God. Representing the National Superintendent’s Council of Liberia, the Superintendent of Grand Bassa County, Janjay Baikpeh extended his thanks and appreciation to the President.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 16, 2020 21:11 UTC
Liberia: Legal Aid Clinic to be established at Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law
Liberia: Legal Aid Clinic to be established at Louis Arthur Grimes School of LawCllr. Negbalee Warner, Dean of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of law urged students to own the process, which takes into consideration a mix of knowledge and skills set. Monrovia – The Joint UNDP/OHCHR Rule of Law Programme is partnering with the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law, to establish a Legal Aid Clinic in terms of programme objectives. The Clinic, when established, will enable law students to learn practical legal skills while providing legal aid services to indigent persons. A presentation was made to the Administration and students of the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law recently on the campus.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 16, 2020 20:37 UTC
Liberia: GVL Lays Off Nearly 450 Workers
Employees in Sinoe and Grand Kru were affected, including general workers, staff, and managers, Kofi added. Oil palm price has fallen since the beginning this year by 452 Malaysian Ringgit (US$103.87) metric tons or 16.34 percent, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for the commodity. GVL signed a 65-year concession with Liberia in 2010 for 350,000 hectares of land or approximately 2.3 percent of Liberia’s total landmass. The company’s primary investor is Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), the world’s second-largest palm oil company, listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX). It is the third time the company, the largest palm plantation in Liberia, has laid off staff.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 16, 2020 20:34 UTC
Liberia: Musician & His Brother Accused of Killing Motorcyclist Over 5LD in Nimba
Clinton Zuweh, 18, and his brother, Preston Zuweh 23-year-old are accused of killing motorcyclist Jerrico Such-Gongah. Franklin Doloquee, County CorrespondentSanniquellie, Nimba County – Police in Sanniquellie have arrested a Musician and his brother for allegedly stabbing to death a 23-year-old motorcyclist, Jerrico Suah-Gongah. Suspect Preston Zuweh, 23, a local musician renowned for the hit song, “Palamo, Pass Me the Liquor”, is the senior brother for Clinton Zuweh. He explained that his brother had phoned him to let him know that he had been attacked by the motorcyclist, Jerrico. Preston says he rushed to the booth to rescue his brother from the motorcyclist, but the deceased did not allow him to make peace.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 16, 2020 20:26 UTC
Liberia: UNDP/OHCHR Conduct Refresher training for Justice and Security Actors
The training was aimed at strengthening institutional capacity on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) mechanisms at the national and local levels, to respond to incidences of GBV and ensure access to justice for survivors of SGBV. Monrovia – UNDP and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) under a Joint Rule of Law, Justice and Security Program have collaborated with the Ministry of Justice Sexual and Gender Based Violence Crimes Unit, to conduct a three -day refresher training in Sanniquelle, Nimba County held 04-06 March. The training was aimed at strengthening institutional capacity on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) mechanisms at the national and local levels, to respond to incidences of GBV and ensure access to justice for survivors of SGBV. The application of international treaties/protocols and Integrating Human Rights approach and Monitoring into Gender Based Violence programmes was also highlighted. Participants of the training comprised, Judge of criminal Court E, SGBV Prosecutors, Magistrates, Case Liaison Officers, Victim Support Officers, Gender Coordinators, Women and Children Protection sections’ Officers, Nurses, Social Workers, CSOs and Human Rights Monitors.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 16, 2020 20:26 UTC