Liberia: EITI Board Lifts Suspension on LEITI
Monrovia – The Multi-stakeholder Group of Liberia EITI is pleased to announce the lifting of the temporary suspension on Liberia by the EITI Board effective March 6, 2020. The EITI Board suspended Liberia in September 2018 due to its failure to publish EITI Reports for 2016/17 &2017/18, 2019 Annual Work Plan, and 2017/18 Annual Progress Report. The Board reiterated its decision in mid-2019 due to delays in publication of the 2017/18 EITI Report, 2017/18 Annual Progress Report, and 2019 Annual Work Plan. On 31 December, the MSG approved and launched the 2016/17 and 2017/18 EITI reports for Liberia, 2019/2020 Annual Work Plan, and the 2017/2018 Annual Activity in time to meet EITI reporting deadlines to avoid delisting. In its full decision statement, the EITI Board alluded to the significant strives and gains made by the Liberian Government and stakeholders noting that “within a short timeframe, the Government of Liberia has demonstrated its full commitment to the EITI process, which has led to the restoration of the credibility of Liberia EITI.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 25, 2020 00:00 UTC
Liberia: Senate Confirms Ebola ‘Hero’ to Ministry of Health Post
President George Manneh Weah appointed Dr. Logan, who is considered an Ebola hero, few weeks ago to the post pending confirmation from the Senate. Dr. Logan was one of those Liberian medical doctors, who were on the frontline combating the deadly Ebola virus disease (EVD) in 2014. The Assistant Health Minister is famous for using anti-HIV/AIDS medication to successfully treat patients suffering or diagnosed with the deadly Ebola Virus. He previously served as County Health Officer for Bong and Bomi Counties as well. Dr. Logan also has nearly eight years of work experience in clinical practice of medicine and health system management and served in the following positions at the Ministry of Health: Medical Director (Greenville, Sinoe County), Medical Director & County Health Officer (Bomi County) and County Health Officer (Bong County).
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 19:30 UTC
“Ensuring Macroeconomic Stability and Sustained Growth: A Critical Pathway to National Reconciliation and Social Inclusion in Liberia”
Understanding Macroeconomic Stability, Sustained Growth and Other ConceptsAs I begin to expand on the assigned topic, I would be remiss if I did not give a fair appreciation of the concepts of “macroeconomic stability” and ‘sustained growth”. Macroeconomic stability and sustained growth are inextricably linked – sustained growth reinforces macroeconomic stability. Thus, macroeconomic stability and sustained growth have a positive and mutually reinforcing relationship with national reconciliation and social cohesion. Development or growth that is financed through excessive debt secured at usurious rates often undermines macroeconomic stability and sustained growth. Macroeconomic stability and sustained growth facilitate or conduce national reconciliation and social cohesion; and keeping all other factors constant, national reconciliation and social cohesion have a positive effect on macroeconomic stability and sustained growth.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 19:07 UTC
Former Defense Minister, Others Found Guilty of ‘Misusing AFL Money’
Monrovia – Former Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai and his two former deputies have been found guilty by Criminal Court C at the Temple of Justice for the crimes of “misuse of public money, theft of property, and criminal conspiracy”. But they were acquitted of economic sabotage. Defendant Samukai was indicted along with his two former deputies – Joseph F. Johnson, former Deputy Minister for Administration and J. Nyumah Dorkor, former Comptroller. The trio was indicted for the crimes of misuse of public money, theft of property, money laundering, economic sabotage and criminal conspiracy. “Defendants J. Brownie Samukai Jr., Joseph F. Johnson and James Nyumah Dorkor are hereby adjudged guilty of the crimes of Theft of Property, Misused of Public Money and Criminal Conspiracy,” said Judge Gbeisay on Tuesday, 24 March.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 13:39 UTC
Liberia: Ecobank Makes US$20k Cash Donation to NPHIL to Fight Coronavirus
Monrovia – Ecobank Libera has donated USD20,000 (Twenty Thousand US Dollars) to the Government of Liberia through the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL). The donation is intended to assist Government in procuring COVID-19 test kits to be used at all entry points in the country. The test kits will be added to the available kits in the country to speed up the COVID-19 screening process. “A number of the countries in which we operate have recorded cases of coronavirus and this continues to spread, with Liberia now having 3 cases. He named the Ecobank Mobile App, Ecobank Online, Ecobank OMNI, as well as EcobankPay amongst others as some of the available digital channels.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 13:26 UTC
Liberia: COVID-19 Ruled Out; Chinese on Fishing Vessel Dies from Heart Attack
FrontPageAfrica has been informed that the death of the yet-to-be-named Chinese was due to a heart attack. Monrovia – The deadly COVID-19 Coronavirus is being ruled out after the death of a Chinese sea captain on a fishing vessel named GUOJI 829 at the BMC Pier early Tuesday morning. The Fishing vessel has been in Liberia since May 2018 and FPA has been informed that no new crewmember has been added since the vessel has been in Liberia. The Dalian Hailian Sea Products Corp, agents for the vessel reportedly has about six vessels operating in Liberia’s waters. The Dalian Hailian Sea Products Corp, agents for the vessel reportedly has about six vessels operating in Liberia’s waters.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 12:45 UTC
Liberia: Social Distancing Rule Ignored At Monrovia City Corporation
Monrovia – Social distancing and gathering of not more than 10 persons were not observed on Monday at the Monrovia City Corporation despite a Ministry of Health’s directive, FrontPage Africa can confirmed. Barely a day following the health emergency regulations, FrontPage Africa observed the presence of a crowd of over 100 persons at the Monrovia City hall on Monday, March 23, prompting concerns that the MCC is violating public health regulations. MOH, on March 22, banned the gathering of people including in churches, mosques, entertainment centers, amongst others, while also warning against public gathering of more than 10 persons. But the gathering of over a hundred people at the Monrovia City hall on Monday raised new concerns about the regulations not being adhered to by the city government headed by Mayor Jefferson Koijee, one of President George Mannah Weah’s key allies. “It was overcrowded but these are caregivers and mobilizers who are to carry out awareness in various communities,” Gbuapaye said.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 09:45 UTC
Liberia: Former Finance Minister Expresses Concerns over Lack of Funding for Special Senatorial Election
“Lately, concerns have been raised in many quarters over the funding of the Senatorial Election constitutionally slated to be held in October 2020. Ngafuan, who during his reign as Finance Minister all of Liberia’s nearly US$5 billion debts were waived clean, asked, “But how did we reach here? Will the referendum be held simultaneously with the Senatorial Election? We can only hope that subsequent budgets would incorporate funding for the conduct of the nation-wide census” – Augustine K. Ngfuan, Former Minister of FinanceMin. Ngafuan, however, interjected that unlike the holding of the senatorial election, both the decision and the timing for the holding of a referendum are issues of discretion.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 07:30 UTC
Liberia Faces Potential Risk as Health Experts Yet to Determine Source of Third Covid-19 Case
MONROVIA – The Executive Director-designate of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NHPIL), Dr. Mosoka Fallah says the country is at potential risk as the source of the third case of Covid-19 remains unknown despite tireless efforts applied by health experts. Or is it that this is an unknown person that gives the virus – who we don’t know,” said Dr. Fallah. Meanwhile, The National Public Health Institute has called on all Liberians to put aside whatever differences they may have with one another and join in the fight against the Coronavirus. Meanwhile, the government, in its latest move to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019, has declared a state of national health emergency. The government has even gone further to invoke the Public Health Law of Liberia, designating Montserrado and Margibi Counties as infected areas.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 07:30 UTC
Ivory Coast Closes Borders with Liberia, Guinea Due to the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease
Liberia-Ivory Coast border at Loguatuo, in Nimba CountyLoguatuo, Nimba County – The Ivorian government has shut down its borders with Liberia and Guinea as a result of the global coronavirus disease pandemic. There are reports that Ivory Coast is the first to institute such measure — land border closure — with sisterly countries within the West African sub-region. ‘Health Workers’ Stopped in NimbaMeanwhile, Nimba County Superintendent Nelson Korquoi last Friday, March 20, stopped a group of Nimba health workers, who had come together to begin awareness against the spread and prevention of the virus. The health workers, based in Ganta and Sanniquellie Cities, had organized themselves so as to spread the preventive measures that had been put in place by the Ministry of Health. The health workers under the banner, “Nimba County Coronavirus Awareness Team,” including the City Major of Ganta, has been on local radios carrying out preventive awareness against the virus.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 07:18 UTC
Liberia: Court to Deliver Final Ruling In Brownie Samukai’s Economic Sabotage Case Today
Monrovia – Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay is expected to deliver on Tuesday 24 March, his final ruling in the much-publicized economic sabotage case involving former Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai and two of his former deputies. Judge Gbeisay initially reserved ruling into the case on March 19, after final arguments between the prosecution and defense lawyers. However, the government paying back the money used from the AFL account does not exonerate the defendants for the money they stole,” Nwabudike argued. Michael Watkins Wright argued that the withdrawal of monies from the AFL pension account was done on the orders of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Wright further argued that all the monies withdrawn from the AFL account were used on the welfare of the soldiers.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 07:07 UTC
Liberian Council of Churches President Cautions Against Mismanagement of Coronavirus Funds
You hear somebody saying the people just want money, or they are doing these things for moneyMonrovia – The Liberian Council of Churches (LCC), through its President Rev. Kortu K. Brown, has underscored the need for the adequate and proper management of funds intended to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. Brown, health authorities should learn from the past and avoid mismanaging funds intended to tackle the pandemic. He maintained that the memories of how funding intended to combat the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) were improperly utilized by past health authorities still remain fresh in the minds of many Liberians. The LCC wasn’t notified of the action before enforcement in the spirit of our engagement with Government and all stakeholders in the fight against the deadly virus,” Rev Brown wrote.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 03:11 UTC
Liberia: Senate Institutes New Measures to Curb the Spread of Coronavirus
Senate Pro-Tempore Albert ChieMonrovia – In the wake of the outbreak of Covid-19, the Liberian Senate has announced tight measures that would help contain the spread of the virus. The statement quoting the Director of Press and Public Affairs at the Liberian Senate- Mr. Jarlawah A. Tonpo further said the public will no longer have access to the Senate during this period. The Senate has also announced that a regular press briefings will now be done after every session day by the Press Director so that other journalists who won’t have access for that day, to be briefed also. “Hand washing will be at the Senate entrances and hall ways and shall be observed at all times. He indicated that the taskforce will accelerate this effort in all 15 counties, working with and utilizing the services of small units of the party’s district & zonal structures, churches, mosques and educational facilities.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 02:48 UTC
Liberia Electricity Corporation Management to Appear Before House of Reps. to Explain Spontaneous Fire Incidents on Electric Poles
Liberia Electricity Corporation Management to Appear Before House of Reps. to Explain Spontaneous Fire Incidents on Electric PolesMonrovia – The management of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) is expected to appear before the House of Representatives today, March 24, to explain reasons behind spontaneous fire incidents on light poles across Monrovia and its surroundings. Rep. Jury, in his communication, requested plenary of the House to summon the LEC management and technical team to explain reasons of the continued fire incidents on the light poles. “The manner and faction in which LEC employees go about providing the service with malfeasant and malpractice is abounding. To address these challenges, the Government of Liberia has enacted a Power Theft Act which came into effect on the 4th of October, 2019. The Act makes all forms of power theft a Second-Degree Felony punishable by jail terms ranging from two years to seven years and fines ranging from US$400 to US$1000.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 02:46 UTC
AutoCities Alliance Donates US$10K Sanitary Materials to Liberia Marketing Association to Prevent Covid-19 Draft
Cities Alliance’s Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst Senjovu Andrew, presenting a truck-full of sanitary materials valued at US$10,000 to Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf for onward distribution to the Liberia Marketing Association, as part of efforts in containing the spread of the coronavirus in Liberia. Monrovia – Cities Alliance, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has donated assorted sanitary materials valued at US$10,000 to the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA). Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf, receiving the items, thanked Cities Alliance for the ‘timely’ intervention and stated the donation was cardinal for the LMA, as it is among few institutions that is still open. “It is very cardinal to support the Liberia Marketing Association. The Acting President of the LMA, Bendu S. Kamara, also lauded Cities Alliance and pledged the items will be distributed properly.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 24, 2020 02:26 UTC