Rep. Koffa Set to Deliver 2nd Legislative Annual Report in Palurken
MONROVIA – Rep J. Fonati Koffa will on Friday, March 27, 2020 at 11:00m in Palurken, Forpoh District, Grand Kru County District #2 deliver his Second Legislative Annual Message to constituents (voters and non-voters, who are residing in Grand Kru County District #2). Upon the completion of the installation in Parluken, the inaccessible communication services in other part of Grand Kru County will be lifted to make communication easy. Koffa will be in the Grand Kru County for 17 days, March 1 – 31. Koffa will begin the visit with a constituency meeting on Monday, March 16 in Sasstown with the youth, women and elders. Another constituency meeting will be held in Dweken on Saturday, March 28, follow by the Women Empowerment Project in Doeswen which will be christened on Sunday, March 29.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 06:22 UTC
Liberia: Workers Stage 21-Day Protest in Demand of New Company to Meet Sime Darby’s Contractual Agreement
Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County – Workers at the Mano Palm Oil Plantation, formerly Sime Darby Plantation (SDPL) have begun a 21-day protest, requesting the company and the Government to live by the contractual agreement they signed with SDPL. The workers’ action comes less than three months following the acquisition of the Sime Darby Plantation Liberia (SDPL) from its parent company based in Malaysia. The deal marked the end of Sime Darby Plantation’s venture that was incurring loss since its inception and worsened by a 2017-2018 slump in palm oil prices. Sime Darby Plantation had signed a 63-year concession agreement with the Liberian government in 2009 to develop 220,000 hectares in northwest Liberia into oil palm and rubber plantations. Meanwhile, it appears that some of the problems that grappled Sime Darby are now surfacing at the new company, specifically the menace of workers’ strike.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 06:22 UTC
Liberia: GAC Reports Unveil Several Financial Malfeasance at the National Elections Commission Covering Three Fiscal Years
The audit which spans a period of three fiscal years reveals several financial improprieties at the National Elections Commission under Cllr. Jerome Korkoya’s administrationMONROVIA – The General Auditing Commission (GAC) has completed and submitted to the National Legislature audit of the National Elections Commission (NEC) for the fiscal years 2014/ 2015, 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. The listing presented the names and signatures of the temporary NEC workers as evidence of the payments were without contact numbers, identification cards, addresses etc. Therefore, the GAC was unable to confirm the names of temporary workers on said lists. The listings presented with the names and signature of the temporary NEC workers as evidence of the workshops being held were without contact numbers, identification cards, addresses etc.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 06:17 UTC
Liberia: Lawmaker Acknowledges Brutality against Journalists; Receives Petition from Press Union of Liberia
After receiving the PUL petition from its President, Mr. Charles Coffey, Rep. Dennis thanked the scores of Liberian journalists for being very peaceful in the conduct of their demonstration. She condemned the actions of the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the Executive Protective Services (EPS) for being violent and unprofessional in the discharge of duty against journalists. “In my capacity as a representative, I strongly condemn the EPS and the police for the brutality against journalists in Liberia. Before the House of Representatives had received the Liberian journalists’ petition, they had earlier gone to the US Embassy and European Union Office near Monrovia to present copies of their petition. Executive Response the PUL PetitionProviding a response to the PUL petition, Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe along with Mr. Nathaniel F. McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, said, “This government takes the issue of press freedom very seriously.” He further stated that the President Weah will review the PUL petition.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 06:11 UTC
Liberia: Court Orders Samuel Tweah, Wolokollie Arrest
Finance Minister Samuel Tweah on two occasions failed to make an appearance before the court based on a subpoena to testifyMonrovia – FrontPageAfrica has reliably learned that Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and Deputy Minister for Expenditure Samora Wolokollie have been charged with contempt of court and have been ordered arrested. According to the source, although the arrest orders for the two officials are out, there has been no return by the Court Sheriff as to whether the two officials have been served the writ of arrest. The indictment states that the former minister misapplied over US$1.2 million of the US$1.9 million deposited during former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s regime. The indictment also accused Samukai of authorizing the transfer of all transactions of the compulsory savings account, except US$16,000, which was directly paid to a Joseph Gegeh. Gegeh has not yet been identified and the authorization of the amount is still under investigation.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 06:00 UTC
Liberia: Environmental Assessment Fees Backed by Law; EPA Dispels Reports of Arbitrary Hike, Conflict of Interest
He also boasted of a robust Compliance and Enforcement Department which independently ensures the implementation of all rules, regulations and procedures relating to the environmental impact assessment. According to the EPA, while it is the function of the EPA, as per law, to ensure that concession companies hire a third party for environmental assessment, the laid-out process cannot be flouted due to its stringent nature of enforcement. “The EPML clearly outlines the duties of the EPA in an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment process i.e. However, the EPA further explained that its Executive Director, Mr. Blama, has no links with Planet Management Services which is alleged to be favored by him in terms of awarding contracts. According to the EPA, Mr. Blamah resigned upon his appointment and turned over his shares to an individual.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 05:48 UTC
Liberia: Jewel, Biney Sort Out Differences as NPP Plans to Move Forward
Jewel Howard-Taylor and Chairman, James P. Biney and other officials. The meeting brokered by a Special Mediation Committee was aimed at harmonizing key decisions taken by both sides during the period of the dispute. J. Allison Barco, Wayfa F. Ciapha, J. Randolph Cooper, C. Neileh Daitouh and Andrew Peters- Secretary General shall serve as Resource person. It was further agreed that a Convention Committee be constituted and given a term of reference to conduct of the Counties Restructuring and the 7th Biennial Convention. The Convention Committee comprises rormer Speaker, Hon.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 05:39 UTC
Liberia: Defense Lawyers Request President Weah, Johnson-Sirleaf To Testify in Samukai’s Economic Sabotage Case
File photo: President Weah and ex-president Sirleaf in a closed discussion on Pres. Weah’s inauguration dayMonrovia – Defense lawyers in former Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai’s economic Sabotage case have requested Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay to summon President George Manneh Weah to testify in the ongoing trial. The Defense’s request is based on both prosecution and defense witnesses’ testimonies that President Weah entered into an agreement with former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to reimburse the amount of US$1.2 Million used from the AFL Pension Account. Syma Syrenius Cephas contended that the application made by the defense team to summon President Weah is “unconstitutional and unprecedented” in the history of the country’s jurisprudence. Article 61 states: “The President shall be immune from any suits, actions or proceedings, judicial or otherwise, and from arrest.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 05:29 UTC
Liberians Hold National Reconciliation and Social Cohesion Conference In Monrovia
Monrovia – As part of efforts to foster genuine peace and tranquility in Liberia, the Government, International partners, religious community and tcivil society have become holding a two-day conference on determining the pathways to National Reconciliation and Social Cohesion in the country. According to the organizers, the conference intends to explore the challenges and opportunities for national reconciliation and social cohesion and also seeks to review documents, documentaries and other resources to identify factors contributing to undermine national reconciliation and social cohesion in Liberia. It is also gear towards creating a forum for diverse stakeholders to dialogue, indentify best practices, explore opportunities and prioritize strategic frameworks for building, strengthening, promoting, and sustaining practical approaches to achieving national reconciliation and social cohesion in Liberia. Although accountability and prosecution are on the lips of many Liberians, the Liberia Peacebuilding Office official claims the government is steadily implementing many recommendations focused on improving the social wellbeing of ordinary Liberians. “People need to come back together, and that means closure plus healing is equal to reconciliation,” he said.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 05:24 UTC
Burst Graves at Palm Grove Cemetery Make it Uneasy to Remembering the Dead
Center Street, which divides the Palm Groves cemetery into two halves with each on Gurley and Lynch Streets, has always hosted the largest number of family members paying homage to the dead. But that was not the case on March 11, 2020, at the Palm Grove Cemetery – Liberia’s oldest gravesite in the heart of Monrovia – due to the deplorable condition of the graves. The Palm Groves Cemetery dates back as far as the 1820s. I know that it will take some time, but we will have to relocate this cemetery,” Flomo said. Madam Taylor wrote the Plenary of the Senate requesting the body to put halt to the ongoing demolition of the Palm Groves cemetery.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 05:15 UTC
Liberia: Bea Mountain Breaks Ground for 16km Road in Gola Konneh District
Aaron Vincent, thanked the company and at the same time cautioned citizens to be their “own eye on the project”. Bokai Kamara, the Development Superintendent of Grand Cape Mount County, while officially breaking ground for the 16km road, called on the people of the district to support the implementation process. For his part, Mr. Adama Haines, who is the Town Chief of Kenjor, thanked the Turkish Mining Company for the implementation of its social corporate responsibility. Mr. Haines also emphasized that when the road is completed, it will bring relief to thousands of citizens in the district, adding that the bad road condition has stopped people from trading. He’s confident that when the road is completed, citizens will move freely, trade and do other things.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 05:15 UTC
Chiefs Want Law Barring Ex-Warlords from Public Service
Some of the chiefs, elders and tribal governors at the regional consultation in Tubmanburg, Bomi County on March 4, 2020. The consultation was organized by the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform and the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia. They included Chief Siafa M. Barmadia, Chief Koisee Gahn and Chief Haji A. Sombai, chairpersons of the Chiefs and Elders Council of Bomi, Gbarpolu and Cape Mount. Chief Momo Kiazulu, Vice Chair for Chiefs Affairs of the Council, attested their resolution. The 17 chiefs, elders and tribal governors gave a 90-day ultimatum—beginning March 5—to lawmakers representing their counties to push for the passage into law of a resolution already before the House Representatives for the court and a separate court for economic crimes.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 01:30 UTC
Liberia: ANC Expels Wilbert Wade, Youth Congress’ Vice Chair for Interparty & Governmental Affairs
Monrovia – The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) on Friday, March 6, 2020, voted to expel Mr. Wilbert E. Wade from the party with immediate effect. Mr. Wade prior to his expulsion served as the Youth Congress Vice Chair for Interparty & Governmental Affairs. Mr. Wade’s expulsion was based on recommendations from the Grievance & Ethics Committee coming out of its investigations into gross violation of the party’s constitution and Code of Conduct. Consistent with the party’s constitution and having been given due process, the Committee recommended the expulsion of Wilbert Wade for violation of Articles 24, Section 5, Article 1 & 2 and Chapter 1 Rule #2, 3, 4, & 6 (a & e) of the Code of Conduct. Mr. Wade is advised to turn over all party’s property in his possession, and asked to pick up his letter of expulsion from the ANC HQ between 12 noon and 5pm on working days as all efforts to have his letter delivered have proven futile.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 13, 2020 00:17 UTC
Liberia: Monrovia City Corporation Holds Emergency Stakeholders Meeting on Coronavirus
MONROVIA – The Monrovia City Government Thursday held an extraordinary meeting to review the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak and the City Government’s corresponding contingency plans with the goal of working with stakeholders within the health sector, community leaders and partners to prevent the outbreak in Liberia. “It is now time we work together as people to adhere to all preventive measures provided by health authorities to prevent the Coronavirus” He stressed. Mosoka P. Fallah, Deputy Director General/Technical Services, National Public Health Institute of Liberia, during the meeting gave a presentation to the stakeholders drawing on the country’s emergency preparedness experience; and guided by existing WHO guidelines and recommendations has already taken actions to revitalize existing national preparedness. The strategic meeting was attended by the National Public Health Institute, the Liberia National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Commission, the Office of the Superintendent of Montserrado County, Township Commissioners, Local and International Partners, staff of the City Government, amongst others. Another meeting on the coronavirus is expected to be held at the Monrovia City Hall on this Friday.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 12, 2020 22:52 UTC
Press Freedom: The Duty To Free Journalist Ignace Sossou
He was prosecuted because he reported on social media some of the statements that the Cotonou prosecutor-general made during a workshop organized by the French media development agency CFI. Anyone can now verify from the audio recording and transcript that the imprisoned journalist reported the statements accurately. This is the first time that a journalist in an ECOWAS member country has been imprisoned for using social media to correctly report comments made in public. His imprisonment does no credit to Benin, one of Africa’s most stable democracies, one that courageously decriminalized press offences, nor to the current government, although it spearheaded the decriminalization of press offences and, during the UN General Assembly, supported the Information and Democracy Initiative launched by RSF in November 2018. President Talon’s government has a duty to honour the decision by Benin’s parliament in 2015 to decriminalize press offences.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 12, 2020 22:30 UTC