Liberia: Court Subpoena Top AFL Officials to Testify In Former Defense Minister Economic Sabotage Case
The trio was summoned based on prosecution’s submission to the court, requesting that the officials serve as state witnesses. This means they will testify against the former Minister and his two former deputies. The AFL officials were linked to the former defense minister case after the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) declared them as persons of interest during its course of investigation of the case. In his ruling, Judge Gbeisay granted the prosecution’s submission and ordered the Clerk of court to summon Eco Bank and the officials to testify in the case. On Wednesday, February 19, State prosecutors presented their first witness in the trial and also presented copies of documentary evidence to the court to prove their case against the three former Defense Ministry officials
Source:Front Page Africa
February 21, 2020 06:11 UTC
Liberia: ‘Partisanship’ Overshadows Legislature Oversight Responsibility – Alleges Former Lawmaker
Mr. Dunah, who represented one of Nimba County’s electoral districts in the 53rd National Legislature, claims that members of the 54th National Legislature are not vigilant in carrying out their oversight responsibility by checkmating officials of the Executive, including Ministers, Directors, and Heads of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), among others. “When it comes to oversight, lawmakers of the 54th Legislature have not been vigilant as compare to the 53rd. In terms of calling Ministers to Committee Rooms and dealing with national issues, they have not been vigorous in the last two years. Mr. Dunah maintained that unlike the 53rd Legislature, where members did not give the former ruling party an easy ground in terms of proceeding and exercising their oversight responsibility, the 54th National Legislature has failed to act similarly. Speaking further, the former Nimba County lawmaker underscored the need for reformation and modernization of the national Legislature to ensure efficient and effectiveness.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 21, 2020 06:11 UTC
Liberia: OHCHR Supports Final Validation of Government’s 3rd Circle State Report To Universal Periodic Review
Mr. Sonny Onyegbula, OHCHR Acting Deputy Country Representative, speaking at the opening ceremony of the final validation of the Government’s State Report to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)Buchanan – The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has supported the Government of Liberia to conduct a final validation of the Government’s State Report to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR is a four-year human rights country situational review process that requires each state to submit a summary report on how it implemented the various international human rights obligations the State subscribed to. The stakeholder’s consultation creates awareness of the State’s human rights obligations and creates sense of ownership on the part of the stakeholders that participate in the process. OHCHR has been steadfast in supporting Liberia to discharge her international human rights reporting obligations. Liberia was expected to submit its UPR report to the Human Rights Council by the 3rd February, but requested an extension to submit at the end of February.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 21, 2020 06:00 UTC
West African Journalists Association Alarms over the Death of Journalists
The West African Journalists Association says it is alarmed by the growing wave of cowardly aggression against journalists in the region and the deaths of at least three journalists in less than two months of 2020. In Nigeria, Journalist Maxwell Nashian, of the government-owned Federal Radio Corporation, died in hospital on January 15, where he was taken for treatment after he was discovered unconscious with serious wounds. An autopsy report from the Nigerian government owned National Hospital showed that Mr. Ogbu died from bullet wound which shattered his skull. The West African media rights group reminds political leaders in the sub-region of their obligations to provide safety for journalists performing their duties under various regional and international instruments. WAJA brings together Journalists’ Associations/Unions in all fifteen countries in West Africa.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 21, 2020 05:37 UTC
NaFAA to Deploy Certified Seafarers on International Fishing Vessels
“However, under the astute leadership of His Excellency, Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of Liberia, all efforts have been made through NaFAA to have the internationally trained seafarers deployed on the EU vessels and other international vessels,” the Fisheries Authority said in a statement. The President has emphasized that such decision be implemented as a mandatory requirement for fishing vessels licensed by NaFaa as well as a mandatory provision in future bilateral or private Fisheries Access Agreements. This effort is aimed at providing Liberians seafarers job and networking opportunities, as well as international exposure with other international seafarers, the release said. Emma Metieh Glassco, Director General of NaFAA said there has been a demand from Liberia that the three European fishing vessels carrying Liberian trained Seafarers dock at designated ports, where the nine Seafarers will be given the opportunity to board. The nine Liberian Seafarers are drawn from the list of fifty (50) Seafarers who underwent international seafarers training, sponsored by NaFAA and facilitated by experts from the Regional Maritime University in Ghana.
Source:Daily Observer
February 21, 2020 02:26 UTC
Tolbert Nyenswah Speaks at International Panel of Experts on the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
The unprecedented nature of the outbreak led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 8, 2014. Tolbert Nyenswah told the international gathering, that Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a deadly disease with occasional outbreaks that occur primarily on the African continent. Mr. Nyenswah said since the West African Ebola outbreak in 2014, lessons learned showed, several developing countries have taken concrete steps. Tolbert Nyenswah is a Senior Research Associate in the department of International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In this role, he became the Incident Manager for the Liberia’s National Ebola Response, chaired the Incident Management System, managing a multinational team responding to the world’s largest unprecedented Ebola Outbreak (2014-2016).
Source:Daily Observer
February 21, 2020 02:26 UTC
Weah Breaks Ground for US$94.5M RIA Road Expansion, Pavement
The project is titled: “Upgrading to Dual Carriageway — ELWA-Roberts International Airport Highway,” cuts across Paynesville City in Montserrado County to Unification Town, in Margibi County. “The RIA road is a project that is long overdue because of the safety hazards presented by its narrowness and darkness. The RIA Highway has been a death-trap since it was built in the 1940’s, during World War Two. According to her, it was just in 2018, that Public Works Minister Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan, Sr. presented the three dimensional concepts of the expansion of the RIA road at the first ever cabinet retreat held under President George M. Weah. Madam Kialain emphasized that the RIA highway is the major and most convenient route available for travel between the international airport and the nation’s capital city, Monrovia.
Source:Daily Observer
February 21, 2020 02:26 UTC
Former Diplomat Calls on US to Impose Sanctions on Liberia
The former Liberian Diplomat stated that through Congressional actions, the US can impose sanctions on Liberia under the Global Magnitsky Act, which was passed into law in 2016 by the US Congress to apply sanctions on human rights abusers and corrupt officials across the globe. Mr. Williams indicated that even though Liberia is a sovereign nation, the Global Magnitsky Act empowers the US Congress to deal with matters in other countries, including Liberia. However, Mr. Williams stated, Liberia has been on a rapid decline and the post-war democratic and economic gains made are eroding under President Weah. Mr. Williams told the congregation that he decided to use Liberia as a case study because the history of Black Americans is the history of the beginning of Liberia. He added that Liberia gained independence in 1847 as Africa’s first republic, and ten of the country’s past presidents were American-born.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 21, 2020 02:15 UTC
Liberia: UNDP/OHCHR Launch Rehabilitation Programme at Monrovia Central Prison
Monrovia – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with theOffice of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has launched a rehabilitation project at the Monrovia Central Prison (MCP). “Tracking the impact of such program encourages investment in employing or empowering the ex-convicts with seed money,” Justice Minister added. The Minister acknowledged the congestion of the Monrovia prison which holds 1,260 inmates against its holding capacity of 324 inmates. AT the same time, Ireland’s Representative in Liberia, Ms. Rachel Fitzpatrick in her remarks said, that her government is engaged in supporting rehabilitation programme in prisons as a new area of focus. Cole added that rehabilitation of inmates is most critical in reducing the rate of relapse as they return to their communities.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 21, 2020 01:18 UTC
The Weah-led Government has LIED again about ELWA–RIA Road
Kalasco Damaro wrote on his Facebook page, “ELWA to RIA Road Modernization Project. The truth can never lie:The images being widely displayed on social media depicting a “modernization project” of a 4-lane ELWA–RIA Road under Pres. The title of this video is “Liberia Master RIA Road Project”. The total cost of this 45km 4-lane road project is around US$101m. This LIE about “RIA Road Modernization” is too visible and they need to STOP.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 21, 2020 00:33 UTC
Liberia, EU Confirm Strong Political Relations And Address Wide Rang Of Issues In Their 8th Political Dialogue
It welcomed the National Economic Dialogue held in September and noted the importance of implementing and following-up on its recommendations. The EU Delegation recently hosted a meeting with EU companies in Liberia in support of the improvement of the business/investment climate. The GAC mentioned the completion of 20 audits of Ministries, Agencies and Commissions and implementation of a Professionalization Strategy, thanking EU support. The EU stressed the need for the GoL to mobilize the necessary funds to prepare and hold the elections on time. The EU will continue to live up to its commitments with its international partners, including Liberia.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 20, 2020 22:29 UTC
Int’l Rights Groups Calls For Investigation Into Death of Journalist Zenu Miller
“We condemn the rising acts of human rights violations in Liberia and the indifference to these Crimes against humanity by the perverse George Weah government,” and questioned circumstances surrounding the death of Liberian broadcast journalist Zenu Miller. Mr. Miller was allegedly brutalized by Officers of the EPS in late January and had complained a last week about feeling pain. He died over the weekend at a local hospital in Monrovia The official cause of death has not been disclosed. The IJG statement drew comparisons between the current Administration and prior Liberian regimes characterizing it as ‘Reminders of the Bad Days’. The Committee To Protect Journalist (CPJ) has also called for investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Miller.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 20, 2020 21:49 UTC
World Bank Liberia Country Manager Remarks at Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Expansion of the RIA Road
Remarks by Dr. Khwima Nthara, World Bank Liberia Country ManagerAt the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Expansion of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) HighwayUnification Town, Margibi CountyFebruary 20, 2020President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah;Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. On behalf of the World Bank Group, I am honoured to participate in this groundbreaking ceremony for the Expansion of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) to ELWA Junction Highway. In particular, our history with this road makes this occasion special, since it was one of the first road infrastructure links to be rehabilitated with World Bank funding in the immediate post-conflict era. Your excellency, we would also like to congratulate your Government for launching the Liberia Road Safety Action Plan in October 2018. Your excellency, I would like to commend the Government of Liberia for its continued commitment towards addressing the infrastructure challenges of the country.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 20, 2020 21:38 UTC
Treat Prince Johnson’s Weah Bashing with a Grain of Salt — George Weah Owns the Man
Yesterday, I woke up to the news of Senator Prince Johnson saying he regretted supporting Weah for president. This has switched our attention from discussing issues affecting the have-nots such as rampant poverty and economic dislocation to the absurdity of Prince Johnson as a point for national discussion. Political elites drumming tribal chauvinism for political capital is not a Prince Johnson staple, but a mainstay of Liberian politics. Until people in politics understand this, Prince Johnson and other reactionary tribal chauvinists would exploit tribal loopholes for political capital. And it begins with envisaging winning Nimba without Prince Johnson and treating his poorly articulated Weah bashing with a grain of salt.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 20, 2020 17:37 UTC
Liberia: NaFAA To Deploy First Set Of Trained And Certified Seafarers On international Fishing Fleets
Although Liberia signed the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with EU in 2016, unfortunately, there have been no Liberian Seafarers deployed on any of the 33 EU fishing vessels including other international vessels licensed and flagged by Liberia because of the lack of capacity and required skills. He has emphasized that such decision be implemented as a mandatory requirement for fishing vessels licensed by NaFaa as well as a mandatory provision in future bilateral or private Fisheries Access Agreement. This effort is aimed at providing Liberians seafarers job and networking opportunities as well as international exposure with other international seafarers. The nine Liberian Seafarers expected to board the three European Union vessels include: Wilson Blamo, Stanley Warjolo, Barfee Kieh, and Lawrence Lamah. The Nine (9) Liberian Seafarers are drawn from the list of fifty (50) Seafarers who underwent international seafarers training sponsored by NaFAA and facilitated by Experts from the Regional Maritime University in Ghana.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 20, 2020 16:30 UTC