Liberia, EU Sign 3.5 Million Euros Development Cooperation Pact
The 8th EU-Liberia Political Dialogue was co-chaired by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Henry B. Fahnbulleh, and the Head of the EU Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Hélène Cavé. Two other programmes funded by the EU will be signed very soon, on Rural Electrification, prioritizing the South-East (42 Million Euros), and on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for young people in Liberia (12 Million Euros). At the end of the dialogue, both parties reaffirmed their support to a regular exchange of views and follow-up on the conclusions reached in the course of these regular political dialogues. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their relationship and expressed the desire that the 9th EU-Liberia Political Dialogue would take place in the second half of June 2020.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 21:11 UTC
Liberia Foreign Missions Halt Issuance of Laissez-Passer; Several Liberians Stranded Abroad
“The guy sat by me and read the memo they had received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Liberia asking them to halt the issuance of laissez-passer. “I came for visa for Swedish visa and I had to leave my passport for the visa to be processed. But speaking to the Assistant Minister for Public Affairs, Mr. Sylvester Pewee said the Foreign Ministry has not issued any such memo to any of its missions abroad. Costa, however, said he could not be held liable as it was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Costa later fled Liberia via Sierra Leone where the government futilely tried extradite him to Liberia for investigation.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 21:00 UTC
EU, Liberia Hold Another Political Dialogue
The Government of the Republic of Liberia and the European Union met today for the Eighth edition of the EU-Liberia Political Dialogue. This meeting was held under Article 8 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific States for the period 2000-2020, which enables the establishment of a platform for regular and comprehensive political dialogue. The 8th EU-Liberia Political Dialogue was co-chaired by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Henry B. Fahnbulleh, and the Head of the EU Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Hélène Cavé. The parties reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their relationship and expressed the desire that the 9th EU-Liberia Political Dialogue would take place in the second half of June 2020.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 07, 2020 16:58 UTC
Liberia: Do Not Confirm Tarplah Z. Davis Alias Zoely Zoe; He’s Unfit for the Deputy Defense Ministry for Operations Post
IN THAT CONTROVERSIAL Facebook video last year, Davis threatened to “kill” would-be protesters of the ‘Weah Step Down Campaign’ and critics of the President. SENATORS, YOU have seen the state of mind of Davis, do the honorable thing by rejecting his confirmation. PLEDGING HIS LOYALTY to the President in the Facebook video that he made, Davis kicked against one of the fundamentals of modern democracy—peaceful assembly. IN THE LIVE VIDEO, he promised to defend the government of President Weah, his family and others with plans intended to thwart or go against the Liberian Constitution. He tried repeatedly denying having any link with the live Facebook video live on which he had threatened to shoot anyone.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 07:18 UTC
Liberia: Former Solicitor General Betty Blamo Sets Record Straight in Ellen Corkrum Saga; Says Cllr. Cephas Misinformed the Public
Former Solicitor General Betty Lamin Blamo said she could have ignored the patently false allegations trumped-up apparently for some sinister objective but wasMONROVIA – Madam Betty Lamin Blamo, former Solicitor General, isn’t letting Cllr. Solicitor General Cephas received public backlash for the decision to drop charges against Corkrum who returned to Liberia late January and surprisingly received a rousing welcome at the RIA. Betty Lamin Blamo to hire a US-based firm, Fox Rothschild to which US$200,00(Two Hundred Thousand Dollars that was allegedly paid to Fox Rothschild to have Madam Corkrum brought back to Liberia. The request was granted by the PPCC and the Ministers of Finance & Justice subsequently entered into the contract with Fox Rothschild on behalf of the Government of Liberia. The former Administration did not pay Fox Rothschild US$ 200,000 at all.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 06:56 UTC
Liberia: National Port Authority Finally Admits Failure to Dredge Port as Reason Behind Petrol Shortage
The NPA’s MD’s appearance before the Senate is in addition to other appearances in connection with the shortage of gasoline on the Liberian market. According to him, the port dredging is five years behind time. Members of the Senate, I want to inform you the dredging of the port should have been done August, last year,” the NPA MD said. Also addressing the Senate, Commerce Minister Wilson Tarpeh stated that the shortage of gasoline on the market started as far back in 2008. However, addressing the Senate on Thursday, he said, information given earlier about the availability of petroleum products was based on statistic given him from the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC).
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 06:56 UTC
Liberia Risks AU Sanctions; Fails to Pay Dues Nearing US$900k
At the end of the financial year in 2019, only 50% of member states had paid their dues. The sanctions measures is aimed at ensuring that the AU’s 55 member states meet their financial obligations to the Union in time. Cautionary sanctions will be applied to member states who do not pay 50% of their assessed contributions within six months. Failure to pay dues continues to put the AU in a difficult position in trying to plan, implement and execute programmes and activities. The sanctions regime, according to the AU is key to addressing the weaknesses in the compliance arrangements.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 06:22 UTC
Liberia-UK Operationalize Fisheries Patrol Vessel Donated by Government of Wales
British Ambassador David Belgrove and Mrs. Emma Metieh Glassco, Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority at the ceremony marking the operationalizing of a Fisheries Patrol Vessel Donated by Government of Wales. Monrovia – British Ambassador to Liberia, David Belgrove and First Lady Clar Weah were on hand Thursday as the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority officially launched the Fisheries Patrol Boat recently donated by the government of Wales. British Ambassador David Belgrove and Mrs. Emma Metieh Glassco, Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority at ceremony marking the operationalizing of a Fisheries Patrol Vessel Donated by Government of Wales. Trumpeting the launch, Ambassador Belgrove said : “It is wonderful to see the FPV Lonestar in operation. The donation was facilitated by the Welsh Government’s “Wales for Africa” team following talks with the World Bank Fisheries Department, the EU Fisheries Team and Liberian fisheries institutions.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 06:11 UTC
Liberia: Lawmakers Walked Out In Protest Over Decision to Host Finance Minister Behind Closed Doors
One of the aggrieved lawmakers, Rep. Francis Nyumalin (District #1, Lofa County) threatened to walk out if session was not open to the public, and he did when Minister Tweah and his entourage walked in. But to his dismay, the Minister only submitted copies of the second quarter report, leaving out the first quarter, something he said was unacceptable. He said: “Plenary took a decision that the Minister should submit to us, the first and second quarter reports prior to this hearing. Unfortunately this morning, we had the copies of the second quarter report. How do you submit the second quarter reports when you have not submitted first quarter?”Meanwhile, the media has not been informed of what happened during the meeting as lawmakers remain mum.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 06:11 UTC
World Bank, Youth and Sport Launch Youth Employability and Empowerment Project
Monrovia – The government of Liberia through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the World Bank country office in Liberia have launched a project to empower youths of Liberia. Under the Liberia Youth Employability and Empowerment Project the World Bank will support the Government of Liberia by developing a web-based digital platform on youth employability and empowerment as well as provide technical assistance for stakeholders engagement on its agenda. Or his part the the Country Manager of World Bank in Liberi Dr. Khwima Nthara said World Bank is pleased to participate in the start of a very innovative web-based digital platform on youth employability and Empowerment. He disclosed that the Liberia Youth Employability and Empowerment project is a World Bank excuted supported project aimed at supporting the government of Liberia to improve the employability of youth through access to information on opportunities and programs, policies targeting young innovators. According to him, the implementation of the Youth Employability and Empowerment project activities will be executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Liberia Agency for Community empowerment through two components.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 06:00 UTC
Armed Forces of Liberia Encourages Female to Enlist
Monrovia – Ahead of the commemoration of Armed Forces Day, February 11 this year, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is encouraging females around the country to have courage and join the military. According to AFL, the percentage of women in the force has dropped “greatly”. In 2011, the percentage of women in the army was 8% but has now dropped to 3.2%. Speaking at the Ministry of Information press briefing on Thursday, AFL Chief of Staff, Major General Prince Charles Johnson stressed the need for women to eliminate all stereotypes against them. “She went through the ranks and files of the military; to reach at the second in command of the AFL, it means that sooner or later we will have a female serving as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 06:00 UTC
Liberia: Civil Society Network of Liberia Speaks On Reported Petroleum Products Shortage
CSNL Executive Director, Mr. Sensee KiadiiMONROVIA – The Civil Society Network of Liberia(CSNL), an advocacy group primarily involved in community based initiatives and speaking for the rights of the Liberian people, has applauded the Liberian People for exercising what it calls high degree of patience amid the alleged shortage of Petroleum Products, mainly gas on the Liberian market. The CSNL Boss also applauded the Management of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company(LPRC), which is headed by Madam Marie Urey-Coleman, for their robust action in restoring hope to the petroleum sector. However, the CSNL executive director encouraged the LPRC Management Team and the Ministry of commerce and Industry to put into place all necessary mechanisms in order to not have a reoccurrence of the situation. “The Civil Society Network of Liberia wants to take this time to also caution both LPRC and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to continue with their coexistence in all of their doings in order to avoid conflicting information to the Liberian People. Meanwhile, the reported shortage of petroleum products on the Liberian market has caused a serious increase in transportation fares across the country.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 06:00 UTC
Liberia: Disability Community Pushes “30-Percent” Gender-Equality in Political Representation Advocacy
NUOD is an independent group advocating for the rights of a Persons with Disabilities in Liberia. Madam Pay-Bayee said she “professionally and calmly dealt with” the political taunts thrown at her by her political opponents. “If you ask for twenty-percent representation for women in political parties’ leadership structure now, you are gradually opening up the space for the thirty-percent for tomorrow,” she counseled. Swedish Embassy’s representative, Madam Elvira Tillermann, Program Officer—Human Security, Second Secretary of the Swedish Embassy in Liberia, said her Country also experiences Legislative inequality. The “30-30 Political Representation” clause is captured in Section 4.5 of Article 31 of the “New Electoral Law”, which satisfies Liberia’s respects for “International obligation” to ensure equality of women with men on representation” at political party’s structure.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 05:48 UTC
Liberia: MCA-L Begins Major Push to Revamp LEC Customer Service Center
Monrovia –The Millennium Challenge Account-Liberia (MCA-L) has begun reconstruction and remodeling works on the Customer Service Center at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) in a bid to improve customer satisfaction levels. The renovation at the Waterside facility commenced on February 5 and will increase the seating capacity of the Customer Service Center to over 100 customers from a current maximum of 25. The US$450,000 project also includes three vehicles and the installation of new furniture and IT infrastructure for LEC’s Customer Service Center. “Customer service is the face of a company to the public – if the customer service of a company is very subpar, customers will view the organization in a bad light,” he said. The reconstruction of the customer service center is part of MCA-L’s continual effort to support LEC in becoming a more sustainable and viable public utility.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 05:48 UTC
Liberia: Tamba Aghailas Foundation Launches Nationwide Peace And Development Conference
MONROVIA – The Tamba Aghailas Foundation owned and operated by a US-based Liberian has launched a nationwide peace and development conference in Foya District Lofa County under the team “Inspire and Empower A New Generation”. It brought together a cross section of citizens of the District including local leaders, youth groups, women groups, religious leaders and traditional leaders among other. Mr. Tamba D. Aghailas, CEO/Founder of the Tamba Aghailas Foundation in an interview with newsman at the climax of the 4-dyas activities said the intent of the nationwide peace and development conference is to empower and inspire a new generation of leaders through education, capacity building and innovation and to unite the Liberian people. He recounts that the Foundation has observed that what Liberians need across the Country is sustainable development adding that to have sustainable development, there must be peace and unity amongst the citizens. For their parts, citizens of Foya District have hailed Mr. Tamba D. Aghailas for initiating the peace conference which they said has taken away the disunity that have long existed among them.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 07, 2020 03:56 UTC