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
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
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
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
Liberia: National Oil Company Vows to Find Oil in Upcoming Round for Exploration
Monrovia – As Liberia poised to conduct its next bid round in April this year, the Liberia Regulatory Authority (LPRA) and the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) has expressed optimism over the discovery of oil this time around. Ivory Coast discovered oil just right around the same area we are going to launch the bid round,” he declared. Speaking further, he noted that there are indication that Liberia has oil as the fingerprints and the geology are there to prove that. “To realize the outcome of a bid round, the regulator must be financially liquid. The bid round allows a single oil company or a group of oil companies to apply for a ‘Production Sharing Agreement’ in a competitive and transparent environment giving them the right to search for commercial deposits of oil.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 20, 2020 06:22 UTC
Liberia: Benoni Urey Insists on Primary for the Election of CPP Standard Bearer
Monrovia – The head of the four Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) Benoni W. Urey says if anyone will head the ticket of the CPP, that person has to be voted at a primary. However, the issue of having a complete political framework including a political leader for what appears to be an alliance continues to dogg the arrangement. “I Benoni Urey will not be part of anything; other than going to a primary to elect our standard-bearer. “I Benoni Urey will not be part of anything; other than going to a primary to elect our standard-bearer. He is, however, calling on all politicians in the country to join him in calling on the international community save the political space of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 20, 2020 06:22 UTC
Public Health Institute Gets Full Capacity to Test for Coronavirus in Liberia
With the capacity to test for the virus fully completed, public health experts can make quick determination of any suspected case in LiberiaMonrovia – Liberia now has the capacity to conduct test for the Coronavirus in country following a recent supply of reagents from the World Health Organization to the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL). On February 11, NPHIL acting Director General told a news conference that Liberia did not have the capacity to conduct actual testing of Coronavirus cases in the country. Now, with the capacity to test for the virus fully completed, public health experts can make determination of any suspected case. “The arrival of the reagents to test in country will give us the time we need to quickly response if we have a suspected case. In Liberia, health authorities have been working to prevent any situation.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 20, 2020 06:02 UTC