Grand Bassa Lawmaker Goshua Wants House Concurs with Senate on US$277M Buchanan Port Concession Agreement
Rep. Thomas Goshua II of Grand Bassa County ‘s District #5 wants Plenary of the House concurs with the Senate in ratifying the US$277 million concession agreement between the Government of Liberia and Prista Port Buchanan LLC. During this period, Prista Port Buchanan LLC will be obligated to develop, operate, manage and optimize the operation of the Port of Buchanan. The concession agreement was sent to the Legislature in 2019 by President George Weah for ratification. According to Rep. Goshua, when the agreement is ratified, Prista Port Buchanan LLC will create over 1,000 jobs and improve access to health and education. Meanwhile, Rep. Goshua thanked the President for his farsightedness and urged his colleagues to do due diligence and concur with the Senate.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 12:40 UTC
Liberia: Lone Farmer Urges Amalgamation of Farmers into Corporative to Lure Gov’t Support
Mr. Williams is optimistic that once farmers amalgamate and form “credible farmer institutions” such as farmer unions and corporative, they can influence government and lure more support including the provision of loans, seeds, tools, and technical skills. With such support, he said there will be large scale farming across the country which could supply the local markets and improve food security. “The Ministry of Agriculture’s duty is to give recommendations through their technicians, give tools, seeds and loans. Williams, who was trained by the Ministry of Agriculture, is now training more than eight young people. “During the dry season, we have to find ways to pump water in our reservoir to water young plants and create artificial shade for the growing plants.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 12:33 UTC
Liberia: Gov’t Declares Henry Costa a Fugitive
According to the Deputy Minister of Information, Eugene Fahngon, even though Mr. Costa wasn’t arrested and wasn’t aware of any charges that the government might have leveled against him, he had no rights to “runaway”Monrovia – The Government of Liberia says the Chairman of the Council of Patriots (COP), Henry Costa is now a fugitive. The announcement was made by Deputy Spokesperson on Thursday at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism regular press briefing. Deputy Minister of Information, Eugene Fahngon said even though Mr. Costa wasn’t arrested and wasn’t aware of any charges that the government might have leveled against him, he had no rights to “runaway”. Speaking on the issue of Mr. Costa’s lawyer failure to bring him to Liberia as he guaranteed, Minister Fahngon said that the Solicitor General of Liberia will deal with that particular issue of bringing the lawyer to book. Deputy Minister of Information, Eugene Fahngon said even though Mr. Costa wasn’t arrested and wasn’t aware of any charges that the government might have leveled against him, he had no rights to “runaway”.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 12:22 UTC
Liberia: More4Education Coalition Expresses Dismay over Low Education Budget – FrontPageAfrica
Monrovia – The More for Education Coalition Partners, a conglomerate of civil society organizations, has raised serious concerns about the approved budget for the education sector for fiscal year 2019\2020. The Coalition’s members are the Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Education (COATOE), the National Parents and Teachers Association of Liberia (NAPTANOL), Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia (YOCEL), Inclusive Development Initiative (IDI) and the National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL). Taken on a regional scale, Liberia’s funding to education lags far behind regional neighbors,” said Anderson Miamen, while reading a press statement on behalf of the More for Education Coalition Partners. This leaves us to wonder why Liberia is failing to invest considerably in education while others are investing in building a vibrant education sector. Government has to muster the political will to achieve minimum 20 percent budgetary allotment to education,” Miamen said.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 12:00 UTC
Star Longman Liberia Book Inc Donates Assorted Books to CNDRA National Public Library
MONROVIA – Star Longman Liberia Books Inc, a Ghanaian Company operating in Liberia has donated three hundred assorted books valued over US$3,000 to the National Public Library on Ashman Street, Monrovia. The National Public Library which offers free research services to the public is managed and operated by the Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA). Presenting the books Wednesday, January 15, 2020, Star Longman Liberia Books Inc Country Manager Rita Ganidekam Abraham said the donation is gear towards improving Liberia’s education system. In spite of the contribution being her institution first’s to the National Public Library, she promised to provide additional books for the National Public Library. Receiving the books, the Director of the National Public Library Christian J. Jlatuh lauded the Star Longman Liberia Books Inc for the venture.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 11:59 UTC
Liberia: Land Authority Rule In Land Dispute, Gives Rock Church Authority To Administer Property Rights
MONROVIA – The Land Authority has ruled has restored all Rock Church’s property right after an investigative finding established that individuals claiming rights to the land and selling parts thereof did not have the authority to do so. According to the Land Authority ruling dated December 6, 2019, base on investigation findings and in keeping with the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia and Land Right Act, the Liberian Land Authority office in Margibi County, Bishop Anne Geminez, a non-Liberian did not have authority to obtain property(ies) in Liberia. The Liberia Land Authority also ruled that Bishop Geminez lacked the authority to mandate Rev. Charles Bestman to sell such property(ies) that legally belongs to the Rock Church of Liberia, Inc. The Liberian Land Authority is legitimately positioned to settle land disputes.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 10:30 UTC
Protest Calls for Rep. Kiazolu to Be Investigated for Alleged Rape
The communication was jointly written by Representative Kiazolu, Representatives Rustonlyn Dennis, Francis Dopoh and Thomas Goshua. During the impasse between the two groups of protestors, with one calling for a probe into the alleged rape case involving Kiazolu and the other on the contrary, Representative Kiazolu accused his chief rival in the 2017 representative election for District #17, former representative William Dakel. “These women are not from my district,” Representative Kiazolu said. However, when the police restored calm, a formal petition was presented to the chairperson of the House’s Claims and Petitions Committee, Representative Rustonlyn Dennis of Montserrado County District #4. Reading the petition, Madam Nathalyn Surprise Seton, on behalf of the Concerned Women in Montserrado County District #17, called on the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged rape involving Representative Kiazolu.
Source:Daily Observer
January 17, 2020 10:18 UTC
Liberia Gets First Female Maritime Educator
MONROVIA – For the first time since Liberia began its maritime program in 1948, the country has gotten a female Maritime Educator in Miatta Sonie Sherif. Mrs. Sherif obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Maritime Education and Training in 2019 from the World Maritime University in Sweden to become the first Liberian woman to achieve such feat. As part of requirements to acquire the degree, Mrs. Sherif presented a dissertation on the topic: “The development of Maritime Education and Training in Liberia: a historical perspective”. The maritime education & training specialization has been designed for people engaged in maritime human resource management, the management of maritime-related knowledge and leadership in both academic and non-academic organizations. It provides the knowledge essential for the optimization of maritime education under international law, the creation, acquisition and transfer of knowledge across maritime knowledge clusters and the optimum leadership of contemporary organizations.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 06:22 UTC
Liberia: Protest at Capitol against Rep. Hanson Kaizolu Turns Chaotic as Women, SUP Members Engage in Stone Throwing
The women are believed to be from the Coalition of Women Political Parties which is headed by Min. Basically, the women were calling for the investigation of Rep. Kiazolu whom they alleged raped his niece. Rep. Kiazolu has been championing the investigation of President George Weah following series of leaked tapes disclosing grave allegations against the President. “Kiazolu is a kind-hearted person lived with him since I was age zero and I am now 23 years old. He expressed surprise that a group of women claiming to come from his district accused him of rape.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 04:52 UTC
Liberia: Liberia: Renowned Rice Producer, UN Veteran Nominated as Agriculture Minister – FrontPageAfrica
Before moving home to Liberia to run FABRAR, Ms. Cooper served 13 years with the United Nations. Ms. Cooper also held postings with the UN-OCHA in Kenya and for the Eastern and Southern Africa region. Said Ms. Cooper: “I am very grateful to President Weah for this opportunity to serve. “I am very grateful to President Weah for this opportunity to serve. Ms. Cooper also managed humanitarian programs in northeastern Kenya and southern Somalia with Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Suisse from 1991-2003.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 04:48 UTC
Liberia Revenue Authority Suspends, Investigates Employee for Burning Fiancée with Hot Water
Hover is alleged to have poured hot, boiled water on his girlfriend, which resulted in the girl’s skin being seriously sored. “Our staff are guided by a Code of Conduct that requires all staff to act ethically and responsibly in dealings with other staff and with the public. Mr. Patrick Hover – a staff of the LRA, who allegedly poured hot water on his fiancé, has been removed from his position while he undergoes investigation by the police,” he said. In a press release posted on social media, Nah said, “The LRA doesn’t condone violence against women and anyone for that matter. This is evidence of the situation in the country, that even with the passage of the Domestic Violence Act, more cases are still surfacing,” Ms. Bowah said.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 04:30 UTC
Liberia: Weah Unveils US$ 14 Million Modern Cement Plant at CEMENCO – FrontPageAfrica
President Weah described the new cement production plant as an extension of a state-of-art investment in the country which has introduced a technology to the cement industry and brings about inefficiency to the Liberian cement production firm. The plant is valued at US$ 14 million and has the capacity to produce 2,000 bags of cement. “To make foreign direct investment in Liberia is a vote of confidence in the safety and civility of the Liberian investment environment; we applaud you for that,” he said. Describing the cement production plant as timely, President Weah affirmed that after two years of assessment, CEMENCO will witness growth within the Liberian Economy as a result of many new projects which will required cement products. Mr. Gaihnard added that the plant meets three key demands for cement suppliers in Liberia and is best suited for a quality management system.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 04:18 UTC
Liberia: Lassa Fever Kills 3 in Grand Bassa; over 20 Infected with the Virus
Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – The Surveillance Officer of Grand Bassa County Health team has confirmed to FrontPage Africa that there is a Lassa Fever outbreak in District #4, Grand Bassa County leading to 3 deaths and 20 others confirmed infected with the virus . Kassay said there were several incidents of Lassa fever in the LAC plantation area in 2019. Kassay said the spread of Lassa fever might increase if the citizens are not trained to know the cause and effects of Lassa fever. The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Ministry of Health recently alarmed that “Liberia has experienced a continuous Lassa fever outbreak”, adding that there were detection of several Lassa fever cases across four counties. Lassa fever is not as infectious as Ebola and rarely spread from persons to persons.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 17, 2020 04:18 UTC
Fabrar Liberia CEO Appointed New Agriculture Minister
On Thursday, January 16, 2020, President George M. Weah named Ms. Jeanine Milly Cooper, chief executive officer (CEO) of Fabrar Liberia Incorporated, a local rice processing company, as Liberia’s new Minister of Agriculture. Ms. Cooper replaces Dr. Mogana Flomo who was relieved of his duties on June 29, 2019. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Cooper served as Managing Director of FABRAR-Liberia Enterprise Limited. FABRAR, Liberia’s biggest rice processing company, which she founded in 2009, specializes in processing and marketing of local rice for domestic consumption and export. Ms. Cooper also managed humanitarian programs in northeastern Kenya and southern Somalia with Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Suisse from 1991-2003.
Source:Daily Observer
January 17, 2020 02:32 UTC
CSOs Mount Pressure for War Crimes Court
The decision of the lawmakers came shortly after President Weah’s message to the 54th United Nations General Assembly in which he named major steps to bring justice for those wrongs committed during the civil war by endorsing a war and economic crimes court. When quizzed about the position of President George M. Weah who called for dialogue rather than the establishment of a war and economic crimes court, Dempster told the Daily Observer, “The President needs to have a clear understanding about those international instruments when we talk about issues of war crimes. They are above the issue of domestic crimes [and] which our legal system in the country cannot handle.”“We have realized that the President is still learning when it comes to the process of establishing war crimes court because, if he had the full disclosure of what war crime is and what the Truth and Recondition Committee report says, then, he will know how to draw his line around the issue of reconciliation, dialogue, and war crimes court,” Dempster said. He said when it comes to the establishment of War Crimes Court, the President will sometimes say one thing and then come back to say another, but the greater goal for Liberia is the responsibility it has to make sure that people who committed war crimes and created untold suffering for the people are brought to justice. Dempster said that war crimes cannot be dialogued but the best remedy is to establish a court that will bring perpetrators to face justice.
Source:Daily Observer
January 17, 2020 02:26 UTC