Liberia: Man with Broken Ribs Seeks Redress from UNHCR
In 2007, J Barbee Yekeson, encountered his ordeal when was working as a volunteer teacher at the time he was seeking refuge in neighboring Guinea. In an interview with FrontPageAfrica on Wednesday, Mr. Tarnue said the perpetrators of the crime committed against Yekeson were security personnel assigned by the UNHCR. Yekeson here was a volunteer teacher in the camp, he was falsely accused and brutalized by the security that the UNHCR assigned to protect the refugees,” said Tarnue. The advocate along with Mr. Yekeson and his family including his wife and children staged a peaceful protest in front of the UN One House in Monrovia. According to them, they will continue to protest daily until the UNHCR gives them redress.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 10, 2020 00:45 UTC
Liberia: Punch FM Verdict is a Rude Reminder
As a consequence, the Independent Broadcast Regulator was one of three bills submitted to the Legislature in 2008 for enactment. So I submit to us that our country needs an independent broadcast regulator. Yes, if we had an independent regulator, the government would not have been in court with PUNCH FM and Roots FM – the regulator would been seized of the matters. I must commend the parent company of Punch FM, One Media Incorporated, for choosing to challenge the government’s action in court. So my friends, isn’t the ruling in the Punch FM case sufficient reason to rethink?
Source:Front Page Africa
January 09, 2020 17:15 UTC
Liberia: EPS, Police Heads’ Incompetence Embarrass the President – FrontPageAfrica
EVENTUALLY, the protesters’ number swelled unimaginably taking into accounts all the immediate preceding events, including security threats, which had taken place. They had said they would have called off the protest if President Weah had agreed to make some concessions to them. They didn’t only embarrass themselves, their incompetence also made people to badmouth the President, who should take some serious actions against the heads of those security agencies. The joint security needed to just use the water in one of those gallons to put out the fire. MR. PRESIDENT these people’s incompetence is not only an embarrassment to themselves but also to you.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 09, 2020 07:52 UTC
Senate Pro Tempore Ramps War of Words with Senator Cooper
Senate Pro Tempore Albert Chie has threatened to campaign against Margibi County Senator Oscar Cooper to unseat him in the special Senatorial election expected to be held in October this year, thus sparking up a war of words between the two Senators. Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wrote President Pro Tempore Jallah, complaining Senator Cooper about his ‘radical and unnecessarily oversight’ over the then Public Works Minister Gyude Moore. Pundits said the communication from then President Sirleaf aided the ousting of Senator Cooper, who was also a staunch critic of the her administration. As he was in the previous administration, so Senator Cooper remains, now a critic of the George M. Weah Administration. He pointed out that incumbent Senators who are members of the collaborating parties are given preference; including him, Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, Senator Darius Dillon and Senator Sando Johnson.
Source:Daily Observer
January 09, 2020 02:35 UTC
‘Ex-rebel Generals Vividly Seen at Protest on Jan. 6’
Human rights monitors also countered that, when the police raised the concern, they worked with the protesters and they saw reason to quench the fire and relocate. It was during the course of relocating, the human rights monitors said, the orders came to 102 to disperse the crowd. The human rights organizations, however, acknowledged the LNP’s earlier professional and cooperative posture during the morning hours of the protest but, at the same time, demand and investigation and explanation concerning the excessive force used. During the protest, human rights monitors in the joint statement disclosed that a vehicle occupied by former notorious rebel generals was seen on the ground among the protesters; which INCHR and its collaborators say they want the government to provide explanations about. The human rights groups confirm in the joint statement that monitors saw vividly ex-LURD rebel General Ofori Diah driving the unmarked vehicle, along with ex-NPFL General Siafa Norman, ex-ULIMO-J General Augustine Nagbe alias “General Power,” and four others.
Source:Daily Observer
January 09, 2020 02:26 UTC
Marketeers Complain of Drastic Decline in Purchase
According to some, the President’s statement has taken a U-turn as some Liberian business owners have begun to express frustrations over the steep downward trend the country’s economy has taken. Some marketeers expressed frustration and disappointment in the way the economy is being handled by the current government led by President Weah. One of the marketeers, speaking to the Daily Observer was Madam Jartu Sackie, a retailer in cosmetics and dry-goods. And where buyers are few, sellers of perishable goods lose along the way, while dry goods sellers take longer than expected to regain their capital, let alone make a profit. So I have been selling red oil for ten years, sending for oil from the bushes or sometimes buying it at the Red-Light Market.
Source:Daily Observer
January 09, 2020 02:24 UTC
Mr. Prospere Kotchi Dies
The death is announced of Mr. Prospere Kotchi, former Honorary Consul General of La Cote d’Ivoire to Liberia and former Advisor on Francophone Affairs of the Interim Government of African Unity (IGNU). Prospere was born in Treichville, La Cote d’Ivoire, on September 30th, 1951. In 1991, Mr. Kotchi was engaged by the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU), led by Dr. Amos Sawyer, Interim President. Mr. Kotchi served as Advisor on Francophone Affairs, working in Dr. Sawyer’s office. Mr. Kotchi was later appointed Honorary Consul General of La Cote d’Ivoire in Liberia.
Source:Daily Observer
January 09, 2020 02:24 UTC
Liberia Putting 9 Oil Blocks up For Sale Amid Concerns Over Petroleum Law Breach
Monrovia – On January 7th 2020, World Oil published that in April, Liberia will offer nine (9) blocks in a new bid round. The “Authority” is the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Agency (LPRA). Experts say the importance of Liberia’s next bid round cannot be overstated and will determine all future successes for Liberia’s fledgling oil sector. The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority has failed to draft, get approval for and publish vital regulations as stated by the Petroleum E&P Law (2014). The current and second Director General of the Authority (LPRA) is Archie N. Donmo, who replaced the first Director of the Authority (LPRA) and a hand-picked Pro-temp Chie choice, Edward Smith.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 09, 2020 00:55 UTC
Liberia: After Punch FM’s Court Win, LTA Introduces New 5- year License Regime for Stations’ Operators
The LTA says the objective of the new five-year regime is to induce investment in the sector and address frequencies abuse. Regulatory findings have indicated that while some radio operators applied to use certain frequencies for non-commercial activities, they are rather using it otherwise. Additionally, Owners and Operators of FM Radio have been found to be in violation of ITU recommended technical standards and without adherence to LTA regulations. CPJ’s Disappointment in Punch FM’s RulingMr. Patrick Honnah of Punch FM had his license revoked under the old one-year regime. The LTA says during the drafting of the new regulation on the new 5-year license regime, the LTA says it solicited inputs from diverse stakeholders’ whose inputs formed part of the wider stakeholder consultation.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 09, 2020 00:11 UTC
‘Corruption’ Rocks Liberia’s Premium Intellectual Center
The 11 CEIO officials are being investigated by the board of the institution the reported corrupt conduct. CEIO, located on Carey Street downtown Monrovia, is arguably Liberia’s premium intellectual forum. Weah received 28 bags of rice and US$500 from Mayor Koijee as his gifts to the institution for the festive season. “Aldophus (CEOI chairman) says Mayor Koijee gave the 28 bags of rice and US$500 to the officials of CEIO. Weah was not sitting at home when he and his officials received rice and money from Mayor Koijee.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 08, 2020 23:37 UTC
Liberia: Man, 22, Accused Of ‘Raping’ Woman On Christmas Day
Monrovia – A woman [name withheld], who claimed she was intoxicated on Christmas Day, has accused a 22-year-old man of raping her in S.D. She claimed that when she got home, she went into the bathroom and called on another friend at her home. While in the bathroom, she asked the friend to come and pour water on her head, instead, the friend asked the Defendant identified as Renny Sumo to perform the task. But when she got into her house, she saw the defendant allegedly having sex with the victim. It was also established by the victim that she does not know Defendant Sumo and that it was her first time seeing him at her friend’s house on the day of the incident.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 08, 2020 23:26 UTC
Liberia: Wild Chimpanzee Foundation Country Director Gets Media Award
The Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) is one International Partners that continues to work with the people of Liberia, especially at the community level so that the locals understand the importance of protecting their forest. WCF Liberia is also leading some transboundary initiatives with Côte d’Ivoire and several national initiatives in collaboration with its national and international conservation and development partners. The person who coordinates all of these activities as Country Director of the organization is Dr. Annika Hillers. She is the proud recipient of the prestigious West Africa Media Network Outstanding Country Director of the year Award for 2019. Annika is a member of the IUCN pygmy hippo and amphibian specialist groups and is coordinating the Law Enforcement and Biomonitoring Sub-Committees of the Liberia national Species Working Group.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 08, 2020 23:26 UTC
Liberia: Grand Gedeh Youth Group Applauds President Weah for Pardoning Kinsmen
Monrovia – The Revolutionary Youth Alliance of Grand Gedeh County, a youth group of the county, has praised President George Weah for granting executive clemency to nine of their kinsmen who they say was wrongly sentenced to life imprisonment during the regime of former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. President Weah used his executive power to release the last three men of Grand Gedeh County on December 25, 2019, from Monrovia prison. After the arrest of the 18 Grand Gedeans, four were released because of a lack of evidence. But the Revolutionary Youth Alliance of Grand Gedeh County says that was bias on the side of former President Sirleaf. President Weah executive clemency came at a time when a mass anti-government protest was gaining support from many Liberians.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 08, 2020 23:15 UTC
Liberia: Untapped Fisheries Sector Could Save Economy as World Bank, EU Pushing Mesurado Pier Fix
World Bank EU Keen on Resurrection PlayMrs. Emma Metieh Glassco, Director of the National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority(NaFAA) explains that a US$40 million World Bank project should address a number of issues holding the sector from taking off in Liberia. It tends to focus on the expansion and rehabilitation of Mesurado fishing pier into a modern fishing port and the establishment of landing jetties in fishing communities. It tends to focus on the expansion and rehabilitation of Mesurado fishing pier into a modern fishing port and the establishment of landing jetties in fishing communities. In a few days, the World Bank is expected to put pen to paper on the deal that should get the revamp project underway. It tends to focus on the expansion and rehabilitation of Mesurado fishing pier into a modern fishing port and the establishment of landing jetties in fishing communities.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 08, 2020 23:15 UTC
Liberia: Rep. Kiazolu Calls for Investigation of Ruling Party’s Chairman over Leaked Tape
President Weah claimed that the leaked audio amounts to blackmailing adding that, “anyone can get angry and talk”, while Chairman Morlu claimed that his assertions were “liquor talk”. Representative Kiazolu believed that the accusations raised by the CDC party Chairman against the President is squarely an allegation of rape. For now, it’s not the issue about impeaching President Weah while Morlu’s investigation is pending”. “The issue of investigating the ruling party Chairman is one of the processes of governance. “It is unfortunate because President Weah is someone I know as a big brother personally and he knows me.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 08, 2020 22:30 UTC