Did Solicitor General Cehpus Mislead LACC over Corkrum’s Case Dismissal?
Ndubuisi Nwabudike, dated February 3, 2020, Cephus justified that his decision to dismiss the case was recommended by former Solicitor General, Cllr. Cehpus’ action to drop the case was also communicated to Judge Nancy Sammy of Criminal Court ‘C,’ who later granted the request. The court’s record also clarified that there was no nolle prosequi (charges dropped) request entered in favor of Musa Bility. Betty Lamin Blamo to hire a US-based firm, Fox Rothschild, to which US$200,000 was paid to Fox Rothschild to have Madam Corkrum brought back to Liberia. “The request was granted by the PPCC and the ministers of Finance and Justice subsequently entered into the contract with Fox Rothschild on behalf of the government,” the former government claims.
Source:Daily Observer
February 07, 2020 02:26 UTC
Could Salary Harmonization Justify Judicial Corruption?
An inevitable consequence would be a side-stepping of legal services, resulting in a breakdown of law and order. In his powerpoint presentation, Tweah dramatically defended the harmonization exercise by saying that, “nothing can be done now, because the decision came from our international partners. Article 72 (a) provides: “The Justices of the Supreme Court and all other judges shall receive such salaries, allowances, and benefits as shall be established by law. Such salaries shall be subject to taxes as defined by law, provided that they shall not otherwise be diminished. Justice Kaba: “Unlike in the case of other public employees, benefit for judges are expressly provided for by the Constitution.
Source:Daily Observer
February 07, 2020 02:26 UTC
Ellen Corkrum May Be Regretting For Coming To Liberia, As Travel Ban Underway For Her And 28 Others
Sayma Syrenius Cephus has disclosed a pending travel bans to be imposed on Ellen Corkrum and 28 others who were reportedly linked to economic sabotage, and other related crimes. Sayma Syrenius Cephus in a brief chat with journalists at the Temple of Justice that houses the Supreme Court and several other courts. (L-r) Melvin Johnson and Ellen Corkrum claimed that the Government of Liberia is morally decadent; a questionable judicial system; and that the charges are false and politically-motivated. However, the lawyers representing the Government filed a motion for Nolle Prosequoi at Criminal Court ‘C’ at the Temple of Justice, on December 3, 2019, requesting that all charges against Ms. Ellen Corkrum be dropped. In 2015, some efforts were made to secure Corkrum’s extradition to Liberia.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 06, 2020 21:00 UTC
FAO Vows To Promote Food Security In Liberia
The Assistant Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative in Liberia, Octavius Quarbo, has said the United Nations agency remains committed to promoting food security in the country. According to Mr. Quarbo, the FAO support to food and nutrition security impact, resilience, sustainability and transformation started in March 2016, and today is almost is in many developing countries in the world. “As food security and nutrition is a multi-dimensional issue, there are multiple effects and various institutions involved in addressing these issues in the world. Therefore, we need to work together to ensure the availability of sufficient food at all times, improve physical and economic access to food, ensure stable food supply and promote healthy and balanced diets and adequate food utilization, in particular, by women and children,” Quarbo emphasized. The aim of the joint program in Liberia is to facilitate a more enabling environment for food and nutrition security and sustainable agricultural program.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 06, 2020 19:50 UTC
FBI points to China as biggest US law-enforcement threat
FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on the current threat environment, November 5, 2019. In advance of Thursday’s event, Evanina estimated the theft of American trade secrets by China costs the United States “anywhere from $300 to $600 billion” a year. The FBI data shows an aggressively stepped-up campaign by U.S. authorities to root out Chinese espionage operations pursuing American secrets. They also caught and jailed former CIA and Defense Intelligence Agency officials on espionage charges linked to China. According to CSIS, of 137 publicly reported instances of Chinese-linked espionage against the United States since 2000, 73% took place in the last decade.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 06, 2020 19:22 UTC
LIBERIA: Residents of Monrovia Environs Scramble for Water as the City Infrastructure falters
Monrovia- In Liberia’s crowded capital, outdated water infrastructure struggles to meet growing demand as drought dries up wells across the city. The Liberia Water and Sewer is the government’s responsibility body to provide water for citizens. Famatta and others say the city council should ensure that water is at a less cost specifically as Liberia’s economic difficulties. The Government of Liberia through the National Legislature in August 2016 passed into Law the National Water Supply and Sanitation Commission Act. Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation is still struggling to deal with its eroded pipes since the end of the civil crisis.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 06, 2020 18:56 UTC
Liberia: 12 Health Facilities to access solar energy under UNDP’s Solar for Health Project
Solar power facilities are to be installed in Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Bong, Gbarpolu, Montserrado, Lofa and Bomi Counties. Monrovia – A Solar for Health Project funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has targeted about 12 health centers in seven Counties, expected to benefit. Solar power facilities are to be installed in Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Bong, Gbarpolu, Montserrado, Lofa and Bomi Counties. He said the initiative will Increase access to health services by vulnerable populations, reduce carbon emissions as Liberia struggles with climate change issues and Improve the overall power supply of health facilities. Some of the facilities to benefit include: Sinje Clinic, Cape Mount County; Palala Health Center, Bong County; Konia Health Center, Telewoyan Hospital, Vahun Health Centre, and Kolahun health center all in Lofa County, as well as, St Timothy Hospital in Robertsport and the Buchanan Health Facility among others.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 06, 2020 16:18 UTC
Will There Soon Be A ‘New Dawn’ For Wuhan? – The Corona Virus Chronicles
The dormitory apartments hosting over a thousand international students at Wuhan University are all but literally empty now. Wuhan University SIE and some other universities are planning to provide academic guidance to students through the internet and other ways. My Department, the School of Journalism and Communication of Wuhan University-SIE, have already established online classrooms for its students. A general feeling of calmness, along with a sense of belonging, is taking hold among the few international students left on Wuhan University campus. When given the opportunity, I would not leave the safe confinement of the Wuhan University campus.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 06, 2020 16:18 UTC
ECOWAS, World Bank collaborate on securitisation of payments related to cross-border power trade in West Africa
Ministers in charge of Energy from Six Member States of ECOWAS (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone), Experts and the World Bank met in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire to collaborate and adopt a policy on the Securitisation of Payments Related to Cross-Border Power Trade in West Africa. In order to cope with the low access of West African population to electricity, which remains one of the major challenges of the region, ECOWAS Member States have decided to focus on pooling efforts through the development of an integrated electricity market. Mr. Cheick Fantamady Kante, the Country Director of the World Bank in Côte d’Ivoire, congratulated ECOWAS Member States for the ability to generate excess electricity in the region; especially Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria. He stressed that exchange of this surplus energy among Member States will be beneficial to the whole region. Highlighting that, “one of the major setbacks for socio-economic development and poverty reduction in the ECOWAS Region remains the insufficient supply and poor access to electricity by the populations despite the enormous potentials”.
Source:GNN Liberia
February 06, 2020 08:39 UTC
Liberia’s Foreign Service Quagmire: Maybe It’s Time to Cut Back on Missions to Save Cost & Lives
EACH AND EVERY YEAR, The Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute, established since the 1950s, to offer broad based program of professional training for the young entrants to the Foreign Service of Liberia, has been offering training and research to scores of Liberians looking for entry into the foreign service. THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS for anyone yearning for a way out of Liberia and a window into the foreign service. SPEAK TO ANY Liberian working in the foreign service today and you will hear the stories of pain, anguish, disappointment and suffering. IRONICALLY, the Foreign Service Manual, which all students at the Foreign Service Institute are required to study, stipulates that the government is responsible for the health and welfare of diplomats. According to him, it was enshrined in the foreign service manual.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 06, 2020 08:26 UTC
Climate Action Take Center Stage as Liberia Hosts First Informer Green Climate Board Meeting
Farmington, Margibi County – Board members of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have pledged their commitment to scale up GCF support to developing countries battling the crippling effects of climate. The GCF is the world’s largest fund dedicated to empowering countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. Liberia, for the first time, is hosting the three-day informal Board meeting currently taking place in Farmington, Margibi County. He added higher temperatures, more extreme weather events such as heavy rain, devastating storm and coastal erosion are a clear manifestation of the devastating impacts of climate change. He pledged the country’s commitment to meeting its obligation under the Paris Climate Change Agreement and said following the completion of the climate vulnerability and risk assessment on the impact of climate change, the country adopted the National Policy and Response Strategy on Climate Change which outlines the short and long-term measures in addressing climate change.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 06, 2020 08:26 UTC
‘See and Treat Approach’ – Local NGO Launches Initiative to Tackle Cervical Cancer in Liberia
Monrovia – Cervical Cancer accounts for more than 40 percent of all women suffering from cancer in the world and about two-thirds of cancer deaths. She stressed that “screening is crucial to early diagnosis and prevention of cervical cancer”, while adding that PHIL is advocating for the “political will and commitment in the fight against cervical cancer” in the country. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix of a female, which is at the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer. She disclosed that PHIL has also embarked on a “cost-effective” cervical cancer screening program by using the “See and Treat approach” which is gear towards preventing cervical cancer among women in the country.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 06, 2020 08:15 UTC
Liberia: 11-Year-Old Raped Victim’s Father Attacked
I immediately called the Justice Minister, who had told me to call him whenever there was a threat against me. The man was arrested,” said the victim’s father, who name we are deliberately with holding. According to the father, his child is responding to treatment; and expressed his thanks to the Ministry of Justice and others who had been helping his child get treated. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice issued a statement on Monday, Feb. 3, condemning the act of violence against children. “This year 2020 The Ministry of Justice is saying zero tolerance to Rape, Domestic Violence, Child Violence, the compromising of cases, by family members of survivors and the perpetrators.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 06, 2020 08:15 UTC
Liberian Rubber Farmers Urged to Add Value to Product
Madam Mulbah-Siaway said rubber farmers especially smallholders make up the majority of the rubber producers, adding that farmers have been earning their livelihood from rubber farming, but the declining price of natural rubber has affected many of these farmers to the point of forcing some to shut down. She attributed the massive progress in the Ivoirian’s rubber industry to value chain addition to their natural rubber production, stressing the need for Liberian farmers to imitate such. The RPAL’s president noted that one of the ways to add value to rubber is the building of processing plants to purify natural rubber, thus adding more value to rubber production in Liberia. “To Liberian farmers and rubber producers, we can’t stay here and just be planting and just depended on how mush Firestone is going to pay us for a pound. The Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL), Inc. is a private not-for-profit entity established in 1966 by an Act of the Liberian Legislature.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 06, 2020 08:00 UTC
Armed Forces of Liberia 63rd Armed Forces Day Symposium Promote Gender-Sensitive Army
The theme of the symposium was “Strategies to incorporate more females in the security sector: AFL in perspective”. Serving as keynote speaker, the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Cllr Jamesstta Wolokolie, explained how women can play an important role by imparting the society when they are in the army. “When I was growing up, I used to run whenever I see an army man and if it was a woman, I do not think I was going to run,” Cllr Wolokolie said. “Low salary, maternity leave, specialized skills, and other things are hampering women from joining the army. Bowier explained that besides the 1980 Coup d’etat, women have been involved in so many positive things in the army.
Source:Front Page Africa
February 06, 2020 07:52 UTC