Liberia: “Loose Talks” – Amara Konneh Describes Min. Tweah’s Assertion on Civil Servants Salary
It can be recalled that Minister Tweah recently told residents of Barrobo Statutory District in Maryland County that President Weah “didn’t run for office to pay people on time”. “These are not the problem he (President Weah) is coming solve. “The real reasons for the fiscal imbalances in Liberia today are poor institutions, bad politics as well as the people managing both. Mr. Konneh added that Minister Tweah must understand that his assertions were wrong because though economics and politics go together, economics is about people who elect politicians, including Presidents. His promised to ensure the payment of civil servants salaries the 25th of every month is yet to come to fruition.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 23, 2019 07:27 UTC
Liberia’s Disability Community charts dignity-protection livelihood strategy
The 2019’s celebration was held on Friday, December 20 in a classroom of the William V.S. “This program was planned in three days,” NUOD’s President Naomi B. Harris buttressed the Secretary’s clarification. “Emmanuel called me seconds ago, saying his machine is faulty, so cannot reach him to this program in time,” NUOD’s President, Madam Naomi B. Harris, relayed Emmanuel’s message to the body. He reiterated the George Manneh Weah-led Government’s pledge to support the Disability Community on the UN’s CRPD. Many of the watchers of Liberia’s rights-related say successive Liberian Government’s failure to domesticate the Provisions in the UN’s Conventions for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been found as the tallest barrier to Liberia’s Disabled Persons’ enjoyment of all rights-related freedom.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 23, 2019 06:00 UTC
Central Bank of Liberia Assures Transparency in Printing of L$4 Billion
The decision to print Liberian dollar banknotes is in accordance with Parts II & V of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Act of 1999. Under these provisions, the CBL, upon the approval by the National Legislature, has the responsibility to print and issue Liberian dollar banknotes in the economy. This demand is also largely explained by the increasing volume of mutilated Liberian dollar banknotes, the introduction of a surrender policy on remittances of foreign exchange, increased collections of duties/taxes in Liberian dollars. Other demand factors include the spiraling inflation that is fueling more need of spending in Liberian dollars, perennial lack of bank branches in few counties to mobilize deposits in Liberian dollars, and the demographic effects of newer age groups entering the labor force, thus inducing demand for Liberian dollars. Local and international investors are encouraged to bring their innovations to the fore by investing in financial digitization and the overall digitization of the Liberian economy.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 23, 2019 05:44 UTC
Jola House Identifies With Pregnant Women and Baby Mothers
The organization gave out several items designed and produced by members of the Jola House. Some of the items distributed include African bags; African baby blankets, African utility bags, and breast sanitizing towels, among others. Jola House was established in 2012, but officially began operations in 2013 and has been engaged in training women to contribute to their communities in those various skills they have acquired. Jola House is a fashion design business that produces African utility bags and other locally made domestic products. “We have been training less fortunate women because that the vision of Jola House — to empower less privileged women to build their capacities to have self-esteem and values.
Source:Daily Observer
December 23, 2019 05:06 UTC
Liberia: Two Communities sign Logging Contracts, but Sector Woes Loom
“Before you sign third party (logging contract), you need substantive proofs, technical and financial capabilities. A contract between logging company and a community becomes a law even if the FDA doesn’t sign, according to the CRL. Most people will only see the [logging] agreement at the signing date.” It was NUCFMB’s second time to witness the signing of a logging contract. There are similar problems with the Korninga-Coveiyalah logging contract, according Jonathan W. Yiah of the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI). The woes of the community forestry sector could change euphoria here into melancholy in the future.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 23, 2019 05:03 UTC
35 Journalists Get Training in Human Rights Reporting
— Call for strong collaboration in the promotion of human rights across the countryThe Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), with support from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), has completed phase II of its training program intended for Liberian journalists to develop their knowledge and skills in human rights reporting. Unlike reporting on events, which many Liberian journalists do, Human Rights reporting is a specialized area in which a journalist needs training to become or au courant with. The training also drilled participants in International Human Rights Principles, Obligations, Standards and Reporting strategies and news reporting ethics in human rights reporting. Dr. Sonny Onyegbula, Head of Programs at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted the importance of the training and emphasized that there has been limited training for journalists on human rights. The objective of the training was to enhance the capacity of journalists to report on human rights issues, ensure human rights issues form part of the national discourse by media practitioners across Liberia; and improve human rights education-specific locations.
Source:Daily Observer
December 23, 2019 05:03 UTC
LPRC Honorably Retires Seven Employees
The management of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) has retired seven of its employees, following long years of public service to the government of Liberia. The retirees received retirement packages in line with LPRC’s regulations and the Civil Service Agency (CSA) Pension Law. Today, the 13th cycle of the Retirement program is in appreciation of our retirees’ contributions to LPRC and the Republic of Liberia,” said Madam Coleman. “Today, LPRC is a better place to be because of our collective efforts. A member of the LPRC board, George Kpawuolo, presenting several gifts to the retirees, lauded them for rendering their valuable services to the company.
Source:Daily Observer
December 23, 2019 05:03 UTC
Liberia Loses US$18M Annually on Water Borne Diseases
Dr. Fallah said foodborne diseases are problems for Liberia as the country continues to experience foodborne diseases in both imported and locally produced food. The last two years the assessment was done, it shows that Liberia lacks these important documents,” Dr. Fallah indicated. In Liberia today, we test for Lassa fever, and yellow fever and sent samples to Senegal,” Dr. Fallah explained. Timing is very important during a disaster because the late response would create a problem,” Dr. Fallah said. Interestingly, each of the agencies here today has a unique strength, resources, and expertise,” Dr. Fallah said.
Source:Daily Observer
December 23, 2019 05:03 UTC
Sustaining Awareness on Climate Change
With approximately US$40,000 funding, MBL will engage stakeholders including youths and coastal communities in Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, and Margibi counties in massive awareness activities. The awareness will focus on marine pollution, sustainable fishing, and climate change. The initiative will showcase the Government of Sweden’s continual support to environment and climate change issues in Liberia. It would remind the general population about the danger that marine pollution, particularly plastic pollution, poses to the environment and the survival of marine resources. Marine pollution, climate change, and sustainable fishing were among the critical thematic areas considered during the Liberia Blue Oceans Conference, forming the foundation of the initiative.
Source:Daily Observer
December 23, 2019 05:03 UTC
“No Encouragement for Urban Farmers”
–Farmers opposite Old Road Junction sayDespite interest expressed by the Liberian government to prioritize Agriculture to reduce poverty among rural and urban dwellers engaged in farming activities, the country’s urban farming sector is still faced with numerous challenges. Urban farming is the growing of crops and raising of animals within and around cities. Urban and peri-urban agriculture was launched in Liberia in 2011 to create jobs for the urban poor to increase food production in Liberian cities. But since the end of the program, not much attention has been paid to urban farmers to motivate them in their pursuit of sustainability. Liberia is yet to draft a policy on urban land use for agriculture purposes.
Source:Daily Observer
December 23, 2019 05:03 UTC
Solidaridad-Liberia Certificates 1916 Cocoa Farmers
… after Completion of Farmers Field Schools ProgramIn continuation of revitalizing the Liberian cocoa sector and bolstering “technical knowledge” at a community level, the Solidaridad West Africa-Liberia’s Office has completed a certification honoring program for 1916 farmers from Bong, Lofa, and Nimba counties. The program, which was separately carried out in the three counties, came after farmers completed a 10-month intensive “Cocoa Farmers Field Schools” program that the Solidaridad Office in Liberia conducted under the Liberia Cocoa Sector Improvement Programme (LCSIP). According to him, 1916 farmers from Nimba (774) , Lofa (652)and Bong (490) benefited from the FFS cocoa program. Also in Saclepea, Nimba, where another a batch of 774 farmers where certificated, Jeremiah Yangean, Mayor of Saclepea, lauded Solidaridad-Liberia for the “FFS” program. He, however, called on farmers to extend their set skills to other farmers who did not benefit from the training.
Source:Daily Observer
December 23, 2019 05:03 UTC
Illicit Miners Invade Gola Forest Nat’l Park
Gola Forest National Park cuts across Sierra Leone and Liberia. “It is a pity as a country to sit and see the Gola Forest National Park go the way it is going,” Garbo says. OutnumberedApart from being unarmed, forest rangers at Gola Park are outnumbered by illicit miners. He said 40 of them will be recruited as eco-guards and will help rangers protect the park from illicit miners and poachers. In the last five years, the country has created this park, Grebo-Krahn National Park, East Nimba National Reserve, and Lake Piso Multiple Use Reserve.
Source:Daily Observer
December 23, 2019 05:03 UTC
Dutch NGO, Government validate Land Use Plan for District in Sinoe
People who participated in the validation of the Kpanyan Land use plan in Numopoh, Sinoe County photo by IDHMONROVIA – The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) and the Sustainable Trade Initiatives (IDH) of the Netherlands have validated a land use plan for Kpanyan Statutory District, Sinoe County, the second district in the country to do so since the passage into law of the Land Rights Act a year ago. The law made headlines across the world for recognizing customary communities land ownership, but requires them to develop a plan that spells out clearly how they intend to use their land. Once completed, Kpanyan’s land use plan will cover more than 100,000 hectares of land across the entire district, according to IDH. The Foya land use plan was developed by the people of district themselves with technical support from Meta Meta Research, another Dutch consulting firm. The draft plan was validated in the communities that make up the Kpanyan Statutory District and in Greenville City last week.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 23, 2019 04:52 UTC
Sios, US-based Liberian Family, Breaks Ground for Construction of New Jr High School in Buchanan
The Sios breaking grounds for the construction of a new junior high school in BuchananBUCHANAN, Grand Bassa – A United States-based Liberian family, who is the main brain behind the Annie T. Doe Memorial Foundation (ATDMF) in Sugar Cane Farm Community, Buchanan City, has led the ground breaking for the construction of a junior high building for the academy. He shared his excitement that after 10 years of the Foundation’s existence, he was glad that they are going to construct a new building for their junior high. “This will expand our educational and women’s empowerment programs and allow us to increase enrollment to 500 children,” Mr. Sio added. The Sios were also accompanied by another Annie T. Doe Memorial Foundation board member, who is also the granddaughter of the late Annie T. Doe. The Foundation also provides community scholarship to graduating high school students from in Charlotte communities, North Carolina“Every child deserves the right to a sound education.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 23, 2019 04:41 UTC
Liberia: Internal Audit Finds Over 700 Ghost Names Discovered on Ministry of Internal Affairs Payroll
Mr. Emmanuel Nyenswah, Director General of the Internal Auditing AgencyMonrovia – The Internal Audit Agency (IAA) has completed phase one of its payroll audit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs which led to the discovery of over seven hundred names of unverified individuals, out of the over five thousand employees listing submitted by the ministry for payroll verification. The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) is amongst several government entities whose payroll are being audited, in an effort to reduce waste and support the Government of Liberia’s Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development. The purpose of the payroll audit is to get rid of non-existent or ghost names from the ministry’s payroll. This, plus the many other completed payroll audits, will enable the Internal Audit Agency to help the government of Liberia in identifying opportunities to improve the system, procedures and processes to prevent the reactivation of non-legitimate employees on government’s payroll. Payroll verification is among the top two priorities of the Internal Audit Agency for the fiscal year, with fixed asset verification and management being the other priority areas.
Source:Front Page Africa
December 23, 2019 04:30 UTC