Minister of Health Describes the Launch of Digital Midwifery as Leap of Fate for LiberiaMONROVIA – Liberia has become the second African country to launch an online or digital midwifery examination system, following its first launch in the subregion of Ghana, which shares a similar idea to enable Liberia to get such history recorded. Liberia’s record follows the launch of the online midwifery examination by the Liberia Board of Nursing and Midwifery in Monrovia over the weekend. During the official launch of the digital midwifery examination system, Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah described the initiative as a ‘leap of fate’ for Liberia, as the second country in Africa, following Ghana which is already in full swing. She also noted that the digital process will support an environmentally friendly environment by avoiding cutting down trees to produce papers. At the same time, Minister Jallah then promised the Ministry of Health support towards the digital examination process to make it successful and to take ownership of the digital exam.

VAHUN, Lofa County – Forest and wildlife are said to be under threat in Vahun District, near the Liberian-Sierra Leone borders. LFMW observed that most of the pitsawers in Vahun forest are Sierra Leonean nationals. Also authorities of Vahun District are said to be overwhelmed with mining activities taken place in Vahun. On Monday, July 19, 2021, the Town Chief of Vahun, Foday Konneh disclosed that mining activities in Vahun district is affecting the forest. After hours of inquiries, both parties through the Sierra Leonean authorities blamed the Town Chief of Bandoma in Sierra Leone for the incident.

By Francis G. Boayue, InternMonrovia – The Liberia Civil Aviation Authority (LCAA), Ministry of Transport and the Roberts Flight Information Region, has signed a resolution with BANJUL Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) to establish Liberia’s first Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau by July 2022. By Francis G. Boayue, InternBAGAIA is an international organization that assists African member states to conduct of independent investigation of aircraft accident in compliance with international standard. He added, “That the Minister of Transport in conjunction with the Director General of Liberia Civil Aviation Authority will communicate with YATRA to levy fees on ticket to fund AAID Liberia”. The resolution after being read, was signed by the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority Boss, Moses Y. Kollie, Ministry of Transport and the BANJUL Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency Commissioner. For his part, the BAGAIA’s Commissioner, Charles Irekefe Erhueh, lauded special thanks to the Minister of Transport and the Liberia’s Aviation Authority Boss for the hospitality and assured the Liberia’s transport sector joint effort for the establishment of the Liberia aircraft accident investigation bureau by July 2022.

BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa County – The Superintendent of Grand Bassa County Janjay Baikpeh has written the Bassa Legislative Caucus requesting for the endorsement and approval of a far-reaching financial audit in the county. Superintendent Baikpeh also wants an audit of Grand Bassa County Scrap Account with the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment for the same fiscal periods. The Grand Bassa Caucus Chair warned that the people Grand Bassa and laws of the Republic will hold anyone held responsible for any form of mismanagement to account. While other motives for the request of such sweeping audit remain unknown, there had been reports of continuous corruption and financial mismanagement of county and social development funds in Grand Bassa and all other counties across Liberia. A General Auditing Commission (GAC) reports of 2018 allegedly linked several Grand Bassa County former and current officials to missing scrap money between June 2014 and July 2016.

It would become known as the Lutheran Church massacre and bring international attention to the conflict that was unfolding. “For more than two decades, Liberians have known that their government perpetrated the Lutheran Church Massacre,” said Hassan Bility of Global Justice Research Project. “I know I was not part of the Lutheran Church massacre. And there was no evidence Thomas committed immigration fraud, the violation for which Mohammed Jabbateh and Thomas Jucontee Woewiyu were convicted in Pennsylvania in 2017 and 2019. Lutheran Church survivor shows scars from the massacre.

Jewel Howard-Taylor has been inducted in the Africa Leadership Magazine Hall of Fame. This induction according to the Africa Leadership Magazine, is the highest cadre of membership of the prestigious African Leadership Council. Madam Vice President was inducted on the basis of her prolonged advocacy for quality education across Africa, women empowerment, gender equality and the respect for human rights. The Africa Leadership Magazine is published by African Leadership (UK) limited, which publishes stories and analyses of people and events in and out of Africa. It is an international platform which brings together the best minds across the African continent, in order to promote good governance, and economic development.

Massaquoi was under witness protection for his role informing on ex-combatants in Sierra Leone’s civil war for the post-war justice tribunals held in the country including the Special Court for Sierra Leone which convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes. He insisted Massaquoi was in Liberia in the northern county of Lofa which was a crossing point between Sierra Leone and Liberia. The witness claimed that he was born, schooled in Sierra Leone and was recruited as a child to fight by Massaquoi. “I know Massaquoi killed Superman, because I was behind him when he was killed in Lofa and I saw it. The court held hearings in Liberia and Sierra Leone in March and April but has returned to examine key questions in the case.

Monrovia- Catholics in Liberia are mourning the death of the newly appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Monrovia, the Reverend Fr. Before his death Fr. Boyce served the Catholic Church for several years as Parish Priest for various churches to include St! Mary Catholic Church in Duala, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on the Pipeline Road, and Administrator of the St. Charles Luwanga Pre-Major Seminary, then Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Monrovia, before being appointed as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Monrovia. His appointment as Apostolic Administrator comes after the Vatican accepted the resignation of Arch Bishop Lewis Jerome Zeigler.

Ganta, Nimba County – In continuation of its support to Government of Liberia (GoL) to combat the novel coronavirus disease, the health NGO Refuge Place International (RPI) has extended its gesture to Bong and Nimba Counties with the donation of four factory-made oxygen concentrators to treatment units. The donation of the oxygen concentrators to the two counties came barely after a week of the donation of 11 concentrators to health facilities across Montserrado. Dr. Netty Joe, County Health Officer (CHO) of Nimba County, said the county’s health officials have tremendously performed at the highest level to avoid referral as Montserrado itself is overwhelmed with different health cases. Dr. Jonathan Flomo, County Health Officer of Bong County, like Dr. Joe, and also pleaded for more support and vowed to ensure that the donated concentrators are used for their intended reasons. Prior to this donation, he said there was only one oxygen concentrator at the Bong County treatment unit.

The Foreign Lobby Report which provides comprehensive coverage of the latest foreign lobbying in Washington first reported the opposition lobbying on its website Friday. A copy of the Foreign Agents Registration Act document detailing the report in possession of FrontPageAfrica, states that both White and Birrell are signatories to the document. The Lobbying Report stated Friday that LIROI’s office in Monrovia is being run by Mr. Sylvester Grigsby, a Minister of State for Presidential Affairs under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Bongo reportedly wired more than $18 million to “The Grace Group LLC, a U.S. corporation formed by Mr. [Jeffrey] Birrell,” the report states. It is incumbent upon the Commission to ascertain if funding is on-going from Liberia political leaders, directly or indirectly to witnesses that it selects.”

The UL second entrance and placement exams were administered on July 31, August 7, 14 and 21, 2021 for undergraduate and graduate programs. He said the second entrance results reflect higher performance by female candidates, comprising 1,363 (43.35%) of the total successful candidates. Of the 16 successful candidates, nine (56.25%) candidates are males while seven (43.75%) are females. Announcing the results, Assistant Prof. Hinneh said the second entrance exam saw two candidates who performed the best. Prof. Dr. Julius Julukon Sarwolo Nelson, Jr., hailed the successful candidates,particularly the four students who topped the university entrance exams.

It has begun doing just that and diligently, as a high power Liberian government delegation is already in the U.S. and has begun making some strides for support. In an earlier remark, Finance and development Planning Minister, Samuel Tweah, updated Director Banks on Liberia’s economic resurgence, noting that Liberia’s economic recovery after COVID-19 is positive and that the government is committed to broader economic and investment climate reforms. ”The government economic and governance programs are already aligned to the Biden Administration’s Africa Priorities which is heavy on democratic rights. During a visit to his office on Capitol Hill, Senator Cruz promised to be a strong voice in Congress for Liberia. The Liberian delegation is expected to meet with more Biden Administration officials, and Congressmen and Women across party lines in the coming days.

MONROVIA –Authorities in Monrovia have announced that the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce of Liberia, headed by Minister of Labor, Cllr. Charles Gibson, and the Liberia National Police (LNP) are investigating a Cameroonian lady, identified as Violet Njuakon for allegedly trafficking three of her compatriots. Meanwhile, the lady is currently being held by the LNP for further investigations, while the victims are now in the Safe-Home of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce of Liberia. The U.S. state department in its 2020 report stated that over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Liberia, and traffickers exploit victims from Liberia abroad. Recently, the U.S. Embassy in Liberia congratulated the Liberian Legislature on its recent votes to amend the 2005 Anti-Human Trafficking law in keeping with international standards.

Margibi County – The Office of Representative Tibelrosa Summoh Tarponweh has donated medical supplies to over twelve private and public health facilities within District #1, Margibi County. Mr. Mah said the donation of the medical materials is the Margibi County District One Lawmaker’s way of assisting in curbing the constraints health workers face in saving lives, especially during these difficult times. He further urged the health workers to utilize the materials and continue their “good work”. “Representative Tarponweh has been following the constraints you [health workers] are facing to save lives. The Lawmaker sent us to officially donate these medical materials to you.

Liberia Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Transport and Roberts Flight Information Host Joint Meeting with BAGAIA to Establish Aircraft Investigative Bureau in LiberiaMonrovia- The Liberia Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Transport and the Roberts Flight Information Region has begun discussions with the BANJUL accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) in an effort to familiarize and strengthen cooperation and relationship with Liberia as member state and as well establish an Independent investigation of aircraft accident bureau in Liberia. BAGAIA is an international organization that assists African Member States in the conduct of independent investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents in compliance with international standards. On Thursday in Monrovia, the Liberia Aviation Authority’s Boss, Moses Y. Kollie welcomed the BAGAIA’s Commissioner, Charles Irekefe Erhueh to Liberia for a two-day meeting with key on the agenda, the establishment of the Independent Investigative accident bureau. Making remarks on behalf of the BAGAIA, commissioner Charles Irekefe Erhueh asserted: “We are glad that our sister nation, Liberia has recognized the importance of accident investigation as a means to save lives in the future and with such, has agreed to help in the establishment of a truly Independent Accident Investigation agency.”The Liberia’s Transport Minister, Mr. Sam Wlue expressed thanks to BAGAIA and assured the Governmen’st effort to place strong emphasis on the development and safety of the airspace. “Environment protection in the civil aviation sector is important to ensure effective and efficient use of aircrafts that will ensure environmental integrity and promote climate change mitigation and adaptation”, according to Minister Wlue.