Those same journalists, as it stands, have now gone more than a year without getting a penny from their employers—who takes the blame for the journalists’ precarious economic situation…obviously, the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chief Editor of the newspaper, Joaquin M. Sendolo, says the economic independence for journalists in Liberia has no magnitude for discussion because it is not possible to happen now. “But this is also difficult in Liberia.”The Publisher of the News Public Trust Newspaper, Frank Sainworla, says Liberia media has been in a bad shape economically for so long which has worsened due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sainworla said due to the fact that reporters have not been able to receive their monthly salaries, journalists have turned to mix public relations with journalism. This story was produced with support from Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), through the Mobilizing Media in the Fight Against COVID-19 in partnership with FrontPageAfrica.

MONROVIA – At the 45th Meeting of the Convergence Council of Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the WAMZ held on Friday, August 27 via Zoom, Liberia assumed the leadership of the Convergence Council of the WAMZ, taking over from Sierra Leone. He noted that although Liberia has not received a dime in central bank financing for two fiscal years now, it is said to have failed the Central Bank financing indicator because of COVID-19 related disbursement from the IMF that were on-lent to Government through the Central Bank of Liberia. The Minister argued that this should not be considered normal central bank financing. After presentation of a technical report from the Governors Council, presented by CBL Governor Aloysius Tarlue, who also assumed the Chairmanship of the WAMZ Governors Committee, Ministers and Governors deliberated a number of observations and recommendations. The meeting adjourned after adopting the report from the Governors Council and is expected to convene during the next scheduled Convergence Council meeting.

Monrovia – The Government of Liberia has ordered that Rubber Processing Factory at the Liberia Agricultural Company (LAC) remains closed until it is assessed by independent technicians for the purpose of safety of workers following the recent industrial accident. Members of the joint delegations were: the Chairman of Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Willington Geevon Smith and Senator J. Milton Tenjay, Labour Minister, Cllr. Speaking to journalists after the day long visit, Labour Minister Cllr. We held discussions with the workers union, they held their part of the story and concerns. It be recalled that late last week an employee of the LAC got killed as a result of an industrial accident at the rubber processing factory of the company.

Monrovia — Some Authorized Forest Communities (AFCs) in Liberia are expected to benefit from legal capacity, dispute resolution and alternative livelihood training in order to improve community forest governance as they grapple with lots of challenges since the coming into being of community forestry regime. The NICFI Project will implement the project in Liberia under the title: “Building Legal Foundation for Sustainable Forests and Livelihoods”. “We would like to see community forestry really benefiting communities across the globe – we also see the enormous potential of community forestry in Liberia. A representative of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), Atty. Yanquoi Dolo, committed the FDA’s willingness to work along with the consortium partners to promote sustainable forest governance and community forestry programs across the country.

MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia and partners of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector have observed the celebration of Breastfeeding Week in Liberia. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration signed in August 1990 by government policymakers, WHO, UNICEF and other organizations to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. World Breastfeeding Week has meanwhile been officially launched in Liberia to create more awareness on the importance of breastfeeding. The Liberian government has described the official launch of World Breastfeeding Week as a demonstration and unwavering commitment to join forces to protect and promote breastfeeding in the country. World Breastfeed Week this year is celebrated under the theme: “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility”

We have been calling for electoral reform since 2018 and this pressing national concern cannot be overlooked. Review criteria pertinent to establishing and registering political parties in order to promote more cohesion and policy in party organizations. Review of regulatory requirements relating to political parties’ nomination of candidates and assessing procedures related thereto. We call on opposition political parties to focus more on electoral reform ahead of 2023. The breakdown:1) 2017 – Euros 10 million ($11.2 million USD)2) 2016 – Euros 16 million ($18 million USD)3) 2015 – Euros 29.2 million ($33 million USD)Read: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/liberia_en/29703/European%20Union%20injects%20EUR10%20million%20into%20Liberia%20budget.

When he established the facts, he advises the president that the matter needs to proceed to that level,” Min. They claimed that their invitation to Liberia came through Cannon Group of Companies which apparently arranged their coming through Madam Keita’s office. She (The Alleged Minister) agreed that this would be acceptable period but that we had to inform of the change in flights as soon as possible. And an immediate investigation is done by the legal advisor who is the lawyer of the president and of the Ministry of State,” Min. Individuals wanting to come to Liberia to invest, Liberia is a free country.

VOINJAMA, Lofa County – In Liberia, the Constitution provides that the Supreme Court is the final arbiter of justice with no other hope for any individual against whom the Supreme Court gives an opinion. Perhaps the only other hope any individual who disagrees with the Supreme Court’s opinion in Liberia is God, and until that time, the opinion by the Supreme Court is final and nothing can change it. In some instances, the Court recalls its own opinion, but sometimes after the person affected by the decision has already served the punishment. One man believes while the ruling by the Supreme Court is final, he has a right to seek clarity from the High Court relating to the way in which the Court has given an opinion in involving him. According to Samukai nothing should be ambiguous about the interpretation of the word “disability” as being used by the Supreme Court in blocking his certification by the NEC.

Joseph Gardea Johnson, III to join and support CORLE in the fight to restore Liberians 5% birth right to profit in petroleum contracts. Johnson- follows a review of the original section of Liberia’s 2014 Petroleum Law on citizens participation alongside a clandestine amendment made to the law in 2019. The amendment transferred potential billions of future oil profit from a Citizens Fund mechanism- that would have benefited every Liberian- to 9 politically connected Liberians with “oil & gas companies”. Before the amendment, the law required a 5% share FOR THE BENEFIT OF A CITIZENS FUND and mandated how Citizens Fund should be managed. Johnson’s experience and commitment to fighting for justice and accountability will help reverse the 2019 amendment and by that protect billions of oil profit for poor Liberians.

Monrovia – The Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD) has released a four-month Covid-19 monitoring findings from 84 public health facilities across Montserrado, Margibi and Nimba Counties. “Meeting with MOH and visiting public places, our report shows the government’s weakness to enforce the full compliance to health protocol,” Yeanay said. Mr. Yeanay added: “The Ministry of Health shall ensure that public health facilities regularly enforce all health protocols measures irrespective of persons. Yeanay said: “The Ministry of Health should make the supply of the COVID-19 vaccines as a matter of health emergency and decentralize the COVID-19 testing process across the country. “That the Ministry of Health requires all public health facilities to document and make monthly reports for all medical supplies received directly or indirectly.

By William G. Nyanue, Former Senatorial Candidate, Grand Gedeh CountyI am releasing this press statement today because I am gravely concerned about the recently leaked audio recording about Grand Gedeh County’s community radio station, Smile FM. He also alleged that the station manager supported my campaign during the December 8, 2020 senatorial election. For these leaders, these Grand Gedeans become mortal enemies whose humiliation and financial and economic destruction become their obsession. Several qualified Grand Gedeans cannot get public sector employment today because of this destructive, unpatriotic, narrow-minded thinking. The leaked audio recording confirms that this practice of undermining and working to muzzle their fellow Grand Gedeans continues even today.

Klay, Bomi County – Community Based Organizations and Women Rights Groups in Bomi County have received training in gender inclusion in forest governance and land matters. The training was conducted by Rural Integrated Center for Community Empowerment (RICCE) under the Green Livelihood Alliance-GLA 2.0 program (“Forests for a Just Future.”) on August 17, 2021. Murpha Fully, Chairlady of Klay District Rural Women complained about limited capacity for grassroots rights based advocacy organizations championing the rights of women and ordinary citizens in rural communities. RICCE’s training comes amidst campaigns by Women Rights Group for women to take advantage of upcoming elections for Community Forest Development Committees across the country. Meanwhile, participants have craved for more women inclusion in forest, land and other natural resource programs in Liberia.

GBARNGA, Bong County – As visitors approach the “Hague” bloc at Gbarnga Central Prison, a sea of hands-waving tin cups automatically jerk through the bars of the dark cells. In the Gbarnga Central Prison, inmates at the “Hague” bloc are locked up all day long, said a prison official. The Gbarnga Central Prison is a clear example. They fight to survive.”Some of the inmates at the Gbarnga Central Prison narrated harrowing experiences when FrontPageAfrica visited the place. Prison conditions weigh heavily on the detainees, often causing depression and other psychological problems, according to Juakollie.

Mr. Samukai was declared the winner of the December 8, 2020 senatorial election in Lofa. He emphasized that with the prolonged stay of Mr. Samukai as a Defense Minister, he should not be seen or considered as an “ordinary man”. He noted that Mr. Samukai remains one of the best “military species” across the West African sub-region and as such, “issues involving him should be handled in a way that justice will be served in an expeditious form”. In July, the Supreme Court Justice Joseph Nagbe granted the Government of Liberia’s request to order the National Elections Commission (NEC) to halt the certification of Lofa County Senator-elect J. Brownie Samukai, Jr. The government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice filed a writ of prohibition on March 29, 2021 to prevent Senator-elect Samukai, Jr. from being certificated by the National Elections Commission.

MONROVIA – The Ministry of Justice, following an investigation by the Women and Children Section of the Liberia National Police, has recommended the exoneration of Lt. Col. Nyankun E. Williams of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) from an allegation of rape levied against him by Sgt. Following the information, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) High Command relieved Lieutenant Colonel Nyankun E. Williams of his post as Commandant of the Armed Forces Training Command (AFTC) based on the allegation of rape. The AFL High Command later forwarded Lieutenant Colonel Williams to the Military Police to face investigation. He added that the Ministry of Justice also sent the findings of the investigation into an allegation of rape involving Lieutenant Colonel Nyankun E. Williams to the Ministry of National Defense. “We appreciate the support from all our counterparts, especially the Liberian National Police during the period of this investigation,” he said.