Liberia: Cummings Call for War and Economic Crimes Court to End Impunity
The United States further questioned the seriousness of the Senate for elevating Senator Johnson to that level and without hesitation stated that it would not work with Senator Johnson, neither Senator Sherman. Senator Johnson is recorded in the TRC Report as one of the individuals who committed numerous atrocities during the war. Despite the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s conclusions that atrocity crimes and serious violations of international law were committed, the Liberian government continues to waver over the creation of a recommended war crimes court to hold perpetrators to account. Cummings: “This is why I support the establishment of a war crimes court, and a court on economic crimes. He named the “Petition from the citizens of Liberia calling for the establishment of the war crimes court and the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s recommendations” which was submitted to the Legislature on May 24, 2018; and the “Petition from the citizens of Liberia on the establishment of war and economic crimes court that has been in committee room since June 2020.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 06:22 UTC
It’s Not Too Late The Fix The Rotten System In Liberia
HE POSTED, “Simple Question: Is the PYJ who was chair on the Senate Cmtee. AND THIS VIEW of the government is quite shameful and should have never been expressed, especially on social media. IT IS ONLY SAD and disappointing that the rotten system remains the order of the day – making many to regret their votes. IF IT WAS DONE wrongly in the past under a previous regime does not give the current government to continue to do it wrongly. WE CANNOT GROW as a nation when we continue to allow the culture of impunity to deepen its roots in our society.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 06:22 UTC
ArcelorMittal Locomotives Collide, 14 Person Injured
Mongbain Town, Nimba County – Two locomotives belonging to ArcelorMittal have collided head-on leading to the injury of 14 persons. The incident occurred at about 11:30pm Friday night when one of the locomotives transporting ore from Yekepa, Nimba County to the Port of Buchanan in Grand Bassa County collided with another locomotive returning from Buchanan. The empty train had three non-employees onboard while the one heading to Bassa with the ore had on board 11 people. The train from Yekepa was transporting 120 buckets of ore for export. Residents of Nimba County have blamed the incident as a result of poor communication from the management of the company.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 06:00 UTC
Liberia: Imminent Strike at Airports as Workers Decry Seven Months Work without Pay
MONROVIA – Employees of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) have not received their salaries for the past six months, FrontPageAfrica has gathered. Employees at the LAA the James Spriggs Payne Airport have complained that the management owes them seven months’ salaries. “We scare to speak out my son but it is not easy on us here at the airport, mainly we from Spriggs. The employees also explained that only 40% of a month’s salary has been paid to them. How can you pay 40% for a month when you supposed to give us 40% of the 7months owed?” another angry employee disclosed.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 06:00 UTC
Liberia: Deputy Speaker Breaks Ground for Fourth School Construction in Grand Kru County under 4 Years
District Coordinator Chris Joboe proxied for Deputy Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and formally break grounds for the construction of the Sally A. Togbabou Elementary School in Buah Worpluken, Grand Kru CountyBUAH WORPLUKEN, Grand Kru County – Liberia’s Deputy Speaker Grand Kru County District #2 Representative Cllr. J. Fonati on Saturday broke grounds for the construction of the Sally A. Togbabou Elementary School in Buah Wropluken, Grand Kru County. The new elementary school which is located in Buah Statutory District, when constructed, will be the second elementary school in the Buah Statutory district, with the Taybue Elementary School nearing 80% in completion. The Sally A. Togbabou Elementary School will be the fourth school to be erected in three statutory districts, including the completed Chemgbetee Elementary School in Dorboh Statutory District; and the George Tugbeh Worjloh Elementary School in Sasstown (Jroah) Statutory District which is about 90% completed.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 05:48 UTC
Liberia: Maryland Prelates Association Head Alarms Over Lack Of Remittance Of Social Development Fund By Concessionaires
Monrovia – Lack of remittance of social and corporate development fund has sparked up concerns among some key actors in Maryland County, forcing prelates to alarm on the need for concession companies to do so. Cyrus W. Tugbe said the lack of remitting social and corporate developments has created setback to developmental activities in the area. Tugbe also wants the Legislative Caucus of Maryland to quickly intervene by ensuring that the companies adhere to their corporate social responsibilities. According to him, the remittance of the social cooperate development fund should be done through the Ministry of Finance and Development planning and then deposited in the county’s account, Rev Tugbe added. The acting president of the Maryland County Christian Ministers Association further stated that the lack of social and County Development funds in Maryland County Account has resulted to a liability of US$90,000 Liberian dollars for transportation from the just ended National County Sports Meet.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 05:48 UTC
“Aquaculture a Foundation for Investment and Development In Liberia” – Says NaFAA DDGA
MONROVIA – The Deputy Director-General for Administration at the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority NaFAA, Hon. Augustine M. Manoballah has disclosed that aquaculture is the bedrock for investment and development in Liberia. Manoballah assured that the CDC led government has promised to give more attention to the development of the aquaculture sector as it is with the marine fisheries sector which is attracting more investment. Mr. Manoballah commended the European Union delegation to Liberia for been supportive of the Liberian fisheries sector and other projects geared toward promoting development in Liberia. Counties of intervention for the Africa Rice Fish and Rice project include in Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, Margibi, and Rivergee.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 05:48 UTC
Liberia: CONDO Welcomes Latest Probe into Land Disputes in Nimba, But With Caution
MONROVIA – The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Condo Reconciliation Group Incorporated, a United States-based non-governmental organization, Abraham Jaboik Keita, says Condo wholeheartedly welcomes the constitution of a special committee by President George Manneh Weah to mediate lingering land disputes in Nimba County towards finding an amicable solution. It can be recalled that recently, President Weah constituted the special committee and named it the Nimba County Conflict Resolution Committee. Among other things, the committee is charged with the responsibility to fully investigate the reported land disputes in Nimba County, particularly in Ganta, establish the root cause(s) of the recent violence in the county, and make recommendations for resolution. “Finding amicable resolution to the protracted land disputes in Nimba County also requires the collective efforts of all Liberians and not only the special committee members. The Condo boss recalled that prior to the constitution of the special committee by President Weah, his organization embarked on a plan to make a meaningful contribution to the reconciliation and healing process among citizens and residents of Nimba County.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 05:42 UTC
Liberian Disabled People’s “Work Issues” Rekindled on Swedish-Italian Partnership
The “stakeholders” include the Government of Liberia, Liberia Labour Congress, Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs), the media, and civil society organizations, said Mrs. Ricardia Dennis, Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), the Liberian Government’s arm on disabled people’s issues. “Currently I run the biggest computer training institute for visually impaired persons in Liberia,” Mr. Gewon, using Braille, blind people’s note book, during presentation, bragged. “The Civil Society Platform is pushing the general disabled people’s issues on qualification or competence of PWDs for work or advanced education, like in the case of Mr. Baryo,” Mr. Dempster said. Mr. Benjamin Nathan, Sr. and Mr. Matthew T. Bobowhe, served as Sign Language Interpreters of the Workshop for hearing-impaired participants. Mr. Nathan, Sr. is of the Liberia Sign Language Training Program; Mr. Bobowhe is of the National Commission on Disabilities.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 05:30 UTC
Central Bank of Liberia to Tackle Non-Performing Loans
The MPC noted favorable developments in the prices of palm oil, cocoa bean, rubber, and rice, as well as those of iron ore, crude oil, and precious minerals (excluding gold). The Liberian dollar, on the hand, appreciated to LD171.53/USD1.00 relative to LD 172.52/USD1.00 in quarter 4 of 2020. The banking sector, the MPC noted, remained compliant with the capital adequacy (CAR) and liquidity ratios (LR), at 29.3% and 47.6, respectively, well above their respective thresholds. Non-performing loans, however, remained above the regulatory tolerable level, worsening by a further 5.7 percentage points to reach 26.9% of total loans. Overall, the foregoing economic developments prompted the MPC to maintain the current Monetary Policy Rate at 25% and reserve requirements.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 24, 2021 00:11 UTC
Let us unite to eliminate violence against women and girls in Liberia
Let us unite to eliminate violence against women and girls in LiberiaThe 25th of every month has been proclaimed by the United Nations Secretary General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign as ‘Orange Day.’ This is a day set aside to raise awareness and to take action to end violence against women and girls across the world. The theme for this month’s ‘Orange Day’ campaign is ‘prevent.’ Advocacy efforts will therefore, focus on strategies to prevent violence against women and girls. Take a moment further to think about how we can prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls in Liberia. Let us intensify our efforts to end violence and enhance our commitment as governments, civil society, community members and individuals. “We encourage everyone to join us to share the information so that we unite to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in Liberia,” says Marie Goreth Nizigama, UN Women Liberia Country Representative.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 23, 2021 23:26 UTC
Liberia: Stopping The Suicide Danger
Suicide is committed every day here in Liberia and elsewhere in the world. What I am focusing on today is the suicide danger in Liberia due to the lack of knowledge about the dangerous situations of sanitation, public health pandemic and medication. From motorbikes to kehkehs to taxis to buses, the mask wearing and social distancing protocols are violated as the order of the day. Then a Street Seller, without mask, told me that corona was not in Liberia and that was why he was not wearing a mask. Some persons, some governments and some international organizations have begun praising Liberia because they say that corona is going down in Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 23, 2021 22:52 UTC
GIJ Supports Establishment of War and Economic Crimes Court in Liberia
Impunity for individuals, who committed human rights abuses, including atrocities, during the Liberian civil wars that ended in 2003, remained a serious problem, although the government cooperated with war crimes investigations in third countries. Yet as soon as he returned home to an inquisitive press, he denied he ever said he sought the assistance of establishing a war crimes court. So, we must demand that the War and Economic Crimes Court be established just as the Special Court for Sierra Leone by the International Community and in accordance with international law. Without justice and accountability Liberia will never reconcile as a nation until those who committed atrocities and economic crimes during the civil wars past and present are held to account. Liberians are now demanding justice and accountability and now is the time to establish the War and Economic Crimes Court.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 22, 2021 20:37 UTC
Forest Communities Begin Nationwide Protest Following 2 Years of Fruitless Negotiations for Their Benefits
“The Marches are organized by the NUCFDC in collaboration with the 23 CFDC across Liberia”, NUCFDC National Facilitator Andrew Zelemen has said. The nationwide protest started in Zozor, Lofa County, and will be extended to three additional counties including Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh and Maryland. “We anticipate a peaceful nationwide protest for the Government of Liberia to see reasons to pay communities and counties share of land rental fees and ensure that the companies pay the arrears they owed communities”, Zelemen emphasized. In November 2020, the communities reiterated calls for their just benefits at the National Forest Forum held in the commercial City of Ganta, Nimba County. Although key forest stakeholders attended the Forum, it appears nothing tangible has happened, prompting communities through the NUCFDC to launch the long awaited nationwide protest it promised in 2019 and 2020.
Source:Daily Observer
May 22, 2021 08:31 UTC
Liberia, Kenya to Revisit Proposed Joint Commission Agreement to Strengthen Diplomatic Ties
Monrovia – The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kenya is proposing that the two countries revisit the draft agreement to establish the Kenya-Liberia joint commission for cooperation (JCC) which was initiated by the two sides during the previous administration. Ambassador Raychelle Omamo, SG, EGH indicated that over the years, Liberia and Kenya have managed to foster enduring linkages at various levels, adding Kenya highly values her relations with the Republic of Liberia. The Kenyan Foreign Minister’s statement was contained in his congratulatory message to his Liberian counterpart, H. E. Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah on his appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia. Ambassador Omamo reminded his Liberian counterpart that the draft agreement to establish the Kenya-Liberia joint commission for cooperation (JCC) initiated by the two countries was never concluded during the previous regime. The Kenyan Foreign Minister then wished for His Excellency Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, every successful endeavor and good health as he performs his role and responsibilities as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 21, 2021 18:11 UTC