Liberia: President Weah Wants Submission of FY 2021/2022 Draft Budget Delayed
Capitol Hill, Monrovia – President George Weah has requested for the deadline for the submission of fiscal year 2021 Special Draft National budget to be extended by 15 working days beginning April 30, 2021. In a communication to the House of Representatives, President Weah said reason behind the delay is due to the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on issues relating to the resource envelop of the Special Budget as part of the broad monetary and fiscal policy review to achieve macroeconomic stability. The introduction of the special national budget, which will cover a period of six months beginning this July 1 to December 31, 2021, is part of the Government of Liberia’s transition to a full calendar year (January 1, to December 31). Under the current arrangement, the Public Financial Management Law (PFM) of 2009 called for the special national budget to be submitted by the end of April 2021; giving the Legislature three months to consider its passage before June 30, 2021. The decision is in line with the amended PFM law which called for a change of the country’s fiscal year from July 31 to June 30, to January 1 to December 31.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 07, 2021 07:50 UTC
Pres. Weah Informs the Legislature Misapplied US$6m of Norwegian Grant, Wants It Recorded as Debt to Liberia
Weah Informs the Legislature Misapplied US$6m of Norwegian Grant, Wants It Recorded as Debt to LiberiaMONROVIA – President George Weah has written the Legislature informing them about an alleged misapplication of two grants from the Government of Norway of over US$6 million between 2010-2015. The amount was part of an overall amount of US$42 which was to support of the Liberia Electricity Corporation extension of its distribution network in Monrovia. In a related Senate news, the Senate on Thursday, May 6, 2021, received request from President Weah for an extension in the date for the conduct of national census. The date of the conduct was earlier postponed from December 8, 2018 to March 8, 2021. The GP will delineate boundaries of newly created cities, Clans, Districts and /or boroughs amongst others.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 07, 2021 07:45 UTC
Liberia to Open Embassy in the United Arab Emirates
Monrovia – Liberia is to shortly open an Embassy in the United Arab Emirates. The disclosure was made on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at the UAE’s Foreign Ministry in Abu Dhabi following a meeting between H.E. Liberian Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Kemayah is scheduled to pay an official visit to Abu Dhabi in July 2021, where he and his counterpart will consummate the arrangement. He said Liberia has great potential in tourism and the country could benefit from the UAE experience to harness this untapped “gold mine”. Earlier, the delegation held talks with the Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mohammed Al Suwaidi, the Management of Abu Dhabi Port, among others.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 07, 2021 07:41 UTC
Typhoid Delays Start of Massaquoi War Crimes Trial Hearings in Sierra Leone
Elfgren was also keen to deflect any blame from the Sierra Leone government. “I want to thank both the Liberian and Sierra Leone government for not interfering in the process and allowing us to carry on an independent process. This may be one of the avenues prosecutors seek to explore during the Freetown hearings. In 2005, he was granted immunity from prosecution for crimes in Sierra Leone in return for his testimony in the war crimes trials in Sierra Leone. Elfgren said he was pleased to see Liberian reporters had traveled to Sierra Leone to cover the trial and hoped that they would stay for the duration.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 07, 2021 07:35 UTC
Liberia: Bong County Begins Covid-19 Vaccination, Residents Warned Against Misinformation About The Virus
Phebe Hospital Medical Director, Dr. Jefferson Sibley, Bong County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan Flomo and Superintendent Esther Walker were among the first batch of people who took the vaccinePhebe, BONG COUNTY – On Wednesday, Bong County joined other counties in Liberia to flag-off Covid-19 vaccination; prioritizing local leaders and health workers in the first phase of the exercise with over 20,000 doses received from the Ministry of Health. Speaking at the venue of the flag-off ceremony, Bong County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan Flomo who took the AstraZeneca vaccine, urged Liberians to disregard rumors and misinformation making the rounds about the vaccine. He said: “The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health has done due diligence to bring into the country the vaccine to ensure that citizens are protected against the Covid-19 virus,” he said. It can be recalled on March 5, Liberia received 96,000 doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines through the COVAX initiative, a partnership involving the Coalition for Economic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), UNICEF and WHO. In addition, Liberia also received 97,000 syringes and 600 safety boxes for the administration and disposal of immunization waste, according to a statement released by the WHO office in Monrovia.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 07, 2021 07:30 UTC
Journalist Launches Operation to Keep Kids in School in Rural Nimba County
MONROVIA – A Liberian journalist and citizen of Nimba County, Mr. Jonathan Paye-Layleh, has launched an operation he has codenamed: “Give Them a Future”, intended to encourage parents to get more involved in the running of schools in especially rural towns in the county in the face of serious national challenges and inadequacies to fully support those schools. Most of the schools in the region were established through citizens’ initiatives during the civil war and they were later turned over to the government. As a result, almost every town has a public school and government has not been able to fully attend to those schools. “Operation Give Them a Future”, the journalist says, aims to get parents to appreciate the harsh reality of today and make keeping their children in school their top priority. Photo caption: Journalist Jonathan Paye-Layleh (in sky blue shirt) with students and staff of the BaineKpalalah Public School during his humanitarian visit to the school.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 07, 2021 07:30 UTC
Liberia: First Lady Pays over L$200K in Arrears for 30 Bomi College Students
Monrovia – First Lady Clar Marie Weah has settled the arrears, amounting to two-hundred, two thousand Liberian Dollars (L$202,000), for at least thirty (30) students of agriculture at the Bomi County Community College in Tubmanburg. In response, the administration of the Bomi County Community College expressed profound gratitude to the First Lady for the overwhelming support to the institution. The College Vice President for Administration Mr. Samuel Dunbar also thanked President George Manneh Weah for his commitment to construct fifty classrooms for the community college. According to the students, the administration had threatened to deny them from sitting their final semester exam if they fail to pay their arrears. The students however assured Mrs. Weah and team of their commitment to work hard so as to make her proud.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 07, 2021 07:28 UTC
LFA Male U-15 Prepares Ahead of its WAFU Nations Cup
According to the Liberia Football Association through a release, the team camp which started May 3, and run up to May 9, at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium. The WAFU U-15 tournament will marked the first time for Liberia to participate in an under-15 tournament since the Dana Cup in Denmark and Gothia Cup in Sweden in 1997 to 1999, which produced Zah Rahan Krangar, Dulee Johnson, Dioh Williams and Solomon Wesseh among others. However, Coach Keita has added two new players to his squad, Namely: Fallah Johnson, Jr. and David Menson, Jr. to feature for the team. Meanwhile, The team is expected to play two friendlies against Habiba at 6:00PM on 7 May and Shaita FC (male) at 6:00PM on 8 May. Head coach Ansu Keita has called 25 players to camp for the tournament.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 07, 2021 07:18 UTC
CAF Adjusts June’s World Cup qualifiers
Monrovia – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed all June’s World Cup qualifiers for African teams. The CAF SG Veron said the parent body of football in Africa will ensure the optimal playing conditions for all participating teams before the second round of the qualifiers. Meanwhile, the qualifiers will now take place in September, October and November and March 2022. The adjustment of the qualifiers comes days after FIFA and CAF Presidents visit to Liberia, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. The new date of the qualifiers will help Liberia and other countries who stadiums were ban due to lack of several key requirements.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 07, 2021 07:03 UTC
Liberia: President Sirleaf, Wadei Powell to Headline Essence Speaking Summit Tonight
But it’s most likely not repeating itself in 2021 as the boutique international public relations firm, MBL Int’l and Essence Magazine have teamed up to launch the inaugural edition of ‘I Am Speaking: Listen’ summit. The summit is being held virtually and will be broadcasted by Essence Studios and on Facebook live. It features several African women playing leading roles in their respective fields, including Nobel Laureate and former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Wadei Powell, CEO of Srimex Oil &Gas Dr. Williametta Simmons, President, PA Psycological Association, Gina Yashere, comedienne and actress, Funke Adepoju, creator amongst others. Wadei Powell, CEO of SRIMEX Oil & Gas, said she feels honored to be amongst those lined up to speak. Wadei Powell, CEO of SRIMEX Oil & Gas, said she feels honored to be amongst those lined up to speak.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 06, 2021 20:03 UTC
Liberia: Kanio Gbala Cleared of Corruption Allegations
Monrovia – The office of the President is in receipt of the Special Investigative Report into allegations of corruption involving Cllr. Kanio Gbai-Gbala, the Acting Chair of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission. Gbala, by the former Executive Director (ED) Mohammed Fahnbulleh, were three-pronged: double dipping, inability to account for Daily Sustenance Allowance (DSA) and Cllr. Gbala as to his status of employment, and without the expressed authorization from Gbala, the administration paid into Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala in the discharge of his duties as Vice Chairman of the LACC as had been alleged in the three-count complaint of the former ED.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 06, 2021 17:48 UTC
Liberia: Three Years Into the Lofa Road Project
President Weah visited the project shortly after taking office and promised the people of Lofa that his government will work hard to ensure that the road project is completed on time. Project Being DelayedThe US$40 million project which is being implemented by CHICO was expected to be nearing completion by now. Also, because the Liberian government defaulted on another loan that is unrelated to the Gbarnga-Salayea road project. Southeast Roads on TrackIn February, Acting Minister Coker hailed the completion of phase one of the Fish Town to Harper Road in the Southeast. Phase one of the Fish Town-Harper Road project covers the 50 kilometers Harper to Karloken stretch and the 16 kilometers Harper Junction to Cavalla Customs road.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 06, 2021 08:03 UTC
Liberia: Lawmaker Expresses Disappointment over Failure of President Weah to Dismiss Poorly-performing Officials
Lawmaker Gwaikolo is representing the people of electoral district # 9 in the 54th National Legislature. So that means the policies and directions that the country should go in should be determined by the Legislature. Addressing personal needsThe constitutional responsibilities of lawmakers in Liberia include oversight, representation and lawmaking. He maintained that though the education laws of Liberia are good, the actual implementation of these laws remains difficult. Representative Gwaikolo observed that lawmakers’ oversight responsibility over the education system of Liberia is not effective.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 06, 2021 07:52 UTC
Liberia: Man, 29, Nabbed with Several Firearms at Liberia-Guinea Border Amid Rising Tribal Conflict in Ganta
Liberia: Man, 29, Nabbed with Several Firearms at Liberia-Guinea Border Amid Rising Tribal Conflict in GantaGanta, Nimba County – Police in Ganta Nimba County have arrested a 29-year-old man with huge arms at the Ganta-Guinea border amid a rising tribal conflict over a disputed land dispute case between Ganta resident Fred Suah and four family members of the Mandingo ethnic group. Unending land dispute cases in NimbaSeveral attempts have been made to resolve land dispute ca goses in the county, but none has yielded any significant final result. In 2008, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Swiss based organization, Inter-peace, launched a project aimed at supporting reconciliation in Nimba County in order to contribute to the process of sustaining peace in Liberia. The Special Presidential Nimba Land Commission was set up Johnson-Sirleaf. “The land dispute in Nimba has dragged on for too long, sometimes creating constraint for some of the things we want to do.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 06, 2021 07:41 UTC
Liberia: House Votes to Include L$1,000 Bill in Proposed New Family Banknotes
Capitol Hill, Monrovia – The House of Representatives has approved the inclusion of L$1000 bill in the proposed new family of banknotes, backpedaling its previous decision in nullifying the Central Bank of Liberia’s request. These amendments were contained in a Joint Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives authorizing the printing of L$48,734,000,000. The joint resolution was crafted by a conference committee of the National Legislature, which comprised members of both Houses of Representatives and Senate. The Committed was set up to harmonize the joint resolution authorizing the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to print the new family of banknotes. What’s In the Joint Resolution?
Source:Front Page Africa
May 06, 2021 07:41 UTC