Unity Party: ‘Mo Ali’s Arrest Warrant Is an Intimidation to Dissenting Voices in Liberia’
Monrovia — The opposition Unity Party (UP) says the decision by the Liberia National Police (LNP) declaring its secretary general Mo Ali “wanted” over a Facebook post is an attempt to intimidate dissenting voices in the country. And Moses Cater, spokesperson of the LNP, said the decision to declare Ali “wanted” is the result of his refusal to show up despite being invited twice by the police. The actions by the government to declare Ali “wanted” without being charged with any crime is a violation of his rights and endangers him and his family, according to the party. “In BBC addition, Chapter 2.2.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia provides an accused person the right to representation by legal counsels,” the party said. The government, the party says, cannot attempt to arrest Ali over a Facebook post without due process to establish any link between his post and that which the government alleges.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2021 21:33 UTC
Liberia: Regarding The Expulsion Of Catherine Karma For ‘Witchcraft’
The EditorThe Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) is shocked by the news of the expulsion of a 6-year-old pupil, Catherine Karma, from your school. Karma in connection with some suspicions of ‘witchcraft’. Karma had the supposed magical powers, don’t you think that she would have used them to resist her expulsion from the school? AfAW urges you to take all the necessary measures and ensure that Ms. Catherine Karma continues her education without any further disruption. Thanks in anticipation of thoughtful consideration of this letterSincerely,Leo Igwe Ph.D Religious Studies(Bayreuth)Chief Executive Officer, Advocacy for Alleged WitchesAdvocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW)
Source:Front Page Africa
March 20, 2021 21:33 UTC
Liberia: Maritime Authority Debunks Reports of GTMS Involvement in Removing Liberia from U.S. Coast Guard Advisory List
Monrovia — The Liberia Maritime Authority clarifies that a recent media report attributing the removal of Liberia from the U.S Government’s Advisory List of countries that do not maintain effective anti-terrorism measures to the Global Tracking and Maritime Solutions Holdings (GTMS Holdings) is false and misleading. GTMS Holdings, a Cargo Tracking Note system, is not a consideration nor a factor for evaluation by the U.S. Coast Guard in assessing the effectiveness of a port’s security and anti-terrorism measures, LiMA’s Commissioner Eugene Nagbe has said. The Commissioner explained that the U.S. Coast Guard has a checklist of activities and benchmarks that a port must continually meet to be delisted from the Coast Guard Advisory List or Black List. In the March 5, 2021 Edition of the FrontPage Africa newspaper, GTMS Holdings falsely claimed that the removal of Liberia from the US Coast Guard Advisory List was the direct result of its “judicious work” through its CTN System. Commissioner Nagbe has however lauded the many support LiMA has gotten in ensuring the country remains compliant with national and international maritime instruments, including texhnical support by U.S. government to LiMA and the Liberian Coast Guard.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 15:13 UTC
Liberia Misleads On Justice At Un Rights Review
Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommended the creation of a war crimes court over a decade ago. International law requires states to prosecute serious crimes, such as war crimes, which helps ensure victims’ rights to truth, justice, and an effective remedy, while combating impunity. Switzerland began the first prosecution of war crimes committed during Liberia’s first civil war in December. In February, Gibril Massaquoi went on trial in Finland for alleged crimes committed during Liberia’s second civil war. LIBERIA HAS THE POTENTIAL to be a leader on accountability for atrocities by establishing a war crimes court in accordance with international standards.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:41 UTC
Liberia: Police Invites Opposition Mo Ali over Facebook Post They’re Linking to Arson Attacks on the Elections Commission, Justice Nagbe’s Home
Mr. Ali’s March 1 post was vague but there is a general perception that he was referring to the delay in the certification of Lofa County Senator-elect, Brownie Samukai due to series of litigation. The opposition community has expressed belief that the delay in the certification is a maneuvering of the ruling establishment to ensure that Samukai is never inaugurated as Senator of Lofa County. Mr. Ali posted, ““Dear National Elections Commission (NEC), we understand the ploy. Mr. Ali told FrontPageAfrica on Thursday that he would honor the police invitation but would be going along with his lawyer. “There are plans to determine that the Lofa County seat cannot be occupied by Brownie Samukai – meaning that the decision of the Lofa people will be nullified,” he said during the interview.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:41 UTC
Liberia: House of Representatives Passes Resolution Authorizing Central Bank of Liberia to Print New Families of Banknote in the tone of L$48.7 Billion
Liberia: House of Representatives Passes Resolution Authorizing Central Bank of Liberia to Print New Families of Banknote in the tone of L$48.7 BillionCapitol Hill, Monrovia — Plenary of the House of Representatives has finally approved the Central Bank of Liberia’s request to print a new family of banknotes in the tone of L$48.7 billion to completely replace the ones that are currently in use within three years, beginning 2021. In the legislative piece named and style ‘Resolution 001-2021’, the House mandated the CBL to print 20, 50, 100 and 500 denominations, omitting the L$5 and L$10 bank notes. However, the House, in the resolution, nullified the L$1,000 banknotes and said that the denomination of bank notes to be printed shall only be 20, 50, 100 and 500. Because of the omission of L$1,000 notes, the House called on the CBL to reduce the printing but did not give a specific amount. “I have the honor to present my sincere compliments and herewith submit to you and the Honorable House of Representatives, Resolution No.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:41 UTC
Town Where Gibril Massaquoi ‘Buried Man Alive’ Wants him Imprisoned
“The guys who did these things to us came from Sierra Leone. Witnesses in the Finnish war crimes trial have repeatedly said that “Angel Gabriel” was Massaquoi’s alias. The Finns had been investigating Massaquoi since 2018, interviewing witnesses also in Sierra Leone and Guinea. ULIMO fought some of its fiercest battles against the RUF in Sierra Leone and Lofa County in the 1990s. Despite the TRC’s recommendation for the setting up of war crimes court for the country, there is still no court more than 10 years later.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:30 UTC
Liberia: Replacing Moye -Twenty Aspirants Jostling for District Two By-election in Bong
The by-election in District Two will be the fourth time Saybay will be contesting for an elective position in Bong. In 2011, he debuted his political ambition in District Two as representative candidate and lost to Moye. Matthew Siakor: Siakor is a protege of the late Hezekiah Siakor, a former aspirant for District Two who died in months to the election in 2017. Joshua Better: Better has reportedly gotten the nod of his boss, Moye. In fact, key political actors are planning to summon Moye over his reported decision to endorse Better over Gboe.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:29 UTC
Liberia: Swagger Island Residents crave for access to safe drinking water
MONROVIA — Swagger Island is located along the Somalia Drive road and is inhabitant to over five thousand residents’ bulk of whom are living with a challenge of fetching safe drinking water. On a daily basis they go to faraway resident in search of safe drinking water. The people of this Island wants me inform you that the key need of this community is pipe borne water. He furthered threatened that residents of the Swagger Island Community have in the past given away “free Vote” but are prepare reconsidering that. Yesterday it was a death trap and as you can see there are safe guard place on the bridge.”
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:27 UTC
Liberia: Unity Party USA and Canada wants NEC to Certificate Senators
USA — The National Leadership of the Unity Party USA and Canada calls on the National Elections Commission of Liberia to respect the will of the Liberian voters and immediately certificate all Senators-elect whose election have been fully adjudicated. The National Elections Commission (NEC) on Tuesday failed to certificate Senator Elect Brownie Samukai of Lofa County even after the Supreme Court ruled clearing all elections disputes complaints that has delayed his certification and induction. The NEC through its clerk read the Supreme Court ruling and adjourned immediately. Dean’s letter comes exactly a week after he told the Senate plenary that he knew nothing about a letter written by Solicitor General, Cllr. Syrenius Cephas in which he mandated NEC to halt the certification of Samukai until he restitutes the amount of US$1.4 million.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:20 UTC
WFP, Government Of Liberia And Canada Provide Support To Families Of 5,000 Vulnerable School Children
MONROVIA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is providing take-home rations to 5,000 pre-primary and primary school children and their household members. “WFP is very grateful to the Government and people of Canada for their support to the school children in Liberia,” said Karla Hershey, the WFP Representative and Country Director in Liberia. Many families in Liberia put their children to work or keep them at home rather than send them to school. The take-home rations play a vital role of enabling the whole family to receive nutritious food support while encouraging their children’s attendance. The school meals provided by WFP through support by Canada aim to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 socio-economic shocks on vulnerable girls and boys and their families.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:15 UTC
Liberia: First Lady Assures Government’s Commitment to Improving Lives
Monrovia — First Lady Clar Marie Weah, today, dedicated several major life-changing projects in the Peace Island Community, reassuring the government’s commitment to improving Liberians’ standards of living. Speaking at the dedication ceremony, Mrs. Weah said the development initiatives manifest President George Manneh Weah’s love for his people and his commitment to bettering their lives. “Improving the living conditions of our people in vulnerable communities is our priority; and we will not stop until we achieve this goal,” the First Lady said. She was also appreciative of the dynamic leadership of Honorable Paulita C. C. Wie, Deputy Internal Affairs Minister for Urban Affairs in coordinating the development projects. For their part, the Peace Island Community commended the government of Liberia and partners for the great development initiatives in their area, stressing that the projects will go a long way in easing their challenges.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:07 UTC
Liberia: OHCHR Conducts Trainings On CEDAW Shadow Report Writing And Advocacy In “Spotlight Counties”
MONROVIA — The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has begun a series of trainings on the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Shadow Report Writing and Advocacy. OHCHR is providing technical and financial support to the Civil Society Organization Human Rights Advocacy Platform to build the capacity of women rights advocates in drafting CEDAW Shadow Reports. The CEDAW Shadow Writing and Reporting training includes sessions on the monitoring of CEDAW implementation, advocacy strategies and human rights data collection. The trainings will produce a draft shadow report of the Human Rights Advocacy Platform for the forthcoming CEDAW State report review of Liberia. The trainings are also intended to train WRDs to develop CEDAW shadow treaty report.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:07 UTC
Over 700 Women from Bong and Margibi Counties Graduate from Extreme Poverty under BRAC Liberia Ultra-Poor Graduation Program
Ma Lorpu as she is commonly called is among 700 plus women who have graduated from Extreme poverty under the BRAC Liberia Ultra-Poor program in Kakata, Margibi County over the weekend. BRAC Liberia also helped me with food for the pigs.”Ma Lorpu says she received L$70,000 from the sale of seven pigs. “I’m better off now because I eat well and can help my children and grandchildren,” Ma Hawa said at BRAC Liberia Ultra-Poor Graduation program. Doe, the Program Manager for the Ultra-Poor program disclosed that the program is built on “four core pillars”. Serving as guest speaker for the program, Margibi County District #3 Lawmaker, Representative Ellen Attoh-Wreh praised BRAC for the program.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 19, 2021 10:04 UTC
Emotions Halt Hearing in Massaquoi War Crimes Trial
Gibril Massaquoi consults with his lawyer in his war crimes trial, Leslie Lumeh/New NarrativesMONROVIA, Liberia – For a second day in a row emotions dominated proceedings in the war crimes trial of Gibril Massaquoi in Liberia. Civilian 27 echoed previous witnesses who said the soldiers were speaking Creole and Mende, two languages common in Sierra Leone and not Liberia. “We were in Babarhun when the soldiers told us that they were acting on orders and their commander was coming,” she told the court. He called his name to us and said he was next to God.”Quizzed by the defense to establish whether she truly knew Massaquoi, Civilian 27 said, “This man was Gibril Massaquoi. Massaquoi had been granted residency in Finland and immunity from prosecution for crimes in Sierra Leone in exchange for his testimony.
Source:Front Page Africa
March 18, 2021 07:30 UTC