In the Midst of Two Major Encroachments, ArcelorMittal Remains Firm on Lasting Interest in Liberia
Monrovia – Scott Lowe is unfazed about ArcelorMittal’s future in Liberia. ArcelorMittal, in a communication dated June 26, 2020, directly confronted Solway Mining Inc. informing them of the alleged encroachment on their concession area. Addressing the issue in an exclusive interview with FrontPageAfrica, Mr. Lowe said the company is continuing discussions with the government on the Solway issue. As a result, the company in December 2019, threatened to halt phase two of its investment in Liberia over the Prista Oil Holding deal. “I’d say that ArcelorMittal has had a good history in Liberia, there have been problems in the past, but those problems have been resolved.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 23, 2020 05:48 UTC
ArcelorMittal CEO Addresses Ongoing Encroachment Issues, Workers Union Concerns, Steel Giant’s Future In Liberia
SCOTT LOWE: We’ve committed to funding US$40 million for the Ganta-Yekepa Road – it will take a number of years. SCOTT LOWE: I’ve taken particular personal interest in the hospitals since I joined ArcelorMittal Liberia. I see a very bright future, I’m really optimistic. SCOTT LOWE: We’ve committed to funding US$40 million for the Ganta-Yekepa Road – it will take a number of years. SCOTT LOWE: We’ve been achieving high-levels of production during Covid-19.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 23, 2020 05:37 UTC
Liberia: UP Legislative Caucus, CPP Want Ongoing Voter Roll Update Process Halted and Nullified
Since the National Elections Commission (NEC) launched the voter roll update to pave the way for the December 8, 2020 special senatorial elections and national referendum, the process has been marred by allegations of fraud. MONROVIA – Amid increasing complaints of a fraudulent voter roll update, an official of the Unity Party and the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Rep. Hassan Kiazolu (District #17, Montserrado County) has hinted at the possibility of the 54th Legislature of Liberia putting a halt to the entire voter roll process to avert the country from degenerating into chaos. Since the National Elections Commission (NEC) launched the voter roll update to pave the way for the December 8, 2020 special senatorial elections and national referendum, the process has been marred by allegations of fraud. “The National Elections Commission should be the first line of integrity. “The National Elections Commission should be the first line of integrity.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 23, 2020 05:26 UTC
Liberia: NEC Investigates Three Of Its Elections Magistrates From Bomi, Grand Cape-Mount, And Grand Gedeh Counties
Dean, FrontPage Africa has gathered, was reportedly quoted as saying that there was no law against voter trucking. Armah, on the other hand, is being accused of being involved in voter trucking on behalf of a politician who is an senatorial aspirant in the county.. Multiple voter registrationsSpeaking on complaints of multiple registrations by individuals, she described as criminal anyone who will be engage in multiple registrations. In a bid to put into place measures to remedy double registrations, NEC said it will conduct a de-duplication exercise to identify multiple registrants. Addition, there will also be a period of exhibition of the Voter Roll for citizens to contest illegal registrants (non-citizens, non-residents, and multiple registrants).
Source:Front Page Africa
September 23, 2020 05:15 UTC
Liberia: Senatorial Aspirants Warns against Electing Candidates Already in the House of Representatives
Siah Tandanpolie urged citizens to reject sitting candidates who are bent on imposing additional economic burdens on the state by participating in the senatorial election even though they are members of the House of Representatives. The senatorial election is scheduled for December 8, 2020, according to the National Elections Commission (NEC). She urged citizens to reject sitting candidates who are bent on imposing additional economic burdens on the state by participating in the senatorial election even though they are members of the House of Representatives. It is now time that Liberian women along with those progressive men stand up to close the gaps that have existed”. She maintained that Liberian women continue to linger behind due to the huge gaps between male and female at the Legislature.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 23, 2020 05:13 UTC
Liberia: Rep. Robert Womba Assertion that He is Funding US$80k Bridge in Bong’s Zota District Debunked by Project Management Committee
Rep. Robert Womba Inspecting the Bridge Project In Zota DistrictZota District, Bong County – Information provided by Rep. Robert Womba at a public event in Zota District last month that he is personally funding a US$80,000 bridge project in Shankpalai, Zota District has been rebuffed by the chairman of the Project Management Committee of Bong County, Steve Mulbah. Rep. Womba has continued to tout the bridge construction to his list of achievements since his ascendency as lawmaker three years ago. Mulbah said that though the lawmaker pre-financed the bridge construction with US$15,000, the amount was refunded to the lawmaker. “All I can tell you is that the project is funded by the county and not the lawmaker,” Mulbah said. “Now that the head of the project committee has spoken it is time that Rep. Womba clear the air to savage his integrity,” he added.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 23, 2020 05:03 UTC
Liberia: Public procurement Concession Commission’s Boss Says PPCC Laws Should Not Be Seen as Barrier to National Development
Nagbe-Kowo said the PPCC laws should be seen by officials and government’s entities as requirements and enhancement to attaining a true value of taxpayers’ money. She termed the implementation and adherence of the PPCC laws as the road to eliminating corruption by all entities if the government is in full compliance. Speaking further, she noted that in order to achieve the national development goals, every head of public entities should adhere to the compliance laws, most importantly the PPCC laws. The Public Procurement and Concession Commission was established by an Act of the National Legislature and approved in September 2005. The mandate of the PPCC is to regulate all forms of public procurement and concession processes and to stipulate methods and procedures for public procurement and concession.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 23, 2020 04:58 UTC
Liberia: Residents of Kpanyan Town, Firestone Complete Out-Of-Court Settlement In Longstanding Land Dispute
Harbel, Margibi County – Residents of Kpanyan Town in Margibi County and Firestone Liberia have finally resolved their long-standing land dispute after weeks of dialogue. This led to the intervention of their Lawmaker, Representative Tarponweh, who called on the Liberia Land Authority to conduct an impartial survey to amicably resolve the situation. The Liberia Land Authority’s recent investigative survey revealed that the disputed land, though was occupied by the town’s residents long before the existence of Firestone in Liberia, falls within the Company’s concession area, adding that the company is leasing the land from the Government of Liberia. We have realized that Firestone is paying land rental fees to our Government. With the privilege to serve, the friends of our people will be our friends; the enemies of our people will be our enemies,” Representative Tarponweh said.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 23, 2020 04:55 UTC
Liberia: US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Urges Liberia to “Create Conducive Environment” for US Investors to Come and Invest
Liberia: US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Urges Liberia to “Create Conducive Environment” for US Investors to Come and InvestLeft to right: US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Alyson Grunder, Mr. George Howe, GC Commissioner on Political and Legal Reforms and Ms. Elizabeth Dorkin, Officer-in-Charge, GCMonrovia – The US Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Alyson Grunder, has called on the Liberian Government to create an enabling environment in order to attract investors to invest in Liberia. Ms. Grunder disclosed that investors in her country are willing to do business in Liberia once a conducive environment is created. Speaking further, Deputy US Embassy Chief of Mission Grunder said the extractive industry is vital to the growth of Liberia’s economy. Introducing the one-day dialogue earlier, Ms. Elizabeth Dorkin, Officer-in-Charge of Governance Commission, said the dialogue was aimed at shifting the reform process of Liberia. “As you are aware, the issue regarding transparency accountability is critical to the management of the Extractive Industries to enhance national development.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 23, 2020 04:52 UTC
Liberia: Cummings ‘Sacrifices’ Taa Wongbe To Keep CPP Together Despite Rejection of Nimba Primary Result
The Nimba primary was held amid tension and violence, yet the primary committee announced Madam Weh as winner with 127 votes against Wongbe’s six votes. This result was immediately rejected by the ANC of which Wongbe is a member. The ANC had earlier rejected the resolution, indicating that it had “renewed its objection and rejection to the results of the highly flawed Nimba County Primary”. What happened is our right as a political party to decide who we will send as delegates. Under this circumstance, I, Alexander B. Cummings, have agreed to let Edit Gongloe represent the CPP in Nimba.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2020 05:15 UTC
Liberia: Government to Replace Striking Health Workers with New Recruits
MONROVIA – President George Weah has instructed the Minister of Health to carry out a new recruit of health workers to fill in the vacuum created at various health centers due to the ongoing strike action of the current health workers over salary and other benefits. “The Ministry of Health has been instructed to solicit applications from qualified health workers of various grades, including nurses, nurse aides, midwives, laboratory technicians, etc. “The Ministry of Health has been instructed to solicit applications from qualified health workers of various grades, including nurses, nurse aides, midwives, laboratory technicians, etc. On the demands for immediate salary increment and hazard payment, the government assured the health workers of its demonstrated commitment to gradually increase the salaries of health workers, especially workers who are currently earning far below their standardized pay grade; and potential payment of a onetime hazard payment to health workers who are directly involved with the COVID-19 response. The government continues to encourage health workers to return to their assigned posts but will not allow the health system to be put at risk.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2020 05:15 UTC
Liberia: Elections Coordinating Committee Alarms over Voter Trucking; Calls on the National Elections Commission to Investigate and Prosecute Perpetrators
MONROVIA – Liberia’s leading election Observation group, the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), has alarmed over what it considers the sale of democracy in the country. According to Bloh, ECC observers have reported the trucking of voters from Montserrado into Bomi, particularly district number one. One case in point was in District Number One, at the CH Dwey High School with center code number 03071 and Klay Town Hall with center code 03043, Electoral District Number 2. Another incident was reported from Bomi County, Electoral District 1 at center: Moses Vincent Compound with code 03075 where violence, harassment and intimidation disrupted the VRU exercise. For social distancing, only in 64 centers that registrants and officials practiced social distancing while in 35 centers, there was no social distancing.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2020 04:52 UTC
Liberia: National Traditional Council Women Hail Pres. Weah for Amb. Kemayah’s Preferment as Foreign Minister
MONROVIA – The National Traditional Council of Liberia has expressed gratitude to President George Weah for his preferment of Mr. Dee Maxwell Kemayah as Foreign Minister, despite an allegation of sexual harassment which came up immediately his nomination was announced. President George Weah for appointing our son, Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah. Kemayah who has been serving as Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations was recently nominated to serve as Foreign Minister. Tilem and Associates a Law Firm representing Ambassador Kemayah, has denied the allegation terming it as lies and political motivated. According to MOVEE’s women league, Mr. Kemayah has been a patriotic and dedicated national leader who has worked and continues to work for the good of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 21, 2020 04:51 UTC
Ex-Liberian Foreign Minister Launches New Book Titled “Sundaymah’s Adventures” Written By Madam Brenda Brewer Moore Under The KEEP Project
Ex-Liberian Foreign Minister Launches New Book Titled “Sundaymah’s Adventures” Written By Madam Brenda Brewer Moore Under The KEEP ProjectFormer Minister Akinrele indicated that the promotion of reading skills at the primary level will guarantee the future of children and encourage them to be a part of leadership. She made these comments when she officially launched the book titled: Sundaymah’s Adventures at the YWCA headquarters in Congo Town, outside Monrovia recently. The book was written by Madam Benda Brewer Moore under the Kids Educational Engagement Program (KEEP). She used the occasion to urge parents to spearhead the reading skills of their children at home in a bid of preparing them for leadership in the future. She disclosed that the book “Sundaymah’s Adventures” is first series of a true life story that encourages local content and focuses on the overcoming the fear of public speaking.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2020 23:35 UTC
Liberia: Cape Mount Citizens Petition Dr. Fodee Kromah
GRAND CAPE MOUNT – The people of Grand Cape Mount County on September 12, 2020 petitioned the former National Oil Company of Liberia (NACAL) Chairman Dr. Fodee Kromah to contest the pending mid-term senatorial election in the County. “Let them be warned that Grand Cape mount County is not for sale; neither their money or rice will change the voters’ resolve. “For your information, only the people of Grand Cape Mount County have the constitutional right to elect their lawmakers, Dr. Kromah who is contesting as an independent candidate said. “Cape Mount will never again give you a free ride. If elected senator of grand Cape Mount County, Dr. Kromah has vowed to investigate the mysterious deaths at mine sites in the County; something he said has become more serious, not just in cape Mount but at other gold and diamond mines across the Country.
Source:Front Page Africa
September 20, 2020 23:10 UTC