Liberia: Unity Party, Ruling Coalition Spar over Amb. Boakai’s Health
MONROVIA – Both the opposition Unity Party (UP) and the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) over the weekend sparred over the health of former Vice President Joseph Boakai who spent a week at the ELWA Hospital battling ill health. Information surrounding the Unity Party standard bearer’s admission at the hospital was scanty until his release on Sunday – one week after his admission. Enraged by the government’s statement, the Unity Party in response termed the government’s assertion that they had made contact with the family as a “diabolical lie”. The Unity Party: The Unity Party considers the government’s release as yet another callous attempt to save face and create the false impression that Amb. But thank God we have children who are brought up in a different way.”Dwindling Confidence in Boakai’s HealthLast Saturday, the Unity Party released a video interview of Amb.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 16, 2023 20:14 UTC
Liberia: CDC Secretary General Koijee Warns Nimba County Officials to Stop Mistaking Personal Interest for County’s Interest
Seclepia City, Nimba Co. – Jefferson Koijee, the Secretary General of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has urged officials of Nimba County to put their county’s interest over personal’s interest. The CDC Secretary General made the statement in Seclepia City, Nimba County at the launch of the “Nimba For Weah” 2023 over the weekend. However, in recent times, Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson has criticized the George Weah-led government for not doing much for the people of Nimba County thereby calling on the people of the county not to support the re-election bid of President Weah. “For far too long people have been using the thing they called Nimba County interest, our people’s interest. What Nimba County has benefited and what Nimba has to benefit.”Koijee also calls on the people of Nimba County to change the narrative of division and focus more on unity and development.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 16, 2023 20:08 UTC
Liberia: Former VP Boakai Discharged from Hospital After Weeklong Stay
MONROVIA — Former Vice President and Standard Bearer of the Unity Party Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai has walked out of the facilities of the ELWA Hospital following a brief period of medical observation and a deserved time of relaxation. The Former Vice President checked into the ELWA Hospital last Sunday when he felt a bit uneasy about his health and wellbeing. Before leaving the local hospital today, Ambassador Boakai thanked Dr. Socra and the hospital staff, extending maximum appreciation to them for the high level of professionalism exhibited towards him and other patients at the facility. He added that he was especially moved by the good care shown him while at the hospital. He then called on all Liberians to have trust, faith, and confidence in their fellow Liberians who are medical doctors in hospitals across the country.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 16, 2023 05:34 UTC
Liberia: Former National Security Officers Found Guilty of Human Trafficking in Landmark Trial
MONROVIA, Liberia – A former agent of the National Security Agency has been found guilty of human trafficking, becoming the first person with a direct link to the Liberian government to be convicted of the charge. After the verdict Judge Roosevelt Willie ordered the probation office at the Justice Ministry to submit Chan-Chan’s pre-sentence report to him next Wednesday. The report on Chan-Chan’s background from his family, friends, ex-workmates, and neighbors will determine the length of his sentence. By Anthony Stephens with New NarrativesLiberia’s amended anti-human trafficking law now provides for 20 years as a minimum sentence for people convicted of human trafficking. He was the conduit,” said Wesseh A. Wesseh, Liberia’s Acting Solicitor General.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 14, 2023 16:22 UTC
Liberia: Former Child Soldier Again Upends Kosiah War Crimes Court; Asks UN to Hear Asylum Claim
It apparently failed as the judges sentenced Kosiah to the maximum allowable sentence under Swiss law of 20 years. Even before he began testifying, the former child soldier asked to be freed from Swiss custody and to speak with a United Nations human rights body saying he had been unjustly detained by Switzerland. The court has asked media to conceal the names of witnesses for their security. He told the court what he remembered of the invasion by Ulimo troops that he said were led by Kosiah. “When they arrived we all went into hiding under our beds inside our houses,” the witness told the court.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 14, 2023 05:08 UTC
Liberia: Political Tension Brews in Nimba's District #7
They alleged that Rep. Domah, during a recent tour, incited the citizenry against them, calling on residents to humiliate them in public. "Rep. Domah told members of a crowd in Zoeloapa they should treat us like politicians, and that they should boo us whenever they see us," Mayor Nyegean said. As part of what some termed as his political maneuvering, Bility, through his foundation, known as 'Bility Development Foundation, gave a Toyota pickup each to Tuazama and Nyegean. "Representative Domah and I have cordial relationship and in one of Mr. Bility's ground-breaking ceremonies (before Mr. Bility was petitioned to contest), Mr. Domah was present and contributed toward the project. In another development, Rep. Larry Younquoi began the rehabilitation of CNC Road, which is also an asset road for ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML).
Source:Daily Observer
January 13, 2023 22:32 UTC
Liberia: PYJ’s Party to Put Forth a Presidential Candidate in October Election
Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]Senator Johnson’s support was pivotal to the election of President Weah in 2017 when his party backed the President during the crucial run-off election, delivering vote-rich Nimba. However, in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, Senator Johnson said his party will field a presidential candidate and will not support the President because he has failed to live up to the agreement reached in 2017 and the promises made to the people of Nimba. “When I was with Mr. [Charles] Taylor, I loved him but I love Liberia the most. So, the Nimba people are very unhappy.”He accused the government of not undertaking major development projects in Nimba; noting that President Weah has refused to relocate the G.W. ‘So Many mischievous happenings’Further giving reasons for his party’s decision, the Nimba County Senator said under President Weah’s watch, several Liberians died under mysterious circumstances and the government has failed to conduct full-scale investigations.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 13, 2023 13:57 UTC
Dr. Fallah and Liberian Students in Rwanda to Bring New Agriculture Technology to Liberia
I intend to bring these students to Liberia so that we can introduce this new technology in the country. The Liberian students in Rwanda have already developed their agriculture plans for Liberia,” he disclosed. All these are happening because the Rwandan government selected these people and trained them into entrepreneurship, because government cannot give everybody jobs,” Dr. Fallah quoted the Rwanda lecturer. I asked one of my Rwandan friends why it is this way, he said in Rwanda, ‘Laws are not suggestions.’ He said they ensure that laws are enforced out to the letter. How are we effectively enforcing those laws?” Dr. Fallah asked.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 13, 2023 07:22 UTC
GoL, Oman Discuss Protection of Liberian Women
Charles Gibson, said his office continues to receive too many complaints of the ill-treatment of Liberian women in Oman, including sexual abuse, demand for ransoms, brutality, disappearances, false imprisonment, and unpaid salaries, which amount to modern-day slavery. He also promised to have the Omani security forces focus more on protecting Liberian ladies in Oman. He alluded to the inflows of Liberian women to Oman despite the visa ban on those women transiting through third countries and using foreign travel documents to enter Oman. Meanwhile, it was agreed that modalities would be worked out to ensure that the Liberian delegation visits Oman in the middle of February (next month). The Zoom meeting was facilitated by Liberia's Foreign Minister, who is himself a member of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce.
Source:Daily Observer
January 12, 2023 23:51 UTC
Alleged Rape Victim Gives Emotional Testimony at Start of Appeal of Liberian Warlord
Bellinzona, Switzerland—The trial of the Liberian warlord Alieu Kosiah opened today in Bellinzona. During the first day, Alieu Kosiah kept on saying that he wasn’t present in the places that the plaintiffs and that he had never met them. She was then taken to a porch where a lot of soldiers were staying and Alieu Kosiah was also present. After her very intense testimony, it was up to Alieu Kosiah to speak. Shortly before closing the day, the lawyer Zeina Wakim asked her client how she felt about seeing Alieu Kosiah today.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 12, 2023 20:38 UTC
Liberia: IREDD 2022 Citizens’ Survey Ranks Legislative Executive and Judiciary Branches Performance as Poor
Monrovia – Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD) 2022 citizens’ perception survey has shown that the three branches of government; the Legislature, the Executive, and the Judiciary have performed poorly. The survey covered 10 months and was conducted in eight of the 15 counties in Liberia. Administration of Justice, and unconditional respect for rule of law, Yeanay says are some of the things hindering the performance of the three branches of government. The respondents perceive the Legislative Branch as having weak oversight to prevent and deter disrespect for the rule of law, Yeaney said. “Respondents perceive the Executive Branch of unequal protection for citizens.
Source:Front Page Africa
January 12, 2023 09:54 UTC
Finnish Appeals Court Begins Liberia War Crime Hearing
The RUF was an insurgent group that fought in Sierra Leone but also in Liberia for its ex-president Charles Taylor. But the prosecutors took the case to Turku court of appeal, whose members will travel to Liberia and Sierra Leone to hear witnesses again in the coming months, the court said. Taylor was convicted to 50 years in prison for war crimes by a U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague in 2013. In November, a French court sentenced former Liberian rebel commander Kunti Kamara to life in prison for atrocities committed during the first Liberian civil war. The Turku court expects to conclude the case in June, it said.
Source:Daily Observer
January 10, 2023 17:34 UTC
Liberia: President Weah Suspends Import Tariff On Rice
On Friday, January 6, the President issued Executive Order #113 suspending the import tariff on rice and Executive Order #114 establishing the West African Police Information System (WAPIS). Executive Order #113 is in consideration of the expiration of Executive Order #105 and the government's commitment to ensuring that the prices of certain basic commodities on the market are affordable and do not impose an unnecessary burden on the citizens. "Now, therefore, the government of Liberia, in its desire to continue bringing relief to the public, hereby issues this Executive Order #113, suspending the import tariff on rice as classified under tariff nos. Regarding Executive Order #114 establishing the WAPIS program, President Weah said the decision aligns with an ECOWAS mandate of December 12, 2017 that all member states endorse the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) program. The Executive Order states that WAPIS will be headquartered in Monrovia at the edifice of the Liberia National Police.
Source:Daily Observer
January 09, 2023 18:58 UTC
Liberia: Upper Buchanan Ass'n Gets New Leadership
White United Methodist Church in Upper Buchanan. Others are to "encourage and promote education and socio-economic advancement and empowerment of our people from Upper Buchanan and provide a forum for free exchanges of ideas, talents as well as settlement of disputes and to champion the interest of the people of Upper Buchanan." Jannave said: "And as a respect to count#1, it is a catalyst to enable us to protect every land space of Upper Buchanan. Upper Buchanan Township is a ward of the City of Buchanan. The Township of Upper Buchanan has the Second Judicial Circuit Court, the county's Jail Compound and other public and private infrastructure.
Source:Daily Observer
January 07, 2023 15:39 UTC
Liberia: Rural Communities Angry with Weah Gov’t
While communities don’t get the funds they are owed, Liberian Legislators were recently gifted over US$3 million for legislative support projects. However, the government, as per the 2022 budget expenditure report, is claiming full payment of the US$2.7 million owed to the forest community. The government in that year allocated US$746,292 and US$2,000,000 respectively as payment for community forest sharing and forestry arrears. In most cases, protests have to be staged before these communities get paid and this year was no different. “Unfortunately, the draft 2023 budget does not have any amount appropriated for communities against the amount the government owes to communities in land rental fees,” the union said.
Source:Daily Observer
January 06, 2023 13:21 UTC