Opioid Overdoses on the Rise During Covid-19 Pandemic
Most of these deaths, 78.2% were drug overdoses with known drug classification. Moreover, 21.8% were unclassified drug overdoses. A further investigation revealed that for unclassified drug overdoses, 71.8% involved opioids, translating to 99,160 additional opioid-related deaths. Another study on Opioid Overdose found that the number of drug overdose deaths decreased by 4% from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, more than 67,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 11, 2020 20:48 UTC
Liberia: History of Fraudulent Elections Resurrecting Concerns as President Closes in on NEC Appointment
Emmett Harmon declared that late President Samuel Doe won the ’85 elections with 264,362 votes, or 50.9% of the popular vote. Emmett Harmon was at the helm of the National Elections Commission. Late President Doe’s choice of Harmon to head the elections commission was seen at the time as a good move. Frances Johnson-Morris was tipped to steer the affairs of the elections commission. Under elections law, he will have to renounce his membership before taking office.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 11, 2020 07:30 UTC
Liberia: Four Candidates Lining Up In Quest For Leadership Of Former Ruling Unity Party
Monrovia – Nearly three months after Wilmot Paye’s unceremonious departure from the former ruling Unity Party, the race is heating up to find a replacement. Mainly staying in the background, he has been a long-standing supporter of the Unity Party. Many see him as an assertive, well connected, and levelheaded leader who would bring refreshing credibility to the party and national political arena. Wisner has lived almost his entire political life in the shadows of the Unity Party and the Liberia Action Party. His paternal uncle, Walter Y. Wisner was a founding member of the Unity Party in 1984 and a former Secretary General.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 11, 2020 00:56 UTC
A Tragedy Waiting To Happen
UNDER THE CLOAK of darkness, when no one was paying attention, the lawmakers passed the bill into law. UNDER THE SECRET LAW, lawmakers are not legally required to abide by rules against reckless driving, operating a vehicle in an unsafe condition, or speeding. The senior government officials would also not have to adhere to traffic signals or be banned from driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. THE ACCIDENT COMES amid mount criticisms of wanton abuse of traffic laws by both elected and appointed officials of government. It is also not right to pass a law that makes it legal to kill a citizen in cold blood in traffic because you happen to be in a government job.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 11, 2020 00:45 UTC
From Monrovia To Banjul: David Belgrove Departing After Five-Year Run As Ambassador
During his stay in Liberia, Ambassador Belgrove has been supportive of Liberia’s fight against corruption, gender and education issues. Monrovia – Mr David Belgrove is ending his tenure as British Ambassador to Liberia following his appointment as British High Commissioner to The Gambia. In April 2015, on his return to Liberia, Ambassador Belgrove replaced former Ambassador Fergus Cochrane-Dyet. During his stay in Liberia, Ambassador Belgrove has been supportive of Liberia’s fight against corruption, gender and education issues. In April last year, Ambassador Belgrove emphasized the importance of promoting education in Liberia and how gender-responsive education in Liberia was a top priority of his government’s.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 11, 2020 00:33 UTC
Liberia: Amid Suspicion of Bribery, FPA Delves Into Why EPA Acting Executive Director Was Lenient with A Company that Imported Hazardous Chemical without Permit
Now, a private company, York Trading Inc., committed the same offense in April and the acting Executive Director, Randall Dobayou fines them US$1,400 – the least fine ever in the EPA’s history. Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]Documents obtained by FrontPageAfrica show that York Trading In. Your application to EPA was prompted by the confiscation of the chemical by the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) for lacking EPA permit. He added that the fine imposed by York Trading was advanced by the technical team and not by the agency’s Deputy Executive Director. In fact, we had contacted York Trading, but they said they had already spoken to the boss,” the source said.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 11, 2020 00:32 UTC
Liberia: Aggrieved Beneficiaries of Beach And Waterways Project Threaten Protest Over 21 Months’ Salary Arrears
The aggrieved workers recalled that on March 1 this year, Youth and Sports Minister Zoegar Wilson pronounced the immediate closure of the project through “without any written acknowledgement to the workforce”. According to the slum dwellers, the delay in the payment of their salary arrears runs contrary to the pro-poor agenda of President Weah. Speaking in an interview with FrontPageAfrica at his office in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, Minister Wilson admitted that government remains indebted to the aggrieved workers. “There are more to just the 21 months that what the committee we set up is investigating. He, however, urged the aggrieved workers not to stage any peaceful assembly in the country because the move is intended to satisfy the “personal motives” of some of their suspended leaders.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 11, 2020 00:11 UTC
Liberia: Bong County Records Third Coronavirus Case; Residents Wonder Why Only the Dead Are Tested Positive
Liberia: Bong County Records Third Coronavirus Case; Residents Wonder Why Only the Dead Are Tested PositiveIn an interview with FrontPage Africa Thursday, many residents appeared not to be convinced that the deaths of the three confirmed cases in the county linked to COVID-19. Gbarnga, Bong County – The integrity of Bong County Health Team has been drawn into question after it reported Thursday that an elderly man is the county’s third death resulting from COVID-19. According to Bong County Health Officer, a third person is a 49-year-old man who died at the Phebe Hospital this week. In recent days, all three confirmed cases reported by the county health team have been associated with dead bodies. Speaking to FrontPage Africa, Bong County superintendent Esther Walker, said, “I plead with residents of the county and other journalists in the county to assist the county and the county health team deal with the issue of prejudice even among residents”.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 11, 2020 00:00 UTC
Liberia: House of Representatives Summons Public Work Minister Nyepan to Unveil Plan for Road Rehabilitation Amid Raining Season
Plenary voted in favor of a motion proffered by rep. Dixon Seboe, citing the Minister Nyenpan on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. “We’ve been hearing in bits and pieces that our international partners have committed to do this road and the problem lies with us, as partners to the international community to do our part. So, it will be appropriate for the Minister to come and give us a briefing.” Rep. Johnson Gwaikolo of District #9, Nimba County. So, it will be appropriate for the Minister to come and give us a briefing,” Said Rep. Johnson Gwaikolo of District #9, Nimba County. “Because of this southeastern road, we sign financing agreements happily, thinking that these agreement would have given birth, redeeming the Southeasterners, but to no avail.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 10, 2020 23:58 UTC
Liberia: COP to Stage a ‘Surprise’ Protest for the Increment of Data Charge
Webster Clayeh, Contributing Writer“This message goes out to every patriot out there. I am calling on you, we will not announce the date, this protest will take them by surprise. The group later moved to Ashman Street, where Mr. Costa was able to speak to them via cell phone. I am calling on you, we will not announce the date, this protest will take them by surprise. “We will stand up and it will be on Mr. Weah to listen to the demand of the Liberian people or ignore the Liberia people but for us, history will remember us.”
Source:Front Page Africa
June 10, 2020 23:37 UTC
Message From China: Liberian Man Married to a Chinese Talks About Living In The World’s Populous Nation
He has been telling FPA about his experience in the world’s most populous nation. Kesselly: I have stayed for about 6 years in China including my time in school and I’m currently married to a Chinese. Kesselly: As a black man living in China, it’s obvious to be discriminated against by some Chinese. I have also had contract with the European American Chambers of Commerce to organize traders who wanted to visit factories in China. I know the Central Government of China is working hard to keep a good relationship with their Africans counterparts.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 10, 2020 23:26 UTC
Mossi Farmers in Southeastern Liberia: Are They Elements of Radical Islam?
So, the real question is, is radical Islam a new phenomenon in West Africa? Arbinda Burkina Faso, Courtesy of VOA News)While the threat of homegrown radicalization is believed to be small, there have been documented incidents of terrorist recruitment within Burkina Faso. Nonetheless, the researchers concluded in 2014 that the threat of homegrown radicalization from within Burkina Faso was small. It is disappointing for any Grand Gedian person to solicit foreigners to cultivate their farmlands in Grand Gedeh County. It seems that history is repeating itself and the rise and fall of two medieval kingdoms of West Africa is an example of this.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 10, 2020 22:52 UTC
Africa: The Begging Region In Readiness To Solve Problems
Over the last 50 years, Africa for the first is set to make historic gains by solving its problems. The global health crisis the region would have fully look to the west and other good will nations to step out-front. By Jefferson G. Togba, Contributing WriterAfrica’s COVID-19 death rate and positive cases have surprised many experts because the region has far lesser cases than any region. These predictions were based on the fact that the region lacks adequate health facilities and capacities to handle the pandemic. Experts estimated that Africa would have had suffered the worst causalities then any region if not other countries.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 10, 2020 22:28 UTC
The Country Is Pulling Together To Tackle COVID-19; Falsely Attacking Long-Term Government Partners Is Unhelpful
Remote Learning taking place in Waahodo Town CommunityFive years ago, the Government of Liberia introduced an innovative education programme – the Liberian Education Advancement Programme (LEAP) – within its government schools. Alongside this action, Bridge Liberia committed to ensuring that all furloughed staff would continue to receive a monthly payment; despite not working. The vast majority at Bridge support the organisation in its effort to safeguard jobs for the long term while ensuring that employees can still support their families as the pandemic rages. It can only be concluded that these false claims are being circulated in an effort to damage the Government’s education programme and its largest partner. Bridge, the government and its partners remain committed to transforming the Liberian education system and continuing to improve learning outcomes.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 10, 2020 19:30 UTC
CPJ Joins Call For Cameroonian Government To Account For Samuel Wazizi’s Death In Custody
Journalist Samuel Wazizi. CPJ recently joined a statement calling for an independent inquiry into his death. On June 5, 2020, the Cameroonian military announced that Wazizi had died in government custody in August 2019, as CPJ documented at the time. In its announcement on June 5, the Cameroonian government alleged that Wazizi had died of “severe sepsis” and denied that he was tortured in custody. Yesterday’s joint statement calls for an investigation into whether Wazizi was tortured or otherwise ill-treated while in custody, and calls for those responsible for any mistreatment to be held accountable.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 10, 2020 19:18 UTC