Liberia: Man in his 50s is Bong County’s First Death Linked to COVID-19
The death marks the first COVID-19 death in Bong County, where there has been no cases of the virus since its outbreak in the country four months ago. Gbarnga, Bong County – Bong County Health Team Thursday morning announced that a 52-year-old resident of Sugar Hill community in Gbarnga has died from complications connected to COVID-19. The death marks the first COVID-19 death in Bong County, where there has been no cases of the virus since its outbreak in the country four months ago. “Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the patient,” Dr. Yeiah said. The identified contacts, Dr. Yeiah said, had been told to stay at home, monitored by health officials.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 17:26 UTC
Spotlight Initiative supports media training on Gender Sensitive Reporting on COVID-19 and SGBV in Liberia
This training, which was held in Montserrado county, was the first in a series of trainings that will be held in Liberia. The Montserrado training included participants from print, electronic and online media from various media institutions in Liberia. Before the training, 75 percent of the media practitioners had limited knowledge about gender sensitive reporting on COVID-19 and SGBV. Simply having women in the newsroom is not enough because that does not guarantee being gender responsive or gender sensitive reporting,” she said. The gender sensitive training was organized and facilitated by the Female Journalists Association of Liberia with support from the European Union, United Nations and Government of Liberia Spotlight Initiative.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 16:41 UTC
Justice Wolokollie Denies Orange Liberia’s Quest for Prohibition on Surcharges
The promo which had run for over three years was also affecting government’s revenue generation in the sector. Industry experts say both GSM Companies operating in Liberia experienced an astronomical increase in revenue since the new LTA regulation came into effect. Despite the high rise in revenue, Orange GSM insists that it cannot honor the bill from the LTA for the payment of the surcharge. This, the government has seen as an unrealistic argument and an attempt from the GSM Companies to deny government its just revenue. Justice Wolokollie declined to entertain the matter because the matter is presently before the full bench and one justice cannot act, however, she admonished the parties to pursue the appeal.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 13:18 UTC
Liberia: MFDP Begins Publishing Fiscal Reports
These reports, dubbed Fiscal Data Transparency Measure, will reflect budget performances of individual entities which have up to now only been shared with the International Monetary Fund. Under the new measure, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning will post weekly fiscal reports to its website(www.mfdp.gov.lr). These reports, dubbed Fiscal Data Transparency Measure, will reflect budget performances of individual entities which have up to now only been shared with the International Monetary Fund. The government has said that the publication of the reports is in continuation of the Open Budget and Fiscal transparency initiative exercise. Meanwhile, Liberia has made enormous fiscal progress in implementing “prior actions” agreed with the IMF.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 12:45 UTC
Liberia: Agriculture Minister Has No Regrets About Changes; Stepping on Hornet’s Nests
MINISTER JEANNIE MILLY COOPER: “Coming from the private sector you make decisions like that all the time. I know because I’ve been buying agriculture equipment and I know how long it takes to get here.”Watch Full Interview with Agriculture Minister Jeannie Milly CooperDefending ‘Logical Decision’The minister said she has no regrets about the decision. That’s some of the benefits of getting somebody in the field who knows the agriculture sector here. Squarely that’s one of those honest nests on rationalizing on something that’s already been decided.”The minister acknowledged the ADB initially had concerns. The minister expressed regrets that the controversy has hindered her efforts to reform the agriculture sector.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 10:06 UTC
Liberia's Agriculture Minister: Transformation Is A Bumpy Road’
Our rubber sector is the largest private employer in the country; if we start to have layoffs in the rubber sector, farmers start to close their farms we would have yet another problem over and above the COVID-19. And an additional US$5.525 million that’s going to be split between the four components. I know because I’ve been buying agriculture equipment and I know how long it takes to get here. We have to bring our agriculture sector into the 21st century. They’re exporting the rubber component, like smoked sheets or technically specified rubber – that’s what they’re exporting.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 09:33 UTC
Liberia: ‘No Intent To Suspend Or Expel Dillon’ – Senate Leadership
Pro Temp Chie said public perceptions about him harboring a plan expel Senator Dillon from the very beginning of Montserrado Senator Induction are totally untrue. How can we assume at this time that someone want to suspend or expel our colleague even if these allegations are true?”Pro Temp Chie said public perceptions about him harboring a plan expel Senator Dillon from the very beginning of Montserrado Senator Induction are totally untrue. In his attempt to disclose the relationship between him and Senator Dillon, the Senate Pro Temp outlined some of the instances he had render personal assistance to the Montserrado Senator. I have no plan to expel Dillon this is a matter of precedence. Section D. of rule 23 further states that plenary shall debate the report and act upon the recommendation.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 09:11 UTC
Liberia: Family of Late Francis Mensah Craves Justice Minister Musa Dean to Ensure Accountability in Child’s Death
Little Mensah, three, died of severe burn from hot water allegedly poured on him by a female police officer enforcing government’s lockdown order. Monrovia – The family of the late Francis Mensah of West Point is demanding justice over his tragic and untimely death. Meanwhile, in a communication to Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean, the family through its lawyer, Finley Karngar said, since the death of little Mensah, the Liberia National Police (LNP) is yet to make available report of the investigation. Meanwhile, for the family and residents of West Point, little Mensah’s death is a reminiscence of the late Shaki Kamara’s incidence in August, 2014, at the height of another deadly disease outbreak, the Ebola epidemic. Mensah’s family, through their lawyer is calling on the Attorney General to intervene to ensure justice is served.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 08:48 UTC
Liberia: House of Reps. Amends Central Bank Act, Expands Legislative Oversight on Bank’s Activities
The CBL was established on October 18, 1999 by an Act of the Legislature and it became functional in 2000, replacing the National Bank of Liberia (NBL). Portion of the act was amended in 2014. Several changes made by the joint committee and approved by plenary includes the “Autonomy of the central Bank.”Under this portion, the House called for CBL to be accountable to the Legislature through its [Legislature] oversight function. It shall, however, be accountable to the Legislature through its oversight function.”Another area under the Act that was amended is the portion that gives the CBL the exclusive authority to issue Liberian dollars and bank notes. On the issuance of Liberian banknotes and coins, the House amended Act gives the CBL the sole authority to issue all Liberian Dollar banknotes and coins but subject to Article 34-d of the Constitution.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 08:45 UTC
Liberia: Independent Human Rights Commission Calls on Government to Accelerate Food Distribution Efforts
Independent Human Rights Commission Chairman, Atty. Bartholomew ColleyMonrovia – The Independent National Human Rights Commission (INHRC) has called on the Government to accelerate its efforts in distributing food to vulnerable communities to help alleviate multiple constraints confronting citizens during this lockdown period. But according to the Chairperson of the Independent Human Rights Commission, Atty. Bartholomew Colley, citizens are hungry and as such, government, through the committee, must speed up the distribution process. “We think that the food distribution is delayed and government should accelerate efforts to reach the targeted communities.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 08:37 UTC
Liberians Take Steps to Improve their Livelihood through EU Funded Projects – Insights from a Field Trip
The national campaign was implemented by the Delegation of the European Union to Liberia in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. Communities share their stories of resilienceNotably, the journalists met several communities taking impressive steps to improve their livelihood through agriculture. Through projects funded by the European Union, farmers improved their skills, and they have begun seeing the results of their hard work. Kpannah Varney, 26 years old, is a heavy-duty machine operator and a recent graduate of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata, Margibi County, Liberia. Reflections from the young media professionalsFor the young journalists, the 14-day travel was very intense but highly productive.
Source:Daily Observer
June 04, 2020 08:26 UTC
Liberia: Police Accused of Tampering With Vehicle Accident Investigation Report Involving Deputy Justice Minister
Report by Kennedy Yangian, [email protected]The kids, according to family sources, were returning from worship service when the accident occurred. The Deputy Justice Minister, who has pleaded not liable for the accident, made specific accusation against the police. He alleges that the diagram constructed after the accident was tempered with by police officers who conducted the investigation on the day of the accident. Responding to wide spread reports that he failed to cater to the kids following the accident, the Deputy Justice Minister said the reports are misleading and that he had provided some money for the medication of the children. Wednesday’s testimony by the Deputy Justice Minister was his first public statement on the incident.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 04, 2020 08:26 UTC
Liberia: Jones Blamo, Deputy head of National Security Agency is Dead; COVID-19 Suspected
Mr. Jones Blamo, Deputy head of the National Security Agency(NSA) had reportedly shown signs of the deadly Coronavirus over the past few days before he was taken to a hospital in the Marshall Community where he was pronounced dead a few hours ago. Monrovia – Mr. Jones Blamo, Deputy Director of the National Security Agency(NSA) has died. The NSA deputy director had reportedly shown signs of the deadly Coronavirus over the past few days before he was taken to a hospital in the Marshall Community where he was pronounced dead a few hours ago. President George Manneh Weah has reportedly placed a call to the widow of the deceased and a statement from the Executive Mansion is expected to be released shortly, according to the minister. In February 2019, Mr. Blamo was suspended for “time indefinite” after a run-in with Chief of Protocol Finda Bundoo at the Executive Mansion.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 03, 2020 18:00 UTC
Liberia: For Former Manager’s Assault on Employee, Court Orders GT Bank to Pay US$250K for Damages
Liberia: For Former Manager’s Assault on Employee, Court Orders GT Bank to Pay US$250K for DamagesFormer GT Bank Manager, Ayodeji Bejide (left), who absconded Liberia while the case was on and Mr. Edward Freeman, whose lip he hit with a calculatorMonrovia – Civil Law Court ‘B’ Judge Scheaplor R. Dunbar has held GT Bank Liberia Management liable for its former manager’s action on Employee Edward Freeman. “In view of the forgoing, the 1st defendant (GT Bank) is adjudged liable to plantiff (Edward Freeman) for the injuries he sustained on August 28, 2018. Following the assault, Freeman then reported the case to the Liberia National Police for investigation. In its investigation, the LNP charged the former bank manager, Ayodeji Bejide with the commission of Aggravated Assault and forwarded him to court. According to Freeman, Bejide threatened to dismiss him if he alarmed about the assault on him.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 03, 2020 16:07 UTC
Liberia: Court Dismisses Government’s Travel Ban Against Former NPHIL Director Tolbert Nyensuah
Monrovia- Criminal Court C Judge Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay today dismissed the Liberian government’s travel ban against former National Public Health Institute(NPHIL) Director Tolbert Nyensuah. Judge Gbeisay ruled: “The fact that the time of the service of the writ, the respondent, Mr. Tolbert Nyensuah had Departed the bailiwick of this country. Responding to the motion on May 26, prosecution argued that the motion filed by Tolbert Nyensuah lacks legal basis. Based on the findings, the government of Lineria issued out a New Exeat Republica against the former NPHIL Director on October 18, 2019. However, Nyensuah departed the country on Friday, October 18, 2019, the same date of the issuance of the Next Exeat Republica.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 03, 2020 12:45 UTC