Liberia:CBL Clarifies Shortage of Smaller Liberian Dollar
The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) says its attention has been drawn to persistent public concerns about the shortage of L$5 and L$10 on the economy, despite a series of radio programs organized by the CBL explaining the causes for the shortage and efforts by the Bank to address the situation. Considering the 3-year average lifespan of the Liberian dollar banknote, and the yearly estimated mutilated rate of 7.0 percent, the release said, most of the existing banknotes, especially smaller denominations, have already outlived their lifespan and the CBL has not been able to print additional smaller banknote denominations during the past years to replace existing mutilated banknotes since 2017. This shortage of L$5 and L$10 has been further heightened by the increased demand on the smaller denominations due to the growth in the population and expanded scope of economic activities, including keh-keh and motorbike ventures, as well as other small marketeers’ need for smaller denominations, the CBL release said. The latter process involves more time, given that Liberia is introducing a new set and designs of coins that are completely different from the existing coins of 1 dollar, 50 cents and 25 cents. The CBL says it empathizes with the public on the shortage of smaller denominations and pleads once again for patience as the Bank does all within its power not only to address concerns of the smaller denominations, but the entire currency management challenges of the country.
Source:Daily Observer
June 02, 2022 18:35 UTC
Liberia: Top CSOs Demand Executive, Legislature to Suspend Taxes, Import Duties on Sanitary Pads
The groups want President George M. Weah to issue executive order suspending taxes and import duties on sanitary pads to give women/girls’ access to sanitary pads and make it more affordable and accessible. “Menstruation is still treated as a taboo, contributing to the lack of access to menstrual hygiene education. “We ask the Government, through the Legislature, to amend the Revenue Code removing all taxes applicable to the importation and sale of sanitary pads in Liberia. Mrs. Tulay-Solanke said CHI launched the #pas4girls project, the local production of reusable sanitary pads for women and girls, to make access to sanitary pads more available and sustainable, an eco-friendly solution. “We are also calling on the First Lady of Liberia to join our voices in advocating for removing taxes on sanitary pads.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 01, 2022 07:37 UTC
Liberia’s National Hajj 2022 Committee Chairman Announces Registration and Process of Muslims’ Visit to Mecca 2022
Monrovia – The National HAJJ Committee of Liberia-2022 (NHCL), on Monday in keeping with precedence by the Government of Liberia has announced the commencement of its registration of pilgrims for Mecca 2022. Report by Francis G. BoayueThe Hajj or pilgrimage is a five-day religious visit to Mecca and nearby holy sites in Saudi Arabia where all Muslims who are physically and financially able go at least once in their lives. According to the committee chairman Cllr. Losene F. Bitty, the official cost of this year’s HAJJ (Pilgrimage) finally stands at Six Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars ($6,500.00 USD) per traveler in other to ensure proper coordination, rules, and orders. He said all accredited Hajj Agencies must display their accreditations to pilgrims desirous of performing Hajj this year which should be signed and stamped by the Chairman of the National Hajj Committee of Liberia 2022 in Cllr.
Source:Front Page Africa
June 01, 2022 07:17 UTC
Liberia: Cummings Africa Foundation Reacts To Smear Political Campaign
The Cummings Africa Foundation (CAF) has read with dismay, and declared as outright lies and propaganda that CAF has received U$ 100,000.00 as grant for the Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Liberia. The fake report published in the Monday, May 30, edition of the Independent Newspaper, claimed the US$ 100,000.00 was given by a so-called American businessman identified only as Sandy Edwards for the LGBT community in West Africa. Without any detail as to the date and venue of the fundraising, the newspaper insinuated that the amount was given as “grant to the Liberian based Cummings Africa Foundation Gay Fund, a so-called collective giving and endowment initiative of Foundation for the LGBT communities in West Africa.”The Cummings Africa Foundation describes the report as a fabricated lie, planted in the Independent Newspaper to achieve a sinister political motive by its pay master. The Cummings Africa Foundation has requested the management of this tabloid newspaper to retract this erroneous report or face the full consequences of its action. Cummings Africa Foundation has accordingly alerted its team of Lawyers on the next course of action as this erroneous report has the propensity to cast a negative aspersion on its work and with serious repercussions on the political future on its co-founder, Mr. Alexander Cummings who is the prime target of this politically motivated smear campaign.
Source:Daily Observer
June 01, 2022 05:25 UTC
Liberia: House Petitioned to Scrap Taxes on Menstrual Pads
Making menstrual hygiene supplies, including sanitary pads, more affordable, available, and accessible, is one of the critical and complicated legislation about to be reviewed by the 54th Legislature. But this might soon be minimized as the House of Representatives has been petitioned by the Community Healthcare Initiative (CHI) to make menstrual health and hygiene a priority by suspending all taxes and import duties on sanitary pads. “We ask the Government, through the Legislature, to amend the Revenue Code, removing all taxes applicable to the importation and sale of sanitary pads in Liberia. He said they will lobby to ensure the amendment of the tax policy on sanitary pads. “We are also calling on the First Lady of Liberia to join our voices in advocating for removing taxes on sanitary pads.
Source:Daily Observer
June 01, 2022 05:25 UTC
UN Secretary-General Appoints Cornelius Nagbe as International Humanitarian Law Expert on the UN Security Council’s Panel of Experts on Yemen
The Secretary-General informed the President of the Security Council that, after consulting with the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2140 (2014), he had accordingly appointed the following experts to the Panel of Experts on Yemen: Mr. Debi Prasad Dash, finance (India), Mr. Cornelius Nagbe, international humanitarian law (Liberia) and Mr. Wolf-Christian Paes, arms (Germany). As the international humanitarian law expert, Mr. Nagbe will contribute to the monitoring of sanctions measures and investigation of alleged sanctions violations or non-compliance as mandated by Security Council resolutions related to Yemen. Prior to his appointment to the Panel of Experts on Yemen, Mr. Nagbe worked as a Consultant on Children and Armed Conflict in the South Asia Regional Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Mr. Nagbe earlier served at UN Headquarters in New York as Human Rights Programme Management Officer in the Counter-Terrorism Centre of the UN Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT). Mr. Nagbe holds a Master’s in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University and Master’s in International Relations and Bachelor’s in Mass Communication from University of Liberia.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 31, 2022 19:19 UTC
World No Tobacco Day 2022
Message from WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso MoetiThe world marks World No Tobacco Day on 31 May every year, to raise awareness of the negative health, social, economic and environmental impacts of tobacco production and use. Despite 24 African countries instituting bans on smoking in public places, and 35 banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, our estimates are that one in every 10 African adolescents use tobacco. UN agencies and the Kenyan government provide training, inputs such as seeds and fertilizer, and a ready market for their harvest through the World Food Programme’s local procurement initiatives. Additionally, tobacco cultivation exposes farmers to several health risks, including “green tobacco sickness”, which is caused by nicotine absorbed through the skin during the handling of wet tobacco leaves, as well as exposure to pesticides and tobacco dust. On World No Tobacco Day this year, I call on African governments to impose environmental tax levies on tobacco across the value and supply chains, including production, processing, distribution, sales, consumption and waste management.
Source:Daily Observer
May 31, 2022 18:33 UTC
Liberia: Residents of Floods Prone Communities Threaten to Move in Public Buildings, Homes of Govt. Officials
Merchant believed that “bribes” allegedly offered some of these public officials to abandon their assigned tasks and responsibilities to please foreigners over their own citizens. He said public officials involved in safeguarding wetlands and preventing the construction of stores, dwelling places, or others on alleyways should execute their tasks and responsibilities without fear or favor. Merchant observed that most often, representative and senatorial candidates trooped into flooded communities in the district to make unrealistic promises. Take Flood victims to estatesHe recalled that during past administrations, housing estates were constructed to shelter flood victims in Monrovia and other parts adjacent. Merchant named the Stephen Tolbert and Matadi Estates, among others, as some of the estates that were constructed for the intake of flood victims.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 31, 2022 13:33 UTC
Liberia: Kenneth Best, Nine Others Admitted into PUL’s Hall of Fame
A little over 23 years since the launch of the Press Union of Liberia’s (PUL) annual excellence award, the union, through its awards and vetting committee for the first time introduced a new category, the PUL Hall of Fame. In February 1981, Best and his wife founded the Daily Observer, Liberia's first independent daily newspaper. Under the Presidency of Samuel Doe, the Daily Observer was subject to sustained political harassment. There he founded Gambia's first independent daily newspaper on 11 May 1992, again called The Daily Observer. He continues to serve as the publisher of the Liberian Daily Observer.
Source:Daily Observer
May 31, 2022 09:42 UTC
Eric Story of Betrayal and Blackmail: When Helping Others Becomes Painful!
He told Eric that folks from the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) had gotten hold of him through one of his posts. “So, when I got back to Liberia, after being away, he told me, ‘Eric, we have a scheduled meeting with the President. Forte, who sponsored the building construction where Daniel Dennis and SAC had their office. Because of her love to help girls, Daniel Dennis and his cohorts took advantage of her innocence and milked her out of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately for me, Daniel Dennis backed up my entire information from my phone onto his personal laptop.
Source:Daily Observer
May 31, 2022 09:30 UTC
Anthrax Outbreak in Sierra Leone
— Implications for LiberiaThe Government of Liberia has reported an outbreak of the deadly anthrax pathogen in northern Sierra Leone, with a death toll of well over 200 livestock and only a few humans infected. It has been exactly two weeks since 16 May 2022, when the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health reported the death of 223 livestock: (91 cattle, 53 goats, and 79 sheep) as a result of the anthrax outbreak. This is the first outbreak of anthrax among animals to be reported in Sierra Leone in nearly 30 years. Which is why the Liberian Ministry of Health has banned the importation of all livestock from Sierra Leone for now. Sierra Leone authorities have also reported a total of three cases in humans which are currently being treated.
Source:Daily Observer
May 30, 2022 16:41 UTC
CARES Group Formally Opens Liberia Office
Known for its quality work in maritime, engineering, and environmental issues, CARES Liberia has officially launched and opened its office in Liberia following six years of operations in the country. Also speaking, Isaac Yaw Asiedu-Addo, country manager of CARES-Liberia said six years ago the company has a diverse portfolio of operation in Liberia. “In Liberia, we are engineering consultants with emphasis on maritime, environment and civil works,” he said. He said when it comes to doing business in Liberia, the CARES Group understood the business climate and the people. “Out of which you can structure your mode of operations, because you cannot take your experience from Ghana and bring it directly to Liberia.
Source:Daily Observer
May 30, 2022 13:31 UTC
Liberia: CDC Celebrates 17th Anniversary As Party Adopts 40% Quota to Increase Women’s Participation in Political Leadership – FrontPageAfrica
Monrovia— Today marks the 17th anniversary of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), which came into existence as a full fledged political party on May 27, 2005 after being officially certificated by the National Elections Commission of Liberia. The party’s leader and Standard-bearer, President George M. Weah, will deliver the NEC statement, giving marching orders for the year ahead. As early as June 2005, the party had adopted Liberia’s first 30% gender quota, holding itself accountable to its scrupulous implementation. This feat inspired almost 28% rise in women candidature across the country during the 2005 General and presidential elections. This policy-decision henceforth, must be considered in the party’s internal and external democratic processes.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 28, 2022 23:09 UTC
Liberia: International Investigators Conclude that There’s No Ground for Cummings’ Prosecution; Say Allegation Is Politically Motivated
The investigation by the two firms established that the CPP Investigative Committee Report is fundamentally flawed, both in terms of its process and its stated conclusions. The CPP Investigative Report, according to them, did not provide any substantiation for the allegations and is a “wholly unsafe basis for any criminal prosecution. However, such is not in dispute because the evolution of the Framework Document is logical and a consequence of the iterative process of negotiating the Framework Document. The investigative report concluded: “In light of our investigation, we have serious concerns regarding the findings of the CPP Investigative Committee Report, which was lacking in each of its scope of review, analytical rigour and conclusions. Together with omissions in Prosecution evidence, this calls into question, therefore, the very basis upon which the Prosecution has commenced criminal proceedings against Mr Cummings and his co-defendants.
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2022 14:18 UTC
ArcelorMittal Liberia Making Headway Towards 30 Mtpa
Buchanan − ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) continues to make good progress with the study to produce and export 30 million tons per annum (mtpa) of concentrate from its Liberian operations. Stefan Buys, CEO ArcelorMittal Mining said: “ArcelorMittal would like to reiterate its commitment to maintaining and strengthening its strategic partnership with the people of Liberia by creating much needed jobs, supporting community development and contributing to the economic growth of Liberia. About ArcelorMittalArcelorMittal is the world’s leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 16 countries. This is what we believe it takes to be the steel company of the future. ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).
Source:Front Page Africa
May 25, 2022 13:47 UTC