“The closure of Front Page Africa continues a worrying trend in which the independence of leading Liberian voices, including the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI), are being threatened. Global Witness, Front Page Africa, and the BBC have all reported on the illegal removal of Mr Karmo from LEITI. Instead the Liberian President has taken matters into his own hands. “Liberian democracy requires independent voices and impartial information, like that provided by Front Page Africa and LEITI. On 22 March, President Weah verbally accused BBC stringer Jonathan Paye-Layleh of being “one of those that were against me.” (3)Mr Paye-Layleh has chosen to leave Liberia for the time being.

Source: Front Page Africa April 12, 2018 03:11 UTC