04 January 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

NEC certificates elected officials today, 7 yet to be cleared, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The National Elections Commission (NEC) is expected to certificate all of the winners of the presidential and legislative elections held on October 10 and the 26 December presidential runoff election. The NEC communications director,  Henry Flomo told reporters recently that President-elect -George Weah along with the Vice President-elect, Jewel Howard Taylor will also be certificated at the headquarters of the electoral commission. Meanwhile, some seven newly elected lawmakers will not participate in the ceremony because of legal challenges surrounding their election process which have to be resolved.

President Sirleaf Issues Proclamation Extending Current Legislative Session by 9 Days, Sources: FrontPage Africa and News Public Trust

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued a proclamation extending the sixth and final session of the 53rd  Legislature by nine days beginning 4 January 2018, an Executive Mansion press release said on Wednesday. The proclamation followed the signing of a certificate of extension by members of the Senate and House of Representatives respectively. The proclamation realizes that cognizant of the limitation of time to discuss these key matters to facilitate the smooth transition from one democratically elected government to another; requires the participation and involvement of the 53rd Legislature in Session. Read More

UNMIL Refuses to Pay Damages to Flogged Employee? …Seeks International Rights Groups’ Intervention, Source: The INQUIRER

According to The Inquirer, it appears that the concept in Africa that no justice for the poor seems to be a reality as the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has vehemently refused to render due justice to one of its employees after being brutally and mercilessly flogged by the Jordanian Police Force serving as peacekeepers in Liberia on 27 December 2013 during sit-in protest by some workers of UNMIL over staff benefits.

Following the brutal and merciless flogging of Mr. Dominic Howard, he was pre-judged by UNMIL who believed that the aggrieved employee was poor and he doesn’t need urgent justice but to have him placed on an Administrative Leave for nine months without pay despite any interrogation, an act which Mr. Howard believes is tantamount to modern slavery.

According to documents in the possession Mr. Howard, the case was filed under the entitled: “No. UNDT/NBI/2014/069 Order No. 198 NBI/2014” and the verdict was reached on 26 August 2014. However, due to UNMIL’s delay to impute damages to the victim since 2014, the victim’s legal team filed a complaint against UNMIL to the Sixth Judicial Circuit for redress to the flogging but to their dismay, UNMIL has been very adamant to appear to court and to pay damages to the victim.

Mr. Howard alleges that according to information reaching him, “suggests that money may have exchanged hands between UNMIL and some government officials which has resulted to UNMIL being adamant to succumb to the court’s order, an attitude, which he said has sent a wrong signal to the International Community.

However, Mr. Howard is calling on the Liberian government, the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, Amnesty International, and other human rights organizations to prevail on UNMIL to go to court or pay him his damages.

Demonstrate Change to End Poverty …Rotary International Peace Fellow Urges CDC, Source: The INQUIRER

The newly elected Government of Liberia has been challenged to demonstrate the change necessary to end poverty, unemployment, and improve the basic standard of living of the Liberian people. An unprecedented 61.5 percent of voters turn-out in favor of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) in the just-ended election speaks to the hearts of Liberians being desperate for a new order of governance, due diligence, and accountability.

In remarks made recently in the United States at the announcement of Rotary International Peace Fellowship Award, Christian Harris said the youth population of Liberia that voted overwhelmingly has hope in the new government to change the trajectory of the country, and bring about opportunities for them to become productive players in the economic and political realm of the country.

The Rotary Peace Follow said for Liberia to remain peaceful and democratically engaged, the government should focus on a broader development program for the young people of the country to include structured educational programs, job training, and skills building to serve as a vehicle to empower the next generation of Liberians who largely have a major stake to alter many elections to come. Mr. Harris noted that to ignore the youths of the country at this time will only leave them vulnerable and opened to negative behaviors and influences.

ALCOP Congratulates Weah, Source: The INQUIRER

The opposition All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP) has congratulated President-elect George Weah. The party also commended defeated candidate Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP) for accepting the victory of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) proving himself as a leading patriot in the country.

Pro-Tempore Jallah out, Senator Chie tipped to replace him, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that at a meeting held Wednesday of some 16 senators who regard themselves as elders have stopped the Senate President Pro-Tempore, Armah Jallah from seeking re-election.  Outgoing Senators George Weah and Jewel Howard Taylor also attended the meeting.  Following their indoor meeting, Senator H. Dan Morais told reporters that Senator Jallah will not seek re-election. The paper said it was unable to get a word from the Senate President Pro-Tempore on the decision reached by his colleagues up to press time.

Clergymen ‘chop’ US Marines’ contract money –state witness claims, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and New DEMOCRAT

A government’s witness, Hungehi Choi told the court Wednesday when he testified that Bishop Manasseh Conto and Pastor Steve Kettor connived with some officials to dupe the Korea Trading Corporation (KTC) and also chopped USD16K from the US Marines Vehicle rental contract. The contract was signed during the height of the Ebola crisis, the witnessed said. The witness said the two clergymen received USD17,875 for the trucks but only remitted USD1,000 to the KTC without accounting for the remaining of USD16, 875. Bishop Conto and Pastor Kettor are from the Mission for Today Holy Church in the Borough of New Kru Town and were employees of the KTC.

Kailondo regrets hateful campaign messages, Source: New DEMOCRAT

Businessman George Kailondo who was on the campaign of the ruling Unity Party (UP) presidential candidate, has regretted hateful campaign massages against President-elect George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) during the campaign. Mr. Kailondo, who was once a member of the CDC before joining the UP called on President-elect Weah to muster the courage to unite the country.

Liberian Muslims: Divided over Endorsement, but United in Congratulation, Source: News Public Trust

During the recent presidential election campaign, Liberian Muslims were divided over whether or not to endorse candidates in the political race. But now with the results of the election out and the winner declared by the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Islamic community here have joined many voices and both local and international institutions to congratulate the winners - President-elect George Weah and Vice President-elect Jewel Howard Taylor of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).

“In obeying the spiritual order, the Muslim Community of Liberia have the strong convection, and considered it as a sacred obligation and profound sense of national duty, to sincerely commend the architects of the just ended general elections (10 October, and 26 December 2017) run-off,” a statement from the Muslim Council said on Wednesday.

The council’s secretary-general, Sheik Akibu Sheriff told a news conference that it is time that the Muslims in Liberia give thanks and adoration to Almighty Allah for his continuous mercies bestowed on Liberia and its people.  Read More

Calls for Departing UP Government Officials to Account for Development Money, Source: News Public Trust

There are growing calls in some quarters for outgoing local and national officials of the ruling Unity Party (UP) to give an account of development funds they have been administering over the years. One of such development funds is the County Social Development Funds (CSDFs).

In River Cess County, a civil society activist has called on the county authority to make available a comprehensive report of USD380,000 reportedly received from the government for CSDF. Speaking on a local radio talk show in Cestos City on Tuesday, Charles Harrison Teah said in order for citizens of the county not to be left in doubt, the current administration should make a report to the citizens on the utilization of the USD380,000.

But in a recent interview, Senator Dallas Gueh, who is the secretary of the Legislative Caucus, told the citizens that up to now no report has been received on the status of those projects that were prioritized by them. When quizzed by reporters on the status of the USD380,000, Senator Gueh said he believed the money has been exhausted. Read More

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberia’s presidential election is a milestone for democracy in Africa, Source: The Hill

On Friday, the 29th of December, Liberia’s National Elections Commission declared George Weah the 25th president of the Republic of Liberia. The 51-year old, former soccer superstar, the only African to receive the sport’s highest honor, the Ballon d’Or, was swept into office by the country’s youthful population with 61.5 percent of the vote, beating the incumbent vice president. It was an achievement not just for the opposition politician on the presidential ballot for the third and decisive time, but also a democratic milestone for Africa’s oldest republic.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the country’s post-conflict leader, and the first woman elected to lead an African nation will be stepping down, honoring the constitution after serving two six-year terms.

The election marks Liberia’s first peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected head-of-state to another in decades. Not since 1944, will a Liberian president take the oath of office in the presence of his (or her) predecessor. 

Boakai Fofana, Liberia editor for AllAfrica.com and host of one of the country’s most listened to morning talk shows, Capitol FM, told me: “George Weah's historic victory tells a broader Liberian success story, that a nation, once torn apart by bloody civil wars, can bounce back stronger and be one of Africa's enviable democracies.” Read more

The tasks before George Weah, Source: Punch

“Persons looking to cheat the Liberian people through the menace of corruption will have no place in my administration. We will build on the institutional gains under Madam Sirleaf to improve the lives of our people. We will build a new institution where necessary to protect rights and engender inclusion among all our people” – Liberia President-elect, George Weah, in his victory speech on December 30, 2017.

The heartwarming news came from Liberia last Thursday, December 28, 2017 as the football legend, George Oppong Weah, was declared president-elect of Liberia after the December 26 run-off presidential election with outgoing Vice President and candidate of the Unity Party, Joseph Boakai. Weah, like he did in 2005 when he first ran for the presidency of Liberia, led the first round of election held on October 10, 2017 but failed to poll the 50+1 percentage votes needed to be declared the winner at the first ballot. After a seven-week delay and eventual clearance from Liberia Supreme Court, the National Elections Commission of Liberia held the run-off.

Like the outgoing president of Liberia, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, made history as the first elected female African president in 2005, Weah, who had won many laurels in football including the Ballon d’Or, European Footballer of the Year and was a three-time African Footballer of the Year, has made history as the first professional footballer to become president of a country. He remains the only African footballer to be crowned World Footballer of the Year. What a rare feat! Read more

Disclaimer
This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIL on the understanding that the choice of articles included is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not imply endorsement by UNMIL.

 

 

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