11 December 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Runoff to be held after X’mas, Source: The New Dawn

Sources at the National Elections Commission (NEC) have told The New Dawn that the runoff scheduled between Vice President Joseph Boakai and Senator George Weah is not likely to take place until after Christmas given the mandate of the Supreme Court that the electoral body cleanup the voters’ roster.

“NEC cannot put a time frame on the holding of the run off until it cleans up the voters’ roll,” one source said Sunday. The High Court Friday, 8 December gave the NEC a go ahead to schedule the conduct of the presidential runoff between Boakai and Weah in the October 10 polls after denying Liberty Party’s request for a re-run of the said polls after it cited fraud and irregularities. Read more

NEC Unwilling to Comply with Supreme Court’s Mandate?, Source: Daily OBSERVER

that the Daily Observer reports that the National Elections Commission (NEC) seems unwilling to comply with the Supreme Court’s mandate to clean up the Final Registration Roll (FRR) before the holding of the runoff election. NEC chairman Jerome Korkoya’s continued insistence that the FRR is flawless and needs no cleanup was rebuffed by the ruling Unity Party (UP) as well as the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) according to reliable sources.

Sources say a meeting convened over the weekend by the NEC with representatives from the UP and the CDC ended inconclusively as Mr. Korkoya had no prepared agenda — as would have been expected — outlining procedures to be agreed and adopted by both parties for the cleanup of the FRR, as mandated by the High Court in its recent ruling.

Further, according to sources, Korkoya, when requested to produce the FRR for scrutiny by the parties, failed to do so insisting out rightly that the FRR was indeed clean and stood in no further need of any cleanup as recommended and mandated by the High Court. Prior to the weekend meeting, NEC executive director Lamin Lighe told the Daily Observer repeatedly that despite the public outcry, there was nothing wrong with the FRR. Read more

ECOWAS: “FRR Must Be Cleaned within Confines of Supreme Court Ruling”, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The ECOWAS Commission Special Representative to Liberia, Ambassador Babatunde Olanrewaju Ajisomo, has disclosed that modalities are being worked out to ensure that the regional body is involved in the cleanup of the controversial Final Registration Roll (FRR), ahead of the expected runoff election. The Supreme Court did not fix a date for the runoff, but legal experts say that the decision lies squarely within the purview of the National Elections Commission (NEC).

Ambassador Ajisomo said ECOWAS is poised to help in this process, adding that the regional body, the NEC, and other stakeholders are collaborating to ensure the speedy return of its team of experts to Liberia to assist the NEC with the cleanup of the FRR. He spoke recently at an interactive forum with media practitioners in Monrovia where findings and recommendations of the leaked report were officially disclosed. Read more

Supreme Court Sets Stage for Next Elections, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The chief of party of the Legal Professional Development and Anti-Corruption Program Liberia (LPAC) has said that the recent Supreme Court ruling on allegations of fraud and irregularities brought on by the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the opposition Liberty Party (LP) against the National Elections Commission (NEC) could be used to guide future elections. Gerald Meyerman noted that there were errors in the LP and UP complaint about the conduct of the October 10 elections. Mr. Meyerman said the errors could be corrected and can be made to enhance the process, adding that the High Court decision will be an important guideline for the next election.

The USAID-LPAC chief of party made the disclosure when he launched the ‘Talking Bus – Upholding the Rule of Law’ project that will be implemented by the Angie Brooks International Center-Women Situation Room (WSR) in Monrovia.

He said the court ruling will encourage Liberians to respect the Constitution. “Liberians will now make their decision on which of the candidates they have to vote for during the runoff elections,” Meyerman indicated. Read more

LP Reportedly Under Intense Lobbying With CDC, UP Over Who to Support in Runoff, Source: FrontPage Africa

Reports have indicated that the opposition Liberty Party (LP) appears to be divided over which direction its standard bearer, Charles Brumskine and the party should go in way of support for the two remaining candidates in the race for the Liberian presidency, Senator George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP).

Several senior stalwarts in the LP confided to FrontPage Africa Sunday that negotiations are being concluded but that most of the partisans are said to be divided although some key members in the hierarchy appear to be leaning in the direction of Senator Weah. But when contacted Sunday, Brumskine could not confirm or deny the report, only telling FrontPage Africa that the party will make an official announcement at the right time. “I am sure when a decision is made, party officials will inform the press.”

FrontPage Africa made several inquiries Sunday with mixed results. Multiple sources in both the LP and CDC confirmed that discussions are taking place and an official announcement could come sometime this week. Read more

Hundreds of Muslims Endorse Weah, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Two days after the lifting of the prohibition on the runoff presidential election by the Supreme Court, hundreds of Muslims have endorsed the main opposition Coalition of Democratic Change (CDC) of Senator George Weah, describing him as the best candidate for the country. The endorsement, which was held over the weekend at the party’s headquarters in Congo Town, brought together imams, women, and youth groups.

Bobby Sheriff Sr., who read the endorsement statement said they strongly believe that Senator Weah is prepared to address issues affecting the country and its people, as well as working with everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. Read more

EU Reaffirms Its Rights Protection Policy, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, has once more assured the world that the European grouping is committed to human rights protection without barriers. In her Human Rights Day Message on December 10, Mogherini said the EU has made “the protection of human rights not only the foundation of common internal and external policies but of the Union itself.”

She noted that the EU will continue to reaffirm its commitment to protecting and promoting the universality of human rights whenever they are violated or questioned, inside or outside its borders.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted without dissent by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948. This year’s Human Rights Day marked the launch of a year-long campaign to celebrate the 70th anniversary in 2018. Read more

Traditional Leaders Want House Version of Land Rights Act Rejected by Senate, Source: FrontPage Africa

Traditional chiefs from several towns and villages across the country have threatened to canvass against the re-election of members of the Senate, if they concur with the House of Representatives to pass the version of the Land Rights Act (LRA), recently passed by the lower house.

Many of the chiefs from towns in Grand Cape Mount, River Cess, Margibi, and Bomi counties said the version of the LRA passed by the House of Representatives is completely different from what was agreed to by chiefs, traditional leaders, civil society, government representatives, lawmakers, and the cabinet at a National Conference called by the President in 2013 to validate the Land Rights Policy which was translated into a draft law and presented to the Legislature in 2014.

The chiefs argued that “Since policy can easily be changed by politicians,” the draft Land Right Act submitted to the Legislature in 2014 for passage into law was basically converted from the 2013 Land Rights Policy. Read more

‘Liberian Gov’t Officials are Still Corrupt’ -USAID Liberia Mission Director, Source: Daily OBSERVER

USAID Mission Director to Liberia, Dr. Tony Chan has quoted a report which revealed that Liberian government officials are corrupt and have abused public trust for failing to manage the state’s resources and infrastructure as well as provide citizens the basic and needed services.

Dr. Chan said in Liberia, the perception of untrustworthy and badly functioning public institutions has been rated as particularly acute; and according to a Transparency International Report on the perceptions of abuse by public officials in 2016, Liberia ranked 90 out of 176 countries, indicating that significant progress is needed to increase public trust and confidence.

The USAID official made the revelation on Friday at the Integrity Idol ceremony, where five public officials were honored for being the country’s most honest government officials in 2017. Read more

Global Witness: Guus arrest key to war accountability, Source: The New Dawn

Global Witness Friday welcomed the arrest in South Africa of notorious timber trader and gun runner Guus Kouwenhoven, who play a significant role in the Liberian civil war trafficking arms for former president Charles Taylor.

The global environmental watchdog said Kouwenhoven’s arrest is a hugely significant step in efforts to hold accountable those that fueled and profited from Liberia’s bloody civil war. His arrest follows the April conviction of Kouwenhoven in a Dutch court for aiding and abetting war crimes and illegally trading arms during the height of Liberia’s civil war, which claimed over 250,000 lives. Dutch authorities are now seeking his extradition to the Netherlands.

Mr. Kouwenhoven was head of the Oriental Timber Corporation (OTC) during Liberia’s civil war, which lasted from 1989 to 2003. Read more

Gender Minister Advises Female Zoes on Early Marriage Dangers, Source: FrontPage Africa

FrontPage Africa reports that as part of the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, gender minister Julia Duncan Cassell has urged traditional female zoes not to encourage early child marriage.

Addressing female zoes at the Traditional Village for Peace in Brewerville City over the weekend, Mrs. Cassell explained that they could not end the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence without meeting the Traditional Female Zoes, whom she praised for upholding the nation’s culture and tradition.

The gender minister urged traditional mothers to avoid the practice of early childhood marriage. ”The tradition is good; we should allow our girls to go to school. You can still keep your culture,” Mrs. Cassell told the older women. “Don’t give your girl child to man. Give her chance, talk to her, let her go to school; the same way you can let your boy child go to school,” Minister Cassell appealed. Read more

FLOW, Partners Create Awareness in Observance of 16 Days of Activism, Source: FrontPage Africa

As part of efforts in observance of the 16 Days of Activism, Funding Leadership Opportunities for Women (FLOW) through it implementing partners Youth Coalition for Education in Liberia (YOCEL), Foundation for Community Initiative (FCI), Women NGO Secretariat (WONGOSOL), National Institute for Public Opinion (NIPO), and the Organization for Women and Children (ORWOCH) on Friday held an awareness campaign on the National theme: Let’s embrace our diversities for safe Education and a violent free society”. 

The awareness campaign was held at selected locations in Monrovia Old Road Market, Nancy B. Doe Market, Rally Town Market, Matilda Newport, and the PHP Community.

Making remarks before the awareness campaign, Oxfam Liberia country director, Anne-Catherine Bajard applauded the implementing organizations for coming together as joint partners to carry out the awareness. She said GBV issue is an everyday issue that affects the lives of women and people should now see and read the statistics in Liberia as an everyday issue that exist. Read more

Head-To-Head: Preview of Crowded Field For Liberia’s Next Speaker, Source: FrontPage Africa

Sitting and incoming members of the lower house of Liberia’s National Legislature will get a chance to elect a new leader on the first day of session, later this month.

But even before they get to cast their votes, many old and new faces have begun jockeying for votes in hopes of building blocs with an eye on becoming the next speaker of the House of Representatives.

Despite widespread speculations, former Speaker Edwin Snowe has told close aides and associates that he is not in the picture for a return to the helm of the lower house. Those eyeing the speakership include deputy speaker Hans Barchue (Independent), J. Fonati Koffa (LP), Lawrence Morris (Independent), Prince Moye (PUP), Bhofal Chambers (CDC), Thomas Fallah (CDC), and Munah Pelham Youngblood (CDC). Read more

Recycling Waste Creates Jobs, Valuable Products, Source: Daily OBSERVER

A local firm engaged in waste collection, management, and recycling – Green Cities Incorporated (GCI), is recycling wastes and turning them into valuable products such as geometric sets and rulers for students. Plastic wastes to be recycled will include plastic bags, used jelly, soft drink and lotion containers, among others. “Plastic waste doesn’t completely biodegrade which harms both animals and humans, and drastically endangers our environment,” said James Mulbah, GCI executive director. He spoke Saturday when he turned over special protective suits and materials to 100 youth from 10 slum communities in Monrovia and its environs who are being trained to collect the waste for the UNMIL sponsored Urban Youth Recycling Project. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Michael Essien wishes George Weah luck ahead of Liberia election re-run, Source: Ghana Web

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has sent a good luck message to Liberian Presidential candidate George Weah ahead of the re-run of the election. Liberia's Supreme Court has ruled that evidence of fraud during October's first round of presidential elections was insufficient to merit a re-run. This means the final round of voting between the two leading candidates - ex-footballer George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai - can go ahead. The electoral commission will now set a date for the delayed vote.

Liberty Party's representative Charles Brumskine, who came third in the first round, had challenged the result. 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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