• Weah lobbies outside for support, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, New DEMOCRAT, The INQUIRER, and The New Dawn
• Ellen Doubts, Weah Silent on USD449M Transfer, Source: New DEMOCRAT
• Agnes Taylor’s Family Cites “Financial Gains” for War Crimes Allegation Against Her; Blames Hassan Bility, Source: The INQUIRER
• Labor Ministry Gives Ultimatum for Employers To Regularize Alien Workers’ Status, Source: The INQUIRER
• NEC Under Pressure for Non-payment To Vendors, Source: The INQUIRER
• Murder at Happy Corner –Unknown men kill motorcyclist, Source: The New Dawn

Weah lobbies outside for support, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, New DEMOCRAT, The INQUIRER, and The New Dawn

President George Weah will today Thursday depart the country for Senegal, Morocco, and France. According to presidential press secretary Sam Mannah, the purpose of the trip is to explore avenues for bilateral trade and assistance to Liberia. While the president is away, state for presidential affairs minister, Nathaniel McGill, will chair the Cabinet in consultation with Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, the release said. Read more

Ellen Doubts, Weah Silent on USD449M Transfer, Source: New DEMOCRAT

Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed disbelief that the Liberian economy she operated for 12 years has the capacity for a collective of individuals to transfer USD400 million into foreign bank accounts. Speaking to the BBC in relation to President George Weah’s claim that she left behind a bankrupt country, Mrs. Sirleaf said at the time of her departure the country’s financial position was sound than what President Weah is alleging. The former Liberian leader, however, promised to ask the executive governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to provide a detailed explanation regarding his statement of 18 December on the state of the nation economy. The government does not have such amount of money for individuals to transfer overseas, Mrs. Sirleaf said. In December 2017, the CBL reported more than USD449 million was transferred outside of the country into the private accounts of individuals in foreign banks.

President Weah has reportedly kept silent on the matter ever since his inauguration in January. But presidential press secretary Sam Mannah said there would be a response after the president’s foreign trip. 

Agnes Taylor’s Family Cites “Financial Gains” for War Crimes Allegation Against Her; Blames Hassan Bility, Source: The INQUIRER

The sister of Dr. Agnes Reeves Taylor who is battling charges of “historical war crimes relating to Liberia” has denied all allegations brought against her sister. Mrs. Laurice Reeves Bryant said Dr. Taylor was at no time a part of any military command during the Liberian civil war, nor did she ever exert any command and control over the military wing of any warring faction or in a position of authority to command or control troops at any time. Mrs. Bryant in an exclusive interview said evidence shows that her sister was only involved in humanitarian work and did not supervise or control any aspect of military operations during that time as was alleged by Mr. Hassan Bility and his Global Justice and Research Project (GJRP) organization. She believes that Bility is venting his anger on her sister to revenge her connection to former President Charles Taylor. Mrs. Bryant also said that Mr. Bility is using the case to raise funds for the GJRP that is producing witnesses against Dr. Taylor, ex-wife of the former Liberian leader. 

Labor Ministry Gives Ultimatum for Employers To Regularize Alien Workers’ Status, Source: The INQUIRER

The Labor Ministry has given a 31-day ultimatum to employers in the country to regularize their alien workers’ status with the ministry. Speaking Wednesday when he took over as labor minister, Moses Kollie said the ministry will take some stringent measures to ensure that employers regularize their alien workers’ status and ensure that their workers are regularized before 31 March. 

NEC Under Pressure for Non-payment To Vendors, Source: The INQUIRER

The National Elections Commission (NEC) is reportedly under pressure from vendors and others who rendered services for the electoral commission for payment owed them. Some of the vendors said for weeks now they have been finding it difficult to receive money from the electoral body, despite many promises made to them. A source at the NEC admitted that the commission is “under pressure” from the vendors. 

Murder at Happy Corner –Unknown men kill motorcyclist, Source: The New Dawn

The New Dawn reports that unknown men have gruesomely murdered a Fulani motorcyclist at the infamous Happy Corner located down Waterside in Monrovia. The incident reportedly occurred on Armed Forces Day, but at the time of interview conducted by this paper, witnesses had not yet established the identity of the victim believed to be in his early 30s. According to the witnesses, a group of men reportedly attacked and killed the victim at the Waterside river bank where he had gone to ease himself. He had driven on his motorbike at Happy Corner to attend to nature, the witnesses explained. They further claim that a prime suspect only identified as Osha, who is on the run, allegedly hit the deceased twice on the back of his neck and on his forehead. The witnesses said the victim allegedly collapsed as a result of the attack and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Redemption Hospital in the Borough of New Kru Town by doctors. Read more