22 December 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Did Korkoya Resign or Not? Sources say he did but the President stopped him, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Against the backdrop of an avalanche of calls from various quarters demanding the resignation of the chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), the veracity of reports which went viral late Thursday night that the NEC chairman, Cllr. Jerome Korkoya had resigned has apparently fizzled out with fresh reports suggesting that he is staying put, having been ordered to do so allegedly by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Read more

Supreme Court Upholds December 26 Runoff Date, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, FrontPage Africa, and Tampa Bay Times

The Supreme Court Thursday upheld the decision by the National Elections Commission (NEC) to set December 26 as the new date for the runoff election without consulting with the Legislature, and contrary to the ruling Unity Party’s (UP) contention. But Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh disassociated himself from the four other justices, including Chief Justice Francis Korkpor’s decision Thursday.

Delivering the majority decision, Chief Justice Korkpor said, the NEC is charged with the constitutional and statutory duty, mandate, and responsibility to conduct all elections for elective public offices including the setting of the date of the runoff, and declaring its result without the intervention of the Legislature.

“NEC has not violated any portion of the constitution for not consulting with the Legislature to set a new date for the runoff because they are not making a new law which is the responsibility of the legislature, rather, they were in full compliance with the constitution,” Korkpor declared. Read more

Supreme Court Orders Incarceration of NEC Official -Upholds December 26 Runoff, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Supreme Court has ordered the incarceration of Henry Flomo, communications director of the National Elections Commission (NEC) for 72 hours for making statements that have the propensity of prejudicing the election. Chief Justice Francis Korkpor ordered the incarceration of Mr. Flomo at the Monrovia Central Prison and also slapped a USD500 fine on him, to be paid in government revenue.

The high court had earlier ordered the NEC chairman, Cllr. Jerome Korkoya to refrain from making prejudicial public statements during the joint case of “irregularities and fraud” filed by the opposition Liberty Party (LP) and the ruling Unity Party (UP) against the electoral commission’s first-round results.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has maintained its previous ruling, which saw the NEC set December 26 as the date for the runoff. This means, the high court has also ruled against the UP’s Bill of Information, which argued against the NEC’s cleaning of the Final registration roll. The court ruled that UP filed a “premature bill of information”.

Liberia’s Supreme Court Trashes Unity Party Bill of Information, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Unity Party (UP) bill of information seeking the change in the date of the runoff presidential election has been denied and dismissed by the Supreme Court. The high court Thursday ruled that the bill of information is premature and cannot be accepted on grounds that the National Elections Commission (NEC) was gradually complying with the court’s mandate. Chief Justice Francis Korkpor reading the opinion of the court said it will be in “bad faith to grant the request by the Unity Party”.

The ruling Unity Party (UP) had requested the court to issue a stay order on grounds that the NEC has failed to comply with the mandate of the high court after it ruled against the opposition Liberty Party (LP) and ordered the cleaning up of the final registration roll of voters. But the UP, in its bill of information, stated that the electoral commission lacks the constitutional and statutory authority to set December 26as a new date for the runoff. Read more

Liberia Votes Affirmatively on Jerusalem Despite Trump’s Threat, Sources: FrontPage Africa and CTV News

The media reports that a day after US President Donald Trump threatened that the US could withhold foreign aid for countries that vote in favor of a United Nations resolution calling on the US to withdraw its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Liberia on Thursday cast a vote in the affirmative, declaring the vote by Africa’s oldest republic is in no way a vote against the US but rather in line with the position of the African Union (AU).

After a long day of presentations and debates, a total of 129 countries voted for the resolution while nine voted against with 35 abstentions.

"We did not vote against the United States. We cannot vote against the United States. Liberia and the United States are deeply bonded by history and cherished ties of ongoing friendship and partnership.  We voted for the shared values of peace, international law, multilateralism, and consistent with the decisions of the African Union which were adopted by Heads of State in January of this year," Ambassador Lewis Brown, Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nation told FrontPage Africa shortly after Thursday’s vote. Read more

Other Top Liberty Party Members Troop to Vice President Boakai’s Camp, Source: FrontPage Africa

With four more days to the runoff election, Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP) has landed support from several top officials of the opposition Liberty Party (LP) following two endorsement programs held in Monrovia and Buchanan.  Supporters of the LP Grand Bassa County chapter and the religious community in the county endorsed the presidential bid of Mr. Boakai on Thursday.

Earlier in Monrovia, LP officials opted to back Boakai’s presidency few days after some executive members of the party including vice standard bearer Harrison Karnwea switched lanes to the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Read more

‘Liberia Must Move On’….Weah, Source: The NEWS

The standard bearer of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has told the people of Nimba County that it is time for Liberia to move on. Senator George Weah made the statement Thursday in Ganta, where he addressed hundreds of supporters ahead of the December 26 presidential runoff election. Senator Weah said the time is now for Liberians to come together because togetherness serves as the basis for the country’s development.

The CDC first partisan assured that Liberia will be great with the involvement of every Liberian, stressing that “together we can make this country one; we can build a nation where everyone counts.” He called on the people of Nimba to turn out in their numbers during the runoff to vote the CDC.

Meanwhile, Senator Weah says statements in the public that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is supporting the CDC are false, misleading, and a complete insinuation. Read more

Court Orders Macdella Cooper Arrested For Allegedly Misapplying USD35K, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Monrovia City Court has ordered the arrest of Ms. Macdella Cooper, the political leader of the opposition Liberia Restoration Party (LRP) for allegedly misapplying USD35,000.00. Ms.  Cooper was the lone female presidential candidate in the first round of vote of the October 10 polls. “You are hereby commanded to arrest the living body of Macdella Cooper, to be identified, defendant and forthwith bring her before this court for the crime Misapplication of entrusted property but she has absconded and placed herself into hiding,” the Court ordered.  Read more

‘Secret’ Appointments in Government Worry INCHR, Source: Daily OBSERVER

With barely one month to the expiration of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led government, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) says it is worried about the secret appointment of government officials without the consent of the Senate.

It may be recalled that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently appointed Jackson F. Doe, Jr. and Abu Kamara as managing director and deputy managing director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC) respectively. They have assumed duties although their appointments have not been confirmed by the Senate as required by law.

Rev. Bartholomew Colley, acting chairperson of the rights commission, making a statement in Monrovia recently said the issue of appointed officials allegedly assuming office without Senate confirmation remains a serious matter.

Although it has been more than three weeks since we raised this issue, Rev. Colley said, “We are seriously concerned and urge them to intervene; we are glad that they have now become seized of the matter. It is our hope that they will patriotically and diligently seek the facts surrounding this matter and take appropriate measures, as our constitution should at all times be respected.”

According to him, the doctrine of coordination and cooperation among the branches of government must be upheld for the growth and protection of Liberia’s democracy. Read more

Senate Passes USD41M Dangote Cement Investment, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Senate Thursday unanimously passed the Investment Incentive Agreement between Liberia and Dangote Cement Liberia Limited in the tune of USD41 million for the production of cement in the country.

According to the agreement, “the investor shall make a total investment of USD41 million during the first 10 years following the effective date, and shall in his best effort assist the government in the maintenance of roads leading to its port terminal; while within the first five years following the start of commercial operations, the investor shall conduct an assessment for the establishment of cutlets in other counties across Liberia.”

Read more

CBL Releases LRD2.7B to Commercial Banks, …but liquidity crunch persists, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The executive governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has disclosed that the bank has provided an amount of LRD2.7 billion roughly equivalent to USD21,259,842 to address the liquidity crunch. Milton Weeks says the amount, provided since last week is intended to contribute to economic growth and the livelihood of the banks’ clients.

Governor Weeks further disclosed that as far as he was concerned there are no pending requests from commercial banks. He attributed the liquidity problem to what he described as a slight delay in the currency management process at the bank.

The CBL executive governor said ‘getting reserve funds from the operational vault to commercial banks’ was an operational issue that has been resolved, adding, “but for people to go the extent of saying that there is no money or cash in various commercial banks, that’s completely false.”

But contrary to Weeks’ assertions that the liquidity problem has been eased, the Daily Observer continues to be flooded with reports from an anxious public that they are being turned away by banks with the explanation that the banks do not have any cash. Read more

Central Bank of Liberia: Over USD449M Remitted Out of Liberia, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has disclosed an increase of money sent from Liberia via local banks to foreign countries. CBL executive governor Milton Weeks said for the 12 month period in 2017, the trend of personal remittances shows 70.9 percent decline in net inward personal remittances which the bank says is largely driven by a substantial increase in outward personal remittances.

At a press conference in Monrovia, Mr. Weeks says the 12-month period started November 2016 and ended October 2017. Read more

Pres. Sirleaf Breaks Ground for Road in Bong County alongside George Weah, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, FrontPage Africa, GNN Liberia, and The NEWS

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and opposition presidential candidate Senator George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) have appeared side-by-side at a groundbreaking program for an 81-kilometer road in Bong County. However, President Sirleaf hailed Vice President Joseph Boakai, for the progress that led to the groundbreaking program for the road project.

She then said she was grateful that the long-awaited day that Liberians will “begin to dream” has come, pointing to the difficulties travelers on the Gbarnga-Menikoma highway experience especially during the rainy season. Your days of suffering as the result of this road will be over soon, she said. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Man Accused Of Abusing Teenage Girl Who Immigrated From Liberia, Source: Levit Town Now

A Bristol Township man has been charged after a young woman reported him to police for physical and sexual abuse that allegedly happened when she was a minor.

Lloyd Wiles, 46, of Bristol Township’s Croydon section, helped bring the now 19-year-old woman to the United States from Liberia in 2012 when she was 14. She had contact with Wiles at the Levittown Trace Apartments and that’s when she alleges physical abuse began, according to court papers. When the woman was a 15-year-old girl, Wiles began to inappropriately touch her and she threatened to call the police, court papers stated. 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.

 

 

 

Online Headlines