25 September 2017

 


LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

 

EU meets Weah, Boakai, Brumskine, Source: The New Dawn

 

The EU Elections Observer Mission chief observer, Maria Arena says the Mission has met with presidential candidates George Weah of Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party (LP) and Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP).

 

Addressing a press conference in Monrovia Friday, Ms. Arena expressed hope that the EU will have the opportunity to meet with other presidential candidates it hasn’t met before 10 October, Election Day.

 

According to the EU Elections Observer Mission chief, different stakeholders including the parties they already met, CSOs, the Supreme Court, and the National Elections Commission (NEC) have all shared a concern as to the readiness of getting materials at the right place at the right time. “All the people we met always, [whether] they are civil society or Supreme Court or NEC or candidates, they say we engage in a peaceful process,” says Arena who stressed the importance of political leaders’ commitment to engage in a peaceful process.

 

Elections May Not Be Credible … Blamo Nelson Predicts, Source: The INQUIRER

 

Former Senator Blamo Nelson of the United People’s Party (UPP) says the 10 October elections could be free, fair, and transparent but feared that is may not be credible if Liberians do not act now to correct the wrongs that are visible as the country prepares in two weeks for the casting of ballots. Mr. Nelson said Liberians especially stakeholders have signed several Declarations with commitments to the holding of a peaceful election as well as adherence to the rule of law thus placing a lot of emphasis on a peaceful, orderly, and non-violent elections and have kept in the cue; yet there are lots of emerging issues which are troubling. He spoke last Friday when he appeared on a local radio talk show.

 

Weah for president campaign hits UN, Source: CONCORD Times

 

The paper says several people outside of the UN General Assembly hall were campaigning to the world saying, Senator George Weah was the one to replace President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The campaign came on the sidelines of the world leaders meeting last week and was spearheaded by a Liberian, Ambassador Moses Owen Browne who held-up the campaign photo of Weah, presidential candidate of the Coalition for Democratic Change.

 

Weah Silent on Taylor’s Influence, Source: New DEMOCRAT

 

According to the New Democrat, presidential candidate George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) while addressing a news conference Friday at the party headquarters in Congo Town, outside Monrovia, opted not to speak on reports regarding his association with former President Charles Taylor’s dynasty and the controlling role of the former president’s allies in the party.

 

Taylor’s former wife, Senator Jewel Howard Taylor is vice presidential candidate of the CDC and has reportedly told voters that the former ruling National Patriotic Party’s (NPP) agenda will be implemented upon electoral victory but on the contrary, the NPP stands credited for massive looting of state resources, bad governance, and human rights abuses that occurred during its ruled.

 

“No Taiwan Deal” … CDC’s George Weah Asserts, Source: INSIGHT

 

Addressing a news conference Friday in Monrovia, Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) presidential candidate, Senator George Weah said the CDC has no plans to establish any bilateral ties with Taiwan if the party wins the elections in October, contrary to reports that the CDC is doing business with Taiwan.

 

Weah characterized as “false and misleading” those reports, stating that the CDC believes in a “One China Policy” and will be fully committed to it.

 

UP, LP tussle over road rehabilitation, Source: Daily OBSERVER

 

It has been reported that the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the opposition Liberty Party (LP) are fighting over the rehabilitation of a piece of road that links Ganta/Saclepea highway to the township of Kpallah.  According to reports, the LP on Sunday began to rehabilitate the road using a yellow machine from the Nimba Rubber Incorporated formally, Cocopa Rubber Plantation now being managed by LP vice presidential candidate, Harrison Karnwea. The UP has, meanwhile, began re-conditioning the same road but from a different end.

 

‘I am not arrogant!’ -LP Standard Bearer Clarifies Public Perception, Source: Daily OBSERVER

 

Presidential candidate Cllr. Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party (LP) says he is not arrogant, as he is being portrayed by people who don’t understand him. Cllr. Brumskine poignantly noted that this perception of him by some Liberians is not true.

 

Callers on Sky FM’s 50-50 talk show recently were of the opinion that the LP first partisan is not only arrogant but also too ambitious, which many Liberians at home and abroad claimed cost him the presidency on two occasions. But the opposition politician described himself as a friendly and down-to-earth fellow who is not arrogant. According to him, people who claim he is arrogant and not accessible are people who don’t know him as a person.

 

Charles Brumskine Pulls Biggest Political Gathering in Grand Bassa History, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The New Dawn

 

Liberty Party’s presidential candidate, Cllr. Charles Brumskine has declared that there is no presidential job vacancy in Grand Bassa County, adding that the Bassa people have resolved to vote their own son to the presidency. Cllr. Brumskine made the statement Saturday during a campaign launch in the port city of Buchanan.

 

“See how great this crowd is, this clearly shows that my brothers and sisters have agreed to support me come October 10, this year. This turnout has proven that you are prepared to make a change no matter the conditions you find yourselves in today,” the Liberty Party flagbearer said.

 

Brumskine craves for independent Attorney General, Source: CONCORD Times

 

Liberty Party political leader, Charles Brumskine is quoted as saying when elected president of Liberia in October, the Justice Ministry will work independently of the Executive. “You should imagine if a child or sibling of the president has broken the law, the tendency would be to try to shield that person”. He made the comment in a piece he wrote for a US-based online magazine, The Hill recently.

 

Cummings receives massive support in Lofa, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and FrontPage Africa

 

Reports say the Alternative National Congress has received a ‘big’ support in Lofa County when its presidential candidate, Alexander Cummings addressed the people of the county on his campaign. He promised to ensure the promotion of women’s leadership in politics, business, and society when the Lofa Women for Election endorsed his candidacy recently.

 

UP Reacts to Ellen’s Generation Change Call, Source: INSIGHT

 

Reacting to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s recent call for generational change when she addressed the UN General Assembly in New York and re-echoed on the comment on CNN, Unity Party’s Assistant Secretary-General for Press, Publicity, and Outreach, Mohammed Mo Ali, said he was glad that the president emphasized that the young generation has to be prepared and capable.

 

Speaking Friday at the ruling party headquarters in Congo Town, outside Monrovia, Mr. Ali said: “President Sirleaf contested for the Liberian Presidency in 2005 at the age of 67 and re-contested in 2011 at the age of 73.”  He contended that the president who is now campaigning for generational change was voted into political power twice on the basis of her competence and experience and not on the basis of her age.

 

Pressure mounts in Montserrado County Electoral District#13, Source: Daily OBSERVER

 

It has been reported that Alternative National Congress representative candidate in Montserrado County Electoral District #13, Alexander Sonpon is the lead contender to incumbent Representative Saah Joseph of the Coalition for Democratic Change. According to the Daily Observer, residents of New Georgia Estate have said there was a need for a new representation.

 

Montserrado County Electoral District #6 Turnout En Masse to Grace Costa Campaign Launch, Source: FrontPage Africa

 

The All Liberian Party representative candidate in Montserrado County Electoral District #6, Henry Costa, Saturday launched his campaign in the Rehab community during which he told his audience that he joined the race because “I decided to listen to the voice of the people who have asked me to go into politics,” and noted that the voice of the people is the voice of God.

 

Mr. Costa promised that if elected, he will pledge 30% of his salary and benefits to the District Development Council for development purposes. He also pledged to introduce a “Buy Liberian” act at the House, which would require the government to purchase goods and services from Liberian-owned firms.

 

Massive corruption probe at Temple of Justice, judges, judicial staff under probe, Source: Daily OBSERVER

 

Quoting information it received, the Daily Observer said the Judicial Inquiry Committee headed by Associate Justice Sie-A-Nyene Youh is investigating a reported corruption scheme that involves judges and bailiff at the Temple of Justice.  It probe came about from a confession made by Bailiff Javis Felton Davis of  Criminal Court ‘C’  that he has been working with judges to solicit bribes from party litigants.

 

World Bank USD10M loan targets 10,000 households, Source: The New Dawn

 

The World Bank has declared that the Liberia Social Safety Net Project is ready for implementation with a USD10 million loan, targeting 10,000 households in Bomi, Grand Kru, Maryland, and River Gee Counties. The declaration follows the project ratification by the Legislature.

 

The World Bank country director for Liberia and Africa Region, Henry Kerali made the formal declaration in Monrovia on Wednesday. A press release from the Gender Ministry says under the project, an initial 10,000 households will be targeted in the four counties as beneficiaries of cash transfers as an income supplement to lift them from extreme poverty and build their resilience against life cycle risks and future shocks.

 

Make budget tool for investment, Source: The New Dawn

 

A former managing director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation says the national budget should become a tool for investment and growth in the country, noting that many times people, who control the budget, don’t utilize it for the benefit of the citizens.

 

“If we used the budget as a tool for investment and growth of the nation, we can be able to produce agriculture products and allow the economy to be sustainable like we all want to be”, Charles Allen said over the weekend at the opening of a three-day forum on sustainable economic development and growth.

 

Liberia Dental Council Finds Women of Hope Health Center Liable for Wrongful Death, Source: FrontPage Africa

 

The Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) has found the Women of Hope Hospital International liable for the ‘wrongful death’ of Pastor Desiree Fahnbulleh. She died on 8 December 2016 at age 41 during childbirth at the hospital. LMDC said: “While we consider her intention to assist in good faith, it is difficult to ignore the death of a patient who could have been referred or for whom specialist care could have been sought.”

 

Her family has decided to file a USD6 million action for damages against the hospital with the Sixth Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court in Monrovia.

 

 

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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