26 October 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

NEC Open To Rerun of October 10 Elections, But…, Source: FrontPage Africa

The chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC), Cllr. Jerome Korkoya has dispelled allegations that the October 10 elections were rigged but said the NEC is open for a rerun of the elections if the need be. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday n, Cllr. Korkoya said the NEC will welcome the call for the rerun of the October 10 polls if the Supreme Court orders a rerun.

Cllr. Charles Brumskine, the standard bearer of the Liberty Party (LP) has been calling for a rerun of the elections – calling on the NEC to put a hold on the November 7 runoff election between the governing Unity Party (UP) and the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). According to him, the October 10 elections did not meet the minimum standard to be declared free, fair, and transparent.

In a formal complaint to the NEC Board of Commissioners, the LP outlined series of alleged electoral irregularities and fraud that took place during the first round of the elections. Read more

Runoff ballot papers arrive Saturday, Source: The New Dawn

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has disclosed that ballot papers for the November 7th runoff will arrive in the country on Saturday, 28 October. NEC chairman Cllr. Jerome Korkoya says mock ballot papers for training purposes are already here in warehouse facilities, noting that all ballot papers are being produced by the same supplier that printed ballot papers for the first round of elections.

Presidential ballot papers for the 10 October polls were printed in Slovenia. Addressing a news conference in Monrovia on Wednesday, Cllr. Korkoya explains that staffs have completed packing non-sensitive elections materials at various warehousing facilities and that these materials are being delivered to the counties presently.

The NEC boss says in response to the congestion at polling places and in some cases slow processing time experienced during Election Day, the electoral commission has decided to introduce several measures including hiring additional queue controllers. “We especially appeal to those with strong numerical skills, including university students, to apply”, he appeals. Read more

“Invalid Votes Deliberate,” Korkoya Claims, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) has blamed indiscipline and wickedness on the part of voters for the huge number of invalid votes in the October 10 polls. “Many deliberately caused invalid votes. They did not do it out of ignorance or illiteracy as it appears,” Cllr Jerome Korkoya claimed.

Addressing journalists at the Commission’s regular weekly election update in Monrovia Wednesday, Cllr. Korkoya said the sample ballot paper has only three signs, “namely an ‘X’, a Nike sign, and a Thumbprint,” adding that the same signs were also on the original ballot papers.

“Every voter, on the basis of his or her education or simple understanding, was required to use any one of the three signs while voting, but people intentionally chose to misuse the ballot papers,” the NEC chairman said. Out of the 1,641,922 votes cast across the country, 88,574 accounted for invalid votes. Read more

Weah reacts to war claims, Source: The New Dawn

The main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) presidential candidate, Senator George Weah says the perception that war will come to Liberia if he wins the presidency is wrong and total lies from people who do not want to leave power. “This perception is wrong and total lies from the belly of those who don’t want to leave power but the will of the Liberian people will prevail at the ballot box,” Senator Weah said Wednesday at CDC headquarters in Congo Town upon his return to Liberia.

Weah's presidential ticket with imprisoned former President Charles Taylor's former First Lady Senator Jewel Howard Taylor has been greeted by skepticisms from opponents who hold fears that a CDC-led government would return the country to a horrible Taylor-style of rule that witnessed brutalities and eventually ended after war forced him out.

But the CDC political leader has dismissed such perception held against his party, saying the CDC does not have anything that looks like war. Senator Weah has instead accused stalwarts of the ruling Unity Party (UP) whom he says are enjoying the country’s resources of allegedly creating such notion that is only intended to chase votes away. Read more

Weah: ‘No Amount of Fear Will Stop the Change Liberians Desire’, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The standard bearer of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Senator George Weah says after 12 years of no improvement in the lives of the Liberian people under the Unity Party-led government, it is time for a new breed of leaders to take the stage and make their contribution to clean up the mess.

Senator Weah, who addressed journalists Wednesday at his party’s headquarters in Congo Town upon his return from Nigeria, said in the past 12 years, he has remained the true voice of the voiceless in the country and “We have kept the torch of hope burning for the marginalized people of Liberia as the leader of the opposition.”

“My record as a proven patriot and achiever is there for all of you to see. I came from a very poor and humble background like most of you. I used my God-given talent with the support of my late grandmother to lift myself out of poverty. I represented Liberia in the international arena with class and compassion. I have worked immensely to make Liberia peaceful and stable; therefore, I want to make it crystal clear that I will not engage in any activity that has the propensity to derail the gains we have made,” the CDC standard bearer said.

On the runoff elections on November 7, Weah said Liberia deserves nothing less than a free, fair, and transparent process that will produce the will of the people. Read more

George Weah Distances CDC from ‘NPP, Charles Taylor Agenda’, Source: FrontPage Africa

The political leader of the mean opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), upon his return from Nigeria, Wednesday refuted the notion that his party is a movement to bring former Liberian President Charles Taylor back to the country.

“CDC has its own agenda. The CDC agenda is not an NPP agenda. CDC's agenda is not a Taylor agenda. Our vision for this country which we have clearly explained since the 2005 elections are about an inclusive form of government with everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources,” Senator Weah, the standard bearer of the CDC said. “This is the lowest level that our opponents have taken the national politics,” he stressed.

He further told his opponents that they should have been informing Liberians about how they intend to make their lives better after being in power for 12 years and squandered everything rather they are there spreading the falsehood that Mr. Taylor will influence him when he is elected president.

“I want you to know that the case with Charles Taylor is already settled at the international court; we fully respect that decision and there is no way he can run Liberia from there,” the opposition politician emphasized. Read more

Urey Describes October 10 Elections as Most Corrupt in Africa, Source: FrontPage Africa

The standard bearer of the All Liberian Party (ALP), Benoni Urey has termed the October 10 presidential and legislative elections as the most corrupt and ineffective elections in Africa. Mr. Urey is one of the several disenchanted participants of the elections that have filed a complaint with the National Election Commission (NEC) over alleged irregularities and fraud.

The ALP leader told Journalists at a news conference Wednesday at the ALP headquarters that as a lone voice, he had raised issues of irregularities regarding the electoral process even before the elections were held but nothing was done to address the problems.

 “We have been the lone voice in complaining of things we saw coming. If somebody in the President’s office can be printing voting ID cards and the chairman of NEC was saying everybody with voting ID card would vote; it was something scaring that called for attention. Forty years ago all the problems in our country continue to be but a few people and we continue to allow it. I am not deterred by the results of the election because every well-meaning Liberian knows that it is impossible for the ALP to perform the way they say it did…, Urey said. Read more

Urey Warns Weah of ‘Dangerous People’ Around Him, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The standard bearer of the All Liberian Party (ALP) has warned his opposition counterpart, Senator George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) to be careful of those around him. Mr. Benoni Urey issued the warning Wednesday at the party’s headquarters in Monrovia when he described Senator Weah as someone who loves Liberia, though the people around him do not.

He said the CDC standard bearer continues to thread his path with some people he described as “the dangerous people in Liberia.” Urey, however, did not name those he called “dangerous people associated with Weah or the CDC.”

Though Urey was not specific about who the ‘people around Weah’ he was referring to, he is on record for earlier stating that he was willing to make sure that “no UP candidate wins a seat in the next government.” Urey is of the belief that the stalwarts of the Unity Party “are wicked people” who “do not love Liberia,” which are among the reasons he said he decided to run for president. Read more

‘LNP Officers to Receive Elections Stipend Shortly’ –Collins, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Liberia National Police (LNP) spokesperson, Sam Collins, has assured officers who have not yet received their election deployment stipend since the end of the first round of the elections that the money is being processed and will soon be placed into their accounts at the various banks. Collins added that currently, the UNDP is working with various banks across the country to get the process completed in the shortest possible time to avoid any delays.

‘‘We are appealing to you to be patient, and very soon your money will be available. We are working to get things done quickly. Also, let me clarify that this money was given by the Japanese Government and it is taken care of by the UNDP, not the LNP as it has been speculated,” the LNP spokesperson said.

Collins added that despite the delay, all police officers will still remain in their assigned areas, noting that recent speculations that they will be leaving are misleading. Read more

President Sirleaf Receives Islamic Scholar Sheikh, Khalid Yasim, Sources: Executive Mansion News and FrontPage Africa

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Wednesday met with Sheikh Khalid Yasim, an American Islamic scholar who is currently visiting the country and commended him for his decision to come to Liberia. “Let me give you a big welcome for making the decision to come to Liberia,” President Sirleaf said.

President Sirleaf welcomed and commended him for choosing Liberia at this time stressing; Liberia has a policy of equality for all and policy of no discrimination. She said her administration has preserved and committed itself to maintaining and sustaining the peace. The Liberian leader told the Islamic cleric that Liberian Muslims have supported and continued to support her leadership. Read more

EPA Trains Customs Officers in ODS Detection, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently held a one day workshop for customs officers in Ganta, Nimba County on chemical substances that are harmful to the environment, with specific emphasis on detection and disposal of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). Sete Marshall, EPA ozone officer, told the participants that the depletion of the ozone layer has increased the intensity of the sun’s rays, resulting in eye problems and skin cancer.

Mr. Marshall told participants that 80 percent of cataracts result from the sun’s rays due to the depletion of the ozone layer. He said most of the gases used to repair refrigerators and air conditioners are partly responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer because of the chemical substances in them. Read more

Fabrar, PCC to Convert Swamp into Rice Production Site, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Fabrar-Liberia, the country’s largest rice processing company based in Kakata, Margibi County has partnered with the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) to convert 20 hectares of swampland into a rice production site. Jeannine Cooper, senior partner and founder of Fabrar-Liberia, recently told the Daily Observer that the project is expected to benefit nearly 500 women and youth in Paynesville.  She said the six months pilot project that aims at creating employment opportunities for an initial 100 women and youth, is funded by the United Nations in Liberia. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Weah, Liberia’s Gold, Source: Modern Ghana

He’s still to this day the only African player to ever win the prestigious Ballon d'Or. But in order to get there, George Weah had to push himself to the limit in his native Liberia, then in Cameroon before crossing over to European football.

It’s a Tuesday: December 26th, 1995. In those glorious days, George Weah put on a traditional tie and his flashiest smile to receive, at age 29, the Ballon d'Or, his sport’s most prestigious award, leaving behind other nominees such as German player Jurgen Klinsmann and Finland’s Jari Litmanen.

A first for Africa, and a record that still hasn’t been beaten, or even matched. A year prior, the forward centre was parading in his native Liberia with the African Ballon d’Or. It was a time to commemorate: his first steps on a field, his first ball offered at age seven by his grandmother, his formative club, the Young Survivors, for which he played from 1981 to 1984.

Back then, the young George gives it his very best: “I was selling lollies and bags of popcorn”, he told French newspaper L’Humanité. “Each month I’d make around 16 dollars, that I’d put aside to help the club.” 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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