30 November 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

At Supreme Court: Boakai, Brumskine Call for ‘Rerun Elections’, Sources: INSIGHT, The New Dawn. FrontPage Africa and New DEMCRAT

The media report that the parties of the two Liberian presidential candidates who finished second and third in 10 October 2017 elections have lodged an Appeal with the Supreme Court calling for a re-run of the vote. Incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai and the leader of the opposition Liberty Party, Cllr. Charles Brumskine took the demand to the country’s High Court on Monday after the National Elections Commission (NEC) ruled that ‘irregularities’ recorded during the voting did not affect the overall result.

Legal documents filed by Boakai’s governing Unity Party (UP) and Brumskine’s LP said alleged errors linked to the voter register and ballot paper serial numbers amounted to the “violation of the Constitution and Elections Laws of Liberia.”  The filing added that “the pervasiveness of the ‘fraud and gross irregularities throughout the electoral process warrant are re-run of the elections,”- an unprecedented demand to start the entire process of choosing a new president from scratch.

The Liberty Party (LP) and the governing Unity Party (UP) accused the National Elections Commission (NEC) of committing several reversible errors that demand a re-run of the 10 October presidential and legislative elections. UP and LP’s complaint was filed just four days following the NEC Board of Commission’s upholding its Hearing Officer’s judgment which denied the claim by the two parties that the 10 October elections were marred with gross irregularities and fraud.

Foreign Ministry Confirms UK’s Expulsion of Two Liberian Diplomats, Sources: INSIGHT, The New Dawn, The INQUIRER and FrontPage Africa

The media report days after it was disclosed that two Liberian diplomats were expelled from the United Kingdom, the Liberian Government has now confirmed the report through a release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British Government’s decision to expel the two Foreign Service officers by declaring them persona non grata.

Foreign Ministry release said, though the British Government has not cited reasons for their decision and is not obliged to provide an explanation, according to Article 9 (1) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961; the Liberian Government has taken note of the decision of Her Majesty’s Government.

“In that light, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun to arrange the departure of the two officers, Mr. Jay Napoleon Toquie II and Mr. Chester Dweh Barh, Sr. and their respective families back to Liberia before the decision of the British Government takes effect on 8 January 2018,” the release concluded. The news of the two Liberian diplomats’ expulsion broke out early this week.

Ellen wants Museum used as reconciling force, Source: The New Dawn

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the reopened National Museum on Broad Street and the historical memories that are placed in it should serve as a unifying and reconciling force, urging Liberians to begin to see themselves in a way that everyone is equal. “And only when we begin - individual to individual, ethnic group to ethnic group, association to association, when we begin to see ourselves as part of this way and everyone equal to the other one, when we do that, this will become a mere symbol because we will be the ones that will carry forth what this structure signifies,” Mrs. Sirleaf said Wednesday, 29 November.

Mrs. Sirleaf reopened the National Museum on the national Holiday in observance of late President William V.S. Tubman’s birthday on 29 November, minutes after she laid final wreath over his grave at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Broad Street. President Sirleaf noted she can only hope that Liberians through the ways of their history will see that they are one people and one nation, adding that the structure and the memories placed in it will serve as a unifying force as well as a reconciling force.

Prior to reopening the museum, President Sirleaf had lain final wreath over the grave of late President Williams V. S. Tubman, memorializing him for leading Liberia into the path of development, freedom, strong international relationship and the fight against colonialism by supporting those who were engaged in the struggle.

WFP, Partners Train, Empower over 22 Farmers, Source: INSIGHT

According to the INSIGHT, over 200 farmers from various farming organizations have benefitted from an intensive agriculture capacity building training which was organized by the Volunteer to Support International Efforts in Developing Africa (VOSIDA) with support from the UN-World Food Program (WFP). The objective, according to the organizers, was to build the capacity of Liberian farmers on post-harvest and warehouse management.

Speaking over the weekend in Paynesville at the closing program of the training, VOSIDA Program Assistant, Joseph Kamara, said the WFP sponsored training in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture to improve farmers’ ability in producing high-quality rice, maize among others. He said VOSIDA is engaged in the empowerment of Liberians farmers to improve their farming livelihood from subsistence to commercial farming.

Aim Global Assesses Farms in Liberia, Sources: INSIGHT and The New Dawn

The Country Director of Aim Global Agribusiness Company (AGAC) Mr. Matthew Ndote says his company is helping people especially, farmers in the country to select farmland and also advises them on the status of the soil so that crops planted on it can thrive to yield more harvest, this paper report. “AGAC is one of Liberia’s leading international Agribusiness Company that is involved with the transfer of contemporary farming technologies and exercise like the use of paddle pumps and drip kits for irrigation of crops during the dry season, green house technology and hydroponics to enhance farmer’s capacity, among others”, Mr. Ndote told the media.

In an interview recently in his office on 24th Street Sinkor, in Monrovia, following an assessment of farmlands owned by ‘Afro Green Liberia in Bensenville City, Montserrado County, the Aim Global Agribusiness Company boss said AGAC is also involved in animal husbandry and conduct assessment of landscape, including soil test. Mr. Ndote added that the company provides advisory and consultancy services as well as capacity building for farmers, adding, “AGAC offers technical advice to farmers and help them setup budget for the smooth running of their farms.”

Finance Ministry Launches USD4.8m post-Ebola project, Sources: The New Dawn and The INQUIRER

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), in collaboration with the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), and Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on Tuesday 28 November in Monrovia launched post-Ebola Reconstruction project for Small, Medium and Large businesses across the country. The Finance Ministry said the launch was possible as the result of USD4.8 million provided by the World Bank to boost the Liberian economy, and help empower small and medium businesses that suffered setback from the outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease. 

The post-Ebola reconstruction project launch was held under the theme, “Access to Affordable Domestic Finance for MSME in Liberia”, bringing together business owners, government officials and developmental partners. The project coordinator Mr. Frederick Krah, said seven participating institutions were vetted by the Central Bank of Liberia, and confirmed and validated by the World Bank to help in the maintenance of the funds.

According to him, the cost of the project is USD4. 8 million of which 98 percent will go toward the project, saying “We have USD4 million that goes toward lending to MSME only, and as we speak today, we have USD3.5 million which have been lent to the seven participating institutions.” The coordinator continues that the project is being managed in a format controlled by a steering committee that includes the Central Bank, MFDP, and the Commerce Ministry, respectively. On his part, Deputy Finance Minister for Economic Management, Alvin Attah, said the exercise is meant to provide information on micro, small, medium and large enterprise finances secure thru the World Bank.

Central Bank of Liberia under Stress to Meet Demand for Liberian Dollars, Source: FrontPage Africa

Reports say businesses in the country are stranded because of the inability of commercial banks to pay out money in local and foreign currencies. “It is true that the commercial banks may not be able to give out huge sums of money because there is pressure on the system”. A business woman told FrontPage Africa newspaper. The same observation was shared by businessman Prince Tokpa.  "When I came to the bank to withdraw some money to buy my goods, the Teller told me that something was wrong with my account, but later I got to know that there was not sufficient money available at the time. I needed LD100,000; that’s all I wanted”. 

The Communications Director at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Cyrus Badio acknowledged the situation at the commercial banks, but attributed it to what he calls “so much pressure” on the CBL for Liberian dollars.

Liberia Council of Churches Elects New Officers, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The INQUIRER

Local churches in Liberia have elected a new group of officials at the 31st General Assembly of Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) held in Monrovia recently. The Bishop of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church, Rev. Kortu Brown and Lutheran Church in Liberia Bishop, Dr. Jensen Seyenkulo were elected   president and Vice president of the Council among others.

Meanwhile, the LCC has resolved to continue to advocate for the strengthening of democratic governance in the country.

Chief Justice Suspends Discussion on Land Rights, Source: The INQUIRER

Chief Justice Francis Korkpor has suspended a discussion on the Land Rights Title at the convention of the Liberia National Bar Association held in Gbarnga, Bong County saying, the participants were more concerned about the Land Act then the Land Right.

Speaking at the convention of lawyers, judges and law students, Law professor, Cyril Jones said some of the critical problems affecting land ownership in the country were due to the way the government was granting concession rights to companies using tribal land without the consent of the local people.

Trial Judges go International, Source: The INQUIRER

Some Liberians judges have been admitted into the International Judges Association (IJA), the President of the Trial Judges Association of Liberia, Roosevelt Willie disclosed at the annual convention of the Liberia National Bar Association which took place in Gbarnga, Bong County recently. Reports say it was one of the promises made by Judge Willie during his election, to ensure that Liberian judges get international recognition.

Study Class Teacher Guilty of Murder, Source: The INQUIRER

The jury of the second Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Bassa County has found a teacher, Momo Sherman guilty of murdering a female, Siah Tamba in Buchanan City. Siah was believed to be a commercial sex worker. The Judge of the court, Samuel Jacob said the evidence produced by the state clearly linked the man to the crime.  He said besides killing the girl, Momo extracted body parts from the victim and that his crime warranted a death sentence by hanging.

Artists Cry on Ellen for Destroying Cultural Heritage, Source: New DEMOCRAT

According to the New DEMOCRAT, the sale of Liberia’s National Culture Center, Kendeja has displaced, suffered and disadvantaged the country’s traditional artists for nearly 12 years, Kekula Kamara; National Culture Union President told President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Wednesday when she dedicated the refurbished National Museum in Monrovia.

President Sirleaf’s administration sold the nation’s traditional shrine and cultural heritage to American billionaire, Bob Johnson to construct a hotel, popularly known as ‘RLJ’ in Liberia. “We have been talking for years and that’s why we reminded the President that she got two months for her tenure to expire and we still don’t have Kendeja,” Mr. Kamara said.

“We are completely displaced. I know funding was allocated according to what we heard from the guys who bought the National Culture Center. A land up to 50 acres has been acquired o the Schieffline High Way near Boys Town in Margibi County and up till today, we still don’t have the structure in place,” the National Culture Union President lamented. Responding, President Sirleaf said, “Nothing I can say that will top the commitment of the President of the National Culture Union. I can only hope that this structure (National Museum) and memories that are placed here will serve as a healing arm for us.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberian Nurse Receives International Florence Nightingale Award, Source: News Public Trust

A Liberian Nurse, who formerly worked for the Liberia National Red Cross Society, Mrs. Roselyn Nugba Ballah will this Thursday, 30 November 2017 receive the Florence Nightingale Medal, a Red Cross press release has said. The medal is the   highest distinct international award honoring Nurses and Nurse Aides for the exceptional courage and devotion to the victims of armed conflict or natural disaster.

Ballah is among 39-outstanding nurses from 22 countries including Liberia that will receive the Florence Nightingale Medal which honors exceptional courage and devotion to the victims of armed conflict or natural disaster. She has a Masters in Health Care Policy and Management from the Cuttington Univrsity and a BSC in Nursing from Mother Patern. The Liberian Nurse also has a diploma in Project Management from the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA).

This 46th distinct highest international award given to Madam Ballah, also recognizes her exemplary service or a pioneering spirit in the areas of public health or nursing education. Roselyn Nugba Ballah headed the Liberian Red Cross’ safe and dignified burial team comprised 140 volunteers, ensuring that all Ebola bodies were collected from the streets and communities within Monrovia and its environs and properly buried during the Ebola operations in Liberia in 2014 and 2015 respectively. She was nominated by the Liberian Red Cross and selected by a commission comprised of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Council of Nurses in May 2017. Read More

Liberia Confirms Expelled 2 Diplomats But Says No Reason Cited, Source: News Public Trust

The Foreign Ministry in Monrovia on Tuesday confirmed the British government’s decision to expell two Liberian diplomats in London, but says the UK “has not cited reasons for their decision.” “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received, through our Embassy near London, the United Kingdom the decision of Her Majesty’s Government to declare two of our Foreign Service Officers at the mission persona non-grata,” the Liberian Foreign Ministry said in a press statement

“Though the British Government has not cited reasons for their decision and is not obliged to provide an explanation, according to Article 9 (1) of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, the Liberian Government has taken note of the decision of Her Majesty’s Government,” according to the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia. News of the expulsion of the two Liberian diplomat—J. Napoleon Toquie, II and Chester Dweh Barh, Sr—was first reported in the media, which quoted diplomatic sources as saying that the two men were allegedly found to be involved in acts incompatible with their diplomatic status.

But the two expelled Liberian diplomats have so far not made any public comment on the British government’s action. Toquie was commissioned by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2007 as First Secretary and Consul of the Liberian Embassy in Britain and Northern Ireland, while Barh has been serving as Counselor at the country’s embassy in London. This is the second time in the last few months that the Liberian mission in London has been engulfed with controversy.

Meanwhile, the Liberian Foreign Ministry says it has begun arranging for the departure of from London of the two expelled diplomats and their respective families back to Liberia before the decision of the British Government takes effect on January 8, 2018.

Last October, the country’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Dr. El-Mohammed Sheriff was sacked and recalled by President Sirleaf for “acts incompatible with his diplomatic status,” and conducting himself as a trouble maker at the Liberian mission in London Sheriff’s sacking came just days after his BBC interview saying jailed ex-president Charles Taylor “has learned his lesson and should be freed to return.” 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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