6 November 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Boakai wants to prosecute Ellen –Prince Johnson Alleges, Source: The New Dawn

The standard bearer of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) has disclosed that the plan of the standard bearer of the governing Unity Party (UP), Vice President Joseph Boakai if elected President, is to prosecute President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her close followers for the manner in which they administer the affairs of the country, including her role during the 14 years civil conflict. Preaching at the White Chapel in Paynesville, outside Monrovia on Sunday, Senator Prince Johnson claims Vice President Boakai is embarking on this plot against the President and her officials as payback for perceived wrongs or hurts meted against him.

Senator Johnson who is also an evangelist explained that the plan will not be achieved as the ruling party is far from the presidency in the pending runoff election, stressing that Liberians do not want a continuation, instead, regime change is the hallmark. The MDR leader further said that after 12 years of President Sirleaf’s service to Liberia, it makes no sense for elected officials or the next government to go after her, saying “It’s unacceptable and a disservice.”  Read more

Chief Justice: “NEC Will Be Blamed for Runoff Delay”, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Supreme Court will today Monday render an opinion as to whether or not it will issue the writ of prohibition compelling the National Elections Commission (NEC) to stop all activities leading to the conduct of the runoff election, pending the outcome of the Liberty Party’s (LP) complaint of election irregularities, frauds, and violation of the constitutional rights of several Liberians during the October 10 elections. At the much-anticipated hearing on Friday at the Supreme Court that was held to determine whether or not the court should issue the Writ of Prohibition on the conduct of the runoff election, Chief Justice Francis Korkpor said the public should not blame the court for delay in the electoral process. “NEC will be responsible for any delay in the holding of the runoff election if they do not speed up in the hearing and determination of the LP’s complaints,” Kporkpor said, adding that, “Unless NEC hears the LP’s complaint and their decision is challenged and an appeal is taken by the LP, before the Supreme Court can hear the merit and demerit of the complaint.” Read more

Brumskine: “We Want to Clean Up Electoral Mess”, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Liberty Party standard bearer, Cllr. Charles Brumskine who is seeking a rerun of the October 10 elections due to alleged irregularities and frauds says the party’s action is to clean up the electoral mess and correct the system. Cllr. Brumskine, who represented his party in the arguments as to whether or not the Supreme Court should issue a writ of prohibition on the National Elections Commission (NEC) preventing the holding of the Nov. 7 runoff election, stated that his intention was not about winning or losing an election. “It is about proving it right that no good can come from out of evil,” he said.

He argued that if the runoff election is held without looking into his complaint that would be a clear violation of the party’s constitutional right to a due process. Read more

Senate denounces rumors about interim government, Source: The New Dawn

The Senate has clarified that the Liberian Constitution shall remain supreme and that speculation of an impending interim government in Liberia is totally without foundation and lacks an iota of truth. According to a press release issued in Monrovia, the Senate says the filing of a petition to the Supreme Court for the writ of prohibition by the Liberty Party (LP), growing out of the conduct of the October 10 elections does not necessarily imply the coming into force of an interim government.

A statement from the office of the Senate President Pro-tempore says Article 64 of the 1986 Liberian constitution unequivocally states that in the event the offices of the President and Vice President become vacant by incapacity, inability, expiry of tenure, or otherwise, the constitutional provision shall be invoked and the contents therein shall be implemented as provided by the constitution.

The Senate President Pro-Tempore, Armah Jallah is, therefore, cautioning citizens against unnecessary rumors and encouraging them to go about their normal daily activities while the country awaits the outcome of the electoral dispute before the high court. Read more

Police warn Weah's private guards, Source: The New Dawn

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) and chairman of the National Elections Security Task Force, Gregory Coleman has warned some members who are loyal to the standard bearer of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Senator George Weah to desist from "the over securitization of public domain," saying it is counterproductive to the peace. IGP Coleman calls on non-state actors to desist from the over securitization of the public domain, alarming that some members who are loyal to Senator  Weah were seen deployed in militant posture a few days ago at the Palm Spring Resort. The IGP issued the statement at the headquarters of the Liberia National Police (LNP) while he was being honored as "Father of Modern Policing," the Police Public Affairs office says.

A press release issued by the police on Sunday quotes IGP Coleman as saying such deployment by Weah's loyalists reportedly created fear and pandemonium to residents of that community. He averred that it is the full responsibility of the state to provide security protection for everyone and not individuals who are not allowed to do so under the laws. Read More

“We did not cheer any political party” –Gbowee Foundation Clarifies, Source: The New Dawn

The Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA) has clarified that at no time did it ever cheer for a specific political party during its peaceful protest recently held at the Boulevard Palace Hotel in the Monrovia suburb of Sinkor. In a release issued over the weekend, GPFA says it did not at any time cheer for any person or any political party or standard bearer, saying it is a non-political institution and its only interest is sustaining the peace in Liberia.  The GPFA and the Liberia Women Mass Action for Peace say they are taken aback by a story published in The New Dawn with caption: “Weah was a local hero for women."

“We demand that the paper retract this story immediately because this statement has the propensity to undermine our peacebuilding initiatives and our credibility with our local and international partners,” the Foundation says. Read more

Journalists Cautioned On Reporting Rape Cases, Sources: All Africa and The NEWS

The former prosecutor of SGBV case at Criminal Court "E" in Monrovia, Cllr. George Sagbeh has cautioned Liberian journalists in reporting rape cases. Cllr. Sagbeh said journalists should be keenly aware of the power of using language, adding that sexual violence is an act that someone is subjected to and language used to describe the situation should show the nonconsensual nature of the act. "Write your story as it happens, and leave no room for doubt," he noted.

Serving as one of the facilitators during one week training for journalists in Ganta, Nimba County, the former SGBV prosecutor said the importance of a journalist to be careful in reporting rape cases is because he or she is not a part of the incident; and as such, no journalist is a third-party of any crime.

Sagbeh who had prosecuted rape cases for the last five years said journalists are not to report rape cases without using the police charge sheet, which he pointed out, is a document from the legal authority of said case and the story will be authentic. Read more

New primary health center opens in Kakata, Sources: FrontPage Africa, INSIGHT, and The New Dawn

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Friday dedicated Waterfield Primary Healthcare Center Laboratory, Ultrasound, and Telemedicine Departments in Kakata, Margibi County. President Sirleaf commended the proprietress and founder, Dr. Christiana Hena for giving back to the community adding: “We are here to recognize a Liberian for her courage, dedication, and passion to come back and give to her people; Just think of all Liberians who have achieved that will decide to come back and give like what she has done.” Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberia holds breath as Supreme Court rules on presidential vote, Sources: AFP and Daily Nation

Liberians nervously awaited a Supreme Court ruling on Monday on the timing of a runoff presidential vote after the process was thrown into uncertainty by fraud allegations. The court is expected to rule at 10am (1000 GMT) whether to set a new date or to prolong the vote indefinitely while a legal complaint by the opposition Liberty Party is resolved. The runoff between former international footballer George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and Vice President Joseph Boakai of the governing Unity Party was originally set for November 7.

But Liberty Party candidate Charles Brumskine, who came third in the first round on October 10, claims fraud and irregularities tainted the results, leading the Supreme Court to put a temporary stay on preparations. Read more

Prominent Lawyer Decries AU and ECOWAS Intervention, Source: The Bush Chicken

Pearl Brown Bull, a Liberian lawyer who was a signatory to the 1986 constitution, has criticized the presence of ECOWAS and African Union leaders in the country, saying that the country’s judicial system can handle the current situation without outside interference.

Guinean President Alpha Condé, who heads the African Union, and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, who chairs ECOWAS, recently ended a one-day political stakeholders’ meeting in Liberia with heads of various political parties. The two leaders’ visit was meant to ease tensions following a decision by the Supreme Court to put a stay order on the runoff November 7 presidential election scheduled between Unity Party and the Coalition for Democratic Change. Ironically, in Togo, tens of thousands of people have been reportedly protesting against Gnassingbé, whose family has held power for five decades. Read more

Red Cross: $6 Million for Ebola Fight Stolen Through Fraud, Sources: AP, FrontPage Africa,  INSIGHT, and Wilx 10

Fraud by Red Cross workers and others wasted at least $6 million meant to fight the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the organization confirmed on Saturday. The revelations follow an internal investigation of how the organization handled more than $124 million during the 2014-2016 epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. The disease erupted in Guinea and quickly spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia. The international aid response was initially slow, and money — once it arrived — was often disbursed quickly in the rush to purchase supplies and get aid workers into the field.

As much as 2.13 million Swiss francs ($2.13 million) disappeared as the result of "likely collusion" between Red Cross staff and employees at a Sierra Leonean bank, the investigation found. It is believed that the money was lost when they improperly fixed the exchange rate at the height of the epidemic. Fraud by Red Cross workers and others wasted at least $6 million meant to fight the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the organization confirmed on Saturday. Read more

Book Aid International sends first shipment of books to Liberia, Source: The Edinburgh Reporter

Book Aid International has announced that over 23,000 brand new books donated by UK publishers are now on their way to Liberia. The books will be used by the WE-CARE Foundation, The University of Liberia and Plan Liberia to support education across the country and enrich the lives of thousands of readers.

Liberia is Africa’s oldest modern republic. Originally home to freed slaves from America, Liberia was the first African nation to elect a female president in 2005, but its history has been marred by conflict. The country was devastated by two periods of civil war that raged from 1990-1997 and again from 1999-2003, leaving an estimated 250,000 people dead. 80% of schools were destroyed or damaged and most of the country’s teachers fled the country.

Liberia’s recovery was further impacted by the Ebola outbreak in 2014 in which 4,809 people lost their lives. More than 4,400 schools were closed for six months during the epidemic leaving 1.5 million children without access to education. Today, Liberia lags behind most other African countries in nearly all education statistics. 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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