12 January 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Civil Society Raises Issues …Against Land Rights Act, Source: The INQUIRER

A civil society group, Liberians for Change Movement (LCM) in conjunction with professional Liberians has raised serious issues relative to the passage of the Land Rights Act (LRA). The LCM in a statement said the LRA when enacted should provide a legal framework for everything Liberians will do relating to land. But the LMC said the current draft LRA does not meet such standard. LCM says the draft LRA has four major categories of problems.

“I’m Not A Fugitive from Justice” -Gender Minister Cassell, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Gender Minister Julia Duncan Cassell says she is prepared to appear before the Commercial Court at any time to answer to contempt charge related to the Gender Ministry’s alleged refusal to honor the USD93,805.72 judgment against it. “I am not a fugitive, I will appear at the court at any time they have told me to do so but I am here serving as minister and waiting for any court order,” Minister Cassell said.

Addressing journalists Thursday, Mrs. Cassell said she was not afraid to appear before the court and argued that she has never been cited by Judge Chan-Chan Paegar. “The court document for the minister to appear was dated in July 2017, but at that time, I was no more a minister, because by June, I submitted my letter of resignation to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to allow me to concentrate on the October 10 presidential and legislative elections, of which I contested for the legislative seat in Grand Bassa County,” she clarified.

Early 2017, the Commercial Court ruled against the Gender Ministry and subsequently ordered it to pay the money to Smart Tech Incorporated, based on a contract in which the company provided internet services to the ministry. Read more

U.S. Ambassador Lauds Liberia's Police Chief for Ably Handling 2017 Elections, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The ANALYST

US Ambassador to Liberia, Christine Elder, has commended the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gregory Coleman and the National Elections Security Taskforce for the exceptional manner in which the Liberian security apparatus handled the just-ended presidential and representatives elections, by the provision of adequate security despite numerous challenges. Ambassador Elder in a communication to IGP Coleman lauded the Liberian Police chief for his exceptional leadership role and the tireless efforts of the National Elections Security Taskforce personnel for ensuring a peaceful conclusion of the Liberian elections process.

The US diplomat said the efforts of the IGP to coordinate more than 7,000 Police and other security personnel to provide presence at all polling places across the country for both the first and second round of elections was remarkable, and a testament to the exemplary leadership of IGP Coleman, a release issued by the Liberia National Police (LNP) said. Read more

Nine Arrested at CDC Headquarters for Extorting Money for Fake Jobs, Source: FrontPage Africa

According to FrontPage Africa, the headquarters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) on Wednesday was in a mixture of angry and jubilant mood after over nine persons were arrested for launching a fake job scheme in the name of the party. The suspects were apprehended by the CDC intelligence and turned over to the Liberia National Police (LNP) for investigation. They were arrested after they sold forms in various communities across Monrovia, claiming that the process was part of a job scheme sanctioned by the party. The Youth League of the CDC recently announced a general clean-up campaign across Montserrado County and the highway leading to the Roberts International Airport (RIA) in order to give the city a facelift ahead of the 22 January inauguration.

But individuals suspected to be fraudsters printed forms in the name of providing jobs and were selling the forms to hundreds of desperate youthful job seekers for LRD40.00 each. They were allegedly selling the forms in various communities where young people are eager for jobs, although the CDC earlier announced that the recruitment process was free and voluntary. Over 6000 forms were reportedly sold, while LRD200 each was reportedly extorted from a job seeker for identification card fees in order to qualify for the recruitment. The arrest of the alleged extortionists brought a great relief to partisans who witnessed the incident at the party headquarters. Read More

“We Will Not Be Quiet” – Unity Party Commits to Becoming Robust Opposition Party, Source: FrontPage Africa

With just 10 more days for the Unity Party (UP)-led government to turn over power to the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) as the ruling political party, the UP is bracing itself to become the major opposition political party. Despite their defeat, the party was still able to reach out to its supporters mainly in Lofa County to appreciate them for giving their support to the party.   

Wilmot Paye, the UP chairman, at the party’s appreciation program in Foya, Lofa County on Thursday told supporters that despite all of the noise that surrounded the election because of their love for the country they had to accept the result, something he said was unprecedented in the country’s history. 

Despite the UP standard-bearer Vice President Joseph Boakai being the first standard-bearer in recent time to give out a concession speech after the election result, Mr. Paye said the UP will be “robust as an opposition party and not idle”.  He continued: “Our party will not be a party in the opposition; but it will be a party that is people-centered, a party that will not just go on radio and criticize, and a party that will not violet our tradition and insult our elders.”

Government USD24.5 Million Rich, Source: New DEMOCRAT

According to the New Democrat, public financial records it has seen show that on 9 January 2017, the consolidated financial account of the government at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) had a cash balance of USD24 million. This current financial position of the government contrasts reports mainly viral on the social media that the country is cash striped to the extent that it has USD500,000 in its account.

The records say USD7.53 million out of the USD24.51 million has been obligated to underwrite government’s transitions. This leaves the balance at USD16.98 million. The consolidated fund contains money generated via taxes on income and profits, goods and services and taxes on international trade and other transactions. With a running budget of USD500 million, Liberia’s 2017/2018 budget has entered its third quarter. According to the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), about 80 percent of the country’s budget is reliant on domestic collection.

Corruption Watchdog Mounts Concerns on Weah’s Wealth, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has requested the President-elect, Mr. George Weah and other incoming officials of his government to declare their assets in keeping with the fight against corruption. The LACC implored President-elect Weah to lead this charge, which will show his administration’s unwavering commitment to promote transparency, accountability, and integrity in public service, this paper reports.

Releasing the last report of 2017 Thursday, LACC vice chairperson Cllr. Augustine Toe said: “All in-coming officials of the government are to demonstrate their commitments to the corruption fight by declaring their assets.” He said asset declaration is mandatory for all government officials in compliance with the Code of Conduct.

Cllr Toe told reporters at the LACC headquarters that asset declaration is mandatory in pursuant of the implementation of the Code of Conduct, which is the government’s legal framework to monitor, examine, and punish public officials in relation to the use and management of public resources. The LACC vice chairperson said asset declaration would foster accountability, integrity, and transparency in the public space.

Judiciary, Legislature Defy Asset Declaration, Sources: New DEMOCRAT and The INQUIRER

Members of the Legislature and the Judiciary Branches of the government refused to declare their assets as provided for the Code of Conduct agreed to be the three branches of government. “It is disturbing to report that up to the moment of this press briefing, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has not received a single declaration from either the Judiciary or the Legislature, in total violation of the National Code of Conduct Regulations, the Vice Chairperson of the LACC Augustine Toe told journalists on Thursday.

He said on 21 July 2017, the House of Representatives wrote, under the signature of its Chief Clerk informing the LACC of the House’s decision not use the standardized form designed by the anti-graft commission and stakeholders for the three branches of government. The communication he added also indicated that the Chief Clerk was mandated to work along with the House’s legal office to derive its own assets declaration form for the members and officials of the House of Representatives who are required to declare their assets.

Cllr. Toe added that the LACC in response rejected the House’s position why it should use the general form and submit copies of their declarations to the Commission. The Judiciary Branch as the interpreter of the law has also failed to follow the law by refusing to comply with the National Code of Conduct Regulations, Cllr. Toe said.

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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