Gender Issues

TOP
STORIES
pg 7

PLAN B

Relocation for Liberian

Girls- from Lebanon,
Gender Minister Hints

MONROVIA

pg 8

SELLING
IN FECES
Pollution Overtakes
Monrovia Marketplace

FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com

VOL 9 NO.98

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

PRICE L$40

PLEASE PAY YOUR

REAL ESTATE TAXES ON
OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2015
TO AVOID PENALTY
AND INTEREST.
ANY PAYMENT MADE AFTER
JULY 1, WILL ATTRACT
PENALTY AND INTEREST.
(SECTION 2002 LRC).
TAX SENSITIZATION MESSAGE
WWW.LRA.GOV.COM

NEW EBOLA CASES JUMP TO FIVE IN

LIBERIA. 7 IN TREATMENT UNITS

RESURGING VIRUS
As of todays date we have had five confirmed cases in Liberia. One of the five is the index case who
is not with us [dead]. The four are at the ETU receiving the best possible care that can be provided to
anyone with the Ebola disease. - Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Francis Kateh.

EBOLA - pg. 13

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

BUYING

SELLING

L$85.00/US$1

L$86.00/US$1

MONDAY, JULY 6, 2015

L$85.00/US$1

L$86.00/US$1

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

L$85.00/US$1

L$86.00/US$1

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2015

These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of the foreign exchange market
in Monrovia and its environs. The rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the
commercials banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia

FROM PAGE 1

Page 2 | Frontpage

Friday, July 10, 2015

Samwar S. Fallah, [email protected]

W
Monrovia-

hen the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf-led government

assumed power in January 2006, a lot was made
about officials returning from the Diaspora and
other parts of the world making the ultimate
sacrifices to return home and contribute to the resurgence of
a post-war nation emerging from war.
In a bid to woo qualified Liberians both at home and abroad
to lucrative but important positions, the government and
some international partners came up with multiple proposals
aimed at making offers to potential appointees appealing.
Thus, many were paid between US$10,000 to $US15, 000 and
appointed to boards of several public corporations with board
fees in a bid to enhance the monetary package.
Part of the reasoning, some say was to deter government
officials from engaging in corrupt officials while others
expressed concerns that all hands were not equal when it
came to the scale with some senior ministers reportedly
making more money than others.
Former Auditor General John S. Morlu for example was paid
through an arrangement with the European Union. Similarly
Former Finance Minister Antoinette Sayeh was paid through
the World Bank.
The European Union did not give any additional benefits
to Morlu while Sayeh who was under a two-year contract
departed after her package expired. Morlu however had a
two-year package with an option to renew.
After the departure of Morlu, incoming auditor generals
who only heard that Morlu was paid US$15,000 as Morlu
salary could not be traced on government of Liberia payroll
maintained the salary paid by the European Union. However,
the burden was left with the government of Liberia to pay
such huge amounts.
Amid the disparity, there were other ministers who did not
have that arrangement but were supplemented through either
the Senior Executive Services or the Token Program.
Both the Token program and SES came about after some
ministers raised concerns about the disparities to Cabinet.
However, it was left to the discretion of the president to decide

which ministers received supplement to their salaries.

HAPHAZARD REFORM

Former Labour and Public Works Minister Atty. Samuel Kofi

Woods who raised the issue of government officials serving on
Board of Directors of entities receiving board fees and refused
board fees while serving as Minister in government believes
the pay adjustment is not fair and equitable.
I dont think the reform is equitable enough, it is not
addressing the issues of fairness, equity and retributive
justice, said Atty. Woods
Atty. Woods added that the process should be objective
addressing and harmonizing compensation across the public
sector.
He said it is unacceptable to proceed without addressing the
issue of statutory board members who will be receiving board
fees in addition to their salaries.
There was an Executive order 38 issued by the Government of
Liberia asking all officials to declare their assets in fulfillment
of article 90 of the constitution which is in line with the code
of conduct. But here you have some officials of government
serving as statutory Board members and receiving board fees
in addition to their salaries, that is not fair, he added.
He said it is a violation of Article 90 of the constitution which
is against officials receiving compensation more than once for
performing functions for the government.
This is not a reform, it is harming the system, reform must
be done properly and systematically to address issues in
public service and distributive justice nationally, the former
Minister said.
Atty. Woods continued that the current pay reform is not
far reaching and the country still has a lot of work to do in
addressing compensation disparity.
Compensation cannot be done in a haphazard manner; it
is incomplete and not far reaching enough with the heart
of fairness, justice, equity and retributive justice. These are
totally out of step, it has to be done realistically and this
disparity will lead to discontent, he furthered.

He said the discontent will lead to poor service delivery in

the government of Liberia and he is calling on the Liberia
Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate and recover
government money from officials who are in violation of
Article 90 of the constitution.
2013 SCHEME DOUBLED SALARIES

In 2013, Cabinet endorsed a payment scheme that saw pay

increases more than double their salaries at the time. At the
time, the government explained that the move was aimed
at a Civil Service reform intended to reduce government's
recurrent cost.
Prior to that announcement, senior ministers earned a gross
salary of US$2400, with a net pay of US$1800 after tax. This
does not include their per-diems and other allowances and
benefits. The 2013 scheme which took effect January 2014
saw senior cabinet ministers earning US$6,000 monthly,
while their deputies and ambassadors earn US$4,500; and
assistant ministers, US$3,000. Under that pay raise, officials
were tasked with paying directly for their scratch cards, gas
slips and vehicle repairs and maintenance.
The scheme was also explained at the time as a means of
bringing to an end the disparities in the disbursements of
general allowances and was reportedly tied to the scrupulous
implementation of the performance contracts signed between
political appointees and the President.
In recent weeks, members of boards of public corporations
have been formulating packages for retirement to the
detriment of their respective agencies prompting President
Sirleaf to order the nullification of these resolutions.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf recently called on the Board
of Directors of both NOCAL and NPA to with immediate effect;
nullify all resolutions passed approving excessive benefits for
departing senior managers and board members. The Executive
Mansion stated that the Liberian leader has already mandated
the respective boards to scrupulously implement the decision.
The Board of Directors of the two companies passed
resolutions granting huge benefits to retiring members when

Friday, July 10, 2015

Frontpage

Below is the new pay structure being implemented by the Ministry of Finance and
Development Planning as released on June 29, 2015 in United States Dollars :
Levels

Position/Titles

Monthly Salary
Ranges Cap

Comments

Assistant/Deputy
Directors

$2,000-$3,000

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

II

Directors

$3,000-$3,500

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

III

Principal
Administrative
Officers/Asst. Ministers

$3,861

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

IV

Deputy Ministers
Equivalent

US$5,861

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

Ministers/Equivalent

$7,861

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

State owned
Enterprises

I. LPMC, NHA, LRRRC,

CDA, AITB

Heads and Deputies

$4,000 and $3,000

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

II. NTA CNDRA, LIPA,

LBS, NBC, EPA

Heads and Deputies

$5,000 and $3,500

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

III. LWSC, FDA, LEC,

LAA, LIBTELCO, LTA,
RIA, NIC

Heads and Deputies

$5,861 and $4,500

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

V.NPA, NASSCORP,
LPRC, NOCAL, LMA

Heads and Deputies

Integrity Institutions

II. IAA

Heads and Deputies

$5,000 and $3,500

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

V. LACC, GAC, PPCC,

NEC

Heads and Deputies

$7,000and $5,500

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

Plus 15% based on

performance
$7,000 and $5,500
Plus 25% based on
performance

these two Boards have not been able to the help the entities
make sound decisions. The NPA Board took part in approving
an agreement that led to the entity paying more than
US$800,000 to a bogus contractor while the NOCAL board
could not help safe the entity from wasteful spending which
has pushed the company into bankruptcy.
Recently Liberia Finance and Development Planning Minister
Amara Konneh declared that the government of Liberia
is spending bulk of the revenue generated about 60% on
administration which includes salaries and other incentives
to government employees.
Minister Konneh speaking in the United States disclosed that
under his watch as Minister, the Ministry has collected US$3.1
billion in revenue but 60% of this amount has been spent on
government administration which represents just 40,000
people of the total population of Liberia.
Few months after the pronouncement by the Minister,
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in a presidential directive
issued June 29 ordered reduction in the income of
government employees mainly from the top while at the same
time mandating heads of ministries, agencies, autonomous
Commissions to ensure appropriate adjustments at the lower
level within their institutions.
As a follow-up to the presidential directive, Acting Minister
of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. James F. Kollie
in a memorandum issued to heads of agencies and other
institutions under the Executive Branch of Government
communicated the new measures.
Minister Kollie indicated strict instructions to ensure that the
spirit and intent of the memo are fully executed effective July
1, 2015.
Stated the memo from Acting Minister Kollie According to
the Presidential Directive, you are to ensure beginning July
2015 pay period that your gross monthly salary inclusive of
all compensatory allowances shall not exceed US$7,000.00
and that of your deputy (ies) as the case may be, shall not

Plus 25% based on

Inclusive of gas and

phone cards

exceed US$5,500.00. Based on the above, your management

team should then institute broader pay adjustments to those
of lower ranking within your organization.
Before the presidential directive, there was no coherence
in salaries across government until the cabinet approved
a salary structure in 2014 which did not affect autonomous
commissions and other agencies of Government.
The cabinet approved salary structure which took effect in
January 2014 increased the salaries of senior ministers who
earned gross salary of US$2400, with a net pay of US$1800
after tax.
Under the new payment scheme which took effect January
2014, senior cabinet ministers have been earning US$6,000
monthly, while their deputies and ambassadors earn
US$4,500; and assistant ministers, US$3,000.
Since January 2014, the cabinet approved salary meant all
officials were to pay directly for their scratch cards, gas slips
and vehicle repairs and maintenance but FPA gathered that
in various ministries and agencies, gas slips are still being
distributed amongst officials along with other incentives not
approved by the cabinet.
Heads of Commissions such as the Internal Audit Agency
(IAA) Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), General
Auditing Commission (GAC) and others determined their own
salaries without reference to any policies.
WHO WILL FEEL THE REDUCTION?

The presidential directive will be a big dip in income for some

autonomous commissions with high payroll where heads of
these commissions are amongst the highest paid in Liberia.
Some officials will have their salaries cut by more than 50% to
fall in line with the directive that no official should have their
gross monthly salary exceeding US$7,000.
Auditor General Yusador Gaye is paid more than US$17,000 in
gross salary, gas slips, communication and other allowances

Page 3

and the new presidential directive which entails all incentives

plus salaries summing up to US$7,000, mean the AG will have
more than 50% cut.
Her deputies are paid around US$9,000 and as per the new
directive they are expected to earn around US$5,500 in salary,
gas slips and phone cards.
The Internal Audit Agency is another institution with large
payroll where the Director Paul Collins earns around US$9,000
with some Directors at the agency earning up to US$4,000,
Deputy Directors earning US$3,500 and the new presidential
directive will create a problem for the agency which offers a
yearly renewable contract to workers.
As per the new directive, the Deputy of the IAA is expected
to earn around US$3,500 far below the current earning of
Directors at the agency.
The agency which was created through the Public Financial
management Act was established in December 2011 as the
Internal Audit Secretariat mandated to submit its report to
the Auditor General.
The secretariat was later given an agency status after the Act
was passed unanimously by both Houses of the Legislature
and signed into law by the President of Liberia on September
13, 2013.
Since the entity gained agency status, has been carrying out
its own recruitment and adopted the process of awarding
renewable yearly contracts to workers, paying salaries
far above other autonomic commissions and agencies of
government.
Entities such as the LPRC, NEC and others also pay high
salaries and will be affected by the presidential directive.
SACRIFICIAL LAMBS

Before the presidential directive many officials of government

mainly those from aboard have continuously said that they are
making sacrifices to Liberia by returning home from abroad to
serve the country as a consequence of patriotism.
In spite of the lucrative salaries and other incentives, many of
these officials have boasted of providing sacrificial services to
Liberia and it remains to be seen how they will react to the
salary cut, whether to continue making the sacrifice or quit.
According to sources heads of some agencies such the GAC are
already expressing anger over the salary cut measures.
Some believe the salary cut if implemented will pave the way
for corruption at many of these entities where officials will
use other means to get income in order to cover up for the
huge drop in salaries.
In the draft 2015/2016 national Budget the pending
reduction in salaries and other incentives was not reflected
as the line item with wages is not reduced at these entities,
making some to believe that the presidential directive is just
a mere pronouncement to convince the public that some form
of action has been taken to reduce waste across government.
The presidential directive of pay cut is one of many directives
from President Sirleaf some which are not implemented to the
letter.
It can be recalled; President Sirleaf fired 10 government
officials for disobeying an order to return to the Ebolastricken country after foreign trips, marking the second of
such dismissal in less than a month in August, 2014.
The officials fired showed insensitivity to our national
tragedy and disregard for authority, a statement from the
Executive Mansion dated September 13 stated. Those who
were out of the country without an excuse had been told to
return, the Executive Mansion stated.
As a follow-up to the presidential directive, on August
26, President Sirleaf sacked several ministers and senior
government workers traveling overseas who flouted an order
to end their foreign trips.
Among the dismissed Liberian officials were Wheatonia
Dixon-Barnes, Deputy Justice Minister for Administration
and Public Safety; and Victoria Sherman-Lang, Deputy Justice
Minister for Economic Affairs, according to the statement
from the presidents office.
Eight junior officials were also out of the country and were told
that they wont receive their pay until they return to Liberia.
They will forfeit all compensation until they return home to
join in the fight against the Ebola virus disease, the presidency
said.
A short while later, Deputy Minister Barnes returned to
Liberia and took over her job despite the statement from the
Executive Mansion announcing her dismissal.
Additionally acting on an investigation from the Liberia
Anti-Corruption Commission President Sirleaf in July 2014
announced that several officials of government will forfeit
salaries for one month for failing to declare or re-declare their
assets with the LACC.
President Sirleaf was hailed for the pronouncement, but since
that time there has been no public pronouncement of the
implementation of the mandate.
When quizzed, one of the individuals affected by the mandate
refused to say whether he forfeited his one month salary
based on the presidential mandate.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Page 4 | Frontpage

FrontPage
EDITORIAL
v

STILL
UNRELIABLE
Liberia Inability to Trace New
Ebola Cases Sounds Warning

THE HEALTH SYSTEM of Liberia collapsed to the outbreak of the

deadly Ebola virus beginning early 2014, the worse ever in the
history of the virus.
EBOLA SPREAD LIKE wildfire, killing people at home and in
treatment units, clinics, hospitals and other health facilities
were closed down to curb the rapid spread of the killer virus.
PEOPLE SICK OF other illnesses could not get medical attention
and many ended up dying at home unattended to; as curable
diseases such as Malaria, typhoid and common cold all became
killer sicknesses.
FROM MARCH TO August, Liberia was facing a serious health
crisis and was declared emergency with schools and some other
public facilities shutdown.
IT TOOK HUGE intervention from the international community
to handle the situation and around November 2014, Liberia was
getting closer to defeating the virus which had already killed
more than 4,000 people.
BY MAY 2015, Liberia was the first amongst the three worse
affected countries others including Sierra Leone and Guinea to
celebrate victory when the World Health Organization (WHO)
officially declared the country Ebola free on May 9.
LIBERIA BECAME A case of reference for success in defeating
Ebola with Liberian officials including President Ellen Johnson
all boasting that the country has learned a lot from the outbreak
and is now in the position to withstand any future outbreaks.
TOLBERT NYENSWAH, HEAD of Liberia Incidence Management
System, the organization that managed the fight against the
outbreak also declared that the system is now well prepared to
swiftly track any new case of Ebola.
CONTACT TRACERS, SURVEILLANCE officers, burial teams and
other teams all meant to keep the alert system against Ebola
strong have all been in place, amid assurances that never will
the virus cause havoc like the way it did in 2014.
IN SPITE OF the claim of preparedness, in late June after Liberia
had gone nearly two months without reporting any case of Ebola,
a fresh case was reported in Nedowein, Margibi County right on
the main road towards the Roberts International Airport.
SPECIMEN FROM A teenager who died on June 28 was tested
and later proved positive of the deadly virus. A second test was
conducted on the exhumed body of the boy and the test showed
the same result.
SINCE THE DEATH of little Abraham Menaigai, two more close
associates of the deceased tested positive of the virus with
additional two again said to have tested positive bringing the
number to four.
AT LEAST 200 persons are believed to have come in contact
with the dead boy, raising fears that more infections could likely
come from the single case.
THE PRONOUNCED VIGILANCE and preparedness of the
Ministry of Health and the Ebola Incident Management System
has not been able to trace the source of the virus.
VILLAGERS IN NEDOWEIN insist that the dead body did not
travel outside the village prior to falling ill and subsequent
death.
IT HAS BEEN confirmed that the school where the boy attended
as a 10th grader recently travelled to Zorzor in Lofa county
bordering Guinea, an infested country for a sporting event but
Abrahams Uncle insists that his Nephew did not travel with the
school.
SEVERAL OTHER VILLAGERS only pointed to a dead dog they
said was poised and was eaten by Abraham and some others.
A test on the dog has proven to be negative of Ebola thereby
allying suspicions that the dead dog was the source of the virus.
NOW IS TIME for health officials to explain why a prepared and
equipped system has failed so far to detect the source of the new
Ebola outbreak.
THIS SOUNDS A warning that Liberia is not yet prepared to
manage any new outbreak should the situation of 2014 reoccur.
The Nedowein case is a classic example of a system that is still
not reliable to handle any possible new outbreak.

COMMENTARY

WHY LIBERIA NEEDS ECONOMIC AND

COMMERCIAL DIPLOMACY IN POST-EBOLA ERA
By: Josephus Moses Gray/ Email:[email protected] Writer

he post Ebola epoch presents an challenge

for the three most affected countries such as
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to refocus
their diplomacy and put their diplomats
to work, as these countries especially Liberia seeks
international partners as the country emerges from an
idle and desperate economic situation which has been
paralysed due to the scourge.
Liberia would not have received the worldwide
benevolence it got if not for apt diplomatic initiatives
and had serious negotiations not taken place
sometimes long hours into the night, as perceptively
as possible with grinding efforts, employing the tools
of diplomacy for national advancement. Modern
diplomacy today is in much more demand, because the
distinctive profession has grown exponentially, since
there continue to be crisis one after the other especially
the last century which saw two world wars and a long
and costly cold war.
But more than that Africa has been a hotspot with
varied conflicts in almost every geopolitical zone of the
continent, hence, nations continually depend on the
practice to foster both domestic and foreign relations
in the spheres of conflict and crisis resolutions so much
so that, without diplomacy the global world order as
we know it, might grind to a halt. In this endeavor, we
must draw inspiration from two notable Americans.
That is why those tasked with economic and political
activities at embassies must be sharp, cognizant of global
prevailing dynamics and the wheelings and dealings
meant to shape policy and bring about the desire
results; keep check of the financial and political movers
and shakers, be well-schooled and knowledgeable of
the subtleties of economic and commercial diplomacy
which encourages greater cooperation and relations
that protects investment and bilateral ties between
two states or among multinational conglomerates.
A diplomat, according to customary norms, should
be acknowledgeable of other states, regions, and of
the mechanisms and procedures of international
intercourses which involves knowledge of the world
network of diplomatic missions and consular posts,
their functions, their practices and structures. As an
added advantage, a diplomat should be verse in crisis
management and damage control and, as far as possible
as well must be rounded in his duties.
The former Secretary of State and Nobel Peace Prize
Winner, Dr. Henry Kissinger, have written in detailed,
that in the formulation of foreign policy, it is obvious
that the economic and trade diplomacy are inseparable
elements of conventional diplomacy, particularly in its
professional management. Dr. Kissingers experiences
and works are certainly a recommended readings for
foreign policy students.
The Liberian experience cannot be discounted in
these narratives. Astute diplomacy for example was
needed and still continue to in the post Ebola and
war Western African country. In relations to what
has already been said; that after the Liberian civil
war, as warlord turned president, Charles Taylor had
balkanized and ran the country into the ground, and
more so diplomatically, given his mischievous political
and military adventurism especially in the sub region.
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and her foreign
relations team acted quickly and were able to, since
2005, use the international order to rebrand Liberias
image, both economically and tactfully to garner
foreign and international goodwill and investments,
hence pivoting the country on the international stage
as Liberia transitioned from war to peace. In a true
sagacity, President Sirleaf and her youthful Foreign
Minister Augustine Kpebe Ngafuan, and his team
should be lauded.
Undoubtedly, economic, trade and commercial
diplomacy should be paramount to a Liberias project
and that requires a strong background of the diplomats
from a multidisciplinary perspective. Professional
diplomacy is an appropriate instrument to perform this

synthesis, to the extent that it can use its persuasive

techniques in favor of businesses and investments and,
simultaneously, prove to be politically and economically
profitable to the sending state.
However, it is clear that economic and commercial
interests, particularly those related to investment,
exports, protection and assistance could be essential
aspects of the diplomatic activities of a considerable
number of countries especially Liberia. Actually,
economic and trade diplomacy involves joint and just
efforts through cooperation between governments and
the private and public business sectors with respect to
external actions to achieving economic goals linked to
the national interests.
Another fascinated field of diplomacy especially for
underdeveloped countries such as Liberia is economic,
trade and commercial diplomacy. In contemporary
diplomacy, the issues of economic interests, trade,
protection of nationals, and security have all become
much more difficult, with major challenges affecting
the practices of diplomacy being influenced by major
actors and powerful states, and sometimes at the
continued loss of global, continental and regional
groupings. Other factors such as bad political
decisions in domestic politics, economic growth, and
technological development, corruption among others
have greatly affected African diplomacy in time past,
even so now today!
Vividly, I can remember the famous words of my
professor during my studies in Paris, France when he
stressed that diplomats should be fully aware of the
new insightful changes in international relations and
be able to partner major institutions and influential
businesses [companies] in the host countries to
enhance economic growth, trade and investment back
home.
A diplomat should also possess specialist qualities such
as: political awareness, economic and trade knowledge,
personal acceptability, education, intellectual curiosity
and flexibility, and not just sit and wait to be teleguided. A diplomat should level up fully to the new
trends of diplomatic behaviors and challenges, taking
into consideration the contemporary complexities of
the international system, in which multiplicity of major
actors operate, which stresses new approaches and
solutions for a new demanding world order.
In order for a Foreign Service officer including
ambassadors to gain respect on the global stage
also, there must be a taste and desire to seek new
knowledge by reading and conducting research about
the host country to which he is assigned; he must also
be aware that contemporary diplomacy goes beyond
mere curtails and red wine. Hence, diplomacy must not
be seen as a money making venture to enrich oneself
and family against the greater good of society.
Diplomacy has brought development to other nations
for example as already enumerated and economic
and trade values as seen in varied negotiations with
bilateral and multilateral bodies, as the Liberian
case illustrates, as well as increased economic and
commercial activity. As part of the States foreign policy,
economic diplomacy and trade are now being given
greater priority; these areas are now key factors in the
development of contemporary international politics.
It is also essential to ensure greater consistency in the
identification of sustained national economic interests
abroad and, through careful analysis, developed
model that can effectively ensure a safety pin to guide
economic diplomacy in carrying out external economic
relations by appointing people who are intellectually
efficient and knowledgeable in the field of their calling,
hence, diplomats should be appointed to assignments
or missions where they can be operatively successful,
as they serve the interest efficiently of their respective
countries.

FrontPage
Friday, July 10, 2015

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB

COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE

PAY CUTS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS

NO ONE CAN EXCEED US$7K

ANSU OPA DUALU TOP COMMENTER COALITION OF

CONCERNED LIBERIANS
Cosmetic fixes at the 11th hour. Pregnant women died like ants
in the dried season, girls turned prostitutes, young men with
no hope, University grads can barely read and when you've had
your fill and about to exit, you now try to fool all of the people
all of the time? This is beyond treason ; it is a form of genocide
and wicked leadership!
SYLVESTER MOSES TOP COMMENTER WORKS AT SELFEMPLOYED
The blood dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere. The
ceremony of innocence is drowned,
The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of
passionate.
Thus ends the first stanza of William Butler Yeatss poem The
Second Coming. Indeed The best lack all conviction. We
have so many graduates from Ivy League universities in this
regime that one would need trucks to transport their degrees
to the airport, yet for the decade theyve been in power there
isnt one public library built in Monrovia. These are the same
braggadocios who bemoan the sorry state of public education.
There isnt any reason to pay ministers more than $USD 5000
a month, the low cost/ standard of living doesn't justify that
pay scale. Moreover, the average person subsists on $USD 30
a month, those of the vast majority dont even see that. For
God's sakes, let President Sirleaf have sympathy, and invest in
infrastructural developments to create jobs for the almost one
million employable human beings.
SYLVESTER MOSES TOP COMMENTER WORKS AT SELFEMPLOYED
Well, we left the last word "intensity" out. But President
Sirleaf's censors would get the drift of our appeal to invest in
"Public Goods" such as jobs, libraries, teacher training colleges,
capacity for LNP, etc. instead of paying cronies over $USD 200
millions out of $USD 624 million dollar annual budget. She was
gifting officials on the basis of "Who know you" for ten years,
and now asking for additional money to make it right with other
ministers. The Lower House controls the government's purse
strings; are they going to succumb because they already have
their higher packages while the voters they represent are dying
of poverty? Of course, "the best lack all conviction" ought to be
a new national motto.
TONY LEEWAYE TOP COMMENTER FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT GOLDBERR INVESTMENTS & MARKETING
CORPORATION INC.
SENIOR COMRADE CUTTINGTON UNIVERSITY
Mr. Leewaye, what is the meaning of LMA? With respect to your
question, please read further (State owned Enterprises - V). Thx.
ELIJAH BARNARD TOP COMMENTER UNIVERSITY OF
LIBERIA
Mr. Leewaye, The Maritime Authority is owned by the
Government of Liberia. However; over the last ten year the
Maritime has been run almost as a separate entity .During a
press conference many years ago the Finance Minister who
is now the Foreign Minister was asked why the Maritime was
being run in secrecy. His reply. "information about the Maritime
was too sensitive for the public to know"
BESTMAN K. MONDAYE TOP COMMENTER STUDIED AT AME
UNIVERSITY
Sounds good, however, some Agencies which was established
by Law have their own Standard Operations Procedure and
Employment Manuals covering recruitment, salaries, tenures
etc. Moreover, it baffles me, for Integrity Institutions to be
affected speaks volume to the issues of Independence, credibility
and/or probity.......................... how can you fight corruption when
you're reducing the salaries of the Front-line Generals in the
fight such as GAC, LACC, IAA, PPCC and others, and increasing
the salaries and benefits of Ministers and their deputies who
are under-performing, it sounds paradoxical. For me, this entire
Proposal by the President needs to be revisited, reorganized
and/or restructured to reflect MERITOCRACY.
JOHN-LORD BAXTER TOP COMMENTER DAMANSARA,
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
We have always criticized the executive for many of it's
failings. However, this "pay reform policy" adapted by the
executive is very necessary and should receive some degree
of commendation from all well-meaning Liberian. It is better
late than never. We hope to see this policy implemented to the
letter, and monies realized going towards Education and Health.

DISCLAIMER

The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica

The Reader's Page

Frontpage

Page 5

Send your letters and comments to:

[email protected]
YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!

UNJUSTIFIED CLAIMS:
COOPER FILES COMPLAINT
AGAINST JOURNALIST TO PUL
Mr. K. Abdullai Kamara
President Press Union of Liberia
Clay Street,
Monrovia, Liberia
Dear Mr. K. Abdullai Kamara,

write to formally complain about Charles Yates who is a

member of your organization. He appeared on the Hot
FM morning show last Thursday and made a vast number
of unjustified and fabricated claims against me and my
company Westwood Corporation. I was pressed to seek legal
redress by my lawyer but thought it wise to first exhaust every
possibility of righting this wrong before ultimately going to
court if I then deem it necessary.
I was a victim of a shooting incident on Friday May 29th
2015 of which there is an ongoing police investigation.
When the incident occurred Charles Yates bombarded my
phone with calls of which I didnt answer. When this mode
of communication proved to be in futile he started sending
text messages of which I have saved in my phone as evidence.
Unlike Charles Yates, every claim I have levied against him can
be substantiated with proof, witnesses and recordings of the
Hot FM show.
Charles Yates messages expressed sentiments of being sorry
for the incident to accusing a Nigerian man of wanting to kill
me from a text message he sent on Monday June 1st 2015. I
can only assume that he was talking about the police suspect
and if so this is the same person he was defending and doing
damage control for on the Hot FM show. He even went to the
extent of describing the attempt on my life as a spiritual
attack; not only does this statement breach the code of ethics
as a journalist but the preliminary police investigation reports
done by three independent ballistics experts contradicts his
verbiage and unilaterally confirm that the weapon used in the
attack was a .22 caliber. There are about five police officers
who heard the gun shots and one witness who saw the
shooter fleeing the scene running in the direction of Tubman
Boulevard. His utterances by itself is a serious charge coupled
with the fact that he is interfering with an ongoing police
investigation and spewing out nonsense that is intended to
derail the process and rain down ridicule on the police and
victim alike.
However his smear campaign has had an effect contrary to the
intended purpose. A majority of his colleagues and members
of your organization have expressed deep concerns about his
most recent actions some even calling him a disgrace to the
profession they know and love. The public sentiment has been
even more intense with well-meaning Liberians conveying
their disgust and questioning his values as a reporter and a
human being.
I believe that Charles Yates saw my misfortune as an
opportunity to extort money, offering to sell me a picture of the
suspect being arrested for the sum of Five Thousand United
States Dollars and also offering as per his text messages his
services to slander the suspect in the media. When I did not
acquiesce to his solicitation but rather thanked him for his
support and understanding with the hope that we would not
interfere with the police investigation, I believe he decided
to contact the suspect in his bid to salvage his money making
scheme. Shortly after our last communication via text message
I heard he was on the radio talk show circuit slandering my
name and companys reputation.

I would like nothing more than for you to investigate my claim

and take the necessary actions to ensure that there is not a
reoccurrence of these actions performed by Charles Yates on
any other person or institution.
I Remain,

BE ABOVE
THE FRAY

Samuel Cooper

An Open Letter to Senator

Wesseh Of River Gee County

Dear Mr. Wesseh:

he people of River Gee County elected you to this

eminent position to among other things serve their
interest through the path of peace and reconciliation,
progress and development. Therefore, their
expectation is that you build consensus across political
spectrum, across shade of opinions and interests, and across
sections or sectors of the county, regardless of who might have
voted for you or not.
The election is over and you the people's representative ought
to be above the fray.
But your recent visit to the splintered faction, self-styled,
and self-imposed Alice Wilson's leadership of the River Gee
development association based in Minnesota, USA, without
efforts to reach out to the leadership recognize by the
majority chapters under the gavel of Mr. Jerome Koon sends
the wrong signal that your administration maybe running a
course counter clockwise to hinder the peace, progress, and
development of River Gee County.
As indicative of your visit, the purported leadership based in
Minnesota are bunch of your loyalists and supports.
As you may be aware, the River Gee Development Association
in the diaspora is embroiled in a leadership impasse that
needs urgent attention.
It is, however, sufficiently clear that majority of the chapters
across the United States stand oppose to the intransigence of
the lone RGDA's Minnesota leadership.
While we do not wish to settle dispute in the public, we are
obliged to call your attention to this critical issue because
all attempts to address this leadership impasse through
mediation have failed.
We may agree and disagree on some issues, but what is
important is that we arrive at consensus to surmount impasse
and challenges.
To you honorable senator we throw this challenge and the ball
is now in your court.
Tony Hilton
[email protected]
Baltimore, MD.

EDITORIAL TEAM

Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666;

077-936-138, [email protected];
[email protected]
Samwar S. Fallah, News Desk Chief, 0886-527
541, [email protected]
Danesius Marteh, Sports Editor, danesius.
[email protected], 0886236528
James-Emmanuel D. Cole, Jr, Graphics Designer
& Layout Editor, [email protected];
0886 211 390, 0777 027 030
Henry Karmo, Reporter, henry.karmo@
frontpageafricaonline.com
Bettie Johnson, Reporter, , / betty.johnson@
frontpageafricaonline.com/0886971922

Al-varney Rogers, Reporter, al.rogers@

frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-304498
Kennedy L. Yangian, Reporter, kennedy.yangian@
frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781
A. Macaulay Sombai, Sports Reporter, macaulay.sombai@
FrontpageAfricaonline.com, 077217428
COUNTY NEWS TEAM
Grand Bassa, Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, 0777432042
Bong County, Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-484666
BUSINESS/ADVERTISING
Kadi Coleman Porte, 0886-304-178/ 0777832753,
[email protected]

Friday, July 10, 2015

Page 6 | Frontpage

Monroviahe
Ministry
of
Gender, Children and
Social
Protection
says it is considering
plan-B in dealing with the
situation of the 14 Liberian
girls who were brought home
from Lebanon. Since the girls
returned the government has
been keeping them in witness
protection in an unknown
location in Kakata preventing
relatives and the public from
interacting with them.
According to the government,
the action was taken to avoid
endangering the prosecution
of the case as the girls will be
needed to testify in the court
of Law.
However, according to the
girls, the lack of food and
other basic needs forced
them to come out; exposing
themselves to stigmatization
by
some
community
members
and
more
importantly endangering the
case.
On Tuesday, a team of
journalists discovered the
girls hideout and news broke
and soon the whereabouts of
the girls is now known to be
in Kakata, Margibi County.
The Task Force on Human
Trafficking will be having
our meeting soon to be able
to come up with our plan B
to address the girls Witness
protection issue. But I cannot
say exactly what will be done
to keep them from the public
and avoid tempering with the
case, Julia Duncan Cassel,
Minister of Gender, Children
and Social Protection told
FPA.
She added They were
taken from here without
the knowledge of the
government. And all those
things happened to them.
When they came home they
say they wanted justice.
When we visited them they
told us they only told the
press that they talked about
justice.
On the issue that the girls
have been abandoned the
Gender Minister insisted
that they are given proper
care. Minster Duncan Cassel
told FPA that she personally
ensures that the girls are
provided with their basic
needs.
We visited them yesterday.
Those people are being fed
three times a day. They were
not given money the first
time they arrived because
everything was bought for
them. It was during the
second month that we gave
them money and that was
for deodorants and other
things. Those girls are not
abandoned, Minister Cassel
stressed.
However the 14 Liberian girls
told FPA Wednesday that
they have been abandoned
by the Liberian government
and confirmed that since the
FPA publication, the gender
Minister visited them on
Thursday.
Yes, the Minster came here.
She brought us small food
because she says they will
not keep us here in Kakata
for long but she did not say
where we will go. Yes they
gave us the 150. But for the
other months they did not
pay, said Grace David who
sounded very sad during the
interview.

PLAN B
Relocation for Liberian Girls from Lebanon, Gender Minister Hints
Tecee Boley, [email protected]

When asked if they heard

anything about being paid for
the work they did for years
without pay in Lebanon David
said they are still uncertain
about that. She did say
anything about that oh. She

only told us that we should

not worry the government
is doing everything to make
sure that Abbas is carried to
court.
Payment not priority

The Chairman of the

Government task force on
Human Trafficking, Labor
Minister Neto Lighe said
payment for the girl is not a
priority for government at

the moment.
He said the alleged crime
committed against them is
of serious interest to the
government. The discussion
was never about the girls
payment. It has always been

about the crimes they alleged

that were perpetrated against
them. The real issue is about
the crime and the fact the
alleged human trafficker
and his allies were indicted
shows the governments
commitment to making sure
that justice is done, Minister
Lighe stressed.
The story of the girls being
abandoned drew the concern
of the public. Some Liberians
were calling on local radio
stations, while others took to
social media to discuss their
disappointments.
Minister Lighe is calling
on the public to be patient
and allow the rule of law to
prevail. And it is not that
the girls are abandoned or
nothing is being done about
the case. I can assure you that
human trafficking is a grave
crime and the government
is doing all to see that those
girls get justice, the Task
Force Head Lighe averred.
FPA
investigation
has
indicated that the 14 girls
are part of group of Liberian
girls recruited to go Lebanon
under pretext that they were
employed.
The Accused
Abbas Debs promised them
better salaries and good
living conditions. But upon
arrival
their
passports
were confiscated and their
liberties were ceased. They
were turned into domestic
servants and raped at the
will of their masters. Some
of them went days without
eating at the will and pleasure
of their master who had paid
3,500 United States dollars to
buy each of them.

MONROVIA

Friday, July 10, 2015

Frontpage

POLLUTION OVERTAKES MONROVIA

SELLING IN FECES

A
Monrovia-

voiding contact with

human feces is one
of the preventive
measures
against
the deadly Ebola virus but
it appears far from reality in
Monrovia as several marketers
continuously sit in water
flowing with feces to sell and
go about their business.
Monrovia, the capital city is
over populated with commercial
activities taking place at the
Waterside market, the largest
general market serving as a
place where hundreds of people
interact and transact business
daily.
On major streets- from Slipway
and Water Street Junction to
Mechlin and Water Streets,
feces are flowing from one
point to the other.
According to marketers, they
have contacted the Liberia
Water and Sewer Corporation,
the entity responsible for the
management of sewage but
nothing has been done to
address their complaint.
Jackson Gardner sells female
slippers a business he has been
doing for 11 to12 years. He says
the issue of sewage has been a
challenge to them as vehicles
pass by and waste feces water
on them.
You see this Pupu(feces)
business we have tried several
ways, but the Government has
not done anything, they say it is
the job they have for us because
as you stand here that opening,
several car tires can jump inside
and we have to help them so it
is like a job created for us by
Government, he said.
Gardiner says the constant
smell of the feces flowing in the
water is making them sick but
they have nowhere to go their
customers can locate them at
those spots.
J. Girl Nyuah, another marketer
said We feel bad selling in this
place; the pupu (feces) water
can disturb us sometimes the
stores here have to close when
the feces smell is too much.
She stated that she has been
selling near the feces for over
2 years adding that when the
septic tank is leaking, water
keeps flowing so they have to
sit in the feces water.
Madam Nyuah said because
nowhere to sell, so we have to
sit here, we are concern about
Ebola, because whole day we
hear dont touch people feces

We have nowhere to go, this is the only place we have to sell so what can we do? Nothing, we come
here and spend the entire day because our children have to go to school, they have to eat so we inhale
and see all the pupu (feces) from the sewage, -Varbah Harris, marketer on Water Street, Monrovia
Bettie K. Johnson /[email protected]

removed from the MCC, the

city has gone back to the dark
days when things were just
messy, he declared.
CHILDREN AT RISK

but we who selling here arent

considered because we walk,
we eat in this bad smell water
every day and pupu (feces)
water has lots of diseases so we
calling on the Government to
fix this sewage.
Wilson Sundaye, 45-year old
and a sneaker seller on Water
and Mechlin Street said Things
are hard, nowhere to turn, the
pupu (feces) sometimes scare
away our customers but for us
we want to support our family
so we put things to our nose but
it still dont stop it we inhale the
scent and sometimes get ill.
He
continued:
it
is
embarrassing because of this
we cant stop our business you
see as you standing here 5-10
car tires hitch in that sewage
and as the cars are passing they
splash water on us. Anytime
Water and Sewer arrive, they
only pull the pupu (feces) out I
think its over a year now since
they came and they even placed
a cover on the hole but it was
not done properly which led to
it dropping in the hole.
For Princess Garpi who sells
slippers directly in the feces
water, she said it was frustrating
to shower in the morning at
home and get bath by pupu
(feces) water and as a result she
does not bring her toddler at her
market site.
You see my feet is soaked in
the pupu (feces) water and this
is what I have been doing 4
years to sustain my family and
send my children to school. This
is a complete health hazard,
sometimes we are compelled
to get far from our businesses
because when the septic tank

ready, it pushes out all bigger

feces this is what you see now,
she said.
Another marketer, Varbah
Harris- said the water is
embarrassing mostly when rain
falling, what we heard is the
septic tank is for Government
and we dont know if it is true,
but we inside it selling because
this is the only place to get our
daily bread, when it is raining
we have to stand on the sidewalk
because if you go home you
will be hungry and you will be
starving the children.
At the center of Mechlin and
Water Streets, a hole is said to
be the main sewer for many
houses and building in the
vicinity.
It pushes out lots of feces as
marketers are inhaling and
selling in the name of survival.
HOLD YOUR NOSE AND
PASS
At the same time, the
intersection of Benson and
Gurley Streets in Monrovia
are now considered 'Hold your
Nose and Pass,' as the entire
area is also polluted with the
smell of feces from a broken
Liberia Water & Sewer tank.
Residents and passers-by who
use the streets to tend to their
daily activities complained
about the health hazard the
pollution is causing in that part
of the city.
Nowadays those passing on
Gurley and Benson Streets
including Benson, Buchanan,
and Center Streets usually
run whenever they reach that
sewage point.

In an interview with a
storeowner, Madea Mayson
she described the situation as
embarrassing.
What is more embarrassing is
those vehicles plying the streets
sometimes waste the 'pupu
(feces) water on pedestrians
and even in our stores while
speeding, she lamented.
The broken sewer tank has
been leaking feces water for
several years something she
said the LWSC (Liberia Water
and sewer Cooperation) has
failed to curtail.
COMMENDING BROH
Most of the interviewees
commended Former acting
Monrovia City Mayor Mary
Broh stating that during her
tenure she ensured that pollution
was more of her concern.
Roosevelt Dickson said you
know the book people say you
cant miss the well till the water
runs dry. Today if we miss
anybody we miss Mary Broh
because at her time we did not
experience the pollution like
the way it is now, we feel that
if we continued to sell in this
environment we will get sick
and our children will suffer if
we die.
Elizabeth Washington also
raining praises on the former
Mayor applauded her for her
farsightedness stating that she
was someone who hated dirt
and always ensured that the
City was kept clean.
So we are calling on the
Government to bring back
Madam Broh to take care of
the city because since she was

On several Streets in Monrovia

namely Gurley, Mechlin and
Clay among others Children
walk through trashes in search
of items that they can sell to get
meal for the day.
As stockpiled of garbage expand
in the Liberian capital, there
have been several programs
from the UN and Government
but the implementation is
slower as several Liberians
have called on the Government
to improve on its public health
mainly the collection of trash.
It can be recalled that the
President of the Liberia
Marketing Association Lusus
Sloan named waste disposal
as a major challenge that is
hindering the work of the
Association.
Right now our challenge is
we dont know how, where to
dispose our dirt, and those who
come for it to dispose come
late so the entire markets get
polluted, Sloan said.
Solid waste management is
arguably the greatest public
health threat in Monrovia,
said Patricia Slocum, head of
Slipway Waste group. There is
virtually no waste management
sector.
She continued: Virtually no
waste management sector, along
with a lack of proper toilets,
means household trash, human
feces, and hazardous medical
waste is randomly disposed
throughout the city, in some
areas swelling to piles large
enough to block roads. Children
walk barefoot through trash
heaps, picking through piles
that can contain used syringes
and bloodied bandages.
There is a serious problem
of hygiene in Monrovia
as residents throw waste,
including feces, in the streets,
said Moses Sagbeh, director
of
environmental
health
Association. He said water
accumulating at dumpsites is
spilling into uncovered wells

Page 7

throughout the city.

UNICEF says at least 20
percent of deaths of children
under five in Liberia are caused
by diarrhea, which is in turn
caused primarily by poor
hygiene and lack of sanitation.
The UN humanitarian office in
a 2006 report said cholera and
diarrhea outbreaks in Liberia are
due principally to poor hygiene
practices and the indiscriminate
human waste. The report says
less than 25 percent of the
population of Liberia has access
to safe sanitation, with six of the
countrys 15 counties having
less than 29 percent coverage.
Constriction on sewage line

Meanwhile, Liberia Water and

Sewer Corporation Managing
Director Charles Allen has
attributed the over sewage
problem facing Monrovia to
construction of buildings on
sewage lines saying Monrovia
is a swampland.
We have a fundamental
problem with the sewer in
Monrovia, Monrovia is swamp
Land and its under the Du river
and lots of the land is flat across
the bridge is sea level and the
only high point is Mamba Point
and upper Broad Street the rest
of the areas are low land areas
and swamp, he added.
Mr. Allen said the rain causes
flooding and meet the sewage
adding that there are objects in
the sewage that also contribute
to pollution.
During the rains when the
place gets flooded the storm
draining runs into the sewer line
and its overflow and bubble.
He also attributed the over
flowing of feces to nonfunctioning of the only 10
pumps that the country has.
Another problem is we have
10 pumping stations in the
sewer system and all of them
are down and not operational,
he said.
The sewer station runs from
Duala to Old Road and the
pump from across the bridge
they have built over it also the
one in Sayon Town they also
built over it, there are two one
down Water side and one to
Slipway that lifts the sewer to
BTC and later to Fiamah where
we call Pupu (feces) station
and from Old road to Fiamah
by gravity Managing Director
said.
He added that in the absence of
the lift station the LWSC cannot
work effectively as resources
remain a challenge to the
corporation.
The absence of the lift station
is a challenge and we always
have to dislodge so we are
emptying feces into the Atlantic
ocean which is very bad, if you
see the water flowing it means
that the lines are blocked,
sometimes they put in dirt, cloth
and the last time we took out
half of a plastic chair which is
bad, he stated.
He clarified that none of the
marketers have complained
of the pollution as there is a
customer service at the LWSC.
We have a customer service
the sewer people have their
office and I think if they say
they complained they talk to
the wrong person, but there
are records that no complaints
here, the LWSC Director said.

Page 8 | Frontpage

Friday, July 10, 2015

Friday, July 10, 2015

VACANCIES
The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) was established by an Act
of Legislature in September 2013 for the purposes of assessing and
collecting national revenues as specified in the Revenue Code of Liberia
and other related laws; administering, accounting, auditing, enforcing
revenue collection laws and regulations; and educating taxpayers to
facilitate tax and customs compliance.
The Liberia Revenue Authority now seeks to recruit competent,
hardworking, and committed Liberians with integrity for the below
positions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Manager-Customs Collection &

Enforcement
Manager- Medium, Small & Micro Tax Section
Audit, Manager-Medium, Small & Micro Tax Section
Enforcement Manager- Medium, Small & Micro Tax Section
Valuation Manager-Real Estate Tax Division
Manager- Assessment, Analysis & Accounting Section
Enforcement Supervisor- Medium, Small & Micro Tax Division
Supervisor-Assessment, Analysis, & Accounting Section
Supervisor-Audit, Medium, Small & Micro Tax Division
Supervisor, Micro Taxpayers
Enforcement Manager-Sector Ministries
Technical Focal Point- Commissioner, General Services

Applicants will be selected through a highly competitive evaluation

process.
Detail of the requirements can be obtained at:

www.lra.gov.lr

Liberia Revenue Authority Social Media Pages( Facebook
,Twitter and LinkedIn )
Interested individuals are advised that all applicants should submit their
resume Online (www.lra.gov.lr) via LRA job recruiting link (job portal).
Note: Every ToR downloaded has an opposite corresponding link to
submit related application/resume for said job.
The deadline for application is on or before Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at
5:00 pm
The LRA strongly encourages qualified females to apply.
Note: This announcement and other LRA related information are also
available at www.lra.gov.lr and Liberia Revenue Authority Facebook
page.

Signed:
A.Trokon Tarr
Consultant
Communications, Public Affairs and Protocol/LRA

Frontpage

Page 9

Page 10 | Frontpage

Friday, July 10, 2015

Friday, July 10, 2015

Frontpage

SINKOR ROTARY CLUB INDUCTS NEW

LEADERSHIP-SENATOR SHERMAN
CAUTIONS ON COMMITMENT

STRENGTHENING LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEES-IRED HOLDS
DIALOGUE WITH LAWMAKERS

Monroviaone-day forum aimed at improving Legislative

Committees transparency and accountability has ended
in Monrovia, with calls for more support to steering
committees of the National Legislature.
The dialogue which was held on Wednesday, July 8 at the Corina
Hotel brought together cross section of lawmakers from the
House of Representatives and Senate.
Giving opening remarks at the occasion, the Executive Director of
the Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IRED)
Harold Aidoo noted that his organization is endeavoring to deepen
the understating of citizens about the roles of their lawmakers.
He said for the National Legislature to be effective, it requires the
various committees to be more effective in the way they do their
work.
Said Aidoo: It is against this backdrop that we are drawing those
lessons so that we can have an event like this; where we bring both
the legislators, civil societies and partners together to discuss and
look at the challenges that are undermining the effective function
of the Legislature and by extension the committees.
According to Aidoo, despite the huge concession agreements
signed by the Government of Liberia, results from these
multilateral companies is not reflective in the lives of ordinary
Liberians due to the oversight weaknesses on the part of the
legislators.
Continued Aidoo: When these multinationals bring dozens of
vehicles and equipment, they are all tax free. How can you give
tax incentives to companies like Arcellor Mittal and China Union?
These are the rich people of this world. How can you not tax them
when they bring their concessions but then we tax the ordinary
man so much?
Underscoring the challenges faced by committees of the Liberian
senate, Nimba County Senator Thomas Grupee said technical
and logistical support are among several challenges affecting the
workings of various committees at the Liberian senate.
Grupee said almost all of the twenty-six committees that at the
Liberian senate which comprises of standing and statutory
committees, none of these committees have funding for
committee works.
Even if we call and agency that we have oversight for a meeting,
providing refreshment like water or what have you has to come
from our own pocket, he said.
Grupee said the Legislature lacks experts in many areas thus
making it difficult for committees to efficiently perform its duties.
Continued Grupee: As a Legislature, we have voluminous
documents to deal with. And some of us are not experts in certain
areas. For instance, if we have to talk about NOCAL, talking about
oil bid, we need people in those specialized areas who will analyze
and guide us through the discussion. But we dont have that.
For his part, Margibi County Senator Oscar Cooper stressed the
need for capacity building for staffers of lawmakers.
He said lawmakers should ensure that they hire their staffs
based on effectiveness and competency rather than political
consideration in order to make the senate and House of
Representatives more effective.
Said Cooper: What we get wrong sometimes as senators and
representatives, we are sent there to represent but we dont go
there with the technical expertise of analyzing a budget. Thats
why you create a legislative budget office so that the expertise can
be put in that office to help you analyze the budget.

Monroviahe Rotary Club of Sinkor (RCS) District 9101 has

inducted its new leadership to administer the affairs and
operations of the Club for 2015 2016.
Those Rotarians inducted Wednesday night at the Corina
Hotel in Sinkor at a Dinner were: Evan Mappy Morgan, President,
Nancy Freeman Deline, Vice President, Nowah Gorpudolo,
Secretary, Esther Paegar, Treasurer and Florence Allen Jones,
Sergeant - at - Arms.
Also inducted to serve as Directors of the Rotary Club of
Sinkor were Rotarians Jamesetta H. Wolokollie, Chair - Club
Administration, Isaac Govergo, Service Projects, Augustus J.
Flomo, Public Relations, Pauline Kwabo, Youth Services, A. Nadu
Cooper, Rotary Foundation and Nancy T. Freeman, Membership
Committee.
Serving as Guest Speaker at the induction ceremony, Grand Cape
Mount County Senator, Cllr. H. Varney G. Sherman, cautioned the
membership of the Rotary Club of Sinkor (RCS) to remain ever
committed to serve.
Said Cllr. Sherman What you do; how you do it; mainly to serve
other people in the various communities is what more Liberians
should do because Rotarians service to serve are bringing about
transformation in Liberia.
He told them to continue to their services to make difference
in the livelihood of other ordinary Liberians and urged them to
always serve and serve.
Cllr. Sherman who is also a Rotarian and a member of the Paul
Harris Fellows indicated that the rebuilding of Liberia cannot be
achieved by government alone but through the efforts of every
single Liberian.
So the little Rotarians in Liberia including the Rotary Club of
Sinkor is doing through the little service to serve is helping the
Liberian Government to achieve in it over all national development
agenda the Grand Cape Mount County Lawmaker asserted.
He warned Rotarians that above all they must commit themselves
to the principles of Rotary to serve and engaging in initiatives that
will touch the lives of ordinary people.
For his part, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, a Rotarian who
inducted the officers of the Rotary Club of Sinkor said rrged
them to support, uphold, protect and defend the constitution
and By-Law of Rotary and to faithfully discharge their duties and
functions of their respective offices to the best of their abilities to
serve all mankind and to God.
In her induction statement, the Clubs President, Rotarian Eva
Mappy Morgan said the 2015 2016 leadership will support
ongoing community projects as well as concentrating on impact
projects in Sinkor.
Rtn. Morgan named the quick impact projects as the construction
of hand-pumps on number of school campuses in Sinkor, a
year-round food donation driven by supermarkets and other
businesses for vulnerable persons, clean-ups of schools, market
places tutoring and community services in general.
Now, I ask all of you, what gifts do you have, how will you share
your time, your knowledge, and I dare add, your resources for
the improvement of your community? Let me suggest that we all
must be mindful in all we do. We must work for the benefit of our
communities, our world with such passion, commitment, focus,
discipline and all that is good within us so that our footprints are
not simply embedded in the sands of time, but and as Rotary
International has done and continues to do, our works impart and
improve the circumstances of many lives, Rtn. Morgan added.
The induction and dinner ceremony was held under the Rotary
International theme: Be a Gift to the World, with Rotary Club of
Sinkor theme: Rotarians, Make a Difference.
Rotary International is one of the worlds first service
organizations, consisting of business, professional and community
leaders. It focus is promoting peace, fighting disease, providing
clean water, protecting mothers and children, supporting
education and growing local economies.

Page 11

NATIONAL CHRISTAIN
TASKFORCE PLANS
THREE DAYS
NATIONWIDE
FAST & PRAISE

Monroviahe National Christian Task Force of Liberia is preparing

to hold a three day nationwide fast and praise to express
gratitude and praise to the Almighty God for healing the
country of the Ebola Virus disease which ravaged the
entire country in 2014.
Reading a statement during a press conference on Thursday, July
9 at Bethel World Outreach in Congo Town, the Director of the
Task Force, David G. Benitoe said: God has asked that with the
same intensive that we mobilized the nation last year to seek His
intervention, we should mobilize the nation this time to come
back to Him to say thanks. He has said that if we do not come back
to Him, Liberia will need Him again and we, as a nation, will not
have face to come before me.
He said the task force has begun the planning process and has also
extended message to churches across the country. The Christian
Task Force has set the 29th and 30th of July as dates for what they
termed as a United Nation-Wide Fast & Praise intended to thank
God with July 31, climaxing the activities with a street parade
intended to publicly celebrate and thank God for his healing of
the nation. The activities will take place simultaneously across
the country. The planner assured that believers (Christians) in
the 15 counties will simultaneously fast on the first two days and
will publicly celebrate Jesus on the 3rd day, indicating that they
have informed the Liberia Council of Churches about their plan.
We must come together in one place, in each city or town, in one
accord and in humility, to publicly exalt and glorify Jesus all across
the land on Friday, July 31, 2015, the final (and third) day of the
fast & praise, Pastor Benitoe read in the statement.
Earlier at the press conference, the Director of the Task Force
underscored the pivotal role Liberias international partners like
Samaritan Purse, Medicine San Frontier (MSF), the World Health
Organization WHO), the U.S. Centers for Decease Control (CDC)
and the Peoples Republic of China and other friendly nations
played in defeating the virus. He said the people of Liberia will
remember the sacrifices and kindness they exhibited to help the
country.
Despite the intervention from the international community, the
Task Force said consistent prayers by individuals, churches and
religious organizations including the Liberia Council of Churches
helped stop the Ebola crisis adding,
God, again, spoke to people in different churches that instead of
scattered prayers, we must come together as a nation and people
to fast and pray for 3 days, to repent, return to Him and ask for
His intervention.
According to the Task Force, the 3-Day Nation-Wide Fast & Prayer
would yield 3 results: Healing, Restoration and the Destruction of
Walls and Barriers.
Also speaking at the press conference, the National Pastor of
Winners Chapel International, Liberia Mission said it was Gods
divine hands that rescued Liberia from the Ebola virus while it
continues to ravage neighboring countries like Guinea and Sierra
Leone. Pastor Johnson Audu said Liberia has not return to God to
give him glory for his intervention during the crisis in the country
warning that if the country does not return to him to give him
glory he will cursed the countrys blessing, And we know that if
we give him glory the way he want us to give him glory, Ebola can
never surface again in this nation.
Responding to questions from Journalists, Pastor Benitoe clarified
that the task force is not seeking any financial support from the
government but will prefer moral support instead in other to
achieve its plan for the nation.
The National Christian Task Force comprises of various churches
in the country. It can be recalled that the National Christian Task
Force mobilized the entire nation and successfully held a NationWide simultaneous fast & prayer from October 29 to 31, 2014
during the height of the Ebola virus crisis in the country.

NEWS EXTRA

Page 12 | Frontpage

Friday, July 10, 2015

WE DONT WANT IT LIKE BUTAWSENATOR TEAJAY CAUTIONS

S
Monrovia inoe County Senator
Milton
Teahjay
has warned new
concessionaire,
Hummingbird
Resources
(HBR) which has signed a 25year mining agreement with
the Government of Liberia
not to tread the path of Golden
Veroleum in the county.
HBR Thursday signed a 25year mineral development
agreement for the development
of Dugbe Gold mine in Sinoe
County and it is expected to
create over 200 direct jobs and
invest in excess of US$100m
over 25 years.
It can be recalled that several
citizens in Sinoe protested
recently decrying GVL failure
to live up to its corporate social
responsibility, an incident that
led to several arrest including a
pregnant woman.
Speaking at the signing
ceremony
in
Monrovia
Thursday, Senator Teahjay
commended the company but
expressed fear that it should
not be like GVL where citizens
have to strike before they are
given attention.
I commend you for coming,
there are not much issues so, I
promise that this will be ratified
by my colleagues, also I hope if
you begin you shouldnt be like
GVL where the people have to
chase them. We will not like
that, he said.
Senator Teahjay disclosed
that the site of the mining is
a traditional area and he is

Bettie K. Johnson /[email protected]

urging the company to work

in line with county officials
to smoothen the companys
operation.
HBR is expected to begin
implementation
after
the
Mineral
Development
is
ratified by the National
Legislature and published in to
handbills.
Also following its first
commercial
production,
the company is expected to
upgrade the existing road
between Greenville and Dugbe
to a two-lane road for general
public use, with capacity for
handling heavy traffic.
Additionally, the company
after ratification is to give

US$1.5 million to be paid on

the granting of the mining
license.
National
Investment
Commission Chair, Etmonia
Tarpeh described the signing
ceremony as a historic event,
saying it will improve the
growth and contributes to
Liberias economy.
She
thanked
all
who
contributed to the signing of
the agreement and added that
it is a turn in Sinoe as schools,
hospitals and infrastructure
will be guaranteed.
Representing Land Mines and
Energy, Mr. Stephen Dorbor,
Deputy Minister for Planning
& Human Resource said at

first Liberia largely mined Iron

ore but was glad that the new
signing is targeting gold.
He added that the signing
would attract investors, which
will show to the world that
Liberia is ready for business.
We pledge that we will work
with you in making sure that
the job is done correctly in
the interest of the Liberian
people, Deputy Minister
Dorbor promised.
The program brought together
several Government officials
including George Wisner
Executive Director National
Investment
Commission,
James Kollie, Ministry of
Finance, Axel Addy, Minister

WORK
AND
BUILD
LIBERIA
US Ambassador calls on Liberian Youths
By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr (231458910)[email protected]

Monrovianited
States
Ambassador
to
Liberia
Debora
Malac has challenged
Liberian youths to muster the
courage and work together to
build Liberia that all Liberians
are wishing to see.
When the young people
of
Liberia
join
forces
professionally
to
tackle
Liberias problems, the country
will be developed in the way
that all Liberians would love
to see it or hope for, said
Ambassador Malac.
Speaking at program marking
the 5th anniversary celebration
of the President Young
Professionals in Monrovia, the
US envoy said the young people
of Liberia have given her hope
with the achievements from
the program in the short
period of time the program has
been in existence.
What you have already
achieved in the short period
of time during this program
reminds me and gives me hope
and this is my dream for other
things as you move forward,

she said.
Ambassador
Malac
congratulated President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf for initiating
the President Professional
Program which in her mind is
helping the Liberian youths.
The
Presidents
Young
Professionals Program (PYPP)
of Liberia is a prestigious
two-year
fellowship
that
places recent Liberian college
graduates
in
important
government
roles
and

provides them with training

and mentorship as they
support the governments top
priorities.
The program was launched by
H.E. President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf in 2009; the PYPP
is now one of Africas most
competitive programs for
leadership in public service.
Presidents
Young
Professionals are recruited
through
a
competitive,
transparent
process,
and

receive robust professional

and technical training with the
overall goal of contributing to
top development priorities
within the Government of
Liberia.
The PYPP recruits, trains
and
prepares
promising
and
talented
Liberian
college graduates for a
future in public service. In
the short term, Presidents
Young Professionals (PYPs)
provides additional support

of
Commerce,
Benedict
Sannoh, Minister of Justice,
and Eugene Fallah Kparkar,
Representative Lofa County
among others.
People first
For his part, Daniel Betts,
President of HBR commended
the Government of Liberia for
the signing and promised that
his company will target the
people first as they commence
mining activities.
Liberia is a dedicated
country and we have been
looking forward to this day,
our commitment is from all
sides, as we play our role, the
to government ministries
and agencies by performing
a variety of critical tasks as
needed.
The Programs long term goal
is to create the next generation
of qualified professionals who
are able and committed to
working for the Government
of Liberia (GoL), thereby
increasing
public
sector
capacity and contributing to
good governance and strong
leadership.
The
two-year
program
includes a strong training and
mentoring component, pairing
each young professional with a
Liberia Fellow or other mentor
within a ministry as well as
offering a monthly professional
training program, one-on-one
training and evaluation, and a
monthly stipend.
Speaking earlier at the program
Liberias Vice president Joseph
Boakai urged young people to
emulate the example of other
successful young people.
The VP Boakai described the
program as one of the best
programs president Johnson
Sirleaf had initiated since her
ascendency to the presidency,
saying it is the best because the
young people are confronting
the issues affecting the country.
He noted that it has been a
great program encouraging
youths of the country to
keep being professional. I
encourage you to keep being

Government must also play its

role, we know that the place
is poor but investment still
matters as the country needs to
improve, he declared.
Also speaking Justice Minister
Cllr. Sannoh said, Our focus
is the people, HBR, we call on
you to seek the people interest
first, we dont want issues that
will arise from your site which
will bring a bad image to you,
and work to the best as we
know there will be constraints.
Representative Eugene Fallah
Kparkar speaking on behalf
of the House Committee on
concession said he hopes the
singing will bring relief to the
people in the mining area.
We hope this signing bears
good fruits for the people of
the county, we all know that the
negotiation, consummation and
ratification is needed, and the
Legislature has to ensure that
the necessary due diligence is
done in confirmative with the
investment code of the republic,
financial, tax code and mineral
law, the lawmaker said.
On
an
annual
basis,
commencing on the first
anniversary of the effective
date, HBR is to make an annual
contribution to the Government
to a social fund for the affected
communities.
Year 1-2 US$100,000, year
3-4; 150, 000, year 5-10;
200,000, year 11 onward
US$250,000 throughout the
term of agreement and the
company is expected to pay
taxes and duties as set out in a
fiscal agreement between the
Government of Liberia and
HBR.

professional, keep being enrich

with the services provided by
the program, let you the young
people keep demonstrating the
skills and show true love for
your country, he noted.
Since the launch of the
program by President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf in 2009, the
initial funding was provided
by the Hess Foundation,
the
Presidents
Young
Professionals Program (PYPP)
addresses this capacity gap
by recruiting, training, and
preparing promising and
talented
Liberian
college
graduates for a future in public
service.
In the short term, Presidents
Young Professionals (PYPs)
provide additional support
to government ministries
and agencies by performing
a variety of critical tasks as
needed, helping to rebuild
ministerial capacity after the
civil conflict.
The success of the PYPP is
made possible by generous
support from the Hess
Foundation, the Government
of Liberia, Scott Family
Foundation, McCall MacBain
Foundation, Humanity United,
Nike Foundation, Open Society
Institute, NoVo Foundation,
Belinda Stronach Foundation,
Daphne Foundation, Mailman
Family, Simonds Family, and the
U.S. Agency for International
Development.

EBOLA

Friday, July 10, 2015

Frontpage

NEW EBOLA CASES JUMP TO FIVE

IN LIBERIA. 7 IN TREATMENT UNITS
Tecee Boley, [email protected]

Monroviaour more people

have been confirmed
Ebola positive the
Liberian government
said Thursday, increasing fears
that the epidemic is once again
taking hold in the country.
Ebola killed more than 4, 000
people before health officials
were able to put up a good fight
against the human killer.
As of todays date we have
had five confirmed cases in
Liberia. One of the five is the
index case who is not with us

[dead]. The four are at the ETU

receiving the best possible care
that can be provided to anyone
with the Ebola disease, said
Deputy Minister of Health Dr.
Francis Kateh.
The Deputy Incident Team
Manager urged Liberians to
be on the alert. We also have
today 7 persons in the ETU.
Three of them are suspected
cases. Three have gone through
the test and the test came
negative but based on protocol
we have to do a repeat.
Liberia had gone 42 days which

is two times the incubation

period, after the last confirmed
case was buried. As a result
the country was declared
Ebola free by the World Health
Organization on May 9 but
only two months later Liberia
announced on June 30 that a
17-year-old boy had died of
Ebola. The announcement
sparked fears that the virus may
be embedded in the population
for much longer than was
previously anticipated.
Presently we have 120
persons that are basically under

what we call precautionary

observation. This is done
voluntarily. Among the 120
persons we have 11 of them
that are high risk contacts. 42
high risk not the highest but
high risk. We have 13 medium
and we have 49 low, Dr. Kateh
told a Ministry of Information
News Conference in Monrovia.
SOURCE UNKNOWN
The source of this new
outbreak has become a major
mystery for the public as

health officials have not come

out with any findings that
may piece together the jigsaw
puzzle. It is about ten days
since the population here has
been left in suspense as to the
origin of the recent outbreak.
Many have been speculating
that the villagers of Margibi
where the boy died may have
come in contact with animals.
We are working towards
getting the source. We have
done a sequencing of the virus.
We were able to get the virus
from the patient, the index case.
And so from there we should be
able to find something that will
lead us to the actual source,
the Deputy Health Minister
assured the public.
All that the Liberian health
authorities and its international
partners have learnt from the
previous two outbreaks seem
not be enough to easily detect
the cause of this new outbreak.
So the experiment with the
worlds most strange disease
and deadly virus continues,
Minister Kateh says.
Remember the last case we
had, we had to go through
the same process. We had
gone through and incubation
period that was 21 days plus 8
additional days before we had
the case. Now we have gone
through over two incubation
periods.
Technically
we
should not have the disease
in our country. But there are
variations so we have to now
study and say what it is,
It seems the current outbreak

Page 13

of the Ebola virus disease is

leaving many questions about
information pervious given by
International and local health
authorities. For example does
the Ebola Virus last longer than
the current incubation period?
The government investigation
shows that the Margibi
villagers did not leave Liberia
for Guinea or Sierra Leone.
No, it does not last more than
the incubation period. But
there could be other factors
that may lead to the third
generation. That is why we
are investigating, Dr. Kateh
added.
WE ARE IN CONTROL
Despite fears that the Ebola
virus disease is once again
gaining grounds the Deputy
Minister is confident that the
Ministry of Health is in a better
position to fight the plague.
While asking the public to be
vigilant the Deputy Incident
Management Head says they
have enough knowledge about
Ebola.
We are in control of what is
happening. Our men are in
the field. As a matter of fact
I was there this morning at
the command center by the
Roberts International Airport.
I also made a brief stop at the
active site just to follow up
to make sure that whatever
information we get from the
field is accurate Dr. Kateh
said.
He continued From the first
wave to the second wave we
have developed and change
a lot of things. We have
developed lots of protocols,
based on that we are providing
the best Ebola service that can
be given to anyone. Liberians
have now become experts.

DEVELOPMENT
TO
THE
PEOPLE
Senator Weah Embarks on Campaign
By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr (231886458910)[email protected]

odee,
Montserrado
County- Montserrado
County senator and
the political leader of
the main Opposition Congress
for Democratic Change (CDC)
George Weah has embarked
on developments promises
he made to the people of
Montserrado County during
his senatorial campaign.
The office of the senator
Thursday broke grounds for

the construction of a modern

pit latrine and a hand pump
in Montserrado District #1
Nyehn Town in Todee.
Residents
of
the
town
expressed joy after observing
and hearing that modern
latrine and a hand pump is
about to be constructed in the
town.
Thank God we are coming to
get safe drinking water from
our senator, and the toilet

business can give us hard time

here. Can you imagine we the
women in this town whenever
we come for meeting at the
city hall when we want to use
the bath we normally go into
bushes to ease ourselves,
the acting town Chief, Louise
Stewart expressed with joy.
The residents of the town said
they have not experience any
development in the town from
any sitting senator, saying

senator Weah is the first to

embark on development in the
town.
Man of words
The town residents described
the CDC political leader as man
of his words. we thought he
was never going to come back
to us again because he is a
senator, indeed he has proven
himself to us and we hold him
by his words and we trust
him for being a man that has

feelings for his people, James

Carey, a youth of the Town
noted.
The acting Town Chief, Madam
Stewart said during the
campaign Senator Weah asked
what the people of the town
needed and he was told that
they (town people) needed a
hand pump and pit latrine.
We thank the senator for
this project, we ask that you
please tell him we appreciate
his efforts by looking back and
bringing development in our
town, she noted.
Serving as proxy of Senator
Weah, the Administrative
Assistant in the office of the
Senator, Trokon Kpui said his
boss would have loved to be
present in the town during the
ground breaking but could not
do so be due to minor illness.
Trokon on behalf of his boss
thanked the residents for
voting Senator Weah. We came
to say thank you for voting for
us, you people voted for us
greatly during the election, we
came here to say thank you and
to build what you asked us for,
you told us that you needed a
pit latrine this is why we are
here to start the process. We
sorry that the senator is not
here due a little illness but he

would have really loved to be

here but dont worry he will be
here to dedicate this project,
he promised.
Trokon explained that the
new latrine will have separate
places for both men and
women. The toilet we are
building here is not one room
where both men and women
will use, the men will have
their room and the women
also will have their side to use
as well, he stated.
For his part, the research
analyst in the office of Senator
Weah, Jeeror Tarwoe also
thanked the people for their
patience and commitment
shown during the election.
You all are important to
Ambassador Weah this is why
he is not sitting in his office
doing nothing, as you know
Ambassador Weah is the man
of the people, he loves you all,
once again thank you for voting
for him, he said.
Nyehn Town is a small town
that is located in Todee District
Montserrado County with
about 15,800 inhabitants. The
head of the town is a female
who had stood strong to unite
her people.

Page 14 | Frontpage

IN BRIEF

PAGE

RONT

WORLD NEWS

Friday, July 10, 2015

CONFEDERATE FLAG
COMING
DOWN
IN
S.C.
EMOTIONAL SPEECH STIRS VOTE

ETHIOPIA FREES JOURNALISTS

AHEAD OF OBAMA VISIT
Addis Ababa (AFP) -

ive bloggers and journalists held in Ethiopia for more

than a year have been freed after the charges were
dropped, their lawyer said Thursday, weeks before US
President Barack Obama is due to visit the country.
In a separate case, journalist Reeyot Alemu, jailed in June 2011
after being found guilty of plotting a terrorist act, was released
on Thursday, campaigners said.
Four others also arrested in April 2014 remain in jail, accused
of planning attacks and collaborating with US-based opposition
group Ginbot 7, labelled a terrorist organisation by Ethiopian
authorities.
"They have suffered, their rights have been violated, but now we
are happy," defence lawyer Ameha Mekonnen told AFP after the
five journalists and bloggers were released on Wednesday.
Ameha said the decision to drop the charges was unexpected.

RIGHTS ACTIVISTS VOICE FEARS

FOR MISSING GAMBIAN JOURNALIST

BANJUL (Gambia) (AFP) high-profile Gambian journalist has been missing for
a week after being abducted by suspected intelligence
agents, press freedom campaigners said on Thursday,
voicing fears for his safety.
Alagie Ceesay, manager of the independent Teranga FM,
disappeared outside the radio station's Banjul headquarters on
July 2, Reporters Without Borders said in a statement.
"We are extremely worried about Alagie Ceesay's disappearance,"
said Clea Kahn-Sriber, head of the Africa desk at the rights group,
known by its French initials RSF.
While saying journalists being abducted was "nothing new in
Gambia" Kahn-Scriber said "every day that passes increases our
concern about Ceesay's fate."

ollowing a contentious
debate that lasted
more than 13 hours,
the South Carolina
House voted in the wee hours
of Thursday to approve a bill
calling for the removal of the
Confederate flag from the
Statehouse grounds. But it was
a fiery four-minute speech by
Rep. Jenny Horne, a Republican
state
representative
and
descendant of Confederate

President Jefferson Davis, that

is being credited with moving
her fellow lawmakers to agree
to take it down.
I cannot believe that we do
not have the heart in this body
to do something meaningful,
such as take a symbol of hate
off these grounds on Friday!
Horne shouted through tears
from the House floor.
The debate came just weeks
after the shootings at Emanuel

African Methodist Episcopal

Church in Charleston, S.C.,
where nine black church
members, including S.C. State
Sen. Clementa Pinckney, were
killed during a Bible study
session. The alleged gunman,
Dylann Roof, was seen waving
Confederate flags in photos
posted to social media before
the rampage.
For the widow of Sen.
Pinckney and his two young

BOKO HARAM TALK

Nigerias President Opens the Door to Talks With Boko Whom?

T
CHILD BRIDES TAKE BATTLE
TO COURT IN ZIMBABWE

wo child brides from Zimbabwe are stepping up

their legal battle to ensure that similar fates to theirs
arent experienced by future girls in their country.
Loveness Mudzuru, 20, is challenging government
officials on the nations Marriage Act, which they say is
discriminatory because it sets the marriage age at 18 for
males and 16 for females. Mudzuru was married to an older
man at 16 years old, and by the time she was 17, she had
two children. Another child bride, Ruvimbo Tsopodzi, has
joined Mudzuru in the campaign to amend the constitution.
Mudzuru sees the issue as a responsibility of government. But
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, secretary general of the World
Young Womens Christian Associations says child marriage
is a socioeconomic problem that needs to be addressed by
families. This is a total failure of our families to protect the
rights of girls, she said. It is unacceptable that girls escape
poverty through getting married to older men. This is an
abuse of culture and religion.

ABUJA

he
Nigerian
government
has
declared it is ready
to negotiate with the
dreaded sect known as Boko
Haram. The announcement,
coming as it does so soon
after a new spate of attacks
by the group that has pledged
allegiance to the so-called
Islamic State, suggests that the
recently elected government
of
Nigerian
President
Muhammadu Buhari is looking
for a way out of confrontation.
But there is certainly more to
the story than that.
If Boko Haram opts for
negotiation, the government
will not be averse to it, Buharis
spokesman, Femi Adesina, said
in a statement released on
Saturday. Government will,
however, not be negotiating
from a position of weakness,
but that of strength, it said.
As if to add horrible
punctuation marks to this
reticent dialogue, at least 25
people were killed when a
bomb blast ripped through
a packed government office
in the northwestern town
of Zaria on Tuesday in a
suspected
suicide
attack
capping a week in which close
to 300 people died in Boko
Haram violence. Since Buhari
was sworn in as president on
May 29 the fanatics have killed

an estimated 800 people.

The Nigerian governments
apparent willingness to speak
with Boko Haram contradicts
the earlier stance of Buhari,
who promised during his
campaign not to negotiate
with the insurgents if elected
president.
Boko Haram is not interested
in peaceif they are interested
in peace, how can they kill
13,000 Nigerians? Buhari told
BBC News in February.
Now, the former general
knows defeating the sect is not
childs play. And this could be
a tactical move while Buhari is
consolidating and preparing
his own forces for an all-out
assault on the jihadists. His
spokesman gave a hint of that
when he said in the statement

the machinery put in place,

and which will be set in motion
soon, can only devastate and
decapitate insurgency.
Boko Haram may have split
into different factions, and
officials risk negotiating with
the wrong or less powerful
group.
The message is not exactly
surrender or die, it is more
like negotiate or die. But
even so there comes a critical
question for the government:
Negotiate with whom?
This is not the first time a
Nigerian government tried
dialogue with Boko Haram,
and there have been a number
of fake deals with militant
groups in the past.
Last year, the administration
of then-President Goodluck

daughters, that would be

adding insult to injury, and I
will not be a part of it! Horne,
a 42-year-old lawyer from
Summerville, exhorted, her
voice breaking.
After Hornes impassioned
speech, the House approved
by a 94-20 vote the Senate
bill, which calls for removal
of the flag within 24 hours of
Republican Gov. Nikki Haley
signing it into law. Haley
is expected to sign the bill
Thursday afternoon.
It is a new day in South
Carolina, a day we can all be
proud of, the governor said in
a statement. A day that truly
brings us all together as we
continue to heal, as one people
and one state.
The bill calls for the flag to be
moved inside to the states
Confederate Relic Room with
other artifacts from the Civil
War.
Shortly after the 1 a.m. vote,
Horne told the Washington
Postshe was frustrated with
her fellow Republicans and felt
she needed to do something.
At that point we were losing
the vote. It was going south,
Horne said. If what I did
changed the course of the
debate, and I do believe it did,
then it needed to be done.
Because that flag needed to
come down a long time ago.

Jonathan claimed to have held

a series of talks and reached a
ceasefire with the jihadists that
would lead to the release of 219
schoolgirls whose abduction
in the remote northeastern
town of Chibok in April 2014
caused international shock and
outrage.
But six hours after the deal
supposedly was done Boko
Haram unleashed an attack
on Abadam Village in Borno
State, killing one person. The
following day, eight people
were killed in Dzur Village,
also in Borno, which made the
so-called ceasefire look like a
hoaxand that may well be
what it was.
When Abubakar Shekau, the
leader of the group appeared
in a video two weeks later he
made it clear something had
gone very wrong. We have not
made ceasefire with anyone,
he said. What is our business
with negotiation? We did
not negotiate with anyone
Its a lie; its a lie. We will not
negotiate," he said in the video
released last October.
The Boko Haram leaders
comment
suggested
Alex
Badeh, Nigerias Chief of
Defense Staff, who broke
the news of the ceasefire,
had told another lie about
the
countrys
anti-terror
progress. But in fairness to
him, ceasefire negotiations
had been heldjust not with
the right Boko Haram men.
The government had most
likely communicated with
an unauthorized negotiator,
perhaps an impostor.

Friday, July 10, 2015

Frontpage

Sports

UNDER THE RADAR

Page 15

SPORTS

DI MARIA SETS
HEART ON

How did celebrated star James Debbah and his charges perform on Sunday?

s it the end of another

spider story or a missed
opportunity?
Well, Liberia are out of the
African Nations Championship
(Chan) qualifiers, with the
finals slated for Rwanda from
January 16 to February 7,
2016.
Needing to overturn a 3-1 first
leg defeat to Guinea in Bamako,
Mali on June 22, Liberia took
the lead from the penalty
spot when Monrovia Club
Breweries midfielder Murphy
Dorley was tripped in the box
in the 36th minute.
FC Fassell striker Vitalis Sie
scored the resultant penalty
two minutes later but Alseny
Kamara struck a 77th minute
equalizer to silence a crowded
Antoinette Tubman Stadium
(ATS) as Liberia bowed out 4-1
on aggregate on July 5.
Guinea will meet Senegal, who
beat The Gambia 1-0 in Banjul
on July 4 to go through 4-1 on
aggregate, in the next round.
Liberia were playing their first
international match at home
since the Confederation of
African Football (Caf) banned
the three countries worst-hit
by the Ebola epidemic.
Their last game was a 1-0 win
over Lesotho on May 18, 2014
at the ATS in a 2015 Africa Cup
of Nations qualifier.
When the ban was imposed
in September 2014, Liberia
were out of all international
competitions and the national
league ended in March 2014
but the Liberia Football
Association (LFA) shamelessly
banned all football activities
four months later.
Barrack Young Controllers
(BYC) and Fassell returned
to continental engagements
against Gambias Real de
Banjul and Guineas AC
Horoya but played away from
home in February and March
respectively.
Liberia had to play the two
legs of the 2016 Rio Olympics
Games qualifiers in Tamale,
losing 7-1 on aggregate to
Ghana in April and May
respectively.
Liberia were declared free of
the transmission on May 9 but
new cases surfaced on June 26.
Sierra Leone and Guinea cant
host international games due
to the disease that has killed
more than 11,000 persons
mainly in the three countries.
But how did coach James
Debbah and his charges
perform?
1-Sampson Giddings
Giddings was virtually on
a holiday until defender
Raymond
Fanciah
was
substituted due to a head
injury at half time. He looked
afraid at best and nervous at
worst on a debut that should
have come in a friendly rather
than a competitive match. Two
real targets on goal resulted

Danesius Marteh, [email protected]

into two goals but Sierra

Leonean referee Raymond
Coker rightfully ruled one for
offside. His rating is 4/10.
6. Trokon Zeon
Zeon is (or used to be) one
of the versatile players of
his generation and can play
anywhere in defense. He
played an integral part in LISCR
FCs campaign last season but
looked match-rusty on Sunday.
Zeon
missed
pre-season
friendlies due to a reported
trip to Nigeria and or Ghana in
search of Dutch visa for a trial,
which didnt materialize. He is
yet to play for LISCR since the
league began in May. Zeon's
standard of play was evident
as he didnt cross the center
circle throughout the match.
He substituted Alpha James at
half time as Liberia lost 2-0 to
Nigeria on February 21, 2012
at the ATS on his last national
engagement. So, on what basis
did coach Debbah select Zeon?
His rating is 3/10.
15-Raymond Fanciah
Not many football followers
knew Raymond Fanciah until
his fantastic display against
Ivory Coast in a Caf under-20
qualifier at the ATS on May
11, 2014. Fanciah led the
defense and was considered
the man of the match. He came
through a youth system, which
was overseen at Breweries
by coach Francis Samujeabo
Sarploh. A competition from
Garnayee
Clinton
limited
his playing chances but it
didn't take Sarploh too long
to notice his physique and
mental composure. Fanciah
has been a standout performer
at Breweries and has been
in hot pursuit by LISCR and
Fassell. The sheer versatility
of Fanciah, who can play as
a defensive midfielder and
at right-back, was evident
when he left the field after
colliding
with
Guineas
Bangura Aboubakar. He is very
comfortable on the ball, has
great positional sense, is quick
and reads the game well. Coach
Debbah was visibly troubled
when the medics signaled him
that Fanciahs time was over.

His rating is 6/10

21-Hilton Varney
Varney was deployed at left
back and made few runs down
the terraces during the first
half. The BYC defenders timing
and positioning mean he had
little to do in attack after the
break but life became difficult
when Alseny Kamara leveled
the proceedings. Fanciah must
have been really missed. His
rating is 5/10
17-Abel Gebor
Gebor made his debut in the 2-1
defeat to Togo in a 2017 Africa
Cup of Nations qualifier in
Lome on June 14. He reportedly
signed for FC Fassell in June,
having largely been an unused
player at Finlands Honka FC,
which were relegated from
the Veikkausliiga (premier
division) to the Kakkonen
(third division) in 2015 due to
financial difficulties. Gebor was
the anchorman in midfielder.
He will need more game time
at Fassell as his performance
wasnt exceptional. His rating
is 5/10.
2-Murphy Dorley
Nicknamed Oscar, Dorley was
one of the star performers
if not man of the match. The
Breweries midfielder had
two attempts, on 13 and
17 minutes, but his shots
traveled over the cross bar.
Dorleys flashes of brilliance
were a delight to watch and
was applauded by the fans
but it couldnt translate into a
two goal-cushion needed by
Liberia to progress to the next
round. His rating is 7/10.
7-Sholee Deco Quiah
Depending on who you are
or your look of things, Quiah
will be your man of the match
since he masterminded the
penalty. His 66th minute solo
move in which he disorganized
the Guinean defense and
unleashed a terrific shot could
have been the goal coach
Debbah and Liberians were
awaiting but they were denied
by goalkeeper Abdullah Sylla
who made a splendid saved.
The Invincible Eleven man's
brilliant passes, good ability
in tackle and chasing and

winning balls made him and

Dorley the talking points. His
rating is 7/10.
19-Vitalis Sie
Making
an
international
comeback since his last
appearance against Nigeria
in February 2012 for Alex
Whitmore at half time, Sie was a
passenger for most of the game.
He must have been frustrated
by the service delivery on hand
as his height restricted him to
one of the fewest touches over
90 minutes. Sie's goal (his only
shot on target)was his third
for Liberia, having scored in
the 3-2 win over Gambia on
July 26, 2011 and a goal each
against Togo and Syria in a
three national tournament in
October 2009. His rating is
5/10.
22-Mohammed Varney
Varney was one of the top
scorers from last season but
that translation unto the
international scene hasn't been
easy. Initial reports that he was
among nine players dropped
by the technical staff ahead of
the trip to Bamako were soon
corrected. This was not the
Varney we know in the LISCR
jersey. It wasn't long enough
when James Soto Roberts
became his replacement but
a Dominic Jlateh partnership
instead of a Sie could have
changed things. His rating is
5/10.
5-Salia Kanneh
He was Fanciah's defensive
partner but his positioning
and man marking were soon
exposed when his soulmate
was substituted. He could have
been sent-off if Liberia were
playing away from home as he
committed some reckless and
careless tackles. His rating is
4/10.
12-David Zare
Zare was one of four
midfielders used by coach
Debbah. His strategy may
have been to attack in order
to find the two-goal cushion
and sit deep. Zare did play to
instructions except that he was
one of those guilty of playing
aerial balls to the delight of
the tall Guinean defenders. His

rating is 4/10.
8-Alpha James
James last played for Liberia in
the 2-0 defeat to Nigeria. Hes
no stranger to international
matches, having represented
BYC in two Caf Champions
League in 2013 and 2014
respectively. He has been
used at right back by Roberto
Landi but it was a puzzle when
Debbah opted to use him in
central defense. Depending on
your analysis, James could be
blamed for the goal. His rating
is 4/10.
9-Dweh Allison
Although
Allison
scored
Liberias consolation goal in
Bamako, Debbah relegated
the striker to the bench.
The Guineans were in firm
control by the time he was
reintroduced. His rating is
3/10.
10-James Soto Roberts
Soto Roberts was the top
scorer from last seasons
campaign. News that LPRC
Oilers were didnt meet the
club license reinforced by the
LFA made him a target for few
clubs. His last appearance was
in the 2-0 defeat to Nigeria.
Like Dweh, there was nothing
he could have done on Sunday
to change the hands of times.
Coach James Salinsa Debbah
With two defeats and a draw,
the Hosanna in the highest
chorus that greeted his
appointment last November
has turned into a crucify him
slogan. Debbah could have
been attacked on Sunday by
angry fans but riot police
officers were on hand to save
his blushes. Debbah, who
regards himself as the nations
highest goal-scorer of all time,
is under pressure to translate
his skills exhibited on the pitch
from the dugout. His selections
have been awful to say the
least because hes not familiar
with both the local and foreignbased
players.
Debbahs
decision not to have trusted
Thomas Kojos selection while
he was away suggests there is
a tense working relationship
in the camp. Tunisia, who beat
Djibouti 8-1 on June 12 in
Tunis, is Debbahs next game
in charge in September. His
friends know he must win to
restore the fans confidence
but that looks like a disaster
in waiting in Monrovia.
Depending on the result,
Debbahs celebrated status
and show-off moves would
have vanished in thin air and
his head will be demanded.
On time will tell whether his
appointment was a square peg
in a round hole. His rating is
2/10
Unused substitutes: 4-Mark
Blapoh, 13-Mark Paye, 3-Junior
Barshall and 16-Sekou Bayouh.

unday Oliseh is in
advanced talks with
the Nigeria Football
Federation
over
becoming the new Super
Eagles coach, BBC Sport
understands.
The 40-year-old former
midfielder, who captained
Nigeria and won 63 caps, is
set to be appointed in the
coming days.
The NFF have acted quickly
to fill the vacancy following
the sacking of Stephen Keshi
on Saturday.

NEYMAR RESPONDS TO 'DRUNK'

VIDEO: I CAN'T BE AT EASE IN BRAZIL

he Selecao skipper
has been criticised
after being caught
on film looking
worse for wear after a night
spent with friends
Barcelona ace Neymar says
a video that appears to show
him intoxicated at a house
party simply underlines that
fact he can never relax in his
native Brazil.
Footage has appeared online
of the Selecao captain looking
worse for wear at the end of
a night spent with friends,
including former Santos
team-mate Ganso.
Neymar is captured looking
unsteady on his feet, playing
with his tie and singing as he
bids farewell to other guests.
TOUR DE FRANCE 2015: GREIPEL WINS

STAGE FIVE; CAVENDISH THIRD

erman
Andre
Greipel won stage
five of the Tour
de France with
Briton Mark Cavendish third
in a sprint finish.
Lotto-Soudal rider Greipel
overhauled
Cavendish
and Norwegian Alexander
Kristoff and held off fastfinishing Slovak Peter Sagan,
who came second.
Cavendish was seeking a
26th career stage win, and
first of the 2015 race, but was
outpaced as Grieipel won his
second stage of this year's
Tour.
Tony Martin remains overall
leader from Britain's 2013
champion Chris Froome.
Team Sky's Froome finished
safely in the peloton at the
end of the stage from Arras to
Amiens to remain second in
the general classification, 12
seconds behind Martin.

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Sports

UNDER THE RADAR

VOL 9 NO.98

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2015

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How did celebrated star James Debbah and his charges perform on Sunday?

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