TOP

STORIES

United Nations
Summit 2015

pg 10

CRAFTING AMBITIOUS
NATIONAL RESPONSE
SIRLEAF Addresses the
United Nations Summit for
the Adoption of the Post
2015 Development Agenda

MORLU
AILING?
NEWS EXTRA

pg 11

CDC Strongman Well After

Hospital Stint, Party Official Says

EDUCATION

pg 7

554
DEGREES OF
SEPARATION

FrontPage

Cuttington University Graduates

Urged to make a difference

www.frontpageafricaonline.com

VOL 9 NO.150

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

PRICE L$40

SIERRA LEONES VICE PRESIDENT NOT BOTHERED BY

CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING ASCENDENCY TO TOP POST

NOISY POLITICS
That is politics, it is all part of the game; even when you the politician are doing your best, people will always
be on the other side to say no, for the sake of saying no. But in our country where there is democracy and the
rule of law, the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court, has spoken. And they have reinforced the strength
of the presidency, by saying the president has the right to fire his vice president and appoint another vice
president, so I am standing on very firm ground, because I am the vice president of the
Republic of Sierra Leone- Ambassador Victor Bockarie Foh, Vice President of Sierra Leone

POLITICS - pg. 7

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

BUYING

SELLING

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2015

L$87.00/US$1

L$88.00/US$1

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

L$87.00/US$1

L$88.00/US$1

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2015

L$87.00/US$1

L$88.00/US$1

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

Monday, September 28, 2015

Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]

ABIDJAN
ccess to cheap electricity could save governments in
West Africa millions, if not billions of dollars, that could
otherwise be used for building infrastructure including
new roads and better health facilities or even change the
lives of those languishing at the bottom of the economic ladder.
That according to Mr. Mohammed Sherif is within reach much
sooner than many anticipate.
Sherif, General Manager of TRANSCO CLSG, is leading a World
Bank, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank and
the KFW-funded project working to accelerate several regional
interconnection line projects including a transmission line to
interconnect the States of Cte dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and
Guine (CLSG).
FUNDING SECURED

The four beneficiary countries have already provided counterpart

contributions for the payments of Resettlement Action Plans
(RAP), the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)
and Interest accrued during construction (IDC).
Of the four countries, only Cote dIvoire has been making inroads.
Only 10 percent of Sierra Leoneans have access to electricity while
only two percent of the residents in Liberia have access to public
electricity, according to a World Bank report. In both countries,
residents in rural areas feel the pinch the most. Liberia pays the
highest rate for electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. Majority of
businesses and some private homes run on diesel generators that
carry a price of $3.96/kWh. Access to electricity remains at an
average low of about 15% in Guinea.
According to the World Energy Outlook, Cote dIvoire is among
a handful of sub-Saharan Africa making inroads. The outlook
projects that the number of people in West Africa with access
to electricity will increase by around 11% to 655 million in
2030. Improved economic prospects and new commitments
to action now suggest that the worsening trend will not extend
beyond 2025; but the prospect of improvement is fragile it can
still be upset by a change in economic fortunes, higher energy
prices or a failure to implement policy action. Due to significant
improvements elsewhere, sub-Saharan Africa accounts for an
increasing share of the global population without electricity
access, going from 46% in 2010 to 66% in 2030.
No one can deny the need for electricity as millions of people

within the CLSG countries particularly Liberia, Sierra Leone and

Guinea lack access to power. Ironically, according to reports,
indoor air pollution from wood stoves now kills millions of people
per year, more than AIDS and malaria combined.
REGIONAL POWER A PRIORITY

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),

through its West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) has made regional
power grid access a priority for the next decade and beyond.
Thus, the establishment of TRANSCO CLSG by WAPP has created
burgeoning opportunities across the region.
The WAPP intends to integrate the various national power
systems into a unified regional electricity market with the
expectation that such mechanism would, over the medium to
long-term, assure the citizens of ECOWAS member states a stable
and reliable electricity supply at affordable costs, facilitating
the balanced development of diverse energy resources for their
collective economic benefit, through long-term energy sector
cooperation, unimpeded energy transit and increasing crossborder electricity trade.
Reliable energy is an enabler and multiplier of opportunities
across many sectors and is a key driver in attracting foreign direct
investment, creating jobs and enhancing stability
This is why G-20 leaders are keeping a keen eye on the CSLG project
hoping to use it as a litmus test for other regions of the world. The
leaders at their Seoul, South Korea Summit in November 2010,
adopted a Multi-Year Action Plan on Development which aims to
promote economic growth, particularly in about 80 low-income
countries (LICs). Infrastructure development is at the top of the
nine-point agenda. A G20-mandated High Level Panel (HLP) on
Infrastructure in a bid to close Africas energy infrastructure gap,
emphasized large-scale public-private partnership (PPP) projects
in order to promote economic growth and regional integration.
The panel asserts that new investments into the continents
energy sector are long overdue.
The CLSG projects concept first came to being in 1982 when
the Heads of States of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) agreed to put in place a regional energy policy
in order to promote a regional energy market and to optimize
resources in West Africa. In 1999 the West African Power Pool
(WAPP) was created and its Master Plan was put in place in
2000 with a view to provide electrical energy at competitive and

affordable prices in the West Africa region to ensure social and

economic development.
A treaty was signed in 2012 by the Heads of State of the CLSG
countries to establish a Special Purpose Company called
TRANSCO CLSG which stands for regional Transmission
Company Cte dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guine. The
objective of the supranational company is to implement the
project, specifically to finance, construct, operate, maintain, own
and develop the Interconnection Line among the Member States.
TRANSCO CLSGs mission also goes beyond building electrical
infrastructures; its all about bringing light to the lives of the
people of the CLSG countries, thereby improving their social and
economic wellbeing.
LOW COST ELECTRICITY

The goal, according to Sherif, is to make the project the best

regional power interconnection facility owner and transmission
service provider. We are going to finance, construct, own,
operate and maintain the regional power transmission facility
to enable exchange of electricity between, and beyond, CLSG
countries. The CLSG project will ensure an unimpeded transit of
low cost electricity supply in the CLSG countries through a level
playing field mechanism between sellers and buyers, supported
by appropriate infrastructure.
According to Sherif, the CLSG project aims to construct the 1,303
km of 225kV double circuit overhead transmission line and 11
substations interconnecting the CLSG countries within three
years. He said this will facilitate the trading of stable and reliable
electricity in an effective and efficient manner thereby creating
value for the key players in the electricity value chain; reducing
the cost and increasing the supply and reliability of electricity for
buyers and increasing the export capacity of the various countries.
We are to ensure and maintain the commercial viability of the
company: generating adequate returns on investment for our
shareholders, and meeting our debt obligations as they fall due,
both as a commercial enterprise and as a development project
within 10 years, said Sherif.
The TRANSCO CLSG General Manager says, the project will impact
people not just in the four countries but in other neighboring
nations as well - in many ways. I will begin with the first.
basic social services which include education, health, water and
sanitation and so forth because this is the key. He maintained

Monday, September 28, 2015

that the project will come as a relief for Liberians who currently
pay 57 cents per kilowatt hour. With the project in play, Sherif
says, those costs will be reduced by more than 50 percent, close
to say 15 or 20 cents.
This, according to Sherif, could mean better cost-saving measures
in education, health and other incentives. So when you look
at the social aspect of things, it reduces cost of production,
cost of operating everything and this will create incentive and
opportunities. By this, government will be able to employ more
health workers and the cost of running a hospital will be extremely
low; the same with businesses if your cost of production is so
high and your profit margin is low, to employ more people will
be very difficult. When the cost of production is very low and
the demand aspect is high, definitely with the profit margin so
huge, as a result of the availability of cheap electricity, it will make
things so much easier for businesses.
STUMBLING BLOCKS LOOMING

Despite the massive prospect for the CSLG project, some

stumbling block looms.
In Liberia, there are fears that the government of Liberia is
advocating for a separate power line from Cote d Ivoire into
Liberia. When asked, the TRANSCO CLSG General Manager denied
any knowledge about such advocacy but praised the government
of Liberia for the level of cooperation and support given the CLSG
project over years.
However, he explained that whatever efforts the government
wants to do will complement the efforts of the CLSG because
the Liberian government signed up to the CLSG project by an
International Treaty. He said the challenge in Liberia is the nonavailability of national transmission and distribution network.
As we understood it, the network availability is so low that even
if electricity is available on the CLSG line now, Liberia cannot
absorb the available capacity.
Sherif maintained that TRANSCO CLSG line provides huge
opportunities for the people of Liberia. We are going to have four
sub-stations in Liberia that are fully secured financially, and there
is a possibility of securing the fifth sub-station from the same
partner, the KFW which is undergoing approval process. The substations will be constructed in Yekepa, Buchanan, Mount Coffee,
and Mano. The possibility for the fifth one will be between Yekepa
and Buchanan. With these connections, government can build its
national transmission and distribution network and top on the
opportunity that will exist from the CLSG line, Sherif told FPA.
He added: I would like to inform the public that the line will
have a possibility for a double circuits, but first we would have
a single circuit equipped, which is 243 MW and when combined
the two, it would be 486 megawatts. Mount Coffee alone is just
88 megawatts, when it is optimized. So this is an opportunity
for Liberia and the way were going to do this, as we build, we
are going to energize and by the time we energized, we have the
opportunity to tap on to it.
Sherif explained that before the TRANSCO CLSG power line
reaches to Sierra Leone, Liberia stands a unique chance of

Frontpage

Only 10 percent of Sierra Leoneans

have access to electricity while only two
percent of the residents in Liberia have
access to public electricity, according to
a World Bank report. In both countries,
residents in rural areas feel the pinch the
most. Liberia pays the highest rate for
electricity in sub-Saharan Africa. Majority
of businesses and some private homes run
on diesel generators that carry a price of
$3.96/kWh. Access to electricity remains
at an average low of about 15% in Guinea.
tapping into this opportunity to get electricity from the line that
will already be available. However, he indicated that without a
backbone of network of national transmission & distribution,
Liberia might not enjoy the full potential of the energy being
provided by TRANSCO CLSG.
Government can complement the CSLG project by developing
its national transmission and distribution network through the
connection of a medium and low voltage lines to supply loads in
the various counties.
Sherif reiterated that the CSLGs line is a 1,303-kilometer stretch,
coming from Man to Danane in Cote d Ivoire; from Danane to
Yekepa; from Yekepa to Zerekore in Guinea; from Yekepa to
Buchanan; from Buchanan to Mount Coffee; from Mount Coffee
to Mano, from Mano to Yeben in Sierra Leone; from Yeben to
Kamakwie in Sierra Leone; from Kamakwie to Linsen in Guinea,
which provides huge opportunities for Liberia.
ELECTRICITY DEBATE SWIRLS

The electricity debate has been swirling in Liberia in recent weeks,

and intensified recently when the House of Representatives
concurred with the Senate to pass an Act amending Chapter 85
of the 1973 Public Authority Law creating the Liberia Electricity
Corporation to establish the 2015 Electricity Law of Liberia.
A legislative committee indicated that the 2015 Electricity Bill
was subjected to public hearings and subsequent committee
room analyses as well as deliberations to evaluate opinions and
suggestions gathered from the public hearings conducted. As a
consequence of our joint effort in considering this bill, the Joint
Committee of the House of Representatives do recommend
full concurrence with the report and recommendations by the
Liberian Senate, the report concluded.
For now, many regional observers see the CLSG integration
project as perhaps the best option for the foreseeable future.
When asked about the expectations, project status and how soon

Page 3

can the average person in the CLSG countries look toward reduced
cost of electricity, Sherif confidently said light is coming very
soon at the end of the tunnel and by this I mean, weve started
the second phase of the project implementation. Firstly, the
institutional framework has been successfully setup. Secondly, we
are currently working on the procurement process.
Sherif said TRANSCO CLSG has agreed with donors on
procurement strategy, and we are about to conclude the
prequalification process to prequalify contractors. Weve just
concluded the report and at the end of this month, the report
will be submitted to donors. In addition, we are preparing the bid
documents. By November 2015, we will lunch the various bids
and beginning May 2016 after the bids evaluation, we will start
awarding contracts. He remains very optimistic that the physical
construction will start soon. Its just the procurement process
that takes longer time. Through our leadership we have worked
to ensure that we move very, very fast without necessarily
compromising controls and due diligence. So I can also say to the
people in Liberia, you can expect to see electricity in 2017; as we
built, we energize, and we supply.
Jigba Josephus Yilla, Director of Finance and Administration at
TRANSCO CLSG says the electrification quest means a lot for the
four countries. For Cote dIvoire, it means that the capacity to
supply electricity will increase. For Guinea, Liberia and Sierra
Leone, it means that there will be a source that they can reach to
increase their electricity supply because as you know those three
countries are in poor state when it comes to electricity supply.
There is a lot more to be done. So CLSG project will help those
countries to improve their electricity supply but most importantly
it will also help them get electricity at a much-cheaper rate then
what it is costing them now to produce internally.
NO ROOM FOR FAILURE

The TRANSCO CLSG Finance and Administration Director

continued: The other thing again, it also helps to integrate the
four countries. It will also help to bring the Mano River Union
countries together and improve regional integration and help
ECOWAS as a region because we will be part of an international
grid through Africa starting from Nigeria, to Guinea, to Senegal.
We will have a grid, a backbone and we will be part of that grid.
Despite the potential hurdles, Sherif remains optimistic.
Seriously, there are hurdles along the way; that alone motivates
me. When I see poor health facilities in Liberia, in Sierra Leone,
in Guinea and poor educational infrastructures and everything
linked to electricity, I say to myself, what can be done?
The CLSG project is ranked eleventh by the G-20 in 2011 as a
flagship project. Therefore, it should not fail. The idea is, once
the project is successful, TRANSCO CLSG believes it will connect
light to lives and that can be replicated in other regions, say for
example, in other parts of Africa, Southern America and even
Asia and so forth. This is why the donors including the World
Bank, the African development bank, the KFW and the European
Investment Bank, are all sitting with an eagle eye, watching the
project.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Page 4 | Frontpage

FrontPage COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL LIBERIANS MUST TAKE A
v

STAND
ON
CHIMPS
ISSUE
ACT OF BAD
GOVERNANCE
By: Emmanuel K. Urey, [email protected], Contributing writer

prominent institutions and

individuals around the world
for the NYBC to adhere to the
principles of ethical research
and continue to support
and feed the 66 chimps on
Monkey Island, a semi man
made Island, which does not
have any food to support the
chimps. For example, in a New
York Times (NYT) interview,
Wayne Pacelle, President of
the Humane Society indicated
The New York Blood Center is
abandoning 66 chimpanzees
and leaving their fate to
chance. The NYT went on to
demonstrate that The cost of
caring for and feeding the chimps is about $30,000 a month.

Sirleaf TRC Implementation

Call Shows Insincerity

LAWS ARE MEANT to govern all, including the governors and

the governed but in Liberia, the many good laws have proven to
be weak because the governors feel it should only apply to the
ordinary people.
WHEN LEADERS COME to power, they support and make laws
that suit their personal interests against the wishes of millions
of Liberians.
THIS HAS CREATED a culture where the laws are made for the
ordinary people while those in power violate and live above the
law, but at the same time requiring the rest of the population to
abide by the laws.
DURING CRISIS TALKS that ended years of fighting in Liberia
held in Accra, Ghana in 2003, as one of the major points of
discussion, stakeholders agreed for the setting up of a Truth and
Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a body that was charged with
the mandate to look into events that characterized the Liberian
civil war and make recommendation for the best way in moving
the country forward.
AT THE TIME of signing the Comprehensive Peace Accord
(CPA), the wounds created by the war were still fresh and
many Liberians were opting for some form of justice--either
prosecution, reparations and other means of relief.
ALL PARTIES TO the crisis pledged commitment to implement
the TRC findings which served as one of the best agreements
reached in Ghana.
NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL Government of Liberia (NTGL), the
interim administration that set the stage for the holding of the
first post war election, also grew from the CPA.
THE TRC CONDUCTED hearings, both public and in camera,
where actors and perpetrators had the opportunity to explain
their roles played during the crisis.
THE TRC PROCESS was so extensive to the extent that people
in the diaspora were afforded the opportunity to partake in the
hearings.
AT THE END of the process, the Commission produced a
comprehensive report in which it recommended various ways of
healing the wounds from the civil war--prosecution for economic
crimes, reparations, banning of some key individuals viewed as
playing major roles in the war from holding public office for
thirty years, amongst other recommendations.
PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON Sirleaf who was elected during
election held in 2005, an election that grew out of the CPA
decided to ignore the TRC recommendations simply because the
report recommended that she does not hold public office for a
period of 10 years.
OBSESSED TO GET re-elected in 2011, President Sirleaf whom
many expected to set the stage for the implementation of the
report by staying out of politics after the end of her first term
of office, undermined the report for her personal political gain.
AMID NUMEROUS CALLS from Liberians for the report to be
implemented, Sirleaf set aside the TRC recommendations and
contested in 2011, successfully wining a second term of office.
AGAIN FROM THE start of her second six years, the Liberian
leader did not show any real interest in the implementation
the TRC recommendations. With two years left to the end of
her tenure, she recently wrote the House of Representatives at
the National Legislature calling for the lawmakers to use their
legislative power in helping to implement the report.
IN THE LETTER, the President puts to the Legislature the
portion of the TRC report concerning prosecution, stating that
the legislature has the power to setup an extraordinary criminal
Court through the joint efforts of the Executive and Legislative
Branches of Government.
STATED PRESIDENT SIRLEAF: At the same time, we note the
importance of restorative Justice that is ongoing under several
of the policies, programs and initiatives covered in this report.
This is without prejudice to many future considerations by you
in the establishment of special Courts as recommended by the
TRC report.
THE PRESIDENT COMMUNICATION to the lawmakers, coming 6
years after the TRC released its final recommendations on June

Fellow Liberians,

I was doing my usual work of developing my dissertation

proposal on Thursday, September 24, 2015, when a Professor
Emeritus of India University forwarded these emails to me:
Any facts, details or light on the justification for Indiana
Universitys giving an award today to Dr. Laurie Glimcher, a
member of the New York Blood Center Board of Trustees, in
light of the abandonment of the chimps? (See link and my
questions below.)
Michael, Chad and Josh, do you know any more about the
awards vetting process or the investigation that went on
behind the IU scenes? Frankly, I know the abandonment of the
chimps has be a controversy for at least the past few months,
but I dont know enough details to decide where responsibility
lies: with the New York Blood Center, the Government of
Liberia or both.
I do know a number of people in Liberia that I think IU should
have checked with before deciding to go ahead with the award,
and maybe they did.
https://www.change.org/p/indiana-university-cancelaward-to-laurie-glimcher
Its too late now, but I would like to know more facts, as well
as whether anyone has a plan and resources to deal with the
chimps.
The award referenced above is the Steven C. Beering Award
for Advancements in Biomedical Science from the Indiana
University (IU) School of Medicine, which was established
in 1983, honoring the important contributions Dr. Stephen
Beering made as dean of the Indiana University School of
Medicine from 1974 to 1983. The proposed 2015 recipient,
Dr. Laurie Glimcher, is a member of the New York Blood Center
(NYBC) Board of Trustees, an institution that conducted
hepatitis and other viral disease research on chimpanzees for
more than 25 years in Liberia, earned more than 390 millions
in profits and in March 2015 left her (NYBC) research animals
to starve on Monkey Islands, near Robert International
Airports.
In addition to the petition link above, there are calls from
30, 2009 is leaving many Liberians to wonder why the Liberian
leader is expressing interest in implementing the TRC report at a
time she is about to leave power.
PUSHING FOR THE implementation of the TRC report now
means Madam Sirleaf believes the other Liberians mentioned in
the report should be the ones to face the recommendation while
she is allowed to go with impunity.
AT AGE 76 and constitutionally not eligible for third term of
office, Madam Sirleaf has no life in politics and the 10 years ban
from holding public office will not harm her.
IGNORING THE IMPLEMENTATION only to wait for the end
of her public life is an act of bad governance by Madam Sirleaf
who once championed good governance during her years in

Amidst these important calls, something previously highlighted

by Front Page Africa (FPA) is ignored. That is the potential of
chimps-to-human disease transmission these animals pose on
the Liberian population. A July 16, 2015 article by FPA (http://
www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/5795liberian-woman-attacked-by-abandoned-chimps-loosing-leg)
demonstrates how the abandoned chimps bit a lady who had
unknowingly gone around Monkey Island to search for kiss
meat, a type of fresh water snails found in Liberia. At the time
of the article, the victim was not in a health facility but in a
remote village seeking herbal remedy. With such a story, I am
afraid.
My fear comes from the fact that being used as Guinea Pigs,
these chimps were intentionally infected with various strains
of viruses. I even doubt if some of these animals were not
infected with HIV. If Liberians have been taking anything for
granted, the last Ebola outbreak has taught us a lesson. We
bore the greatest burdens in which we lost more than 4,000
of our compatriots, thousands orphaned and thousands
more survivals with complicated conditions. We do not want
another outbreak!
While the writer of above emails is concerned about the
lateness of call to withdraw the award, the call for the plights of
Mary Walker, victim of NYBC research animals, and Liberians
in general is not too late. Recently a Professor of Environmental
and Medical history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
and I visited the Liberia Institute for Biomedical Research
(LIBR) and met with Dr. Fatoma Bolay, head of that institute.
Dr. Bolay expressed his frustrations over the attitudes of the
NYBC indicating that his institute and Liberia did not benefit
a dime from the millions the NYBC gained in profits from the
project. Liberians cannot loose two times: no benefit from
money generated from the research and dumping of infected
animals on rural people. I urge every Liberian to take stand on
this issue.

opposition politics.
A GOOD LEADER must not undermine the law while working to
ensure that others are held accountable for the same law.
A GOOD LAW must apply to all including a good leader. If Madam
Sirleaf knew that implementing the TRC report was good for
Liberia, she should have governed by serving as good example,
ensuring that she abided by the 10 years ban from holding public
office as recommended by the TRC.
MADAM SIRLEAF CANNOT have a good legacy when she ignored
and violated every good law, only to start pushing for their
implementation when her career in politics is nearing end.
SIRLEAF CALL FOR implementation of the TRC at this time is an
act of bad governance.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Frontpage

The Reader's Page

FrontPage

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB

COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE

MOCKERY: ELLEN
LETTER TO LEGISLATURE
ABOUT TRC REPORT

TQ Harris CEO at HV WoodGas Technology

Now that President Ellen Johnson has shown interest in
implementing the TRC recommendations, we stand ready
to give her our fullest support. As the original advocate for
the formation of a War Crimes Court for Liberia and a strong
supporter of the truth and reconciliation component of the
national healing process, it would be my pleasure and indeed an
honor to serve as the administrator of the TRC implementation
phase to ensure it is handled properly and in accordance
with international standards. For my time and services, I will
accept no compensation. Madam President, any further delay
in dealing with the TRC issue will only mean more suffering
for the Liberian people. We must act now and close this ugly
chapter in an otherwise impressive history. Let's Go! 231 77
011-0119 / 231 88 040-2479
Sarr Abdulai Vandi
Isn't she crafty, cunning, tricky and treacherous?

After deliberately debunking and refusing to implement the

TRC recommendations, which questioned and jeopardise her
2011 Presidential bid, she now disingenuously recommends
the implementation of the recommendations in the dying days
of her corrupt and incompetent governance, and illegitimate
rgime.
John Williams, Works at Unemployed
I think it would be an affront to the Liberian people and a
mockery of the international system if Ellen actually wrote
such a letter! The TRC Report was very clear on what to do
about stamping out impunity in Liberia! It recommended that
Ellen and others should have been banned from taking any
in political leadership for a number a years. Ellen and those
sanctioned deliberately disregarded the Recommendations
of the TRC. Regrettably, the Liberian people, unlike their
Burkinabe counterparts, lacked the courage to confront evil.
To add insult to injury, the international community remained
silent on the issue. In fact, Ellen was awarded a "Nobel Peace
Prize". This "Prize" was a slap in the face of the Liberian
people and convinced some to re-elect Ellen "because the
international community wants her". Some people argue
that "for the international community to support the TRC
Recommendation, the Liberian people should have led the
way". This is a lazy argument! Did the people of Sudan "lead the
way?" Did the people of Kenya lead the way?" Did the people of
Rwanda "lead the way" when one of their officials was arrested
for human rights violations while on a foreign trip? Ellen will
be completed two terms very soon. Then she has the nerves of
writing a letter to implement a TRC Recommendation that bans
people from politics while, when she herself should have been
disqualified long ago? Of course, the international community
can take whatever action it deems necessary to "assist the
Liberian people and discourage impunity". However, some
Liberians will also wonder "Had Prince Johnson, George Boley,
Alhaji Kromah etc become President in 2005, would it have
been the same way?" But the Liberian people are to blame!
Burkinabes have shown all of Africa that the people are the
custodians of their own destiny. Compaore was a darling of the
international community but they kicked him out and banned
his buddies from contesting the coming elections. When his
surrogates tried to crawl in, they put them in their place. When
ECOWAS tried to arrange a "sweetheart deal" for them, the
people refused. "As you make your bed, so shall you lie on it!"
Moses Harris, Works at Retired
Mr. Williams, we cannot blame the international community for
treating us the way it does; they do this because we (Liberians)
don't know what we want. My fellow Liberians, until we change
our thinking (our mindset), we will always be ruled by those
individuals with the get, grab and go (what's in it for me)
mentality. My people, if we continue to sell our birthrights,
we will continue, as a nation, to suffer. With most, if not all,
of our resources auctioned off by this government, the next
government will have a serious problem managing (meeting)
its affairs; yor jus wait, yor will ce what hard time is.

DISCLAIMER: The comments expressed here are

those of our online readers and bloggers and do no
represent the views of FrontPageAfrica

Page 5

Send your letters and comments to:

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

A LETTER TO A BROTHER:

HENRY COSTA

My brother Henry Costa:

just read your decision to withdraw from talk show

hosting with a mixture of sadness and foreboding. Sadness
because Im sure some very corrupt and immoral people
are rejoicing at this very moment; foreboding because I
can say that this decision of yours is not totally unexpected.
As a friend intimated a few hours before, your decision to
support a certain political aspirant is at the heart of the moral
quandary in which you find yourself at the moment. But let us
backtrack a bit to your early days.
From the very first moment I listened to you, even before you
were catapulted to national fame (or infamy depending on
who your respondent is), I had a sense of expectancy. I had a
feeling that this guy was heading places with a bold, new and
refreshing message.
Your bombastic style, lack of fear of personalities and taking
of no sacred cows still remains the source of my greatest
admiration for you Henry. Corruption, cronyism, criminal
ineptitude/negligence and patronage are dangerous vices
for any nation and critically so for a post-conflict country
like ours. So in response to those who claimed that Costa
is disrespectful or dey boy rude! I simply countered that
we needed radical and drastic approaches to deal with an
otherwise corrupt leadership base that has gradually become
impervious to criticism or the voices from organized civil
society. Just take a look at how Rodney Sieh was treated just
for reporting the findings of a government audit! So what if
we must cuss a few Ministers in the interest of the country?
If it means calling embezzlers, rogues (not that I care about
the semantics), then let us do so! And you, Henry have been a
crusader in this regard.
I do not believe it is wrong nor incompatible with broadcasting
ethics for a journalist/commentator to assume a position or
approach on any particular subject or issue. The American
democracy which we prize and struggle to emulate has
numerous instances of radio personalities not only endorsing
but vigorously advocating the platform of various candidates.
Bill OReilly is uncompromisingly conservative; Jon Stewart is
caustically liberal and a die in the wool democrat. Each have
singled out policies which tend to stringently divide America
and made them anthems on their various news outlets and
platforms. So this partisanship of issues for lack of a better
phrase is not new to broadcasting and as such Henry Costa is
certainly in good company/practice. But here is why you are
slowly losing a certain listening base, credibility and possibly
the idolized position you have held on the airwaves for at least
the last two-three years.
When Bill O Reilly or Jon Stewart elects to support a certain
candidate or issue no matter the differences, there are certain
core underlying values which permeates their advocacy.
Those values never change whether it is Bill or Jon. Those
values are the central tenets that has made America arguably
the greatest nation on the face of this earth today. They are
true, honesty, hard work, transparency, a stellar character
etc. When you chose to support a certain political aspirant
despite the plethora of moral/ethical questions arrayed
against this individual as well as the tangible and numerous

allegations leveled against this person, you unknowingly? Or

subconsciously contradicted the very essence of the crusade
you had begun on the Costa and Dumoe show years ago.
My dear brother, you may not know but you broke a lot of
hearts. For how can the same Costa who harangues allegedly
corrupt individuals who have not been convicted in any court
of law, stand in support of someone that is equally charged/
alleged on a grander scale?
My brother, these are just my idle foods for thought. Probably,
your decision to withdraw whether well thought out or not,
is a medium of your spirit man communicating something
to you. You might just emerge from this experience a better
Costa, returning to your true and initial form.
Your brother,
Karbahker Toweh

SIRLEAF IS
TOLERANT

The Editor

he is Tolerant; Has good Moral; Is not Emotional; Is

Motivational; and She is Patient;
NOTE: " A Good leader must have all these attributes
above"
Now, this is the biggest Question yet unanswered.
Who can be like Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf?
Is it Weah? Brumskine? Urey? Prince Johnson? Tyler? Or
Freeman?
Absolutely none of them can be like Ellen. Look at their
examples: Insulting one another when discussing issues on
the media, even at the House of Parliament. Will we be able
to use the media to criticize, insult their government, like the
way we do to Ma Ellen?
Madam Sirleaf, we have already started to MISS YOU, let
me tell you now!! Please do everything possible, using your
influential power to leave us in the hands of a PRESIDENT who
will behave like you, or Else!! We will go back. I mean BACK!
None of our politicians can lead us now in such a Fragile
State. Politically, we are not matured yet with our differences,
our minds, and Attitudes, misused of Freedom of Speech, it
will not be easy for any of Politicians, to lead us in this new
dispensation.
Madam Sirleaf, please do us due diligence, making sure that
UNMIL, remains here until you give your BLESSING to a
PRESIDENT, that you will have over sight over, because you
LOVE US.
That is the only way! Your legacy will live.
Long Live Ma Ellen! Long Live LIB!
Mr. James B. Willie Jr
Independent Free Thinker
0886543962/0777543962/
[email protected]

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]
Gboko Stewart, Copy Editor 0886 484974
[email protected]
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[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
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[email protected]

EBOLA MISSING VEHICLES

Monday, September 28, 2015

Page 6 | Frontpage

Audit report cites inconsistencies in reporting

discrepancy
between
the
recorded number of vehicles by
GSA and the report submitted
by the Internal Audit Agency
based on findings from its
recent audit.
Broh said the GSA was not
directly involved in the vehicles
management. They bring the
vehicles and we code them.
The GSA Boss vowed that her
agency will ensure that most
of the vehicles assigned during
the outbreak are collected for
redistribution.
According to information
gathered from the Ministry
of Health (MoH), the General
Services Agency, (GSA), and
the National Task Force on
Ebola (NTFE), a total of 382
vehicles and 134 motorcycles
were given by the Government
of Liberia and development
partners to support the fight
against Ebola.
The Government and small
donors
contributed
162
vehicles, followed by the US
Center for Disease Control

(CDC) which donated 89, the

World Bank 55, UNMIL 23,
WHO 20, UNICEF 18, and
UNMEER donated 15 vehicles.
During the Ebola pandemic
in Liberia, several local and
international donors and the
Government of Liberia made
significant contributions to
curtail the spread of the virus
and inevitably end the Ebola
outbreak. From the emergence
of the first case in March
2014, to May 2015 when
the Country was officially
declared Ebola-free, donations
in cash, supplies, vehicles, etc.
were made to Liberia by local,
regional and international
donors to fight the disease.
Various structures were created
to manage the donations, and
ensure proper coordination
and collaboration between and
amongst the entities engaged in
the fight against the disease.
This fleet assessment report
delves into the system of
management of the cars
and motorcycles used in the
fight against the virus, and
focuses primarily on the
status, location, custodian and
utilization of the vehicles and
motorcycles apportioned to
various ministries, agencies
and commissions (MACs)
directly or indirectly involved
in the fight against the Ebola
virus disease which plagued
the country from March 2014
to May 2015.
The report recommends that
the discrepancies in fleet
registries across the public
sector are critical and need a
more holistic approach if asset
management is to improve.
According to the report, GSAs
administration needs to ensure
that the department responsible
for assets is capacitated and
robust in ensuring compliance
with laws and policies so
as to reduce the chances of
governments assets being
abused, misused or stolen. It
also states that the department
also needs to enhance its
record system of assets in
Government.

band
of
mercenary
marksmen".
US District Judge Laura
Taylor
Swain,
who
delivered the sentence
on Thursday, said a
lengthy
prison
term
was necessary to deter
other former soldiers
from committing similar
crimes.
Guilty plea
The judge said she
believed
Gogel
was
genuinely remorseful, but
did not buy Gogel's claim
that he was unaware that

killings might be required

in his role protecting a
drug syndicate.
Gogel left the German
army in 2010 and
apologised for his actions
in court.
He
pleaded
guilty
in January to a slew
of
crimes,
including
conspiring to murder a
federal law enforcement
agent and conspiring to
import cocaine into the
US.
Two former US soldiers
were arrested along
with Gogel. One of them,
Joseph Hunter, is alleged
to have been at the centre
of the group and is due to
be sentenced in October.
Two further suspects
were arrested in Estonia.

Al-Varney Rogers [email protected] 0886304498

Monrovia-

mid reports on
the
mysterious
disappearance of
Ebola
donated
vehicles, the Internal Audit
Agency (IAA) recent Ebola
fleet assessment report in
possession of FrontPageAfrica
clearly shows that the Ministry
of Health is one of the
government agencies unable to
account for vehicles received
during the fight against Ebola.
Through a thorough review
and analysis of information
and documentation at various
agencies and in the 15 counties,
the IAA was able to physically
verify 268 of the 382 vehicles
and all 134 motorcycles. The
remaining 114 vehicles, which
were not available for physical
verification, belong to the MoH
which has a total of 323 of the
382 vehicles committed to
fight the Ebola epidemic, the
IAA report states
The report noted inconsistencies
in the fleet records between
the General Services Agency
and
Ministries, Agencies
and
Commissions
across
government.
The fleet verification exercise
draws attention to the critical
issue of gross inconsistencies
between the National Fleet
Registry
maintained
by
the GSA and those kept by
the various MACs. These
inconsistencies are as the
result of vehicles being
auctioned or disposed of by
MACs without the knowledge
and acquiescence of GSA as
required by Governments
policies on assets; GSAs
dereliction of its duties to
regularly update and maintain
accurate information on all
assets of Government; and poor
collaboration and coordination
between GSA and the MACs,
the IAA report observed.
The Report continues: For

example, GSAs record of

vehicles belonging to the
Ministry of Education (MoE)
still has 51 cars which were
disposed of jointly by GSA and
MoE from 2008 2014. GSAs
Registry also has extra 58
vehicles reportedly for MoH
which the Ministry claims to
know nothing about.
Report by IAA reveals that out
of the 382 vehicles and 134
motorcycles reported by GSA,
MoH and NTFE, the IAA
physically verified 209 at the
MoH.
The audit report added that
the IAA verified 24 at MoE,
22 at the Liberia National
Police, five (5) at the Ministry
of Internal Affairs, four (4) at
the Bureau of Immigration
and Naturalization (BIN),
and four (4) at the GSA. The
remaining 114 vehicles were
not available and thus could
not be physically verified.
The IAA has submitted the
list of those not available to the
MoH for prompt action. The

one hundred (100) motorcycles

reported under the Ministry
of Health, Ninety two (92)
motorcycles were physically
verified, one was reported
stolen in Margibi and the
remaining seven (7) were not
physically verified. The 34
motorcycles in the custody of
BIN were also verified, the
IAA audit noted
The National Fleet Registry
had 13 vehicles for the Ministry
of Information Cultural Affairs
and
Tourism
(MICAT),
whereas the Ministrys registry
showed only 12. An attempt
by IAA to reconcile both
records disclosed that GSAs
and MICATs records had only
seven (7) vehicles in common.
Five vehicles coded by GSA
were not registered by them
(GSA), but were captured in
MICATs registry, while six (6)
vehicles listed at GSA were not
recorded by MICAT.
Similarly, at the Ministry of
Post and Telecommunications,
the IAA realized that the

Ministry listed 15 cars and

20 motorcycles but only
11 vehicles and five (5)
motorcycles were registered
at the GSA. Two of the 11 cars
were disposed of without the
involvement of GSA.
On many instances, even
when records exist, important
information such as license
plate
number,
proper
description, the value of
the vehicle, and the date of
purchase is omitted. However,
IAA is working with GSA and
the respective MACs to resolve
the discrepancies.
Madam Mary Broh, Director
General of the General Services
Agency, the entity responsible
for managing government
assets recently said, that many
of the vehicles used in the fight
against the virus cannot be
located.
Ministries and Agencies are
unable to account for vehicles
given them for the fight against
Ebola, Director Broh said.
She said that there exist a

US JAILS GERMAN EX-SNIPER FOR

LIBERIA ASSASSINATION PLOT

ennis Gogel, 29,

was arrested in
2013 in a sting
operation
by
the US Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA).
He and two others were
held over an alleged plot
to kill the agent and an
alleged DEA informant in
Liberia in exchange for
$700,000 (460,000).
They were accused of
planning the act on behalf
of a drugs cartel.
A US official described
them as an "international

Monday, September 28, 2015

Frontpage

SIERRA LEONES VICE PRESIDENT NOT BOTHERED BY

CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING ASCENDENCY TO TOP POST

Vice President Foh told FPA he

is not bothered by the noise in
his home country regarding his
appointment describing it as a
part of politics.
That is politics, it is all part

of the game; even when you

the politician are doing your
best people will always be on
the other side to say no, for the
sake of saying no, he added.
Ambassador Foh expressed
that the highest court in
that country decided his
appointment is lawful.
But in our country where
there is democracy and the
rule of law, the highest court
of the land, the Supreme Court
has spoken. And they have
reinforced the strength of
the presidency, by saying the
president has the right to fire
his vice president and appoint
another vice president, so I am
standing on very firm ground,
because I am the vice president
of the republic of Sierra Leone.
And trust me, speaking with
humanity, I am a very popular
vice president love by the
people, he indicated.
Liberia and Sierra Leone are
neighboring countries that
share many things in common
including
similar
tribes,
tradition and many others.
Both countries experienced
years of brutal civil wars at
the same time and are now
recovering from the scourge of
conflicts.
The recovery process was
hardly hit by the outbreak of
the deadly Ebola virus which
struck the two countries
simultaneously
and
Vice
President Foh says he is so
happy to be visiting Liberia
again after being in the country
many times in the past.
He believes that Liberia is
not much different from

Sierra Leone, in many ways,

including elections.
I believe elections in Liberia
and Sierra Leone are one and
the same, because I have been
in Liberia close to election
before and so many times after,
and I have noticed the both
countries focus on the people
and ballot box, during elections
time and after the contest, we
are back to normal business,
he observed.
On his relationship with
the people of Sierra Leone
amid the controversy that
surrounded his appointment,
Vice
President
described
himself as the peoples man.
I did not do anything to
anybody in the past; but the
opposition must find something
to do, so they have to talk and
shut up, because that is about
politics, and nothing else,
Because I am just the peoples
man, he boasted.
Vice President Foh who arrived
in Liberia on September 22
said he has received a rising
welcome and has been feted
and treated with honor.
Promote peace
He admonished Liberia and
Sierra Leone to promote peace
and build upon the peace that
citizens are now enjoying it in
both countries.
I have said many times over,
that whatever happens here,
goes over to Sierra Leone and
whatever happens in Sierra
Leone, comes over to Liberia,
so the peace we are enjoying
today, we must build upon it
and guild it very delicately.

commission (NEC), could not

allow me to serve the people of
Bong County. And thanks to the
Supreme Court of Liberia, who
took a decision for a re run, but
we waived our political rights
not to participate in such a re
run. With happiness love and
peace of our people, we are
sure that our actions protected
and promoted peace, said Dr.
Tokpa.
The
outgoing
Cuttington
President further said But we
are recommending that there
be another body to train the
NEC and the Supreme court for
matters arising from electoral
fraud, especially one of which
if the Election Commission
is accused of wrong doing. It
is known in Liberia that the
Commission will never rule
against itself. Someone once
told me that, on a football field
during a match and the referee
cheats you, and you take the
case back to the referee to
judge it, you will never be
right. The need for an electoral
reform in Liberia cannot be
overemphasized ahead of
2017.
Dr. Tokpa who remembered
his early years growing up on
the University where he has
been serving as President said
he is grateful to his parents for
making him what he is today.
My father worked as grass
cutter and my mother sold
pepper to send me to grade
school. Eating left over
food from the cafeteria and
washing students clothes
to become the President of
the very University is a great

achievement. I am thankful to
my parents, even though they
are not alive but they made me
to become what I am today,
Said Dr. Tokpa.
He expressed thanks to officials
of the Episcopal Church for
trusting him to manage the
University.
I thank the Archbishop of west
Africa and the Bishop of the
Episcopal church for selecting
me and I thank you for all of
your support during my tenure
as President of Cuttington for
the past thirteen years said
Dr. Tokpa.
Dr. Tokpa also applauded the
graduates for the courage in
achieving their educational
goals.
To the graduates, let me extend
my heartfelt appreciation to
you. Accordingly, I challenge
each and every one of you to
maximize the usage of all of the
education you have acquired
here today. As you are leaving
the walls of Cuttington and into
a somewhat corrupt society,
you should always remember
the moral discipline we
instill in you to execute your
responsibilities, he expressed.
The highest scholastic Honors
(Summa Cum Laude) went
to three students; Emmanuel
Tarr, Kollie Tokpa and Wilmot
Kollie. Student Emmanuel S.
Tarr of the Agriculture College
received US 1000 dollars from
the Benoni Urey Scholarship
fund drive, while Kollie Tokpa,
received the same 1000 for
business and economics and
Wilmot Kollie received 100
dollars for Education.

During the program, Victor

B. Foh, Vice President of
Sierra Leone, who served
as the keynote speaker, was
decorated with an honorary
degree and was certificated by
Dr. Edward Lama Wonkeryor.
He said from where he stood,
he could see the beaming youth
of the two countries of West
African Sub Region surging
with
unlimited
potential,
capacity commitment and
determination to take Africa to
the next level of development.
I salute you and must let
you know that I am proud
and gratified to be part of
this moment, as we endeavor
to create opportunities to
equip our future leaders
with purposeful knowledge
and together build a strong
productive Africa, said Vice
President Foh.
He challenged the graduates to
have moderate expectations.
Said VP Foh To my fellow
graduates, let me admonish
you
to
moderate
your
expectations. Do not vainly
compare yourselves with
others. In almost all developing
economies
like
ours,
government is often the largest
employer. It could be helpful
to know that government
simply does not have the
capacity to absorb everyone.
You are products of Cuttington
University, rise up and make a
difference and earn the respect
of your compatriots. Be of
service to your country and to
humanity. That is what I leave
with you, and this is what I
pray you live with.

NOISY POLITICS
That is politics, it is all part of the game; even when you the politician are doing your best, people will always be on the other
side to say no, for the sake of saying no. But in our country where there is democracy and the rule of law, the highest court of
the land, the Supreme Court, has spoken. And they have reinforced the strength of the presidency, by saying the president has
the right to fire his vice president and appoint another vice president, so I am standing on very firm ground, because I am the
vice president of the Republic of Sierra Leone- Ambassador Victor Bockarie Foh, Vice President of Sierra Leone

Mae Azango [email protected]

Monroviaierra Leones new

Vice
President,
Ambassador Victor
Bockarie Foh, who
is currently visiting Liberia
says he is standing firm as
Vice President because his
appointment was lawful.
I am standing on very firm
ground, because I am the vice
president of the Republic of
Sierra Leone, Vice President
Foh told FrontPageAfrica
in an exclusive interview in
Gbarnga, Bong County.
Foh was appointed Vice
President
recently
after
President Ernest Bai Koroma
in March dismissed his vice
Samuel Sam-Sumana for what
the "abandoning" his duties,
subsequently appointing Foh,
a veteran powerbroker in the
ruling party and most recently
ambassador to China, as his
new Vice.
Sam-Sumana, who had asked
for asylum in the US Embassy
claiming his life was in danger,

challenged the move as

"unlawful" and appealed to the
Supreme Court.
The decision by President
Koroma led to months of
debate in Sierra Leone as to

whether he was right to sack

his Vice President and in
September the Supreme court
ruled that President Koroma
was within his rights to sack
the vice president.

Page 7

CUTTINGTON UNIVERSITY GRADUATES 554

Mae Azango [email protected]

Gbarnga, Bong Countyhe

54th
commencement
Convocation
Ceremony of the
Cuttington University, held
on the main campuses of
the University in Suakoko
Bong County witnessed the
conferring of degrees in
various disciplines to a total of
554 graduates.
The graduates included College
of Business- 91, College of
Health Science- 29, College of
Education- 19, and College of
Theology-7.
A total of 346 were conferred
degrees at the undergraduate
level in disciplines such
as College of nursing -95
graduates; College of Natural
Science- 37, College of Arts
and Social Science-t 14;
college of Business and Public
Administration- 87; College of
Agriculture and Sustainable
Development- 91, College

of Theology-4, College of
Education- 10 and Institute of
Peace and conflict resolution-8
graduates.
The Associate Degree program
at the University graduated 39
in areas of study includingCertificate of Peace and
Development Studies- 9; and
Graduation Diploma in Higher
Education-14, bringing the
total number of graduates to
554.
Dr. Henrique F. Tokpa, outgoing
President of the University,
said when he took over in
2002, Liberia last civil war had
started and extended to the
campus where the campus was
used by rebel who looted the
roof of the buildings, forcing
them to move the University
to Monrovia for one academic
year.
When we returned 2004, the
entire University was covered
with high bushes and animals
all around the campus, but

we were tasked with the

responsibilities to rebuild
the University without any
support from the government
and very little coming from
abroad and our church. Our
achievement did not only
improve Cuttington to a fullfledged University but also
the higher level of moral
discipline, Dr. Tokpa narrated.
During Dr. Tokpas statement
in the presence of Bong County
Senior Senator Jewel Howard
Taylor, he spoke about the
recent Senatorial election that
the Supreme Court had ruled
for a re run, and why he waived
his political rights.
My heartfelt thanks and
appreciation goes to the
chiefs, the hard working
youth women and people of
Bong County for the support
given me during the 2014
special senatorial elections.
Unfortunately,
the
result
announced by the Election

Page 8 | Frontpage

MOHAMMED SHERIF

INTERVIEW

LOW COST ELECTRICITY;

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

When you look at the social aspect of things, it reduces cost of production and cost of operation.
It will also create incentives and opportunities to build more schools, create jobs in which
government will be able to employ more health workers. The cost of running a hospital will be
extremely low; the same with businesses, which could see their cost of production dropped and
profit margin increased. That will definitely lead to more employment opportunities.

Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]

Monday, September 28, 2015

As the General Manager of TRANSCO CLSG, I was competitively
recruited and appointed by the Board of Directors of the
company on September 5, 2014. My first responsibility
was to fully establish the company and to bring the rest of
the team on board. So I came to complete the recruitment
process already initiated by WAPP to make sure to recruit the
best. To this stage, we have a highly professional, skilled and
diversified team - from Guinea, Cote dIvoire, Benin, Burkina
Faso, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
On Project Financing:

MR. SHERIF: There are four donors that are financing the
project. I am pleased to note that the project is fully financed
by the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB),
European Investment Bank (EIB), and KFW a German
Bank. The World Bank is providing about US$176 million (of
which US$32m is for WAPP integration project), the African
Development Bank, US$133 million, the European Investment
Bank, US$105 million and the KFW, US$41 million. The World
Bank is financing the line in Liberia and the functioning of
TRANSCO CLSG and WAPP integration project. The AfDB is
financing the rural electrification component (to be managed
by utilities in the four countries) and functioning of TRANSCO
CLSG as well. The total financing is about US$476 million.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: For the layman who does not
understand what this project is all about. How would
this impact citizens in the CLSG countries Cote d Ivoire,
Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea?

ABIDJAN ote dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea

are part of what many consider a flagship
electricity gamble that could pay off handsomely
for Sub-Saharan Africa and spark an economic
transformation for countries struggling to stay afloat.
Andrew M Herscowitz, the Coordinator for US President
Barack Obamas Power Africa and Trade Africa initiatives has
said that investment in energy infrastructure in Africa will
help unlock potential in what is already the worlds fastestgrowing continent, with positive results for global growth,
Now a G-20 initiative funded by the World Bank, African
Development Bank, European Investment Bank and the KFW
is accelerating several regional interconnection line projects
including a transmission line to interconnect the States of
Cte dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guine (CLSG).
The CSLGs line is a 1,300 kilometer stretch, coming from Man
to Danane; from Danane to Yekepa; from Yekepa to Buchanan;
from Buchanan to Mount Coffee; from Mount Coffee to Bo
Waterside, which provides huge opportunities for Liberia.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),
through its West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) has made regional
power grid access a priority for the next decade. Thus, the
establishment of TRANSCO CLSG has created burgeoning
opportunities across the region.

The WAPP intends to integrate the various national power

systems into a unified regional electricity market with the
expectation that such mechanism would, over the medium
to long-term, assure the citizens of ECOWAS member states
a stable and reliable electricity supply at affordable costs,
facilitating the balanced development of diverse energy
resources for their collective economic benefit, through longterm energy sector cooperation, unimpeded energy transit
and increasing cross-border electricity trade.
Mr. Mohammed Sherif, the General Manager for the CSLG
project sat down with FrontPageAfrica for an exclusive
interview at his office in Abidjan recently where he outline

the fine points of the ambitious project and addresses the

challenges, expectations and potential impact the CSLG
countries and sub-saharan Africa as a whole.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: This project was initiated as far
back as in 1982. Why do you think it took so long for it to
get off the ground?

MR. MOHAMMED SHERIF: In 1982, it was a concept

envisioned by our West African leaders. However, the idea
materialized in 2012 when the Summit of ECOWAS Heads of
States and Government approved the revised ECOWAS Master
Plan for the Generation and Transmission of Electric Power
which identifies the Cte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and
Guinea (CLSG) Interconnection Project as one of the five (5)
priority projects of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) for
the West African Sub-Region. In West Africa we have fifteen
countries and integrating the energy market would provide
the opportunities to those countries that are in high demand
for energy; to those that have enough to share the excess
product and provide opportunity for the people to have
access to affordable electricity.

The CLSG project was developed with four heads of states

signing an International Treaty. The Treaty was ratified by
their respective parliaments, thus giving it an international
commitment. Consistent with the Treaty, a supranational
company called TRANSCOO CLSG was established to manage
the CSLG project.
Once TRANSCO CLSG was established, there was an
International Project Agreement signed by the four ministers
of energy of the CLSG countries. Shareholders Agreement,
Articles of Association, and Business Plan were prepared.
Shareholders of the company include the utility companies in
the four CLSG countries: the Liberia Electricity Corporation in
Liberia, Cte dIvoire Energies in Cote dIvoire, Electricit de
Guine in Guinea and the Electricity Distribution and Supply
Authority in Sierra Leone.

MR. SHERIF: The project will definitely impact our lives in

the CLSG countries in many ways. It will seek to enhance
basic social services which include education, health, water
and sanitation, security and so forth, because they are
key services. Currently, the cost of electricity is very high
in the three countries - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea
given that the main source of power is through diesel fuel.
Instead of spending large sum of money on buying fuel to
run generators, the money spent could be diverted for other
infrastructures including building new roads. For instance in
Liberia, people are paying 57cents per kilowatt hour. With the
CLSG electricity, this will be reduced by more than 50 percent
to 15 or 20 cents. When you look at the social aspect of things,
it reduces cost of production and cost of operation. It will also
create incentives and opportunities to build more schools,
create jobs in which government will be able to employ
more health workers. The cost of running a hospital will be
extremely low; the same with businesses, which could see
their cost of production dropped and profit margin increased.
That will definitely lead to more employment opportunities.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: This is a very ambitious project.
For countries that are going to benefit from this project,
are you experiencing any challenges? And what are you
doing to ensure that everyone, every country is on the
same page?

MR. SHERIF: This is indeed a challenge, but like I said earlier

I have the task of ensuring that the project is effective.
We worked with individual CLSG countries to meet our
effectiveness conditions. These effectiveness conditions
include but not limited to payment of their counterpart
contributions particularly to compensate people affected
by the project, interest accrued during construction, and
developing various institutional documents. The challenge
was to get these countries pay their contributions as well as
get the institutional documents signed and ratified by their
respective parliaments.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: But besides the contributions,
there are some potential stumbling block. In Liberia
for example, its being rumored that there are efforts
underway to construct a different line which could
overstep what the CLSG project is intended for. How are
you dealing with this potential stumbling block?

MR. SHERIF: First of all, that report is new to us at TRANSCO

CLSG. We are receiving maximum cooperation and support
from the Government of Liberia, particularly the sector
ministries and agencies. But whatever efforts the government
wants to undertake we believe should complement our effort
at TRANSCO CLSG. The Liberian government is a signatory

Monday, September 28, 2015

INTERVIEW

Frontpage

Page 9

MR. SHERIF: On the issue of the fees, we are discussing the

power purchase agreement, between Cote dIvoire and the
other countries including Liberia. Hopefully, this process is
expected to be concluded by November 2015. And I can tell
you that the price will be significantly reduced.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: How optimistic are you about this
project because a lot is riding on it? Expectations are high
and the G-20 leadership is keen on seeing how this will
all play out as a litmus test to see if it can be replicated
in other regions of the world? How hopeful are you of all
this?

MR. SHERIF: I am very hopeful of this project because I have

come with the passion and commitment to serve. What really
motivated my passion is basically the need for electricity in
the CLSG countries. I have also seen the political will from the
CLSG member countries; this is why they made sure that the
effectiveness for the project financing was accomplished.

to the International Treaty establishing the TRANSCO CLSG.

We believe the challenge in Liberia is the non-availability
of national transmission and distribution network. As we
understood it, the network availability is so low that even if
electricity is available on the CLSG line now, Liberia cannot
absorb the available capacity.

TRANSCO CLSG line provides huge opportunities for the people

of Liberia. We are going to have four sub-stations in Liberia
that are fully secured financially, and there is a possibility of
securing the fifth sub-station from the same partner, the KFW
which is undergoing approval process. The sub-stations will
be constructed in Yekepa, Buchanan, Mount Coffee, and Mano.
The possibility for the fifth one will be between Yekepa and
Buchanan. With these connections, government can build its
national transmission and distribution network and top on
the opportunity that will exist from the CSG line.
FPA: What are the specifications of the CLSG line that
guarantee its capability to provide electricity to the
region and to Liberia?

MR. SHERIF: The CSLGs line is a 1,303-kilometer stretch,

coming from Man to Danane in Cote d Ivoire; from Danane
to Yekepa; from Yekepa to Zerekore in Guinea; from Yekepa
to Buchanan; from Buchanan to Mount Coffee; from Mount
Coffee to Mano, from Mano to Yeben in Sierra Leone; from
Yeben to Kamakwie in Sierra Leone; from Kamakwie to Linsen
in Guinea, which provides huge opportunities for Liberia.
The CLSG line will have a possibility for a double circuits
but first we would have a single circuit, which is 243 MW.
When combined, it would be $US486 megawatts. Mount
Coffee alone is just 88 megawats, when it is optimized. So
this is an opportunity for Liberia and the way were going
to do this, as we build, we are going to energize and by the
time we energized, we have the opportunity to tap on to it.
And we will have four line segments. It comes from Man (CI)
- Yekepa (L) - Nzrkor (G) --- 202 km; from Yekepa (L) Sierra Leone/ Liberia border --- 463 km;, from Sierra Leone/
Liberia border - Yiben (SL) --- 419 km, and from Yiben (SL)Kamakwie (SL) - Linsan (G) --- 220 km. So, before we can
even reach to Sierra Leone, Liberia stands a unique chance of
tapping into this opportunity to get electricity from the line
that will already be available, but if Liberia does not have that
backbone of network of national transmission & distribution,
Liberia might not enjoy the full potential of the energy being
provided by TRANSCO CLSG.
Government can complement the CLSG project by developing
its national transmission and distribution network by
connecting medium and low voltage lines to our CLSG line
through available sub-stations in order to supply loads in the
various counties.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: But it seems that they (Liberian
Authorities) are moving ahead with this extra line. Is this

something you think will be resolved any time soon?

MR. SHERIF: The fact that the Government signed those
documents meant that the CLSG project is their project and
they will ensure that this project is fully implemented. So I
will tend to believe that the government will complement the
effort of the CLSG but not to interfere with what is being done
to reduce the cost of electricity in West Africa.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: What level of protection do you
hope to put in place to ensure that all the investment in
the project is fully protected and there will not be any
looting or theft of materials?

MR. SHERIF: I can tell you that we do have mechanisms in

place. As a matter of fact, it is important that we maintain
the line. Maintenance includes security of the line. For this
reason, we are currently doing a study and the first draft has
been concluded. Our board has approved the report. The
report is recommending that the operations and maintenance
be outsourced to a private company that will operate the
line, provide maintenance and security. TRANSCO CLSG will
develop a succession plan that will replace the contractor
after a three-year period.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: So, if you are living in Sierra
Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Liberia, what are the
expectations? How soon can the average person in these
countries look toward reduced cost of electricity?

MR. SHERIF: I can tell you, the light is coming very soon at the
end of the tunnel and by this I mean, weve started the second
phase of the project implementation. Firstly, the institutional
framework has been successfully setup. Secondly, we are
currently working on the procurement process. We have
agreed with donors on procurement strategy, and we are
about to conclude the prequalification process to prequalify
contractors. Weve just concluded the report and at the end
of this month, the report will be submitted to donors. In
addition, we are preparing the bid documents. By November
2015, we will lunch the various bids and beginning May 2016
after the bids evaluation, we will start awarding contracts and
I can tell you, that the physical construction is not too difficult,
machinery and things, modern technology is nowadays so
fast. It is just the procurement process that takes longer
time. Through our leadership we have worked to ensure that
we move very, very fast without necessarily compromising
controls and due diligence. So I can also say to the people in
Liberia, you can expect to see electricity in 2017; as we built,
we energize, and we supply.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: So what are you looking at in terms
of fees? What can the average person look forward to
paying after all this is completed? How much decrease in
electricity one can expect to pay?

I definitely agree with you that this is a project that was ranked
11th by the G-20 in 2011 as a flagship project. Therefore, it
should not fail. The idea is, once this is successful, it can be
replicated in other regions, say for example, in other parts of
Africa, Southern Africa and even Asia and so forth. This is why
the donors including the world bank, the African development
bank, European Development Bank and the KFW are all
sitting with eagle eyes, watching the project. This is why Im
using this medium to encourage all stakeholders, including
the various countries, to complement the efforts of TRANSCO
CSLG to ensure that this project is fully implemented.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Is it possible that countries outside
the CLSG could benefit from this electrification project
when it is finally completed?

MR. SHERIF: Definitely! The whole idea from the concept of

WAPP master plan is to integrate the electricity market in West
Africa. We have the ability to tap onto the hub, connected to
the OMVG, the link between Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania and
The Gambia, supported by the African Development Bank,
the Islamic Development Bank, and the European Investment
Bank. The CLSG line is going to be connected to the OMVG
line and it will have the possibility of connecting to the line
in Ghana.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: So does this mean that Liberia will
no longer be relying on the Mount Coffee plant solely to
supply electricity?
MR. SHERIF: Exactly. And the thing about the Mount Coffee is
that, from study we understand that the peak period is during
the raining season. What happens during the dry season
when it is less than the full capacity? How do you fill the gap?
And also we know that the government is building heavy Fuel
Plants to supplement (HFOs) the Mt. Coffee in the dry season,
but yet the demand will be higher than the supply as we have
companies like Mittal Steel, Western Cluster and other huge
companies operating in Liberia that need more electricity.

FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Any final thought you want to share

with those who are not aware of the project and its
potential for the West African sub region?
MR. SHERIF: What I want to tell the people of the CLSG
countries including Cote Divoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and
Guinea is that, this is their project and that this project is to
make life easier and bring positive impact to their lives. The
people of the CLSG countries should not see the CLSG line as
a line that is going to be imposed on them. It is rather their
line, as the various governments have put money into this,
empowered a company to facilitate the bringing of affordable
energy, not just electricity but very cheap electricity that they
can afford to buy. When they buy this electricity, it will help
them in their daily lives. With water and sanitation, health,
provision of quality education and of course, availability of
factories, companies that will come and do manufacturing
as they will be looking at the low cost of production. As
production becomes cheaper, they will hire more people, and
there will be economic boom. So, we are encouraging them
to take this project with their full hands, provide that moral
support, political support to the project that is fully funded
by international partners. This is the message I want to share.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Page 10 | Frontpage

CRAFTING
AMBITIOUS
NATIONAL RESPONSE

SIRLEAF Addresses the United Nations Summit for

the Adoption of the Post 2015 Development Agenda

New York
iberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, addressing the
United Nations Summit for the Adoption of the Post
2015 Development Agenda last Friday declared that the
successful implementation of the 2030 Development
Agenda will depend largely on the concrete measures taken at the
sub-national, national, regional and global levels.
We must craft ambitious national responses towards
implementation of the Agenda, President Sirleaf told the
gathering.
President Sirleaf is part of a 27-member panel appointed by UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July 2012 to advise on the
global development framework beyond 2015, the target date for
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia and Prime
Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom were also part of
the panel which includes leaders from civil society, private sector
and government.
The Panel was part of the Secretary-Generals post-2015 initiative
mandated by the 2010 MDG Summit. UN Member States have
called for open, inclusive consultations involving civil society,
the private sector, academia and research institutions from all
regions, in addition to the UN system, to advance the development
framework beyond 2015.
The work of the Panel reflected new development challenges while
also drawing on experience gained in implementing the MDGs,
both in terms of results achieved and areas for improvement.
The Panel's work was closely coordinated with that of the
intergovernmental working group tasked to design Sustainable
Development Goals, as agreed at the Rio +20 conference.
In her presentation, the Liberian President said it is important
to set in motion national processes that will guide member
states efforts to integrate and domesticate the new Agenda
into local content that will engender national ownership in
the implementation process. Strong follow-up and review
mechanism will enhance an effective implementation process
where citizens have the means to assess their countries progress
in implementation. We must also embark on a data revolution,
geared towards developing capacities for development planning,
monitoring and evaluation, President Sirleaf added.
The President commended member states, regional groupings,
civil society organizations, private sector actors, and all
stakeholders who worked tirelessly to create this new framework.
The Liberian President also paid homage to Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon for his leadership in guiding the process, declaring
that she was honored in 2013 to serve, along with Prime Minister
Cameron of the United Kingdom and President Yudhoyono of
Indonesia as one of the three co-chairs of the Secretary-General's
High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Agenda.
President Sirleaf said the panel worked with 27 panelists from
around the world to set the vision and policy framework for a
bold, strategic and universal agenda. The membership of the
Panel comprised representatives from every segment of society,
including governments, academia, civil society organizations and
the private sector.
The President added that the MDGs were launched some fifteen
years ago with a vision to build a better world. At the Millennium
Summit in September 2000, we set time-bound targets to address
critical challenges confronting.
President Sirleaf added: The world has made significant progress
in achieving many of the MDG targets. Average overall incomes
have increased, extreme poverty has declined, child mortality
rates have fallen, life expectancy has risen and more people in the
developing world have access to improved sanitation services.
She said progress has been far from uniform across the worldor across the Goals and that there remain huge gaps across
and within countries. Poverty remains the greatest challenge
especially in rural areas, though urban poverty is also extensive,
growing, and underreported by traditional indicators.
Nevertheless the Liberian President said the panel remains
grateful that the new development agenda calls our attention to
the unfinished business of the MDGs while broadening the vision
to incorporate new challenges. This is why every segment of the
global community contributed to making this agenda a reality. In
Africa, a High-Level Committee was established by the African
Union in 2013, which I was honored to chair. The Committee
launched a consultative process culminating in the adoption
of a Common African Position reflecting the priorities of our
continent.
The President said priorities are substantially integrated into
both the 2015 agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda.
Together these documents demand a universal commitment to
the share vision of eradicating poverty and hunger, safeguarding
our planet and opening the doors to prosperity for the benefit of
people everywhere. Peaceful Societies and the revitalized global
partnership are essential requirements for the achievement of
these aspirations.

STATEMENT BY HER EXCELLENCY ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF AT THE UNITED NATIONS

SUMMIT FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE POST 2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA UNITED
NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 NATIONAL RESPONSE

Mr. President,
Mr. Secretary General
Distinguished Co-chairs (President Museveni and Prime Minister
Lars Lokke Rasmussen)
Excellencies Heads of State and Government
Delegates Ladies and Gentlemen

Our new global development agenda, Transforming Our World,

"The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the result
of the most consultative process in history. Consultations and
negotiations spanned many years, starting with the 2010
Millennium Development Goals Summit and proceeding to
the 2012 Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development,
which crafted a vision of the future we want. Our sustainable
development goals and targets were formulated following
protracted negotiations in 2013 and 2014.
This year's
negotiations culminated in the consensus document which we
adopted this morning.

I commend member states, regional groupings, civil society

organizations, private sector actors, and all stakeholders who
worked tirelessly to create this new framework. Given the
complex nature of the intergovernmental negotiations, we offer
deserving commendation to outgoing President of the General
Assembly and the Co-Facilitators, the Permanent Representatives
of Kenya and Ireland who skillfully navigated the process.

We pay tribute to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for his

leadership in guiding the process. I was honored in 2013 to
serve, along with Prime Minister David Cameron of the United
Kingdom and President Susilu Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia
as one of the three co-chairs of the Secretary-General's High Level
Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Agenda. We worked
with 27 panelists from around the world to set the vision and
policy framework for a bold, strategic and universal agenda. The
membership of the Panel comprised representatives from every
segment of society, including governments, academia, civil society
organizations and the private sector.
Fifteen (15) years ago the MDGs were launched with a vision to
build a better world. At the Millennium Summit in September
2000, we set time-bound targets to address critical challenges
confronting.
The world has made significant progress in achieving many of the
MDG targets. Average overall incomes have increased, extreme
poverty has declined, child mortality rates have fallen, life
expectancy has risen and more people in the developing world
have access to improved sanitation services.

But progress has been far from uniform across the world-or
across the Goals. There remain huge gaps across and within
countries. Poverty remains the greatest challenge especially in
rural areas, though urban poverty is also extensive, growing, and
underreported by traditional indicators.
We are grateful that the new development agenda calls
our attention to the unfinished business of the MDGs while
broadening the vision to incorporate new challenges. This is why
every segment of the global community contributed to making
this agenda a reality.

In Africa, a High-Level Committee was established by the African

Union in 2013, which I was honoured to chair. The Committee
launched a consultative process culminating in the adoption of a
Common African Position reflecting the priorities of our continent.
I am very pleased to acknowledge today, that our priorities are
substantially integrated into both the 2015 agenda and the Addis
Ababa Action Agenda. Together these documents demand a

universal commitment to the share vision of eradicating poverty

and hunger, safeguarding our planet and opening the doors
to prosperity for the benefit of people everywhere. Peaceful
Societies and the revitalized global partnership are essential
requirements for the achievement of these aspirations.
Excellencies,

We must pursue single mindedly achievement of the goals

enshrine in this agenda. It can be done. Our world has never been
richer, more integrated and better educated than now. Therefore,
with the resources at our disposal, and the creative power of
all, especially those left in the margins of progress - women and
youth, we will achieve success. Dignity for all, peaceful societies
all around the globe, providing every human being with the means
to live to his or her full potentials are well within our means. We
cannot afford to fail. And we must truly leave no one behind.
The Addis Ababa Action Agenda provides the toolkit for
countries, especially poor and post-conflict countries to galvanize
the needed resources to implement the new global agenda. It
challenges all of us to take concrete measures that will transform
our commitments into practical solutions that improve the lives of
our people. Base on this common framework, with sustainability
at its core, we will move forward in crafting national development
policies and strategies, but with the recognition that while the
goals and targets are universal in nature, every country will have
to develop its own priorities towards the achievements of the
global ambition of a new world of peace, prosperity and dignity
in a safe planet.
The post-2015 development agenda, giving its scope and level
of ambition will require more effective, strengthened and
improved modes of development cooperation to support its
implementation. We call for a renewed and revitalized global
partnership amongst nations, underpinned by North-South,
South-South and triangular cooperation with specific attention
on fair trade, taxation and technology, while combating illicit
financial flows and terrorism. At the core of our actions, we must
confirm commitment to transparency, accountability and mutual
respect. These are the fundamentals of genuine partnership.
Excellencies,

The successful implementation of the 2030 Development Agenda

will depend largely on the concrete measures taken at the subnational, national, regional and global levels. We must craft
ambitious national responses towards implementation of the
Agenda. We must set in motion national processes that will guide
member states efforts to integrate and domesticate the new
Agenda into local content that will engender national ownership
in the implementation process. Strong follow-up and review
mechanism will enhance an effective implementation process
where citizens have the means to assess their countries progress
in implementation. We must also embark on a data revolution,
geared towards developing capacities for development planning,
monitoring and evaluation.
Finally, as we made history today by adopting the 2030
Development Agenda to replace the Millennium Development
Goals. In so doing, we have assumed a challenge and responsibility
to deliver to the future generation, in the next 15 years, a world
free of poverty and hunger and a more secure planet for everyone.
This must be our legacy.
I thank you.

Monday, September 28, 2015

MORLU AILING?
CDC Strongman Well After
Hospital Stint, Party Official Says

Frontpage

Page 11

Ministry of Finance and Development Planning

Department of Administration
Administration Division
External Vacancy Announcement
Position Title: Assistant Director: Training & Development
Report To: Director of Human Resource
Directly Supervises: Performance Management, Training and Development
Department/Functional Relations: Departments of Administration/Fiscal Affairs/ Economic
Management and Budget and Development Planning
External Relationships: Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education
Purpose:
The Assistant Director of Training & Development is responsible for conducting needs assessment
and designing training modules for staff to improve their skills and knowledge. Collaborate with
training organizations to enhance the capacity of the staff in order to achieve the mandate of the
department. Responsible for conducting performance appraisal of staff.
Key Results Area:
Capacity Building through Training & Development
Performance Evaluation

Duties
General Management Functions
Conducts training sessions for employees such as In-House Training (IHT) or outsource to local or
international training organizations.
Identifies training and development needs within MFDP through training needs assessment
and regular consultation with departmental and sectional heads. Develop an evaluation form for
trainees.
Submit a needs assessment report to the HR Director.
Submit annual report on training and development of staff.
Develop the training directory and training calendar.
Ensure that performance appraisals are conducted regularly and staff has opportunities for
training and development.

MonroviarontPageAfrica has gathered that

the Vice Chairman for Operations
and mobilization of the opposition
Congress for Democratic Change
Mulbah Morlu is seriously ill in the United
States of America where he and other party
officials have been holding meetings over the
last few months.
Morlu last posted a meeting he and other CDC
officials attended in Maryland, the United
States of America on his official Facebook
page on September 13.
Posted Morlu Strategic leadership session
of senior Executives of CDC-USA Chapter
assembled in Maryland, ends successfully. A
united, coherent & solidified CDC worldwide
is prepared & ready more than ever before to
fulfill the masses' mandate. George Weah, a
better man for a better Liberia!
Morlu who has providing daily updates on his
activities in the United States went quiet since
his last positing.
On September 11 he posted another meeting
held in the United States when he stated
CDC's Delegation visiting the U.S. Concludes
meeting with The Department of Employment
Services, District of Columbia, DC. The
meeting was a tremendous success, providing
opportunity to learn the different modules
of job creation services, as we look to adjust
such modules to suit our country, give our
people access to quality employment through
apprenticeship, academic-based programs,
& other skills development initiatives,
prioritizing the development of our human
resource sector, & drastically cutting down
unemployment as a means of enhancing
productive economic growth, will be top
priority in a CDC-led government that comes
in the aftermath of a glorious 2017 victory.
Following his last post on September 13
according to credible sources from the United
States Molru was attacked by chronic cold
and went into coma where he was admitted at
a hospital with his health status still unclear.
The serious illness of Morlu delayed his
return to Liberia as Nathaniel McGill, National
Chairman of the CDC returned home alone on

Friday, September 18, leaving Molru at the

hospital in the United States.
CDC National Youth League Chairman,
Jefferson Koijee confirmed to FPA that Molru
has been sick but said the CDC official has
recovered and is expected home I two weeks.
He was sick but he is ok now and will be back
home in two weeks said Koijee.
Despite the statement by Koijee that Morlu
had recovered sources have told FPA that
Morlu is still in hospital.
Morlu is one of the tough talking officials of the
CDC. When news surfaced in 2014 that party
political leader George Weah was planning
to pledge his support to the senatorial
candidacy of Robert Sirleaf Morlu rebuffed
the claims and said Weah was contesting to
start his political career in preparation for the
presidency in 2017.
Weah cannot be bought with money, he
is above the purchase, George Weah is a
property of the Liberian people, and you
cannot buy that kind of man. Ambassador
Weah wants me to tell you that the only thing
that can stop him from running is death and
God will be gracious to us to let him live to
serve as Senator and to be President to serve
two terms. So that information is false, it is
misleading, it is unfounded, it is gibberish, it
has no iota of truth Mulbah told FPA in April
few moths to the December 2014 senatorial
election.
When Molru was granted United States to
make the trip he wrote on his facebook page
Many thanks to the United States Govt.,
especially its Embassy in Monrovia; & to
my political leader, Senator Weah, my own
Chairman, Nathaniel Mcgill; Chairman Ivah
Tukpah, the CDC-USA & all gallant troopers
& organizers of the coming 'Way forward
Conference' on Liberia; the revolutionary
Youth League & its robust Chairman, Jeff
Koijee, & all Gladiators & trench-warriors of
the Mighty Congress for Democratic Change,
a big thank you! Rev. Logan, Myers Beatee &
I have reached safely for serious business, to
God be the glory. Long live the CDC, Viva la,
CDC viva!.

Technical Duties
Develop training policy and procedures for staff.
Facilitates the development and use of training modules to facilitate training delivery.
Develop and implement training evaluation system to assess training output, outcome and
performance.
Establish the criteria for evaluating training delivery
Organize training on a regular basis for MFDP employees to perform effectively on their job.
Develop inventory/database on training institutions.
Keep Updated database and records on training institutions.
Inform Management on the benefits of training.
Organize and conduct employees orientation.
Liaise with Finance department to ensure that there are adequate funds for training.
Collaborate with the HR Director to design and implement career planning and development
systems and processes.
Supervisory Functions
Coordinate performance Management Process
Ensure staff development plan, training and capacity development budgets
Provide annual reports on employees development and performance

Education
Bachelors Degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration or related field.

Work Experience
3-5 years experience in Human Resource management, Training and development or related
field.
Ability to design training modules
Knowledgeable in designing training evaluation forms
Report Writing
Other Requirements
Excellent Communication skills
Integrity & Accountability
Results Oriented
Detailed Oriented
Team Work and Cooperation
Interpersonal skills
Proven Planning and Organizing skills
Negotiation skills
Excellent Presentation skills
Sound decision making based on thorough analysis

Sound decision
Current Knowledge of people learning and growth in: Large institution, Understanding of best
practices in the field training and development specialist, Computer skills in Microsoft office,
Experience in managing learning and development of staff , Training facilitation & administration
, Financial and Budgetary Management, Influencing and negotiation skills, Analytical Skills,
Interpersonal relations, Reporting skills, People Management skills
Please send your application to the address below:
Office of the Assistant Minister for Administration
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP)
6th floor, MFDP Building
Broad Street, Monrovia Liberia

Alternatively, you can send your application to: [email protected]

For Further information kindly contact: 088-662-4869/0776-953-884
Deadline for Submission is:
Date: October 9, 2015
Time: 12:00pm

Monday, September 28, 2015

Page 12 | Frontpage

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

MINISTRY OF LANDS, MINES AND ENERGY (MLME)

LIBERIA ACCELERATED ELECTRICITY EXPANSION PROJECT
(LACEEP)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR

PROCUREMENT OFFICER FOR THE (MLME)
LIBERIA ACCELERATED ELECTRICITY EXPANSION
PROJECT (LACEEP)
CREDIT NO: 52520-LR
REFERENCE NO.: MLME/LACEEP/PO/2015
The Government of Liberia has received financing form the World
Bank toward the cost of the Liberia Accelerated Electricity Expansion
Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting
services.

The consulting services (the Services) include the provision of

Procurement services as a Procurement Officer for the Ministry of
Lands, Mines and Energy and the Liberia Electricity Corporation under
the Liberia Accelerated Electricity Expansion Project initially for two
years.
The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy now invitees eligible
Individuals (Consultants) to indicate their interest in providing
the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information
demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant
experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

i. Professional purchasing and logistics qualification and/or Bachelors

degree in Procurement, Business Administration, Social Sciences or
related discipline;
ii. Minimum of 3 years of experience in public procurement practices
and procedures;
iii. Knowledge of Project Management, appropriate involvement and/
or experience in similar projects in developing countries.
iv. Knowledge of/experience with World Bank/other international
development organizations procurement procedures is desirable.
v. Strong organization skills and ability to work in a team-oriented,
culturally diverse environment.
vi. Demonstrated computer skills, knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
preferred.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of
the World Banks Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants
[under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers
January 2011 (Consultant Guidelines), setting forth the World Banks
policy on conflict of interest.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual
Consultant Selection (ICS) method set out in the Consultant
Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during

office hours from 9:00 am to 16:00 pm.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the

address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by
October 14, 2015.
Liberia Accelerated Electricity Expansion Project (LACEEP)
Attn: Deputy Minister of Administration
Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy
Capitol Bypass
Monrovia
Liberia
Tel: +231 886906939
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

The Liberian Bank for Development & Investment organized and operating under the Laws of the Republic of Liberia,
is seeking for qualified Liberians to fill the below vacancy. Duty station is at its Monrovia Offices. Successful candidates
should be willing to travel out of Monrovia.
All applications should be addressed to the Human Resource Department no later than October 12, 2015. All signed
applications should be sent to [email protected]. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview. For
additional information you may call: 0880 159 159.

TREASURY OFFICER (TRADING & INVESTMENT)

Job Title
Grade Level: P1-P3
Reports To Vice President Treasury

Job Purpose
- Assist in the undertaking of a wide range of treasury management activities, developing long-term financial
projections, investment strategies and financial risk analysis.
Key Duties
- Measure impact of interest and exchange rates on Banks investment portfolio;
- Report/Analyze major development on global financial markets that impact the Banks portfolio;
- Raise memo to effect changes on system in exchange market, Money markets, Government and other securities;
- Conduct gap analysis and advise appropriate investment action;
- Maintain daily dashboard, measure the Banks cost of funds and advise on pricing of credit products;
- Measure, monitor and report the Banks FX exposure and resolve all transaction discrepancies to ensure settlement
by close of day and within 24 hours;
- Analyze bank cash flow requirements and identify funds available for investment;
- Advise and implement the transfer of funds and securities to implement;
- Help prepare investment proposals and contracts;
- Assist with formulation and implementation of investment policies
- Perform portfolio analysis and prepare periodic performance reports
- Perform any other duties assigned by Management
Key Performance Indicators
- Timely response to the Banks day-to-day cash requirements;
- Quantum of successful deals handled per period;
- Timely updates of exchange rates in the operating system.
Education & Experience
- Bachelors degrees in economics, finance or accounting;
- Three (3) years work experience in treasury management with at least two (2) years in treasury trading environment;
Skills
- Goal oriented, extremely capable communicator;
- Good analytical skills;
- Computer skills in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word;
- Good Knowledge of financial products;
- Knowledge of regulatory and/or liquidity processes;
- Understanding of banking products-both assets and liabilities;
- Knowledge of investment principles and practices related to securities
- Understanding of cash management principles assets and liabilities;
- Ability to evaluate and interpret economic and financial information
- Capability to asses and apply economic and financial conditions to current investment decision
- Ability to negotiate the purchase and sale of investment instruments

The Liberian Bank for Development & Investment organized and operating under the Laws of the Republic
of Liberia, is seeking for qualified Liberians to fill the below vacancy. Duty station is at its Monrovia Offices.
Successful candidates should be willing to travel out of Monrovia.

All applications should be addressed to the Human Resource Department no later than October 12, 2015. All
signed applications should be sent to [email protected]. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for
interview. For additional information you may call: 0880 159 159.

TREASURY OFFICER (LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT)

Job Title
Grade Level P1-P3
Reports To Vice President/Treasury

Job Purpose
- To implement the resource mobilization initiatives of the Bank, proactively monitor and manage the Banks
liquidity portfolio.

KEY DUTIES
- Monitor and measure the liquidity position against established benchmark and report exceptions;
- Monitor and report the Banks daily inflow and outflow of cash;
- Maintain daily treasury dashboard;
- Implement the approved strategies to raise funds in domestic and international capital markets;
- Provide inputs into the monthly, quarterly and annual treasury business plan;
- Prepare daily and weekly Management reports on liquidity and rate outlook;
- Inform and provide recommendations to the Treasurer of significant developments, emerging opportunities
and challenges in areas of responsibilities;
- Carryout any other duties assigned by Supervisor/Management.
Key Performance Indicators

- Timely response to the Banks day-to-day cash requirements;

- Timely reporting of exceptions;
- Timeliness in identifying and establishing hedge positions and recommendation to mitigate risk position;
Education & Experience
- Bachelors degrees in economics, finance or accounting;
- Three (3) years work experience in treasury management with emphasis in liquidity management.
SKILLS
- Goal oriented, extremely capable communicator;
- Good analytical skills;
- Computer skills in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word;
- Good Knowledge of financial products;
- Knowledge of regulatory and/or liquidity processes;
- Understanding of banking products-both assets and liabilities;
- Understanding of issues within liquidity management and liquidity risk management

Monday, September 28, 2015

Invitation for Bids (IFB)

1. The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has received funds from the Government of Liberia
through budgetary allocations and intends to use portion of it to fund eligible payment under the
contract for the procurement of the below listed goods and services:

N0.

Contract Package

Description

IFB No./LRA/NCB/007/015-016

Supply of Cleaning Materials

Lot 1: Restricted to Liberian Business

Quantity

Assorted

Lot 2: All May Apply

N0.

Contract Package

Description

IFB No. LRA/RB/001/015-016

Provision of Personnel Insurance

Services

Quantity

Lot 1: Medical Insurance: Personnel & Dependents

900 Employees + 4
Dependents Each

Lot 2: Life Insurance: Personnel only

900 Employees

N0.
3

Contract Package

Description

IFB N0.: LRA/NCB/005/15/16

Provision of Foreign Travel

Management Services

Lot 1: Regional Travel within Africa

Quantity

Assorted

Lot 2: International Travel

2. The LRA now invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the supply and delivery
of the above listed goods and services.
3. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures as
specified in the PPC Act and is open to all eligible and qualified bidders to participate in the
bidding process.
4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from the below address:
Walter J. Dean
Liberia Revenue Authority Headquarters
ELWA Junction,
Paynesville
1stFloor
Tel: 231-(0886) -517-891
[email protected]
5. Qualifications requirements: All bids must be accompanied by;
A bid security
Current Tax Clearance & Current Business Registration
Proof of similar goods/services performed
Company Profile
Additional details are provided in the Bidding Documents.

6. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before October 15, 2015 at 12:00 p.m.,
1:00p.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively. Bids shall be valid for a period of Thirty Days (30) after the
deadline of bid submission.

7. Bids will be opened on October 15, 2015 at 12:00pm, in the presence of bidders representatives
who choose to attend, at the address below.
Liberia Revenue Authority Headquarters
ELWA Junction,
Paynesville, Liberia
1stFloor

A complete set of Bidding Document in English may be purchased by interested bidders upon
payment of a non-refundable fee of 50.00 USD to the LRA Budget & Finance Office, 2nd Floor at the
Liberia Revenue Authority between 9:00 am & 3:00 pm daily, and obtain a complete set of bidding
document.
8. All bids must be clearly marked with the address indicated below.
9. Electronic bids will not be accepted. Late bids will be rejected.

10. The address is:

Cleaning Materials, Ref: IFB No. LRA/NCB/007/015-016
Provision of Personnel Insurance Services IFB No. LRA/RB/001/015-016
Provision of Foreign Travel Management Services
Liberia Revenue Authority
LRA Headquarters, ELWA Junction,
Paynesville, Liberia
1stFloor
Tel: 231-(0886) -517-891 Email: [email protected]

Note: This IFB and other LRA related information are also available at www.lra.gov.lr and Liberia
Revenue Authority Facebook page.
Oliver N. Rogers, II
LRA Administration.

Page 13

Frontpage

Walter J. Dean
Head of Procurement

Invitation for Bids (IFB)

National Competitive Bidding
Supply and Delivery of Stationery and Office Consumables
Ref: IFB No. LRA/NCB/001/015-016
1. The Liberia Revenue Authority has received funds from the Government of Liberia and
intends to apply portion of it to fund eligible payment under the contract for procurement
of Stationery & Office Consumables.
2. The Authority now invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidders for the
supply and delivery of Stationery & Office Consumables.

3. Bidding will be conducted through the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures
as specified in the PPCA and approved by the PPCC and is open to all bidders from eligible
source countries as defined in the PPCA. The supply as per the Liberia Revenue Authority
Schedule of Requirement is in the below table:
Description

Number

Supply
and
Delivery
of IFB No. LRA/NCB/001/015-016
Stationery
and
Office
Consumables

Quantity

Assorted

Delivery
Schedule
Based on
contract

4. Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information from the below address and
inspect the bidding documents from 9:30am to 3:00pm
Walter J. Dean
Liberia Revenue Authority
Liberia Revenue Authority Headquarters
ELWA Junction
Paynesville, Liberia
1stFloor
Tel: 231-(0886) -517-891
Email: [email protected]

5. A complete set of bidding documents in English may be purchased by interested

Bidders on the submission of a written application to the address below and upon a
payment of a nonrefundable fee of Fifty United States (US$50.00) for each set.
6. Qualifications requirements: All bids must be accompanied by;
A bid security
Current tax clearance
Current business registration
Proof of similar goods been supplied.

7. Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before October 14, 2015 at 12:00pm.
Bids shall be valid for a period of Ninety (90) days after the deadline of bid submission.
8. Bids will be opened on October 14, 2015 at 12:00pm, in the presence of bidders
representatives who choose to attend, at the address below.
LRA Conference Room,
1stFloor
Liberia Revenue Authority Headquarters,
ELWA Junction,
Paynesville, Liberia

9. All bids must be clearly marked with the address indicated below.
10. Electronic bids will not be accepted. Late bids will be rejected and returned
unopened.
11. The address is:

Procurement of Stationery & Office Consumables,

Ref: IFB No. LRA/NCB/001/015-016
Liberia Revenue Authority
Liberia Revenue Authority Headquarters
ELWA Junction
Paynesville, Liberia
Tel: 231-(0886) -517-891
Email: [email protected]
Note: This IFB and other LRA related information are also available at www.lra.gov.lr and
Liberia Revenue Authority Facebook page.
Oliver N. Rogers, II
Deputy Commissioner General Adm. Affairs
Walter J. Dean
Procurement Manager

Page 14 | Frontpage

NIGERIAN MILITARY CLAIMS SURRENDER

OF 200 BOKO HARAM FIGHTERS

Lagos (AFP) igeria's military said more than 200 members of

Boko Haram surrendered Friday as troops regained
control of the northeastern town of Banki, from
where attacks had been launched into Cameroon.
"Over 200 members of the terrorist organisation Boko Haram
have surrendered today (Friday) to the Nigerian troops in
Banki town," army spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement.
There was no independent verification of the military's
statement, the latest in a series of successes claimed by the
army against the Islamists, including the destruction of Boko
Haram camps.
Usman said Banki, in Borno state, was re-captured on Thursday.
The military had earlier claimed the arrest of 43 Boko Haram
suspects and the release of 241 women and children thought to
have been held by the group there.

BURKINA FASO COUP

LEADERS' ASSETS FROZEN

urkina Faso has frozen the assets of the leader of last

week's failed coup, Gen Gilbert Diendere.
Another 13 people suspected of involvement have
also had their assets frozen, the state prosecutor says.
Interim President Michel Kafando was reinstated on Wednesday
after an intervention from the army and West African leaders.
On Friday, his government ordered the presidential guards'
unit that carried out the coup to be disbanded.
At least 10 people were killed and more than 100 injured in
clashes during the take-over which Gen Diendere described as
"the biggest mistake".
In a statement announcing the latest move, state prosecutor
Laurent Poda said that the assets of 14 people, including Gen
Gilbert Diendere and his wife Fatou Diendere, an MP for the
former ruling party, would be frozen for three months.
During this period, they would only be able to withdraw
300,000 CFA ($512) a month.

MESSI RULED OUT FOR

UP TO TWO MONTHS

he forward was did not make it through the first half

against Las Palmas following a collision goalkeeper
Javi Varas, and could now miss El Clasico on November
22
Barcelona have been dealt a blow after Lionel Messi suffered a
knee injury during Saturday's clash with Las Palmas that wiill
rule him out for up to two months.
The 28-year-old collided with goalkeeper Javi Varas inside the
18-yard box after just three minutes of the Camp Nou outfit's
2-1 victory.
Messi attempted to continue but failed to shrug off the knock,
with Barca coach Luis Enrique replacing him with Munir seven
minutes later.
And having been sent to hospital for tests, the European
champions confirmed the Argentina international will be out
for seven to eight weeks with a tear in the internal collateral
ligament of his left knee.

PAGE

WORLD NEWS

Monday, September 28, 2015

BEYOND HUMAN
RONT

CONTROL
Hajj stampede: Saudi mufti says deaths unimaginable

audi Arabia's most

senior cleric, the
grand mufti, has said
the stampede at the
annual Muslim pilgrimage
to Mecca on Thursday was
beyond human control.
He told the interior minister,
Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Nayef, that he was not to
blame for the tragedy.
Iran and several other
countries have criticised
Saudi authorities for the way
they handled safety issues.
Authorities have raised the
number of deaths to 769 - the
deadliest incident to occur
during the Hajj in 25 years.
King Salman has ordered
a safety review into the
disaster, which injured 934
people, new casualty figures
suggest.
The pilgrimage, or Hajj, is
now into its final day, with
no further serious incidents
reported.
Disaster puts pressure on
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso
(AP)
urkina
Faso's
transitional president
on Friday signed a
decree to disband the
presidential guard that staged
a coup more than a week ago.
Interim President Michel
Kafando also fired the
commander of the presidential
guard, Col. Boureima Kere, and
the country's security minister,
Col. Sidi Pare, according to
the decree that was read on
national television.
Burkina Faso's armed forces
said in a communique that
they have started disarming
the presidential guard and
there is an inventory of their
weapons.
The decision was made after
Kafando met with interim
Prime Minister Yacouba Isaac
Zida and other ministers for
the first cabinet meeting since
the transitional government
was reinstalled Wednesday.
Zida, who formerly served as
the second in command for the
presidential guard, said earlier
he favored the action to disarm
and disband the group.
Members of the presidential
guard mounted the coup

Saudis
Hajj's safety concerns
In pictures: Aftermath of the
stampede
Hajj stampede: What we
know so far
Deadly pinch point at Jamarat
Bridge
Analysis: Sebastian Usher,
BBC Middle East editor
As criticism of the Saudis
intensifies, so has the Saudi
response. The intervention
of the country's top religious
leader is no surprise. Nor is
the grand mufti's assertion
that fate and destiny are
inevitable.
Such fatalism has resonance
in the Islamic world, but it
won't still a growing clamour
of criticism.
Some of those who've been
attending Hajj, including
survivors of the crush, have
been expressing a sense
that the Saudis - despite all
the billions they've spent
on improving the Hajj

infrastructure - have not

done enough to ensure the
safety of the majority of the
pilgrims on the ground.
This has been magnified
on social media, where the
Saudi authorities' placing of
the blame on the pilgrims
themselves for not following
safety instructions has been
seen by some as evidence of
a lack of sensitivity towards
those who come to the Hajj
from poorer countries.
People ask who is to blame
Accounts from Mina
Why do millions gather in
Mecca every year?
Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul
Aziz
bin-Abdullah
alSheikh was visited by the
crown prince, who is also
deputy prime minister and
chairman of the Supreme
Hajj Committee, on Friday
evening, the official Saudi
Press Agency (SPA) reported.
"You are not responsible for
what happened," the grand

mufti said.
Image copyright EPA Image
caption The Saudi authorities
have been strongly criticised
in Iran Image copyright AFP
Image caption In addition
to the dead, more than 850
people were injured
Media caption BBC reporter
Tchima Illa Issoufou: "I lost
my aunt as a result of the
stampede"
"As for the things that
humans cannot control, you
are not blamed for them. Fate
and destiny are inevitable."
The cleric's remarks came
after Iran's Supreme National
Security Council accused the
Saudis of "incompetence"
and urged them to "take
responsibility" for the deaths.
And on Saturday, Prosecutor
General Sayed Ibrahim Raisi
said that Iran would seek
the trial of the Saudi royal
family over its "crimes" in
"international courts", Isna
news agency reported.
Iran has so far reported the
greatest number of deaths
among foreign nationals, at
least 134, with more than 340
of its citizens still missing.
A former ambassador to
Lebanon is among the
missing, state TV said.
The crush occurred on
Thursday morning as two
million pilgrims were taking
part in the Hajj's last major
rite.
The pilgrims throw seven
stones at pillars called
Jamarat, which stand at the
place where Satan is believed
to have tempted the Prophet
Abraham.
With temperatures around
46C, two massive lines of
pilgrims converged on each
other at right angles at an
intersection close to the
five-storey Jamarat Bridge
in Mina, a large valley about
5km (3 miles) from Mecca.
It is also the second disaster
to strike in two weeks, after a
crane collapsed at the Grand
Mosque in Mecca, killing 109
people.

BURKINA FASO PRESIDENT

DISBANDS PRESIDENTIAL GUARD

last week, unhappy that the

transitional
government
had barred supporters loyal
to former President Blaise
Compaore from participating
as candidates in the country's
national election. Compaore
was ousted in a popular
uprising in October.
Coup leader Gen. Gilbert
Diendere
on
Wednesday

stepped down at the order of

the regional bloc, the Economic
Community of West African
States, and under pressure
from the military and citizens.
At least 11 people died and
271 were wounded in violence
that followed the coup, the
government said Friday.
Kafando must now organize an
election to install a democratic

government
in
Burkina
Faso. The vote was originally
scheduled for Oct. 11 but
Zida said Friday the election
would be postponed by at least
several weeks.
"We need to bring security
to the country, to the people,
before we can restart the
electoral process," he said.
ECOWAS leaders suggested
a Nov. 22 election date
and
recommended
that
Compaore's allies be allowed
to field candidates. Some
civil society associations and
political parties have come
out against amnesty for coup
leaders.
The prime minister said
Diendere's future was still
being considered and an
investigation is being launched
into the coup.
"Justice will be served after
the conclusion of these
investigations," Zida said.
Diendere has said he regretted
the coup.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Frontpage

Sports

BILITY CALLS FOR FIFA PRESIDENTIAL

ELECTIONS TO BE POSTPONED
Piers Edwards, BBC Sport

ifa
presidential
hopeful
Musa
Bility has called for
February's elections
to be postponed in light of
the criminal proceedings
against Sepp Blatter.
On Friday, the Swiss Attorney
General said the Fifa
president was suspected of
criminal mismanagement or
misappropriation and of a
disloyal payment to Michel
Platini.
"Those in charge of Fifa are
no longer fit to be the ones to
organize credible elections.
To put Fifa through an
election at this very point is
to set a template for another
disaster.
"I am calling on the
current leadership of Fifa

to immediately host an
extraordinary
congress
where the mandate of reform
will be given to a neutral
body, a neutral set of people,"
the Liberian FA president
told BBC Sport
Blatter - who has previously
denied any wrongdoing - has
been accused of failing in his
fiduciary duties when selling
World Cup broadcasting
rights for a fraction of their
worth to discredited former
Fifa official Jack Warner in
2005.
Swiss
authorities
also
have questions about the
disloyalty payment of two
million Swiss francs ($2m)
paid to Platini in 2011, for
work allegedly carried out
between 1999 and 2002.

"Concerning the payment

that was effected in my
favour, I want to clarify that
this amount was paid for
work that I carried out in a
contractual manner for Fifa. I
am pleased to have been able
to clarify this point with the
authorities," Uefa president
Platini said in a statement on
Friday
With
Blatter
under
investigation and European
football chief Platini now
facing questions as well,
Bility believes Fifa can no
longer hold its presidential
elections on 26 February.
So far, Platini and Bility have
been joined by Chung Mongjoon of South Korea and
Prince Ali of Jordan - both of
whom are former Fifa vice-

presidents - in announcing
intentions to be the next
president.
Former players Zico (Brazil),
David Nakhid (Trinidad
and Tobago) and Segun
Odegbami (Nigeria) have
also expressed an interest in
replacing Blatter.
Candidates
must
have
the backing of five Fifa
associations by 26 October to
be able to stand, whereupon
they will be subjected to a
vetting procedure.
But Bility believes elections
should not take place until
separate
investigations
by the United States, into
general Fifa corruption,
and Switzerland, probing
potential
corruption
surrounding the bidding

process for the 2018 and

2022 World Cups, have
revealed all the names of
those under suspicion.
"Right now, it is about us
knowing who is actually clean
and who is not. The president
and the secretary general are
now under investigation and
we don't know who else will
follow.
"It cannot continue like
this. This is the crisis that
must change football. We
must not now allow a good
opportunity to go to waste,"
said Bility, who has
led his FA since 2010.
The scandal surrounding Fifa
exploded in May, when 14
football officials and sports
marketing executives were
indicted. Seven were arrested
by Swiss police in a dawn raid
on a Zurich hotel.
Should Blatter be suspended
from his duties during the
Swiss
investigations,
as
happened to Fifa secretary
general Jerome Valcke last
week,
Cameroon's
Issa
Hayatou
would
assume
control of football's world
governing body.
The Confederation of African
Football [president] is the
most senior vice-president
in Fifa.
"I expect that to happen
immediately
and
for
Hayatou to call for an
extraordinary
congress,
where the reorganisation
and reformation of the
organisation can then take
place.
"At this time, Fifa has lost the
moral authority to organise
anything such as reformation
or elections," added Bility.

BARRACK NEVER FALLS

Page 15

SPORTS

RED DEVILS ON TOP

anchester
United
beat
Sunderland 3-0
at Old Trafford
on Saturday as Louis Van
Gaals side went top of the
Premier League.
Memphis scored right on half
time to put United ahead,
then Wayne Rooney (his first
goal in 11 PL games) made it
2-0 and Juan Mata polished
things off to down a sorry
Sunderland outfit.
With the victory United are
in first place with 16 points,
while Sunderland remain
bottom with just two points
from their opening seven
matches.

SPURS PUT FOUR PAST CITY

anchester City
lost a second
league game
in a row, with
Harry Kane scoring his first
club goal this season as
Tottenham came from 1-0
down to win.
Kevin de Bruyne angled in
an effort to put leaders City
in front before Eric Dier
equalised with a 25-yard
shot.
Two goals offside for Spurs
- Manuel Pellegrini
Toby Alderweireld then
nodded Spurs in front from
an Erik Lamela free-kick.
Kane side-footed in when
team-mate
Christian
Eriksen's free-kick came
back off the woodwork
before Lamela slid home
as the visitors chased the
game.

ALEXIS HITS HAT-TRICK TO

END FOXES' UNBEATEN RUN

BYC crowned LFA Knockout champions

A. Macaulay Sombai, sombaifrontpageafricaonline.com 0777217428

Monroviarince Negbos last

penalty kick scored
against Monrovia Club
Breweries in the grand
finale of the Liberia Football
Association (LFA) knockout
Cup competition helped Barack
Young Controller (BYC) II to lift
the trophy for the second time
in the clubs history.
BYC II won the championship
3-2 in post-match penalties
after the two teams settled
to 0-0 draw during the 90
minutes and extra time played
Saturday at the Antoinette
Tubman Stadium (ATS). Negbo
scored the penalty that gave
his side the championship after
goalkeeper Abdulah Kulubale of
MC Breweries missed the last

penalty kick at which time both

teams have already missed two
of the side penalties.
Sekou Konneh, President of
the senior BYC, told journalists
that his junior team victory
against Club Breweries was
very important to the entire BYC
family and it shows that that the
barrack can never fall to its
opponents.
Said Konneh: Our players
really played to the best of their
abilities but they could not
score in both full 90 minutes
and extra time but they still
overpowered their opponents
at the end of the day, which
shows that we are one of the
best playing teams in Liberian
football.
The BYC official paid respect to

the team head coach, members

of his technical staff, players
for their hard work and called
on them to try their best in
the upcoming Confederation
of African Football (CAF)
Confederation Cup competition
in order to bring joy to the
nation and people.
You have again qualified to
represent our beloved country
Liberia in one of Africas major
football competitions and I am
pleased to say thank you to you
for your hard work but let us
increase our training if we are to
score the needed victory against
our opponents to come in the
Confederation Cup challenges.
he urged.
BYC II reached the competition
grand finale two months ago

H
after a 1-0 victory over former
defending
champions
FC
Fassell while the losing side,
Club Breweries, made it to
the tournament grand finale
through penalty kicks against
Keitrace FC.
BYC II will receive LD$562,500
as champions while MC
Breweries gets half of that
amount as runners up.
MC Breweries, last week

relegated to the second division

stage of the league, will now
get back to her drawing board
to put her house in order for
the LFA 2016 national league
season.
Meanwhile, one of the oldest
football clubs in Liberian
football,
Mighty
Barrolle,
escaped relegation Saturday
after a 1-0 win against
Conquerors.

aving
not
previously
scored
this
season,
the
Chile international excelled
with three goals at the King
Power Stadium, with Theo
Walcott and Olivier Giroud
also finding the net
The last unbeaten record of
the Premier League season
fell on Saturday as Arsenal
came away from the King
Power Stadium with a 5-2
victory over Leicester City,
Alexis Sanchez roaring back
into form with a hat-trick.

COSTA ON HIATUS?
Page 16
8a | Frontpage

Monday, September 28, 2015

Voice FM Morning Show Host Says Hes Taking Time Off to Reevaluate his struggle, reflect on own interests

MONROVIA
alk
Radio
personality
Mr.
Henry Costa capped
a herculean week
last week with announcement
on his Facebook page that he
is taking a break from the
highly-rated morning show.
Today I want to announce
that beginning Monday of
next week, I am taking a
break from waking up at 3
am every week day morning
to fight for people who are
clearly pleased with their
situation. I have a pregnant
wife that appreciates, loves
and needs me more than
Liberians.
Costa who was engaged in
a war-of-words with some
of his callers amid a heated
attack on Finance and
Economic Planning Minister
Amara Konneh, says he needs
some time to reflect. It
comes a time in a man's life
when he has to reevaluate
his struggle and reflect on his
own interest, Costa wrote.
The talk show host said
since he began this advocacy
several years ago; fighting
for the rights of all Liberians,
he has suffered personally
and
sacrificed
dearly.
Jailed twice and constantly

persecuted, our radio station

loses money due to the fact
that many people don't
want to do business with
Voice FM simply because
we speak out loudly and
uncompromisingly about the
issues affecting our country,
my life has been threatened,
and my family always
worried about my personal
security, etc, said Costa.
In the process, Mr. Costa says
he has earned some powerful
and what he calls some,
wicked enemies. Honestly,
I don't mind suffering all of
this unjust punishment from
the oppressors and wicked
rulers of our beloved country,
but what affects me even
more, what breaks my heart
so deeply is that the Liberian
people do not value their
own rights, they don't care
about the wickedness that is
being done to them...They are
content with their miserable
lives. So, I am asking myself
today, why keep fighting for
those who don't fight for
themselves? Why? !!
Costa said the solution to
Liberias problem lies not
in the hands of politicians,
but in their own. We must
rise up and stand united and
challenge our government

to stop looting our country

and cater to our needs as the
owners of Liberia.
Costa went on to say that
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,
Mahatma Ghandi and others

would not have succeeded in

their respective struggles for
freedom if they had not stood
up in countless nonviolent
protests.
Hundreds
of
thousands of Americans;

black and white, stood firmly

with Dr. King in his marches.
But in our own country many
of our people call us names,
insult us and even some of
them extend it to our wives.

Let me confess it today, it

really pains me!! What kind
of a people are we??!! Even
if you don't like Henry Costa,
but do the things I fight
against not true?

MAKE USE OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Sirleaf Urges Western Investors at the CEO Summit in New York

NEW YORK
n the margins
of
the
70th
United
Nations
General Assembly,
President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf joined several of
her
African
colleagues
to participate in the CEO
Investment Summit and
Investment
&
Business
Leader Award 2015 in New
York, U.S.A.
The Africa investor (Ai) CEO
Investment Summit, held in
association with the World
Bank Group and the United
Nations, is an annual CEO
business and government
leadership forum, designed to
facilitate action, to highlight
and enhance the continents
investment climate, and shed
light on Africas investment
success stories. The Summit
outcomes will be taken
forward at the Ai-AU-NEPAD
Heads of State Investment
Summit in January 2016.
This years Summit, held at
the Thomas Reuters Hall
on Broadway, provided for
African Heads of State and
Government an Investment
Working Lunch attended
by key leaders including
President Sirleaf. It was
held under several themes
including: Business UN
World Bank Partnerships,

Regional
Economic
Integration,
Capital
Markets and Private Equity,
Agribusiness
Investments
Roundtable,
Financing
African
Development,
Growing Africas Business,
and Ai Investment & Business
Leader Award.
According to a dispatch from
New York, President Sirleaf,
who made special remarks,
called on western investors
to make use of the investment
opportunities that exist on
the African continent to
ensure its transformation
and the advancement of the
living standards of the people
of Africa.

She stressed that Africa is still

challenged with advancing
the transformation of the
continent and its peoples
due
to
the
profound
infrastructural deficit that
exists, particularly in West
Africa.
Transformation
is still lacking in Africa
because its infrastructural
development is limited. We
must fix our infrastructural
problems to be able to
transform the continent,
she stressed, adding that
this is the reason why the
Agenda 2063 program of the
African Union reflects and
focuses on infrastructural
development as a key factor

for advancing development

on the continent.
The Liberian leader indicated
that opening up the African
markets, the borders and
ensuring
comparative
advantage will help promote
the transformation of the
African continent. She noted
that diversity in investment
is sought with public/
private partnership as a key
element. President Sirleaf
stressed that the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs)
makes poverty eradication its
core objective which is good
for Africa and its peoples.
She used the occasion to
give an historical reflection

of the process leading to

the formulation of the new
SDGs which will be adopted
by member-countries of the
United Nations shortly.
President Sirleaf told the
participants that the process
leading to the formulation
of the new goals was very
extensive with private sector
involvement especially Africa
being keen on the world
giving back to the continent
with emphasis on mutual
responsibility. The SDGs,
she said, are different from
the outgoing Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs)
because they are inclusive
and account for growing

African economies.
On
Liberia
specifically,
she
highlighted
the
countrys endowed natural
resources, but pointed out
that infrastructure, most
especially, roads, power,
ports, among others remain
the major impediments
that must be prioritized by
those seeking to invest in the
country.
Also delivering separate
remarks at the Summit were
the Presidents of Uganda,
Yoweri Museveni; Malawi,
Arthur Peter Mutharika;
Algeria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika;
and the Prime Minister
of Ethiopia, Haile Mariam
Desalegne, among others.
They pleaded with the world
to invest in Africa with a key
interest in giving back to the
continent and with mutual
responsibility as a major
pillar.
They noted that investing
in
Africa
will
enable
the continent to make
progress
with
regards
poverty eradication and
suggested that agriculture,
processing, industrialization,
services,
information,
telecommunication
and
communication (ITC) and
infrastructure are important
for
transformation
and
poverty eradication in Africa
and the world at large.

Monday, September 28, 2015

NEC CERTIFICATES MOVEE AND

NLP AS NEW POLITICAL PARTIES

Monrovia he National Elections

Commission (NEC)
has
certificated
two new registered
political parties in Liberia.
The two new political parties
are the New Liberia Party
(NLP) and the Movement for
Economic
Empowerment
(MOVEE).
The parties were certificated
at a ceremony held Thursday,

September 24, 2015 at

the headquarters of the
Commission in Monrovia.
During the ceremony, the
Chairman of the Commission,
Cllr. Jerome George Korkoya,
said
the
parties
were
certificated in concert with
Article 77(a) of the Liberian
Constitution and Section 21.1
of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights which, among
other
things,
emphasize

the right of all persons to

participate in the governance
of their country and the
right of free competition of
ideas by political parties and
individuals.
Chairman Korkoya called
on the parties to include
Liberians from all spheres of
Life in their political activities
in line with the laws of the
country.
Article 77 of the Liberian

Constitution requires each

political party in the country
to have a membership of
not less than five hundred
qualified voters in each of at
least six counties in Liberia.
The two new political parties
bring to twenty, the total
number of registered political
parties in Liberia.

LIBERIAN YOUTH AMBASSADOR MOSES BROWNE HELPS TO COLLECT

75,000 #UPFORSCHOOL SIGNATURES ATTENDS UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Monrovia ll of our Global Youth

Ambassadors
are
inspiring
people.
These 500 young
education activists in 85
countries are passionate and
tireless as they spread the
A World at School message
of education for all in their
communities and schools.
Moses Owen Browne Jr. is
one of our GYAs in Liberia - a
country still getting back on
its feet after the deadly Ebola
outbreak that killed thousands
of people and shut down
schools for months.
But Moses was inspired to take
the #UpForSchool Petition which calls on world leaders
to keep their promise to get
every child into school - to as
many people as possible. It's a
message especially relevant in
Liberia, where more than one
million children are still out of
school.
Incredibly, the 29-year-old working with our eight other

GYAs in the country - collected

more than 75,000 signatures
to contribute to the total of
more than nine million names
from across the world.
He engaged businesses, media
and community radio stations
to take the petition to 13 of
Liberia's 15 counties.
Moses,
a
Media
and
Communications
Manager
with Plan International Liberia
- said: "We worked along with
local leaders, town chiefs,
school administrators and
the students leadership to
educate them better about the

campaign and the benefits.

"The involvement of youth
journalists has been pioneered
by A World at School's Liberia
Team. We worked tirelessly
with several communitybased organisations and civil
society movements to help us
reach remote areas and tell
them about the #UpForSchool
campaign."
Madeline Serena, who heads
the Global Youth Ambassador
programme, said: "Since all
of our GYAs are so amazing
and
continually
humble
me with their passion and

resourcefulness in the name of

global education, it is rare that
someone surprises me with
their efforts.
"But Moses is one of the people
who continually amazes me.
He has led our #UpForSchool
Petition in Liberia and with
only eight other GYAs they
have collected over 75,000
signatures.
"Moses never tires or stops
when
confronted
with
setbacks - he just finds a way to
move forward. While having a
full-time job, he still organizes
education advocacy events at
least monthly.
Moses is truly extraordinary
and inspires me to work harder
for those who aren't in school."
Collecting all those signatures
isn't the end of Moses's
ambitions. He said: "In 10
years, I should be Liberias
next education minister, sitting
over and driving the policy
decisions in the education
sector to benefit every single
child."

Frontpage

Page 8b
17

PUL, UNDP HOST

SOCIAL GOOD SUMMIT

Monrovia NDP Liberia in collaboration with the Press Union of

Liberia (PUL), is to host its first Social Good Summit
to highlight the ways in which new technology was
harnessed to help tackle the Ebola outbreak in some
of countrys most disadvantaged communities.
The Social Good Summit explores how technology is being used
for social good around the world. The global theme, #2030NOW,
asks the question, "what type of world do I want to live in by
the year 2030?" During the summit, global citizens around the
world unite to unlock the potential of technology to make the
world a better place.
Dr. Mosoka Fallah will lead a panel on technology and public
health in the Liberian capital, Monrovia on September 28th,
10:00am, at the West Point Administration Building to discuss
how technology was used to collect and share Ebola related
Data.
During the peak of the Ebola crisis, Dr. Fallah was one of the few
people to venture into the labyrinthine alleys of West Point at a
time when the outbreak appeared to be spreading exponentially
and there were not nearly enough treatment unit beds to meet
demand.
He knew that re-gaining the peoples trust was crucial if Liberia
were to have any chance of containing the outbreak. His public
health background meant he understood the importance of
setting up and surveillance teams and contact tracing despite
what seemed like overwhelming odds in the early days.
Building on a technique that was used during the Liberian civil
war, he divided communities like West Point, into zones to help
ensure that everybody received food and other vital supplies.
He also recruited hundreds of volunteers to act as surveillance
teams and case finders.
Impressed by his efforts to organize a community response,
UNDP Liberia secured funding to employ 5,000 Active
Case Finders (ACFs) to scour Montserrado County, which
encompasses Monrovia and its outskirts, for people showing
signs and symptoms of the disease. The ACFs were drawn from
the local community, so they spoke the local dialect and were
trusted.
It is essential to build trust in the community, explained Dr.
Fallah, With no trust, no one will give information and it is
impossible to trace contacts.
Communities that are adequately empowered can engage in
a surprisingly effective fight against Ebola or any other public
health fight.
On the sidelines of this event, is the build up to the adoption of the
new development agenda, Transforming Our World: the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. Science, Technology and
Innovations (STIs) are at the heart beat of the new development
goals. To the extent, a major achievement of the recently
adopted Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), an outcome of the
3rd International Conference on Financing for Development is
Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM) which is expected to
be launched on 26 September 2015.
This has been widely recognized as one of the more substantial
outcomes. The mechanism, which will encourage the
development, dissemination and diffusion and transfer of
environmentally sound technologies to developing countries,
is designed to support all the SDGs and will include an online
global platform to bring together STI best practices.
The Social Good Summit in Liberia will also be used as
opportunity for experts to expand on Liberias domestication
of the SDGs and the Common Africa Position. Participants are
drawn from the government, media, communities, as well as
academic and technical institutions.

NO LIBERIAN CASUALTY IN HAJJ STAMPEDE

Monrovia he
embassy
of
Liberia in Riyadh,
the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia says no
Liberians were killed during
last weeks stampede which
killed 717 people during the
Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Causes of the tragedy range
from: pilgrims rushing to
complete the rituals, heat,
masses of faithful pushing
against each other in
opposite directions, even
confusion among the many
first-timers on the annual
Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
More than two million
Muslims from around the
world traveled to Saudi
Arabia for the Hajj, a
pilgrimage that all Muslims
who have the financial and

physical ability make at some

point in their lives.
The millions of people must
perform a litany of rituals
in five days, including the
symbolic stoning of the devil
in Mina, about 2 miles away
from the Mecca holy site.
It was at the Mecca holy site
that a deadly stampede took
place last Thursday, the third
day of the five-day event.
Officials say 717 people died
and 900 were injured.
The stampeded has spurred
condemnation from around
the world over the Saudis
handling of the pilgrimage. On
Saturday, Iran's semiofficial
FARS news agency said that
131 Iranians were among the
dead. Another 365 remained
missing, the state-run IRNA
news
agency
reported,

cautioning against assuming

they have died.
The dead were from at least
13 nations including: Iran:
at least 134; Morocco: 87
(media reports); Cameroon:
at least 20; Niger: at least 19;
India: 18; Egypt: 37; Pakistan:
11; Chad: 11; Somalia: 8
(media reports); Senegal:
5; Algeria: 4; Tanzania:
4; Turkey: 4; Indonesia:
3; Kenya: 3; Nigeria: 3;
Netherlands: 1, Burundi: 1;
Other nationalities (numbers
not yet known): Benin
A statement from the Liberian
embassy in Riyadh said the
embassy wishes to joins the
millions other institutions
in the kingdom and around
the world to express sincere
condolences to the custodian
of the two holy mosques, the

people and the kingdom of

Saudi Arabia as well as to the
nations that lost their citizens
during this terrible event and
to pray for the souls of the
departed to rest in perpetual
peace in paradise. The
embassy wishes to inform
that none of the almost one
hundred Liberian pilgrims
(including ambassador Dr.
Brahima D. Kaba) who made
it to mecca this year was
involved in the accident and
all of our pilgrims are safe.
The Liberian pilgrims have by
now completed all the main
steps of their pilgrimage
duties and are expected to
complete the remaining ones
by mid October at which
time they are expected to
return home.

FrontPage
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VOL 9 NO.150

Sports

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

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