TOP CORRUPTION pg 5 STORIES WATCH

Law & Order

The 4th LEITI Summary report, the report stated States: In the revenue tracking section of the report, a discrepancy of US$100, 000 was found in funds collected from African Petroleum during the transfer of funds from National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) to the Ministry of Finance (MoF). Additionally, US$230,000 discrepancy was also found between NOCAL and the University of Liberia.

200K DISCREPANCIES IN ONE YEAR

'MERCENARY CASE NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED'

State Witness Testifies

pg 5

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

FrontPage

BUYING TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014 MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2014 TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2014 L$86.00/US$1 L$87.00/US$1 L$87.00/US$1

SELLING L$87.00/US$1 L$88.00/US$1 L$88.00/US$1

www.frontpageafricaonline.com

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

VOL 8 NO.584

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

PRICE L$40

GUIDING LIBERIA
"I am proud to launch the Liberia National Trade Policy 2014-2019 and the Liberia National Export Strategy 2014-2019. These two documents outline the Liberian Governments strategy for creating inclusive growth through trade competitiveness.The trade policy serves as the Governments overarching strategy for trade steering the country towards regional integration into ECOWAS and multilateral integration into the World Trade Organization." - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberias President.
BUSINESS pg. 6a

POST-WAR NATION LAUNCHES NATIONAL EXPORT STRATEGY AND NATIONAL TRADE POLICY

INSIDE

WHATS NEXT FOR ZIONS 880 GRADUATES?

MORE BRAINS, LESS JOBS

pg 6b

THINGS WILL GET BETTER

Bong Lawmaker Thrilled District 3 Residents with School Project
pg 7

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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

I do not know the details of the contract at the police academy. But I do not think the likes of Ms. Gardner are entrepreneurs. These are people who are using the patronage system nurtured by Sirleaf to get money out of the system by any means and at any cost possible. As Auditor General, I documented through letters, investigations and audit reports from the so-called close friends of the President who established businesses only to get specific contract to get money out of the government coffers. It would be nice to know the past performance of Gardners business and if whether before Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ms. Gardner was ever able to obtain a government contract. I will not be surprised if the Police Academy contract is not her only or single most important contract in Liberia. - John S. Morlu, II , Former GAC BOSS

Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com

In Gardners case, the Kitchen Cabinet official admits using Sirleaf as a vehicle to accomplish her goals and showed no remorse as she boasted how many of her critics are jealous of her going after free government money. For those of your who sit down all day and plan how not to work and get free money, keep it up, thats why your butts gonna sit down broke and be begging people in the night for money to go do what your go do with it. But some of us here, we do work hard for our little two cents and we enjoy spending it. I enjoy spending my money too. Gardner went on to say that she would change nothing if she had the chance to do it all over again. I am proud of the job I have done going on for the past four years for the police. Ask them, they will tell you. I am a very professional woman, I did more than they even asked me to do and I will do it all over again and I will sign any doggone contract I want to sign and do my job. Government pays me, government pays me If I give a price to the government, government feels say, oooh that money too much, fine, no problem. Sirleafs reluctance to hold her officials feet to the fire is a far cry from her pledge upon election in January 2006 when she said: We know that if we are to achieve our economic and income distribution goals, we must take on forcibly and effectively the debilitating cancer of corruption. Corruption erodes faith in government because of the mismanagement and misapplication of public resources. It weakens accountability, transparency and justice. Corruption short changes and undermines key decision and policy making processes. It stifles private investments which create jobs and assures support from our partners. Corruption is a national cancer that creates hostility, distrust, and anger. Added Sirleaf: In this respect, I will lead by example. I will expect and demand that everyone serving in my Administration leads by example. In contrast, many of those in Sirleaf government, official or unofficial have undermined Sirleafs 2006 pronouncements, especially regarding the issue of assets declaration. UN Chief Cites Integrity Lapses UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon agrees. In his 27th report to the Security Council in March, the UN chief indicated that while some measures have been taken to improve transparency and accountability in Liberia, follow-through on cases of possible corruption remained weak. According to the UN Secretary General in October 2013, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission released its second report on the verification of assets of presidential appointees where of the 77 officials audited, 25 were found to have made truthful declarations, 22 were judged uncooperative and 30 were found to have misrepresented their assets or did not complete the exercise. Sirleaf promised in 06: :The first testament of how my Administration will tackle public service corruption will be that everyone appointed to high positions of public trust, such as in the Cabinet and heads of public corporations, will be required to declare their assets. I will be the first to comply, and I will call upon the Honorable Speaker and President Pro-Temps to say that they comply. My Administration will also accord high priority to the formulation and passage into law of a National Code of Conduct, to which all public servants will be subjected. Six years later in 2012, persistent complaints from the LACC led Sirleaf to suspend 45 government officials, including her son, for failing to declare their assets to anti-corruption authorities. Her son, Charles Sirleaf, one of three of the presidents sons appointed to government posts, was suspended from his position as Deputy Central Bank Governor. But the international commendation and media attention the move garnered soon fizzled with more problems of key presidential aides and higher-ups reneging on the responsibilities to cooperate with integrity institutions. Today, integrity institutions viewed as the first wall in the war against corruption are finding it difficult. The once-powerful GAC has been watered down, the LACC is still searching for teeth to implement and the PPCC remains on the fringes of neglect despite some inroads and very little resources to put procurement and concessions mishaps in check. The PPPC I under constant threat from officials under the guise of the presidents friends. Caution from UNDP The lapses are getting the attention of the international community. Yvonne Wolo, addressing a recent UNDP-funded project, Strengthen Transparency Accountability Oversight and Participation(STAOP), in March, warned that unless Liberians turned away from corrupt practices by embracing the procurement reform program, the country will remain underdeveloped. For Morlu, the problem lies in the presidents circle of friends. Has the media ever stop to ask why close friends of the president are all turning businessmen and women overnight? Could it be possible that they serving as conduits for channeling money for well positioned people in government and that the new business people are the biggest loop hole in the asset declaration scheme in Liberia? The likes of Adelaide Gardner do not work in government so they do not have to declare assets and so can be the perfect vehicle for cleaning ill-gotten wealth. From USA to former Soviet Republics to Liberia, I learned how people clean ill-gotten wealth. So nothing will happen to the likes of Gardnerthey are just tasting the cream at the top, they are not the real deal. You wait for January 16, 2018 and Morlu and others will be back chasing down the monies being taking from Liberians.

Monrovia or months now compliance inspectors from the Public Procurement Concessions Commission have been struggling to gain access to records at the National Port Authority in hopes of performing review and monitoring activities in line with the PCCC Act 2010. Section 5 (a) of the PPC Act mandates the Commission to monitor compliance with the Act by all parties and persons to whom it applies. Consistent with this mandate, the Commission undertook the following monitoring exercises: At the Liberia National Police Training Academy, Adelaide Gardner, a member of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleafs Kitchen Cabinet, used her unofficial capacity to bulldoze her way through a catering contract, using the Presidents name and, according to LNP sources, intimidating commandants at the academy into withdrawing a qualified bid winner and declaring Gardner the winner. Gardner, according to information and documents in possession of FrontPageAfrica, succeeded in being awarded the contract for the provision of catering services to the NPTA for about three consecutive years, prior to the current fiscal period. Highly-placed sources tell FrontPageAfrica that the NPTA was set to award the catering contract to Rose M. Wang (Garden Restaurant), recorded to be the only bidder with healthy values and who, sources say, quoted a price lower than that of Ms. Gardner. FrontPageAfrica has also learned that some commandants had reservations about giving the catering contract to Gardner especially after the PPCC had been notified that Rose M. Wang (Garden Restaurant) had won the bid. Gardner Threatened Dismissal, Got, Source Says In addition to prying the contract away from Wang, Gardner, according to LNP sources, fulfilled her threats to a commanding officer at the academy who was against the decision to award her the contract, that she would make sure that they lost their jobs. Gardner had the last laugh, and the last say, sources say. Commandant Alphonso Samukai was replaced in March by William K. Mulbah. Some government insiders believe the public embarrassment brought on Sirleaf by someone so close to her could have been avoided had those behind Gardner not been so persistent in pressing her along to secure the contract in alleged contravention of the procurement regulations. Those efforts came close to succeeding on January 14, this year when Gardner and some higher-ups in the police prevailed on Sirleaf to pay a visit to the PPCC office. At the time, Director Peggy Varfley Meres was reportedly out of the country and Gardner and others were hoping to use her absence to sign off on the deal, which they did. The Executive Mansion would later report on its website that Sirleaf, during that visit to the PPCC in January to discuss difficulties faced by public entities in implementing projects in "this critical Dry Season period, did not see the Chairman of the Board, the Executive Director nor any of the Commissioners. During her visit to the PPCC, the President, according to the Executive Mansion, requested the Commissioners to be more mindful of their duties by working more frequently with staff rather than only on a quarterly basis. The President called upon them to be mindful that project implementation is highest in the Dry Season, and to cooperate with all public entities rather than be obstacles. The President also noted that recognizing that entities had the responsibility in submitting their Cash and Procurement Plans and meeting other provisions of the Public Procurement Law, pointed out that she expects the PPCC to provide full assistance to entities that do not fully understand the laws or have limited capacity. Then came the shocker: The President closed the meeting by warning that if anyone duly obstructs the implementation of the administration's development projects during this critical period, they will be removed from their position, the Executive Mansion quoted the president as saying. Interfering with Integrity Bodies What followed after the presidents departure was a 4-G signing of the controversial Adelaide Gardner catering deal now in the spotlight. Many observers say the fact that the president went to the PPCC, on the urging of Gardner, created an aura of fear among top academy brass and opened a floodgate for other non-compliance institutions now are using her visit as a crutch to get approvals and circumvent the process. It makes it hard for integrity institutions to do their jobs when everyone is running to the president to complain about the process. Said a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity this week. Many cite the Gardner example as a clear case where someone with access to the president used that influence to change the outcome and interfere in legitimate government procurement matters. It is a concern some heralded when James Verdier, the new chair of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission(LACC) hit home when he vowed to resign his post, if Sirleaf or any senior officials of government interferes with the functions of the Commission as a way of impeding the execution of his responsibilities.

While Verdier has proclaimed that asset recovery would be a key focus when investigating alleged acts of corruption, many see his declaration as a herculean task and almost impossible to accomplish due to what many Liberians and international partners believe is the lack of political will on the part of the Sirleaf-led government. Verdiers predecessor, Frances Johnson-Allison hit a brick wall whenever she released a report bringing senior administration officials or close presidential aides to book. The LACC under Allisons watch hooked the NPA Managing Director Matilda Parker and one of her deputies for making false declaration of their assets, with the LACC describing their action an intentional material misrepresentation and unexplained wealth accumulation while serving in government. The aftermath of the findings drew angry response from the NPA and Parker who publicly ridicule the integrity body. The response drew no reaction from the Executive Mansion validating perceptions held by the political will is lacking in the Sirleaf government. Allison said at the time, that Parker declared under oath the value of a storey building under construction at US$15,000 which the LACC verification team doubted and a reevaluation was ordered and was funded by Madam Zeon and the same house was revalued at US$51,200. This is a clear indication of a glaring and intentional misrepresentation of the facts while under oath which is in violation of the laws of Liberia, the LACC Chairman noted. Commenting on National Port Authority Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, the LACC boss iterated that Miss Matilda Parker embarked on a campaign of misrepresentation from the beginning of the process to the end of the process. Four Years after the departure of John S. Morlu II, former Auditor General of the Republic of Liberia, integrity institutions like the General Auditing Commission, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the Public Procurement Concessions Commission have been struggling to make inroads due to interference from higher-ups. Morlu appears to have been the lone ranger that even the President was unable to control, perhaps due to his own strengths and his in your face attitude, and the vast support he had from international partners including America and the European Union. This is where the task of implementing integrity becomes murky for integrity institutions powerless to enforce ruling in the absence of political will. FPA contacted the former Auditor General to ask him about some of the new reports of fraud and procurement irregularities. Gardner Milking Patronage System, Morlu Says Said Morlu: I do not know the details of the contract at the police academy. But I do not think the likes of Ms. Gardner are entrepreneurs. These are people who are using the patronage system nurtured by Sirleaf to get money out of the system by any means and at any cost possible. As Auditor General, I documented through letters, investigations and audit reports from the so-called close friends of the President who established businesses only to get specific contract to get money out of the government coffers. It would be nice to know the past performance of Gardners business and if whether before Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ms. Gardner was ever able to obtain a government contract. I will not be surprised if the Police Academy contract is not her only or single most important contract in Liberia. Added Morlu: The truth be told, these people are not risk takers, they are getting free contracts from the government through using their influential positions without any demonstrable track record of past performance. Morlu further stated: There are many ways to launder money. One of the ways in Liberia is to have close friends create businesses that can be used to clean ill-gotten wealth. This is why we are telling people in US Government to examine the businesses being created by politically exposed people in Liberia, especially tracking and documenting the flow of money from their businesses into various accounts abroad. In USA, drug dealers launder their money by creating vending machine business or nightclubs where they literally sell things at below market just to create room to clean illegal money. Integrity Fighters, Dont be Afraid, Morlu Says Morlu closed : I do not blame the likes of Gardner. People like me where chased out. By now, I would used the powerful provisions granted in law to launch an immediate forensic investigation just as the Comptroller General does in USA where there is reported fraud in procurement. Go and read US GAOs website and see his many opinions on procurement disputes. Like private auditing firms and a growing list of Auditors General around the world, we created a 22-member forensic audit team at the GAC who were trained with EUs money. The purpose was for the Forensic team to investigate or follow up on these kinds of newspaper reports, as more than 70% of fraud cases are reported first through the media. But again, people do not want to lose their jobs by taking the fight to the doorsteps of even the President, as I was willing and prepared to do each time. People heading integrity institutions must not be afraid for being fired. They will find work somewhere else.

FrontPage EDITORIAL
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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Frontpage

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COMMENTARY

FRIENDS LIKE GARDNER BAD FOR SIRLEAFS IMAGE, LEGACY

Adelaide Gardners rants, Liberia Telecommunications Authoritys assault on the media, clearly suggest that those advising President Sirleaf are determined to ensure that she ranks right up there with the likes of Samuel Doe, Charles Taylor and Robert Mugabe.
THE WORLD IS PREPARING to observe another World Press Freedom Day. This year. Theme is Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the Post-2015 Development Agenda. LIBERIA, A SIGNATORY to the Table Mountain Declaration boasts a President, in Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who has won the Nobel Peace Prize, for her non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work". SIRLEAF SHARED the prize with fellow Leymah Gbowee. Other recipient of the coveted Nobel Prize over the years, include Dr. Martin Luther King, President Barack Obama, Mahatma Ghandi. THE PRESIDENT has also been honored as a recipient of the Friend of the Media in Africa Award from The African Editor's Union. SHORTLY AFTER her election in 2006, Sirleaf was honored by the Hunger Project at a fanfare gala in New York, during which Joan Holmes, founding president of the project, praised the commitment of Sirleaf to the empowerment of women, and to rebuilding her nation following 14 years of devastating civil war. CITING THE ENORMOUS destruction of the war, Ms. Holmes said: "Can you imagine the courage it would take, the vision it would take, and the belief in the goodness and resilience of people it would take to lead a country with this amount of devastation? We have always said that we award the Africa Prize to leaders who exhibit courage, vision and the commitment to the well-being of Africas people. This statement has never been more true than in the case of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf." THIS IS WHY we are particularly concerned over the manner in which President Sirleaf is allowing her so-called friends to wreak havoc on what she took 40 years to build, a political life and the world at her feet. SADLY, THE PRESIDENTS lack of political will is giving reason for the world to lose confidence in her leadership and donors to lose faith and trust in her ability to lead a nation emerging from war. THIS HAS BEEN bolstered by actions and statements by many of the presidents close friends and associates. THE LATEST involves Ms. Adelaide Gardner who used her weekly talk show with Mr. Charles Snetter to take aim at the media and advocate for the government to shut down radio stations in the country. SAID MS. GARDNER: Its time for LTA(the Liberia Telecommunications Authority) to act against illegal operators. Too many doggone radio stations. LTA, I must admit, havent been vigilant. So maybe this is the whole thing. If you(LTA) were really checking on these people to see whose broadcasting and for what reason and information whose supposed to be giving out licenses, all this stuff wouldnt be happening. And why some of them want to start a radio station to do what, to attack the government? Your sit down and let it happen? For what? CONTINUED GARDNER: Im sure they got some kind of guidelines for people opening radio stations and you cant just get on the air and start attacking the government and start talking all that mess there. What you want say, freedom of speech? We got it now in Liberia but I give your two and a half more years, your will see whether your will get it MS. GARDNERS rants against the media from someone considered to be an influential member of the presidents kitchen Cabinet validates the fears many had last week when the LTA announced that it would begin shutting down so-called delinquent radio stations and media institutions. THE LTA inappropriately used the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism(MICAT) weekly press briefing to throw a bummer, threatening to shut down radio and Television stations, it considers illegally operating. "There are some radio stations that are operating without any reference to the LTA whatsoever, they are illegal, and those entities we will shut you down completely," LTA Commissioner of the Licensing, regulations Anthony McCritty warned. MCCRITTY FAILED to name the radio and Television stations the LTA considers illegal and intend to close but one of those frequencies happened to belong to Mr. Henry Costa, host of the Costa Morning Show on FM 102.7 who has been served by the LTA with the blessings of the Ministry of Information. MS. GARDNERS RANTS and the LTAs assault on the media clearly suggest that those advising President Sirleaf are determined to ensure that she ranks right up there with the likes of Samuel Doe, Charles Taylor and Robert Mugabe. IRONICALLY, THE VERY STATION Ms. Gardner is now using to air

AHEAD OF WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY, PRESIDENT MAY WANT TO RETHINK ASSOCIATION WITH THOSE IN HER INNER CIRCLE

Commentary CITIZENS PATRIOTIC ROLE VS THE LIBERIAN GOVERNMENTS RESPONSIBILITIES TO ITS CITIZENS: THE CASE OF THE FOUR SHOT LIBERIANS IN TURKEY
Nat Bayjay, nbayjay2010@gmail.com (231-777-402737 & 231-886-402737)
Dr. Davutoglu to visit Turkey at which time detailed information on the methodology and procedures for successfully accessing a US$200 million annual Turkish grant for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) will be concluded. With that fund, Liberia will be able to finance technical cooperation projects and human capital development through scholarships while other pertinent bilateral issues will be discussed. In all honesty, it is also important to note here that this identical situation has proved how our government can be sensitive to the plight of its citizens in the midst of so much to do. And while it is true that it would be unfair to characterize as fortunate the attention being shown the victimized Liberians because they have the constitutional rights to be protected by their government, it is also worth mentioning here how many Liberians in the Diaspora have been engulfed with similar and probably worst situations than the one the Turkey-based Liberians just experienced. Liberians, who are scattered in all corners of the globe due to the civil war, have continued to encounter problems of all sorts in their respective countries of refugee or survival. Such ranges from immigration to social and economic problems. The most frequent among them were the repeated run-ins of Liberian refugees with their respective host countries, noticeable among them being with Ghanaian authorities in Ghana on several occasions that sometimes resulted into deaths. Condemnations against Government ran parallel to these incidents. In other parts of the world, like the United States where thousands of Liberians reside, Liberians there are either shot in cross-fire incidences while in other Asian nations like Malaysia and Thailand, there are reported news of the ill-treatment of Liberians aside from the reported news of their alleged illegal activities that may result into some of these incidences. The above speaks to Governments huge challenge of protecting its citizens outside of the country. The absence of Liberian diplomatic missions or consulates in most of these countries as a result of financial constraints and constant budgetary shortfalls, and the refusal of unsettled and immigration-weighted Liberians in the Diaspora inspite of calls to return home if you are not doing well in whatever country will continue to be burdens for the governments efforts to adequately cater to its citizens outside Liberia. For instance, even in the midst of their troubles, the four shot Liberians in Turkey are demanding to be treated in a third country outside Turkey, eventhough the Turkish government has agreed to help them medically and seek justice. That is according to the Liberian dispatched envoy there. With these said, I think if Liberians would continue to show more concerns for our compatriots (here and outside the country) more constructively void of the unusual politics that would warrant governments prompt response and interventions even in the midst of all of its challenges, we would be stepping our patriotism to another level. Thanks to those who kept the pressure on but a million thanks to the government for swift intervention while even heightening LiberianTurkish relations. About the Author: Nat Bayjay is a Media Consultant/Communication specialist. Doubling as a PUL Best Investigative & Best Environmental Journalist in 2011, Bayjay uses his journalistic profession to always highlight issues in the country including political, economical and socio issues through in-depth articles and news analyses. Hes reachable on: nbayjay2010@gmail.com/0777-402737.

ollowing the trend of recent events relative to the four Liberians who were shot in Turkey vis--vis the Liberian Governments responsibilities to its citizens, I have personally drawn two key impressions from this particular scenario. First and foremost, the situation is one that clearly shows how love and concern among fellow countrymen may have grown to another level as exhibited by the mounting concerns Liberians have been showing since the ugly shooting scenario took place. Of course, the obvious condemnations have been going along with it; condemnations in twofold of citizens condemning national government for doing little or nothing and the condemnation on the other front that many are quickly politicizing the situation unnecessarily at the deliberate ignoring of the governments efforts. Whether some have been politicizing the situation for their own unusual political game or just understandably showing love and concern for their compatriots facing such a difficult situation in a faraway country, Liberians have in a united front shown patriotism in urging the government to show love for their injured brothers and sisters in a foreign land. But I have also gathered, on the other hand, that the Government which is usually caught in the midst of many priorities has been swift in responding to the needs of its trapped and ailing citizens. Not only that, the Governments immediate quest of seeking justice for the four Liberians and providing care and other efforts have shown how the Government can still go extra miles in responding to such emergency needs for its citizens. The four Liberians-Bemore N. Toe, Patience Roberts, Deddeh Simmonds and Blessing Vinton-were shot by an unknown gunman at a coffee shop located in Sisli Mecediyeko around the Trump Tower in Istanbul in Turkey. Laudable in what some may call a rigmarole situation are Liberians concern for their brothers and sisters equally being matched with the governments instant response and intervention that are now bringing relief to the seriously wounded Liberians. The Government, through the Foreign Ministry, immediately demanded an explanation and inquiry from the Turkish authorities about the shooting of its citizens. Fortunately, the Turkish Government through its Foreign Minister Professor Dr. Ahmet Daavutoglu via a telephone conversation with Liberias Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan responded sharply with assurances of doing so. Still not complacent with that, the Liberian Government moved on to dispatching a veteran ambassador, Senior Ambassador-At-Large Marcus Koffa toTurkey. Additionally, the Governments full sponsorship of a family member of the victims to Istanbul further demonstrated its overwhelming determination in seeking the welfare of its troubled citizens in Turkey. Now with reports emulating from Turkey via Ambassador Koffa that the relevant Turkish authorities (the Turkish Ministries of Justice, Internal Affairs and Health) are collaborating on resolving the issue, Liberians at home and everywhere have all reasons to be rest assured that our compatriots medical predicament and welfare are being remedied while justice is knocking on the door of whoever the perpetrator is. Inspite of it all, bilateral relations between the pair continue to improve. Infact, Turkish-Liberian relations have even heightened as that European-Asian nation continues its firm relations with Liberia. For instance, the fruit of a sidelined discussion during the last African Union (AU) Summit between them will soon be reaped when Foreign Minister Ngafuan honors an invitation from his Turkish counterpart, Professor
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her rants and anti-media insults, fell prey to acts she is now advocating, under the brutal regime of Charles Taylor. DURING THAT ugly period, several other stations endured similar issues. Star Radio was subject to government pressure. On January 7, 1998, the Taylor government closed Star Radio citing illegal use of frequencies as reason although Star Radio and Radio Monrovia had a time sharing contract. After pressure from foreign governments, Star Radio was able to regain the air waves. In October 1998, the Liberian government withdrew the short wave licenses of Star Radio and Roman Catholic Radio Veritas. Nonetheless, based on a 1999 survey, there were approximately 400,000 people listening to Star Radio FM because of its independent reporting. ON MARCH 15, 2000, the government closed down both Star Radio and Radio Veritas. President Taylor cited "outside influence" and "outside money" as reasons and attacked Star Radios internet news service as being biased against Liberian interests. It is said that Taylor was not only dissatisfied with the existence of independent media but even more dissatisfied with the poor performance of his own media in the ratings. CITING THE CONSTITUTION, the Catholic Church filed a lawsuit against the government it has the right under the constitution to own and operate a shortwave station in the country. Article 15, Sections a, b and c of the Liberian Constitution state: a) Every person shall have the right to freedom of expression, being fully responsible for the abuse thereof this right shall not be curtailed, restricted or enjoined by government save during an emergency declared in accordance with the Constitution. b) The right encompasses the right to hold opinions without interference and the right to acknowledge. It includes freedom of speech and of the press, academic freedom to receive and impact knowledge and information and the right of libraries to make such knowledge available. It includes noninterference with the use of the mail, telephone and telegraph. It likewise includes the right to remain silent. c) In pursuance of this right, there shall be no limitation on the public right to be informed about the government and its functionaries.

AS WE CELEBRATE ANOTHER World Press Freedom Day, we hope that the Sirleaf administration and the likes of Ms. Gardner and the LTA will take time to reflect on where Liberia has come. The so-called antigovernment stations today reflect the anger many are feeling because the wealth and resources are not being felt by those languishing at the bottom of the economic ladder. PERHAPS IF the president can exhibit the political will and muster the courage international organizations once believed she possessed, those so-called anti-government and illegal stations and media entities will have nothing to say or write. WE AGREE WITH UNESCO that this years World Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, it is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. WE ALSO agree with UNESCO that Freedom of information is a fundamental human right and the touchstone of all the freedoms to which the United Nations is consecrated. A UN RESOLUTION adopted by the General Assembly on December 14th 1946 was right in declaring that Freedom of information implies the right to gather, transmit and publish news anywhere and everywhere without fetters. As such it is an essential factor in any serious effort to promote the peace and progress of the world. LIBERIA HAS COME so far and been through so much. We must not allow anything, anyone or any repressed forces to take us back down the painful path that led us to war. Tolerance is crucial to Liberias post-war survival. Lack of these virtues and values, is all the recipe one would need to ensure any but a peaceful transition from war to peace, especially in the aftermath of UN peacekeepers from Liberias still fragile soil.

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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB

Send your letters and comments to: editor@frontpageafricaonline.com

The Reader's Page

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

COMMENTS FROM FPA ONLINE

BENJAMEN QUAYE TOP COMMENTER UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA Why all the foul language from Ms. Gardener? The woman sounds unintelligent and then dresses up her ignorance with condescension. I would think she would respond to the allegation of contract fraud, not how she's living or spends her money. If Ms. Gardener feels she has options, and her current life style is not supported by fleecing the government, let the contract be awarded to the rightful bid winner. I think the LACC and the GAC should launch an investigation into whether the contract was unlawfully awarded to Ms. Gardener. GEORGE KANNEH EMPLOYED TULAY WORKS AT SELF-

This woman has no home training. She is uncivilized and a blight on our Proud Mothers of Liberia. Rude woman. She epitomizes the disdain the President and her people have for Liberians. She has zero respect for us. I used to wonder why would a man like Charles Snetter doing with her on a radio show? I now know the answer, she vocalizes his innate biases and bigotry. Nonsense pe. GEORGE ALONZO KAMARA TOP COMMENTER CEO & FOUNDER AT PRIMECOMPUTERSSTORE.COM if your best friend is proud of appointing criminal lawyer in her government, and then bringing you in to give you one million US dollars contract just to cook fish cup with drink of water fill for the police, and then you turn around and by coming on radio Monrovia to tell the public that you are not ashamed and you are proud of what you are doing? God will punish you and your entire generation for life. Know wonder why those police are also engage in criminal activities, cause they cannot eat good food. So they have to crook some body else out there for it. This president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf isn't ashamed as well, she is also proud of appointing her corrupt friends to steal from the Liberian people. But your days are Numbers, we will make sure that we bring all these criminal empire indeviduals to justice so that they can account for our country resources/money. JOHN GBOMO TOP COMMENTER (SIGNED IN USING HOTMAIL) No offence George and you made some good points, but enough is enough already! Ive had enough with us invoking God into every conceivable mess we find ourselves. Its equivalent to taking Gods name in vain, which scripture speaks against. To think that every man-made mess we find ourselves requires His mighty hand to bring relief is delusional. The problems we are faced with in this country are man-made and therefore will require mans ingenuity to resolve them. Why? Because God has given us that ability as we were inherently made that way. Remember we are made in His image. If this is true then certainly we do possess the intelligence to dig ourselves out of the pit we dug ourselves into to begin with. Why would God rescue us every time we find ourselves in a mess? There are times that we really need God and He steps in for ...the rescue and there are times He does not because He knows we can do it, we just need to find the courage. It is high time we start using His name only when is needed and not when it is expedient! This country went through nearly 15 years of civil conflict with thousands of lives lost, not to mention lost properties in the process, and one would think that lessons were learned. Its been nearly 11 years after the ensue peace following the conflict Liberians have not learned neither have they changed. Our leaders are worse than their predecessors. Theyve forgotten quickly the reasons the country went through a protracted civil conflict. Maybe this is still a teaching moment for the nationBecause we can pray and invoke the name of God all year long Hes not coming to our rescue until we change and awaken that God given spirit within us! Liberians will have to be willing to want a true change for it to come about... DASH S. WILSON TOP COMMENTER WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY Adelaide Gardner sounds no different from the late dangerous, bad tempered, arrogant and notorious Frank Emmanuel Tolbert, who was the oldest brother of president William Richard Tolbert. As we spend our time reading the history of Liberia we take notes on some of these misfits that come to government and with connection to the power that be think they are above the law. Gardner is nothing but a mess. She's calling taxpayers "FOOLS" at the same time using their resources. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will soon be out of office, these criminals should be brought to justice for corruption.
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica

The Editor, Let the protest demonstrations for our political and economic freedom begin. We all know the problems in Liberia. The time for action is now. And so these few passages from one of the greatest freedom fighters in modern human history, from his historic Letter from a Birmingham, Alabama, USA jail written on April 16, 1963, and I hope it would spur us to action. "But more basically, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds. You deplore the demonstrations taking place in Birmingham. But your statement, I am sorry to say, fails to express a similar concern for the conditions that brought about the demonstrations. I am sure that none of you would want to rest content with the superficial kind of social analysis that deals merely with the effects and does not grapple with underlying causes. It is unfortunate that demonstrations are taking place in Birmingham, but it is even more unfortunate that the city's white power structure left the Negro community with no alternative. In any nonviolent campaign there are FOUR basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustice exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action. We have gone through all these steps in Birmingham. There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community. These are the hard, brutal facts of the case. On the basis of these conditions, Negro leaders sought to negotiate with the city fathers. But the latter consistently refused to engage in good faith negotiation. You may well ask: "Why direct action? Why sit ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path?" You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gaffes to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. The purpose of our direct action program is to create a situation so crisis packed that it will inevitably open

"WAIT" HAS ALMOST ALWAYS MEANT "NEVER."

YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!

the door to negotiation. We know through painful experience that FREEDOM is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct action campaign that was "well timed" in the view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word "WAIT!" It rings in the ears of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This "WAIT" has almost always meant "NEVER." We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists that "justice too long delayed is justice denied." We have waited for more than 340 years for our constitutional and God given rights. Perhaps it is easy for those who have not felt the stinging darts of segregation to say, "WAIT." Now, how does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is man-made that squares with moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. Any law that uplifts human personality is a just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application. For instance, I have been arrested on a charge of parading without a permit. Now, there is nothing wrong in having an ordinance which requires a permit for a parade. But such ordinance becomes unjust when it is used to maintain segregation--(in the case of Liberia to maintain and perpetuate in power a corrupt and repressive regime that constantly violates the laws and constitution)-and to deny citizens the First-Amendment privilege of peaceful assembly and protest. One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I must submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law. Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for FREEDOM eventually manifests itself. Yours for the cause of Peace and Brotherhood, Martin Luther King, Jr." Need more, Liberians? The Ellen-led regime has met several conditions that justify the need for our nonviolent direction action demonstrations: corruption, injustice, human rights abuses and the suppression of free speech. We call on Kofi Woods, Henry Costa, Rodney Sieh, civil society leaders, the clergy, students and underpaid teachers, healthcare workers, the unemployed, market women to take heed from the wisdom of Dr. KING and Mandela's "No Easy Walk To Freedom" to help free the suffering people of Liberia. Talk is cheap; we need action. And US President Barack Obama will support our nonviolent protests for regime. It is possible in Liberia. Jerry Wehtee Wion

DISCLAIMER

Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666; 077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com; rodney.sieh@FrontPageAfricaonline.com Wade C. L. Williams, News Desk Chief, wade. williams@frontpageafricaonline.com; 0880664793 Francis F.B. Mulbah, Layout Editor; 0886639382 REPORTERS Sports Editor, Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@ frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886236528 Henry Karmo, henry.karmo@frontpageafricaonline. com Al-varney Rogers al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline. com, 0886-304498

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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

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Monrovia:

The 4th LEITI Summary report, the report stated States: In the revenue tracking section of the report, a discrepancy of US$100, 000 was found in funds collected from African Petroleum during the transfer of funds from National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) to the Ministry of Finance (MoF). Additionally, US$230,000 discrepancy was also found between NOCAL and the University of Liberia.

200K DISCREPANCIES IN ONE YEAR

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CORRUPTION WATCH

'MERCENARY CASE NOT POLITICALLY MOTIVATED'

State Witness Testifies
Kennedy L. Yangian kennedylyangian @frontpagefricaonline.com 077296781

Frontpage

Page 5

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LAW & ORDER

iberia faces daunting challengesdeplorable infrastructure, below par education sector, appalling health conditions and many other challenges but the revenue generation mechanism is poor with leakages in tax collection and collection of other revenues. From the extractive industry alone, a report released by the Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LEITI) for the period July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011 has uncovered discrepancies between payments made by companies in the mining, oil, agriculture and forestry sector to the Government of Liberia and amounts received by the Government through institutions. In the LEITI 4th Summary report, the report stated in the revenue tracking section of the report, a discrepancy of US$100, 000 was found in funds collected from African Petroleum during the transfer of funds from National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) to the Ministry of Finance (MoF). Additionally, US$230,000 discrepancy was also found between NOCAL and the University of Liberia. Overall, the LEITI report indicated that in the payment reconciliation section of the report, an amount of US$278,904 was discovered as the total discrepancy during the period covering the report. Stated the LEITI report, In the payment reconciliation section of the report, we found a negligible 0.24% discrepancy, amounting to US$278,904 out of a total of US$117,802,566.90 received by the Government of Liberia. Multiple TINs pose challenge Tax Identification Number which is a unique feature used to identify a specific tax payer is one issue the LEITI indicated is obstructing effective scrutiny of financial

Samson S. Tokpah, Head of Secretariat, LEITI

records of companies. LEITI indicated that some companies submitted reporting using multiple Tax Identification Numbers which proved difficult to scrutinize. Several companies submitted reports using multiple TINs, obstructing effective scrutiny of their financial records. The MoF should ensure that all company tax fillings occur under a single TIN, LEITI stated. The total amount paid by companies in the extractive industry during the period amounted to US$117,802,566.90, the LEITI report indicated. The report questioned issues of accountability during the submission of reporting templates by some of the companies wherein it observed that in some instances there was no external auditor attestation of the templates reported for verification. Issue of accountability arose upon submission of reporting templates: eight companies (12%) submitted reports without an external auditor attestation. Further, twelve companies heads did not attest to their companies submission, non LICPA Certified Auditors attested to six companies templates, the report noted. The LEITI report summarizes key findings from the payment, amount due and revenue tracking processes between the government of Liberia and all mining, oil, agriculture, and forestry companies engaged in the exploitation of the countrys extractive and other natural resources and it provides information over the kind and value of contributions made by companies, outside of their contractual obligations, to communities, organizations and institutions.

The report, LEITI disclosed was undertaken and completed by Ernst and Young (Ghana) in collaboration with MGIMombo and Company (Liberia). EITI is a global standard implemented locally in 34 countries and requires the production of an annual report which covers, but is not limited to, material payments made to host governments by companies in the mining and oil industries. The Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LEITI) was established in 2007 as a project and became an autonomous agency in 2009 by an Act of the National Legislature. In Liberia, additional industries, such as the agriculture and forestry industries are included along with the mining and oil industries.

any Grand Gedeh citizens have continuously expressed that the ongoing mercenary trial of several citizens hailing from the south eastern county standing trial in connection with the cross border attack along the Liberia- Ivory Coast border reported in 2010 and 2011 respectively is politically motivated but a state witness has indicated that the trial not political. Levi Khan Chairman for the Grand Gedean Association in the America while visiting the country recently told FrontPageAfrica in an interview that the trial of his kinsmen by the state is a mere joke. These guys should have been set free since due to lack of evidence but they are still languishing in jail if the state says that these guys used the arms before the court to commit crimes in the Ivory Coast conduct forensic test and it will determine whether they used it said Khan. Many of the claims being expressed by several Grand Gedeans who have been speaking through radios and newspapers interviews allege that their kinsmen are innocent of the mercenary charges and that the charges levied against them by state is politically motivated because of the past differences that have existed between current Liberian leader Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and that of slain Liberian President Samuel Kanyon Doe who hails from Grand Gedeh County as far back as the 1980s. Relationship between ex-President Doe and that of current President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf went bad in the 1980s when she was quoted as referring to ex- President Doe and a group of military officers who toppled the Tolbert led administration as group of idiots. However in the wake of these claims by several Grand Gedeans a state witness, also a Grand Gedean now on the stand to join state lawyers to push the conviction of the 18 defendants who continue to deny the charges of mercenarism distanced himself from the saying when he was placed on the witness stand to serve as the states eleventh witness. Appearing on Tuesday on the stand, witness Thomas C. Gladior who hails from Tchien District, Beezon, Kaneth Clan in Grand Gedeh County told the court and jury that the case was not a political case. Others are taking this case as a political case and this is not, the reason is that nobody got in the street and told anyone that the rice price is so up of which these people got arrested, no body went and put Madam Sirleaf photo in the street to say that she was ugly for which they were arrested said Gladior in his testimony that lasted from morning till late afternoon and later cut off due to time by the Presiding Judge Emery Paye to continue on Wednesdays morning. According to Gladior he was saying this because many persons were going to the media to say that Krahn people have been marginalized which he said is not true because the current government was so fair that other Krahn people today serving as ministers, were sent on scholarship by the same government and are now serving in various positions such as county attorneys, judges or government officials. State eleventh witness Gladior who served as Correction Officer in Grand Gedeh County stated that he worked along with other security officers in the county to provide information that led to the arrest of some of the defendants he named as Nyezee Barway, Kai Cole and Bobby Sarpee. He told the court and jury that in late 2011 there were information gathered by the security that people were retreating from shooting of the heavy forces of Qattara and the combined troops of the United Nations and this was how they moved along with other security personnel to a village called Geegar right to Zwedru in continuation of gathering information on those that were allegedly involved in the fighting from Grand Gedeh County. During his testimony the state witness identified some of the defendants he knew as Nyezee Barway, Bobby Sarpee, Ofori Diah, Emmanuel Saymah and James Lee Cooper. Others include Moses Baryee, Isaac Taryon commonly called Kai Cole, James Gloto alias Rambo, Prince Youtay and Jacob Saydee out of the 18 defendants and the rest that he did not know as he said their names have slip out of his mind. This is the second testimony of Thomas Gladior since the defendants were indicted in 2013 his testimony is expected to be cross examined by the defense lawyers headed by human rights lawyer Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe who was in court taking note as witness Gladior was given his testimony..

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Monrovia:

State Witness Gladior Escorted Out Of Court By Police Officers Tuesday

Page 6 | Frontpage

GOVERNANCE COMMISSION UNVEILS NATIONAL INTEGRITY SYSTEM MANDATE LEGISLATIVE MONITORING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN LIBERIA (LEMTAIL) FEBRUARY 2014 REPORT OF THE LEGISLATURE
Feb 27, 2014 for action. The Committee did not report to Plenary on Feb.27,2014 Feb 25, 2014 Report from the Committee on Ways, Means and Finance on the alleged misappropriation of the General Services Agency (GSA) Budget for 2011/2012. Sen. Sumo G. Kupee, Lofa County. Senate Plenary received the report and noted that all other agenda items be discussed in Executive Session. Legislative Activities in the area ofHealth for Feb. 2014 Date Issue Lawmaker/Committee Presenting Issue Legislative Action Feb 6, 2014 Communication submitting a bill named Controlled Drug Substances Act. Sen. Jewel Howard Taylor, Bong County. Senate Plenary forwarded the bill to the Committees on Health and Judiciary to report within one week. Causes of the occurrence of unnecessary deaths at various health Centers around the Country. Rep. Richmond S. Anderson, Montserrado County, District#12 House Plenary mandated the Committee on Health and Social Welfare to probe the matter and report within one week. Feb 18 ,2014 Health workers strike action for fifty five USD reduction in their salaries by the Health Ministry. Sen. George Tengbeh, Lofa County Senate Plenary mandated that a special session be held Wednesday Feb.19, 2014 with the ministers of Health and Finance to settle the matter. Compliant of bad sanitary condition and low water supply by the Water and Sewer Corporation in West Point. Sen. Joyce Musu Freeman Sumo, Montserrado County. Senate Plenary forwarded the communication to the Committee on Health and Social Welfare to investigate and report to Plenary. No reporting period was specified. Feb 20, 2014 The omission of Ganta United Methodist Hospital budget line from the National Budget. Sen. Thomas Grupee, Nimba County Senate Plenary forwarded the communication to the Committee on Ways, Means and Finance to report during its next sitting Tuesday Feb.25, 2014. The Committee did not submit its report on Feb.25, 2014 to Plenary. submit their reports on bills within one week. Report from the Committee on Rules Order and Administration on the last quarter of the Committees work. Sen. Lahai G. Lassana, Bomi County. Senate Plenary deferred the Committee`s report to its next sitting, Tuesday Feb.25, 2014 Plenary went into executive/secret session. The Committee did not report to Plenary on Tuesday Feb.25, 2014. Feb 25, 2014 Request to Place moratorium on the creation of Agencies and Public Corporation in Government. Rep. Bhofal Chambers, Maryland County, District#2. House Plenary forwarded the communication to the Committee on Good Governance. No reporting period was specified. Request to invite Internal Affairs Minister for allegedly repealing an act passed by the National Legislature. Rep. George S. Mulbah, Bong County, District#3. House Plenary forwarded the communication to the Committee on Internal Affairs and Ways, Means and Finance to report within one week. Feb 25, 2014 Discussion on the proposed Amendments to the Elections Law. Sen. Jewel Howard Taylor, Bong County. Senate Plenary received the proposed amendments communication and action was taken in Executive session. Feb 27, 2014 President Sirleaf travels to the Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Chad Rep. Blamo Wesseh, Grand Kru County, District#2. House Plenary noted the communication. Alleged violation of the LiberianizationPolicy by some non-Liberian businesses by selling merchandise reserve only for Liberian businesses. Rep Emerson V. Kamara, Grand Cape Mount County, District#3. House Plenary forwarded the communication to its Committees on Commerce, Concession and Investment to report within a week. The alleged use of 1.9million USD by the National Elections Commission (NEC) for vehicle lease and rental for the Voters Roll Update(VRU) excise Rep. James P. Biney, Maryland County, District#1. House Plenary voted to invite the Board of Commissioners of the NEC and the head of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission(PPCC) 1. To explain why ( NEC) violated the function of the House`s Public Accounts Committee and 2. Whether Public Procurement and Concession law was followed in awarding leases and Contracts. President Sirleaf`s travels to the Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Chad. Senator Clarice A. Jah, Margibi County. Senate Plenary received and noted the Presidents communication. Discussion on Proposed Amendment to Elections Law. Senator Jewel Howard Taylor, Bong County. Senate Plenary discussed the Bill and deferred the rest of the discussion to next sitting for a final decision. Legislative Activities in the area ofNational Security for Feb. 2014 Date Issue Lawmaker/Committee Presenting issues Feb 6, 2014 Police Director Apology to the Senate for taking huge contingent of Police officers on the grounds of the Capitol Building in September of 2013. Committee on National Security. Senate Plenary received the communication, noted it and went into Executive/secret session. Feb 27, 2014 An Act to Create A National Veterans Day. Sen. Geroge T. Tengbeh, Lofa County. Senate Plenary forwarded the bill to the committees on Defense and Judiciary. Joint Committee on National Security and Judiciary report on low presence of police officers in Lofa County and other parts of the Country. House joint Committee on National Security and Judiciary. Plenary voted to turn the report over to House Leadership for action. Feb 27,2014 Low presence of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officers in River Gee County. Rep. Johnson T. Chea, River Gee County, District# 1. House Plenary forwarded the communication to the Committee on National Security. Legislative Activities in the area of Judiciary for Feb. 2014 Date Issue Lawmaker/Committee Presenting Issues Legislative Action Feb 13, 2014 Briefing from the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) on the status of the Committees work. House of Representatives Leadership. House Plenary mandated the Chairperson of the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) Cllr. Gloria M. Scott, to provide a written document to all Lawmakers to guide them during the review process. Feb 18, 2014 Investigative report by the Judiciary Committee on unauthorized spending on Public Relations abroad. Rep. Gayah Karmo, Bomi County, District#1. House Plenary endorsed the Committees request to hold public hearings with other government institutions involved with spending. Legislative Activities in the area of Local Government for Feb. 2014 Date Issue Lawmaker/Committee Presenting Issue Legislative Action Feb 18, 2014 An Act to Create the Beo Administrative District within Nimba County. Rep. Garrison Yealue, Nimba County, District #4. House Plenary forwarded the bill to the Committees on Internal Affairs, Judiciary and Ways, Means, and Finance to report within two weeks. An Act to Create Miaplay Township within Zoe-Gbeh Statutory District within Nimba County. Warlea P. Saywah Dunoh, Nimba County, District#7 House Plenary forwarded the bill to the Committees on Internal Affairs, Judiciary and Ways, Means, and Finance to report within two weeks. Report from the Governance and Internal Affairs Committees on complaints about deleting the names of chiefs and other local official from government payroll, and a moratorium placed on Gbarpolu County Development Fund by order of Hon. Morris Dukuly, Minister of Internal Affairs. Senator Armah Jallah, Gbarpolu County. Senate Plenary mandated that Hon. Morris Dukuly apologize to the committees on Governance and Internal Affairs and pay a LD$4,999.00 fine. Legislative Activities in the Area ofNatural Resources and Infrastructure Development for Feb. 2014 Date Issue Lawmaker/Committee Presenting issue Legislative Action Feb 25, 2014: Communication from President Sirleaf submitting for ratification a loan Agreement between the Government of Liberia and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development for the Rehabilitation of the Greenville Port. Rep Wesseh Blamo, Grand Kru County, District#1. House Plenary forwarded the communication to the committees on Maritime, Public Utility, Judiciary, Concession, Ways, Means, and Finance to report within two weeks. Communication to invite the Ministry of Lands, Mines andEnergy, Director of the National Port Authority and National Investment Commission (NIC) Chairma to explain why Arcelor Mittal Liberia is not living within its scope of limitation in term of land occupy by the Company. Rep. Numene T.H. Bartewa, Grand Kru County, District#2. House Plenary forwarded the communication to the committees on Energy and Public Utility to report within two weeks. Feb 27, 2014 Public hearing on the Draft Rural Renewable Energy Act. Joint Committees on Lands, Mines and Natural Resources and Autonomous Commissions & Agencies. Senate Joint Committees on Lands, Mines, Natural Resources, and Autonomous Commission, and Agencies return to Committee room. No specific time given for action on the bill.

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GOVERNANCE ISSUES

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

he Governance Commission of Liberia with funding from OSIWA researches and provides information to the Liberian Public on Standing Committees and Plenary Proceedings of the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia for transparency and accountability purposes. Due to the limited number of researchers, only a select number of committees are monitored. The following summary table provides information on the number of times the Senate and the House of Representatives used the Electronic Voting System to Vote on Bills and the number of closed and opened sessions held in the respective Chambers. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE Opened sessions 6 3 Closed sessions 2 5 Use of electronic voting system for accountability and transparency of vote 0 0 1) The project recorded no use of the voting machines to vote on Bills in both Houses. 2) The project record shows that the House of Representatives met in plenary eight times during the month of February. During these sittings, the House of Representatives recessed two times for closed-door sessions. The Senate met in plenary eight times. During these sittings, the Senate recessed five times to conduct business behind closed doors. Kindly note that the LEMTAIL Project information is also placed on the GC website (www.goodgovernance. org.lrand on bulletin boards in the following places: The Capitol Building, Monrovia,Montserrado County, District #1 (Todee), District #17 (Cheesmanburg), Bong County, District #3 (Gbarnga ,Administrative Building). Committees Meetings for the Month of February House of Representatives Governance Committee Chairman: Rep. Acarous M. Gray Number of meetings: 4 Closed to public, no record of issues discussed. Labor Committee Chairman: Rep. Christian Chea Number of meetings: 1 Closed to public, no record of issues discussed. Senate Education Committee: Chairman: Sen. Dallas A.V. Gueh Number of meetings: 1 Closed to public, no record of issues discussed. Lands, Mines & Energy Committee Chairman: Sen. Cletus S. Wortorson Number of meetings: 1 Public Hearing on LEC supply of electricity to the entire country. Youth & Sports Committee Chairman: Sen. Johnathan Banney Number of meetings: No record of meeting. Labor Committee Chairman: Sen. Matthew Jaye Number of meetings: No record of meeting. Legislative Activities in the area of Government and Administration for Feb. 2014 Date Issues Law maker/Committee Presenting issue Legislative Action Feb 4, 2014 Communication from United People`s Party (UPP) conveying the Party`s support to the House of Representatives for its decision to allocate 73 million USD for direct district development. House of Representatives Leadership. House Plenary mandated the Chief Clerk to communicate with the (UPP) that Plenary received the partys communication. Without exhausting the agenda, Plenary went into Executive/secret session and did not open to the public for further deliberation. Communication calling for intervention between workers of Liberia Domestic Airport Agency (LDDA) and management. Rep. Munah E. Pelham Youngblood, Montserrado County, District#9. House Plenary forwarded the communication to the Committees on Transport, Judiciary, Claims and Petition to report to Plenary within three weeks. `Feb 6, 2014 Communication calling for the Government of Liberia to have other employees on par with their counterparts in terms of salary benefitsin the work place. Sen. George Tengbeh, Lofa County and JSB Theodore Momo, Gbarpolu County. Senate Plenary forwarded the communication to the Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance to report to Plenary within two weeks. 1. The delay of printing and distribution of the 2013/2014 National Budget 2. Issues of lack of Security, poor maintenance of bathrooms, no internet service, and lack of electricity at the Senate. Sen. Dallas AV Gueh, River Cess County Senate Plenary forwarded the communication to the Committees on Ways, Means, and Finance, and Rules, Order and Administration (no reporting period was stated). Committee report on Banking and Currency concerning monetary policy as it relates to the Central Bank of Liberia. Sen. Isaac W. Nyenabo, Chairman Banking and Currency Grand Gedeh County Senate Plenary noted the Committees work and mandated that action be taken in Executive session. Report on the confirmation hearing for Hon.Angelique Weeks, Chairperson Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA), Hon. Harry T. Yuan, Hon. Henrique Benson and Hon. Bayogar A. McCritty Members Designated. Committee on Post and Telecommunication. Senate Plenary received the communication and mandated that action be taken in Executive session. Firestone refused to do business with Small Rubber Farm Holders of Liberia based on Executive Order of President Sirleaf Rep. Adam B. Corneh, Bong County, District#6. House Plenary set up a Special Committee to probe into the issue and report within one week. Feb 18, 2014 Enquiry on why a Nigerian, Ujah Bebe is still serving as Chief Pharmacist at John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFK) when his contract expired in January 2014. Sen. George Tengbeh, Lofa County. Senate Plenary deferred discussion to the next sitting due to the absence of the Chairman of the Committee on Health, Sen. Peter Coleman. Feb 20, 2014 Failure of Committees to submit report on several bills in Committees room on time. Rep. Hans Barchue, Deputy Speaker, Grand Bassa County, District#1. House Plenary mandated that the relevant Committees

Legislative Activities in the area of Finance for Feb. 2014 Date Issue Lawmaker/Committee presenting issue Legislative Action Feb 6, 2014 Bill for Senate to Concur with HOR to ensure that 73million USD is allocated in the 2014/2015 National Budget for direct district developments. Bill forwarded to the Senate Plenary by the House of Representatives for its concurrence. Senate Plenary forwarded the bill to Committee on Ways, Means and Finance. No reporting period was given. Feb 13, 2014 Report from Committee on Banking and Currency on an Act to Amend Certain Provision of the Act Authorizing the Establishment of the Central Bank of Liberia Sen. Isaac W. Nyenabo, Grand Gedeh County. Senate Plenary adopted the report to act upon it in Executive/secret session. Feb 18, 2014 Concurrence by the Liberian Senate engrossed bill No: 1 entitled, An Act to Amend Certain Provisions of An Act Authorizing the Establishment of the Central Bank of Liberia. Any member of the board of Commissioners of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) who desires to contest elected Public office must resign three years before the election. Bill forwarded to the House of Representatives from the Senate for Concurrence. House Plenary concurred with the Senate and passed the bill with a vote of thirty seven in favor and seven against. Report from the Committee on Ways, Means and Finance on An Act to Provide 15% of the National Budget for County development. Sen. Sumo G. Kupee, Lofa County. Senate Plenary deferred the report to its next sitting on Thursday

GUIDING LIBERIA L
iberia today (29 April) launched its National Export Strategy (NES) and its National Trade Policy (NTP) with a view to boost the capacities of its private sector and re-connect the country with regional and global markets. The launch, which took place at the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Conference and Trade Fair in Monrovia, comes after several rounds of multistakeholder consultations led by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC). The NES and NTP will function as blueprints for the Government, the private sector and Liberia's development partners in their joint efforts to help Liberian SMEs enhance competitiveness and value addition. They will guide Liberia's efforts to generate employment opportunities, improve the business environment and explore means of sustainable growth. 'I am proud to launch the Liberia National Trade Policy 2014-2019 and the Liberia National Export Strategy 2014-2019. These two documents outline the Liberian Governments strategy for creating inclusive growth through trade competitiveness,' said Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberias President. 'The trade policy serves as the Governments overarching strategy for trade steering the country towards regional integration into ECOWAS and multilateral integration into the World Trade Organization. The National Export Strategy provides sector support to key sectors where we have the best opportunity to generate export diversification. Through implementing this strategy we expect to create a vibrant and diversified export basket and to open new markets and opportunities for business owners,' Ms. Johnson Sirleaf said. ITC Executive Director Arancha Gonzlez said: 'Trade is about finding ways of adding value to a countrys goods and services, and through that get greater access to local, regional and global value chains. This is important for all countries, but for a post-conflict such as Liberia, the urgency is greater as trade helps provide stability and security.' Any country wishing to navigate these value chains needs a compass. For Liberia, a least developed country, the National Export Strategy and the National Trade Policy provide a clear direction on how to best take advantage of the country's natural resources and its people, women and youth, in a sustainable manner, Ms. Gonzlez said. The NES targets the development of five priority sectors: cassava, cocoa, fish

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BUSINESS

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Post-War Nation Launches National Export Strategy and National Trade Policy

and crustaceans, oil palm, and rubber. The strategy also targets three trade-support functions access to finance, quality management, and trade logistics and facilitation which has a positive impact on the export competitiveness of all sectors. Work has also already begun on exploring

the opportunities offered by tourism and the furniture sectors. The NTP, meanwhile, is Liberias first policy document that holistically addresses issues related to trade. Its main objective is to promote the integration of Liberia into the global economy through

increasing the competitiveness of its businesses, with a focus on the agricultural, industrial and services sectors. By promoting a balanced relationship between trade integration, sustainable development and social inclusion, the NES and the NTP set out to boost employment

generation, improve livelihoods and reduce poverty. Axel Addy, Liberias Minister for Commerce and Industry, said: 'Often businesses cannot access finance to purchase needed equipment. Sometimes farmers cannot get their goods to market, and are left to watch their produce spoil. Other

times businesses lack the skills necessary to run and maintain a business. These are exactly the hurdles the NES and NTP seek to overcome: they will guide the implementation of our countrys development programmes and help boost our exports.'

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET

Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption tale

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EDUCATION

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AGRICULTURE

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6b Page 13

MORE BRAINS, LESS JOBS

Stephen D. Kollie, stephenkollie13@gmail.com 0776329124

WHATS NEXT FOR ZIONS 880 GRADUATES?

USAID FED, CARI Train 31 Liberian Rice Seed Inspectors

PLANTING SEEDS

Po River, Bomi County ames Jallah, a graduating student of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University situated on Benson Street, Central Monrovia walked enthusiastically before a crowded group of audience who had come to grace the universitys 25th commencement convocation in Vincent Town, Bomi County. Jallah ws among 880 men and women that have been given the green light to walk out of the walls of the AME Zion University with Bachelor degrees in various disciplines including Accounting, Economics, and Criminal Justice amongst others. Said the 27 years old: It took me extra ordinary hard work to reach this far today. I am very grateful to God and I pray that he continues to bless me in my educational journey. It requires focus and continues study to reach where I have come. I am very happy for my degree and hope to utilize it to help my people who did or have not had the opportunity to reach this stage. Every year, many Universities and colleges produce thousands of educated brains with many eying employment opportunities both in government and private sectors but high employment remains a major challenge for graduates in a country where about seventy percent are under the age 30. Seventy percent of Liberian Youths are said to be unemployed in post war Liberia, a country with 75-80 percent population living on less than 1 USD a day. Despite the nations 1.13 million estimated labor force, only 195,000 people are estimated to be in paid employment, a situation, that is alarming a challenging signal for the over 800 young men and women many of whom that could likely face the countrys high unemployment dilemma. Addressing a jubilant crowd of graduates on April 29, 2014, Rev. Dr. Olu Q. Menjay, President of the Liberia Baptist Missionary Educational Convention, identified competition as a key element in bringing to reality Liberias educational reform , suggesting that the competitions in education has been greatly compromised by corrupt school systems ranging from buying

T
Rev. Dr. Olu Q. Menjay
and selling of grades, nepotism and laziness Said Rev. Menjay: Today, competition is not encouraged. The competitive spirit that used to exist in our learning culture has been compromised by corrupt educational practices to include buying selling of grades, nepotism and laziness. We are driven more by receiving certificates and degrees and not on the ability of performance. In the midst of our deplorable educational complexion, much emphasis has been placed on the establishment of community colleges around our counties. My fellow Liberians, we cannot build our country by creating community colleges. We cannot build this country on incompetences or on weak footings. We cannot build our country from the top by strengthening only higher education. We need to widen our definition of education to see it as a process that starts with kingdom garden. Reverend Menjay went on to say that the significance of merit based system in Liberias educational system has been diminished in the nations society adding that successful societies embrace competitiveness and if Liberia must advance to a brighter future, a space for competition and merit based rewards must be created. Continued Dr. Menjay: We cannot compromise our educational standards and offerings for anything else. We must strive for excellence. The global economy now is first and foremost established on creative knowledge and technology. Critical thinking and problem solving skills are paramount as an ability to innovate and to cooperate with others. The Baptist President went on to articulate that the fundamental problem that exist in the Liberian culture is that too many people want to bypass what he called small assignments and are attracted right to the big jobs with influence and prestige. He called on the AME Zion graduates to look at the stars in sky with their feet on the ground while they aspire for their various dreams in their life circle. I urge you to be humble and do well where you are. Allow your current performance to serve as your recommendation for the next, Dr. Menjay indicated. Despite the numerous graduates Universities and colleges produce every year, Liberias educational system continues to suffer much criticism regarding its poor quality. Sitting in a cabinet retreat with officials of her government in March 2013, Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf bluntly described the Ministry of Education as 'A Big Mess' stressing that there was a need for total overhaul. "All those things you've got there that's just talk, so I don't even want look at those targets y'all got for education because they're meaningless unless there is a complete overhaul of that ministry," said President Sirleaf. The reason you don't have enough money is because all your money go into ghost teachers that we can't get straighten up. So, I don't know you sitting back there, the man just talking (anyway)." In June 2013, Nobel Peace Prize winner Lemah Gbowee criticized Liberia's Education System, terming it as "poor". Gbowee reveal at the time that the nations education system was in an appalling condition compared to other countries across the African Continent. Said Gbowee: "If we are talking about the next generation taking over the leadership of this country, I think we need to overhaul the entire education system. One recommendation to government is to overhaul the Ministry of Education and put in technocrats and competent people who will do the job. We need to do foot and hand works in getting the job done. We need to review our curriculum and engage the students. Until we can do these things, policy papers or big conferences will not take us there."

he USAID Food and Enterprise Development (FED) Program for Liberia in partnership with Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) has completed the training for 31 rice seed inspectors. The seed inspectors, who come from Bong, Nimba, Lofa and Grand Bassa counties, recently participated in an intensive 10day training program on rice seed quality assurance and certification training, held at CARI in Suakoko, Bong County. During the training, the budding seed inspectors learned proper protocols for rice seed production, processing and germination testing in addition to improved practices for land preparation and fertilizer application. Years of insecurity and limited investments in a national rice seed certification program have left the seed industry unchecked and unregulated. Liberia lacks a rice seed certification system and knowledgeable seed inspectors. Partners such as USAID FED, CARI and African rice research organization Africa Rice, are working to generate trained rice seed inspectors and advance the seed certification program in Liberia consistent with the seed policy that has already been passed at the ECOWAS level. Since 2013, CARI and the Ministry of Agriculture have worked to establish a strong foundation for a national rice seed system. The training component with USAID FED brings the total to 130 certified seed inspectors on the national scene. The overriding objective is to bring quality and elite planting material to the farming population. Our partnership with USAID FED and AfricaRice opens a new chapter in international collaboration for sustainable agro-development. CARI looks forward to better and more coordinated collaboration with USAID FED as we put in place an improved rice seed system in Liberia, says Aaron Marshall, Head of the Central Agricultural Research Institute. The trained seed inspectors will work with Liberian rice farmers to promote implementation of the proper protocols for seed production, processing and storage of seeds in order to ensure high degree of purity and maintain viability of seeds. As a result of their presence in the counties, thousands of farmers will have access to good seeds of improved varieties. The inspectors help solidify the principle of using good seeds in order to get bigger harvests and will encourage farmers to use not just any seed, but to obtain good seeds from reputable growers or suppliers. Better inputs lead to higher production and the move from subsistence farmer to successful food grower. *** The USAID FED Program for Liberia aims to reduce hunger and promote food security for Liberians through increased agricultural productivity and profitability in rice, cassava, vegetable and goat value chains. It is implemented in six counties: Bong, Nimba, Lofa, Grand Bassa, Margibi and Montserrado. The United States as the largest donor and closest ally is supporting the Liberian priorities to build sustainable local capacity, make a difference in peoples lives, and move towards a shared vision of selfsufficiency and prosperity. For more information please visit. www. usaid.gov. USAID FED is Africas largest project under President Barack Obamas Feed the Future Initiative, which promotes a move away from subsistence and increasing food security by working with public

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Jorquelleh District, Bong County he lawmaker of electoral district #3 in Bong County, George Sylvester Mulbah, Saturday commissioned an elementary school in Jarmeyah town which he said worth more than US$ 10,000. Amidst singing, dancing and prayers, the lawmaker said the school is meant to serve the primary school pupils in the town. A visible happy Mulbah said his intervention is not only meant to bring back the lost sense of belonging to the education sector, but to revive the congenial environment for teaching and learning as well as raise the quality of education in the town to an acceptable standard. The lawmaker said the school is intended to set the pace and serve as a benchmark for all districts in the county that are genuinely interested in revamping education in their respective areas. The lawmaker also reminded the people that on assumption of office, the education sector of the district was almost in comatose and beleaguered by threat from the private basic education practitioners, which left most public primary schools in the district deserted. This ugly situation, the lawmaker said made him swung into action to rescue the sub sector by making it viable and breaking the jinx in access to qualitative education and eradicating the man-made disparity between the children of the rich and the poor. He disclosed that the avalanche of problems confronting this sub sector which were evident in the

THINGS WILL GET BETTER

Bong Lawmaker Thrilled District 3 Residents with School Project
Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com
has heralded the unprecedented development in the district. He expressed the appreciation of the entire people of District #3 saying they will be eternally grateful to him for bringing monumental development to the land. In his own words, the lawmaker of Jorquelleh District #2, Prince Kermue Moye who performed the cutting of the ribbon, was very appreciative of the lawmakers good gesture and giant strides in the development of the district. Moye said it was the dawn of a new day for the land of Jorquelleh District #3 as the lawmaker is bringing to pass his electioneering promise. The lawmaker prayed for long life and good health for his colleagues while urging the people to rally round him. Teachers on their own pledged their unalloyed support for the administration. The teachers who described Mulbah as a Mega lawmaker said they are happy that the lawmaker is bridging the gap between the rich and the poor by giving hope to the less privileged who hither to could not afford quality education for their children. They lauded this initiative which they said is unparallel and novel, while promising to reciprocate this gesture.

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COUNTY NEWS

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AGENTS OF CHANGE
Senator Yallahs Sponsored Literacy School Graduates More 1,000 Youths in Skills Development in Bong County
Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com

decayed and ramshackle school building and rustic teachers propelled in him a proactive drive which culminated in the building of colorful and child-friendly school. Mulbah said hes taking the bull by the horn with a genuine drive and a well thoughtout idea of a long lasting legacy to make a difference and ensure a new dawn begins in the district. He said this gave birth to the Ruth Primary School that is now a benchmark for quality education in the county. The project, according to him, is meant to avail the children of both the rich and the poor equal opportunities to learn and compete favorably without any hindrance

and to discover, harness and develop other talents for the glory of the district. The commissioning of the school drew reactions from teachers, parents, market women and traditional leaders of the district. The Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Pastor Julius Saye, expressed pleasure at the development of education in the district, as the primary school that people believed could be a reality at inception has come to fulfillment. He urged the lawmaker to go extra mile in the delivery of the dividends of democracy to the people. He appreciated the lawmaker for giving education a rebirth in the district, while

pledging the co-operation of teachers to the fulfillment of the vision for the district. He stressed the importance of quality education, saying it is the foundation that has put him in lime light today. He commended the lawmaker for his resolve to bequeath to the future generation of the district a legacy of quality education. The Commissioner of Jorquelleh District #3, Edward Yarkpawolo, commended the lawmaker for brewing and bringing to reality the idea of constructing a primary school for pupils in Jarmeyah, as promised while assuming office. He described the lawmaker as a pride of the district, saying that his tenure
how to create and to embroider beaded bags during a six-month training offered by the Loitoi Foundation in Zoweinta. She now sells the bags to her peers during market days in the district, where she has managed to purchase a motorbike for commercial use. The training has empowered her, has made her self-reliant and has eased the financial burden on her parents. Nobody is poor unless you are not using what you have in your life, she said. Stephen Peabody says that young graduates of Loitoi Foundation who struggle to find employment should embrace trainings to acquire skills that will help them become self-reliant. He uses his own experience as an example. When Peabody could not find a job in driving after graduating with a certificate in driving 2013, he taught himself photography skills. He now runs a commercial photography business in Zoweinta as his main source of income. I am encouraging the young graduates of Loitoi Foundation to engage themselves in any business to sustain their living, he says. And trainings are not just for young people. I have seen people going into business because of this program, Peters told FrontPageAfrica of her course. It is really affecting the lives of especially older women. In his own words, the pro-tempore of the Liberia Senate who was one of many guests invited to the program, said the trainings would increase young people's ability to obtain formal education. I would love to laud the efforts of Senator Yallah and those who crafted this idea. This is a worthy venture and could empower many young people in the near future, he said. Continuing, he added: There is no way you can develop a nation effectively without education,

Totota, Bong County hile applying to Cuttington University, Jacqueline Peters, 26, enrolled in a free Hair Image and Life Saving Skills program offered by Bong County Senator Henry Yallah in Zoweinta, Kpaii District. Peters said she wanted to gather new skills to make her marketable for a job in case she does not receive acceptance to Cuttington. As a young girl or a young person, the best you can ever achieve is education. That is the best you can do to your youthful age. It is a legacy you can never regret, she told FrontPageAfrica. During the six-month course, Peters learned about hair dressing and gained administrative skills. She completed the program in 2013 and participated in a graduation ceremony. She took the course through the Loitoi Foundation, a nongovernmental organization founded by Senator Yallah. It aims to empower youth and women through free vocational and entrepreneurial training. The organization is regarded by many in the county as one of the main sources of empowerment for young men and women offering free skill-acquisition classes to combat high rates of illiteracy and unemployment in the county. The senator, speaking Saturday

in Totota during the graduation ceremony of the third batch of students, emphasized his organizations commitment to boosting literacy rates in an event to promote literacy. Several youths organizations in the county gave awards in 2013 to recognize the senators efforts to advance literacy, vocational skills and entrepreneurship in the county. Established in 2012, the organization has already trained more than 2,500 women and young adults through its literacy program and the lawmaker has spent over US$ 10,000 since the program was launched in the county, said Emmanuel Soklo, Director of the hair dressing department. Its courses are free, and eventual

graduates are given a special package to further their ambitions. The Loitoi Foundation aims to offer literacy and vocational skills training in the 13 administrative districts of the county as it has done in Jorquelleh District #1, Zoweinta in Kpaii District and Totota town, says Senator Yallah. The trainings are free in order to make the graduates accessible to all. The literacy centers are where we teach those people who did not have the opportunity to go to school when they were young, he said. Under the lawmakers tenure, the Loitoi Foundation has aimed to modernize the equipment and trainings that the centers offer, including basic reading and writing, driving, cosmetology,

computer literacy and vocational education for women. Women learn skills such as sewing, knitting and baking. Through those skills, they are able to take care of themselves and have some little independence where they can earn some income. And through that, they can contribute to the welfare of the family and also to the society. The institution also offers skills training to men and young people, including those who have dropped out of school. During Saturdays graduation in Totota, the senator pledged his leaderships commitment to tackling unemployment and increasing self-reliance through these trainings. Yallah, who is a farmer by profession, told the cheerful gathering that his administration does not have the resources to create jobs for everyone in the county. There are no jobs to give these youths, he said. If the jobs are there, money is not there to correspond with the amount of work they will do. Formal education has not provided young adults with the job opportunities they expected, and a certificate is no guarantee of employment, he said. So his administration is promoting trainings to encourage selfemployment and to decrease restlessness and social instability. The only way out is to go the skill-acquisition way, he said. Maiwan Gorlortor, 23, learned

without educating the citizenry, he said. The non formal is to lift them up to a level whereby at a point they may stream into the formal one. Peters asks the government to increase both entrepreneurial and formal employment opportunities. Although she was able to start her own business, she said that selfemployment is not easy. Even after acquiring skills through trainings, it is difficult to launch a business without startup capital. If you dont have a source of income, there is no way you want to establish that business, she said. The government should provide small loans to participants of the skill-acquisition trainings, she said. It also must not lose focus on creating formal jobs for young adults because people tend to respect government employment more than self-employment. Also speaking during the ceremony, Bong County Superintendent Selena Polson-Mappy recommends that the government increase job opportunities for young graduates by enforcing the retirement requirement for public sector employees after 45 years of work. They should allow them to go to give room to the younger ones coming behind, she said. If they can do that, I think the issue of unemployment will not be too much. Meanwhile, the Loitoi Foundation said it has planned to expand their literacy and vocational trainings to promote education and employment in the county. The organization said the next training will take place in Sanoyea and Fuamah districts as part of plans to bring trainings to rural areas of the county, Senator Yallah disclosed. We want to scale up the program to the whole 13 administrative districts and development areas, he said.

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THE LUCKY FEW

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EBOLA

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

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Monrovia -

Survivors of Ebola Face Second 'Disease': Stigma

he doctor has beaten the odds and survived Ebola, but he still has one more problem: The stigma carried by the deadly disease. Even though he is completely healthy, people are afraid to come near him or to have anything to do with him. For example, the man was supposed to give an interview on Guinean radio to describe his triumphant tale. But the station would not allow him into the studio. "We'd prefer he speak by phone from downstairs," the station's director told a representative of Doctors Without Borders, while the survivor waited outside in a car. "I can't take the risk of letting him enter our studio." The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has claimed more than 145 lives so far. More than 240 people, mostly in Guinea, are suspected of having caught the illness, which causes horrific suffering, including bursting blood vessels and bleeding from ears and other orifices. There is no vaccine, no treatment and the disease is almost always fatal. But a handful of the infected do survive. About 30 patients have survived in Guinea so far, according to Doctors Without Borders. Liberia has not recorded any cases of survival. Unfortunately for the lucky few, the stink of stigma lingers long after the virus has been purged from their bodies. "Thanks be to God, I am cured. But now I have a new disease: the stigmatization that I am a victim of," said the Guinean doctor, who

KOFI ANNAN AND OTHER PANEL MEMBERS TO LAUNCH 2014 AFRICA PROGRESS REPORT - GRAIN, FISH, MONEY

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NEWS EXTRA

spoke to The Associated Press but refused to give his name for fear of further problems the publicity would cause him and his family. "This disease (the stigma) is worse than the fever." Several other people who survived the disease refused to tell their stories when contacted by the AP, either directly or through Doctors Without Borders. Sam Taylor, the Doctors Without Borders spokesman who had taken the doctor to the radio station, confirmed that the man had been infected and survived. The doctor believes he caught Ebola while caring for a friend and colleague who died in Conakry, Guinea's capital. At the time, he said, he did not know that his friend had Ebola. Shortly after his friend's death, the doctor got a headache and came down with an intractable fever. And then the vomiting and diarrhea began. "I should have died," the doctor said, but he responded to care, which includes intensive hydration, and unlike most other Ebola patients, he lived.

Surviving Ebola is a matter of staying alive long enough to have the chance to develop enough antibodies to fight off the virus, said David Heymann, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. That's because it's typically the symptoms of Ebola severe fever, hemorrhaging, dehydration, respiratory problems that kills a patient. Even though he has been cleared of Ebola, the doctor says that people avoid him. "Now, everywhere in my neighborhood, all the looks bore into me like I'm the plague," he said. People leave places when he shows up. No one will shake his hand or eat with him. His own brothers are accusing him of putting their family in danger. Stigma often accompanies the spread of deadly, poorly understood diseases, said Meredith Stakem, a health and nutrition adviser for Catholic Relief Services in West Africa, noting that the terrified reaction to Ebola recalls the early days of the HIV epidemic.

ABUJA, Nigeria, April 29, 2014/ -n Thursday, May 8th 2014, the Africa Progress Panel (http://www. africaprogresspanel.org) will release its annual Africa Progress Report - Grain, Fish, Money - Financing Africa's Green and Blue revolutions, at the World Economic Forum on Africa held in Abuja, Nigeria. Chaired by former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, last year's report Equity in Extractives - Stewarding Africa's Natural Resources for all, made headlines with its analysis of the oil, gas, and minerals industries in Africa. This year's report will argue that Africa can and must unleash green and blue revolutions in its agriculture and fisheries. It will highlight the opportunities for Africa of the world's growing demand for food and the critical importance of agriculture and fisheries for two thirds of people in Africa engaged in these sectors. The report will also recommend related

policies, including policies to scale-up Africa's infrastructure and extend its financial services. The report will also outline the urgent need to stop the plunder of Africa's timber and fisheries. The following Panel Members and Members of the Secretariat will be attending WEF on Africa to outline findings shared in the report. Kofi Annan, Chair, Africa Progress Panel, and former UN Secretary-General Olusegun Obasanjo, Member, Africa Progress Panel, and former President of Nigeria Peter Eigen, Member, Africa Progress Panel, Founder of Transparency International, and Founding Chair and Special Representative of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Bob Geldof, Member, Africa Progress Panel, Musician, Businessman, Founder and Chair of Band Aid, Live Aid and live8, Co-Founder of DATA and ONE Advisor and Advocate

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
Office of the Secretariat
Liberia Old Bureau of the Budget Office Behind the Executive Mansion Monrovia,

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VACANCY NOTICE
POSITION:
BACKGROUND: The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) is an autonomous public entity created by statute to promote transparency over extractive industry revenues. It is part of a global initiative known as Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) International. Since the establishment of the LEITI, it has made significant progress resulting in Liberia being bestowed the Best EITI Implementing Country Award in 2009. The LEITI is overseen by a Multi-Stakeholder Steering Group (MSSG), comprising of government, civil society, representatives of companies in Liberias extractive industry, the National Traditional Council of Liberia, with international development partners as observers. The LEITI Secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the policy decisions and directives of the MSSG and leads nationwide efforts in implementing Liberias LEITI law. The Secretariats role specifically includes outreach, advocacy, communication, monitoring and facilitating information sharing. More information about the LEITI can be found on the LEITI website: www.leiti.org.lr. The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) is currently recruiting for a competent and dynamic Liberian to serve as the Head of Secretariat. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Head of Secretariat (HoS) is the head of the management team of LEITI and is responsible for the effective implementation of all approved activities and programs of LEITI. The specific responsibilities of the HoS include, but not necessarily limited to, the followings: 1. To provide evidence-based information and advice to the LEITI MSSG to enhance policy-making decisions to strengthen LEITI interventions; 2. To support the MSSG in policy formulation that are consistent with EITI standards, local legislation and other government reform efforts in the oil, mining, agriculture and forestry sectors; 3. To coordinate and supervise implementation of all LEITI activities and programs articulated in an annual, time-bound and fully - costed work-plan; 4. Lead the articulation of a multi-year strategic plan for LEITI to outline opportunities for expansion and growth of the initiative; 5. To lead and supervise preparation of annual budgets for LEITI;
6. To work with the Government of Liberia and other donors to mobilize funding and material resources for the effective discharge of the functions of LEITI, and, in connection therewith, to draft project proposals and grant requests; To develop programs and activities to implement the Communications Strategy of LEITI with the intention/desire of making the aims and objectives of LEITI known all over the country; To identify, initiate and lead the execution of activities that are necessary, preparatory and/or required for regular annual publication and dissemination of Liberia EITI Reports; To be the technical and media contact for LEITI implementation;

American Underwriters Group INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE

JG Bull BLDG, Randall Street, Adjancent DITCO Store

HEAD OF SECRETARIAT

Announcement
In keeping with the vehicle and Traffic Law; Title 38, approved May 9, 1972, and published in 1978, the Government of Liberia is pleased to announce the approved rates for Third Party Compulsory Motor Insurance Policy in Liberia. These rates take effect January 2, 1996.
Approved Rates Sticker Price No. 1 2 3 Category of Vehicles Taxi Transport Pick-Up S/Size-1/2 Ton B/Size 1 Ton Transport Buses 400.00 425.00 450.00 15.00 15.00 15.00 M/Size- 1 Ton Price US$300.00 $ 15.00

S/S-Max 18 Persons 550.00 15.00 M/S-30 Persons 600.00 15.00 B/S-30 Over Persons 650.00 15.00 4. Transport Truck 10 Tons (10 Tires) 720.00 15.00 12 Tons (12 Tires) 750.00 15.00 14-18 Tons (18 Tires) 800.00 15.00 5 Trailer-22 Tires 1,000.00 15.00 Private Car (PC + Personal Plate

7. 8. 9.

10. To edit and also supervise the production of LEITI Newsletters and other media items; 11. To organize meetings of the MSSG, and supervise the recording, preparation, dissemination and filing of the minutes of every meeting of the MSSG; 12. To facilitate a multi-stakeholder dialogue process leading to the establishment of a Regional EITI Center of Excellence linked to an academic or semi academic institution in Liberia that will identify and respond to natural resource capacity deficiencies across sectors in resource-rich countries through appropriate tailored made capacity building programs, including study visits/exchanges; 13. To establish a data base that will annually compile, review, research, document and analyze lessons and experiences from Liberias implementation of EITI and make this inf ormation publicly available. 14. To establish and maintain good working relationships between LEITI and the international EITI Secretariat, other EITI countries, and current and potential donors; 15. To provide support to any visiting EITI international Secretariat and other partners; 16. To draft the Terms of Reference (ToR) of needed personnel and consultants; 17. To coordinate the timely annual recruitment of independent auditing or accounting firms to audit and reconcile payments and revenues data from extractive industry companies and Government ministries and agencies; 18. To report and remain answerable to the Chairperson and members of the LEITI MSSG in respect of all of his/her functions and responsibilities, and 19. All other activities associated with the successful implementation of the duties and functions of this position. REPORTING PROCEDURE: The Head of Secretariat shall report to the MSSG, through its Chair /Co-Chair or designated representative. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 1. 2. 3. 4. A masters or advanced degree in natural resource management, economics, law, public administration, or related field or bachelors degree in any of the above fields with at least 15 years of progressive working experience within the government, private and public sector; A minimum of five (5) years of progressive work experience in managerial position; Excellent research, analytical writing and presentation skills; Knowledge of auditing or accounting standards is an advantage;

Sedan 150.00 15.00 Jeep 225.00 15.00 6 Business Car (BC) Sudan 175.00 15.00 Jeep 225.00 15.00 7 Pick Up PP 250.00 15.00 BP 300.00 15.00 8 Business Truck (BT) 10-Tons (10 Tires) 575.00 15.00 12-Tons (10 Tires) 600.00 15.00 14-18 Tons (18 Tires) 640.00 15.00 Trailer (22 Tires) 800.00 15.00 9 Business Bus (BB) S/S-Min 6-8 Persons 250.00 15.00 S/S-Max 18 Persons 440.00 15.00 M/S- 30 Persons 480.00 15.00 B/S-30 Over Persons 520.00 15.00 10 Private Bus (PB) S/S-Max 18 Persons 335.00 15.00 M/S-30 Persons 385.00 15.00 B/S-30 Over Persons 420.00 15.00 11 Private Truck (PT) 575.00 15.00 12 Private Motorbike 150.00 15.00 13 Business Motorbike 125.00 15.00

5. Previous experience of engagement with multi-stakeholder groups, particularly private, public, and civil society actors; 6. Familiarity with the principles and procedures of EITI will be an added advantage; 7. Demonstrated strategic partnership building and maintenance abilities, professional maturity to engage senior-level government, donor and private sector representatives. 8. Proven organizational management skills, supervision of professional level staff, attention to detail and results oriented; 9. Experience (1) with extractive industries and (2) in governance-related work; 10. Proficient in the use of computers and Microsoft suites/office (word, excel, power point, etc.) APPLICATION INSTRUCTION: To be considered for this position, qualified applicants must submit the following as part of their application: o A letter of application summarizing individual qualifications for this position; o A current resume in reverse chronological format; o A list of at least 3 professional references including name, contact information, and statement of relationship to the applicant. Deadline for submission of applications is May 9, 2014 at 4 pm GMT. Hard copies of applications must be submitted to: The Administration and Finance Committee C/o of the LEITI Secretariat Old Budget Bureau Building Behind the Executive Mansion Applications can also be submitted via email to: leitirecruitment@leiti.org.lr ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED. QUALIFIED FEMALES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.

Please ask Pearl 0886 578 981/ Lucinda 0886 514 623 / 0777 514 623 / AB 0886 529 776

Page 10 | Frontpage

KENYAN PRESIDENT SIGNS POLYGAMY LAW

IN BRIEF

his week marks two weeks since the Nairobi (AFP) Nigerian militant law allowing men in group Boko Haram Kenya to marry as has been holding up many women as they to 191 teenage girls hostage with want was signed into total impunity in the Sambisa law Tuesday by President Uhuru Forest. The girls, aged mostly Kenyatta, despite criticism from between 16 and 18 years old, women's groups. havent been heard from since A statement from the presidency April 14, the night before their confirmed that the bill, which it final exam at the Government said "consolidates various laws Girls Secondary School in the relating to marriage", had been northeastern Nigerian town of signed into law. Chibok when they woke to the The bill, which amended sound of gunmen bashing in existing legislation, was passed windows and setting fire to their by parliament last month to classrooms. Within hours, 234 formalise traditional practice of them were herded into trucks regarding marrying more than headed for the jungle. As many one person. as 43 managed to escape. Some "Marriage is the voluntary swung down from trucks in the union of a man and a woman, slow-moving convoy; others whether in a monogamous ran off when they reached the or polygamous union," the forest. presidential statement added. The fate of the rest remains FLEEING MUSLIM CONVOY a mystery. Each passing day IN C. AFRICA AMBUSHED, makes it more likely that the girls have been raped, and possibly TWO DEAD killed, in captivity. Given Boko Harams name, which means Western education forbidden, and their agenda to wipe out secular society in mostly Muslim Northern Nigeria, its hardly a surprise that the group locks students inside schools and sets them on fire. This, Bangui (Central African Republic) to date, is their largest mass (AFP) abduction. The girls were taken wo civilians were killed when gunmen into the jungle to serve as sex ambushed a convoy slaves. Yet the abduction of of Muslims fleeing these girls is about much more violence in the than finding cooks and wives. capital of the strife-torn Central For Boko Haram, it is about African Republic, international peacekeepers said on Tuesday. dismantling the fragile existing The convoy, bearing some 1,300 society by attacking its essential Muslims who feared killer raids institutions: schools. by mainly Christian vigilantes, left With children as their intended Bangui on Sunday with a strong victims, Boko Haram is a escort of troops from the African Union's MISCA peacekeeping terrorist organization of the most mission. vicious order. Since they began The 18 lorries transporting the in 2002, these militants have refugees and their possessions grown increasingly aggressive. came under fire around 300 When I visited their stronghold kilometres (185 miles) north of the capital in the region of Dekoa, one of Maiduguri in 2007, their of the MISCA soldiers told AFP. members pulled out machetes called cutlasses and nearly NIGERIAN COMMUNITY they killed a Nigerian reporter, the FIGHTS SHELL IN UK photographer with whom I was COURT HEARING traveling, and me. We escaped only after a courageous local elder got into our car and drove us to safety. Today, the group

The Nigerian militant group abducted 234 teenage girls two weeks ago. Thats just the beginning.

WHY FEAR BOKO HARAM

PAGE RONT

WORLD NEWS

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

London (AFP) egal arguments begin in court on Tuesday in a compensation claim brought by about 15,000 members of Nigeria's Bodo community against oil giant Shell for the damage caused by two spills in 2008. Britain's High Court will consider the key legal issues ahead of a full trial expected in May 2015, according to the community's London-based law firm, Leigh Day. The two sides failed to reach a compensation deal last year, with Leigh Day calling Shell's initial offer "insulting". Sources familiar with the talks said the British-Dutch company proposed a settlement of 7.5 billion naira ($46 million, 35 million euros).

wouldnt hesitate to kill or to kidnap us. Boko Haram claims to oppose Western education because it threatens the purity of northern Nigerias centuries-old Islamic society. Their atrocities mask a legitimate grievance that most of Nigerias 177 million people share. Despite Nigerias vast oil wealth, its citizens enjoy few basic government services, including education. Most government schools require tuition, and only those with the means to pay can attend. Schooling is as much a symbol of the hope for a prosperous future as it is a practical means to achieve it. These institutions become easy targets for mobs of disenfranchised young men like the members of Boko Haram. Boko Haram is a terrorist organization of most vicious order. Boko Harams tactics arent new. The Taliban targets girls schools. The echoes in Africa are equally disturbing. In 1996, Joseph Kony, the founder of the Lords Resistance Army who has since been indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, stole 139 schoolgirls from

ATLANTA (Reuters) ix people were hurt in a shooting at a FedEx Corp facility at a suburban Atlanta airport early on Tuesday, and the suspected shooter died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. An active shooter was reported at the facility in Kennesaw, Georgia, about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta, just before 6 a.m. EST, said Cobb County Police spokesman Mike Bowman. Officers continued to search the area mid-morning to ensure there were no additional safety threats, Bowman said. Six patients in varying conditions were taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta. "Some were able to walk off

SIX HURT, SUSPECT DEAD IN SHOOTING AT FEDEX FACILITY IN GEORGIA

their dormitories at St. Marys College in Northern Uganda. A nun, Sister Rachele Fassera, followed the girls into the bush and negotiated the release of all but 30. Eighteen years later, Kony, who has abducted 30,000 children over two decades, is at large. Despite efforts on behalf of U.S. special operations forces currently helping African militaries to track him, Kony is still somewhere between Central African Republic and Sudan in an area the size of California with roughly 250 followers who were originally his victims. Stolen from home as children, they too were raped and forced to kill family members and fellow children. Paradoxically, many of the young members of Boko Haram are also victims. They attack the kind of schools that they never had the chance to attend. Boko Harams swelling ranks are filled with boys and young men who attended almajiri schools, West African madrassas. An estimated 23 million boys and girls in Nigeria alone are educated in these Islamic schools. Unlike Nigerias government schools,

which require payment for tuition, almajiri schooling is free, so even the poorest could attend. The northeastern city of Maiduguri, the center of Boko Haram, used to be a seat of some of the finest Islamic education in Africa. The teachers taught students in exchange for the students work on their farms. As a result of the expansion of the Sahara Desert and the extreme flooding and drought linked to climate change, these teachers can no longer sustain those farms in northern Nigeria where whole villages have been overrun by sand dunes. Instead, the teachers and students have been forced to move south to the slums at the edges of large cities, including Abuja, where instead of tending crops for their teachers, the students are reduced to begging on their behalf. (On April 14, the same day the Chibok girls were taken, Boko Haram killed 70 people in bus bombings in Abuja.) In the slums, many of these boys sleep with their begging bowls under their heads for safekeeping. To make money, corrupt teachers rent out their students to commit acts of violence. In this way, many have become foot soldiers

for Boko Haram. Much like the straggling members of the Lords Resistance Army, Boko Haram thrives in places where civil society is failing or totally absent. Both inhabit lawless zones where a combination of a failing state and a shifting climate make it nearly impossible for others to live. Both thrive in chaos and rely on fear. Menacing and destroying civil society is more than symbolic; it is a practical weapon of insurgency. Although Konys disparate band of wayward stragglers poses no strategic threat to the United States, Boko Haram decidedly does. So far, their attacks have been limited to within Nigerias borders. But thats unlikely to remain so. Already, their ideology, funding, and foot soldiers are bleeding over the border into their northern neighbor, Niger. Boko Haram is already linked to a global network of killers, including offshoots of al-Qaida. There are eight direct flights a day from Nigeria to the United States. This time, we ignore the fate of these some 190 young women at our peril.

the ambulance and others are in the operating room," said hospital spokesman Tyler Pearson. A FedEx spokesman said the company was cooperating with

authorities. "FedEx is aware of the situation," said spokesman Ben Hunt. "Our primary concern is the safety and wellbeing of our team members,

first responders and others affected." Hundreds of police from multiple agencies had converged on the scene. Bowman said the area around

the building had been secured, and officers were clearing the incident location. "This is still an active and fluid situation," he said in a statement. An employee at the facility told the Atlanta JournalConstitution that his boss called him on Tuesday and told him not to worry about getting to work on time. "(My boss) called me about 6 o'clock this morning saying there was a guy inside, shot the security guard," Michael Hogland, a driver at the FedEx facility, told the newspaper.

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

eal Madrid sailed into their first Champions League final since 2002 with an astonishingly one-sided away victory over holders Bayern Munich. Sergio Ramos scored two headers from set-pieces before Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off a counter-attack to all but end the game as a contest. Ronaldo added a late free-kick for his record 16th goal of the European campaign to seal a 5-0 aggregate win. Real will face either Chelsea or Atletico Madrid in the final in Lisbon. The defeat was a humiliation for Bayern, who last year thrashed Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals before overcoming fellow Germans Borussia Dortmund to lift the trophy for the fifth time. And the result will increase the pressure on manager Pep Guardiola amid the growing feeling that, despite winning the Bundesliga in record time, he has not delivered the progress his employers were expecting. The future of the former Barca coach will be of little concern to Real, who now have the chance to add to their record haul of nine European Cups, 12 years after Zinedine Zidane's volley delivered their last triumph at Hampden Park. With Zidane now watching from the Real bench as a member of Carlo Ancelotti's coaching staff, the Spaniards started the game with verve and purpose and were swiftly on the way to their first ever victory over Bayern in Munich at the 10th attempt. Gareth Bale had already gone close with a long-range effort after Manuel Neuer's weak punch when a Luka Modric corner from the right located the unmarked Ramos, who powered a header past the Germany goalkeeper. Shortly afterwards, Real doubled their lead via a near-identical goal as Angel Di Maria's freekick was flicked on by Pepe, and Ramos was once again on hand

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Sports

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Page 11

NBA BANS DONALD STERLING FOR LIFE, FINES HIM $2.5 MILLION FOR RACIAL COMMENTS

SPORT BRIEF

he NBA has banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life and fined him $2.5 million for racial comments he made to his reported girlfriend. The NBA will immediately begin working to try to force him to sell the team. "The hateful opinions voiced by that of the man [on the tape] are those of Donald Sterling," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. "I'm personally distraught the views expressed by Mr. Sterling came from within an institution that has historically taken such a leadership role in matters of race relations." As part of the ban, Sterling is not allowed "to attend any NBA games or practices, be present at any Clippers office or facility, or participate in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team."

RYAN GIGGS IS ALREADY THE GREATEST FOOTBALL MANAGER OF ALL TIME

to head in. With Bayern's usually fervent fans stunned into silence, Real added a third on the break. Benzema's hooked pass sent Bale racing clear and the Welshman squared for Ronaldo to slot in his 48th goal of the season. The only low for Real in an otherwise perfect first period was Xabi Alonso's yellow card for a foul on Bastian Schweinsteiger, which will rule him out of the final on 24 May. With Bayern needing a near-impossible five goals, the second half was predictably flat. Arjen Robben curled wide from the edge of the area, Franck Ribery

drew a rare save from Iker Casillas with a low drive and substitute Mario Gotze could not keep his shot below the bar after turning sharply in the box. And Bayern suffered a final ignominy in the 89th minute when Ronaldo curled a 20-yard free-kick under a jumping wall to kick-start the Real celebrations. The victory sets up a mouth-watering final either way, with Real poised to face either former boss Jose Mourinho should Chelsea make it through, or city rivals Atletico. That tie is delicately poised at 0-0 going into Wednesday night's second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Eight Players reportedly shown the door for Poor Performances

SOURCES: ANCHORS GIVE COACH ANDERSON THE AX

A. Macaulay Sombai, sombai121@gmail.com 0777217428
Anderson but could look outside for a foreign coach to take over the team before the resumption of the 2014/2015 LFA national league season. The eight sacked players are: Striker Ben Cooper, midfielder Charles Wright, goalkeeper Frankee Reeves, and Defender Charles Togbah. Others are striker Matthew Deedee, goalkeeper Sorsor Joemah, midfielder Julius Nah and striker Bill Sheriff. The coach has reportedly, already been told to pick up his letter, and has sent someone to receive it but was told to pick up his letter himself. The NPA Management has agreed to pay the coach and the players for the month of April as a kind gesture from the NPA Management. When contacted, Coach Anderson confirmed that he has heard about the reports of his dismissal but is yet to receive any letter. Anderson dismissed suggestions from the management that he failed to deal with players that he met on the team. The players I brought on the team were used based on merit and not based on friendship, including those that I met on the team. The Coach said if he receives such letter from the NPA Management he would leave, but he knows that he might soon be contacted by other teams.

Monrovia rontPageAfrica has reliably learnt that the management of the NPA Anchors Sports Association has sacked head Coach Jerry Anderson along with eight other players for what the management considered poor performances in the past year. Sources explained that Coach Anderson was sacked for his failure to work in collaboration with members of his technical staff when it comes to the selection of players for the team before and during the 2013/2014 Liberia Football Association (LFA) national league season. The source also acknowledged that when the NPA Management appointed Coach Anderson there were already several experienced players on the team, but that he failed to use or focus on those players. But instead brought in his own players and continued to use them frequently. At the end they all failed to produce the necessary result for the team, the source said. The majority of the sacked players contract with the team had reportedly expired and most of them have been described as losing their edge to old age. The source clarified that the Management of the NPA Anchors is now in contact with former Lone Star player and coach Thomas Kojo to replace

ith a 4-0 win over Norwich at Old Trafford, Manchester United player/caretaker manager Ryan Giggs has cemented his place as the greatest football manager of all time. Though the win came against a dire club currently in the relegation zone that even David Moyes beat earlier in the season, it was enough to convince Man United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard that Giggs is the second coming of the impossibly successful Golden Pep. "It might sound pretty rash and naive, but, in my opinion, we are dealing with a new Guardiola," he wrote in a blog. "What we have seen in the first week has been more than convincing.

CLARENCE SEEDORF: AT TIMES, IT'S BETTER TO LEAVE BALOTELLI ALONE

C Milan boss Clarence Seedorf believes the best way to deal with striker Mario Balotelli is to leave him alone. The 23-year-old reacted angrily to being substituted during Friday's 2-0 loss at Roma before launching into a tirade at journalists after the game. The Dutchman believes the former Manchester City forward has been hindered by the huge amount of attention paid to him by the media and believes he thrives if left to his own devices.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

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FrontPage Spot News FOOD SUFFICIENCY- L SOMETHING NEW?

iberias staple food is rice but the country over 3 million population that hardly go a day without consuming rice is unable to produce food to feed the nation. The staple is imported from abroad and this has made the commodity to become a political tool, having an odd history of contributing to unrest in the country. In April 1979, pronounced increment in the price of rice led to riot that resulted into deaths and massive destruction. Yet nothing has changed, rice is still not produce on a large scale in Liberia. Recently a project valued over US$40 million to produce rice on a mechanized scale in Liberia sponsored by the Government of Libya has failed and the sophisticated machineries transported to Foya, Lofa County have all vanished in thin air. Now, the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program through donors including the World Bank, Japanese Funds is providing $14 million to the Central Agriculture Research Institute (CARI) over five years to support the production of seeds for distribution to farmers in an effort to make Liberia self sufficient in food production. In CARI machines and humans are busy working with the hope that this time seeds will be supplied in good quantity and quality to farmers.