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NEWS EXTRA
Law & Order
VOL 8 NO.592
MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014
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CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of
the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The
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banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
THURSDAY, MAY1, 2014 L$87.00/US$1 L$88.00/US$1
BUYING SELLING
L$88.00/US$1 L$89.00/US$1
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News Extra 2
INSIDE
KILBYS GAC
FREE AT
LAST
UNIVERSITY SET TO HONOR LIBERIAN PRESIDENT WITH PORTRAIT IN
RECOGNITION OF ROLE PLAYED IN DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS


HARVARD UNVEILING
EJS PORTRAIT
While Critics have long argued that the Presidents numerous international awards have not
translated into tangible socioeconomic benefits for her people or correlate to her domestic
relations, the President counters her critics by saying this perennial debate does not take into
consideration the vast achievements of her government over the eight years of democratic
governance including taking the country from a pariah status and failed institutions back
into the comity of nations.
Five Grand Gedeans
Acquitted of Mercenarism
Dark Side of Auditor General
Turns Author
LIBERIA-SIERRA LEONE-
LINKED BY PAVED ROAD
BOKO HARAM
EURO 107M PROJECT APPROVED BY EU
NEWS
HOW REAL IS THE THREAT TO
WEST AFRICA?
News Extra

Page 2 |
Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014
While Critics have long argued that the Presidents numerous international awards have not translated
into tangible socioeconomic benefts for her people or correlate to her domestic relations, the
President counters her critics by saying this perennial debate does not take into consideration the vast
achievements of her government over the eight years of democratic governance including taking the
country from a pariah status and failed institutions back into the comity of nations

Monrovia -
P
resident Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf is being honored
this weekend by her
alma mater, Harvard
University, when her portrait will
be unveiled to honor Africas
frst freely elected female
president, according to Betsy
Viani, Director of Engagement
of the Kennedy School of
Government. The Harvard
Kennedy School was originally
the Harvard Graduate School of
Public Administration (GSPA),
and was founded in 1936 and
named the Harvard Kennedy
School of Government (HKSG)
in 1966 to honor US President
John F. Kennedy. The School
drew its initial faculty from
Harvard's existing government
and economics departments, and
welcomed its frst students in
1937
The Liberian president will be
honored for her exceptional
leadership role in national and
global affairs. Madam Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf is an alumna
of the Kennedy School of
Government, graduating in 1971
with a Master degree in Public
Administration on the Mason
Fellowship Program. Following
that degree in 1971, the
Presidents achievements have
been nothing but remarkable,
including several high profle
international posts and she
was elected to the Liberian
presidency in 2005 for the frst
term, wining a second term in
2011 and has been tasked with
ushering Liberia into a new
dispensation of democracy
and providing socioeconomic
development for the country.
The Liberian president has won
many international awards,
including the 2011 Nobel Peace
Prize, which was won along
with fellow Liberian Leymah
Gbowee, and Tawakkul Karman
of Yemen, the Indira Gandhi 2012
Prize for Peace, Disarmament
and Development, the 2007
Presidential Medal of Freedom,
the highest civilian award given
by the United States, awarded to
Sirleaf by U.S. President George
W. Bush.
International Image versus
Domestic Realities
On the home front, critics
have long argued that the
President may be achieving
international awards, but they
have not translated into tangible
socioeconomic benefts for
her people and they argue that
the presidents international
image does not correlate to her
domestic relations. Although
Liberia still remains obstructed
by development challenges, yet
the President counters her critics
by saying this perennial debate
does not take into consideration
the vast achievements of her
government over the 8 years of
democratic governance including
taking the country from a pariah
status and failed institutions
back into the comity of nations,
with international respectability,
and revitalizing an economy
which had contracted by 90
HARVARD UNVEILING EJS PORTRAIT
UNIVERSITY SET TO HONOR LIBERIAN PRESIDENT WITH PORTRAIT IN
RECOGNITION OF ROLE PLAYED IN DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS
F
RONT
PAGE
News Extra
percent in GDP by 2003, the
largest decrease in output of any
country since World War II. The
fact that the needle indicating
progress in socioeconomic
development has moved is never
in question. The president says
her achievements have been
remarkable over the space of 9
years, although even she would
admit that more needs to be
done.
Progress, Prospects and
Challenges
Political observers say, in the
last eight years of democratic
governance, Liberia has indeed
made progress on many fronts,
including reducing poverty,
which now stands at 56.6 percent
of the population living below
the national poverty line and life
expectancy has now improved
from 48 years in 2006 to 60
years in 2014 according to the
World Development Indicators.
Nevertheless, although poverty
has decreased by 20 percent
over the last ten years, critics
say, signifcantly more needs
to be done. A reduction of
poverty by 20 percent under
any circumstance in any country
can be considered signifcant,
but critics might say that from
the countrys low base in 2006,
the percentage reduction is
unimpressive, which would be
an unfair characterization since
the absolute numbers refected
in that reduction represents real
people of nearly a million in
about 200,000 households.
Due to the civil crisis and bad
governance the state of healthcare
in Liberia had been nothing
short of horrifc. However
since 2006, although challenged
by inadequate manpower and
equipment, there have been
remarkable improvements.
Malaria prevalence in children
has declined from 64 to 32
percent and access to prompt and
effective treatment for malaria
has increased. However, the
maternal mortality rate remains
very high (770 per 100,000),
but nevertheless a signifcant
achievement from 994 per
100,000 in 2006! Even more
signifcantly, more than 80
percent of the population resides
within fve kilometers of a
health center and the number of
births attended by skilled health
attendants has increased from a
low of 34 percent in 2006 to a
high of over 80 percent today.
Proponents of the government
point to this level of progress
largely due to sustained support
from international donors and
from mobilizing domestic
resources, which improved its
ability to provide basic services
such as health, education and
limited infrastructure (several
hundred miles of paved and
laterite roads have been built,
including the Monrovia to
Buchanan Highway).
The National budget increased
from 80 million dollars in 2005-
2006, to 582 million dollars in
2013-2014, despite shortfall in
projected revenues, but infows
approached 600 million dollars
in the past budget period, and
direct fnancial support from
international donors improved
the countrys fscal space.
Achieving domestic resource
mobilization by expanding the
tax base and increasing it as a
ratio to GDP has been a singular
achievement of the Sirleaf
administration and it now stands
at 21 percent.
Progress in Liberia has come
with signifcant challenges posed
in the early stages of democratic
governance. Erasing an inherited
debt burden of 4.5 billion dollars
limited the countrys fnancial
independence and may have
obstructed faster economic
progress as the country was
limited in the kind of complex
fnancing arrangements it could
employ to rebuild its destroyed
infrastructure, which would have
included a healthy dose of debt
and equity fnancing from the
international fnancial system.
Prospects and Challenges
in Economic Growth and
Development
Liberia has immense potential
for economic growth and
development, which can be
limited only by how far the
countrys planners can expand
their minds. Growth in 2013
was 8.1 percent. Despite this
seemingly impressive growth
rate, yet some economists
suggest that the country would
need double digit growth
rates for a sustained period to
reduce the absolute number
of people in extreme poverty,
which is now half of the
population of around 2 million
people, representing 360,000
households. That is doable, but
challenges abound. Liberias
economy is characterized by an
overreliance on the export of
primary commodities mainly
rubber and lately iron ore. There
is limited value addition due to
the absence of a sustained source
of energy to fuel the countrys
economy and the nature of
the extractive industry. The
lack of a sustainable energy
source has greatly constrained
Liberias economic growth and
development over the last ten
years.
The countrys fnancial
sector has been strengthened.
Commercial banks operating
in the country increased from 5
in 2006 to 8 in 2010 (has now
increased to 11 in 2014 with
Afriland First Bank commencing
operation) with bank branches
rising from 11 to 72 and banking
services expanded from 4 to ten
counties during the same period.
In ensuring a safe and credible
banking sector, recapitalization
of banks has been signifcantly
strengthened. The minimum
capital requirement has been
increased from US$2.0 million
in 2006 to US$10 million
now with all of the banks in
compliance. The total number
of micro credit loans was only
300 at the beginning of 2006,
but has grown to over 80,000 in
2012.
The contribution of the banking
sector toward the recovery
of the economy has been
improving since 2006 with the
ratio of total credit to nominal
GDP rising from 10.0 percent
in 2006 to 18.2 percent now
and some economists say, the
introduction of new fnancial
products, including ATMs, SMS
banking, and branch banking, is
refective of the important role
fnancial innovation plays in
banking sector development and
the deepening of the fnancial
system.
Despite the challenging
operating environment, banks
balance sheets have shown
strong growth compared with the
recent past. Risk management in
banks has now taken the center
stage with the issuance of a
comprehensive risk management
framework by banks in response
to the CBLs drive to transition
from compliance- to risk-based
supervision. Total employment
in the banking industry rose
markedly from 531 in 2006 to
more than 1,500 in 2012.
It is clear that Liberia has made
remarkable achievements but
substantively more needs to be
done with many pointing to the
ever-increasing infation of the
local currency as a sign that
the Sirleaf administration has
its work cut out to deliver in a
timely manner. As for Harvard
University honoring one its own,
some of Sirleafs supporters say,
the occasion will mark another
proud moment for a nation on
the mends and an individually-
proud remarkable feat of a
sitting Liberian leader who
despite the odds, picked herself
up by her own bootstrap, from
single parenthood to champion
of womens rights, personal
freedoms and has been in the
vanguard to assure Liberias
evolution into a truly democratic
state. Sirleafs supporters say,
even critics of the President,
would grudgingly admit that
Sirleaf, despite her frailties, has
been a champion of individual
freedom and supported
democratic governance over
her more than 40 years in the
Liberian political space and the
country has changed for the
better since her ascendancy into
power.

Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014 Page 3
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
AFRICA - NOT WHAT YOU IMAGINE
FrontPage
v
Commentary
EDITORIAL
EJS MUST BUILD on Upcoming Harvard Honor
to Cement Her legacy and status in the comity of
nations.
THIS WEEK, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf is expected to receive yet another international
honor when her Alma Mater, Harvard University
unveil a portrait to honor and pay tribute to Africas
first freely-elected female.
FOR MANY OF SIRLEAFS CRITICS, the accolades
piling upon the president have done much for her
international image but little for her domestic lapses.
WITH THE UNVEILING of a portrait, Harvard
University is honoring the Liberian president for her
exceptional leadership role in national and global
affairs.
SIRLEAF IS AN ALUMNA of the Kennedy School
of Government, graduating in 1971 with a Master
degree in Public Administration on the Mason
Fellowship Program. Following that degree in 1971,
the Presidents achievements have been nothing
but remarkable, including several high profile
international posts and she was elected to the Liberian
presidency in 2005 for the first term, wining a second
term in 2011 and has been tasked with ushering Liberia
into a new dispensation of democracy and providing
socioeconomic development for the country.
WHILE CRITICS have long argued that the
Presidents numerous international awards have not
translated into tangible socioeconomic benefits for
her people or correlate to her domestic relations,
the President counters her critics by saying this
perennial debate does not take into consideration the
vast achievements of her government over the eight
years of democratic governance including taking the
country from a pariah status and failed institutions
back into the comity of nations.
WE HAVE no doubt that Liberians were proud when
they elected Sirleaf in 2005 and rallied around her for
her reelection in 2011. What many remain concern
about is the widely-held perception that the president
is allowing those within her inner circle to dampen
her legacy and 40-year political sojourn.
IT IS NEVER TOO late for Sirleaf to realize
mistakes made and embark on a quest during her
remaining time in office to rid her circle of those
bringing stains to the good works Harvard and other
international organizations, including the Nobel
Peace Prize committee which awarded Sirleaf and
Leymah Gbowee its coveted prize in 2011 along with
Tawakkul Karman of Yemen. The president has also
been honored with the Indira Gandhi 2012 Prize for
Peace, Disarmament and Development and the 2007
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian
award given by the United States, awarded to Sirleaf
by U.S. President George W. Bush, just to name a
few.
HARVARD IS one of the most prestigious institutions
of learning in the world and its decision to cement
the face of Liberias first female head of state in
a portrait should be applauded by all Liberians as
yet another positive light bestowed on the post-war
nation in spite of the many challenges and political
and economic lapses clouding the Sirleaf leadership.
COMMENTARY
HONORING A
DAUGHTER OF
THE SOIL
Abuja
T
he offcial conference hasnt even started yet, except
for an opening reception I missed last night because
the Rockefeller Foundation a Forum strategic partner
was counter-programming with a reception for its
centenary initiatives, including benefting a million people
throughdigital jobs and transforming cities. [link to urban issues]
But already Ive been to a Friends Africaworkshop on innovations
for health; a Forum convening of family planning experts; a
General Electric press event introducing a corporate social
responsibility drive called GE Kujenga; and a media dinner
discussing (what else?) the abducted Chibok girls and other hot
topics. Ive had intense conversations with a diversity of people
about an astonishing range of issues. This while missing several
sessions Id promised to attend.
If the Africa version of the Geneva-based World Economic
Forum(WEF) best known for its annual meeting in Davos,
Switzerland was ever an elite enclave where deals get done
in splendid isolation from the realities most of us face, it isnt
anymore. This years theme is inclusive growth and job creation.
If youve complained about jobless growth or the widening gap
between rich and poor, hear this: the worlds decision makers are
listening.
Activists argue that most ruling elites in Africa and too many of
the corporations that extract the continents resources dont care
about the human consequences. Theyre too busy increasing their
own wealth. As the top guy at Union Carbide in then-Rhodesia
once told me, We dont have to worry what happens here. Were
making over 24 per cent proft a year.
But sustainable economic development is surely in the interests
of both governments and businesses. Extreme social unrest is the
alternative, and nobody benefts from that (unless youre into
armaments). Whether recognizing the adverse consequences of
current poverty levels is enlightened self-interest or compassion,
its happening.
Heres a sampling of what I heard yesterday. Africa will experience
a huge economic and demographic dividend by providing
contraception access to the millions of women who want it but
cant get it. A focus on nutrition in a childs frst thousand days
could prevent stunting which limits a persons intellectual
and physical potential forever but also stunts GDP growth. Coca
Cola has spent over $65 billion on distribution and logistics to be
'everywhere', and it will use that ubiquity to get urgently needed
services to remote areas - the Last Mile project. GE plans to make
money by investing in large-scale electrical generation for a
power-hungry continent, but it is supporting innovative initiatives
to deliver off-grid power to left-behind communities.
And how about these scenarios? Malaria is one of the biggest
killers in history, and if theres not a push to extend recent
successes in combating it, it could surge back to pre-DDT levels
with unimaginable results. (Remember that Foggy Botton,
where the U.S. Department of State now stands, got its name from
the swamps whose miasmas were thought responsible for the
fevers before toxic chemicals eliminated the malaria-causing
mosquitoes.)
Same with polio, which knows no national boundaries.
Governments arent delivering available medications to treat
highly contagious multi-drug-resistant TB, so pretty soon you
may need to wear respirators every time you board an airplane
anywhere in the world. As one expert said, Condoms and

Bineta Diop, one of the Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum on Africa, is founder and president of
Femmes Africa Solidarite and Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, African Union.
behavior change cant save you.
If you thought stories about health care were boring, meet Toyin
Saraki, with whom I had the most compelling conversation of
the day. Being born to a privileged family didnt save her from
losing a baby in her frst pregnancy, and she has devoted her life to
saving other mothers from the agony she experienced. More about
that later on AllAfrica.
Shes also in the forefront of the grass-roots campaign, led
by Nigerian women, on behalf of the schoolgirls. The fact that
everyone reading this will understand the reference is a tribute to
the civil society actions here that launched an exploding Twitter
campaign - #BringBackOurGirls - and flled city streets all
over this country. Its due to them that international media and
the Nigerian and international governments are now reacting to
a long-festering tragedy. (Dont get me started about American
media who largely ignored the girls' kidnapping for three weeks
while giving saturation coverage to the Korean ferry that sunk the
next day.)
The girls were gathered in such vulnerable numbers because they
and their families valued education and their schools have been
closed for months. They came to sit for exams. But the terrible
plight of the regions children is not new.
Some 1500 people have been killed in the northern Nigeria
insurgency this year alone by both Boko Haram and government
forces. The northeast is under a state of emergency declared by
the federal government, which cut cell phone service to the area.
A quarter of a million people have been forced from their homes.
Amnesty International says more than three million people are
facing a humanitarian crisis.
More than 300 people were killed last month, including 55 boys on
11 February in Borno State when 25 teenage girls were abducted.
Two weeks later 59 boarding school pupils were killed in Yobe
State. And so it has gone, day after day, month after month.
International reporters are streaming in, talking anxiously about
two bombings some 30 kilometers outside Abuja in recent days.
What most of them didnt tell you earlier - and some of them didnt
know when they arrived was about the still mysterious clashes
near the presidential villa at State Security Service headquarters
on March 30. If you were following Nigerian tweeters or reading
AllAfrica! you would have been able to follow the action live,
while residents of the area reported hours of heavy weapons fre
and hovering helicopter gunships.
Whatever else is discussed when the WEF gets underway, the
sense of insecurity that has virtually closed down this capital city
until the event is over will be on the agenda. Streets are mostly
empty except of highly visible police and military. Areas around
hotels hosting WEF events are off limits to all but specially tagged
vehicles.
Power Africa a signature program of the Obama administration
will be a constant underlying theme at the Forum. An event that
relies heavily on electricity and connectivity will be running much
of the time on off-grid power. While Ive been tapping this into
my laptop, the generator where Im staying has kicked in more
than a dozen times as the power went off. (And I, who know
better, forgot my surge protector!)
Alongside its challenges, theres another part of Nigerias
story: its expanding economy now called Africas largest,
its entrepreneurial spirit, its feisty free press, its fashion and
entertainment industries, its 170 million population domestic
market in a word, its potential is also on display.
WEF has been criticized for staging such a high-profle meeting in
a place like Nigeria. I say, What better place?
Journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault once told a group of South
African reporters that the only advocacy permissible to a journalist
is to support the right to dignity of every person on the planet.
Nigeria is home to a lot of those people.
May they, in the next few years, fnd the dignity they all deserve.
Bineta Diop, one of the Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum
on Africa, is founder and president of Femmes Africa Solidarite
and Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, African
Union. Other co-chairs are Dominic Barton, Global Managing
Director, McKinsey & Company, USA; Jean-Franois van
Boxmeer, Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive
Offcer, HEINEKEN, Netherlands; Aliko Dangote, President and
Chief Executive Offcer, Dangote Group, Nigeria; and President,
Femmes Africa Solidarit, Switzerland; Jabu A. Mabuza,
Chairman, Telkom Group, South Africa; Sunil Bharti Mittal,
Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, India; and John Rice,
Vice-Chairman, GE, Hong Kong SAR.
Page 4 |
Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014
FrontPage
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COMMENTS FROM
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DISCLAIMER
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Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666;
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E
DITORIAL TEAM
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
CDCS ISAAC VAH
TUKPAH OFF THE MARK
The Reader's Page
WEAH KARPEH NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL
INFORMATION OFFICER AT UNITED NATIONS MISSION
IN LIBERIA (UNMIL)
Great thoughts, Wade. They fairly present the problems the media
and their practitioners face hoping your projecting would lead to
solving them.
MUSTERPHA FOFANA TOP COMMENTER OWNER
AND CEO AT SELF EMPLOYED AND LOVING IT!
you know i think this sister is Excited, overjoyed, and gone of
track. i can'tf say exactly the reason why but if I can take a guess,
is probably because this could her frst visit to the UN and maybe
her fst time in New York City as well. No don't judge me yet..
I have not read her entire released and i don't have the courage to,
because I think her statement is what I will call glittering generality
propaganda. From the introduction statement she gave one can tell
what the body and supporting statement would be like. Is obvious
that she will not say anything good about the freedom journalists in
Liberia enjoy, but rather she will probably go into something about
how her boss or some members of her entity have been targeted.
My dear, please don't think that you are trying to speak for all the
journalist in Liberia. We urge you not to contradict the very good
report which you spoke about as being a herald in the transition
process. Remember that other good journalists have worked hard
toward that transition process to make it a success. And I like to ask
what's your own story that you will like the world to read? Please
do something that the Liberian people can be proud of you madam.
Please do us the favor.
PATRICK EMERSON PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
While journalists may be watchdogs of society, they are not and
should never be above the law. Individual rights and governance
can only be protected from unscrupulous and sometimes untrained
journalists through judicial recourse. To seek presidential
intervention in judicial matters only because journalists feel
aggrieved, is tantamount to constitutional violation of the
separation of the three branches of government. The statements
made at the UN by Wade Williams were unintellectual, partisan
and unpatriotic.
CHRISTOPHER HARRY LUKE ST. PETER CLAVER'S
HIGH SCHOOL
Emerson, tell me which journalists has claimed to be above the
law in Liberia and I will tell you how many Government offcials,
including the President, and the whole judiciary system that are
above the law in Liberia. As for seeking presidential intervention in
judicial matters, frst of all, we all know that is not right, and neither
is it healthy for a functioning democracy or governance. But, the
whole judiciary system in Liberia is corrupt. If the judiciary was
not corrupt as in the case of the FPA saga, there would have been no
imprisonment of Rodney. Did you see the whole confict of interest
in that case......judges....government offcials? It is due to those
unscrupulous behavior, hence the intervention of the President
are sometimes necessary, in order to save face to the International
community due to her incompetent... offcials and corrupt judges.
Where in the world have you been to even mention "Constitutional
violation of the separation of the three branches of Government in
Liberia"? We all know that there's no genuine separation of power
in Liberia among the three branches of Government. It is only on
papers my brother but when it comes to governance implementation
and enforcement, they all overlap, do the same functions or don't
know what the heck they are supposed to do.
I do not see any statement made by Wade Williams at the UN that
was partisan, neither was it unintellectual or unpatriotic. You and I
know what's going on in Liberia.....I means the daily intimidation
of journalist in Liberia. Did you want Wade to defend the UP
government for the wrongs they are doing to Liberians? Did you
want her not to speak the truth due to blind patriotism as a lot of
gravy seekers are doing? If anything, we should applaud her for
speaking the truth. When EJS was in the diaspora saying all kinds
of things against Doe and Taylor as a Liberian, was that being
unpatriotic?
JOHN WILLIAMS TOP COMMENTER EASTERN
UNIVERSITY, ST. DAVIDS, PA
Wade and FPA have taken the battle to the turf of the oppressors
and have won acceptance and sympathy. The myth/propaganda
that certain people enjoy exclusive privileged access to important
people/organizations has been shattered! The playing feld is
becoming level! Congratulations!
The Editor,
I read with a high degree of suspicion the Front Page Africa
online news story captioned Disorder in the CDC? Liberias
Main Opposition Divided Over 2017
The assertion that the Congress of Democratic Change has
no ideology or has not had one for nine years is fallacious to
say the least. I do not agree with the perception that the CDC
lacks an ideology.
The Congress for Democratic Change seeks to promote the
tenants of grass roots participatory liberal democracy.
It must be said that liberal democracy is a form of representative
democracy and manifests as a form of government in which
representative democracy operates under the principle of
liberalism including protecting the rights of minorities and
especially the individual person.
It is my impression that the approach used by Issac Vah
Tokpa the current Chairman of CDC USA to criticize
public comments of party executives from the Congress
for Democratic Change Liberia is not appropriate as the
Congress for Democratic Change prepares to assume state
power and promote good governance in 2017.
We have repeatedly asserted to partisans including Isaac Vah
Tokpa that making confrontational press statements in the
media is not appropriate and only serves to undermine the
credibility of the party and would be new recruits of the
party. Chairman George Solo was only trying to emphasize
the immense sacrifces and support Amb George Weah has
made to the Congress of Democratic Change CDC as a party
in addition to Weahs contribution to humanity and the world
at large.
We have suggested to Issac Vah Tokpa repeatedly that he use
channels available to him within the partys machinery to
channel his controversial views and opinions which time has
revealed has not been a true manifestation of the truth.
The behavior of openly confronting any assertion he disagrees
with coming from the party in Liberia has the propensity to
alienate his administration vis Monrovia.
At this point in time CDC US A ought to seek collaborative
opportunities with their counterparts in Liberia. And many
members and sympathizers in the USA have insinuated
on numerous occasions that they are fed up with hearing
criticisms which ought to be channeled in house.
The fact remains that Ambassador George Weah has been
successful at defeating other contenders for the standard
bearership for the party for a six year tenure and this
tenure runs concomitantly with the tenure of the National
President of the Republic of Liberia. This legal precedence
is ingrained in Article 12 Section 70 of CDCs constitution
which asserts: ARTICLE 12. NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE (NEC) Sec. 70 Composition and tenure
of National Executive Committee (NEC) shall be: The
Standard Bearer - for a term of six (6) years, equivalent to the
Presidential Term stated in the Constitution of Liberia
Article 16 Sec. 83 Standard Bearer
The Standard Bearer is the head and frst partisan of the CDC
and the leader of the session at a National Congress. He or she
shall: 18 a) be the Torch Bearer of the CDC in any national
presidential elections. As "ex offcio" and the highest-ranking
Party offcial he/she is consulted on all matters of vital
importance to the Party; b) present to the National Congress
a comprehensive statement of the state of the nation and the
socio-economic and political situation generally; c) make
pronouncements on the standards of the CDC, outlining its
policy, response, and direction on any issue of national and
international concern; and d) in collaboration with the NEC,
orient and direct the activities of the CDC.
As such, the standard bearership of the CDC can only be
challenged in the year of elections which happens to be 2017
when delegates from across Liberia will elect a new standard
bearer. Therefore, any Liberian aspiring for the standard
bearership can only overtly manifest those intentions to
contest in the year of 2017. As a result, George Solo is not
wrong in publically declaring his support for the candidature
of Ambassador George Weah standard bearer of the CDC.
By this act counterproductive act of gross
insubordination, Chairman Isaac Vah Tokpa of CDC USA
is again demonstrating a lack of political maturity and
incompetence as regards his comprehension of the statues
and organic laws of the CDC is questionable and arbitrary.
The focus of the party ought to be towards the 2014
legislative race to acquire more seats and prepare for the
2017 Presidential elections where Liberian of all walks of life
would be anticipating the assumption to power of the CDC
where quality healthcare, education, and viable economic
opportunities will be available to Liberians across the country.


Signed:

Christopher Wisner
Former Chairman CDC USA
I WANT TO FACE HIM:
COURT VERDICT IN LAND
CASE DRAWS IRE ON DR. TOE
Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014 Page 5
F
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POLITICS F
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PAGE
Law & Order
Kennedy L. Yangian kennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 077296781
FREE AT LAST
Five Grand Gedeans Acquitted of Mercenarism
Monrovia:
I
t has been a diffcult three
years for 18 citizens from
South eastern Grand
Gedeh County who have
been languishing behind prison
cell facing trial for alleged
mercenarism. Freedom came
ringing Friday as fve of the 18
were ordered release from the
Monrovia Central Prison while
the fate of their colleagues still
remains in the purview of the
court.
The Criminal Court D at
the Temple of Justice was a
scene to watch Friday when
fve defendants accused of
mercenarism in the Ivory Coast
were acquitted due to lack of
evidence to link them to the
cross border attack in that
neighboring country.
The release of the fve
defendants which sparked
wide jubilations from family
members and friends present
in the court came as the result
of a motion of acquittal fled
on behalf of the defendants
by the defense counsel who
prayed the court to set seven
of the defendants free because
testimonies from the state
witnesses did not link any of
them.
In its motion of acquittal
Defense Counsel Atty. Arthur
Johnson argued that throughout
the case none of the state
witnesses ever linked the seven
defendants of involvement in
the cross border attack that
took place in the Ivory Coast
in 2010 and 2011 that resulted
to the death of seven United
Nations Peace Keepers from
the African state of Niger.
The court on the motion of
a defendant or on its own
motion shall order the entry of
judgment of acquittal of one or
more offenses charged in the
indictment after the evidence
on either side is closed if the
evidence is insuffcient to
sustain a conviction of such
NO CONFUSION
Monrovia:
I
n the wake of recent statements from the Chairman of the
Congress for Democratic Change that the party was founded
for the purpose of making George Weah president followed
by another partisan, CDC United States of America Chairman
that such was not the sole purpose for forming the political party,
the Chairman of Youth League of the Party says he does not see
any confusion but simply the problem of comprehension.
Jefferson Koijee says the CDC is stable as there is no confusion
but simply a problem of comprehending the two statements from
the two party offcials.
I see no confusion here, chairman Solo is just telling us that
the CDC was formed to make Weah the president so that he can
serve as the vehicle for bringing change to Liberia and the USA
Chairman is also saying the same thing that the party was founded
to bring changes to Liberia but who will the party use to take state
power, Weah is the preferred person, Koijee stated.
Said Koijee This is the work of detractors; I see no confusion
here, simply the media comprehending the statement from our
Chairman and another party offcial differently.
In an interview with FrontPageAfrica Koijee said the CDC is
stable as the party prepares to go into two crucial elections, the
ensuing senatorial election and the 2017 general and presidential
elections.
These are the work of our detractors who think by saying CDC is
in confusion, we will not be able to achieve our goal of taking ate
power and also winning seats in the coming senatorial election.
The Youth League Chairman said the CDC remains focused on
achieving the goals of making in rows in the political process of
Liberia and cannot allow itself to be dragged into what he termed
unnecessary internal wrangling.
CDC has able people
According to Koijee the CDC has other qualifed individuals and
it cannot be said that the party belongs to only George Weah but
Weah is the ideal conduit for the party to clinch to state power.
You are talking about a party with people like Samuel Tweh,
John Morlu and others, so how can it be only for Weah, he is our
political leader and the vehicle for this party to take power, said
Koijee.
The CDC Youth League Chairman said the likes of Morlu has
done well for Liberia and as such joining the CDC indicates that
the party has people of high character and is prepared to govern.
We want to applaud people like John Morlu for what they have
done for this country and for supporting the CDC in all our
processes, it tells you that we have brains in this party and we are
ready to lead Liberia to prosperity and development.
Recently Chairman Solo on a popular radio talk show said I
believe, and I will not bite my tongue, and I will not be dishonest
as to be the national Chairman of an institution that was founded
for the motive of promoting George M. Weah to lead this country
through the Congress for democratic Change and pretend that I
will go to a primary and not vote for him.
But CDC Chairman in the United States of America, Isaac V.
Tukpah says anybody who believes the statement made by
Chairman Solo is in the CDC for the wrong reason. He further
said the foundation of the CDC is to promote the dreams and
aspirations of the Liberian people to have the opportunity to earn
an affordable living and correct many of the structural wrongs of
the past.

offense or offenses said the
Atty. Johnson.
In its counter argument the
prosecution lawyer Cllr.
Theophilus Gould told the
court that the defendants were
all culpable for the crime for
which they are on trial however
the court could release some
of the defendants based on its
own discretion.
However in his ruling on
Friday, Presiding Judge Emery
Page stated that based upon
the defense counsels legal
reliance coupled with the
concession of the prosecution
for the release of some of the
defendants and realizing the
soundness of said motion
same was hereby granted for
the release of defendants,
Timothy Barlee, Fred Chelly,
Christopher Laykpayee, Junior
Gelor and Emmanuel Pewee.
Judge Emery Paye said further
that he could not free the two
other defendants Sam Tarlee
and Prince Youtay also named
in the motion of acquittal
because after visiting the case
fle it was realized that the two
defendants were linked to the
crime for which they are facing
trial.
From the perusal of records by
the court, it was observed that
in the statements of defendant
Ofori Diah he did linked Sam
Tarley ,also in the statement of
defendant Emmanuel Saymah
and the testimony of that of
Pascal Kollie, defendant Prince
Youtay was also linked said
Judge Paye.
Judge Paye ruling thereafter
was greeted with jubilation
from family members, friends
and the defendants themselves
who hugged family members,
friends as well as other
defendants in the court room
upon their release.
Like other defendants freed,
Fred Chelly believed to be in his
early 30s told FrontPageAfrica
that he thanked the Almighty
God for his release because
according to him he was totally
innocent of the charges levied
against him that led him to
prison for the last three years.
Upon my arrest I was doing
dry goods business in Grand
Gedeh County for living, my
goods were all taken away by
the police during my arrest
with my money, now you have
freed me because I am not
guilty how do I go home to
re-establish life? asked Fred
Chelly.
Grand Gedeh (District #3)
Lawmaker Alex Grant who
greeted the release of his
kinsmen with smile indicated
that justice has been done to
those that were accused falsely
and had no knowledge for what
they had been languishing
behind bars for the last three
years.
What happened today is
what we had earlier told the
government to do by screening
the defendants to determine
who is actually linked but
this whole thing lies with
our security because on most
instances they dont investigate
thoroughly added Grant.
Representative Grant vows
to prevail on the government
to ensure that those freed
are taken back home and re-
settled adding that all is not
yet over and that the people
of Grand Gedeh County are
still following the case until
all those arrested in connection
with the alleged crime are given
due process in accordance with
law.

CDC YOUTH LEAGUE CHAIR
SAYS PARTY STABLE
Page 6 |
Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014
Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com
Dakar-
A
t the CSE site in the Sierra Leone district of Kissy,
several caterpillar trucks bound for Liberia sit in a
stretch of space, awaiting fnalization of details that
would pave the way for the company which has left its
marks in Burkina Faso, Mali, The Gambia, Senegal, Niger, Nigeria,
Benin and most recently in next-door Guinea and Sierra Leone, to
make its long-anticipated entry into Liberia.
The controversy surrounding how the company lost when it was
expected to win the bid to refurbish the Red-Light to Ganta project
to the Chinese, remains a mystery but with the greenlight all but
settled on the Ganta-Yekepa route, the company is hoping to make
a splash on a project which will give Liberia a taste of what many
other African countries, including Liberias next-door neighbors
already know, that the Compagnie Sahelienne DEntreprises which
has been in the construction business since 1970 is the Real Deal.
All we want is fair competition. Our work will speak for itself,
says Mamadou Demba Sow, the companys Exploration Manager,
at the CSEs offce in Dakar recently.
Since its formation in 1970, CSE, originally called Compagnie
Senegaise dEntre-prises, starting with an initial capital of ten
million CFA Francs has boomed into a successful multimillion
dollar company. In Mali, the company is credited with construction
of the Manantali dam which serves Mali, Mauritania and Senegal
which prompted the Malian government to award the company the
Markala/Niono road. The successes in Mali and other neighboring
countries pushed the company to change its name to its current,
Compagnie Sahelienne dEntrepises to show its international
dimension.
The change led to massive construction contracts in Sierra Leone,
Cameroon and other African countries, which led its General
Manager Aliou Sow being named African Manager of the Year by
the monthly economic magazine Jeune Afrique Economy.
The change, according to CSE, was necessary to give surrounding
African nations the advantage of CSE know-how, achieve substantial
savings for foreign customers, wit fait prices, employ exclusively
African workforce and quick mobilization and expand the range of
works in countries having different geographic landscapes: rock,
excavations, mounting cuttings, including the Maoloko Mountain in
Sierra Leone and signifcant inroads across the continent.
Besides road construction, CSE is also aggressively engaged in
construction of buildings, specializing in public works buildings,
embankments, roads, and sewerage and drainage systems, leaving
a trail of impressions not only in Senegal, but in Mali, Cameroun,
Gambia, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea and Sierra Leone, where it
has been operating since 1984. CSE has often partnered with the
Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) and with International
Funding Agencies.
CSEs work became clearly visible in Senegal when the government
began large-scale construction to improve traffc condition from
Dakar to inner land, including a direct to inner land expressway.
Partnering with SOSETER, CSE 5 SANY motor graders, who was
the largest local engineering company with a long history, with
subsidiaries of two engineering construction companies to help
establish Dakar as one of the premier high-way capitals in West
Africa today.
Like it is currently doing in Sierra Leone, CES faced diffcult
conditions, amid complicated earth conditions and huge underground
stones which caused great wearing to the equipment.
Momodou Senghor, Site Manager for the busy Tokeh-Lumley
road says increase in traffc has pushed CSE and Sierra Leone
into modifying existing contract to meet the demands. Especially
during the rainy season, commercial bikes used to charge people to
carry them on their backs. Since weve made those modifcations,
we have not had any problems during the rainy season.
Ahmadou Gueye, Country Technical Director for CSE in Sierra
Leone, says CSE enjoys the challenge of doing the impossible
and venturing in territories its competitors are afraid to tread at a
price that is affordable but with quality in mind. We have great
quality, competitive prices, and we already have our equipment and
machinery here in Sierra Leone, so we do not have the added costs
of bringing what we need here. This gives us advantages over our
competitors.
In addition to the recently-completed Lumney Beach Road in
Freetown, CSE is also working on the Peninsula Highway budgeted
at $l20 million originally penciled in for a two-lane carriageway
but is now on course for a four-lane carriageway with an improved
structure due to the foreseen increase of traffc which will involve
increase of cost and completion time.
Today, the company is leading the charge to modernize Freetown
and is currently involved in road rehabilitation and construction of
30 streets in the capital for a total of 25 km including the construction
of the Hillside Bye Pass Road. The route gives the city of Freetown
another alternative to Kissy road for the traffc which will defnitely
improve mobility in Freetown from the Centre to the Eastern parts.
Ahmadou Diop, a former Director for CSE Sierra Leone said during
last weeks inauguration of the Lumney Beach Road in Freetown
that CSE which has been involved in construction in the country
for decades is proud of its accomplishments. We have been here
when things were very diffcult during the war. Now it is time for
enjoyment, to stand beside Sierra Leoneans. We have been involved
in a lot of road projects. From the road to Conakry, the Peninsula
road, Lumney Beach and the soon-to-be completed Hillside road.
As one of the leading construction companies in Africa, we strive
in serving as a beacon of hope for what we can do as Africans. The
EU is aware of the capacity of CSE that is why they keep coming
back to us.
Ahmadou Gueye agrees: We are committed to the Sierra Leone
market where we have been operating for more than 25 years. We
are part of the past, present and future of Sierra Leone. This is
now a safe, peaceful country where business can be done without
problems.
In Sierra Leone, the European Commission has strong confdence in
CSEs work, investing, along with the government of Sierra Leone,
some US$400 million in road and bridge works.
With such an impressive trail of work, hopes are high that the
company could be called upon to link Sierra Leone with Liberia by
paved road. The company completed the 85 km Freetown Conakry
Highway in June 2011 considered the best road in Sierra Leone.
Last week, Ambassador Peter Versteeg, Head of Delegation of the
European Union to the Republic of Sierra Leone used the occasion
of the 64th anniversary of Europe Day Friday which coincided
with the inauguration of the once rugged Lumley Beach Road to
announce that the deal for the Liberia-Sierra Leone border road had
been sealed.
Said Ambassador Versteeg: Today on Europe Day, it is my pleasure
to announce that the European Commission in Brussels have just
signed the main fnancing agreement for the Bandajuma-Liberian
border road, linking Sierra Leone to Liberia. This program aims to
support the rehabilitation of some 100 kilometers of highway and
key bridges. The entire project entails a fnancial contribution of
107 million Euros. This new project which will soon be send to
tender aims to boost West African activities, reintegration and trade
between Sierra Leone and Liberia.
When completed the road will increase the West Africa sub-
regional economic activity and connectivity to reduce poverty in
the concerned areas as well as reduce vehicle operating costs, travel
time and accidents.
For the foreseeable future, CSE is eyeing the ambitious challenge of
expanding the Robertsfeld Highway into a four-lane road. Knowing
the global economic situation, CSE is proposing to seek fnancing
for the road. It presented a proposal and the engineering design in
December 2013 for RIA Highway to the Ministry of Public Works
but has not heard from the Ministry or the government of Liberia.
The company is hoping that the project will be a perfect opportunity
for Liberians to see frsthand, CSEs capabilities.
I think what sets us apart from others is the fact that we are one
hundred percent Africans, Sow says. Because CSE works with
local contractors and with strategic partners, and it is open to
forming more international partnerships to which it can bring its
exceptional experience in African markets.
FrontPageAfrica Africa has learned from sources that some
individuals are not satisfed over the selection of an African
company to construct the road and has been making it diffcult to
sign the contract.
One government insider noted that Africans are capable of
constructing modern roads as shown around Africa today. The
Robertsfeld Highway was constructed in the sixties by a Liberian
frm, Mensah Construction Company. Over 98 percent of all the
employees then were Liberians. This road lasted for years. Said
one government source: Low level employees were not brought
into the country like we see today with some foreign construction
companies. Africans are capable of doing what most non-African
do today; therefore, should not be afraid of CSE. A source at the
Mansion tells FPA that the president is concerned about CSE, and
GOL signing the contract to start construction work and also, who is
holding it up. Is it MPW or MOF? CSE is ready to start and jobs will
be created for some Nimba Citizens when actual construction starts.
The border post at the Freetown-Guinea Highway. The highway is one of several
projects CSE has completed in recent years.
Page 12 |
Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014
The Citizens United to Promote Peace &
Democracy in Liberia (CUPPADL) joins
the United Nations to solicit the opinion of
Citizens about the World they want
THE WORLD THEY WANT
POLICE ACCUSED OF BRUTALITY IN
MARSHALL LAND CRISIS
ANOTHER CDC CRISIS?
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo47@gmail.com
Two Aspirants in Gbarpolu divided over primary interest
6a
Monrovia -
T
he United Nations teamed up with youth groups, private
sector bodies and NGO partners all over the world
including the CUPPADL www.cuppadl.ushahidi.comto
launch MY World and gather 500,000 people opinion
about the world they want after 2015, the opinion collection is
the United Nations Survey to solicit people opinion for a Better
World. MY World asks citizens everywhere about the issues that
make the most difference to their lives. As the UN Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) continue to mobilize global action
on fghting poverty and enhancing livelihoods, efforts are also
underway to include citizens voices in the global debate for the
development agenda after the MDGs target date of 2015.
In Liberia during the climax of soliciting citizens of Liberia opinion
about the world they want, the National Executive Director of
CUPPADL, Prince Kreplah, said over a period of seven days (May
5-11, 2014) Global Week of Action to mobilize half of million
(500,000) votes has been initiated by the UN globally, in Liberia
the mobilization efforts is led by the CUPPADL www.cuppadl.
ushahidi.comover 400 citizens voted for six priority issues they
believe when prioritize in national and global development
agendas, their lives will be improve, Liberia and the world will
be a better place to live. According to Mr. Kreplah, the MY World
survey is anonymous and asks participants only for their gender,
age and country, to allow for disaggregation of data. The data
will be presented global leaders and will paint an accurate global
picture of the top six issues that impact peoples lives the most.
According to a release from the CUPPADL, the CUPPADL
utilized two aspects of the survey online and off line. According to
Mr. KreplahMY World aims to be a simple entry point for ordinary
citizens to engage in the post2015 developmentprocess while
also introducing voters to the World We Want web platform a
joint initiative betweenthe UN and Civil Society where citizens
and stakeholders are participating in a more extensive and
interactive post2015 debate.
The release from CUPPADL intoned that the results from MY
World will be submitted to the UN SecretaryGenerals High
level Panel on the Post2015Development Agenda. In the run
up to 2015, MY World will continue gathering peoples voices
and results will be shared with the SecretaryGeneral and other
global leaders. Mr. Kreplah in the release commanded Liberians
for taking interest in the survey, he described my world survey as
a unique opportunity to infuence global development agenda and
said he and the CUPPADL are glad that Liberians have been hear
through their votes. Mr. Kreplah said Better Jobs Opportunities,
A Good Education, Better Health Care, access to clean water
and sanitation, political freedom, better transport and roads, an
honest and responsive governments, access to family planning
and reliable energy at homes were the top priorities many of the
400 voters in the survey in Liberia selected. Mr. Kreplah believe
the fndings of the survey is not only relevant to global post 2015
and development planning but can also be relevant to informing
national development planning and priority setting for Liberia.
This initiative is coordinated by UNDP, the United Nations
Millennium Campaign, ODI and the Web Foundation with the
support of partners across the world including the CUPPADL
www.cuppadl.ushahidi.com
The United Nations and partners invite citizens everywhere to
take the survey, and join the post2015process to defne the world
we want after 2015. You can vote at http://www.myworld2015.org
F
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NEWS EXTRA
F
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NEWS EXTRA


Ben Town, Margibi County:
R
esidents of Ben
Town, Marshall
Road in Margibi
County have
complained of being
brutalized by offcers of the
Police Emergency Response
unit (ERU) on the alleged
order of Police Director Chris
Massaquoi.
According to the Residents,
offcers of the Liberian National
Police ransacked their town last
week and beat on residents of
the area in the name of eviction
order from the court that was not
visible in favor of some families
who are claiming ownership of
over 45 acres of land.
The residents told
FrontPageAfrica that the police
offcers ransacked their town
with automatic weapons and
Tear Gas to evict them without
any warrant from a court.
We have not been to court
before with anyone on this
land issue so we were surprise
to wake up one morning and
see police offcers telling us to
leave from a Town that we have
lived for more than 50 years a
Town inherited from our great
Forefathers, Mamie Doue one
of the victims told FPA.
Mamie says she was severely
beaten with a shovel by one of
the offcers with her two phones
taken away.
Mamie said: He pushed me to
the ground, I had my two phones
with some money in my under
C
risis and mistrust
amongst Members
of the Congress
For Democratic
Change (CDC), Liberias main
opposition political party is
gradually developing ahead
of the party Primary that
will prepare the Party for the
October 2014 special senatorial
election.
Of late, the political leader of
the CDC Ambassador George
Weah Liberias most celebrated
football legend now politician
who has being a major contender
in two past elections expressed
his intention to contest as
a senatorial candidate in
Montserrado County to unseat
the incumbent Senator who is
also a member of the CDC.
Since the pronouncement of
Weah intent there has been
mix reactions from the public
including some members of
the party who sees the partys
political leader intention as a
disservice to others members of
the party with similar interest.
Senator Joyce Musu Freeman
the incumbent CDC senator
has publicly criticized the
action of her party political
leader and that of the Partys
Chairman Mr. George Solo who
publicly pledged his support
to Ambassador Weah for the
upcoming primary.
Solo at a public forum last week
promised to Vote for Weah as the
cloths. They took the phones
and put their hands in my under
cloths and took my money. The
man who took my phone said
God blessed your, we are just
waiting for UNMIL to leave this
country.
She told FPA that the offcers
after brutalizing her entered her
room and took away money that
she has been keeping for her
group. While I was walking
to my house one of the offcers
kicked me to the ground and put
his hand in my panties to take the
money I had there, she added.
Mamie said, up to present she is
still struggling with bad blood
in her body from pains inficted
on her from the brutality by the
offcers.
Like Mamie elder Moses Jarbo
in his early 50s is one of the
oldest Men in the Ben Town
community and he said he too is
a victim of the police brutality.
He said, as an elder in the town
he decided to intervene to ask
why the brutality was about but
he was wiped with the back of
a cutlass.
Jarbo said: The offcer grabbed
me and started beating me with a
cutlass on my back and I tried to
tell him I was not part but he did
not pay attention he even crushed
all the blocks I had in my yard.
The residents threatened to
resist any further attempt by the
Liberian National police because
according to them the land is not
owned by Mr. Samuel Coopers,
Ms Julia Holder and George
Barbell Cooper all of whom are
claiming 10 and 25, 25 acres
each respectively.
When contacted Police
spokesman Sam Collins
promised that the matter will
be investigated and he will
comment later.
Madam Julia and George
Barbell, who are claiming the
parcel of land, have all declined
to comment on the issue.
The Government of Liberia
through the Ministry of
Information Cultural and
Tourism and the National
Housing Authority have all
purchased land from the people
of Ben Town.
If the allegation by the three
families is a fact than it appears
the government of Liberia did
not do due diligence in the
purchase of the Land.
partys Candidate in the ensuring
2014 special senatorial election
during the partys primary
scheduled for June.
Like Weah and Senator Freeman
it is also the case with Ms.
Fatumata Zinnah another
member of the CDC USA
chapter and the Partys Secretary
General Mr. Nathaniel McGill in
Gbarpolu County.
Mr. McGill early this year
declared his intention to contest
in Gbarpolu on the ticket of the
CDC and promised to go to the
partys Primary with the hope
of emerging victorious against
anyone who contest against him.
But Zinnah says McGill is unfair
and an attempt to deny her the
opportunity to contest on the
partys ticket.
In an interview with
FrontPageAfrica, Ms. Zinnah
expressed fear of the process
being hijacked by Mr. McGill
because of his current position
as Secretary General of the
Party because according to her
he could use his infuence at
her disadvantage to be declared
winner of the process.
Zinnah Said: you cannot be
the referee and be the player if
Mr. McGill has confdence in
himself and wants to contest
in a fair primary election let
him resign his post as secretary
General. In the absence of that I
see the process being hijacked by
Mr. McGill.
Zinnah promised to contest as
an independent candidate in the
county if the process is not fairly
carried out.
Gbarpolu needs a female senator
It is now time for a change
the people of Gbarpolu needs
a female Senator judging from
the history of some female
lawmakers who are currently in
the legislature the County needs
a strong female senator, she
said.
She told FPA that survey
conducted from her tour of the
county shows that the Citizens
of the County are tired and
disappointed in the current
leadership of the county and
want a change.
Gbarpolu is one of the newest
counties in Liberia derived from
Lofa County. Senator Theodore
Momo is the incumbent senator
representing the ruling Unity
party.
Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014 Page 13
REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET
Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption tale
BOKO HARAM
Rodney D. Sieh, Rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com
How Real is the Threat to West Africa?
6b
F
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NEWS ANAYLSIS
Monrovia -
B
ack in March when
Frank Nyekan,
the Director
Designate to head
the Executive Protective
Services (EPS), declared
at his confrmation that the
Boko-Haram threat in next-
door Nigeria was real and had
to potential to slip under the
radar of the post-war nation,
many slammed Nyekan as
infating the threat to boost his
confrmation.
Noted Nyekan: "Terrorism is
spreading now. Nobody needs
to tell you that Boko-Haram
is next door in Nigeria. Some
are using Liberia as a sleep-
out where they come and sleep
when they do their thing. They
come as Nigerian businessmen
to sleep after a period of
time, they lost and returned to
Nigeria. They commit the act,
when they are being searched
for, they run to Liberia. From
Liberia to Nigeria is not far.
You have to look at it critically
because the election is coming;
you need protection here and at
home. There is a need for some
kind of legislation that will
protect Legislators."
More than a month later, the
threat appears to be growing
in Nigeria with the potential
to strike fear in other countries
around the region.
The recent abduction of some
270 schoolgirls in the Nigerian
town of Chibok has drawn
international condemnation
with several celebrities and
international stakeholders
taking keen interest in the
threat. The United States of
America has fnally dispatched
forces to help mount pursuit
of Boko Haram even as the
watchdog group, Amnesty
International report that the
Nigerian military had more
than four hours' warning of the
raid by Boko Haram militants.
Fifty-three of the girls escaped
soon after being seized in
Chibok on 14 April but more
than 200 remain captive.
Nigeria's authorities say
they "doubt the veracity"
of the Amnesty report. "If
the government was aware
[beforehand] there would have
been an intervention [against
the militants]," Nigerian
Information Minister Labaran
Maku told BBC World TV.
The closest the threat has
come outside Nigeria is
next-door Cameroun where
gunmen linked to Boko
Haram in February abducted a
French Family from northern
Cameroon. Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau later said
in a video message that the
kidnapping was in retaliation
for Nigerias arrest of Boko
Haram members. More
recently, the insurgents seized
a French priest from the same
region. While the militants
have extended their reach
beyond northeastern Nigeria,
some observers remain
cautious about connections
with Al-Qaeda.
Those reports have yet to be
proven although a top Nigerian
military offcial, army chief
Oluseyi Petinrin, declared in
2012 that the group had been
tied to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM).

Nigers Foreign Minister
Mohamed Bazoum also said
last year that Boko Haram
had acquired bomb-making
techniques from Al-Qaeda.
That could mean, regions
outside Nigeria benefting
from U.S. interests and support
could become targets.
This could be why US
secretary of state John Kerrys
announcement last week that a
US team has been dispatched
to Nigeria to assist in the hunt
for more than 200 abducted
schoolgirls included a twist.
"We are also going to do
everything possible to counter
the menace of Boko Haram,
Kerry said.
General Carter Ham, a former
commander of US Africa
Command, Africom, suggested
recently that Boko Haram
could be a copycat of Al Qaeda
and wants to emulate al-Qaida
and attack the US.
US offcials have pointed to
what they say is rising anti-US
rhetoric by Boko Haram. The
US House of Representatives
homeland security committee
issued a report three years
ago, Boko Haram: Emerging
Threat to the US Homeland,
which said the group could
be a threat to Nigerias oil
production.
Boko Haram has already

adopted many of al-Qaidas
targeting tactics. If Boko
Haram continues this trend,
Nigerian oil facilities will be in
the crosshairs, the report said.
It is critical that the US work
more closely with Nigerian
security forces to develop
greater domestic intelligence
collection and sharing with the
US Intelligence Community.
Military cooperation is vital to
a successful counter-terrorism
strategy. A possible model
includes Yemen, with whom US
built an effective intelligence
sharing partnership.
An African diplomat
responsible for dealings with
the US said the Nigerians
do not see the Americans'
relationship with Yemen as an
example, but a warning.
Theres a lot of pressure for
Nigeria to throw the door open
to the Americans. The talk is of
closer intelligence cooperation,
all the things the Americans
can do with their spy drones
and listening devices. Its in
the Nigerians nature to be
suspicious of this. It offends
their pride and they wonder
where it will lead. When
people talk of Yemen, thats
not a good example with CIA
drones buzzing around the sky
picking off people, he said.
There is also suspicion in
Nigeria that American pressure
for a greater role will be used
by Washington to justify the
establishment of the US Africa
Command and to get it a foot
on the ground after Abuja
rejected pressure for it to be
based in Nigeria and openly
opposed its creation.
But how real is the Boko
Haram threat? Could the
feared insurgents surfaced in
other West African nations
as Nyekan fears? Do they
have the fnancial muscle and
ability to fght off mounting
international pressure in the
wake of a bounty now on its
leader, Abubakar Shekaus
head?
Elizabeth Donnelly, the deputy
head of Africa programme at
Chatham House was quoted as
saying recently that the Boko
Haram issue is a Nigerian,
local problem at present more
than a regional one. This is
not to rule out the potential
for transformation, but it has
focused its efforts inside the
country. I would be cautious
on links to AQIM - this is
likely less formalized than the
word suggests, But Nigerias
own Joint Task Force (JTF)
has come under criticism
for alleged rights violations.
Amnesty International said it
had gathered evidence of the
deaths of at least 950 people
in military custody in the frst
half of 2013 in the northeastern
cities of Maiduguri, in Borno
State, and Damaturu, in Yobe
State. The deaths allegedly
took place during operations
meant to counter the Boko
Haram threat.
Boko Haram is an Islamic
militant and terrorist
organization based in the
northeast of Nigeria. Founded
by Mohammed Yusuf in
2002, the organization seeks
to establish a "pure" Islamic
state ruled by Sharia Law
putting a stop to what it deems
"Westernization." The group is
known for attacking Christians
and government targets,
bombing churches, attacking
schools and police stations,
kidnapping western tourists,
but has also assassinated
members of the Islamic
establishment.
Over the last decade, the
groups uprising has targeted
schools, churches, weddings
and police stations but several
efforts by security and military
operations in Nigeria have
failed to put the insurgents in
check.
Recent Violence linked to the
Boko Haram insurgency has
resulted in an estimated 10,000
deaths between 2001 and 2013.
In Liberia, some are beginning
to wonder whether Nyekans
warning could have some legs
due to Liberias porous border
and economic vulnerable,
especially low-paid security
personnel, many of whom have
been compromised in a number
of drug traffcking cases,
conniving with traffckers to
allow drug carriers to slip into
the country.
Said Nyekan at his confrmation
hearing: "Anybody can walk
here now with a pen Knife to
attack any of you Legislators.
Even if you cannot give them
a weapon, give them advanced
training in anti-terrorism and
crowd control. This place is
vulnerable; this Capitol Hill
holds the three branches of
government.
For now, international experts
and stakeholders are holding
to the notion that Boko Haram
is a Nigeria problem, owed in
part to that Nigeria has done a
poor job confronting the deep
poverty and alienation that
many people in parts of the
Muslim north of the country
feel, is key to defeating the
terrorists insurgency.
Others say, the Nigerian armys
brutal counter-insurgency
campaign has strengthened
Boko Haram and complicated
American military assistance.
What is clear for now is that
Boko Harams abduction of
the schoolgirls has thrust the
violence in Nigeria onto the
world diplomatic stage and
given the U.S. and the rest
of the world, reasons to pay
attention.


Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014 Page 7











The newly-completed Peninsula road in Freetown
The road to waterloo was completed 20 years ago but is still in good
condition, one of the many accomplishments of the company in Freetown
One of the few modern highways, handiwork of CSE in Dakar, Senegal
One of the few modern highways, handiwork of CSE in Dakar, Senegal
One of the few modern highways, handiwork of CSE in Dakar, Senegal
Momodu Senghor and Ousseynou Ndiaye, Site Manager and Project Manager for the Toteh-Lumley Road in
Freetown, Sierra Leone point to one of several drainage areas earmarked for construction by the company
Page 8 |
Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014
Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com
ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, daffae82@gmail.com
EURO 107M PROJECT APPROVED BY EU
F
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NEWS EXTRA
Today on Europe Day, it is my pleasure to announce that the European Commission in Brussells have just signed the
main fnancing agreement for the Bandajuma-Liberian border road, linking Sierra Leone to Liberia. This program aims
to support the rehabilitation of some 100 kilometers of highway and key bridges. The entire project entails a fnancial
contribution of 107 million Euros. This new project which will soon be send to tender aims to boost West African activities,
Ambassador Versteeg, Head of Mission, European Union Delegation, Sierra Leone


Freetown, Sierra Leone
T
he European
Commission has
approved a 107
million Euro package
that will pave the way for the
rehabilitation of a 100 kilometer
stretch of road linking Liberia to
neighboring Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Peter Versteeg,
Head of Delegation of the
European Union to the Republic
of Sierra Leone used the
occasion of the 64th anniversary
of Europe Day Friday which
coincided with the inauguration
of the once rugged Lumley
Beach Road to announce that the
deal for the Liberia-Sierra Leone
border road had been sealed.
Said Ambassador Versteeg:
Today on Europe Day, it is
my pleasure to announce that
the European Commission in
Brussells have just signed the
main fnancing agreement for
the Bandajuma-Liberian border
road, linking Sierra Leone to
Liberia. This program aims to
support the rehabilitation of some
100 kilometers of highway and
key bridges. The entire project
entails a fnancial contribution
of 107 million Euros. This new
project which will soon be send
to tender aims to boost West
African activities, reintegration
and trade between Sierra Leone
and Liberia.
When completed the road will
increase the West Africa sub-
regional economic activity and
connectivity to reduce poverty
in the concerned areas as well as
reduce vehicle operating costs,
LIBERIA-SIERRA LEONE
LINKED BY PAVED ROAD
MULTIPLE DIFFICULTIES
travel time and accidents.
The road will be upgraded
from the section of Zimmi
to the Liberian Border (42.9
Km) from a poor gravel road
to an all-weather paved road.
The reshaping of the Zimni-
Moa River section (13.7 Km).
The rehabilitation of bridges
along the international road to
two lane bridges including the
replacement of a hand-pulled
ferry with a two lane bridge.
Sierra Leone under President
Ernest Ba Koroma is
enjoying rapid infrastructural
transformation with the EU,
which has in the past fve
years provided funding of over
$200 million for infrastructure
development, being a key
partner.
The EU believes that Sierra
Leone's growing economy could
beneft from further integration
of the Western African
economies and from the gradual
liberalization of trade under the
proposed Economic Partnership
Agreement.
According to the EU, the revised
Cotonou Agreement reaffrms
the importance of Economic
Partnership Agreements
(EPAs), in order to change
30 years of trade preferences
that have failed to develop
West African economies. The
general philosophy of the EPA
is to gradually transform the
relationship between Western
African countries and the EU
from one of dependency to one
of mutual trade partners in the
long run and to establish a trade
relationship which is compatible
with WTO rules.
The EU road programme in
Sierra Leone remains the largest
donor intervention in the road
sector, focusing on emergency
needs to rehabilitate damaged
infrastructure, laying the
groundwork for a sustainable
maintenance system and
contributing to institutional
strengthening. The ongoing 10th
EDF (2008 2013) allocates
81 M to the road sector and in
addition another 91M are under
execution from the previous 8th
EDF and 9th EDF. The EU is
funding technical assistance to
the Sierra Leone Roads Authority
(SLRA) for introduction of road
maintenance management,
systematization of procurement
procedures and contract
management, installation of a
fnancial management system,
staff reductions and training of
personnel. Since 2003 and up to
2009 a total of 406 km of roads
have been improved and/or
resurfaced with EU funding.
The focus of the EU support to
the sector is shifting from being
purely rehabilitation and re-
construction oriented to include
areas such the development of a
national feeder roads policy and
a targeted direct sector support to
the Road Fund.
In 2009, Sierra Leone total
exports to the rest of the world
amounted to 156 million.
Exports to the European Union
represented 100 million or
64% of total exports. While for
many years trade in precious
stones dominated trade from
Sierra Leone, in recent years
exports in agricultural products
have progressively gained an
increasing share of total exports
(from 13 million in 2005 to 27
million in 2009), refecting the
progressive diversifcation of the
Sierra Leonean economy and the
recovery of its agriculture.
Institutional, economic and tax
reforms recently undertaken by
the Government of Sierra Leone
to improve the business climate
are already producing positive
effects, with new investments
having materialized in recent
months.
At the announcement Friday,
President Koroma hailed the
announcement as another
shining example of the EUs
commitment to West Africa. We
will go through the procurement
process so that we can get the
Bandajuma-Liberia road project
underway. The EU has been
instrumental in helping us(Sierra
Leone) connect to Guinea
now they are helping us link to
Liberia.
The Freetown-Conakry highway
which covers from Rogbere in
Sierra Leone to Farmoreah in
the Republic of Guinea. was
offcially commissioned on June
2nd, 2012. The 85 Kilometre
highway costing about
36million (over Le 194 billion)
is funded by the European
Union through the European
Development Fund.
The road stretch, which has
considerably reduced travelling
time and increased trade
volume, forms part of a main
link in the Trans West Africa
Highway connecting Nigeria and
Mauritania. The 85Km Highway
has 76Km on the Sierra Leone
side and 9Km on the Guinean
side. The fnancing also includes
the construction of a new
common border post facility at
Pamelap. This is the last section
of the 300Km highway from
Freetown to Conakry to be
surface dressed.
The Freetown-Conakry
Highway is already facilitating
regional integration and
improving access to markets
and basic social services for the
population living in the region
and aims to attract investment
and promote economic growth
and development, which the EU
hopes will improve the living
standards of people in the West
African sub-region.
District One, Rivercess County
O
ver 1,500 people
are living without
safe drinking
water in Electoral
District One, Rivercess
County and at the same time
the absence of adequate
security in the area is raising
serious concerns amongst the
residents of the town.
Gbo Town is a large town in
Morwah District, Rivercess
County and has over 80
houses; residents say they have
depended on the running creek
to fetch drinking water since
the three hand pumps in the
town damaged three years ago.
One resident told reporters that
diarrhea outbreak has been
frequent in the area and in last
year, the disease caused the
deaths of several people in the
town.
The town is about one hour,
thirty minutes walk away from
the districts headquarters (Gbo-
geesay), where the nearest
health facility is located but
getting there is quite diffcult
due to the deplorable condition
of the road. With the rainy
season already on, residents
say the roads are becoming
impassible.
The community Health
Volunteer, James Gbeisayto told
journalists that several people
have died while being taken to
the clinic and he said most of the
LACK OF ROADS, WATER AND SECURITY LEAVES RIVERCESS TOWN IN SOLITUDE
people have been sick because
of the unsafe water they drink.
At the same time, the residents
complained about the lack of
adequate security in the area.
They said only one Police offcer
and a single Drug Enforcement
Offcer (DEA) are in the entire
district.
A member of the Community
Policing team told reporters
that the lack of more security
personnel is a serious threat to
the security of Morwah District
because according to him there
are several cases that require the
involvement of the police.
The residents revealed that
perpetrators of crimes in the
town often runaway before the
police get on the scene while
dealers of marijuana heavily
relied on the route through
the town to transport their
merchandise.
The remoteness of the area
makes telecommunications
availability extremely diffculty,
causing residents to trek for fve
hours to a hill top in search for
signal in other to make a cellular
phone call.
According to the residents,
some of the police offcers
often refuse assignment in the
area or reneged on active duty
because they (Police offcers)
often complain about the lack
of cell phone network signal in
the area.
There are active logging
companies operating in the
District but residents claimed
that these companies including,
Forest Ventures, are making no
impact on their lives.
They decried the lack of these
basic social services and
requested that the government
intervenes by providing safe
drinking water and deploying
more security personnel.

Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014 Page 9
F
RONT
PAGE
News Extra
CBLS JONES VISIT ATTRACTS
HUNDREDS IN BUCHANAN
Auditor General Turns Author, Dark Side
Buchanan, Grand Bassa County-
H
undreds of people over the weekend turned out to
welcome the Executive Governor of Liberias Central
Bank, Dr. Mills Jones, to the port city of Buchanan,
Grand Bassa County. Dr. Jones, in less than a year
has enjoyed commendations and exaltation from many Liberian
grass root business organizations including the Liberia Marketing
Association (LMA), the Liberia National Tailor Textile, Garment
and Allied Workers Union of Liberia, Women in Cross Border
Trade, Liberia Business Association (LIBA), National Petit
Traders Union of Liberia (NAPETUL), and the Federation of
Road Transport Union of Liberia (FRTUL) amongst others.
Dr. Jones latest visit to Buchanan was at the invitation of the
FRTUL and a local saving and credit organization. The two
organizations collaborated to hold a program and Dr. Jones who
has defended governments micro fnance loan program through
the CBL was best suited to grace the occasion.
As was expected, hundreds of people mostly women stood and
cheered along the road for more than fve hours before the arrival
of Governor Jones.
One woman (marketer) standing by the road side told FrontPage
Africa, it was her hope that the CBL Boss visit attracts more
loan to the LMA which will help empower her business endeavor
because she didnt beneft from previous loans.
A member of a local saving and credit Union explained to FPA
that they have strong confdence that Dr. Jones will help alleviate
some of the constraints local businesses are facing through the
provision of micro- loans.
For Dr. Jones, he used the occasion to caution the people against
selling their loyalty or birth rights to politicians by voting for
individuals who offered them money or material things. He urged
them to vote people who will be accountable to them.
At the program, Dr. Jones also emphasized the importance of
empowering teachers to prevent them from living harsh life after
retirement. His comments came as a result of numerous requests
by the Liberia National Teachers Association for the CBL to
provide loans for teachers.
The anticipation that the Executive Central Bank Governor could
have made donations, pledges or announced another micro-loan
scheme for these grass root organizations was unrealizable as Dr.
Jones speeches only outlined some of the policy principles he
probably believes in.
Dr. Jones has faced political tension from the Legislature over his
Micro- Finance loan policy with speculations suggesting that hes
seeking political relevance and fame with the countrys money.
The expectation of marketers in Buchanan on Saturday about how
Dr. Jones can transform their lives by ditching out loans to them
speaks volumes as it relates to how famous hes become over the
past months and with his one eye on the Presidency in 2017, it is
most likely that he becomes a household name amongst the grass
rooters.



THE LOAN-
GIVER:
INSIDE KILBYS GAC
ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, daffae82@gmail.com
O
ne of the
controversial
Auditor Generals
in Liberias history
who was sacked for the same
vices he was appointed to
uncover seems willing to
put up a fght with President
Ellen Jonson Sirleaf and
other offcials of Government
including Senate Pro Temp
Gbehzongar Findley as he
prepares to publish what he
termed a book he has written.
In Kilbys book, the former
Auditor General has several sub
titles which indicate that he has
a lot to disclose but the question
lingering is the character of the
individual who is trying to throw
dirt on the character of others.
The book entitled Amidst
institutionalized corruption
and nepotism, President Ellen
Johnson dismisses two auditors
general in three years, Kilby
has other sub titles including
The audacity to cite confict of
interest as reason for dismissal
and another The Dark side of
a Nobel peace prize winner,
amongst others.
Kilby is announced that he will
launch his new book beginning
with a press conference in the
Washington, the United States of
America.
It began and ended
controversially. On September
3, 2012, Robert Llewellyn Kilby
was handed the reins of the
General Auditing Commission
(GAC). The Liberian Senate
needed two trials to confrm
the Auditor-General. The
frst attempt was botched by
accusations of the falsifcation
of academic documents. The
second was concluded with
lightning speed. Just as fast,
on July 8, 2013, Kilby was
dismissed. The occupant of an
important offce in the fght
against corruption was axed for
corruption.
Ten months of Kilbys
controversial leadership of the
GAC was ended by President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, with
the consent of the Senate, on
account of Kilbys alleged
confict of interest in which
he was accused of failing to
disclose private interests in a
frm which was doing business
with the General Services
Agency (GSA), which was up
for audit by the GAC. Pearine
Davis-Parkinson, Director-
General of the GSA was also
sacked by the President.
For the better part of ten months,
Robert Kilby provided fodder
for the Liberian Press. He
single-handedly some will
argue deservingly owned the
disparaging headlines of many
local dailies and electronic news
services. A local radio station
even started a countdown to
Kilbys frst completed audit.
The radio station lost count
because Auditor General Kilby
did not complete a single audit
during his time at the GAC.
He will be remembered, or
forgotten, for having signed no
audit report of any agency or
program of the Government of
Liberia because quite simply, he
completed none.
But as a lengthy FPA
investigation has discovered,
Kilby busied himself signing
onto and supervising a number of
shady fnancial and operational
transactions which simply defed
his broad mandate of assisting
the governments fght against
corruption through a more
effcient and effective General
Auditing Commission.
Kilby began with a careful
reordering of the authorities at the
GAC. He laid-off 42 employees
including the Comptroller
and the Head of Procurement,
and instructed Bill Kruah and
Cornelius Waymah, the new
replacements, to take instructions
from and report only to him.
The position of Deputy Auditor
General for Administration
became effectively redundant.
This ensured that everything ran
from Kilbys offce.
Bill Kruah, Kilbys Comptroller
resigned after Kilby was
dismissed and Cornelius
Waymah, Kilbys Director of
Procurement has a For Sale sign
on his vehicle fueling suspicions
that he may be preparing to
return to the United States from
whence he was hired.
With his buddies in place, Kilby
began the disposal of the assets
of the GAC. The established
procedure is that an Asset
Disposal Committee of the
disposal agency be formed, and
that the process be carried out
through competitive bidding.
Our investigation and documents
in the possession of this paper
show that these procedures were
not followed.
Kilbys long-time friend
and driver, Ebenezer Dunn
purchased the 2006 Land Cruiser
Jeep previously used by former
AG Morlu for USD800. The
vehicle was repainted and used
by Robert Kilby as a private
vehicle. Other disposals of
GAC vehicles went to Cornelius
Waymah, Kilby-appointed
Procurement Director, Cornelia
Greene, Kilbys Executive
Assistant, and Stamford Dennis,
Kilbys Maintenance Manager,
amongst others.
Although he earned a salary
of Fifteen Thousand United
States Dollars, Kilby instructed
and directed the purchase of
an electric stove, 2 fat-screen
televisions, 1 DSTV set, a laptop
and 2 generators for use in his
home. Greene, Kilbys Executive
Assistant even received One
Thousand United States Dollars
for the purchase of Mr. Kilbys
two I-Phones which he still uses.
Documents in the possession of
FPA also confrm that Auditor
General Kilby hired the Elite
Security Guard Service for to
protect him for a period of one
year for US$105,300. Five
payments of the GAC totaling
US$24,948 were ordered paid
to the Elite Security Guard
Services between October 2012
and the end of January 2013,
for protecting Mr. Robert Kilby,
before the contract with the
Security frm was terminated.
Five of the guards were brought
onto the GAC payroll to continue
their services for the AG when
the contract was terminated.
AG Kilby had promised
to infuse the GAC and the
audit process with advance
technology. SPARC Technology
was brought into contract with
the GAC to drive the GACs
technological transformation.
FPA investigation revealed that
SPARC Technology, said to be
based in India, lists a Liberian
number as means of contact.
Despite repeated attempts, no
one has answered repeated calls
to this number. Nor has any calls
been returned.
FPA has also unearthed that
SPARC Technology was
incorporated by Mr. Randolph
(Randy) Davis, Kilbys Chief
of Offce Staff and Director
of Engagement Management.
Five payments amounting
to US$45,000 were spliced
below the PPCC threshold
of US$10,000, which would
have otherwise triggered a
competitive bidding process,
and paid to SPARC Technology
between May and June of 2013,
for the development of the GAC
Website which is registered in
the name of Robert Kilby, and
the Management Engagement
System, for which Randy Davis
double over as Director.
Four of the fve payments were
made on the 15th, 17th, 21stand
24th of May in the amounts of
US$8,750; 9,800; 9,100; and
8,250. The June 5 payment to
SPARC Technology was in the
amount of US$9,600.
Documents in the possession
of FPA also show payments to
Kilbys staff of US$12,200 for
goods and services. Kilby-
appointed Comptroller Kruah
indicated that the payments were
for media-related services
and based on verbal directives
from AG Kilby. FPA has learned
that this is a violation of Rule
23 of the Financial Rule which
demands that all payments for
goods and services be made
only to vendors and not to third
parties. As Auditor General of
the Republic of Liberia, it was
the job of Robert Kilby to ensure
compliance with this fnancial
rule across the government.
FPA investigation also found out
that in June of 2013, AG Kilby
hired 29 persons bringing to 78
the total number of persons hired
at the GAC under Mr. Kilby
after he had earlier laid-off 42.
A review of the GAC payroll left
by Kilby also revealed that his
recruited and appointed directors
are costing the GAC about
US$600,000 annually.
Financial analysts tell FPA that
this has led to a current payroll
defcit of over US$200,000
which the GAC is unable to
service. The Ministry of Finance
is currently negotiating with the
GAC as to how this defcit can
be settled if the GAC employees
who include at least 24 securities
are to be paid for the month of
June.
Apparently suspicious of the
stated competencies of many of
these friends and buddies of
Kilby, the GAC has announced
that all concerned individuals
make their social security
numbers available to the Human
Resource Department for
background checks.
Page 10 |
Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014
IN BRIEF
HONEST JANITOR AWARDED
OVER $76K AFTER FINDING
HUGE STASH OF MONEY IN A
TOILET
NORTH KOREA SAYS IT WILL
DEFEND ITS DIGNITY WITH
ANOTHER NUCLEAR TEST
NIGERIA REFUSED HELP TO
SEARCH FOR KIDNAPPED GIRLS
CHINA, EAST AFRICAN LEADERS
SIGN UP FOR NEW RAIL LINK

A
ruling by an
Australian
magistrate has
awarded former
janitor and current fast food
worker/student, Chamindu
Amarsinghe A$81,597
(over US$76,000) nearly
three years after he found a
huge amount of money in
a sanitary bin in an offce
bathroom he was cleaning.
Amarsinghe said that he was
speechless when he received
the news. The Herald Sun
reported that since it was
discovered in August 2011,
no one came forth to claim
the money. The remainder
of the more than A$100,000
(over US$93,500) discovered
will go to the state.
As Amarsinghe recalls, he found
the sanitary bin at the Channel
9 (an Australian TV network)
Docklands headquarters,
stuffed with bills. There was
too much to count. I thought
someone was playing a prank
on me, the former janitor said.
F
ollowing a tense
week, North Korea
upped the ante in
its feud with South
Korea and the United States
by threatening to conduct a
nuclear test.
North Korea clarifes "its resolute
stand that it would take counter-
measures including nuclear test
to protect the sovereignty and
dignity," the newspaper said in a
commentary carried by the offcial
KCNA news agency.
South Korean offcials had
warned earlier this week that they
suspected preparations for another
test might be underway. Both the
warning and today's announcement
contradict recent offerings by
American analysts, who weren't so
confdent that another nuclear test
would be forthcoming.
NAIROBI (Reuters) -
E
ast African leaders
and China formally
signed agreements
on Sunday for the
construction of a new multi-
billion dollar railway linking
the Kenyan port of Mombasa
to Nairobi and running on to
neighboring states.
The deals were signed in Nairobi
on the last stage of an Africa tour
by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang,
although Kenya's president, Uhuru
Kenyatta, had already signed up
to the deal during his state visit to
Beijing last year.
"The costs of moving our people
and our goods ... across our borders
will fall sharply," Kenyatta told a
news conference with the Chinese
and African leaders on Sunday.

F
RONT
PAGE
WORLD NEWS
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)
T
he president of Nigeria for weeks refused international
help to search for more than 300 girls abducted from a
school by Islamic extremists, one in a series of missteps
that have led to growing international outrage against
the government.
The United Kingdom, Nigeria's former colonizer, frst said it was
ready to help in a news release the day after the mass abduction
on April 15, and made a formal offer of assistance on April 18,
according to the British Foreign Offce. And the U.S. has said its
embassy and staff agencies offered help and were in touch with
Nigeria "from day one" of the crisis, according to Secretary of State
John Kerry.
Yet it was only on Tuesday and Wednesday, almost a month later,
that President Goodluck Jonathan accepted help from the United
States, Britain, France and China.
The delay underlines what has been a major problem in the attempt
to fnd the girls: an apparent lack of urgency on the part of the
government and military, for reasons that include a reluctance to
bring in outsiders as well as possible infltration by the extremists.
Jonathan bristled last week when he said U.S. President Barack
Obama, in a telephone conversation about aid, had brought up
alleged human rights abuses by Nigerian security forces. Jonathan
also acknowledged that his government might be penetrated by
insurgents from Boko Haram, the extremist group that kidnapped the
girls. Last year, he said he suspected Boko Haram terrorists might
be in the executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government
along with the police and armed forces.
The waiting has left parents in agony, especially since they fear
some of their daughters have been forced into marriage with their
abductors for a nominal bride price of $12. Boko Haram leader
Abubakar Shekau called the girls slaves in a video this week and
vowed to sell them.
"For a good 11 days, our daughters were sitting in one place," said
Enoch Mark, the anguished father of two girls abducted from the
Chibok Government Girls Secondary School. "They camped them
near Chibok, not more than 30 kilometers, and no help in hand. For
a good 11 days."
The military has denied that it ignored warnings of the impending
attacks. Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, a Defense Ministry spokesman,
told The Associated Press the major challenge has been that some of
the information given turned out to be misleading.
And Reuben Abati, one of Jonathan's presidential advisers, denied
that Nigeria had turned down offers of help.
"That information cannot be correct," he said. "What John Kerry
said is that this is the frst time Nigeria is seeking assistance on the
issue of the abducted girls."
In fact, Kerry has said Nigeria did not welcome U.S. help earlier
because it wanted to pursue its own strategy. U.S. Sen. Chris Coons
said Friday that it took "far too long" for Jonathan to accept U.S.
offers of aid, and he is holding a hearing next week to examine what
happened. A senior State Department offcial also said Friday that
the U.S. offered help "back in April, more or less right away."
"We didn't go public about it because the consensus was that doing
so would make the Nigerians less likely to accept our help," said
the offcial, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue
concerns internal discussions between governments.
Nigeria is a country of 170 million in West Africa that receives
hundreds of thousands of dollars in aid from the U.S. every year
to address a rising insurgency in the north and growing tensions
between Christians and Muslims. The northeast, where the girls
were kidnapped, is remote and sparsely populated, far from the
southern oil felds that help to power Africa's biggest economy.
The abductions came hours after a massive explosion in the Nigerian
capital of Abuja killed at least 75 people, just a 15-minute drive
away from Jonathan's residence and offce. Chibok government
offcial Bana Lawal told the AP that at about 11 p.m. on April 15,
he received a warning via cell phone that about 200 heavily armed
militants were on their way to the town.
Lawal alerted the 15 soldiers guarding Chibok, who sent an SOS to
the nearest barracks about 30 miles away, an hour's drive on a dirt
road. But help never came. The military says its reinforcements ran
into an ambush.
The soldiers in Chibok fought valiantly but were outmanned and
outgunned by the extremists. They then made their way to the
Chibok girls school, where they captured dozens of girls. Police say
53 escaped on their own and 276 remain captive.
The following day, Jonathan was photographed dancing at a political
party rally in northern Kano city, and newspapers asked what their
leader was doing partying when the country was in shock over the
kidnappings. The Defense Ministry also announced that all but eight
of the kidnapped girls had been freed, quoting the school principal.
When the principal objected and demanded the military produce the
rescued girls, it retracted its statement.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANKGROUP




LIBERIA COUNTRY OFFICE

5th May 2014
Email: tender@afdb.org

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

ADB/EOI/LRFO/2014/001

1. The African Development Bank (the Bank or AfDB) is a Multilateral Development Organisation established
by Agreement, by and among its member states, for the purpose of contributing to the sustainable economic
development and social progress of its Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in Africa. The members of the
Bank are currently 77, which comprise of 53 African states (RMCs), and 24 non-African states (the "Non-
Regional Member Countries").

2. The AfDB intends to shortlist vendors eligible for supply of goods and provision of services and works for its
Country Office based at Sophie Community, Old Congo Town Monrovia, Liberia.

3. The Bank will transact business with vendors that have expressed interest and have been shortlisted through this
bid ADB/EOI/LRFO/2014/0001, for the next three years. New vendors could however qualify for inclusion in
the shortlist throughout the relevant period by demonstrating and providing proof of meeting the same eligibility
and qualification criteria as listed below. Interested vendors are now hereby invited to express their interests for
one or several of the following categories of goods, works and services. Bidders should note that some of the
tenders will result on call off and framework contract. The works, goods and services requirements are herewith
classified into categories and lots for ease of reference ;

CATEGORY 1. SUPPLY, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE OF GOODS
Lot No. 1- Supply of office equipment and maintenance of (photocopiers/printers) etc.;
Lot No. 2 - Supply of office stationery, office sundries and computer stationery (toner cartridges printing
paper, pens, staplers, paper punches etc.);
Lot No. 3 - Supply and maintenance of radio communication, PABX and other telephone and mobile
services);
Lot No. 4 - Supply of computer hardware and accessories (hard disks, monitors ,mouse, keyboards, I pads
,laptops, laptop docks, computer adapters) and Maintenance of computer hardware and IT equipment;
Lot No. 5 - Supply and maintenance of Generators;
Lot No. 6 - Supply and maintenance of indoor plants, fresh flowers floral arrangements;
Lot No. 7- Supply of general printing products, publications(including designing services) for example
business cards, calendars, banners, branded stationery, publications, flyers, etc.;
Lot No. 8 - Supply of magazines, newspapers and periodicals.

CATEGORY 2. PROVISION OF WORKS AND SERVICES
Lot No. 9 - Provision of photocopy, printing and binding services and video production;
Lot No. 10 -Maintenance of Air-conditioning equipment;
Lot No. 11- Maintenance of office premises, repairs and renovation services, partitioning and fit out;
Lot No. 12 - Provision of indoor and outdoor catering services;
Lot No. 13 - Provision of Event Management, conference planning and Hospitality;
Lot No. 14 - Provision of hotel and accommodation services;
Lot No. 15-Provision of IT equipment rentals(laptops, projectors, cameras;
Lot No. 16 - Provision of cleaning, janitorial, fumigation and sanitation services;
Lot No. 17 - Provision of Motor vehicle maintenance, repairs, tyres and general services authorized dealers
only;
LotNo.18 - Provision of Broadband Services(Fiber Optic, VSAT Connectivity);
Lot No. 19 - Provision of Car Hire, Car Rental and shuttle Services;
2

Lot No. 20 - Provision of local mail courier services and other logistics needs within the Province;
Lot No. 21- Removal of office furniture, equipment, other assets and provision of casual labour, storage and
auctioning services;
Lot No. 22- Provision of waste management and recycling of papers, cartridges and other items;
Lot No. 23 Restaurant and associated services.

SELECTION CRITERIA (all the criteria should be complied with, failure to provide one of these
requirements will disqualify the Applicants / Bidders)

1. Interested Bidders should emanate from member states and the link is http://www.afdb.org/en/about-
us/members ;
Provide certified copy of the original Certificate of Incorporation and a certified copy of
Directors and shareholders certificates;

2. Indicate experience in the requested domain(s) at least minimum three years in the industry, an
added advantage will be with the companies working with International Organizations, Financial
Institutions, National and Government Institutions, Large public or private companies;

3. Tax clearance certificate or exemption and proof of compliance to social security requirements, if
this is a requirement in the country. The Bank will establish if this is a requirement in the country.

4. References, at least list three most important clients, including the contact name, title, e-mail address,
the length of contract and contract value;

5. CVs of the relevant key personnel, such as the Managing Director or the Project Manager who will
be supervising the project, with experience of at least three years in their areas of specialization
especially for the provision of maintenance services.

6. Three years audited financial statements, for 2011, 2012 and 2013 and or line of credit from the
Bank, which will be more than USD 100,000 per annum.

SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Bidders should submit a cover letter indicating the number of lot(s) for which they are expressing their interest.
Should Bidders have questions and or concerns, they should not hesitate to send an enquiry to e.g.
tender@afdb.org or tenders.sarc@afdb.org o citing the reference of this procurement notice.

The response should be addressed to and as follows;

Response to the Request for Expressions of Interest

Ref: ADB/EOI/LRFO/2014/0001
The Administrative & Finance Officer
African Development Bank (AfDB)
Liberia Country Office
Sophie Community, Old Congo Town
P O Box 1844
Monrovia
LIBERIA

Interested vendors / potential bidders are invited to attend a meeting on How to do Business with the African
Development Bank on 10
th
May 2014 at 10:00hrs.

The Closing date for this Expression of Interest is 19
th
May 2014 at 15.00 hours. Only qualified bidders will be
notified.

The Bank will not accept late applications.

Frontpage
Monday, May 12, 2014 Page 11
Sports
SPORT BRIEF
REAL MADRID TO
BID $100 MILLION
FOR LUIS SUAREZ
PEP GUARDIOLA GETS HIT WITH A
TIDAL WAVE OF BEER, DROPS THE
BUNDESLIGA TROPHY
G
et ready for
another summer
of rumors
surrounding
Liverpools star forward
Luis Suarez.
The transfer mill has
already started churning
our rumblings of a move
this summer for the
Uruguayan ace after his
sensational season at
Anfeld.
Suarez, 27, has won both
the PFA and Football
Writers Player of the
Year award and has
scored 31 goals in the
PL this campaign to lead
Liverpools unlikely title
charge. Suarez has been
sensational after a summer
of turmoil and unrest last
year, when many believed
he had no future at Anfeld.
However after a
scintillating campaign as
the PLs hottest striker,
reports are linking Suarez
with a $100 million
transfer to Real Madrid
this summer.
MOURINHO PLANS
OVERHAUL AFTER
VEXING FINALE
Cardiff (United Kingdom)
(AFP) -
J
ose Mourinho's
thoughts are already
turning to next season
after Chelsea's interest
in the Premier League title
race was ended before their
fnal-day trip to Cardiff City.
Mourinho's team will face Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer's relegated
side at the Cardiff City
Stadium on Sunday knowing
they are almost certain to
fnish the season in third
position.
But while qualifcation for the
Champions League has been
assured, Blues boss Mourinho
is clearly frustrated there will
be no silverware at Stamford
Bridge this season.



M
anchester City
secured their
second Premier
League title
in three seasons after goals
from Samir Nasri and Captain
Vincent Kompany saw them
stroll to victory over West
Ham.
Manuel Pellegrini's side knew
a point would confrm they
had regained the crown - but
goals either side of the interval
from Nasri and Kompany
ensured the formalities were
completed with barely an
anxious moment in front
an ecstatic packed house at
Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool's home defeat to
Chelsea and the late collapse
at Crystal Palace opened
the door for City and they
took advantage ruthlessly by
winning their last fve games.
And for 60-year-old Chilean
Pellegrini, it marked a
triumphant conclusion to his
frst season in charge after
he was brought in to replace
sacked Roberto Mancini and
entrusted with returning the
title to the club.
With 102 league goals and
that two-point fnal margin,
no-one can begrudge City a
success that is richly merited,
for all Liverpool's efforts this
season.
As referee Martin Atkinson
sounded the fnal whistle
and confrmation of the title,
City's fans rushed on to the
pitch in their thousands and
celebrated before retreating
to allow captain Kompany to
lift the trophy once more.
City's fans also paid tribute to
their quiet manager who has
guided them to the title, while
also claiming the League
Cup - a more than healthy
return and justifcation of his
appointment by the club's
Abu Dhabi-based owners.
Pellegrini insisted City would
CITY ARE CHAMPIONS

T
hough Bayern
Munich won
the Bundesliga
title in record
time back in March,
the celebration was
saved until after their
final match of the
season against Stuttgart.
Claudio Pizarro gave
them a little something
extra to celebrate by
scoring in added time to
give Bayern a 1-0 win
they didn't need. And
once the final whistle
blew, it was time for the
traditional victory beer
showers.
Since this was manager
Pep Guardiola first beer
shower experience, his
players did not go easy
on him. He defiantly
stood up to them with
the trophy hoisted over
his head as they blasted
him in the face. Pep has
plenty of experience
lifting trophies, but
the addition of flying
beer to the mix was
apparently too much for
him to handle (literally),
so he dropped the trophy
on the ground. Lucky
for him, it was made in
Germany (probably).

not simply go in search of the
draw that would ensure they
fnished ahead of Liverpool
barring a miraculous
turnaround on goal
difference, and so it proved
as they pressed forward from
the kick-off.
West Ham, with growing
speculation that manager Sam
Allardyce was taking charge
of his fnal game, showed a
desperate lack of ambition
and frustration threatened to
be City's biggest enemy.
They played, however, with
the maturity and control
of champions and no hint
of the nerves that plagued
them when they were last
in this position and needed
Sergio Aguero's winner
with virtually the fnal kick
of the season to snatch the
Premier League away from
Manchester United two
seasons ago.
And that nerve-shredding
experience served them well
here as they played a game of
patience when confronted by
West Ham's blanket defence
and simply kept possession
until they could make their
quality count.
The time came six minutes
before the interval when
Nasri's low shot from 20
yards beat West Ham keeper
Adrian to release any tension
that may have been lingering.
And the job was done four
minutes after half-time when,
fttingly, captain Kompany
turned in from close range
after a corner had rebounded
off the back of Edin Dzeko.
All that remained was for
City to close out the win
which, despite Liverpool's
win against Newcastle United
at Anfeld, was done at a stroll
as the Etihad celebrating the
reclaiming of the Premier
League title.
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
Sports
FrontPage
PRICE L$40 VOL 8 NO.592 MONDAY, MAY 12, 2014
Spot News FrontPage
A
s the saying goes
practice makes per-
fect, many people
use the phrase as a
tone of motivation to
be finally successful in a particular
endeavor. At such, the practice be-
yond all proven records to make them
perfect in what they practice.
This saying came to past recently at
WUKIs farm, a farm owned by Li-
berian millionaire now presidential
hopeful Bennoni Urey in Caresburg
City, Montserrado County when
scores of persons assembled to grace
the launching of a golf rage owned
by Urey and wife.
The child in the picture is a five-year
old talented and aspiring golfer of
Liberia currently receiving training
from the Dream Golf Academy for
juniors in Browerville.
He was part of several kids who
were invited by Mr. Urey and wife to
showcase their talents on March 29,
2014 the day a new golf range was
launched in Liberia on Wukis farm.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Stephen D. Kollie, stephenkollie13@gmail.com 0776329124
A young and aspiring golfer showcasing talent

CITY ARE CHAMPIONS
PEP GUARDIOLA GETS HIT WITH
A TIDAL WAVE OF BEER, DROPS
THE BUNDESLIGA TROPHY