SETTING TARGETS

FOR LAST
THREE YEARS

Government
TOP
STORIES News pg 12

Law & Order

pg7

OFF THE
HOOK

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EJS Challenges Cabinet at Retreat

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VOL 9 NO.13

SELLING

17 PERSONS INJURED AFTER BLAST AT RUBBER FACTORY

BURNING EXPLOSION

HITS LAC

The Liberia Agriculture Company says it is working with associations on the plantation and
the families of the victims to ensure that the best decisions are made for victims; refutes
rumors that some of the victims died during the incident

LIBERTY PARTY ACCEPTS

SLAPPING LAWMAKERS
RESIGNATION

p 7

We give no opinion on the cause for which Honorable Cooper may

have stood, for which he may have been implicated. But we think that
the same standard that we hold honorable Cooper to, we hold the house
leadership to. Cllr. J.Fonati Koffa, Chairman, Liberty Party

COUNTY NEWS - pg.5

LAWMAKERS
SUMMERSAULTS
ON POSITION
WITHDRAWS COMMUNICATION
AGAINST SPEAKER TYLER

p 6

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Page 2 | Frontpage

Bettie Johnson/ betty.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monroviaiberia police say it is investigating a man who

allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl in the City of
Brewerville outside Monrovia on Sunday evening.
The man identified as Musa Kanneh was arrested by
the family of the child who died as a result of profuse bleeding
from injury she sustained as a result of the rape.
Police Spokesperson Sam Collins said suspect Kanneh was
arrested following a tip off by residents in the community.
The LNP disclosed that the suspect is presently undergoing
investigation at police headquarters.
We are investigating the suspect and we will forward him
to the Court after he is charged with the commission of the
crime, said Collins.
Funeral Denies Body Over GoL Debt
Family members of the raped girl said that they do not know
where the body of the dead girl is currently because when the
police took the remains to the S. Moses Funeral Parlors, they
refused to take delivery of the corpse of the rape victim because
the government is in arrears to them for holding bodies that
are crime related. It can be recalled that the government took
the body of a girl who was allegedly gang raped in the same
Brewerville area on Christmas night. Sources at the St. Moses
Funeral home say the body of the girl is still at the funeral
home because the government has refused to pay what they
owe and bury the girl. The body was also taken to the Anderson
Funeral home but was rejected. Police sources say the body of
Ma Musu Fofana, the 12-year-old girl who was raped, now lies
in the mortuary of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital.

the streets demanding justice blocking the main checkpoint

called Iron Gate.
We want Justice. With tears in their eyes many were singing:
Your Children dying oh Ellen oh, Ellen Wake up oh say,
referring to the President and calling on her to take action.
Narrating what happened to a team of journalists on Monday
morning, SadiaKargbo aunt of the dead child said she
accompanied Ma Musu to buy something for their Grandmother
and when they got on the road they both went separate ways.
Last night we went on the road to go buy tea, they gave us
money to go buy battery, so I said oh Ma Musu, you go and buy
the battery, she said shedding tears bitterly.
Continued Sadia: After I bought the tea I went into the shop
to the Fula woman and I asked her if she saw Ma Musu and she
said Ma Musu was here but she gone. So I thought she went
home because she didnt see me. I went home but they said Ma
Musu has not come yet. We were watching show and my sister
said here Ma Musu here somebody raped her.
She said Ma Musu told them what had happened to her and her
brothers decided to take her to the hospital. The relative of the
dead girl who could not stop crying said they met the man as
the victim had described him and her brothers decided it was
best to take him to the police station.
When she came she said one man raped her, she called the
mans name and she said the man was huge, wearing black

T-shirt with brief on him, she said. We put her in the car and
were bringing her to the drug store and we stopped to the place
she described. We met the man sitting there naked with only
brief on, smoking with the black shirk near him. Thats how
my brothers grabbed him put him in the car and drove him to
the police depot.
Momo Kiazulu, uncle of the child said she was in pain when
he found her under a breadfruit tree in the dark of night in the
area. He said when he asked her what was wrong with her, she
told him that a man wearing a black T-Shirt and smoking weed
had jumped on her and raped her.
I met her on her knees she was helpless. She could not walk.
So, we decided to put her in the pickup, he said. We found
him in his brief (underwear). He was smoking marijuana, the
people wanted to jump on him but we said no and took him to
the police station.
Family members blame the police for the death of the rape
victim. Sadia said the child was bleeding profusely when they
reached the police station and the family was given some paper
to take her to Redemption Hospital. At Redemption Hospital
a government run facility, Sadia said nurses on duty said they
could not treat the girl who was bleeding because they were
afraid of Ebola. She said they turned them away and the family
took her to a local clinic called Faith. At Faith Clinic there was
no hope that she could get treatment because the health workers
there refused to her and they family was left with no option but
to take her to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital.
When we came to the Depot, the police people gave us paper
and said we should go to Redemption, but Redemption people
refused to take the girl. We took her to faith Clinic but Faith
Clinic said they were not taking her, she said.
Sadia narrates that while on their way to the JFK, they were
stopped by police at a Check Point on Capitol Bye Pass, near
the Old Maternity Center. She said the police officers at the
checkpoint told them that it was past Curfew hours, so they
could not be allowed to proceed further. She said the more the
family begged for mercy, the more stubborn the police became.
The girl lay weak in the old red pickup truck for almost two
hours bleeding continuously.
We were on our way to JFK, but the police stopped the car
on the road near Central and she died. We told them it was an
emergency but they pulled the car off the road, said Sadia
with tears rolling down her cheeks. We begged them to take
the girl to the hospital but they refused. They kept doing it and
they girl died in the car.
The Liberia National Police through the Women and Children
Protection section late last year released its yearly report
ranking child rape as the highest gender and sexual based
violence from January to November of 2014.
The report stated that there were 382 cases of SGBV, which
include: rape, Statutory rape, corruption of minor sexual
assault and sodomy among others. Out of the 382 cases, 114
were sent to court while 268 are pending investigation by
Police authority.
The report pointed out that from the analysis conducted, rape
against children is very high in Liberia despite the Ebola
outbreak which constitutes 85% survivors between ages 3-16
years or even younger.

Suspect an Ex-Combattant, Residents Say

Many residents of Brewerville who profess to know the alleged
rapist say he is a known killer. They allege that the alleged
rapist is a former combatant who used women as sex objects
during the war. Residents of Jatondo Town who know Kanneh
say he is feared in the area because of his criminal background.
Some residents say the alleged rapist lives on illicit drugs and
he threatens women at night.
I know the man, every night when you are passing he would
be flashing his light in your eyes. One day I yelled at him for
doing that, he is a very bad man, said one eyewitness.
Even women who have been with him do not love the alleged
rapist. One woman who claimed to be his wife said he had six
women during the war including her and he killed five of them
and she is the only survivor. The woman name withheld said
that she separated from Kanneh because he used to drug her
with Marijuana and constantly have sex with her every night
even if she did not want to it.
I suffered with this man here, he used to cook the opium and
stuff me with it and after that he will sleep with me every night,
until myself, I was tired, she said.Kanneh a father of two
boys denied raping the 12-year-old when initially questioned
by police officers at the Brewerville depot. But he was found
as the victim had described him to her relatives before she
died. Kanneh allegedly raped the 12-year-old girl named Ma
MusuFofana on Sunday evening when the child went to run
errands for her grandmother. Angry women and girls took to

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Frontpage

Page 3

FrontPage COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL PUBLIC WORKS RESURRECTS
v

Commentary

TIME FOR EJS-LED

GOVERNMENT TO

TO DO THE PEOPLES WORK

CASTRATE
RAPISTS M

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD OLIVIA ZINNAH suffered years of

pain and surgeries in the aftermath of a rape when she was 7.
A DOCUMENTARY detailing her life and struggle entitled
Small Small Things highlights the many challenges facing
post-war Liberia regarding the complex issue of rape.
LAST WEEKEND, yet another community came to a standstill
after yet another young child suffered rape in the Brewerville
community.
MA MUSU FOFANA was only 12-year-old girl. Her attacker
and alleged rapist was reportedly high on weeds and drunk but
used the shield of darkness to lure young Ma Musu into a rundown shack and have his way with her.
NOT EVEN the rage of an angry community could help bring
justice to the young girl as the case, according to the police is
still being investigated.
LUCY KONTA, MA MUSUS GRANDMOTHER
understandably threatened to kill the perpetrator and wished he
could be castrated. Im feeling bad. I want them to kill him too
like he killed my granddaughter or I will kill him myself. Just
now I broke a bottle, I want them to castrate him. I dont think
they will do anything to him. The people should have killed him
before they brought him here.
ACTUALLY, THIS IS NOT a bad idea and something we
feel the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf-led government must take into
consideration if it is serious about addressing this issue.
NEVER BEFORE in Liberias long and sometimes brutal
history have women assumed the command of leadership
which is all the more reason why it is important for this female
president, the first in Liberia and Africa must work to ensure
that a legacy is left that will protect young girls like Olivia and
Ma Musu from going to their early graves.
WOMEN MAY never get this chance again illustrating the
urgency requires for this government to send a strong message
to rapists and violent crimes offenders.
SIRLEAF IN PARTICULAR, owes this much not only to those
who elected her, but to the scores of women who may not get
another opportunity in their lifetime to have a woman head of
state.
SIRLEAF DID IN FACT, promise during her 2006 inaugural
address to do something about the scourge of rape, using new
legislation that came into force the day after her inauguration."I
know of the struggle because I have been a part of it," she said.
"I recall the inhumanity of confinement, the terror of attempted
rape."
TO HER CREDIT, a legislation making rape a non-bailable
offense is in place and while human rights watchers have
taken the president to task for signing into law an Act that
reintroduced the death penalty, which is in contravention of
Liberias obligation under the Second Optional Protocol of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at
the abolition of the death penalty, to which Liberia acceded in
2005, the issue of rape needs a strong robust implementation
tool that will send a clear message to perpetrators and deter
them from engaging in further acts of rape.
ACCORDIGN TO Doctors Without Borders (DWB), some
92 percent of females treated for rape in its Liberia facilities
were under 18. A DWB study notes that of about 1,500 females
treated in Monrovia clinics in 2008 and 2009 after rape, four out
of 10 were younger than 12 and one in 10 were younger than 5.
"Half the survivors were children aged 13 years or younger and
included infants and toddlers," the report said.
THESE GLARING STATISTICS speaks volumes that Liberia,
led by a woman is losing the war on rape and is allowing a
glowing opportunity to slip through its fingers.
IT IS NO SECRET that rape and other forms of sexual violence
remain among the most frequently committed crimes.
MA MUSUS GRANDMOHERS rage and the anger of a

Gyude More Shows Early Footprints

By D. Kaihenneh Sengbeh/Freelance Journalist, Contributing Writer

any Liberians in a around Monrovia, where road repair many Liberians including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf hope that
works are currently being done by the Ministry of he will do more to resurrect the infrastructure agency of government.
Public Works are involved in heated exchanges like the The young Public Works minister is not waiting for the President to
above. One group of people argues that the Ministry ask him about his footprints (achievements) at another birthday party.
needs to immediately respond to damaging roads across the city that Immediately after his confirmation by the Liberian Senate, Moore
are undermining free vehicular movements, while the other argues hit the ground running with his responsibility. During the Christmas
that it was impropriate for the Ministry to be fixing roads in the day week, Public Works engineers, technicians were back on the roads
especially during rush hours.
doing quick impact repair works around the city. Tens of thousands of
Those aching to see a revamped road careless about the consequences: commuters using the UN Drive (Bushrod Island- Duala route) faced
whether the work is done in the day or at night, or amidst heavy huge traffics for days. At another time, thousands of others were
traffics or not. The road must get better is their concern. The agitators, compelled to disembark from vehicles to trek to their destinations.
though they, too, have interest in the revamping of roads, they want Criticisms grew wide, but Moore and his engineers stuck to their plan,
it done at night, when there is no traffic. They care not about capacity and in three days, both the heavy traffic and the deplorable state of the
and the availability of resources and equipment that would facility road had disappeared. Free and easy movement restored!
road construction at night. All they want bid free movement.
Again, late last week, there was similar traffic on the Bushrod Island,
Arguments like this nature will always exist among human beings. where road patching works and drainage rehabilitation are ongoing
Whatever the case, Public Works is back on the roads.
intended to create free flow of traffic as well as a goods and services.
For the first time since 2013, no major repair works have been done on It is this kind of momentary traffic that the two individuals quoted at
major roads around the Liberian capital, least to mention rural areas. the beginning of this article were discussing, while we were riding
The roads have really gone bad. The statutory government agency on a taxi together. Frankly, we spent over 30 minutes (instead of
responsible for the construction, repairs and maintenance of roads 5) in a traffic that seemed unshakable. But only a day later, there
Public Workshas in the last two years been one of the biggest is no more traffic and potholes that themselves caused traffic and
sleeping giants in the Ellen Johnson
damage to vehicles. This is a
Sirleaf administration. The agency
commendable progress.
which contributed significantly to
This is the kind of Public
the reelection of President Sirleaf in
Works that has been missing
2011 (based on the number of roads
for over 20 monthsa Public
it built which were used as one of the
Works that maintains and
presidents campaign achievements)
repairs deplorable roads and
began to crumble to nothingness
make them vehicle worthy.
when former Public Works Minister
With better roads and easy
Samuel Kofi Woods, II resigned to
movements of goods and
return to advocacy.
services, productivity will be
Woods (now practicing law and
enhanced. The economy will
advocating for social justice)
grow, income will increase,
stewardship at Public Works, in
governments revenue will
the midst of daunting financial
get bigger, and poverty will
challenges, made the ministry
reduce.
In another word,
one of the most, if not the most,
roads are very important to

responsive and productive arms of What kind of trouble is this? he complained. This
the overall development of the
government.
country, and Gyude More has
Rehabilitation work taking place is not time to fix roads; it should be done at night, he
got an enormous challenge at
opposite the LPRC head office on menacingly added, though an opposed equal response
hand.
Bushrod Island. This work caused would follow by a fellow passenger, a female. People
Addressing journalists at the
serious traffic jams last week but
Information Ministry early
like you will never be satisfied, a she countered.
potholes at the scene have been
this year, the youthful Public
sealed, with vehicles easily moving When the people work, you vex; when they not work,
Works Minister disclosed that
through
you vex. Your give the people chance to do their work his administration intends
After at least three months of
to place more emphasis on
because we want good roads.
searching, President Sirleaf named
improving
the
condition
American-trained engineer Dr.
of major roads and bridges
Antoinette G. Weeks to replace Woods. Weeks would become around the country, emphasizing that these infrastructures are vital in
controversial government official, massively flopping on the job, Liberias overall development drive.
despite getting a reported alarming salary of US$15,000 excluding The first few months of 2015 will the busiest for his administration,
lucrative fringe benefits in a country where about 70% of the as the Ministrys engineers and contracted partners are embarking on
population sleeps with hunger.
the redesigning and reconditioning of existing roads, constructing
Her administration was characterized by total non-cooperative new ones, as well as making sure that Liberians benefit from the end
posture with everyoneher deputies, assistant ministers, junior staff, results, Moore noted.
civil servants, and the media. Weeks embarked on a fruitless venture Moore said the first phase of road works will focus on projects being
of reforming the Ministry and condemned all that her predecessors directly funded by the Government of Liberia, which completion
had done.
will greatly impact ongoing efforts by the government in ridding the
During the first few months of her reign at Public Works, President country free of the Ebola Virus Disease. With an improved road
Sirleaf told Weeks at her (President) birthday party that she had not network around the country, he asserted, health workers can easily
seen the Ministers footprint. A year later, Weeks would have turned move ambulances into affected communities and get sick people out.
the Ministry of Public Works upside down, with no trace of any True to his words, engineers, yellow machines and giant trucks are on
started and completed project. Not even a quick impact project! It the roadson UN Drive, on Somalia Drive, on Bardnersville Kebbah
was a waste of taxpayers money.
Road, and many othersworking to make them better. Certainly,
All that is history! With Gyude Moore now in the drivers seat Public Works has resurrected to do the peoples work, with Gyude

community on edge because police officers stopped a rape victim

from being driven to a hospital; anger because the health care
delivery system is so poor and overwhelmed by Ebola that no
hospital would dare touch a bleeding rape victim struggling to
hold on to life, simply because they fear that she may have been
infected with Ebola.
THIS GOVERNMETN must not allow the memory of the likes
of Olivia and Ma Musu to go in vain. The LNP must take action

against officers who were on duty the night Ma Musu bled to

death and the administrator of the hospitals which turned away a
dying rape victim, dismissed.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, this government must take the issue of
rape more seriously then what is on paper by enforcing the laws
but also tweaking to include castration or some kind of serious
punishment that will deter offenders to think twice before raping
and killing the young and innocent young girls of Liberia.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Page 4 | Frontpage

FrontPage

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB

COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
LIBERIA'S SPEAKER
COMPROMISED: LEGISLATIVE
BLOC DEMANDS PROBE

DAVISNY2005 (SIGNED IN USING YAHOO)

Noise ? What noise ? Sometime ago , the President nominated someone
to head a ministry . But it took one Senator to question or so to speak
( make noise in the Senate ) concerning the integrity of the nominee ,
who was named in the audit report of the GAC about some corrupt deals
, and his nomination was put on hold by the Liberian Senate waiting
clarification from him about those deals . A few good men still exist in
the unrighteous political house of the Liberian Legislature . The Speaker
still maintained that his corrupt actions was in the best interest of the
country and the people . Calling for the Speaker to account for his corrupt
deal by few good men , joined by strange political bed fellows as Rep.
Snowe and other political voices , should not be ssen as noise making ,
but rather , all should join in support against this kind of corruption where
one sees himself well above the law ! Sometimes some do get away with
their corrupt deals , but that should not deter the rest of the people from
pushing forward against corruption . With 2017 just around the corner ,
support the few good men standing up in the unrighteous house of the
Liberian Legislature .
TARNUE MOLUBAH GBELEWALA TOP COMMENTER
Why are these crocks making noise, when were they informed about
Speaker Tyler's situation and why such action was not taken against Hon.
Edward Ford? If these seven representatives are really serious about the
integrity and the image of the Hon. House, I suggest they should call for
a complete audit of the Hon. House of Representative. The integrity and
the image of Senate and House of Representative, was long compromised
before Speaker Tyler's incident came to light. Most Liberian, know about
the all powerful brown envelopes going around in the senate and in the
house of representative. So why are these seven representatives pulling
rope, when they clearly know that rope will pull bush?
JESSE FAHNGON TOP COMMENTER METROPOLITAN
STATE UNIVERSITY
Noise for attraction; you guess what is unfolding behind the scene tonight.
Lib!
ROGER G. SLAWON IRR REP AT THE HERTZ CORPORATION
Why are these crocks making unnecessary noise now? Is it because 2017
approaching? Well, let me remind you Honorable Crocks that it is very
late now to change our hearts. We (voters) have cleaned up the House of
Senate and we strongly believed that the clean up process will continue
in the Lower House in 2017. It is very late for some of you so-called
lawmakers to make it right with us now. The "Die Is Cast " crocks! If you
like you can sit over the roof of the Capitol Building and shout, we the
voters will make our decisions on who stays or leaves the House come
2017. We will clean up the Lower House like we did in the Upper House
few weeks ago.
JSPHDIGGS (SIGNED IN USING YAHOO)
Let the Members sign and resolve the matter before the Silent majority
takes it under control for the people. In the main time, the speaker could
not possibly preside until the public hears the outcome.
Tell the Liberian people. I am gone in silence.
ELIJAH BARNARD TOP COMMENTER UNIVERSITY OF
LIBERIA
These so called legislators are demanding a probe of Tyler only because
they did not get their share of the bribes.
LIGORI MUSIOH SEKAJIPO TOP COMMENTER WORKS
AT FIRESTONE - LIBERIA
The louder the noise, the thicker the "brown" envelop....Like we say in
Liberia "so so technique"
EMMANUEL WRAGBOE GRAND BASSA COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Tyler owner wahala begin

LIBERIA'S CULTURE CLASH: SANDE &

PORO SOCIETY VS MASONIC CRAFT
DAVISNY2005 (SIGNED IN USING YAHOO)
One should welcome the statements made by the ..... Gender Ministry,
we are not kicking against the practice of FGM; our approach is to
modernize it. We know that our traditional people have come a long way
with our culture and there is no way you can just wipe it off. But creating
skills training that the women can get involved in, will gradually take
them away from the practice of FGM. And I think it is the best way to
give them an alternative rather than take everything away from them,
Pointed out Rosaline Browne. " The key to ending this old aged pratice
is through education and training , which is the much better approach .
Through education , those involved in the old practice will come to see
and understand the reasons why the new way is not only better , but is
helping to improve their old culture .

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YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!

RAPE OF 12-YEAR-OLD
SHOULD AROUSE LIBERIANS

The Editor,

n America and around the world, yesterday we celebrated the

work and legacy of the man who changed America through
his nonviolent protests: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King said
no amount of injunction to seek the approval of a repressive
government could stop him from protesting against injustice and
human rights abuses; that the constitution empowers citizens to
"protest for the right to protest" against injustice, human rights
abuses and let me add, including against corruption. All these vices
still exist in Liberia and we can fuss all we want, but unless we take
to the streets in righteous indignation to demand regime change and
hold people accountable, we are simply wasting time. What good
do we derive from leaders who fail repeatedly to protect life, liberty
and the happiness of their citizens?
Like Dr. King, somewhere I read in the Liberian constitution
the right to protest; the right to free assembly, and the right to
free speech that don't require citizens to get the permission of
government to discharge these fundamental rights enshrined in the
Liberian constitution.
For too long, in the words of Dr. King, we Liberians have been
taking the "tranquilizing drug of gradualism" and believing that the
ills of our society will be cured with time. Well, not after 167 years
of feet dragging, and 12-plus years after greedy politicians plunged
our country into a 14-year genocidal holocaust only to be rewarded
with state power and to perpetuate more criminality.
King said if a man has not discovered something worth dying for,
then he is not fit live. Politicians and our religious community are
conspicuously silent, looking for handouts. But they are the first to
jump and shout when change comes by any means necessary to say
it was long overdue.
That a 12-year old baby girl, Ma Musu Fofana was raped and the
manner in which she died and the anguish of her relatives going in
a circle to get her medical attention hopelessly should arouse in all
Liberians to say enough is enough. Do we see why when change
comes that it often degenerates into personal score settling where
citizens take out their anger on individuals they feel neglected to
serve their needs? It is common human nature.
You would think with the ugly lessons from Ebola and the millions
of dollars given to Liberia by the international community to help
upgrade our healthcare system that this little girl would have been
admitted and treated at the first hospital she was taken to. When are
Liberians going to learn to do things right? Then the corrupt and
unprofessional police added insult to injury by enforcing President
Sirleaf' s curfew when the poor child is clinging to dear life. These
are all crimes but who is going to fire the Police Chief and those
that were enforcing curfew? Shaki Kamara got killed and no one
lost their job or got prosecuted
When you have government officials earning Wall Street like
salaries in an impoverished and failed state like Liberia, then
change is long overdue peacefully through nonviolent protests. It
can be done for it has happened and continues to happen around
the world.
How many Liberians think President Sirleaf, our Nobel Peace Prize
winner president is brave enough to give shoot to kill orders against
peaceful protesters when US troops are in Liberia and the global
media is still has its spotlight on Liberia? If we let this golden
opportunity slip from our hands, we are going to have another
kleptocratic regime replacing the one we have now and it will be
business as usual.
The people can change their government if it does not attend to
the welfare of the people. Dr. KING did it here in America through

nonviolent protests and we can do the same in Liberia. What good

is a constitution and laws when they are not worth the piece of
paper on which they are written when the people continuously
wallow in despair and live less than humans should live?
Our President last Thursday told her new Justice Minister to go
after corrupt individuals in government. She needs to lead by
example. How was the US $325,000.00 that went to her Ministry
of State for Presidential used to aid the Ebola fight? Then her son
Fombah Sirleaf is next in line for allegedly carrying out armed
robbery against some South Korean businessmen in July last year
that netted him and his gang $250,000.00 that the taxpayers must
now foot despite the fact that Fombah said his NSA seized US
"counterfrit money worth $49,500.00" from the Koreans. So why
did the "Independent" investigator, Cllr. Jallah reccomend that the
Liberian taxpayers refund $250,000.00 to the Koreans, even before
there is even any trial, if there will ever be a trial?
That will be a good way for our lame duck president to fight her
long lost war on corruption as we enter the 10th year of her colossal
leadership failure. And what about the 40-plus GAC audits done by
John Morlu that the president shelved and now catching dust? And
what about the maritime money email scandals involving the late
Willis Knuckles, Estrada Bernard and others for which President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf set up the now forgotten Elwood Dunn
Commission that was given $450,000.00 of our tax dollars? Then
there was the other Presidential Commission headed by the Catholic
Nun following the CDC compound massacre by government police
in November 2011? With the options mentioned, let's see which
ones peak the interest of our Iron Lady President who promised to
take no prisoners in the "war on corruption."
And finally, Liberian media reported last week quoting the United
Nations as saying it did what our economist president's regime
has failed to do in the Ebola fight despite millions of dollars made
available to pay Ebola healthcare workers: that the UN spent one
million dollars to pay ALL healthcare Ebola workers nationwide
and in cash. The Justice Minister has got his hands full to look no
further in going after corrupt individuals.
First, the government said it spent $20 million last April to fight
Ebola. Then the US Ambassador to Liberia gave on behalf of the US
government $5 million in September solely to pay Ebola healthcare
workers. Then the US Ambassador gave yet another $5 in October
to pay the same healthcare workers. Then there was the $5 million
that the Legislature approved that was given to the Executive
Branch meant for fighting Ebola. Of that amount, $325,000.00
went to the President's Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs;
$1.7 million went to the Police; $1 went to the Ministry of Defence,
and thanks for the shooting death of 25-year old Shaki Kamara by
government soldiers, and whose mom was given a mere $2000.00
by our president for the worth for her son's life; $400,000.00 plus
went to Immigration; about a million more went to Internal Affairs
and whatever left over was given to the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare as reported. But that the UN was there to teach
our Harvard University educated "economist" President's regime
simple economics on how to pay government Ebola healthcare
workers is the one that gets me holding my head in disbelief.
I am back from vacation and ready to go full throttle in 2015.
Thanks FPA for this forum. And this story and my commentary will
air this week on my LANS news. Happy New Year Liberia.
Jerry Wehtee Wion,
Journalist and Political Commentator,
Washington, DC, USA.Reply

EDITORIAL TEAM

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

077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com;
rodney.sieh@FrontPageAfricaonline.com
Wade C. L. Williams, News Desk Chief, wade.
williams@frontpageafricaonline.com; 0880664793
Danesius Marteh, Sports Editor, danesius.marteh@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886236528
James-Emmanuel D. Cole, Jr, Graphics Designer
& Layout Editor, echange4life@gmail.com;
0886 211 390, 0777 027 030
Henry Karmo, henry.karmo@frontpageafricaonline.
com
Al-varney Rogers al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.
com, 0886-304498

Sports Reporter, A. Macaulay Sombai,macaulay.sombai@

FrontpageAfricaonline.com, 077217428
COUNTY NEWS TEAM
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Bong
County,
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BUSINESS/ADVERTISING
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frontpageafricaonline.com

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Frontpage

17 PERSONS INJURED AFTER BLAST AT RUBBER FACTORY

BURNING EXPLOSION HITS LAC

The Liberia Agriculture Company says it is working with associations on the plantation and the families of the victims to
ensure that the best decisions are made for victims; refutes rumors that some of the victims died during the incident

Buchanan,
County

Grand

Bassa

t least 17 persons
on Monday night
were victims of an
explosion which
occurred at a rubber processing
plant owned by the Liberian

Monrovia
resident
Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf has
received the Letters of
Credence of the new
Ambassadors Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the European
Union (EU) H.E. Ms. Tiina
Intelmann and Japan accredited
to Liberia respectively, Her
Excellency Ms. Tiina Intelmann
and His Excellency Mr. Kaoru
Yoshimura.
EU Ambassador Intelmann is
resident in Monrovia, Liberia
while the Japanese Ambassador
Yoshimura is resident in Accra,
Ghana.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, the Liberian
leader received the two new
Ambassadors
at
separate
ceremonies at her Foreign
Ministry office on Monday,
January 19, 2015.
Receiving the new European
Union Ambassador at the earlier
ceremony, President Sirleaf
expressed appreciation on behalf
of the Liberian Government and
people for the EUs long standing
friendship and solidarity with
Liberia and its people.
She noted that the EU is one
of Liberias primary partners
and that the relationship goes a
long way stressing that the EU
has stood with Liberia since the
rebuilding process of the country
began at the end of the civil war.
The EU has supported Liberia
through the UNs support to the
countrys peace process and also
provided resources including
direct budget support. You have
shown confidence in Liberia and
entered a Voluntary Partnership
Agreement with Liberia and
initiated support for our fishery
sector,
President
Sirleaf
indicated.

ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, alpha.senkpeni@frontpageafricaonline.com

Agricultural Company (LAC)
based in District #3, Grand
Bassa County.
The cause of the explosion is
unknown while eyewitnesses
say the incident occurred

by 10:30 PM while workers

assigned at the processing plant
were on their regular night
shift which runs throughout
the day and night.
Eyewitnesses
told

PAGE
RONT

FrontPageAfrica that the

plant (boiler house) explosion
caused boiling water to splash
all over while other particles
from the explosion burnt and
injured several of the workers

GOVERNMENT NEWS

on shift.
The injured were immediately
taken to the LAC Hospital
where they are undergoing
medical treatment. Burns on
some of the victims look very

Page 5

disturbing.
The workers union says it has
been holding meetings with
the companys management
about the victims and revealed
Tuesday evening that the
company resolved to send for
an expert doctor from France
to help doctors at the LAC
hospital provide treatment for
the 17 victims.
Meanwhile,
the
Human
Resource and Administration
Manager at LAC told a local
radio in the county that the
management has met with
families of the victims and
will do everything possible to
ensure the medical condition
of all the injure persons are
stable.
Mr. Harry M. Attoh said the
companys priority is the
health care of the victims and
will later get to investigate the
cause of the explosion.
He said the company will
work with various workers
associations on the plantation
and the families of the
victims to ensure that the best
decisions are made for victims.
He refuted rumors that some
of the victims died during
the incident and called on
residents of the plantation to
join the families of the victims
in prayer.
Investigators are gathering
evidence about the disaster
and the Human Resource
and Administration Manager
disclosed that work at the
factory is now suspended.

NEW AMBASSADORS: EUROPEAN UNION, JAPAN

ENVOYS SUBMIT LETTERS OF CREDENCE

The Liberian leader indicated

that the country has faced
various challenges including the
Ebola outbreak; but was grateful
that despite the grim challenges,
Ambassador Intelmann was
able to come and take up her
assignment. She indicated that
the EUs support to organizations
such as ECOWAS, the African
Union, and others enabled them
to play a pivotal role in Liberias
Ebola fight and expressed
confidence that disease will be
beaten out of Liberia soon.
For her part, Ambassador
Intelmann expressed excitement
to be in Liberia and recounted
her years of service at the
United Nations were many

issues pertaining to Liberia

were handled. At the UN, we
heard many good things about
Liberia beyond the Ebola crisis.
I am glad to be here because the
EUs relations with Liberia are
excellent and historical thus I
look forward to working together
with the government being in
the driving seat, Ambassador
Intelmann said.
She also pointed out that the
EUs attention is now focused on
plans for the post-Ebola period
to help the country get back on
its feet and expressed interest in
continuing the political dialogue
started long before the crisis.
In the latter ceremony, receiving
the Letters of Credence of the

new Japanese Ambassador to

Liberia, His Excellency Mr.
Kaoru Yoshimura, President
Sirleaf welcomed him to Liberia
and acknowledged the excellent
relations
existing
between
Liberia and Japan.
She further reflected on key
events of the relations dating
back to the 1960s and 1970s to
include a visit to Japan in 1960
and the christening of a Firestone
boat in 1970.
She acknowledged that the
conflict in Liberia stalled the
relationship, but stressed that
Japan has given Liberia a lot
of support since the end of the
civil conflict, including bilateral
support. She identified the

he called a difficult moment in

Liberias history due to the Ebola
outbreak and expressed how
pleased he was to be in Liberia.
I am excited about the long
history of friendship between
our two countries. I want to
also express our sympathy and
condolence to the Liberian
people for the tragedy brought
upon them by the outbreak of
the deadly Ebola virus disease,
he said.
He assured President Sirleaf of
his support, commitment and

cooperation during his tenure as
the new Japanese Ambassador
to Liberia and acknowledged
the strong leadership qualities
exhibited by the Liberian
President during the Ebola crisis.
He said Japan remains supportive
till the zero case targeted is
reached and is prepared to
contribute to the countrys postLiberia/Japanese
Friendship
conflict recovery plan, adding
Hospital at the John F Kennedy
that Ebola was a setback but the
Medical Center, support to
country is now overcoming.
the energy programs of the
The new Japanese Ambassador
government,
road
works,
indicated that he has assurance
particularly the Somalia Drive
from the Emperor and Prime
project as key interventions
Minister of Japan about all the
made by Japan to the country
support needed to make his tenure
infrastructure program.
in Liberia fruitful and successful
President Sirleaf noted that
and pledged his personal
Japan has stood with Liberia
commitment to strengthening the
throughout the Ebola crisis
existing friendship between the
through its support to many
two countries.
international
organizations
He also pledged to stand with
responding to the crisis.
Liberia in all its endeavors
Presenting his Letters of
including finishing battle to
Credence earlier, Ambassador
eradicate the deadly Ebola virus
Yoshimura conveyed a message
disease from Liberia.
of support and solidarity from the
Emperor of Japan during what

Page 6 | Frontpage

Monroviaeven
lawmakers
who wrote plenary
requesting
House
Speaker Alex Tyler to
recuse himself from presiding
over plenary to face investigation
for his alleged involvement in
a US$25,000 scandal with the
National Oil Company of Liberia
(NOCAL) has withdrawn their
communication.
The
lawmakers
in
a
communication
written
to
plenary Tuesday January 20,
2015, stated that they view
the decision of the Speaker to
change members of the various
committees as a violation of rule
41 of the rules and procedures of
the honorable body.
Rule 41 of the House of
Representatives speaks against
the misuse of power given
a member of the House by
law: Member shall not use
their powers and duties for
his/her own advantage or for
committing acts of partiality, but
for the protection of the interest
of the Public and citizens in just
manner, the rule state.
The lawmakers also inform their
colleagues in the communication
that they were aware that the
speaker was in breach of the
statutes of the House, hence
the action they took. But the
lawmakers somersaulted saying
that in light of lack of sufficient
evidence, the speaker cannot be
unduly asked to recuse himself
from leading in the HoR.
Accordingly and in line with
section 48.3 a communication
was addressed to the speaker. The
evidence of the speaker being
a subject of investigation at the
LACC is common Knowledge
and hence there was a need for
further evidence, the lawmakers

PAGE
RONT

LEGISLATIVE BEAT

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

LAWMAKERS' SUMMERSAULT, WITHDRAW

COMMUNICATION AGAINST SPEAKER TYLER
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.com

stated.
Having said the above, and
realizing that there are strenuous
efforts to have a speaker who
is object of investigation to
continually preside over this
body, we by this withdraw our
letter of January 12, 2015 and
give notice that we shall engage
the LACC and all relevant
institutions to ensure that the
dignity of this body remains
intact.
The lawmakers communication
was noted by plenary but despite
that decision the January 12
communication was placed on
the agenda for the days session
and read. But motion to send
the communication to the House
committee on rules and order in

order for an investigation to be

conducted in the matter, was filed
by Rep. Clarence Massaquoi
(UP-District #3 Lofa County).
Thirty-two lawmakers presence
in Tuesday session voted for
the communication to be sent
to committee room, two voted
against 6 abstained from the
process.
In
an
interview
with
FrontPageAfrica, two lawmakers
who led the January 12, 2015
protest against speaker Tyler
Reps. Henry Fahnbulleh (UPDistrict#4 Montserrado County)
and Bill Twehway (UP-District#
3 Montserrado County) said their
decision to withdraw is because
they did not trust that the rules
and order committee would

PAGE
RONT

properly conduct the process of
investigation.
Fahnbulleh said: We cannot
go into an investigation that we
dont see transparent, we are
not going to submit ourselves
to that investigation. Our letter
of withdrawal overshadows
everything and we are engaging
the process in a different way.
The lawmakers promised to
engage the LACC to gather the
necessary information and proof
on the speakers involvement in
the 25K scandal.
But Rep. Twehway promised
to submit to the committees
investigation and provide the
necessary proof it needs. The
committee
chairman
Rep.
Byron Brown (LP-District #3

NEWS EXTRA

Grand Bassa County) the man

who recently replaced Edwin
Snowe as chairman of the House
Committee on rules and order
was mandated to report back to
plenary after one week.
Reps. Edwin Snowe, Emmanuel
Nuquay, Bill Twehway and
Henry Fanhbulleh disrupted
January 12, 2015 session
demanding that the controversial
communication to be placed on
the agenda for that days session,
though they did not sign the to
the document.
Many termed the lawmakers
action to protest against the
speaker as deception because
they were only protesting
because the Speaker threatened
to replace them on the various

committees.
The House of senate is also yet to
decide on a date for the conduct
of the election to elect a new
President Pro-Tempore of the
Liberian senate to fill the gap left
by Senator Gbezhongar Findley
of Grand Bassa County. Findley
was defeated in the December
polls by Liberty Party candidate
Benjamin Karpay.
The senate has set Thursday
as a date to decide on the
date for election. The senate
decision comes in the wake of
a communication written by
Senator Henry Yallah (PUPBong County) and Senator Peter
Coleman (CDC-Grand Kru
County), requesting time for the
holding of the Protemp elections.
The two senators said, their
communication calling for an

election for a Pro-Tempore, is
in keeping with rule 19 of the
senate standing rule, which calls
for election to be held to replace
a new senate Pro-Tempore in the
case of removal. It seems the
senate would not have a leader
in time for the Presidents state
of the nation address set by
constitution for next Monday.
Unless otherwise a misstatement
there is no record that the
Liberian senate has received
the President of the Republic
of Liberia for her state of the
Nation address, without a duly
elected President Pro-Tempore
and other corps of officers of
the Honorable Liberian Senate,
the lawmakers stated in their
communication.

IDENTIFYING WITH EBOLA EPICENTER: COMPROMISING

LIVING WORD CHURCH AID JENEWONDE LACC PROBE?
Stephen D. Kollie, stephen.kollie@frontpageafricaonline.com /0776329124

Monroviahe
Living
Word
Community Church
in
collaboration
with
International
Childrens Fund, has donated
a consignment of food and
medical supplies to two Ebola
hit communities in Grand Cape
Mount County.
Items donated include 75 boxes
manna pack of rice, 20, bags
of wheat, 10 bags of beans,
medical supplies, cloths, and
crutches amongst others valued
at thousands of United States
Dollars.
Speaking over the weekend
in Jenewonde Town, in Tewor

District, Grand Cape Mount

County, the Founder and General
Overseer of the Living Word
Church Rev Boakai B. Paasewe
said the donation is the churchs
way of identifying with victims
of the Ebola virus disease in the
county.
Rev. Paasewe urged citizens of
Grand Cape Mount County to
continue to abide by all the Ebola
preventive measures despite the
continued decline in the number
of Ebola cases in Grand Cape
Mount County.
He used the occasion to call on
Liberians to collaborate efforts
in the fight against the killer
virus.

Rev. Paasewe disclosed that

his Church and partners are
currently constructing a care
home for children who have
been victimized by the Ebola
virus, not only in Cape Mount,
but in Bomi County as well.
Said Rev. Passawe: The
construction project is expected
to be completed in April of this
year, and as an initial start will
accommodate 50 orphans who
lost their parents during the
Ebola crisis in Liberia.
We want to thank the National
Ebola Task Force and it partners,
the International Childrens Fund
for their numerous contributions
to the church in undertaking such

an initiative.
Communities that benefited from
the donation include Sinje Health
Center and the Jenewonde Clinic
in Tewor and Garwular Districts
respectively
Meanwhile, the Officer in Charge
of the Jenewonde Clinic, Tenneh
Y. Pearson, thanked the Living
Word Church for the donation
and promised that it will be used
for the intended purpose.
Madam Pearson pointed out
that the medical supplies would
help health workers to be more
effective in caring for patients in
the county.
She said though Ebola is still
present in Cape Mount, though
it has drastically reduced in
Jenewonde that was once a
hot spot in Grand Cape Mount
County.
Also speaking, the Town Chief
of Jenewonde Town in Tewor
District Grand Cape Mount
County Jebbeh Sarnon lauded
the Living Word Church for the
gesture, whiling on others to
emulate the churchs example.
Sarnon used the occasion to call
on the Government of Liberia
to support and cater for people
affected by the Ebola epidemic
in Grand Cape Mount County.
She expressed disappointment
in the government for neglecting
victims of the Ebola virus in
Jenewonde Town.

Liberia Graft Body Eyes Lawmaker Recording

Monrovia he Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) is aware

and takes note of a calculated audio recording attributed
to one of its commissioners, Hon. Charles J.L Gibson
who is alleged to have had conversation with Rep. Adolph
Lawrence to compromise LACCs investigation of the Speaker and
Rep. Lawrence.
LACC sees this
as an attempt
to twist its
attention from
the
ongoing
investigation
involving
Rep.
Adolph
Lawrence and
the Speaker of
the House. Some
accused persons
are doing all
to redeem their
reputation, and
have
resulted
to doing the
normal political
tactics of finding
similar voices
to play and
attribute them to
Commissioner
Charles
J.L
Gibson
Commissioner
Charles
J.L
Gibson
has
informed
the Body of
Commissioners

that he has
not had any
conversation with Rep. Lawrence. Besides, Com. Gibson who
is alleged to have promised a compromise has no direct link to
investigations at the LACC and cant influence anything otherwise.
LACC challenges Rep. Lawrence and his cohorts to play the tape,
and encourages the public to provide any information on the conduct
of any of its staff that undermines the work of the Commission.
LACC has commissioned an internal investigation which will lead
to authenticating the voices using forensic investigative tools. LACC
will punish any of its staff when caught in wrong doings, and will
stand by those falsely accused.
The LACC wishes to assure the public of professional investigation
in its entire works including investigation involving the Speaker and
Rep. Lawrence. Therefore LACC reassures the public and its partners
that it remains resolute and unshakable in the fight against corruption
and will ensure that the accused are brought to justice.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Frontpage

OFF
THE
HOOK
State Drops Theft Charges

LIBERTY PARTY ACCEPTS SLAPPING

LAWMAKERS RESIGNATION

Against LBDI Boss Davis

We give no opinion on the cause for which Honorable Cooper may have stood, for which he may
have been implicated. But we think that the same standard that we hold honorable Cooper to, we
hold the house leadership to. Cllr. J.Fonati Koffa, Chairman, Liberty Party

Kennedy L. Yangian
kennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781

C
Monrovia-

Stephen D. Kollie, Stephen.kollie@frontpageafricaonline.com/ 0776329124

ivil Law Court Judge Yussif Kaba Monday endorsed the

decision by state lawyers to drop criminal charges against
the President of the Liberia Bank for Development and
Investment John B.S. Davis while other indictees Ellen
Corkrum, Musa Bility etc. remain hooked.
Davis along with the former Managing Director of the Liberia Airport
Authority (LAA) Corkrum, Board Chairman Bility and others were
indicted in May 2013 by the state on several charges including
economic sabotage, theft of property, criminal conspiracy and
misapplication of entrusted property.
LBDI boss Davis was accused of colluding with the co-defendants
Corkrum, Bility, Momar Dieng and Diaspora Consultant to deprive
the government of US$269,000.
Barely a year after Davis and others indictment, the Civil Law Court
reached the decision to drop charges against him. The move by the
court comes in the wake of a letter addressed to presiding Judge Kaba
from the office of the Montserrado County Attorney Daku Mulbah.
The letter stated that consistent with the statutory provision of
Chapter 18, Section 18.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law, the Ministry
of Justice by & thru the office of the County Attorney hereby enters
Nolle Prosequoi in favor of the defendant LBDI in the above entitled
cause of action, for reason that the prosecution has resolved to have
the said defendant to serve as witness.
The prosecution however reserves its statutory rights as contain in
Section 18.3 of the Criminal Statute herein cited, the letter concluded.
In his ruling, presiding judge Kaba indicated that the submission
made by the prosecution was in line with the law quoted therefore
said submission was granted.
The defendant Liberia Bank for Development & Investment is hereby
discharged from answering to the charges and the case dismissed
without prejudice, and is hereby so ordered, matter suspended, said
Judge Kaba.
Others indicted with the LBDI Bank boss include Diaspora Consultant
thru Momar Dieng of the United States, Melvin Johnson & Associates
also of the United States of America, President, First International
Bank, Wole Sodipe all authorized agents of (FIB) and Gloria Menjor
and all authorized representatives from the LBDI.

MA JUAH MARKET RELOCATES

TO OLD LIBTRACO BUILDING;
DEMOLITION OF THE OLD MA
JUAH MARKET BEGINS ON
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2015

Page 7

Monrovia
he Government of Liberia through the Ministry of State for
Presidential Affairs is informing the entire public and all
marketers that it has begun the relocation of marketers of
the old Ma Juah Market in Vai Town to the new site located
in the old LIBTRACO building on the United Drive, Water Street.
According to an Executive Mansion release, the new site has been
refurbished to include everything expected of all modern markets that
were previously lacking at the old Ma Juah Market in Vai Town. It is
expected to be dedicated later this week.
Meanwhile, the Government of Liberia is informing the entire public
and all marketers that previously occupied the premises that there will
be a massive demolition exercise at the old Ma Juah Market facilities
in Vai Town beginning Thursday, January 22, 2015.
Therefore, all marketers who have not relocated to the new facilities
at the old LIBTRACO building are asked to do so with immediate
effect to avoid any embarrassment to the exercise.

Monroviahe National Chairman

of the opposition
Liberty Party has
warned all partisans
of the party who are in public
service to abide by standards
of high and unquestionable
integrity.
Addressing a news conference
Tuesday
at
the
partys
headquarters in the old road
community in Sinkor, Cllr.
Fonati Koffa accepted the formal
resignation of Rep. Roland

O. Cooper, (Margibi County

District #1 Representative) who
resigned recently from the party.
Said Cllr. Koffa: We give no
opinion on the cause for which
Honorable Cooper may have
stood, for which he may have
been implicated. But we think
that the same standard that we
hold honorable Cooper to, we
hold the house leadership to.
And to the extent that at any
point in time there are questions
on the integrity of the leadership
of the house, the appropriate

measures must be taken to

ensure that the credibility of that
body remains.
Cllr. Koffa disclosed that the
party would next week launch
a radio show called the Liberty
Hour, which would present
different aspects of the partys
vision for 2017 and beyond.
We may occasionally or very
often use the current realities in
the country as case study to make
a determination as to how Liberty
Party will improve, continue or
move in a different direction on
policies and issues affecting the
Liberian people, he said.
The partys political leader Cllr.
Charles W. Brumskine has been
asked to be the first presenter of
the show, which will be aired on
various radio stations across the
country, Cllr. Koffa said.
Commenting further on the
involvement of Cllr. Brumskine
in active politics, Cllr. Koffa
said the 2014 mid-term election
clearly showed that Cllr.
Brumskine is in active politics
and remains one of the most
popular persons in the party.
Said Cllr. Koffa: Obviously
when the Liberty Party is
moving towards looking for who
is going to bear their standard in
2017, the Liberty Party would
be looking for its most popular
partisan.

It would be looking for the

partisan that it has vetted, that
they believe can carry the party
to victory in 2017. I would say,
when I look at the range of
partisans Cllr Brumskine has a
shot to be nominated as a person
who would bear the partys
standard.
Last Thursday, the chambers of
the House of Representatives
was a scene of uproar when some
lawmakers disrupted session
because the speaker of the House
Rep. Alex Tyler (Bomi) did not
read their communication asking
him to recuse himself before
plenary.
The communication signed by
seven lawmakers requested the
speaker of the House to recuse
himself from presiding and face
investigation of an alleged 25K
allegation on money he ggot
from the National Oil Company
of Liberia (NOCAL), which
the Liberia Anti-Corruption
Commission wanted him to
account for.
Rep. Cooper, is reported to have
allegedly slapped the face of
Rep. Bill Corneh (NPP-District
-#3 Bong County) during the
saga, an action that has been
condemned by many Liberians
including members of the
Liberty Party.

EBOLA ECONOMIC LOSS CRIPPLING

GUINEA, LIBERIA, SIERRA LEONE

WASHINGTON he Ebola epidemic will continue to cripple the economies

of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone even as transmission
rates in the three countries show significant signs of
slowing, according to a World Bank Group analysis on
the economic impact of Ebola in Africa. The Bank Group estimates
that these three countries will lose at least US$1.6 billion in forgone
economic growth in 2015 as a result of the epidemic.
But the new report -- released on the eve of the 2015 World Economic
Forum in Davos -- also contains
more positive news: the probability
of spread and the associated
economic costs beyond the three
most-affected countries are now
much lower than previously feared
because of the intensive global and
national responses to the epidemic
over the past several months.
An earlier World Bank Group
economic analysis (from October
8, 2014) found that the West Africa region alone could experience
a downside scenario of US$25 billion in economic losses in 2015,
but the current report estimates the range for sub-Saharan Africa as a
whole to be from a low of US$500 million to a high of US$6.2 billion.
The national and international responses have resulted in a number
of public health improvements within the three West African nations,
including safer burial practices, earlier case detections, more health
workers and treatment facilities, public awareness campaigns and
stepped-up contact tracing. These policy and behavior responses
have contributed to a lower risk of spread across borders. The lower
estimates also reflect fast and effective containment measures taken
in the neighboring countries of Mali, Nigeria and Senegal, all of
which have now been declared Ebola-free.
"Even if Ebola is controlled and further outbreaks avoided," said the
report, "economic costs will be incurred across sub-Saharan Africa
in 2015. Consumer and investor confidence has been eroded by the
outbreak of the virus, and disruptions to travel and cross-border trade
suggest cumulative losses of more than US$500 million across the
region in 2015, outside the three directly affected countries." The
report said the losses could be closer to the higher end of the estimate
-- US$6 billion -- if the Ebola outbreak were to spread through the
region, reinforcing the need for a swift end to the epidemic.
"I am very encouraged to see Ebola transmission rates slowing
markedly in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and that other potential

outbreaks have been averted because of swift action by other West

African governments," said Jim Yong Kim, President of the World
Bank Group, who will discuss the emerging lessons from the Ebola
crisis with world leaders in Davos this week. "Yet as welcome as
these latest signs are, we cannot afford to be complacent. Until we
have zero new Ebola cases, the risk of continued severe economic
impact to the three countries and beyond remains unacceptably high."
The report notes that containment and preparedness efforts
dramatically limited the potential impact of Ebola on the African
economy, compared to earlier
worst-case scenarios. The scope
of the report did not include
examining the national and
international response to determine
most effective policies in curtailing
the spread of the virus.
One major lesson from the Ebola
outbreak, said Kim, was for the
world to respond much more
quickly to epidemics.
"This report demonstrates why all countries should make investing in
pandemic preparedness a top priority for 2015," said Kim. "It points to
the need for a global pandemic emergency financing facility that will
enable the world to respond much more quickly and effectively to any
future deadly outbreaks, and avoid the tragic and unnecessary human
and economic costs that have resulted from the Ebola epidemic."
Economic impact on Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone
The new report finds that "the Ebola epidemic continues to cripple
the economies of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone." Full-year 2014
growth in Sierra Leone fell by more than half to 4.0 percent from 11.3
percent expected before the crisis, with large reductions in Guinea
and Liberia as well. The total fiscal impact felt by the three countries
in 2014 was over half a billion dollars, nearly 5 percent of their
combined GDP.
Investor aversion further diminishes 2015 growth estimates to -0.2
percent in Guinea, 3.0 percent in Liberia, and -2.0 percent in Sierra
Leone (down from pre-Ebola estimates of 4.3 percent, 6.8 percent,
and 8.9 percent, respectively). These projections imply forgone
income across the three countries in 2015 of about US$1.6 billion:
about US$500 million for Guinea, US$200 million for Liberia, and
US$900 million for Sierra Leone, or more than 12 percent of their
combined GDP.

Page 8 | Frontpage

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Frontpage

Page 9

Page 10 | Frontpage

PAGE
RONT

CRIME WATCH

SEGAL GUARD
COMMIT SUICIDE
IN NIMBA

PAGE
RONT

COUNTY NEWS

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

EBOLA
ZERO
EBOLA
CASE
Grand Bassa Keen On Defeating Virus
ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, alpha.senkpeni @frontpageafricaonline.com

We were on duty and just heard the gun

sound and we all ran to the scene and we saw
our colleague in a pool of blood with a single
barrel pistol near him and a dying declaration
note. SEGAL Officers in Nimba County
Bettie Johnson/ betty.johnson@
frontpageafricaonline.com

Nimba CountySecurity Guard of the Expert Guard Agency

assigned in Nimba County has committed suicide.
Mr. Matthew Huggar, age 41, shot himself in
the head with entry point, under his chain in his
own bedroom on January 17, 2015. Document, which is in
possession of the FrontPageAfrica reveals that the late Huggar
was a resident of Area A Yekepa, Nimba County.
The document also revealed that a suicide note was found on
the scene of the incident. The document states that the note
purported to be from the dead man stated that nobody should
be held liable for his death because he did it on his own.
During police investigation, the dead mans colleagues told the
Police that they were on duty when they heard the sound of
a gun from the community where their colleague was living.
They said upon hearing the sound, they proceeded to the
direction of the sound and met their colleague Huggar in a pool
of blood with a single barrel pistol near him and a suicide note.
The victim was later taken to the Yekepa Hospital where he
was pronounced dead on arrival.
SEGAL is a Liberian owned private security firm providing
security services for many entities, including Arcelor Mittal,
NRC, Oxfam, Save the Children, FED, and Ecobank among
others.
In Yekapa, SEGAL has over 600 employees serving as guards
to Arcelor Mittal facilities, which lay within the proximity of
two borders; Guinea and Ivory Coast. The death in Nimba
County brings to two such tragedies, since the beginning of
this year. It can be recalled that a 10-year-old boy, Courage
Zehgban, on January 7, 2015, was reportedly burned to ashes
when fire gutted a store in Karnplay City, Nimba County
on Tuesday. The blaze also gutted merchandise valued over
US$50,000, a source said.
Though the cause of the fire is yet to be established,
eyewitnesses said the incident started at about 11:00 a.m. when
they saw smoke coming from a refrigerator in the store.
According to them, the owner of the store, John Zehgban, who
is also the Youth Chairman of the GbehlayGeh Administrative
District, left his sick son Courage in the care of his brother-inlaw to attend a development meeting.
Eyewitnesses say rescuers would have saved little Courage,
but they were not informed that the 10 year-old was sleeping
in a room prior to the escalation of the fire.
Karnplay City Mayor and head of the Municipal Council,
Evelyn Gweh, suspended the Wednesday Market Day to
sympathize with Zehgban, who is one of the influential local
businessmen in the city.
The Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) Nimba County
detachment says it has launched an investigation into the
incident.
Police says they have not arrested anyone based on the notice
left by the victim.

Buchanan,
Grand
Bassa

County -
n the wake of confirmation
by the Ministry of Health
and Social Welfare that
Grand Bassa County is
amongst several counties that
have reported zero case of
the deadly virus over the past
one month, many people in
the county are beginning to
celebrate but health authorities
in the county remain keen
about avoiding a resurgence.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa
recently,
Joyce
Garblah,
Administrator
of
Grand
Bassa County Health Team
(BACHT) said there is a
serious complacency amongst
many people in observing
measures against the virus.
The administrator said people
are ignoring the washing
hands measures and have also
started shaking hands again.
Mrs. Garblah disclosed that
BACHT and other partners
have decided to increase
awareness, sensitization and
contact tracing.
Stated Garblah: The contact
tracers and social mobilizers
will be in the community to
encourage our people to still
practice all the preventive
measures and avoid being
complacent.
Since December 12, 2014
Grand Bassa County has
not received any new Ebola
case although there were one
or two suspected cases that
tested negative, the BACHT
Administrator said.
Record shows that so far the
last positive Ebola case came
from Konnie, District Two a
remote town bordering Bong
County.

BACHT has often maintained

that
the
training
and
deployment of 114 contact
tracers and social mobilizers

in the county helped created

awareness and with rigorous
contact tracing the Ebola virus
transmission was broken.
Currently,
BACHT
and
International
Organization
for Migration (IOM) are
considering
several
new
strategies to keep Ebola
awareness effective in other to
eliminate complacency which
for now is widely observe
amongst people of the county.
BACHT intends to work with
religious institutions including
churches and mosques while
the IOM is preparing to
contract the county based
media organization, AGBAMNET, to intensify sensitization
and awareness in the county.
CHALLENGES
STILL
LINGER
With schools gearing up to
reopen, concerns are being
raised over effective preventive
measures at schools to avoid a
situation and the BACHTs

administrator confirmed that it

will be a major challenge , so
they will have to put in place
a lot of measures to intensify
social mobilization and contact
tracing.
Another challenge we have
is high risk areas like the gold
mining camp in District #2 (No
Way Camp). It has health risks
especially because of its over
crowdedness, she said.
Garblah continued: What
weve done now is send a team
there to do assessment, so we
are planning some strategies to
see how best we can work with
them to provide hand washing
facilities and other sanitary
facilities and even to start a
mobile clinic there.
ETU IN THE ABSENCE OF
NO CASE
The county health team claims
that it will continue active case
search despite the nod that
Grand Bassa is Ebola free for
now. Garblah revealed that

BACHT and partners will not

relax despite the success so far
adding that somebody who is
sick maybe hiding somewhere.
Grand Bassa County has a
50 bed ETU built by the US
Army and now operated by
the International Organization
for Migration (IOM). Before
the dedication of the facility in
December 2014, patients were
kept in several makeshift ETU
before been send to Monrovia
for treatment.
We started off with an isolation
unit of three rooms and no one
had any clinical experience, but
today we have an ETU ready to
serve us. I hope no one comes
to the ETU but I know that my
people will be taken care of and
cured and cured very quickly,
stated County Superintendent
Etweeda Cooper during the
opening of ETU.
Grand Bassa experienced its
first positive Ebola case back in
August 2014 when an infected
man form RiverCess County
was reported sick in Buchanan
while heading back to his
county after attending an event
in Monrovia.
In November last year, the
county registered about 54
new cases. Mrs.Garblah, at
the time said that those cases
were reported from Kpaywein
town, District # 2B which was
considered an Ebola hotspot in
Grand Bassa County.
HEALTH CARE BACK ON
TRACK
Private and public health
care centers in the county
are becoming more active in
providing services and more
patients are gaining confidence
to seek health care there.
During the outbreak of the
virus, health care utilization
across the country was low
and now with the news of
reduction in cases, people
are now utilizing the clinics
and hospital, Mrs. Garblah
disclosed.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Frontpage

Page 11

FIGHTING EBOLA, ENDING STIGMA: AN

EBOLA FRONTLINE FIGHTER IN LIBERIA

2015 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) is a grant making and advocacy
foundation that is part of the global Open Society Foundations Network. OSIWA
works to support the creation of open societies in West Africa marked by functioning
democracy, good governance, the rule of law, basic freedoms, and widespread civic
participation. Its headquarters is in Dakar and it has offices in Abuja, Monrovia,
Freetown and Conakry.
OSIWA seeks proposals aimed at achieving the following specific objectives:
*
Strengthen the institutional and operational capacities of civil society
organizations,
* Advance the inclusion and legal empowerment of women, youth and people with
disabilities,
* Strengthen regional economic integration processes as well as tax, investment
and trade justice
* Promote the use of transitional justice mechanisms
* Improve Criminal justice and the Administration of justice
* Strengthening the health system's capacity to respond to emergencies
* Reforming the governance of health care systems: improving access and quality
of health services
* Enhance citizens' social demands for accountability and effectiveness in public
service delivery, especially in the health and education sectors
* Support alternative, ICT and arts-based means for anti-corruption enforcement
* Increase the effectiveness of natural resource management frameworks
* Reduce the impact of drug trafficking on governance
* Strengthen prevention and early warning information systems to reduce militancy
and violence; and
* Ensure inclusive constitutional review processes.
* The detailed OSIWA strategy is available here<http://www.osiwa.org/-Notrestrategie-.html?lang=en>.
ELIGIBILITY
OSIWA primarily awards grants to local organizations based in West Africa. In rare
and limited circumstances, it provides support to West Africa-based international
organizations with a strong commitment to transfer knowledge to local groups they
partner with. It provides grants to government institutions as well as regional and
sub-regional organizations working in its core priorities areas. OSIWA requires all
organizations seeking funding to submit a two page concept paper using the template
available on the OSIWA website.
If this concept is in line with OSIWA's strategic objectives, applicants will be
asked to submit a detailed proposal, budget, work plan monitoring and evaluation
framework and other relevant documents including leadership information (list of
Board members, trustees and management), staff who will be involved in the project,
proof of registration and banking details. Applications that are not submitted with all
the relevant documentation will be delayed. A request to submit a detailed proposal
does NOT necessarily mean the project will be approved and funded by the Board.

SUBMISSION AND DEADLINES

The concept must be received by March 30th 2015. Detailed proposals will NOT
be accepted after May 30th 2015. The concept and the detailed proposal should be
sent to: proposals@osiwa.org<mailto:proposals@osiwa.org>. OSIWA encourages
the early submission of proposals. Submitted proposals will be reviewed on a firstcome, first-served basis.
The time required to review a proposal varies according to the complexity of the
proposal, the problem being addressed, and the number of proposals being reviewed.
Generally, it can take up to three to six months from the time a proposal is received
to the dates a final decision is made. OSIWA strives to be as expeditious as possible
in its review of inquiries and proposals. Please keep this in mind when planning.

Monrovia bola
fighters
are
arguably some of the
bravest people in the
world. Their resilience
and persistence to combat a
disease that has no known
treatment or cure has been hailed
everywhere. However, they
remain subjected to stigma and
discrimination by some of their
neighbors and relatives who
fear they could spread the virus.
MSFs Ebola fighter, Jackson
K.P. Naimah, a physician
assistant, tells his story:
My wife and I live a lonely
life. Our neighbors have barred
their children from playing
with our children - our home is
a no go zone for them. Some
of them have gone as far as
suspending speech with me and
my wife. Weve been isolated
because we are both health
workers. I work as a physicians
assistant at MSFs ELWA 3
Ebola Management Center in
Paynesville, and my wife works

at the John F. Kennedy Hospital

as a midwife. People accused us
of being carriers of the disease. If
we fall victim, will they rejoice
and be happy were dead and
gone?
I lost my niece and my cousin
to Ebola in July last year. But
that did not discourage me
from volunteering for Mdecins
Sans Frontires to combat the
virus in Liberia over the past
five months. I felt the urge as
a trained physician assistant to
save the vulnerable lives that
have been struck. The task has
not been easy. In this battle, one
must always keep on the safe side
or risk joining the victims. Were
not fighting Ebola blindly. Were
fighting it with our consciousminds. Safety on the frontline
depends on your carefulness and
straight adherence to protocols.
Mistakes are not permissible
here. You constantly have to
remind yourself of the things
youre ought to do in order to not
get infected through touching an

infected person or object.

My family understands what Im
doing and supports me. Still some
of our neighbors and friends do
not get this. They ostracize us.
It sometimes makes me wonder
whether I am working for or
against society.
Every day spent at the Ebola
management center has been
heartrending. One moment a
patient survives and you celebrate
and then in a split second, you
see another patient whom you
talked to over a couple of hours
ago wrapped in body bag. You
finish your day emotionally

devastated and psychologically
traumatized. And when you
return home hoping to have
some gentle conversations with
your neighbors and relax your
mind with friends, they give you
cold-shoulder instead. This feels
like an unfair punishment. The
people whom we work for dont
appreciate us. I am actually
looking forward to the day some
of the patients I cared for will
thank me for helping to save
their lives.
A few colleagues have left their
job because of stigma. But I
take this as a challenge. We
cannot abandon the treatment
centers. Therell be no one to
care for patients if we do. Its our
responsibility. We have hope, we
are proud and we will remain
very careful.
Before joining Medecins Sans
Frontieres Ebola Emergency
mission in Liberia in August
last year, Jackson K.P. Naimah
worked as a vaccine co-chain
officer in Liberias ministry of
health and social welfare.

Page 12 | Frontpage

Monrovia resident
Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf and
her cabinet spent hours
on her farm in Bomi
County
Tuesday designing
strategies and programs to
move her government forward.
Sirleaf told her officials to
ensure that they designed
realistic programs and set
targets that can be achieved in
her last three years in office.
Said
President
Sirleaf:
We are here to set targets,
realistic achievable targets;
measureable targets for the
next three years.
The President told her officials
that it is crucial now because
it will give each sector of
government an opportunity
to explain what they have
achieved.
The President added that it
is important that government
strategies are well coordinate
and implemented on time.
If there is a need to review
programs, she explained, it
must been done in accordance
with government agenda for
transformation so the people of
Liberia can benefit.
The President called on her
cabinet members not to see the
retreat as ordinary gathering
but one in which they will
leave and recognized what has
been achieved.
President Sirleaf said it is
important that cabinet members
have a common purpose and
objective and called on them
to recognize the importance of
each other, asserting that the
deadly Ebola outbreak had a
negative impact on the country
and stalled a lot of initiatives
which were already in the
pipeline.
The President said a lot of
contractors who were in the
country had to leave at the onset
of the outbreak thus paralyzing
normal plans and deadlines set
by her government.
The President also announced
a regional summit amongst
presidents of affected Ebola
countries mainly Guinea, Sierra
Leone and Liberia shortly.
Mr. Jordan Solunteh, chair of
the Cabinet stressed the that
officials will be aggressively
monitored on performance
in order to ensure that they
properly deliver the goods
and services to the people of
Liberia.
Said Mr. Solunteh: We
going to aggressively monitor
performance. We will also
monitor delays, travels and
report on trips will also be
monitored.
During the retreat, several
presentations were made by
heads of various ministries and
agencies.
Lenn
Eugene
Nagbe,
Minister of Youths and
Sports heralded the Monrovia
Vocational Training Center
MVTCs emphasis on youth
development, he says is at the
core of their agenda and that
they wanted young people to
be trained in order to be selfreliant.
Minister Nagbe also disclosed
that the ministry in early next
month will unveil the first
agriculture training institute in
the country aimed at providing

PAGE
RONT

GOVERNMENT NEWS

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

SETTING TARGETS FOR

LAST THREE YEARS
EJS Challenges Cabinet at Retreat

skills to young people in area

needs in Liberia.
The Youth and Sports Minister
also said a special presidential
back-to-school initiative will
be launched shortly aimed at
empowering children to clean
their schools as they returned
back to the classroom.
Education scrutinized
Deputy Education Minister
Anthony Nimely outlined
several programs that the
ministry will undertake mainly
before the opening of schools.
Mr. Nimely said programs
have been designed in order
to ensure that children
returning to schools are safe
from the Ebola virus. He told
the cabinet retreat that the

ministry will train 15-thousand

school
administrators
in
Ebola preventive measures,
five hundred Schools will be
renovated, couple with the
rehabilitation of latrines and
hand pumps.
Mr. Nimely said the ministry
will ensure that all schools
have hand washing stations
and that thermometers will be
distributed to schools aimed at
ensure that students meet the
required temperatures.
The education Deputy Minister
said the Ministry will also
provide one million textbooks
for students in grades 5 to 9,
twenty thousand teachers guide
and motorbikes and vehicles to
facilitate county education and

district officers to go to work.

Recently-appointed
Public
Works Minister, Mr. Gyude
Moore trumpeted that the
ministry has the capacity to
construct 2-miles of roads a
day. He said several roads
have been earmarked for
construction and feasibility
studies have been concluded
on several of them.
Mr. Patrick Sendolo , Lands,
Mines & Energy Minister said
his ministry has focused on
several sectors, specifically
the mining, energy sectors.
Minister Sendolo said currently
they have increase the number
of connection to electricity by
20 thousand household and
also extended electricity access

to four counties, in the last two

years ago, including, Nimba,
Maryland and Grand Gedeh.
The minister also said
government has restored 18
megawatts of power to the city
since the Ebola outbreak which
paralyzed normal activities
and brought the planned hydro
project to a halt. The minister
commended the management
of the Liberia Electricity
Corporation(LEC) and other
agencies for the level of
achievements so far in the
energy sector.
Gender and Development
Minister Julia Duncan-Cassell
raised eyebrows when she
told the retreat that most of
the perpetrators of rape cases

are male teachers, declaring

that she had evidence to back
her claims and also called for
harsher punishment against
rapist.
Solicitor General Betty Lamin
Blamo said more than two
hundred persons are currently
detained at Monrovia Central
Prison on account for rape
and called on President Sirleaf
to appoint a second judge to
criminal court E because
a single judge is unable to
prosecute all of those accused
of rape who are currently
behind bars.
The retreat continues today with
several more ministries such as
Finance Ministry expected to
make presentations.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

PAGE
RONT

WORLD NEWS

Frontpage

Page 13

PRESIDENT
ATTACK
REGULATOR
STILL INUNDER
LACC DRAGNET
IN BRIEF

CHURCH'S BAN ON
CONTRACEPTION

Houthisontake
Yemen
presidential
palace-witnesses,
sources tale
Commission
Higher
Education
Director
General long Corruption

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE

(Reuters) atholics should not
feel they have to
breed "like rabbits"
because
of
the
Church's ban on contraception,
Pope Francis says, suggesting
approved
natural
family
planning methods.
Francis used the unusually frank
language during an hour-long
news conference on the plane
from Manila to Rome at the end
of his week-long Asia trip.
The freewheeling encounters
have become a hallmark of
Francis's simple style, his
penchant for straight talk and
his ease at using colloquialisms
to make his point.
Speaking about corruption, he
disclosed that, in his native
Argentina in 1994, he almost
kicked
two
government
bureaucrats "where the sun
doesn't shine" after they tried
to involve him in a kickback
scheme.

ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS

THREATEN TO KILL
JAPANESE HOSTAGES

he Islamic State group

threatened in a video
Tuesday to kill two
Japanese hostages within
72 hours unless it receives a $200
million ransom, but Tokyo vowed
it would not bow to "terrorism".
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe, in Jerusalem on the latest leg
of a Middle East tour, demanded
the jihadists immediately free the
two hostages unharmed.
He flew home several hours earlier
than planned to take charge of the
crisis after meeting with Palestinian
president Mahmud Abbas, who
condemned the threat against the
abductees as "despicable".
IS has murdered five Western
hostages since August last year, but
it is the first time that the extremist
group -- which has seized swathes
of Syria and neighbouring Iraq -has threatened Japanese captives.

IMRAN KHANS WIFES

SHORT SKIRT IS CAUSING
MORE OUTRAGE IN PAKISTAN
THAN CHARLIE HEBDO

akistan
experienced
its own version of the
royal wedding when the
countrys best looking
cricketer-turned-politician,
62-year-old Imran Khan tied the
knot with former BBC journalist
Reham Khan on Jan. 8. Local
TV channels broke into a frenzy
as they tried to outdo each other
while covering every aspect of
the weddingfrom the menu
and the grooms ill-fitting choice
of footwear to speculation about
the future role of Mrs Khan in
her spouses political career.

SANAA (Reuters) ilitia

fighters
bombarded
the
private residence
of
Yemeni
President Abd-Rabbu Mansour
Hadi on Tuesday in an effort to
overthrow the government, the
country's information minister
said.
The attack followed some of the
worst fighting in the capital Sanaa
in years on Monday, when guards
loyal to Hadi fought artillery
battles near the presidential
palace with the powerful Houthi
movement, which has been in
dispute with Hadi over political
and constitutional issues.
"Yemeni president under attack
by armed militias seeking the
overthrow of the ruling system,"
Information Minister Nadia

enyan police have

fired tear gas at
pupils of a big school
in Nairobi who
were protesting about the sale
of their playground to a private
developer.
The pupils had returned to the
Lang'ata school after a two-week
teachers strike to find the play
area fenced off.
The school has about 1,000
children between the ages of
three and 14 and is run by
Nairobi city council.
Several children were hurt in
the police action to disperse the
protest and have been taken to
hospital.
Some of them had confronted
riot police, waving sticks at
them.
At least one police officer was
injured when he was struck by a
stone thrown by a protester.
The demonstrators also included
teachers at the school and
political activists.
It was not immediately clear
how the developer came to take
possession of the land, which lies
less than five kilometres west of
the city centre.

al-Saqqaf said on Twitter on

Tuesday evening.
Residents said later the fighting
had died down.
The minister did not specifically
identify the militias but she said
they were firing from nearby
houses. Hadi lives in his private
home and not in the palace.
A government official said two
people were killed in the fighting.
Earlier on Tuesday, Houthi
fighters had entered Yemen's
presidential palace after a brief
clash with security guards,
witnesses and security sources
told Reuters.
A Houthi leader denied that
fighters had gone into the
presidential palace to control it
and said they were protecting
the compound from security
personnel who were trying to

steal weapons.
The Houthis seized Sanaa in
September, began dictating
terms to an enfeebled Hadi,
and advanced into central and
western regions of Yemen where
Sunni Muslims predominate.
The Houthis want more rights for
the country's Zaydi Shi'ite sect
and say they are campaigning
against corruption.
Widely seen as an ally of Iran in
its regional struggle for influence
with Saudi Arabia, the Houthis
said on Monday they would
escalate the situation if their
demands in a dispute over a draft
constitution were not met.
Nine people were killed and 90
wounded in Monday's clashes
before a ceasefire came into
effect.
The chaos in Sanaa added a

further element to instability

in Yemen, long been plagued
by tribal divisions, a separatist
challenge in the south and the

threat from a regional wing

of al Qaeda, which claimed
responsibility for the Jan. 7
attacks in Paris.

KENYA POLICE FIRE TEAR GAS

ON PLAYGROUND PROTEST

The city council has said the

playground is public land. It

has not commented on the legal

status of the apparent sale.

Critics have alleged that corrupt

elements were behind a deal

to turn the land over to the

developer.

Page 14 | Frontpage

Sports

Monrovia ast August,

the
Liberia Basketball
Association (LBA)
suspended its third
division league as part of
measures to curb the spread of
the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.
In a press release, the LBA
said the solidarity move was
to avoid large gatherings of
spectators at games.
With 12 out of 15 counties
reporting no new case of Ebola
for more than 21 days, LBA
President Rufus Anderson said
the time is right to lift the ban
on basketball activities.
We have conferred with
the Ministry of Health and
authorities at the Ministry of
Youth & Sports, who have
granted us the permission
to conduct our activities
regularly, Anderson told
UNMIL Radios Sports Extra
program on January 19.
He said all activities will
be conducted in line with
regulations released by the
Ministry of Health, including
the washing of hands and
checking of temperatures.
Polls to go ahead
Anderson also disclosed that
last Novembers polls, which
were called-off due to the
escalation of Ebola, will take
place during a congress at the
Sports Commission on Broad
Street on January 28.
He said congress will elect an
electoral committee, which
will be chaired by the sports
ministry and co-chaired by
the Liberia National Olympic
Committee with the Sports
Writers Association of Liberia
as member.
Anderson said application
period for candidates ended
on January 20 and only current
executive committee members
(ECMs) and active club
presidents, in good financial
standing with the LBA, shall
have the right to vote and stand
in the elections in keeping with
article 13 section three.
He said the positions of
president, vice president for
administration and operations;
treasurer, financial secretary
and chaplain will be declared
vacant at the congress.
Fee and other guidelines
Those wishing to be president
will pay US$500 as application
fee while candidates for either
of the two vice presidents
positions will pay US$400
respectively.
Candidates for the positions
of treasurer and financial
secretary will pay US$300
while US$200 will be charged
for the chaplains position.
The preliminary roster of
qualified candidates and voters
will be placed on the LBAs
bulletin board on January 21.
All claim(s) or challenge(s)
against the published roster
must be made in writing to the
secretariat between 10:00AM
to 3:00PM from January 2123 as the final roster will be
published on January 24.
Those who have completed
their registration can campaign

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

EBOLA BAN LIFTED

Liberia Basketball Association to Resume Activities Soon
Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

but campaign activities end a

day to the election.
Presidents or ECMs with more
than a club shall be allowed to
cast only one vote.
However, his/her designee
(vice president or secretarygeneral listed on the LBA
teams roster) with a valid
communication from said
president or ECM on or before
January 20 and verified by the

secretariat, shall be permitted

to vote for his/her club.
Preliminary lists
Those qualified to vote or
contest from the first division
are Mighty Barrolle (Julia
Duncan-Cassell), LPRC Oilers
(James Jappeh), NPA Pythons
(Cyrus Wright), Bardnersville
Celtics (Robert Payne) and
Timberwolves (Tobias Bowen).
Others are Commissioners

(Dennis K. Hubbard, Jr.),

Cestos Mogars (Malcolm
Wleemongar
Joseph),
Dream Team II (Washington
Jimmyson) and Flames (Calvin
Diggs).
Those who were given the
green light to vote or contest
from the second division
are Georgia Blazers (Musa
L. Kamara), Heats (Samuel
Nyeh), Du-Runners (Henry

Browne), Supreme Brothers

(Borbor Teah Weah) and
Harbel Pointers (Comfort
Sirleaf).
The rest are Uhuru Prince
(Solomon C. George), Bushrod
Bulls (Sarlus Bing), Kardinals
(Amos Yelue), Sac Base
(Dennis K. Hubbard, Sr.),
FUBBA (Lawrence A. Flomo)
and Deviers (Isaac Zubah
Cole).

Female clubs and their

presidents were qualified to vote
or contestare K-Delta (Bonar
Kerkula), C-Delta (Johnette
Leaman),
Timberwolves
(Tobias Bowen), Phoenix
(Sekou Kromah), Destiny
Queens (Julius C. Lewis, Jr.),
Commissioners (Josephine S.
M. Hubbard), Supreme Sisters
(Romell Watson) and Angel
Shooters (Vanii Baker).
Fourteen third division clubs
have been cleared although
their league suffered a force
majeure.
They are Destiny Kings
(Julius Lewis), Star One
(Myers
Hinneh),
Island
Clippers (Samuel Bing), Bong
Shooters (Jean Murray), Island
Claves (Stephen N. Tugbeh),
Buchanan Braves (Milton
Quaye) and Harbel Tappers
(Vincent S. T. Willie).
Others are Mamba Point
Legends
(Abdallah
M.
Housseini),
Cape
Mount
Wizards (Elizabeth S. B.
Corneh), Fire (McDonald
Marshall), Ben Curser Pioneers
(Samuel L. Nugba), HISSO
(Abigail Freeman), Invincible
Invaders (Teddy Swaray)
and Junior Rookies (Tristen
Varflay).
It remains to be seen whether
there will be objections to
FUBBA and Deviers, who
were expelled from last years
league due to double forfeiture.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Sports

Frontpage

RONALDO: MESSI & I

INSPIRE EACH OTHER

eal Madrid star

Cristiano Ronaldo
believes that he and
Lionel Messi are
motivated by the long-standing
rivalry they have shared.
The 29-year-old and the
Barcelona star have won every
Ballon d'Or between them
since 2008, with the Portugal
international claiming his third
last week to close in on the
Argentine's tally of four.
Ronaldo believes that their
duopoly on football's biggest
individual award is a good
thing and feels they inspire
their rivals to try harder to
close the gap.
"Im sure that the competition
between us is a motivating
factor for him too," he is quoted
as saying by AS.
"Its good for me, for him and
for other players who are keen
to grow. Messi has four Ballon
d'Or awards, I have three. This
is all good for the world of
football."
Ronaldo went on to say that
he is currently working on
improving his set pieces,
having been less successful
from dead ball situations of
late.
"Im currently trying to

SIMEONE: THIS IS
THE BEST BARCA OF
RECENT TIMES

tletico
Madrid
coach
Diego
Simeone believes
that his side will
be coming up against the "best
Barcelona in recent times" on
Wednesday.
The Catalans' form under new
coach Luis Enrique has been
criticised this season but,
following a 1-0 loss to Real
Sociedad at the turn of the year,
have discovered their winning
touch, most notably when
they beat the champions 3-1 at
Camp Nou nine days ago.
They meet again in the Copa
del Rey this week and Simeone
is hoping for a fast start to
silence the Catalans.

WALCOTT: HENRY &

BERGKAMP? ARSENAL
ARE EVEN STRONGER NOW

improve my left foot, my

acceleration and my direct
free-kicks.
"Ive not had a great deal of
success recently with them. I

know that it will come back.

Its just a question of having
enough humility to know that
without training hard, things
wont progress.

"Working on my game is my
guide. If Im able to play more
than 60 games per season, its
because I look after myself. I
sleep well, I eat well.

The Frenchman believes that the award ceremony is badly timed for clubs
and feels that team issues should come before individual "flattery"

SPORTS

The Portugal star believes he and his rival serve as inspiration to footballers
around the world and inspire each other to search for perfection

"In these ways I look for

perfection too. If not, one cant
keep this rhythm of playing
up."

BLANC: I DON'T LIKE THE BALLON D'OR

aris Saint-Germain
boss Laurent Blanc
has said he has a
low opinion of the

Page 15

Ballon d'Or after Thiago

Silva and David Luiz were
not present at the ceremony
to be recognised for their

election into the FIFPro Team

of the Year 2014.
The
former
France
international believes that

award ceremonies are timed

badly for the footballing
schedule and feels that team
matters should be prioritised
over individual accolades.
"I have a negative opinion [of
the Ballon d'Or], as I did for
[Zlatan] Ibrahimovic's Best
Swedish Player trophy," he
told reporters.
"These are very flattering
personal distinctions but
they are poorly placed in the
calendar. I have not discussed
it with the president but I
think he shares my opinion."
PSG host Bordeaux in the
Coupe de France round of
32 on Wednesday and Blanc
insists that his side will
do their utmost to win the
competition despite, their
commitments in Ligue 1, the
Coupe de la Ligue and the
Champions League.
"PSG's problem is similar to
those of every big club: we
want to win everything. It's

hard to win everything.

"PSG must win every match
and play a beautiful style,
that's why it's important
to have a big squad at our
disposal. We want to try to
win everything but we'll have
to make choices."
Blanc has been roundly
criticised for his side's form
this term but insists that he
does not pay any attention to
positive or negative press.
"I don't read the newspapers. I
won't respond to the criticism.
I try to do my job and that's
the most important. I don't
listen to everything the media
say because I'd lose a lot of
time. I'm a coach and I try to
do my job."
Blanc is also undecided as to
whether Ibrahimovic will be
fit to face Bordeaux, saying
that the Swede's fitness must
be looked after carefully.
"He needs competition but
he'll also need to have a rest.
We will think about that. He
has no more pain in his heel,
no more discomfort."

heo Walcott believes

Arsenal have stronger
attacking options at
their disposal now
than when he first arrived at the
club in 2006.
Walcott joined a squad which
included Thierry Henry, Robert
Pires, Freddie Ljungberg and
Dennis Bergkamp, but rates the
current crop including Danny
Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez as
being a stronger unit.
Walcott says the pressure is
on Arsene Wenger's side to
win more trophies in order to
be classed among the finest
attackers to play for the club.
"Danny is a workaholic - he
runs around and really works
for the team," he told the
club's official website. "There
are so many options and Alex
[Oxlade-Chamberlain] is also
doing very well.

RECOVERY GOING TO
PLAN, SAYS LAHM

ayern
Munich
captain Philipp Lahm
says his recovery
from an ankle injury
is progressing as scheduled.
The former Germany star picked
up an ankle injury in training
in November and underwent
surgery. He was initially ruled
out for three months.
However, he is no longer in
a splint or using crutches and
can use and exercise bike
following a course of intensive
physiotherapy.
"It's all going to plan," the
31-year-old
told
Bayern's
official website.
"I'm going really well. It feels
great to be rid of the crutches
and in a position to go for it
again."

Page 8a
16 | Frontpage
Buchanan,
Grand
Bassa
County he rationale behind
a local content act
continues to justify
the
increasing
importance for small domestic
and medium size enterprises
(SMEs) to ensure Liberians
control
their
countrys
economy. With the performance
of several Liberian Businesses
across the country in recent
years, it is becoming more
demanding for the National
Investment Commission (NIC)
to intensify its local content
policy initiative.
The policy which was launched
in 2014 by the NIC is expected
to provide more opportunities
for SMEs like the Fair Play
Construction and Business
Services based in the port city
of Buchanan.
Started2006 as a cement
retailer and later entered into
block making, Fair Play has
established its integrity as one
of the leading local construction
firms in Grand Bassa County,
thanks to several successful
contracts it has implemented
for steel giant, ArcelolMittal
Liberia.
Operating as a 100% Liberian
business, the CEO of the firm
said the decision to transform
the business into a construction
firm generated from the number
of customers they had and the
commitment they showed in
rendering services to clients.
Over the time when we saw
that there were need to establish
a
construction
company
because at that time we stated
having a lot of potency, so
we decided to get our article
of incorporation and since then
weve come this far, Matthew
Joe, CEO of the Fair Play
Construction and Business
Services told FrontPage Africa
in a recent interview.
Despite
the
challenges,
Liberian
businesses
face
in acquiring contracts and
sustaining efficiency while
providing services, Fair Play
says progress has come by often
due to the level of comment it
shows to clients in executing
contracts. Mr. Joe is confident
that Liberian business do not
need massive international
shareholders before making a
breakthrough.
Business
is
all
about
commitment and determination
if you want your business
to progress and serve as an
example for many other grass
root Liberian business, he
advised.
NICs local content policy is
intended to address the market
for Liberian products and
services, which are presumed
to be the missing element in
the countrys national policy
for domestic businesses and
with the reputation of Liberian
business like Fair Play and the
progress they have made over
the last couple of years, the
policy may make more impact
on the entire Liberian business
sector.
But with contention often
raised about Liberian business
capability of acquiring huge
loans from commercial banks
in other to pre-finance big
contracts, Mr. Joe argues that

PAGE
RONT

COUNTY NEWS

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

LOCAL CONTENT

HOW A BUCHANAN BASED CONSTRUCTION FIRM IS EXCELLING AGAINST THE ODDS

ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, daffae82@gmail.com

the poor performances of

Liberian businesses in the past
in paying back loans is hurting
current businesses who are

from several loan schemes

introduced by the Central Bank
of Liberia (CBL).
He
advised
Liberian

now committed and prepared

to change the perception. He
said to win a bid now means
your firm has to be able to prefinance a project, something he
said his firm can boastful of.
These days when you received
contracts, clients request that
you pre-finance, so these days
when clients give you the
contract they request that you
either pre-finance the contract
50% or 100% and your firm
must be efficient, he said.
It is true Liberian businesses
in the past time had not been
fair base on that we (firms)
that are in the business now are
suffering, he added.
Also aware of the challenges
SMEs face in acquiring
loans from the bank, the Fair
Play boss who is also the
Coordinator of the Liberia
Business Association (LIBA),
Grand Bassa Chapter, revealed
that his business has benefited

entrepreneurs to always have

a plan before applying for
loan which according to him
motivates LIBA to help acquire
the loan for the business.
Both LIBA and the CBL have
over the past couple of years
praised Liberian businesses
including SMEs for paying
loans on time.
But with evidence that the
future of many of these local
business heavily depends on
the effective implementation of
the Liberalization policy which
also relates to the local content
policy, firms like Fair Play are
modeling a system that many
other SMEs can replicate.
Since 2010, the company has
employed over 50 persons
and currently awards contracts
to 150 persons both in
Buchanan and Yekepa, Nimba
County where they are also
implementing several projects
for ArcelolMittal Liberia.

ArcelolMittal remains the

firms main client but it has
also implemented for foreign
companies like UMARCO,
CHICO,
AFCONS
and
Mahathai Liberia, Inc. amongst
several
other
companies
operating in Grand Bassa
County.
Fair Play has since 2010
implement several projects
for Mittal, putting projects
like pedestrians walkway,
warehouse and the fencing
of the concession area in
Buchanan, as its successes.
Based upon our commitment,
Mittal steel has interest in us so
much that whenever they have
contract we are always allow to
be one of the bidders and when
we bid we often bid within the
confine of their budget, the
Fair Play boss disclosed.
With 2014 already gone,
Fair Play Construction and

Business Services is gearing
up to showcase its appreciation
for its clients, workers
and others in the business
sector. Fair Play announced
during the week that it will
appreciate mainly its clients

for maintaining confidence in

Liberian businesses.
This is intended to appreciate
our clients for being willing
over the time for empowering
Liberian local contractor. They
have been Suring commitment
to the Liberalization law,
the firm said in a statement
released recently.
The local content policy
initiative is expected to
facilitate the formation of links,
extend and expand present
programs between foreign
and domestic enterprises in
the country, which is expected
to make the SMEs more
sustainable.
With the level of progress Fair
Play and several other Liberian
businesses
have
shown
especially in paying back loan
and effectively implementing
projects,
many
Liberians
supporting the local content
policy or act are demanding
more implementation from the
government.
Last year during the nationwide
consultation organized by the
House of Representatives on
the draft petroleum law, many

Liberians in Grand Bassa

highlighted local content as
their main concern with many
calling for local businesses to
completely provide technical
of hospitality services.
With international oil company
like Chevron seem prepare to
carryout massive activities in
Buchanan due to the presence
of a lay-down yard close
the Buchanan sea port, the
expectation is now high for
Liberian businesses to be given
priority.
The five main areas of the
policy includes oil and gas,
mining, agriculture, forestry
and infrastructure and NIC
has assured that with the local
content policy effective, small
businesses in the country will
be given priority.
Liberias
Investment
commission sees the aspiration
of the local content policy as
the beginning of enacting a
local content law, which will
require concessionaires and
foreign companies, to develop
domestic production and local
human capital and to promote
comprehensive growth.

FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com

Sports

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015

VOL 9 NO.13

AFCON 2015: COTE D'IVOIRE 1-1 GUINEA:

GUINEA
LEVELS
I.
COAST
Doumbia equalizer spares Gervinho blushes

he Roma forward was set off for an offball incident when his side were 1-0
down but the CSKA Moscow striker
rose from the bench to rescue a point
Seydou Doumbia rose from the bench to rescue a
1-1 draw for Cote d'Ivoire against Guinea, despite
Gervinho's earlier red card.
Despite Herve Renard's men boasting a
formidable attacking line-up including Wilfried
Bony, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Toure and Gervinho,

Guinea had led through Mohammed Yattara's

first-half strike.
The Lyon striker made the most of sloppy Ivorian
defending to finish and, when Gervinho was sent
off for lashing out at Naby Keita before the hour,
all signs were pointing to a huge upset in Group
D's first fixture.
Guinea's Ibrahima Traore then hit the bar in
a further scare for the Ivory Coast, who have
often flattered to deceive in recent editions of the

AFCON given the huge amount of quality at their

disposal.
However, their class came to the fore as Bony
played in substitute Doumbia to calmly tuck away
the equaliser 18 minutes from time, although
questions will likely still be asked of Renard
following an under-par Ivorian showing.
Chances were few and far between early on as
Guinea were able to snuff out an early opening
created by Gervinho for Yaya Toure.

PRICE L$40
The Roma forward was among
the brightest sparks for the Ivory
Coast in the opening stages and
forced the game's first chance collecting the ball on the halfway
line and surging forward before
crossing for Bony.
The new Manchester City
signing saw his effort saved by
Naby Yattara, with the Guinea
goalkeeper able to tip Gervinho's
effort on the rebound onto the
post and away from danger.
Kalou then infuriated Guineas
defenders with what they felt
was a dive in the area - any halfhearted penalty appeals swiftly
waved away by referee Mehdi
Abid Charef.
However, against the run of
play, Guinea took the lead as
Mohamed Yattara made the most
of a loose Serge Aurier clearance
nine minutes before the break.
On the turn, he unleashed a fierce
left-footed strike past Sylvain
Gbohouo while his namesake
Naby was required to tip over a
long-range Bony strike early in
the second half.
Ivorian skipper Yaya Toure was
next to go close - firing wide
from the edge of the area - but
Renard's men appeared lacklustre
and were not allowed to generate
any tempo by a busy Guinea
outfit.
And their hopes of getting
anything from the game were
dealt a huge blow when Gervinho
saw red card for an off-the-ball
incident with Keita - leaving the
pitch visibly upset by his actions.
However, substitute Doumbia
made his case for assuming
Gervinho's place against Mali on
Saturday as he rescued a point
with 18 minutes remaining making the most of Bony's clever
lay-off to level and avoid what
would have been a real shock.

VISIT UNCLE ZEH'S LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SERVICE ON

CROWN HILL, BROAD STREET WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST

CALL: 0775 149 376, 0775 149 161