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P0LITICS News Extra
VOL 8 NO.643
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of
the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The
rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials
banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source:
Research, Policy and Planning Department,
Central Bank Liberia,
Monrovia, Liberia
WEDNESDAY, JULY16, 2014 L$91.00/US$1 L$92.00/US$1
BUYING SELLING
L$85.00/US$1 L$86.00/US$1
L$86.00/US$1 L$85.00/US$1
TUESDAY, JULY22, 2014
WEDNESDAY, JULY23, 2014
News Extra pg.6
Chris Neyor Unveils Nine-year Political
Platform, Says Retreat Was Tactical
BACK IN
THE RACE
MAN SETS LIBERIAS HEALTH MINISTRY BUILDING
ABLAZE; SAYS RELATIVE DIED OF DEADLY VIRUS
I came out I saw a group of people standing over a young man, whom
they say confessed that he started the fre because a relative of his died
of Ebola and nobody paid attention to him, thats all I know. Dr. Walter
Gwenigale, Minister of Health & Social Welfare
NEW AIRPORT
IN THE WORKS
FOR LIBERIA
Expression of Interest,
Preparations underway as Board
management Makes bold play
EBOLA VENGEANCE
Page 2 |
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Rodney D.Sieh, [email protected]
On April 30, 2012, after the conviction of former President Charles Taylor, in a Foreign Policy
Magazine interview entitled What Lies Beneath, Stephen J. Rapp took a swipe at the Ellen
Johnson Sirleafs Government. He said of the Liberian government: They're not going down
the justice route, that's obvious. It still has to work through this process because obviously
people involved in the crimes other than Charles Taylor still have to answer for those crimes.
Much Ado About The List: Pandemonium Follows U.S. Visa Cancellation
Monrovia
A
t the completion of the Truth and Reconciliation process
in June 2009, it was recommended that the government
of Liberia adopt measures for lustration and vetting
to ensure that individuals personally responsible
for violations of human rights do not serve as state offcials or
employees in the post-war government. Such measures must
include due process protections for those individuals, the fndings
noted.
The TRC was a result of the Comprehensive Accra Peace Accor
(CPA) that put an end to the 14 years civil confict in Liberia.
But long before the make-up of the commission set up to prepare the
report, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf trumpeted a similar refrain
when she pledged that all prospective government offcials' human
rights records, competence and integrity would be thoroughly
vetted and that no one will work in her government who does not
have a clean record.
This week, Monrovia is rattled amid reports that two senior
government offcials, Associate Justice Kabineh Janeh and Youth
& Sports Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe were denied entry into the
United States of America after their visas issued in Monrovia were
cancelled on orders of the U.S. Homeland Security en route or
upon entry into the U.S.
The cancellation is sparking concerns among current and former
offcials, especially those suggested for sanctions and prosecution
in the TRC report regarding Economic Crimes and war crimes.
Others currently on the U.S. Treasury Department listing and
Internal Revenue Service are also on edge. But should anyone be?
The U.S. is said to be keeping tabs on the implementation of the
Truth and Reconciliation Commissions fndings as has the United
Nations whose representative in Liberia, Karen Lundgren has been
making a case for the government to implement the fndings.
Diplomatic sources have confded to FrontPageAfrica that it is
more than likely that an offcial list may not be made public but that
those already cited on key U.S. agencies like the Offce of Foreign
Assets Control (OFAC), an agency of the U.S. Department of
Treasury under the auspices of the Under Secretary of the Treasury
for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence and the Department of
Homeland Security could fnd themselves on either or both.
The OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions
based on U.S. Foreign and national security goals against targeted
foreign states, organizations, and individuals. In recent years, the
OFAC has been keenly monitoring offcials of the former Liberian
regime of Charles Taylor.
The U.S. President periodically issues Executive Order 13348
(E.O. 13348) (Blocking Property of Certain Persons and
Prohibiting the Importation of Certain Goods from Liberia).
The President issued E.O. 13348 to deal with the unusual and
extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States
posed by the actions and policies of former Liberian President
Charles Taylor and other persons.
The United States Government has multiple laws and multiple
institutions dealing with various crimes committed by foreigners
and Americans abroad. There is the Patriot Act, the Sarbanes Oxley
Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Anti-Bribery Act, Dobb-Frank
and the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), etc. All of these laws require
implementation from multi-federal agencies, at working in concert
and other times acting independently.
Under the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is among of a select agencies
dealing with global crimes. DHS deals with people who tell a lie
on Visa/Green card/Citizenship applications as in the recent case
of Jucontee Thomas Woewiyu who was accused of lying on his
citizenship application. Under the Department of Treasury, the
Offce of Foreign Asset Control handles global crimes, and creates
a list of persons who are barred from entering America and who
assets are to be frozen. The Foreign Asset Control list was the
preeminent list that barred several members of Charles Taylor
cabinet from traveling to USA and also ordered their assets frozen
in USA and abroad.
In 1997, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright created
the Offce of Global Criminal Justice in the Department of
State in order to bring focus in American foreign policy to the
twin imperatives of enabling the prevention of, and ensuring
accountability for, atrocities around the world. The Offce is
also responsible for implementing the part of the U.S. Rewards
for Justice program that provides rewards to people who provide
information leading to the capture and conviction of indicted war
criminals.
In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Stephen J. Rapp to
head the Offce of Global Criminal Justice, a man with extensive
experience dealing with war crime issues in Sierra Leone and who
is reportedly responsible for the indictment, arrest and prosecution
of former Liberian President Charles Taylor.
Although the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has several
provisions to deal with Americans and Green Card holders living
abroad, in most recent years it is using its Report of Foreign Bank
and Financial Accounts (FBAR) provision to track down people.
On the IRS website, it says if you have a fnancial interest in or
signature authority over a foreign fnancial account, including a
bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, trust, or other type of
foreign fnancial account, exceeding certain thresholds ($10,000),
the Bank Secrecy Act may require you to report the account yearly
to the Internal Revenue Service by fling electronically a Financial
Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Form 114, Report of
Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).
Essentially, as FrontPageAfrica has learned, a typical Government
offcial could fnd him or herself on a single list or multiple lists. The
biggest challenge for the Liberian Government and other countries
have been to determine which agency of the US Governments list
is the highest, since an offcial could be removed from one list but
still fnd himself stuck on another list, resulting still in denial of
entry to the USA. A U.S. Government source explained that the
reason for the multiple lists is because of various laws and also
to ensure effective check and balances within the system, so as to
avoid infuence peddling.
But Diplomatic sources tell FrontPageAfrica that whatever listing
the U.S. may be going by could have its foundation in existing
reports of the TRC and the U.S. Treasury Department.
The fndings of the TRC has made it clear that the government of
Liberia must ensure that individuals responsible for serious crimes
under international law are prosecuted, considering both new and
existing prosecution mechanisms to give effect to this obligation.
The government should consider authorizing a special court, in
consultation with civil society and the international community, to
prosecute serious violations of law. Alternatively, or in addition,
the government may consider pursuing international and regional
mechanisms, as well as national courts in other jurisdictions, for
prosecution.
The TRC report also recommends that the government guarantees
anyone accused of a crime competent legal counsel and due process
in accordance with international legal standards. All prosecutions
should be carried out in a fair and impartial manner that protects
the due process rights of the accused. The government of Liberia
must ensure that any grants of amnesty do not beneft perpetrators
of serious crimes under international law or prejudice victims
right to reparation or right to the truth.
Regarding corruption, the fndings presses the government to
take measures to combat corruption across all sectors. The
U.N. Convention against Corruption and the AU Convention
on Preventing and Combating Corruption provide a guiding
framework. The government should criminalize and prosecute
acts of bribery, embezzlement and misappropriation, abuse of
functions, laundering criminal proceeds, and obstruction of justice.
The government should provide adequate resources, fnancial
support, and political will to the Anti-Corruption Commission. The
government of Liberia should adopt and affrmatively implement
and enforce hiring policies based on merit and not infuenced by
nepotism based on family, tribal or personal connections. The
government should likewise develop and fund an independent
complaint and enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with
such policies.
Many of the Sirleaf administrations critics have taken the
administration to task for not implementing the TRC fndings.
Supporters of the government have however countered that the
fndings were political. Members of the commission have all gone
their separate ways, divided from the Executive amid differences
over the fndings which included a list of individuals recommended
to be barred from holding public offce for thirty years (including
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf).
In more recent years, that rhetoric has softened. Vice President
Joseph Boakai recently, surprised many when he made a strong
case for the TRC fndings to be implemented in order to resolve
problems facing the country. But while many agree with the
reports fndings that virtually all factions to the Liberian confict
are responsible for abuses, including war crimes and crimes against
humanity, many argue that going after those responsible could
cause serious repercussions for Liberia.
In contrast, others argue that similar bodies in Sierra Leone, Rwanda,
South Africa and the Ivory Coast are undertaking measures against
impunity with tribunals bringing to book those responsible for the
war, and are going on well without any of the repercussions some
Liberians are arguing could erupt should an aggressive tribunal
dedicated to war crimes be enforced and implemented in Liberia.
All the major players in the Sierra Leone civil war were indicted
and prosecuted in that nations war crime court and Sierra Leone is
hailed by the US as a well performing country, with Sierra Leones
current President being amongst fve African Presidents invited by
President Obama in 2013 to showcase success stories in Africa.
The absence of a tribunal, political observers say, could allow a
lot of the issues that caused the war to go war unchecked. The
TRC advised for the establishment of an Extraordinary Criminal
Tribunal for Liberia and named individuals, corporations and
institutions recommended for prosecution or, in some cases, for
further investigation.
With so many concerns spiraling over a purported list, many
including those in the Sirleaf administration making regular trips
to the U.S. fear that they could be similarly embarrassed over an
issue diplomatic observers, say, is above the head of the embassy
in Monrovia.
Government sources say President Sirleaf intends to bring the issue
up with the Department of Homeland Security when she travels to
Washington for U.S. President Barack Obamas upcoming U.S.-
Africa Leaders Summit slated for August 4-6. The meeting will
bring together about 47 heads of state and 100 ministers from
across Africa.
The State Department stated that, prior to his appointment,
Ambassador Rapp served as Prosecutor of the Special Court for
Sierra Leone beginning in January 2007, responsible for leading
the prosecutions of former Liberian President Charles Taylor and
other persons alleged to bear the greatest responsibility for the
atrocities committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone.
On April 30, 2012, after the conviction of former President Charles
Taylor, in a Foreign Policy Magazine interview entitled What
Lies Beneath, Stephen J. Rapp took a swipe at the Ellen Johnson
Sirleafs Government. He said of the Liberian government:
They're not going down the justice route, that's obvious. It still has
to work through this process because obviously people involved in
the crimes other than Charles Taylor still have to answer for those
crimes.
Some have argued that instead of the President of Liberia trying
to speak with the Department of Homeland Security, she could do
well and start an honest discussion with Stephen J. Rapp on the
issues of war and economic crimes, as Mr. Rapp seems to be key
player in booking Government offcials traveling on U.S. visas.
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014 Page 3
Elder Siahyonkron Nyanseor, Contributing Writer
MANY DISASTERS CAN BE AVOIDED
IF WE OBEY GOD AND DO GOOD
FrontPage
Commentary
COMMENTARY
T
he world we live in is full of many surprises and misfortunes;
some are temporary, while others are avoidable; but most of them
I believe are caused by mans disobedience to God. It is regarding
this, I am sharing my recent encounters with you.
As Griot and writer, there is something within us that compel us to tell our
stories and the stories of others. You see, life too, is a story! Once you come
into this world your story begins. We who tell stories do so in order to pass
on our experiences so that others may learn from them. A good example is
the story and the warrior told by Dr. Philip Emeagwali.
When Philip Emeagwali was ten years old, living in Africa, his father posed
the following question to him:
"The story or the warrior, which is mightier?"
"The warrior!" Philip replied."
His father shook his head in disagreement.
"The story. The story is mightier than the warrior," his father said to him.
"How can that be?" Philip asked his father.
"The story lives on long after the warrior has died," his father explained.
(Culled from a keynote lecture by Dr. Philip Emeagwali on February 17,
2003 - Black History Month at Arizona State University, West Phoenix,
Arizona).
This is the reason in Africa Griot recites stories and writers write stories;
especially, those that contained human interests.
My journey away from Lawrenceville, Georgia
I was away from home for almost one month. My travel took me to Silver
Spring, Maryland to the funeral of my cousin, the late Rev. Dr. Blamo
Benedict Nyentue Seekie. While in the DC Metropolitan area, I was hosted
by my friend, Kcabeh Charles Walker of Woodbridge, Virginia. After the
funeral, I went on to my old home town, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to visit
family members and to reconnect with an old college (Temple University)
interest and her family.
My visit to Philadelphia was like a homecoming. I visited my cousin Martha
and her husband Leroy Freeman in Willingboro, New Jersey; also while in
Willingboro, I paid a surprise visit to my cousin Amos and Gloria Williams
who were having their daughter and sons graduation party. The daughter
graduated from high school and the son from college. Amos senior brother,
Samuel Williams, Jr. was in attendance with his two daughters and son, all
of whom are medical doctors. Also, I met old friends and acquaintances that
I have not seen in years. I had a good time; the trip was worth it!
On my return trip to Georgia, I met up with all sorts of misfortunes, some
I caused, others by miscommunication. First, I mistakenly left my phone
charger at my friend George Nubos apartment where I spent one night.
Without the phone charger I was unable to make my usual phone calls to my
family members and friends.
Worse of all, my trip back to Georgia was delayed for several days. The
Amtrak train that I had to take to Atlanta left me due to a miscommunication
between the Red Cap (attendant that assists passengers) and me. My train
number was 99; the Red Cap thought I said number 17; as the result, the train
left without me. The Amtrak trains coming to Atlanta the next day were all
booked; I had to wait the following day. Similar thing happened to me the
following day. My reservation was for train number 129; another Red Cap
put my baggage on train number 97 instead of 129, I got on only to realize it
was the wrong train. I had to get out at the next stop, which was the Camden,
New Jersey station. I had to wait on the next train going to Washington,
DC. The next train was 93, and it was not due until one hour and thirty
minutes. Train 93 arrived at the station at 7:20 PM; and within 5 minutes we
departed, I was praying to make my connecting bus that was due to leave the
Washington, DC Union Station at 9:00 PM. When we arrived at the station,
the bus has just left for Atlanta.
I called my friend Kcabeh to come get from the Union Station. He was at
work so he directed me how to take the METRO (train system like MARTA
in Atlanta) train to the Springfeld Station, which was close to where he lives
- Woodbridge, Virginia. I made it there around few minutes to midnight;
then I called him to pick me up. He was about twenty minutes away from the
station, but on his way to get me, he ran into heavy traffc on I 95 North
due to road construction some lines were closed. It took him almost two
hours. When we fnally got to his residence, it was 2:00 AM Wednesday, July
9, 2014. At 10:00 AM, I made my reservation on OneBusExpress leaving for
Decatur, Georgia, which was due to depart at 11:55 PM on Thursday, July
10, 2014 and to arrive in Georgia at 12 midnight the next day, Friday, July
11, 2014.
OneBusExpress does not stop in Virginia nor Washington, DC; the nearest
location to board the bus from where I was stopping with my friend was
Maryland Welcome Center off I - 95 Exit 34B. From Woodbridge, Virginia
to Maryland Welcome Center is one hour and ffteen minutes. We drove to
the Maryland Welcome Center at 10:30 PM; waited for the bus to arrive
and depart for Georgia at 11:55 PM. The bus was delayed; it did not come
on time. Having waited up to 12:20 AM, Kcabeh and another friend of his
that rode with us decided we could no longer wait; we got on our way back
to Woodbridge, Virginia. While on our way back, I received a call from the
bus driver at 12:56 AM, informing me that the bus was about to depart, if
I was still going with the bus to Georgia. You can imagine how I felt; but I
was polite. I told the bus driver that in the frst place they did not follow their
twenty minutes call policy prior to departure, and that it was impossible for
me to return from Virginia to board the bus.
By this time I was running low on funds. I did not receive credit (refund) for
the bus fare I had paid. On the morning of Friday, July 11, 2014, I proceeded
to search for bus to return to Atlanta. I could not fnd space on any of the
buses going to Atlanta on Saturday (12th), Sunday (13th) and Monday
(14th). I was able to get a reservation on the Mega Bus for Tuesday, July
14, 2014 that was scheduled to depart from Washington, DC Union Station
at 9:00 AM.
During all of this time, my host, Kcabeh provided me with the best hospitality
one could ever receive in situation like mine. His warm accommodation
allowed me to watch the World Cup at the home of his brother Alfred; read,
refected and to write this essay. Kcabeh is more than a good friend he is a
decent and caring human being. Not too many of them are around today! Ill
pray for God to richly bless him.
Back to my trip to Atlanta
Due to the heavy volume morning traffc in the Washington, DC Metropolitan
area, Kcabeh decided to for us to leave that Tuesday morning (July 14, 2014)
to the Union Station for my scheduled 9:00 AM departure on the Mega Bus
for Atlanta. We left his home at 5:30 AM; he drove me to the closest METRO
train station to the train to the Union Station. This was a smart decision! I
made all the right connections, and I arrived at the Union Station at 7:30
AM. While getting off the train with my luggage, I felt weak almost passed
out; at time a lady I referred to as my God sent Good Samaritan (Elizabeth
Schrelber) came from nowhere, held my hand and offered to help me. This
lady was on her way to work at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). I was so
weak, she assisted me to sit on the pavement while she called for assistance.
I lied down on the pavement, and in minutes all the right persons were
attending to me, which included local paramedics that took me out of the
station into their ambulance. Also, a fre truck was standing by.
In the ambulance, they performed on what they usually do in cases like this,
which involved, taking pulse, blood pressure, monitor heart rate, etc. it was
then I was told my irregular heart rate, and I had to go to the nearest hospital.
By then, I was feeling much better. So I decided against going to the hospital
in Washington DC to board the Mega Bus that had to depart in one hour. I had
to sign a release form, witnessed by police man. I was released and headed
to bus depot to board my bus to Atlanta. On my way I was praying in my
heart to my LORD to make it to Atlanta with any problem. God answered my
prayers, I arrived in Atlanta at 10:15 PM, July 15, 2014 the MARTA Civic
Center train station, where the Mega Bus use as its destination in Atlanta.
I kept my promise to God
In my prayers I promised God that if I got to Atlanta, I will go to the
Emergency Room to seek medical attention, which I did. I called my Senior
Pastor, Bill Harris that I was at the MARTA Civic Center train station off
Peachtree Street. He came, and took me to the Eastside Hospital in Gwinnett
County. We arrived at the hospital at 11:45 PM. We were at the hospital from
11:45 PM to 6:00 AM Wednesday when I was discharged. I received a clean
bill of health. Praise the Lord!
Pastor Harris usually says, When life gave you lemon, make lemonade
In most cases when individuals fnd themselves in a situation like the one
I found myself; it is the tendency for the person to get very angry and
frustrated this is the wrong way to go about these things. This brings to
mind a story I heard some time ago:
A man was travelling out of the country (America) to make a presentation
to a group of businessmen in China. On his way to the Hartfeld/Jackson
International Airport, he got caught in heavy Friday evening traffc. When
he got to the airport, the plane had just taken off. He got so angry to the point
that he and the airline staff got into a squabble. The airport securities had to
intervene.
Afterwards, he then left the airport to drive back home; while on his way,
he turned on the radio in his car; then there came a fash news bulletin that
said Plane Crash! Plane Crash! The announcer went on to say, Flight
#787 (made up fight number) that just took off from the Hartfeld/Jackson
International Airport crashed in midair; there appeared to be no survival.
This was the same fight that the gentleman who had the altercation with the
airline staff was to be on. Upon hearing the news, he brought his automobile
to a stop; packed it on the side of the interstate, prayed and headed back to
the airport to apologize for his inappropriate behavior towards the airline
staff. From there on, he promised never again to behave in such a manner.
Some times when things like this happened to us, it is God that is intervening
on our behalf. Therefore, make the best of it! What appears to be a disaster
for me, I used it to pray, read and refect on the mess we fnd ourselves in
today in this troubled world.
Now, this brings me to the main point of my essay.
The consequences of our disobedience to God
Like the children of Israel in the Bible who disobeyed God, mankind
today are doing the same; creating problems for themselves by refusing in
every way possible to disobey Gods Ten Commandments. Based on this
observation, it is my honest belief that most of the catastrophes we have
experienced; those that we are experiencing now, and others that are in the
waiting are direct results of mans refusal to obey God. It is that simple!
Luke 21:31 tells us that When you see these things happening, know that
the kingdom of God is near. There are too many disasters, tragedies and
upheavals for this not to be true! Around the globe, there are wars raging;
famines devastating entire countries, environmental catastrophes and natural
disasters such as earthquakes, droughts and foods killing thousands of
people; reducing citizens to abject poverty; and there are violent crimes on
the increase in spite of mans best efforts to address them.
What is most disheartening is the fact that religion we used to look for
solutions is often a part of the problem. Today around the globe, wars
and armed conficts are started by religious sects over whose belief
(interpretation or doctrine) is correct. The same can be said about the United
Nations Security Council, and the Electorate College System in American
democracy. In addition, the way powerful nations and oppressed people
or religious extremists resolved conficts, is the wrong way to resolve
conficts. Classic examples are: Regime Change, Collateral Damage,
Ethnic Cleansing, Terrorism, etc. These approaches in solving the world
major problems have removed God from the equation and makes mockery
of what justice should be. As it tis now, these practices were put in place to
perpetuate and sustain the permanent interest of a few or a group to remain
in control of the worlds resources and people. This is an abomination that is
in violation to Gods plan for humanity.
v
EDITORIAL
SHORTLY AFTER HER election as the first woman to head an
African nation, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf made a solemn
pledge that all prospective government officials' human rights
records, competence and integrity would be thoroughly vetted
and that no one will work in her government does not have a
clean record.
SIRLEAF WAS INSTANTLY the darling of the west whose early
reservations and preference for an indigenous head of state went
awry when Liberians and the international community took the
save way out in tipping Sirleaf over the football legend George
Weah in the second round of the 2005 presidential elections.
IN SIRLEAF, the United States in particular saw a leader they
could channel their hopes of transforming a post-war Liberia into
a Success Story of Africa, a model for other war-torn nations
to emulate and post-war nations to follow.
IN PURSUIT OF this, millions of dollars in debts were waived
as the international community showered goodwill in a nation
on the mends and looking to turn the corner after more than a
decade of war.
SINCE 2006, Sirleafs own words she said she inherited, a
devastated country, a criminalized economy, dysfunctional
institutions, brain drain, most of our people out of the country,
infrastructure all destroyed because of lack of maintenance and
work over the years of conflict, and so we had to start from
scratch, so to speak.
THE SIRLEAF government inherited a large debt overhang,
external debt of some 4.9 billion that had not been serviced for
over 20 years. Entry into the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
program(HIPC) and reached completion point in three years due
to a robust General Auditing Commission, and strong integrity
institutions which convinced the international community that
Liberia was on the course to recovery and could do well with a
little push. Unlike other countries like Ghana which had to go
through all the HIPC requirements, the international community
relaxed some of the requirements enable Liberia to get debt
waiver so that it could start a new life, with a clean balance sheet.
THE SIRLEAF GOVERNMENT spent the first five years
repairing the damage done by 25 years of violence and misrule.
From its peak of prosperity, prior to the 1980 coup, Liberia had
become one of the world's poorest nations, beset by illiteracy,
hunger and pandemic unemployment. In her first years in office,
Sirleaf negotiated the lifting of international trade sanctions
against Liberia, and complete forgiveness of the country's
crushing external debt by June 2010.
TO HER CREDIT, Madam Sirleafs leadership and rock star
persona have brought a lot of attention to Liberia. Her numerous
trips abroad have helped put Liberia in good footing with the
international community.
IMAGES OF DEAD bodies, bloodshed and gun-toting child
soldiers were suddenly replaced with images of young and
smiling children glowing in the new realm of a tide that shifted
in the aftermath of the silencing guns and escaping refugees
running helter, skelter for shelter.
IN THE WAKE of the recent decision by Liberias perennial
stepfather, the United States of America to cancel visas issued to
Associate Justice Kabineh Janeh and Youth and Sports Minister
Lenn Eugene Nagbe, eyebrows are now being raised about how
Sirleaf betrayed her pledge of vetting for officials with clean
human rights record, competence and integrity.
IN FACT, many Liberians are now lamenting the current corps of
officials as lacking the expertise and formula to salvage whats
left of the Sirleaf legacy. Many officials spent most of their time
out of the country and appear out of touch with the realities on
the ground. Undoubtedly, corruption, patronage, incompetence
and people with checkered past are more present in the Sirleaf
administration than anyone would have expected. As it stands,
many of the reform and independent minded people have left
the Government or have been thrown out in favor of the least
competent and those with checkered past and questionable
credentials.
AS A RESULT, QUESTIONS are now being asked about the
failed pledge and how Sirleaf has allowed her administration
to fall in the bad books of the west which has stood by her
administration in the wake of a wave of domestic criticisms
about her policies.
ON THE EVE of a critical Mid Term elections, it is important
for Sirleaf to do all she can to salvage her legacy by putting her
house in order.
THE PRESIDENT CAN do this by resurrecting the persona of
old and ridding her administration of those lacking competence,
integrity and poor human rights record.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE that time may not be on the
administrations side to make drastic significant changes, but
Liberians will take notice and read the lines when sincere and
strong attempts are made to right the wrongs that have led the
government down a spiral slope in the past eight years.
WHERE DID EJS
GO WRONG?
COMPETENCE, INTEGRITY &
GOOD HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
please read full commentary online: www.ftontpageafricaonline.com
Page 4 |
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014
AMID TRYING TIMES IN LIBERIA,
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY
MISSING IN ACTION
JOHN STEWARTS MASTERPIECE HERALDS
MARGINALIZED LIBERIA SOCIETY
LET'S TELL THE
STORY HONESTLY
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E
DITORIAL TEAM
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
The Reader's Page
SYLVESTER MOSES TOP COMMENTER
Unmistakably, the message to the nation from the US and UN
is the same: clean your mess or we will clean it up for you. In
other words, implement the easily acceptable recommendations of
the TRC, continue constructive governance, reconcile, and seek
sustainable peace together. And why this should be a problem beats
the imagination of reasonable Liberians.
As we write there is a huge mess in Iraq because Al Malaki, the
twice - democratically elected prime minister, has been bullish
in allowing genuine participatory democracy. By intensifying the
isolation of the Sunnis - Saddam Husseins group - he has engulfed
the country in another bloody ethnic strife. And confict looms over
Liberia should we not reconcile now.
For example, instead of writing about the need for unity and
reconciliation, Mr. Worweiyu was playing the divisive card to curry
favor. Our perchance for postponing, procrastinating, and putting
off actions which outcomes are positive to our common good is
mind - boggling. Were all in this together, lets be proactive to
make Liberia safe for our children, grandchildren and posterity.
HARRIBOY JOHNSON TOP COMMENTER BOOKER
WASHINGTON INSTITUTE
Thanks to the United States Government for the step taken to bring
justices to victims of the civil war in Liberia. While the effort
is commendable, we urge the U.S. government to also go after
individuals and institutions that sponsored war in Liberia. 0.5 cent
spent or given to a rebel leader to kill people is equal to war crime.
Such giver must give account in court.
R_FILIPS (SIGNED IN USING AOL)
If these actions on the part of the US are translated into setting up
a war crime court and prosecuting those who rained havoc and in
the same vain seized state power, I would say bravo to the people
of Liberia and a big thank you to Uncle Sam.
AARON NYAHN UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS
GRADUATE SCHOOL (MBA)
The step taken by the US to bring to justice the perpetrators of
crimes against humanity in Liberia is a step in the right direction.
We can not have the cycle of violence and the looting of public
coffers go with impunity. This will set the stage for those who wish
to hold political offces in the future that the government is not
meant to enrich them at the detriment of the people. It will be a
signal to all would be politicians that there is a big eye watching
them and they need to perform according international standards.
Although long overdue, it is better late then never. Bravo US!
Those who argue that this might not heal the wounds of Liberia
need to sit back and ask themselves: should 250,000-300,000
of our people be killed and no one be held accountable? If this
happens, it will be a recipe for some greedy persons to wake up
again and plunge the country into another round of mess. It will
deter future wars and economic crimes. If this had happened
earlier, the situation the nation is now in under the administration
of Ellen Sirleaf would have been different.
The United States must help Africa end impunity without fear or
favor. Names like Robert Mugabe, Ellen Sireaf, Paul Biya and
their kinds should not be spare if justice must be served. In Liberia,
if Ellen Sirleaf, George Boley, A. Kromah, Prince Johnson and
their followers are not held accountable for the death of 250,000-
300,000 of our people, the souls of the dead will not rest in peace
and justice will not be served. We hope to hear soon big names that
unleashed havoc and mayhem on the nation and its people.
Again, thanks America for the baby steps taken and we hope the
giant ones will follow soon. One of the responsibilities of a great
nation is to bring justice and fair play to all peoples without fear
or favor.
JAY WION TOP COMMENTER WORKS AT NPRC
MY TURN: Regime change hangs over Liberia. A PEACEFUL
PEOPLE'S PROTEST revolution is about to take roots in Liberia.
Liberians are emboldened by calls from US President Barack
Obama, the United Nations Secretary General and the European
Union.
I have always called for regime change in my writings, not based
on violence, but sustained mass peaceful protests that will force the
collapse of this corrupt regime of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. And the
Liberian people are now ready to confront this corrupt government.
And yes, there will be a Liberia War Crimes Tribunal sooner that
will try suspected war criminals and the trials will be held, not in
Liberia, but in another country under the supervision of the UN.
The Editor,
W
here are the churches? Where are the mosques? Where
is the inter-religious council? Makes me wonder if
Michael Francis was the only one who could speak.
Even when their stooges and attack dogs were sent his
way, he spoke. He spoke against social injustices and tyranny. Today,
our so-called religious leaders are SILENT because their hands are
in the proverbial 'cookie jar' too. Education, nada! Yet, the church is
silent!
Health, nada! The church is giving a blind eye! Social injustices! The
church is on the porch sipping 'None of my business wine' and reading
the local dailies, which too often decide to carry stories about "who's
sleeping with who" than why aren't there public libraries.*
* Never in my short years on earth, have I seen the church more
concerned about obtaining the mega status and buying the latest
cars than to speak for the people. The state AND the church cannot
continue to ignore the plight of the people. Never underestimate the
tears of a young child going
to bed on an empty stomach. Never underestimate the cries of an old
lady who looks on helplessly as her beloved grandchild is dying from
a treatable disease like malaria and she can't cover the medical bills!
Don't underestimate the frustration of the young boy who has turned
to drugs and robbery because of a failed system (No, I'm in no way
supporting his acts)!
Those tears will make their way to heaven and God will NOT ignore
them.*
Christine Brooks
[email protected]
The Editor,
M
r. John Stewart published an article in the July 21, 2014
online edition of the Perspective Magazine entitled:
About Allegations of Fraud, Offcial Misconduct and
Liberias Bumpy Road to Elections 2017
The article is a master piece, the excesses of Chairman Korkoya
and Executive Director Lamin Lighe at the NEC needs to be stop
now otherwise I see Liberia go back to another war. The both men
are ruining the commission highhandedly. They have marginalized
everybody including the professional staff. If the excesses of Cllr.
Kokoya and the Mr. Lighe are not stopped then I see a credibility
problem for the NEC and credibility for the NEC is essentially a
threat to peace and stability in Liberia
The GOL has given the amount of 15 million United States but there
are no vehicles and other logistics for magistrates who supposed to
conduct the election instead Cllr. Kokoya and Mr. Lighe has concocted
a sinister plan to rotate magistrates around. According to informed
sources at NEC they have taken huge sum of money from some
senatorial aspirants promising the they will plant certain magistrates in
some areas to cheat for them but on the contrary they deceiving those
aspirants there is no way magistrates can cheat for anyone magistrates
are professionals so the motive behind magistrates rotation is for
fnancial gains on the part Mr. Lighe and his father in crime Cllr.
Kokoya. Kokoya and Lighe needs to direct their energy towards the
provision of vehicles and other logistics to magisterial areas instead
of their so called rotation strategy which is in complete contravention
of the New Elections Law of 1986. This move of magistrate's rotation
should resisted by all peace loving Liberians if allow it will cause
problem for the electoral process come October 14.
Micah Moore
[email protected]
The Editor,
I
n 2003, through the effort of the International
Community the course of direction was changed from
disaster to peace. This means that we have enjoyed a
decade of "protected peace" in Liberia. Protected peace
is the act of building peace in a failed state. This process of
building peace comes with a huge human and fnancial cost.
Ours, is a perfect example - Liberia. Therefore, we must do
all to sustain this valuable gift - peace. In fact, we must do
more in changing the current status quo, and also tell the
story honestly. So what went wrong?
The question of war and peace is a broad one, and the topic has
engaged scholars from many disciplines for many centuries.
Therefore, understanding the causes of confict or war will
enhance our ability to prevent another one. To understand
the prospects for peace in international relations, one must
understand as to why war is such a reoccurring event in the
history of nation-states, ( Jehangir, 2012), the author further
noted that we need to understand the determining factors
which cause action, reaction, cooperation, hostility and peace
between states. Building on this argument, there is a need to
understand why did we go to war in the frst place? A better
answer will help us build a solid peace foundation for us, and
the generations to come. So we must tell the story honestly...
Now that, the United Nations peace and security forces are
going back home, we need to think about building natural
peace. Natural peace is based on trust, mutual respect,
love and honesty. In order to do this, we must tell the story
honestly. Why did we go to war in the frst place? Why was
"hatred" socially constructed in the minds of some against
others?
A few months ago, I met a young and bright post-graduate
student from Sydney, Australia, who asked me this question.
He was more interested in a Sociological explanation (causes)
of why hate crimes were perpetrated against some groups
of people in Liberia. This prompted me to carry out some
intensive online research. Unfortunately, Liberian historians
have not written much about the civil war, and in particular
why were some groups targeted and killed.
So far, my search has produced very little result on the origin
of hatred and mistrust in our society. I am assuming that
the Truth And Reconciliation Commission Report will have
adequate information on this subject matter. Again, for the
sake of peace and history, we need to address these questions
and tell the story honestly. While we await historians to tell
the story honestly, we must do all we can, to preserve and
sustain peace back home.
Peace is one of the most valuable gifts from the All Mighty
Allah to mankind. As we celebrate a decade of peace under
the United Nations protection, we also need to start thinking
about how to sustain it forever. To achieve this, we must build
trust, mutual respect, love, and tell the story with honesty.

Musa V. Sheriff
Spearwood, Western Australia
WAR CRIMES COURT LOOMS?
TOP OFFICIALS VISA REJECTED
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014 Page 5
Liberia Domestic Airports Agency (LDAA)
James Spriggs Payne Airport
Monrovia, Liberia
The Board of Directors, Liberia Airport Authority, the Management and Staff of the
Liberia Domestic Airports Agency (LDAA) extend heartfelt congratulations to
Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia,
Vice President Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai,
the Speaker and Members of the Honorable House of Representatives, the Pro tempore
and Members of the Liberian Senate, the Chief Justice, Associate Justices and Members
of the Judiciary, the Doyen and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
the United Nation Mission in Liberia (UNMIL),
our airport users and the Peace Loving People of the Republic of Liberia.
As we celebrate 167 years of Independence on July 26, 2014, may God grant us renew
hope and strength as we strive to build a better Liberia.
Happy One Hundred Sixty Seventh Independence Day!
Page 6 |
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Wade C. L. Williams, [email protected]
F
RONT
PAGE
NEWS EXTRA
Monrovia-
W
hat seemed an
unprecedented
form of protest
against the Liberian
governments handling
of the deadly Ebola virus
erupted on Wednesday when
a Liberian man identifed as
Edward Wellington Dellay
set the conference room at the
ministry of health and social
welfare in Congo Town on
fre in the early afternoon.
It took Maintenance workers
who found it diffcult to
reach the area of the blaze,
as the Liberia Fire Service
was nowhere in sight to put
out the blaze in the health
ministry building to curb the
fre.
We were sitting at the
transport division when we
saw the fre in 227 (you know
the blaze), thats how we
ourselves started calling the
fre service, said an already
wet looking maintenance
worker Yuan B. Tayson one
of those who helped to put
out the fre.
EBOLA VENGEANCE
Man Sets Liberias Health Ministry Building Ablaze; Says Relative Died of Deadly Virus
But looking at the distance
and the time that fre service
will leave from their ministry
to come here, it will be a waste
of time. We went through
with some other guys from
the maintenance department
along from the transport
department, we went out
there and we started to put
out the fre. We succeeded in
putting the fre out.
He said workers at the
ministry were constrained
to use a ladder to burst
open the glass windows to
the conference room when
they saw the smoke, which
billowed out of the building,
which saved the entire
building restricting the fre to
only the conference room.
The Liberia Fire Service
arrived after the health
ministry employees had
already put out the fre and
made a citizen arrest of the
culprit. The situation saw
many employees running for
their lives and it brought a halt
to normal working activities
at the health ministry.
Reports gathered by
FrontPageAfrica indicate that
Mr. Delay has been engaging
the health Ministry, informing
them that his 14 year-old
relative died as a result of the
deadly Ebola virus.
Eyewitnesses, some whom
work at the ministry say
the aggrieved Liberian who
called the fre A miracle
fre said he wanted to set
the entire building ablaze
because he blames the lack of
doctors and nurses at major
government hospitals to cater
to his sick relative as what led
to the relatives death.
Health Minister Dr. Walter
Gwenigale reacting to
questions from journalists
got angry and walked away,
when he was asked about
the level of damage caused
the ministry by the fre and
whether it would continue
normal activities. But before
the minister could get angry
at the question posed by
a journalist he validated
eyewitnesses account of how
the fre transpired.
I came out I saw a group
of people standing over a
young man, whom they say
confessed that he started the
fre because a relative of his
died of Ebola and nobody
paid attention to him, thats all
I know, said Dr. Gwenigale.
What we have been trying
to do is to put the fre out and
thank God when the building
was built, each foor has a
hydrant that has a long pipe
and water pressure under our
own ground, so we were able
to put the fre out. We are
happy that the fre brigade is
here.
Dr. Gwenigale said the fre
caused minimum damage to
the building as the fre was
contained from spreading
beyond the conference room
where it started.
This whole conference room
is destroyed, the glasses has
been broken. But for you to
know the extent you have to
wait for the fre brigade to
fnish their inspection, he
said.
The offces are okay, it is
the conference room here,
where we can have the major
conferences that actually
burned completely and is
destroyed.
Delay is the frst Liberian
to publicly protest the
governments handling of the
disease in this manner since
the outbreak of the deadly
Ebola virus, which has now
caused 50 confrmed deaths
and over one hundred cases.
The suspect was quickly
arrested by health ministry
employees and turned over to
the Liberia National Police.
According to information
there was a fellow here who
said he did the act and he
has been taken to Zone 3 at
Congo Town, said Tayson.
Protest from ELWA
Residents
As the fre was raging in
the conference room at the
health ministry, a sizeable
number of residents from
the Kpelleh Town and
surrounding communities in
the ELWA area blocked the
main entrance of the ELWA
compound housing the ELWA
hospital to protest against the
establishment of an Ebola
isolation center in the area.
Resident expressed fear over
the setting up of the Ebola
isolation center because they
say it could lead to infecting
people living in that area with
the Ebola virus.
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014 Page 7

Kennedy L. Yangian [email protected] 077296781
F
RONT
PAGE
NEWS EXTRA
F
RONT
PAGE
POLITICS
Monrovia-
T
he Roberts International
Airport is the largest
airport in Liberia and is
one of the oldest airports
perhaps in Africa with its origin
dating far back in 1942 when The
United States signed a defense pact
with the country but the airport
has been in ruins for years since
some parts were destroyed as a
consequence of the Liberian civil
wars.
Located 35 miles from Monrovia,
the airport was built by the US
Government in 1943, and was used
to support US Air Force activities
during World War II.
After the war, the airport served as
the principal hub for Pan American
Airlines (Pan Am) in Africa. From
the end of World War II to 1985,
Pan Am managed the airport
terminal, which was under contract
with the Government of Liberia.
The RIA served as a major hub
for the African region but during
the Liberian civil war, the main
terminal building suffered major
damage and despite efforts to
rehabilitate the airport, it is yet to
meet its pre war status.
Late 2013, the Government
of Liberia and the Liberia
Airport Authority (LAA) started
negotiations and arrangements for
the full rehabilitation of the airport
but the entire process was stalled
due to an imbroglio involving
the former head of the airport
authority, Ellen Corkrum.
With Corkrum now out of the
country and the government
pursuing an indictment against her,
authorities at the airport are now
making headways in restarting
rehabilitation works.
The new management of the airport
in conjunction with the Airport
Authority has been publishing
information for eexpression of
interest from qualifed frms as
preparations get underway for
works on the airport.
FrontPageAfrica has gathered that
the current Board management is
making a bold play working with
stakeholders to fast track a new
airport.
Interest to source funding
NEW AIRPORT IN THE
WORKS FOR LIBERIA
Expression of Interest, Preparations underway as Board management Makes bold play
In some of the publications, the
Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) is
inviting eligible international frms
to submit Expressions of Interest
to source funding and build a new
state-of-the-art Airport Facility,
with the potential to become a
key hub for air transport in West
Africa.
The LAA maintains that expression
of interest for the new airport
should include cargo handling,
storage and processing facilities,
fuel supply terminals and parking
garages to name a few.
Stated the LAA The LAA is
also open to a Build Operate and
Transfer (BOT) relationship,
should the terms and conditions
articulated prove feasible. All
facilities must meet relevant
International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) standards.
The interested frms must submit
a proposal that includes at a
minimum, the following-Technical
drawings of the proposed terminal
and other ancillary facilities;
Technical data on a modern hotel/
conference center complex, that are
representative of an Airport City;
Technical proposal for an airline
to use RIA as a hub; Technical
proposal for establishing a "free
zone" manufacturing complex;
Timeline for the construction of
the proposed facility; Outline
for the Operation of the airport;
and Financial Analysis of the
associated costs and suggested
fnancing options.
Qualifcation issues
With performance becoming a
problems for some companies
contracted for construction works
in Liberia, the LAAA insists that
it is seeking for qualifed frms
to perform work on the airport
in order to meet international
standards and is also requesting
technical capacities to design,
construct, fnance, maintain and/or
operate an international airport of a
similar size or larger.
As part of the requirements the
LAA is requesting that Companies
applying to perform work on the
airport should have an annual
turnover which exceeds $70
million in each of the last three
fnancial years and the frm should
supply audited fnancial statements
for the previous three years.
The LAA is also requiring that
frms will be selected in accordance
with the procedures set forth
in the Public Procurement and
Concessions Commission Act of
Liberia, indicating that frms may
express their intentions singularly,
or in a consortium with other frms.
According to the LAA if the
expression of interest is from a
consortium of frms, information
on each of the frms within the
consortium is required.
The airport utilized both a main
and ancillary terminal prior to the
war, which were both damaged
during the civil crisis.
Additionally, RIA has an asphalt
runway measuring 11,000 ft
(3,353m), which is being used
by international carriers. The
runway is shortly to undergo full
renovation commencing the latter
part of this year.
Currently, RIA uses two of its
ancillary terminals and its asphalt
runway to service international
carriers as well as the United
Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL). UNMIL maintains a
helicopter and an airplane facility
at the same airport.
The current terminals have the
capacity to handle 330 passengers
every 30 minutes, and passenger
numbers currently stand at 115,800
outbound and 112,500 inbound
as of the last operational year.
Given the current trajectory, total
passenger numbers for RIA are
projected to grow to at least 450,
000 over the next few years.
The LAA says there is the potential
for a further signifcant increase in
both carrier and passenger numbers
over this period as investments
into Liberia continue to increase,
particularly with the discovery of
oil.
UNITY PARTY DUMPS CU
PRESIDENT TOKPA
- Selects Jackson For Senatorial Race
Monrovia-
T
he ruling Unity Party
(UP) has made a
dramatic u-turn in
its primary result
for the senatorial race of Bong
County replacing Dr. Henry
Tokpa with Ranney Jackson
as its senatorial candidate in
the up-coming Legislative
election.
Dr. Henry Topka, President of
the Cuttington University in
the County replacement comes
barely a month after the ruling
party declared him winner of
the partys primary which was
contested by the two.
The move to have Topka
replaced comes in the wake
of a complaint fled to the
Executive committee of the
party by Ranney Jackson when
he opposed the result and called
for a re-run of the primary
because according to him some
of those executive members of
the party who were to take part
in the voting were allegedly
excluded from the process.
A source close to the party
who hinted FrontPageAfrica
on the basis of anonymity
stated that the decision to
replace Dr. Tokpa with Ranney
Jackson was reached by the
Executive Committee of the
party with the presence of
the party executive Charles
Clarke, Chairman Varney
Sherman among others at the
home of the Vice President
Joseph Boakai on Sunday.
The decision for party to
replace Dr. Topka was based
on his refusal to accept a re-
run of the party primary when
the executive committee of the
party reached the decision
said the source.
According to the source the
executive committee of the
party headed by Charles Clarke
also reached the decision to
replace Topka with Ranney
because Ranney had based
himself a constituency in the
county when he served as
superintendent and when he
contested the past senatorial
election in the county with
current Senator Henry Yallah
and emerged as second place
winner with 29,000 votes.
The source further that
comparing the two aspirants,
Ranney had better chance of
winning the senatorial seat than
Topka in the county because
he is being favored by half of
current members of the 53rd
Legislative Caucus of Bong
County who will be canvassing
for him in their own districts
during the campaign season for
the Legislative election slated
for October 14, 2014.
Ranney Jackson former
superintendent of Bong County
and current Deputy Minister
of Operations of the Ministry
of Internal Affairs with his
selection on the ticket of the
ruling Unity Party (UP) he
now goes in the race with the
likes of incumbent Senator
Jewel Howard Taylor, former
senator Franklin Siakor, former
Deputy Education Minister
Mator Kpaingba among others.
With the source assertion
that Jackson presence in the
senatorial race of the county
is a clear cut victory when
quizzed about what he made
of Jacksons chances in the
county with the presence of
the incumbent Senator Jewel
Howard Taylor in the race who
many in the county referred to
as Iron-lady, he replied she
will fnd it diffcult this time
around added the source.
The Unity Party had made no
offcial statement on Jacksons
selection despite repeated effort
by the FrontPageAfrica to have
its Secretary General Paye
comment which prove fruitless
but the same source stated that
the party is expected to make
offcial and public the list of all
of its senatorial aspirants for
the 15 counties in the coming
days and among them will be
the name of Ranney Jackson.
Page 8 |
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Concessions Working Group
International Alert Building
Fish Market, Tubman Boulevard
Monrovia, Liberia
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +231 886 528619/ +231 886 534825
PRESS RELEASE
The Concessions Working Group, a coalition of
international and local organizations working on
natural resources governance issues in Liberia, takes
urgent note of the recent protest and violence in Nimba
County which targeted the Arcelor-Mittal concession
area.
While we are alarmed at the violence, looting and loss
of valuable property, we also urge the Government
of Liberia to take an equivalent appreciation of the
underlining causal factors that spurred this protest
which can potentially initiate other protests across
Liberia.
We also advise the Government of Liberia to ensure
a speedy trial and due process to those persons
charged in connection with the Nimba Protest void of
recriminations or guilt by association.
At this point, it is very important to underscore that
the utilization of County Social Development Funds
is governed by law and as such its application is
predetermined and should not be expensed without
due course to its primary intention-the benefts of local
community dwellers.
We like to remind all concerned that the natural resources
and concessions sector is very delicate especially
since it relates to the livelihood and property rights of
poor affected communities. The violence in Nimba is
symptomatic of brewing grievances from Cape Mount to
Cape Palmas. We are increasingly noting communities
discontent across several counties and it is critical
that the Government of Liberia devises a suitable
platform of dialogue that involves local communities,
concessionaires, civil society and national government
in order to de-escalate tensions, redress communities
concerns and avoid the repetition of violence.
In the coming weeks, the Concessions Working
Group will undertake a fact-fnding mission to Nimba
County to assess frsthand the local situation and will
subsequently release a comprehensive position paper
on violent protest that occurred in Nimba.
Fellowship of Nigeria Ministers in Liberia (FENIM) Christ
Apostolic Church Matadi: contact 0886 55-87-18 / 077 004 523
We the family and the entire members of the fellowship of
Nigerian Ministries wish to congratulate her Excellency Madam
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the President of Liberia, Mr. Joseph Nyumah
Boakai Vice president , the government and the entire people of
Liberia.
We congratulate you on the 167 Independent Celebration of the
Republic of Liberia, may the almighty God up hold and strengthen
you in Jesus names amen.
Long live the Republic of Liberia,
Long live fellowship of Nigerian Ministries in Liberia
Signed:___________________
Pst. Mike Ameh
Secretary General
Cell#: 0886 49 05 02 / 0777 19 55 09
Signed:_____________________
Prophet John Olufemi King
General Coordinator
Cel#: 0886 55 87 18 / 077 004 523
FELLOWSHIP OF NIGERIA MINISTERS
(FENIM)

EBOLA HOTLINE
PLEASE CALL THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS IF YOU, A FAMILY
MEMBER, FRIEND OR LOVED ONES ARE EXPERIENCING ANY
OF THE SYMPTONS OF THE DEADLY OUTBREAK: SYMPTOMS
OF EBOLA HF TYPICALLY INCLUDE: FEVER, HEADACHE, JOINT
AND MUSCLE ACHES, WEAKNESS, DIARRHEA, VOMITING,
STOMACH PAIN, LACK OF APPETITE.
0886229641; 0886397381; 0776547437
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014 Page 9
ROBERTS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RUNWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Deputy Project Manager and Finance Manager
Republic of Liberia
Liberia Airport Authority
James Spriggs Payne Airfield
Monrovia, Liberia
Organization: Liberia Airport Authority
Duty Station: Monrovia
Duration of Service: 1 year; probationary period of 3 months at
start of contract
Deadline: 20 August 2014
The Government of Liberia (GOL) has prioritized the rehabilitation
of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) runway, as part of its work
to ensure economic transformation. The GOL and its donor partners
have resolved that the project should be carried out on a fast-tracked
basis, with works completed by the end of the next dry season, in
summer 2015. It has further been agreed that the Liberia Airport
Authority (LAA) will play the lead role in the rehabilitation of the
runway through a semi-autonomous Project Implementation Unit
(PIU) that will report directly to the Board of LAA.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has made grant fnancing
available for the set-up and operation of the PIU. The PIU is currently
being established and will have an offce within RIA, in Margibi
County. These vacancy advertisements are for two initial staff
positions of the PIU; additional positions may be advertised in due
course. Candidates flling the below posts will work together with the
PIU and the LAA management to bring the PIU to full functionality.
Candidates should be willing and prepared to work under pressure in
a fast-paced environment, with the seriousness and professionalism
required for this high visibility project.
Only candidates possessing the requisite experience are requested to
apply.
Deputy Project Manager: The Deputy Project Manager (DPM) will
be responsible for supporting the Project Manager (PM) to ensuring
the smooth running of the PIU and delivery of the RIA Runway
Rehabilitation Project, by Summer 2015. The role will involve
close liaison with and management of works by the Construction
Supervisor and Contractor, to ensure that the project is being delivered
to specifcations, and that the LAA and GoL receive timely advice
on risk management, where issues might arise. The DPM will work
closely to the PM deputising for him/her as required. The DPM will
be responsible for managing the Offce arrangements and will be
expected to have a good knowledge of the other operations of the
PIU, including fnance and procurement. The DPM should have a
Bachelors Degree in engineering, or a related profession and hold a
relevant and current project management qualifcations/certifcations,
such as Six Sigma, PRINCE2 Practitioner, or Project Management
Professional (PMP).
The role requires a minimum of 10 years of previous experience in
project management roles, including for large infrastructure projects.
Candidates should be familiar with international procurement processes
according to multi-lateral donors procedures. The role will require
proven skills in contract management and negotiation and budget
management. The DPM will need good communication skills. S/he
should be well versed in report writing and use of Microsoft Offce
applications such as Excel, Word, etc. as well as specifc programmes
for Project Reporting, such as Microsoft Project or Access.
Finance Manager: The Project Accountant will be responsible for
undertaking all day-to-day fnancial activities of the PIU within the
framework of prescribed processes, providing for timely availability
and accuracy of fnancial information, effective internal controls, cost
control, and effcient utilization of provided fnancial information
systems and productivity tools. The Finance Manager will work
closely with the PIUs PM and Procurement Offcer to ensure the local
needs of the PIU as well as the informational needs of the funding
agencies are met effciently and effectively. The Finance Manager
must have a minimum of a Bachelors degree in accountancy or
business administration (fnance). Prior experience serving in a similar
capacity in an internationally-fnanced project is required. S/he must
have experience in QuickBooks and other software applications, such
as MS Excel, Word, statistical packages and graphics packages. Three
to fve years progressively responsible related fnancial experience is
required.
The LAA now invites eligible candidates to indicate their interest
in providing the above services. Qualifed candidates are requested
to submit their cover letters, indicating the post title for which they
are applying and their unique qualifcations for the position, along
with academic qualifcations and Curriculum Vitae (CV). CVs must
contain a cell phone number as well as an email address. Only short-
listed candidates will be contacted for interview. References will be
requested.
Interested and qualifed candidates may obtain further information
including detailed Terms of Reference at the address below during
offce hours (9:00 to 17:00 hours daily). Indications of interest must
be delivered to the address below by 22th August 2014. Electronic
submissions are acceptable.
All applications should be clearly marked with the relevant post
applied for and sent to:
Liberia Airport Authority (LAA)
James Spriggs Payne Airfeld
Sinkor
Monrovia, Liberia
West Africa
Attn: Mrs. Cecelia Sio
If applications are being submitted via email, please send them
to: [email protected] with the subject line Project
Implementation Unit plus the Title of the position for which you
are applying.
Page 10 |
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Monrovia-
A
campaign towards the eradication of sexual harassment and abuse of women and girls in
various cities across the country has been launched in Monrovia, with a call for robust
actions to be taken against perpetrators of the violence.
The campaign is being spearheaded by ActionAid Liberia in partnership with the Mano
River Union Youth Parliament and the university Women Forums.
At the launch of the campaign Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the Auditorium of the University of
Liberia the country Director of Action Aid Liberia Madam Korto Williams revealed that the Safe
City campaign is expected to be launched in 20 countries around the world and Liberia is among
the frst set of countries that have been selected to begin the launch of the campaign.
She said the campaign is part of efforts in ensuring a safe city for women adding that it is the right
of everyone to enjoy a city void of the constant fears and harassment women often experience on
a daily basis.
Said the AAL Boss: In rented rooms and slum communities so many women rely on public
toilets and open defecation and unsafe public bathrooms where they risk getting molested. Inside
factories, they face sexual harassment from supervisors. On their way to and from work, they can
be ambushed and gang raped. Even their own teachers will demand sexual favors in exchange for
grades. This is unacceptable.
According to Madam Williams they have found out that many women living in poverty are unable
to enjoy their rights to the city and have little opportunities to make their voices heard or change the
situation, and that If women report sexual abuses to the police they can feel ridiculed and blamed
for what they wear or for being out at night.
Continued Williams: Even their parents responds to their experiences and fears by telling them
not to go out alone. The media often blames survivors of sexual violence for being in the wrong
place at the wrong time. We are campaigning to change deeply imbedded sexy attitude and to make
governance and businesses, leaders and individuals act now to end sexual violence against women
in cities and towns. We want women to have the opportunity to speak out and be assisted to report
and deal with cases of harassment and sexual violence without being blamed.
F
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GENDER ISSUES
SAFE CITY FOR WOMEN
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
READVERTISEMENT
INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB)
PURCHASE FOR FUEL
IFB NO: MOD/NCB/001/14/15
NCB NO. MOD/NCB 001/14/15
1. The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of National Defense (MOD) anticipate funding from
its national budget for FY 2014 -15 for the procurement of petroleum product.
2. The Ministry now invites sealed bids from eligible registered bidders for the supply of petroleum
products for FY 2014 15.
3. Bidding will be conducted through the National competitive Bidding process as enshrined in the Public
Procurement and Concession Act (PPCA).
4. SPECIFICATION AND QUANTITY
NO. PRODUCTS QUANTITY GRADE
1. Petroleum Products 294,461 Gallons
5. Qualifcation requirements include:
. V) Articles of Incorporation
Vi) Valid tax Clarence
Vii) Valid business registration certifcation
Vii) Past performance records including the names and contact numbers of at least two clients,
Viii) Evidence of Vendor having flling station in at least fve counties, to include the southeast of Liberia.
6. All interested eligible bidders may obtain copy of the bidding documents from the procurement unit of
the Ministry of National Defense beginning Thursday, 24 July to Monday, August 18, 2014.
7. Sealed bids must be delivered to the Procurement Unit of the Ministry of National Defense no later
than Friday, August 22, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Please note that late bids will be rejected and return to bidders
unopened. Bid will be opened in the presence of bidders who chose to attend or their representatives on
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
8. Bids submitted must be sealed and labeled:
REF: IFB NO. MOD/NCB/010/14/15
Attention:
Procurement Director, Procurement Unit,
Ministry of National Defense
BTC, United Nations Drive & Lynch Street
Monrovia, Liberia
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
READVERTISEMENT
INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB)
PURCHASE FOR RICE
IFB NO: MOD/NCB/008/14/15
NCB NO. MOD/NCB 008/14/15
1. The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of National Defense (MOD) anticipates funding from
its national budget for FY 2014 -15 for the procurement of Rice.
2. The Ministry now invites sealed bids from eligible registered bidders for the supply of Par Boil Rice to
soldiers of the Ministry for FY 2014 15.
3. Bidding will be conducted through the National competitive Bidding process as enshrined in the Public
Procurement and Concession Act (PPCA).
4. SPECIFICATION AND QUANTITY
NO. PRODUCTS QUANTITY TYPE
1. RICE 28,250 Bags 50KG Parboil Rice
5. Qualifcation requirements include:
V) Articles of Incorporation
Vi) Valid tax Clarence
Vii) Valid business registration
Vii) Past performance records including the names and contact numbers of at least two clients,
Viii) Evidence of a Ware house with a capacity of over seven thousand (7,000) bags
6. All interested eligible bidders may obtain copy of the bidding documents from the procurement unit
of the Ministry of National Defense beginning Thursday, 24 July to Thursday, Monday, August 18, 2014.
7. Sealed bids must be delivered to the Procurement Unit of the Ministry of National Defense no later
than Friday, August 22, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Please note that late bids will be rejected and return to bidders
unopened. Bid will be opened in the presence of bidders who chose to attend or their representatives on
Friday, August 22, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
8. Bids submitted must be sealed and labeled:
REF: IFB NO. MOD/NCB/010/14/15
Attention:
Procurement Director, Procurement Unit,
Ministry of National Defense
BTC, United Nations Drive & Lynch Street
Monrovia, Liberia
ACTION AID, OTHERS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN
TO END SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ABUSE
Stephen D. Kollie, [email protected] 0776329124
Action Aid Liberia Country Director Korto Williams
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014 Page 11
Wade C. L. Williams, [email protected]
Monrovia-
E
fforts by many to
stamp the deadly Ebola
Virus out of Liberia
including health
authorities and other Liberian
stakeholders is gaining steam
as one of Liberias foremost
international artist showcasing
in Ghana and Nigeria is in the
country to lead a campaign
against the deadly disease.
Gregory Artus Frank commonly
known as Artus Frank a native of
Liberia that has made headways
in big movie industries like
Nollywood is guest of soccer
legend George Weah, and both
men would on Friday July 25,
2014 rally the nation on the need
to eradicate the deadly disease by
creating the needed awareness to
save the country.
Im basically here because of
Ebola. I think we need to educate
our people suffciently to this
deadly virus, said Artus Frank
in an exclusive interview with
FrontPageAfrica at the Palm
Springs Resort in Monrovia on
Wednesday.
The artist attributed the spread
of the disease to the level of
sensitization on the deadly virus.
He said as during the war many
Liberians took the confict for
granted because they had not
weighed the consequences of
civil confict.
I remember during the 1990
war when we heard that rebels
are coming, because people were
not educated, well; they were not
well informed about what the
destructions and killings were
going to be like, when rebels
come into your country, they
were not well educated and all
took it for granted, he said.
From documentaries and
other stuff that Ive seen on the
internet, it is like our people are
yet to be informed and when they
are not informed, it is a form of
disaster and we are not ready
to go through that again. So in
any form and any way that we
can come together and stop this
Ebola (not only stop it but have
a restriction on it); Let people
get to know that oh Mr. X is
infected with Ebola, the degree
that he has reached that no one is
supposed to come around him.
He said though he was
discouraged by many from
coming to Liberia due to news
of the spread of the deadly virus,
he as a Liberian has a duty to his
country and people and therefore
had to come to help sensitize
Liberians on the danger of living
in denial that the virus exists.
Frank said Liberians must begin
to get the right message on how
to prevent the disease.
F
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LIFESTYLE
LETS KICK EBOLA
OUT OF LIBERIA
Liberian International Artus Frank, Joins Campaign Against Deadly Virus
In Ghana where I reside, people
have stopped eating bush meat,
people are being very careful
with handshake. If Liberians are
well informed about this deadly
disease, I think we will move
from grass to grace, he said.
Let not Ebola patients start
running away from hospitals
because when it gets to a point
when they start running away
from hospitals, they are running
to their homes and their families.
We are roughly four million
people in this country, if Ebola
takes over Liberia, in one year
without being educated on this
disease; one years time, we will
be talking about 3. something
million people because homes
will be wiped away.
The artist who has starred in
movies such as Rain Drops, The
Professionals, Jewels of the Sun,
Amaka Mustapha, ATM Masters,
3Some, Sinking Heart, Mad Dog,
Sasha, starring alongside top
actors and actresses like Mike
Ezuruonye, Emeka Ike Chidi
Mokeme, Jackie Appiah, Mercy
Johnson, John Dumelo, Nkem
Owoh (Osofa) and Yvonne
Okoro to name a few said the
campaign against Ebola has to
be intensive.
If the government can even
have fiers, just fiers, fing it all
in the streets; educating people
on this thing, what it is all about,
let them read. Even if we do it
in a form of cartoon drawing,
when you get it, how many days
it takes, let them look at it as a
picture, he said.
Continued Frank: I have a
seminar with the information
ministry in Cameroon, Ill be
going on Sunday, when I come
back, Ill pen a story. As an actor,
Im going to prepare a story
on Ebola and how you get in
contact with it, how it is a deadly
disease, how we can try as much
as possible to prevent it. Im
going to do the movie and try
as much as possible to release it
very soon.
The march on the Ebola virus
will commence on Friday from
New Kru Town a community
hard hit by the deadly virus since
its second outbreak in Liberia.
On Tuesday, President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf called on all
Liberians and residents within
the nations borders irrespective
of background to join the fght
against the deadly disease.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, during a brief
stopover at the Ministry of Health
and Social Welfare in Congo
Town early Tuesday morning,
President Sirleaf said Liberia can
overcome the outbreak if people
living here form a common front
in the fght through community
outreach and other awareness
campaigns.
She challenged government
offcials in particular to take
the lead in informing their
communities about preventive
measures; terming the outbreak
as serious and suggested that
everyone gets involved.
This is not the time for denial;
this Ebola issue is true and we
all have to fght it together,
President Sirleaf told the
audience in a somber tone. The
President also announced an
additional US$500,000 from
government to fund the Ebola
campaign.
MARKETERS COMMEND LACC FOR AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Wednesday,
M
arketers in
Paynesville
have lauded
the Liberia
Anti-Corruption Commission
(LACC) for its anti-corruption
awareness campaign in
market places.
The marketers said because
of the LACCs sensitization
program, they have been
able to understand the
ills of corruption and
benefts associated with its
eradication. They promised
to work with the Commission
to help disseminate the anti-
corruption message.
The Paynesville marketers
made the commendation
recently when the LACC
held series of anti-corruption
awareness campaigns in major
markets in the Paynesville
area including the Red Light,
LBS, Coal Field, Du-Port
Road and ELWA Markets.
Amidst heavy down pull
of rain, the LACC team
headed by Commissioner
Aba Hamilton Dolo who has
oversight responsibility for
education and prevention,
explained and dramatized the
evil, causes, manifestations
and dimensions of corruption
in Liberia. The campaign
which is interactive affords
marketers the opportunity to
express their minds on the
issue of corruption and also
pose questions to the LACC
team.
The LACC intends to take this
frst phase of the awareness
campaign to all regular
market places throughout the
country. The Commission
seeks to use a bottom up
approach in changing the
mindset of marketers on
corruption.
The project is being
implemented in partnership
with the Liberia Marketing
Association, Motorcycle
Union and the Center
for Transparency and
Accountability in Liberia
(CENTAL). The exercise will
continue on Thursday, July
24, 2014 at the Rally Time,
Nancy B. Doe and Old Road
Markets.


Page 12 |
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Monrovia-
F
ew weeks after he
released a damaging
open letter to
President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf and
subsequently left for the United
States of America, Christopher
Z. Neyor, the embattled former
head of the lucrative National
Oil company of Liberia has
termed his departure from
Liberia in the aftermath of
the open letter as a tactical
retreat that was intended to
give a space to Liberians to
fully digest the issues raised
in the communication to the
President.
Addressing a news conference
Wednesday at his Fiamah
headquarters, the former
NOCAL Boss also unveiled
what he calls a Better
Montserrado Agenda for
Change (BEMAC), a platform
that is expected to help
transform Montserrado county
to a more improved state.
Neyor named heath, education,
energy, corruption and
nepotism amongst several
others as key priorities in
the agenda to transform
Montserrado County.
Stressing on the natural
resources of Liberia, Neyor
revealed that if he ascends
to the senate he will craft
legislation that ensures future
oil and gas revenue are ring-
fenced for critical infrastructure
investment and establishment
of a sovereign wealth fund to
put aside monies for future
generation
Said Neyor: Our objective is
to get rid of corruption in the
allocation and extraction of
natural resources and avoid
the oil curse. Furthermore, we
want to ensure all concessions
ratifed are in compliance with
existing laws and that both
the state and Liberian people
derive maximum benefts.
Our constitution states that all
the resources of the country
belong to all citizens and the
Constitution further mandated
that in the extraction of natural
resources, the government
must ensure participation of
the people. In the Senate, I
want sponsor laws that will
ensure that this happens,
that Liberians and Liberian
businesses participate so as
to create that elusive wealth
among Liberians.
Speaking of Liberias
deplorable education system,
Neyor noted that the nations
F
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POLITICS
F
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NEWS EXTRA
BACK IN THE RACE
Christopher Neyor Unveils Platform for Montserrado
educational system is indeed
in a mess but can be revamped
through adequate funding of
schools.
Continued Neyor: As senator,
I will lead the charge for
adequate funding of our schools
and the setting up of evaluation
mechanism to ensure
improvement in the quality
of education including decent
compensation for teachers. We
will also place special attention
on scholarships. I will support
the Quality Education Act that
will provide for international
modernization of education
through investment in ICT
tools that will empower our
children to compete in the new
globalized world.
Turning to the energy sector,
the former NOCAL Head
disclosed that energy is at the
top of economic food chain
in any society, and to make
any meaningful progress,
citizens across the country
must have access to affordable
and reliable electric power.
According to him, Liberia has
abundance rainfall thus, the St.
Paul River and its via tributary
have excellent topology for
hydropower development
beyond the run-of-river Mt.
Coffee plant which he says
guarantee an output of about 6
months out of the year.
Said Neyor: As senator, I will
sponsor a bill to establish a St.
Paul River Authority (SPRA)
to collaborate with private
sector partners to develop the
full potential of the St. Paul
River basin for power delivery
to key cities and towns around
our country and ensure the
Rural and Renewable Energy
Agency is adequately funded
for electricity supply to off-
grid rural communities across
the country.
Pointing to the heath sector,
Neyor outlined that not many
Liberians have what he calls
the wherewithal to travel to
Ghana or other countries for
medical treatment when faced
with a life threatening aliment,
thus, government must ensure
that medical facilities in the
country have the requisite
specialists and basic diagnostic
equipment to save lives.
Neyor continued: As Senator,
I will work hard to ensure
health workers are well-
trained and paid that hospitals
and clinics in Montserrado
County, especially JFK, our
national referral hospital are
adequately equipped, staffed
and affordable to all.
Stressing further on corruption
which was declared by
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
as public enemy number one,
Mr. Christopher Neyor went
on to say that past and present
leaders have promised the fght
against corruption and other
vices but all have been empty
talks.
He said Liberians must be
convicted that corruption is a
cancer that eats at the moral,
political, social and economic
fabric of Liberia country
therefore; we must go beyond
hypocritical lips service and
take a united stand against
corruption across all segment
of our society in order to make
progress in our development
endeavors.
Said Neyor: As senator, I will
work with my colleagues and all
stakeholders to host a national
conference on corruption to be
followed by town hall meetings
across the country to bring the
issue of corruption as a poison
to the consciousness of all of
us. I will review the prospect
of an independent public
prosecution agency insulated
from presidential infuence.

Stephen D. Kollie, [email protected] 0776329124
ELWA RESIDENTS PROTEST EBOLA ISOLATION CENTER
R
esidents from the
Kpelleh Town
and surrounding
communities in
the ELWA area Wednesday
gathered before the main
entrance of the ELWA
compound to protest against
the establishment of an Ebola
isolation center in the area.
The angry residents expressed
fear over the setting up of the
Ebola isolation camp because
according to them it could
result into infection of people
living in that area with the
Ebola virus.
The residents in a peaceful
manner gathered before the
main gate leading to the ELWA
radio station chanting anti-
Ebola slogans.
The ELWA compound host
one of the biggest hospitals in
Monrovia and render services
to hundreds of patients on
a daily basis but since the
outbreak of the Ebola virus in
Liberia the hospitals has being
one of those health centers
criticized by the public for
rejecting patients who show
symptoms of the virus without
proper checkup.
At one point a group of family
members protested against
the hospital for refusing to
release the body of their
relative because according to
the Hospital administrator the
victim prior to death showed
some symptoms of Ebola.
Liberian National police
intervened to calm the
situation.

Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014 Page 13
REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET
Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption tale
F
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BUSINESS
Danesius Marteh, [email protected]
I
t is a speech he wont
easily give-up. And it
was a perfect opportunity
for those who may not
have attended his inaugural
ceremony on May 16 or follow
glimpses of it via the media.
With more than three million
people and an investment
climate of US$16 billion,
poverty and or unemployment
should be things of the past,
according to the president of the
Liberian Business Association
(Liba) Dee Maxwell Kemayah.
He was speaking when he
presented a certifcate of
recognition to China Union
at the Liberia Crusaders for
Peaces 2014 Golden Image
Awards (GIA) night in honor
of President Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf.
To the China Union-Liberia,
we want to commend you for
this award. As we hear of your
US$2.6 billion investment
in our country, we welcome
foreign direct investment. We,
however, like to encourage
you for all of the support and
to admonish you that such
an investment will be more
meaningful and benefciary to
the Liberian society [if there
is a trigger down effect on the
lives of the people], Kemayah
declared.
Delivering his second term
extemporaneous address
in Paynesville, Kemayah
scolded government for the
fashion and form in which
it treats indigenous Liberian
businesses.
He alleged that government
was awarding contracts
to foreign frms instead of
empowering Liberian-owned
businesses.
The day and time may have
changed but the text was
unchanged at the Monrovia
city hall July 16.
When you look around you
or where you came from
when driving through, it is
diffcult for you to measure the
impact of the US$16 billion
foreign direct investment
to transforming the lives of
the ordinary people said
Kemayah.
He furthered When a country
such as ours, with 3.5 million
people, can have US$16 and
if the leadership is sensitive
to the needs of the Liberian
people, then that investment,
even if that fve percent or one
percent out of it, we will see
the effect around.
His speech may have resonated
to President Sirleaf when she
likened the state of the economy
to driving a bus while at the
same time repairing its many
defcient and dysfunctional
parts in a nationwide address
on May 28.
We are grateful for all the help
and support we continue to
receive from the international
community, and for the over
US$16 billion in foreign direct
investment which we have
attracted to our country. I know
that each time these fgures are
called, said President Sirleaf.
Sirleaf continued Some have
imagined that with US$16
billion many of our problems,
if not all of our problems,
should have been solved by
now. However, in many of
these cases, investments have
been spread over time, some of
which include up to 25 years,
while others are spread over
phases in which successful
completion of one phase leads
to the beginning of another,
Sirleaf explained.
Stark contrast to reality?
But a Moore Stephens
audit, commissioned by the
Liberia Extractive Industries
& Transparency Initiatives
(LEITI), found that almost all
the concessions awarded by
government since 2009 have
not been compliant with the
law.
In a damning report, the
London-based accounting frm
found that only two out of
68 resource contracts worth
US$8 billion (5.1bn) were
conducted properly.
Concessions granted in
agriculture, forestry, mining
and oil including a lucrative
deal with Chevron were either
wholly or partially fawed.
Two were fully compliant
with existing laws; 27 were
partially complaint; 37 were
non-complaint and two were
without the scope of the audit.
The report based its fndings
on single sourcing or the
lack of competitive bidding,
lack of stakeholders
participation, lapses in
procurement procedures,
lack of documentation,
which comprised a common
challenge across the sectors
and the existence of conficting
legislations.
LIBA boss Kemayah bemoans the poor state of the economy
US$16 BILLION
INVESTMENT, NO IMPACT
"These are problems that we
have known about for a long
time but the fact that only
two of 68 concessions were
fully compliant with the law
is just mind-buckling. Some
of the most damning materials
in the report concerns logging
permits that covered one
quarter of the country and were
given out illegally," Chloe
Fussell of Global Witness,
which has seen the audit, told
Londons Guardian newspaper
in a May 8, 2013 article.
The report dented Sirleaf, who
declared corruption public
enemy number one in a
January 16, 2006 inaugural
address, a major blow in a
drive to promote transparency
and accountability in Liberia.
Government admitted the
report had found faws in
its process, but denied they
amounted to a violation of the
law.
"We are taking these fndings
very seriously. This audit was
requested by the Liberian
government through its
corruption watchdog, and it
will help us to close loopholes
and to continue to strengthen
our processes of transparency.
We are moving away from a
country that governs secretly,
to a country now that is
increasingly opening up,"
Information Minister Lewis
Brown was quoted.
But there have been a series of
damning fndings tied around
corruption and fraud, in the
private use permits (PUP) in
the US$100 million timber
sector, which prompted Sirleaf
to suspend logging operations
in August 2012.
Government has also admitted
serious faws in its oil law,
which is currently being
reviewed by the National
Legislature following a
US$900,000 nationwide
consultation last year that ended
with a roundtable conference at
the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports
complex in March.
In 2012, a deal with
ExxonMobil and its partner
Canadian Overseas Petroleum
Limited over an oil feld
known as Block 13 fell short
of Liberian law requiring
10-percent in royalties for
Liberia. The deal would
generate fve percent.
"The whole issue of compliance
with the law has just been
swept under the carpet in deals
like Block 13 and the contracts
examined in this audit.
We have all been making
efforts to ensure that there is
more transparency, and now it
appears that this whole thing
is becoming a charade. The
perception is still that money
is being passed under the
table, and the citizens have no
trust in the credibility of the
government," Thomas Doe
Nah, executive director of
the Centre for Transparency
and Accountability in Liberia
(Cental), is quoted by The
Guardian.
But Brown maintained that
the report refected a lack of
capacity, and not corruption.
"One of the biggest challenges
we continue to deal with is
the capacity gap the war
drove many of our brightest
minds away, and this report
identities are capacity issues
when it comes to licensing
and documentation. We do not
believe this is a question of
corruption or mendacity," said
Brown.
Fussell disagreed: I don't think
the government can explain
this simply by lack of capacity.
The report shows that big palm
oil and rubber concessions
were awarded without any
competitive bidding. They
were just handed out to the frst
company that came along."
There have been series of
protest, especially in 2014, in
some of the concession areas
with the most recent in Nimba
County where the locals
burnt down Arcelor Mittals
equipment worth thousands,
if not millions, of United
States dollars for reneging
on their social corporate
responsibilities.
Government charged 41
persons in connection to the
violence but media reports say
seven have been set free.
And all this, Sirleaf believes, is
hindering the speedy repair of
the bus and its pace to generate
the much-publicized trigger
down effect.
Naturally therefore, when
we block the paths to the
successful completion of a
phase of an investment when
we disrupt the progress of
a company on account of a
matter which could otherwise
be easily resolved through
dialogues; when we delay in
concluding negotiations to
get a committed investment
to become operational; or
when we unfairly portray
our country to the rest of the
world as unworthy of external
investments we actually
strain the engine of our bus
and reduce the speed at which
we could possibly travel, said
Sirleaf.
It hurts all of us. It makes it
harder to fnd jobs harder to
care for family members, harder
to pay school fees, harder to
pay hospital bills, harder to
reach out to friends, and harder
to climb out of poverty. This
is the interrelatedness of our
actions on the economy for
which we must continue to be
aware, she added.
She said the economy has
performed well over the past
six years, averaging annual
growth rates of seven percent
despite the many constraints
and challenges.
Our annual growth rate
exceeds the average growth
rates of the West African
region. Estimates from the
IMF [International Monetary
Fund] indicate the growth rate
in 2013 to be 8.7 percent. This
performance was based on
an activation of operations in
the traditional sectors of iron
ore and rubber. At the same
time, efforts are underway to
reactivate other traditional
sectors such as cocoa, coffee
and oil palm.
In the oil palm sector, we
are inviting the best from
Malaysia and Indonesia not
only to invest but also to
transfer knowledge as to how
these countries succeeded in
transforming their economies
through oil palm productions.
Simultaneously, efforts are
underway to diversify into
agriculture and fsheries,
and to accelerate petroleum
exploration, the Liberian
leader said.
Notwithstanding these serious
efforts, the rate of growth
projected for 2014 is at fve
point eight percent, which
falls short of the growth rate
projected in the Agenda for
Transformation that calls for
at least eight percent annual
growth rate, if we are to stay
on track in becoming a middle-
income country by 2030.
There are several reasons for
this projected decline, Sirleaf
elaborated.
Sirleaf has admitted that fraud
and abuse in the forestry
sector, which necessitated a
much-needed moratorium,
has resulted into signifcant
loss of budgeted revenue and
community benefts.
Budget shortfall has been the
new talk in town, although the
rampaging Ebola virus seems
to have stolen the show a little
bit.
Too many talks on the economy
have been said by Sirleaf,
Brown and Finance Minister
Amara Konneh.
The projections, perhaps,
sound reasonable in the ears
and visible in the eyes of some.
But for Kemayah, practical
action is needed for a trigger
down effect on the lives of
Liberians. After all, papa and
or mama must return home
with something in the black
plastic bag for their kids.


Page 14 |
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014
IN BRIEF
TWO UKRAINIAN FIGHTER
JETS SHOT DOWN OVER
REBEL-HELD TERRITORY
BOMBS IN NIGERIA'S KADUNA KILL
82, EX-LEADER BUHARI TARGETED
GAZA BLOODSHED DEEPENS,
AIRLINES SHUN ISRAEL

KIEV (Reuters) -
K
iev said two of its
fghter jets were
shot down over
the rebel-held
territory in eastern Ukraine on
Wednesday, and the missiles
that brought them down might
have been fred from Russia.
A spokesman for Ukraine's
military operations said the
planes were shot down near
Savur Mogila, not far from
where a Malaysian airliner
was brought down last week,
killing all 298 passengers on
board.
Ukraine's Security Council
said the military jets were hit
at the altitude of 5,200 meters
by missiles that, according to
preliminary information, were
launched from Russia.
"They were shot down
very professionally. The
terrorists do not have such
professionals," said Andriy
Lysenko, the council's
spokesman, referring to pro-
Russian rebels fghting the
government forces in eastern
Ukraine.
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -
G
aza fghting raged on
Wednesday, displacing
thousands more
Palestinians in the
battered territory as U.S. Secretary
of State John Kerry said indirect
truce talks between Israel and
Hamas had made some progress.
While pressing a 15-day-old
offensive, Israel scrambled to
contain economic damage from a
halt of fights to Tel Aviv's main
airport by U.S. and European
airlines spooked by the long-range
rocket salvoes of Hamas and other
Gaza Strip guerrillas.
KADUNA Nigeria (Reuters) -
A
t least 82 people were
killed on Wednesday
in two bombings in the
northern Nigerian city
of Kaduna targeting opposition
leader and former president
Muhammadu Buhari at a busy
market and a moderate Muslim
cleric about to lead a crowd in
prayer.
The attacks bore the hallmarks
of Islamist group Boko Haram
but may also have been linked to
politics ahead of 2015's elections.
The deadlier blast targeted Buhari's
convoy at the crowded Kawo
market, his son told Reuters on the
scene. A Red Cross offcial said at
least 50 people were killed there.

ABUJA
N
igerians are marking
the 100th day since
more than 200 girls
were kidnapped
from their schoolhouse in the
war-torn northeast. While the
abduction sparked international
outrage and support, the girls
appear to be no closer to home
than they were 100 days ago.
In fve years of Boko Haram
insurgency and thousands of
deaths in northeastern Nigeria,
no crime has angered people
in other parts of the country
and around the world like the
kidnapping of the girls on April
14.
Two weeks after the abduction,
on a rainy afternoon, activists
in Nigeria took to the streets
demanding the immediate rescue
of the girls. Michelle Obama and
Angelina Jolie expressed support
for the movement that later
became known as Bring Back
Our Girls and countries around
the world pledged to help.
Two months after the abduction,
rallies continued almost every
day and U.S. lawmakers visited
Nigeria, adding their voices to
the call for the girls rescue.
Mothers and sisters, wives,
girls, grandmothers and all of
the men, we stand with the men,
are pleading for the release of
these girls and it is not too late,
said Congresswoman Federica
Wilson.
Pakistani activist Malala in
Nigeria
Three months after the abduction,
Pakistani girls education activist
Malala Yousafzai came to Abuja
to speak with Nigerian President
Goodluck Jonathan, who told
her his government was doing
everything possible to fnd the
girls.
There are some diffculties,
which he mentioned, such as
that it is quite diffcult to do
a military operation as these
girls can be targeted. There is
an idea of swapping, but it is a
quite complicated situation to
understand, she said.
She says the president promised
to rescue the girls as soon as
possible."
100 DAYS LATER

F
RONT
PAGE
WORLD NEWS
PLANE CRASHES IN TAIWAN,
KILLING AT LEAST 47: REPORTS
A
plane crashed while
attempting to land
in stormy weather
at a small airport in
Taiwan on Wednesday, killing
at least 47 people, offcials there
say.
TransAsia Airways Flight
GE222, which originated
from the southern port city of
Kaohsiung, was carrying 54
passengers and four fight crew
when it crashed during a second
landing attempt on the typhoon-
battered island of Penghu,
offcials said.
There were conficting reports
about the number of fatalities.
Taiwan's Transport Minister
Yeh Kuang-shih told the
government's Central News
Agency that 47 people were
"trapped and feared dead," and
11 others were injured in the


Few information
And 100 days after the abduction,
the public still knows nothing
certain about the girls' condition
or their whereabouts.
The only information comes
from Boko Haram's leader, who
said in a video they are being
held captive as slaves and
will not be returned unless the
government swaps imprisoned
militants for girls.
"The sadder thing is the
conversation between the
citizens and our government
leaves a lot to be desired. Leaves
a lot to be desired, says Obi
Ezekwelizi, one of the leaders of
Bring Back Our Girls.
Activists say they plan to
continue near daily sit-outs in
Abuja until the girls are rescued.
But the group and the kidnapped
girls are also now in the center
of Nigerian politics, with the
government accusing Bring
Back Our Girls of being agents
of the opposition.
Optimism and fear
In a statement, organizers
of the Bring Back Our Girls
social media campaign said the
families and communities of
the abducted girls had "suffered
deep anguish [and are] seeking
effective rescue to end peril that
befell their daughters."
Ahead of Wednesday's events,
organizer Bukky Shonibare
expressed optimism that the girls
would be freed soon.
"We believe that anything can
happen swiftly, so if there is
anything we expect from the
president... it is for our girls to
return now so that instead of
commemorating day 100, we
all come out jump on the street,
dance and celebrate the gallant
return of our girls," she said.
The rallies are taking place a
day after Nigerian President
Goodluck Jonathan held his
frst meeting with some of the
parents of the kidnapped girls,
along with some of the girls who
managed to escape.
After the closed-door meeting in
Abuja, presidential spokesman
Reuben Abati said Jonathan
repeated his pledge to rescue the
girls.
Esther Yakubu, the mother of
one of the abducted girls, said
the Chibok community has
been living in fear since the
kidnappings.
"Those that have wealth a bit,
they leave entirely the Chibok
land to another place to hide their
life, but we that are poor we are
the ones living there," she said.
In a statement, Bring Back
Our Girls said its events
on Wednesday include a
"remembrance service" in Lagos
and a candlelight vigil at the
Nigerian consulate in New York.
Nigerian Girls Still Held by Boko Haram
crash. Earlier, a fre offcial said
that 51 people had been killed
and seven had been injured.
Reuters reported 47 people were
killed in the crash, citing China's
Xinhua news agency.
The plane, a 72-seat twin-engine
turboprop ATR 72, was en route
to Magong when it attempted
the emergency landing, Taiwan's
Civil Aeronautics Administration
told the Associated Press.
Typhoon Matmo hit Taiwan on
Wednesday, bringing heavy rains
and strong winds to the region.
"It was thunderstorm conditions
during the crash," Hsi Wen-
guang, a spokesman for the
Penghu County Government
Fire Bureau, told Reuters. "A
few empty apartment buildings
adjacent to the runway caught
fre, but no one was inside
at the time and the fre was
extinguished."
According to the Central News
Agency, about 200 military
personnel were being sent to
help recover the victims.
Video taken in the aftermath of
the crash shows rescue workers
with fashlights sifting through
the plane's wreckage in what
appears to be a residential area.
Frontpage
Thursday, July 24, 2014 Page 15
Sports
SPORTS
FABREGAS SAYS
MOURINHO SKIPPED
HIS SON'S FINAL
MATCH OF THE
SEASON TO WOO HIM
TO CHELSEA
CAVALIERS MOVE ONE STEP
CLOSER TO KEVIN LOVE DEAL
LOEW TO STAY ON AS
GERMANY COACH


C
esc Fabregas gave
his frst interview as
a Chelsea player to
the club's in-house
TV station and in it he revealed
that Jose Mourinho convinced
him to join by opting to visit
him instead of attending the
fnal match of his son's football
season.
"Once I spoke to the boss
to Jose, when he came on a
Sunday afternoon, missing his
son's fnal game came to see
me instead of watching him, so
I know he made a great effort,"
Fabregas said with the hint of
a smile. "He told me exactly
what he wanted from me. He
gave me a lift, he made me
believe that he wanted me in
a very good way, so all of the
things together, I became sure
that that was the best option
for me."
W
hile the Bulls
reportedly re-enter
the Kevin Love
sweepstakes, the
Cavaliers countered Tuesday by
moving one step closer to acquiring
the 25-year-old All-Star.
It doesn't appear to be a blockbuster
deal on the surface -- ironically
all three players are former Bulls
-- but all three players have non-
guaranteed deals that the Cavaliers
can use to match up contracts
in any potential deal -- one that
may include Love. Wojnarowski
reported that it was a deal the
Cavaliers needed to make in
order to allow the Timberwolves
salary-cap relief in a deal, though
Cleveland may have interest in
keeping Thomas.
Berlin (AFP) -
G
ermany coach
Joachim Loew said
on Wednesday that
he never considered
leaving his post after winning the
World Cup title and insisted he
would see out his contract which
runs until Euro 2016.
"I didn't think of stopping for one
second," said Loew, 54, in an
interview published on the German
Football Federation (DFB) website.
Loew took over as German head
coach in 2006 after two years as
assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann and
extended his contract until 2016
before the World Cup in Brazil.
Did the LFA provide fnancial assistance to clubs who took part in international tourneys?
Danesius Marteh, [email protected]
FACT OR FALSEHOOD?




T
he Liberia Football
Association (LFA) has
said it provided fnancial
assistance to clubs,
who took part in international
competitions.
Barrack Young Controllers (BYC
I & II), LISCR FC, Invincible
Eleven (IE), Mighty Barrolle and
Red Lions have represented Liberia
in either Caf Champions League
or Confederation Cup since Musa
Bility was elected as LFA president
on March 20, 2010.
But Bility has told a news conference
that the LFA wont be funding clubs
qualifying for future competitions
because it wants to pay its employees
on time and hire referees assessors
to improve the quality of the game.
He was responding to a question
asked by Truth FM and Real
TVs Abraham Wheon about
how governments refusal to
allocate US$5 million for football
development will affect clubs, who
were poised to have a share of the
meat pie.
Yes, we tried; we presented the
budget to the government of Liberia
where we had said that certain
amount of money should go to
clubs but the LFA is no longer in the
business of sponsoring clubs. And
we also not only that we are not in
the business of not sponsoring clubs
but if any club that is not fnancially
ft and is not structurally ft, they are
not a club, said Bility.
The LFA president further said
According to Fifa and Caf, we
shouldnt recognize you. So if
you dont meet the minimum
requirements to be [a] club, we will
not recognize you. That aspect of
our program is over. We did it for
four years. We supported clubs. We
never allowed any club to register
[for the LFA league] in this country.
Some of the clubs that traveled out
of this country [for international
competitions], we bought tickets for
them.
He continued We gave some clubs
[who took part in international
competition] money. We had our
sponsorship money; we took it and
gave it to the clubs. No, we are not
going to do that anymore. So we
want to pay our workers on time;
we want to pay our referees on
time. We want to even improve our
referees pay so that they can be able
to offciate the game. We want to
increase the number of offcials to
include the referee assessors.
And people like that will bring
more credibility to the game. Thats
what we want to focus on. If you
are a club; you are a club. If you
are not a club; you are not a club.
To be a club, you must have all the
characteristics of a club. And there is
a requirement that you must meet. It
is in our statutes. If you dont meet
it, we cant have you, said Bility on
June 17.
IE, who won the LFA Cup in 2011,
took part in the 2012 Confederation
Cup but lost to Moroccos Wydad
Casablanca 6-1 on aggregate in the
frst round.
Richard Tolbert, who was clubs
president during their continental
journey, said he didnt receive a
dime from the LFA.
Yes, we did get the prize money [of
US$12,000] on winning the knock-
out championship but did not get any
money from the LFA to participate
in the international Caf competition
against Wydad in Morocco despite
repeated promises of assistance,
said Tolbert.
Tolbert told FrontPageAfrica (FPA)
in a July 16 email I lost US$25,000
(twenty fve thousand US dollars)
of my own money which has never
been repaid to me to fy the team
to Morocco so as not to let IE and
Liberia down.
According to Tolbert, IE received
sponsorship from individuals like
Foreign Affairs Minister Augustine
Ngafuan, Unity Party chairman
Varney Sherman, ex-LPRC
managing director Harry Greaves
and Liberia Golf Association
president Nelson Oniyama and
companies like Putu Mining and
Golden Veroleum.
BYC were dominant last season,
winning a league and cup double
while their junior team took part
in the 2013 Confederations Cup,
having won the 2012 LFA Cup.
BYC II eliminated Sierra Leones
FC Johansen 1-0 on aggregate in the
preliminaries but fell to Tanzanias
Azam FC 2-1 on aggregate in the
frst round.
Their senior team took part in the
2014 Champions League but were
eliminated 4-3 on aggregate by Cote
dIvoires Sewe Sport in the frst
round, having historically eliminated
Ghanas Asante Kotoko on the away
goal rule in the preliminaries.
But BYC have denied receiving
any fnancial assistance from the
LFA, arguing that the National Oil
Company of Liberia (Nocal), Harbel
Supermarket and Aqua Life were
some of their sponsors.
Interestingly, BYC said it is yet to
receive the prize money from the last
two seasons.
I am not surprise by this assertion
because of the nature of the man
you are talking [about], but let me
confrm that it's a bloody lie because
we did not receive a penny from
the LFA instead we left our prize
money on both occasions said BYC
President Sekou Konneh.
More besides, even prize monies
that had no connection with Caf
competition (winning the FA Cup
and second division championship)
won by our second team, we are
yet to receive it, President Sekou
Konneh said on July 1.
FPA understands, from reliable
LFA sources, that BYC have made
a formal request to the FA for their
prize money.
Failed MOU?
LISCR, who won the last edition of
the premier league, have taken part
in two Champions Leagues.
In the 2012 edition, they were
hammered by Ghanas Berekum
Chelsea 5-0 on aggregate but
shouldered all the cost associated
with their participation with the
exception of spending a night in
Stone Age guest house, owned by
Bilitys wife, prior to their departure
for Accra.
LISCR were subsequently reluctant
to participate in the 2013 edition
considering the fnancial cost and
based on a technical recommendation
from then head coach Gabriel Johns.
They were, however, persuaded by
the LFA to hang on, having entered a
memorandum of understanding
(MOU) to use their prize money of
US$20,000.
It must be noted that the MOU didnt
include indemnities for the match
offcials.
But in arguably her frst ever
fnancial report covering January to
March 2013, executive committee
member Doris Sheba Brown, who
is also director of administration at
the Central Bank of Liberia, said the
LFA spent a whopping US$65,000
on LISCR, who lost 3-1 on aggregate
to Cameroons Union Douala.
FPA understands that a detailed
report of the expenditures, which
the LFA should have submitted to
LISCR in keeping with the MOU, is
yet to be tabled.
Rocky debut, false impression
Red Lions, who were runner-up in
the 2013 LFA Cup, endured a rocky
debut in the 2014 Confederation
Cup.
They got a bye into the frst round
after Guinea Bissaus Estrela de
Cantanhez withdrew from the
preliminaries.
But the clubs Ghanaian and
Liberian partners were in a crisis
with the former seemingly reluctant
to honor their tie in Africas second
premier club competition.
The Ghanaians were frustrated,
having failed to register some
of their stars, including Liberia
international Dweh Allison, because
of a failed International Transfer
Certifcate (ITC).
But board chairman Ansu Dulleh
didnt care, insisting that his partners
abides by the terms and conditions
of the merger deal, which compels
the club to honor international
competitions it qualifes for.
The Ghanaians argued that it would
have been wasted funds because the
club had not assembled its very best
to compete in such an international
competition.
President Rockson Coufe then
wrote the LFA to announce their
withdrawal from the tie with
Algerias CS Constantine.
But the LFA wrongly put Red Lions
into its administration, with Bility
successfully arguing at a news
conference that the fnes and
suspension that Caf would have
imposed on club and country for
withdrawing were too great to bear.
Government, apparently fearing a
serious backlash from its critics and
football pundits because of Robert
Sirleafs position in BYC, were
deceived into believing this cooked-
up story.
And Nocal, who were sponsoring
BYC and have sponsored a number
of sporting events, didnt hesitate
to provide US$100,000 to the LFA
for the home and away ties with the
Algerians.
Red Lions eventually lost 3-0 on
aggregate and head coach Kobina
Amissah admitted in a post-match
news conference that the on and
off news about their withdrawal
adversely affected their performance
over the two legs.
All efforts to get sport minister Lenn
Eugene Nagbe and Bility and or
Nocal to provide a report of how the
money was used have proven futile.
But are Red Lions actually in
administration? And has the LFA
paid the players since it took the
decision on February 24?
Those were the questions put to an
LFA insider but his responses were
brutally frank.
For him, it was foolhardy for anyone
to believe that the LFA, where
employees go months without pay,
would have been in a position to add
at least 18 players to their monthly
wage bill of US$14,960.
Red Lions, in the truest sense
of a football club being put into
administration, are stay on their own
from all of the pieces of information
available to FPA.
Goodwill or payback?
Mighty Barrolle took part in the
2011 Champions League, having
won the premier league in 2009 but
were eliminated by Nigerias Kano
Pillars 3-1 on aggregate.
LFA vice president Musa Shannon
was reported to have credited
Barrolle US$5,000 but Shannon
could neither confrm nor deny the
information.
In a telephone conversation on
Tuesday night, Shannon said
he doesnt feel comfortable in
disclosing the fgure but he would do
so once the debtor
speaks out.
But it has now emerged that the
money given to Barrolle would be
deducted from their share of Alex
Nimelys development fee of more
than US$40,000, which Shannon has
admitted to harassing Manchester
City and their wealthy owner Sheikh
Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan into
paying in the LFAs account in 2010.
In a bid to seek further clarity on the
matter, our reporter sent Bility a July
21 email.
At your last news conference on
June 17, you said that the LFA
provided fnancial support to clubs,
who took part in international
competitions. BYC (one and two),
LISCR FC, Red Lions, Mighty
Barrolle and IE are the clubs that
have taken part in the Caf Champions
League and Confederation Cup
respectively under your regime.

So, how much did the LFA give
them in total? Did that support come
in the form of their prize money
either winning the league or the
FA Cup? Did that support come as
an addition to their prize money or
a goodwill gesture? I will kindly
appreciate a timely response for
Tuesday's article.
Still in search of answers, our
reporter, hours later, phoned Bility
as to whether he had seen the email.
I am only taking your call out of
courtesy. As far as I am concerned,
you are banned from all football
activities in this country, which
limits me and all [football] offcials
from granting you interviews. So
you can go ahead with whatever
story you have.
The LFA will not hesitate to ban
clubs and their offcials who will
grant you interview or do business
with you in your capacity as sports
editor of FrontPageAfrica. You will
need to fnd another job my friend,
Bility responded.
So did the LFA really provide
fnancial assistance to clubs who took
part in international tournaments?
Your guess is as good as mine.
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
Sports
FrontPage
PRICE L$40 VOL 8 NO.643 THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014