Thursday, August 20, 2015 Edition

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Thursday, August 20, 2015 Edition

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Content

Ü

TOP
STORIES

GOVERNMENT
NEWS

Ü

COUNTY NEWS

pg 8

Ü

COUNTY NEWS

pg 6

BREAKTHROUGH
Liberia Set to Receive
US$256M MCC Grant

Kinjol Citizens Accuse Mining
Firm of Failing Terms

pg 7

DIGGING
FOR GOLD

‘THEY LIED
TO US’

FINANCIAL

Ü

Aureus Commences
First Mining
Operations
in Liberia

 

FrontPage

 


 

www.frontpageafricaonline.com

THURSDAY , AUGUST 20, 2015

VOL 9 NO.125

PRICE L$40

LIBERIAN LAWMAKERS TURN LABOR INSPECTORS

EXTORTION SPREE
“The purpose of the visit is centered on acquaintance with your management and also to
review the employment data of Liberians and expatriates working at your company”
- Rep. Christian S. Chea, Sr, Chairman, House Standing Committee on Labor

 

Legislative Beat - pg. 6

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

BUYING

SELLING

L$88.00/US$1

L$89.00/US$1

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

L$88.00/US$1

L$89.00/US$1

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2015

L$88.00/US$1

L$89.00/US$1

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015

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


 

Page 2 | Frontpage

FROM PAGE 1

Thursday , August 20, 2015

A

Monrovialand
dispute
is
emerging
between
the John F. Kennedy
Memorial Hospital and
occupants of a parcel of land
residents dub “People’s United
Community”(PUC), amid plans
by the hospital to carry out an
expansion. The land is situated
outside the fence of the hospital
on 20th Street going down the
beach
The slum area close to the
Atlantic Ocean was allegedly
given to occupants by former
President Samuel K. Doe. The
population of the tiny land area
has grown rapidly over the years
currently hosting more than 200
inhabitants with most of the
homes built with zinc and sticks.
News regarding the planned
expansion of the JFK fence will
lead to the destruction of several
homes.
Christiana Lemu Dennis, 33, is an
owner of an unfinished house 2
feet from the fence. She feels that
if the fence is extended, the life of
her family will be destroyed. She
said they have nowhere to live
besides their current home.
She disclosed that she and her
parents have been residing in the
area since the place was given
to them by former President
Samuel Doe.
“I have been living here since
1989. I’ve just built my house.
As you can see, it is not finished
yet. I moved here September 9,
1989 and I can tell you that I have
not heard anything about the extension of the fence. If they
wish to extend the fence, let them pay for an area and build
a place for our family and ourselves to sleep,” said Dennis.
FILLED WITH WATER

Madam Dennis explained that the land on which they reside
was filled with water as they used to ride canoes before
getting to their homes.
She wondered why the administration of JFK or the
Government did not come to extend the fence at the time
when the area was regularly flooded. “This place that they
want extend was filled with water. Why they did not extend
it that time? You know this Government is really making
us sick, this area was first filled with water and we bought
rocks to fill it, before you passed here you have to get in
canoe”, Madam Dennis explained.
COMPETING WITH CHILDREN

Madam Dennis said she is currently in school, disclosing
that she was born during the civil crisis that led to her not
completing grade school.
“My husband not working and during our time, the war
came and you see I am struggling. You wouldn’t believe that
my children and I in high school. To me, I feel that I can still
help this nation”, she said.
Madam Dennis wondered what will happen when the
houses stay where they are and the government instead take
care of the hospital properly. “What she is doing in the fence
that they want to extend the fence? Is the fence better than
us here? In every country there must be a slum community,
I have no hope anywhere than here. My husband is not
working—go see the business that I’m making. If this place
is broken what will my life be like? What will become of my
children?” she cried.
NO AMOUNT OF MONEY

The PUC resident lamented that no amount of money given
to them can replace what they have invested in their homes.
“For me I don’t want money, because the Government we
have now, they say one thing and don’t do it. I mean the
government don’t care for the poor people”, the marketer
said.
“I don’t even have a place to stay; but if they insist then they
have to find place for us to live because our houses here are
already built”.

Bettie K. Johnson/ [email protected]
Agnes, a business woman, who says she has been a resident
in the community for more than 10 years, disclosed that
she had no idea of the fence extension, but recalled what
happened years ago.
“Two-three years ago, some people came and said they
wanted to break the houses down. And they marked my
house, they promised to come back to value the houses so
that they can give money to relocate us but since that time
they have not come back.”
Madam Agnes said if the administration wants to extend the
fence, they should not throw them out but rather they have
to reach an agreement. “It is not an easy thing to reestablish
because look at my house I have been living here 12 years
and I have five children.”
A tenant of over one year in the same vicinity, Madam Louise
Giddings said: “I have spent one year here and I have four
children, we can’t challenge them because to find place to
stay is hard, and now I am renting and if they damage our
homes we have nowhere to live.”
Oldman Dolo, a landlord and owner of a house with more
than 16 rooms, struggled as he vented his grievances to
FPA. “This thing filled my mouth the time in which I heard
it. How will they want to destroy our homes, this will be
embarrassing and I think it will just lead to my death,” he
said.
The elderly man corroborated Christiana Dennis’ story of
the area being filled with water at a time when residents
were forced to use canoes to commute.
SOME RESIDENTS FAVOR
COMPENSATION

Emmanuel Dolo, son of
Oldman Dolo, 28, adds: “We
have leadership here and
if they want to break these
houses down they have to
give us time so that we can
establish ourselves. I am very
used to this area and I feel
that if it is taken from me, it
will be like my father losing
everything he lived for.”
Gabriel Watson, owner of five
concrete houses, says, it is
frustrating that he risks losing
everything.
Watson says if the fence should
be extended, compensation

should be provided so that he and his seven children can
continue life.
“I just lost my wife and you see I have five houses and each of
them has five rooms. Instead of them extending the fence; let
them improve the poor health service provided to patients.
What can they boast of? It’s ridiculous to know that our
Government is fighting us”, he lamented.
During a visit to the area in March, President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf prevailed on the squatters residing at the back of the
JFK Medical Center fence to relocate as they have blocked
the drainage that empties into the Atlantic Ocean causing
the hospital to get flooded during the rainy season. “Many
persons have built in the swampland against the walls of
the hospital. When the raining season comes the hospital
gets flooded,” the President lamented while stressing that
government and partners have made and are making a big
investment in the hospital and will not allow the hospital to
be destroyed.
The President at the time, said government will work with
the residents to begin plans for relocation.
The problems of squatting is taking place in several
communities in and around Monrovia where people settled
in places without permission due to the prolong civil war.
In the Chicken Soup Factory community similar situation of
squatters occupying an industrial land is posing problem,
one of the many squabbles dogging the controversial issues
of land that is threatening Liberia’s post-war revival.

Thursday , August 20, 2015

Frontpage

Page 3

Thursday , August 20, 2015

Page 4 | Frontpage

FrontPage COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL FROM AFRICAN QUEENS
v

MESSY
JFK & THE
KENNEDY
LEGACY

America Owes it to its Former
President to Bolstered Liberia’s
Broken Healthcare System
TO SAY THAT POST-WAR LIBERIA IS STRUGGLING in the
healthcare department may be an understatement for
many still unable to find affordable healthcare.
MANY, INCLUDING government officials have to travel to
neighboring Ghana, Senegal or as far away to South Africa
and even the United States of America for treatment.
REALITY HIT CLOSED to home recently when Mr. Othello
Warrick, a former head of the Executive Protective Service
which protects the Liberian presidency and a former
Deputy Minister of National Defense died while efforts
were being made to have him airlifted to Senegal for a
brain aneurism procedure.
LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, MRS. Clavenda Parker, a
long-time friend to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, was
also rushed to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center after
suffering a minor stroke. She was taken to next door
Ghana for treatment days later.
THE LIST GOES ON and on of prominent Liberian officials
often having to travel because the healthcare situation in
Liberia is in a total mess.
FORMER INTERIM PRESIDENT Charles Gyude Bryant
endured months of illness while running behind a tugboat
deal that never went through in hopes of finding means of
seeking treatment in Southern Africa.
OUR PRESIDENT, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf never misses a
chance to get her annual check-up whenever she happens
to be in the U.S.
FORMER PRESIDENT MOSES Blah, too. Lack of money to
travel to next door Ghana led him to his early grave.
FORMER PRESIDENT William V. S. Tubman died in
The London Clinic in London, England on Sunday, July
23, 1971 at age 75 from complications after a surgery.
Tubman had been flown to England on July 4, 1971 and
entered the clinic for examination and treatment of his
prostate gland condition
A FEW DAYS LATER, on July 27, 1971, the JFK Medical
Center was built.
IT WAS UPON TUBMAN’S request while on a visit to the
United States of America in 1961 to former President
John F. Kennedy, which paved the way for the United
States Aid for International Development(USAID) to lay
the groundwork for funding of what has become today,
the leading referral hospital in Liberia.
THE PROJECT WAS funded with a $6.8 million loan
and $9.2 million in grants from USAID and a $1 million
contribution from the Liberian Government. Construction
began in 1965 and the facility opened on July 27, 1971.
DURING THE LONG-RUNNING civil war, the hospital
sustained heavy damage and despite some fine-tuning
over the years, remains a sad testament to everything that
is wrong with Liberia.
PATIENTS CONTINUE to cry over high cost of treatment
while many others have had to purchase their drugs from
outside the hospital just to get care.
MANAGEMENT of the hospital has also been a problem
amid numerous complaints from patients and employees.
THE JFK facility, like the health system in Liberia was
exposed by the deadly Ebola virus outbreak which killed

TO DONGONYARO BABES
By: Nnamdi F. Akwada LGSW, MSW is a Social Justice Activist, /AfricanDiasporatv ; Contributing Writer

When Mr. Innocent Idibia notably known as 2Face
released his song African Queen in 2004, it soon
became a worldwide mega hit and was rereleased
by EMI records in 2006. That song and the video
elevated Nigerian and African music to the top strata
of YouTube downloads. The skillful production of the
African Queen music video made the African Diaspora
and others appreciate the Nollywood entertainment
industry all the more. Nollywood motion pictures
evolved out of the creativity of Nigerians who did
not want the corrupt military governments and their
civilian acolytes to determine their production and
intake of entertainment. Ironically, in this civilian era
we appear to be at a crossroads where politicians are
co-opting our entertainment complexes.
The Story for the Gods song aka Dongonyaro by
Olamide is a classic product of this era. But as usual
Nigerians are more perturbed about the sexual
depictions of the video than the systematic arena of
unbridled corruption that have birthed this product
and pivoted the entertainment industry. In Nigeria
and Africa we are more prone to take our frustrations
out on the roadside pickpockets/petty thieves
than to react against the greedy and shortsighted
elites that rob us blind and steal the future of the
entire continent. Rather than confront these good
for nothing socio-economic bandits we allow them
to use tribalism and religion to wage a clandestine
and public war against us while entrenching their
interests with immunity and impunity.
As a clear sign of our impotence, Nigerians and other
Africans actually use tyres to lynch petty thieves with
unrighteous indignation while political and military
thugs are rewarded with traditional titles such as high
chief and absolved of their sins by the Pastors and
Imams who are rewarded with large sums of money.
Some of us in the African Diaspora are more engaged
by the 21st century lynching of people of African
origins in America via the police and vigilantes
than the prevalent norms on the continent. There
are churches and so-called born-again preachers
everywhere in Africa that embrace the rich corrupt
elites whereas condemning the poor. Islamic sharia
in Nigeria is now used in condemning the poor and
chopping off limbs while the real criminals have
special seats at the mosques.

However, it should be noted that in the African
Queen era, there was a message that needed to be
sent out to counteract the globalization forces of
this century. The song African queen reawakened
our consciousness to appreciate the beauty of black
women. It probably slowed down the sale of bleaching
creams by .05%, reduced the bitter competition for
resources among us, and curtailed the tides of selfhate within our various communities. It should also
be remembered that the same era ushered in the
activist music of artists like Timaya. Then Timaya was
more introspective and focused on the poverty and
corruption within the Niger Delta area and Nigeria
as a whole.
But our musical entertainment seems to have
transitioned into a beehive of bum-bum shaking
and/or breaking down the rhythmic qualities of big
behinds. Our musicians use the name of Fela in vain
and sing about the nyash (buttocks) as if we do not
have any other pressing matter on the continent.
Certainly, I for one do not have anything against
having a good time and shaking your bum but there
are other things we need to add into the equation.
People were quick to lash out at Olamide on account
of the story for the gods’ song and video instead of
focusing on the real problems that bedevil us. We
need to concentrate on our real problems instead of
chasing phantoms.
Any wonder that we have some young dynamic
individuals producing art in the Nollywood industries
while our political situation remains at a standstill.
How is it that in a land that has nearly 200 million
people and boost some of the smartest people on
earth we have allowed two men to rule twice in
different decades? Why are we content with thieves
and criminals at the helms of most of our political,
economic, and social institutions? We condone the
men and women that steal from our country and the
continent whereas condemn those that are forced
to conform to societal pressures just to survive
hardships. The real voice of the streets Mr. Fela
showed us that we could shake our nyashes while
disrupting the status quo. When will our generation
assume the leadership for change?

v

scores of Liberians and next-door neighbors in Sierra
Leone and Guinea.
NAMED IN HONOR of a Former United States President, it
is important that the U.S. government take a keen interest
in insuring that the intent of the memory of a former
President, is not tainted as a result of what is unfolding at
the hospital in Liberia.
THE HOSPITAL HAS become for many, a symbol of Just for
Killing(JFK) with many lacking trust in getting adequate
care or even adequate medical staffers.
IN SPITE of everything that is wrong with the health
system in Liberia, JFK has some great nurses, doctors and
medical practitioners who make sacrifices on a daily basis
to save the lives of many. But in the absence of a strong
healthcare system, they can only do so much with so little
at their exposure.
AMERICA to its credit has doled out billions of dollars
in aid and other annuities to Liberia over the years, but
a lot of those funds have been directed through its own
agencies, diminishing returns on the ability of those funds
to make strong impact on those languishing at the bottom
of the economic ladder.
MISUSE OF FUNDS by government officials and a host of
accountability and transparency issues have contributed,
too. But whatever the issues are, America owes this

much to the legacy of President Kennedy to seize the
responsibility of making the JFK what is supposed to be,
a haven for the sick and wounded where everyone has a
chance at getting treated thereby minimizing the need to
travel outside for treatment, especially for those who can
afford it. If privatization is an option, it must be explored
and processed swiftly.
IT IS SAD that Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, whose
former president died from a treatable and preventable
prostate, continue to see similar deaths, decades after
Tubman’s death.
LIBERIA, AFRICA’S oldest republic could use a haven for
stroke victims, aneurism and various other treatable
illnesses that many Liberians are falling to their early
graves daily due to the lack of a hospital capable of treating
those illnesses.
AMERICA, Liberia’s perennial stepfather owes it to itself
and a former President to help make this urgent medical
necessity, an urgent reality, if for nothing else, but for the
sake of humanity and the historic ties that bind the two
countries.
LET US NOT wait for another outbreak before fixing a
fixable and preventable dilemma killing and maiming
scores of Liberians living without access to affordable and
reachable healthcare.

Thursday , August 20, 2015

Frontpage

The Reader's Page

FrontPage

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB

COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
PRESIDENT JFK LEGACY
VANISHING AMID LIBERIA’S
HEALTHCARE WOES
JACKIE SAYEGH · CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Can we now put to rest the text that serves as a preamble for
everything in Liberia? The author's words "In Liberia, American
Presidents and all things America are held in high esteem."
seems to the mantra of the day. Why are all things Liberian
not held in high esteem? That questions needs to be answered
if we are to move forward. Forget about always touting this
"historic" relationship if it ever was. Southern African countries
are moving ahead and although they were colonized, there is
no constant torturing their relationship with Britain or other
colonial masters. They work and make their own legacy. The
government of Liberia needs to clean this mess up because
it impacts the people, simple as that. How can there be no
viable and sustainable health care system in a country that is
more than 100 years old? My mother died at that hospital due
to negligence of health practitioners. We need better for our
children and their children.
FAHNBULLEH FAHNBULLEH · UNIVERSITY OF NORTH
CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
Simply put....Liberia is like a child born with paralysis - always
needs assistance for his/ her daily routine. What remains, is
that Liberians just don't love their country enough to do what is
required. The time for free subsistence is over!

EBENEZER SORSOR · NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
This is a shame, why we have to beg for everything? The socalled do nothing law makers paid thousands of U. S dollars
every month and unable to redeem nation's number hospital
with all the power they have to so. Shame on them!
EMMANUEL MOORE
This 1822 ACS story hurts my mind when ever I read about it.
I wish there was a way to erase it from our history...including
that copied flag and the country's name which is totally
unrepresentative of its reality. Oh, and the National motto as
well....they all need to go away.
LOWERY ANA
America owes neither Liberia nor JFK Hospital nothing. We are
so deluded, everybody should do something for us. Our hands
are always out. America should fix the hospital while the GOL
continues to do what? John F. Kennedy legacy is set in the U.S, so
JFK hospital affects his legacy in no way, shape or form.
WILLIAM E. COOPER · UMBC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The Liberian government, over the years, has never prioritized
'Maintenance'. No matter how costly the development of
any system, the optimum benefit of said system can only be
achieved through planned, regularly maintenance routines. And
this statement is especially true if the system is in a production
environment --- as has been the JFK Memorial Hospital since
its dedication. A good example of this is the fact that any
automobile (car) that has been in constant operation for twenty
or more years must have a good maintenance record -- thanks
to the caring owner! Until policy makers in Liberia do away with
this kind of lackadaisical approach to valuable resources and
costly systems, failure of our systems will persists. FACT: If you
build a modern structure equipped with the latest technology
and don't apply regular maintenance, it will rot in the shortest
possible time ... Go Figure!

MESSY JFK MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
& THE KENNEDY LEGACY
ESTHER RICHARDS · PIKESVILLE, MARYLAND

Maintenance of a hospital in Liberia is more than 100% more
costly than a hospital in a developed country. 1. Many hospitals
in the U.S. and other developed countries have millions/billions
in endowment funds. 2. Our tropical climate and the proximity
of the JFK hospital to the ocean is a big problem because of rust
and spoilage of all equipment at the hospital. 3. Low pay system
for nurses and doctors. 4. Lack of funds to adequately maintain
the hospital. 5. Stealing - doctors, nurses and general staff
usually take away anything they can get away with (including
the medications and equipment. 6. Most of all - WILL. There
has to be a genuine 'will' on the part of the government and the
people to make the process work. I pray for the grace of God to
help us.

DISCLAIMER

The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica

Page 5

Send your letters and comments to:
[email protected]
YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!

WHY IS CENTRAL
BANK OF LIBERIA
AFRAID OF AUDIT?

The Editor,

W

hy is the Central Bank afraid of a real audit?
(Re"PPCC COMPLAINS OF CENTRAL BANK
NON-COMPLIANT POSTURE").
Every time you talk about auditing the Central
Bank of Liberia (CBL), Dr. Mills Jones, the CBL Governor,
gives you the middle finger, and declare that the Bank has
already been audited!
But there's one big problem, Governor. We're NOT
talking (and he knows it) about a financial audit of
CBL's books, which was done by your external auditors
(PricewaterhouseCoopers)!
When we talk about auditing the CBL, we're talking about
a comprehensive audit of the Bank's operations, especially
the management of its Micro Finance Program a.k.a the Loan
Extension and Availability Facility (LEAF) Program for freeloaders!
Can someone ask Governor Jake Milton Jones if he knows
the difference between a financial audit and comprehensive
audit?
If he doesn't respond, say "Governor, I know you skip your
auditing class (on Cuttington) to chase Kpelle women, but
there is a BIG difference between a financial audit and
comprehensive audit, so let me educate you:"
You ready, Governor?
A financial audit seek to express an independent opinion
on the truth and fairness of an government's unit financial
records.
Whereas, a comprehensive audit seeks to ascertain whether
a government's unit is achieving economy, efficiency, and
effectiveness in its employment of public resources! It's
also performed to combat waste, fraud, abuse and illegal
activities!!
That's why the people's representatives (lawmakers)
commissioned the PPCC (the people's auditors) to do a
comprehensive audit, but you and your unaccountable audit
committee keep telling them that ONLY the CBL can audit
itself or pay someone (PricewaterhouseCoopers) to audit
it....That's nonsense!
But such nonsense shouldn't be tolerated by our National
Legislature! The supreme law of the land (Constitution,
Article 89) specifically grant the legislature the power
to enact law (pass a bill to audit the CBL) for the smooth
operation of the government.
So if Dr. Mills Jones refuses to comply with House's audit
request, they should hold him in contempt for obstructing
the people's work, and lock his ass up for 48 hours!
Stop shaking in your boots, Governor! If you have nothing to
hide, you have nothing to fear, right??
Martin Scott
Atlanta, Georgia
[email protected]

THE CONSTITUTIONALISM
AND THE RULE OF LAW
ARE BEING PREVAILED BY
THE PRESIDENT’S ACTION
ON PROPOSITION # 24
(CHRISTIANIZING LIBERIA)

The Editor,

F

ew months ago, Liberia witnessed heated debates
on Proposition #24 of the ongoing Constitution
Review process, the said preposition called for
changing Liberia’s organic law from its secular
nature to religious state mainly Christian State. The action
faced Pros and cons, supporters and oppositions but
while debates and intellectual discourses were going on,
everyone was keenly waiting presidential action which
has to be considered before submitting final draft to the
Legislators.
Further, Her Excellency Madam President has been silent
on this issue since Gbarnga’s Conference ended on last
April. Nevertheless, she has finally made clear her stand
by expressing her rejection and objection to the idea.
Moreover, the Executive Branch’s disapproval of changing
Liberia status from secularism to religious states is based
on two major points:
First, it is a divisive instrument of long standing religious
tolerance, cultural diversity and equality and freedom
of every one to worship whatever he or she believes in.
Second, considering it as unconstitutional at all, because
the organic law of the land insures freedom of worship for
all, but this movement ( Christianizing Liberia) impliedly
contravene and contradicts that spirit of the constitution,
Democracy and of course the Rule of Law.
Besides, the action should be served as a starting point of
well - meaning of constitutionalism , rule of law and sociopolitical reforms for all Liberians, which – if it is done- will
play major role in maintaining our young democracy, and
relative economic success.
Finally, this action of Her Excellency, President Sirleaf ought
to be considered as a win-win situation for all Liberians
not a segment of the society . May Almighty continue to
bless Mama Liberia !!!!!
MORY D.A SUMAWORO
Ph.D candidate in Comparative Laws,
Ahmad Ibrahim School of Laws, IIUM, Malaysia
[email protected]

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Thursday , August 20, 2015

Page 6 | Frontpage

LAWMAKERS TURN LABOUR INSPECTORS, ‘INTIMIDATE’
BUSINESSES WITH REQUEST TO REVIEW EMPLOYMENT DATA

EXTORTION SPREE?
“The purpose of the visit is centered on acquaintance with your management and also to review the employment data of Liberians
and expatriates working at your company”- Hon. Christian S. Chea, Sr, Chairman, House Standing Committee on Labor

A

MonroviaFrontPage Africa
investigation has
gathered
that
some
members
of
the
53rd
National
Legislature,
mainly
the
House of Representatives,
have
embarked
on
a
campaign which has been
described by some affected
businesses as ‘extortion
and
intimidation’
with
these lawmakers carrying
on inspection at business
premises under the guise of
reviewing employment data
of Liberians and expatriates.
In
a
communication
obtained
by
FrontPage
Africa, lawmakers from two
committees at the House of
Representatives have been
involved in the practice of
compelling foreign owned
businesses to be subjected to
inspection for employment
related data.
In one of the communications,
the Chairman of the House
Standing Committee on
Labor,
Representative
Christian Chea wrote one
of the business institutions
(name withheld) requesting
inspection.
“I am honored to present my
compliments and wish to
officially inform you of the
House Standing Committee
on Labor visit to your
management,” stated the
letter.
Representative Chea, in
the letter written on the
official letterhead of the
House of Representatives,
further stated: “The purpose
of the visit is centered on
acquaintance with your
management and also to
review the employment data
of Liberians and expatriate
working at your company.”
Some of the affected business
told FPA that out of fear
they granted the lawmaker’s
request which turned out
to be more than just an
inspection as he allegedly
made requests and solicited
gifts.
When contacted, the Deputy
Director of Press at the House
of Representatives, Nelson
Garr, said it is part of the
functions of the lawmakers
and they are performing
their duty.
The
Deputy
Director
Press said the House of
Representatives
Labor
committee chair is in no
wrong to carryout inspection
on businesses to question

Samwar S. Fallah, [email protected]


 


 
Rep. Christian S. Chea, Sr, Chairman, House Standing Committee on Labor

employment
in
those
business entities.
According to Director Garr
because, one of the main
functions of lawmakers is
oversight bulk of their work
is done in committee rooms;
and to solidify that oversight,
it is necessary for lawmakers
chairing
committees
to
make field trips to carry out
investigation.
Director Garr said: “The labor
committee is no exception to
this practice. If plenary is to be
adequately informed about
issues on labor at concession
areas, to take the necessary
action
the
committee
needs to take field trips
to ensure that businesses
and concessionaries are
performing to best practices.”
But Labour Minister, Neto
Lighe, told FrontPage Africa
that some business owners
complained
about
such
action by the lawmakers
during a meeting and he
informed them to make their
complaints official through a
written communication.
“Some Indians and Lebanese
told me that when we were in
meeting with them the other
day and I told them to do a
written compliant to enable
me inform the Speaker,” said
Minister Lighe
EMBARRASSING
SITUATION

The Labor Minister lamented
that during the meeting
in
which
the
foreign
entrepreneurs informed him
about the complaint, it was
very embarrassing to hear
such information regarding

Labour Minister, Neto Lighe
lawmakers
becoming
inspectors.
“The Indian guy who
complained said he did
not want to give out the
communication from the
lawmakers,
which
will
disclose their identity. So,
I could not do anything
but to inform Speaker Alex
Tyler who apologized and
promised to look into the
matter,”
Minister
Lighe
added.
The Labor Minister disclosed
that
such
development
is coming at a time when
the Ministry is concluding
discussion with businesses
to reduce the number of
foreigners
within
their
employ by 2016.
EXTORTION SPREE?

Some
of
the
affected
individuals
(names
withheld) told FPA that some
lawmakers have been visiting
their premises insisting

that the businesses are
operating in their districts
and
they
(lawmakers)
should therefore be able
to recommend people for
employment.
Other sources informed FPA
that some of the lawmakers
involved in the act have
been soliciting money and
other gifts from these foreign
owned businesses.
One source indicated that two
lawmakers claimed that there
are security implications
as a consequence of the
operations of many foreign
owned businesses, a ploy that
was used to solicit money.
USURPATION
FUNCTION?

OF

Although
the
Deputy
Director of Press claims that
it is work of the lawmakers
to inspect business premises
but according to the 1986
Constitution of Liberia which
is currently in use, there are

Speaker Alex Tyler
three separate coordinate
branches of government
that makeup the structure
of the state, including the
Legislative, the Executive and
Judiciary.
The
Constitution
also
provides that consistent with
the principles of separation
of powers and checks
and balances, no person
holding office in one of these
branches shall hold office in
or exercise any of the powers
assigned to either of the
other two branches except as
otherwise provided by the
Constitution.
Article 34 of the constitution
details the
 functions of
the legislature including
creating new counties and
other political sub-division,
readjusting existing county
boundaries and providing for
the security of the state.
Amongst other functions, the
Legislature is to levy taxes,
duties, imports, exercise and
other revenues, to borrow
money,
issue
currency,
mint coins, and to make
appropriations for the fiscal
governance of the Republic
and also to establish laws for
citizenship,
naturalization
and residence.
Under the constitution, the
legislature has the power
to make laws, while the
judiciary interprets and the
Executive enforces.
Recently,
Information
Minister
Lewis
Brown,
frowned on what he termed
as “constitutional overreach”
by the law makers.
Brown is currently facing
inquest from the House
of
Representatives
for

accordingly disobeying the
lawmakers’ mandate in a
letter to the body
Brown’s assertion was in
response to directive from
the House of Representatives
to Education Minister, George
Werner, not to close schools.
After the Education Minister
agreed to the lawmakers’
mandate, a day later during
the Ministry of Information
regular
Press
briefing,
Minister Brown accused
the Lawmakers of not
knowing the limitations of
their constitutional powers.
Because of that, he said, the
government will go ahead
with its plan even to close
schools.
Minister Brown said it
was unfortunate that the
Legislature will order a
member of the Executive to
do what they want happen.
“The Government, which the
Legislature is a part—we
think that the Legislature
will not issue any position
separate from the position
now issued by the authority
with the responsibility to
issue what is to be issued
by the Government,” Brown
said.
Over the years, National
Legislature,
accordingly
performing its oversight
responsibility, has gone to
further lengths sending
officials of the executive to
prisons on contempt charges
and also casting a vote of no
confidence in some.

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All Applications must be received by
August 31, 2015. Qualified candidates
will be interviewed at the beginning of
September 2015 in various locations in
Africa and Europe. Applications received
after the closing date will not be considered.

Employment opportunities will be available in various
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This effort reflects the commitment of Bank Group leadership
to building a more diverse and inclusive workforce, in which
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extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity.

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Energy and Extractives; Environment and Natural Resources; Finance and Markets;
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QUALIFICATIONS

Thursday , August 20, 2015
Page 7

FINANCIAL BREAKTHROUGH
Thursday , August 20, 2015

Page 8 | Frontpage

A

Monrovias part of efforts
to
enhance
the
country’s
recovery
drive,
the Government of Liberia
embarked on a finance
fetching binge with the
Millennium Challenge (MCC)
in order to raise money
for
projects
identified
as “critical” to economic
revitalization of the country.
The initiative which began
few years ago is now paying
off as the country is on the
verge of receiving in excess
of $256 million dollars from
the United States of America
through the MCC compact
program.
Liberia met the MCC
Compact eligibility threshold
following its performance
on
key
governance
indicators and the successful
implementation of a compact
threshold program in 2013.
MCC
MEDIATES
GOODWILL

- Liberia Set to Receive $256 Million MCC Grant

THE

The compact negotiated
by the MCC between the
United States and Liberian
governments
and
will
provide the latter a grant in
the amount of $256.7 million
to fund projects including
the rehabilitation of the Mt.
Coffee Hydro Power Plant,
rehabilitation of the water
intake and pipeline from
Mt. Coffee to Millsburg,
construction of regional
road maintenance centers in
River Gee and Tubmanburg,
and construction of a Liberia
Electricity
Corporation
Training Center.
Liberia is expected to sign
the compact in early October
2015 in Washington D.C. The
MCC compact will provide

significant
resources
in
further transforming the
Liberian economy leading to
increased employment and
poverty reduction.
CONSTRAINTS ANALYSES
YIELDING RESULTS

According to the MCC
quarterly report as of March
2015, the government of
Liberia
conducted
and
finalized constraints analysis
as well as a social and gender
analysis and an investment
assessment
following
consultation
with
civil
society, private sector and
national government, in each

case in 2013.
The quarterly report says
these analyses identified
as “binding constraints to
economic growth access
to affordable and reliable
electricity and access to
affordable transport network
(road) whilst access to land
right was identified as a
“leaning binding” constraint.
MCC is currently working
with the Government of
Liberia (GoL) to define
potential compact projects
centered principally around
electricity generation and
policy reform, and road
planning and maintenance.

This program definition
process is based on an
economic
constraints
analysis and related social
and gender and investment
opportunity
assessments
completed in the fall of 2013,
concepts submitted by the
GoL thereafter, and continued
subsequent engagement with
the GoL.
In 2010, the MCC and
government of Liberia signed
a $15 million threshold
program grant agreement
that focused on improving
land rights and access,
increasing girls’ primary
education enrollment and

retention, and improving
Liberia trade policy and
practices.
The MCC Compact Program
in Liberia is implemented
through
a
Compact
Development Core team
headed by former Foreign
Minister Mr. Monie Captan,
under the leadership and
direction of Liberia’s Minister
of Finance and Development
Planning Honorable Amara
M. Konneh.
Recently a Government of
Liberia delegation entered
into compact negotiations
with the MCC from July 28 to
30, 2015 in Washington D.C.
It will also mark the

World Trade Organization
(WTO) deals with the global
rules of trade between
nations. Its main function is
to ensure that trade flows as
smoothly, predictably and
freely as possible. Functions
include Administering WTO
trade agreements, Forum

for
trade
negotiations,
Handling trade disputes,
Monitoring national trade
policies, Technical assistance
and training for developing
countries and Cooperation
with other international
organizations. It is located
in
Geneva,
Switzerland,

Sirleaf
Administration’s
serious commitment to
good governance and the
successful implementation
of important policy and
regulatory reforms necessary
to
stimulate
private
investment.
The projects funded under
the MCC compact will be
implemented over a five
(5) year period through a
special purpose agency to be
created by the Government.
The agency will be known
as the Millennium Challenge
Account – Liberia (MCALiberia).
Previous
MCC
compact
projects in Africa have seen
Ghana, Tanzania, Morocco,
and Benin, among beneficiary
countries.
The Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) is an
independent,
bilateral
U.S. Government foreign
aid agency established by
Congress that is based on
the principle that aid is most
effective when it reinforces
good
governance
and
economic prosperity.
ELIGIBILITY
OVERCOME

HEADACHE

Although
Liberia
was
reelected in 2014 by the MCC
Board of Directors as eligible,
the post-conflict nation fell
short of passing 10 of the 20
indicators set forth on the
that year’s scorecard. The
Board then demanded that
Liberia pass the threshold
before compact signature
in last March. This was
achieved in time when the
country passed the requisite
minimum number of 10
indicators.

VICE PRESIDENT JOSEPH N. BOAKAI MEETS WITH WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
DELEGATION: LIBERIA TO INTEGRATE IN THE REGIONAL AND GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS

V

Monrovia ice President Joseph
N. Boakai has hailed
the steps taken
by the Republic
of Liberia to accede to the
World Trade Organization
noting that the move is very
important because it will
improve the economy and
livelihood of the Liberian
people.
Vice President Boakai said
he looks forward to the
realization of the accession
and thanked the team led by
the Commerce Minister Axel
Addy for the level of work
done so far on the accession
document
and
other
processes.
Vice President Boakai was
speaking Wednesday on
Capitol Hill when the Deputy
Secretary of the United
Nations Conference on Trade
and Development, UNCTAD
Mr.Joakim Reiter and Mr.
Chiedu Osakwe, Director of
the Accession Division of the

World Trade Organization
accompanied by the Minister
of Commerce, Axel M. Addy
paid a courtesy call on Him
on Capitol Hill.
Speaking during the meeting,
Mr. Joakin Reiter said Liberia
has
made
remarkable
achievement in the process
leading to accession to the
WTO and that Liberia has
commanded a strong support
in the process. He pointed out
that being a member of the
WTO ensures market access,
make the country resilient
from economic down turns
and the package for the
accession to the World Trade
Organization must reflect
national ambitions.
The delegation informed the
Vice President on a number
of issues that are critical to
the process including the
enactment of laws to enable
the smooth implementation
of the accession.
Mr.
Chiedu
Osakwe,
Director of the Accession

Division of the World Trade
Organization, said it is not
a choice for Liberia to be a
member, it is about Liberia
integrating in the regional
value and global value chains,
because domestic standards
will be raised to global
standards and said it is about
a country that cares about
their position in the world.
He stressed that accession
to the WTO is not a routine
exercise, a release from the
Office of the Vice President
said.
The
World
Trade
Organization (WTO) is the
only global international
organization dealing with
the rules of trade between
nations. At its heart are the
WTO agreements, negotiated
and signed by the bulk of the
world’s trading nations and
ratified in their parliaments.
The goal is to help producers
of goods and services,
exporters, and importers
conduct their business. The


 
established in 1995 and
created by the Uruguay
Round negotiations from
1986 to 1994, with a
current membership of 161
countries. Liberia is the only
country in ECOWAS that has
not acceded to the WTO.

Thursday , August 20, 2015

Frontpage

Page 9

AUREUS COMMENCES OPERATIONS
Liberia Gets First Large Gold Mining Company
L
Monroviaiberia
has
joined
other
countries
around to have its
first large scale Gold
Mining operation. The country
reached that marked Tuesday
when President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf commissioned the ‘The
New Liberty Gold Mine’ in
Grand Cape Mount County.
Over the years there have been
mining using unsophisticated
machines
by
individuals
across Liberia but the current
operations will be the biggest
and more sophisticated.
The company according to its
Management has made initial
investment of two hundredfifty Million United states
Dollars (US$ 250,000,000.00)
into Liberia’s economy and
two hundred million of that
amount was used to build a
mining plant.
It is estimated that over nine
hundred thousand (900, 000
) ounces of gold will be mined
by Bea Mountain
Mining
Corporation during 25 years
mining agreement entered into
with the Liberian government.
The company said it has
already made two shipments
of Gold and is expected to make
the third in the next week but
could not say the value of the
two shipments of gold.
Mr. David J. Readings President
and CEO of the company in
remarks said his company had
to take loan from South African
Banks to get the project
started. He also expressed
prospect in the Country Gold
sector but fear that, such
decline in the price of Gold
on the World Market to affect
their operation.
“Madam President this is
initiative that started since
1997 and kicked off in 2011
but today we are proud to say
that we have kept a promise
to invest in Liberia and today
Liberia is now among the world
gold producing countries”, said
Readings.
He commended the Liberian
government for its support
to
the
investment
and
commended the people of the
area who are the owners of
the land for the peaceful and
mature manner they have
conducted and continue to
conduct them in handling their
concerns.
CEO Reading told the gathering
that the establishment of
the mining company in
that area has brought to
that communities normal
economic activities and the
population has increased
from three thousand to over
fourteen thousand with the
establishment of businesses.
As part of its human capacity
development the company
through its CEO says they have
opened in Liberia the first
simulation training center in
West Africa which has trained
over twenty-eight heavy duty
truck drivers and more than
ten of that number are women
some of whom are employed
by the company.
In her commissioning remarks,
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
said the commissioning of
the company comes in her
words at a very crucial time
and expressed joy because

Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]


 


 


 


 

according to her the operation
of the company will have direct
impact in developing the lives
of Liberians and the citizens of
the concession areas.
President Sirleaf said: “I visited
this mine about a year ago
and there were certain things

that impressed us in how the
management was very clear on
what their objectives are and
what they intend to achieve but
there was a relationship with
the workers and community in
where they operated that gave
us a strong feeling that indeed


 

this will be a success and
we will not face what we are
facing in so many places with
community rebellion”.
The President continued “This
is not to say that the citizens
of this community do not have
grievances because already


 


 

since I came here I have heard
some grievances but what it
is that the company is able to
listen to those grievances and
find a means for cooperation
to take place for operation to
continue.”
The
Liberian
leader

commended the company
for been around during the
difficult period of Ebola
and said she is pleased with
the progress, success and
cooperation the company has
with the government and the
communities.


 

CDC QUESTIONS
Page 10 | Frontpage

Thursday , August 20, 2015

ELECTIONS COMMISSION’S
NEUTRALITY IN NPP SAGA
Al-Varney Rogers [email protected] 0886304498

T

Monroviahe Opposition Congress for Democratic Change Youth
League Chairman says the position by the National
Elections Commission to nullify the just ended National
Patriotic Party national convention undermines the
neutrality of the electoral body.
“NEC who should be presiding over the election is now taking
side. NEC has abandoned its role as referee and is taking part in
this saga, this is an early warning, NEC posture is scaring,” the
CDC youth League Chair Jefferson Koijee told FrontPageAfrica.
Koijee said, his party is concerned about the saga due to the threat
that NEC decision may have on the peace and stability of Liberia.
“NEC has said that the NPP election will not be recognized.
According to them, the election should be held in December—
such posture has the proclivity to undermine the peace and
stability of this country,” Koijee warned.
The CDC Youth League Chair argued that the reason provided
by NEC to nullify the election is not justifiable adding that the
decision by NPP executive committee should be respected.
“The mandate of the executive committee of NPP should be
respected and NEC got no reason to nullify such election,” Koijee
said.
CDC Koijee calls on NEC to desist from interfering into political
parties’ internal affairs saying that such leaves the opposition to
wonder about 2017.
“We are deeply taken aback by the interference of NEC, particularly
Jerome Korkoyah. Come 2017, NEC should be presiding over the

election,” Koijee said.
The CDC Youth League Chairman alleged that the decision by NEC
Chairman is based on personal greed and relationship.
“Korkoyah should stop interfering into a democratic process all
because of personal greed and relationship, we think Liberia
should be lifted high above individual. As a political party, we had
similar thing with Gorge Solo,” Koijee added.
He boasted of his party been the biggest custodian of peace in
Liberia, adding that whenever there exist a semblance of threat
in Liberia it is important for them to have it flagged.
The CDC official thanked the NPP for resolving their long existing
internal wrangling and going to election.
Koijee continued: “we want to salute those men and women in the
NPP for going to elections but in the absence of an incumbent, it
tells you the anxiety.”
The NPP over the weekend held its elections that saw
Representative James P. Biney as its new chairman in an election
that the election body of Liberia did not recognize.
The comment by Senator Dan Morais of Maryland, who is also
refusing to recognize the elections, has led many to think that
NEC is not the only one questioning legitimacy of the election.
The election follows a leadership wrangle that led to the
resignation of Cllr. Theophilus Gould as chairman of the party.
Those who contested the vacant chairmanship position included
Cyril Allen, Representative James P. Biney and Lawrence George.
James Biney won the chairmanship after defeating his nearest
rival Cyril Allen 223 to 35 votes.

LEGAL AID FOR INDICTED
BUTAW CITIZENS AGAINST GVL

By: Kennedy l. Yangian,
0777296781
kennedlyangian@
frontpageafricaonline.com

H
Monrovia-

uman
Rights
advocate and lawyer,
Cllr.
Dempster
Brown, Wednesday
announced that a six-member
legal team has been setup
to defend some 19 indicted
citizens of Butaw in Sinoe
County. The citizens are held
on multiple criminal offences
including armed robbery.
Cllr. Brown, though felt short
of naming the six-member
legal team, disclosed that the
team will be leaving Monrovia
shortly for Greenville, Sinoe
County to serve as legal
representation for the 19
defendants.
“We have organized a legal
team to adequately defend the
defendants and we are hoping
to defeat the government

because the charges levied
against the defendants were
manufactured,”
said
Cllr.
Brown
The human rights lawyer said
that after the incident in June
2015 in Butaw, 20 persons
were arrested by the police and
one of them, Fred Thompson,
was allegedly tortured by the
police while in custody and
died; while a middle-aged
woman (name not disclosed)
trying to see her detained twin
children in prison but barred
and for that reason she went
unconscious and also died.
“As I speak to you, residents
of Butaw are all scattered
in the bushes for fear that if
they return to their towns and
villages they will be arrested
by the police who have put out
a manhunt”, the lawyer said.
At the moment Brown stressed
that in order not to have the
defendants placed on bond, the
government has gone ahead
to charge them with non-

bailable offences including
armed robbery. He warned the
citizens not to collect any fund
in order to secure the bond of
any of the defendants as the
charges against them are nonbailable
According
to
Cllr.Brown,
information gathered from
Sinoe County indicates that the
prosecution has filed a motion
for change of venue of the case
from Sinoe County to another
un-named county because of
fear that they will lose the case.
He warned that if there was
any decision of such, it will be
done by the court.

  Cllr. Brown has blamed the local
official of the county, especially
the Superintendent Romeo
Quiah for the humiliation of
citizens of Butaw. He alleged
that it was the Superintendent
who reported that the locals
were in possession of guns
and other deadly weapons,
something he described as
untrue.
“The Superintendent was one
of those who lied on the people
that they have weapons all
because he wants government
job, but we will not sit
and watch our citizens be
intimidated,” said Cllr. Brown.
The 19 defendants were
arrested and detained during
the aftermath of last June
rioting by residents of Butaw
on the premises of the Golden
Veroleum Company in Sinoe
County which reportedly
left several of the company’s
properties vandalized and

looted.
The June rioting by residents
of Butaw comes amid repeated
accusations
by
residents
against the Malaysia Palm
Company of forceful land grab.
The Butaw rioting is the third
protest in recent time to be
staged by locals in the country
where company properties
worth millions of United
Dollars were vandalized and
looted.
Michael Bruno a Belgian
national was shot and killed
allegedly by an unknown local
while on a rubber plantation
of the Liberia Agriculture
Company (LAC) in 2010
while carrying out a survey
for the expansion of the LAC
plantation to the displeasure
of the locals who have earlier
complained of the company
illegal expansion.
Several locals were arrested
while the case is still pending
for adjudication at the Criminal
Court ”A” at the Temple of
Justice due to change of venue
from Grand Bassa County to
Monsterrado County.
In March 2014, a group of locals
from Zolowee, Nimba County
staged a protest against the
steel giant Arcelor Mittal. The
company’s properties worth
over US$5m was vandalized
and looted.
During the aftermath of the
incident several locals were
also arrested but transferred
to Monrovia and onward to
Grand Bassa County where
they were tried.

Candidates for national vice chairman for administration
included Senator Sando Johnson, former Bomi County Senator
Lahai Lansanah and Anthony Barclay. Johnson won this category.
Representative George Mulbah is now the new chairman for
Operations after the convention.
The newly elected Chairman of the National Patriotic Party (NPP),
Representative Biney of Maryland County promised to bring the
NPP to a democratic rule.
Representative Biney said his leadership will be a leadership of
the partisans of the party. Biney sees his taking over of the party
as a privilege given to him by committed partisans.
The NPP lawmaker noted that he will bring together all aggrieved
partisans who left the party. He noted that the NPP is a big
party that cannot be controlled by a single person, saying the
democratization of the party is paramount.
He described his chairmanship as a priority for the partisans
to vote and democratize the party. “In the NPP, the will of the
majority always move the party decision, no one man can make
decision,” he noted. On the issue of the party being stigmatized,
Biney disagreed with people who have the belief that the NPP is
stigmatized, saying there are individuals within the party that are
stigmatized. “We will build the image of the party, the NPP is not
stigmatized some individuals in the party might be stigmatized
but not the party,” he noted.


 

THEY LIED TO US’
Thursday , August 20, 2015

Kinjol, Grand Cape Mount
County itizens of Kinjol and
other surrounding
Towns
in
the
mining
operating
area of the Bea Mountain
Mining
Corporation
in
Grand Cape Mount County
are complaining of the lack
of several basic services
that should be provided by
the company, as per their
agreement signed with the
Government of Liberia.
The citizens, in an interview
with
FrontPage
Africa,
accused the company of not
living up to the Resettlement
Action Plan agreement they
entered into with the mining
company since the beginning
of operational activities in
that area.
Memam Selma-Vah, a mother
of three children, said the
company promised to build
them new homes, clinic and
hand pumps but that promise
is yet to come to fruition as
they live in temporary homes
built of mud and sticks by
the Bea Mountain Mining
Corporation until the real
homes can be completed.
Memam Selma-Vah said: “We
don’t have toilet, no good
drinking water and no good
school and no hospital. We
used to have water but since
the company came and built
us this new camp, we have
to travel fifteen minutes to
get water. The company is
not treating us fine, even this
market we’re selling in is not
how they promised to build
it.”
Madam Vah said she is a
business woman engaged in
the sale of frozen food but
according to her, business
is not good as expected. She
also claimed that she has
lived in the Kinjol area that
was relocated because of the
company mining activities
since 2000.
“The company did not give us
a dime as relocation benefit.
They lied to us during the
relocation—they told us
they will finish our houses
and turn it over to us before
mining starts but since then,
nothing they have done and
they have started doing their
mining.”
She refused to believe that
Ebola hindered the operation
of the company, making it
difficult for the company
to lived up to its part of the
agreement as was planned.
According to her, this is the
new excuse everyone is using
to do the wrong things.
Unlike Madam Vah, Madam
Fatu Fahnbulleh, who is also
another business woman
selling frozen food told
FrontPageAfrica that the

C

Frontpage

Page 11

Kinjol Citizens Accuse Mining Firm of Failing Terms
Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]


 


 

company is doing well in
providing employment for
some citizens including her
husband but confirmed that
the issue of safe drinking
water and other basic
services still remains a
challenge for them.
Contrary to the citizens’

claims against the Company,
Debar
Allen,
General
Manager Aureus Gold Mining
Company said at the initial
stage of the agreement with
the community, relocation
was planned around two
thousand persons but in
recent years the numbers

have shot up
He admitted that there
are provisions in the
Resettlement Action Plan
between
the
company
and the citizens to build
clinics, schools and pumps
for drinking water but the
growing number of people
in the area has carried them
back to the drawing board.
Mr. Allen said: “When the
community was planned, it
was planned around three
thousand inhabitants but that
number has over grown. We
have two choices—either we
built the schools, clinics and

 
walk away. But what happens
if those facilities are too small
for the growing population?
So we now have said to
county officials we need to
sit and talk to understand
government’s commitment
with the understanding that
the community is growing
much bigger than it was
expected to be”.

He promised that by
December of this year the
company will complete its
part of the agreement which
includes housing, school,
clinics etc. He promised
that they will not build
new housing for additional
residents that have gone to
the concession area because
according him, it has to be
discussed between them and
government and the citizens
themselves.
Responding to inquiry about
the happiness of the people
in the concession area, Allen
said: “I think they are because
when I first came here, it was
a small community but now
you have people making
money and spending it, so I
think they are happy.”
In response to claim about
the company using a chemical
that is killing them and
their animals, the company
General Manager denied the
claims and said no one has

died of cyanide because they
take safety measures very
serious.
“All of the safety measures
are in place to ensure that
there are not accidents and
their lives are protected in
terms of the use of that and
any other chemical,” he said.
The Chemical Cyanide is one
of the chemicals used for gold
production.
During a tour of the company
facilities by FPA reporter, a
fish was found dead right by
the banks of the reservoir that
host waste from the factory
but it is unclear whether
the fish died as a result of
chemical in that water. But
the company claimed that
the water is been processed
and sent back for use by the
machine.


 

‘A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE,’

Thursday , August 20, 2015

Page 12 | Frontpage

President Sirleaf Describes Commissioning of First Gold Mining Operations

P

Monroviaresident
Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf says
the commissioning
of Liberia’s first
gold mining investment,
estimated
at
US$250
million, signifies a vote of
confidence in the country as
a favorable choice for foreign
business development and
an opportunity for the ranks
of gold-producing nations

L

Monroviaiberia
National
E l e c t i o n
Commissions
Chairman,
Jerome
Korkoya says he disagrees
with the decision of the
Supreme Court calling for
a rerun of the election at
three polling places in Bong
County.
Speaking on a local Radio
talk-show
Wednesday
evening, Chairman Kokoya
challenged the court ruling
by disagreeing with the
judgment saying though
he will respect and comply
with the ruling of the court,
but declared that the court
was in error to render such
judgment.
“I disagree with the court
and I will respectfully
obey and comply with the
judgment of the court. As a
free citizen, I will say that the
court rendered the wrong
decision,” he noted.
The Supreme Court in its
decision following hearings
from all parties into the
case Dr. Henrique Tokpa,
Independent
candidate
vs the National Elections
Commission and Madam
Jewel Howard Taylor of
the
National
Patriotic
Party decided that indeed
election irregularities were
committed in three (3) areas
within District # 7, Bong
County namely, Sanoyea
Market Precinct, polling
place # 5, Yarbayeh Public
School and Beletanda Palava
Hut polling precincts.
“In the absence of any
complaint
or
evidence
of irregularities in the

around the world.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, speaking
during
the
dedication
ceremony of the New Liberty
Gold Mine, a subsidiary of
the Bea Mining Corporation
situated in Kanjor, Gola
Konneh District, Grand Cape
Mount County, the Liberian
President said the opening of
the processing plant comes
at a crucial time especially

when the iron ore, which is
one of Liberia’s major export
earner is experiencing global
stress on the world market.
President Sirleaf commended
the Board of Directors
and Management of New
Liberty Gold Mine for their
resilience and determination
to keep the project on
course in spite of the Ebola
outbreak. She recalled her
visit more than a year ago

when the plant was under
construction and reiterated
her initial impression about
an investment set to enhance
the nation’s socio-economic
livelihood.
The Liberian leader praised
the New Liberty Gold Mine’s
relationship with workers,
the community and the
government.
She
said
although the company has
not attracted resistance as
in other concession areas
– ruling out grievance was
unlikely; but noted that there
is always an opportunity for
dialogue. She challenged the
New Liberty Gold Mine to
endeavor free Liberia of its
dependence on the iron ore
monopoly.
In brief remarks, Liberia’s
Lands Mine and Energy
Minister, Patrick Sendolo
termed as a momentous
achievement the realization
of
the
commissioning
ceremony within a relative
short period of time and a
milestone that gold is now
being mined on an industrial
scale. He noted that New
Liberty Gold Mine proved
the most unprecedented
investment inroad since the
administration took over

and added that government
is committed to inspiring
investors that demonstrate
the capacity to invest. He paid
tribute to President Sirleaf
for her leadership as well
as the entire management
team of the Ministry for its
unflinching support.
Earlier, the President &
Chief Executive Officer of
Aureus Mining Company, a
subsidiary of Bea Mountain
Mining
Corporation/New
Liberty Gold Mine, Mr. David
J. Reading said despite
challenges amid gold at 45
percent at its value coupled
with the Ebola scourge – it
was almost impossible to
believe that his company’s
efforts would translate into
Liberia’s first gold mining
investment.
Mr. Reading said the New
Liberty Gold Mine was
pleased with government’s
support aimed at the
relocation of 2,000 local
inhabitants in 2013 to
benefitting accommodation
in order to pave the way
for their operations. The
New Liberty Gold Mine CEO
indicated that the Project
has been able to keep its
commitment, which has

culminated not only into
Liberia becoming a gold
producing nation but the
country’s first ever gold
mining
operations
of
commercial value.
As part of the company
social impact intervention,
due
recognition
has
been accorded adjoining
communities taking into
account the gender factor
– providing empowerment
– life skills; sustainable
agriculture initiatives and
was reported that currently
10 women are chauffeuring
Chinese-made trucks in their
mining operations.
Mr. Reading also revealed
that in order to support the
participation of Liberianowned businesses in its
operations – the services of
Aminata Gas Station have
been hired for the supply of
petroleum products while
Cape Mount Construction
Company on the other
hand is involved various
construction projects at the
mine processing plant. He
however thanked President
Sirleaf, the government
and people of Liberia who
supported New Liberty God
Mine from the inception.
This latest development has
ultimately broken the jinx
of alluvial mining, which is
largely laborious and did
not impact significantly
on government revenuegeneration

NEC CHAIR KORKOYAH DISAGREES
WITH SUPREME COURT RULING
By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr (231886458910)-FPA Staff Writer

remaining
twenty-four
voting precincts of District
# 7, we hold that the ballots
cast in those three areas
having been compromised, a
recount of ballots already cast
and counted will not suffice
to cure the irregularities;
rather, a re-run or a repeat
of the elections by voters
registered in those precincts
herein specified will restore
the credibility of the election
process thereat, and it so

ordered”, the Supreme Court
decided.
The court handed its ruling
for the rerun and mandated
NEC to conduct the election
within 60 days.
Chairman Korkoyah says
the Supreme Court does not
know about elections, only
the law.
“With all due respect to the
court, but the court doesn’t
know about elections, the
court knows the law. And in

our system of government
when the court speaks,
whether right or wrong, it
prevails,” he noted.
The NEC Chair noted that not
everything that comes out of
the court can be true. “When
the court speaks, we need at
times to look at the opinion
and see what the issues are
that the court has decided
on”.
Chairman Korkoya noted
that with all of the factors he

listed, the NEC has no option
but to obey the ruling of the
court, saying the court has
the final saying.
“All we have to do is just to
obey the ruling of the court,
but sometimes when the
court decides it is not always
true and is not always correct,
the court only has to disagree
with you in arguments,” he
noted.
Stated the Supreme Court
“Wherefore and in view of
the facts and circumstances,
the laws and principles
stated herein above and in
consonance with the law that
this Court is authorized to
enter the requisite judgment
that a lower tribunal should
have rendered in this case,
the NEC, this Court hereby
declares null and void the
ballots cast in Sanoyea
Market precinct, polling
place # 5, voting precinct
code 6098, Yarbayeh Public
School voting precinct code
6126 and Beletanda Palava
Hut voting precinct code
6005, respectively and a rerun or new elections ordered
in the said polling place
and precincts, respectively,
with the participation by
registered voters within a
period of sixty (60) days”.
The
National
Elections
Commission Chairman has
however disclosed that the
NEC needs up to US$75,000

to conduct the reelection in
Bong County.
He said the commission has
already started talking with
the Ministry of Finance to
make the money available to
carryon the process.
He also disagreed with
some Liberians who always
stigmatize the NEC of
being bias in the conduct of
election, ”there is no perfect
conduct of elections all over
the world, so it hurts me
a lot when I hear people
saying that we are bias in
the conduct of elections,” he
noted.
NEC is prepare for 2017
Election

The Chairman of the National
Elections Commission has
disclosed the NEC readiness
to fully conduct the elections
come 2017. He said why it
is true that the elections will
be challenging but the NEC is
prepared to receive all of the
punches in the conduct of the
2017 election.
He said currently there
are 18 registered and
certificated political parties
in Liberia, while there are
still additional 12 proposed
political parties that have not
been certificated by the NEC
but are still going through the
registration process.

Thursday , August 20, 2015

I

Monrovia n an effort to combat
coastal erosion in Grand
Cape
Mount,
UNDP
Liberia has dedicated ten
new eco-friendly ovens for use
by residents in the towns of
Latia and Tala.
The use of the ovens will
significantly
reduce
the
amount of wood residents
cut from nearby mangrove
swamps.
Kamil
Kamalludeen,
the
Country Director of UNDP
Liberia explained during the
dedication ceremony held in
Latia: “The women in these
communities rely on drying
fish to supplement their family
income. These ovens will not
only help the environment by
reducing the need for wood
to fuel the drying process, but
they will also enable women to
dry more fish and earn more
income. Families will have
more money to buy medicine
and send their children to
school.”
The ovens were provided
after successful pilot projects
in neighboring communities,
which demonstrated the value
to local communities.
During the dry season the
nearby mangrove swamps
provide a rich environment
for palm-sized fish known
locally as “Bonnie fish”, and
the catch is usually larger than
the local market can absorb.
The fishermen therefore travel
from village to village selling
their surplus catch so that it
can be smoked and sold dry.
Siafa
Sombai
is
the
spokesperson for Sembehum
village which received 10
ovens last year. He explained
that smoking the fish over
an open charcoal flame used
to require 30-40 bundles of
mangrove wood each day. But
with the eco-friendly ovens the
villagers can smoke the same
number of fish with only five
bundles of wood.
Throughout the year, the
villagers grow cassava, which

UNDP DEDICATES ECO-OVENS IN
GRAND CAPE MOUNT COUNTY

they grind and cook into a
traditional Liberian porridge
known as “gari”. In the dry
season, the 360 families
have organized a schedule so
that they can share access to
the eco-friendly ovens and
supplement their incomes by
selling dried fish.
It is also healthier for the
women to use the special
ovens because they produce
much less smoke, leaving them
less vulnerable to respiratory
and eye problems.
The greater fuel efficiency
helps the preserve the
mangrove swamps which both
protect against erosion and
provide carbon sequestration,
which helps the global
environment.
The Liberian coast is very
vulnerable to erosion and
storm damage because of the
abrasive currents, high energy
wave patterns and frequent
storm surges.
Sea erosion is already a major
threat to all Liberian coastal
cities. In Robertsport, about
ten miles from the town of
Latia, the airfield has been
completely submerged by
rising sea water and a sub
police station was recently
washed away.
Global climate change and

its attendant sea level rise,
combined with increased
intensity of storms is likely
to accelerate this dangerous
erosion.
People living in coastal areas
are generally amongst the
poorest and most vulnerable
with a large proportion of the
population living in temporary
or poorly constructed housing
that offers little protection
from storm surges.
The eco-friendly ovens project
is part of the Enhancing
Resilience of Vulnerable Coastal
Areas to Climate Change Risks
in Liberia (Coastal Project for

short), is aimed at helping
coastal communities in Grand
Cape Mount, Monsterrado and
Grand Bassa counties develop

 
defensive mechanism against
the effects of climate change.
The Coastal Project funded
with a $2.9 million grant from
the Global Environment Fund/
Least Developed Countries
Fund. UNDP is providing a
further $400,000 to the fund
to combat coastal erosion,
as well as improve economic
development with eco-friendly
ovens and solar panels.

VP BOAKAI MEETS WTO DELEGATION - LIBERIA TO
INTEGRATE IN REGIONAL, GLOBAL VALUE CHAINS

V

Monroviaice President Joseph
N. Boakai has hailed
the steps taken by the
Republic of Liberia
to accede to the World Trade
Organization
noting
that
the move is very important
because it will improve the
economy and livelihood of the
Liberian people.
Vice President Boakai said he
looks forward to the realization
of the accession and thanked
the team led by the Commerce
Minister Axel Addy for the
level of work done so far on the
accession document and other
processes.
Vice President Boakai was

Frontpage

speaking
Wednesday
on
Capitol Hill when the Deputy
Secretary of the United
Nations Conference on Trade
and Development, UNCTAD
Mr.Joakim Reiter and Mr.
Chiedu Osakwe, Director of
the Accession Division of the
World Trade Organization
accompanied by the Minister
of Commerce, Axel M. Addy
paid a courtesy call on Him on
Capitol Hill.
Speaking during the meeting,
Mr. Joakin Reiter said Liberia
has
made
remarkable
achievement in the process
leading to accession to the
WTO and that Liberia has
commanded a strong support

in the process. He pointed out
that being a member of the
WTO ensures market access,
make the country resilient
from economic down turns
and the package for the
accession to the World Trade
Organization must reflect
national ambitions.
The delegation informed the
Vice President on a number
of issues that are critical to
the process including the
enactment of laws to enable
the smooth implementation of
the accession.
Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director of
the Accession Division of the
World Trade Organization, said
it is not a choice for Liberia to
be a member, it is about Liberia
integrating in the regional
value and global value chains,
because domestic standards
will be raised to global
standards and said it is about
a country that cares about
their position in the world. He
stressed that accession to the
WTO is not a routine exercise,
a release from the Office of the
Vice President said.
The World Trade Organization
(WTO) is the only global
international
organization
dealing with the rules of trade

between nations. At its heart
are the WTO agreements,
negotiated and signed by the
bulk of the world’s trading
nations and ratified in their
parliaments. The goal is to
help producers of goods
and services, exporters, and
importers
conduct
their
business. The World Trade
Organization (WTO) deals
with the global rules of trade
 
between nations. Its main
function is to ensure that
trade flows as smoothly,
predictably and freely as
possible. Functions include
Administering WTO trade
agreements, Forum for trade
negotiations, Handling trade
disputes, Monitoring national
trade
policies,
Technical
assistance and training for
developing countries and
Cooperation
with
other
international
organizations.
It is located in Geneva,
Switzerland,
established
in 1995 and created by the
Uruguay Round negotiations
from 1986 to 1994, with a
current membership of 161
countries. Liberia is the only
country in ECOWAS that has
not acceded to the WTO.

Page 13

GONZAGA HOSTS
NOBEL LAUREATE

AND VISITING HEAD OF STATE
ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF,
PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA, OCT. 4

G

SPOKANE, Wash. –
onzaga University is pleased to announce that it will host
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia and winner
of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Peace, on Oct. 4. President
Sirleaf, the first democratically elected female head of
state in Africa, has also graciously agreed to deliver Gonzaga’s sixth
Presidential Speaker Series<http://www.gonzaga.edu/about/
mcculloh/presidential-speaker-series/default.asp> lecture, the
first by a visiting head of state, at 7 p.m., in the McCarthey Athletic
Center.
A global leader for women’s equality, Sirleaf will reflect upon her
life story and discuss the promotion of global peace, justice and
human rights. The title of a feature story in The New York Times
Magazine referred to her as “An Uncompromising Woman<http://
www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/magazine/24sirleaf-t.html?_
r=0>.”
Gonzaga President Thayne McCulloh invites the Gonzaga
community and the public to hear firsthand of President Sirleaf’s
courageous efforts to bring economic growth and peace to wartorn Liberia, her heroic response to the Ebola crisis, and her
award-winning efforts to promote human rights, freedom and
justice worldwide.
“President Sirleaf is regarded as among the most powerful
women in the world and the recipient of many honors, including
India’s Indira Gandhi Prize in 2013 in recognition of her efforts
toward promoting peace, economic development, and enlarging
the scope of freedom,” President McCulloh said. “Hers is a unique
story of service, leadership and political activism across a period
of dramatic civil war and economic instability. She serves as the
leader of a nation with a history of political strife and challenges;
despite the high regard with which she is held both at home and
abroad, her own administration has been the subject of criticism
as well. Imprisoned on several occasions, forced several times
during the 1980s and ’90s to flee the country out of fear of
reprisal, President Sirleaf’s tenacity and resilience has garnered
her the nickname, ‘The Iron Lady of Africa.’”
Since March 2014, President Sirleaf and her government have
faced the challenges of addressing and eradicating the deadly
Ebola virus, which has killed more than 4,600 Liberians.
Responding to this international health crisis has required
strength and courage in the face of tremendous adversity.
“Today, the Ebola threat in Liberia has been virtually
extinguished, and the World Health Organization gives much of
the credit to effective policies established by President Sirleaf’s
administration,” President McCulloh said.
In 2007, President Sirleaf was awarded the Presidential Medal
of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, for her
personal courage and unwavering commitment to expanding
freedom and improving the lives of Africans. Fortune Magazine
ranks President Sirleaf No. 16 on its (2015) list of World’s Greatest
Leaders<http://fortune.com/worlds-greatest-leaders/>.
President Sirleaf, who holds a master’s degree in public
administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of
Government, is the author of “This Child Will Be Great: Memoir
of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First Woman President” (2009,
HarperCollins).


 

F

Page 14 | Frontpage

PAGE

RONT


 

STUNNING NEW POLL SHOWS DONALD
TRUMP IN SURPRISINGLY GOOD
POSITION AGAINST HILLARY CLINTON

A

new poll out Wednesday found that real-estate
mogul Donald Trump is only 6 points behind former
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a theoretical
general-election matchup.
According to the CNN/ORC survey, the Democratic front-runner
leads Trump just 51% to 45% among registered voters.
If the poll is accurate, it represents a sharp improvement for
Trump. Though he has surged to the front of the GOP field, polls
have previously found him lagging in general-election matchups.
A CNN/ORC survey in June, for example, found that Clinton
would crush Trump 59% to 34% — by 25 points — in the
hypothetical matchup. And while his 16-point deficit in July was
a notable improvement, it still would represent a wide margin
of defeat:

WORLD NEWS

Thursday , August 20, 2015

CHINA IS IN THE MIDST OF ITS

BIGGEST CRISIS
IN DECADES

expense of the public.
Nor is it the China of tight
currency controls, amid fears
that the vagaries of global
markets could affect China's
economic regulation. Or at
least that is the message
Beijing is trying to send. It
is a message perhaps meant
more for domestic than
international
consumption,
but one that recognizes that
neither abroad nor at home
is there a lot of trust in the
Chinese Communist Party or
the government to pursue a
transparent policy. The taint
of corruption, collusion and
nepotism remains strong and
is perhaps even reinforced
by the breadth and depth of
the ongoing anti-corruption
campaign.
Old Systems Become Obsolete

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO
SIDESTEP CONGRESS ON CUBA TRAVEL

T

ravel to Cuba could soon be nearly as easy as travel to
any other part of the world.
The Obama administration plans to unilaterally ease
the travel restrictions to Cuba, sources told ABC News.
The new measures would bypass limits on travel imposed by
Congress by changing regulations at the executive level.
Talks are already underway between the Federal Aviation
Administration and Cuban aviation authorities to resume
regularly scheduled non-charter or commercial flights between
the two countries.
And ABC News has learned that the Treasury Department is now
considering new regulations that would allow all Americans
to travel to Cuba as individuals and not in tour groups or with
other third-party arrangers.
These two changes are being developed separately by the two
U.S. government agencies but, when complete, would allow
Americans to book tickets to the island nation without going by
charter. Those are now the only flights from the United States to
Cuba because of restrictions by the embargo.


 

FOGLE TO PLEAD GUILTY TO SEX
ACTS WITH MINORS, CHILD PORN

L

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) —
ongtime Subway pitchman Jared Fogle agreed
Wednesday to plead guilty to allegations that he paid for
sex acts with minors and received child pornography in
a case that destroyed his career at the sandwich-shop
chain and could send him to prison for more than a decade.
Prosecutors allege that Fogle knew the pornography had been
secretly produced by the former director of his charitable
foundation, which sought to raise awareness about childhood
obesity and arranged for Fogle to visit schools and urge children
to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits.
Fogle sat in court with his hands clasped and quietly answered
"no" when the judge asked whether he had any questions about
his rights. He is expected to enter the formal plea at a later date
to one count each of travelling to engage in illicit sexual conduct
with a minor and distribution and receipt of child pornography.


 

L

ast week was an
eventful one for China.
First, the People's
Bank of China shocked
the financial world when it
cut the yuan's reference rate
against the U.S. dollar by nearly
2 percent, leading to a greater
than 2 percent drop in the
value of the yuan in offshore
trading.
The decline triggered a frenzy
of
speculation,
including
some expectations that the
Chinese move would trigger
a race to the bottom for Asian
currencies.
Beijing said the adjustment
was designed to fix distortions
between the trading rate
of the yuan and the rate it
should have been at according
to speculation, and that
subsequent large shifts were
unlikely.
The International Monetary
Fund, however, noted that
the move could lead to a freer
floating yuan — something the
IMF has asked of Beijing before
the organization considers
including the yuan in its
Special Drawing Rights basket
of currencies. In comments
made on the sidelines of its
annual report on the Chinese
economy, released later in the

week, the IMF also noted that
the yuan was not undervalued,
despite the decline.
Also last week, Chinese state
media issued a warning to
retired officials to stay out of
politics and not misuse their
former networks and prestige.
The warning followed reports
in state media suggesting that
the annual unofficial gathering
of current and former Party
officials at Beidaihe was
canceled and would not serve
as a policy-making venue in
the future.
The reports noted that Party
officials had already held
several additional sessions in
Beijing and that decisions were
being made in the open, not in
some secretive gathering of
Party elders. Other reports
circulating in Chinese media
warned that former Party and
military officials were involved
in real estate speculation
along with other economic
mismanagement and needed
to stop.
Finally, last week China dealt
with one of its worst industrial
accidents in years — a series of
explosions at a chemical shortterm storage facility in the
busy port city of Tianjin. More
than 100 people were killed in

the explosions and aftermath,
prompting the government to
launch an investigation into
illegal storage and improper
safety procedures at that and
 
other facilities around the
country.
Citizens have begun smallscale
demonstrations
in
Tianjin to demand government
reparations for damages as a
result of the blast. In response,
Beijing stepped up its media
campaign against rumors,
using state media to remind
the public that the government
publicly charged a Politburo
standing committee member
with corruption, so the public
can trust the government to be
open and not hide a conspiracy
surrounding the Tianjin blast.
If there is a common theme
running
through
these
events, it is the way Beijing is
emphasizing its openness in
decision-making, in reporting
and in explaining its actions.
This is not the China of the past
that tried to hide the truths of
major natural or man-made
disasters from its citizens. It
is not the China that operated
by secret agreements made
only after a consensus of Party
elders, or the China that tried
to protect Party officials at the

The reality is that China is in
the midst of what may be its
most serious crisis since the
days of Deng Xiaoping. And
the model of government and
economy Deng put in place is
no longer effective at managing
China, much less shifting it in a
new direction.
As China emerged from the
chaos of the Maoist era, Deng
initiated three basic policies
for China's future growth and
development, starting around
the early 1980s.
First, allow the economy more
localized freedom, accepting
that some areas would grow
faster than others but that in the
long run the rising tide would
lift all boats.
Second, prevent any single
individual
from
truly
dominating
the
Chinese
political system. No longer
could a figure like Mao
Zedong exert so much personal
influence that the entire country
could be thrown into economic
and social upheaval.
Instead, China's leaders would
be locked into a consensusdriven model that limited any
individual source of power and
eliminated factions in favor
of widespread networks of
influence that overlapped so
much they could not be truly
divisive.

SAFRICA: FAMILY SAYS WINNIE
MANDELA MEDDLED IN RAPE CASE

W

JOHANNESBURG (AP) —
innie Madikizela-Mandela tried to
derail a complaint from a teenager
accusing
Nelson
Mandela's
grandson of rape, a spokesman for
the alleged victim's family said Wednesday.
Madikizela-Mandela, the late Mandela's divorced
wife, sent her bodyguard to the 15-year-old girl's
home, the spokesman said.
Days before Mbuso Mandela's arrest, the
bodyguard appeared at the teenager's house
posing as a police officer, the spokesman told the
Associated Press. When the bodyguard began
asking questions about the alleged rape, the girl's
parents demanded he produce a police badge.
"We did ask him, 'If you are a policeman, show us
your badge, show us your card,' and he didn't have
that," said the spokesman, who refused to allow
his name to be used by any of the media.
The bodyguard
then revealed that he was there on

 

behalf of Madikizela-Mandela, who invited them
to her Soweto home last Thursday to discuss the
matter. Madikizela-Mandela, still a politically
powerful woman in South Africa, promised to ask
the provincial police commissioner to handle the
case and said her family would also hold a press
conference, the spokesman said.
The family reported the rape when they did not
hear from Madikizela-Mandela again.
Madikizela-Mandela's office has not responded to
questions.
The rape allegedly took place at a popular
restaurant in Greenside, a Johannesburg suburb,
on Aug. 7, said police spokeswoman Brig.
Mashadi Selepe. The matter was reported to police
a week later and Mbuso Mandela was arrested last
Saturday, she said.
Mbuso Mandela, 24, is in custody and is to appear
at a bail hearing on Friday, Selepe said.

Thursday , August 20, 2015

Frontpage

Sports

FROM GHANA’S DEATH TO NIGERIA’S INTERMENT

F

Monrovia rom
an
apparent
lack of interest from
the Liberia Football
Association (LFA) to
long-running infrastructural,
administrative and technical
issues, women’s football must
have been dead in February
2011 in Accra, Ghana but was
only interred on July 25 in
Abuja, Nigeria.
Following his celebratedelection on March 20, 2010,
LFA President Musa Bility
committed the first footballing
sin when Liberia accepted to
participate in the 2011 AllAfrica Games.
Interestingly,
there
was
an emphasis on women’s
football
development
in
Bility’s manifesto but the LFA
organized its men’s national
league without the women’s
national league during the
2010/2011 season.
And not only did Liberia
draw Ghana but it suffered
a humiliating defeat, losing
4-0 at the Antoinette Tubman
Stadium (ATS) on February 13,
2011 and going down 7-0 in
Accra on February 27, 2011.
Since 2008, a requirement
has been in place for at least
15-percent of the Fifa's FAP
(Financial Assistance Program
of US$250,000) to be used for
women's football.
According to Fifa secretarygeneral
Jerome
Valcke's
December 19, 2014 circular
#1463 sent to all members,
"this is an obligatory provision
and it is of huge importance to
the further development of the
women's game”.
For the 2015 reporting year,
Liberia, like the remaining
208
members,
received
US$750,000
(US$500,000
came as bonus from the 2014
World Cup finals).
This means all members should
have spent at least US$112,500
on women's football.
Despite that mandate with a

Page 15

SPORTS

GLITCH ON POLICY
AND STATUTES C
How has the LFA been managing Fifa’s funds for women’s football?
Danesius Marteh, [email protected]

funding instruction, Liberia is
yet to hold a female national
league in violation not only of
the mandate from Fifa but the
March 2014 congress where
delegates mandated the LFA to
hold four categories of leagues:
first, second, female and
community division (popularly
known as third and fourth
divisions).
In the absence of a league, the
LFA bravely registered Liberia
to face Nigeria in the Fifa
under-20 World Cup qualifiers,
having pulled away from facing
Cameroon in the 2016 Rio

Olympics Games qualifiers.
Liberia lost 7-1 at the ATS on
July 12 and 7-0 in Abuja on July
25.
But LFA technical director
Henry Brown tried to play
diplomacy on a childish
decision to have registered
the country in the absence of a
national league.
“I understand what you’re
saying [by calling it a childish
error] but we had another
format where we started
training even before the men’s
league started. So we had
some things in place because

we anticipated these various
competitions.
“And we stopped for a while
and then we picked-up again.
So we knew where to start
without the league,” Brown
told UNMIL Radio’s Sports
Extra program on August 1.
Our reporter has seen email
exchanges between Brown
and Bility, which were sent
to all executive committee
members in which Brown was
disgusted with Bility’s decision
to withdraw from the ties with
Cameroon.
“I don’t want to comment on
the email I made with the
president because the email
I made with the president
was very personal. What I am
trying to tell you now is that
you weighed the options.
“The option is going in a
competition with Cameroon
could have seen [disaster].
It wasn’t going to help their
development program. It was
better to get the under-20 to go
[into the competition] because
that’s where the emphasis,”
Brown said.
Asked
whether
his
contradictory comments were
as a result of threats to lose
his job, Brown said: “I am not
different. It is like for example,
if you put a proposal together,
it has to have administrative
backing.
“If the administration said the
weighed the financial cost and
the effect on the FA, I, from
the technical department,
can’t go against that. From
my department, we say
more participation means
an advancement in women’s
football. And that’s what I was
trying to say.”
The LFA has seven registered

female clubs: Earth Angels,
Senior Professionals, Blanco
FC, Determine Girls, Island
Queens, Four Sisters and War
Girls and Brown deferred
all inquiries on the FAP for
women’s football to Bility and
his team of financial managers,
including treasurer Jallah D.
Corvah.
The fate of the league, which
should have kicked-off after
a July 21 workshop intended
to review the global overall
trend of women’s football,
including the administrative,
financial, psychological and
physiological aspects, now
hangs in the balance.
And at a news conference on
August 10, Bility hatched the
plot that a female league will
take place later than sooner.
“What we have done at the
competition level is that we
are trying to do the same
restructuring [club license
policy] we did with the [male]
clubs before they started
their league because what we
did last season wasn’t very
attractive. “We have to set
criteria for clubs within the
female division to operate. I
think we need to add a couple
of more clubs. And I think
hopefully, we will finish very
soon,” Bility said.
Well, a monthly request by
our reporter to review the
expenditure for the two legs
with Nigeria was pushed
to December when the LFA
concludes the fiscal year.
So, what has Bility been doing
with the 15-percent of the
FAP for women’s football? Is
this an achievement for his
administration
following
gruesome defeats to Ghana
and Nigeria?

CHELSEA HIJACK
MANCHESTER UNITED
BID FOR PEDRO

helsea are now
 
in pole position
to sign Barcelona
forward
Pedro
after making a late bid to
hijackManchester United’s
move for the Spaniard,
Goal understands.
Pedro travelled to London
on Wednesday morning
to hold talks with Chelsea
ahead of a €30 million
move, and personal terms
are not expected to be an
obstacle to completing the
deal.
NALDO: IT'S IN DE BRUYNE'S
INTERESTS TO SNUB MAN CITY

W

olfsburg
defender
Naldo
believes
Kevin De Bruyne should
snub Manchester City and
remain at the Bundesliga
side.
The midfielder has been
heavily linked with a move
back to England, with City
preparing to make a £50
million offer for the player
who topped the Bundesliga
assist charts last season and
was crowned the league's
player of the year.


 

ZIDANE WILL BE NEXT REAL
MADRID COACH - FERNANDEZ

L

uis Fernandez has
 
backed
Zinedine
Zidane to take over
at Real Madrid when
Rafael Benitez 's tenure as
coach comes to an end.
Benitez was appointed as the
replacement for Carlo Ancelotti
in June following the Italian's
dismissal in May - a year after
he guided Real to their 10th
Champions League title.
Zidane, who won a league title
and scored the decisive goal in
the Champions League final
in 2002, worked as Ancelotti's
assistant for a year before
moving to his current role as
coach of the reserves.
And Fernandez, who enjoyed
managerial stints at Athletic
Bilbao, Espanyol and Real
Betis and is currently in charge
Guinea's national side, was
disappointed by the decision to
part company with Ancelotti,
but feels Madrid are preparing
to eventually hand the reins to
Zidane.

FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com

VOL 9 NO.125

Sports

THURSDAY , AUGUST 20, 2015

PRICE L$40

FROM GHANA’S DEATH TO NIGERIA’S INTERMENT

WOMEN FOOTBALL
STRUGGLES IN LIBERIA

VISIT UNCLE ZEH'S LAUNDRY
& DRY CLEANING SERVICE
ON CROWN HILL, BROAD STREET

WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST

Call: 0775-149-376, 0775-149-161


 

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