TOP

STORIES

VOICES

pg 13

MONUMENT OF

CONTRADICTIONS

Liberians weigh in
on Sirleaf, Kofis war
of words over NOCAL
bankruptcy

COUNTY NEWS

pg 7

REDUCING
MATERNAL
MORTALITY

SPORTS

pg 15

FIGHT TO
THE END
Lonestar players
vow Strong Match

FrontPage
Midwife in Grand Bassa Makes Significant
Progress

www.frontpageafricaonline.com

VOL 9 NO.133

THURSDAY , SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

PRICE L$40

CONSTRUCTION WORK ON ESSENTIAL GBARNGA-MENDIKORMA

PROJECT TO KICK UP, FINANCIERS ARRIVE

RELIEVING
ROAD WOES

This project will most importantly increase economic activities with emphasis on agro business that will ease access to
markets. It will also significantly improve access to other social service facilities such as health care centers and schools;
support gender development and ultimately reduce poverty-Finance and development Planning Minister Amara Konneh

Government News- pg. 5

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

BUYING

SELLING

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015

L$88.00/US$1

L$89.00/US$1

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

L$88.00/US$1

L$89.00/US$1

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2015

L$88.00/US$1

L$89.00/US$1

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

FROM PAGE 1

Page 2 | Frontpage

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

Monrovia
he much-feared United Nations Sanctions list which
for years tormented and kept key figures of former
Liberian President Charles Taylor in their tracks and
at bay evaporated completely Wednesday, when the
UNSC decided to terminate the travel and financial measures it
instituted under Resolution 1521 in 2003.
With the adoption of resolution 2237 (2015) on 2 September
2015, the Security Council terminated the travel and financial
measures set forth in paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) and
paragraph 1 of resolution 1532 (2004) and the 1521 Sanctions
list was, thereby, dissolved, the council declared.
Names Have Been Removed
Resolution 2237 continued: The individuals and entities on the
1521 Sanctions list immediately prior to the adoption of 2237
(2015) are no longer subject to travel and financial measures set
forth in paragraph 4 of resolution 1521 (2003) and paragraph 1
of resolution 1532 (2004) and their names have been removed
from the Consolidated United Nations Security Council Sanctions
List.
In July 2012, the council delisted seventeen former Taylor aides
upon the request of the government of Liberia, ending nine years
of isolation for those many believe were responsible, or stood idly
and did nothing as scores of Liberians were maimed, tortured,
killed and forced to flee their homeland during Taylors reign of
terror.
Those Delisted in 2012 included: Adolphus DOLO; Mrs. Belle
DUNBAR; Mr. George DWEH; Mr. Edwin SNOWE; Mrs. Agnes
Reeves TAYLOR; Mrs. Tupee TAYLOR; Mrs. Jewel HOWARD
TAYLOR; Mrs. Myrtle Francelle GIBSON; Mr. Martin GEORGE; Mr.
Cyril ALLEN; Mr. Randolph COOPER; Ms. Victoria REFELL; Mr.
John T. RICHARDSON; Mr. Reginald GOODRIDGE Mr. Emmanuel
SHAW; Mr. Sampson GWEN; Mr. Maurice COOPER.
In 2014, businessman Benoni Urey, currently a candidate for the
Liberian presidency for the 2017 presidential elections was also
removed from the list.
On Wednesday, the names of the remaining figures on the list
including the much-feared Benjamin Yeaten were removed.
Others who were still lingering on the list until it was dissolved
Wednesday included: Chief Cyril Allen, Former Chairman,
National Patriotic Party, Mr. Charles Bright, Former Minister of
Finance, Mr. Randolph Cooper, Former Managing Director of
Roberts International Airport who was allegedly instrumental
in the various violations of the arms embargo, Mr. Adolphus
Dolo, former Senator, and Mr. George Dweh, former Suspended
Speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA)
Founding member of LURD.
Govt. Welcomes Decision, Says Foreign Minister
Mr. Augustine Ngafuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs told

The Government of Liberia had taken a position that the

list should not be set in stone to keep people on forever and
that the UN should revisit the list when it finds people are
no longer threat to the post-war peace. Since the war in
2003, Liberia has had two democratic elections; we have
celebrated 10 consecutive years of peace and some people
who may have been players in things that happened in the
past, have transitioned to other things. So we are generally
in support of the UN for reviewing its own actions and we
will take the relevant steps. So we generally support the
termination of the sanctions as we have done in the past
when people from the Taylor era were delisted, including
Mr. Benoni Urey, based on our recommendation.
- Foreign Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan
FrontPageAfrica late Wednesday, shortly after the UN decision
that the government welcomes the decision which he says is in
line with the governments policy for the UN to review existing
circumstances and revisit the conditions which led to the
sanctions being put in place.
Said Minister Ngafuan: Generally, the sanctions were imposed
by the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) through its 1521
committee. They had also established a Panel of Expert to review
the sanctions. The Government of Liberia had taken a position
that the list should not be set in stone to keep people on forever
and that the UN should revisit the list when it finds people are
no longer threat to the post-war peace. Since the war in 2003,
Liberia has had two democratic elections; we have celebrated 10
consecutive years of peace and some people who may have been
players in things that happened in the past, have transitioned
to other things. So we are generally in support of the UN for
reviewing its own actions and we will take the relevant steps. So
we generally support the termination of the sanctions as we have
done in the past when people from the Taylor era were delisted,
including Mr. Benoni Urey, based on our recommendation.
Minister Ngafuan explained that the previous delisting that
included Mr. Urey came from a plea from the government to the
UN, telling the UN not to keep people stuck on the list forever.
Since they have found that three is no relevance in keeping
people on sanctions, we welcome that. We will continue to work
with the UN to ensure that Liberias security remains paramount
through the UNMIL security plan and we remain supportive of the
UN.
UN Periodically Reviews Sanctions
Minister Ngafuan recalled that when the UN sanctions committee
visited Liberia in 2012, it was the general consensus the situations
of those on the list needed to be updated.
During that visit, the Chairman of the United Nations Committee

Thursday , September 3, 2015

established pursuant to resolution 1521 concerning Liberia in
several meetings with state actors, sought inputs on the impact of
the sanction regime on the peace and security of Liberia.
Dr. Susan Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United
Nations who was also in Liberia in 2012 acknowledged at the time
that the sanctions issue is reviewed periodically by the sanctions
committee. We have had the opportunity to discuss briefly and
of course the Chairman of the Sanction Committee visited the
Country. We continuously review our sanction regime and this is
no exception and when it relates to individuals who have been
designated we do take a look periodically to determine whether
those designations remain warranted and we will do that and
continue to do that in this instance.
While the sanctions on travel and assets have been dissolved,
the council maintained the arms embargo on non-State actors in
Liberia for nine months.
The council also renewed for 10 months the mandate of the Panel
of Experts that assists the so-called 1521 Committee on Liberia to
monitor the sanctions, reducing the panel membership from two
experts which it says, reflects the limitation of its purview to the
partial arms embargo and the Governments progress in arms and
border management.
The Panel of Experts on Liberias final report (document
S/2015/558) and the Secretary-Generals letter of 31
July (document S/2015/590) noted progress in arms and
ammunition management, but also highlighted weaknesses in
State institutions, persistent gaps in the legal framework for the
security sector, and porous borders vulnerable to trafficking.
In Wednesdays resolution, the council urged the government
of Liberia to take further steps to combat the illicit trafficking
of arms and ammunition, prioritizing the timely adoption and
implementation of an effective legal framework.
The council commended the Government of Liberia for responding
effectively to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia and recognized in this
regard, the resilience of the people and Government of Liberia,
and its security institutions, especially the Armed Forces of
Liberia and the Liberia National Police.
The council also affirmed that the Government of Liberia bears
primary responsibility for protecting all populations within its
territory from atrocities, and stressed that lasting stability in
Liberia will require the Government of Liberia to sustain effective
and accountable Government institutions, particularly in the rule
of law and security sectors. Stressing the need for increased
progress on security sector reform in Liberia in particular to
ensure that Liberias military, police and border security forces
are self-sufficient, capable and adequately prepared to protect the
Liberian people.
Underlining that the transparent and effective management
of natural resources is critical for Liberias sustainable peace
and security, the council says it stands ready to terminate the
measures imposed by paragraphs 2 (a) and (b) and 4 (a) of
resolution 1521 (2003) upon its determination that the ceasefire
in Liberia is being fully respected and maintained, disarmament,
demobilization, reintegration, repatriation and restructuring of
the security sector have been completed, the provisions of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement are being fully implemented,
and significant progress has been made in establishing and
maintaining stability in Liberia and the sub-region,
The council added that once the Government of Liberia
established transparent accounting and auditing mechanisms
to ensure the responsible use of Government revenue to benefit
directly the people of Liberia, it would consider modifying the
measure imposed.
The dissolution of the sanctions regime will no doubt bring a
sign of relief to many whose lives since the end of the civil war
had been in limbo, unable to travel and unable to utilized wealth
obtained during the Taylor regime. But even as the sanctions
regime came to an end Wednesday, those figures are not yet out
of the woods as a cloud of the U.S. Treasury Department sanctions
still looms, a point Mr. Urey addressed in a recent VOA Daybreak
Africa interview when he revealed that he has written the U.S.
government to remove the ban since it was based on U.N. sanctions
which have now been lifted. I forwarded an appeal to them that
there is no merit to this based on the fact the Treasury list was
created as a result of a U.N.-imposed sanction on us and the U.N.
has lifted these sanction and other international organizations
the EU has lifted their sanctions on me; Great Britain has lifted
theirs; Canada has lifted theirs; France has lifted theirs. So we
hope that the United States will do that soon, Urey said.

HIGHLIGHTS OF UN SECURITY COUNCIL DECISION

The UNSC
Decides to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts appointed pursuant to
paragraph 9 of resolution 1903 (2009) for a period of 10 months from the date of
adoption of this resolution to undertake the following tasks in close collaboration
with the Government of Liberia and the Cte dIvoire Group of Experts:
(a) To investigate and compile a final report on the implementation, and any
violations, of the measures on arms as renewed by paragraph 1 above, including
the various sources of financing for the illicit trade of arms, and on progress in the
security and legal sectors with respect to the Government of Liberias ability to
effectively monitor and control arms and border issues;
(b) To provide to the Council, after discussion with the Committee, a final report
no later than 1 May 2016 on all the issues listed in this paragraph, and to provide
informal updates to the Committee as appropriate before that date;
(c) To cooperate actively with other relevant panels of experts, in particular that on Cte dIvoire
re-established by paragraph 24 of resolution 2153 (2014);
4. Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary administrative measures as expeditiously

as possible to re-establish the Panel of Experts, having due regard for its reduced
mandate, to consist of one member, for a period of 10 months from the date of
adoption of this resolution;
5. Calls upon all States, including Liberia, to cooperate fully with the Panel of
Experts in all aspects of its mandate;
6. Recalls that responsibility for controlling the circulation of small arms within
the territory of Liberia and between Liberia and neighboring States rests with the
relevant governmental authorities in accordance with the Economic Community
of West African States Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons of 2006;
7. Urges the Government of Liberia to prioritize and expedite the adoption and
implementation of appropriate arms and ammunition management legislation
and take other necessary and appropriate steps to establish the necessary legal
and administrative framework to combat the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition;
8. Affirms that it will be prepared to adjust the measures contained in this resolution, including
by re-imposing or strengthening measures, as well as modifying, suspending or lifting measures,
as may be needed at any time in light of the stability of Liberia and the subregion;

Thursday , September 3, 2015

Frontpage

Page 3

FrontPage COMMENTARY
LIBERIAS UNCERTAIN FUTUREEDITORIAL HUNTED BY WAR/ECONOMIC CRIMES
v

TEN YEARS ON,

LIBERIANS AWAIT
THE BIG LIGHT

ELECTRICITY IS ESSENTIAL to humans. In this 21st

century and digital world, everything is heavily
reliant on electricity.
THIS IS WHY it comes as a surprise to people who
have never visited third world countries like Liberia
when they are told that Monrovia does not have a
reliable supply of electricity. They then wonder
how the city looks at nightfall.
LIBERIANS HAVE ENDURED for too long the issue
of lack of electricity as many who can afford rely
on private generators while others have no option
but to sleep in complete darkness. Students have
to study using candles. Outside Monrovia, others
see the moonlight as a good source of light.
BUSINESSES ARE INCURRING high cost of
operations due to the money spent on the purchase
of petrol products on a daily basis.
BASED ON THE difficulties, when President Sirleaf
promised upon her inauguration in 2006 that she
would have restored electricity to Monrovia in six
months, thousands danced and celebrated to the
promise of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a promise
which contributed to her election.
FROM 2006, INSTEAD of beginning a long term
plan such as the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee
Hydro dam, Madam Sirleaf opted for short term
Small Light Today, Big Light Tomorrow program.
GENERATORS WERE USED by the Liberia Electricity
Corporation to provide electricity to Monrovia and
immediate environs but that has only made little
impact in solving the electricity problem.
ELECTRICITY IS RATIONED to the extent that
many businesses prefer using a generator while
some opt for the LEC power as an alternative to the
generators.
WITH LARGE NUMBER of Liberians unable to go to
school during the civil war, running adult literacy
classes at night is difficult.
CRIMINALITY IS ALSO high in darkness and there
are several other negative consequences associated
with the lack of reliable electricity.
PRESIDENT SIRLEAF, AFTER ONLY managing to
provide small and unreliable light to the residents
of Monrovia and immediate environs for the first
six years, told the Liberians that the time is short
for doing many of what she had promised.
AGAIN, SHE WAS given another six years by the
Liberian people, with the population hoping that
this time she will make the difference.
FOUR YEARS INTO the second term of office, there
are signs of improvement with the rehabilitation of
the Mount Coffee Dam now underway.
THIS IS WELCOMING and should be completed in
timeDecember 2016to bring electricity relief
to the people.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE Liberian people are tired
of darkness and need this big light by the latest
December 2016. Government should do all it can to
ensure that the ongoing hydro project is not halted
or delayed.
THE HYDRO MUST be the same as other promised
projects such as revitalization of health care, which
has turned a fiasco, improvement in education
which nowhere to be seen and other unfulfilled
promises.

By: Sam K. Zinnah, szinnah@gmail.com ; Contributing Writer

iberias history of recent is largely replete with economic and

human rights related crimes. Two debacles, if not checked
and corrected, will continue to undermine and erode
economic and political advancement of our country. Without
efforts by the International Community and Liberians themselves,
at home and abroad, to consolidate concrete actions in dealing with
these menaces, the revival and restoration of our Country and its
weak institutions, will be visited with failure and faltering.
Liberia is so jaundiced and held hostage by forces with heavy burden
of war and economic crimes, gallivanting around the political and
business platforms where they insidiously rise to power and fame by
manipulating our ever weak and greedy voters. These war lords and
economic plunderers are no longer satisfied with legislative seats,
rather they are yearning for the common presidency, on the other
hand, who can blame them when some of the current leaders wear
the golden crown of human blood and ghosts of our civil war?
In a country where war lords and perpetrators of economic crimes
are rewarded by system of undermined sovereignty and national
integrity, we have fallen prey to the venomous and verminous acts of
these plunderers who are busy exsanguinating us to our very death.
Will we keep rewarding acts of malfeasance?

The trend of globalization in international politics and fight against

crimes is changing. First, we ourselves must begin to initiate a
prompt stance and seek remedy in collaboration with international
partners and institutions. Rewarding these inane vampires (to use
Ellen Johnson Sirleafs words) sends a signal that we are complacent
with the state of our minds and national situation. Meaning, What
is wrong with us, is us. Only by concrete civil and/or legal action, to
punish crimes that threaten our very survival that will set the basis for
our Countrys affability for international actors to help our situation.
We, intellectuals, technicians, politicians, activists, religious leaders,
traditional leaders, etc need now than ever before to demonstrate a
cocksure nature and approach to fighting the ills of war and economic
crimes in our national existence. Our real problem is we easily coax
each other toward wrong tendencies in our personal interests than
harmonizing our differences and resolve towards solving national
problems. Liberias convalescence, following years of war and greeted
with almost 12 years of economic degradation and erosion, (a period
in which we have also witnessed the metamorphosis of crooks, killers
and plunderers into Kings, Queens and tycoons) can be midwived into
a better society if we ignite justice against crimes that are hunting
down our overall progress.
In this business, the powerful crooks and killers will threaten a total
States collapse and retrogression
to war. This is a vain threat intended to delay peoples might and
action. Surely public revenge through justice of the law is more urgent
than ever before. Sierra Leone, our closest neighbor is a perfect
example where peoples power has out weighted the glory of killers
and plunderage of war.
The global community and their institutions have always offered
a hand of partnership, especially if their own interest is involved.
For instance, western superposition over the African and sub
regional influence saw Nigeria hand over Charles Taylor (former
Liberian President). The sub regional political dynamism that has
brought strong willed leaders like Nigerias Mohammed Buhari,
amongst others needs to super pose its own machinery to punish
perpetrators of war and economic crimes within the sub region, if
West Africa must build on the pillars of an integration of people in
a stable environment. We have seen over times that corruption and
undemocratic tendencies- bad governance or for Liberias situation,
worse governance, which undercut the attainment of human security
and survival, have all served as recipes for instability in West Africa.
We follow the history of a region of coups that later were elevated to
brutal civil wars spreading from Liberia like tornado.
Recently, revolutionary forces in Burkina Faso did not only deny long
serving Blaise Campaore extension of term of office, but also ejected
him off the presidency. This indeed was a bloodless exercise growing
out of the peoples power. Eventually, their action has paved the way
to hold Campaore accountable for crimes he committed during the
untimely murder of Captain Thomas Sankara and others and the
deployment of several Burkinabe (who may not be accounted for) in
Liberia for warfare assignment during the brutal Liberian civil war.
The scourge engineered by Blaise Campaore via Cote DVoire, we are
quite aware, spread to Sierra Leone, and later to Guinea.
Blaise Campaore will/should not go down alone. His Liberian partners
that aided him in the Thomas Sankara episode should be called to
book. Their political status in Liberia must not deter the sub Region.
The Liberian Legislature or Executive mansion therefore provides
easy delivery to justice as the Charles Taylors case has proven. Abuja,
West Africas most powerful capital must not, in these circumstances
provide safe haven for war lords. Already, with credible news filtering
around about a list of suspects in the possession of disciplinarian

Buhari, one can be certain, that in partnership with other members of

the international community, the old man Baba Buhari will help clean
some of the mess around here.
Similarly, western partners in whose countries suspected Liberian
thieves have deposited huge savings and investments are under
obligation to demonstrate goodwill. As in the FIFA case, they need
to go beyond freezing accounts, to actual arrest and prosecution.
America and Europe cannot afford to grant these suspected criminals
sanctuary.
The recent harsh interaction/exchanges between the U.S. government
(through its Ambassador in Liberia) and the Liberian President over a
U.S. human rights report is a welcoming adventure. The U.S. Embassy
stood its grounds on the report and daringly challenged the Ellen
Johnson-Sirleafs government to disprove any aspects of the report.
Since then, there has been guilty silence. Silence of course means
consent. But the U.S needs to go further than just cataloging human
rights violations. It needs now, with the stability we have growing out
of their support, focus on the setting up of war and economic crimes
court to arrest and bring to trial those war and economic vampires.
Washington, under the leadership of President Barack Obama needs
to exert strong will and leadership here. He needs to follow the good
example of former president George Bush who would not take no for
an answer.
The Ellen Johnson-Sirleafs administration has to be called to account
for the millions it presiding over. Fortunately, at the end of the civil
war, ECOWAS commissioned an audit. Based on the audit report,
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf led government prosecuted former Chairman
Gyude Bryant and others for economic crimes. This was/is a classical
example and demonstration of holding individuals (who hold the
public trust) accountable. Her government and others before her
must be held accountable.
While this is unfolding, we must note President Sirleaf never
attempted to raise the issue of war crimes against anyone. (My
subsequent issue will delve into the why).
Where are the Progressives?

Over the years, failed attempt to reach the presidency and other key
related positions have baptized many Progressives into the symbiosis
problem of self survival, and the see the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
administration as the last stage of destiny. These group of people
who, in the seventies and eighties propelled the society into action on
key national issues, are dormant silent like the environment of a mid
night grave yard in rural community. Here too, people are fighting for
belly full, someone lamented to me. In Ellens case, she is a master
player, one political observer told me. She has them to herself and
makes good job offers and controls their thinking and lips.
One has to think now about resting with his/her fat salary and
benefits, of course prestige too, then to open your mouth and you are
axed out. With age weighting them (Progressives) down, where else
can they comfortably survive? It is not in their younger ages when
they could run to Europe or America and cut eight hours to earn
living, I dare them now.
The Progressives sit silently around issues like level the mansion, we
will rebuild it, I contributed USD$10,000.00 for children welfare.
The corruption deeply rooted and now vampire, but in this game,
who will cast the first stone?.
The 2017 presidential elections and it results could spark renew
tension amongst war lords and very powerful tycoons. The rivalry
between and amongst war lords, tycoons and stand by forces, if not
checked by the international community who have dumped in their
millions and the sub region that has borne the burden of human and
material loss, Liberia will fail. Abuja has much to do with this, because
if trouble breaks out, she bears the huge costs of it.
The reasons I stress the urgent involvement of the international
community or the sub region, Liberians and their institutions are
weak, porous and vulnerable. Liberias former minister of Justice
Cllr. Christina Tah, in her letter of resignation declared President
Johnson-Sirleaf herself is the chief under miner of the rule of law. Not
much is desirable in our judicial system. Shielding corrupt officials
and gross human rights violators has been at the core of the present
government gimmick. It fears if it pulls rope, rope will haul/pull
bush.
Today, for example the former security advisor to former president
Charles Taylor is spokesman for President Johnson-Sirleafs
government. General Prince Johnson is a darling political golden egg
to president Sirleaf as evidenced by General Prince Johnsons overt
support to President Sirleafs 2011 second term bid.
In the judiciary, sits on the Supreme Court bench, a former commander
and spokesman of LURD. In the legislature are seated indictees of GAC
audit reports for allegedly plundering thousands of State funds. They
are comfortable as long as they dance to the rhythm of the power that
be. Cant we see danger ahead?? I surely do see! Open your eyes!!.

Thursday , September 3, 2015

Page 4 | Frontpage

The Reader's Page

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Send your letters and comments to:

editor@frontpageafricaonline.com
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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB

JUSTICE MUST PREVAIL

EVEN
FOR
SLUM
DWELLERS
ELECTRICITY

COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE

RESTORATION

THE BIG LIGHT

TOMORROW CHALLENGE
Jesse Fahngon-Metropolitan State University
The provisions of electricity n water supply to its
citizens are not milestones achievements. These are
BASIC and the simply utilities a government can make
available to its citizens. The FORMER n LATTER are not
legacy items, my friends.

Esther Richards -Pikesville, Maryland

Forgive me for being such a sceptic, but I have lost
all hope of seeing electricity on Duport Road, right in
Paynesville. It is so depressing to sit and watch how
development occurs in Liberia. Duport Road (Du River
side), is a small but very growing community, which
has seen road, light, water schools, clinic development
just pass right by them and go on to Zubah town,
ELWA community, etc. I can't imagine this happening,
but it did. We are tired of pleading with the relevant
authorities to help us out. These utility companies have
used friendship to run a few poles to accommodate
their friends and relatives. Even the road project which
was started has been abandoned. It is as if some people
are not entitled while others have it all. I just want it to
be known that we are entitled to these developments
and shoud not just be passed by. Someday, we will see
the manifestation of our dream.
George K. Fahnbulleh
Mt. Coffee is a white elephant, which at nearly $500
million will not even meet the needs of Monrovia.
For that price we could have built one of the Rwanda
style projects in EVERY COUNTY.
Rwanda completed an Africa's first utility scale solar
project in 13 months: from signature to connection,
for only 23.1 Million USD. You can read about it here:
http://thisisafrica.me/rwanda-launches-east-africas.../
"Rwandas doing a number of things right. I mean
one, security. It is a place where people can trust their
PPAs for 25 years. [For] geo-political stability, Rwanda
probably is the most attractive place in east Africa. And
Rwandas regulatory framework - no corruption. It is a
very, very transparent system,
Lorenzo D Gartor-First Assembly of God
'To run is not necessarily to arrive', making a political
promise and fulling it is another thing, in most cases the
fulfilment part relies on the sincerity of the promisor,
and the last I check.......................

Eric Massoud-St. Peter Claver's High School

This should have ben priority number one from the
beginning more like 'Big Light Now' and small light
later' as oppose to making the increment of Law makers
pay a priority. And what about Bassa? Buchanan is in
darkness. The second largest city in the country ..
Peterson Kortuwah
"President Sirleaf is racing against time to fulfill her
promise to the Liberian people and protect her legacy."
At this point, the question of legacy is off the table;
rather, it is now a matter of investigating, auditing,
and prosecuting this failed administration on charges
of Economic Crimes committed against the Liberian
people.

DISCLAIMER: The comments expressed here are

those of our online readers and bloggers and do no
represent the views of FrontPageAfrica

The Editor,

evolutionary ideologues, uncompromising stalwarts,

proponents of justice, adherents to partys discipline,
massescrats, deep-thinking militants, cadres and comrades,
with profound and philosophical inclination, the invincible
and incomparable Vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP) extends
warmest revolutionary salutation to you from the most conscious
pinnacle of justice, equality, and freedom.
Since 1970 up to present, the Student Unification Party (SUP) remains
a monumental emblem and an unsurpassed insignia of the peoples
struggle in Liberia. It is unarguably and visibly plain that even after
44 years of consistent advocacy, SUP remains a shining beacon of
hope for many Liberians. This sacrosanct political movement is
driven by revolutionary principles and values that are dogmatically
tied to massescracy.
As a result of our steadfast commitment and historical vow to always
defend and protect the disadvantaged, underprivileged, and neglected
in society, we are again duty-bound and beholden to elevate few
critical issues that are very poisonous and alarming to the survival of
our people. Whatever affects any citizen of this country, affects SUP
as well. It is our principal obligation to vehemently oppose injustice,
nepotism, elitism, autocracy, inequality, corruption, and all forms of
societal ills.
The Vanguard Student Unification Party attention has been drawn to
prevailing injustices in Liberia. The sharp sword of injustice continues
to permeate our societyas impunity takes center stage. Selective
justice is a way of life in our country evident by existing realities. With
heavy heart, SUP is calling on national government to ensure JUSTICE
prevails in the following cases:
1. The late Shaki Kamara (16 years of age) who was shot on August
20, 2014 during a riot between unarmed civilians of West Point
Township and a contingent of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
2. The trafficked Liberian Girls who were sexually enslaved and
cruelly abused in Lebanon between 2012 to 2015.
3. The late Fred Thompson who died in July 2015 during the landgrab dispute in Butaw, Sinoe County.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said Injustice anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere. SUP wants to use this medium to call on the
International Community, specifically the United Nations, African
Union, European Union, ECOWAS, United States Government, Mano
River Union, Carter Center, and Global Witness to ensure culprits of
these grave human rights abuses and butcheries are brought to face
the full weight of the law. They must not go with impunity this time
around!
Our collective victory over the deadly Ebola Virus Disease can only
become a proud national achievement if lifeless SHAKI gets justice.
Comrade Shaki will only rest peacefully in his lonely vault when
justice prevails. We remain ever disturbed about the degrading and
mortifying condition of our sisters who were sexually abused for
years in Lebanon by callous creatures of abnormal identities.
It is time for women to rise up and protect the rights of these young
girls who were exploited as a result of extreme poverty. The long
journey to put an end to human trafficking, rape, sexual exploitation,
and all forms of abuses against women in Liberia must begin with this
case. We must not abandon these girls whose pride and dignity have
been robbed by evil elements. SUP also demands impartial justice for
comrade Fred Thompson who died in cold blood in Sinoe County! We
categorically condemn ongoing land-grab in Liberia.
SUP strongly believes that JUSTICE must also prevail for slum dwellers
and those with powerless voices. It is unfortunate today that justice
is on sale in Liberia. We live in a country of equal citizenship, but
unequal opportunities. Our nation needs a paradigm shift in order
to guarantee a brighter tomorrow for all citizens especially peasants.
As one of the most historical months (October) in Liberia approaches,
the Central Committee of the Vanguard Student Unification Party
(SUP) hereby appoints the following committees to ensure a grand
45thAnniversary Celebration:

Anniversary Committee
1. Cde. Jerome Danguah Chairman
2. Cde. Mustapha S. Manobah Co-chair
3. Cde. Jerome Bernard Secretary
4. Cde. McArthur G. Dahnkuan Member
5. Cde. Theodosia Howard Member
6. Cde. Emmanuel K. Barnes Member
7. Cde. Amara Kamara Member
8. Cde. Emmerson Drobia Member
9. Cde. Eric Myers Member
10. Cde. Kanue Teegwiah Member
11. Cde. J. Jeremiah Testimony Barclay Member

Steering Committee
1. Vet. Benedict Williams
2. Vet. Joash T. Hodges
3. Vet. Malayah T. Chiyeo
4. Vet. Patrick Mbayo
5. Vet. Stephen R. Johnson
6. Vet. Darlington Smith
7. Vet. Augustus Panton
8. Vet. James S. Davis, II.
9. Vet. Janga A. Kowo
10. Vet. Michael Titoe
11. Vet. Dwana Bakongo Sesay
12. Vet. Bah-Wah Brownell
13. All Chairmen and Standard Bearers Emeritus

Advisory Committee
1. H. E. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan
2. Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe
3. Cllr. Samuel Kofi Woods
4. Cllr. Jerome Verdier
5. Prof. Alaric Togba
6. Hon. Cummany Wesseh
7. Hon. Eugene Fallah Kpakai
8. Hon. Geraldine Doe-Sheriff
9. Mr. John B. S. Davies
10. Mr. Wilmot Paye
11. Mr. Abdullai Kamara
12. Mr. Phillip Wesseh
13. Mr. Alphonso Socrates Nimene
The Party henceforth mandates all militants, veterans, and
sympathizers to accord these committees the fullest support they
need in order to host an extraordinary anniversary this year. As we
blissfully anticipate SUP at 45, we must never abandon the struggle
that was long-started by martyrs Michael G. S. Dolo, Frederick
Gobawolee, Swanzy Elliott, Irene Nimpson, Benedict Garlawolu,
Wuo Garbe Tappia, Tonia Richardson, Weewee Debah and other
revolutionaries. As we proudly march in the imprints of these fallen
heroes and heralds, our hope, courage, determination and fortitude
must always rise above the surge of reactionary forces.
It is often said in Swahili sisi si wengine mpaka haki huja meaning
we will not rest until justice comes.
Long live SUP, long live SUPISTS, long live massescracy, SUP will never
die.
Done and issued on this 2nd Day of August A.D. 2015 by the mandate
of the Central Committee and Politburo concomitantly.
Signed: ___________________________________________________
Cde. Martin K. N. Kollie
Chairman on Information, Propaganda, Research, and Guidance, SUP
Approved: _________________________________________________
Cde. Nathan N. Kpao
Chairman, SUP

EDITORIAL TEAM

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077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com;
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gboko.stewart@frontpageafricaonline.con
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frontpageafricaonline.com/0886971922

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Thursday , September 3, 2015

Frontpage

CONSTRUCTION WORK ON ESSENTIAL GBARNGA-MENDIKORMA

ROAD PROJECT TO KICK UP, FINANCIERS ARRIVE

ROAD WOES SOLUTION?

This project will most importantly increase economic activities with emphasis on agro business that will ease access to
markets. It will also significantly improve access to other social service facilities such as health care centers and schools;
support gender development and ultimately reduce poverty-Finance and development Planning Minister Amara Konneh

By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr (231886458910)-edwin.genoway@frontpageonline.om

Monroviaiberia
is
facing
numerous challenges
including the lack of
good infrastructure,
a situation that was made
complex by the prolong civil
wars fought in the country
from 1989 to 2003.
The country is not linked
by roads as major highways
become deplorable during
the rainy seasons, leaving
commuters stranded for days
before reaching their final
destinations.
Counties in the southeastern
region including Maryland,
Sinoe, Grand kru, River Gee
and others are cut off from the
rest of the country during the
rainy months and Lofa County
also faces similar situation.
This makes life difficult for
locals who find it impossible
to transport their produce to
nearby markets.
Since 2006, when the Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf led government
ascended to power, the
international
community
has been very generous in
making contributions to the
infrastructure sector, mainly
construction of roads.
A trust fund known as the

Liberia Reconstruction Trust

Fund (LRTF), a multi-donor
trust fund for infrastructure
was set up for Liberia with
support from contributions
from the European Union,
and the governments of Great
Britain (DFID), Sweden (Sida),
Ireland (Irish Aid), Norway
and Germany (KfW) and the
World Bank. Administered
by the World Bank, the
LRFT has raised millions for
infrastructural projects in
Liberia which has seen the
construction of the MonroviaBuchanan Road and several
roads in Monrovia and other
parts of the country.
The important Monrovia-Ganta
border road is also at the verge
of completion. Other roads in
Monrovia and environs have
been successfully constructed.
But in June early this year,
a visiting delegation from
donors countries to the trust
fund announced that all the
funding raised have been
depleted and Liberia will now
have to come clear on its needs
for the donors to look out for
ways to assist.
At the time, Inguna Dobraja,
Country Manager for the World
Bank Liberia Country Office

said at the moment all funding

in the LRTF have already been
committed.
All the funds in the Liberia
Reconstruction Trust Fund
have been committed, said the
World Bank Country Manager.
With the pronouncement, it
means Liberia will have to look
for other sources of funding
for other essential roads
around the country and the
Government has been holding
discussions with the Kuwaitis
for the construction of another
important
route-GbarngaMendikorma Road.
On Wednesday, the search for
donors to support the GbarngaMendikorma Road received a
major boost with the visit of
a high level delegation from
Kuwait.
Finance and Development
Planning Minister Amara M.
Konneh on Wednesday hosted
the delegation of Arab investors
at the inception of their
appraisal mission to Liberia
over the proposed financing
of the Gbarnga-Mendikorma
Highway Construction Project.
The delegation which is
expected to tour the road
ahead of the signing of various
financing agreements later this

year, comprises the OPEC Fund

for International Development
(OFID), the Arab Bank for
Economic Development in
Africa (BADEA), the Saudi
Fund for Development (SFD),
the Abu Dhabi Fund for
Development (ADFD), and
the Kuwait Fund for Arab
Economic
Development
(KFAED).
The project, which is US$430
million, will be implemented
in two phases, beginning with
works on LOT 1, which runs
from Gbarnga to Konia. LOT1
is estimated at US$184.7
million dollars.
Speaking to reporters at the
inception meeting Wednesday
at the Ministry of Finance
and Development Planning,
Minister Konneh said, To
date, the Ministry of Finance
and Development Planning
has
secured
financing
commitments, in the tune
of US$72 million, from the
majority of our lenders, for the
financing of LOT 1.
Minister Konneh explained,
The paving of the road from
Gbarnga
to
Mendikorma,
considered
Liberias
agriculture belt, will improve
accessibility of roads all year

round plus connectivity of

roads and bridges between
Gbarnga and Mendikorma thus
reducing transportation cost
both in travel time and money.
He also stressed, This project
will most importantly increase
economic
activities
with
emphasis on agribusiness that
will ease access to markets. It
will also significantly improve
access to other social service
facilities such as health care
centers and schools; support
gender development and
ultimately reduce poverty, he
noted
The
Gbarnga-Konia
leg,
approximately
137
km
in length, is an existing
engineered
gravel
road.
Located between Bong and
Lofa counties, it begins at the
Lofa junction in Gbarnga City,
Bong County, and ends at Konia
Town, Lofa County.
The road runs through the
rainforests of Bong and Lofa
with growing interest among
investors to do large scale
commercial
farming
for
production of Rubber, Cocoa,
Palm-oil, Timber, Rice, Fruits
etc.
The Liberia Finance Minister
during the meeting with the
Arab delegation said President
Ellen Johnson, upon assuming
office in 2005, remained
focused on an aggressive road
agenda seeking to connect
major cities and capitals while
working to reconstruct derelict
urban roads across Monrovia.
He
said
the
strategic
intervention in the road
transport sector is in line with
the growth constraints analysis
informing the development of
the Agenda for Transformation
(AfT) the countrys medium
term development plan.
Speaking on behalf of the
delegation Mr. Faisal M. Al
Kahtani said the Saudi Fund for

Page 5

Development (SFD), the Abu

Dhabi Fund for Development
(ADFD), and the Kuwait
Fund for Arab Economic
Development (KFAED) are
willing to finance the project
and other projects being
discussed.
He added that Liberia remains
a good friend to them and will
be helped any time.
It can be recalled that
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
visited the Gulf State of Kuwait
in June 2010, during which she
made an appeal to the Emir of
Kuwait for support to the roads
program.
That request led to the
provision of financing from
the Kuwait Fund for Arab
Economic
Development
(KFAED) for a Feasibility
Study,
an
Environmental
Impact Assessment Study, a
detailed Engineering design
and preparation of tender
documents for the Gbarnga to
Mendikorma road link.
Today, we are seeing the fruits
of that historic visit. Our Arab
partners have responded and
the Government of Liberia
is well on its way to opening
one of the forgotten economic
corridors that is expected to be
a game changer in our quest
to transform Liberia through
development,
Minister
Konneh concluded.
While in the country, the Saudi
Fund for Development and
the Arab Bank for Economic
Development
in
Africa
(BADEA) will hold discussions
with the Government of Liberia
on preparatory works for full
rehabilitation of the Runway
at the Roberts International
Airport.
That project is well advanced,
as the Government of Liberia
has fully mobilized the needed
funding through credits from
these two agencies and the
European Investment Bank
(EIB), to complete the runway.
The runway project will
constitute a milestone in the
RIAs development, as the
runway has not been repaired
since 1972.
When
constructed,
the
Gbarnga- Mendikorma Road
will serve as a major relief
and will boost transportation
for people from Lofa, a county
considered to be one of the
food producing counties in
Liberia.

WEAK ENFORCEMENT
Vehicles refusing to pay Insurance

By:
Bettie
K.
Johnson/
betty.johnson@
frontpageafricaonline.com

Monroviaeputy
Transport
Minister for Rails and
Transport,
Juanita
Traub-Bropleh says the
refusal of drivers to insure their
vehicles remains a major challenge
to the Ministry.
She refuted claims by some drivers
that the vehicles do not have plates
due to delay from the Ministry
make these plates available.
Bropleh spoke at an interactive
workshop with the Liberia
National Police. The workshop
targeted the display and categories
of plates.
Bropleh said duplication of the

plates will be tough based on the

features it has. Those features on
the plates are hard to remove so
we are asked you the officers to
perfectly look at documents so that
we track down the criminals.
Minister Bropleh pleaded with
security personnel to track
violators as the new plates are not
stationed one county. We cannot
tell drivers and car owners to be
stationed in one county but we
are working on decentralizing the
issuance of plates. What we can
say is if there are violators found
in other counties with different
county flag, we plead with security
personnel to arrest them.
Giving a power point presentation,
Morris Gobah of the Ministry of
Transport disclosed that there are
seven categories namely, A, B, C, H,

M, T.
Displaying a plate, he said A
represents previous plates that
carried BC, NG, and a county flag
and a date and year.
At first most of the Government
cars bear RL but Gobah said the new
Government plates will be seen
as LB instead of RL, Legislators
plates will be change to LB-22 R,
senate LB-25S Executive members
23E while the Judiciary will have
Jud 1 and it only includes 5 plates,
every other staffer will bear the
general plates.
He continued: US Ambassador
1CMD1 while other diplomats will
carry 1CD1, Guest 123 G, UN 1234
and Motorcycles M1234 and so
forth.
The Ministry of Transport
Presenter said the plate is expected

to last for 5 years and feature of the

general and Governmental plates
will not be reflected on the NGO
and Countrys diplomat.
For her part, Deputy Police
Director for Administration Sadatu
Reeves commended the Transport
Ministry for the forum adding that
the interactive workshop is long
overdue.
She pledged that the LNP will
collaborate with its partners in
enforcing the displacement of
plates on vehicles.
The interactive forum was
filled with Traffic officers and
motor insurance officers as they
were seen eager to understand
which plate should be used for a
particular vehicle.

Thursday , September 3, 2015

Page 6 | Frontpage

CABINET OFFICIALLY ENDORSES KEY GOVERNMENT POLICY DECISIONS;

DIRECT FURTHER CONSULTATIONS ON OTHER PROPOSALS

Monrovia
he
Cabinet
has
officially endorsed
key policies intended
to make government
more
serviceable
and
responsive to the needs to the
citizenry.
According to an Executive
Mansion
release,
the
following critical decisions
were endorsed amid further
consultations:
Cabinet
reviewed
and
endorsed
the
Post-2015
Development Agenda, which
is a culmination of three
years of extensive work
and commitment under the
leadership of President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf contributing
to new global development
agenda. The post- 2015
Development
Agenda

reflects the incorporation of

the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs), which will
succeed
the
Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs).
It can be recalled that in
September 2012, President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was
nominated
by
the
UN
Secretary General as one
of three co-chairs of the
High Level Panel of Eminent
Persons, along with the United
Kingdom Prime Minister, Mr.
David Cameron and President
of Indonesia, Mr. Susilu
Bambang Yudhoyono to lead
24 panelists drawn from all
levels of government, civil
society, academia and private
sector.
Liberias key role in defining
the new global development

agenda first at the UN High

Level Panel, which defined the
vision and policy parameters
of the new development
framework, and through the
African Union where it served
as Chair of a 10-member High
Level Committee to define
the African Common Position
(CAP) and ensure that they
are incorporated into the new
development agenda.
The Ministry of Educations
proposed
Mobile
Money
Payment System for Rural
Teachers was unreservedly
endorsed by the Cabinet
following
an
objectively
researched and delivered
presentation
backed
by

credible options that stand

to save the government
considerable sums of money.
The Ministries of Gender,
Children & Social Protection
and Youth & Sports are
currently utilizing the Mobile
Money Payment System in the
implementation of a number
of projects.
Regarding Labor Force &
Human Rights Survey, Cabinet
reviewed
and
requested
additional
consultations
that will ensure the realistic
feasibility and practicality
of the survey remain. Once
completed, the appropriate
actors would revert to cabinet.
On the question of the

Ministry of Health proposal

for increment in the fees of
Birth Certificate and Yellow
Book, Cabinet concluded
that the Ministry goes back
and conduct appropriate
due diligence that will
improve quality in service
that is matched by the
proposed increase in fees and
subsequently bring back the
proposal for scrutiny.
Cabinet also advised the
Ministry of Health to use
the regular press briefing at
the Ministry of Information
to clarify that August 28,
2015 marked the 42nd day
to the countdown and that
it is WHO that has decided

to use September 3, 2015

for its Ebola free declaration
announcement.
Meanwhile,
Cabinet
acknowledged the leadership
and
resourcefulness
of
President Sirleaf particularly
her role in the Post-2015
Development Agenda and
noted it was a proud moment
for the country. It called on
the HLP Secretariat to provide
a chronicle of events that
presents a vivid picture of
Liberias role from start to
completion that will serve
as concrete evidence of the
countrys involvement at every
stage. Cabinet underscored
that it is not prepared to

IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL STRESSES

SECURITY NETWORKING
T
he
Bureau
of
Immigration
and
Naturalization (BIN)
has stressed the need
for state security institutions
in the country to continue
networking in an effort of
allaying the fear of the people
in the face of United Nations
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
ongoing drawdown.
The BIN has named the
institutions concern as the
Armed Forces of Liberia, the
Liberian National Police,
National Security and Drug
Enforcement
Agencies,
Fire and Custom Services,
Executive Protective Services
as well as the BIN itself with
the Justice Ministry as Head of
the Joint Security.
BIN Deputy Commissioner
for Administration, Peter
Forkpayea
Zaizay
stated
in three (3) key words of
continued
Coordination,
Cooperation and Collaboration
between and/or amongst
state security institutions of
every country is important
and Liberia is no exception.
He believes that once the
citizenry are protected and
safe, they would have no cause
to worry but to be happy
with their daily lives. He also

wants to encourage foreign

investors to invest in the
country thereby creating job
opportunities for the people.
Colonel Zaizay gave these
assurances recently at a
seminar dubbed: Supporting
the
Government
Effort
in Enhancing Peace and
Reconciliation and Building of
a Strong State in Liberia held

in Zorzor District, Lofa County.

On Security Sector Feedback,
the BIN official said: The role
of Joint Security in Liberia
with Regards to UNMIL
Drawdown in the Country, a
topic assigned to Col. Zaizay
was stimulant to the extent
that the need for information
sharing with the people to
make them informed cannot

be overemphasized.
Zaizay and other senior state
security officials continued
to allay the fear of the people
by
continued
assurance
both local and international
communities of their (state
security) readiness to take
charge of the protection and
safety of the country after
UNMIL leaves next year.

Also speaking at the seminar

Lofa Countys Superintendent,
George S. Dunor spoke on
the Role of Local government
in building a strong state:
Prospects and Challenges,
Dunor
wants
central
government
construct
regional
security
HUBs
because of the proximity of
Lofa.
He said this request was
necessary as that county
shares borders with Guinea
and Sierra Leone. This is
very much important for the
central administration to
consider.
At
the
same
time,
Superintendent Dunor wants
government to construct
more prisons in the county
(Lofa) as the current ones
are overcrowded. We appeal
to government to build more
prisons to decongest the
present ones.
On the role of prosecuting
attorney in the Liberian
criminal
justice
system,
Lofa
Countys
Attorney
Luther Sumo said security
is a paramount concern
to government and the
protection of citizens and
residents in the country.
However, Sumo puts it
squarely at the foot of the
youths saying most of the
crimes committed in the
country if not only limited to

preserve a legacy that the

country could not afford to
lose contrary to previously
unmasked contributions of
Liberia to the O.A.U (AU) and
ECOWAS respectively.
In a related development,
Cabinet has also endorsed
the formation of Presidents
Ebola Recovery Committee
(PERAC) based upon the
recommendation included in
the governments Economic
Stabilization and Recovery
Plan (ESRP) as a Coordinating
Working Group to ensure
timely and effective delivery
of all key cum strategic
projects under the ESRP to be
implemented within the next
24 months. The composition of
PERAC include: Vice President
Joseph Nyuma Boakai, the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
Health, Finance, Lands, Mines
and Energy and Public Works.
The Presidents Program
Development Unit will serve
as the Secretariat PERAC.
However, in order to engage
partners that collaborate with
Liberia, the following nations
and institutions will form
part of the core membership
of PERAC namely the
Ambassador of the United
States of America and/or
USAID Country Director, the
Ambassador of the European
Union, the Ambassador of
The Peoples Republic of
China, Country Director of the
African Development Bank,
and the Country Director of
the World Bank.
Cabinet shall reconvene next
Wednesday, September 9,
2015.

Lofa these days are those age

between 17 and 34.
We do not want for UNMIL to
go and come back here again
because of security concern.
We cannot afford of going
backward but forward for the
betterment of country and its
people, he stated.
Attorney Sumo said once
Liberians are their own
security than there will be no
need to have 10,000 police in
Lofa or any part of the Liberia
for that matter.
The Police or state security
does not go around looking for
cases but when you commit a
crime, and you call the police
or state security officer for
that matter than there is a
case, he noted.
He said the strength of
the prosecutor is the law
which one must know and
understand very well.
The seminar brought together
over
100
participants
including
chiefs,
elders,
women and youth groups,
religious
community
(Christian and Muslims),
countys officials as well
as representatives of local
and
international
nongovernmental organizations.
It was organized by Mitigating
Local Disputes in Liberia
(MLDL), a United States
Department of State funded
peace
and
reconciliation
building programme which
was
launched
here
in
September 2012.

Thursday , September 3, 2015

Compound Four, Grand Bassa
County orking as a
midwife in rural
Liberia is a
herculean task
especially when you are the
only certified midwife serving
over 50 towns where health
care service is inadequate.
This is the case of Ma Gladys
Andrew-Gboco, a 57 year old
midwife, the only trained and
experienced midwife working
at the Compound Four Clinic,
District Four - Grand Bassa
County.
Compound Four Clinic caters
to towns in the District and
due to its proximity with
Rivercess County it also serves
more than five towns in that
county.
Some people walk about
two to three hours to get to
this clinic and sometimes by
the time they get here we are
finish seeing all the patients,
Ma Gladys said. Because they
come from far distances we
can still attend to them.
The clinic has just seven
staff including an Officer-inCharge, 3 nurses, a vaccinator,
one cleaner, and a Certified
Midwife but has to operate for
24 hours mainly because of
the influx of patients, thanks
to a solar panel system which
serves the clinic at night.
Sometimes I come to work
in the morning when I have
labor patients, I stay until the
next morning because Im the
only midwife here and theres
no shift changing, Ma Gladys
said as she remain focused on
recording her patients data
adding that its difficult to take
vacation but when she does,
the OIC must step in her shoes.
Mrs. Gboco has recruited 29
Trained Traditional Midwives
(TTMs) and over 10 General
Community Health Volunteers
(GCHVs) to complement her
work. The strategy seems
effective. TTMs and GCHVs are
in the various towns scouting
pregnant women to attend
pre and post natal health care
services, she said. And when
they are in labor they bring
them (pregnant women) and
they the TTMs work with us
(during the delivery process).

Frontpage

Page 7

MIDWIFE IN GRAND BASSA FACING

HUGE
CHALLENGES
in Reducing Maternal Mortality
Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, daffae82@gmail.com

L-R (Ma Gladys Andrew-Gboco has worked at the Compound Four Clinic for more than 15 years as the only certified midwife; Compound Four
Clinic, District Four serves more than 50 towns in Grand Bassa County
She continued: If you refer
three labor patients we give
you two lappa or if you want a
handbag we give it to you as a
reward. Africare also provides
clothes for babies and this has
changed most of the people
behavior in this area.
Since 1992, Africare is
working in Liberia and has
partnered with TTMs to
monitor pregnancies within
villages
and
accompany
expectant mothers to newly
constructed maternal waiting
homes as due dates near.
Women are now coming
to the clinic to deliver;
sometimes if they are in a
town where the TTN refuse to
bring them to the clinic they
walk by themselves to get to
the clinic,Mrs. Gboco said.

The 35 years experienced

midwife who has worked for
over 15 years only in District
Four stressed that theres
significant improvement in
reducing maternal mortality
in that part of the district. She
emphasized that since the
start of training of TTMs and
GCHVs there have been few
maternal deaths over the past
couple of years in that part of
Grand Bassa County though
she could not revealed the
exact statistics.
This is because of the training
of the TTMs and educating the
patients about the danger sign
of pregnancy and delivery,
she explained. When they are
trained they are like watch
dogs for the community and
the clinic.

Challenges Lingers
When
President
Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf took office in
2006 she promised to tackle
the countrys maternal death
rate which is now 994 out
of every 100,000 live births
and the President again in
2014 stressed that reducing
maternal death is still the
governments top priority.
This is one of the highest in
sub Saharan Africa.
But despite the significant
progress there are still
challenges,
according
to
Mrs. Gboco. She complained
that there are still some
TTMs who are not effective
in referring patients to the
health care centers. The lack
of an ambulance in the district
is also a challenge for many

STRENGTHENING

locals living miles away from

the health center.
Some time when the ladies
are in labor, they rather
keep them at home until
complication comes then they
will start rushing to us at night
bringing them in hammer but
to save life we do our first aid
and call the ambulance to refer
them, Ma Gladys explained.
With traditional and cultural
practices dogging efforts to
reduce maternal mortality
in rural communities in
Liberia,
the
experienced
midwife ensures that with
more training for TTNs
and education for rural
communities, there could
be further improvements in
reducing maternal mortality
in rural communities.

Liberias
Goodwill
Ambassador for maternal
health, Miatta Fahnbulleh,
in 2014 told the Voice of
America (VOA) that TTMs are
very important to curbing
the situation especially with
looming challenges in the
countrys health care sector.
So, why do we not enhance
their skills? Why do we not
give them the tools to work
with? Why dont we give
them the information, the
basics to help us to reduce
that? Because really, I dont
see how we can build enough
clinics. We dont have enough
doctors, there are not enough
nurses. So we must rely on
the community and trained
traditional midwives, Madam
Fahnbulleh said.

elections, and design a civic

engagement
action
plan
for the next two years. The
conference is part of activities
under a grant to NAYMOTE
from the National Endowment
for Democracy based in the
USA.
NAYMOTE promotes citizens
understanding of democratic
processes and the long-term

benefits of their participation

in these processes. Established
in 2001, the institution has
been one of the leading
grassroots
organizations
promoting democracy, peace
building, human rights and
civic engagement in Liberia.

LIBERIAS DEMOCRACY
over hundred attend Conference

Monroviaundred emerging
leaders from Bong,
Montserrado and
Margibi
Counties
will participate in a two day
conference
organized
by
NAYMOTE which aimed at
deepening young people in
Liberia understanding on
democratic process as their
country is expected to hold it
third post war election.
This conference which is
organized
by
NAYMOTE
Partners
for
Democratic
Development will take place
in Weala, Cinta Township,
Margibi County on September

4th and 5th, 2015.

The conference which will
be held under the theme:
Democracy, Elections and
Governance,
will
bring
together
100
emerging
leaders from different youth
organizations, Civil Society
Organizations, Universities,
High Schools and communities
in Montserrado, Margibi and
Bong Counties.
The youth conference is a
part of series of interventions
aimed at helping young people
deepens their understanding
of democratic processes and
the long-term benefits of
their participation in these

processes as well as enhancing

their ability to strengthen
Liberias democratic gain.
The Minister of Youth and
Sports, Hon. Len Eugene Nagbe
will serve as keynote speaker.
Panelists at the conference
include Cllr. Gloria M. Scott,
ChairpersonConstitution
Review Committee, Ibrahim
Al-bakriNyei,
Program
Manager, Political and Legal
Reforms/Decentralization
Program,
Governance
Commission and Josiah F.
Joekai, jr, Director of Civic
and Voter Education, National
Elections Commission, etc.
The
Executive
Director

of NAYMOTE, Mr. Eddie

Jarwolo believes that the
conference will inspire and
motivate young people to take
leadership and ownership of
various democratic processes
including the Constitution
Review,
Decentralization/
Local Government Act and
Elections, as young people
constitute greater percentage
of the population and their
participation is key.
Climaxing the conference, the
participants will strategize on
ways that they can contribute
to the constitutional review,
local
government
act/
decentralization policy and

Page 8 | Frontpage

Thursday , September 3, 2015

Thursday , September 3, 2015

Frontpage

Page 9

PRESIDENT SIRLEAF ISSUES

PROCLAMATION FOR LEGISLATURE
TO EXTEND SESSION

MONROVIA,
eptember 1, 2015:
The President of the
Republic of Liberia,
Her Excellency Madam
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has
issued a Proclamation for the
53rd Legislature to extend
the fourth session for a
period of six weeks beginning
September 1, thru October 15,
2015.
According to a Foreign Ministry
release, the Proclamation
is in concurrence with
Article 32 (b) of the Liberian
Constitution, which provides
that the President shall, on
the Presidents own initiative
or upon receipt of a certificate
signed by at least one-fourth of
the total membership of each
House, and by proclamation
extend a regular session of the
Legislature beyond the date of
adjournment or call a special
or extraordinary session of
that body to discuss or act upon
matters of national emergency
and concern.
The Proclamation states that in
order to enhance the national
agenda of the Republic, among
which are to deliberate and
pass into legislation series of
key bills which have been sent
to the Legislature in recent
weeks.

THREAT TO SECURITY

Thursday , September 3, 2015

Page 10 | Frontpage

DEA boss labels DHL Express on Drugs Importation

Bettie K. Johnson/ betty.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monroviaarley
a
month
following the arrest
of two Nigerian men
and a Liberian woman
for trafficking a quantity of
heroin valued at LS1.2 million
(US$14,532) at DHL, the
Drugs Enforcement Agency
has arrested four persons for
allegedly responsible for the
importation of the drugs into
the country via DHL.
The illicit drugs, valued at
US$60,000,
were
neatly
concealed in packages of
hair products in DHL parcel
number 1011647755, but
were intercepted by DEA
agents in Monrovia, which
shipment
originated
on

Lilongwe, Malawi.
The DEA boss, Anthony Souh,
labeled the shipping express as
a threat to security of Liberia
and it has further dented the
countrys image.
Frustratingly, he added that
DHL no longer enjoyed the
confidence of national security
and must abide by the rules of
the country.

Director Souh said DHL has

become the market for the
importation of drugs in the
Liberia.
Judge free suspects

On Tuesday September 1,
2015, Judge Peter Gbeneweleh
of Criminal Court C ordered
the immediate release of the

defendants due to the Drug

Enforcement Agencys (DEA)
infringement of the rights of
the suspects.
Judge Gbeneweleh however
believes that the agency is
now using its statutory powers
to arrest and incarcerate
suspected drug traffickers for
more than 48 hours, without
formally charging the suspects

BUTAW RIOTERS TRIAL

RELOCATED TO BUCHANAN

as provided for under the law.

The unlawful practice was
unearthed recently by the
Judge, prompting him to order
the immediate release of
three persons, among them a
pregnant woman, suspected of
being behind the importation
of a quantity of heroin valued
at L$1.2 million (US$14,532),
from what he described as
withholding cell.
A repeat

The two Nigerians arrested by

the DEA are Uche Ude, 34, and
Charles Akaolisa, 40 who both
operate spare parts businesses
in Monrovia. The woman, 23
year-old Comfort Weah, is the

girlfriend of Ude.
The drugs, according to DEA
Director-General
Anthony
K. Souh, was brought into
the country from Kampala,
Uganda on DHL packages
bearing tracking numbers
5505590814 and 06282015,
and addressed to Comfort
Weah of Monrovia. Comfort, a
prime suspect, is helping DEA
agents with the investigation.
The DEA arrested Ms. Weah at
the DHL offices on Broad Street
where she had gone to pick
up the parcels containing the
illegal drugs.
When she noticed that she
was being tailed by DEA
undercover
agents,
she
managed to escape the scene,
but left her marketing ID card
and her voters registration
card, through which she was
traced and arrested, DEA said.
The drugs were reportedly
sent to one Nigerian, Uche
Ude, 34, by one Mataka Hope,
also a Nigerian residing in
Kampala, and were intercepted
by the DEA on July 1 at DHL
head office on Broad Street,
Monrovia.

Kennedy l. Yangian kennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781

MonroviarontPageAfrica has
reliably learnt that
the case involving
the 19 citizens of
Butaw in Sinoe County linked
to last June rioting at the
compound of the Golden
Veroluem Company has been
transferred to the Port City
of Buchanan, Grand Bassa
County.
The 19 citizens were arrested
in the aftermath of a protest
staged last June when they
accused the Malaysian Palm
Company of forceful land grab
and the companys inability
to live up to its corporate
social responsibility.
Butaws rioting, which left
several of the companys
properties vandalized, is the
second major protest staged
by locals in the country over
claims of concessionaires
alleged failure to live up
to their corporate social
responsibilities.
In March 2014, a group
of locals from the town of
Zolowee in Nimba County
staged
another
protest
action in Yekepa, Nimba
County against the Arcelor
Mittal Mining Company for
the company alleged failure
to meet its corporate social
responsibility
Over 20 of the locals accused
of carrying out the rioting
in Yekepa were arrested,
tried and convicted at the
2nd Judicial Circuit Court in
Buchanan.
Solicitor
General,
Betty
Larmin Blamo indicated at
the time of the arrest that
the locals could not be tried
in Nimba County because of
fear of reprisal from their

LIBERIAN TIME
Kuwaitis wait on Konneh for hours
By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr (231886458910)
-edwin.genoway@frontpageonline.om

Defense Counsel Dempster Brown

kinsmen.
We have brought these
defendants to Monrovia for
trial because some of their
kinsmen could move on the
prison center and forcefully
release them, said Solicitor
General Blamo at one of the
hearings of the case.
A legal source has told
FrontPageAfrica that the
plan by state prosecutors to
transfer the Butaw case to
Buchanan is based on fear
that government will lose
the case if it is tried in Sinoe
County.
Government dont really
have case against these locals,
therefore they are afraid to
try the case in Sinoe County
because they will surely lose
it, said the source.
The trial of the 19 Butaw
citizens by government on
multiple charges including

rioting, theft of property and

armed robbery is coming at a
time the Independent Human
Rights
Commission
has
held the management of the
Golden Veroleum Company
liable for the rioting on the
plantation of the company.
Commissioner
Gladys
Johnson at a news conference
last week pointed fingers
at the Management of the
Golden Veroleum Company
for refusing to reply the
locals after writing the
management letter for a
conference.
The locals wrote the
Management
of
Golden
Veroleum Company the first
letter and they refused to
reply, and another letter
which they also refused to
reply thereby prompting the
rioting, said Commissioner
Johnson.

Ahead of the Buchanans

trial human rights lawyer
Cllr. Dempster Brown has
announced that he has
recruited several lawyers to
represent the legal interest of
the defendants.
Right now we have recruited
several lawyers who will
be going to Sinoe County
and wherever the trial will
take place to represent
the defendants and we are
confident that we will defeat
the state, said Cllr. Brown
At a news conference last
week Cllr. Brown told
FrontPage Africa that at the
time of the rioting several
citizens of Butaw fled and are
still hiding in the bushes for
fear of been arrested by the
police and warned the police
against arbitrary arrest of
Butaw citizens.

Monroviainance
and
Development
Planning
Minister
Amara M. Konneh
kept a delegation from Kuwait
waiting in the conference room
of his office for hours.
Liberia is desperate for
development as President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is
constantly lobbying to attract
investors to Liberia.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
visited the Gulf State of Kuwait
in June 2010, during which she
made an appeal to the Emir of
Kuwait for support to the roads
program in Liberia.
That request led to the
provision of financing from
the Kuwait Fund for Arab
Economic
Development
(KFAED) for a feasibility
study,
an
environmental
impact assessment study, a
detailed engineering design
and preparation of tender
documents for the Gbarnga to
Mendikorma road.
The delegation that is expected
to finance the GbarngaMendikorma
Highway
Construction
Project
is
currently visiting Liberia on
an appraisal mission.The
delegations of Arab investors
were expected to meet with
Liberia
Finance
Minister
Amara Konneh at 2:00 PM
yesterday.
Going by standard diplomatic
protocol, the delegation arrived
at the office of the minister

fifteen minutes1:45prior
to the schedule in order to get
adjusted. Forty-five minutes
later, it was a no show for
Minister Konneh.
After 45minutes of waiting, a
staff of the finance ministry
walked in and said to the
delegation, excuse me, we
are sorry for keeping you
people all this while with
the minister not here yet. As
you know, today is a cabinet
meeting, and the minister and
his colleagues are meeting the
president. So please bear with
us for 10minutes, the Minister
and his team will be here, he
walked out.
Ten minutes morphed into
twenty five minutes when
Finance
minister
Amara
Konneh walked in and greeted
the delegation. I am so sorry
for keeping you this longwe
were all in cabinet meeting.
Anyway you are all welcome to
Liberia again, he noted.
The delegation which is
expected to tour the road
ahead of the signing of various
financing agreements later this
year comprises the OPEC Fund
for International Development
(OFID), the Arab Bank for
Economic Development in
Africa (BADEA), the Saudi
Fund for Development (SFD),
the Abu Dhabi Fund for
Development (ADFD), and
the Kuwait Fund for Arab
Economic
Development
(KFAED).

'BLOOD
Thursday , September 3, 2015

Frontpage

Page 11

MEMORIAL
SERVICE

DIAMONDS'

arrest sheds light over grim African trade

Malaga, Spain (CNN)

ast Friday, a 64-year
old Belgian citizen,
Michel
Desaedeleer,
was waiting to board a
flight from Malaga in southern
Spain to New York. But his
name registered on a Europewide database of arrest
warrants and he was detained
by police at the airport,
according to Spain's Interior
Ministry.
The
accusation
against
Desaedeleer, who also holds
U.S. citizenship, is that he
profited from the illicit trade
of "blood diamonds" during
the civil war that ravaged
Sierra Leone between 1991
and 2002. But it's only in
recent years that a case against
him has been put together by
Belgian authorities, and it's
largely based on eyewitness
testimony.
Desaedeleer is suspected
of having participated with
former Liberian President
Charles Taylor and the rebels of
the Revolutionary United Front
(RUF) led by Foday Sankoh in
Sierra Leone in a scheme to
mine diamonds illegally in
the district of Kono in eastern
Sierra Leone.
The warrant for Desaedeleer's
arrest was based on testimony
gathered by a Swiss-based
NGO, Civitas Maxima from
witnesses who were in Kono
between 1999 and 2001.
According to a statement from
Spanish police, the allegation is
that Desaedeleer "would have
been one of the supervisors

in charge of overseeing the

extraction works on site" at the
end of 1999 and the beginning
of 2000.
Previous trials in international
courts have established that
the RUF ran an horrific regime
of enslavement and brutality
at mines it controlled in Kono
and elsewhere, including
amputation, rape and forced
conscription of civilians and
suspected rebels, according
to Human Rights Watch. But
also according to hundreds of
pages of judgments issued in
the Special Court.
Alain Werner, the lawyer who
helped prepare the victims'
case, was previously one of
the prosecuting attorneys in
the Special Court that tried
Taylor for war crimes and
crimes against humanity, and
was also involved in the trial
of prominent RUF members.
He told CNN he had first come
across Desaedeleer's name in
2006.
Werner told CNN that Sankoh
and others needed "external
actors to market the diamonds
they were smuggling out to the
Liberian capital, Monrovia." He
said the critical element in the
complaint presented against
Desaedeleer,
which
runs
to some 50 pages, was that
former members of the RUF
had sworn that he was in Kono.
Werner said there was no
suggestion that Desaedeleer
had been personally involved in
any abuses. But the complaint
held that Desaedeleer was
complicit in pillage as a

war crime and enslavement

through his involvement in the
Kono diamond mining.
Money used for weapons
A U.N. panel of experts that
investigated the trade in blood
diamonds reported in 2000
that Desaedeleer first made
contact with the RUF while
in Togo during the summer
of 1999. Within months,
according to the U.N. panel, he
and an associate had "worked
up an arrangement with Foday
Sankoh which would give them
authority to broker rights to all
of Sierra Leone's diamond and
gold resources for a 10-year
period."
The U.N. report also said that
a letter, signed by a "Michel,"
"proposed that his Belgian
partner 'Charles' could hire
a private jet to take the
diamonds out directly from
Kono" without having to pass
through the capital, Freetown.
In October 1999, a deal
was
reached
between
Desaedeleer's company, BECA,
and Sankoh. At the time Sankoh
had been given the position of
Chairman of the Commission
for the Management of
Strategic Mineral Resources as
part of an ill-fated attempt to
broker a peace deal in Sierra
Leone. He was in essence
Minister of Mines.
Documents later recovered
from his compound in
Freetown showed that even
while in government Sankoh
had been trading hundreds
of diamonds illicitly. Another
document found, and cited

by the U.N. experts, was

purportedly a fax from
Desaedeleer to Sankoh, which
mentioned a meeting with his
wife, Fatou, in the U.S.
"I finally explained to Fatou
that everything was possible,
moneywise, if I could finally
meet my partners with some
decent inventory," the fax read.
In an interview with Newsweek
in July 2000, Desaedeleer
maintained that the contract
he signed with Sankoh was
legitimate -- because at the
time it had been signed
Sankoh was a member of the
government.
The sums involved in the blood
diamonds trade were huge.
The U.N. experts estimated that
the RUF was responsible for
illegally exporting diamonds
amounting to a total value
of between $25 and $125
million each year. Much of
that money was used to buy
weapons on the black market
-- weapons that were flown
from Ukraine and elsewhere
into the neighboring countries
of Liberia and Burkina Faso in
violation of international law.
It will now be up to Belgian
prosecutors to show -- if the
case comes to trial -- that the
eyewitness testimony from
survivors of enslavement
in Kono is credible by itself
or can be corroborated by
other
evidence
showing
Desaedeleer's complicity in
the trade of illicit diamonds.
The full indictment itself has
not yet been released.

A memorial service remembering the life

of the late Reverend Napoleon Nathaniel
Brathwaite IIIl will be held on Saturday,
September 12th at the Peaceful Baptist
Church in Flahn town Battery factory, lower
New Georgia; at 10:00 o'clock a.m. The late
Reverend Napoleon N. Brathwaite was the
Special Assistant to the Chief medical Officer,
Mrs Bernice Dahn. He was also the Pastor of
Peaceful Baptist Church. Reverend Brathwaite
was born on December 25th, 1959 in Gbarnga,
Bong County unto the union of Napoleon
Nathaniel Brathwaite and his consort Esther.
He died in his 54th year on September 24th,
2015. He was buried at the Tinker town
cemetery off the Robertsfield highway.

For quality print solution visit

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Page 12 | Frontpage

"

(CNN)
It's
your
worst
nightmare,"
Nancy
Writebol says.
"There's
vomiting.
There's
diarrhea.
There's
weakness... There's fever.
There's a rash.
"It just attacks the body and
begins to attack your organs.
And as the disease progresses,
a lot of people do bleed out."
Writebol describes the virus
that nearly killed her without a
hint of bitterness. Her stamina
may not be what it once was,
and there's a lingering pain
in her joints that makes stairs
particularly difficult, but the
loving mother and grandmother
is grateful to be alive.
She expected to die.
Writebol, a missionary working
with Ebola patients in Liberia,
was one of the first Americans
to be diagnosed with Ebola and
evacuated to the United States.
While working in the region,
she'd seen what the virus had
done to many people in West
Africa.
But
Writebol
received
an emergency dose of an
experimental
drug
called
ZMapp and spent two weeks
in an isolation unit at Emory
University Hospital in Atlanta.
Dr. Kent Brantly, who worked
with Writebol at the same
hospital in Liberia, began
showing symptoms of Ebola
a few days before she did.
He was also given ZMapp,
before being evacuated to the
United States and undergoing
treatment at Emory.
"I really believe that God saved
us," Writebol says. "But God
uses means. And he used the
ZMapp. And he used doctors
and nurses and an evacuation
plan. And he used the prayers
of his people."
Writebol was released from
Emory on August 19, 2014.
Less than a year later, she
and her husband of more than
40 years, David, returned to
Liberia with the international
Christian
organization
Serving in Mission. They
are determined to help the
country's residents recover
from 15 years of civil war and
a devastating epidemic.
"Liberia's very much like an
onion... there's layer after layer
after layer of trauma and grief,"
Writebol told CNN before
returning to West Africa. "So
we're going back to not only
read into that but, as a survivor,
to bear that burden with the

EBOLA

U.S. EBOLA SURVIVORS:

Thursday , September 3, 2015

Where are they now?

Liberians who have come

through that."
Liberia was one of three
primary countries affected
by what the World Health
Organization has called the
"largest, longest and most
complex" Ebola outbreak in
history.
During the outbreak's peak, in
August and September 2014,
Liberia was reporting 300 to
400 new cases a week. As of
August 23, Liberia had recorded
10,672 cases of Ebola, with
4,808 deaths. Its neighbors,
Guinea and Sierra Leone,
have recorded an additional
17,333 cases, including 6,479
deaths. Ebola also arrived in
Italy, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal,
Spain, the United Kingdom
and the United States, via
infected travelers or medical
evacuations.
"Ebola has destroyed lives
and families, left deep scars,
and ripped at the social and
economic fabric of Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone,"
Doctors Without Borders
wrote in its March 2015 report,
"Pushed to the Limit and
Beyond: A year into the largest
ever Ebola outbreak."
The aid organization deployed
more than 5,300 staff members
to fight the epidemic. Twentyeight contracted the virus; 14
died. Overall, more than 500
health care workers have died
during the outbreak.
While no one would ever say
they're happy to have had

Ebola, Writebol recognizes

that she and Brantly played
a crucial role in bringing
the epidemic to the world's
attention. Though more than
600 people had already died
in West Africa before Writebol
and Brantly were diagnosed,
their evacuation to the United
States pushed the international
community into action. With
their diagnoses, the world
realized the contagious virus
with an estimated 60% death
rate could -- and would -spread beyond Africa.
Writebol
remembers
one
conversation with a colleague
in Liberia: He said, "Nancy,
if you and Kent had not
gotten sick I don't know that
the international community
would've ever been here to help
us."
"So it did give us a platform
on which to speak and to raise

the level of answer for West

Africa," Writebol said.
Overall, 10 people were treated
for Ebola in the United States
-- two of whom died -- and one
more without the virus would
start a national conversation
about
infectious
disease
control.
Writebol and Brantly were
followed by Dr. Rick Sacra
and a mystery patient later
revealed to be Dr. Ian Crozier.
Thomas Eric Duncan, a
Liberian man visiting relatives
in Dallas, died on October 8. A
freelance cameraman named
Ashoka Mukpo was brought
to and released from Nebraska
Medical Center.
Then the world learned that
two nurses in Dallas who had
treated Duncan -- Nina Pham
and Amber Vinson -- had
also contracted the disease.
Two additional healthcare

workers who had been in West

Africa, Dr. Craig Spencer
and Dr. Martin Salia, were
also diagnosed later in the
year. Salia passed away on
November 17, 2014.
These are the faces and names
that most Americans will
remember from the Ebola
outbreak.
Where are they now?
Working with Ebola survivors
at SIM's Trauma Healing
Institute in Monrovia, Liberia,
Nancy Writebol says she
has a "respectful fear" of the
virus, though doctors believe
she's now immune. Scientists
are still studying her to track
the long-term effects of the
disease.
Her
husband
David
is
participating in a clinical
trial designed to test an
Ebola vaccine. In July, the
World Health Organization
announced that trials of the
single-dose
VSV-EBOV
vaccine in Guinea proved the
vaccine was highly effective,
and that no one who received it
has developed Ebola.
Dr. Kent Brantly told NPR in
December that it took months
for him to feel like himself
again. Since leaving Emory,
the father of two has traveled
the country to tell others what
still needs to be done to combat
Ebola.
"This outbreak is a threat to the
health of the world in a way we
haven't seen in recent decades,"
he told NPR. "And it's bringing
to light the fact that there is no
well-organized international
response for something on this
scale. Hopefully those lessons
will not be learned in vain."
In the months following his
release from Nebraska Medical
Center, Dr. Rick Sacra dealt
with a bad cough and blurry
vision. They were the only
lingering signs of the virus that
ravaged his body for weeks.
Sacra has been back to Liberia
several times, most recently
in July. He's been quite vocal
about his vision of establishing
a residency program for future
Liberian doctors.
"Being back in Liberia was a
bit surreal at first," he wrote

in an email to CNN. "I guess I

am just amazed at the Liberian
people whom I work with -their selfless service, their grit
-- to keep working in the face
of such risks."
When he's in the United States,
Sacra serves as a clinician at
the Family Health Center of
Worcester and as assistant
professor at the University of
Massachusetts Medical School.
"I've only had a few instances
where strangers steered clear of
me or didn't want to be near to
me," he says. "Unfortunately,
some others, both in the U.S.
and here in Africa, have been
badly stigmatized and are
struggling to put their lives
back together."
Dr. Ian Crozier was, by far, the
sickest Ebola patient to arrive
at Emory University Hospital
in Atlanta, administrators said.
He was placed on a ventilator
and underwent kidney dialysis.
He spent 40 days in the
isolation unit.
Less than two months after
being discharged, Crozier
started experiencing problems
with his vision. He returned
to Emory, and doctors were
stunned to find traces of the
virus in fluid from his eye.
They were even more surprised
to watch as his eye turned from
its original blue color to a
greenish hue.
Crozier received steroids and
an antiviral agent and his eye
gradually returned to normal.
Doctors at Emory advised their
colleagues in West Africa to
watch Ebola survivors for eye
problems.
"You can imagine an Ebola
survivor who's already been
through their own personal
hell," Crozier said at the time.
"And as they emerge from that
place, to then in a sense face
the tragedy of going blind;
it's a story that we must pay
attention."
Ashoka Mukpo worked for
years with the advocacy group
Human Rights Watch, and
news organizations like VICE
and NBC, before contracting
Ebola in Liberia while he
covered the story there. Mukpo
was evacuated to the Nebraska
Medical Center and was
declared free of the virus on
October 21.
"I think physically I'm fine,"
Mukpo, a practicing Buddhist,
told Lion's Roar in February.
"Emotionally, it's been a little
delicate. I've been through
a lot of trauma, but I feel
pretty
strong
physically,
psychologically, and spiritually
right now."
He recently wrote a report
titled "Surviving Ebola" for
International Alert, based on
interviews and surveys of
people living in Liberia.

VOICES

Thursday , September 3, 2015

MEDIA ISSUES

Frontpage

Page 13

LIBERIANS WEIGH IN ON SIRLEAF, KOFIS

LIBERIA POLICE, PRESS

UNION HERALD NATIONAL WAR OF WORDS OVER NOCAL BANKRUPTCY
DIALOGUE AFTER FLOGGINGS

Monrovia
he Press Union of Liberia and the Liberia National Police
(LNP) have held meeting in Monrovia aimed at resolving
unprovoked attacks on journalists in the country.
The meeting brought together the leadership of the
Press Union and the hierarchy of Police to discuss the strain
relationship between the LNP and the media.
In recent times, the Press Union of Liberia has protested the
flogging of four journalists in Monrovia and Kakata, while
discharging their normal reportorial duties.
During the meeting, the both parties agreed on holding national
dialogue that will bring together police and media practitioners to
discuss the scope of their works and craft ideas that will improve
Police-media relationship. The Leadership of the PUL formally
presented a letter of complaint asking the Police to investigate the
reported flogging of four journalists last month.
Receiving the complaint, Deputy Police Chief for Administration,
James Mulbah urged the Professional Standards Division of the
LNP to speedily investigate the manhandling of the journalists.
The Police is working to protect the public and must not be
seen as violating the rights of members of that same public, Col.
Mulbah said, urging the Professional Standard Division to report
its findings in one week.
Speaking earlier, Press Union of Liberia Acting President Jallah
Grayfield re-echoed the PULs earlier position that journalists are
not whipping dogs and asked the police to be true to its words to
investigate the recent flogging of the four journalists.
Mr. Grayfield welcomed the continuation of dialogues between
the media and security institutions, in the hope that it could lead
to improvement in relations between the media and security
services.

MONUMENT OF
CONTRADICTIONS
Madam Sirleaf is a monument of contradictions, and she doesnt have the
moral rectitude to respond to Kofi Woodss statement. If she claims that
there was corruption at the Ministry of Public Works, it means the President
should be charged for aiding and abetting corruption- Alvin Wesseh

Monrovian recent days President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former

Public Works Minister Samuel Kofi Woods have been in
exchanges over the current situation facing the National
Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).
Woods has declared that President Sirleaf should take
responsibility for the NOCAL crisis while the President also
wants the former Minister to do same for events that took
place under his watch at the Ministry of Public Works.
Former Minister Woods first made the comments which was
followed by response from the President.
Liberians have been expressing mixed views on the exchanges
in separate interviews with FrontPageAfrica

PRESS UNION OF LIBERIA FINES

VOICE FM OVER BWI COMPLAINT

Monrovia he Press Union of Liberia has imposed a fine of L$2,500

upon Voice FM for intentionally breaching the Unions
Code of Conduct and Ethics.

The decision was based upon recommendations by the
PUL Grievance and Ethics Committee following investigations
into a complaint filed by the Booker Washington Institute (BWI)
Alumni Association. The PUL has additionally directed Voice FM
to immediately grant the complainant the right to state its side of
stories aired about them.
The BWI Alumni Association had complained Voice FM of using
a Thursday, July 16, 2015 edition of the Costa Show to present
utterances and statements that were totally incorrect, erroneous,
absolutely misleading and inaccurate about a LD$300,000 (three
hundred thousand Liberian dollars) pledge made to the BWI
Alumni Association by Mr. Emmanuel Lomax, on behalf of Mr.
Benoni Urey, and denied them a right to reply.
During the investigation, the Grievance and Ethics Committee
found Voice FM guilty of violating Articles 8, 12, 23 and 20 of
the PUL Code of Conduct and Ethics, which requires prompt
correction/rejoinder, ensuring of equal access, right to reply for
newsmakers and social professional responsibility to various
interests in society.
The PUL warned Voice FM and other media institutions against
violating the rights of people by denying them the right to reply,
when allegations are being made against another side.
The PUL said while it remains robust in protecting and advocating
press freedom and social justice, it will also be forceful in naming
and shaming its members and other journalists who disregard
their ethical standards.
Meanwhile, the PUL has taken serious offense to the repeated
failure of Voice FM to show up at two scheduled hearings of the
Grievance and Ethics Committee. This is simply unacceptable!

Alvin Wesseh- Madam Sirleaf is a monument of contradictions,

and she doesnt have the moral rectitude to respond to Kofi
Woodss statement. If she claims that there was corruption at
the Ministry of Public Works, it means the President should be
charged for aiding and abetting corruption. When Kofi Woods
resigned, it was this same President who said he was the best
Public Works minister ever. We will not be carried away by the
President damage control method and she wants to sway us
from the real issues. The President needs to speak to the issue
and stop the child play; you cannot term a leadership as able
when they led NOCAL to bankruptcy. She should be calling
GAC for an audit of NOCAL. To intentionally give flowers
and decorate corrupt action at NOCALthat shows that
corruption is truly a vampire as professed by the President.

Prince Brown- What former Minister Woods said that the

President should take responsibility is the truth. I dont see
the reason why the President should attack Minister Woods
for something she knows within herself is the reality, and she
appointed so many Vice Presidents. When Woods left the
government, he wasnt indicted for any corruption. Since hes
critical of the government, Madam Sirleaf wants to make him
a boogeyman. All President Sirleaf wants is to damage the
character of Kofi Woods. The President is shying away from
the real issues.

Momo Teah- I dont think the President was in error to

say that Minister Woods should take responsibility for what
happened at the Ministry of Public Works. If anything went
wrong at Public works, former Minister Woods cannot say he
cannot account for it. He should account for it because he was
responsible to oversee the ministry. I also want the President
to take Minister Woods comment in good fate; she should
begin investigating NOCAL bankruptcy. I want the President
to start the investigation from the time her son Robert Sirleaf
was there. Why did the President allow NOCAL to control
scholarship when we have the Ministry of Education? The
legislature also has a part to play in NOCALs bankruptcy;
this institution came into existence from laws enacted by the
legislatureif there was proper oversight by our lawmakers,
they would have noticed that the oil company was getting
broke.
Jusu Kollie- Kofi Woods is
rightthe President should
take responsibility of what
went wrong at NOCAL
because it did not happen
overnight.
If
anything
happened
doing
the
administration of Woods,
why the President saw it
and never took action?
Instead of the President
playing blame game, she
should take former Minister
Woods comment seriously.
You cannot use the people
who cause the entity to go into bankruptcy to reform the
institution. If they had idea the entity wasnt going be where it
is, there should be an audit to know what went wrong.

Abraham Allison- I will agree with Attorney Woods, the

Problem started when the
President appointed her son
at NOCAL and there were
several outcries. When he
resigned, the President said
he (Robert) has achieved
what he was sent for. The
President is shying away from
the real issue. One cannot
be working at your will and
pleasure and you say he
should take responsibility. Is
it that hes becoming critical
of the government which the
president wants to silence
him? If the President can take responsibility of what went
wrong at NOCAL, she should as well take responsibility of
what went wrong at Public Works. Madam Sirleaf should
ensure that those at NOCAL account for what went wrong. If
those guys were caught in corruption, they should have their
day in court.

Page 14 | Frontpage

PAGE

WORLD NEWS

Thursday , September 3, 2015

MIGRANT CRISIS
RONT

HUNDREDS PROTEST AT HUNGARY STATION

BAN
centre with pepper spray

SOMALIA ATTACK: AL-SHABAB

ATTACKS AFRICAN UNION JANALE BASE

ighters from the al-Shabab militant Islamist group have

overrun an African Union military base in southern
Somalia, inflicting heavy casualties, witnesses have
told the BBC.
The militants said they have killed 70 AU soldiers at the Janale
base, 90km (55 miles) south-east of the capital.
AU forces say they are back in control after taking a "tactical
withdrawal".
Al-Shabab, part of al-Qaeda, is battling the AU-backed
government for control of Somalia.
Residents said the attack started with a suicide car bombing
at the base's gate, followed by sustained gunfire which lasted
more than an hour.
They told the BBC Somali service that AU forces were seen
leaving the base, which is run by the Ugandan troops.
They said they counted the bodies of 20 AU soldiers and later
they saw more troops arriving at the base after the militants
had left with weapons.
The AU mission in Somalia (Amisom) says the situation is
complex and it does not yet have casualty figures.
The BBC's Mohamed Mualimu in the capital, Mogadishu, says
the situation in the area is very tense and few residents remain
there.

undreds of migrants
have protested for
a second day at
Hungary's decision
to stop them travelling on
to Germany and other EU
countries.
They are among 2,000 people
camped at Budapest's Keleti
train station, having bought
tickets for onward journeys.
It comes as more than 4,000
migrants arrived in mainland
Greece from the island of
Lesbos overnight.
Meanwhile, Germany, Italy
and France have called for
"fair distribution" of refugees
throughout the EU.
In a joint declaration, the
country's
three
foreign
ministers also called for
Europe's asylum laws to be
revised, the Italian foreign
ministry said in a statement
(in Italian).

POPE ON ABORTION: FRANCIS

RELAXES FORGIVENESS RULES

ope Francis is making it easier for women and doctors

to seek forgiveness for abortion, by allowing all priests
to forgive it.
In Catholicism, abortion is viewed as such a grave sin
that it can punished with excommunication.
In most countries, only a bishop can approve forgiveness for
abortion. They would then delegate an expert priest to hear the
confession.
The change is only for the coming Jubilee Year, beginning in
December.
However, the rule relaxation will not affect Catholics in England,
Wales and Scotland as all priests there can already forgive
abortion without seeking permission from a bishop.
The Pope said many women who sought an abortion did so
because they "believe that they have no other option".
He added that he had "met so many women who bear in their
heart the scar of this agonising and painful decision".
The easing of the rules is being seen as a shift in Catholic Church
policy, reflecting the Pope's outspoken views on compassion
and mercy.
"'I have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
to allow all priests for the Jubilee Year to absolve of the sin of
abortion those who procure it and who also seek forgiveness,"
Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis is aware that the decision will not be welcomed by
traditionalists, says the BBC's David Willey.
However, in contrast to his predecessors, he regards compassion
and mercy as virtues that outclass all others.
The Jubilee Year runs from 8 December 2015 to 26 November
2016 and is seen as one of the Catholic Church's most important
events.
It normally takes place every 25 years unless a pope declares an
extraordinary one to draw attention to a particular issue.
'Throw-away culture'
The Pope has previously denounced abortion as part of a throwaway culture.
"It is horrific even to think that there are children, victims of
abortion, who will never see the light of day," he said in 2014.
"Unfortunately, what is thrown away is not only food and
dispensable objects, but often human beings themselves, who
are discarded as unnecessary," he added.
Pope Francis has been viewed as progressive on other
controversial issues. In 2013, on the topic of homosexuality, he
said: "Who am I to judge?"

As it happened: Wednesday's
developments
With thousands of migrants
from the Middle East and
Africa on the move through
Europe, the EU's member
states are struggling to agree
a common policy for dealing
with the crisis.
Italy
and
Greece
have
complained that they are
overwhelmed by the numbers
arriving on their shores.
And while countries such
as Germany are prepared
to accept large numbers of
asylum seekers, others, such as
the UK, are not.
The BBC's Chris Morris in
Brussels says the European
Commission, the executive of
the EU, is trying to draw up a
list of safe countries of origin
that failed asylum applicants
can be sent back to.
And an EC spokeswoman

has now said it is preparing

proposals for a mechanism to
automatically redistribute a
proportion of those seeking
asylum among EU states.
In other developments:
Five children were among
12 migrants who drowned in
Turkish waters while trying
to reach Greece, officials
said; images of a child's body
washed up near the resort
of Bodrum were circulating
widely on social media
Aid agency Medecins Sans
Frontieres tweets that two
of its boats have rescued
nearly 1,000 people from the
Mediterranean
Police in Austria released 24
Afghan migrants who were in
danger of suffocating from the
back of van
A man was arrested in the
German town of Massow after
attacking people in a migrants'

soldiers and keeping them as

sex slaves.
"Humanity demands justice
for these crimes," ICC chief
prosecutor Fatou Bensouda
told the court.
Anna Holligan, BBC News,
The Hague
The prosecutor used her
opening statement to describe
the experience of one witness
in chilling detail. It was the
aftermath of an attack on a
village in the Ituri region of
eastern DR Congo.
Ms Bensouda said the witness
searched though a pile of
bodies, and found his wife,
toddler son and daughter,
whose head was punctured

and her throat slit. Then, he

discovered his remaining two
children who had been killed
in the same way. He gathered
the bodies of his family and
buried them in a field.
According to the prosecutor, the
rape and sexual enslavement
of girls was so prevalent in Gen
Ntaganda's Union of Congolese
Patriots (UCP) rebel army, that
girls were referred to as "a
large communal cooking pot"
- commanders, she alleged,
could pass the girls around
and use them for sex whenever
they pleased.
Human rights groups here in
The Hague have celebrated
Gen Ntaganda's appearance,

DR CONGO'S BOSCO NTAGANDA

PLEADS NOT GUILTY AT ICC TRIAL

ormer Congolese rebel

leader Bosco Ntaganda
has pleaded not guilty
to all charges at the
start of his war crimes trial
at the International Criminal
Court (ICC) at The Hague.
The 18 charges include murder,
rape and the recruitment of
child soldiers.
Evidence has been gathered
from more than 2,000 alleged
victims, including former child
soldiers.
Nicknamed "The Terminator",
Gen Ntaganda's trial is the
biggest and most complex case
in the ICC's history.
He fought for different
rebel groups as well as the
Democratic
Republic
of
Congo's army.
Africa Live: Latest updates
He made his not guilty plea in a
barely audible voice, standing
in the dock with his signature
pencil moustache, reports
the BBC's Anna Holligan from
court.
The start of the trial was
a
historic
moment
for
international justice and for
the Democratic Republic of
Congo, our correspondent
adds.
The 41-year-old is accused of
killing at least 800 civilians
during separate attacks on a
number of villages between
2002 and 2003.
He is also accused of raping girl

Eurostar trains between

London and Paris were
disrupted overnight after
migrants got on to train tracks
The
migrants
camped
overnight at Keleti station had
been prevented from boarding
trains on Tuesday.
They had bought tickets after
Hungary appeared to abandon
efforts on Monday to register
migrants,
allowing
huge
numbers to board trains to
Vienna and southern Germany.
Hundreds of migrants again
protested on Wednesday,
chanting "Freedom, freedom"
and waving train tickets.
Journalists at the scene said
tensions were high with
migrants involved in a standoff with riot police.
Greece saw the arrival of 23,000
migrants last week alone, said
the EU's border control agency
Frontex - an increase of 50%
on the previous week.
Many arrive on the island of
Lesbos, where, according to
the Kathimerini newspaper,
17,500
migrants
were
registered in the last week.
Some 4,200 migrants were
brought from Lesbos to the
port of Pireaus, near Athens
overnight.
Greece's government says it
lacks the resources to look
after so many arrivals, but
aid groups say the authorities
should be doing more.
Greece's caretaker cabinet is
set to discuss the issue later on
Wednesday.
saying it is proof that even the
most powerful leaders may
one day be brought to justice.
In 2013, Gen Ntaganda handed
himself in at the US embassy in
the Rwandan capital, Kigali.
He had evaded capture for
seven years after the ICC first
issued warrants for his arrest.
Bosco Ntaganda was part of
the UCP rebel group, led by
Thomas Lubanga, who in 2014
became the first person to be
convicted by the ICC.
Gen Ntaganda was one of
the leaders of the M23 rebel
movement, which had fought
government
troops
until
signing a peace deal in 2013.
Eastern DR Congo has suffered
two decades of violence
linked to ethnic rivalries and
competition for control of the
area's rich mineral resources.
Who is Bosco Ntaganda?
Born in 1973 in Rwanda
Fled to DR Congo as a
teenager after attacks on
fellow ethnic Tutsis
At 17, he begins his fighting
days - alternating between
being a rebel and a soldier, in
both Rwanda and DR Congo
In 2006, indicted by the ICC
for allegedly recruiting child
soldiers in Ituri
In 2009, he is integrated into
the Congolese national army
and made a general
In 2012, he defects from the
army, sparking a new rebellion
which forces 800,000 from
their homes
In March 2013, hands himself
in to US embassy in Kigali

Thursday , September 3, 2015

Sports

Frontpage

ON THE MOVE AGAIN

Weeks moves from Portugals Maritimo
to Cyprus Ermis Aradippou

Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

iberia
international
Theo Lewis Weeks has
joined Cypriot First
Division side Ermis
Aradippou from Portuguese
Primeira Liga club CS Martimo
for an undisclosed fee.
Weeks passed a medical and
agreed personal terms before
he was unveiled to the media.
The last piece in the puzzle of
Mercury's roster came in and
there is none other than Theo
Weeks Lewis. Theo Weeks
Lewis is a central attacking
midfielder, who last year
struggled to CS Martimo and
is the personal choice of little
Anthony. We welcome the
Theo family of Hermes and a
good start, read a translated
statement posted on the clubs
website.
Theo is one of eight African
players to move to the
Aradippou Stadium under
manager Pavlos Dermitzakis.
The rest are Ivorian midfielder
Bassalia Ouattara from CD
Feirense in Portugal, Burkinabe
striker Issouf Ouattara from
Al-Nasr Benghazi in Libya,
Gabonese midfielder Ulysse
Ndong from Othellos Athienou
in Cyprus, DR Congolese
striker Yannick Yenga from
Lamia 1964 in Greece, Guinean
striker Alhassane Keita from

Lierse in Belgium, South

African striker Sergio Marakis
from Maritimo in Portugal and
Nigerian striker Femi Balogun
from Olhanense in Portugal.
There is an almost seven
minute highlights of his tough

time in Portugal (with five of

his best goals), where he made
16 appearances (758 minutes)
with two goals for Maritimo
last season.
In the 2013/2014 season,
Weeks played in the Segunda

FIGHT
TO
THE
END
Lonestar players vow Strong Match

and Primeira Ligas for both the

junior (a game, 90 minutes)
and senior teams (19 games,
1053 minutes) of Maritimo.
He also had spells at Gztepe
(2011-2013),
Ankaragc
(2011-2012), Rizespor (2010-

2011), Ankaragc (20092011)

and
Osmanlispor
(2008/2009) in Turkey.
The 25-year-old played the last
of 18 caps when Liberia lost
2-1 to Togo in a 2017 Africa
Cup of Nations qualifier to
Togo in Lome on June 14.
Weeks, who made his debut
in a 1-1 draw with Gambia in
a 2010 World Cup qualifier at
the Samuel Kanyon Doe sports
complex on June 1, 2008 under
then German coach Antoine
Hey, has had an inconsistent
international career not based
on form but from a rocky path
with LFA president Musa Bility
to an on and off perceived
malice with deputy coach
Kelvin Sebwe, whom he may
have effectively-retired during
the days of Hey.
During the 2015 Africa Cup
of Nations qualifiers with
Lesotho in May and June 2014
respectively, then interim
coach Thomas Kojo was told to
bring only three foreign-based
players due to a lack of funds
but it later emerged that Bility
told Kojo that he didnt want
the indiscipline trio of Weeks,
Francis Grandpa Doe and Dioh
Williams.
Weeks only made the trip
to Ghana and Lome after a
FrontPageAfrica article was, at
best, analytical and at worst,
critical of Liberia coach James
Debbahs first listing.
He was taken to Europe under
controversial circumstances,
to sign a deal with Ankaraspor
by Antoine Hey, Sr.

A. Macaulay Sombai, sombaifrontpageafricaonline. Com 0777217428

Page 15

SPORTS

CHELSEA AGREE 4M
DEAL FOR HECTOR

he Blues are close

to
completing
a shock deal
for the Reading
defender with deadlineday hopes of landing
marquee target John
Stones looking all but lost
Chelsea have agreed a
4m deal for Reading
defender Michael Hector,
Goal understands.
Hectors representatives
are currently discussing
personal terms in west
London ahead of a shock
deadline day move to
the
Premier
League
champions.

BERAHINO SLAMS WEST BROM

OVER FAILED TOTTENHAM MOVE:
I'LL NEVER PLAY FOR THEM AGAIN

he
22-year-old
was the subject
of multiple bids
from the White
Hart Lane outfit and saw a
transfer request rejected
and has now hit out at
Baggies chairman Jeremy
Pearce
Saido Berahino says he
will never play for West
Brom again following their
refusal to accept a bid from
Tottenham.
The 22-year-old has seen a
transfer requested turned
down by the Baggies as
the striker looked to force
through a move to White
Hart Lane after two bids,
understood to be worth
18 million and 22m were
rejected.

ANTONIO, SONG, MOSES AND JELAVIC

JOIN WEST HAM ON DEADLINE DAY

Monroviahe Liberia National

team, the Lonestar
takes on its Tunisian
counterpart
this
Saturday and knowing the
toughness of their opponent,
several players of the Lonestar
have vowed to make the game
difficult for the North Africans.
Sekou Jabateh, one of the
skillful and experience players
on the squad said with the
quality of players on hand he

thinks they are all ready to face

the visitors with real pressure
and they will do all they can to
win the match.
Says Jabateh: For me I think
with the quality of players we
have on hand it shows that we
are ready and we are going to
fight against our opponents
until we carry the day and I am
calling on my fellow players
for us to maintain the pressure
against our opponents in both
halves of the match because

I think that would help us to

keep them off the ball.
Jabateh urged fans of Lonestar
to continue cheering the team
until they find the back of the
net against the visitors.
The captain of Lone Star
Williams Jebor described the
game against the North African
side as strong but he thinks
through the collective effort
of all of them as players they
will win at the end of the final
whistle.

We all know that the Liberian

people are in serious need of
victory against the visitors
because we lost our first match
in the group against Togo and
that I will do my best through
the team work, Jebor vowed.
Lonestar Deputy Head Coach
Kelvin Sebwe admitted that
playing against the Tunisians
is always difficult because
they always have a good side
and they are among the best
playing teams in African
football but he has vowed that
the match will be very rough
for both side.
Said Coach Sebwe We are
still talking to our players
because we want them to be
concentrated form the first
minute up to the last minute of
the match so that they will be
able to win against the visitors

at the end of the day and they

should also remember that
we are playing home and our
people need victory.
Coach
Sebwe
expressed
satisfaction for the number
of professional players now
in the country to face Tunisia
but urged them to remain on
the alert and put into use all of
their soccer strategies against
their opponents.
The senior national team on
Wednesday defeated the under
20 side 1-0 in a friendly match
played at the ATS.
Teah Dennis was on target
through a header in the 10th
minute.
The Lone Star final lineup for
Saturday match is expected to
be announced on today by the
Head Coach James Debbah.

est
Ham
have
signed
Nottingham
Forest winger
Michail Antonio and Hull
striker Nikica Jelavic and
completed loan deals for
Barcelona midfielder Alex
Song and Chelsea winger
Victor Moses.
Antonio, 25, has moved to the
Hammers for an undisclosed
fee, reported to be 7m, while
30-year-old Jelavic moves in a
transfer worth about 3m.
Song, 27, and Moses, 24, have
joined the club on season-long
loan deals.
Antonio has signed a four-year
deal with a further two-year
option.

FrontPage Sports
ON
THE
MOVE
FIGHT
TO
THE
END
- Lonestar players vow Strong Match
www.frontpageafricaonline.com

VOL 9 NO.132

THURSDAY , SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

PRICE L$40

Inside Sports

AGAIN
Weeks moves from
Portugals Maritimo to
Cyprus Ermis Aradippou
see page 15

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