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VOL 9 NO.17
SELLING
REACTIONS TO ANNUAL MESSAGE
WHAT THE PRESIDENT
LEFT OUT
I was doing it for the Liberian people and the Liberian people recognized me. I havent stopped here in Liberia, Im in Sierra Leone
and the people there are appreciating my work. Im going to talk to my party not to raise issue about me not being recognized. It is
not everything you do that people must recognize you for. What I want is for Liberia to be Ebola free, Sierra Leone Ebola free and
Guinea, I will not be deterred by not being recognized. I see no reason why we should make an issue of this. Rep. Saah Joseph,
Montserrado County, Congress for Democratic Change
Voices- pg.13
CORRUPTION
FIGHT TOUGHENS?
President Sirleaf Wants Prosecution for
LACC Indictees; Dual Citizenship
p 12
REP SAAH JOSEPH OMISSION

IN ANNUAL MESSAGE
A GLARING
INJUSTICE
p 3
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Page 2 | Frontpage
Monrovia
resident Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf used her tenth annual message
to hammer home some familiar refrain as she sought to
restore hope to a nation recovering from a battered year in
which the deadly Ebola virus outbreak broke down postwar Liberias economic and political infrastructures and exposed the
vulnerabilities of a nation on the mends.
Our agenda during the course of this year was defined virtually by
the Ebola virus which threatened our very existence, the President
said, adding the shutdown of hospital, clinics, as well as our schools
forced people to flee away from their families and homes as the virus
hit the country hard. Our economy was on the verge of collapse as
our citizens and nation were stigmatized. I can say today that despite
all of this, our nation has remained strong; our people resilient; our
commitment renewed and our faith restored.
Article 58 of the Constitution mandates the President on the
fourth working Monday in January of each year, to present the
Administrations Legislative Program and report to the Legislature on
the State of the Republic covering the economic condition including
expenditure and income.
Departure from Rhetoric of past Messages
Unlike previous years when the President presented a chronology of
what many government ministries and agencies submitted as their
achievements, the tenth annual message sought to depart from the
norms which has in the past drawn pointed criticisms from Liberians
and political analysts pointing out that much of what the president
presented did not match the realities of what was unfolding in the
country.
That departure while applauded in some quarters drew criticisms for
some, especially when the one hour nineteen minutes speech made a
glaring omission of not heralding the major contributions of Rep. Saah
Joseph, the opposition Congress for Democratic Change lawmaker,
whose ambulances were the only ones in the country at the height
of the deadly Ebola outbreak which helped saved scores of lives and
rocketed the lawmaker to international and national prominence for
what many say was the saving grace of the crisis.
Omission No Big Deal for Rep. Joseph
The lawmaker appeared undeterred when questioned whether he was
bothered at all by the omission. Im happy with what I am doing and
happy to see people back on their feet again. I was not doing it to be
recognized by the president. I was doing it for the Liberian people and
the Liberian people recognized me. I havent stopped here in Liberia,
Im in Sierra Leone and the people there are appreciating my work.
But Cllr. Tiawon Gongloe disagrees, asserting that the omission in
recognition of Rep. Joseph was a serious disappointment. I hope it
was an oversight; this man left his work as a legislator to do a job
that was the responsibility of the Executive. He had more ambulances
than the government of Liberia and he supported the governments
fight and he is currently an ambassador of Liberia in Sierra Leone.
For Sirleaf, achievement in the revenue sector is credited to a
change in leadership which she trumpeted as a major reason for a
slight increase in collection in the past year. The Liberia Revenue
Authority (LRA) commenced work on July 1, 2014. Our hope is
that with better governance, leadership and an incentive structure our
tax Administration will significantly improve revenue performance,
Sirleaf declared.
The President raised eyebrows when she suggested that increase
revenue collection would require cooperation from all sectors
including highs and lows.
Sirleaf said that government officials and political authorities must
accept that just as revenue collectors pursue ordinary people and
businesses to pay their taxes, the same treatment will be extended
to officials of Government in all three branches of government who
should commit to bearing their fair share of the tax burden. This
is the only sustainable way to finance our national development and
improve service delivery to our people, Sirleaf said.
Revenue Collection Trumpeted
The President trumpeted the glaring upgrade in revenue collection
from the past year. Expenditure for the period totaled US$530.7
million, an increase of 10.6 percent over the previous year. Recurrent
expenditure totaled US$363.5 million of which wages and salaries
claimed US$206.8 million or 39 percent and goods and services
US$156.7 million or 30 percent. These two items continue to crowd
out the fiscal space required for capital expenditure to expand the
economy.
Sirleaf went on to say that capital expenditure in the Public Sector
Investment Plan (PSIP) include US$230 million for the Mount Coffee
Hydroelectric plant and US$66 million for three HFO plants and an
additional US$200 million was directed to the West Africa Power
Pool project between Cte dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea
(CLSG) as well as settlement to various contractors for road works.

The President said loans contracted from external sources totaled
approximately US$138.26 million and approximately US$19.95
million from domestic sources.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the Presidents speech came in
her plea to the legislature to push for the amendment to the Act that
created the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to authorize direct
prosecutorial powers for the Commission without the delay caused by
the current law, which requires the Commission to first refer matters
to the Ministry of Justice.
In recent months, many have been critical of the anti grafts bodys
inability to prosecute. Reports and findings of the LACC are often
greeted with criticisms from officials named with many accusing the
Executive of not reprimanding her officials for taking the LACC to
task when reports find them in the wrong.
On Monday, Sirleaf appeared determined to convince doubters about
her sincerity in the fight against corruption, insisting that the fight
against corruption was established as a major goal since the inception
of this Administration. We recognized the root causes of this
menace lack of systems, lack of institutions, lack of policies and
strategies, poor compensation survival due to deep rooted poverty
which characterized all three branches of Government and the nation
as a whole.
In reality, many have taken the President to task for not doing
enough to bring those responsible or implicated in graft to book.
In the national legislature, reports of corruption remains high. In
recent days, the LACC has been involved in a major investigation
involving the House Speaker Alex Tyler and Representative Adolph
Lawrence while many heads of government agencies remain defiant
in cooperating with the LACCs findings and recommendations.
Fact v. Fiction: Making Progress on Corruption but
Despite the obviously glaring complications, Sirleaf told the 53rd
legislature that her administration has made good progress in
addressing these deficiencies by establishing integrity institutions
General Auditing Commission, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission,
Public Procurement and Concessions Commissions, Internal Audit
Agency, and Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. We
made even greater progress in developing the systems and improving
the level of compensation for all public servants at all levels.
The Presidents critics insists that integrity institutions have simply
not been given the support needed to do their jobs properly.
But Sirleaf trumpeted the recognition of her government on
performance indicators. As a competitor in the U.S. program,
Millennium Challenge Corporation, we passed consistently for the
past three years the index on corruption, which is a single determinant
of continuation in the program.
The President urged the 53rd to continue the fight against corruption
through prosecution of persons accused of these malpractices while
acknowledging that failure on the part of the government to deal with
lingering handicaps could lead to stalling of international aid. Our
development programs Roads, Power, Water, Housing, better pay
for civil servants are at risk if we do not do this. Corruption is a
vampire of development and the obstruction of progress. I ask that
we all commit to fighting this devil that destroys our principles and
our pride; that makes us slaves to vested interests. I ask this of you, as
respected lawmakers, and I ask for speedier trials from our judiciary.
Dual Citizenship Pressed Again
The President also sought to push once more the Act to permit dual
citizenship which enables our citizens who are compelled to seek
refuge in other countries to become more active participants in the
process of nation building.
Trumpeting her tolerance toward the media and free expression,
Sirleaf expressed that her administration was finally ready to submit
a legislation for speedy passage that will lead to the decriminalization
of media-related offenses in keeping with the Table Mountain
Declaration to which we have acceded because it is the right thing
to do. This repeal law will advance our democratic aspirations and
foster unhindered public debates. We are hopeful that it will improve
rather than retard the growing media landscape of the country, and
again testify to our continued commitment to an opened society ably
supported by a responsible and independent press.
While acknowledging the media as a very critical ally along the path
to good governance, Sirleaf said the governments partnership with
the media has been open, frank, and sometimes rocky, but mutually
independent. Never before has our country seen an aggressive,
thriving and outspokenly critical media landscape amid the abuse
in the name of freedom. This government intends to lead a legacy
of tolerance and remains fully committed to such process along our
journey to democratic maturity. We urge the media which today
comprise an unprecedented 35 newspapers and 80 radio stations, to
play its part to improve professionalism and responsibility as we will
hold them responsible for adherence to our policies and laws. We
applaud, in this public manner, the level of cooperation in the media
reportage of the Ebola crisis which kept citizens fully informed on the
prevailing situation.
The President acknowledged that while growth rate has increased
every year since her ascendancy to power in 2006, reaching a level
of 8.9 percent in 2012 with the potential for double digit thereafter,
the rates fell in 2013 to 8.3 percent on account of the global economic
downturn and its effect on global prices of primary commodities. In
2014, the Ebola virus struck negatively impacting not only our health
and social systems, but our economy.
The President said sharp declines in domestic food production, mining
activities, cross border trade, transport services and hospitality led to
a dramatic decline in growth rate: from a projected 5.9 percent to an
initial -0.4 percent. Although later revised to 1 percent, the future
of economic growth is still severely challenged. If we are to achieve
development goals outlined in the Agenda for Transformation, and
reach the long term average growth rate of 8 percent, radical changes
will be required in the structure of our economy for increased

investments in the productive sector of the economy and in our
governance structure and processes.
The President said the decline in economic activities resulted in
reduction in domestic revenue collection and a sharp increase in
Government expenditure. Original revenue was revised downwards
by US$86 million (from US$559 million to US$473 million) while
expenditure demand increased by US$152 million. We introduced
tight fiscal measures with expenditure cuts in discretionary activities
thereby reducing the fiscal gap by US$33 million.
In a bid to tackle the challenges at hand, Sirleaf said her administration
introduced mitigating measures to lessen the impact of the downturn.
These included foreign exchange rate stabilization; payment of
salaries and wages of civil servants on time; ensuring commercial
banks liquidity by settling payments to road contractors and other
service providers; and ensuring availability of essential commodities
such as rice and petroleum.
In spite of the numerous challenges, Sirleaf said, revenues of
US$517.2 million was collected representing 4 percent increase in
Tax Revenue and 14 percent increase in Non-Tax Revenue. This
included US$12.8 million from State-owned Enterprises.
The President said external debt service was US$8.56 million with
domestic debt service totaling approximately US$41.17 million,
including settlement of the Central Bank of Liberias US$11.8 million
overdraft facilities and US$29.37 million for other domestic debts.
While much of the Presidents speech was dominated by her efforts to
highlight economic achievement in the wake of battered Ebola year,
the President did take solace in rapid decline of the virus outbreak
since the first case surfaced on March 30, 2014 in Foya, Lofa County.
Pointed Jabs at International Ebola Response
She paid homage to the international community which her
administration initially rejected amid mounting calls for world
agencies to come in, for helping Liberia break the deadlock over the
outbreak which held it at bay.
The president did throw pointed jabs at the initial response from the
internal community. Immediate national response and that of the
international community as well, was weak given that this was an
unknown enemy. Thus Liberia became the poster child of disaster
as many lay dying on the streets without access to treatment or to a
dignified burial.
Sirleaf said her administration ignored the local and international
criticism and went to work establishing the leadership and incidence
management structures, increasing social mobilization by engaging
and empowering community volunteers, including faith based leaders
and constituencies. We aggressively reached out to traditional
partners and the international community at large with the message
that this was not a Liberia or West African problem, but a potential
world problem and menace.
By the end of November, Sirleaf said, response had shown significant
results. Nevertheless, 3,608 of our citizens died, including 178 health
care professionals. Our health care system virtually collapsed,
airlines, investors, contractors, and citizens as well fled the country.
Liberian citizens and residents faced stigmatization and were denied
entry into countries worldwide. We faced a chilling projection that 1.3
million or some 20,000 a month would die in the three neighboring
affected countries.
The President said her government stood tall in rejecting the projection
and called for strong collective national action that would lead to zero
new cases by Christmas, a target date changed by health officials to
end year.
In his report dated January 12, 2015 to the President of the General
Assembly, the Secretary General of the United Nations reported: On
31 December, for the first time in months, no new cases were recorded
in Liberia.
Significant Transition on Ebola
The President said her government takes pride that 13 of our 15
counties have not reported any confirmed cases for over 21 days.
Lofa, the epicenter of the virus, has had no new cases for over 70
days and the Ebola Treatment Unit in Foya is closed. The 103 beds
in 6 Community Care Centers and 13 of the 19 constructed Ebola
treatment centers which are currently operational have only 47
patients. We have an average of only 1 2 new cases a day in the only
two affected counties, Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount County.
We have also significantly transitioned from cremation to the more
traditional burial practice by opening a new cemetery in Margibi
County. Our diligent doctors, supported by partners have brought joy
to us by the 1,401 who were cured of the virus, although many have
left behind the 3,000 orphans who now require Government love and
care.
While falling short of plans her government is implementing to ensure
that schools are Anti-Ebola ready for the February 2 resumption,
Sirleaf did assert that education remains a number one priority in the
development of Liberia and the most difficult to show positive results
in the short term.
The cost of opening schools, as proposed by public, private schools
and higher educations institutions is simply prohibitive. Making the
schools conducive for learning by undertaking the massive renovation
required and ensuring that Ebola prevention measures, including
provision of clean water and sanitation need to be in place.
The President said her Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
is working with the Ministry of Education to determine the way
forward in phasing the finances required in order that schools are open
on the target date, or not too much later. Widespread consultation
is also underway with selected authorities, education leaders, parent
teacher associations and community based organizations to inform
them on the protocol for the Ebola prevention and to obtain consensus
on the need for the early opening of schools to return our students to
the business of learning.
Frontpage
Page 3
FrontPage COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL U.S. $1.2M BRIBERY FEES: WORLD
v
REP SAAH JOSEPH

OMISSION IN
ANNUAL MESSAGE
Commentary
BANK & GLOBAL WITNESS ARE SILENT!
T
A GLARING
INJUSTICE
PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAFS omission of
the major contributions of Representative Saah Joseph to the
fight against the deadly Ebola outbreak in the past year did no
go down well in some quarters Monday and certainly does
not go down well in our book.
THE PRESIDENT RIGHTLY paid homage to Dr. Jerry
Brown, administrator of ELWA II facility who made
significant marks as one of the few local doctors who
managed to save scores of Liberians from the scourge of the
deadly Ebola outbreak.
DR. BROWN WAS for his exceptional services during the
Ebola crisis and named one of Time Magazines Person of
the Year.
RIGHTLY SO, the Presidents recognition of Assistant
Minister for Curative and Preventive Services at the Ministry
of Health, Mr. Tolbert Nyenswah was also laudable, but
forgetting to mention the man, whose ambulances were the
only ones available to pick up Liberians hit by the virus is
unforgiveable and we hope and oversight and not a deliberate
act by the Presidents speech writers.
TODAY, MANY LIBERIANS are alive because Rep.
Josephs ambulances came in timely. His work has been
recognized internationally and his ambulances a saving grace
for many, so much so that his crew is currently in next door
Sierra Leone lending a helping hand and flying Liberias flag.
THAT LIBERIA and the President can now boast in her
annual message that Liberia has made much strides since
the first case of Ebola was recorded on March 30, 2014 in
Foya, Lofa County, is a testament to the contributions of a
lawmaker who risked his life and made enormous sacrifices
to come to the aid of those in need.
WHEN LIBERIANS WERE trapped in Ebola-hit
neighborhoods, it wasnt the ignored the international
community or government incident management groups that
came in handy, it was Rep. Joseph.
LIBERIA AND THE President can boast of standing tall
and rejecting the projections of the international community
because the likes of Rep. Joseph and his crew were on the
scene when many had nowhere else to turn.
WE DID NOT achieve the zero cases by Christmas or the
New Year as the President anticipated but credit must be
given where credit is due.
LIBERIA CAN today boast and the President can take pride
in the fact that only 13 of Liberias 15 counties have not
reported any confirmed cases for over 21 days; that Lofa, the
epicenter of the virus, has had no new cases for over 70 days
and the Ebola Treatment Unit in Foya is now closed.
BUT WE MUST NOT forget what Rep. Joseph did for
Liberia, doing so amounts to a grave injustice and an omission
that must be corrected by the presidency.
EVEN IN HIS OMISSION, THE lawmaker appeared content
and undeterred. Im happy with what I am doing and happy
to see people back on their feet again. I was not doing it to be
recognized by the president. I was doing it for the Liberian
people and the Liberian people recognized me. I havent
stopped here in Liberia, Im in Sierra Leone and the people
there are appreciating my work.
REP. JOSEPH in his humble persona sees no reason why a
big deal should be made of his omission, but we do. This
was an annual message which will go down in the archive
of history as a testament to those who stood in the front lines
against Ebola. Omitting one of the heroes, is a travesty of
justice and a sad day for Liberia.
J. Yanqui Zaza, Jyanqui@aol.com, Contributing Writer
he hottest news in Liberia, after the Ebola

crisis and the recent senatorial elections, is,
once again, corruption. This time, lower-paid
employees such as police officers are not
involved. Rather they are well-paid Liberian lawmakers
who sought additional payment that is beyond the legal
form of bribery (i.e., consultancy fees paid to elected
officials to increase investors profits).
Consultancy fees (legal bribery) and kickbacks (illegal
bribery) are part of an economic system, which dictates
that INVESTORS MUST GET HIGHER PROFITS BY
ANY MEANS NECESSARY. Such an economic system,
embraced by our current government, is the primary
reason why Liberia is poor. In the current bribery case,
some colleagues of Mr. Alex Tyler, the Speaker of the
House of Representative, demand that the Speaker should
exonerate himself from a $25,000 corruption allegation
before he presides as head of the Liberian House of
Representatives.
However, no one is commenting on the legal bribery of
$200,000 disbursed to 30 Liberian Senators and $1 million
paid to 73 members of the House of Representatives.
Published reports stated that the Liberia National Oil
Company disbursed $1.2 million as consultancy fees,
for which the Liberian Senate was given $ 200,000 USD
and $ 1.0 Million was left exclusively for the House of
Representatives. If there was no mischief, why should
government pay two sets of compensations (regular
salary and consultancy fees) to President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf (i.e., amount undisclosed) and lawmakers to write,
review, edit, attest or sign official documents, including
the oil agreement?
Most importantly, how does such an economic arrangement
(more profits for investors and additional compensation
for elected officials) benefit society? I guess responding
to critics, the Liberia National Oil Company stated that
Oil Block # 16 agreement would benefit society because
there was no harm done. This is how NOCAL described
its performance in a December 31, 2014 article called
Ebola Problem: Liberia Oil Company simplifies Oil
Bid Round Process. (FrontpageAfricaonline.com). The
Accounting Firm Ernst & Young and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) used their experience and
knowledge to produce the concessionary agreement
between Liberia and Liberty Petroleum Company. http://
www.libertypetroleumcorporation.com/properties.html
The above Companys website does not disclose any
relevant financial reports such as 10ks or annual reports.
So, how did the experts verify the Companys assertions?
In any case, solvent or not, big business has to grease
the wheel of business in order to maximize its profits.
Therefore, if the payment of consultancy fees paid to
elected officials were to be eliminated, profits of big
business might decline, although not necessarily at the
demise of business.
The payment of consultancy fees to elected officials results
into awarding sweet heart deals, which reduces cash flow
to government coffers. The reduction in cash usually
forces government to borrow money from the World
Bank/International Monetary Funds. Consequently, the
cash-trapped position, poor countries reduce investment
in education, infrastructure, etc. as exposed by the Ebola
Crisis in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Well, the World Bank, Liberias premier economic
adviser, cannot question the bribery scheme, because

it needs to earn interest on money lent to cash-trapped
countries.
But why is Global Witness silent about the $1.2 million
consultancy fees NOCAL disbursed? This international
NGO was established to reduce corruption, poverty, etc.
To its credit, Global Witness, after the harm was
done, stated that a significant number of the Liberian
concessionary agreements negotiated by President Sirleaf
government since 2006 is fraudulent. Also, it did not shy
away from advising against the governments decision
to enter into the oil block # 16 concessionary agreement.
Sadly, instead of Global Witness questioning the role
of the World Bank/IMF in writing the concessionary
agreements, Mr. Jonathan Gant, on behalf of Global
Witness, wrote this writer an email asking for the veracity
of the story that NOCAL did pay $31,000 to a Liberian
Senator.
Certainly, the World Bank has business interest in poor
countries. But what is the interest of Global Witness?
Talking or fingerpointing after the harm is done does
not generate cash for the poor countries. To understand
why Liberia, with lucrative resources, has a high rate
of poverty status, let us also review the master/slave
relationship between Rome and Jerusalem narrated by
Reza Aslan in his book called The Life and Times of
Jesus of Nazareth. He wrote,
Roman dominion over Jerusalem began in 63 B.C.E.
It had served as the religious, economic and political
capital of the Jewish nation for a thousand years. Situated
on the Southern plateau of the shaggy Judean mountains,
Jerusalem, at the time of the Roman invasion, was home
to a settled population of about a hundred thousand
people. Despite its exalted status in the hearts of the Jews,
the truth is that Jerusalem was little more than a trifle
to be passed among a succession of kings and emperors
who took turns plundering and despoiling the sacred city
on their way to far grander ambitions.
In order to control its colonies, Rome did maintain close
supervision over the Jewish cult and, in particular, over
the high priest, the de facto leader of both the religious
and political influence. So, Rome took upon itself the
responsibility of appointing and deposing (either directly
or indirectly) the high priest, essentially transforming
him into a Roman employee. Rome even kept the
garments, handing them out only on the sacred festival
and feast days and confiscating them immediately after
the ceremonies were complete.
The authors narrative that Rome did business with many
emperors who plundered and despoiled the sacred
city Jerusalem on their way to grander ambitions
does mirror the activities of the World Bank, which has
and continues to do business with corrupt leaders as long
as the leaders accept the dictates of the World Bank. But
it is sad and heart wrenching when Global Witness, an
anti-corruption NGO, says nothing about World Banks
involvement in awarding another sweet heart deal. It
was more troubling for an anti-corruption NGO to have
turned a blind eye on the recent $1.2 million payment of
consultancy fees to well-paid lawmakers at a time when
government was soliciting money to purchase glove for
physicians to protect themselves from the deadly Ebola
disease.
Page 4 | Frontpage
FrontPage
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
LIBERIA'S SPEAKER
COMPROMISED: LEGISLATIVE
BLOC DEMANDS PROBE
DAVISNY2005 (SIGNED IN USING YAHOO)

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

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

editor@frontpageafricaonline.com
YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!
OPEN LETTER TO THE

HONORABLE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
To: The Speaker and Members of the House

From: Dr. Kadiker Rex Dahn, Citizen Nimba County
Date: January 18, 2015
Subj: Open Letter of Apology to the Speaker
Dear Mr. Speaker and Honorable members of the House of

Representatives:
ermit me to salute you in this communication and address

myself to a recent development in which Representative
Samuel Kogar of Nimba County, particularly from BuuYao District, physically attacked Speaker Alex Tyler in the
full view of the public thus defaming the image and credibility of the
Honorable House, whose members are expected to demonstrate the
culture of diplomacy at all times.
Accordingly, my conscience, like those of all concerned Nimbians,
particularly the citizens of Buu-Yao District, where I hail, remain
aching and embarrassed over the behaviour of Representative Samuel
Kogar, whose behaviour does not represent the decent people of
Nimba County and the citizens of Buu-Yao District.
Not being reserved and patient minded is noted for crudeness and
hostility, something which has and continues to cast cloud over the
good image of the progressive people of Nimba.
Obviously those who cannot manage provocation and temptation
through exercising patience can never become successful political
players. Mature political players are noted for neutralizing tension
with the fortitude of diplomacy and not being unreasonably reactive
like in the case with Representative Kogar. Again, Hon Kogars
action in the chamber of the House of Representatives was a disgrace
and must be severely condemned.
I believe the people of Nimba County are bowing their heads in
shame, seeing their representative assaulting others, as opposed
to demonstrating strength in people-centered advocacy that could
enhance the human resource development needs of the county,
winning international support for the betterment of the county,
making politically tangible suggestions in the interest of the county,
among others.
What Representative Kogar needs to know is that those who do not
control their anger, while occupying responsible positions, are not
worthy of being called Honorables, because honor belongs to people
who are defined and refined in their speech and attitude.
Indeed, Kogars attitude often stands at variance with the position he
holds and is causing serious embarrassment to the people of Nimba
County which has provoked immediate checking.
It can be recalled that Hon. Kogar once attacked the Presidents
policy when she made an appointment at the Ministry of Commerce,
forgetting to know the effect of executive power. He and our Senior
Senator are not bedfellows simply because he feels not answerable to
him, even though, Senator Prince Johnson provided him the conveyor
belt through which he got to where he sits presently.
Similarly, you, a sitting Speaker have been attacked by this same
Law Maker. Representative Kogar is at odd with the Local leaders
in Nimba County; he is at odd with our Senior Senator; he is at odd
with you, the Honorable Speaker and sadly, he is also at odd with
the President. What could be his legislative deliverables for BuuYao District if he is at odd with these decision makers, who could
influence development and other programs for the District? I concede,
Honorable Speaker, Buu-Yao is in tears for such serious political

blunder and immaturity.
Consequently, I maintain that Representative Kogars action is
regrettable and requires immediate political remedy. And the suitable
remedy is serious punitive actions against him as required by the
rules of the Honorable House of Representatives as deterrence against
further unwholesome behaviour by a Lawmaker. The fact remains
that law making is not a childs play or a toy game. It is a serious
business and must be done by people whose ability lies in wisdom,
patience, as well as doing those things that could enhance the capacity
of the citizens, as opposed to violent attitude.
Before the worst happens to deface the character of the people of
Nimba County, it is necessary for the House to institute the appropriate
actions in order to give peace a chance.
May God richly bless you and the Honorable Members of the House
of Representatives.
Sincerely,
Kadiker Rex Dahn, MA, M.Ed, PhD
Citizen of Nimba County
Congo Town, Back Road
Monrovia, Liberia
Email: yenpuu@yahoo.com
Cell: 0880649101/0777403418
LET THE GOVERNMENT

OF LIBERIA RETHINK HER
DECISION IN RE-OPENING
SCHOOLS: A CAUTION
NOT TO RETURN TO THE
BITTER PAST
The Editor,
t is an undeniable fact that many students in Liberia have

sat for months without going to school due to the scourge
of the deadly Ebola Virus. Quite recently the government
of Liberia announced the resumption of schools on
February 2, 2015. While it is true that Liberian students have
a right to Education, I have a serious reservation on this hasty
decision by the government of Liberia to resume schools,
when there are still cases of Ebola, though low as they may
be, been reported. More besides, my observation during the
last few weeks reveals that the government of Liberia, through
the Ministry of Education hasn't put into place any robust or
streamlined system aimed to preventing the Spread of Ebola
in the mist of schools been re-opened and the health safety of
students. I personally think the government of Liberia needs
to rethink her decision or better still defer the resumption of
schools until Liberia has been declared Ebola Free by the
World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control
(CDC). Let us not make an error to allow us to revert to the
bitter past experienced months ago. This is my candid opinion.
You may not necessarily agree with me, but that's my view.
By: Arthur R.M. Becker, Sr.
Email: armbecker@gmail.com
EDITORIAL TEAM
Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666;

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Page 5
IN WESTPOINT
200 CHILDREN
ORPHANED BY EBOLA
Presently we have over 200 hundred children who are made orphans and all we do is to encourage their
caretakers to play the role as their real parents.Dickson Tarweh, head of psychosocial counselors in WestPoint
Bettie Johnson/ bettie.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com
Monroviahe deadly Ebola

epidemic caused so
many children to
become orphans in
Liberia. Many children lost
one or both of their parents and
most of them were rejected by
family members for fear that
taking them may lead them to
contracting Ebola.
In the suburb of West Point,
which was quarantined at the
height of the epidemic, it has
been discovered that over two
hundred children are orphaned
by the deadly virus outbreak.
Jacob Dennis, 7 and his sister
lost their parents to the Ebola
virus. He lives with his aunt
in West Point but said he has
never been in the classroom.
The child has said he wants
to go to school but with his
parents dead, he does not know
if he would make it to the
classroom.
Dennis has a two-year-old
sister and both children cannot
recall how their parents died.
Agatha Tagbeh, 14, like Dennis
is another Ebola orphan, she
said her mother contracted the
deadly virus when she went to
mourn the death of a friend.
She said the mother came home
and became sick. She said
when her mother became sick,
her father started to care for her
with all of them sleeping in the
same room.
She said she was attending
the N.V Massaquoi Public
School in West Point before
the epidemic struck and in the
4th grade.
My ma went on her family
mat and thats how she brought
Ebola to us, we are three
children, two girls one boy, one
is eight years and the other is
one year, she said.
The kid said after her mothers
condition became worse they
took her to the Ebola Treatment
Unit but by then her condition
had worsened and she had
spread the disease to the rest of
the family. Tagbeh said she and
the rest of the family was taken
to the ETU to test them. But
she said despite their parents
contracting the disease, she
and her siblings were tested
and proved negative for Ebola.
The child said she now worries
about how they would attend
school because they have no

one to put them in school.
The 14 year-old said despite
governments announcement
that schools are reopening, she
and her siblings are not sure if
Dominic Kloh
they would go to school this
year.
Dominic Kloh, 12, narrates that
when his mother was sick, he
was not told what was wrong
with her. The boy who does not
know where his father is said
he was struck by grief when his
mother died to Ebola because
she was the only family he had.
My mother died from Ebola.
I was in the house and they
took me out without telling me
anything, they told me that my
ma died from stomach pain,
he said.
I saw her crawling crying on
stomach, I was in tears, but
they told me not to touch her,
then I saw the people dressed
in the white and they put her
in the car but since that time I
have not seen her.
Kloh is in the sixth grade at a
school he only refers to as ACC
located in West Point.
He said he does not know who
his father is, but presently lives
with his aunt in West Point.
As I speak I live with my
aunty, school is about to open,
but up till now, my fees have
not been paid, he said.
I want the government to buy
my school uniform, shoes, belt
and book bag, I attend the ACC
School in West Point, we wear

Red, white and blue uniform.
Also orphaned by Ebola is
Martha Moore 9,and Junior
Moore 12. These children lost
both parents to Ebola. They
told FrontPageAfrica that they
had dropped out of school last
year because their parents were
unable to pay their fees.
We were in school but for
money business the school sent
us home and our ma told us to
stay home and help her because
the money for the school fees
was so high, said Martha.
Our pa died before our ma,
Over 200 orphans

Mr. Dickson David Tarweh
a psychosocial supervisor in
West Point, he said there are
over two hundred orphans in
West Point alone as a result of
the Ebola epidemic. We have
over 200 hundred orphans
and we are working with their
caretakers to show them love
so that they cant miss their
parents, said Tarweh.
He said the Psychosocial team
has been able to catalogue
these kids and find the homes
ETU, he said.
We work from reports because
we have a group called the
active case finders, they are on
the field to gather information
from various ETUs especially
those who have died from
Ebola and those children who
are orphans because their
parents lost their lives to the
virus.
He said the case finders
furnished the team with the
information and they in turn
schedule themselves to work
with orphans and survivors.
Agatha Tagbeh
our pa fell sick and our ma
was taking care of him. But the
Ebola car came and took him
away and we did not see him.
But our big sister was taking
care of our ma when she got
sick, until she died on the bed,
after our mother died our big
sister too followed.
survivors in West Point, we

have not covered half of the
community, but the list we
received shows that thats the
amount we have, said Tarweh.
We are still working with
the orphans because we have
a schedule and it takes us
more time to meet with them,
and also takes us more time
to get back to those we have
counseled because we are
less.
He disclosed that the team is
also providing guidance for
families who have problems
with the children they are
Junior and Martha Moore

in which they are and his work
is geared toward counseling
them.
The team is made of nine
persons and our work in
WestPoint is to work with
the Liberian populace mainly
orphans and to work in line
with those who return from the
Dickson David, Psychosocial

head WestPoint
Befriend
orphans
survivors
and
Mr. Tarweh is urging the

communities to give open arms
to survivors and orphans, to
minimize stigmatization.
What we do is to provide ways
and means for them to be part
of the society, many people
dont know those who survived
from the ETU are immune to
the virus, and cannot re-contact
the virus, he said.
The issue of stigmatization
can be eradicated if they are
befriended, given proper care
to make sure that they form
part of the country. We are
working to ensure that society
accepts them because they
were part of the community
and now they are the people
to befriend because they have
survived the virus.
The head of the psychosocial
team in WestPoint said he
could not disclose the actual
amount of those that have been
counseled, but the team was
working to ensure that the team
meets with all orphans and
survivors.
We have counseled a huge
number currently we have
over 200 orphans and 18-19
taking care of.

We make sure that those
families who have crises on the
wellbeing of the children are
counseled, he said.
We had a case where four
children who are orphans were
mostly abused and insulted in
public by their caretaker, but
we counseled her and now she
has improved.
He said the team also has people
who survived Ebola working
on it therefore contributing to
the Ebola response.
There is a continuous
recruitment process done
hence that survivors can work
as active case finders so that
people see them as a part of the
country, Tarweh said.
The head of the psychosocial
team is urging the government
and partners to help support
orphans in the WestPoint
community.
We plead for support for them.
Some of them may have lost
their parents to Ebola or relative
may have died from Ebola, he
said. As schools are about to
reopen, they need things to go
to school. They need extended
support, the children schooling
should remain a priority to this
government.
Page 6 | Frontpage
ANNUAL MESSAGE ON THE STATE OF THE REPUBLIC To the Fourth Session of the 53rd National
Legislature of the Republic of Liberia Consolidating For Continuity By: Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
President of the Republic of Liberia Capitol Hill, Monrovia Delivered Monday, 26, January 2015(As Delivered)
Mr. Vice President and President of the Senate;
Mr. Speaker;
Honorable Members of the Legislature;
Your Honor the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court and
Members of the Judiciary;
The Dean and Members of the Cabinet and other Government
Officials;
Mr. Doyen, Excellencies and Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Her Excellency, the Special Representative of the Secretary General
of the United Nations in Liberia;
The Officers and Staff of the United Nations Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL);
The Chief of Staff, Men and Women of the Armed Forces of Liberia
(AFL);
Former Chairman of the Interim Government of National Unity, Dr.
Amos Claudius Sawyer;
Chairman of the Ruling Unity Party;
Former Officials of Government;
Traditional Leaders, Chief and Elders;
Political and Business Leaders;
Bishops, Pastors, Imams and Religious Leaders;
Officers and Members of the National Bar Association;
Labor and Trade Unions;
Civil Society Organizations; Members of the Press;
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen; Special Guests;
Fellow Liberians:
Introduction
We assemble here today in compliance with Article 58 of the
Constitution which mandates the President on the fourth working
Monday in January of each year, to present the Administrations
Legislative Program and report to the Legislature on the State of the
Republic covering the economic condition including expenditure and
income.
Our agenda during the course of this year was defined virtually by
the Ebola virus which threatened our very existence. Our hospital
and clinics, as well as our schools closed down; people ran away
from their families and homes. Our economy was on the verge of
collapse as our citizens and nation were stigmatized. I can say today
that despite all of this, our nation has remained strong; our people
resilient; our commitment renewed and our faith restored.
Thus I ask that we stand in a moment of silence to honor the memory
of the thousands of our people who lost their lives to the Ebola and
other related diseases that ravaged our nation, as well as those in the
sister nations of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali and Nigeria. We deeply
feel the pain of the families who lost their love ones. [Silence] Thank
you.
Mr. Vice President, I wish to express heartfelt gratitude for your
partnership, and commitment to the service of our country and people.
Mr. Speaker and Honorable Members of the National Legislature,
I thank you, and I thank the former President Pro Tempore of the
Senate including the for the able manner in which you managed
the affairs of this August Body and for the spirit of cooperation
and collaboration which we enjoyed from you during the year. We
welcome you back from your Annual Recess and we congratulate the
newly elected members as we hope and pray for a year of constructive
dialogue in the interest of our nation and people.
Legislative Agenda
Prior to submitting this Administrations Legislative Agenda, I
would like to record our appreciation for the cooperation received
from this honorable body that led to the passage of several pieces
of legislation relevant to the consolidation of the processes of our
Nations Agenda for Transformation and the National Vision 2030
which began several years ago to chart a course for Liberias growth
and sustained development. An examination of the various pieces
of legislation reveal that they address challenges of governance, the
economy, the rule of law, and our obligations as a responsible member
of the international community.
Honorable Legislators, I would like to highlight those instruments
which will significantly impact governance, economic transformation,
the rule of law, and our international obligations. A sound, firm
and attainable economic policy, aimed at Liberias economic
transformation, demands structural reform of our form of governance.
In this light, in addition to the passage of the Budget Act of 2014/2015,
I am pleased for your ratification of the financing agreements between
the Government of the Republic of Liberia and Export-Import Bank of
India, the Kuwait Fund, the African Development Bank, the African
Development Fund, and the International Development Association
of the World Bank.
Economic transformation of our nation is not limited only to the
public sector, but includes the private sector as well. In a bid to
strengthen and expand the capacity of our private sector to contribute
to Liberias economic transformation, we submitted to your honorable
body an amendment to the Mineral Development Agreement among
the Government of Liberia, Sesa Goa Limited and Bloom Fountain
Limited, and a bill to ratify a Concession Agreement between
Government and the Liberia Cocoa Corporation, a wholly Liberianowned enterprise. These instruments manifest Governments
commitment to generate economic and employment opportunities
within key corridors of our country. I commend the impressive work
of the gold mining concessionaire, Aureus Mining, in Grand Cape
Mount County and I urge all of you to visit the concession site for a
personal appreciation of the beneficial results of these arrangements
that you have approved.
Working with our sister Republic of Guinea, I will submit legislation
to effectuate an infrastructure development agreement between
the Government and West African Exploration (WAE) for the
transshipment of iron ore from Guinea through Liberia. For several
decades the Governments of Liberia and of Guinea have considered
and explored modes of cooperation to facilitate the evacuation of iron
ore from parts of Guinea near the Liberian border using infrastructure
in Liberia. This is a milestone in regional integration opening the way
for stronger cooperation between our two countries and broadening
the opportunities for large scale investment.
Thank you for enacting the Insurance Act of 2013, and the Payment
Systems Act. I will submit additional Bills to support the improvement
of the regulatory environment and for financial services in Liberia.
This will include: A Bill to Establish a Securities Market in Liberia; A
Bill Creating Special Economic Zones; A Bill to Establish an Energy
Law to govern the Energy Sector; A Bill to repeal appropriate sections
of the Executive Law dissolving the Liberia Produce Marketing
Corporation and establishing the Liberia Agriculture Commodity
Regulatory Authority. We have already placed before you the Small
Business Act to spur the growth of Liberian entrepreneurship and
develop the Liberian middle class.
In keeping with our commitment to protect and preserve the
environment, I will also submit a bill to establish the Gola National
Park and the National Wildlife Conservation and Protected Areas
Management Law.
I also ask you to consider passage of Bills to establish the Rubber
Development Fund and the Axle Load Act. These bills will impact
the level of commercial activity and further empower our people.
I thank you for the several bills passed in support of justice and the rule
of law. We note the passage of An Act on the Criminal Conveyance of
Land; an Act to Amend the Executive Law, to strengthen the Liberia
Drug Enforcement Agency; a new Controlled Drug and Substance
Act of 2014; ratification of the Protocol on the Statute of the African
Court of Justice and Human Rights; and ratification of the Arms Trade
Treaty.
We urge the passage of the Firearms and Ammunition Control Act;
the Amendment to the Public Health Law to add a new Chapter on
Mental Health; and the Amendment to the Civil Procedure Law on
Special Proceedings Concerning Mentally Disabled and Legally
Incompetent Persons to be titled the Mental Health Procedural Act;
and the Amendment to Title 33 of the Executive Law on Reproductive
Rights. We will submit a Bill Outlining Procedures for the Exercise
of the Constitutional Authority for Expropriation, and a Bill Creating
Criminal Court F as a specialized court for economic crimes of
corruption.
Again, we ask for passage of the amendment to the Act that created the
Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to authorize direct prosecutorial
powers for the Commission without the delay caused by the current
law which requires the Commission to first refer matters to the
Ministry of Justice.
Under your leadership, Mr. Vice President and President of the
Senate, a significant number of international agreements and treaties
were ratified, all of which demonstrate Liberias commitment as a
responsible member of the comity of nations. I am especially pleased
with the ratification of the Protocol Establishing the Community
Court of Justice for ECOWAS, which now makes Liberia a fullfledged member of the ECOWAS Court, and which served as a
precursor to Liberia filling a vacancy at the highest ranks of the Court.

During this session we intend to submit additional international
treaties, conventions, protocols, and agreements for ratification with
international organizations.
I will submit a number of legislations that will improve governance
- A Bill to Establish the Liberian National Tourism Authority and A
New Local Government Act; an Act to amend to the Charter of the
University of Liberia; A Bill to Amend the 1989 Act Creating the
National Commission on Higher Education; a Bill to Grant Autonomy
to the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery, and the Amendment
to Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission Act
to expand provisions for refugees and make provisions for asylum
seekers and stateless persons. Both bills are already before this
Honorable Body.
Honorable Legislators, we will once again ask your consideration of
the Act to permit dual citizenship which enables our citizens who are
compelled to seek refuge in other countries to become more active
participants in the process of nation building.
After lengthy debates and reviews by stakeholders, we are
ready to submit, and will urge you to speedily pass into law, the
decriminalization of media-related offenses in keeping with the
Table Mountain Declaration to which we have acceded because it is
the right thing to do. This repeal law will advance our democratic
aspirations and foster unhindered public debates. We are hopeful that
it will improve rather than retard the growing media landscape of the
country, and again testify to our continued commitment to an opened
society ably supported by a responsible and independent press.
Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of the Legislature: I issued fourteen
Executive Orders extending or renewing previous Executive Orders
that dealt with, amongst other things, waiver of taxes and tariffs on
anti-malaria commodities and products, exemption of government
entities from customs duties on certain products, delimitation of
Liberias Maritime Zones. The Executive Orders also extended
the tenure of the Land Commission continued the moratorium on
public land sales, and the establishment of a taskforce against the
encroachment on beachfronts, waterways and wetlands.
Economic and Financial Performance
Honorable Speaker and Distinguished Members of the National
Legislature, since 2006, Liberias growth rate increased, reaching
a level of 8.9 percent in 2012 with the potential for double digit
thereafter. In 2013, growth rate fell to 8.3 percent on account of the
global economic downturn and its effect on global prices of primary
commodities.
In 2014, the Ebola virus struck negatively impacting not only our
health and social systems, but our economy. Sharp declines in
domestic food production, mining activities, cross border trade,
transport services and hospitality led to a dramatic decline in our
growth rate: from a projected 5.9 percent to an initial -0.4 percent.
Although later revised to 1 percent, the future of economic growth
is still severely challenged. If we are to achieve development goals
outlined in the Agenda for Transformation, and reach the long term
average growth rate of 8 percent, radical changes will be required
in the structure of our economy for increased investments in the
productive sector of the economy and in our governance structure
and processes.
The decline in economic activities resulted in reduction in domestic
revenue collection and a sharp increase in Government expenditure.
Original revenue was revised downwards by US$86 million (from
US$559 million to US$473 million) while expenditure demand
increased by US$152 million. We introduced tight fiscal measures
see page 7

with expenditure cuts in discretionary activities thereby reducing the
fiscal gap by US$33 million.
We also introduced mitigating measures to lessen the impact of
the downturn. These included foreign exchange rate stabilization;
payment of salaries and wages of civil servants on time; ensuring
commercial banks liquidity by settling payments to road contractors
and other service providers; and ensuring availability of essential
commodities such as rice and petroleum.
In spite of the numerous challenges revenues of US$517.2 million
was collected representing 4 percent increase in Tax Revenue and
14 percent increase in Non-Tax Revenue. This included US$12.8
million from State-owned Enterprises.
The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) commenced work on July 1,
2014. Our hope is that with better governance, leadership and an
incentive structure our tax Administration will significantly improve
revenue performance. This will require cooperation and support from
government officials and political authorities accepting that just as
we pursue ordinary people and businesses to pay their taxes, the same
treatment will be extended to officials of Government in all three
branches of government who should commit to bearing their fair
share of the tax burden. This is the only sustainable way to finance
our national development and improve service delivery to our people.
Frontpage
Honorable Speaker, Distinguished Members of the National
Legislature, Fellow Liberians, NGOs operating in Liberia continue
to be very strong partners in our development work. The speed and
effectiveness of response during the Ebola outbreak made tremendous
contribution to our national effort.
investors, contractors, and citizens as well fled the country. Liberian

citizens and residents faced stigmatization and were denied entry into
countries worldwide. We faced a chilling projection that 1.3 million
or some 20,000 a month would die in the three neighboring affected
countries.
Last year, I announced several policy measures on the operations

of NGOs that are intended, under a compliance and regulatory
environment, to strengthen them for proper transparency and
accountability of the resources they receive and the results they
produce. The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is to
ensure implementation of those measures by finalizing the NGO
Policy Guidelines and re-registration process to be announced by the
end of the first half of this year. This will transition the registration
from a manual computer based system to an online registration
process.
We stood tall in rejecting the projection and called for strong collective
national action that would lead to zero new cases by Christmas, a
target date changed by health officials to end year.
In his report
dated January 12, 2015 to the President of the General Assembly, the
Secretary General of the United Nations reported: On 31 December,
for the first time in months, no new cases were recorded in Liberia.
Honorable Legislators, Ebola was not eradicated on December 31,
2014, but our Incidence Management Team headed by Assistant
Minister Tolbert Nyenswah who is here demonstrated the capacity
and the commitment to achieve the established target.
This process will enable NGOs to properly account for their operations
at the local level where they work, allowing local government to
have real time information on what NGO is doing and where. This
is consistent with our new drive to de-concentrate and decentralize
the delivery of services and to foster greater accountability to local
Today, we take pride that 13 of our 15 counties have not report any
confirmed cases for over 21 days. Lofa, the epicenter of the virus,
has had no new cases for over 70 days and the Ebola Treatment Unit
in Foya is closed. The 103 beds in 6 Community Care Centers and
13 of the 19 constructed Ebola treatment centers which are currently
operational have only 47 patients. We have an average of only 1 2
new cases a day in the only two affected counties, Montserrado and
Grand Cape Mount County. We have also significantly transitioned
from cremation to the more traditional burial practice by opening a
new cemetery in Margibi County. Our diligent doctors, supported by
partners have brought joy to us by the 1,401 who were cured of the
virus, although many have left behind the 3,000 orphans who now
require Government love and care.
Expenditure for the period totaled US$530.7 million, an increase of

10.6 percent over the previous year. Recurrent expenditure totaled
US$363.5 million of which wages and salaries claimed US$206.8
million or 39 percent and goods and services US$156.7 million or
30 percent. These two items continue to crowd out the fiscal space
required for capital expenditure to expand the economy.
Capital expenditure in the Public Sector Investment Plan (PSIP)
include US$230 million for the Mount Coffee Hydroelectric plant
and US$66 million for three HFO plants and an additional US$200
million was directed to the West Africa Power Pool project between
Cte dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea (CLSG) as well as
settlement to various contractors for road works.
Loans contracted from external sources totaled approximately
US$138.26 million and approximately US$19.95 million from
domestic sources.
External debt service was US$8.56 million with domestic debt service
totaling approximately US$41.17 million, including settlement of the
Central Bank of Liberias US$11.8 million overdraft facilities and
US$29.37 million for other domestic debts.
Legislature, mindful of the past, we are careful to exercise caution
in contracting debt. Working with our key development partners, a
Medium Term Debt Strategy (MTDS) was adopted as an essential
tool in accounting for and analyzing the costs and risks associated
with borrowing and ensuring a balance with funding needs. In this
manner, debt sustainability is assured.
The total debt stock increased from US$628.45 million to US$759.46
million, of which US$290 Million is owed to the Central Bank of
Liberia. This represents 22 percent of GDP.
Honorable Legislature, it is considered ironic by our partners who
have granted us significant debt relief that we are unable to convince
our own public institutions and private sector entities who have made
significant profits over many years to act similarly by relieving us of
the debt incurred many years ago under other administrations.
Our development partners have been good friends not only in the fight
against Ebola, but in our overall development progress over the past
ten years.
Prior to the Ebola outbreak, between January and June 2014,
our partners committed a total of US$197.6 million in Official
Development Assistance (ODA) to support our Agenda for
Transformation. About two-thirds of that amount was invested in the
Economic Transformation Pillar to support important infrastructure.
Disbursements were significantly reduced during the second half of
the year, due to the outbreak. Although project activities continued
sporadically, attention was shifted from our national response to the
epidemic. To date, a total of US$244.2 million has been spent on the
Ebola response, by Government and our international partners - 49.4
percent is being expended by US Government entities, 24.4 percent
by United Nations (UN) entities, 13.3 percent by NGOs, and 12.9
percent Government.
Legislature
We thank you for the level of cooperation and support during the
height of the Ebola outbreak. Without much hesitation, you moved
swiftly to grant us special spending authority of US$20 million and
the flexibility to raise those resources to intensify our fight against the
outbreak. We came together like never before to protect, defend and
advance the collective interest of our country and people. Nothing has
made us more proud than the urgency and unity which was applied to
save our country.
Under the authorized spending of US$20 million, Government
contributed US$9 million to establish Ebola Trust Fund, and US$6
million for the restoration of basic health services for a total of US$15
million.
Page 7
government and citizens structures by the NGOs operating at the local

level.
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, I which to inform you that as we

fought on the health front ensuring that the Ebola outbreak was under
control, we also had to take appropriate measures on the economic
front to ensure that we did not have an collapsed economy.
Under my very clear and emphatic instructions, the Economic
Management Team (EMT) coordinated by the Minister of Finance
and Development Planning ensured that:
1.
Foreign exchange rate remained stable;
2.
Civil servants continue to receive their salaries and wages
on time;
3.
Our commercial banks remained liquid during the crisis;
4.
We applaud our Economic Management Team for working
together to maintain macroeconomic stability.
The Government, through CBL expanded financial intermediation by
promoting throughout the country expansion in commercial banks,
foreign exchange bureaux and Savings and Loans Associations. The
introduction of a Collateral Registry and promotion of the recently
passed Insurance Act are also important milestones. Consistent with
policies, the CBL took decisions to improve access to finance for
those in rural areas and in the informal sector of the economy. Going
beyond this, the CBL took decisions to mitigate the financial burden
of school closure in the private schools by committing to settle the
debts owed the commercial banks. While we welcome measures that
have a positive impact on the lives of our people, we urge caution
and more cooperation by the CBL, in the announcement of measures
which have implications on our collective targets for sustained
national financial viability.
Ebola
Mr. Vice President and President of the Senate, Honorable Members
of the Legislature: Liberias first case of Ebola was recorded on
March 30, 2014 in Foya, Lofa County. Due to the level of cross
border movements, the virus spread quickly in the County and then
to Margibi with a cross over by a woman marketer. In June, the virus
escalated as cases spread throughout Lofa and other counties as well.
On June 17, cases were officially reported in Montserrado, including
the crowded communities in Monrovia where a third of the countrys
population reside. The disease rapidly became an epidemic spreading
to all counties in different intensity, the most severe in Monrovia.
Immediate national response and that of the international community
as well, was weak given that this was an unknown enemy. Thus
Liberia became the poster child of disaster as many lay dying on the
streets without access to treatment or to a dignified burial.
We ignored the local and international criticism and went to work
establishing the leadership and incidence management structures,
increasing social mobilization by engaging and empowering
community volunteers, including faith based leaders and
constituencies. We aggressively reached out to traditional partners
and the international community at large with the message that this
was not a Liberia or West African problem, but a potential world
problem and menace.
By the end of November, response had shown significant results.
Nevertheless, 3,608 of our citizens died, including 178 health care
professionals. Our health care system virtually collapsed, airlines,
Distinguished Legislators, our success is due to the many people

working hard to contain the virus the health professionals, the
community volunteers, the civil society organizations, the religious
institutions, our Armed Forces, officials of Government, national and
local, the Legislators, the Judiciary all of whom were participants in the
Task Force that was initially established. We owe a lot to our foreign
partners, who sent human and material support, who constructed and
managed treatment centers, who provided financial resources, who
advocated and encouraged us the United Nations Family through
UNMEER, key traditional partners, and many others who joined
them; the full listing of which will be given in the Executive Report.
We want to pay tribute to our African brothers and sisters, to the
countries that stood by us and came to our rescue when everything
seemed to be lost. We want to also express our gratitude to the
international community for standing by us in global solidarity as we
faced this deadly disease.
We want to pay tribute to our African brothers and sisters, to the
countries that stood by us and came to our rescue when everything
seemed to be lost. We want to also express our gratitude to the
international community for standing up with us in global solidarity
as we faced this deadly disease.
I wish to express particular gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan,
the people and Government of the Republic of Nigeria, who, came
to our help, financially and professionally, notwithstanding the fact
that they lost loved ones because one of our citizens travelled there
with the disease and infected many of their people. Nigeria again
proved its leadership on the continent and continued solidarity with
the people of Liberia, whenever we faced life threatening difficulties.
At the height of the Ebola outbreak, Liberia made a passionate global
appeal for the much needed international humanitarian assistance.
The world rallied and responded massively. The United States
took the lead followed closely by the Peoples Republic of China,
Germany, Sweden, Norway, Nigeria, Cuba among others and joined
by international development partners such as the European Union,
World Bank, African Development Bank, smaller organizations and
individuals. Liberia passionately recognizes the numerous human,
technical and material assistance of the global community.
We know that we are not out of the woods and must continue
relentlessly to continue with the practices and protocols that have
brought us this success. We know that we must continue to work with
and support our sisterly countries and that we must make an urgent
successful transition from treatment to prevention by improving our
health care system. But for now lets take pride and rejoice in our
collective success, in the recognition of one of our own, Dr. Jerry
Brown who, because of exceptional services, was named Time
Magazine Person of the Year. [Dr. Brown is on mission in Geneva.]
Health
The Countrys health care system, with support from partners, had
an established decentralized infrastructure system that made notable
progress in polio vaccination in reducing the high level of child
and maternal mortality and addressing diseases such as malaria,
diarrhea, HIV AIDS and Tuberculosis. The Ebola disease exposed
the vulnerability of our national health care system which lacked
the capacity, the systems and the technical facilities and supplies
to respond to infection, particularly an outbreak of this nature and
magnitude.
The number of health workers, many inadequately trained, consumed
a large share of the budget, resulting in a reliance on partners under
the so called Incentive System. Medical facilities and equipment,
already inadequate, became virtually nonfunctional due to lack
of maintenance. The lack of infrastructure roads, power, water
and sanitation particularly in rural communities compounded the
see page 8
Page 8 | Frontpage
problem.
Liberia has 404 public health facilities, supplemented by 252 private
facilities. We still lag significantly behind with 0.4 compared with
the African average of 2.6 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. The record
shows that Liberia is one of the leading 10 countries in Africa with
over 19 percent of its national budget allocated to health. However,
the exposed condition of our health delivery system speaks to the
need for sound structure and systems which go beyond professional
medical capacity.
A ten year plan developed by the Ministry of Health with support
from the Clinton Global Initiative is intended to address the
inadequacies in the health system through massive training of health
workers and professionals at all levels and an upgrading of the health
system and facilities. The Plan, which was formulated before the
Ebola crisis is under revision to provide the roadmap for transiting
from the treatment of Ebola to a robust health care system that will
have facilities for infection control thus preventing a recurrence of the
virus and for ensuring better health care delivery to our people.
Criminal Conveyance of Land Bill which curtails fraudulent land

sales and enhances access to land tenure security. These instruments
are critical to our social political and economic development and are
consistent with our development programs.
Forestry has been a major contributor to the economy in terms of
revenue and job creation. Liberia which has 43 percent of the
biodiversity of the West African region has come under intense
pressure to conserve our forest, thereby contributing to the reduction
in carbon dioxide and its negative effect on rapid climate change.
Our adoption of new policies that sought to balance conservation,
commercialization and community rights have proved less than fully
satisfactory. We have gone one step further by concluding a landmark
Letter of Intent with the Kingdom of Norway which will provide
funding as a contribution to revenue and building of capacity in the
Forest Development Authority. The measures under this arrangement
will ensure that 30 percent of the countrys remaining forested land
and better management and accountability under the continuing
program of commercialization.
Under the Eat Your Pride Campaign we will require that only
locally grown rice is purchased by government entities that provide
rice to their staff.
The local content bill now being drafted will ensure a minimum
Liberian participation through joint venture ship or sub-contracting in
several areas of national development activity.
Infrastructure
Honorable Legislators, the record is clear that the Government, out of
its own resources, domestic or contracted, has constructed throughout
the country over 10,000 km of primary, secondary and feeder roads,
650 of which has been paved. The records show that this is more than
that done by all previous Governments combined. Our effort to open
growth corridors by the pavement of primary roads is a continuing
undertaking. Pavement of the Harper to Fishtown road will begin
next month; the contractors are now mobilizing, while pavement from
Red-light to the Ganta-Guinea border has resumed.
Education
Education remains a number one priority in the development of
Liberia and the most difficult to show positive results in the short
term. Statistics for the year 2013 show that there was 5,181 schools
(3074 public and 2107 private), with enrollment 1,500,000 students
(800,000 boys and 700,000 girls) throughout the country. We have
thus succeeded in the achievement of quantity goals by increased
enrollment, but quality of education has declined even further,
evidenced by the failure in the entrance exam to the University of
Liberia and in the WAEC exams which have been set at a substandard
level for Liberia. The problem of education goes deeper and beyond
the lack of qualified teachers, the lack of facilities and supplies, and
the lack of incentive.
The vastness of the challenge and the implication to our overall
development effort, compel all of us to come together to formulate
bold strategic action to fix it. This is a must for the future of the
country and for the education of girls who do not go beyond middle
school and are at risk of exploitation.
To solve this problem we hereby announce a program to be
implemented in the next fiscal year that will offer financial support
to all girls willing to remain in school until the completion of high
school.
We call upon all educators, educational institution leaders, eligible
concern citizens and partners to join us in a review and update of the
Comprehensive Education Reform Program which is underway by
the Ministry of Education.
The Ebola Outbreak prevented the opening of schools in September,
making virtually idle young people and school teachers. Effort was
made to introduce radio instruction and many parents tried to organize
selected private sessions while a large number of the more advantage
sent their children to schools abroad.
The cost of opening schools, as proposed by public, private schools
and higher educations institutions is simply prohibitive. Making the
schools conducive for learning by undertaking the massive renovation
required and ensuring that Ebola prevention measures, including
provision of clean water and sanitation need to be in place.
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning is working with
the Ministry of Education to determine the way forward in phasing
the finances required in order that schools are open on the target date,
or not too much later. Widespread consultation is also underway with
selected authorities, education leaders, parent teacher associations
and community based organizations to inform them on the protocol
for the Ebola prevention and to obtain consensus on the need for the
early opening of schools to return our students to the business of
learning.
Natural Resources
Liberia has a historical primary enclave economy, highly dominated
by iron ore, rubber and timber; which subjects it to vagaries in global
conditions and prices. Over time, the structure has been changing,
with the expansion of agriculture into more traditional tree crops
such as coffee, cocoa and oil palm. Essentially, production of crops
come from individual and small entity holders with limited capacity
to produce on the scale that leads to industrialization. Recent effort
by the Government sought to change this by promoting large scale
oil palm, using the investment and the experience of Malaysia and
Indonesia which have become emerging economic giants.
Agriculture lands (suitable for crops and livestock) are about 27
percent of total land area, but only 4.6 percent of the land mass is
currently under annual cultivation. Land and the conflicts associated
thereto have to be tackled in order to promote large scale agriculture
in tree and food crops including the goal of self-sufficiency in rice.
Honorable Members of the National Legislature, we have responded
to the problem with a new Land Policy. The Land Rights Bill,
submitted to you, represents a landmark piece of legislation. It
establishes the legal basis for recognition of customary land rights.
For the first time in the nations history rural communities will be able
to have their land rights legally recognized, and their lands identified,
delineated, mapped, deeded, recorded, and properly managed and
governed. Implementation and enforcement will be helped by the
Iron ore mining, the historical largest export earner, is experiencing

severe stress due to decline in global prices. Suspension of activities
on account of the Ebola Disease exacerbated the situation leading to
a postponement of Phase II of the Arcelor Mittal operation that would
have increased production from 5 to 15 million tons per annum. The
loss of royalty revenue and jobs from this sector will require your
full cooperation in measures that will be proposed to you under our
Economic Recovery Plan.
Gold and diamond mining are largely underdeveloped and limited
to informal artisanal and small scale operations that are filled with
illegal aliens. A project, Formalization of Artisanal and Small Scale
Miners which seeks to establish a well-structured sector that will be
well managed for sustainability and income generation has funding
from the German GIZ and is scheduled for implementation early this
year.
The 2000 Petroleum law established the National Oil Company
(NOCAL) with 30 oil blocks off the Liberian coast. Reform of
the Sector started in 2011 with the development and subsequent
endorsement of a petroleum policy. Nationwide consultations resulted
in a New Petroleum Law 2013. The next step is to formulate draft
Acts on Local Content and Petroleum Revenue Management.
The reform measures are intended to ensure full transparency and
accountability in the petroleum sector. Your full cooperation in this
regard is expected.
Liberianization:
Honorable Legislators: We continue to push hard for diversifying our
economy beyond two primary commodities. In 2014, we launched
the National Trade Policy and our Export Strategy, which provides
a roadmap for export diversification particularly in agriculture by
broadening our export basket through new investments in fisheries,
cocoa, rubber, oil palm, and cassava. Opportunities in tourism
are bountiful and deserve further exploration. We will ensure that
furniture in schools use our local wood and support the investment
proposal to make wood products from dead rubber wood.
I thank you again for passing the Small Business Empowerment Act
(SBEA), which calls for 25 percent of all government purchases to
be set aside for Liberian owned businesses. The law also provides
that 5 percent of the 25 percent, must be set-aside for women-owned
businesses. To effectuate this, changes are required in our PPCC law
and in our attitudes as we should be prepared to promote and to buy
Liberian products made in Liberia, and distributed by Liberians. We
take this preferment of our people seriously and call upon everyone,
public and private entities to comply fully with this new law of 25
percent or be prepared to face sanctions or legal action.
In further empowerment of our people, I ask everyone to join in
promoting the Wear Your Pride campaign that would require all
government employees to wear, at least once a week preferably
Friday, clothing made in Liberia from Liberian products. It is critical
to build the demand for local rice through practical strategies that
empower the local economy and give us ownership of our economy.
We have resolved that the 26th celebration this year shall be in

Greenville and Barclayville. And we will travel there by road.
Development and operational activities at the three major seaports
Monrovia, Buchanan, and Sinoe, made impressive progress in terms
of ships serviced and revenue generated when Ebola struck. We will
conclude action for the development of the Buchanan Port under
the proposal from the French Company Bollare and the Sinoe Port
under proposal from the Dutch Company APM, which manages the
Freeport Port of Monrovia.
RIA will be modernized. We have concluded arrangements for
the construction of the runway and we have invited proposals for a
public private partnership that would transfer the development and
management of Roberts International Airport to a foreign investor
which has similar operations in an ECOWAS Country. This will
address the lack of the high capital cost required to develop the
airport, particularly in light of the sharply declined financial viability
following the loss of traffic due to the Ebola crisis.
We are proud that we brought electricity to the country through the
public grid for the first time in two decades, but admit to being far
behind in expanding access to a greater number of the population.
The cost of electricity at 54 cents per kilowatt hour is probably the
highest in the world, since we currently rely on 22.6 MW of high
speed diesel generators. The capital cost of power, US$230 million
for the Mount Coffee hydro and aggregate US$66 million for the
three Heavy Fuel Oil units is high. Once installed these will cause a
progressive decline from a current cost of 54 cents, to roughly 15 to 20
cents. This will also remove a major constraint in our plans for value
added to some of our primary products and to overall diversification
of the economy. This will also lead to significant expansion in the
number of customers, both in the Monrovia Consolidation Program as
well as the 18 communities in the Southeast. Just today we received
approval for an additional 10MW HFO that will also add expansion
to our electricity program.
Lack of energy is the major constraint to our development and have
based our program for support from the US Millennium Challenge
Corporation on the removal of this constraint. Our continued
eligibility for Compact has been officially advised. After three years
of meeting the rigorous indicators in Economic Freedom, Investing
in People and Ruling Justly, we expect to conclude the first phase of
the Compact and the financial support which comes from that before
the end of this year.
Honorable Legislators, today we have been able to provide to 67
percent of our population with clean water. We have also increased
the supply of water from 4 to 6 million gallons a day. However, it is
still unacceptable, that a large percentage of our population does not
have access to clean pipe borne water. This needs to be addressed
and we intend to allocate resources under the County Development
Funds to correct this.
Operations for reconstruction of water systems in six county capitals
see page 9

that have been stalled due to the Ebola crisis will soon resume. That
will considerably improve access to this life saving resource.
Access to sanitation as defined by international standards is
particularly unsatisfactory with 17 percent of the population having
adequate facilities. We have to and must change the situation.
Progress, in improving the WASH Sector is impeded by the destruction
of underground pipes and illegal property construction over pipes and
drainages.
Governance
Honorable Legislators, I am mindful that with the significant progress
that will continue to be made in our infrastructure development, we
must pay equal attention to what is called the software projects
Governance, Peace and Reconciliation, Human Resource
Development.
Under governance, we will focus on completion of the Constitution
Reform process which would require your legislative endorsement by
June 15, thereby enabling us to hold a national referendum by mid2016. Similar action will be required to conclude our well-conceived
and advanced reform in Public Sector and Public Service Reform and
in Decentralization.
The restart of the Palava Hut is a must for reconciliation, with support
given to the Independent National Commission on Human Rights,
which has prime responsibility to guide this important and long
delayed process of peace building. The institutional arrangement
for the establishment of the Palava Hut is to be concluded within the
next three months with my full personal participation in all aspects,
as required. We must also accelerate implementation of the Roadmap
for National Healing, Peace-building and Reconciliation which has
been validated by civil society and is supported by the UN Peace
Building Fund through the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
In two weeks, we will celebrate another Armed Forces Day
when our gallant men and women in arms will demonstrate their
professionalism and will reconfirm proudly the readiness of the
engineering battalion to support our construction with public works
for national development; just as they did in collaboration with the
U.S. Armed Forces during the Ebola crises.
Other security services will also be there to remind us of the
shortcomings in our preparations for the UNMIL transition that is
targeted for mid-2016. This means we must accelerate our effort and
provide significantly more support to meet the training and logistical
targets for all security units, particularly the Liberia National Police
and the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization.
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Honorable Legislators, some 68
percent of the Liberian population of 4 million are youth between the
ages of 15 and 25. Many of our youth have not had the opportunity
for formal education beyond the primary level and lack skills for
sustained formal employment. They thus represent a large portion
of the vulnerable unemployed who are forced to drift from one
temporary job to another.
Frontpage
Young women, some 3,500 young women and 1,000 adolescent
girls have been trained. Most of them have been employed and
over 2,300 have opened their own small businesses. All of this is
not enough as we have yet to solve the serious problems of rape,
prostitution and the low level of retention in schools. We are forging
partnerships with religious institutions to expand their boarding
facilities. The governments pilot Boarding Facility at Gbartala which
accommodates 125 girls is under renovation for opening in March.
Three more pilot boarding schools will be established in three regions
in the next fiscal year.
Trafficking of girls is a crime against humanity. Trafficking in human
beings is also a crime against humanity. We will revisit existing
policies and work with the Judiciary to impose harsh punishment
for convicts, including those who abuse the privilege of living in our
country.
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of the National
Legislature: We have something to celebrate as a nation after
successfully conducting the Special Senatorial Elections. We once
again register appreciation to the National Elections Commission, all
political parties, independent candidates, voters, and the pool of local
and international observers whose participation added value to the
process.
Honorable Legislators, the media is a very critical ally along the path
to good governance. The governments partnership with the media
has been open, frank, and sometimes rocky, but mutually independent.
Never before has our country seen an aggressive, thriving and
outspokenly critical media landscape amid the abuse in the name
of freedom. This government intends to lead a legacy of tolerance
and remains fully committed to such process along our journey to
democratic maturity. We urge the media which today comprise an
unprecedented 35 newspapers and 80 radio stations, to play its part
to improve professionalism and responsibility as we will hold them
responsible for adherence to our policies and laws. We applaud, in
this public manner, the level of cooperation in the media reportage of
the Ebola crisis which kept citizens fully informed on the prevailing
situation.
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Honorable Legislators, the fight
against corruption was established as a major goal since the inception
of this Administration. We recognized the root causes of this menace
lack of systems, lack of institutions, lack of policies and strategies,
poor compensation survival due to deep rooted poverty which
characterized all three branches of Government and the nation as a
whole.
We made good progress in addressing these deficiencies by
establishing integrity institutions General Auditing Commission,
Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Procurement and
Concessions Commissions, Internal Audit Agency, and Liberia
Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. We made even greater
progress in developing the systems and improving the level of
compensation for all public servants at all levels.
Our performance indicators improved aggressively. Transparency
International recognized this. As a competitor in the U.S. program,
Page 9
national monument project which memorializes all who died from

violent conflicts as well as the victims of Ebola. Although there
may be other sites equally appropriate, Providence Island, with an
uncompleted construction is considered for this purpose. We will also
support the Inter-Religious Council which is willing to take the lead
in a memorial service to honor those who fell victims to Ebola.
High Level Visitors
Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Mr. President Pro-Tempore,
Honorable Members of the National Legislature: Our country paid
host to several high-profiled dignitaries, including:
H.E. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations
Brother Presidents: Ghana, Benin, Niger, Mali
Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Chairperson, African Union
Dr. Nkosanzana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union
Dr. Kadre Ouedraogo, President of ECOWAS Commission
Hon. Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister, United Kingdom
H.E. Borge Brende, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank
Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General, WHO
Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator, USAID
Dr. Thomas Frieden, Head for Centers for Disease Control
US Senator Chris Coons, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa
Mr. Anthony Banbury, Special Representative of the Secretary
General, UNMEER
Ms. Samantha Powell, Permanent Representative of the United States
to the United Nations
Ms. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Assistant Secretary of State for
African Affairs; among others which will be carried in the Executive
Summary.
NECROLOGY
We note with sadness several officials of Government and prominent
citizens passed on to the Great Beyond. These include:
H.E. Charles Gyude Bryant - Former Chairman, Transitional
Government of the Republic of Liberia
Mr. Bismarck Kuyon, Former Transitional Chair
Most Reverend Boniface Nyem Dalieh - Bishop Emeritus, Catholic
Diocese
Archbishop Dr. Williams Nah Dixon, Former President, Liberia
Council of Churches
Honorable John F. Whitfield, Former Senator of Grand Bassa County
Hon. Willis D. Knuckles - Former Minister, Ministry of Public Works
&State/Pres. Affairs
Honorable Scott Toweh, Former Minister of Agriculture
Ambassador Thomas N. Brima Sr. - Liberias Ambassador
Extraordinary to Sierra Leone
His Honor Cllr. J.D. Baryogar Junius - Former Associate Justice,
Supreme Court of Liberia
Hon. Alhaji Ansumana F. Kromah - Former Commissioner, National
Elections Commission
Honorable Dr. S. Jabaru Carlon - Commissioner, Governance
Commission
Mrs. Marie Leigh Parker Former Vice President, NOCAL
Mother Kou Suah Korkpor Former Renowned Traditional Midwife,
Nimba County
and many others who will be listed in the Executive Summary
Conclusion
Honorable members of the Legislature, a nation bound together in
2006 vowed to walk away from the destruction and the hurt of the
past; vowed to be committed and determined to ensure a future of
peace and prosperity for all Liberians. There was not very much
then to share or to divert, as we were building from ground zero. In
five years we stood together, lifting our nation form the burdens of
debt and decay. We worked together to increase revenues, to restore
basic services, to remove the heavy debt burden, to mobilize foreign
investment, to rebuild the infrastructure, to restore hope.
The world marveled at our tenacity, resilience and determination and
reached out massively to help us. Partners committed resources far
beyond our domestic effort and our absorptive capacity.
Our Liberian Youth Employment Program (LYEP) launched in March

2013 provided one year employment for over 3000 youths. They
worked to improve water and sanitation in 26 cities in the fifteen
counties. The program was temporarily suspended due to lack of
funding but negotiations with the World Bank are well advanced
to provide funding for 25,000 youths to support the remaining
component of the program which includes work in ICT, road
maintenance, agriculture, health and education.
Similarly, the Beach and Waterways Program initiated by the
Maritime Authority which provides employment to 2000 youth will
continue with the added benefit of clean beaches for our use.
Millennium Challenge Corporation, we passed consistently for the

past three years the index on corruption, which is a single determinant
of continuation in the program.
Honorable Legislators, we must continue this fight against corruption

through prosecution of persons accused of these malpractices. Our
development programs Roads, Power, Water, Housing, better pay
for civil servants are at risk if we do not do this. Corruption is a
vampire of development and the obstruction of progress. I ask that
we all commit to fighting this devil that destroys our principles and
our pride; that makes us slaves to vested interests. I ask this of you, as
respected lawmakers, and I ask for speedier trials from our judiciary.
These efforts can be considered only temporary as we must invest in

skills training. We will support technical and vocational education in
the facilities and capacity of the Booker Washington Institute. The
Concessions will be asked to support the establishment of technical
training facilities within their operations. The opening of the
Monrovia Vocational and Technical Facility with partnership funding
will prepare more of our youths for gainful employment.
The report given earlier on efforts to reform our health and education
systems are in line with the need for promoting another soft target
-- improving our human resource. As suggested in my remarks
regarding education, more bold and decisive policies and measures
are required --such as the establishment of National Centers of
Excellence, the promotion of specialized secondary schools. We are
developing these concepts into programs of implementation that will
be submitted to you for information and for action where required.
Under the project Economic Empowerment of Adolescent Girls and
The effects of Ebola provide compelling reasons to conclude a
The pain inflicted on our national pride by the Ebola crisis provides
an opportunity to search our souls, to ask ourselves if we have
been truthful and honest to the commitments made in 2006 when
we embarked on this journey together, to ask ourselves if we have
served our country and our people well. If never in the past this is the
time for us to unite as one government to deliver the promises to our
people. There is absolutely no room for blame shifting.
The support in security protection and finance which we enjoy from
our partners today, will not last as attention moves away from us to
other international priorities. The building of Liberia will rest solely
and surely on our shoulders, the shoulders of all Liberians. We will
carry this load only if we are prepared to make Liberia our home
rather than our intermittent earning place, only if we give back to our
countrys development, the resources taken away from it.
I firmly believe that God will give us the strength and the courage to
walk boldly into the next few years with a renewed spirit of peace,
reconciliation, and commitment to country.
We are defeating Ebola and the same spirit of unity and patriotism
will enable us together to blow the winds that keep Liberia Rising.
May God bless Liberia and save the State.
Page 10 | Frontpage
REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS
SOUTH LYNCH STREET
MONROVIA, LIBERIA
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES FOR TECHNICAL AND ROAD SAFETY AUDITS FOR
FISH TOWN- HARPER ROAD PROJECT (FTHRP) PHASE I
LIBERIA
FISH TOWN- HARPER ROAD PROJECT (FTHRP) PHASE I
PAVING HARPER to KARLOKEN, 50 KM
AND MAINTENANCE FROM KARLOKEN TO FISH TOWN, 80 KM
Sector: Transport
Financing Agreement Reference: ADF Loan-

ADF (FSF) Grant No.

ADB (NTF) Loan No.
21001550029693
5900155005403
2200160001089
Project ID No.: P-LR-DBO-004

The Government of Liberia has received financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of the Fish Town Harper Road Project Phase I (FTHRP), and
intends to apply part of the agreed amount to finance the Technical and Audit Services under the Project. The project will involve upgrading from gravel to bitumen
standard of Fish Town Harper Road, Phase 1: Harper Karloken section (50 km). The Project components include: (i) Paving Harper City - Karloken Road (50 km), and
Maintenance of the gravel section Karloken-Fish Town (80 km), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and Supervision of Works; (ii) Project Management
(Implementation Support, Financial/Technical/Road Safety Audits, Monitoring and Evaluation) and (iii) Complementary Components: Compensation of Project Affected
People (PAPs), Capacity Building, and Awareness Campaigns - HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Gender Sensitization and Road Safety Awareness Campaigns. The Project will be
implemented for 24 months plus 12 months of defects liability period.
The services included under this Consultancy will be for both Technical Audit and Road Safety Audits.
The Services under the Technical Audit will include but not limited to the following:
1. Perform a diagnosis of the set of procedures and mechanisms used in work selection, implementation and supervision;
2. Verify whether works performed by the contractor fulfilled the concerns of quality economy and efficiency;
3. Conduct consistency of technical work and conformity with standards and specification. Verify quality of materials and measurement and valuation of works;
4. Assess performance of completed works and structures; and
5. Implementation constraints or shortcomings and propose recommendations to improve the existing arrangements.
The Services under the Road Safety Audit will include but not limited to the following:
1. Study design drawings and reports received from the client/MPW;
2. (if relevant) Study general accident statistics for the existing road;
3. Conduct site visit and inspect the entire road alignment with respect to the road environment and the existing and expected non-motorized and motorized traffic flow
paying due attention to the following:
4. Undertake photograph and or video recordings of the hazardous sites for further detailed study;
5. Identify shortcomings that may need to be mitigated to prevent road accidents;
6. Recommend mitigating measures for identified problems;
7. Prepare draft road safety audit report with the following contents:
8. Formal submission of Draft Road Safety Audit report to the design team and the client
9. Audit Completion Meeting (where the client, design team, supervision consultant or contractor participate as appropriate) and make a formal presentation and discuss the
audit findings; and
10. Provide a seminar to discuss the audit findings with the design team, client and other relevant authorities; and assist the implementation of the audit recommendations.
The Technical audit shall cover the project period from May 2014 to April 2017. The estimated duration of the assignment shall be for a period of four (4) months,
intermittently. The assignment has been divided into four audit stages: (i) Pre-Audit Familiarization (ii) Initial Audit (iii) Intermediate Audit, and (iv) Final Audit. Each Audit
shall be carried out for a period of one month.
The Road Safety Audit will be carried out in three (3) stages: (i) Detailed Design Audit (ii) Pre-Opening Audit and (iii) Post-Opening Audit. The RSA would be conducted
for period of (3) months (intermittently) within the project development, implementation and operational stages. Audit at each stage shall be carried out for a period of one
month.
The Ministry of Public Works now invites eligible consultants (Firms) to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information
indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills
among staff, etc.). Consultants may constitute joint-ventures to enhance their chances of qualification.
Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Banks Rules and Procedures for the use
of Consultants May 2008 Edition, revised July 2012, or as may be amended from time to time, which is available on the Banks website at http://www.afdb.org.
Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 8:00 AM 4:00 PM Monrovia Time.
Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by February 3, 2015 at 3:00 PM Monrovia Time and mention Expression of Interest for Technical Audit for
the Fish Town - Harper Road Project (FTHRP) Phase I.
The Fish Town - Harper Road Project (FTHRP) Phase I
Attn: I. Richmond W. K. Harding, Project Coordinator
Ministry of Public Works
Lynch Street South
Monrovia, Liberia
Telephone: +231-880-438/223 / +231-776-686-077 / +231-555-211-976
Email: rharding@mpw.gov.lr
Frontpage
Page 11
Rape Victims Family Appalled By State Of Dead 12-Year-Old Girls Remains At JFK Morgue
CORPSE BEYOND RECOGNITION
R
Monrovia-
elatives of Brewerville
rape victim, Ma Musu
Fofana were shocked
to see the corpse of
their dead daughter, sister and
grandchild beyond recognition at
the John F. Kennedy Memorial
Hospital, Maternity Center
Mortuary.
Sadia Kargblee, aunt of the
deceased, said she was brought
to tears when the health worker
pulled the drawer that contained
the mortal remains of the
12-year-old rape victim but she
could not recognize her.
Yesterday we saw the body, it
was swollen up; we could not
identify the body. We only knew
it was our sister by the clothes she
wore, she told FrontPageAfrica
on Friday as President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf left their home,
after an impromptu visit to the
family.
When they took the body first,
we didnt know where it was,
they only told us it was in the
mortuary, but when we went
they took us to the JFK Morgue
thats where we saw her body.
JFK morgue is not working, so
the body spoiling.
Sadia and the rest of the family
says they want to see justice
done in the interest of the dead
girl who met her untimely
death after she was attacked last
Sunday evening while returning
from an errand.
Col.
Joseph
B.
Flomo,
Commissioner of Police, Crime
Services
Department
said
investigation into the matter
was ongoing and that the police
would do everything within its
power to charge the accused
Musa Kanneh and send him to
court for prosecution. He said
the body would remain at the
mortuary for a full investigation
into the cause of death.
A crime was committed, suspect
arrested; the body as we speak
is presently placed in a morgue
awaiting autopsy. Suspect is
being investigated, he said.
They came here to us and
we said the body was at the
Maternity Morgue at JFK.
Remember, that body is
questionable; it is under
investigation, so we dont just
want anyone going there to see
the body.
The
police
Commissioner
said the LNP attaches serious
importance to the matter and
hopes to conclude investigation
into the matter to charge the
suspect to court. He said it is
difficult because the suspect is
denying the charges.
Well investigation, I dont want
to put timeline to it; but they
need to talk to others. This is a
man that has been arrested, that
is also denying involvement,
which police officers need to
prove beyond doubt that hes
involved then we come up to
charge him, he said.
Continued: It is not just about
arresting someone and just
taking them to the court, but it
involves
investigating and identifying him
with the crime; so it is not about
Monrovia he medical humanitarian organization Mdecins Sans

Frontires (MSF) decommissioned the first section of
the ELWA 3 Ebola Management Center in Monrovia
this week. The number of beds had previously been
reduced from 250 to 60, but now its the first time a part of the
center is actually taken apart.
To prevent any risks of contamination, most of the rubbles from
the contaminated zone will be burned on site. A first fire took
place on Monday honoring patients, affected families, ELWA 3
workers and communities.
While scaling down, MSF confirms that the number of new Ebola
cases in Liberia has significantly reduced.
I feel were gradually kicking Ebola out of Liberia, said Nelson
Diakpo, Psychosocial team leader at ELWA 3.
MSF established the largest Ebola management center ever built
in August last year as part of its regional response to curb the
spread of the worlds largest Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
To date, it has 510 patients who have recovered from Ebola after
receiving medical and psychosocial care in ELWA 3.
I am happy to see part of this center disappearing today because
Ebola declines in Liberia. But Ill forever remember these grounds.
I lost my daughter here, recounts Mark Jerry, Ebola survivor and
now member of MSF psychosocial team.
Though Liberia is today reporting the least number of cases, one
single case of Ebola can revive the outbreak. Its essential to
remain vigilant, very reactive and coordinated in order to respond
immediately if a new person gets infected.
he
UNDP
Montserrado
Community-Based
Initiative continues
its Ebola Community outreach
to Muslim communities, and
has now taken the sensitization
to the Town of Jenewonde, one
of the worst Ebola affected
towns in Tewor District, in
Grand Cape Mount County.
The Outreach was a special
case for the MCBI Project
given the severity of the Ebola
situation in the County. Under
the auspices of the Madala
Incorporated, a group composed

of Muslims, some of whom are
UNVs Active Case Finders,
the outreach is a continuation
of similar activities in hot spot
communities in Montserrado.
It seeks to among other things,
sensitize Muslim communities
on ways to prevent Ebola
resurgence, encourage them
to be vigilant in observing
all preventive measures, and
to use mosques and religious
institutions for constant and
consistent awareness on EVD.
During the Outreach in
Jenewonde, Ebola preventive
flyers with content written both
in Arabic and English were
distributed. Briefing the UNDP
Out-reach Team, the Town
Chief of Jenewonde, Jebbeh
Sannoh said over 100 children
made orphans as a result of the
Ebola virus disease and more
than 25 widows in the town are
in dire need of food, clothing
and other forms of assistance
and support.
Madame Sannoh disclosed that
between September 3and mid
just arresting someone and taking

them to the court. It is about
investigating and identifying
him with the crime and that is
basically what we are doing
now. My hope is that in one or
two days time the investigation
would be completed and we send
the matter to court.
In such a case an autopsy needs
to be done to determine cause of
death, but according to the police
Chief for crime, the country
lacks the capacity to conduct an
autopsy.
We have the capacity to do
fingerprint but we dont have the
capacity to perform autopsy, he
said.
Some years back, there was
a pathologist assigned to the
police, this time we dont have
any. In fact as I talk to you, in
these types of matters, we have
to get a foreign pathologist

from out of the country to come
and perform the autopsy. We
dont have pathologists now in
Liberia.
The police has established an
ad hoc fact finding committee
to investigate alleged police
impropriety including an alleged
delay at the police check point
while conveying the girl to the
JFK hospital the night she died.
Presidents visit
President Sirleaf on Friday paid a
visit to the home of the bereaved
family, where the mother of
the dead child recounted the
horrors of rape she experienced
before her death. The President
promised that justice would
prevail, as the perpetrator
would be tried in a court of
competent jurisdiction. President

Sirleaf expressed her heartfelt
condolences to the bereaved
family for the untimely death of
their child.
President Sirleaf Friday also
ordered the Justice and Health
Ministries to launch a full-scale
investigation into the reported
negligence of some elements of
the LNP and health care facilities
in the death of 12-year-old.
President Sirleaf said any
element of the Government
found culpable of negligence in
the death of the child would be
dealt with. The order came after
the President visited the family
of the victim.
Gender Ministrys Condemnation
Reacting to the rape and
subsequent death of the 12-yearold, the Ministry of Gender,
Children and Social Protection
Friday condemned the act
terming it wicked, inhuman,
devilish and enemy to the
security of women and children
of Liberia.
These cases should not be
treated lightly as one situation
could have a trickle-down
effect on gains the ministry
and its partners have strived
to accomplish over the years,
stated the ministry in a release.
While we are building defenses
to stop the spread against the
EVD and developing mechanism
on how to keep the children
of Liberia protected from such
harmful virus, the ministry
frowns on the act of some
unscrupulous individuals which
has resulted to such devilish act.
MSFS ELWA 3 EBOLA

UNDP MONTSERRADO INITIATIVE TAKES EBOLA OUTREACH
MANAGEMENT CENTER IN
TO MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN GRAND CAPE MOUNT COUNTY
MONROVIA REDUCES CAPACITY Monrovia a 3-month old baby boy.
December 2014, over fortyseven (47) members of the

community died to the deadly
Ebola virus disease (EVD).
The tough talking female Town
Chief said of the over forty
deaths that occurred in the
town, majority were females.
The 47 persons are people
who died and were buried
by the burial team.Im not
talking about the other people
who were buried secretly by
their family over night
Madam Sannoh said.
She said since the death of her
kinsmen, the houses in which
they lived remain perpetually
closed. They told us that
when our relatives die, we
should bring all their things
outside and burnWeve burnt
everything but their places
still remain closed. Madam
Sannoh said.
The Jenewonde Town Chief
narrated that Ebola widows and
orphans are finding life very
difficult. Today, the widows
and orphans are sleeping on

the bare floor in the homes of
other relatives who are helping
to host them. She said out of
the over 100 hundred orphans
in the town, only five of them
have so far received assistance.
In response, UNDP UNV
Field Associate Varlee Sarnor
promised to take all of their
concerns to the appropriate
authorities at the Ebola
Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) for redress. I am
not saying that Ive come
with the solution to all of
your concernsBut Ill take
everything that youve said
here to those who can make
decisions about the Ebola
situation in our country
Sarnor said.
Sawou Saysay, 16, is sevenmonths pregnant. She said her
boyfriend died from Ebola
during the heat of the outbreak
in the town. Ruth Karbeh,
19, also lost her 20 year-old
boyfriend from Ebola. Ruth has
Meanwhile, the MCBI Team

under the banner of Madala
Incorporated, has submitted its
findings from the Out-reach in
Jenewonde to authorities of the
Ebola Incidence Management
of the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare (MoH&SW)
team with its recommendations.
Among the recommendations
are the need for increased
awareness, monitoring and
evaluation, the need for
psycho-social counseling to
help develop citizens coping
mechanism
with
trauma,
provide food & non-food
items, and support
the creation

of job opportunities for citizens
to improve their livelihoods
among others.
Jenewonde is situated in Tewor
District, Grand Cape Mount
County. It is near the border
with Sierra Leone and the
population is mostly Muslims.
But there are other traditional
groups which include people
from the Poro and Sande
societies. The very first Ebola
case was discovered in the
Town in August, but the current
outbreak started in October
2014.
Jenewonde is about 50 miles (80
Kilometers) from Monrovia.
Jenewonde lost about 10-15%
of its population due to the
Ebola virus disease. The recent
outbreak in the Town came
from Montserrado and Bomi
Counties. There is still an ongoing problem with cultural/
traditional burials which are
the root causes of Ebola still
visible in Jenewonde.
Page 12 | Frontpage
R
Monrovia-
epresentatives
Thomas
Fallah
(CDC-District
#5
Montserrado
County)
and
Julius
Berrian (CDC-District #10
Montserrado County) have
described as total falsehood
statement by President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf that 67% of
Liberians have access to pipe
borne water.
The two lawmakers in an
interview with FrontpageAfrica
moments after the President
delivered the state of the
nation address before the joint
assembly of the legislature
said, the presidents assertions
were marred by deception and
falsehood.
The President claimed that 67%
of Liberians now have access to
clean and safe drinking water
and promised to do more in
the coming years by allocating
funding for water projects
under the county development
funds in the National budget.
In
separate
interviews
the lawmakers said it is
disappointing for the President
of Liberia to say 67% of people
in Liberia have access to pure,
clean drinking water, when
people in Liberia still find
it difficult to access to clean
water.
PAGE
RONT
LEGISLATIVE BEAT
TOTAL FALSEHOOD
Lawmaker differ with President 67% statement on access to clean water
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.com
Said Rep. Fallah: I want to

disagree with the president on
her comment that 67% of the
population has access to clean
water. I believe we have not

reached the point of giving
67% Liberians access to pure
drinking water.
Rep. Fallah challenged

the executive to provide in
seventy-two hours the soft
copies of the president report to
the legislature to enable them

critique it.
The CDC district- five
Montserrado county lawmaker
said over the past years, it
took the executive branch
two to three weeks before
making available copies of the
Presidents report to legislature.
He also questioned the honesty
in the president promise of
celebrating the Independence
Day in Greenville Sinoe
County, because according to
him the county is challenged
with deplorable roads and up to
present nothing is being done
to address the problem.
The government faced glitches
in its 2014 promise of a 26
celebrations in Sinoe County
due to bad road condition.
He welcomed the Presidents
renewed commitment to fight
corruption and said, that fight
needs to be holistic.
For his part Rep. Berrian
questioned the presidents

selective
comments
that
called on girls to remain in
school up to the 12th grade as
an inducement for financial
assistance. Rep. Berrian said
the presidents statement was
selective and demonstrates
her governments interest in a
particular sex.
Commenting on the President
remarks on access to water he
said: The President needs to
retract the statement and I see
that as a pure deception to the
Liberian people. We see this
as pure deception because we
still have people drinking from
wells and creeks in some part
of the country.
The President called for a
unity in the three branches
of government to help move
forward during the post Ebola
recovery process.
CORRUPTION FIGHT TOUGHENS?

President Sirleaf Wants Prosecution for LACC Indictees; Dual Citizenship
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.com
Monroviaresident Ellen Johnson

Sirleaf has called for
the Prosecution of
public officials accused
of Corruption by the Liberia
Anti-Corruption
Commission
(LACC).
Delivering her 9th annual State
of the Nation Address, before
the legislature on Monday, as
required by law, the President
called on government officials to
join the fight against corruption.
She also called for the speedy
trial of corruption cases by the

judiciary.
Corruption is a vampire of
development, we must all
commit to fighting this devil. I
ask that of you as a legislature
and call for the speedy trial
by the judiciary in corruption
cases, she said.
Prior to the presidents statement
on corruption, she disclosed
that the executive branch of
government would present to
the legislature a bill to authorize
direct prosecutorial powers to
the LACC to prosecute people

culpable of corruption.
The president statement at the
legislature comes in the wake of
ongoing debate and investigation
of the Speaker of the House of
Representatives Rep. Alex Tyler
by the LACC on his alleged
involvement in an alleged
US$25,000 received in the name
of paying a legal expert for the
Nationwide oil consultations last
year.
In the wake of the ongoing
investigation of the speaker by
the LACC, some senior members

of the House of Representatives
has been drag into a one hundred
thousand United States dollars
scandal. This scandal has
resulted in the LACC inviting
the deputy House speaker Hans
Barchue and representatives
Edwin Snowe (Montserrado) and
Emmanuel Nuquay (Margibi).
The LACC request is in line
with earlier disclosure made
by the deputy speaker that they
(House of Representatives)
received US$ 900,000 to carry
out the nationwide tour on the

draft National Petroleum law of
Liberia, in consultation with the
National Oil Company of Liberia
(NOCAL).
Dual citizenship law
President Sirleaf has also
requested the Legislature to pass
a proposed law that she intends
to shortly present to that august
body promoting dual citizenship.
She
said
allowing
dual
citizenship would give Liberians
who took refuge in the diaspora
during the Liberian civil conflict
to contribute to Liberias
development.
The President comments comes
in the wake of concerns raised by
Liberians about the citizenship
of her son Robert Sirleaf a
former senatorial candidate in
just ended Special Senatorial
Election running for a seat in
Montserrado County.
President Sirleaf called on
Liberians especially officials of
government not to make Liberia
an intermediate earning ground.
The President also promised to
provide to the legislature a law
that would decriminalize media
offenses in keeping with the
Table Mountain Declaration.
President Sirleaf stated that
the legislation if passed into
law, would demonstrate her
governments
commitment
to freedom of expression and
freedom of the press.
She also called on the three
branches of government to
engage in constructive dialogues
in doing the business of the
Liberian people and avoid blame
shifting something she said
would not help in addressing the
needs of the people.
The Presidents annual report
was dominated by comments
about setbacks created by the
Ebola virus to the growth of the
country. The speech lasted over
one hour unlike the 2014 one
which lasted over four hours.
67% access to clean water
President Sirleaf also disclosed
that 67% of the country
population has access to clean
and pure drinking water. The
Liberian leader in her statement
disclosed
that
plans
are
underway to extend the success
to other parts of the country, by
allocating funding under the
County development funds.
PAGE
RONT
Frontpage
VOICES
Page 13
REACTIONS TO PRESIDENTS ANNUAL MESSAGE
WHAT THE PRESIDENT LEFT OUT
I was doing it for the Liberian people and the Liberian people recognized me. I havent stopped here in Liberia, Im in Sierra Leone and the people there
are appreciating my work. Im going to talk to my party not to raise issue about me not being recognized. It is not everything you do that people must
recognize you for. What I want is for Liberia to be Ebola free, Sierra Leone Ebola free and Guinea, I will not be deterred by not being recognized. I see no
reason why we should make an issue of this. Rep. Saah Joseph, Montserrado County, Congress for Democratic Change
Al-Varney Rogers, al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.com; 0886304498, Massa F. Kanneh, massa.kanneh@frontpageafricaonline.com/ 0886848625
Monroviammediate reactions to President Ellen Johnson Sirleafs

annual message has mixed. From Rep. Saah Joseph, who was
noticeably omitted for his role in the fight against the Ebola
outbreak to lawmakers and ordinary Liberians, the address
delivered on Monday January 26, 2015 raised a few eyebrows,
some commendations and a lot of pointed criticisms.
REP. SAAH JOSEPH

There were lots of concerns she raised in the State of the Nation
address. I have been talking about the dual citizenship issue and
the President talked about it, so, I am going to support that bill.
Im happy with what I am doing and happy to see people back
on their feet again. I was not doing it to be recognized by the
president. I was doing it for the Liberian people and the Liberian
people recognized me. I havent stopped here in Liberia, Im in
Sierra Leone and the people there are appreciating my work. Im
going to talk to my party not to raise issue about me not being
recognized. It is not everything you do that people must recognize
you for. What I want is for Liberia to be Ebola free, Sierra
Leone Ebola free and Guinea, I will not be deterred by not being
recognized. I see no reason why we should make an issue of this.
TIAWON GONGLOE, LAWYER

Id say the President scored an A in creating institutions and
submitting good laws to the legislature. But she does not score
a good grade when it comes to implementation. When you create
criminal court F, when your friends and relatives engage in
corruption, then we will see selective Justice coming. I think there
should be the creation of more civil courts because one civil law
court in Monrovia is clothed with land cases. I am calling on the
legislature that the burden of our childrens education lies on them,
more than the President. I am happy that the President recognized
Tolbert Nyenswah and Dr. Jerry Brown, but the omission in
recognition of Rep. Saah Joseph was a serious disappointment. I
hope it was an oversight; this man left his work as a legislator to
do a job that was the responsibility of the Executive. He had more
ambulances than the government of Liberia and he supported the
governments fight and he is currently an ambassador of Liberia
in Sierra Leone.
SAMUEL MCGILL, ACTIVIST
The speech this year touched several national issues cardinal

among them which I pick up is the issue of restoring electricity
to our country. When power
is fully restored it will help
to boom the economy. The
President touched on education;
in the past she said education
was a mess, she has taken a
dramatic U-turn on education.
She said more needs to be put
into education and mentioned
free education for girls. She also
talked about agriculture and the
overhauling of the LPMC, We
were very happy on the update
of Ebola. Hopefully by early May, Ebola will be a thing of the
past. Im overwhelmed by the Presidents speech this year. You
know I have been critical of the Presidents speech in past, but this
year; lets be objective here, this years speech was characterized
by some sincerity. We see a dramatic change when the President
remarks that corruption is a vampire in her government and
calling on the national legislature to give prosecutorial power to
the LACC, which is welcoming news.
JULIUS JENSEN- ACTIVIST
Madam
Sirleafs speech was the most unproductive State

of the Nation address ever
deliver by a seated President of
Liberia. In my mind majority
of the different sectorial areas
the President touched in her
address, I think the President
in many respects and many
instances failed miserable.
For example if you look at the
issue of youth empowerment,
the President intimated that
sixty eight percent of our four
million population constitute

young people and spoke about
how her government made absolutely no impact in providing
the requisite skills for young people. Many of our young people
lack the basic capacity and skills to be factored into the matrix
of employment. On the issue of corruption, the President also
intimated that causes of corruption are weak institutions and lack
of institutional framework and policy, but it is the responsibility of
the government to formulate and carve strategies and build viable
institution.
Joel HansfordIm greatly impressed by the

Presidents message today.
It cuts across challenges
and prospects made by the
government over the year.
People need to know this; what
the President said today clearly
represents what happened in
2014. The message covers
those things that happened in
2014. Apparently some of our
colleagues came to listen to

the Presidents message with
an already made up mind or a
stereotyped mind. So, they do
not see any good in the Presidents message. For example, the
President talked about youth empowerment, the LYEP has been
running and recruited over three thousand young Liberians,
mainly from rural Liberia. The Liberianazation policy, which
the President talked about public official wearing Liberian made
clothes every Friday, I think it will promote and stimulate our
local market.
Antoinette Thomas Employee of the House of Representative

Well there were few things said and there were some other things
that were not in place. The issue of 67% water pipe borne water in
the country; that I dont know; how many people have access to
safe drinking water in the country? I know that lots of people dont
have access to water. And another thing is that she said they would
take the initiative to educate the girls children, what becomes of
our boys children? If you educate all of the girls children, who
would marry the uneducated male children?

Alvin Wesseh, youth activist
The Presidents State of the Nation address was flooded by
cosmetic recitation. It was only meant to show the Liberian people
that she is working, but practical nothing is being done. I think
the President ill inform the Liberian people for the year under
review. The President during 2014 annual message spoke about
the creation of 20,000 jobs, but up till now the President has not
provided any report on how many people have been empowered.
The President said corruption would be public enemy number
one, but she has compromised corruption cases. In the issue of
the Ebola fight, the President lavished praises on one Tolbert
Nyansuah, forgetting Saah Joseph, who has played a very pivotal
role in this country. He was not singled out as an Ebola fighter.
Rev. Emmanuel Bowier

The issue of the palaver hut that she did talk about is the way of
settling our problems in Liberia. I think it is a good thing. But the
palaver hut does not cover the TRC report, as some may think and
we also have to understand that she cannot mention everything.
But when the Palaver hut is established again, the issue of the TRC
can be brought up. She has said a whole lot of good things, but
we are waiting for the implementation. The issue of wearing your
pride, 50% business to Liberians all of those are good thing. We
should eat and buy our own produced rice in the country, are all
good. But lets wait and see how these thing will be implemented
because that is the big problem.
Page 14 | Frontpage
IN BRIEF
SMALL DRONE CRASHES AT

WHITE HOUSE COMPLEX,
ORIGIN UNCLEAR
commander in warlord
Joseph Kony's feared
militia made his first
appearance
before
an International Criminal Court
judge
Monday, calling himself a former
soldier who was abducted and
"taken to the bush" when he was
just 14.
Dominic Ongwen appeared
in court for a brief hearing to
confirm his identity and that he
understood the charges against
him. He was not required to enter
a plea.
Ongwen arrived in The Hague
last week after being taken
into custody in Central African
Republic earlier this month.
He faces charges of war crimes
and crimes against humanity,
including murder, pillage and
enslavement for his alleged role
in a reign of terror by Kony's
Lord's Resistance Army that
has spanned more than 25 years
in central Africa's Great Lakes
region.
Cairo (AFP) gyptian

police
arrested more than
500
supporters
of the blacklisted
Muslim Brotherhood when
deadly violence erupted on
the anniversary of the 2011
uprising, the interior minister
said Monday.
Protesters and security forces
clashed Sunday after Islamists
called for demonstrations against
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's
government as Egypt marked
the fourth anniversary of the
toppling of ex-strongman Hosni
Mubarak.
Supporters
of
Mubarak's
successor, Islamist Mohamed
Morsi, have regularly clashed
with security forces since he was
ousted by then army chief Sisi in
July 2013.
Rights groups have repeatedly
denounced the use of "excessive
force" by the authorities to crush
opposition rallies and accused
police of making sweeping
arrests.
On Sunday, "we arrested 516
elements from the Muslim
Brotherhood group who were
involved in firing ammunition,
planting explosives and bombing
some facilities," said Interior
Minister Mohamed Ibrahim,

who has overseen a bloody
police crackdown targeting the
Brotherhood.
Ibrahim told a press conference
that 20 people were killed
Sunday, most of them in Cairo's
northern district of Matareya
where clashes lasted more than
12 hours, adding two policemen
were among the dead.
A health ministry official said
one protester was killed in the
northern city of Alexandria in
similar clashes.
Three suspected militants also
died when they mistakenly blew
themselves up while planting
explosives in the Nile Delta

region, north of Cairo.
The authorities have blamed
the Muslim Brotherhood for the
violence that has rocked Egypt
since Morsi's ouster, including
bombings
and
shootings
targeting policemen and soldiers.
More than 1,400 people have
been killed in a government
crackdown targeting Morsi
supporters, while over 15,000
have been imprisoned since he
was ousted.
Dozens have also been sentenced
to death after speedy trials
which the United Nations say
is "unprecedented in recent
history".
The Muslim Brotherhood has
denied government accusations
of involvement in attacks on
security forces, mostly claimed
by jihadist groups.
Egypt's deadliest militant group,
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, said
in a video posted Monday on
the Internet that it executed a
policeman kidnapped in Rafah
bordering the Gaza Strip earlier
this month.
For its part, Human Rights Watch
accused Egyptian police of
using "excessive force" against
protesters on Sunday.
"Four years after Egypts
revolution, police are still killing
protesters on a regular basis,"
said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle
East and North Africa director of
HRW.
The New York-based HRW
called for "an independent
investigation into the authorities
excessive use of force" to quell
"apparently peaceful protests".

Ibrahim
dismissed
HRW's
criticism.
"This organisation has never
been objective in its reports,"
Ibrahim said, blaming the
Muslim
Brotherhood
for
Sunday's violence.
Tensions had surged ahead of
the anniversary, and a female
demonstrator was killed in
clashes with police during a
rare leftwing protest in Cairo on
Saturday.
Shaima al-Sabbagh died of
birdshot wounds when police
fired to disperse a march, fellow
protesters and HRW said.
An 18-year-old female protester
was also killed on Friday in
clashes in Alexandria.
- Mubarak sons go free Egypt has been gripped by
political turmoil since the 2011
uprising, and by violent unrest
since his successor Morsi was
ousted.
Morsi's successor Sisi has been
regularly accused by activists
and rights groups of installing a
regime that is more repressive
than Mubarak's.
His supporters deny the
allegations, pointing to his
popularity among a large section
of Egypt's population weary
of four years of turmoil and
economic crisis.
Ibrahim also said that Mubarak's
sons Alaa and Gamal have been
released from jail pending a
retrial in a corruption case, four
years after their arrest following
the uprising.
RUSSIA WARNS WEST NOT TO BLACKMAIL IT OVER UKRAINE
COMMANDER IN JOSEPH KONY'S

FEARED MILITIA APPEARS IN COURT
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)
516 'BROTHERHOOD ELEMENTS'

ARRESTED ON EGYPT ANNIVERSARY
WORLD NEWS
WASHINGTON (AP)
small drone flying
low to the ground
crashed onto the
White
House
grounds before dawn Monday,
triggering a major emergency
response and raising fresh
questions about security at the
presidential mansion.
Although President Barack
Obama was not at home, the
security breach prompted a
lockdown of the entire complex
until officials could examine the
drone. The White House later
said the drone did not pose a
threat.
The Secret Service launched an
immediate investigation into
the origins of the drone, which
crashed on the southeast side
of the White House grounds
just after 3 a.m. Secret Service
spokesman Brian Leary said
officials were also working
to identify any suspects and
determine what their motive
might have been.
EGYPT COURT CONVICTS DOCTOR
OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
CAIRO (AP)
n Egyptian appeals
court
on
Monday
convicted a doctor
of
manslaughter
and performing female genital
mutilation that led to the death of
a 13-year-old girl, sentencing him
to two years and three months in
prison in the country's first case that
came to trial over the widespread
practice, defense lawyers said.
PAGE
RONT
MOSCOW (Reuters) ussia blamed Kiev

on Monday for a
surge in fighting in
Ukraine and warned
the West that any attempt to
increase economic pressure on
Moscow would be "absolutely
destructive" blackmail.
Pro-Moscow
separatists,
backed by what NATO says are
Russian troops, have launched
an offensive in southeastern
Ukraine and President Barack
Obama said Washington was
considering all options short
of military action to isolate
Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry
Peskov denied any Russian
involvement in the fighting
and Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov accused the West of
whipping up anti-Russian
hysteria to justify extending
economic sanctions against
Moscow.
"Instead of increasing pressure
on those who refuse to engage in
dialogue to resolve the conflict
peacefully, we see renewed
talks
about
blackmailing
Russia economically," RIA
news agency quoted Peskov as
saying.
"Russia has never agreed with
such threats and such threats
and blackmail have never led
to anything and never will ...

renewed threats of increased
economic pressure on Russia
are an absolutely destructive,
unjustified and ultimately
short-sighted approach."
Lavrov said the separatists in
Ukraine were responding to
attacks by government forces
and the only way forward was
through direct dialogue.
"We see attempts to derail the
peace process and attempts

again and again by the Kiev
leadership to solve the problem
by using force to suppress the
southeast. These attempts lead
nowhere," Lavrov told a news
conference.
The European Union has
called an emergency meeting
of foreign ministers of its 28
member states for Thursday.
"We expect our Western
partners ... not to do anything

that gives the Kiev authorities
the impression that all their
actions automatically will win
support in the West," Lavrov
said.
He accused the West of
"chronic" finger-pointing at
Moscow over the Ukraine
conflict, in which more than
5,000 people have been killed
in more than nine months of

fighting.
Lavrov said it would have been
naive to believe the separatists
would accept being shelled
by government forces without
responding.
He said the rebels had started
actions to "eliminate the
positions from which the
Ukrainian armed forces had
shelled populated areas with
heavy weapons".
Frontpage
Sports
WILL BYC AND FASSELL PULL OUT?
ill
Barrack
Young
Controllers
(BYC) and FC
Fassell withdraw from their
continental engagements?
Your guess is as good as mine
because the Confederation of
African Football (Caf) have
renewed a September ban it
imposed on Liberia, Guinea
and Sierra Leone from hosting
international matches due to
the spread of Ebola.
The three countries were
severely hit by the virus, which
has now killed more than 8,000
people from more than 21,000
confirmed,
probable
and
suspected cases as of January
20.
Liberia, which lifted a July 30
hypocritical ban on football
on January 3, was hoping that
it would have been shown
the green light with 13 out of
15 counties reporting no new
cases for more than 21 days.
But Caf is looking to the World
Health Organization (WHO)
to declare the three countries
Ebola free before it can lift the
ban.
Reference to Caf decision in
the above mentioned subject,
we wish to inform you that
Caf follows very closely
the situation in West Africa,
especially in Liberia, Guinea
and Sierra Leone, regarding
the dissemination of the Ebola
virus.
According to the current
situation, the matches played in
the said countries will still be
delocalized to another venue as
a measure of precaution against
the said virus. Consequently,
the following matches of the
preliminary round of Caf
interclubs competitions should
be played on a neutral ground,
Caf deputy secretary-general
Essam Ahmed wrote to Liberia
Football Association (LFA)
secretary-general
Alphonso
Armah on January 20.
This means the home ties
between BYC versus Real
Page 15
SPORTS
NEYMAR: RONALDO
SHOULD BE PUNISHED
Caf reinforces ban on Ebola affected countries for club engagements

Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com
de Banjul of Gambia in the

Champions League and Fassell
versus Horoya AC of Guinea in
the Confederation Cup will not
be played in Monrovia.
And Ahmed wants the LFA
to communicate its neutral
ground as soon as possible
and ensure that the entire
delegation travelling abroad be
examined at home prior to its
departure, ensuring members
are Ebola free.
He said Caf wants to ensure
that the country hosting the
match in question guarantees
the
reception
of
your
delegation, according to the
health requirements of that
country.
LFA president Musa Bility
interposes no objection to
a decision that will further
impose financial burden on the
two clubs.
I think what Caf is doing
is for everybody to take the
Ebola thing seriously; to know
that its still around and that
we need to take the necessary
actions to make sure that Ebola
goes away.
So to allow your country to
play in country right now is
to send the message as though
it [Ebola] is all over. That
is the explanation we gave
them and we think that is a
fair explanation. So definitely
our hope is that our league is
resuming in March, Bility told
UNMIL Radios Sport Extra
program on January 26.
The first legs will be on the
weekend of February 13-15
with BYC in Banjul and Fassell
at a neutral venue.
Liberia
werent
affected
from the initial ban because
it were either eliminated or
withdrew from all international
competitions and had their
national league completed in
March rather than in June or
July.
Guinea used Morocco as
home venue while Sierra
Leone used their opponents
venues as home ground for the
2015 Africa Cup of Nations
qualifiers.
BYC president Sekou Konneh
was hoping for a change in

fortune in time for their home
match.
We are aware of that and
we are hoping that before
the commencement of the
competition
in
February,
we are certain that the ban
will be lifted by that time,
Konneh told UNMIL Radio on
December 23, 2014.
But does Konneh have an
alternative venue with the ban
reinforced?
Well when we get to that
stage we will cross it but we
are very hopeful of the ban
will be lifted. Otherwise, the
alternative will be to closely
work with the LFA determine
[our next course of action], he
answered.
Bility said the LFA has asked
Ghana, Ivory Coast and
Gambia about the possibility
of hosting the away ties.
For Fassell, we are negotiating
with the Guinean club because
all we both need to do is to just
have a neutral ground where we
will go and stay there for two
weeks and play our games,

added Bility, who ruled out the
prospect of BYC playing the
two games in Banjul.
Sierra Leone East End
Lions, who were due to meet
Ghanas Asante Kotoko in
the Champions League, have
withdrawn citing a lack of
competition.
The Sierra Leone Football
Association confirmed the
Lions withdrawal after it
became known that a single
player wasnt register ahead of
the January 15 deadline.
BYC will make their second
successive appearance in the
competition although their
junior team debuted in the
Confederation Cup in 2013
where they eliminated FC
Johannes of Sierra Leone in the
preliminary before bowing out
to Tanzanias Azem FC in the
first round.
Penalties for withdrawal

It remains to be seen whether
BYC
and
Fassell
will
withdrawal due to added
expenses imposed by Caf.
According to article nine
(withdrawal and renunciation
from playing), section five
of the competitions rules, a
withdrawal reported during the
preliminary round is sanctioned
with a loss of the entry right as
well as US$5,000.
Section
10
warns
that
clubs
withdrawing
from
the competition after the
establishment of the fixtures
will be forbidden from
participating in all Caf interclubs competitions for the
next two editions following its
withdrawal in addition to the
financial sanctions stated in
sections four to nine.
arcelona
star
Neymar
says
he
understands
Cristiano Ronaldo's
frustration boiling over after
he was shown a red card during
Real Madrid's 2-1 win over
Cordoba.
The Portuguese seemed rattled
throughout the contest, with
video footage appearing to
show him throwing a punch at
Jose Angel Crespo, which went
unnoticed by the referee.
But Ronaldo was later punished
for kicking out at Edimar
Fraga in another moment of
indiscipline, which resulted in
him being sent off.
The three-time Ballon d'Or
winner later apologised on
social media for losing his
temper, but he has received the
support of Neymar.
CAPE VERDE 0-0 ZAMBIA: BOTH

TEAMS CRASH OUT WITH DRAW
he 1-1 draw recorded

by DR Congo was
enough to send them
through on goals
scored and send Cape Verde out
at the group stages
Cape Verde and Zambia
crashed out of the Africa Cup
of Nations following a goalless
draw in their final Group B
game at Nuevo Estadio de
Ebebiyn on Monday.
A victory would have been
enough for either nation
to progress to the quarterfinals, but they lacked the
quality to reach the last eight
and Democratic Republic of
Congo and Tunisia progressed
following their 1-1 draw.
DR CONGO 1-1 TUNISIA: BOKILA
STEALS DRAW AS IBENGE'S MEN
SCRAPE THROUGH
hmed
Akaichi
scored in the first
half to give Tunisia
the lead but a goal
from Jeremy Bokila put his side
through on goals scored
Tunisia and DR Congo both
booked their places in the Africa
Cup of Nations quarter-finals
with a 1-1 draw on Monday.
Group B leaders Tunisia
controlled the vast majority of
the clash in Bata, but could only
muster one goal through Ahmed
Akaichi.
Akaichi's improvised header
capped a period of utter
dominance
for
Georges
Leekens' men that saw Yassine
Chikhaoui cause all sorts of
trouble for the DR Congo
defence.
Sports
FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
VOL 9 NO.17
iberia arent among the

16 finalists in Equatorial
Guinea for the 2015
Africa Cup of Nations
finals.
They were eliminated in the
preliminaries by Lesotho, who
Musa Shannon, Liberia Football
Association (LFA) vice president
for administration, called a
minnow when the draw was made
on April 27, 2014.
Liberia beat Lesotho 1-0 in
Monrovia on May 18, 2014 and
lost 2-0 in Maseru on June 1, 2014,
going out 2-1 on aggregate.
But Liberia haveAndy Quamie,
who is flying the red, white and
blue flag high at the finals.
Quamie,
a
Caf
match
commissioner, is a member of Caf
media committee at the finals.
He was selected last November to
help organize media conferences
and events subject to the
Equatoguinean government issuing
him a visa after undergoing Ebola
screenings.
I am elated to be selected among
hundreds of African football
stakeholders to be in Equatorial
Guinea for the 2015 Afcon finals as
a member of Caf media committee.
My invitation is subject to the
government granting me visa after
passing some Ebola protocols.
With God above, I will be selected
to represent Liberia since we are
not among the competing teams.
This is another achievement in my
international career as a football
administrator.
I am grateful to God, my family
and friends and all those who want
to see the best come from Liberia,
Quamie told FrontPageAfrica
when he received his letter of
invitation.
He arrived in Malabo on January 13
and has been in the thick of things
amid a challenged-infrastructure
following the withdrawal of
Morocco over fears of Ebola.
Facebook has been flooded with
praises for the Watanga FC senior
vice president, who commissioned
LIBERIA AT AFCON 2015

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015
PRICE L$40
Andy Quamie flies Red, White and Blue flag in Equatorial Guinea
~ Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com ~
the 2014 World Cup qualifier between

Gambia and Tanzania (2-0) in Banjul
on September 7, 2013.
I wish you well Mr. Match
Commissioner in this tournament and
please bear in mind that Sierra Leone
where you have commissioned several
of our matches is always proud of you
sir. Keep the fire burning, my brother,
said Sorie Ibrahim Kamara of the
Sierra Leone Football Association.
Proud of you my brother, wrote
Doris Sheba Brown, LFA executive
committee member.
McCarthy Weh, a director at the
Liberian Senate, said: [I am] so proud
of you, Andy. Thanks and kindly keep
up the splendid job. Kudos!
Quamie was appointed as a Fifa match
commissioner in a letter signed by
Fifa director of competitions Gordon
Savic on July 25, 2013.
Savic recommended Quamie to Caf
secretary-general Hicham El Amrani
in May 2013 to be included in the
panel of commissioners for the 2016

Olympic Games and 2018 World Cup

qualifiers.
Quamie joins Sheba Brown, ex-LFA
presidents Edwin Snowe and Izetta
Wesley and ex-LFA secretary-general
George Williams in an elite club of
Fifa and Caf match commissioners.
He has been a match commissioner
since he oversaw a Caf Confederation
Cup game between Heartland of
Nigeria and US Haut Nkam of
Cameroon on April 8, 2012 in Owerri,
Imo State.
Quamie has since been on match

commission duty to Sierra Leone
(three times), Nigeria (four times),
Angola and Congo.
He's the first Liberian Caf match
inspector, having been to Gambia to
oversee football facilities in January.
Quamie is also executive secretary
of Soccer For Hope, a charity
organization that uses football
to identify with underprivileged
children.
VISIT UNCLE ZEH'S LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SERVICE ON

CROWN HILL, BROAD STREET WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST
CALL: 0775 149 376, 0775 149 161

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CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

President 67% statement

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015

MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015

MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2014

These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015

REACTIONS TO ANNUAL MESSAGE

WHAT THE PRESIDENT

REP SAAH JOSEPH OMISSION

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

(CLSG) as well as settlement to various contractors for road works.

will be required in the structure of our economy for increased

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

REP SAAH JOSEPH

BANK & GLOBAL WITNESS ARE SILENT!

J. Yanqui Zaza, Jyanqui@aol.com, Contributing Writer

he hottest news in Liberia, after the Ebola

adviser, cannot question the bribery scheme, because

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

DAVISNY2005 (SIGNED IN USING YAHOO)

LIBERIA'S CULTURE CLASH: SANDE &

The Reader's Page

Send your letters and comments to:

OPEN LETTER TO THE

To: The Speaker and Members of the House

Dear Mr. Speaker and Honorable members of the House of

ermit me to salute you in this communication and address

Honorable Speaker, Buu-Yao is in tears for such serious political

LET THE GOVERNMENT

t is an undeniable fact that many students in Liberia have

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

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

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Bettie Johnson/ bettie.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monroviahe deadly Ebola

school because they have no

School in West Point, we wear

Over 200 orphans

survivors in West Point, we

Junior and Martha Moore

Dickson David, Psychosocial

Mr. Tarweh is urging the

taking care of.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

precursor to Liberia filling a vacancy at the highest ranks of the Court.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

investors, contractors, and citizens as well fled the country. Liberian

Last year, I announced several policy measures on the operations

Expenditure for the period totaled US$530.7 million, an increase of

government and citizens structures by the NGOs operating at the local

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, I which to inform you that as we

Distinguished Legislators, our success is due to the many people

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Criminal Conveyance of Land Bill which curtails fraudulent land

Iron ore mining, the historical largest export earner, is experiencing

We have resolved that the 26th celebration this year shall be in

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

national monument project which memorializes all who died from

Our Liberian Youth Employment Program (LYEP) launched in March

Millennium Challenge Corporation, we passed consistently for the