TOP

STORIES

Politics

DIASPORA

pg 8
HOW LIBERIAN
US PROTESTERS
UPSTAGE
SIRLEAF''S WHITE
HOUSE WELCOME

pg 6

TOO MUCH
LEFT UNDONE
CDC National Chair McGill
Slams Government

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
BUYING

FrontPage

L$84.00/US$1

L$85.00/US$1

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2015

L$84.00/US$1

L$85.00/US$1

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2015

L$84.00/US$1

L$85.00/US$1

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of

the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The
rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials
banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source:
Research, Policy and Planning Department,
Central Bank Liberia,
Monrovia, Liberia

www.frontpageafricaonline.com

PRICE L$40

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

VOL 9 NO.41

SELLING

UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA STUDENTS

DIVIDED ON TARPEH, SONII RESIGNATION

HIDDEN MOTIVES

He knows why he really resigned. He didnt want to tell the public the real
reason; he also knows that teachers have not been paid for the past 4 months. He
controlled the funds and if he says the school is broke then we cant say anything;
but I think he should go, Napoleon Quiah, student, University of Liberia

MURDER VICTIM
PARENTS WANT DEATH
BY HANGING FOR
MURDERERS

p6

Voices- pg.5

KEEPING
EBOLA RULES

SURVIVALS IN BASSA REINTEGRATES

WITHOUT PSYCOSOCIAL COUNSELLING

p7

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Page 2 | Frontpage

Laureate in 2007. In 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013 the Prize

Committee, after in-depth review, did not select a winner.
Mo Ibrahim, the sponsor of the award in August 2014 said
it is better for President Sirleaf to sit at home and deal with
her internal problems instead of having dinner in western
countries.
You sit in your country; sit in Monrovia and just use that
and dont travel to those people. So I was very glad that she
stayed at home to deal with the disaster there. Instead of
coming and having dinner here will not solve the problem
for Liberia, Ibrahim said to about Sirleaf.
Why Sirleaf has failed in Good Governance?

Monroviafricas first democratically elected female

President, madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a
darling of the West winning several international
accolades and awards including the 2011 Nobel
Peace Prize but at home she has been unable to land the
most prestigious award for good governance in Africa, the
Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership,
prompting huge arguments that lobbying might be playing
a key role in the huge international admiration of the
Liberian leader.
The regime came under sharp criticisms for paying over
US$250 over a period of time for public relations oversea
where money from the Maritime industry of the country
was believed to have been used in large parts for the
payments to foreign lobbing firms.
These alleged huge payments for public relations oversea
seems to have yielded dividends for the Liberian leader
who is highly respected in the international circle, getting
several awards from the United States to France, and other
countries but different realities at home.
Since assuming power in 2006 following an election,
good governance has been a major problem for the
Liberian leader whose administration has failed to ensure
improvement in the living standard of the Liberian
people, fighting corruption which has been blamed for the
backwardness the oldest African Republic.
Local and international organizations have persistently
accused President Sirleaf of practicing bad governance
through nepotism, cronyism and lack of the will to fight
corruption and despite her international fame; she is
always confronted with the issues of good governance. The
United States will work to help president Sirleaf reduce
corruption.
Obama remarks means corruption at its peak?

President Sirleafs visit to the US at a time her country is

gradually recovering from the aftermath of the outbreak
of the deadly Ebola virus which largely dominated by talk
of assistance for recovery but President Obama did not
mince his words when he vowed that the United States will
help accelerate the fight against corruption to reduce the
practice.
We want to accelerate some of the efforts that President
Sirleaf had already begun to reduce corruption, and to
make sure that prosperity and growth is broad-based,
not just in Monrovia, but throughout rural areas, said
President Obama.
The pledge by the American President has been viewed
as an expression that corruption is at a peak in Liberia,
requiring US efforts to reduce it.
Sirleaf flunks in prestigious African Award Again

Days after a meeting with United States President Barrack

Obama, where the American leader acknowledged
corruption in Liberia promising to help reduce the practice,
the prestigious Mo Ibrahim award annually awarded to

African leaders who practice good leadership has once

again shunned the Liberian leader for the 10th year in a
row.
The President of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba was
named as the winner of the 2014 Ibrahim Prize for
Achievement in African Leadership. Established in 2007,
the Ibrahim Prize recognises and celebrates excellence
in African leadership and aims to encourage leaders
who fully dedicate their tenure of office to surmount the
development challenges of their countries, improving the
livelihoods and welfare of their people and consolidating
the foundation for sustainable development.
Announcing the 2014 Ibrahim Laureate in front of an
audience of the diplomatic community, civil society
representatives and the media at a press conference
in Nairobi, Salim Ahmed Salim, the Chair of the Prize
Committee, said: President Pohambas focus in forging
national cohesion and reconciliation at a key stage of
Namibia's consolidation of democracy and social and
economic development impressed the Prize Committee.
His ability to command the confidence and the trust of his
people is exemplary. During the decade of his Presidential
mandate, he demonstrated sound and wise leadership. At
the same time, he maintained his humility throughout his
presidency
Salim Ahmed Salim went on to praise President Pohambas
commitment to democracy and governance. He said during
the decade of Hifikepunye Pohamba's Presidency, Namibia's
reputation has been cemented as a well-governed, stable
and inclusive democracy with strong media freedom and
respect for human rights.
The Ibrahim Laureate is selected by an independent Prize
Committee, consisting of seven eminent individuals. The
Prize Committee assesses democratically elected former
Executive Heads of State or Government from African
countries who have served their term in office within the
limits set by their countrys constitution and have left
office within the last three years.
The Ibrahim Prize is a US$5 million award paid over ten
years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter. The
Mo Ibrahim Foundation will consider granting a further
US$200,000 per year for ten years towards public interest
activities and good causes espoused by the Ibrahim
Laureate.
On hearing the outcome of the Prize Committees
deliberations, Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the Mo Ibrahim
Foundation, said:
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is pleased that the Prize
Committee has selected President Pohamba as the 2014
Ibrahim Laureate. He has served his country since its
independence and his leadership has renewed his peoples
trust in democracy. His legacy is that of strengthened
institutions through the various initiatives introduced
during his tenure in office. He is a role model for the
continenet.
President Pohamba follows Presidents Joaquim Chissano,
Mozambique (2007), Festus Mogae, Botswana (2008) and
Pedro Pires, Cabo Verde (2011) as Ibrahim Laureates.
Nelson Mandela was made the inaugural Honorary

In 10 years the internationally respected Sirleaf continue

to receive backlashes from international organizations for
failing to fight corruption and ensure good governance at
home.
Global witness in recent entitled Liberia has burned the
furniture to warm the house declared that Liberia has lost
the opportunity to benefit from its oil sector based on the
manner in which oil blocks are being sold to companies
that lack sufficient fund to operate.
As the country struggles to get its economy back on
track, investigations by Global Witness reveal that the
government has sold off valuable oil assets in what appears
to be a very bad deal for Liberia, declared Global Witness.
Even organizations sponsored by the United States have
all criticized President Sirleaf for failing to ensure good
governance.
In 2014, a sensitive and unclassified stakeholders report
on Liberia highlighted corruption, nepotism, high executive
power and other vices in Liberia.
In some instances, corruption is still every man for
himself (or every woman for herself) endeavor, in
which individual members of the elite families benefit from
corrupt practices without controlling multiple industries
and sectors or rolling up the proceeds of corrupt activities
in a systematic way, stated the sensitive, but unclassified
Stakeholders report.
The report entitled Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU)
highlights excesses in a broad spectrum of Liberias
governance system ranging from corruption, political
patronage and family ties, weak enforcement, regulatory,
and rule of law institutions, strong executive power and
lack of checks and balances, amongst others.
The United States Agency for International development
(USAID) and the United States Embassy in Liberia were
acknowledged in the report for providing extensive
guidance and assistance during the planning and
implementation of the field study that led to the collating
of the report.
The LGSS report states that political patronage and family
ties are still strong in Liberia with elites having a stronger
connection with protecting their personal and business
affairs and with such ties extending in the employment
sector.
Only a small fraction of Liberias relatively small population
of 3.7 million operates in the formal political, governance,
and economic sphere. As a result, kinship ties among
those elites are strong, and everyone knows one another
and their personal and business affairs. There is a cultural
trend toward hiring people that you know well and not
creating a stir when a family member, friend, colleague, or
even an acquaintance does something that is clearly wrong
or illegal. Likewise, many interviewees told the LGSS Team
that the trend in Liberia is to live and let live, the report
declared.
Another report released by the British think tank Overseas
Development Institute also pointed out nepotism,
corruption and issues of bad governance.
Entitled Progress in small steps: security against the odds
in Liberia, the report stated despite the improvements,
Liberia continues to face overwhelming challenges.
Stated Violence and crime remain genuine threats in the
daily life of many Liberians, and sexual violence in particular
remains widespread. Many potential conflict triggers still
exist, ranging from unequal socioeconomic development,
limitations in the disarmament, demobilization,
reintegration and rehabilitation process, conflict over land
rights and resource management, and limited progress
on issues of political corruption and reconciliation. There
are also concerns around the Government of Liberias
ability to finance security provision following the eventual
drawdown of the peacekeeping mission, as well as the
impact and sustainability of the security sector reform
process.
With two years left to the end of her administration,
President Sirleaf could go down the line with memory of
bad governance mainly corruption and cronyism.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

FrontPage
EDITORIAL
v

STOP
MORTGAGING
LIBERIA'S OIL

LIBERIA IS 167 years old, and it is the oldest independent

black African republic but has nothing to show for the age
and the contributions to the independence of other African
countries that are today far better.
BEHIND THE AGE, the country is endowed with natural
resources including a large rain forest, gold, diamond, iron
ore and other resources, but why the country remains one
of the least developed in Africa and perhaps the world is a
big question.
LIBERIANS ARE AMONGST some of the best intellectuals in
terms of academic achievement, graduating from prestigious
universities around the world but some are even ashamed to
mention their country of nationality due to the international
image of the country-underdevelopment, poverty, war,
disaster and all the negativities.
YET STILL OTHERS have reduced Liberia to a farmland
where they come to get money and take to western countries
to support their luxurious lives.
DOZENS OF LIBERIAN officials without doubt have homes in
western countries mainly the United States of America and
others, and use Liberia for money making.
THESE OFFICIALS HAVE their families living abroad, children
attending good schools and they also run to the west when
they fall sick, leaving the population at the peril of a broken
health system where every disease is a killer.
IN ORDER TO support their lavish style abroad, these
officials of government sign bogus deals, mortgaging the
countrys resources to companies, taking kickbacks to
enrich their ego.
FOR YEARS LIBERIA experienced the exportation of millions
of tons of iron ore when several international companies
operated in the country including the Liberia American
Mining Company (LAMCO), Bong Mining Company and
several others but after the departure of these companies,
today nothing substantial was left behind in terms of
development in the local communities besides potholes and
damage to the soil.
THERE IS NO explanation for the unpaved road from Ganta
in Nimba County to the former LAMCO Company that was
based in Yekepa, Nimba County, same as the road to Bong
Mines in Bong and Margibi Counties.
THESE COMMUNITIES DO not have any good infrastructure
such as medical facilities, schools, amongst others.
MANY LIBERIANS CONTINUE to blame the lack of
nationalism on the part of past leaders for their actions to
sellout the country resources to companies without much
benefit to the population.
DECADES DOWN THE line, the situation appears to be
getting worse than the past, as a recent statement released
by the international watchdog group Global Witness has
outlined how the oil blocks have been sold out to companies
that lack that the financial capacity to perform.
WITH OFFICIAL PRONOUNCEMENT of oil discovery yet
to be made, the country has already contracted all the oil
blocks to companies with vague indication of actual benefits
to the population.
THERE IS AS of today no real reason for the hasty sale of
these oil blocks with no understanding of the commercial
value of these blocks when oil is officially discovered
sometimes in the future.
WHAT IS BEST known is that like days of old, officials of
today want to benefit from signature fees and other bonus
payments from the signing of these contracts ignoring the
bigger picture of selling out the oil blocks to companies that
v

Frontpage

Page 3

COMMENTARY

Commentary

LIBERIA: ONE MILLION SCHOOLCHILDREN LIVE IN POVERTY

Francis Nyepon, fnyepon@aol.com, Contributing Writer

he plight of a million schoolchildren living in poverty will

reach a watershed moment as school across Liberia reopens
this week after a state of emergency closed all schools last
July in response to the Ebola outbreak, which killed over 4000
Liberians. Many will be returning to school without readiness skills that
will severely impact each school day; while others will be confronted
with a host of issues ranging from hunger pains causes by lack of proper
nourishment to unprepared teachers, inadequate school supply, and
scarce books, wanting curriculum, poor living conditions, transportation
and improper uniform. Furthermore, countless number of parents will be
confronted with the cruel reality of sourcing funds to get their kids back
into school after seven months without an income and employment. Many
schoolchildren and their parents will be coming from communities where
Ebola devastatingly affected family members, friends, and neighbors.
Over the past decade, poverty has had a terrible ripple effect on
schoolchildren throughout Liberia by upsetting the balance in school
enrollment, participation, behavior, promotion, absenteeism, dropout
and poorly trained teachers. According to the United Nations, over 87%
of schoolchildren in Liberia are trapped in the injustices of poverty. This
author holds the view that many schoolchildren throughout Liberia do
not simply have satisfactory access to healthcare, shelter, food, water,
sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and proper instructions, which in fact
cause the problem in the first place. For many schoolchildren throughout
Liberia, poverty simply provides unstable living conditions and insecure
learning environment, which when paired together become detrimental
to their cognitive, physical and emotional development.
The vast majority of schoolchildren in Liberia come from households
where over 50% of individuals live in extreme poverty on less than US$1
a day. For instance, the richest 12% of Liberias population earns half of
the countrys total income, while the remaining 88% are left with the
other half. It is almost a certainty that schoolchildren who come from
such households would be less likely to complete secondary school.
In other words, the deck is always stack against them from the get go.
A recent European Commission Study confirms this authors point. The
Study states that 68% of Liberias rural population and 55% of its urban
population live on less than US$1 a day, while 56% of the rural population
and 29% of the urban population fall below the extreme poverty
line; thereby, lacking the means of meeting the cost of basic social and
economic needs. Household poverty has serious ramifications for social
and economic success amongst schoolchildren. For instance, over 28% of
schoolchildren in Liberia sit on the bare floor without desks or adequate
supplies, equipment, laboratories or properly trained teachers to provide
appropriate instructions and curriculum.
According to UNICEF, the percentage of schoolchildren that are trapped
in poverty in Liberia has grown progressively over the past decade. For
example, the World Bank states that a mere 12% of Liberians celebrated
the countrys turnaround in good fortune after a return to democratic
governance in 2006; while, 36% wobbled in hopelessness, misery and
limbo; with the lion-share of the population, 52% being confined to the
bottom of the socioeconomic ladder without opportunities to improve
livelihood or enhance chances for upward social mobility. In fact, school
dropout rates between 14 to 24 year olds from poor families are seven
times more likely than those from families with incomes, higher social
status, employment, skill and connections. To make matters worse, these
situations create persistent inequalities in society beyond school years.
Poverty amongst schoolchildren in Liberia needs to be substantially
reduced or completely eliminated. Many schoolchildren continue to work
the streets to earn a living as peddlers, shoeshine boys, money changers,
motorbike taxi operators, cars washers or recharge phone cards sales
people. Still others sell sachet water, candy, gum, newspaper, bread, and
other small items along roadways; while, some simply resort to outright
begging and prostitution. Liberias schoolchildren, who must work, needs
be better trained in a variety of vocations including carpentry, painting,
auto mechanics, welding, plumbing, bricklaying, roofing, gardening,
crafts and computer technology. For example, 96% of junior high and
high schoolchildren do not own or have access to a personal computer,

laptop, notebook, smart phone or the internet. Nevertheless, Liberia

has the resources and capacity to totally wipe out poverty amongst
schoolchildren in a decade.
Lip service, which is the customary solution to vital socioeconomic
challenges in Liberia, is precisely what this very important issue does
not need. It would be naive for anyone to think that the issue of poverty
and one million schoolchildren in Liberia can be shoved under a rug or
be solved overnight. It cant. This author believes that in order to better
deal with poverty among Liberias one million schoolchildren, Liberia
needs a long-term strategy and urgent support system. Calculated policies
directly targeting schoolchildren needs to be developed and implemented
with stringent oversight and enforcement instruments put in place as
the core to making change happen. Our education policy needs to be
creative, innovative and proactive in order to reach the poorest and most
vulnerable schoolchildren; those from poor households living in periurban communities and rural areas.
This author believes that it is only through education that schoolchildren
will be able to realize their dreams and full potential in order to live
productive lives that allows them to contribute their quota to the
development of Liberia. Education is the key to reducing poverty and
providing a clear trajectory to upward social mobility with equity for every
schoolchild. It will enhance their earnings potential, both in competing for
jobs and earnings and as a source of growth and employment in itself. But,
to address the root causes of poverty amongst a million schoolchildren
in Liberia, policies need to be implemented to improve health, nutrition,
sanitation, water, hygiene, infrastructure, vocation, computer literacy
and recreation. Social promotion, along with buying of grades and sex for
grades can no longer be options. These evils must be discouraged and not
tolerated. In fact, stringent punitive measures needs to be handed out to
teachers who engage in and practice such behavior in order to totally and
completely clean up this respectable and noble profession.
Poverty amongst schoolchildren needs to seriously be addressed by this
generation, who currently leads and governs our country. It is they who
have the expertise and ability to really make significant change happen
for innocent schoolchildren. Each member of this generation knows
that education of schoolchildren throughout the country is definitely an
investment for Liberia. It is certainly a win-win for the family, the individual
child, and the community where they live. Every Liberian should have a
clear interest in keeping schoolchildren in school because those who stay
in school are less likely to become teen parents or become a burden and
menace to society. By being in school, Liberian schoolchildren are more
likely to participate in community life and comprehend the complexities
of sustainable development.
While not a panacea, restructuring Liberias educational system to fit
projected economic development trends and social expansion outlook
are steps that can certainly move the needle forward. Two things need
to happen, if we follow this trend of strategic targeted thinking. First,
massive investment needs to be made in preschool education across
the board. Secondly, the government needs to request and insist that all
multi-national corporations in Liberia invest in specific areas of study for
students in high school, which would benefit the manpower development
needs of the company in say 10 years. This is a sort of apprenticeship
program where specific vocations and requirements are met to both
uplift the student and guarantee the company talented professions to
restructure employment and workforce development. Third, enthusiasm
and respectability needs to be put back into Liberias educational system.
This can only be accomplished with regular teacher training programs
for career development to build appropriate skill, guide vocational
education, and lengthen the school day. Additionally, targeting parents of
schoolchildren who are at risk, with better housing, business development
and skill training, will send a powerful message to schoolchildren and
their parents. Our Government must once again become a source of
leadership and innovation regarding issues of economic prosperity,
employment and upward social mobility, which can only be derived from
a sound productive education.

lack the funding capability to manage these oil blocks.

IT IS A big shame that a regime of one time advocate, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, also a Nobel Laureate will sit over the
perpetual mortgaging of the countrys emerging oil sector in such hasty faction.
THE GOVERNMENT IS always in search of millions which it cannot really account for, making the talk of signing oil contracts
only to raise funds as a flimsy excuse for selling the country resources cheaply.
WHILE IT IS true that the foundation of Liberia was badly laid to the extent that it is now hurting the country with every single
individual now desiring to ascend to power for the sole purpose of enrichment rather than contribution to the growth and
development of an impoverished nation, it is not late to stop such ugly trend.
LIBERIANS HAVE A right to better living conditions and improved structure which can be provided through the natural
resources in the country.
IT IS TIME to start using the resources of the country to improve the life of the people and the government of a Nobel Laureate
must stop mortgaging the country oil.
NATURAL RESOURCES INCLUDING oil are the heritage of the Liberian people and the current wave of selling the oil blocks to
hastily is not in the interest of the people, it is a way to ensuring that an elite few benefit from what is intended for the majority.
THE SALARIES AND emoluments of officials and employees of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) where people are
paid huge amounts of money in a country where more than 80% of the people are unemployed is just another example of how
the oil sector has started benefiting a few.
MADAM SIRLEAF AND her cronies must stop mortgaging Liberias oil as the common people need to benefit too.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Page 4 | Frontpage

FrontPage

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB

COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE

EJS SUCCESSION:
LIBERIAS PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION CONFIGURATION
GEORGE ABOU GONTOR SENIOR GEOLOGIST AT
NATIONAL OIL COMPANY OF LIBERIA
Another poor political anatomy from Rodney Sieh; how will a journalist
weights one's popularity over his potential electorates. In no way, except
for Weah and the Vice President, that these three gentlemen can defeat
a personality like Sen. Prince Johnson and Sen. Varney Sherman in any
national elections. Please go back and rewrite a piece that opinion poll
will buy.
Top of Form
SARR ABDULAI VANDI TOP COMMENTER WASHINGTON,
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
There is absolutely no correlation and/or possible endorsement of the
OBAMA administration of Madame President's corrupt and incompetent
administration simply because of the Ebola threat and/or success. The
international comity admonished and encouraged the U.S. to take the lead
in combating the Ebola pandemic in Liberia. The U.S. had no interest in
pumping up and salvaging the dictator and plutocrat.
FrontPage Africa's assessment is disingenuous and a paid PR stunt at
best. Liberia remains a corrupt, an unaccountable and in transparent
nation-state, under the grand old warmonger and queen of the apocalyptic
mushroom cloud.
With regards to the transition and the suggested succession lineups, none
of the above is up to the task. Besides, the choice shall be made by the
U.S., and neither of the FrontPage Africa's presently anointed wannabees
is on the U.S. preferred radar.
LAR-YOME Z. GOBAH AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL
UNIVERSITY
VP Boakai should do the honorable thing by not contesting. Liberians are
tired with the stench smell of Unity Party. Urey is doing great but he and
Jones could be the new cash cows like Sherman in 2005. Therefore the
possibility of either Weah or Brumskine becoming president is evident.
However, in Liberia, anything is possible so do not rule out Kofi Woods
or Augustine Ngafuan. No cussing, more dialoguing!
SAMPSON BLOH MONGER TOP COMMENTER HOLY
FAMILY UNIVERSITY, PENNSYLVANIA
Weah will do pretty well in the Senate and as President of Liberia. He is
an unquestionable patriot who loves Liberia from the depth of his heart.
EDMOND BEI BROWNE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL
UNIVERSITY (AMEU)
Brumskine is the best for the presidency .
SIMEON SIMEON TOP COMMENTER OWNER AT SELFEMPLOYED
Front Page Africa is an market media house, That s only lookout for
payment before selling ur CV, Urey can even sleep in the streets of
Nimba and Bong until 2017 Presidency election and, With his so called
international connection, Urey can never and ever win Representative
Acarous Gray in any category of election in Liberia, Mills Jones is a
good man but Front Page Africa should understand that s Mills Jones
is working for the Liberian people and he s should be only grateful to
the Liberian people, And wait on his best chance for Runningmate only,
All this analysis from Front Page Africa just to involve Mills Jones for
underward cut, But Mills Jones is aware and very careful, For Charles
walker Brumskine, No issue in There to discuss, He s will never cross
fourth place, Liberty Party succeeds in Lofa and Bassa including... See
More
SOLOMON.BLYDEN (SIGNED IN USING YAHOO)
Sen. Weah's main challenge is for him to convince the vote rich counties
like Bong, Nimba, Margibi, Bassa and Lofa that CDc can make better
leadership for liberia. CDC has not succeeded in doing that, this was
clearly shown in the just ended senatorial elections which CDC succeeded
in winning montserrado and grand gedeh counties; if the variable remains
the same as shown in the just ended elections, then, Weah's chances in
2017 may be undermined. Lofa county featuring a candidate in 2017 may
have some uphill battle; strategic post in govt now are manned by them
from foreign affairs, defense, maritime, finance, etc including the VP lofans should begin image building as a way to diffuse things and help the
current VP. Urey link to the Taylor's sentiment and the NPP could pay off
for him, take Bong county for example.

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!

CRIMINALS HOLDING LIBERIAN PASSPORTS IN EUROPE

The Editor,

n behalf of the leadership of the Liberian Community in France

BordeauxBranch, we write to commend your administration
for defeating the deadly EbolaVirus Disease from your
peaceful country Liberia and also want to recommend an
erection of a Memorial Monument in honoring of all our health workers
including doctors, nurses and physicians who died from Ebola Disease in
the discharge ofthe medical duty.
Madam President, the leadership of the Liberian Community in France
is planning to send a high-powered delegation to Brussels, Belgium to
place meet with youto share with you serious happening that require your
action to save ourcountrys image in Europe especially France. This is very
serious and hope thatyou will accord us audience; however, below is the
summary of our concern whichwe have no doubt you will bring to check
and deal with decisively to save mamaLiberia image abroad.
Theses precarious issues, among others, the illegal possession of
Liberianpassports both diplomatic, official and ordinary in the hands
of criminals andnon Liberians, the payment of 300 Europe payment
for renewal of Liberianordinary Passport and the maltreatment of two
Liberians by a female diplomat atthe embassy of Liberia in France. Our
President, forever time we go toprograms and parties, we usually seemed
our Liberian National Passports inthe hands of criminals including non
Liberians such Nigerians, Ghanaian, Cameroonians,Malians, Ivorian,
and white people with tainted characters. These criminals are abusing our
passports; this situation is very rampaged in the Euro zone especially in
France and Belgium. Please Madam President, somethingurgently needs
to be done about this ugly happening; this is graduallydestroying our
country image.
we also want to inform you Madam President, Whenever a Liberian goes
to the Liberian Embassy in France to process documents and obtain a visa,
one lady identified as Raddie Teresa Johnson Perry frequently demands
200 Euros, and also usually demand that we pay euro 250 for amonth
visa and 350 Euros for two months and 450 Euros for three months visa,
etc; while our colleagues have paid to Madam Perry between 300 to 500
Euros to authenticate documents such as a Liberian Citizenship, Married
Certificate, legal certificate, birth certificate etc. These monies are paid
directly to her instead of direct payment into the bank account of the
embassy here in France.
Our President, we want to know is Liberian government charging her
citizens inforeign lands to pay 250 Euros or more to renew a Liberian
passport and 400 Euros to authentic documents. The monies are paid
directly to madam Perry without receipt. Why should we pay money to
Madam Perry instead of the back account of the government? We have
been told that to renew passport in Monrovia is justUS$23.00 while in
France Madam Perry is charging us 250 Euros which is exploitation. Our
President, whenever we asked for payment receipt, Madam Perry will tell
us that the embassy does not have receipt book. She lacked good manner of
approach whenever is taking to her colleagues and local staffs at the office;
it is shocking when you visit the embassy and see how she talk to the local
staffs before visiting guests. She is too authority and insensitive to the
plights of our members of the Liberian Community in France.
Madam President, it is not all rosy for everyone who takes a public
assignment out of Liberia, particularly in the Europe, where it is assumed
things are normal and life is sweet. Life back in our country Liberia can
be better that some who take assignment abroad prefer to run back home.
Madam President, now let us also bring to your attention another serious
unbearable and precarious condition of two of our brothers and fathers
living in Paris, France, and several other importance issues that needy our
action to save our countrys image in Europe especially in France. These
two Liberians are Mr. David Williams and Mr. Joseph Richards, former
Chief Cook and former House-Keeper to former Liberian Ambassador
to France McKinley Thomas are being subjected to mal-treatment by a
one Madam Raddie Teresa Johnson Perry of Liberian Embassy in France.
Madam President, the hardship against these two Liberians, is not meted
out by the by your administration or French government in which they
reside; it is rather, a product of a female diplomatic staff of their former
employer, the Embassy of Liberia.
This has prompted us as members of the Liberian community in Bordeaux,
France to complain to you Madam President of the violation of the rights
of two Liberians. These two Liberians worked at the Liberian Embassy
here in France for over seven years, dedicating their services to serve
former Ambassador McKinley Thomas and the entire Liberian Embassy
in several other capacities day and night without complaining. These two
suffering old-men also served other senior officials of government and
Liberians from Monrovia to France and other guests of the embassy. It
is hard time for two Liberians formerly worked at the Liberian Embassy

in Paris, France, and worse still they are still being denied their just
monthly salaries for over a year by Madam Raddie Teresa Perry as a
result, they are forced to live on handout, as life turned difficult for them
in Paris. Mr. Williams and Richards were taken from Monrovia to France
in 2006 by the then ambassador to serve him as domestic staffs in the
capacities as chief cook and House-keeper and other areas at the Liberian
Embassy, something which they have been doing with all their hearts
and willingness over these seven years without having an opportunity
for a leave to return to Monrovia to see their wives, children and family
members. Our President, we want to also inform you that Mr. David
Williams, former Chief Cook and Mr. Joseph Richards, former House
Keeper of Ambassador Thomas hearts have been broken. It is our prayers
that you will do something about the plights of these two peaceful and
law abiding Liberians doing your visit in Belgium. Madam Perry also
vowed to deal with them whenever to get around the embassy; besides she
threatens the local staffers with dismissals if they maintain any contacts
with them two Liberians. She doesnt speak to either David Williams or
Joseph Richards and warned other staffs not to speak to the two peaceful
Liberians. Our President, how can officials of our embassy who should
protect their citizens be the ones to destroy them? Why? As I am writing
this letter, these two fathers are surviving on assistance and goodwill from
some of our members in Paris due to the heartless treatments from Madam
Raddie Perry. She has completely destroyed Mr. David Williams and Mr.
Joseph Richards to the Government of France through the French Foreign
Ministry, thus indirectly killing these two old-men alive.
Our President, according to a photocopy of an official letter in our
possession, on March 24, 2014 Madam Raddie Teresa Perry wrote an
official letter to the French Foreign Ministry on the Liberian Embassy letter
head and signed it as Charged Affaires. In the letter written in French,
Madam Perry informed the French government that Mr. David Williams,
Chief Cook and Mr. Joseph Richards, House Keeper of Ambassador
Thomas whereabouts are unknown and were illegally residing in Paris
therefore the police should have them arrested and deported to Liberia.
Our President, the two Liberians are presently living, but dead, distressful
and worrying. With such a terrible letter wrote against them by this lady,
Mr. Williams and Richards will never get employment in France. These
are peace loving and law-abiding fathers who scarified greatly and worked
hard to serve our embassy. They have served the embassy especially
Madam Perry for over seven unbroken seven years. Although they were
appointed as domestic staffs to the ex-ambassador, they provided lots
of other services to the Liberian Embassy and the residence of Madam
Raddie Teresa Johnson Perry.
On many occasions Madam Perry has requested them (Mr. Williams
and Mr. Richards) to clean her Apartment about a mile from the embassy
including washing her under-clothing and cook for her without them
making any request for extra pay. Because of their services, one time
Madam Perry said that she was to take Mr. Williams and Mr. Richards
of the United States of America where she said they were to work for her
upon establishing her business.
Regardless of all these services towards Madam Perry and the exambassador, Perry has rewarded these two old men with evil. How can a
Liberian treat a peaceful Liberians in foreign lands in such an inhumane
manner? This is very bad, something needs to be done. We should not
allow anything bad to happen toMr. Williams and Mr. Richards before
the Foreign Ministry take an action. We the leadership of the Liberian
Community in France cannot do more than this letter which is the fourth.
Our President, everyone of us in France are living witnesses how Mr.
Williams and Mr. Richards have served our embassy with all their hearts
and these two Liberians conditions due to the cruelty against them by
madam Perry are now pathetic and worrisome; considering their ages and
their current status here in France. Both of them are in their early 60s.
This Perry lady is dangerous-she is the one who masterminded the illegal
dismissal from the embassy of our caring, gently, humanely and well
educated president of the Liberian Community here in France, Mr. George
Carr Nyemah. She was so envious and jealous about Mr. Nyemah good
works so she decided to use her contact with ex ambassador to dismiss
George Nyemah and several other local staffers on false allegations.
Madam President, we are praying that one day you will come for a visit
here in France so we can meet you in person to state our displeasure of the
unfavorable treatments against Mr. William and Mr. Richards by Madam
Perry and also to expose her corrupt and shady deeds.
On behalf of our leadership and the entire membership of the Liberian
Community here in France, we are hopeful that you will consider the
conditions Mr. Williams and Mr. Richards. Our President, we are therefore
praying that the Almighty God will continue to guide and protect you.
Very truly,

EDITORIAL TEAM

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

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

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

FrontpageAfricaonline.com, 077217428
COUNTY NEWS TEAM
Grand Bassa, Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, 0777432042
Bong
County,
Selma
Lomax,
selma.lomax@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-484666
Sinoe County, Leroy N.S Kanmoh, leroy.kanmoh@
frontpageafricaonline.com
0886257528
BUSINESS/ADVERTISING
Kadi Coleman Porte, 0886-304-178/ 0777832753, advertise@
frontpageafricaonline.com

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Frontpage

Page 5

HIDDEN MOTIVES

UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA STUDENTS DIVIDED ON TARPEH, SONII RESIGNATION

Monroviaeveral students at the

University of Liberia
have welcomed the
resignation of two
professors from the state run
university at the same time
saying that there are hidden
motives behind the decision of
Associate Professor Wilson K.
Tarpeh.
The University was rocked by
resignations over the weekend
after two senior officials
Associate Professor Tarpeh
and Professor Ansu Sonii quit
their respective positions.
Many students said the
resignation of the Associate
Professor Tarpeh who served,
as Vice President for Fiscal
and Financial Affairs must be
applauded on grounds that he
did not do anything positive to
impact the university.
The students also said it is
understandable that Prof. Sonii
resigned adding that he did it to
further his political ambition.
But other students described
the duos resignation as a blow
to the students community and
the UL. Some students also
called for the reopening of the
university as soon as possible.

HE KNOWS WHY HE REALLY RESIGNED. HE DIDNT WANT TO TELL THE PUBLIC THE REAL REASON; HE ALSO KNOWS THAT
TEACHERS HAVE NOT BEEN PAID FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS. HE CONTROLLED THE FUNDS AND IF HE SAYS THE SCHOOL IS BROKE
THEN WE CANT SAY ANYTHING; BUT I THINK HE SHOULD GO, NAPOLEON QUIAH, STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA

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

Daniel N. Kumeh Jr. reading Accounting

and Management Minor

P. Rufus Gbardea student of Economics

Ivy Karma Senior student reading Biology

Daniel N. Kumeh Jr. reading

Accounting and Management
Minor
With regard to the current
resignation of our instructors
at this point in time, it is
somehow
disheartening,
because teaching is a sacrificial
job and the student and public
need their support mainly their
instructional support. They
need to help us move forward.
Resigning at this time is a blow
to us especially the students of
the university and faculty.
P. Rufus Gbardea student of
Economics
As for me I am very happy,
prof. Tarpeh we know him for
a long period and he is telling
us that he is resigning because

I am not surprise because

hes becoming the Finance
Minister for the university
and vice president for fiscal
affairs and telling us today that
the University of Liberia is
broke so he is resigning. I am
not surprise. He just want to
take a root in CDC (Congress
of Democratic Change). I
believe that he doesnt want
to be here at the UL and at
the same time CDC; so he
got to say something like Im
leaving. Who does
he expect to

raise funds when the school is
broke, so he has all means to
raise the funds? So because he
wants to take root in CDC, so
he is taking the school to be his
sacrificial lamb.
Malcolm N.C Poah Student
of Economic

Napoleon Quiah reading History

the school is broke. As for me

I am happy because he served
as a finance minister and only
a finance minister can say no
money. I dont have problem
with that, all I want is for a
new finance minister for the
university. Few days ago, Mr.
Tarpeh asked for 22 million for
the reopening of school, but

Emmanuel Nyanway student of Business

since they did not give it, he

chose to resign; he can go.
Ivy Karma Senior student
reading Biology
I am highly disappointed and
surprise by that. He said the
school was broke, but I think
it was for a different reason

Malcolm N.C Poah Student of Economic

he resigned; but cant disclose

it. I pray that school should
reopen and they should pay our
instructors, so that as of March
17, 2015, they can return to
classes.
Napoleon
History

Quiah

reading

STUDENTS ORGANIZATION
EMPOWERS EBOLA SURVIVORS
Monroviaconglomeration
of
students
from
universities
in
Liberia under the
banner Katerion Monrovia
has empowered several Ebola
survivors and others who were
affected by the deadly virus.
Speaking at a food donation
in Mount Barclay, Geeworth
Community in Montserrado
County, Madam Pendora Hodge
said the donation was geared
toward focusing on the needs of
Ebola survivors in the country.
She
disclosed
that
the
donation is not the first as
the organization has donated
several food and assorted items
to over three counties.
Madam Hodge named Margibi,
Montserrado
and
Grand
Cape Mount as counties that
have been targeted by the
organization.
She
disclosed
that
the

Emmanuel Nyanway student

of Business

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

organization is also focusing on

training community dwellers
in the fight against the Ebola
virus. We are doing trainings
for those who are affected and
survivors of the virus.

Madam Hodge also warned

against complacency, we
came here and there was no
bucket out to remind people
that the virus is still in Liberia,
I instructed them to put bucket

out and then they all washed

their hands before entering the
hall.
She said with the continuous
awareness prevention provided
by the organization, they

He knows why he really

resigned. He didnt want to
tell the public the real reason;
he also knows that teachers
have not been paid for the past
4 months. He controlled the
funds and if he says the school
is broke then we cant say
anything; but I think he should
go.
expect people in communities
to continue to adhere to the
preventive measures.
She added that 42 communities
have been trained while 46
persons in rural Montserrado
and 26 communities have been
trained in Grand Cape Mount.
Madam Hodge said the goal of
the organization is to target at
least 80 communities but said
that number has been exceeded.
The Katerion project Manager
said its establishment is geared
toward establishing a cinema
that will promote the countrys
culture.
Madam Hodge said the issue of
funds to the organization is the
major challenge as the students
in the trainings are volunteers.
Sometimes it is difficult to find
funds, and all of our staffs are
volunteers because you know
they are in college.
She said most of the students
from the universities have the
passion and are motivated in
carrying out the trainings in
the counties. Our staffs are
universities students and this
project has ended and we are
thinking on establishing sub
branches in other counties.
Madam Hodge also thanked the

The resignation of Professors

Sonii and Tarpeh is frustrating.
They
have
disappointed
us because they have their
children out in different land,
so they dont care about us. He
said the university
was broke,

but I think he should have
resigned the time the university
was rich. I dont know who he
expects to raise funds when
he is out of the university. We
have nothing else to do, but to
accept their resignations. I am
disappointed in the resignation
of Profs. Tarpeh and Sonii.

partners including Arche Nova

as the major sponsor for the
food distribution.
She also called for more donors
and said the group is prepared
to inform and empower affected
people and survivors of Ebola.
Over 22 persons benefitted
from the donations and some of
the items donated included Rice
and Cream of Wheat among
others.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Johnson
the chair of the Mount Barclay
youth against Ebola commended
the organization for the gesture.
We are very glad that this
organization taught on us
though we lost over 25 persons
to Ebola but we as a community
are working in line with the
mandate of the Ministry of
Health in getting this disease to
zero.
Also speaking, Omaru Sheriff
who said he has spent almost all
his lives in that community said
it was surprising that Katerion
identified with the community.
My sister we have nothing
much to say but to say thank
you to you and your team, we
will make sure that the food
given to us will be used for the
intended purpose. He said

Page 6 | Frontpage

Monroviahe National Chairman

of Liberias main
opposition party says
although the Unity
Party led administration under
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
has scored some successes, there
is just too much left undone,
stressing that it is regrettable to
note that after more than 10 years
in office, the government has
failed to deliver on its platform
and promises to the Liberian
people.
Speaking Sunday at a dollar rally
ceremony organized by the party
held at its headquarters in Congo
Town Mr. Nathaniel McGill
said Liberia remains blanketed
in darkness and the cost of fuel
to power generators
killing
businesses and compromising
jobs and growth.
He said while it took a mere two
years to construct the Mt. Coffee
Hydroelectric dam, after 10
years in office, the government
of Liberia cannot restore the
hydro plant.
Said Mr. McGill: Fellow
Liberians, the majority of
our young people remain
unemployed
and
hopeless,

TOO
MUCH
LEFT
UNDONE
CDC NATIONAL CHAIR MCGILL SLAMS GOVERNMENT
Tuesday, March 3, 2015

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

with little skills to compete in

the jobs marketplace. Their
unemployment is a classic
monument to the failure of
the present Government. Our

farmers cannot grow food and

even when they do they do not
have a reliable market to sell their
product, even though for the past
10 years, their government has

managed more than US$3 billion

in national budget resources.
Mr. McGill noted that the
perennial and repeated failure of
governance in has undermined
public faith in the political
process and in government,
adding that majority of Liberians
believe that politicians are out
to enrich themselves, families,
cronies and friends.
Educated elites fail to end
poverty
The CDC Chair further said that
educated elites in government
have consistently fail to use
their education and the public
resources at their disposal to free
the Liberian people from what
he termed as the excruciating
pangs of poverty.

Continued McGill: It is even
more disheartening to note that

MURDER VICTIM PARENTS WANT

DEATH BY HANGING FOR MURDERERS
Bettie Johnson/betty.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monroviahe parents of a
26-year-old
woman
who was killed by her
lover and placed in the
barrel in Paity Town, Clara Town
community last year are pleading
with the Liberian government to
institute death penalty against
the man after he was found guilty
for committing murder.
The parents say they want death
by hanging of all murderers
in the country including their
former son-in-law.
The request made by the late
Sonnie Tipaysons parents was
triggered when petit jurors in
the trial at Criminal Court A
found the defendant guilty of
first-degree murder on Monday
March 2, 2015.
The jurors spent over two hours in
their room of deliberation before
bringing down a unanimous
verdict
against
defendant
Sylvester Tarpeh Davis.
Speaking to FrontPageAfrica
following the verdict, the father
of the deceased said he was
overwhelmed with the decision
reached by the jurors to bring the
culprit down guilty.
Said Mr. Eric Tipayson: Its ok
with the ruling and I want him
to go to jail for life time. I want
all of them who kill to go for
lifetime imprisonment and I miss
my child so much. All my efforts
toward her went in vain.
Madam
Ophelia Tipayson,

mother of the deceased said the

guilty verdict against TarpehDavis was not enough, because
people have resulted to murder
as the only way of settling a
dispute.
She murder laws need to be
revisited as soon as possible:
The murder laws must be
changed so that if you kill
someone you will be killed.

lover had hid the corpse after

killing her.
Though she stated that the
verdict against the defendant was
not enough, she said the jurors
must be commended for the
guilty verdict against defendant
Tarpeh-Davis.
I tell God thank you that the
verdict is guilty and now I
trust the justice system; but the

She disclosed that the late Sonnii

is their first child and was her
best friend.
Madam Tipayson said she
has not been herself since the
murder of her daughter and she
has constant nightmares of her
daughters murder, because she
was the one who discovered
her body in the barrel where the

murder law should be revisited

because I want him to be killed
so that others out there can be
warned.
The mother of the deceased
said her late daughter had two
children and they are presently
with her (mother).
The children are with me and
the defendants family has not

shown themselves since the

incident, she said.
During court proceeding at
Criminal Court A the prosecution
produced at least three witnesses
including the deceased father
and two investigators of the
Liberia National Police.
The defense team told the court
that their client was not taking
the witness stand as per law.
Your honor, we as the defense
council has decided not to allow
the defendant take the stand in
line with the laws of the country,
Atty. Edwina Barchue said.
Sylvester Tarpeh- Davis was
seen constantly shedding tears
during the trial.
It
can be recalled that when
the clerk of the court read the
indictment to the defendant,
he consented to the crime of
Murder and pleaded the court not
to proceed further with the trial
because he committed the crime.
But the presiding judge of
criminal Court A Roosevelt
Willie said the case would
proceed
based
on
the
constitutional right, given to all
by the Liberian constitution that
calls for trial even if one pleads
guilty or not.
During the juror selection for
the trial proceeding, three jurors
were denied from presiding on
the panel based on information
given to the lawyers in the case.
Cllr. Elijah Cheapoo, James
Flomo and Atty. Edwina Edjerah
Barchue represented the defense
team, while Cllrs. Serena
Garlawolu, Atty. Arthurlyne
Cooper, Atty. Lafayette Gould
and Atty. Abraham Mitchell
represented the Prosecution.
The sentencing of the defendant
is slated
for Monday of next

week as the law provides.
The crime of murder is mostly
punishable by life imprisonment,
but legal pundits says the
consenting of the defendant to
the crime may likely reduce his
sentence by the resident judge
of Criminal Court A Judge
Rooselvelt Willie.

many of these officials themselves

come from impoverished and
marginalized
backgrounds.
For these government officials,
government, not the private
sector, is the means to amass
wealth and to lord over and
exclude other Liberians from the
political process. They use the
advantage of public service at
the highest levels of government
to deny other Liberians of
contracts in favor of foreigners,
to silence political opposition in
a vain attempt to buy loyalty, and
to exclude the masses from the
broad benefits of government.
Outlining future plans of the
CDC in the next two years,
McGill disclosed that his party
as envisioned by its standard
bearer Senator George M. Weah,
will work to develop compacts
with farmers, teachers, youths,
healthcare workers and the
private sector with an objective

of addressing what he described

as the big policy questions and
challenges confronting these
different groups.
He said the partys compacts will
detail the share of the national
budget going to each of these
groups, how these programs
will be paid for and discuss
improvements in the national
standard of living under a CDC
administration.
Continued McGill:Our aim
is to assure them that the CDC
is
transformative
political
machinery seeking to improve
the lot of all Liberians through
creative public financing and
governance. We will convene
congresses of farmers, teachers,
youths, healthcare workers and
the private sector, seeking to earn
their trust that governance under
the CDC will not be Liberian
business as usual.

COURT ISSUES ARREST ORDER FOR

TEN BANK EMPLOYEES AFTER EVADING
BOND IN US$4.4M THEFT CASE
Kennedy L. Yangian Kennedy L. Yangian @frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781

Monroviariminal Court C at the

Temple of Justice under
the gavel of presiding
Judge Peter Gbeneweleh
has issued an arrest order to
hunt down 10 employees of the
First International Bank (Ltd).
The employees appeared in
court late 2012 and 2013
respectively on multiple charges
including theft of property,
forgery, money laundering,
criminal
facilitation
and
impersonating that allegedly led
to the stealing of US$4.4m from
the bank.
Court records in the possession
of FrontPageAfrica identified ten
employees as Richard Gboyah,
Jerman S. Tegli, Africanus
Freeman, Robert E. Cummings
and Angie v. Brooks and others
including
Ngadi
Waritay,
Aurelia Tamba, Kebbeh Kulah
Klark Beyan Dadzi and Victoria
Yakuba.
The ten employees were
reportedly placed on a US$1.2m
insurance bond in 2013 offered
by the Star Insurance Company
for temporary release following
their arrest. But the prosecution
told the court that the amount
was very little for a US$4.4m
theft case.
It was established that the judge
at the time Yussif Kaba honored
the US$1.2m and gave the
defendants time, which was not
specified.
The defendants increased the
amount to commensurate with
the US$4.4m allegedly lost in the
process of the crime.
A source within the Criminal
Court C who hinted the
FrontPageAfrica on the matter

indicated that the move by the

court to order the re-arrest of
the ten defendants came after
the Star Insurance Company
withdrew the bond leaving more
questions than answer.
According to the arrest order
from the Criminal Court C
under the signature of the Clerk
G. Abenego N. Simpson dated
February 21, 2015, the court
ordered all arresting officers,
Ministry of Justice and UNMIL in
the Republic of Liberia to carry
out the arrest.
By directive of his honour,
Peter Gbeneweleh assigned
Judge of Court C Temple of
Justice, you are hereby ordered,
empowered, commanded to
arrest on sight, the living bodies
of the 10 defendant, stated the
arrest order.
Other parts of the arrest order
commanded
the
arresting
officers to also arrest the
spouses,
siblings,
uncles,
mothers as well as the third
party beneficiaries.
It also stated the defendants
should be arrested and brought
before the court to answer to the
charges levied against them.
The arrest order for the ten
comes in the face of an ongoing
trial of a female account
officer at the Liberia Bank for
Development and Investment
(LBDI).
Defendant is standing trial on
charges of theft of property,
forgery and counterfeiting. The
court records stated that the
crime was allegedly committed
in 2010, when the woman served
as account officer of the banks
local branch in Gardnesville.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

KEEPING EBOLA RULES

SURVIVALS IN BASSA REINTEGRATES WITHOUT PSYCOSOCIAL COUNSELLING
ALPHA DAFFAE SENKPENI, daffae82@gmail.com

Buchanan,
Grand
Bassa
Countyebruary 22, 2015
marked
Abraham
Moses exactly three
months since he
returned to his community
from the Ebola Treatment
Unit (ETU) at Island Clinic
in Monrovia. The bitterness
Moses endured when he
reunited with his family at his
home on the LAC Plantation
in District Three, Grand Bassa
County was sweeten in less
than a month, thanks to the
support of his wife and friends
in his community.
But Moses revealed that the
most important aspect of his
post-ETU life is upholding
strict instructions from health
workers by not having sexual
relationship with his wife for
straight three months. Despite
the challenge, he was able to
carry on and even his wife is
still cognizant of keeping the
preventive measure.
According to the US Center for
Disease Control (CDC), people
who recover from Ebola are no
longer harmful. But scientists
identify that the Ebola virus
can stay in the semen and
in vaginal fluids even after
recovery so Ebola survival
are warned against having sex
for at least three months. The
CDC also adds that Scientists
continue to study whether and
for how long Ebola can be
spread through sex.
Moses contracted the virus in
early November 2014 when
he and his brother attended an
unsafe burial in a small town
of RiverCess County. His
brother died a week before
him (Moses), his brother wife
and daughter were taken to the
hospital.
During an interview with
FrontPageAfrica,
Moses
reminded his fellow Ebola
survivals to remain conscious
of all the Ebola preventive
measures.
I will like to tell my fellow
survivals to hold on fast to the
rule that the (health workers)
gave us at the ETU which is

three months before having

something to do with your
woman, he advised. If you
failed to follow this rule maybe
it will make it for Ebola to not
finish if we do not hold on to
the law (abstaining from sex
for three months).
Moses still resides and works
with the rubber company
and has over the past
months reintegrated into the
community with Ebola stigma
gradually fading away but
according to him, remembering
the happenings at the ETU
brings back horrible flashbacks
and makes it hard to forget the
tragedies he witnessed.
He has received no psychosocial
counseling and explained that
despite the courage to ignore
the psychosocial impact of the
virus on his social life which
has also adversely affected

although life with them is

gradually getting on track,
thanks also to the community.
The County Ebola response
team says it has set up a
system to monitor and console
survivals.
The Ebola survival said despite
the significant improvement
in the community perception
towards him, the situation
was quite different upon his
immediate return from the
ETU last November.
There were lots of talks; even
most of my friends abandoned
me here. When my woman
prepared food they will not
come around to eat with me.
He continued: Now we are
friends again and Ive gone
back to work and things are
becoming the way it used to be
but when I came first they were
afraid of me.

his family, hes managing to

survive. Moses recalled the
terrible three weeks he spend
at the Island Clinic ETU and
said he feels hunted by all what
happened to others who did not
survive the deadly virus.
A lot of people died at the
ETU when I was there even in
the very room I was in, I was
the only survival and when I
now imagine what happened
I often feel terrible and tears
always run down my eyes, he
explains.
Moses is one of three other
Ebola survivals living on
the LAC plantation and they
all have not had regular
psychosocial
counseling

His neighbor, Moses Forkpah

admitted that it was impossible
to mingle with his next door
neighbors due to the terrible
misconception about an Ebola
survival but he now feels very
confident to affiliate with the
survival because his health
condition over the months has
been good.
Marrie Coleman, his neighbor
and family friend, says she
was wary about going around
Moses when he turned from
the ETU but with constant
Ebola messages on local
radio stations, her attitude has
changed.
I used to sit far from him and
we talk but now Im closer to

him like before because Ive

learned from the radio that
once the person comes from
the ETU and the doctors say
he or she is OK theres no need
for us to be afraid of him, she
said.
Another Friend and workmate,
Afraid Wee said: Because I
got the message from the radio,
from the media that he is well
and should be reintegrated, so
I was not afraid to go around
him, Afraid is credited for
being the first person to
encourage Moses to seek
medical checkup when he
became ill and started showing
symptom. He wants other
Liberian to help reintegrate
Ebola survivals.
What I want tell Liberians is:
once the person comes from
the ETU or have been an Ebola
survival, we all must help the
person in the community, he
advised.
For Abraham Moses, the
Ebola virus disease did not
only threaten his life but
also depleted his minimum
resources he built during
pre-Ebola periods out of the
Liberian economy. He said
rebuilding his life couple with
difficulties and the impact of
the trauma associated with the
virus have made his life as a
survival more challenging.
Although hes concern about
taking his life back to the best
way it used to be, hes also
keen on not infecting his wife
or children and has ensure he
adhere to the advice by the
health workers.
When you survive, hold on
fast to the rules the doctors
give us and also have the mind
that it was Ebola that killed our
brothers and sisters, not any
other person and we should not
hate people that have survive
Ebola, Moses said.
Grand Bassa Health Team
(BACHT) report shows that
there are 27 Ebola survivals in
the county and claims that these
survivals are benefiting from
the psychosocial component of
the Ebola response team in the
county. BACHT says UNICEF
is leading the reintegration of
survivals, affected families and
100 children orphaned by the
virus in the county.
Currently, the total number of
survivals we have registered
is 27. This number might not
be the actual but this is what
we have now and we are
working in collaboration with
the ETUs and other partners
the get the actual total for
the county, stated Joyce
Garblah, the county heath team
administrator, in an email to
FPA.
At a recent press briefing in
Buchanan, BACHT disclosed
that with the support of several
of its partners it has improved
contact
tracing,
social
mobilization, and its rapid
response to other health issues
in the county.
There are more than 50
survivals in Grand Bassa
County.

Frontpage

Page 7

LICPA ELECTS
NEW LEADERSHIP

-CONCLUDES ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Edwin G. Genoway, Jr (231886458910)
genowayedwin@gmail.com contributing writer

LICPA newly Elected President, Arthur Fumbah

Monroviafter months of delay due to the Ebola outbreak, the

Liberia Institute of Certified Public Accountants (LICPA)
over the weekend, held its Annual General Meeting
(AGM) that resulted to the election of its new code of
officers to steer the affairs of that institution for the next two
years.
Those elected to head that body includes: Mr. Arthur Fumbah,
President, Mr. Paul Collins, Vice President and Mr. Taweh Veika,
Head of the Council of Members.
The President-elect of LICPA, Mr. Fumbah, got involved with
the LICPA in 2007, when he worked with Mr. Sam Mombo, then
Executive Director of the institute, to raise funds for the LICPA
to host the Council Meeting of the Association of Accountancy
Bodies of West Africa (AWBA) in Liberia.
An immediate outcome of the 2007 AWBA Council Meeting held
in Liberia was a contribution of US25,000 from Nigeria US10,000
from Ghana and equipment worth US1,400 from the Women
Accountants of Nigeria to set up the current office of the LICPA.
The election which was highly competitive saw Mr. Fumbah
narrowly winning the Presidency with 19 votes while the
institutions outgoing President Nimne Mombo accumulated 18
votes out of 37 eligible voters.
During the process, the Vice President-elect and head of Council
of Members both won on their positions on white ballots due
to the fact that there werent any other name put out for those
positions.
Speaking to journalists after the election, the President-elect of
LICPA, Fumbah, noted that he was happy to be elected to steer the
affairs of that body of professional certified public accountants
for the next two years.
According to him, his election was not a surprise because of
his hard work with the outgoing leadership in making several
achievements as well as improving that professional body.
Fumbah said he brings to the LICPA, his professional, academic
and long years of public service to the institute. He promised to
improve the LICPA engagement with government stressing that
the institutes relationship with the government in the past has
not been very favorable.
The newly elected President of LICPA also promised to ensure
that the institution fits in the governments de-concentration
program, which he noted will add value to the profession and also
attract others to the profession.
The new LICPA Boss promised to strengthen the syllable
integration program of the LICPA and also collaborate with the
universities accountant syllables to strengthen and broaden the
capacities of student studying accounting.
He also assured that his administration will ensure that cost of
the LICPAs Exam for certified accountants is affordable in order
to increase the enrollment of students in the program.
At the same time, the Vice President-elect, Mr. Paul Collins, who
won on white ballot, promised to work with the elected officials
to improve the growth of the institution by implementing those
policies that are of interest to the LICPA.
He said, there are more works needed to be done within the
institution, especially with the issue of bringing more students on
board to learn about Certified Public Accounting.
My dream is to have more Certified Public Accountants in our
country and this can only be done when we have more students,
he said.
Meanwhile, the outgoing President of LICPA, Mr. Mombo said in
order to reduce the high rate of corruption in the country, there is
a need to build the capacity of Certified Public Accountants.
We cannot deal with corruption issues in the country if those
who are responsible to carry on audits are not qualified, the
outgoing LICPA emphasized.
He noted that corruption can only be eliminated when auditors
are well trained, but the increase in corruption can be widely
attributed to the low capacity of most auditors in the country.
The outgoing LICPA boss said the annual meeting which brings
together professional Certified Public Accountants is intended to
discuss the institutions activities including its finances and the
implementation of its activities.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Page 8 | Frontpage

HOW LIBERIAN US PROTESTERS UPSTAGE

SIRLEAF''S WHITE HOUSE WELCOME

Washington, DChe central theme

in the long sought
meeting on the part
of Liberian President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with
US President Barack Obama
took place on Friday at the
White House, and ironically
"corruption" became the menu
and not the usual diplomatic
pomp
and
pangeantry
reserved for visiting deserving
heads of state, especially
for a leader who "won" the
prestigious Nobel Peace Prize
that deservedly was also won
by historical black heroes:
Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson
Mandela, Archbishop Desmond
Tutu and Barack Obama
himself. That this dreaded
word, corruption became the
focus of the US President in
lecturing Sirleaf may have had
a sidekick to it by engineered a
determined group of Liberians
in the United States who not
only protested but also wrote
the US President. And how
they did it so effectively forms
the basis for this essay..
The group knew it would be
the second and perhaps the
last of such meetings between
the two: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,
Africa's first woman president,
a publicity craving Nobel
Laureate and lame duck
leader invited into the most
powerful office on earth, and
coincidentally and historically
is occupied by the first black
president of the United States
of America. So what could
have gone wrong for President
Obama to preach corruption to
Ellen?
Sirleaf emerged on the political

world stage in January 2006

as the leader of Africa's first
failed experiment at planting
the continent's first seeds
at democracy, Liberia. An
understatement would be
that she raised the hopes of
women the world over and
that her inaugural ceremony
was attended by former US
First Lady Laura Bush, former
US House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi and former US Secretary
of State/National Security
Advisor to US President Bush,
Dr. Condi Rice. Later, President
George W. Bush would make
a stopover visit with Sirleaf
in Liberia. In the euphoria of
the presidential honeymoon,
Americas richest black woman
Oprah Winfrey believed then
so much in Sirealf that she sent
a chartered all-expense paid
jet plane to Liberia to bring
Ellen to the United States for
appearance on her popular
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW.
A youthful Barack Obama, son
of an African father from Kenya
and a white American woman
would beat all odds two years
later in 2008 to become the
leader of the most powerful
nation on earth, the United
States of America. Black Pride
was everywhere. So what went
wrong for Ellen who declared
war on corruption as Liberia's
number one enemy, that after
nearly 10 years in office and
is being lectured on how to
fight corruption and with an
offer to contain or defeat it
by President Obama? This is
where the rubber meets the
road and it gets trickier for
me whether this offer would
be accepted by Sirleaf. We

Before the much publicized

Obama-Sirleaf meeting; before
the diplomatic protocols;
before the usual powerful
White House media could
set their cameras, before the
usual presidential limousine
sirens could usher her into
the White House, a group of
determined Liberians were
secretly plotting their own
public relations coup to rain
on Ellen's parade. Under
the banner, Liberians Living
In The United States, their
coordinator and a former
Liberian broadcast journalist,
Jerry Wehtee-Maotee Wion
was busy at work designing a
workable and potent strategy:
sending President Obama
a carefully packaged series
of news articles by Liberian
newspapers and his own "Open
Letter To Presidents Obama
and Sirleaf on Ebola," that
detailed corruption and other
ills of the failed leadership of
President Sirleaf.

The package was sent directly

to the US President via the
reliable US Postal system by
certified, registered delivery
mail with tracking numbers
to tell when the package
arrived, and it got there. The
package contained many of
Wion's popular provocative
commentaries
under
his
signature intro, "MY TURN
and a few FPA stories: "Curfew
Lifted, Borders Opened Ahead
of Obama-Sirleaf Meeting," One
Thermometer, No Hand Wash
Station, As Liberia Reopens
Borders," Ebola Threat: S.D.
Cooper Hospital Closed--30
Quarantined," and "Mother
of!2-Year Old Rape Victim Says
Govt Silent," just to name a few.
Wion first applied for a permit
from the DC Police Department,
unlike
the
Liberian
government, and it that was
granted for staggering both at
the Liberian Embassy and then
it was to the White House. The
strategy was to write President
Obama and include Liberian
revealing newspapers articles
on the hasty decision by Sirleaf
to open the borders simply
to impress President Obama
without any coordination and
cooperation with the other
Ebola-plague countries of
Sierra Leone and Guinea, and
notably without the presence
of any national health protocol
personnel at the land borders
and at the hospitals. The
absence of a regimented
coordinated national health
protocol for Liberian medical
centers/hospitals
allowed
infected Ebola-sick Madam
Amanda Blah to have spread
the disease and potentially
infected healthcare workers at
three hospitals in the country.
How does Sirleaf justify the
absence of Health Ministry
Ebola containment specialists
at the Cape Mount County Bo
Waterside key crossing border
point with Sierra Leone? With
five officials crossing points
and some 40 illegal crossing
points just along the Cape
Mount--Sierra Leone border
alone, yet there are only two
police officers assigned to
patrol the border and without
a police patrol car. Who knows
what goes on alone the rest of
the long borders with Guinea

stretching from Nimba to Lofa

Counties?
How could our
government open its side of
the border when Sierra still
closes its end of the bridge on
the key Mano River Bridge?
We need answers.
And so the above reasons and
much more, we staged the
protest in Washington with
a different strategy of direct
communication with President
Obama raising the themes
of corruption, human rights
abuses including the deaths
of over 40 Liberians in the
notorious prison system from
starvation and lack of access
to medical care for prisoners,
the free give-away of our
newfound oil by Sirleaf and
NOCAL, the constant rape of
thousands of Liberians women
including baby girls between
the ages of one day to 17 years
while convicted rich Lebanese
rapists are pardoned by our
president and others granted
bail when the law forbids
bonds for convicted rapists
and a president who just last
December freed convicted
rapists from jail as Christmas
their presence. We also Mr.
Obama about our president
who engages in a cover-up to
shield her son Fombah Sirleaf
from prosecution who was
implicated in armed robbery
last July that netted Fombah and
gang US$250,000.00 without
any arrest and prosecution till
now, and a corrupt judiciary
that promotes the agenda of
Sirleaf by targeting journalist
and other critics of the regime.
Therefore, it was not a
coincidence that President
Obama stressed corruption
as the key to Liberia's ills, and
his offer to go in and go after
the crooks regardless who is
implicated. You can second
guess how and why Mr. Obama
was focusing on corruption,
not only in Monrovia but
throughout the country. We
Liberians are very complacent.
We are like these pseudoChristians who want to go to
Heaven but don't want to die.
We want corruption and all
the vices in Liberia to end but
we refuse to get involved in
activism. Thank you Obama,
King, Mandela and Tutu for
your activism. You inspired
a few Liberians. The protest
photos are on: Facebook.com/
Jay Wion.
Jerry Wehtee Wion, Journalist
and Political Commentator,
Washington, DC, USA, an FPA
Guest Writer .

to encourage Liberians to meaningfully

participate in the oil business, the bid
round exercise offered an unprecedented
incentive to bidders to include Liberiancitizen and ECOWAS-owned companies in
their bidding.
Regarding doubts being raised about
some of the successful oil companies
selected, including Liberty Petroleum,
the pre-qualification exercise undertaken
by EY was geared toward ensuring that
bidders have the technical and financial
capabilities in deep water exploration.
For example, during the pre-qualification
procedure Liberty was determined to
have the requisite financial and technical
capacities in drilling globally, and the track
record of commercial discovery which
Liberia certainly needs now.
Meanwhile, NOCAL wishes to reiterate

its
commitment
at
all
times
to
accountability
and transparency in all its
activities and in carrying out
its fiduciary responsibility
of superintending the oil
sector. NOCAL also wishes to
make it clear that it welcomes

constructive partnerships with

all stakeholders, including
Global Witness and FrontPage
Africa newspaper, in the
ongoing efforts to streamline
our oil sector.
However, NOCAL deems it
unfortunate when groups

are all witnesses and waiting

for the first batch of US anticorruption czars to arrive in
Monrovia. It must be sleepless
nights in Liberia for the
corrupt cronies to hear this.
Liberians pray that this son of
Africa will deliver on his latest
offer to help for Liberia to fight
corruption the American way:
indict arrest, prosecute and
lock up the criminals, without
fear or favor.
Mind you, Liberia is perhaps
among
the
10
oldest
independent nations out of the
current 200-plus countries in
the world. The United States
is a mere 71 years older
(1776) than Liberia (1847).
In between, nations that were
literally "born" (got their
independence)
yesterday--South Korea, Japan, Malaysia,
Singapore, just to name a few,
--- have leaped-frog ahead
of Liberia. And so in nearly
168 years of independence,
Liberians are still struggling
to figure out how to run fresh,
safe drinking water into pipes
to our cities and towns from
the abundance of natural
bodies of fresh water flowing
from our rivers, in our lakes
and streaming through our
virgin forests.
Some nations are blessed
with natural resources that
their visionary leaders have
utilized for the improvement
of the living standards of their
citizens. For some nations, it is
called "resource-curse" driven
by corruption, and perhaps
this is why President Obama
suggested to President Sirleaf
he would be happy to teach
Liberia how to fight corruption

the American way and go after

the bad guys, including anyone
from president to lawmakers.
Let's see if Sirleaf is brave
enough to accept the offer in
her promise to do in her last
three years what she has failed
to accomplish in the last nine
years.
So the Liberian leader came
to thank President Obama
and the generous American
people who have pumped
millions of dollars, if not billion
of dollars into the money
draining sinkhole known as
Liberia over the decades with
nothing to show for it; and yet
again, with hat in hand asking
for more money while giving
away our latest resource-curse
of offshore oil through the back
door of corruption, according
to Global Witness. Righteously,
Obama said what Liberia
needs is for Uncle Sam to come
and teach you how to fight
corruption because you have
already began giving away
your new wealth, OIL; and that
to quote you Madame Sirleaf,
'Liberia is not a poor country,
but a country run poorly."
PROTESTERS
EMPLOY
POTENT, EFFECTIVE PR
WEAPONS

NOCAL RESPONDS TO GLOBAL WITNESS

ALLEGATIONS ON OIL BID ROUND

Monroviahe attention of the National Oil

Company of Liberia (NOCAL)
has been drawn to misleading
allegations made by Global
Witness and carried by FrontPage Africa
newspaper aimed at discrediting the bid
round conducted by the Government
of Liberia (GoL) and NOCAL, and
misrepresenting the otherwise diligent
process undertaken by NOCAL and the
GoL to put the oil sector on an even keel.
In this regard, NOCAL wishes to note that
the bid round was designed to facilitate
rapid investment into Liberias oil sector,
and provide much needed resources to
the country at a time when the countrys
economy was being affected adversely by
various factors including significant drops
in prices of our key exports - rubber and

iron ore.
Additionally, the bid round sought to
encourage the participation of Liberian
businesses in the oil sector, promote
local businesses, create jobs and skills,
and develop Liberian companies that can
participate in the upstream hydrocarbon
sector.
Contrary to Global Witness and the
FrontPageAfrica newspaper analyses
and insinuations, the entire bid round
process was conducted in a competitive
and transparent manner and consistent
with international best practices--with
the international auditing and consulting
firm, Ernst & Young (EY), providing
independent oversight and ensuring that
the process conformed to international
industry standards.
NOCAL is proud that in a deliberate effort

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Frontpage

Page 9

Our Distinguished Political Leader and Senator of Montserrado County, Hon George Manneh Weah;
Hon Speaker Alex J Tyler and Members of the National Legislature present;
Hon Guest Speaker, Professor Wilson K. Tarpeh;
Our Installing Officer, H. E. Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer, former President of the Interim Government of National Unity, and Chairman of the
Governance Commission;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Representatives of the National Elections Commission Present
Members of the CDC Legislature Caucus
Leaders and Heads of Political Parties Present;
The Chairman and Members of the Council of Chiefs;
Officials of Government Present;
Members of the National Executive Committee of the CDC
Members of the Fourth Estate;
Our Grassroots CDCians
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
My fellow CDCians and citizens: We are here gathered at these induction ceremonies on the heel of a very difficult moment in our countrys history.
Many of compatriots, among them healthcare workers, succumbed to the deadly scourge of Ebola, which plunged our country in the abyss of fear,
paralyzed our economy and threatened to undermine the fabric of our existence as a people and a nation. Let us all rise in a moment of somber silence
to remember all who perished on account of this menacing epidemic. May their tragic but preventable fall inspire all of us to use the levers of public
policy to banish such human calamity. And may their souls and the souls of all faithful departed rest in eternal bliss!
Let us also pay tribute to healthcare workers, our international friends and other individuals, such as our own CDC Representative Hon. Saah Joseph,
who braved and continue to brave, the dangers of Ebola to care for Liberians. We must also particularly thank the international community for again
rallying to our aid during this difficult time. We are glad this darkest hour is passing; however, we urge all Liberians to remain ever vigilant to avert
a recurrence.
Today, we lift our sights to happier festivities marking the induction of officials of the Congress for Democratic Change. More than 10 years ago, our
illustrious political leader, now Senator of Montserrado County, Hon. George Manneh Weah, joined with other compatriots to establish the Congress
for Democratic Change to bring freedom and economic prosperity to our long suppressed people. Mr. Political Leader, we say thank you for your
leadership.
We stand proud today to report that this great party has lived up to the creed and meaning of its revolutionary founding: to become the ceaseless and
uncompromising beacon of hope and promise for the majority of our dispossessed and marginalized citizens. Citizens, who today remain shackled
in the bondage of poverty amid an abundance of natural resource wealth. Through both fearless and constructive criticism and a demonstration of
policy alternatives, the CDC has challenged the failure of governance that continues to deprive our people of their right to prosperity. As the biggest
opposition political entity, we pledge to prosecute this fight to the liberating finish.
However, the last 10 years of our existence have also seen more than our fair share of internal party difficulties, which must be expected of any
political institution, let alone one drawing its membership from the repressed and pauperized majority whose quest for social and economic freedom
may sometimes gain expressions in quite unpalatable ways. Today, at these very induction ceremonies, awash in pomp and pageantry, we turn a new
page! We celebrate not the end of political difficulties or wrangles, for these will from time to time naturally occur. We celebrate the flowering of
renewal, of institutional transformation, of the maturing and coming of age of the Congress for Democratic Change, ever potent, resilient and massesinspired, ready to accede to national office to jealously guard the public space for our historically impoverished people.
In this spirit of renewal and transformation, we promise and assure a CDC that takes political opposition to a new level, pushing the Unity Party
administration in its remaining years to correct the ills that afflict our people. Our criticism of the ruling establishment does not suggest that we are
angry or a bitter people. We are only seeking answers and solutions. For the success of government is the success of our people; in the same vein, the
failure of government is the suffering of our people. The ruling establishment must therefore take our criticisms in good faith and change the course
of bad decision making.
Although the current government has scored some successes, there is just too much left undone. It is regrettable to note that after more than 10 years
in office, the government has failed to deliver on its platform and promises to the Liberian people. Our country remains blanketed in darkness. The
cost of fuel to power generators is killing businesses and compromising jobs and growth. While it took a mere two years to construct the Mt. Coffee
Hydroelectric dam, after 10 years in office, the government cannot restore it. We challenge the government to restore the Hydro before the end of
its tenure.
Fellow Liberians, the majority of our young people remain unemployed and hopeless, with little skills to compete in the jobs marketplace. Their
unemployment is a classic monument to the failure of the present Government. Our farmers cannot grow food and even when they do they do not
have a reliable market to sell their product, even though for the past 10 years, their government has managed more than US$3 billion in national
budget resources. It is the responsibility of our government to use the fiscal space to better the lot of farmers and the agriculture sector, as is done
in the United States and the European Union. We remind the Government that the agriculture sector employs the majority of Liberian workers. We
can never take the majority of our people out of poverty by turning a blind eye to the agriculture sector. Our teachers and healthcare workers, they
too, face similar dire circumstances. They largely remain underpaid and untrained. While we do recognize that the Government has increased public
sector wages over previous administrations, inflationary pressures and cost of living difficulties today make the average teacher and healthcare
workers still less well off than teachers and healthcare workers in the 1980s.
We therefore argue that additional increases in the wages of teachers and healthcare workers can be financed by cuts in wage corruption, which is
partly responsible for the current bloated public wage bill. The Liberian private sector is another public wasteland, lacking financing as foreigners
take command over our economy.
In the next two years, as envisioned by our dynamic and distinguished political leader, Senator George Manneh Weah, the CDC will work to develop
Compacts with farmers, teachers, youths, healthcare workers and the private sector. The aim of these Compacts will be to address the big policy
questions and challenges confronting these different groups. Our aim is to assure them that the CDC is a transformative political machinery seeking
to improve the lot of all Liberians through creative public financing and governance. Our Compacts will detail the share of the national budget going
to each of these groups, how these programs will be paid for and discuss improvements in the national standard of living under a CDC administration.
We will convene congresses of farmers, teachers, youths, healthcare workers and the private sector, seeking to earn their trust that governance under
the CDC will not be Liberian business as usual.
Fellow partisans and citizens, the perennial and repeated failure of governance in our country has undermined public faith in the political process
and in government. The majority of Liberians believe that politicians are out to enrich themselves, families, cronies and friends. These beliefs and
perceptions are justified in the observed persistence of corruption, and the regrettable impunity that results when public resources are stolen. Both
the 1980 coup dtat and the 1990 civil war were waged to end the personalization of public resources and the exclusive domination of the public
space by entrenched political elites. Today, after the blood of more 250,000 Liberians was shed to end elitism and exclusion, it is regrettable to see
that these vices and menaces are still alive and kicking in Liberia. Educated elites in government consistently fail to use their education and the
public resources at their disposal to free our people from the excruciating pangs of poverty. It is even more disheartening to note that many of these
officials themselves come from impoverished and marginalized backgrounds. For these government officials, government, not the private sector, is
the means to amass wealth and to lord over and exclude other Liberians from the political process. They use the advantage of public service at the
highest levels of government to deny other Liberians of contracts in favor of foreigners, to silence political opposition in a vain attempt to buy loyalty,
and to exclude the masses from the broad benefits of government. The budgets of ministries, agencies and commissions are not used to train workers
and provide better working environment but for the personal benefit of heads of agencies. Most ministries do not have adequate computing facilities,
morale among staffers is very low and many civil servants and workers believe they work at the behest of Ministers and heads of public agencies and
commissions, not for their country. And in some instances, they are penalized because of their political beliefs or association. This has to change. How
do we develop capacity if we dont send qualified personnel for advance training? In many instances, individuals sent for training are refused entry
back into the ministry or agency because the boss now feels threatened or is at loggerheads with the returnee. Yet we hear the refrain bandied about
endlessly that Liberia does not have capacity. As a country, we spend more money on travel, cars and fuel than we spend on educating and training
our labor force. These patterns are not consistent with the vaunted aspirations expressed in national development agendas, have led to violence and
conflict in the past, and continue to fuel public doubt, cynicism and skepticism about government.
We can do better as a people and country and we in the CDC under the leadership of Ambassador George Weah, offer a new vision for transformation.
We offer a vision founded in UNITY. Article II Section 5 of the CDC constitution states that the CDC was founded to promote national unity, peace,
and reconciliation of all the people of Liberia for the common goal of developing our nation in which liberty and justice will prevail for all. Consistent
with this foundation, we cherish the political pluralism and diversity now flourishing in Liberia, as necessary for developing the country. Membership
in another political party or the holding of contrary political viewpoints should never be the basis for excluding Liberians or denying them political
participation. Liberians dethroned the monster of the one-party state several decades ago, and are under obligation to value the diversity in political
perspectives or in political loyalties we see today. We should NEVER view as enemies persons who belong to other political persuasions; they are
mere adversaries or opponents in the prevailing plural political construct that values the contestation of ideas to derive optimal national outcomes.
WINNER TAKES ALL DOES NOT MEAN AND SHOULD NEVER MEAN WINNER EATS ALL! Parties or individuals victorious at the end of elections have
the responsibility to administer a unified vision that brings the best of Liberian talents around the table to solve the countrys vexed challenges.
Victory is not a means to punish those who opposed. It ought to be a unifying vehicle that secures our peace, delivers impactful development
outcomes and situates that country on a path of transformation.
In this spirit of renewal, we in the CDC are inspired by such vision of unity and we open our arms to Liberians of all ideological and political
backgrounds, inviting them to join us in framing and perfecting the Agenda of the CDC. Our Vision is to raise the average Liberian citizen from the
dark recesses of poverty to the majestic heights of prosperity. We ask you to join in this Vision. We endeavor to earn your trust that we all together
can manage this country and produce outcomes that exceed our widest imaginations, outcomes that remain largely unrealized in our own time. You
may belong to another political party; you may harbor venomous dislike for the CDC for one reason or another; you may be on the verge of giving up
on the political process as a vehicle for social transformation; whatever your issue, your situation, your perspective or your background, we open our
hearts to you to join us in consummating what we began more than 10 years ago. We together can correct the perceived wrongs within the CDC. We
together can forge new bonds of friendship, secure our fragile peace, heal our national wounds, and travel rugged and unchartered terrains, whose
discovery may just hold the promise of our national transformation.
In this spirit of unity and oneness, we extend our warmest embrace to all CDCians who broke ranks with us over the last several years. As we say in
Liberia, come home lets build a great party and country.
The next several months will witness a massive CDC outreach throughout the country. Today we have launched a national fund-raiser to finance the
construction of party offices and operations in all 15 counties. We ask those attending these ceremonies and others listening by radio to contribute
generously to this effort. This undertaking will continue from community to community, district to district, from county to county, reaching all
CDCians and Liberians as we a build a viable financial future. Going forwards, the CDC will set up a special team, with exclusive responsibility under
the command of the Vice Chairman of Finance and Investment, to continue these fund raising exercises.
To my fellow CDCians across the country and in the Diaspora, we say a big thank you. It is because of you that the CDC is what it is today. When people
have stereotyped you and called you names, you have stood firmer as true partisan. When people have shown you hate, you have shown them love.
But be reminded, that our struggle is only just beginning. The true test of your loyalty, commitment and dedication to this great party is still ahead. All
your sacrifices, labor and effort would have gone in vain if we do not take this party to victory in 2017. I believe you are ready to do political battle, you
are ready to change the course of history, to turn your suffering into joy, to give your people hope; you are ready to save our land and secure our peace.
I say to you again that the moment for institution building and transformation is now. As we prepare for national leadership in 2017, CDCians must
cultivate attitudes and values that lend respect and credibility to our party, enabling others to join our march to political victory. We cannot alone win
this political battle but must enlist the support of broad segments of our population. As present and future guardians of the peace and security of this
country, we must always continue to exhibit the attribute of tolerance and respect for the rule of law even in the face of provocation, knowing and
understanding the fragility of our country and its susceptibility crisis and implosion.
To members of the CDC Legislative Caucus - your partisans, and your constituents are looking up to you. We urge you to remain committed to your
party and to champion the cause of the party and people in the National Legislature. Deviation from this path will not be taken kindly by the people.
To our Development Partners and the International Community, we are deeply grateful for the support you continue to provide. We hear the whispers
of disappointment in Diplomatic and Donor circles; whispers that the cornucopia of international goodwill and trust that greeted government has
now been squandered. We say to you that upon ascending to the helm of national power, the CDC intends to leverage this goodwill and to restore
the lost faith and confidence in the capability and possibilities of Liberian governance. We reiterate here today that we remain partners in the
development of our country. For us, development has to be pro-poor. Road and power infrastructures, on which a significant share of donor resources
has been spent, must sustainably lift the poor out of poverty. These hard investments must be complemented by social spending that provides
opportunities for the urban and rural poor. We in the CDC will spare no effort to achieve these pro-poor outcomes.
And so my fellow citizens, we ask you to take a new look at the Congress for Democratic Change. We enlist your trust and partnership in our quest for
national governance. We continue the policy of constructive engagement, launched more than two years ago, and culminating in the service of our
political leader Amb. George Manneh Weah, as National Peace Ambassador. Only the most constructively engaged of national statesmen can unify the
roles of political opposition and national peace Ambassador, and wade through the difficult waters the now Hon. Senator of Montserrado County so
skillfully navigated. But we had to do that to show that the CDC is bigger than mere political victory; that Liberia is far more important than political
differences; and that service to country transcends political affiliation.
We continue this tradition over the next several years, intensifying the heat of criticism and in the same vein foreshadowing the patterns of governance
under the CDC. We must all continue to work to build our party; to heal our land and secure our peace; and to hasten the day when all people: from
Bokun Gedeh to Saclepea; from Vahun to Barobo District; from Bopolu to Cape Montserrado; from Salala to Cestos City; a day when all our people
from and through every nook and cranny of this great country will draw a collective national sigh of relief from poverty. A day when public faith in
governance and government will be restored; when poor children scattered in villages will know that the policies and laws of Liberia are fair and just
and that all they require to succeed in their country, are not connections in high places, but the wise use of their time and hard work in schooling and
in business. God willing that day will dawn very soon under the leadership of the Congress for Democratic Change!
May God Almighty continue to bless the Congress for Democratic Change, give wisdom and vision to our dynamic Political Leader and save and
preserve the Republic of Liberia for ages unborn.
Thank you and God Bless you.

Death Announcement
Funeral arrangement over the remains of the late Frank R. Gardiner
are as follows:

Removal from the Maureen E. Capehart Funeral home is on

Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 8:am and will be taken to the E.J.
Goodridge United Methodist Church, Barnersville Estate.
Funeral service will be held at the same church on Saturday, March
7, 2015, at 10:00am.

Thereafter, Interment will be at the Gould family plot behind

Howell Macedonia Baptist Church Barnersville Township.
This announcement was brought in by, Rev. Margaret B. Gardiner
(widow) and Mrs. Francine Gardiner Doe (daughter) on behalf of
the family.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

February 28, 2015

The administrators of the intestate estate of the late

K. Jefffries Adorkor, Sr., advises the general public that
the estate is the lawful owner of the Adorkor building
situated on Payne Avenue, just off 11th Street and
Warren Avenue, tit has come to our attention that
certain unscrupulous persons posing as owner have
been taking unsuspecting individuals to the property
attempting to sell the property. Even though no court
in this republic has dispossessed the intestate estate
title acquired since 1951.

This is to warn all unsuspecting persons to closely

examine the title deeds of these unscrupulous
individuals before being duped of their money. The
Adorkor building is not for sale. In fact the estate has
instituted court proceedings in the civil law court for
the cancellation of the fraudulent title deeds of these
imposters.
Please call cell#: 0886523882, 0886556939 FOR ANY
FURTHER INFORMATION.
SIGNED: AYELE ADORKOR HARRIS/REUBEN ADORKOR
ADMINISTRATORS

Page 10 | Frontpage

IN BRIEF

BILL GATES IS NAMED

WORLD'S RICHEST
PERSON AGAIN

PAGE
RONT

MO IBRAHIM PRIZE: NAMIBIA PRESIDENT

POHAMBA GETS $5M AWARD

ill Gates has been

declared the richest
man in the world
for the 16th time
by Forbes magazine's annual
ranking of global billionaires.
The
Microsoft
founder
once again beat Mexican
businessman Carlos Slim to the
top spot.
Mr Gates' net worth rose by just
over $3bn (1.94bn) in the year
to 13 February, to $79bn.
There are a record 1,826
billionaires in the world, Forbes
said, an increase of 181 in the
past 12 months.
Mr Gates has now been top
of the list for 16 of the last 21
years, Forbes added.
Legendary US investor Warren
Buffett regained third place
in the list with a net worth of
$72.7bn, from Amancio Ortega,
the founder of Spanish fashion
chain Zara.
Forbes 2015 ranking of richest
people:
1. Bill Gates $79.2bn (Microsoft)
2. Carlos Slim Helu $77.1bn
(Phones and construction in
Mexico)
3. Warren Buffett $72.7bn
(Global investor)
4. Amancio Ortega $64.5bn
(Zara and other fashion chains)
5. Larry Ellison $54.3bn (Oracle
data storage technology)
6. Charles Koch $42.9bn
(Industrialist)
7.
David
Koch
$42.9bn
(Industrialist)
8. Christy Walton $41.7bn
(Walmart retail giant)
9. Jim Walton $40.6bn (Walmart
retail giant)
10. Liliane Bettencourt $40.1bn
(L'Oreal cosmetics firm)

PROSECUTORS TO SEEK
DEATH PENALTY FOR N.C. MAN
IN MUSLIMS' KILLINGS:

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Reuters)

North Carolina district
attorney's office will
seek the death penalty
against a man indicted
in the shooting deaths of three
young Muslims in Chapel Hill last
month, television station WTVD
reported on Monday.
Craig Hicks, 46, is charged with
three counts of first-degree
murder in the deaths of a
newlywed couple who were his
neighbors and the wife's sister
at a condominium complex,
killings that drew international
attention.
Federal
investigators
are
working to determine whether
Hicks, a paralegal student, was
motivated by hatred toward the
victims because of their religion.
Local police have said their
initial investigation indicated a
dispute over parking may have
prompted the Feb. 10 shooting.
The Durham County District
Attorney's Office could not
be immediately reached for
comment on Monday about
plans to pursue the death
penalty against Hicks should he
be convicted.

WORLD NEWS

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

he
outgoing
Namibian President
Hifikepunye
Pohamba has won
the world's most valuable
individual award, the Mo
Ibrahim prize for African
leadership.
The $5m (3.2m) award is
given each year to an elected
leader who governed well,
raised living standards and
then left office.
But the previous award was
the fourth in five years to
have gone unclaimed.
Mr Pohamba, a former rebel
who fought for his country's
independence, has served

two terms as Namibian

president.
He was first elected in 2004,
and again in 2009. He is due
to be succeeded by Presidentelect, Hage Geingob.
Salim Ahmed Salim, the
chairman of the committee
that awarded the prize, said
that under Mr Pohamba,
Namibia
had
cemented
its reputation as "a wellgoverned,
stable
and
inclusive democracy with
strong media freedom and
respect for human rights".
Who
is
Hifikepunye
Pohamba?

Born in 1935 in

northern Namibia - a region

that would become a base
for the Swapo liberation
movement

Educated
by
missionaries and employed
in a copper mine as a young
man

Co-founder
of
Swapo and close ally of
Namibia's first President,
Sam Nujoma

Jailed for political
activism by South Africanbacked authorities, later left
to study in the Soviet Union

Worked on land
reform as minister in postindependence Namibia

turns to the blackboard, he

sneaked
behind
Obamas
back to set the date for Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahus speech with his
countrys ambassador to the
United States. Boehner asked
the foreign dignitary not to tell
the U.S. president.
I wanted to make sure,
Boehner
later
explained
on Fox News, there wasno
interference. Netanyahu is
now scheduled to address a
joint session of Congress on
March 3.
This is unheard of in U.S.
history. American Congresses

have sometimes rejected a

presidents foreign policy, of
course. That is within their
rights.
Though the president has the
power to negotiate agreements
with foreign countries, the
Senate can reject or approve
them. President Woodrow
Wilson, for example, journeyed
to Paris in 1919 to negotiate
the Treaty of Versailles after
World War One. Wilson was
instrumental in writing the
treaty,
particularly
those
sections that created a new
institution, the League of
Nations, to provide collective

WHY BOEHNERS INVITE TO

NETANYAHU IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

ouse
Speaker
John
Boehners
annoyance
with
President
Barack
Obama is turning into agrudge
match against the Constitution.
His decision to invite a foreign
head of government to
address Congress without first
consulting the sitting president
has no precedent in American
history. And for a simple
reason. Its unconstitutional.
Boehner (R-Ohio) fully admits
that his failure to communicate
with the White House was not
an oversight. Like a schoolboy
passing notes when the teacher

Was chosen by Mr
Nujoma to succeed him as
president in 2004

Gradually emerged
from Mr Nujoma's shadow
as a soft-spoken consensus
builder
A statement from the
Namibian presidency said Mr
Pohamba was "humbled by
this gesture".
According to the statement,
the president hoped to use
the prize to advance the
objectives of the Hifikepunye
Pohamba
foundation,
which helps students from
disadvantaged backgrounds
to pursue higher education.

security.
When Wilson returned home,
he conducted a whistle-stop
campaign across the country
to build support for the new
league. But to no avail. The
Senate was under the sway of
isolationists. One influential
senator, Henry Cabot Lodge,
disliked Wilson personally.
Wilson had also alienated the
upper chamber because he
took no senators with him to
the peace talks. The Senate
voted to reject the treaty. Its
decision not to join the League
of Nations may have been a
mistake but this was the
Senates prerogative.
There is one key job, however,
that the founding fathers
assigned to the president
alone. The Constitution says
that the president shall
receive ambassadors and other
public ministers from foreign
governments.
Why did the founders do
that? According to Stanford
University professor Jack
Rakove, who won the Pulitzer
Prize for his book on the
subject, they entrusted that
responsibility to the president
for a specific reason: to
facilitate bilateral negotiations
on complicated matters on
behalf of the United States.
Congress has the authority to
declare war. The House and
Senate hold the purse strings
and represent the will of the
entire nation. War is also a

Mr
Pohamba
was
a
founding member of the
South West Africa People's
Organisation (Swapo), an
armed movement that waged
a decades-long campaign
against South African rule.
Since the country won
independence
in
1990,
Swapo
has
dominated
politics, usually winning
huge majorities in elections.
Before becoming president,
Mr Pohamba served as a
minister for land affairs. He
oversaw a scheme under
which some land that had
been owned by white farmers
since the colonial era was
bought by the government,
for redistribution to black
farmers.
Mr Pohamba, 79, was named
recipient of the 2014 Ibrahim
Prize for Achievement in
African Leadership at a
ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya.
Mo Ibrahim is a BritishSudanese
mobile
communications
entrepreneur
and
philanthropist who made
billions from investing in
Africa.
He launched the prize to
encourage African leaders to
leave power peacefully.
The prize was meant to be
awarded annually but only
three leaders have been
deemed worthy of it since it
was instituted, in 2007.
The inaugural prize was
given to Joaquim Chissano,
Mozambique's
former
president, who has since
acted as a mediator in several
African disputes.
The $5m prize is spread over
10 years and is followed by
$200,000 a year for life.
public, unilateral decision. It
required only a simple and
overt
declaration,
James
Madison wrote in the notes
he took at the Constitutional
Convention.
In contrast, the president is
charged with making peace
and peace [was] attended
with intricate and secret
negotiations. So the founders
placed the president in charge
of meeting with foreign
ministers on delicate matters
requiring discretion.
The founding fathers would be
horrified by Boehners current
actions. They had a passion for
checks and balances. Madison,
the father of the Constitution,
distrusted power in the hands
of mortal men. He feared both
mob and monarchical rule.
So Madison and the founders
George Washington, Alexander
Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin
and the other 51 delegates
who met at the Constitutional
Convention in Philadelphia in
1787 intentionally divided
the federal government into
three branches. The executive,
legislature
and
judiciary
each had its own powers and
duties. In a few clearly defined
situations, one branch could
veto anothers decision.
The men who met in
Philadelphia
over
that
muggy summer of 1787
were anticipating situations
precisely like the one now at
hand.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Frontpage

Sports

FEELING LOVED

Page 11

SPORTS

SUNDERLAND WINGER
ADAM JOHNSON ARRESTED
ON SUSPICION OF HAVING
SEX WITH 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL

FC Fassell send message of appreciations to fans and well-wishers

Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

C Fassell have
commended
its
fans and wellwishers for the
support shown during their
debut appearance in the Caf
Confederations Cup.
The Soccer Missionaries, as
they are called, lost the first
leg 0-1 on February 15 and
a Vitalis Sie inspired hat-

trick couldnt stop them from

drawing 3-3 with Guineas
AC Horoya in the return
leg on February 22 with the
home and away ties played
at the March 26 Stadium in
Bamako, Mali due to a Caf
ban for Ebola imposed on
Liberia, Guinea and Sierra
Leone last September.
Despite their elimination

(4-3 on aggregate) in the

preliminary, Fassell remain
appreciative to its supporters
for the morale support.
On behalf of the officials,
technical staff and players
of FC Fassell, we just like to
say a very BIG THANKS to
all of our fans, supporters and
well-wishers in Liberia and
around the world for the spirit

of support that you displayed

during our first involvement
in continental showpiece
(2015 Caf Confederation Cup
qualifiers) for the past several
weeks.
Even with the fact that we
were playing away from
you, you were still there
for us, no matter what. We
are overwhelmed with the

generosity, concern and well

wishes expressed by you all.
You have no idea how much
we felt not playing in front
of you but your comments,
likes, messages and calls of
best wishes and support gave
us the feelings that you were
with us throughout.
And for the record, this
experience is not our last.
We will make a comeback,
whether in the Champions
League or the Confederation
Cup. This is a promise to you.
We will fly the flag of Liberia
again come 2016.
We'd like to also offer our
most sincere thanks to the
Liberian government, thru the
Ministry of Youth & Sports,
Liberia Football Association,
Sports Writers Association of
Liberia and public at large for
their immense contributions.
The Fassell family expresses
our heartfelt appreciation
to all, and we are so very
grateful for the spirit that
was demonstrated to help an
emerging club like the Soccer
Missionaries. Thanks again
for the support! Cant wait to
see you our fans, supporters
and
well-wishers
again
during our league games!
vice
president
Paywala
Janyan wrote on facebook on
February 26.

FATE
CONSIGNED
TO
COTE
DIVOIRE?
BYCs return leg may go ahead this weekend if greenlight is flashed

rontPageAfrica
(FPA) understands
that Barrack Young
Controllers (BYC)
return leg with Real de Banjul
of the Gambia will take place
in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on
Sunday.
According to Deputy Youth
& Sports Minister Henry
Yonton, discussions are
being finalized by with the
Ivorian government, through
its sports ministry, by sport
minister
Lenn
Eugene
Nagbe, who left Monrovia for
Abidjan on Tuesday.
As we went to press, Yonton
said the final outcome of
the negotiation will be
announced to the public as
soon as possible.

BYC need a goalless draw

or victory to advance to the
next round where they will
meet defending champions
Entente Sportive de Stif of
Algeria, having drawn the
first leg 1-1 in Banjul on
February 14.
The Go Blue Boys were
expected to hold the return
leg at the March 26 Stadium
in Bamako, Mali, which
hosted Fassell and AC Horoya
ties, but the latter turned
them
down,
prompting
Fassell to play a week sooner.
The
Liberia
Football
Association
awaits
a
response from Caf, having
asked it to postpone the
match by a week in order to
secure a suitable venue.

Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

he 27-year-old was
arrested at his home
on Monday morning
and Durhan police
have confirmed he is currently
still in custody helping them
with their enquiries
Sunderland winger Adam
Johnson has been arrested on
suspicion of having sex with a
15-year-old girl.
The 27-year-old was arrested
at his home on Monday
morning.
A spokesperson for Durham
Police said: "A 27-year-old
man was arrested earlier
today on suspicion of sexual
activity with a girl under 16.
He remains in police custody
and is helping officers with
their enquiries.

MADRID CLASH COULD

BE DECISIVE IN LA LIGA
RACE BUSQUETS

he midfielder has
acknowledged the
importance of the
game in the race for
the title but said it would be
dangerous to overlook their
next opponents
Sergio Busquets has admitted
Barcelona's clash with Real
Madrid could well play a
decisive role in the race for
La Liga.
The Catalan giants host their
fierce rivals on March 22 to
cap a crucial month in their
season as they look to stay in
contention for three trophies.
Saturday's
victory
over
Granada combined with
Madrid's draw with Villarreal
moved Barca to within two
points of the leaders.

PREMIER LEAGUE REFEREEING

BECOMING A LAUGHING
STOCK, SAYS MARK HALSEY

REFEREE'S
COLUMN:
The former official believes
Sunderland will appeal the
defender's red card but having
the decision overturned could
prove to be difficult
PGMOL
CREDIBILITY
TAKES ANOTHER HIT
AFTER BROWN RED
The Football Association and
the Professional Game Match
Officials Limited (PGMOL) are
a laughing stock. Someone there
must be holding the laws of the
game booklet and referencing a
rule that does not exist.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE FOR THE

ASCENDENCY OF LIBERTY PARTY'S
STEPHEN HARMADU JORGBOR ZARGO OF THE HOUSE OF SENATE
LOFA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEG HALL - FEBRUARY 28, 2015