Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
STORIES
Obituary
pg 7
pg 6
COURT
SUMMONS
POLICE BOSS
JONATHAN
HICKS, R.I.P.
Contributor to UL Journalism
Program, is Dead
FrontPage
BUYING
L$84.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1
L$84.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1
L$84.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
Source:
Research, Policy and Planning Department,
Central Bank Liberia,
Monrovia, Liberia
PRICE L$40
VOL 8 NO.713
SELLING
ELECTION CHIEF
ACCUSED OF GROSS
FINANCIAL INDISCIPLINE
INSIDE
As I submit to you my resignation, the cost of ballots remained double in excess of US$275,000, the cost of
elections material is stated in excess of $300,000, the cost of vehicles is over stated in excess of $200,000. These
actions by you are possible because of the grant of PPCC waiver which allows you to negotiate prices in excess
of stated amount. Also, support from our partners is never clearly reported to the Ministry of Finance thus
allowing you to charge GOL account for the same activities. - Joseph Duwana, Director, Finance and Budget
EXPOSED
After an accidental needle stab, a
doctor's Ebola watch begins
Ebola
p8
PAPER TIGER
ENTITY
LACC MPW Keita Responds
Corruption Watch p6
Politics - pg.5
Page 2 | Frontpage
C
Monrovia-
Page 3
FrontPage COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL A CLASH BETWEEN CASH AND
Frontpage
Commentary
LESSONS FROM
BURKINA FASO: PEOPLES
UPRISING SHOWS
AFRICANS ARE FED UP
STREET PROTESTS BY TENS of thousands of Burkina Faso
citizens and subsequent burning of the parliament building
led President Blaise Campaore to dissolve the country's
government resign and now the military is back in power.
LAST WEEKS TURN OF EVENTS in Burkina Faso shows
that young Africans can no longer stand a dictatorship that
seeks to hold on to the realms of power even though there
are visible signs that the people are fed up. The attitudes of
African leaders of the fifties, sixties and seventies cannot
thrive in this new dispensation that has been created by more
nations that have become democratized in the 21stcentury.
More and more African countries at the turn of the 20th
century have seen their countries moved away from military
dictatorship and democratic governance restored.
BURKINA FASO BECAME INDEPENDENT as Upper Volta
in 1960, and was renamed Burkina Faso in 1984. Sangoule
Lamizana overthrew its first President Maurice Yameogo in
a coup in 1966. Lamizana was himself overthrown by Saye
Zerbo in 1980. Two more coups in 1982 and 1987 resulted in
Mr. Comparore seizing power. He won four disputed elections
since that time and was trying to amend the constitution to
allow him to run for yet another term in office. This move
was widely unpopular and caused both political opposition
and street violence.
THE LIKES OF BLAISE CAMPOARE continued to cling
onto power while at the same time suppressing their own
people.
Campoare was not alone in his quest to hang on to dictatorship
many more countries including Chad, Sudan, and Equatorial
Guinea continue to harbor tyrants. Equatorial Guineas
Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who came to power 35 years ago in
a coup on August 3, 1979, Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola
who has been in power since September 20, 1979.
ROBERT MUGABE, OF ZIMBABWE is the only remaining
African leader to have been continuously in power since his
country's independence, Mugabe became prime minister in
April 1980 and president in 1987 to follow is Yoweri Museveni,
of Uganda who came to power in January 1986 after winning
his countrys war, which ousted the brutal regime of Idi Amin
Dada, with help from neighboring Tanzania. Omar al-Beshir
of Sudan has ruled since he seized power in a coup in June
1989 and Idriss Deby Itno, of Chad emerged as the leader of
the arid north central African state in December 1990, after
the war, which
ousted the regime of Hissein Habre.
LIKE THESE LEADERS, CAMPOARE toyed with the
thought of changing his countrys constitution to allow him
run for another term to saty in power. But the people mainly
the youths said it was over. Campoares effort to seek a
negotiated settlement of the crisis last week failed, and he
resigned and left the country. Burkina Faso now under the
control of the military with army chief General Honore Traore
leading the country, the African Union, the United States and
the United Nations all say the army must
hand power to a civilian authority or face consequences.
THE UNITED STATES CONDEMNS the Burkinabe
militarys attempt to impose its will on the people of Burkina
Faso, stated US Secretary of State John Kerry in a statement.
We call on the military to immediately transfer power to
civilian authorities. We urge civilian leadership to be guided
by the spirit of the constitution of Burkina Faso and to move
immediately towards free and fair Presidential elections. We
regret the loss of life this week in Burkina Faso and call on
all parties to avoid further violence. Both the United States
and France have established military bases in Burkina Faso to
are imprisoned? These are questions that seem very easy to answer
considering current happenings.
A new era is possible in Liberia if young people are willing to
make wise choices. A dawn of a new day can only come if virtues
outshine vices. It is mindless for any young person to trade his/
her prestige for unworthy benefits. The struggle is not about cash,
but character. It is not about money, but moral. It is not about
rewards, but reputation. It is not about self, but others. Until young
comrades can understand these hard truths and earnestly put them
into practice, our country will make no progress. It is time for
Liberian youth to abandon self-seeking objectives and engender a
real sense of patriotism.
In Liberia today, an alliance of blind loyalists is budding rapidly.
The society has abundant of pay agents who continue to indict
individuals with good reputation in a web of mere fabrication.
There is an ongoing spree of character assassination in almost
every sector as bootlickers and certified crooks intensify their
money-eating campaign. Dishonesty is a common way of life for
most Liberian youth as they use their tone so loudly in defense of
people with bad records. The primary concern of these gullible
foot-soldiers is to bark at anyone who tries to expose their bosses.
Every morning they wake up, they monitor and call on almost
all the talk shows busy trying to portray a good image of their
employers and tear apart those who have refused to give in to
their sinister agenda. They wander from one government office
to another hustling every day in an attempt to maintain their false
economic status. Due to their cowardice mentality, they appear
like modern clowns in some quarters.
What is even more disappointing is that the number of movements
in defense of immoral characters in Liberia is too many. If it is
not movement for the re-election of candidate X, it is movement
against candidate Y. If it is not Citizens in defense of Hon. X, it
is Masses for the election of Hon. Y. Even though, I recognize
the fact that there are some genuine movements and organizations
whose ideological concepts are based on firm convictions, but
many of these self-styled movements and interest groups are
money-driven and principle-drained. In this day and age, it is good
for people to express their dissatisfaction through protests. This is
what a true democratic system requires. It is sad to note that some
young comrades in Liberia are using protests as a means of fundraising. They allow themselves to be used by big pockets to protest
without understanding why they are protesting. This fake mode of
operation among Liberian youth got to stop now!
The mindset of most of our peers needs to change if our society
must make real progress and play a leading role in transforming
Africa. It is time for this emerging generation of young Liberian
compatriots to refine their worldview if they must make impact
locally and globally. They must reinvent a new moment to protect
their integrity against abnormal tendencies. They must reconnect
themselves to a model of truth-telling. They must redesign their
thought pattern in conformity with moral tenets. By doing so, this
young generation will once more embrace an image of respect and
reliability. Certainly, they will rewrite a history of great legacy
worthy of public honor.
The time to selflessly advocate for youth empowerment,
employment, and education is now. Therefore, this government
will not take youth-related issues seriously until young people can
stand up with courage and credibility to demand what rightfully
belongs to them. This can only happen if young Liberians unite to
fight against unpatriotic practices. The future is ours; as such, we
must redeem it from a cartel of high-class tricksters who continues
to misrepresent the true character of this generation.
The campaign for change is not about cash, but character. It is not
about reward, but reputation. It is not about money, but moral.
It is not about possessions, but persistence. The struggle for
equality and justice is not about capital, but consistency. Above all
interests, Liberia is Supreme!
Page 4 | Frontpage
FrontPage
COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
TYLER, NUQUAY SPLIT OVER WEAH, ROB
SIRLEAF SENATORIAL BID; WAR LOOMS
OPEN LETTER TO
THE MINISTER OF
EDUCATION, R.L.
DIVIDED I
HOUSE
DISCLAIMER
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica
write to express few points that may claim your attention as we are
beset by the scourge of the Ebola Virus Disease.
At this onset, let me commend you and your staff for measures you
have taken in the face of this crisis. Firstly, it was a wise decision
to forbid the use of public schools as Ebola treatment units (ETUs).
This action will make it a lot easier to resume academic activities at the
schools when the crisis subsides or when it is brought to an end.
Secondly, the action to train 10,000 education stakeholders, including
principals and teachers, is a worthwhile intervention in the spread of
Ebola awareness around the country.
Thirdly, the introduction of education by radio is also good, except
that it will have limited effect, given the poor economic state of many
Liberians. Nevertheless, it is a welcomed innovation.
The focus of my missive is to make the below recommendations as we
all foresee the eventual overcoming of the EVD in Liberia in the short
run:
1.
Beginning academic activities with an Interim Crash School
Program: I do believe that you and your staff are currently designing
programs for the re-opening of schools. What I wish to suggest, however,
is that given the length of time that students have stayed out of school,
it would be prudent that the Ministry of Education (MOE) mandate an
interim Crash School Program for all schools whereby students will be
gradually absorbed into academic activities, rather than immediately
beginning normal academic work.
There are psychological as well as economic reasons for this suggestion.
On the one hand, students, having stayed away from school for so long,
will need to be eased into academic activities gradually, especially
considering that they may have been affected in one way or the other
by the contagion. Some may have lost their parents or close relatives or
friends as a result of the spread of the EVD. On the other hand, most
parents may have experienced adverse economic conditions as a result
of the EVD crisis; hence they may not be fully prepared to undertake the
full financial obligations of a normal academic program.
2.
Suspension of certain fees and requirements: During the
Interim Crash School Program, which may run for a semester (100
days), a minimum fee, generally affordable, be charged at non-public
schools and that the wearing of uniform be optional. Also, requirement
such as ID card fees, PTA dues, computer fees, breakage fees and tuition
be suspended for that period. Similarly, at public schools, at the upper
level, where fees were required, such fees be suspended.
3.
Adoption of a core curriculum for the Interim Crash School
Program: A specified set of subjects for each grade level be identified
to serve as the focus of the Program. Specifically, at the primary level,
English Language (Grammar, Reading, Writing, and Spelling) and
Arithmetic should be emphasized; at the Junior and senior high levels,
the focus should be on English Language, Mathematics, Science
and Social Studies. At the high school level, the different prongs of
the science curriculum (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) should be
proportionately alternated on the teaching schedules during this period;
the same should apply to social studies which encompass Economics,
Geography and History.
Utilizing partnerships with UNICEF, UNESCO, WFP, USAID, as
well as other NGOs: The MOE can tap in on the UNICEF Back-toSchool (BTS) initiative as was implemented in Rwanda (1994), Liberia
(2004), South Sudan (2006), Uganda (2007), Cte DIvoire (2011) and
elsewhere, as outlined in UNICEF Back-to-School Guide. A blueprint
for such a proposal may exist at the MOE since this initiative was
used here previously. These partnerships will ameliorate the massive
resource needs that the government may have to mobilize to see the
program become a success.
The setup at various schools should be kept intact: This is to say that
schools should maintain their previous enrollments and staff as much as
possible. Only where necessary, should schools take in new
students or new teaching and other staff.
20-20 VISION
AT LACC?
The Editor,
EDITORIAL TEAM
Frontpage
Page 5
NEC to date.
To date, those unverified
and unsupported transactions
remained unaccounted for as
proper documentation required
to complete the transactions
are unavailable. You and your
colleagues on the Board were
informed during the retreat that
the Commission is not audit
ready because of the wasteful
spending of government financial
resources, Duwana noted.
Nearly 1 million Overstatement
of Election materials
In what seems a huge credibility
problem hanging over the
electoral body as the country
prepares for the conduct of special
senatorial election, the former
Finance officer, divulged that the
commission has been overstating
nearly all materials intended
for the conduct of the electoral
process, amounting to nearly US$
1 million in excess.
As I submit to you my resignation,
the cost of ballots remained
double in excess of US$275,000,
the cost of elections material is
stated in excess of $300,000, the
cost of vehicles is over stated in
excess of $200,000. These actions
by you are possible because of
the grant of PPCC waiver which
allows you to negotiate prices in
excess of stated amount. Also,
support from our partners is never
clearly reported to the Ministry
of Finance thus allowing you to
charge GOL account for the same
activities, Duwana disclosed.
When
contacted,
Chairman
Korkoya
informed
FrontPageAfrica that he had
completed a hard days work
and it was unfair to him to call
him at 8:22 pm to ask questions
regarding such issue.
He told FPA to seek official
audience with him to discuss
official matter rather them doing
so during his private hours when
he needed to rest after working a
long day.
The NEC has over the years
come under questioning for
financial
improprieties
with
former Chairman Fromayan
administration getting a messy
audit report from the GAC.
In audit of NEC covering the
period 2006/07 to 2011/2012
which covers the administration
of Fromayan, the audit noted
that the NEC spent over US$2.6
Page 6 | Frontpage
PAGE
RONT
COURTForSUMMONS
POLICE
BOSS
Holding Two Suspects In Prolonged Detention
F
MonroviarontPageAfrica
had
reliably learned that the
Criminal Court A at
the Temple of Justice
has summoned police boss Chris
Massaquoi to appear before the
court on Tuesday November 4,
2014 at 2pm following a writ of
habeas corpus filed by defense
counsel to produce the living
bodies of two suspects held in
police custody since October 21,
2014.
The two suspects, Jefferson
Sanoe and Alfred Cruwu were
accused of stealing a diamond
from a gold creek in Gbarpolu
County but since their arrest on
October 21, 2014, the police is
yet to charge and bring them to
court for prosecution. Family
members of the two men were
seen in court last Friday, talking
to the judge Johannes Zogbay
during a habeas corpus hearing.
Last week, lawyers representing
the two defendants filed a writ
of habeas corpus to the court
to have the police produce the
living bodies of the two suspects,
who are currently facing theft
DON-KAN IS DISTINCT F
PAGE
RONT
respondent/defendant to produce
the living bodies of the prisoners
who have been kept in detention
for more than 10 day, said the
defense lawyers.
In counter arguments to the writ,
state prosecutor David Woah
told the court that upon receipt
of the writ, the suspects were
transported back to Gbarpolu
County, where the incident for
which they were undergoing
investigation was committed.
Counsel says that as a matter of
law, this court lacks jurisdiction
to issue a compulsory writ of
habeas corpus today for the
Plaintiffs who are without its
jurisdiction, said Woah.
Presiding Judge Zogbay in his
ruling stated that the submission
by state prosecutor Woah that the
court had no jurisdiction over the
case, does not hold any water
in the instant case, because the
law provides that every court
of record, except the Supreme
Court shall have power to issue
a writ of habeas Corpus. He said
CORRUPTION WATCH
PAPER
TIGER
ENTITY
LACC MPW Keita Responds
Al-Varney Rogers avarney.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.com 0886304498
Monroviahe
Director
of
Communication and
Documentation at the
Ministry of Public
Works Jesefu Keita says,
the Liberia Anti-Corruption
Commission is a paper tiger
entity pretending to be fighting
corruption.
The commission will remain
a paper tiger entity that has
become a mere talking shop
and fulcrum for the conduct
of time; wasted workshops
that have produced very little
impact on the fight against
corruption in Liberia; despite
the fact that on a daily basis,
we are told through the media
of millions of dollars being
dubiously stolen without any
serious action from it [LACC]
Keita said.
Recently at a Ministry of
PAGE
RONT
M
Monrovia
r. Jonathan P.
Hicks,
whose
association with
the University of
Liberia led to the launching of a
scholarship program benefiting
scores of Liberian journalism
students, has died. He was 58.
Mr. Hicks who has been battling
pancreatic cancer for quite some
time now, died Monday.
Mr. Hicks launched the J.P.
Hicks Family Journalism, Mass
Communications Scholarship,
in April 2010. The program
has assisted dozens of aspiring
journalists at the University of
Liberia.
The scholarships are geared
toward to students in mass
communication who have shown
a combination of academic
excellence as well as a strong
commitment to the field of
journalism. The scholarship
includes payment of tuition
and fees, as well as mentoring
from professional journalists in
Liberia and in the United States.
Also, the students writing will be
published on various websites.
Its a great blessing to work with
such wonderful students who are
committed to the next generation
of excellence in journalism
in Liberia, Mr. Hicks said
during one of his many visits to
Monrovia.
In his last position as a national
correspondent for the Black
Entertainment Television, Mr.
Hicks was in Liberia earlier this
year and penned a number of
articles on a wide range of topics
for BET.
Mr. Hicks interest in Liberia
began in childhood, when his
family lived in Monrovia while
his father, John Henry Hicks,
a former journalist and former
United States diplomat, served
at the American embassy in
Liberia. John Hicks, who was the
first African-American reporter
at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
supervised the operation of
the United States Information
Services library in downtown
Monrovia and hosted a weekly
public affairs program on ELBC
Radio in Monrovia. It was
during that time that Jonathan
Hicks formed a connection with
Liberia and its people that would
last throughout his life.
In the fall of 2009, Jonathan
Hicks traveled to Liberia
on a grant from the Ford
Foundation to write articles and
produce broadcasts about the
redevelopment of the country
following the 14-year civil
OBITUARY
Frontpage
Page 7
JONATHAN
HICKS,
R.I.P.
Contributor to UL Journalism Program, is Dead
PAGE
RONT
NEWS EXTRA
s Liberians looked
forward to the
reopening
of
schools
which
have been closed since the
outbreak of the deadly Ebola
in the country, a non-profit
organization Bridge Liberia
had provided several school
materials to the Love A Child
Orphange Home on the
Robertsfield Highway.
Bridge Liberia a non-profit
organization was established
on December 6, 2013 by a
group of young Liberians both
at home and in the United
States with the aimed to
Page 8 | Frontpage
PAGE
RONT
EBOLA
EXPOSED
VISUALIZING
THE AWARENESS
PAGE
RONT
NEWS EXTRA
Frontpage
GOVERNMENT
M
Monrovia
alian
President
Ibrahim Boubaca
Keita says he is
upbeat about the
level of leadership demonstrated
by President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf in the fight against the
Ebola virus disease terming it as
exemplary.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, during his
one day visit last Saturday,
November 1, President Keita
said he saw it compelling to pay
a solidarity visit to Liberia in
return to what President Sirleaf
did for his country when she
worked for the United Nations
Development
Programme
(UNDP) African region.
During her tenure as UNDP
Africa region Director General,
President Keita said, the
Liberian leader approved a lot of
aid funds for his country thereby
leading to the development of
his country. Though we have
been talking on the phone since
the Ebola outbreak, I would
have never felt relieved if I had
not personally come to Liberia
Page 9
M
Monrovia-
r.
Oblayon
Blayon Nyemah
Director
General of the
Liberia Institute for Public
Administration has called
for caution in plans to resize
government or Liberia risks
doing it at the detriment of the
population.
He said people cannot be
thrown into the street without
jobs and expect to be happy,
while only a few have jobs. He
said such actions lead societies
to crumble.
Director Nyemah said: We
dont have anything called
downsizing; what we have is
rightsizing, an approach that
PAGE
RONT
GOVERNMENT NEWS
Page 10 | Frontpage
IN BRIEF
PAGE
RONT
WORLD NEWS
S.AFRICA
FOOTBALLER'S
DEATH WAS
ROBBERY 'GONE
WRONG'
Frontpage
Sports
Page 11
SPORTS
ergio
Busquets
concedes Barcelona
have had a bad week
but refused to be
drawn on comparisons with allconquering Real Madrid.
Barca have dropped from first
to fourth in La Liga following
back-to-back defeats to Madrid
and, more surprisingly, Celta
Vigo.
In contrast, new leaders Madrid
have won 11 consecutive
games in all competitions and
appear in great shape ahead of
the return of the Champions
League this week.
Midfielder Busquets said: This
has been a bad week with bad
results and we need to change it
as soon as possible. We need to
think about it and were going
to work hard for the results.
One week ago we were the
leaders of the competition and
now were not but the season
is long and hopefully we can
change that.
FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
Sports
VOL 8 NO.713
'WILL NOT BE
POSTPONED'
officials.
"CAF confirms the dates of the tournament,"
Binyam said, adding that a second meeting was
slated for November 11 at the confederation's
Cairo headquarters to "take the necessary
decisions".
Morocco now have until November 8 to officially
respond to CAF, Moroccan football federation
spokesman Mohamed Makrouf said.
The options are either Morocco hosting the
tournament as planned, holding the tournament
in another country, or cancelling it, he said.
"Any change of dates would be to the detriment
of the CAF calendar, which must follow FIFA's
PRICE L$40
had an inevitable negative effect on
results and Guinea and Sierra Leone
are bottom of their four-team groups
with two rounds left.
Should Sierra Leone lose in Ivory
Coast on November 14 and Guinea
in Togo a day later, both will be
eliminated from the qualifying race.
- Growing popularity The first Cup of Nations took place 57
years ago in Sudan and only featured
the hosts, Ethiopia and winners
Egypt, but its popularity grew rapidly
with qualifying introduced ahead of
the 1968 tournament.
When Cameroon 800-metre athlete
Issa Hayatou was elected CAF
president in 1988, he inherited an
eight-team tournament, but he set
about expanding it.
There were 12 teams by 1992 and the
number was supposed to rise to 16 in
South Africa four years later.
But strained political relations
between the host nation and Nigeria
over the execution of activist Ken
Saro-Wiwa meant the defending
champions did not compete.
The other Cup of Nations that went
ahead one team short was that
hosted by Angola in 2010 with Togo
withdrawing after an official and
a footballer were gunned down by
separatists in an ambush in Angola's
Cabinda province.
Togo were crossing the border
into northern Angola by road after
training in Congo Brazzaville when
tragedy struck, creating the darkest
day in Cup of Nations history.
As the African football showcase
expanded into a tournament attracting
a global TV audience, so did its
appeal to marketing companies.
A $5.5 million (4.4 million euros)
TV and marketing rights deal per
tournament before 2010 more than
doubled to the current $11.7 million
(9.4 million euros) price tag.