Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Edition

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VOL 9 NO.65
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015
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REAL ESTATE TAXES ON
OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2015
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LIBERIANS WEIGH IN ON BOAKAIS PRESIDENTIAL BID
ELLEN SPOILS
HIS VOTES
I will say every human is entitled to his/her opinion. I think he dont stand a chance to win the
presidency, because there is nothing he has done to encourage us to put him in power, and Liberia is
still at square zero just how we taught they could help but they failed and Madam Sirleaf failure is
his failure so he just the same as her -Matilda Oppong, Student United Methodist University.
TAX SENSITIZATION MESSAGE

WWW.LRA.GOV.COM
Voices - pg.
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
BUYING
SELLING
L$84.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1
SATURDAY , MAY 16, 2015
L$84.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1
L$84.00/US$1
L$85.00/US$1
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of the foreign exchange market
in Monrovia and its environs. The rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the
commercials banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Page 2 | Frontpage
Monroviander the governance system of Liberia, the National

Legislature is very powerful, as its members are
charged with the responsibility of performing major
functions for the wellbeing of the state-making
laws, oversight and other key responsibilities.
In spite of the huge responsibilities bestowed on the National
Legislature by the Constitution, the actions of the lawmakers
in dealing with national issues have made the presidency all
powerful making the legislature appear a toothless bulldog in
the eyes of the public.
The body continues to face allegations of taking brown
envelopes a common name for bribe before passing laws or
ratifying concession agreements, something which is their
responsibility as per the constitution.
Ten individuals indicted by the state on charges of economic
sabotage, bribery and conspiracy in connection with a
payment made by the National Oil Company of Liberia
(NOCAL) allegedly to the lawmakers for the passage of oil laws
are said to be entangled in the web for making payments to
the 52nd National Legislature.
A member of the Legislature, than Representative Alominza
Bah issued receipts allegedly to receive the bribery on behalf
of her colleagues and she is one of the ten indictees.
In all the talk of corruption in Liberia, the public in most
instances blame President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who is being
accused of paying lip service to the fight against corruption
but some members of the legislature have shown clearly
that they cannot help to fight corruption since they too stand
accused of acts of corruption.
The county Development Fund, an idea introduced by the
Sirleaf regime to allocate funding for development purposes in
the various counties became a cash cow mainly for lawmakers
many of whom established construction companies and
other businesses that were awarded contracts with high
nonperformance by many of the companies owned by these
lawmakers.
As the lawmakers are considered the peoples representatives,
that body looks to have shown no visible stance in the fight
against corruption, an act blamed for the underdevelopment
and raging poverty confronting the Liberian people.
Recently, a member of the Liberian Senate wrote the body
requesting that the Senate put on hold confirmation of
presidential appointees who are named in reports from

the General Auditing Commission of Liberia and other antigraft institutions until the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
conducts public hearings and report to that body.
Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence Liberty Party, Grand
Bassa County) in her communication said, knowing that
Liberia has been labeled as one of the most corrupt countries
in the world, and with a huge challenge to foster transparency
and accountability it is important that the senate continue
to be very supportive in the fight against corruption, which
prompted her communication.
Knowing that Liberia has been labeled as one of the most
corrupt countries in the world, and we have a huge challenge
to foster transparency and accountability, it is very important
that the senate continue to be very supportive in the fight of
corruption by ensuring that all confirmation for people who
are implicated in Audit Reports or Audit indictees are put
on hold until the PAC conduct public hearing and make final
recommendations for action, Senator Lawrence appealed to
her colleagues.
When the letter from the Senator was put on the Senate floor
for deliberations, lawmakers including senators Dahn Morias
(National Patriotic Party-Maryland County), Morris Saytumah
(Unity Party-Bomi County) and Albert Chie (Independent,
Grand Kru) amongst others spoke against the communication.
Senator Chie said: The whole process of this letter is
unconstitutional and illegal the GAC is not a court, it has no
authority to tell someone you are guilty or not only the court
of law in this country does that therefore you will be stepping
on the constitutional rights and liberty of your sole called
indictees until they are presumed guilty they have the right
to occupy any position at the will of the president with the
consent of the senate.
The indicted lawmaker added In the first place, I think we
made an error to even entertain this argument here we should
have passed this letter to the senate Judiciary Committee to
advise us on what to do this is a useless debate in my opinion
I submit.
Another Senator J. Milton Teahjay (unity Party, Sinoe County)
said: If this letter is to be given the credence we are asking
for then we should go forward and say nobody should hold
elected position if there is an allegation over you until you are
cleared. Nobody should be denied the opportunity to work
based on a mere GAC, LACC accusations unless by a court of

competent jurisdiction.
HOW THEY VOTED
The discussion on the letter appeared to be a game between

Senators in favor of corruption and those fighting for
transparency.
During the voting process, senators including Senator Peter
Coleman (Congress for Democratic Change, Gran Kru County),
Thomas Grupee (NUDP-Nimba County), Francis Paye (NDCRiver Cess), Geraldine Doe Sheriff (IND-Montserrado County),
Prince Johnson (NUDP-Nimba County), Sando Johnson (NPPBomi County), Oscar Cooper (UP-Margibi County), Steve Zargo
(LP-Lofa County), Jim Tornola (PUP-Margibi County) all voted
infavor of the communication
Senators who voted against the communication include
-Senator Dahn Morias (NPP- Maryland County) Moris
Saytumah (UP-Bomi County), Milton Teahjay (UP-Sinoe
County), Daniel Naatehn (NDC-Gbapolu County), Conmany
Wesseh (UP-River Gee County), Gbleh-bo Brown (INDMaryland County), Alphonso Gaye (UP-Grand Gedeh County).
After almost an hour of discussion a motion for the
communication to be sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee
for evaluation and advise to the senate in two weeks was
endorsed by the body.
Many believe the communication if endorsed by the senate
will serve as a good tool for the lawmakers to contribute to
the fight against corruption instead of continually blaming
president Sirleaf for failing to take actions on audit reports.
WHY ARE SENATORS AGAINST?
While the communication is still in committee room,

FrontPageAfrica now looks at the possible reason why some
senators are pushing against the communication.
RIVER GEE CDF
In River Gee County an audit of the County development

Fund by the General Auditing Commission of Liberia for the
period found that a company known as the Gee-Gbeh River
Assistance Development Associates (GRADA) with the wife of

the now Senator Commany B. Wesseh, Mrs. Madina Wesseh
as one of the incorporators and another family member, Rev.
M. Chenekan Wesseh as another incorporator and the current
Senator as one of the Board members was awarded contacts
but the company failed to implement those contracts despite
receiving payments from the County development Fund.
According to the audit report the Ministry of Commerce
confirmed that GRADA was not a legally registered entity
in Liberia but the company was still awarded numerous
contracts in River Gee County.
The construction of the Potupo District Commissioners
compound was awarded to GRADA. The Potupo District
commissioners Compound contract was awarded to GRADA
for US$42,772.76. However, from documents made available
from audit, two payments which totaled US$29,940.94 were
made to GRADA, representing 70 percent of the total contract
sum. The construction of the Commissioners compound in
Jaytoken was not reported on the MIA Project Tracking Report
for the period under audit, the audit stated.
In one of the recommendations, the audit held the current
senator and others accountable for payments received by
GRADA where the company did not perform the task.
The below listed Incorporators and Board of Directors
of GRADA, Superintendent J. Karku Sampson, Assistant
Superintendent Jackson C. Nyepan, T. B. Isaiah Dapaye and
Treasurer Seka Youlo should each be held accountable
and made to jointly or severally restitute US$29,940.94,
representing payment made to GRADA for which the project
was abandoned: Incorporators- Rev. M. Chenekan Wesseh, Ms.
Alice Welley Wilson, Mrs. Madina Wesseh. Board of Directors of
GRADA- Mrs. Gbalee Browne, Chairman, Mr. B. Isaiah Dapaye,
Secretary; Amb. Commany B. Wesseh, member; Mrs. Martha
Toe, Member; Mr. Amos Gbesohn, member; Mr. Tyee Torboh,
Member; Mr. D. Nimely, member, the audit recommended.
The audit noted that an amount of US$ 5,317.50 0.00 was paid
to GRADA but Check written in the name of Jackson Nyepan,
the Development Superintendent.
During the audit period J. Karku Sampson served as
superintendent, an individual who worked in the office of the
current Senator before his appointment to that position.
SAYTUMAH AND FRAUDULENT BOARD APPOINTMENTS
In an audit on the appointment of Board of Directors for

the Periods 2006 January -2010 September, the GAC noted
that Morris Saytumah whole serving as Minister of State for
Economic, Finance and Legal Affairs fraudulent appointed
Board members of several institutions and signed their letters
of appointments instead of the President.
The audit observed that there were irregularities in the manner
the board members were appointed in ten (10) corporations
and that some members were sitting on the boards without
either letters of appointment from the President, Curriculum
Vitae or appointments were made without provisions in the
establishing Act
Amongst the institutions where Board were appointed
without a letter from the President according to the audit
included the National Port Authority (NPA), Liberia Petroleum
Refining Company (LPRC), Roberts International Airport
(RIA), National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), Liberia
Water and Sewer Corporation(LWSC), Liberia Broadcasting
System (LBS), Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LTC).
Stated the audit Out of the seventy-three (73) board members,
thirty-seven (37) had letters of appointment while thirty (24)
had no letters of appointment. From the thirty seven (37)
letters of appointment, eight (8) letters of appointment for
board members at the National Oil Company of Liberia were
signed by Minister Morris Saytumah. Another letter in respect
of one board member sitting on the board of the Forestry
Development Authority was signed by Managing Director
John T. Woods. In both cases, there was no evidence that the
President had delegated such authority.
Further, the audit noted that there were thirty two (32) board
members sitting on the boards of public corporations without
Presidential appointments and letters of appointment that
were regularly issued by Mr. Saytumah and Mr. Woods. There
is therefore no legal basis for 32 Board members to sit on these
public corporations and collect fees and other remuneration
and benefits.
The audit recommended Minister Morris Saytumah and
Mr. John Woods should be legally sanctioned and made to
restitute the full amount of fees and remuneration paid to
the self-appointed Board members in violation of the laws
creating these public corporations.
SENATOR GAYE AND OTHERS TO ACCOUNT FOR OVER
$600K
An audit of the general Services Agency (GSA0 for For The

Fiscal Years 2006/7 to 2011/12 by the GAC observed the
current senator of Grand Gedeh County Alphonso Gaye while
Frontpage
serving as Director general of the GSA along with other past
Director generals made questionable payments amounting to
more than half a million United states dollars.
The audited stated that during examination of leases entered
into by the General Services Agency through the Bureau of Real
Estate for the periods under review, the Agency consummated
a total of 198 leases, amounting to US$2,818,811.00, for
various Ministries and Agencies of Government for the period
under audit.
Stated the audit Our analysis also revealed that several
lessors received a total amount of US$637,914.99 as payment
for lease for the months in which the agreements were not
yet entered into by concerned parties. We observed that
the Director Generals, Willard A. Russell, G, Alphonso Gaye,
Pearine Davis Parkinson and Peter A, Smith, the Director of the
Bureau of Real Estate and Public Property, entered into lease
agreements with several lessors when in fact the agreement
came into force in the absence of a written lease agreement.
The GAC audit observed that these lease agreements came
into force more than one to thirteen months in the duration
of the agreement and also in total disregard to the period
in which said leases were entered into, thus allowing
government ministries and agencies to enter into postdated lease agreements, causing the government an amount
of US$637,914.99 (DG Willard A. Russell and Director Peter
A. Smith US$417,040.33, DG G. Alphonso Gaye and Director
Peter A. Smith US$42,402.00 DG Pearine Davies and Director
Peter A. Smith US$178,472.66) on post-dated leases.
The audit held current Senator Gaye and three others to
account for US$637,914.99 representing payments on leases
that were not signed by the Government of Liberia.
The audit recommended The Directors General, Willard A.
Russell I, G. Alphonso Gaye, Pearine Davies Parkinson, and
Director of the Bureau of Real Estate and Public Property, Peter
A. Smith should account for the US$637,914.99 paid to various
lessors when in fact the leases were by then not signed by the
Government of Liberia through the GSA and the lessors.
SENATOR TEAHJAY AND CHOPPING SPREE IN SINOE
COUNTY
Current Sinoe County Senator J. Milton Teahjay, one of the

lawmakers against the communication calling for presidential
appointees to face the Public Accounts Committee before
facing confirmation while serving as Superintendent of Sinoe
County is mentioned repeatedly in an audit of the Sinoe
County Development Fund and Social Development Fund for
the fiscal years 2011/2012 & 2012/2013.
Then Superintendent Teahjay according to the audit report
grossly managed the finance of the county, making payments
to companies without prove of work done, incurring
expenditures that were not reported in the county Project
Management Committee (PMC) expenditure report and other
forms of financial indiscipline.
Some of the audit recommendations stated Superintendent
J. Milton Teahjay, Assistant Superintendent for Development,
Thomas Romeo Quioh and PMC Chairman Bedjue MacCully
should account for the payments of US$11,635.00 made
to Liberia Reconstruction Company and provide material
justification why the two payments of US$11,635.00 and
US$10,000.00 were not included in the PMC Expenditures
Report for the periods under review.
Superintendent J. Milton Teahjay, Assistant Superintendent for
Development, Thomas Romeo Quioh and PMC Chairman Bedjue
MacCully should account for the payments of US$11,635.00
and US$10,000.00 made to Liberia Reconstruction Company
for the Numonpo Administration Building projects which
were not included in the expenditures reported for the periods
under review, the audit recommended.
Superintendent Teahjay also entered into contracts with
companies that failed to perform on previous contracts.
We further observed that due to the failure of Team Liberia
to complete the contract, on October 5, 2012, the County
Authority headed by J. Milton Teahjay entered into a new
contract with Salinco International represented by its
General Manager for Logistics, Trokon Hutchinson for the
renovation of the James E. Green Sport Stadium at the cost of
US$134,301.42 the audit noted.
ENTERING CONTRACTS IGNORING JUSTICE, FINANCE
Superintendent Teahjay, according to the audit entered in a

contract worth half a million United States dollars without the
approval of the Ministries of Justice and Finance as provided
by law.
Auditors noted We observed that the Ministers of Finance
and Justice did not sign and attest to the US$495,650.00
contract which was entered into by and between Sinoe
County Administration represented by Superintendent J.
Milton Teahjay, Former Asst. Supt. McDonald Wlemus and
PMC Chairmam, Bedjue MacCully and Trans Africa Trading
Page 3
Company on the other hand, represented by its Managing

Partner, Augustine G. Kotee for the Greenville Electrification
Project on May 23, 2011. As provided for under No.003 Section
(10) of the PPC Regulations and Section 24, subsection 4 of the
PFM law.
The audit recommended that Superintendent J. Milton
Teahjay and, Former Asst. Supt. McDonald Wlemus, and PMC
Chairman, Bedjue MacCully be held for breach of financial
discipline for the payment of US$232,500.00 made against the
Greenville Electrification Project without the involvement of
the Ministers of Finance and Justice.
Superintendent Teahjay and other local county officials were
also recommend to be held for failure to pay into Governments
Account total seven (7%) service tax of US$35,154.00 for the
total payment of US$502,200.00 made for several contracts
awarded during the periods under review.
UNSUPPORTED PAYMENTS, ABANDONED PROJECTS
Superintendent and other county officials were found

according to the audit of making payments without supporting
documentations.
Auditors recommended Superintendent Milton Teahjay,
Development Superintendent Thomas Romeo Quioh, PMC
Chairman Bedjue Maccully should be held accountable for the
US$215,880.00 unsupported payments.
Sinoe County officials including Superintendent Teahjay were
also held for making payments to contractors for projects that
were abandoned.
Superintendent J. Milton Teahjay, Assistant Superintendent for
Development, Macdonald Wlemus and PMC Chairman Bedjue
MacCully should be held accountable for wasteful expenditure
and breach of financial discipline for the abandonment of the
Kuwiah Clinic project, Pyne Town Administrative Building
Project, the Jalay Town Clinic Project and James E. Green Sport
Stadium, the audit stated.
State indictee Senator Chie and NOCAL bribery
Current Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie one of the

senators against the communication from Senator Lawrence
calling for presidential appointees to be subjected to scrutiny
by the Public Accounts Committee is facing trial after his
indictement along with others for economic sabotage, bribery
and criminal conspiracy.
Chie while serving as a member of the Board of Directors at
the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) was one of those
who along with others sanctioned the payment of US$118,400
as lobbying fees to members of the 5nd National legislature
for the passage of oil laws.
Minutes of NOCAL Board of Directors indicated that the
Board was also concerned that payment of such amounts to
influence the passage of the petroleum contracts of Broadway
PLC and Oranto Petroleum was irregular, a form of bribery. On
this basis, I recommend that the US$118,400.00 purportedly
paid as lobbying fees be refunded to NOCALs coffers by
Alomiza Ennos Barr, Member of the House of Representative,
James Kaba, Chief Clerk of the House of Representative and
Clemenceau B. Urey, Chairman of the Board of Directors of
NOCAL. Except for a payment received and signed for by Barr
in the tune of US$40,000.00 and another payment signed for
by Chief Clerk Kaba in the tune of US$1,500.00, there was also
no evidence of receipt by the National Legislature for the sum
of US$76,900.00, the audit stated
Chie is also reported in other segments of the GAC audit on
NOCAL for the Fiscal years 2006/07, 2007/08 for receiving
payments for foreign travels without retiring by providing
receipts and other documents.
However, it was observed that in number of cases of foreign
travel from July 2006 to June
2008, NOCAL management did not comply with the provisions
of the PPCC and bought air tickets from airlines without going
through the prescribed procedures. It was also noticed that
payments were also made in the name of the President and
CEO, Fodee Kromah Vice President Marie E. Leigh Parker,
Vice President for Finance, Jacob Sandike, Vice President for
Technical Services and Albert T. Chie. Rather than making
payments in the name of the vendor, these key management
officials chose to make payments in their names for a routine
job of purchasing tickets, stated the audit.
Chie was held for receiving several payments including
US$2,200.0,
US$2,000.0,
US$1,200.00,
US$1,800.00,
US$3,000.00, US$1,000.00 and others for foreign travels
where the audit noted that he did not provide documents to
justify the expenditure of the amounts.
Legislative observers believe that based on the past alleged
corruption history of these current senators they will fight to
ensure that the communication from Senator Lawrence is not
endorsed by the senate.
Page 4 | Frontpage
FrontPage COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL FIGHTING
CORRUPTION, WHO ACTUALLY
STOLE PUBLIC MONEY AT LIPA?
v
Commentary
SIFTERING
PRESIDENTIAL
NOMINATIONS
SENATE MUST NOT ALLOW BAD APPLES

TO STIFLE CORRUPTION FIGHT
THE GOVERNMENT of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf might have
made some major interventions in the rebuilding efforts of Liberia but
fighting corruption undoubtedly remains the major Achilles haunting
the administration.
PRESIDENT SIRLEAF continues to take all the blame for the inability
of the government to take firm actions against corruption such as
prosecution to deter officials involved in the ugly act.
EVEN MEMBERS of the Legislature are on record for criticizing the
president for failing to fight corruption, even though they too are
largely at fault.
WHILE ALL THE TALKS about President Sirleaf failure to fight
corruption are ongoing, the Liberian leader is not all alone in getting
things done correctly even though the presidency is all powerful.
PRESIDENT SIRLEAF is blamed for recycling corrupt officials
dismissing some of these officials from one position in one agency of
government and appointing them to another.
BUT IN ALL, THE NATIONAL Legislature has a major role to play in
the overall governance of the country as the lawmakers have the
responsibility as per the constitution to carry out other major functions
for the smooth functioning of the state.
THE LAWMAKERS HAVE oversight of ministries, agencies and other
institutions under the Executive branch of government which is
headed by the president.
THE LIBERIAN senate has the responsibility to confirm presidential
appointees which puts the senate in the best position to decide the
officials serving in the Executive Branch of Government.
DESPITE THE POWER vested in the Senate, the body has not sufficiently
used this power to scrutinize appointees before confirming them to
occupy various positions in government, thereby proving that they are
in support of the President recycling practice.
LAST WEEK, IN WHAT could prove crucial in the fight against
corruption, a member of the Liberian Senate wrote the body requesting
that the senate puts on hold confirmation of appointees implicated
in reports from ant-graft institutions like the General Auditing
Commission of Liberia.
IN THE COMMUNICATION that is now causing stir amongst senators,
Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence stated
Knowing that Liberia has been labeled as one of the most corrupt
countries in the world, and we have a huge challenge to foster
transparency and accountability, it is very important that the senate
continue to be very supportive in the fight of corruption by ensuring
that all confirmation for people who are implicated in Audit Reports
or Audit indictees are put on hold until the PAC conduct public hearing
and make final recommendations for action.
AS GOOD AS THE COMMUNICATION looks, some members of the
senate opposed the idea, expressing anger why the communication
was allowed to appear on the floor of the Senate for discussion.
AMONGST THE ANGRY senators are those who prior to election into
the Senate stand accused of involvement in acts of corruption in their
previous jobs.
ALBERT CHIE (Independent, Grand Kru County), J. Milton Teahjay
(Unity Party, Sinoe County), Morris Saytumah (Unity Party, Bomi
County) were amongst the senators strongly opposed to the
communication.
SENATOR CHIE indicted by the state on three charges including
economic sabotage, bribery and criminal conspiracy angrily said: The
whole process of this letter is unconstitutional and illegal the GAC is
not a court, it has no authority to tell someone you are guilty or not
only the court of law in this country does that therefore you will be
stepping on the constitutional rights and liberty of your sole called
indictees until they are presumed guilty they have the right to occupy
any position at the will of the president with the consent of the senate.
AFTER A LONG PERIOD of deliberation on the letter, the senators
expressed themselves through vote with Senator Peter Coleman
(Congress for Democratic Change, Gran Kru County), Thomas Grupee
(NUDP-Nimba County), Francis Paye (NDC-River Cess), Geraldine Doe
Sheriff (IND-Montserrado County), Prince Johnson (NUDP-Nimba
County), Sando Johnson (NPP-Bomi County), Oscar Cooper (UPMargibi County), Steve Zargo (LP-Lofa County), Jim Tornola (PUPMargibi County) all voting infavor of the communication.
THE BAD APPLES in the senate also made their decisions with Senator
Dahn Morias (NPP- Maryland County) Moris Saytumah (UP-Bomi
County), Milton Teahjay (UP-Sinoe County), Daniel Naatehn (NDCGbapolu County), Conmany Wesseh (UP-River Gee County), Gblehbo Brown (IND-Maryland County), Alphonso Gaye (UP-Grand Gedeh
County) all voting against the communication.
AS USUAL, THE LETTER was sent to committee room, a place
By J. Patrick Kollie, pjkollie@gmail.com, Contributing Writer
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has also been

instructed to investigate if there are any other instances of similar
infringement of the Public Financial Management rules.
These are the quoted words of the official Press Release from the
Executive Mansion on March 27, 2015 on the dismissal of the three
officials of the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA) who were
recently reinstated by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The three officials,
Mr. P. EmMerysn Harris Deputy Director General for Administration &
Management, Mr. Richard S. Panton Deputy Director General for Training
& Development and Atty. Harris F. Tarnue Deputy Director General for
Research & Consultancy, protested the reason for their dismissal. After an
exhaustive investigation which witnessed the production of relevant facts
and supporting documentary evidence, the three officials were declared
innocent and therefore their instatement directed by President Sirleaf.
The questions which analysts are now pondering are; was there
infringement of the Public Financial Management rules? If the three
officials have been exonerated, then who actually is liable for the
commission of this crime? What further steps are required to bring the
culprit to book? To find answers to these questions require an examination
of the events and information from the documentations available. We
like to take a recourse to the Frontpage Newspaper Friday, May 1, 2015
Edition under the caption Selective Salary Payments Sparked LIPA
Dismissal and the Voice FM 102.2 Talkshow of Monday, May 18, 2015
hosted by Woods Yonton.
The FrontpageAfrica Newspaper Report
I go forth to state that it is established by the findings of the investigation,
that the three officials did not violate any provision of the Public Financial
Management Act and Regulations as indicated as reason for their
dismissal. The three officials successfully challenged this reason and
won the case after the administrative hearing procedure. Referencing the
documentations cited by the Frontpage Newspaper page 6a, Mr. Oblayon
B. Nyemah, Director General of LIPA did get his compensation increased
from US$4,200 in June 2014 to US$7,500 in response to the letter written
by Mr. Richard S. Panton while serving as Acting Director General. This
may be considered an application for adjustment of compensation of the
LIPA officials to include the Director General and his three Deputies. The
story clearly shows that the Minister of Finance did selectively increased
the compensation of Mr. Oblayon Nyemah as Director General and refused
to adjust the salary of the three Deputies. It is mentioned that Mr. Oblayon
Nyemah did chaired a LIPA budget meeting in December 2014 when
reallocations were made to adjust the shortfall in his (Mr. Nyemahs)
compensation, adjust the three Deputies compensations in line with
the Cabinet Decision of January 2014 and also adjust the general staff
compensations. In January 2015 the adjusted compensations voucher and
payment request were sent to the Ministry of Finance and Development
Planning (MFDP) and payment was paid as requested. Then in February
2015, Mr. Nyemah and the Minister of Finance revoked and reversed
the payments made to the three Deputies on ground that they were not
entitled to the increment. The three Deputies restituted the one month
(January 2015) increment from their February 2015 salary. After this
event, Minister Amara Konneh submitted a report to President Sirleaf
that the three LIPA Deputies had unilaterally increased their salary in the
absence of the head of the entity. Following their dismissal announcement
by the President, the trio submitted a dossier of documentations which
necessitated the investigation and subsequent vindication by the findings
and instatement by the President.
The Voice FM 102.2 (Costa Show) Talkshow
On Monday May 18, 2015 the Costa Show host, Journalist Woods Yonton
subjectively dwelled on the reinstatement of the three LIPA officials
from the point that they should not have been reinstated because they
did violate relevant Public Financial Management laws. I will now
attempt to show the link to what relevant laws have been violated and by
whom. To show the link, lets analyze one of the letters of reinstatement
read by Mr. Woods Nyonton on the radio. The letter mentions that the
January 2014 Cabinet decision does not apply to the Liberia Institute of
Public Administration. What this means is that no official at LIPA was to
benefit from the Cabinet decision of January 2014. In other words, there
was no budgetary appropriation and allocation for LIPA in this policy.
Additionally, I have researched and found that the amount appropriated
for the execution of this Cabinet decision is entrusted to the Civil Service
Agency (CSA), but is being administered by the Ministry of Finance.
This confirms the content of the letter of reinstatement that the Cabinet
decision of January 2014 does not apply to the Liberia Institution of
Public Administration. Additionally, it is consistent with the report of the
Frontpage Newspaper cited above. Now, has there been any violation of
relevant laws in this LIPA dismissal saga? Yes, and in deed there has been
violation of laws bordering on the budget law and on the Penal Law of
Liberia. What are the specific laws violated here and who is the culprit?
What Laws have been violated in the LIPA Dismissal Saga?
Legislative Acts approving the budget of the Government of the
Republic of Liberia clearly provide for policy governing targeted
appropriations. Among these policies are monitoring of personnel and
payroll adjustments. The law requires that the head of entity, the CSA
and the Minister of Finance shall in consultation execute these policies

on monitoring of payroll and payroll adjustments. Have there been
compliance with the provision of this budget law as shown in the LIPA
dismissal saga? The Minister of Finance, Mr. Amara Konneh, increased
the salary of Mr. Oblayon Nyemah in July 2014 in line with the January
2014 Cabinet decision when that decision did not apply to the Liberia
Institute of Public Administration and that there was no appropriation for
such increment. This is a clear violation of the budget law, hence an act of
corruption by Minister Konneh. So, who has unilaterally increased salary
and thereby violated the Public Financial Management law? The three
LIPA officials, or Minister Amara Konneh as the fiduciary of public money
and his accomplice Mr. Oblayon Nyemah?
Under the Liberian Penal Law Subchapter F. Economic Sabotage Section
18.81 Misuse of public money and Section 15.82 Theft and /or illegal
disbursement and expenditure of public money, it is a first degree felony
for a person in his capacity as a public servant or official of an institution
to dispose of, use or transfer any public money which has been entrusted
to him as a fiduciary, in a manner he knows is not authorized
How Oblayon Nyemah pocketed USD$75,000 Ebola Money
In addition to the above violations by LIPAs Oblayon Nyemah and his
colleague, Finance and Development Planning Minister, Amara Konneh,
an in-depth investigation reveals that LIPA Director General cleverly
arrange and pocketed USD$75,000.00 in the name of Ebola prevention
and awareness. A voucher with the item description: Amount represents
payment of special operation fund for outstanding field services for Ebola
prevention and awareness activities in five counties in three regions in the
amount of seventy five thousand United States dollars (1120300-1-01001-000000-014900-1103-222109) was raised on Thursday, November
13, 2014 at about 2:53 Pm through the integrated Financial Management
Information System (IFMIS). This system is used to process vouchers at the
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. The $75,000.00 voucher
security code is: 112-FY-13/14-11-V-000135 and can be traced at LIPAs
CBL account. For further verification purposes, the $75,000.00 voucher
number can also be traced at the comptroller and accounting services unit
at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).
At the end of the well designed (never held) Ebola prevention and
awareness, LIPAs Oblayon Nyemah produced what appeared to be a
complete fake report thus further exposing him and his partners in
crime. A report dated January 6, 2014 and titled: end-Of-Ebola prevention
awareness report was submitted to ministry of Finance and Development
Planning (MFDP).
In an effort to justify the use of the $75,000.00, Mr. Nyemah wrote in his
fake report as the result of the ongoing Ebola crisis in Liberia, the health
sector got highly hit-exposing the weakness of the sector after many
efforts made to resuscitate and bring it to it pre war status through direct
budgetary appropriations and donor support. President Ellen JohnsonSirleaf in the National Health Policy stated that, for capacity building in
any area of our countrys recovery process to be truly sustainable, it must
be indigenous-it must flow from the people themselves. The report stated;
against this assertion, management Development Institutions (MDIs) of
the public sector are capacity building or training organizations such as
the Liberia Institute of Public administration (LIPA) that must provide
the lead role in campaigning and realizing governments development
agenda.
Is the above paragraph in any way a mandate from President Sirleaf
to authorize the withdrawal of USD$75,000.00 in the name of Ebola
prevention and awareness?
Thorough investigation of the report also shows that individuals, current
and former local Government officials names were placed on the list of
participants without their knowledge. For instance, Circuit Court Judge
Blamo Dixon, James C. Mulbah, Sr, (City Mayor of Voinjama), Augustine A.K.
Momo (Land Commissioner of Voinjama) among many others, attended
the LIPA Ebola prevention and awareness in Voinjama City from Monday
December 2, 2014 to Friday December 12, 2014. Multiple phone calls to
most of the participants on the list shows that hundred percent of those
contacted denied ever attending LIPA organized or sponsored workshop.
While the voucher was being processed, Mr. Oblayon Nyemah requested
a travel approval from President Sirleafs office to allow him to travel to
the U.S. State of Minnesota to attend to his wife who was scheduled to
undergo surgery.
On December 30, 2014, the office of President Sirleaf through the Minister
of State for Presidential Affairs, Edward B. McClain, Jr, approved Mr.
Oblayon Nyemas request (MOS-RL/EBM-COS/0971/2014. December 30,
2014).
The travel time was approved around the same time the voucher was
cashed out thus giving cause to analyze the potential intent of the travel.
Few days later, Mr. Oblayon Nyemah appeared in Minnesota. During
one of the Liberian old timers usual foot ball practices in Brookly Park,
Mr. Nyemah was reportedly seeing driving a new Honda Pilot that he
reportedly purchased for his wife. Efforts are under way to obtain the vin
number of the vehicle in question and run the number through DMV to
find out if the vehicle was bought cash or on credit.
Please read full commentary online. www.frontpageafricaonline.com
where legislative politics has shown over the years that important
communications are made to die, never resurfacing in plenary discussions.
NOW THAT THE COMMUNICATION from Senator Lawrence is in
committee room; we are challenging the Senate not allow a few bad
apples stifle the communication which if implemented will make the
senators make good names for themselves.
PEOPLE WITH TAINTED CHARACTERS must not impose their will on
others with good intention for the country as in the end history will judge
everyone individually despite the collective actions of all.
SOME OF THE SENATORS against the communication are already known
for their characters in Liberia-the likes of Saytumah whose time at the
Executive Mansion is replete with excesses. Teahjay is also in the GAC
Sinoe County audit report and is held to account for nearly US$500,000 of
County Development Fund money meant for that underdeveloped county.
CHIE IS ALREADY facing court trial and Dan Morias is running Maryland
County like his farm with his construction company getting majority of
the contracts from the William V.S. Tubman University and other projects
in the county, meaning these guys will go all out to stifle the fight against
corruption since they are beneficiaries.
THE LIBERIAN SENATE as it is always referred to as the house of elders
must stand tall and ensure that the request from Senator Lawrence is
implemented; it must not allow a few bad apples thwart an effort meant
for the public good.
Frontpage
The Reader's Page
FrontPage
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
SYLVESTER MOSES TOP COMMENTER WORKS AT SELFEMPLOYED
After the dogged determination of John Morlu 11 to sniff out all the
corrupt deals in the crevices of the regimes cupboards, President
Sirleaf might have decided that putting the brightest and best at
GAC again was too much trouble on an administration that feels
entitled to rake every valuable thing out of Liberia; hence, her
nomination of average candidates. Lets admit it, the Iron Lady is
always one step ahead, folks; even the new vaunted senators are
now as cool as cucumber in her expert hands.
SAYKU KROMAH TOP COMMENTER WORKS AT CITY OF
PHILADELPHIA
Madam President does not want any competency in her regime;
she craves and gets unquestionable loyalty to her personally.
Winsley Nanga, the Deputy is loyal to Liberia, while Madam Sirleaf
and her favored appointees are stealing Liberia blind. But as the
saying goes, one day for rogue, one day for master. Come 2017, they
will pay back every dime.
JERRY MWAGBE EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
These are some of the reasons why we Liberians who returned
from the diaspora to contribute our quota to the development of
the country are looked down upon by other Liberians. This is a real
life time drama-- I am awaiting ACT II.
TONY LEEWAYE TOP COMMENTER FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR AT GOLDBERR INVESTMENTS & MARKETING
CORPORATION INC.
What a national disgrace for our Nation and the leadership of
Madam Sirleaf.
CYRUS L GRAY TOP COMMENTER UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

There are specific concerns raised in the GAC audit about
accountability of funds placed at the disposal of the Ebola Task
Force. They will do well to clearly address those concerns. This is
their best defense against any perception of impropriety on the
part of the task force. Accusing the GAC of violation of procedures
and what not is yet to address the concerns raised. Those concerns
are not going to go away because of the drama the task force is
creating. Any government, come 2018, will reserve the right to
follow these reports to their logical conclusion.
NYAN GORTOR AGM HIGH SCHOOL

I believe the audit report is true, indeed the auditees used the
situation as a ground to miss appropriate public fund that were
intended to save the lives of thousands of Liberians that were dying
on a daily basis from the deadly Ebola virus. My problem I have
is that, the GAC boss should have stand her ground to defend the
report that she sign, instead of shifting the blame on her deputy.
That shows the sign of weakness and the lock of professionalism.
JESSE FAHNGON TOP COMMENTER METROPOLITAN STATE
UNIVERSITY
Well, this is what you get when there is lack of "collectivism"
from the three branches of government to aggressively confront
CORRUPTION in Liberia. Let the showcasing continues. Let us
UNDO GAC and likes under this Administration until we are ready
for serious business - stop wasting public resources folks. We are
repeating ourselves and getting the same odd results: NOTHING.
RAYMOND SUMO
TOP COMMENTER CUTTINGTON
UNIVERSITY, LIBERIA
If I have worked as a Custodian Engineer in America for 25 years,
and I am seeking a position of Chief Engineer of Liberia or preferably
Minister of Public Works in Liberia in order to contribute my quota
to the development of Liberia, who do I contact to get my desired
position in Liberia? Do I need the right connections or my resume
is ok for the job? I need help!!
ALVIN JOHNSON UNIVERSITY OF GHANA
Wow, the drama continues. How could the senate possibly confirm
such a dumb headed person who does not control the Institution
she heads.
AUSTIN S. FALLAH TOP COMMENTER STAY AT HOME DAD AT
SELF EMPLOYED
None of you in that government will go free. You continue to subject

our people to poverty each day. Why, why, why????????
SAMUEL JACKSON TOP COMMENTER DIRECTOR AT
LIBERIAN IRON
Where do they get these people from?
DISCLAIMER
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica
Page 5
Send your letters and comments to:

editor@frontpageafricaonline.com
YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!
AUDIT SAGA EXPOSES INCOMPENTENCE OF EJS PRESIDENCY:
A REJOINDER TO FPA EDITORIAL POLITICAL MADNESS!
The Editor,
he attention of the Public Affairs Department of the Executive Mansion

has been drawn to FrontPage Africa Editorial of Thursday, May 21,
2015 pursuant to the caption above vis-a-viz a litany of mismatched
analogies coupled with labelling the Liberian President as incompetent.
Absolutely ludicrous! What was the intent of the diatribe and in whose interest
is such vitriolic propaganda tilted?
What FPA readers should appreciate is this that specific Editorial is precisely
a guest contribution as the verbiage, language, structure, context and style
contradict the trend of FPA-groomed editorial. The essence of trend analysis
in journalistic practice is critical to research that must inform the work of
journalists. In reality, FPA management opted to provide the platform motivated
by political trappings or possible inducements to provide space for an assault
on government.
Having scientifically laid the object of such editorial and what it seeks to achieve
at the expense of distraction, we will begin to succinctly examine arguments,
divorce ourselves from pettiness and deal with the substance of the issues
decisively as they so deserve. It is the style of one man who branded everyone
in Liberia as corrupt while he wore sinless garments.
Regrettably, in view of the baptism of responsible journalism, why would an
exchange of war-of-words become the basis for the practice of civilized trade?
Journalism has a duty to educate and inform; influence societal change, build
and connect traditions, cultures, reunite societies and transform lives.
But when journalism out of the ego and self-styled tendencies of journalists,
become the means to selfish aim then our society is bound for failure. This
is the crust of FPAs propaganda interest. The editorial bears the traits of
political infidels who once had an opportunity in government and squander it.
Yes, journalism is about critically informing the population about government
and society but facts, figures, and precision correct spellings are the crux of
responsible journalism.
Here we go again! This nation celebrates the world joins our country to
celebrate but FPA, that claims journalism divorced of nationalism is intriguingly
seem not to be interested in the greater good but the naivet and trivialities of
you say and I say cheapness when the real issues that will adequately bring
benefits to our country are being ignored.
When we present information to the public without stating the facts, a
newspaper makes itself wanting. In this part of the world whenever evidence
is demanded of requested, it becomes a crime.
If the culture of professional journalism should thrive on the legacy DIRTY
LAUNDRIES - being aired in the public domain, secret conversations between
so-called friends, all appointees of a sitting president have found its way into
a 38-page scolding indictment of the supreme auditing institution in postwar Liberia, the General Auditing Commission the face of good journalism,
public trust, and social responsibility must inform the borrowed niceties FPA
is supposedly adopting.
For some strangely propagandistic justification FPA has allowed itself to
welcome a guest-driven editorial with such bombastic verbiage: THE JURY IS
STILL out on the believability factor since the GACs release of an audit of the
National Ebola Trust Fund for the Period August 1 to October 31, 2014 which
unearthed that the Incident Management Team on Ebola headed by Assistant
Health Minister for Preventive Services Mr. Tolbert Nyenswah, Mr. James
Dorbor Jallah and Dr. Wede Elliott should be held liable for violating Section
66 (4) of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) Act,
which regulates protocols for government procurement, contract and others
with the sole aim of demonizing patriotic Liberians who risked their lives to
save fellow Liberians in the name of a so-called politically motivated audit
as though these people would be seeking public office is treacherous and
inhumane.
FPA should brace itself for a dozen counter journalistic schooling extravaganzas
for subjecting the newspaper to the most irresponsible form of journalism that
allows politicians to become its paymaster instead of building a culture of
arguably searching for the truth.
An editorial that thrives on a stupor such as IN THE COURT of public opinion
when journalism as a scientific practice that borders on research and scholarly
work cannot be anchored on disjointed debates consumed in the marketplace.
If journalism is about talent and ambition, we have a responsibility to appreciate
that a candid disposition by Her Excellency to intellectualize the fearlessness,
patriotism, gallantry and determination of the Ebola team when even the
very FPA was calling for Trusteeship and outsourcing the fight against Ebola
because of the vulnerability of our health care system; the blame game about
the governments inability to manage a volatile situation and grotesquely a call
for regime change then who is goosing the gander after the battle has been
won with GACs gospel according to Puritanical doctrine. How could we have
achieved the call for outsourcing Ebola fight in the view of FPAs political actors?
Lets for argument sake place the cards on the table in this equation of some
obscurely cum poorly analysed statement made by the President when she met
journalists in the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium? President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
did not address a foreign audience let alone foreign journalists. She spoke
succinctly but passionately. The President at no time justified anything next to
wrongdoing! All she did was to give a human face to the heroic zealotry, courage
and aggressive commitment to fight the deadly Ebola virus. We were dogged
by an overwhelming emergency situation at the time. Are we having reasons
to believe that FPA and its political allies were the only strangers in Jerusalem?
How could they have done it different?
Sheepishly, FPA political editorialist selects to ignorantly refer to the
rigorous PPCC and other processes at least when there was so much mass
confusion and the painstaking moment for strict adherence would have seen
more deaths than we could swallow but notwithstanding brings Sierra Leone
into the baseless analogy without supporting research arguments. All Liberians
might read the nasty and often vague politics from time to time but they have
scruples. FPA values establish norms nut when the Liberian Revenue Authority
(LRA) request strict compliance they cry wolf. They shouldnt since the laws
are on the books and should be implemented to the letter.
It is important Liberia understand our situation in a crystal and clear manner.
The challenge imposed on us as a result of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Our
nation was under attack by an unknown enemy and we could not sit supinely.
The President was appealing in the press revealing during the press conference
and not defending. What happened then? FPA in its usual subjective and neojournalistic style carried a banner headline, which portrayed that the President
was Shielding Corruption. Granted we had a situation of FPA offices set ablaze;
would FPA as directed in its Board (if one exists) sanctioned regulations wait
for boards approval to invite the Fire Service? We often talk about commonsense but it is not common at all.
Technically, an editorial presents a media institutions official position of
prevailing topical issue. It is not a political bone-picking column in any respect.
Conversely, to assume that AG Gaye allowed and encouraged members of the
Ebola Task Force to scold and query her about a report by the GAC bearing her
signature underscores a motive.
What is unkempt about the arguments presented by EBOLA Task Force
elements whom FPA is suggesting continue to herald the refrain that the
emergency situation? Is FPA or its political backers implying that we did not
have an emergency situation on our hands? Surely, that is the case. Laws exist
but there are rare, emergency and ad-hoc situations. Agree, Dorbor Jallah head
PPCC and so what prevents him from been called upon in a national emergency
crisis? The duality of his role to fight and combat Ebola is narrowly being
construed from the lens of political pettiness rather than the supreme national
sacrifice that culminated into tangible results.
It is important for avid readers to reckon there was a common feature in the
diction of the previous AG most often than, he was intrigued by the use of
regulatory quotes of all sort to express sometimes simple issues. Calling for
schooling in various Financial or Statutory Laws remain a non-issue. The public
that FPA and its collaborators are trying to impress ultimately care less about
defining the TOR of a sitting AG. It is just pointless!
FPA is implying that its PRIMARY cause for concern regarding the issue of
incompetence correlates with the poor choice of words and the condescending
tone members of the Ebola Task Force chose to belittle president Sirleafs
handpicked Auditor General, Yusudu Gaye. In its Editorial of May 20, 2015, FPA
termed the AG a CPA, which respectfully is not denigrating if you may. But to
suggest that she was handpicked is not just nit-witty but is indicative of a ploy.
Using FPAs puzzle-solving methodology; the only qualified Liberian to have
ever shown up at the GAC was John Morlu. No wonder why he has the newfound
Liberias so-called John the Baptist.
Contrarily, in the incongruence of this editorial leaves so much to be desire.
The previously advanced argument in FPA editorial referred to the AG as
handpicked but at the same time is coming to the defence of the same person
allegedly described as incompetent amid threats of court action by Ebola
lieutenants.
When the appointed John Morlu, did she have the slightest iota of assumption
that with less than three week on the job he would have preposterously and
unprofessionally announced: That the government was two times corrupt as
it successor? If we were to use FPAs allegory; THE TASK FORCEs label of the
GACs boss as incompetent is a reflection of the President who appointed her
to the position. Therefore John Morlu did not just become an embarrassment
to the President but an unprofessional bigot airing unscientific permutations.
He stayed on and concluded his tenure. How can Morlu claim professionalism
as FPA editorialist when he repeatedly compromised professional standards by
leaking unadulterated draft audit reports to the media?
How could the same acclaimed CPA earlier referred to, is now in FPAs
summersault lacks the requisite qualification to head the GAC? Something is
gone amiss! It is now obvious that Deputy Nanka who produced the Ebola
Fund Audit report, in this latest construct is the architect behind this obtaining
gimmick as FPAs Editorial is claiming: it means Nanka is more qualified than
the AG. Propaganda is a tool but putting a spin on what us self-evident will not
simply escape all minds.
Here we go, as the editorial is suggesting that: the President and the legislature
have sufficient reason to have this incompetent Auditor General removed
to protect the professional image of the GAC and to avoid a disgrace like her
predecessor Robert Kilby. How did poor Kilby come into the picture after hes
been long gone?
While we democratically welcome all those including the FPA who would
responsibly keep the Presidents feet to the fire on critical national issues the
culture of decorum and a deep sense of respect for our leaders should not elude
our sensibilities. FPA should not turn a blind eye to reality. The likes of Citi Bank,
UNDP, IMF, World Bank would not employ a professional that is incompetent.
Someone selected along with other Eminent persons from around the world to
head investigate the genocide cannot be called incompetent. The irresponsible
politics of the day in this country should not at any point erode our commonsense. Allowing people with political motives to increase distrust in the type of
work you should do is a mindless preoccupation.
Instructively, the business of governance and its operationalization are not run
through newspaper pages especially when there is a complete lack of ethical,
moral, professional and patriotic sense of duty whatever.
Department of Public Affairs
Executive Mansion
EDITORIAL TEAM
Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666;

077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com;
rodney.sieh@FrontPageAfricaonline.com
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
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Page 6 | Frontpage
Voinjama, Lofa County ice

President
of
Liberia Joseph N.
Boakai climaxed his
10 days Post Ebola
Home Coming with a Political
rally in Voinjama City.
Boakai who began his tour
under the theme POST
EBOLA HOME COMING was
characterized by political rally
and festivities with citizens
calling on him to contest the
2017 Presidency leaving many
people to
suggesting that
VP. Boakai tour was political
rather than a Post Ebola Home
Coming.
On Friday May 15, 205, the tour
started at the St. Pauls Bridge
which forms the boundary
between Bong County and
Lofa and making stops in every
town and village along the way.
Boakai spent a night in Zorzor
city where murmurs of a
petition for him to contest
2017 Presidential election
first surfaced. It was not until
he arrived in Quardu Gboni
District on Sunday May 17
2015, when the Paramount
Chief Musa M. Kamara read a
petition statement from chiefs,
Zoes , women leader and
youths for the V.P to contest
the 2017 election.
This petitioning of the VP
to contest 2017 election
was echoed everywhere in
the county where he visited
thereby over shouldering the
most publicized Post Ebola
Home Coming.
After seven days of crossing the
seven districts of Lofa County,
came the big one on Friday 22,
May 2015 when thousands of
Lofa citizens from across the
county converged on the city
of Voinjama to get the response
from V.P Boakai regarding their
petition request for him to
contest the 2017 Presidential
election.
NOT ALL IN FAVOR

Mixed Messages in Lofa Over VP Boakais Petition

Kolubah B. Akoi, 0777526828/0886526828/ Correspondent, kbta526@gmai.com / County Correspondent
The crowd which gathered to

welcome VP Boakai on Friday
May 22, 2017 has never being
seen in this city since the July
26, 2011 independence day
celebration which was held
in Voinjama city, says former
Voinjama City Mayor and
oldest serving mayor in Lofa
county James C. Mulbah Sr.
The streets of Voinjama was
filled with traditional culture
mask dancers, government
officials, ordinary citizens,
students and top official of
the Unity Party including
Senator Varney Sherman and
the Secretary General Wilmot
Paye. In Voinjama City, all
schools were suspended and
students mandated to line up
in their uniforms along the
streets to welcome VP Boakai.
APPREHENSIVE NIMBA
The three-hour long petition

program in the William V.S
Tubman county hall saw many
speakers:
Nimba County superintendent
Fong Gami Zoaggle was the
first amongst invited guests
to speak, He said, for him as
an individual, he could not
stand to say much because he
represents a group of people
(the Nimbaian) and as their
Superintendent, he have heard
what the people of Lofa County
have said and he have also
seen what they have done, so
he was going back home with
the massage sent by the people
of Lofa. He said it is like a coo
system: where all go to one
person farm and work, the next
time all go to the next persons
farm. This is Lofa time and
tomorrow it will be the people
of Nimba he said, but felt short
of committing the people of
After here he said, we will be

watching you with our eyes
open to see if you will follow
other politicians when they

come here to you to vote for
them and know that Lofa alone
cannot produce a president.
Almost all of the speakers had
one chorus: We will consult
our people with the exception
of Senator Dagoseh of Cape
who Said his four districts in
Cape Mont will support the VP
presidency.
NOT ALL IN SUPPORT OF
BOAKAI
But not everyone at the

program supported the VP for
the Presidency come 2017, a
prominent citizen of Lofa who
was also in the hall (Former
Chief) Sumowolo Ballah said,
he does not believe that VP
Boakai can better represent
DONT PROMOTE POLITICIANS WHO

DO BUSINESS WITH YOUR VOTE
RULE OF LAW IS CRITICAL TO THE BUILDNG

OF VIBRANT DEMOCRATIC NATION
Voinjama ice President Joseph N. Boakai says the rule of law is

crucial to the building of a vibrant democratic society in
which the rights of all citizens are guaranteed under the
law.
He said the provision of logistics for the courts to do their work
is critical in this process and Government will ensure that courts
are properly empowered to do their work as part of the process to
ensure the rule of law in the country, saying the lack of these basic
logistics have contributed to the slow pace for the dispensing of
justice in the country.
Vice President Boakai was speaking in Voinjama recently when he
paid a courtesy call on the tenth judicial circuit of Lofa County to
acquaint himself with activities there.
He noted that we have been talking about the logistics for
the courts for a very long time and that it is time to encourage
activities that promote the rule of law in the country.
The Tenth Judicial Circuit of Lofa County presented a document
listing the critical needs and priorities of the court to the
Vice President which the VP said he will consult with Judicial
authorities in Monrovia for proper redress.
Earlier the Vice President toured the Voinjama market where a
new market building under the auspices of the Sirleaf Market
Women Fund is being constructed, a dispatch from the Office of
the Vice President from Voinjama said.
Nimba to Hon Boakai bit.

Varney Sherman, Chairman
of the ruling Unity Party and
Senator of Cape mount County
said
he did not come to Lofa to
celebrate the defeat of Ebola
but was on a political mission
as a head of a political party
to listen to what the people of
Lofa had to say. Cllr Sherman
said, once you people say your
want your son to contest the
2017 presidential election in
Liberia, we will not say NO! But
you have to take the lead first
and we follow. Remember, he
said, the Liberian old parable
says: IF YOUR HOUSE DONT
SELL YOU, THE STREET WILL
NOT BUY YOU! So you should
be the want now carrying the
massage to all over Liberia.
Sherman sounded a word
of caution to Lofa citizen to
watch out for other politicians
after the petition program.
Brewerville,
Montserrado
County
s 2017 approaches,
Liberians have been
called upon to reject
politicians
who
only show up as concerned
humanitarians when they
want the votes of Liberians.
That is making business with
you vote, the general overseer
of the Apostolic Pentecostal
Church, Rev. Dr. Kortu K.
Brown reminded Liberians on
Sunday, May 24, 2015 when he
spoke at the 7th Anniversary
of the New Covenant Assembly
Apostolic Pentecostal Church
in
Dry-Rice-Supermarket,
Gardnersville,
Montserrado
County. Speaking from the
theme: Think about the
Future with Scripture Text: St.
Matthew 25:31-40.
Promotion
performance
with
The First Vice President of the

Liberia Council of Churches
(LCC) cautioned Liberians
to stop promoting people
into public office without a
performance record. Reverend
Brown argued that as the 2017
national elections approaches,
many persons will show up
vying for public office whose
performance is not known,

adding how do you elect
someone as Representative,
Senator or President when
you do not know any record of
his performance in the public
or private? The preacher
contended that if the country
must move forward, the people
should be concerned about the
quality of leaders they pick
In Matthew 25:31-40, the
preacher explained that Jesus
said when He set up His throne
on Judgment Day in Heaven,
people will be rewarded based
on their performance: I was
hungry and you fed, sick and
in prison and you visited me,
naked and you clothed me,
stranger and you took me in.
Where are the performance
records of many of our
contenders for public office?
he inquired
Elections humanitarians
The astute Pentecostal cleric

averred that whenever an
election is expected in the
country, the number of
humanitarians will increase.
How do you consider
someone a humanitarian who
only shows up to go good
when elections is near, he
quipped. The preacher argued
that for some Liberians they
only get serious to serve the
the interest of the people of

Lofa because, he has spent 10
years in power, yet we cannot
count anything he has done for
this county even to fix the road
leading to his home town of
Foya is terrible year in year out
he said to me.
Asked why he came to the
program? He said, he only came
to see what the program will
be like but not to support the
VPs bid to become president.
I cannot be running campaign
for someone that I cannot
point out what he has done
for his own people over the
past years. How can I convince
people that he will pave our
roads in 6 years?, He asked.
A youth advocate in Quadu
Gboni District Mohammed O.
Sheriff said, the petitioning of
VP Boakai in the name of Lofa
citizen to contest the 2017
election was masterminded by
higher-up government officials
in the county to maintain their
positions and not the will of
the people of Lofa County.
Marking the end of his visit,
VP Boakai on Saturday May
23, 2015 presented to the Lofa
County Community College
Practice Medical equipment
and text books donated by
the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter- Day Saints as a final of
10,000 USD worth of school
materials promised by the
church sometime last year.
The donation was delayed due
to the Ebola outbreak in the
county.
country or do well when they

are in government before they
got into government nobody
knew what they were doing.
How can you trust such
people with state power?
They
are
circumstantial
leaders only interested in the
country because they are in
government. Once they are out
they will be less concerned
Doing business with your
vote
Bishop
Brown
cautioned
Liberians to stop allowing
politicians to do business with
their votes. When someone
comes to you to do you good
only because he wants your
vote, thats doing business'
with your vote. Thats why
many elected leaders dont
perform because you marketed
your vote
Heavenly Rewards
The outspoken cleric called

on members of the church
and Christians in general to
think about the future as they
work for God because there
are three main days in our
lives: yesterday, today and
tomorrow which represent the
past, present and future and
whatever we do, the future
will come whether or not we
are prepared for it. Work so
that one day God can say to
you, well done thou good and
faithful servant. Watch out,
think about the future
UNTIMELY
Frontpage
Page 7
UP Lawmaker Describes Boakais Ambition to succeed Sirleaf
Monroviaepresentative Worlea
Dunah (UP- District
#7 Nimba County)
and an Executive
of the ruling
Unity Party
(UP) says he wholeheartedly
welcomes the decision by
Vice President Joseph Boakai
to succeed President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf.
Representative Dunah said,
the recent political activities
in Lofa County where the Vice
Standard Bearer of the UP was
petitioned by some citizens to
vie for the presidency in 2017
presidential elections is a
development that will help the
party but however said, that is
not the most urgent and dire
need of the party .
He said: I am convinced that
the only way for such ambition
to succeed is a formidable
organization, we are using this
medium to call on the Standard
Bearer,
President
Sirleaf
and the Chairman, Senator
Sherman to call a National
Conference of the ruling
Party or a Mini-Convention
which will serve to address
the persistent burning issues
confronting our party since
2011, to reflect on the 2014
Senatorial Elections and on the
merit of these issues formulate
a new way forward.
The lawmaker also said, the
Unity Party is at a crossroad
and midway its second
mandate faces a very stern test
for survival and its place in
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo@frontPageafricaonline.com
LOBBYING FOR
CONFIRMATION
Health Minister
Designate visits Capitol
Henry Karmo (0886522495)
history.
Our leader who has led
the country out of the most
devastating
epidemic
in
modern times, the unmerciful
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
must now ensure that this
party, this political platform
that
propelled
her
to
prominence remains a force
upon her retirement, he said.
The Nimba lawmaker claimed
that Article XIV Section 4(c)
and Section 7 ( c ), of the
party
constitution
states
that the Standard Bearer
and the National Chairman
are empowered by the
Constitution of the party to
exercise powers and authority
generally and customarily
exercised by persons in such

political positions.
Representatives Dunah also
stated that the result s of the
senatorial mid-term and the
Pro Tempore elections as
well as the activities of many
partisans, cabinet officials of
the government and many
others stand out as serious
political developments that
need to be assessed before
2017.
I am of the iron conviction
that such a Conference or MiniConvention should bring party
stalwarts and leaders from all
parts of the country together
and must address these issues
that are now threatening to
disintegrate this party, Rep.
Dunnah suggested.
The
lawmaker
furthered
Therefore we call upon all
well-meaning partisans and
leaders of the Unity Party to
join in this call for a meeting of
the partys leadership from all
across Liberia.
Vice President Joseph Boakai
over the weekend in Voinjama
accepted a petition from
the people of Lofa County to
contest for the Presidency in
2017 to succeed President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf but it is
not yet clear which party but he
is currently running the affairs
of the UP in collaboration
with the Partys chairman Cllr.
Varney Sherman.
WE WILL GIVE HIM BEFITTING BURIAL

Police Boss Massaquoi Assures Dead Motorcylist family
Bettie Johnson /betty.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com
Monroviahe body of the late

Motorcyclist Alfred
Tarnue is said to be
currently deposited
at the Stryker Funeral parlor
pending burial by the Liberia
National Police.
On April 16, 2015 the City of
Paynesville was engulfed with
massive violence following the
death of Tarnue.
His
death
prompted
motorcyclists to go on the
rampage, destroying several

police stations and depots
within the Paynesville vicinity.
His
fellow
motorcyclists
accused a police officer of his
death.
Their assertions could not
be verified thus leaving
the Ministry of Justice to
constitute an independent
board of inquiry which later
found out that the deceased
was indeed hit on the head by
a police officer and three others
following an autopsy report.

Police Inspector General Col.
C. Clarence Massaquoi headed
a high power police delegation
for a courtesy call on the family
of the later Tarnue JR, over the
weekend.
Director Massaquoi extended
his
deepest
condolences
on behalf of the police and
regretted the home going of the
late Tarnue.
I personally will do whatever
is possible to assist the family
in giving Mr. Tarnue a befitting

burial, Director Massaquoi
assured.
The mournful Liberian Police
Chief held the daughter of the
late Alfred on his lap depicting
a caring father.
He assured the family of
transparent investigation into
the matter as the father of
late Alfred Tarnue lauded the
Liberia National Police for the
visit.
Alfred said he was moved
by the visit of the LNP
Administration
while
expressing the consequences
of the loss of their son.
My family is deeply depressed
by the death of our son and
the manner in which he was
killed. Alfred was peaceful and
never ascribed to any form of
violence, so I was surprised to
know that my son was killed on
that faithful day, he lamented.
Several
persons
have
commended the visit by the
LNP stating that the visit shows
great leadership by the LNP.
The visit is a sign of great
leadership; to accept your
guilt/wrongdoing and show
remorse. Bravo LNP Director
Massaquoi,
Emmanuel
Mangblin Richards wrote on
his facebook page.
Monroviaespite hurdles and controversies surrounding her

confirmation, Health Minister Designate Dr. Bernice
Dahn still appears upbeat about the challenges ahead
as she looks determined to head the ministry of Health
succeeding Dr. Walter Gwenigale.
On Monday Dr. Dahn was seen entering the secretariat of the
Liberian senate where it is believed that she had gone to present
her credentials to pave the way for her confirmation hearing.
Dr. Dahn nomination by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has come
under serious criticisms from members of the Public including
health workers who have called on the senate not to confirm the
Health Minister designate.
In a statement presented to the Liberian senate health workers
in Liberia petitioned the senate asking them not to confirm the
Minister designate because according to them she was part of an
administration that marginalized health workers in Liberia and
paid low attention to their plight.
Dr. Dahn, is the Sirleaf Administration long Deputy Minister of
Health Services and Chief Medical Officer of Liberia, who was
recently nominated along with others to now head the Ministry.
But Dahn has been implicated by the General Auditing Commission
for financial and operational irregularities in the stewardship of
the Ministry for the period the 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 audits
of the Ministry.
The audits were part of the requirement for Liberia to meet
the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Completion Point,
which led to the waiver of Liberias external debt by bilateral and
multilateral donors.
Mr. Tolbert Nyenswah the Head of the countrys Incident
Management System (IMS), the organization that coordinates
Government Ebola Virus Disease efforts has been implicated
by the GAC in financial and administrative malpractices at
the Ministry of Health during the audit of the Ministry for the
2006/2007 and 2007/2008 fiscal years.
Mr. Nyenswah served as Deputy Head of the National Malaria
Control Program (NMCP) during the audit period. He was
recently nominated by President Ellen Jonson-Sirleaf as a Deputy
Minister, Ministry of Health. The nominations come amid growing
concerns about how Liberia intends to improve its dilapidated
health system in the aftermath of the deadly Ebola outbreak.
The GAC observed in the 2006/2007 audit of the Ministry of Health
that the Ministry failed to disclose Ecobank 10210140220-15
entitled MOH/SW/WHD to the GAC during the audit. The account
was used by the Division of Women, Health and Development. The
signatories to the account were Beatrice B. Duana, Phyllis NgumaKimba and Dr. Bernice Dahn. US$US$20,250.00 was withdrawn
from this account during the audit period. The GAC therefore
recommended that that Madam Beatrice B. Duana, Phyllis
Nguma Kimba and Dr. Bernice Dahn account for the amount of
US$20,250.00 withdrawn from the undisclosed account.
Page 8 | Frontpage
FOLLOWING THOROUGH SENATE SCRUTINY:
2 HEALTH OFFICIALS
CONFIRMED
Monrovia he
Liberian
Senate,
through
its committee on
Gender,
Health,
Women,
Social
Welfare
and Children Affairs, has
unanimously confirmed two
presidential nominees at the
Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare. Those confirmed
are: Mr. Edward B. Tolbert,
CPA Deputy Minister of
Health for Administration,
and Dr. Francis N. Kateh,
MD, Deputy Minister and
Chief Medical Officer of the
Republic of Liberia.
The confirmation of these
nominees took place at the
34th day sitting, 4th Session
of the 53rd Legislature of
the Republic of Liberia on
Thursday, May 21, 2015
following
a
thorough
examination of the nominees
at the confirmation hearing.
The examination of the
nominees took into account
their qualification, records
of services with other
institutions, and their policy
Mr. Edward B. Tolbert, MBA, CPA
Dr. Francis N. Kateh, MD
vision which is aimed at

positively impacting the
Ministry of Health as it
relates to health care delivery
system of the country.
The two confirmed deputy
ministers promised to work
cooperatively with others so
as to achieve the goals and
objectives of the Ministry in
terms of building a robust and
resilient healthcare delivery
system in the country.
In addition to the wealth of
experience and competence

these two health officials
are bringing on board in the
rejuvenation of Liberias
ruined
health
sector,
they have also pledged
to work collectively with
relevant
stakeholders
and government agencies
(Ministry of Finance and
Development Planning and
the Civil Service Agency) in
addressing concerns raised
by health workers within the
desperately in need.
She acknowledged that they
took the risk to come to the
assistance of the sub-region
because the disease was
unknown; but they performed
well fighting the virus and
provided training to enhance
the capacity of Liberian health
workers.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, the Liberian
leader made the assertion
in a special statement of
appreciation at an honoring
ceremony
and
farewell
reception hosted by the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs
and Health for the head of
mission and the medical team
of the AU-ASEOWA held at the
C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium of

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
on Thursday, May 21, 2015.
She praised the medical teams
and their heads who shared
their skills with Liberian
health workers working in
partnership to be able to defeat
Ebola. She pointed out that the
various trainings provided to
Liberians are critical to the
healthcare system in terms of
infection control as the country
is plagued with a lot of other
diseases beyond Ebola with
similar and related symptoms.
President Sirleaf also praised
international partners who
brought the extra support
financial, material and
technical noting that the
WE OWE YOU A
DEBT OF GRATITUDE
Monrovia
resident Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf says Liberians
owe the African Union
Support to the Ebola
Outbreak in West Africa (AUASEOWA) a debt of gratitude
as the medical team came
at the time they were most
needed in the fight against the
Ebola virus disease.
The Liberian leader said their
arrival brought inspiration to
Liberian health workers who
were overwhelmed by the
disease. She indicated that
nothing pleased her more than
the fact that African brothers
and sisters volunteered to
come to the aid of Liberia
and other affected countries
length and breadth of Liberia

and help the Minister of
Health to mitigate major gaps
within the health sector. The
two confirmed officials have
also committed themselves
to resolving grievances of
various associations in a bid
to foster a cordial working
relationship between the
workers and officials of the
Ministry.
The confirmation of these
officials has been described
contribution of all have made

her say, we are proud of the
African success.
She extended best wishes,
appreciation and gratitude on
behalf of her compatriots as
the medical volunteers depart
Liberia for the home countries
and also extended an invitation
to them to return whenever
they wish to the friends
theyve made. Come back and
see what you have started in
helping us to reform our health
care system, the Liberian
leader said, pleading that they
accept the invitation whenever
they can and consider Liberia a
second home.
Speaking earlier on behalf of
the medical team, the head of
Mission of the AU-ASEOWA,
Major General Dr. Julius Facki
Oketta, relatively short of
words, expressed happiness
and joy for the achievements in
Liberia against the Ebola virus
disease.
He said, from the onset of their
deployment here, the team
found Liberians effectively
providing the courage and
direction to their compatriots
that this country must survive
by dealing with Ebola.
General Oketta updated the
audience about the specific
interventions and support
provided by the AU-ASEOWA
and others during the battle
to contain the spread of the
disease and highlighted the
progress made that contributed
to the overall victory scored by
Liberia which was the worst
affected country. The fight was
done with excellent precision
and commitment and today,
together with you, we say
as one of the best decisions

that the Liberian Senate has
taken so far, especially when
the country has just emerged
out of a major health crisis
that took away many lives
and that the urgent need to
strengthen the healthcare
delivery system cannot be
over emphasized.
The
appointment
and
subsequent confirmation of
these professionals at the
Ministry of Health has since
been welcomed by health
workers across the country
to assist with the rebuilding
process of Liberias broken
health sector.
The now Deputy Minister of
Health for Administration at
the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare (MOHSW),
Mr. Edward B. Tolbert, CPA
previously served in several
managerial and technical
capacities with integrity
institutions in both Liberia
and the US. He has over 12
years work experience with
Healthcare institutions.
Mr. Tolberts training and
educational
background
encapsulate
attributes
of structural and ethical
environments to include
the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants,
AICPA, the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security and the
General Auditing Commission
which should inspire Donor's
Confidence and trust with
respect to increased support
to the Healthcare Sector.
For the now Deputy Minister
thanks you Madam President,

he said praising her exemplary
leadership and the recognition
of ASEOWAs role during the
fight against Ebola.
He said the team along with
Liberian counterparts drew
up an effective coordination
mechanism.
Major General Oketta urged the
African Union the immediately
operationalize an African
Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (African CDC). If
that is realized, the over 800
professional personnel he had
under his control should serve
as a base for the center as they
will be a quick response team
whenever there is outbreak
anywhere on the continent.
He said with the help of
ASEOWA and partners, over
2,000 Liberians have been
trained and now have the
competence that if anything
happens tomorrow when they
have left, these Liberians will
be able to deal with the initial
response.
He expressed his gratitude
to the Ministries of Foreign
Affairs, Health, and all
Liberians. May the good Lord
bless the people of Liberia,
including President Sirleaf and
the land of liberty.
For his part, the Minister
of
Foreign
Affairs,
Mr.
Augustine Ngafuan praised
the Nigerian, and Ethiopian,
Kenyan medical teams, African
Union Commission staff and
individual volunteers and
stressed that Liberia will
remain internally grateful for
their contributions to the fight
against the Ebola virus disease.
He
particularly
indicated
and Chief Medical Officer

of Liberia, Dr. Francis N.
Kateh, MD, prior to his
appointment and subsequent
confirmation, Doctor Kateh
served as Chief Medical
Officer at the Ganta United
Methodist Hospital, Public
Health Director at Anson
County Health Department,
North Carolina, USA, Deputy
Incident Manager of the
Incident
Management
System,
National
Ebola
Response in Liberia and
Medical Director/ Chief
Executive Officer at the
Jackson F. Doe Memorial
Regional Referral Hospital
in Tappita, Nimba County,
Liberia.
We would like to congratulate
the Senate Committee on
Health and Gender and the
entire Senate for a fantastic
job well done in confirming
these two sons of the land to
help strengthen the health
sector, and we equally seized
this opportunity to appeal
to the Liberian Senate to
urgently confirm the other
two nominees of the ministry
including: Dr. Bernice Dahn,
MD, Minister of HealthDesignate and Atty. Tolbert
Nyenswah, Deputy Minister
of Health for Emergency
Services, so as to afford the
ministry to have a complete
team that will tighten the
grip of building a resilient
health care system that will
mitigate the occurrences
of
ineffectiveness and
inefficiency in the sector.
that Liberians had become
accustomed
to
seeing
peacekeepers due to security
and political challenges in the
pass; but were now seeing, for
the first time, health workers
from ASEOWA and other
missions.
The Liberian foreign minister
said ASEOWA saw its work in
Liberia as not just a pride to
prevent deaths from Ebola; but
to prevent deaths no matter the
cost. Because you the medical
and technical personnel traded
the safety and security of our
countries for the uncertainties
and dangers with working
in an Ebola infested country,
you have set a new standard
in volunteerism and African
solidarity.
Earlier, Major General Oketta
was named and gowned
Paramount
Chief
Aquoi
Tellowoyan of Lofa County.
In the coming weeks, he
is expected to be taken to
Voinjama, Lofa County where
a special ceremony pertaining
to his title is will be performed.
Besides, the Head of Mission
of the African Union Support
to the Ebola Outbreak in
West Africa (ASEOWA), Major
General Dr. Julius Facki Oketta
and the 373 medical team and
volunteers were presented
certificates for their dedicated
and sacrificial work in Liberia.
The AU-ASEOWA medical team
deployed to Liberia included
98 Nigerians, 88 Ethiopians,
92 Kenyans, 88 individual
volunteers, and seven AU
Commission deployed staff.
They were medical personnel
in various disciplines.
Abidjan, Cote dIvoire

resident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has arrived in Abidjan,
Cte dIvoire to participate in the Annual Meetings of
the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group from
May 25 to 29, 2015.
Other highpoints of the meetings are the election of the Bank's
8th President, the commemoration of its 50th Anniversary,
and the formal admission of South Sudan as its 54th regional
member country and its 80th global member.
The 50th Annual Meetings of the African Development Banks
Board of Governors and the 41th Meetings of the Board of
Governors of the Banks concessionary window, the African
Development Fund (ADF), signal the Bank Groups return to
its headquarters in Abidjan after more than 11 years in Tunis,
Tunisia. The AfDB returned to Abidjan in 2014.
According to a Dispatch from the Ivorian capital, the Liberian
leader and delegation were received at the Felix Houphouet
Boigny International Airport by an array of Ivorian government
officials led by the countrys Prime Minister, His Excellency
Daniel Kablan Duncan.
I welcome you on behalf of President Alassane Ouattara, the
Government and friendly people of Cte dIvoire as you have
come to join in the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the
AfDB Group as a Special Guest and do wish you a pleasant stay
in Cte dIvoire, Prime Minister Duncan said.
Also on hand to receive President Sirleaf and delegation
were Liberias Ambassador to Cte dIvoire, His Excellency
Johnny A. McClain, embassy officials and nearly 200 Liberians
resident in Abidjan who had turned out to give the Liberian
leader a rousing welcome.
Later in the evening, approximately 300 Liberians assembled
at the premises of the Liberian Embassy for a Special Welcome
and Thank You Program in honor of President Sirleaf.
Ambassador Johnny McClain welcomed President Sirleaf and
delegation to Abidjan and on the premises of the Liberian
Embassy and indicated that the gathering was a result of a
grateful people wishing to express their delight, love and
appreciation to their leader, particularly after the containment
of the Ebola disease due to her extraordinary leadership.
He commended the Liberian leader for providing for he and
his staff a conducive environment and structure to conduct
the affairs of the mission in Cte dIvoire and pointed out that
the development of the countrys foreign mission is not just
a Ministry of Foreign Affairs business, but a project of the
Liberian President.
Ambassador McClain commended President Sirleaf to
approving the construction of a Chancery on the Embassy
grounds which will alleviate the issue of rent payment and
other expenses.
In the Special Thank You Statement delivered by the
president of the Liberian community in Cte dIvoire, Mr.
Alexander Momolu Watson, he thanked President Sirleaf and
her government for effectively bringing the Ebola crisis to an
end and pointed out that the over 6,000 Liberians residing
in Cte dIvoire were happy and very grateful to the Liberian
leader.
Madam President, you were firm, as a great leader, in
providing direction for the country during the Ebola crisis
with the help and support of international partners and the
Liberian people, particularly health workers (domestic and
international) who are the real heroes.
He expressed sincere regrets and sorrow for the over 4,000
citizens and residents who lost their lives to the virus and
prayed that God consoles their families and grant them a place
in Heaven. Mr. Watson acknowledged Gods intervention in
the country and for the life of the President, adding that it is
only God that will reward President Sirleaf for all she has done
and continues to do for Liberia.
He then appealed for assistance to ensure the biggest
Independence Anniversary celebrations ever in the history of
Liberians residing in Cte dIvoire; assistance to construct a
headquarters for the community; as well as mobility to reach
Liberians wherever they may be in Cte dIvoire.
Mr. Watson also called on the Liberian President to prevail
on her counterpart, President Ouattara, to reopen the Ivorian
side of the border to ensure the free movement of goods and
people across both countries.
In response, President Sirleaf thanked the Liberian community
for the honor and for assembling in their numbers to welcome
her and her delegation. She used to occasion to introduce
and present members of her delegation. We did not expect
to see this huge number of people here tonight, but we are
pleased and grateful that you could come to welcome us, she
indicated.
The Liberian leader told her compatriots in Cte dIvoire
that the country has come a long way and that even though
things are not where she wants it to be, more progress and
transformation has taken place with the involvement of all
Liberians. She stressedmuch has been done because Liberians
chose to be very peaceful during the last ten years, adding that
with peace, the country can reach its development objectives.
President Sirleaf said though Ebola disrupted the progress of
Liberia, her government was putting the pieces back together
with the development of the National Recovery Plan which
sees building a resilient healthcare system at the top of the
priorities. She indicated that education, infrastructure (roads,
Frontpage
Page 9
HUGE THANK YOU
CELEBRATION
President Sirleaf Arrives in Cte dIvoire Ahead of African Development Bank

50th Anniversary Celebration; Attends at Liberian Embassy Compound
power, ports, water, etc.) are all important for the recovery
process.
She said she was in Cte dIvoire to join the AfDB celebrate its
50th Anniversary because the Bank has stood with Liberia in
its rebuilding process and it was important to show gratitude
and appreciation.
She thanked the president of the Liberian Association in
Cte dIvoire for his kind words about Liberians and her
administration. I hope you all are here acquiring skills that
you can bring back home when you decide to return. We need
all the skills and education to build our country, she pointed
out.
On the issue of the headquarters, President Sirleaf told the
Liberians that was not her desire to institutionalize refugee
life but rather look forward to seeing Liberians return home
and help rebuild the country. She assured the Liberians that
the border issue will be addressed with her counterpart as
part of her mission to that neighboring country.
She however promised to review their request and presented
an amount of US$10,000 for the celebration of this years
independence anniversary by the Liberian community there.
Page 10 | Frontpage
DEPUTY PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER

DEMANDS QUALITY RURAL ROADS
eputy Public Works

Minister for Rural
Development
and
Community Services
Jackson N. Paye has insisted
that quality rural road network
remains a major priority of the
infrastructure Ministry and
cautioned road contractors to
produce nothing but the best.
The benefits of the better
rural roads and bridges to the
local population are enormous,
and those who build them
must do so with high standards
for these roads to last longer,
Minister Paye noted recently
during an inspectional tour
of the Agriculture Sector
Rehabilitation Project (ASRP)
in southeastern Liberia.
Inspecting the projects in
Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Grand

Kru and Maryland last week,
Paye he was fairly satisfied
with most of the activities,
but demanded improvement
on the 27km Zwedru to Zia
Town Road as well as other
infrastructure projects.
Minister Paye, along with local
county officials, expressed
concerns over the poor quality
of compaction being done by
the contractor on the Zwedru
to Zia Town Road.
The Liberian Government
received a US$ 18.3 million
grant from the African
Development Bank (AfDB) in
2010 to implement the five-
Inspects Several Infrastructure, Agric Projects
year ASRP, under the auspices

of the Ministry of Agriculture
through designated Project
Coordination
Unit.
With
the project focusing on
agricultural
infrastructure
rehabilitation such as lowland
irrigation schemes, feeder/
farm-to-market roads and
agro-processing facilities as
well as office building, the
Ministry of Public Works is
providing technical services on
the infrastructure component.
The Zwedru to Zia Road is a
major one that leads to the
Ivorian Border and at the same
time provides access to over

20,000 inhabitants along the
corridor.
The deputy infrastructure boss
said rural roads provide better
access for farmers to bring
their produce to the market,
ensure reduction in transport
and vehicle maintenance costs,
and enhance better access
to clinics, schools and other
social and medical centers.
He said under the ASRP,
maintenance of these roads
will provide employment
opportunities through paid
routine maintenance works
generally from the local along

the road corridor. This aspect
of the work empowers the
local people economically
thereby contributing to the
Poverty Reduction Strategy of
the Government of Liberia.
The tour which began on
Wednesday 13 May and ended
on Tuesday 19 May, and
included meetings with local
officials as well as Agriculture
Focal Persons, Feeder Road
Engineers, Resident Engineers,
and WASH Coordinators of the
Counties visited.
During the tour, Minister Paye,
along with Mr. Mrityunjoy

Ghosh, acting team leader
of the Liberian Swedish
Feeder Road Project (LSFRP),
participated in the pipe
concrete culvert installation
(PCCI) demonstration project
in Ganta, Nimba County.
PCCI is a capacity building
program under the LSFRP
aimed at providing skills to
individuals in the culvert
manufacturing
industry.
Minister Paye implored the
five participants in this project
to develop entrepreneurial
spirit by being self-employed
and provide employment

opportunities to others.
He asked that women should
be encouraged in their line of
work so as to empower them.
Minister Paye further told the
trainees that the skills they
have acquired will propel
them to seek work with large
contractors as sub-contractors
for all culvert works.
Nimba County Development
Superintendent, Hon. Dor
Cooper,
challenged
the
trainees to incorporate their
businesses so that the County
can legitimately do business
with them.
In Fishtown City, River Gee
County, the team inspected
the
Water
Management
Infrastructure and Swamp
Layouts
in
Jarkarken,
Kanweaken, and Flewroken,
and discussed issues facing
the projects with Ministry of
Agriculture counterparts.
The team inspected the water
management
infrastructure
and
expressed
general
satisfaction over the pace and
quality of work being done by
the contractor.
The team also held discussion
with Dr. Anthony Dioh,
(acting for the president
of the Tubman Technical
University) who provided
briefing on rehabilitation of
the dilapidated dam/diversion
weir to reinstate the supply
of water to the Philadelphia
lowland rice irrigation scheme.
The dam is part of ASRP funded
by the African Development
Bank. When completed and
operational, the dam will
facilitate the provision 403,000
cubic meter water 37 hectares
of rice.
CHINA RENEWS LIBERIA COMMITMENT

President Sirleaf Receives Special Envoy on FOCAC, Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao; Reassured on Implementation of Outstanding Projects in Liberia
Monrovia resident Ellen Johnson

Sirleaf received in
audience the Special
Envoy of the Peoples
Republic of China (PRC) Forum
on China-Africa Cooperation
(FOCAC), His Excellency Mr.
Zhou Yuxiao; also a former PRC
Ambassador to Liberia.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, the Liberian
leader welcomed Ambassador
Yuxiao
and
expressed
happiness that he could make
it back to his second home
after a long period of absence.
Let me welcome you back
home Mr. Ambassador. I say
welcome back home because
who lived and worked here
with us and made many good
friends including myself, she
said, adding further, The fruits
of your work in Liberia are
visible and set the foundation
upon
which
all
other
succeeding Ambassadors have
stood to enhance China-Liberia
relations and cooperation.
President Sirleaf thanked
China for its support to
Liberia during the Ebola
crisis and acknowledged that
China was the first country
to come to Liberias aid when
international attention and
support were initially not
forthcoming. She recounted
that China dispatched aircrafts
loaded with much needed
medical materials and supplies
that were so critical and
urgently needed at the time
and admitted that it was a big

support that began the process
of containing the deadly Ebola
virus disease.
She stressed that Liberia is
pleased and happy to have
contained the epidemic, but
with the other two neighboring
countries
still
reporting
cases, the country cannot be
considered totally free. The
Liberian leader indicated that
the country was back on full
alert, but with full confidence
in the countrys capacity to
respond to and deal with any
future outbreak.
President Sirleaf called on
China
and
international
partners to give maximum
support to Guinea and Sierra
Leone which are still affected
and to assist the region
implement its regional plan
- the Post-Ebola Economic
Stabilization and Recovery
Program - which has as
an important component,
improving the healthcare
systems of the affected
countries.
She acknowledged that Chinas
support to Liberias postconflict recovery process
has been impressive and
has impacted many sectors
including health, education,
infrastructure, peacekeeping,
national security, agriculture,
energy,
among
others.
Chinas
footprints
are
clearly visible in all sectors,
particularly the health sector
with and construction and
operationalization
of
the
Jackson F. Doe Memorial
Hospital in Tappita, Nimba
County
which
provides
services not only to Liberian,
but other nationals in the subregion.
President Sirleaf also told the
Chinese Special Envoy that
more emphasis should now be
placed on the modernization
and industrialization of the
agricultural sector and the
promotion of manufacturing to
enhance job creation and the
strengthening of the economy.
She also reminded Ambassador
Yuxiao about outstanding
projects being undertaken by
China in Liberia and asked for

action to implement same.
Responding,
the
Chinese
Special Envoy on FOCAC
extended
warn
greetings
from the President of the
Peoples Republic of China and
expressed joy and satisfaction
at being and feeling at home
in Liberia. Madam President,
I have been away from Liberia
for a number of years now.
What I see upon my return
shows great progress and
transformation. I am proud to
have been a part of Liberias
rebuilding process under your
exemplary and extraordinary
leadership which has not only
ensured the transformation I

see, but which led to the defeat
of the deadly Ebola virus
disease, Special Envoy Yuxiao
said.
The
former
Chinese
Ambassador
to
Liberia
indicated that he was in Liberia
for three purposes: To share
notes and views on LiberiaChina relations and plans
for the future; get President
Sirleafs opinion on how China
could do better with the FOCAC
initiative; and to consult and
exchange view on international
matters with emphasis on the
United Nations.
He informed President Sirleaf
that China was very pleased
with its bilateral relations with
Liberia and acknowledged
excellent
cooperation
on
issues of the economy, trade,
education, health,
security,

among others.
The
former
Ambassador
pointed out that China is proud
that it could stand by Liberia
during the Ebola crisis. This
visit also aims at seeing how
China and Liberia can work
well together on development
and cooperation after Ebola
with particular focus on health,
education and infrastructure.
Towards this end, the Chinese
Special Envoy on FOCAC
announced that China was
fully ready to undertake and
conclude
all
outstanding
projects
including
the
Ministerial
complex,
the
Monrovia Vocational Training
Center, the renovation of the

Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports
Complex and expansion work
on the Capitol Building - the
seat of the Liberian Legislature.
China also commits itself to
new programs and projects
during the post-Ebola recovery
period consistent with the
FOCAC Agenda.
He pointed out the teams for
the various projects are being
mobilized and processed and
will in Liberia in the next two
weeks.
On
FOCAC,
Ambassador
Yuxiao pointed out that it has
been around for over fifteen
years now and options are
being sought on how to make
it grow and advance; thus
making it better and bigger.
He said sincerity, real result,
good trade have been key and
critical to Chinas relations and
partnership with Africa and
that China wants to benefit
from
President
Sirleafs
experience and wisdom on
many issues.
He pointed out that China will
work to align its interventions
within the context of FOCAC to
the African Unions 2063 vision
because the countrys excess
production capacity has to be
shipped to Africa, man regional
aviation, railway network, agro
modernization, among others
as areas of importance.
He is visiting Liberia, Guinea,
Mali, Ghana and Togo on his
current tour.
Frontpage
NEXT ASSIGNMENT
COMMANDER OF FORT BLISS' LIBERIA MISSION READY FOR
FORT BLISS >>

he past two years
have been a blur for
the officer who led the
Fort Bliss contingent
to Liberia in West Africa last
fall and into the winter, but he
wouldn't trade it for anything
in the world.
Lt. Col. Whitney B. Gardner has
commanded the 2nd Battalion,
501st Aviation Regiment,
Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st
Armored Division since July
2013. Gardner, a 41-yearold from Memphis, Tenn., is
preparing to give up command
on June 19 and move on to his
next assignment at Fort Knox,
Ky.
"This is the happiest I've ever
been in my Army career,"
Gardner said, calling his
family's two years at Fort
Bliss and El Paso an "absolute
blessing."
Gardner has led a 600-soldier
general
support
aviation
battalion, nicknamed the Iron
Knights.
With their Black Hawk and
Chinook helicopters, they have
supported every major Fort
Bliss training exercise, like
Iron Focus and the Network
Integration Evaluation. They
even took part in a NASA
exercise at White Sands Missile
Range in which they tested new
rocket engines by dropping
them out of their helicopters
while in flight, he said.
But what stands out is their
five-month participation in
the anti-Ebola mission called
LOOKS BACK ON PAST TWO YEARS
Lt. Col. Whitney B. Gardner, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, stands with members of Alpha
Company, from left, company commander Capt. Jeffrey Epps and crew chiefs Spc. Kyle Salchow and Pfc. Jacob Reeder.
Alpha Company is the 1st Armored Division's only command aviation company. (David Burge - El Paso Times)
Operation United Assistance.

Gardner led about 250
soldiers from Fort Bliss to
West Africa. They provided
air support, transportation
for the mission's command
group, heavy lifting during
the construction of treatment
clinics and transportation of
equipment and supplies.
"Obviously, (going to Liberia)
was our biggest mission and
what we are most known for,"
said Gardner, a helicopter pilot
himself. "That's impossible
to avoid when you are on the
world stage."
Gardner's
Liberian
task
force consisted mostly of
soldiers from his battalion

but contained some soldiers
from the 3rd Battalion, 501st
Aviation Regiment; the 127th
Aviation Support Battalion;
and the Combat Aviation
Brigade's headquarters. All
are part of Fort Bliss' Combat
Aviation Brigade.
The Fort Bliss contingent was
just one part of about 2,100
U.S. service members, who
participated in the West Africa
mission and were commanded
by the 101st Airborne Division
(Air Assault) from Fort
Campbell, Ky.
The Iron Knights were
prepared to stay in Africa for
LIBERIA STRUGGLES WITH VIOLENCE ALONG
INSECURE IVORY COAST BORDER
Zwedru (Liberia) (AFP) n February last year

a gang of men with
machetes
ambushed
two villages in western
Ivory Coast, disembowelling a
soldier and pulling out most of
his organs before slaying three
of his colleagues.
The attack marked the brutal
resumption of a campaign of
violence blamed on militants
crossing from Liberia that
has displaced thousands and
claimed dozens of lives in the
border area.
Experts have warned that the
violence could intensify in the
months ahead of presidential
elections due to take place in
Ivory Coast in October.
The crisis was ignited by
former
Ivorian
president
Laurent
Gbagbo's
refusal
to accept election defeat to
Alassane Ouattara in 2010,
leading to a four-month conflict
that claimed some 3,000 lives.
Thousands
of
Gbagbo's
supporters fled the far west,
which was hit particularly
hard, across the 700-kilometre
(435-mile)
border
into
neighbouring Liberia when he
was captured in April 2011.
Observers say the pro-Gbagbo
political elites, now mostly in
Ghana or elsewhere in west
Africa, are funding incursions
into western Ivory Coast by
Liberian mercenaries and
Ivorians recruited in Liberia's
refugee camps.
The cross-border violence
saw a significant spike in 2012

that saw more than 40 people
killed.
In the worst incident, seven
United Nations troops from
Niger, 10 civilians and at least
one Ivorian soldier were killed
while patrolling villages south
of the town of Tai.
Thirteen Liberian nationals
were jailed for life but critics
dismissed the trial as a witch
hunt against the Krahn -- the
ethnicity of former president
Samuel
Doe
who
was
assassinated in 1990, sparking
14 years of civil war.
Oldman James, a Liberian
living in Zwedru, a provincial
capital near the border, claims
to have taken part in the
ambush but says he has never
nine months to a year after

arriving in late October, but
by early 2015 they knew they
had helped to defeat Ebola in
Liberia and they were able to
come home early, Gardner said.
"Looking back, it's easy for
me, the families and the local
community to forget how
scary of a mission it was (when
we first found out about it),"
Gardner said. "There was so
much we didn't know and
to deploy and step on the
plane, that really took a lot of
courage."
But the deployment was a
huge success, Gardner said.
No one got sick with Ebola
been pursued.
- 'Harassed, killed and raped' "To be frank with you there
are so many reasons why we
took part in these attacks," the
32-year-old, using an assumed
name to protect his identity,
told AFP.
"First and foremost, our
brothers and sisters from the
other side of the river were
being harassed, killed and
raped by Alassane forces. We
could not sit and watch this go
on."
He added that he had also been
motivated by money, although
he did not say who had paid
him to take part.
The UN Panel of Experts
on Liberia voiced concerns
in November last year that
Liberian refugee camps were
operating as "safe havens and
convenient recruiting and
staging grounds for crossborder attacks".
Meanwhile British charity
Conciliation Resources, which
has been working in the
region since 2007, said in a
recent report there was "real
concern" that plans for UN
troop withdrawals on both
sides would create a security
vacuum.
The region risks a "spike in
violence" ahead of the election,
the charity said, describing
communities on the border
as living "in a persistent state
of fear, especially at night,
as rumours of attacks keep
increasing".
An attack on Ivorian troops
in January by 20 armed men
or malaria and they were

able to successfully support
the mission, which included
helping to build a series of
treatment clinics, he said.
Gardner and his family will
return to Fort Knox, where
he will serve in the Human
Resources Command as the
Aviation Branch chief with the
Officer Personnel Management
Division. Gardner had been
stationed at Fort Knox in 201113 before coming to Fort Bliss
and had worked with Human
Resources Command before in
several different roles.
This will almost be like a
homecoming for the Gardner
family. This is the first time they
have ever returned to a post
where they had been stationed
previously. Gardner is from
Tennessee, while his wife,
Melissa, is from Mississippi.
But he and his family have
enjoyed a special time in El
Paso, which makes leaving
bittersweet, he said. Gardner
got to serve with three other
battalion commanders in the
Combat Aviation Brigade who
have all been close friends
since they were 18-year-old
cadets together at the U.S.
Military Academy at West
Point, N.Y.
This was a rare occurrence
which left two soldiers dead

in the border town of Grabo
underlined that the violence
shows no sign of abating.
- Jobless ex-combatants -
Accusations of the involvement

of Gbagbo supporters were
dismissed as "baseless" by
Pascal Affi N'Guessan, the
president of the former
president's Ivorian Popular
Front (FPI) party.
"It would surprise me if
FPI
leaders,
who
have
enough problems getting by
themselves, have been able
to finance attacks. These
comments
are
insulting,
contrary to the philosophy of
the FPI," he told AFP.
But
UN
investigators
say Ivorian and Liberian
insurgents have consistently
named high-ranking members
of the former Gbagbo regime as
being politically or financially
involved in the militant activity.
The UN views the unrest in
the wider context of a regional
issue arising from Liberia's two
civil wars, which left thousands
of former combatants jobless
in the mineral-rich forests at
its borders.
Many scrape a living on illegal
gold mining and drugs and
weapons trafficking, launching
cross-border attacks to protect
their own interests as much as
at the behest of foreign powers.
Underlining the scope of the
problem, around 50 Liberian
former combatants led a series
of ambushes on rangers in
Page 11
and was a unique chapter in

their lives, Gardner said. He
has also taken particular pride
in leading a unique battalion
that has the only command
aviation company, the only
heavy lift company, the only
medical evacuation company
and the only air traffic services
company in the 1st Armored
Division, he said.
Chief Warrant Officer 4
Brandon Tipton, an El Pasoan
who is the standardization
instructor pilot for the
battalion, said Gardner set a
great command tone where
young leaders could do their
jobs, learn from their mistakes
and not be micromanaged.
Battalion Command Sgt. Maj.
John Kolodgy said Gardner is
calm, cool and collected while
leading soldiers.
"It is a phenomenal quality he
has," Kolodgy said. "He will
definitely be missed."
Gardner will be replaced by
Lt. Col. Richard M. Zygadlo,
who most recently served
as the professor of military
science at Drexel University in
Philadelphia.
David Burge may be reached at
546-6126.
Lt. Col. Gardner:
Education:
bachelor's
degree in languages from
the U.S. Military Academy;
master's in liberal arts with a
concentration in history from
Louisiana State University.
Awards:
Bronze
Star;
Meritorious Service Medal
(five oak leaf clusters); Air
Medal; Army Commendation
Medal (two oak leaf clusters);
Army Achievement Medal.
Family: Married to the former
Melissa Dunaway, originally
from Brookhaven, Miss. Two
children: Grason, 14; and
Greta, 10.
Sierra Leone's gold-rich Gola

Forest in 2013, armed with
shotguns and assault rifles.
Meanwhile
violence
that
left at least 55 wounded in
the southern Guinean city
of N'Zerekore last year was
blamed on former rebels who
have flooded into the city from
Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Peter Solo, a senior local
government official in Liberia's
southeastern Grand Gedeh
County, describes the Ivorian
border, formed mainly by the
Cavalla River, as "completely
porous".
He rejects evidence that
attacks in Ivory Coast are
being launched from across
the border, however, and told
AFP there had been "no direct
threat from Liberia".
An officer at a border
checkpoint said any solution
to the unrest would have to
involve Ivory Coast giving
assurances to the ex-Gbagbo
loyalists that they could return
without fear of recriminations.
Village chiefs from both sides
have been in talks but the
process has been criticised by
Liberian security officials for
excluding border agents on the
ground.
"When they get through
drinking their wine and
champagne, they come and
ask us how the situation is," a
Liberian security source told
AFP.
"That is not the way to solve
the problem. Those who are
actively working in the field
should be involved."
Page 12 | Frontpage
ELLEN SPOILS HIS VOTES

Liberians Describe Boakai a replica of Sirleaf
Monroviaarely days after his

acceptance of the
petition to contest
the pending 2017
General and Special election
in Liberia several Liberians
have branded Vice President
Joseph Boakai as old wine in
new bottle.
While President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf has maintained that she
is focused on development and
does not want to talk politics
about her successor, her Vice
President accepted a petition
to contest as President in his
native 2017.
Not many Vice presidents have
ascended to the position of the
Presidency but the Liberian
Vice President believes that he
can make a good president if he
is elected 2017 by Liberians.
Speaking to FPA several
Liberians say the ascendency
of Amb. Boakai to the Liberian
Presidency will be a failure like
the present regime.
The Liberians believe Boakai
is no different from President
Sirleaf as they are the same.
Abdullai Sheriff, a money
changer said For me I welcome
the idea because I hail from
Lofa and if I see someone from
my county vying for the highest
seat, I think I am supposed to
support them and also he can
make a good president because
if you look at his past record
nothing bad on him mainly the
issue of corruption and also he
is carrying on several projects
in Lofa and in the nation.
He continued: It doesnt mean
that if you receive a petition
from a specific group it shows
that you will win but I think he
can make a good president.
Bettie Johnson/ betty.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com
Abdullai Sheriff
Kesselly Q. Bassey
Helen S. Momo
Faith Blapooh
Memeh Jones
I will say every human is entitled to his/her opinion.

I think he dont stand a chance to win the presidency,
because there is nothing he has done to encourage us to
put him in power, and Liberia is still at square zero just
how we taught they could help but they failed and Madam
Sirleaf failure is his failure so he just the same as her
-Matilda Oppong, Student United Methodist University.
Helen S. Momo Freshmen
President United Methodist
University said honestly
speaking the Vice President
is day dreaming because his
acceptance of the petition is
something that anybody can
do. We should understand
that right now he is the Vice
President and there are
several oppositions and their
government is not pleasing to
the young people and there
have been no change and
Prince Tokpa
someone from the Government

to come and want to be
President we will not continue
corruption neither staying in a
mess up education system.
Helen added He worked in the
Government and if something
is wrong he should be able to
stand up, he should be able
to speak out if something is
wrong, whether wrong or right
he says yes, then how can we
vote for him or why will you
bring the same government
that has put us in this condition
Matilda Oppong
knowing fully well how messy

our education system is,
corruption is all over, how
illegal and injustice has been
rendered to the populace of
this country.
Prince Tokpa, a loan officer at
Access Bank said actually for
me few group from Lofa mainly
the Kissi cant petition him
and he thinks he has already
won, first thing looking at his
present leaders the record
of the Government for the
commoners is not okay and
seeing him coming from that
background I think his vote
already has spoiled, though
he has no corruption scandal
on him but he has failed to do
something for the county.
He continued: Most people say
Agriculture but many people
can carry on Agriculture, Lets
look at his county and see the
level of development in terms

of education nothing, go to
various universities and see
the Lofa Student Association
complaining about scholarship;
he as a prudent person not
doing anything about it for me
I advise that 2021 or 2022 for
the presidency.
Kesselly Q. Bassey, chairman
of the Concerned Students of
Liberia the vice president has
a right to become a president
because he is a Liberian and
those who petitioned him also
have their right to do so but one
thing I can say that we will not
put old wine in new bottle and
we can say to him dont waste
your time we understand that
you are the Vice president
to Madam Sirleaf who is the
president of this country and
we know the kind of suffering,
poverty, bad governance you
people have introduced to us
in this country.
Bassey also said We cannot be
brave in a sound mind to elect
Joseph Boakai because he is
part of the Government who
have introduced terrors and
corruption on us what I have
to say is Mr. Boakai dont waste
your time, the people of Lofa
in majority did not petition
him and you are not in the
interest of the people for the
over 9 years, lets look at the
road, the people are living in
total destitution and medical
facilities and education is
lacking.
Bassey continued: He has
failed the people of Lofa and
the country as a whole and all
we I can say is he will never
be elected as President it is
not a swear but is because
of his legacy he has placed
himself in as vice president
and we are wise people, when
the rain falling you fetch the
water sooner but no one cant
tell us that he will make a good
president when he ascend to
presidency because he has
failed us and let them leave us
alone.
Faith Blapooh student of

Political Science at UMU does
not see Boakai as a presidential
material.
Said Faith I think his view

is not bad because I learn he
is from Lofa, so his people
petitioned him and I feel that
is his right to run, but for me I
dont see him as a presidential
material because he has been
Vice President for two terms
and having made no change
and has always been mute in
decision making, education
system down, the roads the
electricity we know we are
from war but if the Government
comes to power we expect to
see more but nothing has been
done we are not stupid and we
will not elect anyone who will
be mute.
Memeh Jones student, UMU
studying accounting it is
laughable and a joke and he is
a part of the spoiled and mess
up system and if he really form
a part of the list in 2017 we
will give him a protest vote;
Lofa cannot make him the
president. I hail from Lofa and I
dont support him because look
at the road, health facilities
and education in the county it
doesnt represent him as a vice
president.
Matilda Oppong, Student UMU
see no chance for the current
Vice President.
I will say every human is

entitled to his/her opinion, I
think he dont stand a chance
to win the presidency, because
there is nothing he has done
to encourage us to put him in
power, and Liberia is still at
square zero just how we taught
they could help but they failed
and Madam Sirleaf failure is
his failure so he just the same
as her said Matilda.
Background
The USAID Governance and Economic Management Support Program (GEMS) is a five-year technical assistance program to
improve performance through strengthening public sector capacity in Liberia, utilizing in-depth assessments and performance
improvement methodologies. GEMS will develop and implement an economic governance capacity building program that targets
human and institutional capacity building within GOL ministries, agencies, and commissions (MACs) under the three thematic
areas of 1) managing national resources effectively 2) Building national wealth and 3) Promoting equity and youth empowerment.
Scope of Work:
The CCN Asset Management, Data Collection Trainer Specialist (AMDCTS), will report to the GEMS Maintenance and Asset
Management Expert (M&AME). The synergistic nature of the GEMS implementation will require him/her to work across all GEMS
components. The CCN AMDCTS will work with the GEMS M&AME and the GEMS implementation team are currently in the process
of implementing targeted technical assistance and capacity building initiatives to ensure that the Ministries, agencies, commissions
and state owned enterprises (MACS) receiving GEMS assistance exhibit quantifiable improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness
and transparency with which they use and record government Assets, including buildings, vehicles, generators, and other fixed/
non-fixed assets. He/She will assist in the introduction of new processes and, where appropriate, automated systems, to enable the
GOL institutions, and the General Services Agency to track and register public assets. He/She will work with the MACS to assist in
the development and implementation of policies and procedures and build staff capacity to maintain government assets effectively.
In doing so He/She along with the GEMS M&AME will work closely with the GEMS ICT Expert to ensure that automated processes
and data management practices are in line with the standards and objectives outline in the National ICT policy especially with
regard to developing systems and processes that accommodate the smooth implementation of IFMIS. Working with the M&AME
regular annual action plans will be developed and implemented.
1.
Period of Performance: The Position will be based on a one year renewable contract
2.
Level of Effort: The level of effort for this assignment will be 228 days
3.
Location: The assignment will be carried out primarily in Monrovia some national travel may be required.
4.
Qualifications:
5.
The CCN Asset Management, Data Collection Trainer Specialist will be an experience professional with at least 5years
experience in the development and implementation of modern public general services administration practices. Experience with
donor financial/capacity building programs would be an advantage. A degree in a related field such as public administration or
financial management, accounting or business administration could also be beneficial. Training skills are essential .The proposed
candidate must be fluent in English, fully computer literate particularly in Microsoft Office and the creation of complex spreadsheets
and possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
To Apply: Please send your CV & Application to careers@gemsliberia.com. Please include information about your availability in
your application. IBI appreciates all applications, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No phone calls please.
For full consideration, please apply by: Tuesday, June 2, 2014
For more information about IBI International, please visit www.ibi-usa.com. IBI International is an equal opportunity employer.
Monrovian investigation by
FrontPageAfrica has
gathered that both
the Monrovia City
Police and the Liberia National
Police are involved in the
alleged sale of arrested goods
from street vendors.
According to investigation
after arresting goods from
street vendors, some members
of the City Police and the LNP
revert to reselling or collecting
huge sum of money from the
vendors thereby depriving
government of legal fines
(revenues) that are to be paid
by these sellers.
On a daily basis the police
arrest goods or sometimes
motorbikes but in many
instances when the owners
follow-up there is no trace of
getting their seized items.
On numerous occasions, there
is no trace of where the seized
items are taken, whether at
the LNP headquarters or the
Monrovia City Corporation
head office.
Some
motorcyclists
told
FPA that motorbikes that
are arrested are sometimes
allegedly sold by some police
officers.
A
motorcyclist
Prince
Koyon said once his brother
motorbike was arrested by LNP
officers and taken to a depot
in Paynesville and his brother
walked tirelessly but could not
receive his motorbike.
Some
motorcyclists
have
said their arrested bikes are
sprayed to be resold by those
police officers.
These guys, they arrest people
bike they do not give it back,
some of them will go spray
and resell it. You will walk, but
you will not get your bike said
Koyon.
National Bank building turns
market ground
During investigation, some

members of the Monrovia
City Police were seen in the
unfinished National Bank
Building on Ashmun Street,
where they were spotted
selling some of the confiscated
goods.
Paul Dennis who trades in belts
on Ashmun Street confirmed
that normally the City Police
officers arrest goods from
him and later demand bribe
in order to release the seized
goods.
Page 13
MONROVIA CITY POLICE

SELLS CONFISCATED GOODS
Frontpage
Massa F. Kanneh masskanneh@yahoo.com or 0886848625
Dennis disclosed that upon

arrest of goods by the city
police, the police normally
demand an amount of LD 500
-1000 depending on the kinds
of goods that are confiscated.
He said at times their goods are
seized and that dont get them
from the police. He alleged that
the police sometimes resell
their goods to others.
Said Dennis, The city police
people will come and take
our goods from us, carry away
and we will walk behind them
for our goods but we cant get
them. At time when they arrest
our goods and we go to get it
they will take money from
us sometimes 500 or 1000
depending on the kinds of
goods you have.
Dennis lamented that once
a City Police Officer arrested
belts from another person and
brought them to him to buy
but being in solidarity with
his colleague he refused to
buy and instead badmouthed
the City Police to return that
persons goods.
I was so surprise one time I
saw a policeman, he brought
belts he arrested from someone
for me to buy, we all put mouth
on him to return it, because
the belts belong to someone

else. Thats how we put mouth
on him and that how he went
back Dennis added.
He expressed disappointment
that the City Police normally
seize their goods and request
money before returning.
The bad one is that the City
Police will come and arrest our
goods we go free them, later
they will come back again and
arrest the same goods. One
time they did it to one girl, they
asked the girl to give LD1000
and she never had that kind of
money, she cried said Dennis.
He said the police illegal
transaction
of
collecting
money or reselling of their
goods to different people is not
good, adding that the police
are depriving the government
of revenues.
Dennis wants the police
officers involved in arrest
and confiscating of goods to
follow the proper channel of
investigation or forwarding
them to the City Court to get
redress and if there are any
fines to be paid they should be
paid.
If they arresting you let them
carry you either to their depot
or the city court for you to
go through investigation and

other things, but I found it
unnecessary taking goods
from me and I go pay money
to you and later on you come
back again to arrest the same
goods that is not good. And the
money they are collecting from
us is not going to government
revenue; they are putting it
in their own pockets, Dennis
said.
Another street vender that
deals in hand bags Prince
Kolleh who alleged that he
has also experienced such
treatment from the City police
several
times
expressed
frustration over such behavior.
According to him he moves
about but once he stopped to
serve a customer and a City
Police officer came around
and took his hands bags to
their depot but at the depot he
said the female police officers
selected all the best bags
from rest thereby leaving the
unattractive ones.
Kolleh said when he got at the
depot to free his goods, he had
to pay five hundred Liberian
dollars to get his left over and
the police did not give any
account of the stolen bags.
Said Kolleh Just last week
Saturday, the City Police people

came when I was serving a
customer, they took my bags
and when they took them, the
women that are there took my
fine, fine bags from among the
others, and they asked me to
give LD500 before they could
give me the rest. Thats how
they been behaving to us
Not
Only
City
Arresting goods
Police
Responding to the allegations

against the City Police, Nyepan
Jlateh,
Communications
Director of the Monrovia City
Corporation disclosed that
it is not only City Police that
normally arrest goods from the
street vendors.
He said the LNP is also involved
with such task.
According to him the City
Corporation is governed by a
hand book and violators are
punished.
Speaking in an interview with
FPA, Jlateh disclosed that all
goods arrested by the City
Police should be brought
to the central office to the
Commercial Department and
said goods are released to
owners upon paying fines
attached to the goods based on

the kinds of goods.
Nobody is above the law, City
Hall got hand book here so
anybody going against that law,
punitive action will be taken
against that person either by
suspension, forfeiting their
monthly salary.
He said in every sector there
are good and bad people
and vowed that the MCC will
investigate the matter, saying
even though they have a depot
in the unfinished National Bank
Building, but their officers are
not supposed to be arresting
and keeping confiscated goods
there.
Said Jlateh we have our
depot in Central Monrovia but
they are not supposed to be
arresting and releasing goods
that are being confiscated, any
goods confiscated they should
be arrested and sent over to
the central office, officer who
will be involved in such will
face punishment .
He added All goods that are
confiscated are brought to the
City Hall but am not aware
of City Police confiscating
goods and selling them. What
am aware of is that goods are
brought here in our van and
the owners come and pay a
fine sometimes ten dollars,
based on the type of goods.
Jlateh said the MCC has
signed a memorandum of
understanding with the petit
traders organization to allow
them access to sell on Ashmun,
Front and Water streets and
that City Police officers are not
allowed to follow these sellers
on those streets to arrest their
goods.
The City Police are not
supposed to go in the market
districts that have been created
by us that means they are going
overboard, that means that
their bosses have to be aware
of that, he stated.
The MCC Communication
Officer said street vendors are
not allowed to sell on any of the
opposite streets such as Broad,
Benson and Carey streets even
in front of public buildings.
OFF THE CUFF- SENATOR WESSEH SAYS PYJ ATTACK BASELESS

Henry
Karmo
(0886522495)
henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.
com
Monroviaenator Conmany Wesseh (Unity

Party-River Gee County) has
described as off the cuff the recent
attack against him and President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf by Senator Prince
Johnson (IND-Nimba County) in which
they were accused of supporting him
(senator Johnson) with arms during the
country civil conflict.
During last Thursday session at the
Liberian Senate, Senator Johnson accused
his colleague from River Gee County of
supporting with his rebellion with arms
and ammunitions from Libya after he
(Wesseh) called for people with tainted
human rights violation records not to
be confirmed in to public positions in
government.
The statement from Senator Wesseh
came during a heated debate on a
communication written by Senator

Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence requesting
the senate to instruct committees not to
confirm public officials accused in audits
reports until they are advised by the
senate Public Accounts committee.
The debate turned heated at some point
becoming personal as some senators
including Milton Teahjay (UP-Sinoe
County), Conmany Wesseh (UP-River Gee
County) and Prince Johnson (IND-Nimba
County) almost changed the focus of the
debate.
CONMANY RESPONSE
In a response to Johnsons attack the River
Gee County Senator said, he maintains
his call for the Liberian Senate to pursue
justice and fairness in the confirmation of
presidential nominees.
Senator Wesseh further said, the
conditions for Senate confirmations
should not be based on mere accusations
of wrongdoing but on truthful and fair
charges.
He contended that the Senate must confirm

nominees on the basis of the strength of
their character, their education, training
and experience.
Speaking further Senator Wesseh
maintained that the Senate should not also
confirm people who are known for human
rights violations and have been previously
convicted of economic and financial crimes
among and other wrongdoings.
Senator Wesseh said he is ignoring the
statement from Senator Johnson and
continue holds on to his argument that
whatever the Senate advocates for against
Executive nominees it must be applied to
those seeking elective offices and those
already elected.
Senator Johnson also attacked Sinoe
County Senator Milton Teahjay describing
him as one of the elected officials
implicated audit report of corruption.
Senator Teahjay on the other hand accused
Senator Johnson on his notorious killing
record including the killing of sitting
President Samuel Doe on camera.
Page 14 | Frontpage
IN BRIEF
WORLD NEWS
Lagos (AFP) uhammadu

Buhari formally
takes
over
as
Nigeria's
president this week but his
inauguration could not have
come at a worse time, with
the country reeling from a
cash crunch and a crippling
strike over fuel.
Buhari's All Progressives
Congress
(APC)
party
accused President Goodluck
Jonathan's
administration
of sabotage for allegedly
deliberately handing over the
nation in its worst state since
independence 55 years ago.
"No electricity, no fuel,
workers are on strike,
billions are owed to state
and federal workers, $60
billion owed in national debt
and the economy is virtually
grounded," APC spokesman
Lai Mohammed said.
But
across
Nigeria,
NIGERIAN SENATORELECT WANTED FOR US

DRUG DEAL 'ARRESTED'
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)

igerian
drug
agents
Saturday
surrounded
the
house of a senatorelect wanted by the United
States in a nearly 20-yearold heroin deal that was the
alleged basis for the TV hit
"Orange is the New Black."
Buruji Kashamu is under
house arrest, according
to
the
chairman
of
Nigeria's National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency,
Ahmadu Giade.
But Kashamu's spokesman,
Austin Oniyokor, said, "He has
not been arrested but there
is a siege to his house and an
attempt to forcibly take him."
He said the agents did not
have an arrest warrant.
Giade said Kashamu, 56, will
appear in a federal high court
Monday to start extradition
proceedings to the United
States.
He said agents raided
Kashamu's home in Lagos at
around 5 a.m., before dawn
Saturday. Armed agents
were seen surrounding the
property Saturday night.
Kashamu has already been
suing a Nigerian court to
prevent attempts to extradite
him.
RONT
HIGH
EXPECTATIONS
IN
NIGERIA
As Buhari takes power
ETHIOPIA VOTES
WITH RULING PARTY
SET TO RETURN
Addis Ababa (AFP) thiopians

voted
Sunday in the
country's
first
general elections
since
the
death
of
strongman Meles Zenawi
in 2012, with his successor
Hailemariam Desalegn all
but certain to stay in power.
Over
36.8
million
Ethiopians registered for
Sunday's polls, but analysts
say the election in Africa's
second-most
populous
nation falls far short of true
democracy. The opposition
also alleges the government
has used authoritarian
tactics to guarantee victory.
The outgoing Ethiopian
parliament
had
one
opposition MP, and one
of the main opposition
candidates, Yilekal Getinet,
accused the government of
"closing" political space.
Voters stood peacefully in
lines in the capital Addis
Ababa. Stations were calm,
without long queues but
a regular flow of people
passing through to cast
their ballots.
PAGE
confidence is still high

that Buhari, who headed a
military government in the
1980s, will fix the mess.
"It's not in dispute that the
Jonathan government has
messed up things," said rice
trader Mulikat Bello in the
Agege area of Lagos, Nigeria's
financial capital.
"We know Buhari can do it.
He has done it before. It's the
same way the (Shehu) Shagari
administration destroyed the
economy before Buhari's
coup of December 1983," the
32-year-old added.
- To-do list -
Thirty years ago, Buhari's

15-month military regime
was characterised by a
hardline crackdown against
so-called "indiscipline" and
corrupt practices, which
sometimes crossed the line
into abuse of power.
As Muhammadu Buhari
formally takes over as
Nigeria's
president,
the
country is reeling from a ca
But he has said things will
be different this time round,
with decades of military
rule abandoned since 1999
in favour of multi-party
democracy, parliament and
the constitution.
In February, the 72-yearold cautioned however that
there was a need to "temper
high expectations on the part
of those who are expecting
miracles to happen".
But across the country many
hope he can follow through
on his election
pledge of

sweeping change to stop the
rot in Africa's most populous
nation.
On a bus from Oshodi to
Agbado in the Lagos suburbs,
unemployed
27-year-old
university
accountancy
graduate Solomon Abegunde
said he expects the new
administration to create jobs.
In Kano, northern Nigeria's
biggest city, private security
guard Awwalu Maidawa, 41,
wants an end to the Boko
Haram insurgency which has
claimed at least 15,000 lives
since 2009.
Housewife Hajara Sani hopes
for investment in education,
with 10.5 million children
out of school -- the most
in the world -- and literacy
levels low, particularly in the
Muslim north.
Musa Mohammed, a 33-yearold auto mechanic, wants
improved power supply,
now at an all-time low of just
MALAYSIA FINDS 139 GRAVES AT
'CRUEL' JUNGLE TRAFFICKING CAMPS
WANG KELIAN, Malaysia

(Reuters) alaysia has found
139 graves, and
signs of torture,
in more than
two dozen squalid human
trafficking camps suspected
to have been used by gangs
smuggling migrants across
the border with Thailand, the
country's police chief said on
Monday.
The dense jungles of southern
Thailand
and
northern
Malaysia have been a major

route for smugglers bringing
people to Southeast Asia by
boat from Myanmar, most
of them Rohingya Muslims
who say they are fleeing
persecution, and Bangladesh.
"It's a very sad scene... To us
even one is serious and we
have found 139," Malaysia's
Inspector General of Police,
Khalid Abu Bakar, told
reporters in the northern
state of Perlis. "We are
working closely with our
counterparts in Thailand. We
will find the people who did
this."
The grisly find follows the
discovery of similar shallow
graves on the Thai side
of the border earlier this
month, which helped trigger
a regional crisis. After a
crackdown on the camps by
Thai authorities, traffickers
abandoned thousands of
migrants in rickety boats
in the Bay of Bengal and
Andaman Sea.
1,327 megawatts -- below

levels during Buhari's last
time in office.
Supporters of Muhammadu
Buhari celebrate his election
victory in Lagos on April 1,
2015 (AFP Photo/P
Lagos
beer
distributor
Abolaji Odumesi hopes to see
Buhari tackle corruption in
the oil sector, which accounts
for 90 percent of foreign
earnings but is dwindling due
to falling global crude prices.
Elsewhere there are calls
to diversify the economy,
increase taxation to boost
government coffers and
tackle poverty that the APC
says blights the lives of some
110 million of Nigeria's more
than 170 million people.
Almost everyone talks of
corruption, which the austere
Buhari believes has made the
country a global laughing
stock.
"I want him to maintain zero
tolerance on corruption
especially in the public
service and ensure that
whoever is found wanting
faces the full wrath of the
law," said Maidawa.
- High hopes -
"One of the first things he

(Buhari) has to do is assemble
a
competent
strategic
communications team to
manage expectations," said
political commentator Chris
Ngwodo.
"He has to be able to temper
the level of expectation
but without being a damp
squib. It has to be skilfully
"We were shocked by

the cruelty," said Khalid,
describing conditions at
the 28 abandoned camps,
scattered along a 50 km (30
mile) stretch of the Thai
border, around which the
graves were found in an
operation that began on May
11.
Thousands of Rohingya
Muslims are ferried by
traffickers through southern
Thailand each year, and in
recent years it has been
common for them to be held
in remote camps along the
rugged border with Malaysia
until a ransom is paid for
their freedom.
Past Reuters investigations
have
shown
ransoms
demands
ranging
from
$1,200 to $1,800, a fortune
for impoverished migrants
used to living on a dollar or
two a day.
A
forensic
policeman
transports body bags with
human remains found at the
site of human trafficking
Pictures of the camps shown
to journalists by Malaysian
police showed basic wooden
huts built in forest clearings.
Khalid said bullet casings
were found in the vicinity
managed."
To be sure, Nigeria's military
has the upper hand against
Boko Haram but there is
still work to do to maintain
the peace. On most other
fronts, however, the incoming
government has an uphill
task.
To tackle the fuel crisis,
Buhari, who once headed a
government oil agency, has
to convince fuel importers
holding out for claimed
government subsidy arrears
by shutting depots, that they
will be paid, said Ngwodo.
In the longer term, he needs
to tackle "the absurdity of
an oil-producing nation that
imports fuel", build domestic
refineries and eliminate fuel
subsidies that are open to
corruption, he added.
"It's a pity that Buhari has
come at the wrong time,"
said Debo Adeniran, of the
Coalition Against Corrupt
Leaders lobby group.
"The Jonathan government
has
mismanaged
the
economy with a lot of
baggage too heavy for Buhari
to carry.
"I still cannot fathom how
the incoming administration
is going to get the funds to
implement its programmes."
On the bus to Agbado,
Abegunde is still confident.
"To whom much is given,
much is expected," he said.
"Buhari has no excuse to fail
because we gave him our
votes with the hope that he
would turn things around...
We cannot continue like this.
Things have to change."
and added there were signs

that torture had been used,
without elaborating. Metal
chains were found near some
graves.
The first decomposed body
was brought down to a police
camp set up at the foot of the
mountains where the camps
were found on Monday
evening, an operation that
took nearly five hours due to
the roughness of the terrain.
"The body was only bones
and little bit of clothing on it,"
said Rizani Che Ismail, officer
in charge of Padang Besar
police department, adding
that the cause of death was
not immediately apparent.
SMUGGLING CRACKDOWN
Police chief Khalid said one
of the grave sites was just
100 meters or so from the
site where twenty-six bodies
were exhumed from a grave
in
Thailand's
Songkhla
province in early May.
Thailand, under pressure
from the United States to
do more to combat people
smuggling,
launched
a
crackdown after finding
that mass grave, since when
more than 3,000 migrants
have landed from boats in
Malaysia and Indonesia.
Sports
Frontpage
LISCR, BYC MEET IN PRESIDENT

CUP QUARTERFINAL
A. Macaulay Sombai, sombai121@gmail.com
MonroviaFootball
enthusiast
has
described
Wednesdays
scheduled
President
Cup quarterfinals battle
between LISCR FC and
Barrack Young Controllers
(BYC) as the clash of the

tournament.
The two teams were paired
on Monday during the
tournament quarterfinals
draw
held
at
the
Headquarters of the Liberia
Football Association (LFA).
Alexander
McCarty
in
an exclusive interview
with
FrontPageAfrica
said he believes that
the match would be the
clash of the tournament
because the two teams are
currently the archrivals
in Liberian football and
the most powerful teams
in the country in terms of

performance for the past
two to three years.
Said McCarty As we all
know the two teams have
been the constant winners
of the LFA national league
championship for the past
two seasons and they have
several of their players on
both the senior and junior
Lone Stars and we are going
to see real football battle
between the two teams
tomorrow.
BYC is the current defending
champions of the LFA first
division, after dethroning
LISCR, winner of the
2013/2014 national league.
It can be recalled that
LISCR failed to win any of
her three matches played
in the just ended CocaCola
Cup
tournament
while BYC was crowned
champions after successive
victories climaxed with a
3-0 triumph over Nimba
United in the grand final of
the tournament held at the
Blue field sports ground on
Lynch Street.
The question now is
whether LISCR will revenge
or BYC or will have the edge
to advance to the semifinals.

Both teams booked their
respective
quarterfinals
spot of the tournament
after LISCR crushed second
division side Mighty Blue
angels 3-0 and BYC dumped
Sesay FC with the same
score line in the knockout
stage of the tournament.
Before Wednesday LISCR
and BYC game, BYC II will
lock horn with Nimba
United in the opening match
at the Antoinette Tubman
Stadium (ATS) in Monrovia.
In today clashes, one of the
most talked about football
teams in the country FC
Fassell will engage Watanga
FC in the day early kickoff
at the ATS and Jubilee FC
will come face to face with
Keitrace FC in the last fight.
Meanwhile, out of the
nine teams that have
reached the tournament
quarterfinals
stage,
Invincible Eleven (IE) have
qualified for the semifinals
stage of the competition
without kicking a ball after
standing alone during the
quarterfinals draw.
Page 15
SPORTS
DANI ALVES: I HAVE

BOTH FEET AND MY HEAD
OUT OF BARCELONA
ani Alves says he

has "both feet and
a head" out the
door at Barcelona,
strongly hinting he will leave
at the end of the season.
The right-back has long been
linked with a move away
from Camp Nou this year,
with his contract expiring
next month.
The 32-year-old, who joined
Barca from Sevilla in 2008,
has criticised the club for not
showing him respect.
"I have endured a lot this year,
listening to a lot of bullshit,"
he told reporters. "So I have
to speak out. because I have
been disrespected and have
a limit.
PLATINI: FIFA'S IMAGE IS

TARNISHED UNTIL BLATTER GOES
ifa
will
lack
credibility as long as
Sepp Blatter remains
president, according
to Michel Platini.
Blatter is seeking to extend
his 17-year tenure by
winning a fifth term in office
in the upcoming presidential
elections.
Fifa has faced intense
scrutiny in recent times,
particularly over claims of
corruption relating to the
bidding process for the next
two World Cups, while the
organisation has been urged
to do more to improve human
rights conditions in 2022
host nation Qatar.
DEPAY CAN EMULATE RONALDO
AT MAN UTD - PARK
ark Ji-Sung believes

that
Memphis
Depay can emulate
Cristiano
Ronaldo
at Manchester United next
season.
United have agreed a deal
to acquire the Netherlands
international from PSV this
summer, and the 21-yearold has already outlined
his desire to match the
Portugueses achievements
at Old Trafford, though he
insists he will not copy the
Real Madrid superstar.
Park played alongside Depay
at PSV during his second stint
at the club in 2013-14, and
the South Korean has lavished
praise on the forward prior to
his move to Old Trafford.
FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
VOL 9 NO.65
Sports
PRICE L$40
FROM A HUMILIATING PRESS RELEASE TO A DRAMATIC NEWS CONFERENCE
Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@

C Fassell have reappointed

Matthew Julutweh, who was
sacked on May 7 following a run
of poor results in pre-season
friendlies, as head coach.
At a news conference on May 23, the
clubs chief executive officer Cassell Kuoh
also named Sam Chebly, a former Liberia
international, as Julutwehs principal
deputy.
Based on numerous appeals from our
fans, the public, traditional leaders and
religious leaders and even some of the
sporting press, we heard what you said on
radio and what you wrote in the papers, so
we are reappointing Matthew Julutweh as
our head coach and Sam Chebly as deputy
coach, said Kuoh, who was flanked by
a host of officials, including president
Reginald Nagbe.
Team manager Nathaniel Kennedy, who
acted in Julutwehs absence with two wins
from two matches, retained his position
along with goalkeeper coach Emil Chatteh
and other support staff.
Julutweh led the Soccer Missionaries to a
hat-trick of promotion from the third to
the first division before joining an envy
list of second division teams to have won
the FA Cup.
He demonstrated a show of tactical
prowess by losing 4-3 on aggregate
to Guineas AC Horoya in the Caf
Confederations Cup in Bamako, Mali on
February 22.
Nagbe admitted it had "not been an easy
decision" to dismiss Julutweh, who has
been like a brother to his bosses and a
friend to his players.
"The demands here at FC Fassell are very
high. The love the players and the fans
have for coach Jack is the same we all
have for him. But we cant mix friendship
will professionalism. FC Fassell is here for
business. We spent a lot of money on this
club and we must get something in return.
We know that, as a football team, well
not win every game but when we lost [a
game], let people say Fassell really played
today and that they were unlucky to score
or win. We want to play entertaining
football like Arsenal. We dont want to
play and people condemned our team.
The coach must now take his job serious,"
Nagbe warned.
A SYMPATHETIC DECISION
FC Fassell reappoints Matthew Julutweh; make Sam Chebly his deputy
Barrack Young Controllers (BYC) head coach Robert

Lartey was a frontrunner to replace Julutweh, who
was beaming with smiles and promised to reinvent the
winning mentality in his players.
Chelsea, who mutually parted company with Jose
Mourinho in September 2007, reappointed the Special
One in June 2013. So werent Fassell embarrassed of
setting a new club record?
That was our decision then and this is our decision
now. The coach will sign a professional contract [in the
coming days] that will spell out his term of reference
for the pending season. That will be shared on our
facebook page and website for everybody to see.
Whether we were hasty or not, we will leave it with
the journalists to write or broadcast, Kuoh answered.
Julutweh was sacked along with assistant coaches

Wonder Robertson and Wilfred Sneh; trainer Vito
Sawyer and Claudius Holder, who served as deputy
team manager/statistician.
A press statement issued by vice president Paywala
Janyan quoted Nagbe as saying that the "recent results
supported this view and that it was better to part
companies with the coaches in order to avoid the
worse or not to affect the club further.
Julutweh was handed a May 2 warning letter after a
discouraging and humiliating 4-0 defeat to NPA
Anchors in the Coca Cola tournament at the Blue Field
in Monrovia.
But it was the 2-2 draw with Aries FC, which he was
told to win or be fired, that sent him and his crew in
the job market.

The club would like to place on
record its thanks for the hard
work, honesty and integrity
Julutweh brought to the job
and pay tribute to the immense
contributions he has made to
the club and Liberian football
at large.
He has been instrumental
in putting Fassell where it
is today, among the leading
clubs in Liberia. He will always
be welcomed at FC Fassell,
whether as a guest or as the
manager of another club, and
will be given the reception and
respect his position, in our
history, deserves.
The club wishes also to thank
fans and supporters for their
patience and understanding
during what has been a difficult
time. God bless FC Fassell,
God bless football in Mama
Liberia!!! Paywala wrote in a
statement posted on facebook
and sent to journalists.
Responding to an earlier rumor
of being replaced, Julutweh told
journalists that he would resign
rather than being dismissed
after a 2-1 defeat to BYC in the
Super Cup on March 20.
Since their establishment as
a third division team in 2009,
Julutweh has been coach of the
Soccer Missionaries.
But the unfortunate draw with
Aries on May 4 was just the tip
of how Julutwehs commanding
relationship with Kuoh, who
is also LFA vice president for
operations, had deteriorated.
Fassell, like Chelsea, have
opened a new page in its
history but it remains to be
seen how long their marriage of
convenience with Julutweh will
last.
VISIT UNCLE ZEH'S LAUNDRY & DRY CLEANING SERVICE ON

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

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 Edition

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TOP

Monrovia City Police Sells

TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015

PLEASE PAY YOUR

LIBERIANS WEIGH IN ON BOAKAIS PRESIDENTIAL BID

TAX SENSITIZATION MESSAGE

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

SATURDAY , MAY 16, 2015

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015

TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Monroviander the governance system of Liberia, the National

presidential appointees who are named in reports from

based on a mere GAC, LACC accusations unless by a court of

The discussion on the letter appeared to be a game between

While the communication is still in committee room,

In River Gee County an audit of the County development

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

In an audit on the appointment of Board of Directors for

An audit of the general Services Agency (GSA0 for For The

Current Sinoe County Senator J. Milton Teahjay, one of the

Superintendent Teahjay, according to the audit entered in a

Company on the other hand, represented by its Managing

Superintendent and other county officials were found

Current Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie one of the

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

SENATE MUST NOT ALLOW BAD APPLES

By J. Patrick Kollie, pjkollie@gmail.com, Contributing Writer

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has also been

and the Minister of Finance shall in consultation execute these policies

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

The Reader's Page

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

TONY LEEWAYE TOP COMMENTER FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE

CYRUS L GRAY TOP COMMENTER UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

NYAN GORTOR AGM HIGH SCHOOL

None of you in that government will go free. You continue to subject

Send your letters and comments to:

AUDIT SAGA EXPOSES INCOMPENTENCE OF EJS PRESIDENCY:

A REJOINDER TO FPA EDITORIAL POLITICAL MADNESS!

he attention of the Public Affairs Department of the Executive Mansion

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

COUNTY NEWS TEAM

Voinjama, Lofa County ice

NOT ALL IN FAVOR

Mixed Messages in Lofa Over VP Boakais Petition

The crowd which gathered to

The three-hour long petition

After here he said, we will be

But not everyone at the

DONT PROMOTE POLITICIANS WHO

RULE OF LAW IS CRITICAL TO THE BUILDNG

Voinjama ice President Joseph N. Boakai says the rule of law is

Nimba to Hon Boakai bit.

The First Vice President of the

performance is not known,

The astute Pentecostal cleric

the interest of the people of

country or do well when they

The outspoken cleric called

UP Lawmaker Describes Boakais Ambition to succeed Sirleaf

Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo@frontPageafricaonline.com

exercised by persons in such