Frontpage: Order Comes From Higher Ups'

TOP
STORIES
NEWS ANALYSIS
EDUCATION
pg 6a
pg 5
PUT NATIONAL INTEREST
LIBERIANS' CONCERNS
ABOVE SELF
FORETOLD ORATORS SPEECH
PREDICTABLE
ORATION?
VEEP BOAKAI READS RIOT

ACT ON CORRUPTION AT
AMEU GRADUATION
DIASPORA
pg 7
YOUNG LIBERIAN
LEADER
part of Obama initiative,
studies at Wagner College
in New York City
FrontPage

www.frontpageafricaonline.com
VOL 9 NO.111
THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015
PRICE L$40
DEVELOPMENT SETBACK AS ROAD BRICKS FOR

THE STALLED POLICE ACADEMY ROAD STOLEN
ORDER COMES
FROM HIGHER UPS
They normally come at night and take away the bricks in pickups but whenever we try to
stop them order comes from higher up and tell us to disregard our action so my brighter it
is big for my mouth. An Officer at the Liberia National Police Training Academy, speaking
on condition of anonymity about the stolen bricks at the construction site.
PAYNESVILLE - pg. 14
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
BUYING
SELLING
L$86.00/US$1
L$87.00/US$1
MONDAY, JULY 27, 2015
L$86.00/US$1
L$87.00/US$1
TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015
L$86.00/US$1
L$87.00/US$1
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015
These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of the foreign exchange market
in Monrovia and its environs. The rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the
commercials banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
FROM PAGE 1
Page 2 | Frontpage
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Bettie Johnson /betty.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia rosecution lawyers in Liberia on the verge of
bringing the suspended Managing Director of the
National Port Authority (NPA) Matilda Parker
and comptroller Christina Paelay charged with economic
sabotage, criminal conspiracy and theft of property, to
court; have taken an exception to the bond filed by lawyers
Prosecution says that as to the entire bail

bond filed by co-defendant Matilda Parker
and Christina Kparbar- Paelay said bond
is defective and grossly insufficient as it
does not conform to the requirements of
law said the prosecution petition to the
exception to the bail bond.
of the two suspended NPA officials.

Defendant Parker and Comptroller Paelay indicted during
the May 2015 Term of the Criminal Court C have been
accused of allegedly paying over US$ 800,000 to a company
established for the sole purpose of winning the lucrative
port dredging contract while managing the port but the
pair last week filed a US$1.2 m bond through the Family
Dollar Universal Insurance Service, Inc to give them a
temporary release.
Part of the bond reads: Know all men by these presents
that we, Matilda W. Parker and Christina Kpabar Paelay,
defendants, principals and Family Dollar Universal
Insurance Service,Inc by and thru its general manager/
CEO Matthew Zayzay do hereby by these presents commit
ourselves, our administrator, successors and assigns unto

the sherriff of the court that Matilda Parker and Christiana
Paelay shall appear before the court and hereafter from
day to day to answer to the charges of economic sabotage,
theft of property and criminal conspiracy.
Other parts of the Family Dollar Universal Appearance
Bond for the pair reads, the corporation shall produce the
insured any time requested as required by the Criminal
Court C or any other court of competent jurisdiction
with the Republic of Liberia for any financial obligation or
contingency by this guarantee, so long such expenses do
not exceed the sum insured of US$1.2m.
Barely a week after the bond was been filed before the
Criminal Court C headed by Judge Peter Gbeneweleh
prosecution lawyers under the guidance of Solicitor General
Betty Larmin Blamo have taken an exception to the bond
describing the bond as defective, and grossly insufficient as
it does not conform to the requirements of law.
Prosecution says that as to the entire bail bond filed by codefendant Matilda Parker and Christina Kparbar- Paelay
said bond is defective and grossly insufficient as it does not
conform to the requirements of law said the prosecution
petition to the exception to the bail bond.
Therefore, the prosecution further stressed that said bond
should be set aside and the co-defendants be reprimanded
to the Monrovia Central Prison until their bond is made
sufficient to secure their appearance. said part of the
statements of exception to the bail.
According to the prosecution lawyers for a bail bond to be
sufficient, the surety must show evidence such as certificate
or legal instruments from an appropriate legal authority
such as the Central Bank or other insurance authority or
similar government entity as the Central Bank of Liberia.
The state lawyers indicated that the Family Dollar

Universal Insurance Inc as surety has filed numerous bail
bonds to secure the release of many defendants amounting
to US$5,714, 283 plus LD$3,312,220 and that such cases
are still pending before other courts in the Republic of
Liberia.
The said surety has the obligation to show assets to
commensurate with the encumbrance it already has in
the pending cases, plus additional assets in the amount
US$1.2m which is the value of the bond subject of these
exceptions to qualify the insurance company as a surety in
the present case said the prosecution lawyers.
Also, the state lawyers continued that the tax clearance
certificate proffered by the surety is also not valid as same
was issued on March 2, 2015 and was valid for the period
on 90 days and that bond is a legal nullity .
Wherefore and in view of the foregoing, the prosecution/
plaintiff prays your honor to set aside the bail bond as filed
by co-defendants Matilda W. Parker and Christina Kpabar
Paelay and order their arrest and incarceration at the
Monrovia Central Prison until the surety can remedy the
defects in the said bail bondsaid the petition of exception
to bail.
Frontpageafrica has reliably learned Wednesday from a
legal source that co-defendants Parker and Paelay will not
be arrested based on the prosecutions request until the
court can entertain argument from both parties, defense
and prosecution where the court will rule to determine
whether the bond is sufficient or not.
FrontPage
EDITORIAL I
v
LEBANON & LIBERIA
THE TRAFFICKING
TIED THAT BINDS
Both Nations bracketed under Tier 2 in the
U.S. State Departments Trafficking In Persons
Report must muster the courage to wage a
comprehensive fight against modern slavery.
LIBERIA AND LEBANON share a common thread after being

placed on the Tier 2 Watch List of Human Trafficking in the latest
US Department of State Trafficking In Person Report which rates
188 countries on their efforts to stamp out trafficking.
TIER 2 RANKING is not a good position for a country heavily
reliant on foreign aid, particularly aid coming from its traditional
stepfather, the United States of America.
LIBERIA HAS IN RECENT years developed a tendency for taking
things lightly. The government under the leadership of President
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been known for taking serious exceptions
to criticisms and negative citations noted in reports both local and
international.
WHEN THE MOST RECENT U.S. STATE Department Human
Rights report detailed various lapses in the Liberian government,
President Sirleaf took exception, suggesting that the report was
based on local media reports and did not paint an accurate picture
of Liberia.
DAYS LATER, the U.S. Ambassador accredited to Liberia defended
the report, stating that the U.S. is comfortable with what is
obtained in the report.
NOW ANOTHER U.S. REPORT has come out this time, taking aim at
the governments inability to deal with the crucial issue of human
trafficking. Both Liberia and Lebanon are bracketed in Tier 2.
ACCORDING TO THE report which is the U.S.s key weapon for
combating human trafficking, the annual rankings are broken
down in tiers Tier 1 is best, 2 means more could be done, and
3 is a blacklist that can spark sanctions.
ACCORDING TO THE State Department: While Tier 1 is the
highest ranking, it does not mean that a country has no human
trafficking problem. On the contrary, a Tier 1 ranking indicates
that a government has acknowledged the existence of human
trafficking, made efforts to address the problem, and complies
with the TVPAs minimum standards. Each year, governments need
to demonstrate appreciable progress in combating trafficking to
maintain a Tier 1 ranking, according to the State Department.
This year, 18countries were upgraded and another 18 were
downgraded. Those downgraded from the Tier 2 Watch List to
Tier 3 included Belarus, Belize, Burundi, Comoros, the Marshall
Islands and South Sudan.
PENALTIES FOR countries demoted to Tier 3 are at the discretion
of the U.S. President, but could include restrictions on nonhumanitarian assistance and funding. This is where Liberia and
Lebanon come in, two countries at the center of what is inarguably
the most high-profile case of trafficking out of Liberia in recent
years involving dozens of Liberian young girls trafficked to
Lebanon under false pretense.
THE REPORT NOTES that at least fifteen of the girls have since been
returned to Liberia. But since the girls return, the government has
kept the girls at an unknown location, preventing their families
and the public from interacting with them drawing ire from their
families and rights activists. FrontPage Africa recently uncovered
the hideout and spoke to some of the girls who informed FPA that
they had been abandoned by the government. As a result of our
investigative report, FPA has now learned that the girls have been
told not to speak with any media.
WHILE THE CASE is set to go to trial in August, it is important that
Liberias executive, legislative and judiciary branches work over
time to ensure that justice is rightly serve in this case which has
repercussions for Liberias donor community and economic future
if the right steps are not taken to bring this matter to a fair and just
conclusion.
IT IS SAD as the TIP report suggests that Liberia has in the last
year; only reported three investigations, no prosecutions, and
no convictions, representing a decrease from six investigations,
two prosecutions, and two convictions in the previous reporting
period.
IT PAINTS A VERY bad picture when a report as graphic and
detailed as the TIP finds that the Liberian government has not
convicted any trafficking offenders under Liberias anti-trafficking
law, despite the countrys significant internal trafficking problem
and also did not make any discernible efforts to reduce the demand
for forced labor or commercial sex acts during the reporting
Frontpage
Page 3
COMMENTARY
JOSEPH N. BOAKAI-LIBERIAS HISTORICAL PHENOMENA

By: Robert W. Kpadeh, Contributing Writer
n 2003, I read a brilliant and imposing piece of writing in titled;

Joseph N. Boakai, Liberias Hidden Treasury, unfortunately, I
have forgotten the name of the writerbut no doubt, he is an
erudite pen pusher.
In this article, the writer emotionally told a personal account of Vice
President Boakais lifehis personal interactions with people and
his immaculate leadership in public service citing the Veep days at
the Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation or LPRC and onward to
the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the Liberia Petroleum Refining
Company or LPRC respectively.
As I meticulously read the article, I quickly surmise that the writer
personally knew Veep Boakai and had followed his tracks religiously
perhaps, had worked with him at one of his previous places of service
to country.
He described Veep Boakai as a man of immense wisdom, people
oriented, family-man, a peace maker, traditionalist, intelligent, cooltemper, humble, honest, consistent and a selfless gentleman. These
lofty virtues, the writer combined into what he described as Liberias
Hidden Treasuryin a distinguished yet unassuming gentleman
the Nation was yet to discover.
In the last few lines of his telling and inspiring article, he predicted
that Joseph Nyumah Boakai would rise to become President of
Liberia and his presidency would see a unique paradigm shift in the
socio-political history of Liberiaand soon he would embark on the
journey to the presidency, the writer faithfully and confidently stated.
This was in 2003 and by 2005; Boakai emerged as running mate to
Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on the Unity Party (UP) ticket. The 2005
presidential election was fiercely competitive but the pair won after
a second round pollsubsequently assuming the leadership of a
shattered, despair and hopeless nation that was desperately yearning
for almost everything including, peace, good governance, rule of law,
basic social needs and better economic condition for citizens.
The election was generally deemed credible, free and fair by
international observers even though the defeated contender,
Congress for Democratic Change or CDC heavily contested the results.
Ten years on, Veep Boakai remains a loyal servant and follower of his
Boss, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. They have worked the hardest
and have managed to change and reposition the country in many
respects. Certainly, all is not well but Liberia has turned the corner
and is conspicuously on the move. We are no longer a pariah (failed)
nation and we are no longer killing each other like we crudely did
during our senseless and unwarranted civil upheaval. We are no
longer a land of cannibalism and savagerywe are now a destination
of foreign direct investment.
Ten years as Vice President, I have come to realize that the writer
accounts of Veep Boakai are all true and his prediction or prophecy
about him assuming the Liberian Presidency one faithful day could
become a dream come through giving the unfolding trends.
I hold this view because as Vice President over the last ten years,
Boakai has equated and conducted himself satisfactorily, peacefully
and maturelydemonstrating to the Liberian people that he has the
temperament, tolerance and sensibility require of a President.
Firstly, he remains a loyal follower of his Boss or his leader and
for one to become a leader, he/she must first be led and be a loyal
followerVice President Boakai has demonstrated unquestionable
loyalty to President Sirleaf every step along the way. In fact, many
consider him the best Vice President on the African Continent.
I recall in one of his live interviews, the Journalist asked, do you
ever disagree with President Sirleaf? He responded, Yes I do when
the need arises and I do that peacefully and professionally not in an
aggressive or bombastic way. I grew up never allowing my anger to
dictate my action. I should not and will not differ with the President in
a rivalry way. I should not rival my Boss in the first place, as a Co- Pilot,
I am supposed to assist the Captain to successfully pilot the plan to
our desired destination but if I begin to physically attack the Captain
while the Plan is in mid-air, we both will definitely get distracted and
loss our route, and of course we will crash and our collective dream of
reaching that destination will be doomed.
This respond should clearly indicate to all of us that Vice President
Boakai is a wise man that can be trusted with national leadership.
Besides, Veep Bokais public service record is unmatchable and
impeccablehe has served everywhere with distinction and integrity.
Secondly, Boakai is best suited to reconcile all of Liberia, a nation
marred by disunity and hatred. In fact, his stewardship in the
Liberian Senate over the last ten years has unequivocally revealed
his reconciling and peaceful spirit. As Leader of the Senate for all
these yearsdealing with people from different political and tribal
backgrounds and orientations coupled with their natural human
behaviors and instincts, Veep Boakai has managed to keep peace with
every Senator. Collectively, he commandeers a great deal of respect
and admiration from both 52nd and 53rd Senates because of the
sensibility and sensitivity he has demonstrated as President of the
Senate.
There is no account of a Senator spewing any invectives or verbiages
at Veep Boakai neither has he ever become a party to any brawl or
impasse dogging the Liberian Senate. He is lauded for using wisdom
to resolve differences and calm tension in the Senateand he is
known for doing so objectively.
He says the truth to everyone no matter who you are. He does not
tolerate gossip and never permits himself to partake in dollar-driven
compromises. He fears nothing but to do wrongmeaning doing
wrong and evil is Boakais greatest fear.
Vice President Boakai remains unblemished. He was never part of
any conflict in Liberia and never planned any military invasion in
this country and has always being here...a local boy. He has been
and remains peaceful and law abiding citizen who poses no threat or
harm to anybody. He remains a friend to all and enemy to none.
Many Liberians are of the opinion that much have been done to
resuscitate Liberia after years of unjustified bloodbath and sheer
stupiditymaintaining the peace, rebranding the country foreign
image, providing democratic freedoms, tolerance, opposition figures
no longer thrown behind bars and ordered summarily executed
amongst several other goodies realized by the Johnson Sirleaf
led administration but genuine reconciliation remains a towering
challenge for the nation. The hurts, grudges and the consequences of
the historical wrongs and evils continue to dog and plague the country.
The historical wounds are still fresh and people are only pretending
to be fine but in their hearts, they are troubled and harshly bitter.
The Country needs a fearless and stainless reconcilersomeone who
represents the hurts and aspiration of the people. I am talking about
someone whose origin and life reflects the story of the historically
marginalized class. Maybe Boakaia full-fledge indigenous who
play no role in the fifteen years bloody crisis, a man who started life
as a child-farmer and would later migrate to Monrovia in search of
greener pasture, is that person.
Here in Monrovia, Boakai would accept to become a janitor, bar
tender, restaurant waiter, a street peddler and scores of odd jobs he
would easily accept just to survive and obtain education to become
the venerated personality he is today. As bad and demeaning life
was, Boakai tried hard to make an honest livingperseverance and
courage were his consolation. I encourage young people of Liberia
toady to emulate the good examples of their Vice President.
Boakais life undoubtedly personifies and epitomizes the story of the
ordinary shoe shine boy, car washer, pen-pen boy, the downtrodden,
the marginalized and all those from the indigenous communities
that no matter what your situation, with opportunities backed by
determination and courage, you can rise from nobody to somebody.
The 2017 transition must witness the rise of a leader in whom the
citizens see themselves and find faithone whose life can give
confidence and inspiration to the hopeless citizenry and one who can
reconcile all and put the country on a unified path.
Having carefully followed the workings of Vice President Boakai close
to ten years now, I am compelled to agree with that writer that he
is indeed, Liberias hidden treasury. We must tap into this hidden
treasury in order to change the course of our countryto one that
provides hope, possibilities and equal opportunity for all in spite of
your name, tribe, sex, religion, creed and affiliations.
Lets unravel this hidden treasury that is endowed with wisdom,
humility, reconciliatory spirit, integrity, selfless leadership, fearless
mind, traditional values, tolerance, simplicity, accountability and
above all, people oriented.
The time has come and the perfect opportunity to change Liberia for
the better has presented itself. Boakai is the guy! In my view, he is the
consensus candidate in whom every class of Liberians has faith and
a bond.
Comes 2017, I entreat and admonish fellow citizens to rally around
this hidden treasury for the good of this country. It doesnt matter
which political party you are part of or which region you hail from
what matters is the collectivism we must relentlessly accord Joseph
Nyumah Boakai in the 2017 much heralded political showdown. We
must not miss on Boakai, for if we do, I am sacred, we could run our
country into a ridiculous mine field.
Indeed, Joseph N. Boakai is the historical phenomena waiting to be
unraveled and unshackledand a historical paradigm shift richly
embedded with hope, opportunities, possibilities and Liberianness
would emerge, and we all will own Liberia together and equally enjoy
its God-given resources together.
Boakai is indeed, Liberias historical phenomena. A new dawn is
coming! Happy 26 to all!
period.
LIKE LIBERIA, Lebanon is mentioned as a source and destination
country for women and children subjected to forced labor and
sex trafficking and a transit point for Eastern European women
and children subjected to sex trafficking in other Middle Eastern
countries
WE AGREE WITH the recommendations of the 382-page report and
annual ranking compiled by the State Department and announced by
Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday; that more investigations,
prosecutions, and convictions of offenders under the anti-trafficking
law, including officials complicit in human trafficking, be enforced.
LIBERIA, HEADED BY a woman head of state and several women
in high-profile positions must be seen as leaders in war against
trafficking if we must be taken seriously by our international
partners.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS no laughing matter. Trafficking in persons
represents a $150 billion-a-year industry, including $99 billion
for the sex industry alone, according to the International Labor
Organization and the U.S. estimates that some 20 million people
are victims. This is why we hope that Liberia, Lebanon and all those
named in the report will take steps against a practice that insults
human dignity and in the words of Secretary of State Kerry, is simply
a battle against money and a battle against evil.
TRAFFICKING should not be encouraged, practiced or allowed to
take root in any country in the world. This is why we must muster
the courage to launch; as Secretary of State Kerry laments a
comprehensive fight against modern slavery.
Page 4 | Frontpage
FrontPage
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
NO PROGRESS AFTER 168 YEARS?
LIBERIANS ON INDEPENDENCE
Sylvester Moses Works at Self-Employed

The only thing worth celebrating this July 26 is the patience
of the 85% Liberians below poverty level who continue to be
law abiding while, allegedly, President Sirleaf and a handful
hurriedly hoard millions of US dollars, and live lavishly in the
lap of luxury. The irony is that whereas Shakespeares Twelfth
Night asserts that Some are born great. Some achieve
greatness. And some have greatness thrust upon them, EJS in
spite of her self - published packaged propaganda The Child
that would be Great has so far proven to be Liberias most
elevated, and celebrated disappointment.
Victor Gee Gbenee
Mr. Moses, Liberians know, corruption is moving fast with no
speed limit. My Question to you is, what will be the solution to
this fast moving problem? I am observing, you are supporting
CDC. You know as well as others that this group only talks
but gives no improvement policy speech. How can Liberians
consider this group to lead them? I have heard no constructive
policy speech from CDC 's heads. They just want the Presidency
without giving the Liberian people why. Please talk to me. Victor
Gee Gbenee, Gorblee Native
Albert Dicod Gibson Salesian Pontifical University
Hmmm.... Liberia has lot of "INTELLECTUALS" no wonder our
system is broken down. "knowledge" that cannot be transformed
to effect the lives of the people is like an encyclopedia on the
shelf that nobody opens. The so-called "intellectual centers"
around the coundtry produce more talkative and nothing else.
Liberians let us wake up from our slumber ... I will suggest that
these intellectuals should start constructive discussions that
indicate way for concrete solution rather than talk, talk and talk
but "little competence or credibility". I am sick seeing people
parading themselves as intellectuals around here.
Moses Kpayser London South Bank University

Sorry I have pressed the wrong key there by sharing an
incomplete comment. I want to encourage Liberians not to
loose hope in their country which God has blessed so much.
Liberia became an independent country at the time when there
was no known Black African Independent Country. The Grain
Coast, now Liberia was never colonised by the European like all
other South Sahara Countries. Reflect a bit more about the good
things in your history, you certainly will find a lot more to make
you feel proud. Take the Ebola case for another example. The
government did very well in fighting that virus disease in effort
to protect Liberian people. There is hope.
Moses Kpayser London South Bank University
Do not sound so negative about your country. COUNT YOUR
BLESSINGS AND SEE WHAT GOD DONE. When there was not
known independent Black Country
Harry Papa Mason Metropolitan State University

The liberated oppressed or suppressed will often oppress
or suppress their followers: That is, the Americo-Liberians
oppressed/suppressed the indigenous, and now the indigenous
are oppressing/suppressing their fellow indigenous. It is
difficult to get out of the mode of oppression/suppression
based on the inherent nature of the culture of slavery a people
would experience during the annals of history.
For Liberia to experience monumental progress, we have to
work hard to disabuse ourselves of the slavery mentality we
have. Evidently, Liberia will remain a crisis and fragile nation
until we proactively engage ourselves in eliminating our slavery
mentality, which takes real leadership to do so.
Jesefu Morris Keita Ghana Institute of Management and
Public Administration (GIMPA)
Quite interesting! In Liberia everyone seems to be either an
intellectual or a business person. Truth be told our evolving and
confounding problems no longer required specialists opinions
at all. The next time please talk to the farmers, yanna boys,
teachers,elderly,gov't. employees and pensioners among others.
They too have something to say about sad state as a nation and
people!
James Lewis
Breaking Bews:Watch the video on Y Tube ( The wealth of
Liberia).This is a must watch film for all objective Liberians
minus that one track head J Wion.
DISCLAIMER
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica
The Reader's Page
Send your letters and comments to:

editor@frontpageafricaonline.com
YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!
LET LIBERIAS 168TH INDEPENDENCE
BE THE CLIMAX OF REFORMS

FOR NATIONAL BUILDING
The Editor,
irst of all, Im very excited and proud to

be a son of a soil that full of all potentials
that can drive economics, development
and offer high living standards for its
people. Besides, Im delightful to witness this
year of institutional birth day of this Republic
ours, as its young citizen , I devote all that in
my capacity; especially my pen which none has
a right to control it but myself, of course, it is
controlled to better serve this beautiful land on
the earth.
Having recognized my delightfulness and civil
loyalty to MAMA Liberia, Im also objectively
expressing my frustration for the level of progress
this nation has made over 168 years as a sovereign
geography compared to her counterparts in the
region and worldwide. However, where there are
challenges there indeed golden opportunities,
Liberia still have long way to go, and chances
are stay opened and available for anticipated
graduation from the current status of all sorts of
underdevelopment to the progress and success.
I mean, since July, 26, 1847 in which the nation
was officially declared as an independent state,
infrastructures have not been meeting standards
of the day, the education system has always been
disparaged and decried, security has been fragile
and most importantly, the economy has not been
able to meet the minimum needs of the masses.
Thus, these are seeds of any social illness and
political instability of any given nation.
Therefore, in order to remedy the situation or
at least reduce the wound, it is recommended to
all well-meaning Liberians both governors and
governed to coordinate and collaborate for the
common good of this only precious land of ours.
To do so, this piece suggests the following:
Firs: designing implementable policies, the nation
has been struggling for having a bulk of policies
in shelves with less or no implementation at all.
Development of any country heavily depends
on how authority implements its agendas
and strategic plans for national development.
Nonetheless, no one can dare dispute with me

that Liberia has been celebrating many optimistic
policies over the years, but only few touched
the ground. Besides, this happens in most cases
because of lack of coherence and constancy
between the governance processes in our nation.
For instance, Mr.Taylor had 2025 vision what
happened to it? And now President Serleaf has
2030 vision and Agenda for Transformation, we
hope they would yield their intended purposes.
Second, decentralization of public goods and
services: this will open up our nation and reveal
hidden talent that rural dwellers possess in
arts, agriculture, and others. It also, will help
diversify our economy and decongest major cities
especially Monrovia as result the goal of decent
life will relatively be achieved for the masses.
Third building strong private sector: nation is
mixed up of two major components; private
sector and public sector. Its socio-economic
success is heavily reliant on sound, effective
and development driven partnership between
public sector and private sector. The PPP reduces
burden of unemployment from the government,
it helps building basic tangible and intangible
infrastructures, it also discovers talent of
citizenries. That is; most of Liberia would have
been successful entrepreneurs had there was a
sound partnership between public sector and
private sector.
Lastly and not least at all, giving priority to
market- oriented education. In other words,
Liberia is in dire need of medical doctors,
engineers, and information technologist to lay
down basic recipe and bedrock of her dreams of
development. To do so, both private and public
sectors have to support education in general and
those above areas of study particularly.
HAPPY JULY 26 AND MAY ALMIGHTY CONTINUE
TO BLESS LIBERIA!!!
MORY Dukuly A Sumaworo
Ph.D. Candidate in Comparative Laws, IIUM,
Malaysia
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Frontpage
Page 5
VEEP BOAKAI READS RIOT ACT ON

CORRUPTION AT AMEU GRADUATION
PUT NATIONAL INTEREST
ABOVE SELF
It is not uncommon to see that in the drive to succeed, some of our youth resort to Black Money business, while others
when given the opportunity to serve, place their personal interests above their institution or above national interests
and shortchange their institution or the nation at every available opportunity. - Vice President Joseph Boakai
Al-Varney Rogers alvarney.rogersfrontpageafricaonline.com 0886304498
Monroviaonning
cheers
on
their
faces,
graduates of African
Methodist Episcopal
University(AMEU)
proudly
took their selfies and group
photos to mark the end of a
long journey which came to an
end Wednesday while looking
toward a future of uncertainty.
With the pleasantries of a
festive graduation ceremony
behind them, the graduates
are poised to face the realities
to confront the challenge of
obtaining job.
But Vice President Joseph
Boakai, serving as the keynote
speaker of the Class of 2015,
urged the graduates to match
their expectations with reality
while adding that the job
market is highly competitive.
As you leave the walls of the
AME University, armed with
the might of knowledge and
authority conferred by your
degrees, let me remind you
that you have yet many more

challenges to face which you
must overcome, if you wish to
succeed.
AVOID CRIMINAL ACTS
Boakai warned the graduates

against getting involved in
criminal acts, adding that if
they are given the opportunity
to serve they should not place
self-interest above national
interest. It is not uncommon
to see that in the drive to
succeed, some of our youth
resort to Black Money
business, while others when
given the opportunity to serve,
place their personal interests
above their institution or
above national interests and
shortchange their institution
or the nation at every available
opportunity, said VP Boakai.
The Vice President added
that in attempt to satisfy their
immediate desire many young
people recruited to work in
banks are caught in fraudulent

act.
For example, several banks
have complained that a
number of their young recruits
have occasionally been caught
in fraudulent acts only to
satisfy their immediate desire
to purchase a vehicle or leave
the country.
Boakai said that there are some
who belief that by going to
church and making generous
contribution will make them
wealthy adding that pray alone
is insufficient.
The Vice President cautioned
against many who harbor the
belief that by going to church
and making generous offerings
(or sowing seeds), they will
become wealthy or attain
instant success without lifting
a finger to work. Dont get me
wrong; it is indeed a good thing
to pray and to do so diligently.
But prayer alone is insufficient
if we do not properly utilize the
gifts that God has given each of
us.
The Vice President recalled
that there was a time in
Liberias history when the
completion of high school
meant immediate prospects of
a job.
Practical Meets Theory
Today however, he said one

needs not be reminded that
the realities are far different as
the completion of college is no
longer an immediate guarantee
of employment.
The Vice President averred
that the chapter of obtaining
theories has ended but the real
challenge lies in putting that
process into practice.
The Vice President urged
the graduates to not forget
those long days of struggles
and hustling to come up with
tuition and calmed their nerves
by admonishing them to look
toward their next chapter in
life. Worry no more because
today you close one chapter

in this journey called life but
only to begin another. I hope
you have prepared well to start
that new chapter, it could be a
longer one.
Boakai continued: Tomorrow
morning when you wake up,
hopefully not suffering from a
bad hang-over, and you open
your eyes to the silence of the
graduation party music and
you see that all your wellwishers have gone home; that
will be the start of the new
chapter in your journey called
life. Tomorrow morning will
be the start of where your
years of study and training will
be put to the test.
VP Boakai cautioned the
graduates that success outside
of the walls of the University
depends on their ability to
perform. How you measure
up or whether you succeed
will to a very large extent be
determined firstly, by your
ability to perform and by your
diligence in pursuit of assigned
tasks. You entered here to seek
knowledge, and you are leaving
with theories, Boakai added.
AVOID JACKPOT MENTALITY
The vice president hoped

that the graduates are well
prepared to accomplish their
dreams and are well on course
to navigate the complex mix of
joy, challenges, uncertainties,

disappointments and success
that have already been charted
as he reminded them that
dreams can only translate into
reality if those dreams are
pursued with diligence and
commitment.
Boakai went on to emphasize
that graduates must do away
with the Jackpot mentality
adding that it leads them to
believe that by a single stroke
of luck they would strike gold.
They call it Faut fait, literally
meaning what for you will see
your face. I can see how many
of us in Liberia would like to
win a Diversity Visa to the
United States today.
Boakai called on the student
to cultivate the spirit of
patriotism adding that been
a patriot does mean that one
cannot flag out the government
fault.
I am not saying to be a patriot
you must accept every fault
of your government or the
political machinery that runs
it.
No, not at all! But I submit
to you that as long as human
beings run the government,
they will make mistakes.
We have a responsibility to
challenge our government
officials to do what we elected
them to do.
Page 6 | Frontpage
EDUCATION
DEVELOPMENT SETBACK AS ROAD BRICKS FOR

THE STALLED POLICE ACADEMY ROAD STOLEN
ORDER COMES FROM HIGHER UPS

They normally come at night and take away the bricks in pickups but whenever we try to stop them order comes from
higher up and tell us to disregard our action so my brighter it is big for my mouth. An Officer at the Liberia National
Police Training Academy, speaking on condition of anonymity about the stolen bricks at the construction site.
Henry Karmo (0886522495) henrykarmo@frontpageafricaonline.com
POLICE
ACADEMY,
PAYNESVILLE FrontPageAfrica
investigation
had
uncovered
that
concrete
bricks
intended to be used as
sidewalks for the construction
of the Police Academy Road are
on a daily basis disappearing
from the site of the roadwork
right under the nose of the
National
Police
Training
Academy.
Residents in the area told
FrontPageAfrica said the bricks
are normally stolen during
the night hours while others
claim that the bricks are being
taken away by people believed
to be from the construction
company carrying out the
project.
One resident said: I dont
know but the bricks were
many here as you can see now
it is getting smaller and smaller
in numbers on a daily basis.
We dont know who is taking
the bricks away but we blame
government because if they
were serious about this road,
people would not be stealing
the bricks.
Interestingly the bricks are
deposited outside the main
entrance of the Police training
academy a place believed to be
more secure especially with
the daily presence of police
officers. In confidence, a police
officer told FPA
that some
senior officials of government

are behind the disappearance
of the bricks especially officials
of the Public works ministry.
They normally come at night
and take away the bricks in
pickups but whenever we try
to stop them order comes
from higher up and tell us to
disregard our action so my
brighter it is big for my mouth,
an officer at the academy
speaking on condition of
anonymity.
A Public Works official who
preferred anonymity because
he was not authorized to
speak on the issue said the
bricks may be taken away
by the contractors because
the government owes them
money which is said to be
a contributing factor to the
roads messy condition. But the
official cautioned that Chico
bears full responsible for the
bricks because they have been
contracted to do the road. If
the bricks are being removed,
they will have to replace them
when the contract resumes
because as part of the contract,
they are responsible to provide
security to make sure that
materials are protected.
MORE BEFORE PLENARY
Recently appearing before

the plenary of the House of
representatives Public Works
Minister Gyude Moore said,
the government of Liberia

has spent more than US750M
(seven hundred and fifty
million United States dollars)
and could spend closed to
one billion dollars by the end
of President Ellen Johnson
Sirleafs tenure but lamented
that very little impact is being
made on road infrastructure in
Liberia.
Answering to question about
some road projects that have
been
abandoned
around
the country including Police
Academy
road,
Minister
Moore, said, most of the
reconstruction work done on
roads in Liberia do not last as
roads become deplorable two
years after construction.
He blamed the practice on low
budgetary allocation and the
quality of work. Until we get
money to pave all our roads
we will continue to use low
volume deals to help us save
a lot of Money. We are also
running test on best practices
in other countries including
Malaysia that also has similar
rainfall like us, Minister
Moore said. The Public Works
Minister in further comments
said because of the level of
rainfall in Liberia most of the
road construction carried out
by government are washed
away returning the roads to its
deplorable state.
Speaking on the status of
the Police Academy Road
in the Paynesville area that

is reportedly in deplorable
condition he said, construction
on the road project has come to
a standstill because according
to him the Ministry of Finance
has issued a stay order on
giving out money to companies
carrying out construction
work on the road and other
roads around the country
until an audit is conducted and
concluded.
He told the House Plenary that
the government of Liberia owes
CHICO, the Chinese company
tasked with constructing the
road, US$5.5 million and that
the company has completed
over 50% of the road work.
Minister Moore also said,
besides the issue of debt there
are structures built on the way
of construction work that need
to be demolished by the Public
works Ministry some of which
include the fence hosting
the Liberia Police Training
Academy.
Early July youths in the area
due to the deplorable nature of
the road, they have petitioned
their district Representative
Thomas Fallah (CDC-District
#5 Montserrado County) to
intervene on their behalf to
at least request the Public
Works Minister to ensure
that contractors awarded the
project live up to terms of the
contract. Among many things
the residents in their petition
claimed that road connectivity
is one of the basic social
assets to societys movement
in the terms of growth and
development.
But with much of the work
done on the road by Chico
returning to its pre-work
conditions, the government
may wind up spending double
the original amount to repair
one is inarguably a major
road link in the Paynesville
community.
EUNICE NYENKAN LEAVES FOR MEDICAL

STUDIES TO CUBA TO BECOME A DOCTOR
BARCLAY
TRAINING
CENTER,
Monrovia9-year-old Eunice Nyenkan, a
young Liberian and graduate of the
Gray D. Allison Junior & Senior
High School, as well as the dux of
her Class of 2013/2014, leaves the Country
on Saturday, 1 August 2015 for Cuba to
study to become a Medical Doctor.
The Government of Liberia selected Miss
Nyenkan after a vetting process following

her nomination from the Ministry of
National Defense to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs as a possible candidate
for the Cuban Medical Scholarship.
Miss Nyenkan, desirous of furthering
her education specifically in the areas
of Biology and Chemistry with vested
interest in becoming a Medical Doctor,
had previously applied at the Ministry of
National Defense for a scholarship. She
is expected to stay in Cuba for about 7-8
years, given one year to learn the Language
and get accustom to the Cuban cultures.
After my studies, my intent is to return
to the Country to serve the Ministry of
National Defense and the people of Liberia
in the capacity of saving lives, Miss
Nyenkan stated.
Miss Nyenkan expressed her thanks and

appreciation to the Government of Liberia
and the Ministry of National Defense for
affording her such a golden opportunity
and promised to put her best into it. I
will always remember where I came from
because it enables me to become a better
person, she said.
Speaking to her parents, she thanked them
for their tireless efforts in bringing her up.
She then admonished her friends to focus
and put more time to their lessons. This
focus is achieved only by determination,
she stressed.
Signed:
Williette P. Wei Monger

Director/ Public Affairs
BOOK OF CONDOLENCE;
Opened for Sheik
By: Bettie K. Johnson

betty.johnson@frontpagefaricaonline.com
Monrovia local student group under the banner National Muslim

students Association of Liberia Wednesday opened a
book of condolence for the late Sheik Kafumba Konneh.
The late Konneh died July 20, 2015 after his return from
a visit abroad.
Speaking to FPA, the president of the group Semah Komala said
it is disheartening for Liberia to lose a great patriot like Konneh.
As you may be aware, last week our nation went into shock when
the news of the chairman of the National Muslims Council of
Liberia broke out, there was a huge outpour of solidarity from
the entire nation and this was manifested at the highest level of
leadership, said Komala.
He continued: Today we open the book of condolence as we still
mourn the death of a man we as Muslims and Liberians at large
refer to as hero; a man who sacrificed his life and stood for the
peace and justice at all level.
Komala, recalling the role of the late Konneh said: We are all
aware of the role this late Islamic scholar played during the
course of his life-time, the footprints that will forever remain on
the sands of time; we mean a role that he played so dedicatedly
with other religious leaders until today we can move freely
without fear in the country.
The NAMSAL President further disclosed that the late Shiekh
Konneh risked his life and travelled to war zones to meet with
rebel leaders spreading messages of peace and voicing concerns
of the Liberians during the wars.
Said Komala: Even during the war, the Konneh continue to engage
the political leadership as an advocate for justice, reconciliation,
and tolerance in Liberia. He spoke where and when necessary.
There were various tactics used to negotiate in getting views and
values of a free and promoted society at the National leadership
when he served as the chairman of the National Muslims Council
of Liberia.
Komala said it is because of the many contributions that members
of NAMASAL deemed it fit to open the book off condolence, not
to continuously mourn his death but to rather celebrate his
contributions and successes to this country and the world.
He disclosed that the Wednesday event is the beginning of series
of other initiatives the group intend to carry out in celebrating
and documenting Shiekh Konnehs life which he said is geared
toward informing generations to come on the late Konnehs
contribution to Liberia.
LEN MILLAR HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI

REUNION/HOMECOMING GALA
WEEKEND SET FOR AUGUST 21-23
he
Alumni
Association of the
Len Millar High
School will be
hosting a three (3) day home
coming event, starting from
the 21st of August to the 23rd
of August 2015.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 21 Career Day Program
August 22 General Elections & Sports Day
August 23 Induction Service & Reunion Ball
All members of the Alumni Association are expected to pay

L$ 1,700.00 or US $20.00 to the ACCOUNT TITLE: LEN
MILLAR ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, ACCOUNT NUMBER:
0043024717296701.
The publicity committee asks members of the alumni
association and former students of the Salvation Army
Len Millar High to stop at the campus or call 0776556209,
0888222177. While on Sunday, August 2, at 3:30pm, there will
be a general meeting at the Len Millar Campus in Sinkor.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., USA
or the last 4 weeks,

Emmanuel Y. Siaway
Jr. of Sanniquellie
has been part of a
group of 25 young African
leaders from 20 sub-Saharan
countries studying community
and nonprofit organizations at
Wagner College, in the New York
City borough of Staten Island.
The Wagner College cohort is
part of U.S. President Barack
Obamas Mandela Washington
Fellowship for Young African
Leaders, which has placed 500
men and women in programs
at 20 colleges and universities
across America this summer.
Emmanuel is a project officer
for SEARCH the Special
Emergency Activity to Restore
Childrens Hope. SEARCH
was created in 1999 by a group
of inexperienced high school
graduates
in
war-ravaged
Sanniquellie, in Nimba County,
to protect the rights of children
affected by armed conflict in
Liberia. SEARCHs activities
have been expanded to include
women, youth and refugee
issues. The group provides
disaster relief to individuals and
communities within the Republic
of Liberia.
Each Mandela Washington
Fellowship institution focuses
on one of three areas public
management, business and
entrepreneurship,
or
civic
leadership. Wagner College,
the only small college selected
for the Washington Fellowship,
was chosen by the U.S. State
Department for the civic
leadership curriculum because
of its groundbreaking Port
Richmond Partnership, which
Frontpage
Page 7
YOUNG LIBERIAN LEADER, PART OF OBAMA INITIATIVE,

STUDIES AT WAGNER COLLEGE IN NEW YORK CITY
links Wagner professors, classes

and students with 20 different
community agencies, schools
and churches in a nearby Staten
Island community.
Wagner
College
President
Richard Guarasci laid out the
basic theory underlying the
Port Richmond Partnership and
everything else his school does
to engage with the community
in a constructive, collaborative
way:
We believe that true leadership
has less to do with power, rank or
authority and more to do with the
ability to bring together diverse
groups of people in a common
purpose and a shared vision of a

better world.
It is amazing how the colleges
design of the civic leadership
program taps into relevant
domains of development, social
change and community service
strategies, Emmanuel said. I
have learned that an asset-based,
community-driven,
humancentered approach in civic work
is needed for sustained impact.
Wagners Mandela Washington
Fellows, as the 25 young leaders
are called, spend parts of their
day engaged in classroom
lectures and discussions. They
also visit many different kinds of
community organizations in the

field to see first-hand how they
operate.
This week, the Fellows visited
Lifestyles for the Disabled, a
Staten Island facility that helps
equip developmentally disabled
citizens with work and life skills.
The Lifestyles campus includes
a caf, commercial greenhouses,
a laundry, building maintenance
shops, a woodworking shop
and a radio station, all run by
the programs participants with
help from staff and community
volunteers.
Both
limitations
and
opportunities are tremendous
factors in our diverse societies,

Emmanuel said, reflecting on
his experience at Lifestyles. It
takes optimism combined with
functional approaches to make
the world a little better and more
accommodating in the face of
actual or perceived barriers in
life.
Lifestyles goals of service and
social inclusion apply directly to
my agencys work, and I believe
our country could benefit by
developing the kind of functional
and enabling environments for
disabled people that I saw there.
Emmanuel had several ideas
about how he could apply his
Mandela Washington Fellowship

experience at Wagner College
to his work in Liberia when he
returns home.
The new ideas Ive learned
about networking, innovation
and civic engagement will help
my
organizations
projects
last longer and serve more
people, Emmanuel said. I
will also initiate community
activities through advocacy and
mentorship, with the goal of
youth empowerment and peace
building and linking those in
need with the opportunities they
seek.
Page 8 | Frontpage
Regional Maritime University, (RMU)

Accra, Ghana
Frontpage
INTER HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE; ST. TERESA

CONVENT DEFEATS CALVARY BAPTIST
Massa F. Kanneh masskanneh@yahoo.com or 0886848625
Monrovia
he St Teresa Convent
High School has
defeated
Calvary
Baptist 88 to 68
points in the annual inter high
school debate.
Both teams had weeks to
prepare for the controversial
topic: Liberia Should Maintain
Dual Currency System. St
Teresa Convent was pro while
Calvary Baptist was against.
Olivia P.B.Y Livingstone, the
captain of the all-Female
debate team for St. Teresas
delved into how the dual
currency system was key to
helping boost local economy

for the fact that it could attract
multiple investors to a country
with dual currency system.
Bill Ivans Gbafore, Captain
of the Calvary Baptist School
placed more emphasis on
the Central Bank Act of 1999,
which allows the Bank to
control prices on the market
and maintain the national
currency.
Gbafore declared that Section
III of the CBL Act of 1999
makes the Central Bank of
Liberia responsible to control
the prices on the market
thereby
maintaining
the
GRAND KRU SUPT. WINS
national Currency.
GETTING RID OF SUPER

FRIDAYS
Mr. Alex Devine, whose
organization, Devine Event and
Consultancy sponsored the
debate said it is the institutions
intent to eradicate the issue
of super Fridays that most
students have chosen to have
fun by going on beaches and
other entertainment places
instead of paying attention to
their studies.
Devine hoped that the
selection of Fridays to have the
school debates will bolster the

Ministry of Educations efforts
to eradicate or minimize the
so many funny activities the
students are involved with.
For the Debate nine School
have dropped already from
the contest and the remaining
Schools in the contest, Len
Miller will take on with the
Seven Day Adventist SDA, on
Friday with the Topic: Should
Abortion be a Legal Crime
which will also take place at
the YMCA building on Crown
Hill.
The debate is at its quarter
final stage and the final will
take place on August 23 at the
Monrovia City Hall at 4:00 PM.
The first winner School will
take home US$1000, the
second runners-up will take
US$750 and the third will
receive US$500.
The members of Team St
Teresa Convent included; Olivia
P.B.Y Livingstone, Joshualyne
Roberts, D. Mamawah Bility
and Angel H. Aboah.
Calvary
Baptist
team
members were Bill Ivans
Gbafore, Emmanuel Patrick Jr.,
Mohammed Hamzat Kiazolu
Nathon S. Beargar Jr.
The group says it is also looking
forward for sponsorship to
help encourage academic
events
and
intellectual
activities in Liberia.
NEC AUTHORITIES HOLD

'BEST PERFORMING AWARD' MEETING WITH EU OFFICIALS
Monrovia rand Kru County

Superintendent
Elizabeth Dempster
has
been
named
winner of the 'Best Performing
Superintendent of the Quarter
Award', for the second quarter
of 2015.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs
established the 'Best Performing
Award to recognize and honor
County Superintendents who
meet a set of criteria in the
discharge of their functions.
The Ministry said the naming
of Superintendent Dempster
followed an assessment which
shows that she exhibited
extraordinary leadership and
dedication in the discharge of
her duties.
Internal Affairs Minister Morris
Dukuly in early July conducted
an assessment visit to Grand
Kru before the county co-
hosted the July 26 National

Independence Day Celebration
with Sinoe County.
A release issued by the Ministry
said the assessment revealed
that the countys preparedness
was a result of Superintendent
Dempsters
extra-ordinary
leadership and dedication to
duty, along with local leaders,
the Legislative Caucus, and
partnership with the Director
General of the General Services
Agency, Honorable Mary T. Broh.
Meanwhile, Internal Minister
Dukuly
has
congratulated
Superintendent Dempster for
her outstanding performance
and leadership and encouraged
other county officials to emulate
the good example.
Nimba County Superintendent
Zong Zuagele was the first
winner of 'Best Performing
Award when the award was
announced early this year.
Monrovia two-man
delegation
from the European
Union today, July 28,
2015 held a meeting
with authorities of the National
Elections Commission (NEC)
to discuss pending electoral
processes in the country.
The European Union Desk
Officer of Sierra Leone and
Liberia, Dr. Ferdinand Kopp
and the organizations Head of
Cooperation, Manuel Iglesias,
met with the Chairman and
Executive Director of NEC, Cllr.
Jerome G. Korkoya and Lamin
Lighe at the headquarters of the
Commission in Monrovia.
During the meeting, NEC
Chairman Jerome Korkoya,
said the commission desires to
build the capacity of elections
magistrates as well as its legal
and hearing offices to enable
them speedily and efficiently
hear complaints arising from
electoral processes.
He said such capacity building
would include the provision of
more training to magistrates
as well as increasing the panel
of hearing officers of the
Commission from one to at
least five lawyers that would be
permanently employed by the
Commission to hear elections
complaints.
The EU delegation reaffirmed
the Unions commitment to
providing support to electoral
activities in Liberia and noted
that the project document for
such support would be approved
within the soonest time possible.
Other issues discussed during
the meeting were the pending
national
referendum
for
amending the 1986 constitution
as well as municipal and
chieftaincy elections in the
country.
NEC Warns Against Holding of
Early Convention In NPP
Monrovia - The National
Elections Commission (NEC) has
warned against the holding of
any biennial convention within
the National Patriotic Party
(NPP) pending the resolution of
the current feud within the party.
In a letter addressed to the
leader of one of the contending
parties within the NPP, Randolph
Cooper, the Chairman of the
Commission, Jerome Korkoya,
warned against the conduct of
any convention in the absence
of the resolution of the current
intra-party dispute.
In the letter, Chairman Korkoya
warned that until the crisis is
resolved, any attempt to hold a
biennial convention by any of
the opposing parties in the NPP
will be considered an unlawful
disobedience to the lawful
authority of the NEC.
It can be recalled that the
National Elections Commission
recently met with the two
opposing factions within the
NPP in order to find an amicable
resolution to a crisis which is
a result of two separate letters
written to the Commission by
the leaders of the conflicting
parties, Cllr. Theophilus Gould,
and Mr. Randolph Cooper.
The heads of the conflicting
parties
had
written
the
Commission
announcing
separate dates for the holding
of the partys 7th Biennial
Convention.
Meanwhile, the Commission has
informed rival parties within
the NPP that it will make a final
determination in the conflict on
Thursday, July 30, 2015 at its
headquarters in Monrovia.
Page 9
ABANDONED AND
OSTRACIZED
Prosecution lawyers in children kidnapping

case alleged as court receives communication
Bettie K. Johnson/ betty.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com
Monrovia shata Falee, Sedee Ahmed Falee and Abdurahan Falee had
been diagnosed with several medical complications by a
local clinic upon their return to Liberia.
Their father, Mohammed Sedee Falee was indicted, tried
and found guilty on charges of abuse of ward and kidnapping of his
three children to Mauritania unknowing to their mother.
In a communication in possession of FPA, the lawyer of the
three children, Atty. Swaliho Sesay told criminal court A that
it is astonishing and disappointing that since the return of the
kidnapped children, the father and the kids family have ostracize
and abandoned their welfare including their mother.
He disclosed that a lab examination by the Poly Clinic recently
determined that the children have several medical complications
and illnesses.
Said Attorney Sesay: The lab result shows that the eldest daughter
suffers from ulcers which has developed as a result of going for long
periods without food. Sedee Falee was discovered to have urinary
infection which was as a result of his activities with cows, carriers
of the virus and Abdurahan has kidney complication.
The attorney said all this points to the obvious that the children are
in need of prompt medical attention which has also been ignored
by the defendant, who the attorney said, is only concerned about
footing the legal bill of his counsel for which he recently paid
USD$15,000 upon the arrival of the children.
Childrens condition deteriorating
Atty. Sesay alleged that the childrens condition is deteriorating and
asked for further medical attention; arguing that if nothing is done
it may cause other problems which might be blamed on the mother
of the children.
The lawyer explained that more than US$1,000.00 has been
provided and paid toward lab fees at the internationals poly clinic
which conducted the lab tests and provided the lists of drugs to be
purchased for the children to have them returned in a week.
The prosecution lawyers prayed the court and requested the
intervention of the judge to have the defendant brought back
to court to provide feeding, clothing and medical support for the
returned kidnaped children whose conditions may worsen if the
proper action is not taken against the defendant who is known to be
defiant and arrogant to the courts order as the children have been
abandoned by the defendant without support despite continuing to
provide support to his legal counsel.
NO SECURITY
Just like the girls who returned from Lebanon whose lives have
been allegedly insecure, the prosecution lawyer, in addition; said
the lives off the children and the mother are insecure which has the
propensity to expose them to danger.
The legal counsel for the children is meanwhile urging trafficking,
children organization and NGOS to speak on the abuse of the
children. We are calling on UNICEF, Defense for the children
International and other organizations to tackle this issue.
Atty. Sesay disclosed that the Defense for Children international
contributed to the welfare of the children but unfortunately it only
covered the mother madam Jameila Sylla, which he says, is minimal
for the welfare of the children.
DEFENDANT OUT ON TEMPORARY RELEASE
Defendant Mohammed Falee is now plying the streets of Monrovia
as the court has released him from the Monrovia Central prison
following the return of his three children.
He was released temporarily to seek medical attention at a local
hospital following a request from his legal counsel, Cllr. Cooper
Kruah.
It can be recalled that the defendant was first released from the
Central Prison by Chief Justice Francis Korkpor, after a promissory
note was made by him in the presence of his legal counsel.
The 80-year-old man failed to bring in his children from Mauritania
as promised.
Defendant Faale was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and his
bond was also set aside by the lower court judge Roosevelt Willie
on grounds that the charge is a first degree felony and the defendant
should not have granted bond.
But his recent released from the MCP has raised eyebrows as
the legal counsel of the trio have complained to the court of his
(defendant) maltreatment against his clients.
The defendant is out seeking medical attention, he is a diamond
digger and he has money; all we want is for the court to allow him
sponsor the childrens medical bills because he is the reasons why
the children have those complications.
Page 10 | Frontpage
PAGE
RONT
WORLD NEWS
KENYA AUDITOR UNCOVERS
MASSIVE GOVERNMENT
TOO EARLY TO SAY IF DEBRIS IN REUNION
IS FROM MH370 FLIGHT: POLICE
PARIS (Reuters) ebris that is probably from a plane has washed up

on Reunion island off the east coast of Africa, but
it is premature to suggest that it might be from the
missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, believed to
have crashed in the Indian Ocean, a local official told Reuters on
Wednesday.
"People are getting ahead of themselves over this," Eric
Chesneau, an officer in the air transport police of the French
Indian Ocean territory, said in response to speculation on social
media. "It is more than likely plane debris, (but) we don't know
what exact part it may be."
No trace has been found of the Boeing 777 , which disappeared
in March last year carrying 239 passengers and crew from
Kuala Lumpur, bound for Beijing, in what has become one of the
greatest mysteries in aviation history. Most of the passengers
were Chinese.
MISSPENDING
RUSSIA VETOES BID TO SET UP

TRIBUNAL FOR DOWNED FLIGHT MH17
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) ussia vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft
resolution on Wednesday that would have set up an
international tribunal to prosecute those suspected
of downing a Malaysia Airlines passenger airliner last
year in eastern Ukraine.
Eleven countries on the 15-member council voted in favor of
the proposal by Malaysia, Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium
and Ukraine, while three countries abstained: China, Angola and
Venezuela. A resolution needs nine votes in favor to pass and no
veto by Russia, the United States, China, Britain or France.
Flight MH17 was shot down in July 2014 with 298 passengers
on board, two-thirds of them Dutch. It crashed in Ukrainian
territory held by Russian-backed separatists.
OHIO COP INDICTED ON MURDER

CHARGE IN TRAFFIC-STOP SHOOTING
CINCINNATI (AP)
University of Cincinnati officer who shot a motorist
during a traffic stop over a missing front license plate
was indicted Wednesday on a murder charge, with a
prosecutor saying the officer "purposely killed him"
and "should never have been a police officer."
Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters announced the grand
jury indictment at a news conference to discuss developments
in the investigation into the July 19 shooting of 43-year-old
motorist Samuel DuBose by Officer Ray Tensing.
Authorities have said Tensing spotted a car driven by DuBose
and missing the front license plate, which is required by Ohio
law. They say Tensing stopped the car and a struggle ensued
after DuBose refused to provide a driver's license and get out
of the car.
Nairobi (AFP) nly one percent of

Kenyan government
spending can be
properly accounted
for, according to a report by
the country's auditor-general
released just days after US
President
Barack
Obama
warned
corruption
was
holding the country back.
Auditor-General
Edward
Ouko's
annual
report,
presented to parliament on
Tuesday, said that just 1.2
percent of Kenya's one trillion
shilling (8.9 billion euro)
budget for 2013-14 "was
incurred lawfully and in an
effective way".
The 361-page report is a
litany of mismanagement,
incompetence,
wastage,
misspending and possible
corruption on a huge scale.
KABUL (Reuters) fghanistan said on

Wednesday
that
Mullah Omar, the
elusive leader of the
Taliban movement fighting to
topple the government, died
more than two years ago.
The announcement came a
day or so before a second
round of peace talks had
been tentatively scheduled,
and news of the fate of the
one-eyed Omar could deepen
Taliban divisions over whether
to pursue negotiations with
Kabul and who should replace
him.
Omar had not been seen in
public since fleeing when the
Taliban was toppled from
power by a U.S.-led coalition
in 2001, and there has been
speculation for years among
militant circles that he was
either incapacitated or had
died.
"The government ... based on
credible information, confirms
that Mullah Mohammad Omar,
leader of the Taliban, died
in April 2013 in Pakistan,"
the
presidential
palace
said in a brief statement,
without specifying what the
information was.
Ouko found that 60 percent

of government spending -roughly 600 billion shillings
(5.3 billion euros) -- "had
issues" while he "was unable
to confirm" whether a further
390 billion shillings (3.5
billion euros) "was incurred
effectively and lawfully".
The report was published two
days after Obama left Kenya
where he had addressed "the
cancer of corruption", calling
endemic graft "the single
biggest impediment to Kenya
growing even faster".
"Too often, here in Kenya
corruption is tolerated because
that's how things have always
been done. People just think
that that is sort of the normal
state of affairs," said Obama.
The auditor-general's report
exposes the everyday nature
of malpractice and possible
corruption
in
Kenya's
government.

The ministry of health and
ministry of transport and
infrastructure were among
17 government departments
singled out for failing to
provide documents to support
spending totaling 67 billion
shillings (600 million euros).
"These public funds may not
have been utilized lawfully and
in an effective manner," said
Ouko.
Former transport minister
Michael Kamau, was among
four ministers suspended in
March, and has been charged
with abuse of office.
Ten government departments
-- including the ministry of
agriculture and the judiciary
-- failed to pay bills totaling 17
billion shillings (147 million
euros).
- Railway fiddle? Kenya's police -- regularly

ranked among the most
corrupt institutions in East
Africa -- spent 31 million
shillings (274,000 euros) on
rent for offices that were left
empty. In some police stations
officers were accused of
stealing cash bails, sometimes
using fake accounting books to
conceal the theft.
Kenya, which is placed 145th
out of 174 on Transparency
International's
annual
corruption index, has long
been blighted by graft.
It became a byword for
corruption in the 1990s and
2000s with multi-billion dollar
fiddles including Goldenberg,
which saw the government
overpay gold subsidies, and
the Anglo-Leasing government
procurement scandal.
Graft allegations have dogged
a deal to build a new 485
kilometre (300 mile) standard
gauge railway that is currently
under construction linking
the port of Mombasa with the
capital Nairobi.
The Chinese-built single-track
railway line with diesel rolling
stock, is costing $5.6 million
per kilometre compared to
the $4.8 million per kilometre
being paid by neighbouring
Ethiopia for a new dualtrack, electrified railway. A
parliamentary committee has
called for the cancellation of
the deal, amid suspicions of
corruption.
AFGHANISTAN SAYS TALIBAN

LEADER DEAD, URGES PEACE TALKS
"The
government
of
Afghanistan believes that
grounds for the Afghan peace
talks are more paved now than
before, and thus calls on all
armed opposition groups to
seize the opportunity and join
the peace process."
The
Taliban's
regular
spokesman could not be
reached for comment through
normal channels.
The White House said it was

aware of reports of the death
of Omar and believed them to
be "credible." Spokesman Eric
Schultz said U.S. intelligence
continued to look into the
matter.
Preparations had been under
way for the next round of
talks between the Afghan
government and the Taliban,
provisionally planned for
Thursday or Friday in a
location yet to be confirmed.
INTERNAL RIFT
President Ashraf Ghani is keen
to broker a settlement with
insurgents, who have been
the
gaining territory in pockets of
the country and intensifying
their attacks on military and
political targets.
Thousands of civilians and
security personnel are killed
each year in the violence,
which has worsened since
NATO withdrew most of its
forces from the country at the
end of 2014.
Schultz called on the Taliban to
end the bloodshed.

"They
can
accept
the
government of Afghanistan's
invitation to join a peace
process ... or they can choose
to continue fighting Afghans
and destabilizing their own
country," he said.
Omar's death may not affect
Taliban operations on the
ground, but it is likely to
intensify an internal tussle to
replace him.
The Taliban is already split
between senior figures who
support talks with Kabul to
end the 13-year war and those
who want to continue to fight
for power.
A senior Afghan Taliban
commander
based
in
neighboring Pakistan said
Omar had died of natural
causes, although he did
not specify when. "We are
at a crossroads, and it will
take some time to resolve
this (leadership) issue," the
militant said.
Frontpage
Sports
A COMPREHENSIVE VERDICT?
Page 11
SPORTS
OFFICIAL: SZCZESNY
JOINS ROMA ON LOAN
Fifpro finds Karmo, Idsea Champasak United guilty of trafficking West African minors, including 20 Liberian footballers
EDITORS NOTE: It was a

story the local media reported
about but FrontPageAfrica
religiously
followed
their
selection and departure from
Monrovia, arrival in Accra and
their journey to Laos.
It looked like an adventure
to Asia in search of greener
pasture but it has now turned
into a human trafficking
situation.
The BBC gave it a wider

international attention. And
now
Fifpro,
International
Federation of Professional
Footballers,
has
released
its findings after months of
investigation.
The full story is captured below.
n the past four months,

Fifpro has been working
to guarantee the safe
return home of more than
30 young African footballers,
including 20 minor players from
Liberia and one from Guinea.
This is the story of the trip that
these teenage footballers will
never forget, a dramatic story
that should open the eyes of
ambitious adolescents around
the globe and all football
administrators, who have to step
up their efforts in protecting
minors (players under 18 years)
worldwide.
In April, Fifpro managed to
bring back 16 Liberian players
(including 15 minors) to their
homes.
They had been staying at a
so-called academy in Laos
belonging to premier league club
Idsea Champasak United.
They arrived in February,

persuaded by Idseas captain
and former Liberia international
Alex Beyam Karmo.
Karmo promised them a great
future in Laos, but all his
promises were not fulfilled.
Next to that, 14 African players
are currently held against
their will at the Idsea academy,
including six minors.
They have no visa, no residence
or working permit and their
passports have been confiscated
by the club.
They informed the club that
they want to leave, but the club
is refusing to cooperate because
all players, including the minors,
have a signed contract.

This is a tragic story about
young players from a country in
difficulties, where the future is
far from bright. They get cheated
by callous men who promise
them a brighter future, but only
want to take advantage of them,
says Anthony Baffoe, secretarygeneral of the Professional
Footballers
Association
in
Ghana (PFAG), who was highly
involved in the return of the 16
players.
The story begins in December
2014 when Karmo contacts a
friend, who is
president of Liberian lower
league club Rising Stars.
Karmo says he is looking for
talented players to join the newly
established Idsea academy.
The president trusts him
and assembles a squad of 25
young men, aged 14 to 20,
approximately half of them
from his own club and the rest
from other teams. Some of
the minors are Liberian youth
internationals.
The president and the 25 players
travel to Ghana, where they join
Karmo and other players in a
training camp, before flying to
Laos.
Karmo persuades the players by
proclaiming that the academy in
Laos is a stepping stone to big
clubs in Europe.
He promises each player that
will join the academy US$1,000,
a laptop, US$25 per practice
session, and a school education.
The club will also reimburse the
approximately US$550 that each
player had to pay for the flight to
Ghana. The kids, who had never
heard of Laos, are all convinced.
PLAYERS SLEEPING IN THE
STADIUM
LFA KNOCKOUT
In Laos, the players wake up in a
COMPETITION HEATS UP
A. Macaulay sombai, 0777217428
Monroviaoalkeeper
Prince
Wlames last penalty
goal was enough for
his side LISCR FC to
qualify for the second round of
the Liberia Football Association

(LFA) national league knockout
competition after a 4-2 victory
in penalty kicks against second
division side FC Sesay at the ATS.
The two teams settled to a 0-0
harsh reality. The academy is far

from what they expected it to be.
There is no coach, no medical
staff. Their accommodation
is a dilapidated section of the
stadium that cannot be locked
and is anything but hygienic.
They get only two meals a day:
bread in the morning, rice in
the afternoon. No education is
arranged.
They train twice a day, but dont
play any matches as the academy
is not officially registered.
Fifa transfer regulations prohibit
minor players making an
international transfer or joining
an academy abroad (article 19
and 19bis of the Fifa Regulations
on the Status and Transfer of
Players).
There are exceptions to these
rules, but they do not apply to
the aforementioned cases of
players involved.
In short: because of these
regulations, all minor players
cannot be officially registered
with the club.
The adult players can be
registered, although they must
receive an official international
transfer certificate (ITC) through
Fifa.
Nevertheless, two minor players
appear in Idsea Champasaks
premier
league
matches:
Kesselly Kamara, Junior and
Emmerson Wleh.
Kamara even scores on his debut,
during the 5-1 loss at Lanexang
United on February 28.
Twenty-year-old Adolphus Mutu
Blamo plays several matches,
even though he does not have an
ITC.
After one month, Idsea urges all
minor players to sign a six-year
contract.
The Liberian club president
advises his players to refuse;
according to him the contracts
are bogus.
draw after 90 minutes play
before going for the penalty
kicks.
The lack of finishing touches was
the main problem that led to the
losing sides failure to find the
back of LISCR goal.
Midfielder Vision Gray, strikers
Kelvin Potis, Prince Nagbe,
Doepoe Wesseh and Anthony
Thomas kept the pressure on
LISCR midfield and defense until
the final whistle but failed to
make the difference.
Even though first division side
LISCR carried the day, they did
not play to expectation due to
their poor ball possessions, shots
on target and finishing touches.
Four of LISCR dependable
players Striker Dominic Jarteh,
Christopher
Jackson,
and
midfielder Julius Nah misused
several scoring chances for the
The players listen to his advice.

They have had enough of their
stay at the academy, of all
the false promises, of all the
days waiting for matches, for
improved accommodation and
much more.
All 22 inform Idsea that they
want to go home directly,
accompanied by their president.
But the directors refuse to
cooperate and state that the
players can only leave when
they pay their expenses for
accommodation,
food
and
drinks.
The players are unable to and
thus, are trapped in the training
ground.
Alerted about the situation
regarding the Liberian players,
Fifpro, assisted by
the PFAG in Ghana (as the
world players union does not
have a Liberian PFA among its
members), exerts pressure on
the Laotian FA (LFF) to solve this
situation.
After 10 hectic, sometimes scary
(as players and their president
get physically threatened) and
confusing days, Idsea sends 17
players (including
16 minors) back to Accra, Ghana
where they started their trip to
Laos.
In Accra, most of the players end
up in a refugee camp because
they lack the money to pay for a
flight to Liberia.
The situation lasts until Fifpro
decides to finance return tickets
for these 16 Liberian players. On
15 April, they are finally back in
Liberia.
Not all players returned from
Laos. Five players, including four
minors, remained in Laos.
Some of them insisted on staying
because their parents indicated
that they would be considered
failures and their families would
be mocked if they came back
winning side but they were
fortunate to win through penalty
kicks.
Goalkeeper Wlame goal came
after Chea Johnson and Fallah
Larmena missed the third and
fourth penalties for FC Sesay.
FC Sesay midfielder Gray
attributed his side defeat to the
lack of finishing torches but
said all is not yet over for them
because they are now seated
second in their second division
table and they could finish the
league as champions..
Says Gray: My side is one of
the newly promoted second
division team in the LFA national
league and this is our first time
to participate in such a major
competition and we learned a
lot even though we are out of the
competition but I am please to
say thank you to my comrades,
without being successful.

However, towards the end of May
Fifpro receives information that
these players and their parents
regret their decision.
The situation in Laos has not
improved; the players indicate
that it has worsened. They are
stuck at the training ground.
Their visa expired in March and
they are afraid of being arrested
when caught outside.
The players are part of a group of
14 African players (11 Liberians,
one each from Ghana, Sierra
Leone and Guinea), aged 15 to
20, who desperately want to
return home.
They state they were forced to
sign a contract, as they would
get a valid visa and a residence
permit in return.
All players, including six minors,
signed a three-year contract.
But after signing the contract
in April, they have still not been
handed a permit or visa.
Last weekend, Idsea reportedly
tried to organize a match in
Cambodia, in an apparent effort
to showcase (and sell) some of
the African players (including
two minors).
The game was cancelled, as the
club realized that the African
players did not have any visa...
Fifpro tried several times to get
in touch with Karmo, but he did
not answer any of our requests
for comments.
Baffoe: For Fifpro, this club
Idsea Champasak and its socalled academy are a clear
example of child trafficking.
They approach young players
from Africa and persuade them
with stories of a golden future.
In reality they do absolutely
nothing that is beneficial for
the players. They dont give
them proper training, they dont
educate them, they dont take
care of them.
Fifpro is very concerned that
the Idsea Champasak academy
is not one of its kind. We fear
that there are many more clubs
and people looking to earn quick
money at the costs of young
players wellbeing.
Therefore, we alert all young
professional footballers to first
learn their trade and educate
themselves before leaving their
country. They should absolutely
not rush to join any kind of
worthless program abroad."
coaches and officials of my team.
Holder FC made it to the second
round through a 3-1 victory
against Nimba FC in the day last
battle also on penalty shootout
after the 90 minutes finished 0-0.
First division side Nimba
United also advanced to the
second round of the knockout
competition with a 1-0 win over
second division side Mighty Blue
Angels on penalty kicks after
both teams settled to a 0-0 draw
in Unification Town Margibi
County sport ground.
The
knockout
competition
progresses today at the ATS.
First
division
defending
champions
Barrack
Young
Controllers (BYC) will come face
to face with NPA Anchors in the
day early kickoff while Keitrace
FC tackle second division side
Joy Conqueror in the last game.
rsenal goalkeeper
Wojciech Szczesny
has joined Roma
on a season-long
loan deal.
The 25-year-old lost his place
in the Gunners' first team after
being caught smoking in the
dressing room following the
2-0 loss to Southampton on
New Year's Day, with David
Ospina's fine form keep him
out of the starting XI.
The arrival of Petr Cech from
Chelsea in an 11 million deal
has pushed Szczesny further
down the pecking order and
he will now spend the 201516 campaign away from the
Emirates Stadium.
GUARDIOLA WILL RETURN

TO BARCELONA AT THE
RIGHT MOMENT - XAVI
ormer Barcelona star

Xavi has backed Pep
Guardiola to return
to the club when he
feels the time is right.
Guardiola enjoyed remarkable
success at Camp Nou before
stepping down in 2012 and,
with his Bayern Munich
contract up next summer,
rumours abound that he could
quit the Allianz Arena.
Manchester
City
have
been mooted as his next
destination, while a role
as either coach or sporting
director back with Barca has
also been suggested, and Xavi
has little doubt his old boss
will return.
DROGBA MOBBED BY
MONTREAL IMPACT FANS
ormer
Chelsea
striker
Didier
Drogba has been
mobbed by fans at
his arrival in Montreal after
signing for local MLS club
the Impact .
Drogba posted a video on
Twitter of a packed arrivals
hall at Montreal-Trudeau
International Airport on
Wednesday, with fans held
back by security guards, and
the 37-year-old forward in the
foreground, nodding at the
camera with a satisfied look
on his face.
The former Ivory Coast
international wrote: "First
steps on Canadian soil, what a
welcome @impactmontreal."
NEWS ANALYSIS
Page 12 | Frontpage
PREDICTABLE
LIBERIANS' CONCERNS FORETOLD ORATORS SPEECH
ORATION?
Comparing Liberias success to former British colony of Ghana who declared its independence in 1957 about 110
years after Liberias independence, many see the disparity in economic and infrastructure progress as vast and
continuing to put Africas oldest republic under pressure both on the continent and elsewhere.
Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, alpha.senkpeni@frontpageafricaonline.com
Monrovia ays before President

Ellen
JohnsonSirleaf, government
officials and foreign
diplomats prepped for their
trip to the South Eastern
Liberian Cities of Greenville
and Barclayville to grace
Africas oldest republic 168th
Independence Day celebration,
Liberians from all walks of
life were already aware of
the problems fretting their
nations growth.
Bad roads condition, lack
of basic social services
and corruption are some
challenges Liberians continue
to lament even before this
years national orator began
scripting his speech to deliver
in the J. Dominic Bing, Sr. City
Hall founded 1838.
Even the architectural design
of the hall speaks volume about
a city older then the republic
itself. As always, Liberians
embraced this day despite
mentioning the enormous
challenges, their frustration
in government past and
present and the thirst for
holistic change coupled with
development.
Fortunately,
the
national
orator, a former Liberian
diplomat Charles Alexander
Minor took approximately
an hour to express what they
already knew strangulating the
state. Ambassador Minor opted
to comment on arguably all
of Liberias problems leaving
Liberians to ponder a more
pragmatic solution. Minor
spoke on issues ranging from
patriotism,
infrastructure,
agriculture,
education,
freedom of speech, and
significance of stewardship to
achieving goals as well as the
awful past experiences of the
state. Speaking on the theme
Celebrating our Community
as a Strong Foundation for
Accelerated
Development,
Minor had words for everyone
including government, farmers,
craftsmen,
entrepreneurs,
students and even the derelicts,
calling Liberians to venture
into existing opportunities to
transform their lives and the
country.
This
years
theme
contextualized the rationale
behind all the rush to complete
delayed projects in the two host
counties. At a certain point, it
seem like completing all the
projects were unmanageable,
and it was, Some projects
including the youth center
in Greenville was dedicated
incomplete with some youth

complaining that the building
lacks furniture while the roads
may deteriorate due to the
last-minute-to-time work by
AFL engineers who helped
saved the celebration. Several
residents in Sinoe County have
seemed expressed concern
over the local government
ability to sustain whatever
development the celebration
has given their county.
As many Liberians often
expressed lack of confidence
in government and the
orators assertion of the lack
of trust in government, the
concern of matching the
countrys age with its progress
and development as being
grieved by many Liberians,
epitomized how Liberians had
earlier second guessed the
experienced diplomat.
As I am speaking to you, many
Liberians are still wondering,
indeed: is our nation really 168
years old? What can we show
for those 168 years? Many
Liberians see nothing to be
proud of, perhaps nothing to
celebrate, Ambassador Minor
remarked.
ORATORS
COMMENTS
SUBSTANTIATED
Indeed, the Orator comments

substantiated many Liberians
views with the government
obliged to make amends which
they say can transformed the
country. The dissenting views
piled up before the wellattended occasion in the Port
City of Greenville.
One businesswoman suggested
that Liberians should not
celebrate but rather mourn the
failures of their leaders, We
have not seen any development

or improvement in the country.
Most people are running away
from the country because
there is no hope for them.
We can only celebrate social
problems,
unemployment
and prostitution, said Mercy
Flomo in an interview with
FrontPPageAfrica
days
before the celebration. She
also complained that the
country would have been
better without independence
because the colonial masters
would have performed better
then past and present leaders.
While another businesswoman,
Martha Benson added: We
are yet to know our purpose
for existence, our country is
still trying to find its feet after
168 years, it is unfortunate
because we know of younger
countries that have moved on
and become great in Africa.
Comparing Liberias success to
former British colony of Ghana
who declared its independence
in 1957 about 110 years after
Liberias independence, many
see the disparity in economic
and infrastructure progress
as vast and continuing to put
Africas oldest republic under
pressure both on the continent
and elsewhere.
Ghana's economy is the ninthlargest on the continent by
purchasing
power
parity
and nominal GDP making
the former Gold coast, a
major producer of petroleum
and natural gas, with the
continent's fifth largest oil
reserves and sixth largest
natural gas reserves. This
surpasses Liberia who in 1980
had a GDP at US$496 and
in 1960 enjoyed an average
annual growth of 11.5%. The
countys Infrastructure and

economy crumbled due to the
war and has since struggle to
recuperate.
The main problems often
termed by Liberians are
corruption and the lack of
patriotism and outlining the
constraints associated with
some: economic flops, human
trafficking,
messy
health
and education systems, poor
social services and lack of
infrastructure,
Ambassador
Minor again said what some
dubbed as the obvious.
Too many of us seem to be
below the economic glass
ceiling while just a few and
foreign business men are
excelling, he said, alluding
that Liberians are missing out
on the opportunities available
in the agriculture, housing, and
various aspects of the country
business sector. But dissecting
the theme and logic behind
the orators words, some say
his comment mainly lists the
problems and fails to impact a
drive for change.
Ambassador Minors speech is
just too predictable, a popular
politician said, requesting
anonymity. He touched on
all several issues; but did
not make strong suggestions
to people like the President
who sat right in the hall close
to him. The politician also
claimed that Minors speech
was interesting but avoided
mentioning the failures of
the government including
President Sirleaf who in 2013
was purportedly annoyed with
the then Orator, now Senator
Varney Sherman. Sherman was
hailed for being blunt when he
mentioned President Sirleafs
lackluster performance in

rescuing Liberians from the
experience of drudgery.
STILL LEAVING ON LESS
THAN A DOLLAR A DAY
But for the 2015 orator, Minor

praised President Sirleaf for
her leadership in the fight
against the deadly Ebola
virus outbreak saying: We
thank you for the passion,
energy, the enthusiasm and
everything else you have
put I leading our doctors,
nurses, administrators, health
workers, in the heroic fight
against Ebola.
Earlier Ambassador Minor told
the nation what the problems
were: As we celebrate, many
Liberians are still surviving on
less than one dollar, no sound
and quality education, poor
health care system, water and
sanitation is lacking, ignorance
persists, and Liberians are
giving out their lands to make
ends meet.
With reactions to the Minors
speech on the World Wide Web
from Liberians both home and
abroad increasing, many are
asserting that the problems
are glaring and dont need
to be retold. Smith G. Wulu
commented to FrontPage
Africa article about the 168th
Independence Day saying:
We all know the problems
of Liberia and we expect the
orator to tell us the practical
ways to solve the countrys
proactive mess.
And another comment by
Sylvester Moses in New
Jersey, USA reads: But
request to be an orator by
a regime losing popularity
can be dicey (Dr Teah Tarpeh
and the PRC), especially,
if you were Ambassador
Minor, a beneficiary, yet with
presidential ambitions. Thus
we shouldnt be surprised by
the Quixotic efforts to please
a benefactor, President Sirleaf,
while simultaneously trying to
cuddle the people; but our
brilliant orator cant have it
both ways when the country is
dangerously teetering toward
class conflict.
Regardless the opinions about
the message by the former
ambassador to the United
States and United Nations
during separate years, it
seemed he had derived his
Independence
message
from what Liberians already
endured. In the opening
minutes of the speech, he
indicated that the backbone
of his speech comes from the
reaction and realities of every
Liberian impediment and later
advice that despite the existing
weakness and challenges,
Liberians are strong and have
opportunities but should avoid
focusing on only the negativity
of the nation.
But the negatives lead to
pessimism about government
which is evident by the lack
of sustained development
throughout
the
country
considered by many as the byproduct of corruption.
Development is continuous;
our leaders must not wait
for
Independence
Day
celebration before they began
to implement projects, said
Martin K.M Kollie, a student
of the University of Liberia.
I think it is mere pretense
and conspiracy against the
people, he added, averring
that corruption is the factor
for the underdevelopment of

the country. Already, as stated
by Ambassador Minor on July
27, 2015, the pessimism is
entrenched in Liberians about
the government with many
accusing public officials and
others of corruption. And the
National Orator too outlined
the ramifications of corruption
in different aspects including
the ones in the job market and
the quest to acquire wealth
at the detriment of their
employer or the nation which
he described as chopping
acquiring reward fraudulently,
he said. Like many Liberians
here and abroad, Ambassador
Minor too ponders the cause
of this rampant social vice
which he said leads Liberians
to shifting blame.
URGENCY TO MAKE IMPACT
Too often we here on the

streets and even in the
corridors of office that the
government is to blame, the
government is responsible, the
government has failed us;
some Liberians even blame our
partners, especially western
countries and now even China
and their nationals who have
continue to exploit us, he said,
adding that the free press and
proliferation of talk radios
has not limited criticism even
when those participating are
doers themselves calling on
Liberians to profit from the
errors of the past and built
strong foundation for a better
future.
Too often, ordinary Liberians
themselves have mentioned
just what the national orator
stressed in Greenville City
though most times public
views
are
coated
with
frustration with increasing
calls for government to take
action in other to minimize
the numerous challenges.
Ambassador Minors view
about the lack of many skilled
Liberians is limiting prospects
for young educated Liberians
who are unemployed while
recommending changes in the
acquisition of work permit in
Liberia.
Residents and work permits
for foreigners who are not
investing in our economy and
who do not possess critical
skills in demand should be
gradually but significantly
curtailed, he said adding that
the government must improve
its
scholarship
programs
and suggested strategies to
capacitate young graduates.
The urgency to impact
progress in all of Liberias
sectors was obviously stressed
by the orator like what has
been said over the last couple
of years by many Liberians
although the country still
struggles in improving its
system and Thomas Weah, a
resident of Buchanan, Grand
Bassa County said: This
years oration is obviously
explaining what is happening
in our country but will the
government listen and make
the change? I dont believe so.
And like Ambassador Minor
mentioned in the national
oration on July 27, many
Liberians claim pessimism
will continue once corruption
and lack of patriotism remain
detrimental to national growth
and development.
THE BEST
GOVERNMENT NEWS
for a very long time in a

relatively short time. He cited
Israel as poor and devastated
for 100 years; but Nehemiah
drastically transformed them
in two months; mentioning
Rwanda, Ivory Coast and other
dwell together in unity! He

said this scripture describes
the benefits of community as
being good and pleasant; but
which is only possible when
the people are united.
He stressed that humanity is
different in gender, tribes, race,
regions, languages; noting that
unity does not necessarily
mean uniformity, neither does
oneness means sameness.
We
must
accept
our
differences, appreciate our
differences,
respect
our
differences,
Rev.
Karpeh
urged, adding that the power of
unity in diversity is generated
by the power of leadership.
Quoting Genesis 11:1,6, Rev.
Karpeh indicated that God
himself confirms that any
group of people are capable
of achieving their desires
provided certain community
imperatives are met.
By this, he said, we know that
no country has any excuse
for not developing because
underdevelopment is not a
cause of lack of resources
or opportunities. It is a lack
of community and common
speech and suggested that a
sense of community can be
enhanced by encouraging
corporate ownership and
participation. The challenge
of national development is
not development itself; rather
it is the challenges of unity. If
we unite people, we will build
nations, he warned.
Also, quoting Nehemiah 3:8,
Rev. Karpeh said no country
excels without certain specific
distinctive values. He said
countries that have had wars

too.
Delivering the sermon earlier
on the theme: Celebrating
our Community as a strong
Foundation for Accelerated
Development, Rev. Karpeh,
said the theme points to one
attractive goal development
- one that is fast-paced.
The assumption here is that
the development we needs to
progress with certain pace in
order to compensate for our
national deficit and to catch
up with the global trend, he
said, suggesting further that
its a clear indictment that
Liberia is lagging far behind
the minimum benchmark of
acceptable standards as far as
the respectability of nations is
concerned.
On how Liberians celebrate
our community, Rev. Karpeh
quoting Psalm 133.1 said,
Behold how good and
pleasant it is for breathen to
America thrives on liberty,

prosperity, and the pursuit
of happiness; while the
western world has succeeded
on freedom, prosperity, and
multiculturalism. Ghana, and
sub-regional neighbours for
example, have succeeded to
inculcate a national mind-set
of self-confidence and national
pride.
He asked, if people want to
describe us, what do they
point to? If they want to come
here, what will they see? If
they want to learn, what can
we teach them that is only
available here?
Rev. Karpeh later, asked, how
do Liberians begin to turn the
tide?
Providing some answers,
he suggested that we must
invest in tourism, begin to
build durable and attractive
infrastructures in our native
communities,
(i.e.)
the
presidents village, speakers
President Sirleaf Describes Liberias 168th Independence Anniversary
(BARCLAYVILLE, GRAND KRU

COUNTY
resident
Ellen
Johnson
Sirleaf
has described this
years Independence
Anniversary celebration as the
best and praised the people
of Grand Kru County for their
resilience and fortitude during
the countrys celebration of
168 years of nationhood.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, the Liberian
leader made the statement
Sunday, July 26, 2015 at
the Barclayville City Hall,
Grand Kru County during
the
Thanksgiving
and
Intercessory Worship Service
commemorating the 168th
Independence Anniversary of
the Republic of Liberia. The
service was hosted by the
Liberia Council of Churches.
I think we all have been
wonderfully blessed today,
and I know that we will leave
from here with a sense of
renewal; spiritual renewal,
social renewal and national
renewal. This for me is one of
the best 26 day celebrations,

she indicated.
President Sirleaf used the
occasion to thank the people
of Grand Kru County for
co-hosting Liberias 168th
Independence
Anniversary
and for the unity that exists
amongst them. She called
on all Liberians to exhibit a
greater sense of unity and
service to the nation as the
country celebrates 168 years
of independence.
The Founder and President of
THE OASIS and Senior Pastor,
Life Center Church, Rev. Foday
E. Karpeh says no country
develops
and
maintains
stability which excludes certain
sectors of its population.
In Liberias case, we must be
bold and honest. This country
was not founded to exclude
anyone, neither politically,
socially, or religious even if
the opposite was historically
the case. No country develops
and maintains stability which
excludes certain sectors of its
population, whether politically,
economically,
socially,
or
religiously, he emphasized,
warning that in the same vein,
no country goes far which is
ambivalent about its history.
He said Liberia was founded
to be a home for free people,
and for the civilization and
Christianization of Africa;
however, it should never
be interpreted to mean the
superiority of Christianity over
other religions. But we must
never betray this fundamental
aspect of our community. It
does not have to be legislated
to be true; and not legislating
it should not mean its denial
either.
Rev. Karpeh highlighted the
so-called Triple Heritage
theory which speaks to the
three foremost, but not the
only religious composition of
our citizenry Christianity,
Islam and African Traditional
Religion.
He said the Triple Heritage
concept is not the substitute
for the credit of our founding.
In spite of which religions or
tribes were present on the
soil of what later became
known as Liberia, credit for
our sovereignty as an official
nation is solely and exclusively
a Christian initiative.
He said if the church did not
organize our national structure
and sign our Declaration of
Independence, which became
the basis for the international
recognition of four sovereignty
as an independent nation,
what we call Liberia now could
have been lost to Great Britain
and France, and apportioned
to Sierra Leone, Guinea and
Ivory Coast.
Whoever was here before the
other, no state was established
until the Church came. If we
must celebrate our community,
we must acknowledge that, he
urged, adding that honesty is
important for the future of the
country. History must not be
sacrificed to justify religious
equality.
He pointed out that it is possible
to truly transform a country
which has been improvised
Frontpage
Page 13
district, the directors farm,

etc.; then begin to establish
sustained presence in our
native regions.
He urged Liberians to invest
in the country because where
your treasure is, there is
where your heart will be.
Lets begin to add value to
whatever little we have and
attract commercial premiers to
them; lets begin to write local
text books; lets settle this one
national local language issue
once and for all! If it is Kpelle,
lets choose it. Or Bassa, Lets
take it and start, Rev. Karpeh
emphasized.
He warned that if Liberians
dont
maintain
national
distinctiveness, we will be
taking on the colours of others
consciously and unconsciously.
Again, quoting Nehemiah
2:17-18, on how Liberia can
celebrated our community by
casting a genuine, applicable
and result-oriented national
vision, Rev. Tarpeh said
this narrative of national
development teaches five
principles: That casting
a
national vision requires a
leader who demonstrates
credibility by selfless sacrifices,
and courage to practically take
ownership of the challenges
of the nation; transforming a
country does not need to take
as long as the country has been
underdeveloped; noting that
Jerusalem remained in ruin for
a whole century; but Nehemiah
transformed the society and
developed the city in 52 days.
(Neh. 6:15)
He emphasised that national
transformation calls for bold
and courageous leadership
both in principles and practice;
noting that Nehemiah was
always physically fighting
external opposition, but also
was
confronting
internal
injustices. (Neh. 4-6)
Rev. Karpeh reiterated that
the protection of the countrys
spiritual landmark is crucial to
the sustainability of national
development.
Concluding,
Rev.
Karpeh
declared in the name of Jesus
that this administration will
receive favour from God. He
noted that in recent time, the
leaders of Liberia have not
ended their term. He said
since William R. Tolbert, all
the Presidents that have come
have not ended their term
successfully. The bus ends
here. I am speaking a spiritual
reality, he prophesized.
When a leader dies in
office or removed violently,
it undermines the spiritual
integrity of the nation, he
said, warning that when the
Presidency of any nation is
disrespected
this
doesnt
show a good sign. He warned
politicians that they will
not lead anything that they
condemn or bring down. He
suggested that they must rather
engage and be constructive in
their utterances.
He assured President Sirleaf
that she will end her term.
Take it to the bank and sleep.
You are secured, he said,
adding that she will not only
end her term but end her term
and retire honourably.
He declared that the circle
of evil that undermines the
presidency and the country for
years is broken. Today, in the
City of Barclayville, I declare
today that that circle is broken
and Liberia is blessed today.
FrontPage
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