TOP

STORIES

DIASPORA

pg 6

40 YEARS FOR
PIERRE COLLINS

"He fell... I took him to the

river. I duct taped him and
threw him in the water."

COUNTY NEWS

pg 5

TRAVELLING

JINX

NEWS EXTRA

pg 6

BOTTLENECKS
HAMPER FR.
TIKPORS LEGACY

"Look at meI am getting

older do you think I will
have those books before I die?

FrontPage
Locals in Grand Bassa Upset
over Deplorable Roads

www.frontpageafricaonline.com

VOL 9 NO.115

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015

PRICE L$40

SUSPENDED NPA BOSS PARKER, COMPTROLLER PAILEY FATE UNCERTAIN

LINGERING WAHALA
OVER INSURANCE BOND
You claimed to have US$750,000.00 re-assurance surety but nothing to show to the court as an
asset. If you claimed to have that money, that could have been reflected in your bank statement
but there is nothing to show. - Montserrado County Attorney Daku Mulbah

Law & Order - pg. 6

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, AUGUST 3, 2015

L$87.00/US$1

L$88.00/US$1

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015

L$87.00/US$1

L$88.00/US$1

TUESDAY, JULY 28, 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

Page 2 | Frontpage

FROM PAGE 1

Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia iberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf says she

has accepted the resignation of her controversial
Agriculture Minister Dr. Florence Chenoweth.
Responding to a FrontPageAfrica inquiry Tuesday,
the President, speaking through her press secretary
Jerolinmek Piah confirmed that she has indeed accepted
Chenoweths resignation and explained that the only reason
it had not been made public is because she is still in the
process of finding a successor.
It is unclear whether the minister was asked to resign or left
on her own.
Chenoweth who was appointed in 2009, endured a turbulent
six-year run as minister.
Her appointment immediately resurrected concerns about
her previous stint as Minister of Agriculture.
While serving in that capacity in the government of President
William R. Tolbert, Chenoweth in early 1979 made a proposal
to the cabinet for an increase in the subsidized price of rice
from $US22 for a 100-pound bag to $26.
Chenoweth at the time, rationalized the increase as an
inducement for rice farmers to stay on the land and produce
food for themselves and for sale instead of leaving to work
for wages in the cities or on the rubber plantations.
The plan spurred strong resentments from political
opponents who accused Chenoweth and the Tolbert family of
being large scale rice farmers who stood to profit handsomely
from the price increase.
The Progressive Alliance of Liberia(PAL) looking to reject the
move, called for a peaceful demonstration in Monrovia, and
on April 14 about 2,000 activists were assembled to march
on the Executive Mansion to protest the proposed price rise.
The orderly protest turned violent with widespread looting
of retail stores and rice warehouses in what has come to be
labeled as the April 14, rice riots Damage to private property
was estimated to have exceeded $40 million as Tolbert called
in troops from neighboring Guinea to ease the tension.
The two countries had only three week earlier signed a
mutual defense treaty. At least 40 demonstrators and rioters
were killed and more than 500 injured. Hundreds more
were arrested, and police were ordered to storm the PAL
headquarters.
Several members of PAL were rounded up as Tolbert blamed
the progressives for the destruction done by the mob during
the Rice Riots.
Tolbert closed the university and suspended due process.
Chenoweth was replaced as minister of agriculture after
admitting publicly that she had erred in proposing the price
rise. Tolbert reassured the country that the subsidized price
of rice would be kept at $22 per 100 pounds and subsequently
reduced it to $20.

Chenoweth reinvented herself following the 79 episode.

Prior to accepting the appointment in 2009, Dr. Chenoweth
was Distinguished International Visitor at University of
Wisconsin-Madison and Managing Director of the Wisconsin
Human Rights Initiative. Previously she was Director of
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations Liaison Office in New York (LON) and Representative
to the UN between 2001 and 2007. Earlier, Dr Chenoweth
worked with FAO in South Africa and The Gambia and served
as Chief of Party and advisor in Zambia. The Minister started
her career in Liberia, where she worked in the Ministry of
Planning, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture.
Dr Chenoweth became Liberia's (and Africa's) first female
Minister of Agriculture at the age of 32, serving from 1977 to
1979. Dr Chenoweth earned her doctorate in Land Resources
at University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she has also been
awarded Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Human Letters.
Returning to the post 30 years later in 2009, Chenoweth held
no punches as she told a Senate confirmation hearing she did
not come looking for a job but was pursued. I am not looking
for job; I was pursued for two year for this job, so if anyone
who is qualified comes in, I will take my exit because I'm
qualified and marketable.
Chenoweth endured numerous criticisms during her tenure
including mounting calls for her dismissal after a Special
Independent Investigating Body (SIIB) set up by President
Sirleaf to investigate the issuance of Private Use Permits
(PUPs) in the forest sector, recommended a one month
suspension of the minister.
The investigative body cited the ministers failure to provide
proper oversight of the Forestry Development Authority
(FDA) as well as her failure to conduct due diligence in
the issuance of Private Use Permits. The committee also
recommends that the Board of Directors be appropriately
reprimanded for breach of their duty and also failure to
conduct due diligence and provide effective control over the
operations of FDA in the issuance of PUP.
The Committee recommended that the suspended FDA
Managing Director, Moses Wogbeh, be dismissed for
gross misconduct, abuse of power, economic sabotage
and insubordination to the FDA's Board and prosecuted
appropriately.
Wogbeh who is currently facing trial testified recently how
the 61 Private Use Permits (PUPs) were allegedly approved
by Chenoweth, who was the board chair of the FDA and
Agriculture Minister without naming her in the indictment.
Specifically, the dismissed FDA boss told the court that All
of the 61 PUPs were approved by the chairperson of the FDA
and sometimes by Dr. Chenoweths proxy.
Wogbeh together with three other FDA managers and a
senior surveyor of the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

are being tried for their
alleged roles in facilitating
the wrongful and illegal
issuance of up to 61 PUPs
that authorized commercial
loggings operations on
nearly 2.5 million hectares
of land area of Liberia
They were accused of
criminal conspiracy, forgery
or counterfeiting obtaining
and deceptive writings
obstruction of Government
by public servant in
connection with the muchpublicized PUP saga.
Chenoweths
legacy
at
Agriculture, one of the
notably under-performing
ministries of the Sirleaf
presidency,
has
been
marred by massive failure.
However,
Chenoweth
acknowledge during her
confirmation hearing in
2009 that although the soil
of Liberia was depleting, it
could still benefit farmers
in the country adding that
the major obstacle facing
the agricultural sector is
the issue of funding to the
sector.
Dr. Chenoweth told the
Senate
committee
on
Agriculture that presently
Liberia does not have any
processing plant and other
farming facilities due to
the lack of funding to the
agricultural sector.
She
added, There is a need for
quality control but money is
the major problem for us at the Ministry. Minister Chenoweth
called on government to assist small skill farmers to enable
the produce crops that are consumable in the country.
Until the submission of her letter of resignation, Liberia is
still lacking processing plant for farmers.
Agriculture has accounted for approximately half of GDP in
the post-war period, and the majority of Liberians depend
on agriculture for their livelihood. The government has
committed to increasing its budget share for agriculture
from the current level of approximately 3 percent to 10
percent by 2017 in support of a national food security and
nutrition plan.
According to latest World Bank Group estimates, Liberia,
Guinea and Sierra Leone are poised to lose at least US$1.6
billion in forgone economic growth in 2015 as a result of the
deadly Ebola virus epidemic
The report noted that more than 170,000 are estimated to
be severely food insecure and could swell to 300,000. High
prices for key staples have only exacerbated widespread food
insecurity. Labor shortages continue to make it difficult for
rural farmers to bring in the harvest, and nearly 65 percent
of agricultural households worry that their harvest will
be smaller than last year, according to a recent cell phone
survey.
With two years remaining to the end of her presidency, finding
a replacement for Chenoweth could prove complicated for
Sirleaf as she struggles to fill what is undoubted one of the
most important sector in her administration.
The Presidents delay in finding a replacement, Executive
Mansion sources say could also be driven by the enormous
challenges facing the agriculture sector. The Global Index
reports has consistently labeled Liberia a highly food
insecure country, with a serious state of hunger rating. The
World Food Program concluded in 2012: While the country
is blessed with a climate favorable to agriculture, extensive
biodiversity, and vast natural resources, decades of war and
low economic and social investments have ravaged Liberias
productive assets. Relative political stability has returned to
the country since the end of the civil war in 2003, but Liberia
still struggles to overcome the social, economic, and human
costs of its history.
The list of potential prospects to fill the void at agriculture
appears to be short with Chenoweths three principal
deputies: Mrs. Seklau Wiles, Deputy Minister for
Administration; Dr. Charles McClain, Deputy Minister for
Planning and Development and Dr. Moses Zinnah, Head of
Program Management Unit at the ministry likely to lead
the whirlwind of speculations. National Patriotic Partys Dr.
Roland Massaquoi, a professor at the College of Agriculture
and Forestry, at the University of Liberia and Dr, Othello
Brandy, currently head of the Land Reform Commission and
himself a former Agriculture Minister during the reign of
President Charles Taylor could likely add to mix of potential
replacements.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

FrontPage
EDITORIAL
v

WHAT HAS LIBERIA LEARNT

FROM ALL THE TALKING?

ADDRESSING THE 168TH Independence Day Oration last week,

Ambassador Charles Minor, Liberias former envoy to the United States
of America hit some poignant points that is still generating buzz in and
around Monrovia.
BUT WHAT EVERYONE agrees in common is that very little, if not much
would be implemented as those thoughts by yet another orator fizzles
into the archives of history.
THE AMBASSADOR DID make points worth noting. For example, he
frowned on that government is giving out work permits to foreigners
who are not investing in the economy and who do not possess critical
skills in demand as he called on the government to address this pressing
matter which is threatening local businesses.
THE AMBASSADOR ALSO among other things, called on the government
to encourage graduates out of colleges and universities to start from the
bottom of the ladder to learn ever possible trick of the trade so that in
three to four years, they can replace foreign nationals doing those very
same jobs.
THE AMBASSADOR also frowned on the fact that foreign nationals are
putting up huge building structures while Liberian businesses continue
to struggle.
THIS BEGS THE QUESTION: What is our government doing to ensure
that local business owners are not consistently at a disadvantage? What
is our national government doing to ensure that those foreign nationals
are sticking to the laws that certain businesses are set aside only for
Liberians and not foreign nationals?
THE ANSWERS are hard to come by because as the ambassador said
way too many people are skeptical about everything the government
do and never believe anything the government says. Administration,
appear to be glowing dim. Around our towns and around the country,
Liberians are becoming pessimistic, critical of each other, not trusting
each other, and especially vocally expressing lack of trust in our elected
and appointed officials.
REGRETABBLY, THERE is hardly anything Ambassador Minor said last
week that has not been said before.
IN 2014, Dr. Elizabeth Davis Russell, delivering the 167th Independence
Day National Oration, proposed a transformation of minds, attitudes and
behaviors, as Liberia rebuilds, observing that, in the face of competing
priorities of infrastructure development, education and healthcare, it
is of utmost importance to seriously focus on the human factor. The
former President of the William V.S. Tubman University in Harper,
Maryland County stressed that public and civil servants must take the
lead and refrain from dishonesty. She urged Liberians to be moral in
their performance, practice personal responsibility and avoid blaming
others. We currently see too much emphasis on self-aggrandizement.
There is what I call the beating of the chest, followed by the question,
do you know who I am with the expectation that we should pay homage.
Instead the approach should be. I am your public servant here to serve
you. What can I do for you? What Im proposing is a change in the
attitudes and behaviors of all of us who serve in the public. We are
elected, appointed to serve and should do so willingly. We should be
servant leaders, she said.
IN 2013, the head of the ruling Unity Party, Cllr. Varney Sherman
came under fire after delivering what many concluded was a massive
indictment from within the establishment of the Sirleaf-led government.
SHERMAN WAS BLUNT in declaring: Even after two circles of general
and presidential elections, the social and development challenges which
face our people are still very daunting; some of our people appear to give
up all hopes for the betterment of their situations during their lifetimes.
IN 2012, Dr. D. Elwood Dunn challenged the government and
people of Liberia to rethink and debate the appropriateness of the
national symbols, notably the nations seal, motto and flag. I told the
government that I have been writing and making speeches against our
national decorations and symbols on the basis that they do not reflect
our oneness as Liberians. He further said: My rejection comes from
the perspective that, over our existence as a nation, there have been
imbalances. There have been social imbalance, cultural imbalance,
economic imbalance and many more. I want us to promote the balance
of the imbalance, so that whatever region of the country you come from
you can see yourself reflected in our symbols and decorations.
IN 2011, Estella Garmai Korboi Cavins, appealed for the connection
of roads to farming villages and markets. With good road network
farmers can bring their produce to markets and generate income to
take care of their families. In this light, I also request, Madam President,
that you extend the commendable initiatives of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Market Project to Lofa County's seven districts as well as to all other
parts of the country where ordinary Liberian women make their living

Page 3

COMMENTARY

THE CALL FOR THE BATON OF PRESIDENCY TO

PASS TO A NEW GENERATION IS THE CHALLENGE
OF 2 017: A REPLY TO ROBERT W. KPADEH

T
LESSONS
OF ORATION
Independence Day Orators Have Been Singing the
Same Song for Ten Years, It is Time the Sirleaf-Led
Government Take Stock and Make Adjustments

Frontpage

BY: Worlea-Saywah Dunah, Contributing Writer

rue, Liberia is on the cusp of a historic milestone and we are

excited; our views as carried in the papers last week has
ignited the debate to the extent that five local daily papers
printed an opinion by Robert Kpadeh as a response. I was in my
constituency for ground breaking for a surgery theater for the Saclepea
Health Center when word came that the gentleman says the debate
is worthy only for the sewages of Monrovia; and as I read the piece I
realized that he dumped drums loads of Soniwehn sewage waste on me.
Unfortunately tons of sewages cannot bury this issue, bgvthis debate
cannot go away until the vote is cast.
President Sirleaf who has made so many histories is poised to make
the sweetest of all, to turn over the helm of power to an elected new
President, a development that has not happened since the late President
Tubman received the mantle from the late President Edwin Barclay
in 1944. Certainly President Sirleaf will answer the call of history by
presiding over the elections; the only obstacles that may prevent this is
the expansive use of the Writ of Prohibitions by the Supreme Court to
deny seating of legislators as per the Constitutional date may well in a
Presidential race throw Liberia into an interim leadership. Besides this
singular concerns history beacons and in my view our generation must
rise.
Before long let me clearly say here that my only focus in writing and policy
debate has been to deal only with the facts and the views of discussants;
so if Robert Kpadeh were to dump the entire content of Soniwehn on my
head I will not leave this settled mindset- we stick to issue since 1997.
It is fundamentally instructive that in discussing only issues and facts we
find solutions to the problems of our society whereas the converse is the
roman road to conflict.
My issue remains that Liberia is ripe for a generational change. I insist
that by elections to the legislature and by appointment to high public
offices our generation has acquired the requisite skills, experiences, and
exposure necessary to receive the Baton of the Presidency in 2017. I
further reiterate that as an executive of the ruling Unity Party it is binding
on us to see the demographic realities of today Liberia as we search for
a ticket for the 2017 presidential race. And the country is entering a
complex stage which needs strong shoulders with more energy.
A Wiseman somewhere said , genesis has nothing to do with relevance;
perhaps we need to say so here: that the call for a change of guard is
very relevant regardless of who propounds it. And perhaps to add for
the benefit of our beloved Kpadeh, I speak as a veteran and winner of
two political battles. I have won the political gridiron twice; and all of
my victories has been won on the basis of support from the youth and
women who are the dominant demography of this country. I know what
I talk about because I walk the towns and villages of Liberia and know
what they say to me; my relevance to the debate is thereby a public
knowledge and undisputable fact.
Of Veep Boakai and The UP
In my interview for the record I correctly was quoted that Vice President
Boakai has served this country long with distinction from the President
Tolbert regime in the 1970s and so along with President Sirleaf should
guide the UP in fashioning a ticket given the rich fields of eligible partisans
from both the executive and the legislature. He should be honored as
fitting to one who has such history of strong nationalistic service in the
public sector.
I was therefore surprise that Kpadeh would attribute harsh words like
betrayal and back stabbing because they do not apply when national
leaders are discussing national issues such as this one. And I am
compelled to give a brief background to my relationship within the Unity
Party since these words have no bearing on the essence of this debate.
In October 2005, when we have won our seats as Representative for the
then Electoral District # 3 in Nimba County, the then candidate Sirleaf
send emissaries of people some of who are in the senate and some sit on

the Supreme Court to woo our team to support her for the second round.
After a single meeting with her at her Campaign Offices in Sinkor, I knew
she was right for Liberia. During that time I never met the Vice President
neither was he party to any of the subsequent discussions leading
to that famous victory for President Sirleaf. And for the record while
Senator Johnson led the CDC Weahs campaign we gave them training
in grassroots mobilization by massive number, we even carried Madam
Sirleaf to Bahn City on the choppers, the records are there.
Straightly speaking, the Veep and I have had no arrangements or
agreements for his vision neither have he and I worked on anything for
which I could betray or back stab. Fundamentally as an executive and
member of the UP I am entitled to my views, but if having a different
views as that of the Vice President is now construed as a wrong then it
is apparent something is been misunderstood. Vibrant policy debate is
the lifeline of any society and organization, I am sorry, no apology for
disagreeing with anyone on any issue at anytime.
And for the records issues of health of the Veep and others originate with
Kpadeh so I will not respond. My premise in arguing for a youthful ticket
is based on generally acceptable and irrefutable medical fact that age
brings weakness of the body. Isnt is true that a person in the age range of
40-60 years is in a different medical class as compare to one in the 70s?
Besides in Liberia, the Constitution in Article 72(b) stipulates that Justices
and Judges in the Judiciary Branch of government should be retired at the
age of seventy and the Civil Service Act set the retirement age at sixtyfive years or alternatively after twenty-five years of continuous service.
These examples are the best practices within our own system and so
you see the argument for a more youthful ticket find weighted system
support within our judiciary branch and the civil service law.
There is further misunderstanding of the concept of institutional
disagreement and loyalty; we shall transverse these lightly. Within every
institutions debates should be engendered, our UP in its organic papers
ensure that there should be contestation of ideas, ideals and policies by
enshrining a free democratic selection process of voting to determine
our leadership. Again all experienced political actors know that when a
ticket is settled, even the defeated opposition remains within the party
and canvass for the ticket; we are at pain to explain that our statement
is therefore not a contradiction but a reflection of the normal democratic
practice and the tenets of the Unity Party internal democracy. Hilary
Clinton campaigned for President Obama her opponent who defeated
her in primary because it was the ticket; allow me to say again I will
support my party ticket even if my counsel and analysis is not accepted.
The Two Places Where UP Finds Change of Guards Ticket
The practice of contemporary politics as a norm rather than a rule
gravitates towards more youthful persons to lead nations. This idea is not
new in human history, Africa being no exceptions; and as one who grew
up in the progressive I well know that many of our own legendary chiefs
in Liberia ascended when very young. When we consider Alexander the
Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Genghis Khan, George Washington, Patrice
Lumumba, Sekou Toure, Shaka Zulu , etc. the argument is gone.
However as a direct reply, in my interview and as quoted by these papers,
I pointed clearly to where the UP will look to find the youthful candidates
for our 2017 ticket: the legislature and the ranks of executive appointees
(tenured autonomous commissions and cabinet appointees).
Inarguably, these are the two are very rich and fertile grounds for my
party to search. Elections everywhere are a sign of ones acceptance by
the people for leadership; the masses have seen capacity, skills, and the
spirit of leaderships in that person. Here in Liberia we just completed the
first full circle of legislative elections and given the disastrous turn over,
it is safe to conclude that those who won reelections certainly enjoy not
only leadership skills but the trust of the people which is critical.

Please read full commentary online

from farming.
CAVINS SAID it is important to involve all citizens, in particular, rural
farmers in national commercial initiatives. It expands the tax base of
government and creates an ownership society. We are indeed grateful
for our foreign partners, but encouraging Liberian entrepreneurship will
serve as a catalyst for immense economic growth and achieve our longterm interest. It has been proven that Government cannot provide all of
the jobs and neither can our foreign investors.
IN 2010, FATHER ROBERT TIKPOR, lamented that insidious poverty which
has been exacerbated by selfishness and greed, unceasing corruption in
high places and the lack of patriotism. Personal interest has been placed
above a common national interest. As a result, he said, when the test of
a civil war came, we were a divided, tormented and easily turned apart
people. Father Tikpor also frowned on the sickening factor dwindling
away of natural resources.
IN 2009, Paramount Chief Flomo Barwror, speaking through an interpreter
urged those ignorant about the practice of Poro and Sande societies to
stop talking about them as he called on the West which has its own culture
to keep out of Liberian traditions.
DR. SAKUI W.G. MALAKPA, in 2008, highlighted the inevitability of change:
our challenges, chances and choices.
THE LEARNED PROFESSOR said this is the chance for Liberia to make
history in the key area of equality. Though much needs to be done, we
are effectively addressing problems of sexism, tribalism, and sectionalism.
We must now attend to the disability frontier which is yearning for equity,
equality, full inclusion, and full participation.
TODAY, THE ISSUE of national reconciliation remains a challenge with very
little being done to implement the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission.

IN 2007, National Orator for the 160th Independence Anniversary, Mr.

Kimmie Weeks, cautioned that education and the development of the
youth must be the greatest priority of government. Mr. Weeks said unless
government invests in the development in the capacity of the youth of the
country, the future growth of Liberia will be in vain.
TODAY, THE EDUCATION system according to President Sirleaf is in a
mess.
TEN YEARS LATER, it appears the administration has not been short of
ideas about how to go about making the changes necessary to complete
Liberias transition from war to peace and restore economic sanity but
actually, there has been a struggle to implement many of the fine points
raised by orators since the inception of the government.
THIS IS WHY, amid the many praises following yet another Independence
Day oration, Liberians must begin to take serious stock about the direction
it intends to pursue and government, a serious stock on what actually it
is, it wants to accomplish. But with time running out and the clock ticking
toward the end of the Unity Party-led government, it is only obvious that
the government reexamines itself and put in place structures that could
go a long way in cementing its legacy.
THE FAILURES and missteps have been well-documented and the lack of
implementation of multiple suggestions falling on deaf ears. Talk is cheap
which is why those at the helm of power must begin to put their words
into action and take more seriously the words spoken by those whose
brains the government occasionally tap into for oration on a high-profile
independence celebration each and every year.
THERE CAN be no turning back to the ills of yesterday, only a strong
political will and willingness to change the path threatening our existence
and the livelihood of those still languishing at the bottom of the economic
ladder.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Page 4 | Frontpage

FrontPage

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB

COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE

LIBERIAS EAST-WEST DILEMMA:

CHINA STUMPING ON U.S. TURF
JAMES DAVIS
"...Liberia was under pressure from the US who was not happy
to see the Chinese put up such a massive structure on what is
considered America 's backyard -" Under pressure from the
US for what ? Just to be told how corrupt its legal system is?
And perhaps how the government is corrupt and how human
trafficking is causing a face-off with Washington? These are
bad political behaviors that the Chinese government will never
see to talk against but will politically support. If President Doe
had stood with the Chinese instead of Washington, he would
still be alive today. Just as Captain Fenghua said, China does
not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. That
is, see no evil and speak no evil, but protect one's friend. So
where would that nation be today? Another thing, 10 billion
US dollars direct investment? Where is the impact of such
direct investment? High unemployment, construction of dirt
roads, crack bridges, what impact? 10 billion US dollars lots of
money in a country of 4million and no jobs. The steel company
China Union has yet to get off the ground. Wants a competitive
bid also on RIA Winning all major government contracts, take
a look at their labor practices in that country and Africa in
general. Take a walk to the Ministry of concerned and see the
amount of complains against the Chinese companies. And that
country will turn over their struggling airport to China? What's
about the Executive Mansion? Another thing about bring in
Sino Hydro, the President of Liberia went around the world
looking for a taker for her country's hydro. She wanted it to be
about one thousands megawatts. What did she settled for 6080, back where the country once used to be. So where was this
great African hope doing all this and all that. And why is this
great African hope still winning contracts, cause the President
love free things. And her dream is that the African great hope
will turn the capital city of Monrovia to New York City. Keep
dreaming that way. The RIA money is a loan, so let diversified
on how the nation's infrastructures are build. The airport is
very important, especially, that it is a loan to be paid back and
not having to do repairs work every time while it is operating.
Diversified infrastructure development, let see what other
countries have to show.
KEHLEBOE GONGLOE, WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY OF PA
The evidence is clear and indisputable, no nation has ever been
developed by foreign aid. This is not politics, plain empirical
data!!!
LOWERY ANA
EJS & Crew need to know this,.

SYLVESTER MOSES WORKS AT SELF-EMPLOYED

What's there for the average Joe when foreign concerns, East or
West, take our resources? That's the question.

TAWEH JALLAH NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL BEFORE. SELF

THOUGHT
First of all, its wrong to sit back in Liberia and think that
forging links with anyone besides America is wrong or pisses
Washington off. Look back to the war days, Liberia cried out to
America for help only to be told Liberia was like any other nation
of Africa and we had to sort out our differences on our own.
Countless numbers of American politicians have repeatedly
said,' America has interest and no friends.' as those in power
bring in their Chinese friends, let them remember the needs
of the greater Liberian society.eg: roads, school vocational and
regular, hospitals, sustained investment in areas that will create
good paying jobs for our people. Remember, minerals extracted
from Liberia will never grow back in the earth. If we dont
trade what we have for what we need, we will still be without
electricity, water, healthcare centers, schools, roads etc as has
always been the case. now is the time to do for our land what
should have been done long ago.
A JOEL KING WILLINGBORO, NEW JERSEY
The United States would care less about what China does in
Liberia. This has nothing to do with building Liberia. It is all
about selling Liberia for selfish gains. Name one thing that meets
international quality standard China has done in Liberia? Is
building the Fendell campus of the University of Liberia without
toilet good quality work? This relationship is about filling
pockets. China givings are not tracked or traced. Transparency
and accountability are not mandated for aid. Also, this in China
own interests. The country is desperate.

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!

LIBERIANS
NEED TO SEE
SUSPENDED
NPA BOSS
TAKING THE
PERP WALK

Broad Street, in a tight orange jumpsuit?

The perp walk is a powerful tool we can use to fight
corruption! It is designed to send a message that no one
is above the law, and to deter criminal behavior of the
born rogues in the Liberian government!! Let's hope the
Ministry of Justice uses its arrest power to make sure Ms.
Parker takes the perp walk!!
Martin Scott
Atlanta, Georgia
martyretire@yahoo.com

WHY DID FINANCE

MINISTRY GIVE
US100K TO CROOKS?

The Editor,

efore sending Ms. Parker to prison, will the

government allow the media to take pictures of
her in handcuffs and orange jumpsuit, taking the
perp walk? The perp walk is a practice of taking
an arrested suspect through a public place for the media
to take pictures or video tape the event! (Re "Gov't Want
Parker, Comptroller Sent to Prison", Frontpageafricaonline)
Hey, the Liberian people need to see Ms. Parker take the
perp walk just for the effect. It would send a powerful
message to the born rogues in our government that we're
are serious about corruption!
By the way, when Wokie was 15 years old, she still used to
pee in bed. But after her parents publicly shamed her, she
stopped!
Here's what her parents did: They paraded her up and
down the neighborhood--with other kids behind her,
beating pots and frying pans, chanting "soni-don, Gbe
mon don yon" "chicken can't pee-pee, dog can pee-pee!".
Pee-pee pat!
After that day, she never pee in bed again!! The moral of
the story is that public shaming punishment works!! But
please keep Wokie's story a secret! Wokie's a girl gone
wild.
Back to the perp walk:

Look. If the Sirleaf Administration is serious about fighting

corruption, they would make Wokie Parker take the perp
walk: Parade her down Broad street, in handcuff and
orange jumpsuit, with school children behind her, beating
their pots and pans, chanting "thiefy thiefy!, Jankoliko!!
..Thiefy! thiefy!, Jankoliko!! Thiefy! thiefy!, Jankoliko!!!
Now, instead of seeing a picture her in tight jeans, getting
in her tainted SUV, wouldn't it be priceless to see a picture,
on FPA website, of Ms. Parker taking the perp walk down

The Editor:

hy would anyone in their right mind entrust

thieves with other people's hard earned
money?
(Re "Scandalous Legislature:
US$100K for LIB Renovation Missing")

We all know that 99.999999999999999 percent of our

lawmakers are nothing but born rogues!, but yet the
Ministry of Finance gave them our hard earned money to
play with... Do you have "STUPID" written all over your
forehead, Mr. Minister of Finance, you idiot?

According to the aforementioned article, the Ministry

of Finance gave US$100,000.00 to Rep. Sekou Kala (UPDistrict #2, Monsterrado County Kala Hero), who, then
disbursed it to senior crooks of the House and Senate Ways
and Means committee" And now the money is missing...
Are you surprised? Please.

But where the hell is the GAC, the LACC, the PPCC, the LNP,
the NSA, the MOJ (I'm not singing a rap song here!) when
you need them? They need to get off their fat asses and do
their job!
I, for one, would like to see Representative Kala take the
pep walk in West Point: Being paraded down main street, in
orange jumpsuit, with school children behind him, beating
their pots and pans, chanting "thiefy thiefy!, Jankoliko!
Thiefy! thiefy!, Jankoliko! Kala Hero!, Jankoliko!!
Hey, you can waste your chamber bucket on Rep. Sekou
Kala during his pep walk!
That's how we used to treat thieves in West Point! Our
crime rate was the lowest in Liberia!!!
Martin Scott
martyretire@yahoo.com
Former West Point Resident
Atlanta, Georgia

EDITORIAL TEAM

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

077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com;
rodney.sieh@FrontPageAfricaonline.com
Samwar S. Fallah, News Desk Chief, 0886-527
541, samwar.fallah@frontpageafricaonline.com
Gboko Stewart, Copy Editor 0886 484974
gboko.stewart@frontpageafricaonline.con
Danesius Marteh, Sports Editor, danesius.
marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886236528
James-Emmanuel D. Cole, Jr, Graphics Designer
& Layout Editor, echange4life@gmail.com;
0886 211 390, 0777 027 030
Henry Karmo, Reporter, henry.karmo@
frontpageafricaonline.com
Bettie Johnson, Reporter, , / betty.johnson@
frontpageafricaonline.com/0886971922

Al-varney Rogers, Reporter, al.rogers@

frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-304498
Kennedy L. Yangian, Reporter, kennedy.yangian@
frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781
A. Macaulay Sombai, Sports Reporter, macaulay.sombai@
FrontpageAfricaonline.com, 077217428
COUNTY NEWS TEAM
Grand Bassa, Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, 0777432042
Bong County, Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-484666
BUSINESS/ADVERTISING
Kadi Coleman Porte, 0886-304-178/ 0777832753,
advertise@frontpageafricaonline.com

TRAVELLING JINX
Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Frontpage

Locals in Grand Bassa Upset over Deplorable Roads

Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, alpha.senkpeni@frontpageafricaonline.com

ompound
Three,
Grand Bassa County Unlike the Buchanan
Cotton Tree highway,
several roads in rural Grand
Bassa are in a deplorable state
leaving commuters and drivers
to endure extreme hardship

and
Harlandville
(Lower
Buchanan)
to
Rivercess
County are also very terrible.
The appalling condition of
these roads, locals say is the
fault of the government while
others want concessions using
these roads including logging

road, a route connecting

Grand Bassa to Bong County,
complains about the damaged
bridges, saying the roads are
becoming inaccessible.

during this rainy season.

Several roads linking the
port city of Buchanan to rural
districts are deteriorating as
the rainy season continues
while passengers are feeling
the pinch as drivers inflict fares
but audaciously venture where
the roads seem impassible.
A
FrontPageAfrica
correspondent who toured the
Buchanan Compound Three
(District Threes provincial
headquarters) says the road
is in bad shape and may cutoff
if nothing is done in the next
couple of weeks while routes
like St. John - Compound
Three, Buchanan - Morwah
District (Rivercess County)

companies to help rehabilitate

it.
Every time we appeal to
central or the county authority,
but they dont hear our
request and right now from
here to Buchanan the road
is very deplorable, explains
Alexander Tentan, a driver
who often plies the BuchananCompound Three route. The
road condition is bad, he
added And with all these
logging companies using the
road, they dont even help fix
the road and the government is
not willing to help fix the road.
And James Forkpah another
driver who runs on the
Compound Three St. John

roads are too slippery with bigbig erosion in the middle, he

laments. This can make driving
on the road very dangerous,
so the government needs to
come in and help fix the road,
Forkpah added, allowing his
colleague Prince Wilson to
add: We got Forest Venture (a
logging company) on that side
who are hauling logs from on
that side but they are not even
helping to repair the road. We
need government to come in
because many passengers are
stranded and no way to go
because the road is bad.
The terrible road condition
is not unique to rural Grand
Bassa as the challenge remains

Sometimes the tire can hitch

in the mud and the hills on the

Sometimes the tire can hitch in the mud and the hills
on the roads are too slippery with big-big erosion in
the middle, he laments. This can make driving on
the road very dangerous, so the government needs
to come in and help fix the road, Forkpah added,
allowing his colleague Prince Wilson to add: We got
Forest Venture (a logging company) on that side who
are hauling logs from on that side but they are not
even helping to repair the road. We need government
to come in because many passengers are stranded
and no way to go because the road is bad.

a serious problem affecting

numerous sectors including
businesses, agricultural and
health. The problem persists
despite impressive donor
support and fiscal budgetary
allocation to the Ministry of
Public Works. MPW Minister
William Gyude Moore recently
revealed that US$1.5 billion
will be needed to fulfill the
modernization of the countrys
road network and with 19%
of the countrys 2015/2016
national fiscal budget allotted
to infrastructure and basic
services, it doesnt seem like
rural roads will be prioritized
any time soon.
Most attention have been given
to main highways and urban
roads in Montserrado County
over the last couple of years
especially with international
partners like the World Bank,
African Development Bank,
European Union and Japan
coming in to fund projects. Last
year, the World Bank approved
a total of US$29 million in
additional funds for the Urban
and
Rural
Infrastructure
Rehabilitation Project (URIRP)
in continuing support to the
countrys road and bridge
improvements in Monrovia
and surrounding rural areas.
The
Urban
and
Rural
Infrastructure Rehabilitation
Project (URIRP) was approved
in 2009 to support the
government's goal of ensuring
that Liberians nationwide have
reliable, safe, affordable and
efficient transport services
by upgrading existing roads,
rehabilitating or replacing
unsafe bridges and completing

roads along the MonroviaBuchanan corridor, the bank

states on its website.
With these funding supports
flowing
into
the
road
infrastructure
sector
of
government
matched
by
the existing turmoil rural
Liberians endured, many
rural Liberians in Grand
Bassa County are blaming
both national and the county
authority. Though Grand Bassa
held its 7th county sitting in
early July this year, much was
howled about abandoned road
projects with little deliberated
concerning it leaving many
with the assumption that the
county is heavily dependent
on concession companies to
upkeep the roads. At the same
time, users of the Buchanan
Compound Three road have
increased appeals for the
Liberian Agricultural Company
to help repair road whose they
say have helped in past years
with the rehabilitation of the
road.
The county has some yellow
machine but we dont know
where they are, a driver,
Emmanuel Coco asked. If they
bought the yellow machines
to fix the road then why the
roads are so bad like this and
nobody wants to know? Every
day our leaders are riding on
the road and they are seeing
the condition of the road.
Grand
Bassa
County
Information Officer, Eddie
Williams told FrontPage Africa
all the yellow machines are
parked in Buchanan City at
the Superintendent Compound
and could not be used due to

Page 5

lack of funding.
However,
District
Three
Representative who is also
the Chairman on the Rules,
Order and Administration
Committee at the House of
Representatives blames the
Executive for the situation.
Hon. Jeh Byron Browne
speaking to reporters in Grand
Bassa said roads all cross the
country are deplorable. You
have a Public Works Ministry
that is not decentralized;
you have a government that
reneged on seeking the state
of wellbeing of the indigenous
people but we what we have
done as legislators is to pass a
budget that is reflected and will
give support to line ministries,
Browne said.
While Hon. Browne talks
the politics of government,
thousands of people face the
constraints of travelling on a
bad road in his district and most
parts of the county. The United
States Agency for International
Development (USAID), in one
of its reports stated that only
7% of Liberias 66,000 miles of
roads are paved. And with no
recorded achievement in 2014
by the MPW due to the Ebola
Virus outbreak, 2015 may be
challenging for the sector with
the ministry committing that it
will engage in several projects
during the 2015/2016 fiscal
year. Rehabilitate 180km of
feeder roads in the counties,
including replacing all water
crossings with concrete pipe;
culverts, box culverts and
concrete bridges; Construct
two hundred and fifty (250)
broken down hand pumps
and replace one-hundred
and fifty (150) stolen hand
pumps; Construct twenty (20)
boreholes fitted with hand
pumps in rural communities,
MPW stated as objective
for 2015/2016 in the draft
national budget.
While MPW boss along with
his engineers and contractors
are considering all the
technicalities of road works
and the Bills of Quantity,
travelers from Monweh to
Big Joe Town are desperate
for quick impact. The road is
very bad and because of the
badness of the road we are
paying more transportation
(fare) then before. We never
used to pay this kind of money,
explains Ma Marie, a resident
of Buchanan City who was en
route to Compound Three.
We the passengers are
suffering because every time
the drivers are carrying the
price up because of the bad
road, added Papee Williams.
And Manijay Jaykpah, a
stranded commuter heading
for Morwah complains: We
are kindly begging them
(government) to fix the road
because we cant get anything
that we want especially those
of us that are living in the
interior. Some time when
people get sick it can be
very hard to find car to carry
the person to Buchanan or
Compound for treatment.

LAW & ORDER

Page 6 | Frontpage

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

LINGERING WAHALA
OVER INSURANCE BOND
SUSPENDED NPA BOSS PARKER, COMPTROLLER PAILEY FATE UNCERTAIN

You claimed to have US$750,000.00 re-assurance surety but nothing to show to the court as an
asset. If you claimed to have that money, that could have been reflected in your bank statement
but there is nothing to show. - Montserrado County Attorney Daku Mulbah

Kennedy L. Yangian Kennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781

rgument over the

validity
of
the
US$1.2m bail bond
of indicted National
Port Authority (NPA) Managing
Director Matilda Parker and
Comptroller Christina Paelay
enters its third day today at the
Criminal Court C without the
court reaching a decision.
Presiding
Judge
Peter
Gbeneweleh announced late
Tuesday evening
the courts
decision to continue the hearing
into the defense counsels
justification of the bond. He
cited time as being fast spent
after nearly three hours of tense
arguments taking place between
state and defense lawyers over
the validity of the bond filed
by the Family Dollar Universal
Insurance Company.
At Tuesdays hearing, defense
lawyers, backed by an official
of the Family Dollar Insurance
Company, George Gbormoi,
continued to maintain its earlier
position that the company has
the requisite assets to serve as
surety for the two defendants.
Matilda Parker and Christiana
Pailey have both been indicted

for allegedly awarding over

US$ 800,000 contract to a bogus
company to dredge the National
Port Authority (NPA).
The Family Dollar Insurance
Company has US$750,000 reassurance surety and has met

COUNTY NEWS

Gbarnga, Bong County blame game is now

playing out among
members of the Bong
legislative
caucus
over the delayed completion
of the Bong Technical College.
But in earnest, thats far from
what hundreds of striving
students who subscribed to the
construction of the countys
first ever community college,
had envisaged.
When Bong lawmakers of
the members of the 52nd
legislative national legislative
caucus launched the project
during
a
2010
County
Development Council Sitting
in Gbarnga a year to the 2011
general and legislative their
desires were roof over their
heads they could call their
own. With the assurances from
lawmakers that the college
would be completed in three
years, citizens of the county
staked their fortunes.
Today, the hopes of students
and citizens have dissolved
into despair. No appeal
from members of the 53rd
legislative caucus for their
patience can assuage their
pains. Their concern is one:
how their investments, most of
which came from their County
Social Development fund,
could be recovered.
I inherited this project
from members of the 52nd
legislature of the county,
a distraught chairman of
the 53rd members of the
Bong legislative caucus told
FrontPage Africa.
According to Mr. Samuel
Elliot, head of a group calling
itself Citizens United for

the Completion of the Bong

Technical College (CUCBTC),
he endorsed the resolution
approving the construction
of the college, and was
instantly attracted to it. The
project was irresistible, he
said. We have thousands of
our younger brothers who
cant afford to pay tuition at
Cuttington University and we
saw the construction of the
college as a relief but now our
hopes have been dampened
by the perpetual delay in the
construction.
There came a time citizens of
the county rallied financial
support for the completion of
the county in the tone of US$
5,000 but the projects is still
dragging. If Bongese cannot
rely on the credibility of their
leaders, who else would they
turn to for hope? Mr. Elliot, 40,
lamented, almost in tears.
Like over 3,269 others, Marcus
Malayea, co-chair, (CUCBTC),
could also not disguise his
anger and disappointment
over the delay in completion.
This is totaling disappointing
on the part of our leaders. The
need to account to us.
MASSIVE CITIZENS STRIKE
UNDERWAY
FrontPage Africa has gathered
that citizens of the county are
planning to stage a go-slow
next week on the grounds
of the Capitol building in
Monrovia.
According
to
one of the organizers who
requested anonymity, the
move is intended to bring to
glare the actions of members
of the caucus. Every time our
leaders source funding from

every requirement to operate

as an insurance company in
Liberia said Gbormoi.
Regrettably,
the
Family
Dollar Insurance Company
representative told the court
that it has lost its original tax

clearance receipt but noted that

the company pays its taxes at
the end of every month and is
issued a tax clearance at the end
of every 90 days.
Gbormoi told the court that in
order for an insurance company

to be licensed by the Central Bank

of Liberia (CBL) the requirement
is to have US$ 400,000.00 cash
and US$350,000.00 in property
value which the Family Dollar
Insurance Company has met.
Amid the defense lawyers stance
of having the surety to secure the
bond of the two NPA officials,
prosecution lawyers continued
with their request for the court
to set the bond aside indicating
that the Family Dollar Insurance
Company registered in 2014
did not have the asset to file a
US$1.2m bail bond on behalf of
the two defendants without any
shown evidence to the court.
Montserrado County Attorney
Daku Mulbah at Tuesdays
hearing told the court the money
Family Dollar Insurance claimed
to have is not an asset but rather
it was money used to attain an
insurance company status.
You
claimed
to
have
US$750,000.00
re-assurance
surety but nothing to show to the
court as an asset. If you claimed
to have that money, that could
have been reflected in your bank
statement but there is nothing to
show said Cllr. Daku Mulbah.

The prosecution lead lawyer

claimed the law provides that
for criminal appearance bond
of such, the Family Dollar
Insurance Company has the
limitation of US$525,000.00
but the company exceeded far
beyond the amount to offer a
US$1.2m bond.
His argument was rebutted by
the lead lawyer of the defense
Cllr.Federick Cherue that the reassurance surety in the amount
of US$750,000.00 claimed by
the company was an asset of
economic value.
This amount of US$750,000.00
of re-assurance surety of Family
Dollar Insurance Company is of
economic value, therefore it is an
asset said Cllr. Cherue.
Both Parker and Paelay facing
three counts charges of economic
sabotage, theft of property and
criminal conspiracy came under
attack last week when state
prosecutors called on the court
to set aside the bond and rearrest the defendants because the
insurance company that file the
bond on their behalf did not have
the asset, a claim that the defense
counsels has ruled out.

OUTRAGE OVER COMPLETION

OF BONG COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageaficaonline.com

the national budget towards

the college but yet the status
of the college has not changed.
We feel by assembling at the
Capitol building with placards,
it will draw the attention of the
greater public out there, our
source added.
The action, according to our
source, would also take effect
in the county as mobilization
is being done to barricade
the homes of lawmakers.
We greatly feel that the
main reason our leaders
are reneging on the speedy
completion of the college
is because almost all their
children are seeking education
abroad. If we barricade their
homes it could also mount the
pressure on them even though

they will be away, our source

added.

THE
COLLEGE
AS
A
POLITICAL TOOL
Since
its
construction,
politicians have basked in the
euphoria that has come with
construction of the college.
Facing a tough re-election in
2011, Rep. George Mulbah,
who co-sponsored the bill
for the establishment of the
college,
promised
senior
high school students if reelected he would ensure the
college is completed by 2013
to afford underprivileged
students have access to quality
education.
The
Bong
lawmakers
statements were punctuated

by students who sang proGeorge Mulbah slogans What

the Papay says is what he does.
The same can be said of Senator
Jewel Howard-Taylor, who
publicly assured citizens and
students during her campaign
trails in the 2014 ended
special senatorial election
that her re-election would
accelerate construction work
at the college. Said Senator
Taylor: This is the best chance
you have to accelerate the
construction of the college,
vote Jewel! Rep Mulbah and
Senator Taylor have since been
re-elected.
The odds against lawmakers
for 2017
With less than two years to

the crucial 2017 general and

presidential elections, the
delayed completion of the
college is compounding the
woes of Bong lawmakers
whose intention is to seek reelection as allegations of failed
campaign promises linger.
Rep. Mulbah, who could face
a tough third term bid for
Jorquelleh district three, is
having a mountain to climb.
His 2010 pledge to complete
the college upon his re-election
is looming, amid allegations of
lawmakers receiving kickbacks
from construction companies.
For Senator Taylor, who is
reportedly nursing the vice
presidential ambition for 2017,
her 2014 pledge to complete
the college could come back
to bite her if her intention
becomes a reality.
What remains a reality is that
the fact that the faith of Bong
lawmakers will be seeking reelection in 2017 hinges on the
completion of the college. As
uproar, anger and frustration
heightens among citizens of
the college over the stalled
project, some lawmakers
with the desire of seeking
re-election appear to be
racing against time to salvage
their hopes of re-election,
while some members of the
caucus, who have lost favor
with their constituents, are
contemplating not to contest.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

BOTTLENECKS HAMPER
FR. TIKPORS LEGACY
A
Bettie K. Johnson/ betty.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com

renowned catholic
prelate, Fr. Robert
Tikpor, has expressed
regret
over
the
prolonged stayed of his
container at the Freeport of
Monrovia.
Fr. Tikpor is a prelate who
has served Liberia over half
a century as a priest and an
educator. Twice, he served as
an Independence Day orator.
At ninety, he moves around via
the help of an aide.
Fr. Tikpor said it was
regrettable that what he
wishes to be left as his legacy
will go down the drain as
efforts by him to release his
container has proven futile.
He disclosed that during his
visit to the United States last
year, he contacted some of his
friends who promised to ship
him a container of books in
order for a library to be built
bearing his name in Grand
Bassa County.
I was in the States sometime
last year and I began to ask
some people for books for my
Library in Grand Bassa and
they said yes. They told me
that at certain time of the year
they collect books and give it to
people who need them. I have
been teaching children and I
was glad that the collection
of books will increase the
knowledge of them.
Fr. Tikpor revealed that the
library is to be established at his
deceased mother homestead in
Grand Bassa. The aging prelate
revealed that the area is vast
and could accept 20 children a
day which will be a great help.
My mother been dead and
she had a good size building in
Buchanan which was her home
and but ever since these books
have been sent by the priest, I
cannot have it, he added.
Said Fr Tikpor: many things
are happening the way we
want it to be. Imagine those
things been sent hereit is a

small thing just for mebut

I am thinking when I will get
it. Look at meI am getting
older do you think I will have
those books before I died?
The renowned catholic priest
further disclosed that he had
no knowledge of the prolong
stay of books at the port.
He added that though the
entire container is not for him
but a friend who sent him the
books and also paid for the
shipping.
The man who sent the
container Mr. Michael Wannah
pay 2,000 USD already for
the shipping. In the container
there is a car and books for the
library; I know its small but
the thing inside is useful and
valuable, Fr. Tikpor intoned.
He continued : cant I have a
peace of mind for an old man
like me? You cannot spend
the money and be happy, but
you know sometimes people
dont know the value of things
because it is not political, and
I am thinking which type of
naughty country we have that
cannot improve?
Fr. Tikpor said he loves Liberia
and wished he could continue

In a regrettable tone, the

catholic prelate said it was
disgusting that Africa oldest
state cannot manage its
resources and governance
properly.
You have a simple thing
and someone is holding it.
When are we going to get

these things? ah, Liberia I

am frustratedwhat is this
little country that we cannot
managed, he asked.
I have been honored too many
times and this time now you
cant enjoy your old age
someone sent you a gift and
you cant have it. What more
the Freeport, LRA and custom
people want me to do? Fr.
Tikpor inquired.
He pondered Where will I get
money from if we have to look
for it so many days? If someone
sends you $50 USD you have to
keep it so that it will fill the
gap. And I have paid the money
for the clearing but I cant have
it. so I am thinking about this
countrywhat is about it that
cannot be managed?
Fr. Tikpor said the prolonged
stay of his books at the port
is making him deteriorate as
he is continuously disturb
and wants the books to be out
before he passes on.
In a letter which is in
possession of FPA to President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, dated
July 20, 2015 from Artemus
W. Gaye, President, The Prince
Ibrahima & Isabella Freedom
(PIIFF) Foundation of Chicago,
Illinois appealed to the
Government of Liberia namely

body was recovered from the

Mississippi River.
Barway Collins, 10, went
missing March 18. His family
said he disappeared after
getting off the school bus

outside the home he shared

with his father in Crystal. His
body was found in the water
April 11, his feet and torso
wrapped in duct tape.
Pierre Collins was sentenced
to 40 years in prison for killing
his son. He briefly addressed
the court as he entered his
plea.
"I saw him out playing... I was
angry. I hit him," Collins told
Hennepin County District
Court Judge Tanya Bransford.
"He fell... I took him to the river.
I duct taped him and threw
him in the water."
Collins didn't address the
allegations that he was in dire
financial straights, and stood
to collect tens of thousands
of dollars of life insurance
benefits if Barway died.
Pierre Collins, 33, pleaded
guilty to killing his son at a
hearing Monday morning.
Here, Collins, at left, and
his wife, Yamah, stood with

supporters at a March vigil in

Crystal, Minn.
"We don't absolutely know"
the motive, Hennepin County
Attorney Mike Freeman said.
"The only person that knows
is Pierre Collins, and he's not
sharing," he said, adding that
he felt justice was done.
Barway's mother and step
mother both said they didn't
think Collins was telling the
whole truth about the killing.
Crystal Police Chief Stephanie
Revering said authorities are
confident Pierre Collins acted
alone in the killing.
Police tracked the elder
Collins' cell phone to an area
in Brooklyn Center, near a
riverside park close to where
Barway's body was found.
Authorities said his phone had
registered on a Wi-Fi access
point there on the morning
Barway disappeared, and
again 20 minutes after Barway
was last seen.

PATRIOTISM

DIASPORA

ierre Collins will

spend 40 years in
prison after pleading
guilty to killing his son
at a hearing Monday morning,
four months after the boy's

the work of the nation, I love

my country dearly and I wish
I could serve it longer time, I
am a simple African Liberian
priest.
He continued: I have spoken
as a national orator twice and
honored by several leaders
around the world so I am
thinking why I cant have my
books to establish my library.
Said Fr. Tikpor: I want to die to
the glory of my own country, I
cant have that glory when the
Government people delaying
my project; so it is a call to
them to free my container for
the library to be established.
Imagine someone trying to do
me a little good especially a car
and books while people trying
to help, others dont give an
inch of how you feel and it is
frustrating, he said.
COUNTRY
MANAGED

CANT

BE

Frontpage
the Ministry of Education,
the Ministry of Finance and
Development
Planning,
including the newly formed
Liberian Revenue Authority, to
kindly assist with the release
of the goodwill container,
currently languishing at the
Port of Monrovia for the last
two months.
During the early part of
January, our foundation, The
Prince Ibrahima & Isabella
Freedom Foundation, Inc.,
an Illinois not-For Profit
organization was contacted by
Dr. Michael Wannah, Chair of
the Department of Education
at Concordia University and
current president of the
Liberian Studies Association,
about the goodwill of the
Plainfield Catholic Archdiocese,
the largest Catholic School
District in the state of Illinois,
intention to build a modern
library in honor of Fr. Tikpor,
the renown Liberian prelate in
his hometown of Grand Bassa
County, the letter revealed.

The letter stated that more

than $250,000 worth of new
school books from grade 1-12
including teachers editions,
were
donated,
including
laboratory
equipment
(microscopes,
computers,
laptops, and others school
supplies) for this worthy
educational
project
in
Liberia with hope of a second
container to be sent in August
for the official ground breaking
ceremonies in September.
The PIIFF president, Mr. Gaye
told the Liberian President
that the PIIFF, Dr. Wannah and
the Catholic Diocese were able
to raise more than $10,000.00
to send the container to Liberia
which arrived at the Port of
Monrovia since March, 2015,
Accordingly, PIIFF made a
payment of $5000 through its
broker to begin the process of
clearing the container but was
told after more than a month
that the container could not
be cleared until an additional
$4600 is paid to the Liberian
Revenue Authority as fine
for the foundations failure
to carry out a pre-inspection
through BIVAC in the United
States, sadly, while this fine
has not yet been paid, the
container is incurring massive

Page 7

storage of more than $35 USD

a day for the last two months.
It is on this basis of the
excessive fine and sadly,
our attempt to assist in the
rebuilding of our country,
especially the irony of a broken
education system in the nation,
that we find it so unfathomable
to be punished for trying
to assist our country in its
rebuilding process especially
the humanitarian gesture of
facilitating in the building of
a free library in honor of Fr.
Tikpor by the Illinois based
Catholic School District he
stated.
The President of PIFF said The
foundation faced similar hurdle
during the Ebola crisis of 2014
when more than $5 million
dollars of donated relief food
and medical supplies were
given to the Liberian people
through various agencies in
the State of Illinois. When the
Liberian community in Illinois
contacted various authorities
in Liberia, including officials
of the Liberian Government,
they each demanded that
the items be sent directly to
them, in contravention to the
donors wishes. The delays led
us losing half of the supplies
but a SOS placed to one of our
partners, The Hands of Hope
Foundation, headed by Dr.
Troy Benitone and his team,
we were able to salvage at
least half of the relief foods
and medical supplies that were
eventually shipped to Liberia
and distributed free of charge
to students, and healthcare
workers in rural Liberia during
the early part of this year.
Finally, it is our hope and
prayers, Madam President,
for the common good of our
beloved country, especially
the good gesture of the Illinois
based foundation and Roman
Catholic Church, in building
the much needed library
in honor of Father Tikpor,
that you kindly intervene in
the release of this container
Reference No: GIS000684-01
Booking No.NAM2033491 B/L:
GIS001701 Vessel: AL SAFAT
GXB67E
Shipper: PRINCE
IBRAHIMA AND ISABELA
FREEDOM Forwarder: GANDHI
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING,
INC, the letter stated.

SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS IN PRISON

Collins, 33, reported his son
missing about two hours after
Barway had been seen getting
off his bus, coming home from
school that day.
His disappearance prompted
a weeks-long hunt for the
boy, and rallied the Liberian
community in the Twin Cities.
Collins and his son were
Liberian immigrants. The
boy's mother, Louise Karluah,
lived in Liberia when Barway
disappeared.
Investigators
subsequently
found that Collins and his
wife, Yamah, had been having
financial difficulties and that
Collins had two life insurance
policies on his son. Records
indicated Collins had paid
a premium on that policy
just two days before his son
disappeared and also called the
insurance company to inquire
about raising the amount of
coverage from $30,000 to
$50,000.

The charges against Collins

also say that he was also in
court the morning of Barway's
disappearance regarding child
support for four children from
another marriage. Authorities
say he'd been unemployed "for
some time."
Collins was arrested on April
14, and charged with second
degree murder. A Hennepin
County grand jury indicted him
in June.

COMMENTARY

DEMOCRACY OR AUTOCRACY?
Page 8 | Frontpage

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Why I was Slapped and Chased by EPS Officers in front of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
By Martin K. N. Kollie, Youth Activist, martinkerkula1989@yahoo.com - Contributing Writer

ur unwavering agenda for a new

Liberia of inclusion, equality, justice,
and freedom is tied to a famous
quotation by Martin Luther King, Jr.,
which says our lives begin to end the day we
become silent about things that matter. Our
conviction is driven by an irreversible spirit of
patriotism and loyalty to our fellow countrymen.
The change we are yearning for today in Liberia
is possible, but only through honest and frank
engagements with higher-ups.
After campaigning for three (3) weeks, justifying
why it was meaningless for Liberians across
the fifteen political subdivisions and beyond
to celebrate the 168th Independence Day of
Liberia, a team of loyal militants and national
patriots was dispatched by the ever-potent
Vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP) to
Greenville, Sinoe County on July 25, 2015.
Our mission to Southeastern Liberia, specifically
Sinoe County was to reinforce our clarion call
for Liberians to boycott programs marking
this years Independence Day festival. Surely,
we did accomplish this mission. As a team of
loyal patriots whose ultimate interest is to
promote inclusive change, we had two principal
objectives, namely:
1. To distribute hundreds of releases from
SUP, outlining genuine reasons why it was
worthless to celebrate Liberias 168th birth
anniversary.
2. To institute a peaceful protest action by
sending out a clear message to those in
authority that Liberians have had enough
and it was time for paradigm shift.

Nothing could easily bewilder our determination

and moisten our courage from accomplishing
these two paramount objectives. The comrades
knew very well that there can be no change
without genuine action. As a result of this, they
became increasingly zealous and passionate
about pushing a common agenda for a new
Liberia.

The journey from Monrovia through Grand

Bassa and River Cess to Sinoe County was really
a though one, but we had a national mandate to
carry out. The bumpy roads, horrifying forest,
narrow bridges, and gloomy weather could
not easily prevent us from reaching our final
destination. As we embarked on this worthy
expedition, we knew this mission would have
never been an easy one.
The motherland was on our heart; as a result,
risking our lives through perilous paths did
not really matter. Certainly, we had a duty to
discharge for the common good of our people,
especially those who have been subjected to all
forms of inhumane treatments since 2006. The
urgency for a new beginning in Liberia became
our source of inspiration as we gallantly proceed
to Sinoe County.
While we cautiously drove through Grand Bassa
and River Cess Counties, we kept reflecting on

one question What has our Nation achieved

since 1847? Scenes from these two counties
were too chilling and scaring to comprehend.
After 168 years of sovereign existence, nothing
has really changed. Instead of moving forward,
Liberians are moving backward. Vast majority
of our people still live in shacks and drink from
creeks.
Life in Southeastern Liberia is no different
from life in hell. Our people are really living in
serious torment as their leaders continue to
embezzle millions. Access to quality education,
safe drinking water, electricity, good roads,
transportation, better housing, employment,
improved sanitation, commerce, health care,
social security, and other basic services are far
from reaching Southeasterners. Hardship is the
order of the day!
Hunting, fishing, farming, motorbike riding, hard
labor, mining, petit trading, etc. are compelling
ventures in Southeastern Liberia. When will our
people condition improve? As we approached
Sinoe County, these sickening views and existing
realities even provoked our resolve to march on
with our plan. We were convinced that it was
time to say TRUTH to POWER. The longstanding
suffering of people rekindled our audacity to
challenge the POWER that BE.
On Sunday morning, July 26, 2015, we finally
arrived in Greenville City, Sinoe County in
a sleepy, but yet exciting mood. We were
welcomed by comrades of like minds and some
citizens who were also thirsty for a just and
equal Liberia. It will interest you to know that
we did not even pay a cent for food and hotel
bills until our departure from Sinoe County. We
were well taken care of by citizens of Sinoe and
Grand Kru Counties for almost three (3) days.
This shows how desperate our people are for a
new Liberia.
Upon our arrival, we were invited to speak to
citizens, especially the young people of Sinoe
County at the Intellectual Forum. Even though
some of them knew our mission in Sinoe, but
most of them did not know. As a leader of the
planned protest, I was able to convince most of
them to join us the next day. I spoke to them as
though that day was my last day of speaking on
earth. While recounting the failures of President
Sirleaf and past regimes, I did provide twentythree (23) genuine reasons why it was useless
to celebrate Liberias 168th Independence Day.
Momentarily, I could see the reawakening of
their spirit to act.
During this interval, I spoke to Alpha D. Senkpeni
of Frontpage Africa and other Journalists in
Sinoe County about the meaningless nature of
celebrating Independence Day under a corrupt
and cruel government. After this brief interview,
I got an invitation from the Acting Station
Manager of Voice of Sinoe 88.3FM to further
justify our call for a boycott. The radio program
was to be held at 7:30pm.
When time came for me to appear, I was told by
the Acting Station Manager that President Sirleaf
was about to speak to the people of Sinoe County.
This was a smart attempt by the Press Office of
Madam Sirleaf to prevent us from spreading
our campaign. We could not blame the Station
Manager because we knew his action was driven
by big-shots. This abrupt and unjust adjustment
even made us more courageous to hold series of
consultations with opinion leaders and citizens
in Sinoe County before Monday, July 27, 2015.
The momentum of celebrating Independence
Day in Sinoe County was very poor. Our message
for citizens to boycott was spreading very fast.
On one occasion, I heard an elderly man saying
there is nothing to celebrate. Loyal militants
of SUP and progressive forces were dogmatic
about sending a clear message to dishonest
public trustees. We told our people never to
celebrate with those subjecting them to socioeconomic misery and acute hardship.
As the hour approached for revolutionaries
and ideologues of SUP to stand up in the faces
of oppressive characters, we knew there would
have been resistance from economic migrants
and elite elements. Our conviction was deeply
entrenched in a better future for all Liberians.
One thing we knew very well was that change
will never come if someone does not act. There

is nothing more costly than keeping quiet in the

face of injustice and inequality.
As the clock ticks towards the main day of
the celebration, protesters were already in
full readiness to express their dissatisfaction
through peaceful means. During the night hours
in Greenville City particularly at 4:00am, I woke
up in my lonely room and began to inscribe our
ideas on poster sheets. While preparing for the
protest action on Monday, July 27, 2015, two
questions kept flowing through my mind:
1. What can we do to ensure a new Liberia of
equality and justice for ALL?
2. When will we put an end to poverty,
illiteracy, ignorance and disease in Liberia?

The day finally came for us to accomplish our

mandate. Since the official program was to begin
at 11:00am, we made it our duty to arrive at the
City Hall by 7:30am in order to bypass stringent
security protocols. We (Peaceful Protestors)
enthusiastically stood with our placards/
poster sheets in front of the J. Dominic Bing
City Hall. As prominent citizens, government
officials, international guests, journalists, and
civil society actors were arriving, our hands
were high up with our placards calling for equal
opportunities for ALL. Some of the inscriptions
on the placards were:
1. Liberians are dying from Poverty
2. Corruption is a vampire
3. When will change come?
4. Education is a mess
5. Stop taking our land by force
6. They lied to us and abused us
7. When will PAPA come?
8. Twelve (12) wasted years
9. Equal Citizenship, Equal Opportunities,
etc.
While protesting, we were distributing
hundreds of releases from SUP to citizens
and onlookers. These releases were meant to
further justify our action by informing Liberians
about how meaningless it was to celebrate
Independence Day under a corrupt and selfseeking hegemony. Few minutes after, some
aggrieved workers of Golden Veroleum and few
students from Sinoe County joined us to protest
as well. While standing with our placards, the
presidential convoy passed without stopping.
During this interval, two (2) police vehicles with
ERU officers were directly packing opposite us.
They could not resist us, because our action was
in harmony with the law.
When President Sirleaf knew the protest was
gaining momentum, she came back to meet
with us. The President knew deep down within
herself that what we were portraying on those
placards were nothing, but the truth. President
Sirleaf said why are you guys protesting? As
the leader of the protest, I told Madam President
in her face that we are protesting because her
government has failed the Liberian people.
My response to President Sirleaf was very
respectful. My mood was moderate. These were
my words to Madam President on Monday, July
27, 2015 in front of the J. Dominic Bing City Hall.
It may not be verbatim.
Madam President, we are protesting as a
means of expressing our dissatisfaction about
the manner and form you are leading our
country. Liberians are disappointed in you.
Your government has failed the Liberian people.
When we went to the polls in 2005 to elect you
Madam President, we did so with a conviction to
ensure Liberia becomes a better society. We saw
you as an emblem of hope. Sadly, after almost
10 years under your leadership, vast majority of
our people still live in abject poverty. Corruption
is on the increase. The rate of unemployment is
high. Education is a mess. You have misled our
people into a path of socio-economic paralysis.
Today, most Liberians lack access to basic social
services such as safe drinking water, electricity,
quality education, improved sanitation,
better health care, housing, good roads, and
empowerment opportunities.
When I told President Sirleaf in her face that
her government has lost legitimacy in the
eyes of the people due to rampant corruption,

nepotism, injustice, and inequality, she reacted

very sharply by calling me a STUPID and CRAZY
boy, even though I did not insult her. Truth really
hurts! After President Sirleaf branded me in
such faction, I was slapped twice by officers of
the Executive Protection Service (EPS) without
Madam Sirleaf saying a word. Officers from
the elite Presidential Guard (EPS) flogged our
comrades. Comrade Emmanuel Nagbe and other
loyal protesters sustained injuries as a result of
their vicious action.
In the process of tactically retreating, one of
the EPS officers said CRUSH him; he is the
same Martin Kollie who is always writing and
speaking against the government. While I was
trying to escape security brutality, my right hand
was hit with a gun-butt by an officer of the EPS.
The vexing statement of Madam President was
a clear instruction to EPS officers to brutalize
us, even though she did not order our flogging
directly. We managed to seek refuge in the bush,
by means of the swamp, after being chased by
security operatives. Is this the democracy we
have been yearning for? I thought freedom of
speech is a fundamental right. Does Liberia
really have democracy or autocracy?
For those of you who are speculating that we
were disrespectful to Madam President, you need
to get a copy of the video from LBS Television
Crew. Why are they refusing to play the tape?
Moses Kollie Garzeawu of LBS, including other
citizens witnessed this unfortunate episode.
Stop disconnecting yourself from the reality,
and dig deeper to unveil the truth. Our actions
and utterances were in line with constitutional
proviso and democratic due diligence. Let me
restate that we only told President Sirleaf the
truth and never disrespected her as insinuated
in some quarters.
Our assembly as loyal militants of SUP and
national patriots on July 27, 2015 was in
accordance with Article 17 of the Liberian
Constitution which states All persons, at all
times, in an orderly and peaceable manner,
shall have the right to assemble and consult
upon the common good, to instruct their
representatives, to petition the Government or
other functionaries for the redress of grievances
and to associate fully with others or refuse to
associate in political parties, trade unions and
other organizations.
Our rights were trampled upon by EPS officers
who intentionally ignored that Liberia is a
country of law and not man. Regrettably, these
gruesome gunmen had to walk in the atrocious
footprints of the Executive Mansion Guards of
Master Sergeant Doe and officers of the Special
Security Service of ex-President Charles Taylor.
This is what happens when anti-democratic and
despotic forces are recruited to serve as security
guards under a democratic atmosphere. EPS
officers are not above the law, and they must act
within the scope of the law. I guess brutalizing
peaceful citizens and unarmed civilians is far
from the TOR and SOP of EPS officers.
Let this message go forth that nothing can
silent our voices, not even guns. You can crush
us, but you cannot crush our ideas. You can
chase us, but you cannot chase our courage for
change. You can jail us, but you cannot jail our
writings. We will remain relentless until Liberia
becomes an equal and just society. The Student
Unification Party (SUP) will never abandon its
revolutionary mandate to always protect the
interest of the masses. We will fight dictatorship
and dictators. We will challenge autocracy and
autocrats. We will struggle to put an end to
elitism, nepotism, patronage, and inequality. We
will combat despotism and despots. Our tone
shall remain loud against all forms of societal
vices. Until equal opportunities arrive for all
Liberians, the struggle for inclusive change shall
forever remain in motion.
About The Author: Martin K. N. Kollie is a
Liberian youth activist, student leader, an
emerging economist, and a young writer.
He is currently a student at the University of
Liberia reading Economics and a militant of
the ever-potent Vanguard Student Unification
Party (SUP).

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Frontpage

ONLY TWO EBOLA CASES

REPORTED IN PAST WEEK,
BUT RISKS REMAIN: WHO

A CLINIC RISES IN LIBERIA,

FOR HER BROTHER

very morning, first

thing, Mary Moore
Kieh
searches
Craigslist for old EKG
and X-ray machines. Maybe
one day she'll get lucky and
find an operating room light.
Kieh, 49, a nurse at Mercy
Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, is
building a clinic in her native
Liberia.
She knows she cannot save the
world.
But she may save some people
who come to her clinic.
And maybe they can help
others. And perhaps just by
trying, she will inspire others
to make more of their own
lives, to have hope, even a
dream.
Kieh was born in Liberia, the
West African nation recently
devastated by Ebola. She was
poor, never knowing whether
there would be a meal, but she
studied and became a midwife.
She came to America in 1998
with her husband, a Liberian
doctor, granted asylum after
persecution in Liberia's civil
war.
She went to Delaware County
Community
College
and
became a registered nurse,
starting at Mercy Fitzgerald in
2003.
Her brother died back home
in 2011; his illness was never
diagnosed.
When she sees the devastation
back home, the hopelessness,
the poor medical care, she has
no choice but to follow her
heart.
After
living
here,
she
understands how bad things
are there. She knows they can
change. She must try.
She constantly works extra
shifts. She works a second
job every other weekend at

another hospital. She has spent

$150,000 of her own money so
far, at great personal sacrifice,
to build a clinic near Monrovia,
the capital of Liberia, one of the
poorest countries in the world.
She named it the Robert Moore
Memorial Healthcare Center in
memory of her brother.
"As I went through my grieving
process, it came to me,"
she says. "Maybe we could
do something. Maybe we
could build something, help
somebody else so they don't
have to suffer . . . Can we save
the whole world? No. But my
vision is even in death they
should find peace, find dignity."
Kieh, who lives in Yeadon,
has four children. Two came
to America with her and her
husband, Mark. Two were born
here. All are citizens.
She and her husband, an
infectious-diseases physician,
conceived the idea for the
clinic in 2012. They bought
land and cleared it. They
found a designer, then hired
a contractor to build the
11,000-square-foot facility.
In 2013, her husband returned
to Liberia to oversee the
project.
He currently works as a site
physician on a trial for a new
Ebola virus vaccine, a project
of the Liberian government
and the National Institutes of
Health. He monitors patients
who have received the vaccine.
In his free time, he oversees
clinic construction.
Mary Kieh was in Liberia
last summer with two of
her children at the outset of
the Ebola epidemic, which
eventually killed nearly 5,000
people in the country.
And she was back in May, using
three weeks of vacation, laying

Page 9

tile, much of which she bought

here and shipped to Africa at a
total cost of $24,000.
Ebola has changed Liberians.
"They're learning a new way
of life," Kieh says. "You have
to stay away from people. You
can't hug as you did before. You
can't shake hands."
Once the clinic is open, she
wants to move back to Liberia
to run it with her husband.
She envisions the Robert
Moore Memorial Healthcare
Center as an outpatient facility,
with beds for observation. She
plans an emergency room, a
short-procedure surgical unit,
a pharmacy, and an inpatient
maternity area.
Patients will have to pay a
modest amount.
"We want to have a laboratory
system where we can test for
disease," Kieh said. "We need
to be able to diagnose people
and educate our patients."
Right now, however, her new
building is empty.
"We didn't start this because we

have the financial resources,"

she said. "We started this
because we saw the need."
She is buying things here
and plans to ship them in
a 40-foot container. When
she read that a local nursing
home was closing, she bought
wheelchairs, commodes, and
beds.
She got an EKG machine
off eBay, and an oxygen
concentrator, blood pressure
machine, and microscope
from Craigslist. She's tried
crowdfunding
(www.
gofundme.com/rmmhc).
Mercy Fitzgerald has donated
old equipment it was replacing.
She still needs medicines,
supplies, and much more
equipment.
"It's kind of like the Field
of Dreams," said Maureen
McCullian, Kieh's nursing
supervisor. "Build it, and they
will come. Her whole heart and
soul is into this.
"I told her she could have had
a good life here and not look
back," McCullian added. "Many
come here and don't look back.
It really shows her character,
sacrificing so much to help
others."
Mary Kieh dreams her new
health center will be open
by May. She imagines many
colleagues will come over for
the grand opening, and then
volunteer a week every year to
help.
"I don't know how we're going
to get there, but I know we
will," she said. "I have a vision.
If it means I work paycheck to
paycheck, I will. If it means I
have to work an extra shift, I
will do it. But we have to make
it work. Because the need is
great."

GENEVA (Reuters) uinea and Sierra Leone each recorded a single cases of
Ebola in the past week, putting a year-end goal of ending
the deadly epidemic within reach, although risks remain,
the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
Tight surveillance and tracing contacts of infected people remain
crucial, WHO Assistant-Director Bruce Aylward said. They are
especially challenging during the heavy rains in August.
In the previous week to July 26, the two countries had seven
confirmed cases, which was the lowest in the past year up until
then, according to the WHO.
"We have gone over the last four weeks from 30 cases (per week)
to 25 to seven and, in the last week, two cases. That progress is
real," Aylward told a news briefing.
Ebola re-emerged last month in Liberia, after the country was
declared officially free of the virus in May, but "appears now to be
stopped, although it is early days", Aylward said.
He stressed the need to maintain vigilance in all three countries,
while dampening hopes of quickly stamping out the hemorrhagic
disease, which has killed more than 11,200 people in West Africa
since December 2013.
"There is a huge risk of unrealistic expectations that this will go
from here to zero. It won't. We will have additional flares. This
could still go on for additional months before it gets stopped," he
said.
Already this week, two new Ebola cases have been confirmed in
Tonkolili, Sierra Leone, where several other suspect cases are
being investigated, he said.
"In Tonkolil,i where this person went to two health facilities and
then eventually died, they have actually quarantined a whole
village plus a whole hospital. So they have got nearly 600 people
quarantined around a single case," Aylward said, pointing to
"massive operations" to stop the spread.
It was a "realistic goal to have transmission of this epidemic
stopped this year," Aylward said.
"There is a lot of challenges between here and there, one very,
very difficult rainy season in August. Remember, last year it took
off in August."
The WHO said last Friday that a trial in Guinea found an Ebola
vaccine to have been 100 percent effective.
Initial results from the trial, which tested Merck and NewLink
Genetics VSV-ZEBOV vaccine on some 4,000 people who had been
in close contact with a confirmed Ebola case, showed complete
protection after 10 days.
"It's not a game changer as much as it is an enhancer," Aylward
said. "The game is still about case-finding, contact-tracing, rapid
isolation, safe burials. That's how you stop Ebola, certainly in the
current period."

14 ILLEGAL GOLD MINERS

BURIED IN LIBERIA AFTER
LANDSLIDE; PRESUMED DEAD

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP)

tate radio in Liberia says 14 men illegally mining for gold
in Liberia's west fell victim to a landslide. They were
trapped under rubble and are presumed dead.
It says the miners, all from Sierra Leone, had reportedly
dug a deep hole near Liberia's border with their country and
were buried in a landslide. The radio reported the incident in
the remote area occurred last week, and it took time for word to
reach the capital, Monrovia
Hundreds of people from Sierra Leone cross the border into
Liberia to illegally mine in the mineral-rich Gola Konneh District.
Liberian authorities have not been able to put a halt to illegal
mineral mining, especially in remote border regions.

CALL: 088-630-4178, 088-673-7306, 077-702-7030

Frontline Printers your quality print solution

Page 10 | Frontpage

PAGE

WORLD NEWS

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

BEGINNING
OF REFORM
RONT

HEAD OF $11 BN CHINESE STATE FIRM

FOUND HANGED AMID GRAFT PROBE Nigeria names new head of state-run oil company

he head of a multi-billion-dollar state-owned Chinese

heavy machinery manufacturer was found hanging in
his office as anti-corruption investigators probed his
firm, state media said Tuesday.
Police believe Wu Shengfu, 51, the general manager of China
First Heavy Industries (CFHI), killed himself, the official Xinhua
news agency reported.
CFHI makes machinery for purposes ranging from nuclear
power equipment to petrochemical and auto manufacturing.
Its Shanghai-listed arm -- of which Wu was chairman -- has a
market capitalisation of 66.8 billion yuan ($10.8 billion).
His body was found early Monday in his office at the company
headquarters in the northeastern city of Qiqihar, Xinhua said.

DEATH TOLL IN NYC LEGIONNAIRES DISEASE OUTBREAK

JUMPS TO 7: SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED?

n outbreak of Legionnaires disease in New York

City hasleft 81 people sick, with seven of those cases
resulting in death, the office of New York City Mayor
Bill de Blasio announced late Monday.
The outbreak began in mid-July in the South Bronx and is
believed to have originated in water from cooling towers. The
disease which is a form of pneumonia, caused by the waterdwelling bacteria Legionella is acquired by breathing in
infected water vapors and mists in the air. It can show up in air
conditioners, showers, faucets, hot tubs, cooling towers, and
large plumbing systems.
This is the second major outbreak of the disease in the U.S. in a
month. A Super 8 motel in Washington state voluntarily closed
in early July after three cases of Legionnaires disease were
linked to the establishment, the Associated Press reported.

FAMILY OF WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN

TEXAS JAIL FILES WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT

he family of Sandra Bland filed a wrongful death

lawsuit on Tuesday against a Texas trooper, a
sheriffs office and her jailers, accusing them of being
responsible for the woman's apparent suicide in a
county jail.
The suit, which was filed in a federal court in Texas, said that
officials violated her constitutional rights. The family was
seeking damages but no monetary amount was listed in the court
papers.
Bland, who is black, was pulled over in her car on July 10 by
a white state trooper, Brian Encinia, for failing to signal a lane
change.

Abuja (AFP) igerian

President
Muhammadu Buhari
has appointed a
new head of the
country's corruption-hit state
oil company, weeks after after
sacking the entire board, his
spokesman said on Tuesday.

Buhari took office on May 29

and axed Nigerian National
Petroleum Company (NNPC)
chief Joseph Thlama Dawha
and his directors less than a
month later after vowing to
tackle what he called "the evil
of corruption".
Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu's

appointment as NNPC group

managing
director
was
announced in a statement
from Buhari's spokesman
Femi Adesina, which also listed
other changes at the top of the
state-run company.
No reason was given for
Dawha's removal after just 10

PESHAWAR,
Pakistan
(Reuters) top Taliban official
announced
his
resignation
on
Tuesday amid a
growing leadership struggle
in the Afghan insurgent
movement after the news of
the death of leader Mullah
Mohammad Omar last week.
The swift announcement
that Omar's longtime deputy,
Mullah Mohammad Akhtar
Mansour would be the new
leader has riled many senior
figures angry about the
implication that Mansour
covered up Omar's death for
more than two years.
The infighting could split
the Taliban and threatens
tentative peace talks with the
Kabul government to end 13
years of war that began with
a U.S.-led campaign after the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the
United States.

Since Mansour's appointment

was announced by the
Taliban leadership council
based in Quetta, Pakistan,
it has been denounced by
several top members of the
group, including Omar's
brother, who has called for
an assembly to choose the
leader.
On Tuesday, Taliban official
Syed Mohammad Tayab Agha
announced he was stepping
down as director of the
Political Office in the Qatari
capital Doha, originally set
up to enable the Taliban
to negotiate in any peace
process.
Agha said he considered the
decision to conceal Omar's
death - generally attributed
to Mansour - a "historic
mistake by the individuals
concerned".
"Now, as the leader is
appointed
outside
the
country and from the people
who are residing outside the
country is also considered as
a great historical mistake," he
said in a statement.
Considered
close
to
Pakistan's
powerful
intelligence
services,
Mansour faces a challenge to
hold the movement together
with hardline commanders
pressing for an end to
talks and the continuation
of fighting that has been
increasingly successful in
recent months.
Some reports suggest there
have been clashes between

NEW TALIBAN LEADER FACING

TENSION AS TOP OFFICIAL QUITS

SOUTH AFRICA'S

NOBEL
LAUREATE
TUTU LEAVES
HOSPITAL

JOHANNESBURG (AP)
outh African retired
archbishop Desmond
Tutu left a Cape Town
hospital on Tuesday
after being treated for an
infection there since last
month, his foundation said.
Tutu, 83, will continue
his recovery at home,
the foundation said in
a statement. It said the
infection was the result of
treatment for prostate cancer
that the Nobel Peace Prize
laureate has received over
the past 18 years.
The foundation, which is
named after Tutu and his wife
Leah, quoted daughter Mpho
Tutu as saying the cancer was
under control.
Tutu has spent about two
weeks in two separate stays
in the hospital since last
month.
Tutu was awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1984
for campaigning against
apartheid.

months in the job, but changes

at the much-criticised NNPC
have become routine and
observers believe the move
may have been a prelude to an
in-depth probe of its activities.
"This appointment marks
the beginning of the reforms
which will establish the NNPC
as corporation which fights
corruption and drives growth
in the Nigerian economy," the
company said in a statement.
Kachikwu, a former executive
vice-chairman
of
ExxonMobil Africa from the coastal
Delta State, is a Harvardtrained lawyer with 30 years'
experience in the energy
sector, according to the NNPC.
"I am excited to be taking up
this challenge," Kachikwu was
quoted as saying in the NNPC
statement.
"Being in a position to manage
the most important natural
resource in Nigeria is a source
of pride and responsibility for
the NNPC and I am committed
to taking this forward and
helping the NNPC achieve
its potential as a globally
competitive
national
oil
company."
Nigeria is Africa's largest oil
producer, churning out roughly
two million barrels of crude
per day.
Ordinary people have largely
not benefited from the nation's
oil wealth, however, with much
of the revenue lost to graft.
The NNPC is regarded as one of
the world's most opaque and
corrupt publicly-controlled oil
firms and has been linked to
the massive theft of vast crude
revenues.

rival Taliban groups, although

a Taliban spokesman denied
that.
Abdul Raouf Ahmadi, a
police spokesman in the
western province of Herat,
said eight fighters, including
a commander, were killed
on Sunday in a battle over
the leadership between
two groups in a village in
Shindand district.
A
Taliban
spokesman
dismissed the report as
baseless enemy propaganda.

'BAD REPERCUSSIONS'
It remains difficult to assess
how serious a threat Mansour
faces but the tension points
at least to a suspension of
the peace process while he
consolidates his position.
Several commanders are
known to have stopped
fighting until the situation is
clarified and there have been
calls for a new council to be
summoned to decide the
leadership issue.
In his statement, Agha said
previous leaders appointed
outside the country, going
back to the invasion by Soviet
forces and the government
set up after the Taliban
were ousted, had "very
bad
repercussions"
for
Afghanistan.
The leader should be
appointed "in presence of the
courageous mujahideen in
their strongholds inside the
country", Agha said, referring
to Islamist fighters.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Sports

ilers
President
James
Jappah
says its a work in
progress for the
oil boys to regain form on
the field of play.
Jappah, who played for
the Oilers from the mideighties to the early nineties,
explained that before the
resumption of the ongoing
league season, they signed
12 new players and that it
would take time for those
players to really cope
with the teams system of
play. Notwithstanding, he
said, the team head coach
along with members of the
technical staff are working
around the clock to produce
a miracle.
Our Head Coach Gabriel
Johns, who is also a former
player of the team, and
members of his technical
team are working very
hard in order to better put
together those new players
with the others they met on
the team. We know it would
not be a day or week work
but they all are responding
little by little.
It can be recalled that
sensational Oilers suffered
a 5-0 humiliating defeat at
the hands of FC Fassell in the
current national league but
they came back with a 1-0
victory over NPA Anchors.
Yet, Oilers have played eight
matches and presently have
10 points out of the eight
games played and they are
now seated fourth in the
group table.
The team boss stated
that even though they are
presently seated fourth in
their group table, they are

acebook has been

overwhelmed with
praises for Liberia
international
Kpah Sherman following
a move from Tanzanias
Young African Sports Club
or Yanga to South Africas
Mpumalanga Black Ace FC.
Having put pen to paper on
a three-year deal, Sherman
posted a photo from his
formal presentation to the
media.
[Thats] good news brother
[and] congratulations. I
wish you all the best and
[may] God bless you in every
game you play, said former
Liberia international Alex
Brown, who was part of the
famous George Weah IX.
Lemuel
Sherman,
who
helped to nurture his sons
footballing career and
manages
first
division
club Aries FC in Monrovia,
was also part of the praise
singers for the 23-year-old
striker.
Do what I could not do and
go where I could not go. Most
of all keep going and God
[will] be with you, Lemuel
wrote.
[I want to] congratulate my
brother. [I] wish [him] all the
best. This is what I called
libtakinova [Liberian taking
over], said Darryl Tuning.
[I] wish you the best of

Frontpage

Page 11

SPORTS

MARTINO: IF I WERE
MESSI, I'D HAVE QUIT
ARGENTINA LONG AGO

rgentina
boss
Gerardo Martino
claims he would
have
quit
the
national team if he were
Lionel Messi due to the heavy
criticism the forward receives
for his performances.
Although Messi is revered at
Barcelona, the 28-year-old's
reputation in his homeland
is considerably worse, with
many pundits and supporters
blaming him for failure to win
silverware in recent years.

OILERS PRESIDENT EXPRESSES

OPTIMISM FOR OIL BOYS
A. Macaulay Sombai, macaulay.sombai@frontpageafricaonline.com/ 0777217428

not in the national league

just as participants but to
either win the two major
trophies or at least one at
the end of the season.
We enter the league with
the sole purpose of becoming
champions of Liberia and
I can tell our opponents
in the league that we will
make a serious comeback

in our remaining games to

come both in the national
league and the knockout
competition.
Japah
described
his
team Head Coach Johns
performance on the team
as good but hoped that
the players will pay more
attentions to him because
no matter what a coach

does if the players are not

responding to his coaching
techniques it would be very
difficult for the team to
progress.
To you my players, as you
all know we are now close to
the end of the league season
and our current status in the
table is not proper for the
team so I am urging you to

increase your effort and be

more vigilant with absolute
speed on the ball against
your opponents. And I hope
you as players will really
listen to Coach Johns as we
continue our fight for the
championships until the end
of the season.

FROM
TANZANIA
TO
SOUTH
AFRICA
Kpah Sherman moves from Yanga to Mpumalanga Black Ace

BARCA PLAYERS ELECT

INIESTA AS NEW CAPTAIN

arcelona
have
announced
that
Andres Iniesta will
succeed Xavi as
club captain.
Lionel Messi will be second
captain for the 2015-16
season after hitting 56 goals
in 56 games last season.
Sergio Busquets is third in
line, with Javier Mascherano
fourth.
The appointments were made
following a secret ballot
amongst the playing staff,
who voted for Iniesta to lead
them this season.

BAYERN MUNICH 3-0 AC MILAN:

BERNAT, GOTZE AND LEWANDOWSKI
RATTLE ROSSONERI

Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

luck, wrote Barrack Young
Controllers head coach
Robert Lartey.
To God be the glory and may
God continues his good work
he has started. I'm proud of
you striker [and] keep it up,
added James D. Kargba.
Born on 3 February 1992 in
Monrovia, Sherman helped
Yanga to win their 24th
league title last season.
The 1.8 meter striker scored
six goals and provided five
assists from 16 league games
for his Dar es Salaam club
since he moved during the
mid-season from Northern
Cypriot top league side
Centikaya Turk SK.
Sherman is arguably the only
Liberian footballer to have
won two top league titles
in two countries following
a triumph with Turk SK in
2012.
He is just a step away
from equaling the record
of
compatriot
George
Weah, who won league
titles in Liberia (Mighty
Barrolle1985/1986
and
Invincible
Eleven1986/1987),

France
(Paris
Saint
Germain1993/1994) and
Italy (AC Milan1995/1996
and 1998/1999).
Aces must have been
monitoring Sherman for a
while and initially wanted
to bring him in last season
but decided against it due to
their foreigners quota.
And chairman Mario Morfou
is excited that Sherman
would be one of the best
strikers in this seasons
Premier Soccer League.
Hes an excellent player
and arguably one of the best
players we have ever signed
and yes we are relieved to
finally be able to formally
welcome him to AmaZayoni.
He will be an ideal partner
up front with Collins
Mbesuma and Im confident
he will be among the top
goal scorers in the league
this season, Morfou told the
clubs website.
Sherman was introduced
to teammates on July 31
and spent the rest of the
day accompanied by Esau
Mtsweni and Denis Masina
and also visited Aces'

P
marketing
wing
where
he was shown the clubs
portfolio, including a debrief
of the club's history.
Sherman said he was
delighted to be in South
Africa and was excited to get
going.
"It's a beautiful country and
I'm very impressed with
what I've seen and heard on
Black Aces and have been

warmly welcomed. I'm very

keen to try and establish
myself in the team and am
also looking forward to
meeting the fans and visiting
the communities as part of
Aces' programmes," he said.
With his arrival, Sherman
is set to face compatriot
Anthony Laffor, who plays
for Mamelodi Sundowns in
league and cup matches.

ep Guardiola was
involved in halftime spat with AC
Milans Nigel de
Jong as Bayern Munich ran
out 3-0 winners in a heated
Audi Cup clash.
The Bayern coach was
infuriated by a first-half
challenge from De Jong
that prompted him to haul
Joshua Kimmich off the field
immediately, and Guardiola
berated the Dutchman as the
players left the pitch at the
interval.
The spat overshadowed
what was a brilliant Bayern
performance,
in
which
Douglas
Costa
showed
exactly why Guardiola signed
him as he inspired his new
team in the first half.
Costa provided an assist for
Juan Bernats opening goal
and went close to scoring on
a number of occasions in an
explosive 45-minute display.

 Receive a quality
education
Develop your football
skills
Gain access to new
opportunities

Receive a quality
education
Develop your football
skills
Gain access to new
opportunities

A UGUST 10 T H 2015
Muslim Congress High School

8:30am
n
3pm
in a c c e s s to
ew
Ga

M O N R O V I A F O OT B A L L A C A D E M Y
ENTRY EXAMINATION
If your child (boy or girl) is a talented footballer between ages 9-10 and wants
to apply to MFA, please bring him/her to Muslim Congress High School on
Monday, August 10 between 8:30am and 3pm
Applicants will complete a 90-minute examination on Math, Science, and
o p p o r tu n itie s
English
Please send an email to monroviafa@gmail.com with any inquiries
We hope to see you there!

A UGUST 10 T H 2015
Muslim Congress High School

8:30am
new
3pm
Gain
access to

M O N ROV I A F O OT BA L L A C A D E M Y

E-mail: monroviafa@gmail.com
Website: www.monroviafa.com

ENTRY EXAMINATION
If your child (boy or girl) is a talented footballer between ages 9-10 and wants
to apply to MFA, please bring him/her to Muslim Congress High School on
Monday, August 10 between 8:30am and 3pm
Applicants will complete a 90-minute examination on Math, Science, and
opportunities
English
Please send an email to monroviafa@gmail.com with any inquiries
We hope to see you there!
E-mail: monroviafa@gmail.com
Website: www.monroviafa.com

VISIT UNCLE ZEH'S LAUNDRY

& DRY CLEANING SERVICE
ON CROWN HILL, BROAD STREET

WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST

Call: 0775-149-376, 0775-149-161