Disability Not an Impediment
Published: 04 December, 2008
Persons with disabilities, mainly the physically challenged, took their advocacy for access to public facilities to an extraordinary height yesterday, December 3, 2008, with the inauguration of a ramp built at the Monrovia City Hall. The ramp could be a small project when one only considers the barely three feet wide and not more than six feet long ramp.
Hell Times for Monrovians
Published: 03 December, 2008
Monrovians are set to return to hell times this festive season, as over hundred harden criminals from the Central Prison who broke jail Monday, December 1, 2008 remain at large.
Once again, we are approaching the annual year-end festive season where trade and commerce are expected to take on the usual hype and boost, with goods and services crisscrossing the country to find markets and buyers.
Rolling Back the HIV/AIDS Risk
Published: 01 December, 2008
More than 33 million people are infected with HIV in the world, according to the United Nations Agency for AIDS (UNAIDS) with about 2.5 million new infections in 2007. Most of the countries where HIV/AIDS is prevalent are those also faced with extreme poverty. Most are in sub-Sahara Africa but Liberia, a sub-Saharan country, is not among the highly affected nation yet.
Don't Exploit People's Plight for Public Relations Stunt
Published: 28 November, 2008
This week, school kids in Monrovia have found respite with the resumed services of the Monrovia Transit Authority (MTA) whose buses now charge students in uniform and bearing identification cards just L$5 for a ride to any destination. Students can now commute from Red Light in Paynesville to Central Monrovia or Duala on Bushrod Island to Central Monrovia for just that amount.
Gender-based Violence Must Stop
Published: 27 November, 2008
Over the last few years, as activism against gender-based violence (GBV) increased, we find an invariable increase of attacks on women and girls, especially rape of young girls, and even babies as young as 10 months and two-year-olds commonplace in our society.
Stealing Government Money Got to Stop
Published: 26 November, 2008
This was supposed to have been an Administration of clean and productive technocrats committed to the goals and aspirations of the President and selected to put into place a new order of things void of corruption and graft. The magic words that this era began with were 'transparency', 'accountability', 'impunity'.
Zimbabwe at Critical stage
Published: 25 November, 2008
The situation in Zimbabwe is now 'critical', observed the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa Mr. Jacob Zuma. "The situation has gone [beyond] where we could say 'wait and see'."
A Lesson in Democracy
Published: 24 November, 2008
The President of our sisterly Republic of Ghana ends his two-day visit to Liberia at the invitation of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf today. The visit was meant to extend the appreciation of the Government for Ghana's numerous contributions to the restoration of peace and stability in the country.
Respect the Provisions of the Constitution
Published: 21 November, 2008
On Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at the Temple of Justice on Capitol Hill, there was a scene. Minister of Gender and Development, Madam Varbah Gayflor, led a group of slogan-chanting, placard-toting women in demand of justice against a 39-year-old kindergarten teacher, one Nathaniel Wilson, who was accused of raping a two-year-old pupil.
Fighting the Piracy Threat
Published: 20 November, 2008
For most of the war years Liberia's foreign exchange earning was crippled because of a halt to all land-based industrial activities, or because such activities were under rebel control. As a consequence, the Government of Liberia largely depended upon its Maritime Registry as the chief foreign exchange earning resource that kept the economic wheels of Government turning. Today as the nation steers a course towards economic recovery by reviving its resource capacity and rebuilding confidence worldwide, it is troubling to find that piracy has come alive on the east coast of Africa. This new danger and hindrance to world commercial intercourse on the seas has now become a global problem drawing the attention of all nations.
Central Bank, Is It True?
Published: 19 November, 2008
There is a major worldwide crisis of confidence spiraling the global banking community. Fortunately for us we have not been overtly affected. Recently, when we briefly asked a local reputable banker concerning what affects the global crisis may have on us, he allowed that except for the losses we may sustain in interests from money deposited abroad in foreign accounts, Liberia's economy is smooth sailing.
Central Bank, Is It True?
Published: 19 November, 2008
There is a major worldwide crisis of confidence spiraling the global banking community. Fortunately for us we have not been overtly affected. Recently, when we briefly asked a
Central Bank, Is It True?
Published: 19 November, 2008
There is a major worldwide crisis of confidence spiraling the global banking community. Fortunately for us we have not been overtly affected. Recently, when we briefly asked a local reputable banker concerning what affects the global crisis may have on us, he allowed that except for the losses we may sustain in interests from money deposited abroad in foreign accounts, Liberia's economy is smooth sailing.
City Hall Must Wake Up Now
Published: 18 November, 2008
At a public hearing organized by the City Corporation with support from the World Bank, the City Mayor told a gathering of the city’s needs and what it will take to move Monrovia out of the pile of garbage and rubbage that accumulate on a daily basis.
Restoring Trust in the Judiciary
Published: 17 November, 2008
A little over a fortnight ago, at a seminar held for Liberian judiciary officials in Accra, Ghana’s Associate Justice Kabineh Jan’neh disclosed that the population of pre-trial detainees at the overcrowded Monrovia Central Prison stands at 90 percent of all inmates. “Many of those in detention have been awaiting trial for many years,” he said.
Lacking Sense of Concern
Published: 14 November, 2008
Monrovians are once more finding themselves in the proverbial condition of being “between the hard surface and the rock”. Although prices of petroleum products are falling and transport fares should thereby fall as well, at least not naturally but as regulated by the Ministry of Commerce, the situation has become a burden instead of relief to commuters.
Leave Carriage of Justice with the Courts
Published: 13 November, 2008
Rape by a middle-aged man of a baby girl should require no amount of advocacy to bring reason to bear on the conscience of any society that evil has allegedly been done. However, a society of conscience should barely arrive at the conclusion of a commission of evil until such claim is proven beyond all reasonable doubts through evidence before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Craving for a Peaceful 21st Century
Published: 12 November, 2008
Yesterday, Tuesday, November 11, 2008, nations of the world commemorated the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I. There were ceremonies in France, England and Australia to remember the dead that numbered about 20 million, military and civilian combined.
One hardly walks the main streets of Monrovia without meeting hawkers shoving wares in one's path, while persuading pedestrians to buy cheap, duplicated and used items. Metropolitan Monrovia is swamped by hawkers carrying wares in their hands, in pans, on their heads and in wheelbarrows being pushed along. There are also charcoal stoves with grill, cassava and corn lined on the sidewalks.
A Bad Lesson from PUL Elections
Published: 10 November, 2008
Elections are supposed to bind rather than to divide us. But it appeared the elections of the Press Union Of Liberia held Saturday, November 8, 2008, had left a deeper rift into the Union contrary to the single unite it was meant to set forth.
McCain’s Graceful Concession: A Great Example for Africa’s Democracies
Published: 07 November, 2008
The cheers and celebrations for the Obama victory in the Tuesday, November 4, 2008, United States Presidential Elections were so loud, so thunderous in most African capitals, especially those south of the Sahara, that a small but significant lesson for African democracies may have been missed.
This event, the election of a black man as President of the United States of America, happens only once in a lifetime. Therefore, the hysteria, the public mania and the numerous cries to heaven: “Thank God, I've lived to see this day!”
Asset Declaration Will Distract Anti-Corruption Commission
Published: 04 November, 2008
Last Friday, during her radio program, “Conversation with the President”, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf revisited the very sensitive transparency issue of asset declaration by public officials, which was highly touted in the earlier days of this administration but honored by only a committed few officials then. The President said she had waited on the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and as the Commission starts work, one of the first tasks will be to examine declaration of assets by government officials, beginning with the President.
The growth of Liberia's non-governmental organization (NGO) community over the last 18 years has surpassed all other sectors. One obvious reason for such growth is that NGOs have become a conduit for huge humanitarian and development aids that donor nations have been sending to the country.
Putting Evil Thinkers to Rest
Published: 31 October, 2008
Today Liberians should be filled with sadness as they listen to the news regarding the plight of their fellow Africans in the DR Congo who now are fleeing from the onrush of rebel forces now routing that country. We should be filled with sadness because it reminds us of what we went through 18 years ago when another rebel leader told the world he was coming to get a tyrant “off our backs.”
Publicize Peace Corps Presence and Work
Published: 30 October, 2008
United States-Liberia relations have had various forms of engagements, but it is the people-to-people relationship like the ones built from the services of American Christian missionaries and Peace Corps volunteers in remote Liberian communities that have truly left lasting impression of the world power.
Deliver and Impact People's Lives
Published: 29 October, 2008
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Cabinet should, by now, know the level of work that they have to do in keeping the confidence of the Liberian people for a renewed mandate possibly in 2011. Of course the President told a press conference this year, that she wanted the politics of 2011 out of her way for now. Yet if second term is not an issue for the President, legacy should.
Wiping Out the Shame of Modern Slavery
Published: 28 October, 2008
Hadijatou Mani, a 24-year-old Nigerien woman, who had been bounded to a man, to whom she was sold as slave and wife at age 12, raped at 13 and became mother for the children of her slave master and husband, tasted full freedom yesterday, Monday, October 27, 2008. A West African court found Hadijatou's state government guilty of failing to protect the woman and asked that she was compensated with over US$19,000.
Lifting Liberia up with All Hands on Deck
Published: 27 October, 2008
Last week the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Government reported to the nation on the fulfillment of its promises after holding office for 1000 days. The Government published an impressive sheet listing its accomplishments in “lifting Liberia” during that period.
Attaining a 'Common Global Good’
Published: 24 October, 2008
This year's celebration of the UN founding day takes a close look at the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and is termed “crucial” by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Maryland's Plight; an Uneven Development
Published: 23 October, 2008
Maryland County Junior Senator Gloria Scott drummed up the plight of her people Tuesday in an interview with this paper, lamenting how they were being burdened by high cost of commodities owing to lack of access to that part of the country.
Soothing a Scar That May Not Be Healed
Published: 22 October, 2008
The scars left as the result of the Liberian civil war are nearly visible everywhere in this country. But the impact on human lives, especially the vulnerable, that is, women, children and the elderly, weighs heftily.
There are so much duplicated and expired items on the Liberian market that one never knows when one buys a fake or out-of-date commodity. From food items like canned milk and beef to dry cell batteries, electronic, computers and car spare parts, the market is flooded with substandard goods.
Time to Show Patriotic Juice as True Apples
Published: 20 October, 2008
There seems to be a number of Liberians in advantaged positions who are carrying out the wrong message to the world. If they are privileged to engage in entrepreneurial activities and prove successful, they would rather cheat the Government out of its just revenue by finding ways of not paying their taxes. They employ all sorts of devious means to avoid contributing justly to the development of their country.
Monrovia Streets for Rehabilitation
Published: 17 October, 2008
Yesterday, October 16, 2008, there were pictures on the front page of this paper showing top officials of the Ministry of Public Works together with World Bank officials who are funding the long-awaited Monrovia Streets repair project, to be undertaken by Chinese construction engineers. They were all in a jolly good mood after signing a $15.8 million contract for the repairs of the streets in Monrovia.
Still Awaiting President's Action on Corruption
Published: 16 October, 2008
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her administration face perhaps the greatest litmus test in their crusade against corruption. This comes through the infinitesimal Bong Mines audit report recently released by General Auditing Commission.
LEC Board Fails to Oversight
Published: 15 October, 2008
The dissolution of the Board of the Liberia Electricity Corporation, (LEC) is a clear indication of how fed up the President has become of some members of her Government occupying key sectors of her Administration.
Revitalizing the YMCA for National Service
Published: 14 October, 2008
There is a welcome move in the community to revitalize a social and Christian organization known as the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA). For many years the YMCA was the well spring in the development of youths, spiritually, orally and physically in our country. In the schools, belonging to the “Y” was the in-thing to do. It was broken up into various sections and those who joined the agricultural unit studied agriculture and those who were keen to engage in sports stuck to it.
Over the weekend, media reports highlighted the disruption of the testimony of a key witness at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Liberia at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia.
Carrying the Rich Man's Burden
Published: 10 October, 2008
Anxieties have continued to grow in Monrovia about fears the ripples of the global economic meltdown could have on the Liberian economy. Although, with Liberia yet to be affected, some local media have tried to create a hype out of the situation in order to raise awareness with policy-makers and to ensure that there is in place a shock absorber if and when the ripples hit the Liberian economy.
Stop Greedy Business People
Published: 09 October, 2008
For most of the last two weeks, the rice market in Liberia has been experiencing deep confusion. Prices for the commodity had been alternating for various reasons that ranged from shortages, to hoarding and reports of importers seeking price increase from the authorities.
The Problem Facing Ricks
Published: 08 October, 2008
The construction of a refugee camp near a high school institution may not only create insurmountable problems with Ricks Institute, but equally so with farmers and local dwellers in Virginia. Some farmers are already complaining that “they (the refugees) may dig up our cassavas, cut down our palm trees and make other encroachments which might bring about plenty palava…,” one farmer told the Daily Observer in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
Answering a Teacher's Call
Published: 07 October, 2008
On Sunday, October 5, 2008, millions of teachers around the world celebrated the World Teachers' Day 2008, under the theme: “Teachers Matter!” This is a theme that fits well for Liberia, where illiteracy is high and seen as a scourge that needs to be remedied.
Avoiding Short Cuts to Justice
Published: 03 October, 2008
It would appear that after the long period of political upheaval and civil war marred by parochial governing systems, most Liberians have become oblivious that the court is the final arbiter of all matters. People hardly want to take matters before the courts but if they did, they would want their will to prevail against the law.
Reversing the Gloom of the Health Sector
Published: 02 October, 2008
This week, while appearing on a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) television show 'The World Debate', President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf made yet another revealing comment about the deteriorating health conditions Liberians face.
Morlu's Revelations Are Troubling
Published: 01 October, 2008
Since coming out of prison at the National Security Agency (NSA), Mr. Mulbah Morlu of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has been telling tales of torture that no one in these times and under this administration would imagine do exist here and now.
Engender Respect for Your Government
Published: 30 September, 2008
It would seem that Liberians in authority hold high respect for the authority of foreign institutions than they do for their own, and they obviously do so not because of respect but because of their own selfish needs.
Putting TRC Intent Back on Course
Published: 29 September, 2008
There is a need for the Commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to remind citizens, particularly those who have been called to testify before the TRC, that lying and posturing should stop at the doors of the TRC. Anyone who enters the forum ought to know that truth only is anticipated.
Raise Army Awareness on Change of 'Fortune’
Published: 26 September, 2008
On Friday, August 29, 2008, the Ministry of National Defense and its international partners, including the United States Government, produced a colorful ceremony at Edward Beyan Kessely Barracks, graduating 498; the fifth and last class of nearly 2,000 new army officers. These are men and women recruited under very highly rated vetting standards and tutored by military experts from the United States Army.
Encourage and Protect Whistle Blowers
Published: 25 September, 2008
On Wednesday, September 24, 2008, authorities at the Ministry of Justice were expected to return a young man to his job at the National Port Authority (NPA) where he was dismissed for exposing corrupt practices in October 2007.
Making Sanitation a Guidepost
Published: 24 September, 2008
A report appearing in the Daily Observer this week threw some light on conditions employed by cooks in the marketplaces and on the sidewalks. The “conditions are unsanitary, and badly in need of the recognition of health, cleanliness and safety.”
We Applaud Mbeki for the Unexpected
Published: 23 September, 2008
One of the trickiest mechanisms African politicians have been wrestling with since the wind of change blew in democracy along the continent has been how to get rid of a political leader or a Head of State who had lost his touch without applying a Shakespearean tragedy; and vis-à-vis how a leader should bow to the wishes of the people.
Negative Signals from the Capitol
Published: 22 September, 2008
It is hoped that members of the Liberian Legislature would have by now learned that their powers are derived from the people. This is because legislators are the direct representatives of the people; they certainly enjoy more constitutional powers than the two other branches of government. Actually, the Liberian Constitution is patterned that way as its framers recognized the need for popular democracy could be felt if only people's power rests with the people's direct representatives.
Hats off to the ‘Blue Helmets’
Published: 19 September, 2008
Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Palestine, Sudan and a couple of other conflict spots around the world dominate global news daily. There are deaths and destruction at scales, some so alarming; they beat the imagination of the average man on just about the level of hatred that drives such madness.
Not Allowing ACC as a Political Tool
Published: 18 September, 2008
Frances Johnson-Morris, chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), struggled as hard as she could to wipe out the controversy that marred her appointment and subsequent confirmation hearing at the Liberia Senate, as she made her remarks Wednesday, September 17, 2008, following the ACC commissioning ceremony. The ACC head tried to win confidence from every sector of the society by seeking collaboration from civil society, the media and the justice system while assuring Liberians that there would be no “sacred cow”.
Two Wrongs Do Not Make One Right
Published: 17 September, 2008
Legislative contempt has long been a weapon used by both Members of the House and Senate to keep citizens under control or to be subservient and obedient to them. Under the 1847 Constitution, one was dragged before the House or Senate and taken before the Judiciary Committee where a citizen was charged with alleged wrongdoing by a Member and after few questions he or she, at the stroke of the gavel, was held in contempt. Fines or jail sentences were imposed or whatever penalty the Body deemed necessary. That is to say, the Legislative body served as accuser, judge and jury and the accused was never afforded a lawyer.
Fragility of national security needs should be meticulously observed by city authorities, particularly in Monrovia, before certain regulations are put in place, owing to the huge outburst of the city's population and the inadequacy of services with a potential to flare up commotion.
Wrong Guards on Guide
Published: 15 September, 2008
When the announcement to the Western Cluster bid was made late last year, only those who handled the bid, if any, believed that South Africa-based Delta Mining Company (DMC) had indeed won the bid. But things started to get messy for the eventual winner after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had announced in her Annual Address last January that the “bid winner” was going be submitted to “due diligence”.
UL Reopening Deserves Urgency
Published: 12 September, 2008
In the last few weeks, different groupings of students at the University of Liberia (UL) have been expressing their frustration over the prolonged closure of academic activities at the government-owned tertiary institution. At least one group has voiced how it was prepared to take the government to court to compel the reopening of the University. This week, another student group, the Student Integration Movement (SIM) threatened it would stage a mid-night march if only to force the hands of the authorities at the University to recommence academic activities.
Market Must Go Beyond Structures
Published: 11 September, 2008
Throughout Wednesday, September, 9, 2008, President Ellen Johnson had gone around Monrovia and its environs dedicating four renovated market buildings that had been refurbished by Sirleaf Market Women Fund (SMWF).
This week, several civil society organizations have vented their stack disapproval to the appointment of members of the Anti-corruption Commission by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on what they termed lack of “broad-based” civil society consultation. The President's action, the groups think, does not only go against the principle of good governance, but also undermines the integrity and independence of the Commission.
Too Much Ado about Nothing
Published: 08 September, 2008
On Wednesday, September 3, 2008, National Elections Commission (NEC) chairman, James Fromayan, sounded a caveat that local elections, which have been pending for technical reasons since 2006 and the 2011 general and presidential elections, face hitches. At least two basics were named; new threshold for constituencies following the 2008 census that puts Liberia's population to 3.4 million and delimiting boundaries. The former would lead to voters' registration.
Fear that the public hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) would open old wounds and spark off renewed conflict among former warring parties, conflicting ethnic groups or perpetrators and victims loomed last week, as key protagonists shared sharp differences over testimony of Senior Senator Prince Johnson, the former leader of the splinter rebel movement, Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), which captured and slain former President Samuel Doe on September 9, 1990.
Anti-corruption Commission’s Task: No Boss, No Pal
Published: 03 September, 2008
Liberia may turn the corner in its drive to stamp out corruption, probably the worst scourge in the public and private sector that is responsible not only for under-developing the resource-rich country but has left it submerged in poverty and bereft with illiteracy. Turning that corner rests with a group of five.
Thing to Tackle but Ignored
Published: 02 September, 2008
Not many Liberians believe that national institutions, policies and laws in this country do work. It is common to hear people at street corners refuse to adhere to public ordinance on the grounds that the regulations may not hold. Sometimes those in authorities tend to blame these acts of public disorder on the breakdown of law and order as a result of war.
