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Politics
pg 6a
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PROPOSED
FOR EBOLA-HIT
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NO MONEY FOR
SURVIVORS?
GoL Seems To Have No
Long-term Plan to Assist
Ebola Survivors
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Research, Policy and Planning Department,
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Monrovia, Liberia
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SIX SENATORS-ELECT
IN LIMBO
We have issued the first three writs so NEC have the statutory period to file their returns to the petitions filed by the
petitioners and the full bench of the supreme court will meet to decide the outcome Associate Justice Philip Banks.
SENATOR ARMAH
ZOLU JALLAH AN
EYE FOR DETAIL
p 6
Politics- pg.5
ABANDONED PROJECTS;
SQUANDERED MILLIONS
General Auditing Commission Nails
Several Officials; Submits Four Audit
Reports to Legislature
p 7
Page 2 | Frontpage
FrontPage
EDITORIAL
Page 3
Frontpage
COMMENTARY
Commentary
DISTURBING CAN OF
WORMS LOW BLOW FOR
LIBERIAS HIGH COURT
IN A SUDDEN turn of events this week, Associate Justice Philip
A.Z. Banks, III ordered the National Elections Commission
to inform the court on how returns can be constituted. The
order from the Chamber Justice follows a question raised to
the commissions lawyers on how returns can be constituted.
Said Cllr. Banks:NEC has 24 hours to furnish this court on
how returns are constituted and this is so ordered.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE BANKS comments comes more just
weeks after the same Supreme Court drew a line in the sand
stating in a dissenting opinion that issues raised in a recent
petition before the court regarding the holding of the justended special senatorial elections raised political questions
which were not in the purview of the court.
CHIEF JUSTICE FRANCIS KORKPOR made it clear at
the time that the Executive and Legislature are the proper
representatives of the people to determine the dates of
elections, declaring that "Political question doctrine raised
cannot be determining by this court, but can be venue before
the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government".
THE CHIEF JUSTICE MADE it quite clear that the Supreme
Court of Liberia does not have the power to tell the National
Elections Commission (NEC) when to conduct the election,
but can only advise NEC to put guidelines into place, and that
any violator would be punished.
THIS IS WHY WE are puzzled at Associate Justice Banks
recent insistence that the National Elections Commission
should inform the court how returns of elections can be
constituted.
ALL THIS when the NEC has not yet completed its investigation
into complaints relating to the just-ended senatorial election.
The commission has 30 days to hear complaints and after the
timeframe if a complainant is not satisfied, he/she has 7 days
to appeal to the Supreme Court. NEC, relying on section 6.2
of the National Elections law, has told the court that it is still
looking into the complainants.
PORTION OF SECTION 6.2 of the National Elections law
sub caption Investigation and Decision states: Investigation,
and render a determination as provided for in Paragraph 2 of
this section. The determination shall be accompanied by a
summary of the investigation and the reason for it. (2) Effect
of determination. The decision of the Commission shall have
the following effects: (a) If any person returned is declared
not to be duly elected, but has already assumed such office,
shall cease to hold such office; (b) If any person not returned
is declared duly elected to an office, he/she shall assume such
office; and (c) If any election is declared void, a new election
shall be held. (3) Harmless errors not to vitiate election. No
election shall be declared void on account of any delay of
nominations; the polling or return of the writ, or on account of
the absence or error of any officer which shall not be proved to
have affected the result of the election.
IT ALL STARTED LAST Saturday when the Supreme Court
put a halt on the certification of declared winners Cllr. Varney
G. Sherman of Grand Cape Mount, Morris Saytumah of Bomi
and Jim Tornonlah of Margibi County. TODAY, at least six of
the fifteen declared results from the just-ended elections are
in dispute.
WHILE WE have no way of knowing the magnitude of those
complaints, we find it a bit troublesome that with the exception
the closest tallies in Maryland County, a lot of the other
irregularities and contentions appear to be lacking serious and
concrete exhibits or proof of foul play.
IN THE CASE IN CAPE MOUNT for example, Cllr. Sherman
puts forward the following argument: That the special
Senatorial elections all over Liberia were conducted on
Saturday, December 20, 2014 and that on the evening of the
same December 20, 2014, the ballots were counted at each
polling place and recorded on the Senate Record of the Count
(commonly known as tally sheet) at each polling place. The poll
observer for Dr. Kromah/Congress for Democratic Change,
hereinafter Kromah/CDC, at each polling place signed the
Senate Record of the Count for the respective polling place.
A copy of the Senate Record of the Count for each polling
place was given to the poll observers for the candidates which
got the first and second highest votes. Respondent Sherman
prays the Honorable Magistrate to take administrative notice
of these facts from the records of the election of December
20, 2014.
AS A RESULT of the many complaints now sitting at the
Actual Votes
Year
Voters Turn
Out
166,008
2005
75%
58,384
2009
22%
233,038
2011
70%
99,000
2014
20%
Okay, lets grant that the previous figures are for senatorial elections
and not for the presidential elections. So, to be fair let us look at the
presidential election figures. Again CDC has shown dominance in
Montserrado County, but has never been able to command an absolute
majority. This razor-thin (simple) majority in Montserrado County for
the CDC is much to its disadvantage since outside of Montserrado, the
party is losing everywhere else but Grand Gedeh. So any party that
pulls off a strong showing as the UP in Montserrado (as demonstrated
in 2005 & 2011), will go on to whip the CDC in the remaining
counties and carry the day. Of course, Mulbah Morlu and others will
call a press conference and denounce the results. This will come as no
surprise, of course, since the only fair election NEC can ever conduct
(in the eyes of CDCians) is the one in which Manneh/CDC wins. And
life will go on despite their history of rejecting election results!
Montserrado County Presidential Vote Trend
*all figures are culled from NEC website*
Votes Cast
per Party
CDCs
Advantage in
Montserrado
County
138,513
370,725
37%
+7%
110,740
370,725
30%
207,710
453,467
46%
201,346
453,467
44%
+2%
Page 4 | Frontpage
FrontPage
COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
DISCLAIMER
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica
The Editor,
EDITORIAL TEAM
PAGE
RONT
POLITICS
Frontpage
Page 5
Monrovia ollowing
Ellen
Sirleafs
successful
President
Johnson
very
meeting
with
His
Excellences
President Yayi Boni of Benin
and President Mahamadou
Issoufou of Niger, she today
met House Speaker J. Alex
Supplement
Page 6 | Frontpage
rmah
Zolu
Jallah, son of
the
famous
Paramount
Chief
Jallah-Lone,
originally hailing from
Bopolu
District
in
Gbarpolu County, is a
ranking member of the
53rd National Legislatures
of the Republic of Liberia.
He first became a member
of the Liberian Legislatures
from 1998 2003, when
he contested the BiElections held to fill a
Senatorial Seat for Bopolu
Statutory District, at the
time,a political constituent
formerly
Lower
Lofa
County, now considered
Gbarpolu County.
Mr. Jallahs involvement
in
human
capacity
and
infrastructure
development, and human
right advocacy in Bopolu
and Liberia as a whole,
undisputedly
resulted
into his overwhelming
victory in the Bi-Elections
by winning over 70% of
votes. In his position as
the youngest Senator at the
time, in a Charles Taylor led
Government, Mr. Jallah,
in the footsteps of his
father, Chief Jallah-Lone,
is one of few Senators
who advocated justice
and sponsored several
bills which promoted the
wellbeing of the Liberian
People.
He is currently sponsoring
the National Economy
Equity Act-in according
with Article 7 of the
Liberian
Constitution,
a bill which if passed,
will
allow
individual
Liberian Citizens to have
percentage share of the
annual revenues from all
natural resources trade. He
also upon the call of the
people of Bopolu Statutory
District, played a pivotal
role in sponsoring the
bill that created what is
now considered Gbarpolu
County; just to name
of few. Prior to joining
the Senate in 1998, and
subsequently 2011, Mr.
Jallah has been engaged
in managing his private
business investments in
Gbarpolu and other parts
of Liberia.
Senator
Jallah,
a
Counselor at law, has
exemplified
remarkable
leadership in international
and community basedorganizations
he
has
served with here at home
and abroad throughout his
career. During his tenure
in the Liberian Senate over
the past four (4) years,
he has played pivotal
PAGE
RONT
PROFILE
Right-Left (Paul Kennedy, Senator Armah Z. Jallah, Honorable Elijah Cummings, US RepMD; Mr. Vernon Simms, Chief of Staff; Honorable Cummings; Mr. Williams McBorrough,
President Board of Director, Association of Liberian Engineers-USA (ALEUSA).
Senator Jallah meeting with Liberian professionals in the USA. Right-Left (Paul
Kennedy, Policy Advisor; Senator Armah Z. Jallah Mr. Williams McBorrough,
Chairman Board of Director, Association of Liberian Engineers-USA (ALEUSA)
in Washington, DC
PAGE
RONT
CORRUPTION WATCH
Frontpage
Page 7
General Auditing Commission Nails Several Officials; Submits Four Audit Reports to Legislature
Senator Jonathan Banney. The
contract was later amended by
the county administration.
Abandoned West Point Town Hall Project for which US$40,000.00 was paid
that
the
Nimba
County
Legislative Caucus in a letter
dated
28
October
2012,
signed and approved by its
Secretary,
Representative
Worlea-SaywahDunah
and
the
Legislative
Caucus
Chairman, Senator Prince Y.
Johnson, approved a contract
budget valued US$260,000.00
for the modernization of the
Sanniqueille Sports Stadium as
part of the Countys preparation
to host the 2010/2011 and
2011/2012 regional phase of
the Annual National County
Sports Meet. The GAC noted
that the purported contract
for which the budget was
approved by the Nimba County
Legislative Caucus was awarded
to the Jungle Water Group
of Investments, owned and
operated by Tomah S. Floyd, the
Chairman of the Nimba County
Sports Steering Committee.
Additionally,
the
GAC
observed that two separate
payments, US$71,799.21 and
US$90,000.00 were made to
the Jungle Water Group of
Investments.
The
payment
documents revealed that the
payments were reimbursed to the
company for purportedly the prefinancing of the Nimba Countys
participation in the 2011/2012
and 2012/2013 National County
Sports
Meet
respectively.
Awarding contract and making
payments to a company owned
by the Chairman of the Nimba
County
Sports
Committee
constitute conflict of interest
which undermines public sector
accountability and transparency.
On account of the above, the
GAC has recommended that
the Nimba County Legislative
Caucus Chairman, Prince Y.
Johnson and the Secretary,
WorleaSaywahDunah, should
be held accountable for the
violation of Section 48(1) of
the PPC Act, 2010 Amendment;
and Tomah S. Floyd, owner
of the Jungle Water Group of
Investments
and Chairman
of the Nimba County Sports
Steering Committee should be
held accountable for violation
of Section 131, (1)(a,b&c) of the
PPC Act, 2010 Amendment as it
2007/2008
GAC audit report also put the
previous payment made to
MICCI at US$150,925.00. An
analysis of the project matrix
submitted by the Rivercess
County Administration for audit
revealed that US$290,715.00
was purportedly made to MCCI
and
Liberia
Multinational
Limited from 2009 to 2013,
equating the total amount paid to
US$441,640.00.
The
GAC
has
therefore
recommended
that
former
Superintendent,
B.
RancyZiankan, PMC Chairman
J. Mborzua Barclay, former
Assistant Superintendent, John
Zoegar, Sr., and Senior Senator,
Jonathan
Banney,
should
jointly and severally be held
accountable for the payment of
US$150,925.00 made to MICCI.
This was a recommendation
contained in the 2006-2008
GAC audit report which was not
implemented.
The GAC has also recommended
that Superintendent, Wellington
Geevon
Smith,
Assistant
Superintendent, Samson Cephas
PMC Chairman J. Mborzua
Barclay, PMC Treasurer Moses
Logan, and Senior Senator
Jonathan Banney should be
made to jointly and severally
account for the US$290,715.00
representing payments made on
the 20 Bed Room Guest House
Project (2009-2013)
On the audit of Margibi County,
the GAC observed that one of
the contractors, New Millennium
Investment Inc., was awarded
two (2) contracts valued at
US$114,576.76 without evidence
of
Business
Registration
Certificate. Confirmation from
the Liberian Business Registry
on January 10, 2014 revealed
that the New Millennium
Investment Company was not
registered as required by Chapter
4.2of the General Business Law
of Liberia. Further analysis of
the contract file revealed that
the company issued a bogus
Business Registration Certificate
to the Administration of Margibi
County
Given the significance of the
matters raised in four reports,
the GAC urges the Honorable
Speaker and the members of
the House of Representatives
and the Honorable President
Pro-Tempore and members of
the Liberian Senate to consider
the implementation of the
recommendations conveyed in
urgency.
A front view of the 20 abandoned Bed Room Guest House project in Kpolor Town for which US$441,640.00 was paid
Page 8 | Frontpage
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Page 9
REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
MINISTRY OF LANDS, MINES AND ENERGY
P.O. BOX 10-9024
1000 MONROVIA 10, LIBERIA, WEST AFRICA
TEL: (231) 226-858, FAX: (231) 226-281
Page 10 | Frontpage
IN BRIEF
WORLD NEWS
SANAA (Reuters)
car bomb exploded
outside a police college
in Yemen's capital Sanaa
on Wednesday, killing
about 30 people and wounding
more than 50, police sources
said, underscoring the country's
deteriorating security and a
persistent al Qaeda threat.
Sectarian conflict after a 2011
popular uprising that led to a
change of government and splits
in the army has worsened since
September when the Shi'ite Muslim
Houthi militia seized Sanaa.
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
(AQAP), one of the Sunni militant
group's most active wings, had
staged increasing numbers of
attacks across Yemen before the
Houthi advance and has carried
out more bombings and shootings
since.
There was no immediate claim
of responsibility for Wednesday's
bombing. Al Qaeda has in the past
claimed they were behind similar
attacks.
PAGE
RONT
wider community.
Each individual will receive
around 2,200, equivalent to
around three years' income on
the Nigerian minimum wage,
said their London-based lawyers
Leigh Day, who have received
the money.
SPDC is set to clean up the
affected area, but insisted most
oil pollution in the Niger Delta
region was caused by sabotage,
theft and illegal refining.
Commentators said the clean-up
could take several years.
Amnesty
said
the
Bodo
community
had
been
"devastated" by the spills and,
without compensation, fishermen
and farmers had faced poverty in
the years since.
The rights group called the
Frontpage
Sports
WELCOMING SURVIVORS
T
Monrovia he Liberia Football
Association (LFA)
unveiled a bus
stop branded with
anti-stigmatization message
on 10th Street, Sinkor this
week.
LFA vice president for
administration
Musa
Shannon said they were
pleased
to
undertake
a unique campaign in
collaboration with the Swiss
Agency for Development
and Cooperation (SADC).
Shannon said the launch was
another step in the national
awareness against Ebola,
which has mostly affected
people in Liberia, Sierra
Leone and Guinea.
I think it is the first time that
any institution has branded
a bus stop with a message
against Ebola. So the LFA,
of course, likes to the first.
We were the first to stop all
activities and like to be the
first again in the continued
first against Ebola.
Our message, as it says
here, is Stop the Stigma
and Ebola is still real.
So the fight is ongoing
and we believe that LFA
will win the fight with the
support of the Swiss Agency
for
Development
and
Cooperation. Also, I will like
to thank the LFA staff and
the president, Mr. [Musa]
Bility, who couldnt be here.
We [will] also like to
thank the former players:
Kelvin [Sebwe], Christopher
[Wreh], Olivar [Makor] and
James Debbah for lending
their voices and images to
Page 11
SPORTS
BARTOMEU: EVERYONE
KNOWS BARCA WON'T
SELL MESSI
arcelona
president
Josep
Maria
Bartomeu
has
dismissed
suggestions Lionel Messi is
looking to leave the club and
played down talk of a rift
between the Argentina superstar
and coach Luis Enrique.
Speculation the pair are at
loggerheads has intensified
following
Luis
Enrique's
decision to leave Messi, and
his fellow South Americans
Neymar and Dani Alves, on the
bench for Sunday's 1-0 defeat
at Real Sociedad.
Messi then missed training the
following day with the club
claiming he was suffering from
gastroenteritis.
Luis Enrique insisted earlier
on Wednesday his relationship
with Messi was identical to
when he took over at the start of
the season and Bartomeu feels
the gossip should end there.
LA GALAXY CONFIRM
GERRARD ARRIVAL
ristiano Ronaldo's
ambition is often
unfairly mistaken
for arrogance and
he should now be considered
a better player than Lionel
Messi, according to Andre
Villas-Boas.
The Real Madrid forward is the
favourite to win the Fifa Bllon
d'Or, which will be awarded
this coming Monday, for being
the best player of 2014 ahead
of Messi and Bayern Munich
goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Page 6a
12 | Frontpage
PAGE
RONT
EBOLA
Monrovia-
Monrovia
resident Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf says the visit of
the Presidents of Benin
and Niger has further
deepened the support and feeling
of solidarity that the two countries
have for Liberia.The Liberian
President said though they were
just visiting the country since
the Ebola crisis, she was certain
that they have been with Liberia
in spirit. You have been with
us through messages, telephone
calls, through the meetings of
ECOWAS that have provided
the support and encouragement.
So we feel that this meeting just
deepens that particular support
and the feeling of solidarity
which you have for us, she said.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, President
Sirleaf made the assertion when
she met with the two astute subregional leaders, His Excellency
Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin and
His Excellency Mahamadou
Issoufou of Niger, when they
paid a one-day solidarity visit
to Liberia. The meeting was
held at the VIP lounge at the
Roberts International Airport on
Wednesday, January 7, 2015.
President Sirleaf said though
she had hoped that they would
have stayed overnight, but due
to their own engagements she
appreciated the time they spent
with her and looked forward to
continuing to make the success
that Liberia is making in battling
the Ebola virus disease to enable
the country continue on its path
of peace and development.
I want to thank you for the visit
and thank you for the support we
have received, not just for Ebola,
but youve been with us even
before Ebola struck. You are a
big partner to us. Thank you for
PAGE
RONT
NGOs,
the
International
community, the government and
supporting the government on
the lead of how to support the
communities. This will be the
only way we can support the
national direction in fighting
Ebola, he said.
Mr. Ahmed during a courtesy call
on the president said UNMEER
supports to the Liberian
government's decision to reopen
schools. He said UNMEER will
focus on helping government
reactivate
the
educational
system. He however advised
that appropriate measures and
processes be put in place to
protect both the students and
staff as Ebola is still active in
Liberia.
Mr. Ahmed attributed the level
of progress made in Liberias
fight against the further spread
of the Ebola virus disease to the
leadership and commitment of
the Liberian government in the
fight.
He stressed that though the
mechanism for coordination may
not be perfect, it has impacted
the Ebola fight in Liberia and
the region very efficiently. Mr.
Ahmed departed Liberia on
Wednesday to visit other affected
countries in the region.
GOVERNMENT NEWS
Government
and
people
sentiments considering that
Liberia has been undergoing a
painful period in its history.
He said that their presence in
the country should show to the
whole world that it is possible to
come to and be with the people
of Liberia.
He said ECOWAS countries
of which the Benin, Niger and
Liberia are members have taken
a number of measures and
made contributions of which
Niger has been a part; but in
the future Niger is prepared to
be a part of whatever assistance
GAMBIA
'COUP
PLOT'
REGULATOR STILL
IN LACC
DRAGNET
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Frontpage
Page 6b
13
Higher Education
InsideCommission
story of aonfailed
takeoverDirector General long Corruption tale
military-styled uniforms and
other equipment were also
bought, with each of the
alleged plotters given $4,000
for expenses in The Gambia.
"Faal left the US on 3 December
via South African Air[ways]
and arrived in Senegal. Faal
then immediately travelled to
The Gambia overland where
he stayed until the coup
attempt. Once the rest of the
group arrived in The Gambia,
the group spoke by phone and
rarely met with each other,"
according to Mr Marshall.
Mr Njie - a US citizen of
Gambian origin - was alleged
to be the main financier and
he would have been installed,
according to Mr Marshall, as
The Gambia's leader if the
coup succeeded.
One
of
the
Texas
businessman's co-conspirators
was allegedly Papa Faal, 46,
a US-Gambian national who
assumed the nom de guerre
Fox. He handed himself to
US authorities after the plot
failed - and allegedly spilled
the beans to the FBI.
US nationals of Gambian
origin are alleged to have
bought weapons from gun
shops across America.
"Most, if not all of the
members of the group, had
served in The Gambian or
US military, and were avid
shooters," Mr Marshall says.
"Faal enjoyed going to the
firing range in the US for
practise, but did not go
shooting specifically for
operational purposes."
Mr Faal spent $6,000 (3,950)
on buying eight M4 semiautomatic rifles in Minnesota,
hid them in four "50 gallon
barrels" and stuffed clothing
around the "disassembled
weapons to conceal them", the
FBI agent adds.
"The
barrels
were
'containerized' and shipped
under an alias fabricated by
Faal."
Night vision goggles, black
FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com
Sports
SAVING GRACE
VOL 9 NO.4
Lukaku Saves The Day But Martinez Far From Out Of The Woods
club.
Some of their play against the Hammers was
bright and inventive. Lukaku led the line well
throughout and caused problems with his pace
and strength, and Steven Naismith and Kevin
Mirallas also looked threatening. Ross Barkley,
playing somewhat out of position in wide
areas, struggled to have a real impact on the
game influence but there were still moments of
quality.
Defensively, though, there are real issues at
PRICE L$40
corner, and looked bereft of the
composure that saw him become a
hero at Manchester City and an FA
Cup winner at Portsmouth.
And his central defensive partner,
Phil Jagielka, is also struggling.
Numerous times he lost possession
against West Ham and looked too
easily ruffled. The dominant, classy
defender of last season and beyond
has been replaced - temporarily, at
least - by a player lacking confidence.
Add to that the decline of Gareth
Barry, who last season was Everton's
most accomplished and important
player, and it becomes increasingly
obvious they need major surgery to
tighten up the defensive side of their
game.
There are, of course, some mitigating
circumstances for the club's poor
run. They have suffered a series of
injuries to key players and juggling
a Europa League campaign has
stretched the squad to its limits.
It's been a difficult period for
Martinez - the club's worst run since
he became Everton manager - but
he will be hoping Lukaku's late goal
signals a shift on the club's fortunes.
In his post-match press conference
the Everton boss expressed his relief
at the result, telling reporters: "I
think tonight can get us out of the
run we have had. The players had the
right attitude and we looked more
like ourselves."
But Martinez will be all too aware
that football is ultimately a results
business - and although Bill
Kenwright will stand by his man for
now, that patience will surely run
out unless there is a considerable
improvement in the second half of
the season.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan
claimed in 2011 that Martinez was
only a few years away from manging
Real Madrid or Barcelona - if
Everton don't improve, and fast, then
the job centre, not the Bernabeu,
could be his next stop.