GOOD TALK MADAM PRESIDENT; NOW TRY WALKING THE WALK

INTEGRITY INSTITUTIONS MUST BE ARMED WITH TOOLS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION

TOP STORIES

EDITORIAL

pg 3

LAW & ORDER pg 5 IS THE COSTA SHOW BACK ON 102.7 FM

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com

WEEKDAYS MONDAY-FRIDAY-7:30-10 AM

BUYING THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014 THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014 L$84.00/US$1 L$85.00/US$1 L$85.00/US$1

SELLING L$85.00/US$1 L$86.00/US$1 L$86.00/US$1

These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of the foreign exchange market in Monrovia and its environs. The rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the commercials banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia

VOL 8 NO.561

CAN LACCS NEW BOSS JEROME VERDIER, GAC YUADOR GAYE REKINDLE THE FIRE?

FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

PRICE L$40

LIBERIAS CORRUPTION

Liberias corruption war took a nosedive several years after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf promised to make the menace public enemy number one, but with the establishment of the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission, and the revamping of the General Auditing Commission, the country has seen the release of dozens of audit reports, investigation of corruption related cases with the naming of public officials who falsely declared assets but with no further action taken against them. Now the LACC has a new boss in person of Cllr. James Verdier, and the GAC now has Yusador Gaye but the question is, can they make a difference?

WAR

CORRUPTION WATCH pg. 12

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U
Monrovia -

Wade C. L. Williams, [email protected]

that we are getting honest information, we want to protect that so that people dont feel that if they speak to us, we ask the questions, they are somehow going to be vulnerable; someone coming along and saying how dare you say that. The US Ambassador Malac appeared to hold no regrets for what is contained in the report that is causing so much stir, as she believes that even though the embassy might not take everything in it at face value, what is contained in the report is already public knowledge and something that has been said before by others. Again it is one snapshot of a contractors interpretations of what the political environment looks like here, she said. So we take that information, we dont always agree with everything that is in it, or we dont necessarily disagree. In fact many people will find what is in that report in some cases is nothing different than has been seen or said by a number of people both in Liberia and outside Liberia and what other reports had said and some other things. The Embassy issued a statement issued in Monrovia last Friday, stating that the report was intended for internal use only and was taken out of context by the newspaper accusing it of quoting selectively portions of the report. Said the Embassy statement: This was a report intended for internal use to assist us in project development. The U.S. government conducts such assessments in countries where it works to better understand the impact of our programming and assistance. Unfortunately, the newspaper quoted selectively from the document, taking many things out of context. We urge all members of the media to remain objective in their reporting. State Department vs Embassy Rebuffing criticisms that she has not been able to speak truth to the Sirleaf administration on issues of bad governance despite consistent US State Department human rights reports specifically the recent 2013 human rights report which spoke volume to the inefficiencies of the Sirleaf-led administration, Ambassador Malac said she does speak out when there is a need to. So we stand by whats in our report, we think it is a fairly accurate reflection of what goes on hereActually I will argue that the 2013, the newest Human Rights report presents a better situation than last year, she said. I will take exception to say that I dont say negative things about clear facts, I do, and we certainly do try to call attention, the government attention to problems and things that they need to correct, we participate. Ambassador Malac said that even the president herself last year, at an event actually quoted from the US Human Rights Report and repeated some of the same language that they (US government) had in the report. She said the President acknowledged that Liberia continues to have problems in the area of the rule of law that is causing functional problems. She went through; she took out a whole quote from one section of the Human Rights report, she said. Attacking Approach Not Envoy Style Ambassador Malac said she comments on issues and have not at any point held back her governments take on issues concerning governance. I participate in a number of meetings with government officials, civil society organizations, other people who are present and we are constantly making points about things that continuous need to be fixed, she said. Continued Ambassador Malac: But I guess my approach just even on a personal level is simply attacking and attacking and saying negative things doesnt tend to make whoever you are having the conversation with feel incline to do anything so the issue is to present the problem in a way where we have this issue, what can we do together or how can we solve it, or what do you need to do and our opinion is to try to fix that. So I guess thats my approach generally. But I can assure you that my conversations with the president and with all members of the government and frankly with anyone that I speak with is usually pretty frank and pretty direct. Thats the way to get information shared and to really understand where people stand on a particular issue but that can be done in a way that is not antagonistic, because that is not our goal. She said the goal of the US government is to help to continue to move Liberia forward and to address the problems that need to be addressed, either together if there are things that the US government can help with or things that the Liberian government itself needs to do on its own. Yes there are some negative information in there but the reality is as we all know there are some things that still need to be worked on and still need improvement and will need for a number years, because it takes resources, it takes time, it takes people and there are a lot reasons why.

nited States Ambassador to Liberia Deborah Malac has given reasons why she thinks FrontPageAfrica should not have published a U.S. Government-funded report on governance labeled Sensitive, but Unclassified(SBU) which was recently obtained by FrontPageAfrica and used as the backdrop for a number of publications which highlighted several governance lapses in the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf-led government, ranging from nepotism to corruption. Speaking to journalists during her first tete-a-tete at the Embassy compound in Monrovia on Thursday, Ambassador Malac maintained that the newspaper outlet and online news organ sensationalized what was contained in the report, though she acknowledged the papers journalistic duty to report on such matters. Said Ambassador Malac: That report, as it is being sensationalized by FrontPageAfrica, that somehow there is secret information in there, information that we did not want people to see; the issue is more because we hired contractors to come in and do this. It is one person or a group of peoples opinions and analysis based on conversations and information that they have. But we certainly understand why FrontPageAfrica or any other journalism outfit that might have this in their hand will feel that they needed to publish it that is what newspapers do; I mean that is what journalistic outlets do. In our regard, when we have reports that are intended for internal use, we dont appreciate it when they are released inappropriately or without our knowledge. Meant for Internal Use Ambassador Malac contends that the report was meant for the internal use by the embassy to understand the environment called Liberia something it would do in other countries where it works. She said the papers decision to publish the leaked report, exposed the embassy to suspicion by those who helped it in giving out the information. The US government, when we work in any country, we do a lot of different assessments and evaluations to try to determine whether programming that we are engaged in or that we are designing to work with a host Government, Liberia or anywhere is meeting its target, if we understand the environment in which we are working, that is the purpose of this report, she said. Continued Ambassador Malac: The reason it is sensitive from our perspective is that people to whom we speak, have been ordered to ensure that they get some sort of honest information or to believe

FrontPage COMMENTARY EDITORIAL LIBERIA: NEW NIGERIAN

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Friday, March 29, 2014

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Commentary

GOOD TALK MADAM PRESIDENT; NOW TRY WALKING THE WALK

How many times have we not seen close friends of the President or officials and friends with unlimited access, abuse that access by running to the President to explain how an institution like the General Auditing Commission, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission or the Public Procurement Concessions Commission are delaying their work by enforcing laws and requirements for procurement or audits? Enough is enough, The buck Must Stop Here!!!

INTEGRITY INSTITUTIONS MUST BE ARMED WITH TOOLS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION

T
peace.

TROOPS IS UNNECESSARY NEO-COLONIALISM

Chorphie Charlie <[email protected], Contributing Writer
he days of the antebellum plantation style democracy has ended. Therefore, the international community cannot continue to impose a bad government upon the suffering people of Liberia, in the name of protecting

viable form for political community, in which the citizens maintain self-rule, by preserving their natural autonomy, while collective individual authority merge into the authority of the state. In Liberia, it is the reversed." (Chorphie Charlie , 2005: "Political Judgment Against Miseducated Liberians.") Thus the real threat to Liberia's peace, is not some mythical figure or group attempting to disrupt social cohesion- but the willful abused of power, as exhibited repeatedly by the President and her cabal's callous disregard to the suffering of the people, while normalizing governing social pathologies of public theft, electioneering fraud, injustice, bad economics, and the whole behavior of arrogant unaccountability. So, instead of a desperate attempt, to exploit international sympathy for the need to deepen peace and harden stability in Liberia, our president must create abiding democratic conditions, foundation on political and economic rights, to secure the blessings of liberty. Bringing in more Nigerian troops does not addresses the crippling social dislocation of the suffering Liberian people, except to remind us about the profound words credited to that great American founding father Thomas Jefferson, that "Tyranny is defined as that which is legal for the government but illegal for the citizenry." So the question must be ask: what is the purpose of bringing in men with guns? Is this is signal that our President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is finally admitting she had never enjoyed the trust of the Liberian people- due to the huge presence of UNMIL? That considering UNMIL draw-down, she is exposing her tyrannical tentacles? If President Sirleaf cannot govern the nation, on her own, to inspire confidence from the people: then she should simply do the honorable thing, to resign from office , instead of imposing a regime of political suppression. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is simply exploiting international commitment to see continue peace in Liberia, in order to protect an elite power structure. We the people, patriotic Liberians, from across the world, are fed up with armed men imposing their crude anti-democratic governance upon our people. We need a government of the people , to allow the free will of citizens in a democratic society, to pursue life , liberty , and happiness. Again, Jefferson reminds us, citizens do not need more government but "That government is best which governs least." President Sirleaf should send her Nigerian troops back to Nigeria, and focus on rebuilding our army, providing more peace training to our national police, and deliver basic social services for a suffering people. "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism"- Thomas Jefferson. Vox populi ! On the altar of Jehovah, I pledge undying resistance to political tyranny. Above all else, the people's struggles must continue. Excuse me , while I throw out-gosh! About the Author: Chorphie Charlie is a Social and Political Commentator residing in Philadelphia, USA. He can be reach at Email: [email protected]

COMMISSIONING four government officials of integrity institutions - Auditor-General of the General Auditing Commission, Yusador S. Gaye; Chairman of the Independent National Human Rights Commission, Justice Gladys Johnson; Chairman, Liberia Anti Corruption Commission, Cllr James N. Verdier; and Deputy Auditor General for Administration, General Auditing Commission, Boakai G. Kiazolu - Wednesday, at the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf challenged the newly-commissioned entrants into government to fight corruption without fear of favor. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE president challenged the officials to expose perpetrators and prosecute them in accordance with the laws of Liberia. The Liberian President went on to say that as far as she was concerned, the fight against corruption remains unabated and encouraged the officials to keep up the fight through the laws. WHILE WE are encouraged by the presidents assertions and declarations, it would be prudent for the president to go beyond the talk and the strong words admonishing her new officials by not only expressing, but ensuring that government institutions at the forefront in the fight against corruption are backed by the political will and adequate budgetary support to implement their tasks without fear or favor. WE HAVE SEEN over and over again how officials subjected to government investigations, or scrutiny, have taken upon themselves to run to the president with complaints whenever they encounter bottlenecks in dealing with integrity institutions. HOW MANY times have we not seen close friends of the president or officials with unlimited access to the president abuse that access by running to her to explain how an institution like the General Auditing Commission, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission or the Public Procurement Concessions Commission are delaying their work by enforcing laws and requirements for procurement or audits? SOME OFFICIALS have been so bold as to publicly ridicule integrity institutions when are reports or findings do not go their way. HOW MANY TIMES have we not seen the president publicly scold some officials for trying to do the right thing and standing by corrupt officials? THIS IS WHY we are finding it difficult to jump on the bandwagon of praise to President Sirleafs latest assertions that while her administration sees prevention as important, it equally recognizes punishment as a powerful exemplar and a compelling deterrent as demonstrated by the several measures put into place by her administration including a robust prosecutorial team at the Ministry of Justice, the passage of a new jury law, as well as the actions of the Public Accounts Committees of the Legislature as convincing evidence of Governments commitment to fighting corruption. ALL IS GOOD on paper but much more needs to be done, if President Sirleaf intends to leave a lasting legacy when her presidency comes to an end. THIS IS WHY WE DISAGREE WITH the president that her administration can state with increasing confidence that real progress has been made in the fight against corruption. WE BEG TO DIFFER and urge the president to do more than vowing not to turn back on the fight against corruption as the fight is for the future of Liberia and its children, when she said: Despite the challenges in moving the fight against corruption forward, for me, and for this administration, there will be no turning back. We must continue to fight not for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren. And we must continue to fight not for personal gains but for the collective benefits of our society. MADAM PRESIDENT, too many wrongs have been done to the

Recent announcement by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to bring additional military troops from Nigeria, is nothing short but PURE TYRANNY. "Self government" is the purpose of modern democracy, foundation on the "office of the citizen," not a President who has lost faith with the people and hiding behind the veil of peace. President Sirleaf latest action could be describe as a form of economic predatory, "a voracious, greedy, and murderous animal that exploits the helplessness of another to cannibalize. When situated amongst the suffering people of Liberia, a predator adopts a chameleon character, by pretending to rescue the people from their economic misery and provide equitable life, only for the predators selfish interest-to live fat and large while the people wallops in extreme poverty. This is the nature of an economic predator-to use and abuse the loyalty of the people [for peaceful coexistence] without regard to help create opportunities for improving the living condition of the people." (Chorphie Charlie, 2013: "Economic Predators, Not Solution to Liberia's Problems") The moral compulsion here resents the disinformation campaign, by the President and her supporters, that those opposing her bad governance practices are beating drums of war. How comical, if this issue was not about the lives of suffering pregnant mothers, who cannot access basic healthcare for themselves and their dying children; suffering mothers who cannot afford (one dollar a day) to feed their children; suffering mothers, who children cannot access basic education, and the list goes on; while President Sirleaf and her cabal continue to loot the public treasure, and feed off the collective riches of the state, with reckless disregard to the suffering of the people. The false consciousness, since the inception of this administration, to simply rely on international goodwill, without appealing to the desires and needs of the suffering Liberian people, posits the real problem which has ignored basic political rights and freedom of the people. The Sirleaf government has failed to seriously combat, the critical issues of an education system that is a "mess," increasing hopelessness among young people without jobs; compounded by the heartless action of the government, to undermine the disruptive innovation of the youths, who have found their own means to create jobs, especially phen phen riders and street peddlers. The international community should ensure the social protection for a venerable population, not providing more military protection for a government on the verge of despotism. Simply put, "Leadership is a legitimate contract founded upon the leaders promised to obey the commands of citizens. Hence, for political legitimacy of the state, citizens will their autonomy to a leader, this being a fundamental principle of political philosophy. However, such legitimacy also claims a deeper justification in the leaders exercise of authority, then merely an original social contract. It presents itself as the only
v

people of Liberia by too many greedy and corrupt people in this administration. It is time to end the madness, to put your foot down and ensure that the buck stops here. TODAY, SCORES of projects are on hold and antsy Liberians are growing forever weary that many pronounced projects are yet to kick off due to the lack of money. The World Bank, the IMF and Liberias international partners are eagerly watching and waiting, some we hear are even threatening not to give another dime until some explanation and prosecutions are undertaken to recoup lost funds over failed road projects.

THIS IS WHY WE are hoping and praying that history would ride back in time and rekindle the persona of the Iron Lady of old, who we hope would remind the current version about promises made and a forty-year quest to reach the pinnacle of power. Too many family and friendship influences may be blinding the president from seeing what everyone else is seeing and running her legacy to the ground. WE HAVE SEEN the President, over and over talking the talk; it is now our hope that she would begin to walk the walk. Liberia would be better for it, and so would your lasting legacy. The buck, Madam President, must stop here

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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB

Send your letters and comments to: [email protected]

The Reader's Page

Friday, March 29, 2014

COMMENTS FROM FPA ONLINE

FINANCE MINISTER TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR BUDGET SHORTFALL

The Editor,

WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY......?

YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!

Shame must be cast on all those so-called "well meaning" Liberians who have refused to stand up in defense of Costa and others like him who are victims of all kinds of injustice in our country. Today it is Costa. Yesterday it was Rodney Sieh and others. Who will it be tomorrow? Don't ask, folks, for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee! Ambassador (Prof) Dew Tuan-Wleh Mayson [email protected]

In recent times, so many things have been happening in our Liberia that give cause for worry and concern to all patriots. First there are the many scandals regarding corruption at every level of Government leading Transparency International to label our country as "one of the most corrupt in the world". The continued lack of jobs, adequate food, housing, education, health, transport and security--all the basic elements necessary for a halfdecent standard of living--have meant that the mass of our people have been permanently banished to that awful state of poverty and backwardness. We have thus been given the disgraceful title of being "the second most miserable country in the world" with a misery index of 90.5. But it must be said that we Liberians have tolerated this state of affairs with unnatural patience. Gladdened by the accolades which have been poured on our President by the international community--a welcome change from the shame which enveloped us during those long years of the civil war--many of us have remained tolerant of the Government and even of its excesses. We could also bask in what we considered our freedom to vent out our anger and disappointment without much fear of repression. Suddenly, however, we have been awaken from our sleep of stupor. Did I say suddenly? No, in fact, the creeping assault on our freedom of speech and assembly has long been coming. Without stopping to list the names of the victims which include students, journalists, civil society defenders, etc., let us single out the case of Rodney Sieh, arguably one of our better journalist who was arrested, re-arrested and detained on outmoded, so-called libel charges. In protesting Rodney's arrest, I described him as the "wind that is blowing and exposing the rear end of the chicken which all types of feathers are attempting to cover up." Now the alarm has sounded again: Henry Costa, a young talk-show host who dares to discuss on radio topics which are burning the hearts of our people--this young gadfly has been arrested, handcuffed and thrown into prison--a place which Government's own reports have described as not "fit for human habitation". The trial judge, ostensibly intimidated and severely compromised, refused to grant bail. We may ask, seeking an honest answer: What is Costa's crime? Is he guilty of the corruption which the President herself has described as "a cancer eating at the fabric of the nation"? Is Costa guilty of nepotism and cronyism which the recently-revealed US supported report says is making it difficult for "economic gains to reach those languishing at the bottom of the ladder"? Is he guilty of pursuing " policies of exclusion" which, as the US report cited above warns--if these policies are not addressed "the potential for renewed conflict remains high"? Is he guilty of any of these? The answer is a resounding no, no, no! Costa's "crime"--his real crime"--is that like Rodney Sieh before him, he has dared to expose the rear end of the chicken which all types of feathers are trying to cover up. That is why we must applaud the work of that indefatigable lawyer and progressive, Kofi Woods, the Press Union of Liberia and all the brothers and sisters who have manifested their solidarity with Costa resulting in his being released from prison.

SELTUE R KARWEAYE SR. UPPSALA UNIVERSITY This Dude since taking over at the Ministry of Finance keep accepting responsibilities for budget shortfalls. This is called inefficiency! One would have expected that the over-hyped One Year Performance Contract signed between President Sirleaf and her Ministers would lead to the weeding out of non performing Ministers, or the Directors General of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA) that fall short on performance and implementation, but in spite of the dismal 2012/13 figures, they have all mostly retained their positions. So I am not surprised at the new budget short fall in the tune of US 47 Million in the 2013/2014 budget. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is Insanity."Albert Albert Einstein JAY WION WORKS AT NPRC "Foh me par, my mouth full ya Liberian people." Like his boss, Ma Ellen, they both "GRADUATED?" from Havard University. One admitted to failing economics and the other got an IT certificate, and you put all of that together and you get VOODOO economics, or what I call "Ellenomics." So wipe your tears and say your prayers for the 12 nightmare years aren't over yet; and then the Old Ma will hand the Throne over to him come 2017 or to another flunkie crook. Jerry Wehtee Wion, Washington DC USA MICHAEL PAYE GONQUOI MANAGER AT SELFEMPLOYED There will always be budget shortfall, and the reason is known. This is the third consecutive repetition in budget shortfall with long explanation, and the long explanation has not yet solved the problem in three consecutive fiscal years. JOHNSON WAH ST. FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL, MARYLAND COUNTY, LIBERIA I think the minister was wrong politically, to say he takes the blame for budget short fall, given the explanation he puts forward as being reason for the shortfall. But If he admits that he made a mistake for making a major financial projection that caused the economy of a whole Nation to hit "red", then the honorable thing to do is to resign, as a public official. GEORGE RAMBO BUDGET ASSISTANT AT UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN LIBERIA (UNMIL) There is a need to increase revenue collection especially on luxury goods. Also, the collection of real estate tax should be enforced across the country. MASSA MAGNIFICENT CRAYTON COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE AT OSIWA Apply the income tax law across the board for ALL income; cash (US$ and L$) and kind, as stipulated n that will also help in the revenue collection.

GOOD BUT OUT OF CONTEXT

A response to an FPA technology news
The Editor, This is a response to an article featured in your online news outlet captioned: Venturing Into Science & Technology: Architect Eyes Restoration of Program at UL in May 2013. I am a registered architect (FLCA Registered #200910) practicing in Liberia. Liberia is now a member of the African Union of Architects (AUA), and soon to be a member of the International Union of Architects (IUA). While the cause of this young man [Francis K. Dadzie] is noble indeed, I however wish to caution you and anyone referring to himself/herself as "an architect". The title architect is a highly responsible title bestowed only on individuals who have been duly registered and licensed by a state board of architectural registration. In the case of Liberia, that responsibility is the duty of the Liberian Chambers of Architects (LCA). There is a list of registered architects by the LCA, which was published in all the daily papers. I suggest that you find a copy of this or check with the LCA as to who is actually qualified and registered to pass themselves as architects. The titles architect and engineer are taken so very lightly and wantonly, in addition to being taken for granted or completely disregarded, in Liberia. Architects assume the responsibilities for the general life safety of the public, structural soundness of buildings they design, aesthetical looks of the environment they practice in, transforming the ways people live, work, and play in a more efficient, environment friendly and cost saving manner. In other countries, it becomes a misdemeanor, punishable by hefty fines and jail term for anyone to pass himself as "architect/engineer" without first being licensed and registered. Until we take the profession serious as it should be, there will always be this type of situation and an abundance of substandard structures which liters the country all in gross violation of every section of the national building codes. The message I am trying to get across here is that before you title someone as a professional architect/engineer, please check with the local licensing body of that particular profession. This can mislead the public and could become a lead way for disaster. The excuse will be, "but the newspaper says that person was professional." As I write this email, I am correcting and re-designing a building of which Mr. Dadzie is associated with and is listed as the architect. This saddens me that his drawings, in as much as it were approved by the Ministry of Public Works and a building permit issued, is based on what I would call a "child's play". I hope that this would help to clarify your idea of professionalism in the process of preparing future articles for print. A copy of this email shall be forwarded to LCA president for his file and records. Thank you for granting me the space and time to share my professional views. You are indeed truly professional. May God bless the works of our hands and save the state. Adolphus G. Mccritty, [email protected]

LIBERIA LEGISLATURE APPROVES KUWAITI PETROLEUM DEAL

MOSES HARRIS TOP COMMENTER WORKS AT RETIRED I pray that there are additional funds for this project because, with all that is mentioned to be undertaken with the US$14 million, I say, this amount is inadequate. NPA, just the cost of the purchase of the marine equipment and the removal of the shipwreck will consume most, if not all, of the loan amount. Please make all efforts to make this port fully operational in order to repay this loan at it's maturity as most lenders will, in the future, will think of waving our loans; after all the bad publicity (corruption) we are receiving nationally as well as internationally.
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica

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he Embassy of the United States here in Monrovia made available to the FrontPageAfrica newspaper the Sensitive But Unclassified, a Report of Liberia Governance Stakeholder Survey (LGSS) conducted by a group under contract with the USAID Mission in Liberia, for the information of the public. According to the Embassy Press Release, this was a report intended for internal use to assist us in project development. The US Government conducts such assessments in countries where it works to better understand the impact of our programming and assistance. We are deeply grateful to the US Embassy for this gesture. Governance Stakeholder Survey According to the Report, The purpose of the Survey was (or is) to analyze the political economy of payroll, land, concessions and auditing/accounting sectors in Liberia to provide actionable recommendations and advice (only to the US Government or including Government of Liberia?) as a basis for strategic planning to achieve further governance reforms in Liberia. Although we have not, yet, read the entire Report, but from this statement of purpose and review of the table of contents, it is reasonable to conclude that the Survey assumed that there were and are reforms in governance and that its research was for evidence as a basis for strategic planning to achieve further governance reforms . . . This assumption is not only false, but also, very much, disappointing as well as it is troubling.

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED (SBU)

diligence by formation and establishment of thenational Governance Commission in 2011, a government Think Tank, so to speak, on Decentralization for Public Sector Reform. Accordingly, the Preamble to the National Policy on Decentralization and Local Governance provides: That . . . Since 1847 and throughout the history of Liberia, governance and public administration have remained highly centralized in Monrovia and controlled mainly by institutions and structures of the central state which have not allowed adequate legal opportunities for the establishment of a system of participatory local governance; that the highly centralized system of governance has impeded popular participation and local initiative, especially in the provision of public goods and services, and has contributed to the need for greater accountability and transparency in the management of public affairs and led to the gap in economic growth and development, equal access to social and economic opportunities and human well-being between Monrovia and the rest of Liberia; and that these conditions have slowed down Liberias overall economic growth and development and democratization process, leading to under-investment in human resources and human well-being throughout the Republic . . . Presidents Speech on Decentralization & Local Governance, January 2013 This conclusion is consistent with other, keen, historical observers/analysts of the Liberian experience. For, it is to theLiberian ruling class of Political Leaders, those select, few citizens who rule, direct, manage, dominate and control both political and economic governance of the Liberian state, that the Liberian nation owesthe vagaries of the political economy (that) led to multi-dimensional crises of (socio-economic and political) under-development, according to the facts of our past, recent past history and prevailing realities. Political, Economic & Administrative Powerin Liberia Indeed, some of the Surveys reported results are indirect impact, due not only to intrinsic, human frailty, but also, due, mainly, to the prevailing, historic structure of the Unitary doctrine of Liberian government/governance, with pronounced absence of democratic Governance on the local scene, defined by and enshrined in our Constitutions (1847 & 1986) during these 167 years of our nations existence as a recognized, sovereign State. Political, economic and administrative power has been, and is, invested in a president with unquestioned, practical control of the other two branches of government the National Legislature and Judiciary, and that this power has been and is rigidly centralized in, controlled by and dispensed from the Executive Mansion, Republic of Monrovia. The most striking, profound feature of this Power is the critical absence, among many others, of Local Governance. The Presidents Pledge & Governance Commission On January 6, 2006, in her first Inaugural Speech delivered to the nation, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, as President of Liberia, demonstrated foresight, vision, profound courage and encouragement for the future of our country, when she declared . . . I pledge to bring the government closer to the people. The days of the imperial presidency . . . are over in Liberia . . . The Executive Mansion and Monrovia will, no longer, be the only center of power . . . The people and their interests, as defined by them, will be at the very heart of our new dispensation of decentralization . . . of power(Vol. 1 No. 1, Governance Commission Decentralization Bulletin, March 31, 2011). The President followed this pledge with commitment and However, some two years later, the administration of counties the national constituent, political sub-divisions and their substructures which, together, constitute the Republic of Liberia, are caught in vicious shackles of policy confusions and contradictions due, primarily, to policy and administrative decisions made and dispensed by bureaucrats sitting in their Monrovia offices, creating more, and more, new sub-structures such as Clan and Paramount Chiefdoms, Townships, Administrative and Statutory Districts, in addition to existing sub-structures created by ancient, Liberian Law governing Hinterland Liberia, without benefit of current, in county and on-ground, research information. delivered on January 28, 2013, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was constrained to draw national attention to this disabling condition when she observed that . . . the challenges of the Decentralization Policy . . . the present local (political, administrative subdivisions) governance structures are bloated, and difficult to manage. For example, there are more than 149 cities 33 in Sinoe . . . 93 Administrative Districts; 251 Paramount Chiefs; more than 689 Clan Chiefs; 1,410 General Town Chiefs; and 250 Township Commissioners, (indicating the creation of that number of townships). Moreover, the President continued, the government has to deliver services to more than 16,000 TOWNS AND VILLAGES. As if these statistics were not daunting enough, the boundaries of all these localities overlap, leading to confusion over jurisdiction and administrative authority . . .. References: Gbala, Sr., Bai M., Patronage Paralyzes Reforms in Liberia, The Analyst Liberia, December 27, 2013. What is Wrong with Liberians, The Analyst Liberia, June 12-15, 2013. Unitary Structure Imperializes the Presidency The Analyst Liberia, December 30, 2013 Power org), Atlanta, Decentralization of Political & Administrative In Liberia, The Perspective (the perspective. Georgia, USA, June 30, 2004.

PERSPECTIVE

Bai M. Gbala,Sr.

[email protected], Contributing Writer

Moreover, we had hoped and expected, after the press release, that the effort was directed to the national whole, the Nations Political Economy, but ratherthe research was limited to a sub-set, the whole, the political economy of payroll, land, concessions and auditing/accounting sectors, although some of the elements found and reported Government payroll dominated by syndicates of corruption at all levels of public administration; there is little appetite among the high-level elites (and the well-connected) to change the status quo, concession award or not; if the president supports a specific idea, then, by definition, it is a good idea, etc., etc. - are indirect, negative impact of the prevailing, absence of local governance. We raise this point because the absence of democratic governance and its impact local and national - in Liberia is the locus as well as the expression of political power, as we shall see. For example, in a Paper presented recently by Liberias Dr. George KlayKieh, Professor of Political Science of the University of West Georgia, USA, held that The Political Economy of Liberia provides the context of why an exodus of Liberians abandoned their homeland,Liberia, migrated to other countries and acquired naturalized citizenship. At the base, Dr. Kieh argued, is (or was) a state whose central mission has been to create propitious conditions for the predatory accumulation of wealth by the owners of multinational corporations . . . and Liberian state managersand their relations (the dominant ruling, political class) . . . The state has visited deprivation and misery on the overwhelming majority of Liberians . . . the related feature is the unfair and unjust distribution of wealth and income . . . The members of the ruling class (dominant, ruling political leaders)used the state to engage in the predatory accumulation of wealth through an assortment of illegal means, principally, through the pillaging and plundering of the national treasury. Cumulatively, the Political Science Professor concludes that the vagaries of the Political Economy led to multi-dimensional crises of under-development, which reflected the state failure . . . Concomitantly, state failure resulted in state collapse, as evidenced by the erosion of the legitimacy of the state and its regimes . . . The terminal phase of state collapse resulted in the military coup on April 12, 1980, and two civil wars in 1989 and 1999. Put differently, Dr. Kiehs presentation - analysis/conclusion holds, reasonably, that the socio-economic and political impact - of the Liberian Political Economy, dominated and controlled by the nations ruling, political leaders bears the major, basic responsibility for the massive abandonment by Liberian citizens of their native country, Liberia, migration into foreign countries and taking on naturalized citizenships.

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hile Acknowledging the existence of a U.S. Government funded report on governance labeled Sensitive But Unclassified(SBU) which was recently obtained by FrontPageAfrica and used as the backdrop for a number of publications this week, to highlight several governance lapses in the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf-led government, the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia says FrontPageAfrica

LIBERIA GOVERNANCE STAKEHOLDER SURVEY THE REPORT LIBERIAS STAKEHOLDERS DID NOT WANT YOU TO SEE

quoted selectively from the document and took many things out of context. The US Embassy statement reads: Recent articles in Front Page Africa (FPA) quote a U.S. Government funded report on governance. This was a report intended for internal use to assist us in project development. The U.S. Government conducts such assessments in countries where it works to better understand the

LIBERIA

Friday, March 29, 2014

impact of our programming and assistance. Unfortunately, the newspaper quoted selectively from the document, taking many things out of context. We urge all members of the media to remain objective in their reporting. Beginning today, we will begin publishing verbatim in both online and print, the entire 124-page LEAKED document and let our readers judge the report and its context for themselves.

Friday, March 29, 2014

LIBERIA GOVERNANCE STAKEHOLDER SURVEY THE REPORT LIBERIAS STAKEHOLDERS DID NOT WANT YOU TO SEE

LIBERIA

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LIBERIA GOVERNANCE STAKEHOLDER SURVEY THE REPORT LIBERIAS STAKEHOLDERS DID NOT WANT YOU TO SEE

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LIBERIA GOVERNANCE STAKEHOLDER SURVEY THE REPORT LIBERIAS STAKEHOLDERS DID NOT WANT YOU TO SEE

LIBERIA

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Ecowas Urges International Communitys Assistance To Fight Ebola

A REGIONAL THREAT

Monrovia n the wake of the outbreak of the Ebola Haemorrheagic fever in the Republic of Guinea, which has reportedly spread to neighboring Liberia, the Mediation and Security Council of ECOWAS, comprising Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the ECOWAS sub-region, has expressed deep concern over the outbreak, which it considers a threat to regional security. In a communiqu issued by the Mediation and Security Council at the end of its 31st Meeting in Yamoussokro, Cote dIvoire on March 25, 2014, the Council underscored the need for a robust regional response in putting a halt to the further spread of the deadly scourge. The Council called on the President of the ECOWAS Commission, in consultation with the West African Health Organization (WAHO), to take appropriate and swift actions to mobilize the stakeholders and the needed resources to stem out the epidemic from the region. The Council also appealed to the International Community to assist the affected countries in the management of the Ebola epidemic in the region. Speaking on the issue during the Councils Meeting, Liberian Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and his Guinean counterpart, Lounceny Fall, separately informed the Council about the extent to which the deadly disease has impacted their respective countries and steps that had been taken by their respective governments along with other partners to contain the outbreak. Minister Ngafuan, quoting reports from the Liberian Ministry of Health, informed that the Liberian health facilities along the border with Guinea had recorded four deaths of Guineans Ebola victims who had crossed into Liberia for treatment. The Liberian Foreign Minister further informed the Council that, considering the contagious nature of the Ebola epidemic and the frequent cross-border movements by citizens of both countries for trading and other purposes, it was important that ECOWAS and other international partners move quickly in assisting Liberia and Guinea in containing the virus. Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Guinea informed the Council that the Government of Guinea has initiated some preliminary measures with a view to preventing the contraction and spread of the Ebola epidemic. These measures include quarantining those diagnosed of the Ebola Haemorraheagic fever; and discouraging the consumption of bats which are believed to be transmitters of the Ebola virus.

eter Piot was 27, newly qualified and working in a microbiology lab in Antwerp when he received a flask of human blood contaminated with a mysterious pathogen that had been killing people in the forests of Zaire. If he'd known then what he was to discover - that inside was Ebola, one of the most lethal infectious diseases now known in humans he would have taken more safety precautions. As it was, Piot and his colleagues wore only latex gloves and white cotton lab coats as they unscrewed the top, took out its contents vials of infected blood taken from a Flemish nun in Zaire, stored in a blue thermos flask and couriered to Belgium on a passenger plane and began analysing them. "Looking back, that was probably quite irresponsible. But we didn't know then what we were dealing with," the now 65-year-old said in an interview from his office at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where he is director. "These are dangerous moments particularly when you don't know what you've got. Such blood can contain very high levels of virus." "SPECTACULAR VIRUS" That tale dates from Belgium in 1976, when Piot and his team became the co-discoverers of Ebola. The young Belgian scientist then went to Zaire, now Congo, in central Africa to work in the rainforests among dying villagers and missionaries to collect samples and investigate the epidemic. Yet almost four decades on, the disease Piot describes as "a spectacular virus - and one of the most lethal infections you can think of", has continued to rise up in the region, causing frightening but sporadic outbreaks that kill poor and vulnerable people with gruesome haemorrhagic fevers. In Guinea, health authorities said on Monday that an outbreak there - the first known in a west Africa country - already involves scores of suspected cases. The Geneva-based World Health Organisation said on Tuesday Guinea had reported at least 86 cases reported, including 59 deaths. Six suspected Ebola cases,

SCIENTIST WHO DISCOVERED EBOLA FRUSTRATED BY DEADLY GUINEA OUTBREAK

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Friday, March 29, 2014

This picture taken on March 9, 2003 shows International Red Cross workers spraying disinfectant around the Intensive Care room at Kelle hospital, northwestern Congo, where an Ebola fever infected patient lies. An Ebola epidemic which has already killed dozens of people in Guinea's southern forests has spread to the capital Conakry. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

including five deaths, in neighboring Liberia were also under investigation, it said. Piot says he's saddened and frustrated by this and other outbreaks - partly because they should be easy to prevent, or at least to contain, and partly because the scientific detective work behind the Ebola virus has not yet revealed its main host. "What we're seeing is a pattern that's been repeated in nearly every single Ebola outbreak," he told Reuters. "It started in people who live in the forest, or in close contact with it, and it's then transmitted around hospitals....and then spreads further either at funerals or in households though close contact." NO TREATMENT OR

N OUTBREAK of the deadly Ebola fever in Guinea, with a handful of cases also suspected in neighbouring Sierra Leone and Liberia, is rattling people in the region. The Guinean health minister says the virus has caused at least 60 deaths. The worlds scientists have yet to find a cure for it. Ebola was first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (then known as Zaire) and Sudan in the 1970s. It is said to have been originally transmitted by chimpanzees, gorillas and bats, and can pass between humans via bodily fluids. Guineas health minister has banned the sale and consumption of bats. Foreign experts in Monrovia, Liberias capital, where the health authorities have yet to confirm any cases, are monitoring developments. The

EBOLA IN WEST AFRICA

A deadly disease on the prowl

VACCINE The virus initially causes a raging fever, headaches, muscle pain and conjunctivitis, before moving to severe phases that bring on vomiting, diarrhoea and internal and external bleeding. It kills up to 90 percent of those who become infected. That there is no treatment or vaccine against Ebola suggests people are helpless in the face of this vicious virus, but Piot insists that is not the case. "Fundamentally, Ebola is easy to contain," he said. "It's not a question of needing high technology." "It's about respecting the basics of hygiene, and about isolation, quarantine and protecting yourself - in particular protecting healthcare workers, because they

are very exposed." The problem in Guinea, and in other countries in Africa where Ebola has reared up in the past few decades, is that health systems are in bad shape, he said, communications are limited, and the people are fairly mobile and very poor. As a doctor and researcher whose life has been dedicated to the pursuit of deadly viruses - (after his Ebola discovery Piot became one of the world's leading scientific experts on HIV and AIDS) - Piot is also frustrated that scientists have not yet been able to pin down the main host of this lethal fever. While the virus is known to be transmitted to people from wild animals, before spreading in humans through person-to-person transmission, its main animal host - or what virologists often call the "reservoir" of a virus - is not totally clear. Piot, like others, suspects fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are the most likely natural host, yet the uncertainty leaves scientists unable to get ahead of fresh outbreaks. "This is a virus that is highly unpredictable," he said. "This time it popped up in Guinea where it has never been detected before. "Why there? Why now? That's what I find frustrating. If we knew for sure the host of this virus, we could do more to say where people are more at risk."

French embassy has warned against travel to northern Liberia, where the cases have been reported. A Lebanese pharmacist in Monrovia says a white woman bought 500 face

masks, and a steady stream of people have bought gloves and hand-sanitisers. Cashiers and security guards in Monrovias smart supermarkets are scanning goods and opening doors with

rubber-gloved hands. But many Liberians are sceptical about warnings by the ministry of health, suspecting that they are a ploy to attract and eat dollars from foreign donors. Some callers on radio chat shows have accused the ministry of fabricating cases. It is intended to scare our people, says a bearded man in a tea-shop in Monrovia. They are raising a false alarm. Others admit they are worried, and suggest that the border between Liberia and Guinea be closed. But some say that, despite their fears, they will not refuse to shake peoples hands or have physical contact with visitors. That, they say, would be unLiberian.

Friday, March 29, 2014

TERRIFYING EBOLA OUTBREAK SPREADING FAST

Global scourge has fatality rate of up to 90%

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EBOLA

FIGHT CORRUPTION WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR

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GOVERNMENT NEWS

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PRESIDENT SIRLEAF COMMISSIONS LACC CHAIRPERSON, THREE OTHERS

LONDON he Ebola virus that has killed at least 59 people of the 80 who initially contracted it in Guinea now threatens all of West Africa, as health officials in Liberia try to determine if recent deaths there are connected. Six cases have been reported of which five have already died, including a child, Liberian Health Minister Walter Gwenigale said in a statement, according to Agence France-Presse. There was a suspicion that Ebola had migrated to Canada, with one victim hospitalized this week with a fever and bleeding, but health officials said tests for Ebola were negative. The World Health Organization said the case may be severe malaria. The World Health Organization reports the Ebola virus that causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever, or VHF, can produce outbreaks with a fatality rate of up to 90 percent. The WHO has documented the Ebola virus is transmitted from wild animals to humans, with the capability of spreading through the human population. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus, and, most alarming, there is no effective medical treatment or preventative vaccine for either animals or human beings. Many Americans first heard about Ebola including its terrifying symptoms, virulence and communicability in author Richard Prestons 1995 No. 1 New York Times bestseller, The Hot Zone. The BBC reported Tuesday that Guinea has now banned the sale and consumption of bats to prevent the spread of the disease, according to Rene Lamah, Guineas health minister. Lamah explained to the BBC that people who eat the bats often boil them into a spicy pepper soup sold in village stores where people gather to drink alcohol. Other ways of preparing bats to eat include drying them over a fire. The WHO reports Ebola first appeared in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks, in Nzara, Sudan, and in a village in Yambuku, Congo, situated near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals, the WHO website notes. In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found dead or ill in the rainforest. The WHO warns of burial ceremonies in which the deceased person can play a role in the transmission of Ebola. The transmission of the disease via infected semen can occur up to seven weeks after clinical recovery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn the symptoms of Ebola include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and lack of appetite. Some patients also experience a rash, red eyes, hiccups, cough, sore throat, chest pain, difficulty breathing and swallowing, as well as bleeding inside and outside of the body. After an incubation period of between two and 21-days, the Ebola virus can cause death a few days after the virus appears in particularly virulent cases in which the body organs shut down and internal bleeding becomes unstoppable. People who fall sick with the disease tend to vomit, have diarrhea, and suffer both internal and external bleeding, explained Dr. Peter Piot, the founding executive director of UNAIDS and under secretary-general of the United Nations from 1995 until 2008, in a Reuters report. Piot is the microbiologist and physician who co-discovered Ebola and now directs the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The Ebola virus has alarmed international health officials because the frequency of international air travel has increased the possibility the outbreak in one nation might quickly be transmitted to other countries by patients in the incubation phase. Guinea, one of the worlds poorest nations, ranked 156 of 187 countries in the 2013 United Nations Human Development Index, or HDI, based on cross-country data from the United Nations Population Division, UNESCO, and the World Bank. The CDC has identified five subspecies of Ebola. Four of the five have caused disease in humans: Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus); Sudan virus (Sudan ebolavirus); Ta Forest virus (Ta Forest ebolavirus, formerly Cte dIvoire ebolavirus); and Bundibugyo virus (Bundibugyo ebolavirus. The fifth, Reston virus (Reston ebolavirus), is known to cause disease only in nonhuman primates. According to a Stanford University report, the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, known as Spanish Flu or La Grippe, killed more people that World War I. An estimated 20 to 40 million people worldwide died, making it the most lethal epidemic virus documented in the 20th century.

Monrovia resident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has commissioned four government officials of integrity institutions challenging them to fight corruption without fear of favor. The officials commissioned included Auditor-General of the General Auditing Commission, Yusador S. Gaye; Chairman of the Independent National Human Rights Commission, Justice Gladys Johnson; Chairman, Liberia Anti Corruption Commission, Cllr James N. Verdier; and Deputy Auditor General for Administration, General Auditing Commission, Boakai G. Kiazolu. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader challenged officials to expose perpetrators and prosecute them in accordance with the laws of Liberia. President Sirleaf made the statement at the commissioning program at the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium on Wednesday, March 26, 2014. The Liberian President said as far as she was concerned, the fight against corruption remains unabated and encouraged the officials to keep up the fight through the laws. She said, while her administration sees prevention as important, it equally recognizes punishment as a powerful exemplar and a compelling deterrent as demonstrated by the several measures put into place by her administration including a robust prosecutorial team at the Ministry of Justice, the passage of a new jury law, as well as the actions of the Public Accounts Committees of the Legislature as convincing evidence

of Governments commitment to fighting corruption. Today, we can say with increasing confidence that if we find you to be corrupt, you will definitely answer to the law. This is real progress, President Sirleaf said. She vowed not to turn back on the fight as the fight is for the future of Liberia and its children. Despite the challenges in moving the fight against corruption forward, for me, and for this administration, there will be no turning back. We must continue to fight not for ourselves but for our children and grandchildren. And we must continue to fight not for personal gains but for the collective benefits of our society, the Liberian leader stressed. President Sirleaf called on parents, teachers, students and business owners, and others to join the fight by refusing to take or give bribes. She informed the audience that she

would soon sign into law the Code of Conduct to further demonstrate her resolve to fighting the menace. She said the she was impressed by the collaboration amongst the three branches of government in the fight as evidence by the passage of the New Jury Law and Code of Conduct of public officials. President Sirleaf frowned on members of the public who hold the belief that once one is a government official, said person is corrupt, terming it as noisy character assignation. The President hoped that the newly commissioned officials will help erase said public perception by their actions in the integrity fight. Speaking on behalf of the commissioned officials, AuditorGeneral Yusador Gaye committed their work to promoting the Agenda for Transformation and that the fight would be unbending for

accountability and transparency in public institutions. Auditor-General Gaye assured that the fight will put Liberia first and called on the media to help the process by being accurate and balanced in reporting corruption cases. In brief remarks, the Chairman of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, Cllr James Verdier sent out a caveat to those who disagree with the anti-corruption fight that they will be forced to fall in line and wants those who are already fighting corruption to strengthen their fight. Gracing the occasion were Chief Justice Francis Korkpor, Margibi County Senator Clarice Jah, Cabinet Ministers, foreign embassy officials, members of international organizations and relatives of the commissioned officials, among others.

LIBERIAN PRESIDENT SIRLEAF URGES PYPP CLASS III TO CONTINUE TO EXCEL

resources, she emphasized, urging them to guide those who put personal interests above those of Liberia. She said the graduates will play an important role in Liberias development by ending the cycle of corruption and ensuring that the resources entrusted to you are used for the betterment of all; pointing out that they bring new skills and thirst for knowledge, energy and enthusiasm, and firm anti-corruption stance to Liberias civil service for the betterment of the country. In separate remarks, Ms Rachael MacCauley of the JSI Research and Training Institute, Incorporated, Dr. Theo Lippevel of the Rebuilding Basic Health Service Project, Ms. Vida Mensah of National Oil Company of Liberia and the outgoing PYPP Director, Saah Charles NTow congratulated the graduates and admonished them to continue to pursue their dreams to ensure Liberias development. The PYPP, launched by President Sirleaf in 2009, with funding provided by the Hess Foundation, is one of Liberias most competitive programs for leadership in civil service. The PYPP recruits, trains and prepares promising talented Liberian college graduates for a future in public service. In the short term, PYPs provide additional support to government ministries and agencies by performing a variety of critical tasks as needed. The Programs long term goal is to create the next generation of qualified professionals who are able and committed to working for the Government of Liberia, thereby increasing public sector capacity and contributing to good governance and strong leadership. The two-year program includes a strong training and mentoring component, pairing each young professional with a Liberian Fellow or other mentor within a ministry, as well as offering a monthly professional training program, oneon-one training and evaluation , and a monthly stipend.

Monrovia resident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has urged graduates to continue to excel and apply their knowledge and skills to better themselves and create a peaceful and prosperous Liberia. You have come this far. Celebrate your achievements today, but know that tomorrow you must continue on your journey towards excellence, as the cream of the crop, applying your knowledge and your skills for the betterment of yourselves and for peace and prosperity of our nation, the Liberian leader said. According to an Executive Mansion press release, President Sirleaf made the remarks at the graduation of Class III of the Presidents Young Professional Program (PYPP) at the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium on Wednesday, March 26. Twenty-two young professionals graduated from the program and will be absorbed in the Civil Service. The Liberian leader expressed delight that the PYPP has emerged as one of the pre-eminent career development and leadership training programs for the countrys civil service, contributing immensely to the capacity building component of Liberias national development agenda. Today we celebrate your accomplishments, PYP Class III, for having successfully completed two years of service, mentoring and training. We congratulate and thank you for the discipline demonstrated in completing the course, President Sirleaf stressed, adding, Keep the faith, maintain the discipline and integrity; go out and claim that which you have long for. She praised the many persons, government parastatals, institutions, partners who contributed to the graduates success and whose generous contribution will enable the program to continue for the next five years. President Sirleaf also had words of encouragement for the outgoing Program Director Saah NTow who she said had served with integrity,

dedication and commitment. Mr. NTow has been appointed Deputy Minister of Youth Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Liberian leader urged the Acting Program Director, Hh Zaizay, a member of the Inaugural PYP Class I, to continue from where Mr. NTow left off and thanked him for his achievement. Delivering the Keynote Address, United States Ambassador to Liberia, Deborah Malac challenged the PYP Class III to stay young, remain curious and always do what is best for the future of Liberia. Dont let the daily toil rob you of your energy, and dont give in to the temptations of corruption, she warned, urging them to use their knowledge and curiosity to discover better ways of doing things as this will make Liberia a far better place, as well as ensure that development reaches everyone, not just a few. She said, over time, she hears quite often the complaint that government doesnt have the capacity to accomplish everything that it needs for Liberias development. But said the PYPP is a way for Liberia to use its most important resources, its optimistic and dedicated youth, to tackle the capacity problem. She indicated that the PYPP is

a Liberian solution for Liberias problems, stressing that it is a key to ensuring Liberias development continues moving forward. You are answering the capacity challenge. You have a vital role to play in Liberias development. You come into your jobs with better training and skills that have been since before the war. You bring enthusiasm, energy, and commitment to the civil service, Ambassador Malac reiterated, cautioning, You have seen the negative effects of a poorly skilled, corrupt workforce, and recognize the need to carry out duties with integrity. Ambassador Malac reminded the graduates that they have all seen the ill effects of incompetent and corrupt government officials, who rather than using Liberias resources for the good of the country, these officials divert funds for their own benefit, resulting in communities without sanitation facilities, impassible roads, and simply not enough money to go around. You came into this program not because of who you know, or how much you paid in bribes; rather you know the importance of a merit-based civil service. You also know how important it is to be good stewards of the countrys

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CORRUPTION WATCH

Friday, March 29, 2014

CAN LACCS NEW BOSS JEROME VERDIER, GAC YUADOR GAYE REKINDLE THE FIRE?
Liberias corruption war took a nosedive several years after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf promised to make the menace public enemy number one, but with the establishment of the Liberia Anti Corruption Commission, and the revamping of the General Auditing Commission, the country has seen the release of dozens of audit reports, investigation of corruption related cases with the naming of public officials who falsely declared assets but with no further action taken against them. Now the LACC has a new boss in person of Cllr. James Verdier, and the GAC now has Yusador Gaye but the question is, can they make a difference?
Can Gaye Verdier Make any difference? Critics believe that president Sirleaf is a leader who believes in the syndrome where officials of her government should always agree with her decisions as she has proven to push aside those who disagree with her. Cllr. Verdier is stepping in the shoe of a touch talking Cllr. Allison who was advocating for prosecution power for the LACC prior to her removal from the commission. Sources have hinted that President Sirleaf did not like the strong posture of Cllr. Allison against corruption prompting disagreements between the par. Under Cllr. Allison, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission released its second report on the verification of assets of presidential appointees where of the 77 officials audited, 25 were found to have made truthful declarations, 22 were judged uncooperative and 30 were found to have misrepresented their assets or did not complete the exercise. President Sirleaf suspended the 77 officials but they were all reinstated without indications from the LACC that they have now made truthful declarations of their assets. Although Cllr. Verdier has started with the investigation of the bribery allegations hanging over the National oil Company of Liberia, Clemenceau Urey and former lawmaker Alominza Barr, but Liberians are watching to see if he can successfully fill the void left by a strong Cllr. Frances Allison. For GAC head, Gaye, many believe she is a compromised auditor general brought in to keep the institution quiet in fulfillment of Sirleafs lip service on the fight against corruption. The president publicly declared that she did not like the mode of operations of former Auditor general, John Morlu who was fearless in the fight against corruption and publicized issues of transparency and accountability. Morlus work was highly regarded by international institutions including Global Witness, Transparency International, European Union, American embassy and many others as Morlu released more than 40 audit reports but President Sirleaf did not like his mode of operations. During her 9th State of the Nation Address, the president declared that she wants a media shy GAC, an indication that audit reports and issues regarding audits should be kept away from public knowledge.

LIBERIAS CORRUPTION WAR

T
Monrovia:

he Liberian Anti Corruption Commission and the General Auditing Commission of Liberia, both anti graft institutions have new heads who were commissioned by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Wednesday. Immediately following the establishment of the LACC, Cllr. Frances Johnson Allison was appointed to head the Commission after previously serving as Chairman of the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC) and supervising the 2005 elections before serving as Minister of Justice. The LACC became one of the major deliverables of the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led government with praises echoing in corners that the Government willingness to fight corruption led to the establishment of the LACC to help other anti graft institutions including the General Auditing Commission of Liberia in fighting corruption. Years after its establishment, the LACC has taken the shape of the GAC where audit reports have become mere reports and released for ordinary discussion instead of concrete actions to deter those held in the reports for acts of corruption. President Sirleaf has publicly defended some of the confidantes named in audit reports, like the case of former Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan whom while serving as Finance Minister, an audit of that entity by the GAC uncovered that over US$5 million dollars were expended without accountability, mainly documentations justifying such expenditures. President Sirleaf took to intellectual centers in defense of her trusted Minister blaming the system for such problem introducing a popular saying I put my neck on the line for him. President Sirleaf following the release of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) audit conducted by the GAC which was one of the conditions for debt waiver defended some of her Ministers mentioned in the HIPC audit reports. Speaking at a local intellectual center in 2008, the Friends of Friends, President Sirleaf defended that Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan, Public Works Minister Samuel K. Woods, Health and Social Welfare Minister Walter Gwanigale and ex-Finance Minister Antoinette Sayeh are clean people and there was no way they could steal state funds, thereby discrediting the audit conducted by the GAC on the institutions these officials were heading. I can put my life on the line for these people that they cannot steal taxpayer's money. This is because I know them and have explicit

confidence in their ability, the President said. The LACC took exceptions to the President comment, calling o the Chief Executive not to go out exonerating officials of government. LACC at the time urged President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to refrain from commenting on corruption claims against top officials after she defended minister Ngafuan on graft claims. "The Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission calls upon the Executive to refrain from exonerating officials of improprieties in the discharge of their official duties and responsibilities," a statement from the LACC at the time indicated. "Such officials should be suspended and given their day in court", said the LACC, which was at the time headed by Cllr. Frances Johnson Allison. "It is incumbent upon indicted people to clear their own names, purge their characters and reestablish their dignity in the society, the LACC stated" President Sirleaf twice defended Augustine Ngafuan. "I am convinced that the minister of finance is not corrupt. He did not take the five million dollars. I can put my neck on the line," she said.

Sirleaf twists tongue during commissioning Commissioning heads of the GAC, LACC and the INCHR President Sirleaf gave the officials of these transparency institutions the go ahead to vigorously fight corruption. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader challenged officials to expose perpetrators and prosecute them in accordance with the laws of Liberia. From defending and putting her neck on the line for some officials of Government in 2009, President Sirleaf is once again giving heads anti graft institutions the go-ahead to expose perpetrators and prosecute them, a statement that raises more questions than answers. President Sirleaf told the officials that she is hopeful that her declared war against corruption will be won. Today, I am especially hopeful that our fight against corruption will be won. As we have already begun, we must continue to involve everyone to challenge impropriety wherever it exists, to expose perpetrators whoever they are, and to blow the whistle whenever we see a wrong. We must all be ready to stand in line, to wait for our turn, to respect the rule and encourage others to do the same. And we must all take on the added courage not to offer a bribe or to accept one, said President Sirleaf, a statement contrary to her defense of some of her ministers following reports issued by these same institutions.

ormer Health and Social Welfare Minister, now a senator, Peter Coleman (Grand Kru County, Congress for Democratic Change) has informed the plenary of the Liberian Senate of the need for the Liberian government to provide US$ 1.2 Million to prevent the spread of Ebola virus in Liberia. Senator Coleman said: The process for containing an epidemic is costly and a budget has been drawn up in the tone of one point two million united sates dollars to contain this because it entails a lot of different things ranging from public awareness to sending specimen of cases to foreign countries for testing. He also disclosed that the European Union has committed to help support the 1.2 million United States dollars projection for prevention of the virus which has been confirmed in neighboring Guinea and urged his colleagues to take the first step by providing the first budgetary support to the initiative. We will be getting support from the EU in the next few days to help curtail spread of this virus so for us as a government Mr. Pro-Temp and distinguished colleagues of the senate, it is important that some initial funding of this US$ 1.2 million be made available to the Health Ministry from the National budget. Our donors are eager to see what we as a government will do first, he added. According to Senator Coleman after a meeting amongst the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, local and International Non-Governmental Organizations and health committee of both houses (senate and House) it was agreed that government provides the one point two million United States dollars for

OVER 1 MILLION NEEDED FOR EBOLA PREVENTION

Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]
been reported. Coleman said: Up to yesterday there were no new cases reported in Liberia. Up to this morning our information also revealed that the situation remains the same. It was also observed that at the area where the cases were discovered lot of the areas in Guinea in proximity with the border with Liberia practically relied on Liberia for medical attention. He also told the senate that at the meeting it was said, that an appeal has been made by the World Health Organization (WHO) to the MSF to move closer to the border on the Guinean side to provide medical services for people in that area and treat cases of Ebola to stop them from coming to Liberia for treatment. Speaking on rumors that a case of the Ebola virus was refereed from Ganta to the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital (JFK) in Monrovia he denied the news and described it as erroneous noting that there is no outbreak of the virus in Nimba County and at no time was a case referred to the JFK as is been reported by some media institutions. He warned media institutions to be careful how they report on the disease because according to him, any attempt to sensationalize the issue could scare investors from coming to Liberia and also prevent Liberians from entering other countries.

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LEGISLATIVE BEAT

prevention. The Grand Kru lawmaker also told his colleagues that at the meeting among stakeholders it was confirmed that the four persons who died from the disease contracted it from Guinea where they had gone to attend a funeral but no new case has

Friday, March 29, 2014

REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET INTERNATIONAL MICRO-FINANCE

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FINANCIAL NEWS

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COUNTY NEWS

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O
Monrovia-

n a historic day marking the sale of Liberty Finance, a giant micro-finance institution in Liberia, four Liberians appeared delighted about the stamped and seal deal that will see DCRB Investments, a company owned by four Liberians, taking full ownership of the micro-finance establishment from the American Refugee Committee (ARC), an international non-governmental organization ARC established Liberty Finance in 2005 as the microfinance answer to Liberias reconstruction, at a time when Liberia was in the midst of crisis. The goals of ARC were for Liberty Finance to serve as a venue to provide low-interest loans to returning refugees, and internally displaced persons. The micro-finance company currently has seven branches in four counties including Ganta, Nimba County, Gbarnga, Bong County, Kakata, Margibi County, and Montserrado - which has four branches, two at Redlight, one in Central Monrovia one Carey Street and another in Duala, Bushrod Island. At The turning over ceremony on March 27, 2014, that took place at the headquarters of the now acquired Liberty Finance which nomenclature remains the same, one of the four owners of the DCRB investments revealed that Liberty Finance has produced solid operating results in a sector known to be hyper-competitive and short-lived therefore, to meet the demands of its expanding loan portfolio, the new owners of Liberty Finance have transitioned leadership, and a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be hired. Said Dr. Alfredmy ChessorSamukai: The team is also improving systems and technology to manage the operational risks faced in the sector. With these resources, including the added oversight from the new owners, Liberty Finance intends to become a

INSTITUTION SELLS OPERATIONS TO LIBERIAN INVESTORS

Stephen D. Kollie, [email protected] 0776329124

Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption tale

SENATORIAL ASPIRANT LAUNCHES SELF-HELP FARM, ADMONISHES LOFA RESIDENTS

Stephen D. Kollie, [email protected] 0776329124
ARC Chief Financial Officer (first from left) and three owners of the newly bought over Liberty Finance. Family Health Center on S. D. Cooper Road in Paynesville as well as Mr. Wynfred N. Russell, an International Policy Analyst who does consultancy work for various international agencies including TRANSTEC of Belgium and DJ Curley of the United States. Continued Dr. Chessor Samukai We, the new owners of Liberty Finance are immensely thankful to the American Refugee Committee for affording us this historic opportunity. The sale of an international organization of this magnitude to Liberians is indeed an honor. Under our leadership, it is our vision to have Liberty Finance as an organization that is committed to the transformation of Liberias vulnerable populations. We aim to build and cultivate the entrepreneurial skills of our clients enabling their resiliency against the stresses that lead to wide-spread poverty. We plan to place a much stronger focus on oversightespecially monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of our operations to create measurable levels of social and economic value for our clients and the public atlarge.

INVEST IN AGRICULTURE

first- rate, most efficient microfinance provider in Liberia. Liberty Finance will continue to provide small business loans at reasonable interest rates to those who, with limited assets and savings would be unlike to obtain loans from major institutions. Though falling short of disclosing the actual amount of capital pumped into the new investment on conditions of confidentiality, Dr. ChessorSamukai named Mr. Emmanuel

Dr. Alfredmy Chessor-Samukai

Dolo a former Senior Executive with Arcelor Mittal who is now serving as the National Youth Policy Advisor to the President as one of the new owners of Liberty Finance. Others include: Mr. Rufus S. Berry II, the CEO of B&G Inc, a full house financial and management consulting firm based in Monrovia, Dr. Alfredmy Chessor-Samukai, a United States trained medical doctor, former medical director at ELWA Hospital and now the CEO of

MONROVIAresident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has appointed the following officials to the following positions in Government pending confirmation by the Honorable Liberian Senate, where applicable: Liberia National Police Mr. William K. Mulbah Deputy Director of Police for Administration Mr. Gregory O. W. Coleman Commissioner of Police for Operations Mr. Alex A. Kawah Deputy Commissioner/ Commandant for Manpower Development Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation Board Mr. Rufus S. Berry, II Member (Replacing Mrs. Loris Shannon) Ministry of Labor Mr. Ebenizar Z. Gibson Minister for Trade Union Affairs Assistant

President Sirleaf Appoints Officials to Liberia National Police, Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, Ministry of Labor

ROSE STRYKER OUT

Saquennedu, Lofa County hat appears to be the first self-help initiative mechanize farm in one of Liberias remote districts has been launched in Saquenedu town, Quardu Gboni district, Lofa County. In 2010,the Tolbert family initiated a similar farm but with attention to cocoa farming. The over hundred acres of farm land project was launched over the weekend by Lofa county senatorial aspirant Cllr. Joseph K. Jallah with scores of dignitaries and well-wishers in full attendance to grace the historic event. The farm is being cultivated by Mohammed Kamara, a young Lofan from the Quardu Gboni District in Lofa County. At the launch of the farm project in Lofa County, Cllr. Joseph Jallah called on the people of Lofa not only to recognize Kamaras effort in boosting the countrys agriculture sector but to fully support him by providing logistical and farming tools. He asked the Government of Liberia to develop the requisite cash based support including the establishment of financial institutions devoted to providing the needs of farmers. We want Lofa County to continue to remain the bread basket of Liberia. But in so doing, we have to rally around one another to maintain that title. All of us must put hands under Kamara to make this farm a success. I you have anything that can support this mans farm we urge you to bring it to him, said Jallah. The Lofa County Senatorial candidate then donated one thousand United States dollars ($1,000.00) as a grant for the farming project which he said will be liquidated at the slow pace of two hundred dollars per month ($200.00). For his part, the proprietor of the hundred acre mechanize farm Mohammed Kamara thanked the people of Lofa for their continue support and promised to work out all modalities to make his project fruitful. As we launch this farm today, we will do all we can to make it a success story for Quardu Gboni and Lofa County. We ask for your collective support as we continue to carry on this project, Kamara said.

Page 14 | Frontpage

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR ARRESTED IN FBI SWEEP

IN BRIEF

RUSSIAN SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN POINTLESS, BUT THE NEXT ONES COULD HURT THE U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO/ SACRAMENTO (Reuters) prominent California lawmaker was arrested on Wednesday in an FBI sweep that netted 26 people, a highprofile case that could affect statewide elections and brings to three the number of Democratic state senators who face criminal charges this year. Senator Leland Yee, a former San Francisco supervisor and one-time mayoral candidate, was criminally charged in federal court in San Francisco with two felony counts of conspiring to import and traffic in firearms, and six corruption counts. Yee was released on $500,000 bond and declined to comment on the case.

ince Russias annexation of Crimea, the United States has been issuing a series of retaliatory sanctions, all against particular Russian individuals. Moscow has responded in kind, with for titfor-tat restrictions on American lawmakers. While they serve as useful shows of diplomatic strength, they have been largely toothless. Perhaps that's because if more restrictions come, they could be just as bad for the West as they are for Russians. The original U.S.-led sanctions were against 11 executives and politicians specifically, Vladimir Putins innermost circle a development that most Russian politicians found vaguely amusing.

resident Obama met Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday. In his first official visit, which began at 10:27 a.m. in Rome, the president and the pope met for about 50 minutes -- longer than many had expected -- before bringing in the rest of the U.S. delegation, including Secretary of State John Kerry, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and press secretary Jay Carney. One by one, the 10 members of the delegation were introduced to the pope. President Obama made the slow, formal procession to greet the pope in the ornate Small Throne Room outside the Papal Library. "Wonderful meeting you. I'm a great admirer," the president said. The two walked into the library and took seats at opposite sides of the pope's desk. "I bring greetings from my family," Obama added. "The last time I came here to meet your predecessor I was able to bring my wife and children." The president also presented the pope with a custom-made seed chest featuring a variety of fruit and vegetable seeds used in the White House Garden. The chest was made from American leather and wood from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. "These, I think, are carrots," Obama said, holding a pouch. "Each one has a different seed in it. The box is made from timber from the first cathedral to open in the United States, in Baltimore." "If you have a chance to come to the White House, we can show you our garden as well," the president said.

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WORLD NEWS

Friday, March 29, 2014

IM A GREAT ADMIRER
The inscription on the chest read: "Presented to His Holiness Pope Francis by Barack Obama President of the United States of America, March 27, 2014." The pope gave the president a plaque, which Obama said he would "treasure." It was Obama's second visit to the Vatican as president but his first visit with this pope. In 2009, he and first lady Michelle Obama met Pope Benedict XVI, now pope emeritus. For that trip, Obama came bearing a special gift: a stole that covered the

President Obama Meets Pope Francis at the Vatican

remains of St. John Neuman, the first American bishop to be canonized. After today's visit, will this pope return the favor? Earlier this month, Pope Francis was invited by House Speaker John Boehner to address a joint session of Congress. Boehner extended the formal invitation on Mar. 13 in a letter to the Vatican on the one-year anniversary of Francis' papacy saying the Holy Father has "awakened hearts on every continent." Since Paul VI made his first papal visit to the United States in 1965, three popes have come to America. John Paul II came to the United States seven times, visiting with every president from Jimmy Carter to Bill Clinton. On Thursday, under an overcast sky, the president's motorcade weaved through Rome to be welcomed at the Vatican with great ceremony. It may not seem that the president and the pope have much in common, but they share similarities. The United States' first African American president and the first Latin American pope both exploded

OSCAR PISTORIUS PROSECUTION RESTS AFTER BLADE RUNNER CRIES

he murder prosecution of Oscar Pistorius has rested after more than three weeks of testimony, clearing the way for the Blade Runner to eventually take the stand. "My Lady, learned Assessors, this is the State's case," prosecutor Gerrie Nel announced to the judge, ending the case against Pistorius. The prosecution called 21 out of a possible 107 witnesses on the state's witness list, but Nel decided he had brought enough evidence before the High Court in Pretoria to convict Pistorius of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius, 27, shot Steenkamp, 29, before dawn on Valentine's Day 2013 after what the prosecution claims was a loud argument.

PERTH (Reuters) igh winds and icy weather halted the air search on Thursday for a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet presumed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean, just as new satellite images emerged showing what could be a large debris field from the plane. The latest possible sightings of wreckage from Flight MH370, which went missing 19 days ago, were captured by Thai and Japanese satellites in roughly the same remote expanse of sea as earlier images reported by France, Australia and China. "We detected floating objects, perhaps more than 300," Anond Snidvongs, the head of Thailand's space technology development agency, told Reuters. "We have never said that the pieces are part of MH370 but have so far identified them only as floating objects." A Japanese satellite also captured images of 10 objects

WEATHER FRUSTRATES HUNT FOR MISSING MALAYSIAN JET AS NEW LEADS REPORTED

onto the global stage sharing messages of hope and change. President Obama's stop in Rome came amid a week-long trip to Europe and the Middle East during which the issue of Russia's incursions into Ukraine have been the key topic of discussion among world leaders. Before Obama left the Vatican, he and the Pope shook hands and embraced. "My family has to be with me on this journey. They've been very strong," Obama said. "Pray for them. I would appreciate it."

which could be part of the plane, Kyodo news agency quoted the government as saying on Thursday. An international search team of 11 military and civilian aircraft and five ships had been heading for an area where more than 100 objects that could be from the Boeing 777 had been identified by French satellite

pictures earlier this week, but severe weather forced the planes to turn back. "The forecast in the area was calling for severe icing, severe turbulence and near-zero visibility," said Lieutenant Commander Adam Schantz, the officer in charge of the U.S. Navy Poseidon P8 maritime surveillance aircraft

detachment. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which is coordinating the effort, confirmed flights had been called off but said ships continued to search despite battering waves. "It's the nature of search and rescue. It's a fickle beast," Flying Officer Peter Moore, the

captain of an Australian AP-3C Orion, told Reuters aboard the plane after it turned around 600 miles from the search zone. "This is incredibly important to us. The reality is we have 239 people whose families want some information and closure." NEW IMAGES The Malaysian airliner, on a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, is thought to have crashed with the loss of all 239 people aboard after flying thousands of miles off course. The objects spotted by the Thai satellite were between 2 metres (6.5 ft) and 16 metres (52 ft) in size and were in an area around 2,700 km (1,680 miles) southwest of Perth, Snidvongs said. The pictures were taken on Monday, a day after a satellite operated by France-based Airbus Defence & Space spotted 122 potential objects in a 400 sq km (155 sq mile) area of ocean around 2,500 km southwest of the Western Australian city

Friday, March 29, 2014

ormer Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has been sentenced to three-years and six months in jail for tax evasion, having admitted to defrauding German tax authorities of millions of Euros. Hoeness was initially charged with evading 3.5million Euros (2.9million or US$4.9million) in taxes but he then admitted to dodging another 15million Euros. It finally emerged in court that he owed a total of 27.2million Euros.His lawyer had argued he should escape punishment because he gave himself up. But judges ruled that the 1994 World Cup-winning strikers confession fell short of full disclosure.The 62-year-old had kept the funds in a secret Swiss bank account. On March 13, the court in the southern city of Munich found Hoeness guilty of "seven serious counts of tax evasion". "The voluntary disclosure is not valid with the documents that were presented alone," the judge said. The defence said it would appeal against the sentence and Hoeness will remain a free man until a final verdict has been handed out.Prosecutors had called for a term of five years and six months. In his blog, the BBC's Stephen Evans in Berlin says the sentence is significant because it indicates that attitudes towards tax evasion have changed in Germany since the financial crisis. A string of famous people, perhaps not normally associated with cheating on tax, have recently been revealed to have had secret bank accounts but Hoeness could be the first to go to prison. Hoeness, who helped Germany win the 1972 European Championship, came clean about his secret bank account last year, filing an amended tax return in the hope of an amnesty in return for paying the tax he owed. But prosecutors said he did so because investigators were already pursuing his case. It has been a depressing chapter for the man dubbed as Germanys Mr. Football and the scandal forced Hoeness, who watched Bayern Munich beat Arsenal 2-0 in a Uefa Champions League first leg round of 16 tie at the Emirates Stadium on February 19, to quit his position. German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung described his case as one of the most spectacular of the year. And according to Evans, everybody wanted to be seen with Uli Hoeness. On the day he took the call from a well-wisher tipping him off that he was being investigated for tax fraud, he was having lunch with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. That's how well connected he was, Evans said. But that is not the case in postwar Liberia where the rule of law doesnt affect the strong and well connected. Musa Bility, president of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), falls in the same dragnet with Hoeness. As the president and chief executive officer of Srimex Enterprises/Gulf Trading (a company dealing in petroleum products and cement) and owner of the Renaissance Communications Incorporated, which includes Truth 96.1 FM, Real TV and Renaissance newspaper respectively, Bility was accused by government of not paying US$368,000 in taxes in November 2010. But the case was tabled when Bility was appointed as Montserrado County chairman for the reelection bid of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

Sports

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SANTILLANA: RONALDO WILL BREAK ALL RECORDS

SPORT BRIEF

Danesius Marteh, [email protected]

in the run-up to the 2011 presidential and legislative elections. When the elections were done and dusted, then presiding tax court judge Eva Mappay Morgan resumed thecase in June 2012. And like Hoeness, Bility admitted to tax evasion but contended, through Cllr. Theophilus Gould, that he owes US$180,000 and not the US$368,000 at a hearing in July 2012. Passing on the issues in July, Morgan ordered Bility to pay US$190,800.00 in an agreed stipulation plan after a motion was filed by Gould. In September 2013, Judge Mozart A. Chesson ordered the seizure and sale of assets as well as the closure of Bilitys businesses in a writ of execution, from a hearing judgment, which is yet to be implemented. Criminal or civil offense? Tax evasion is a criminal offense under the penal code, chapter 50, sub-chapter F (economic sabotage) section 15.80 (fraud on the internal revenue of Liberia). Section 90-A of the amended 2011 Liberia Revenue Code says a person, who willfully evades or attempts to evade tax imposed under this code, commits a felony and upon conviction, in addition to any other sanctions that may be provided by law, the person is subject to a fine of not more than L$200,000; imprisonment for not more than five years or both. Chapter one, sub-chapter B, section 51-C says if the taxpayer is convicted of willful failure to file a tax return in a criminal court proceeding as authorized under the criminal justice law of Liberia, the penalty under sub-section (a) is doubled and the taxpayer may also be subjected to a term of imprisonment of up to five years. But it remains to be seen how Finance Minister Amara Konneh, who announced legal measures for those owing taxes at a press briefing on the state of the economy on March 25, intends to proceed when Bility is yet to pay his. We have identified and met with delinquent taxpayers to give them time to settle their tax obligations to the GoL [government of Liberia] and we are working with the Ministry of Justice and the Board of Tax Appeals to prepare litigation against those who fail to pay their taxes. Hoeness proximity to Merkel didnt stop him from facing trial and the chancellor also didnt hide her disappointment for a man who has co-operated with her on integrating immigrants. But when Bility, ex-board chairman of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), was indicted in August 2013 along ex-LAA managing director Ellen Cockrum and others by the grand jury of Montserrado County, Sirleaf didnt hide her admiration for a man dubbed as her political godson. Because of that, sometimes he gets all kinds of criticisms and false accusations; but in each case, I can say to you that the confidence we have in his carrying out his responsibility with integrity and commitment is strong because we believe in him. Mr. Bility, what you did by just chairing the commission and giving encouragement to the other members is just exemplary of the things that you do for this government and this country, Sirleaf said at an honoring program for the Nimba County dispute land commission, which Bility chaired, hours after his indictment by the grand jury. It was a statement political commentators and legal luminaries described as childish and untimely. And all this leaves one to wonder whether the rule of law affect the strong and well-connected in postwar Liberia? Your answer is as good as mine depending on who you are and your look of things.

ormer Real Madrid striker Carlos Santillana believes Cristiano Ronaldo will eventually become the club's greatest ever goalscorer. The Portugal sensation recently surpassed Ferenc Puskas on the all-time scorers list for los Blancos and is now 46 goals short of former Spain international Santillana's tally of 289, having scored 42 goals in all competitions to date this season. While iconic striker Raul remains the club's record scorer with 323, Santillana is fully convinced Ronaldo will surpass his tally as he and Lionel Messi continue to set a new standard with their "crazy" performances on the pitch. "Cristiano Ronaldo can reach them all. It's normal [for him]. At my time it was unthinkable for a player to hit 50 goals in a season," he told Goal. "What Messi and Ronaldo are doing is crazy. You have to enjoy it.

KOBE BRYANT ON SHAQUILLE O'NEAL: 'IT USED TO DRIVE ME CRAZY THAT HE WAS SO LAZY'

WE ARE GOING TO SIGN FOREIGN PLAYERS

he President of the NPA Anchors Sports Association has told FrontPageAfrica that his association is carrying on serious preparation in order to bring in several foreign players from the West African region to boost strength of their squad. Varmuyan K. Bayour said their aim of bringing in foreign players is to help build up their squad to capture the 2014/2015 Liberia Football Association (LFA) national league season first division championship. In order to accomplish this aim, Bayour acknowledged that his office has sent a budget to the association head office to be approved and if it is approved there will be no delay in bringing those players before the resumption of the season. The Association head noted that no football squad will really deliver the necessary results for the people who are spending their money without experienced players and he thinks it is now time for officials of the association to quickly bring in players that they believe will help to bring back the Anchors into competitive football not only in Liberia but on the African

NPA ANCHORS PRESIDENT OUTLINES 2014/2015 PLANS

A. Macaulay Sombai, [email protected]
relegation zone and their one hundred (100%) percent focus must always be on winning the championship or to finish the league among the top two. He paid tribute to the entire team for reaching the grand finale of the LFA knock-out competition and for ending the league in the sixth position. Firstly we want to commend you all for the past season even though we did not win any award but it was not too bad for us because we ended the season far away from the relegation zone but you were to do more than that. Bayour mentioned. NPA Anchors ended the just ended 2013/2014 LFA league season six place league table and they lost 1-0 to newly crowned second division double champions FC Fassell in the grand finale of the LFA knockout competition but the team President attributed his side defeat to Fassell and ending the league at six positions to the entire team. I will attribute my team lapses during the entire league season to the entire players because they all

continent. He emphasized that it has taken long, the team has not won any major title in Liberian football and that is a big blow to one of the strongest sporting associations in the country. Bayour said they have started putting their houses in order not only for the coming LFA national league title but to also represent the country in one of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) competitions.

The NPA Anchors boss believes that it is about time for the team to deliver all the necessary results for the association because under the current Managing Director Matilda Parker the team continues to receive all of the necessary support for the promotion of the association and it will be unfair if the players fail to produce the victories for the association under her dynamic leadership. He warned the players never to allow their team to go closer to

failed to play the ball against their opponents according to what they were told by the coach and I think we are going to drop about five of them before the coming season. Bayour said. On the line of his team present Head Coach Jerry Anderson, the President extended thanks to him for taking the team from second to first divisionbefore last and maintaining the first division position but he made it clear that he cannot confirm that the coach will maintain his position or not because that is going to be decided by members of the association Executive Committee very soon before the next season. He called on Coach Anderson and the entire technical staff and players to continue their training in order to keep them fit for the coming season. As for his fellow officials, Bayour praised them for their tireless support and said he hopes that they will continue their support than ever before for the Anchors to rejuvenate the association in modern football.

obe Bryant is still upset. Bryant, who had a front-row seat to these changes, is still frustrated at how things fell apart. For Bryant, an obsessive who prides himself on a kind of basketball virtuosity (As far as one on one, Im the best to ever do it, he has said), ONeal represented an affront to the game itself: a giant so physically dominant around the rim that his indifference to mastering something as elementary as free throws was rendered maddeningly inconsequential. It used to drive me crazy that he was so lazy, Bryant told me. You got to have the responsibility of working every single day. You cant skate through (bleep).

MANCHESTER UNITED CONSIDERING MOYES SACKING

anchester United's senior hierarchy is evaluating all possibilities as it attempts to arrest the club's steep descent under David Moyes. Contrary to public statements that Sir Alex Ferguson's successor will definitely be granted at least a second season as manager, Moyes' dismissal is prominent among those possibilities. Though Tuesday's humiliating 3-0 home loss to Manchester Cityensured that United's first postFerguson season is statistically the club's worst in the Premier League era, the review of potential candidates to replace Moyes should not be regarded as a knee-jerk reaction.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2014

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Spot News ARE WE MISSING MARY BROH?

DIRT TAKING OVER MONROVIAS MARKETS

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Monroviahese days Monrovia is basically covered in dirt and the conditions of the market are appalling. With the current Ebola scare many marketers are seen still selling near stockpile of garbage with no remorse about the health consequences. But when you ask them they tell you that they pay money to the Liberia Marketing Association, but they do not clean the market properly while other blame the Monrovia City Corporation for the filth that is seen across the city and its markets. Everywhere you go in Monrovia is a stockpile of dirt that has been kept for days if not weeks. One woman lamented, This never used to happen when Mary Broh was here; we will never get another Mary Broh to keep Monrovia Clean.