Monrovia – The Liberian Government and stakeholders have launched the 2016 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES). The launch took place on Monday, April 9, 2018 in Monrovia. The Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) was supported by development partners, including the World Bank.

Monrovia – Days after Grand Kru County District #2 Representative Fonati Koffa alarmed over increased influx of foreigners into the county, the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) stated that they would intensify border patrol across the county.

Monrovia – The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has commenced the final validation of the country’s draft Domestic Resource Mobilization (DRM) Strategy.

Monrovia – Members of the Women of Grace, a US-based Liberian Christian women group are expected to arrive in Liberia this week as guest of the Liberia First Lady, Clar Marie Weah and the Vice President of Liberia, Madam Jewel Howard Taylor for their ascendancy and manifest commitment to facilitate change in the Liberian society. 

Monrovia – Digitalization process is a good thing for the state-run University of Liberia but its implementation remains a concern as some students at the institution are still uncertain about the UL ability to manage US$300,000 WIFI project currently in swing at the institution.

Monrovia- A visually impaired man accused of rape has been forwarded to court for prosecution following police investigation.

Monrovia – The George Weah-led administration has taken a stance to brand individuals perceived to have been associated with the brutal National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), a rebel faction led by jailed ex-president Charles Taylor as anti-peaceful, yet several key members of the administration were close allies of Taylor.

Monrovia – Renowned female lawyer Cllr. Pearl Brown Bull is calling on the Government of Liberia to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) recommendations, which it made to the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-led administration at the end of its (TRC) mandate.

Monrovia - Liberia’s Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), Lenn Eugene Nagbe has accused the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) correspondent in Liberia of being a member of the propaganda machinery of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) of former President Charles Taylor.

Monrovia – The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) says unless urgent national attention is given to West Point, the enclave is a disaster awaiting the country.

Monrovia – In the midst of several verbal attacks on FrontPage Africa and its Managing Editor, Rodney D. Sieh, for its critical stance on the government, the offices of FPA was at the verge of closure Monday, following a civil lawsuit for actions of damages of over one million United States Dollars.

Monrovia - The Press Union of Liberia is shock about Monday’s raid of the Offices of FrontPage Africa (FPA) on the orders of authorities of a Monrovia Civil Law Court.

Monrovia - In the wake of disappointments being expressed in the West African Examination Council Liberia Chapter for administering what seems to be a “strange tests”, WAEC says dishonesty of examiners is a factor affecting the exam process.

Monrovia – It was just in 2017 when the leadership of the Legislature announced that they were undertaking a project to renovate and modernize the Capitol Building. This was when Emmanuel Nuquay served as Speaker.

Monrovia – Details of a reported US$536 million loan agreement between Liberia and a Singapore-based investment company, Eton Finance Private Limited is still sketchy, nearly a week after a delegation from the CDC-led government returned from Hong Kong and Japan.

Monrovia – A two-day workshop, under a four-month fishery project (January-April, 2018), sponsored by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), has ended at the headquarters of the National Fishery and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Mesurado Fishing Pier, Liberia Coast Guard Base, Bushrod Island, outside Liberia’s capital Monrovia.

Buchanan – The Liberian Government Hospital in Grand Bassa County on Friday, April 6, 2018 was gutted by fire for the second time in less than two weeks.

Monrovia – Consequent to the just ended official launch of Liberia’s share of the Mano River Ecosystem Conservation and International Water Resources Management project held last week in Monrovia, the MRU countries (MRU) in collaboration with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (ICUN) and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) has concluded a Regional Training Workshop for the executing agencies and 2nd session of the regional steering committee of the project aimed at practically driving the dream of the project consistent with the established framework with the Executing Agencies pledging to ensure that the aims and aspiration of the MRU/ICUN comes to fruition.

Monrovia - A clergyman of the United Christian Fellowship Church, Pastor Shadrick T. Biah, has been imprisoned at the Monrovia Central Prison for dubbing a church member under the pretense of selling five lots of land.

Monrovia - Activist Archie Ponpon, on the third day of his hunger strike, on Friday had to be rushed to hospital by an ambulance of the Liberia National Police (LNP) Friday, April 6, when he started convulsing. He is carrying on his strike right before the US Embassy in Monrovia.

Caldwell - After a protest by residents of Caldwell Community, the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has finally decided to electrify the township.

Monrovia – Two clergymen of the Mission For Today’s Church based in the borough of New Kru Town have been found guilty for theft of property and misapplication. But both men have since appealed against the verdict to the Supreme Court.

Monrovia – The United States Government says it is proud of the results of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Liberia Compact being implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account - Liberia, which encourages economic growth that reduces poverty, creates new opportunities, and improves the lives of Liberians.

Monrovia – Liberia’s “messy” education system and the lack of will from national actors to improve it, is now creating difficulties for students participating in the ongoing sub-regional examination.

Fendell – The administration of the state-run University of Liberia has announced a Liberian software firm, MWETANA, to run its digital registration program.

Monrovia – A nine-member Board of Advisors of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) has elected and inducted its corps of officials to steer its affairs and regulate the Association’s activities in line with best practices.

Monrovia - John Tarpeh, alias ‘Ebu,’ has been charged with murder following his arrest for being part of a gang. The gang allegedly murdered a land administrator in the Township of Johnsonville, outside Monrovia on March 22, 2018.

Monrovia - In the wake of the United Nations Mission in Liberia’s (UNMIL) complete drawdown, the National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections (NAYMOTE) continues to intensify its School Law and Justice Program for high school and university students.

Monrovia – The future of the “New Monrovia,” is one of five areas in Liberia under the Ramsar Convention that the government of Liberia is receiving funding for to protect. All Liberia has to do is to ensure that the area is never inhabited. Report by Henry Karmo, henry.karmo@frontpageafricaonline.com The Convention still lists Liberia as member meaning Liberia’s 2003 decision to form a part of the body has not been reversed.  In addition to Bali, four other areas are being earmarked as forbidden: Gbedin Wetlands in Nimba, Kpatawee Wetlands in Bong County, Marshall Wetlands in Margibi County and the Mesurado Wetlands, which being considered the future “new city” of Monrovia.  The area, according to the Convention, provides a favorable habitat and feeding grounds for several species of birds including the African spoonbill Platalea alba, common Pratincole Glareola nuchaltis and Curlew Numenius arquata. “It also hosts the vulnerable African dwarf crocodile, the Nile crocodile and the African sharp-nosed crocodile and plays an important role in shoreline stabilization and sediment trapping. The site is currently used for fuel wood collection, as a dumping site, for car washing, and fishing, with fish and crustaceans sold to the population of Monrovia. An additional threat comes from unregulated fishing, as well as from pollution from the industries around the site, including an oil refinery and paint factories. No management plan currently exists, but there are plans to put it under a protected area management network once it has been successfully designated as a Ramsar site.”  Despite these concerns, this newspaper has reliably learnt that the Ministry of Public Works has requested the EPA to issue environmental certificate to allow the go ahead of the CDC government project but sources say the EPA has requested government to conduct an environmental assessment on the land. “We cannot politicize environmental issues; we need to know if the area is suitable for the project,” our source said. Public Works Minister Mobutu Nyepan told this newspaper that his Ministry is pursuing all the processes that are required by law and consistent with international best practices to ensure the utilization on Bali Island for infrastructure development purposes.  “As a government, we are confident that these processes when pursued, will lead us to using the island without any alarm from any institution,” he said. President George Manneh Weah on Monday, March 26, 2018 toured the Bali Island, which is situated in the middle of the Mesurado River. The Liberian leader intends to transform Bali Island into the New Monrovia commencing with the construction of a state-of-the-art International Conference Center and other standardized structures.   

Monrovia - The variance in the exchange rate between the United States dollar and the Liberian dollar is influencing uncertainties in the Liberian market.

Gbarnga, Bong County – Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has endorsed the Bong County senatorial bid of Rep. J. Marvin Cole of District 3. Howard-Taylor endorsed Cole on Sunday when she visited him to sympathize over the loss of his father.

Monrovia - The detained President of the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU) charged with rape has been released on bail following a court ruling Tuesday, April 3, 2018.

Monrovia - The British Broadcasting Corporation’s correspondent in Liberia, Jonathan Paye-Layleh has left the country fearing reprisals from President George Weah’s followers.

Monrovia - On Saturday, March 31, 2018, the Liberia Poetry Society (LPS) hosted its monthly Open Mic Night Poetry Showcase at A La Lagoon Hotel and Restaurant on the Congo Town Backroad in Paynesville.

Geneva – In his first briefing to the Security Council, ED David Beasley called on Members to help end conflicts and secure humanitarian access to address some of the worst humanitarian crises in the history of the UN. This high-level event on the links between conflict and hunger also included a briefing by USG/ERC for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Mark Lowcock.