‘BIG DISGRACE’ IN THE JUDICIARY BRANCH

Retired Associate Justice Gladys’ Johnson hits the nail on the head. Now the full bench must make meaning of her parting words and make justice meaningful again.

GLADY’S JOHNSON IS retiring into the sunset after almost six years on the Supreme Court bench. Regarded as one of the seasoned justice on the high court, Johnson used her retirement ceremony to highlight what many regard has the most burning issue thwarting the dispensation of justice in post-war Liberia: Corruption.

THE RETIRED Associate Justice’s description of corruption as the most saddened issue in the judicial system of Liberia comes on the heels of numerous reports of bribery of jurors and warnings from several judges in as many weeks cautioning jurors against taking bribes to decide cases.

RETIRED JUSTICE JOHNSON took the bold move of indicating that corruption is practice by every sector of the judiciary in post-war Liberia, meaning not only jurors and judges are involved but also lawyers.

SAID RETIRED JUSTICE JOHNSON: ‘‘Lawyers have one way or the other taken money to carry out something uncalled for, judges have also been influenced by money in their decision making process. Sometimes they decide a particular case in the other way due to what they have been given. Sometimes, too, they are influenced with money in the assignment of cases. This is why some cases remain in a particular court’s docket and never adjudicated.’’

RETIRED JUSTICE JOHNSON said the practice is bad and must be stopped if Liberia is to make progress in the judicial system. ‘’As a member of the judiciary this has actually saddened me a lot. It is a big shame if you are part of a particular profession and see such a big disgrace in it. People most often look at you so ugly.’’

WE JOIN RETIRE Justice Johnson in calling on not only the head of the executive branch but also the head of the Supreme Court Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis to take punitive action against every corrupt Liberian official, including those in the judiciary.

CHIEF JUSTICE LEWIS must make it a priority to ensure that those who blow whistle on corrupt judges are not punished for doing so but encouraged.

THIS IS THE ONLY way bad judges can be weeded from the system. Punishing those closed to judges and aware of the ills being practiced in various cases only serves as a means of support to a corrupt system when it should serve as a deterrent. Chief Justice Lewis and the Associate Justice owes it to the people of Liberia to take the bull by the horn on this issue in a bid to ensure that the judiciary branch is solid again and Liberians can rely on the courts for an unfair, unbiased and objective dispensation of justice.

BREAKING RANK ON STUDENTS’ ‘RIGHTS’

LIBERIAN PRESIDENT Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf broke ranks with her Inspector General of Police, Marc Amblard Monday when she told legislative reporters at the Capitol Building that students have the right to demonstrate without any interference from the police or any other law enforcement agency. SAID SIRLEAF: Students have the right to demonstrate. The police are not to interfere with them as long as they conform to the law.'' THE DECLARATION by the President is a welcome departure from comments attributed to the Mr. Amblard, last week, when the police chief suggested that students who participated in the disturbance last week would be responsible for paying for damages resulting from the violent turn dubbed Bloody Tuesday. WHILE WE APPLAUD the President making the clarification, we encourage the president to go a step further and reprimand Mr. Amblard for his poor choice of words over what is obviously a very sensitive subject matter in a crucial election year. THE PRESIDENT must take into consideration, Liberia's historical past and its quest for the future in laying the gauntlet on officials who are determined to put her administration in a bad light. IN MAKING his careless remark, Mr. Amblard failed to take into consideration the fact that his officers also ran down student protesters behind their school walls and in doing so, they crossed the line. THE MESSAGE going forth must be clear that students deserve the right to assemble and protest under the constitution of the republic of Liberia. Article 17 states that ''All persons, at all times, in an orderly and peaceable manner, shall have the right to assemble and consult upon the common good, to instruct their representatives, to petition the Government or other functionaries for the redress of grievances and to associate fully with others or refuse to associate in political parties, trade unions and other organizations.'' MR. AMBLARD and his rogue cops were in violation of students' rights and must save face by offering an apology. The President, must take the necessary step and ask Mr. Amblard to resign in solidarity with the victimized students who were simply fighting alongside their teachers for better incentives and salary upgrade. That was in no way a reason for any student in post-war Liberia to shed blood, sweat and tears. BREAKING RANKS with the police chief was the right thing to do. Now Mr. Amblard must do the honourable thing and step aside in the interest of justice for the bleeding students.

Amb. Ballmoos' National Dilemma? In Refugees' Saga, Is Liberian Ambassador Cut Between the Scissors?

Nat Bayjay, nbayjay@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia -

Rudolf P. von Ballmoos, Liberia’s Ambassador to Ghana, has become a wildly unpopular figure since the Bubuduburam saga began Sunday. The Ambassador is being criticized by many, in Liberia, for doing little about his refugee-seeking kinsmen’s plight.
Ambassador Ballmoos, in response to the situation, Monday, told local radio audiences that the Liberian refugees “had no right” to opt for a leadership change in the Buduburam Camp as it is an international camp and not just a Liberian center.
Ballmoos was also clear that he only dispatched an embassy staffer to the refugee camp and had never visited the place himself. Many have labeled him a liar for echoing the Ghanaian authority’s previous statement that no live bullets were used in the saga. He also said the lone death reported was a Ghanaian and not a Liberian.
Soon after, both the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Ghana and the BBC confirmed at least a Liberian death.
Refugees in the camp are decrying his actions and words. Samuel Goffa, a medical refugee student told FrontPageAfrica: “That Ambassador should be replaced with immediate effect. Gone are the days when a government official, especially an ambassador who should be representing the government here, will lie. He has endangered our lives more.”
A frustrated Mark P. Sieh whose son is among several refugees imprisoned at the Cape Coast Central Prison in Ghana told FrontPageAfrica: “We don’t know why they are still keeping that man here. He just doesn’t care about us, about our plight.”
“But we are not surprised at all. The Ambassador is such a man who doesn’t care about us. He is more of a Ghanaian than a Liberian because of his attitudes towards us”, added Sarah Whawhen, another refugee.
Student campus-based movements have also joined in the Ambassador’s condemnation and recall campaign. The University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU) on Wednesday issued a statement calling for the immediate dismissal of the Ambassador.
The ULSU stated in its statement that the Ambassador, who it said earns luxurious salary, failed to provide substantive information to Liberians and should be dismissed. They say von Ballmoos has “miserably failed to substantively inform the Liberian people as well as families of those refugees on the cause of the fracas but chose to give half-hazard information [and] should be immediately dismissed.”
Not only is the Ambassador facing lashes from the refugees and campus-based organizations. Opposition figures including Liberty Party’s Darius Dillion decried the Ambassador’s intervention in the fragile situation.

Dual Loyalty?
Others like Dorbor Nyemah a resident of the refugee center, believe that Ballmoos is a mixed national which they think is an obvious reason his handling of the ongoing refugee fracas in Ghana.
His Liberian mother, the late Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos who hailed from the Kru Coast was Liberia’s first ethnomusicologist (expert in ethnic or tribal music) after earning a Master’s degree in the specialized musical industry.
Accredited with promoting Liberian music internationally,   Mrs. Ballmoos’ training of the University of Liberia (UL) Chorus and later combining the National Choir to a great extent exposed Liberian music at international concerts. The combined choir was to later go on and win awards in the mid 1970’s.
Mr. Ballmoos’ father, according to Nyemah, is said to be a Ghanaian with a European background.
“The Ambassador’s poor-showing in the refugees situation is his way of winning his way into a Ghanaian doyenship because that man has already spent six years here as Ambassador”, Nyemah added.
Ambassador’s Bad Omen?
With repeated calls from Liberians both at home and among refugees in Ghana for the Ambassador to be recalled observers have already begun reminding themselves of similar scenario that led to the dismissal of a former Ghanaian Interior Minister.
Kwamena Bartels lost his job in the aftermath of the 2008 Buduburam refugee crisis when former Ghanaian President John Kufour felt misled.
Bartels who was overseeing activities that led to the arrest of protesting Liberian female refugees on the camp provided misinformation to Ghanaian authorities. The former president who was on a European visit at the time had to cut short his trip and returned to Ghana to calm what seemed like a bilateral-threatened crisis between Ghana and Liberia.
Ahead of a planned government delegation slated for over the weekend, according to Information Minister Cletus Sieh, there are expectations as well as doubts as to what the assessment outcome would be. A previous delegation in the aftermath of the 2008 refugee saga was also set up.

STRICT MEASURES ON PRESIDENT SIRLEAF'S MEETINGS - Press Secretary Cyrus Badio Says During Regular Press Briefing

Clara K. Mallah, clara.mallah@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia -

Presidential press secretary, Cyrus W. Badio, at his regular press  briefing, said President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will no longer be meeting with potential investors and prospectors as it has been in past. He says the meetings of such groups will be done by the National Investment Commission which will continue to perform that role.
Mr. Badio said the measure is meant to enable the president to be as accessable to the citizens of Liberia as she wants to be, and be able to focus at the same time on the intense work required to rebuild Liberia. The press secretary noted anyone requesting a meeting with the president must submit a formal and or emailed letter to address to the Ministry of State. “The Letter should include the names of all persons hoping to attend, including titles, contact telephone numbers and emails, the purpose of the meeting and the request agenda or list of talking points. The letter should also have background to your organization and recent achievements (if appropriate) profiles of the foreign dignitaries or guests,” Mr. Badio said.
The Press Secretary further said invitation to events must be submitted 30 days prior to the event which he says will allow the office of the president to assess the schedule and respond to the request.  Mr. Badio noted that the invitation must include background of the organization and the event, details of the what role the you hope the President can fulfill and if available, a draft program and guest list for the event.
Mr. Badio said the invitation sent to the President does not indicate the President’s participation. But said a written letter of consent from the office of the president or a response to an invitation is required to announce the president’s participation or to include her name on the program.
“If your request is accepted, after you receive a letter confirming the president’s participation from the Ministry of State, you will be required to submit a program and guest list no less than working days before the event. And the protocol office will collaborate on the final program to enable the president to fit her attendance into her full schedule,” the Press Secretary mentioned.
On the part of media institutions, Mr. Badio said all request from media institutions for interviews and or audiences with the president should be directed to the Public Affairs Department, the office of the Communication director to the President or press secretary of the President.

LAND & MINES SURVEYOR INDICTED FOR FORGE: Wilmot James And Four Other Indicted for Falsifying Land Deed

Welemongia Ciapha, II., welemongia.ciapha@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia--

Back dating land deed by people  either working in Government ministries and agencies, or criminal-minded individuals has been one of the major factors that has resulted into the deaths and injuries of many persons in post-war Liberia.
One of such disputes led to the gruesome murder of at least 21 youths, when Senator Roland C. Kaine of Margibi County and Charles Bennie’s loyalists clashed over a disputed tribal land, situated between Timor, a border town between Margibi and Grand Bassa Counties in 2007.
Although, of the 16 suspects charged with the felonious crime of murder, Senator Kaine was one of those amongst the eight persons acquitted by a 12-member empanelled jury, convicting six of the perpetrators to life imprisonment at the Monrovia Central Prison Compound.
 Government registered surveyor, Wilmot James, a national surveyor assigned at the Ministry of Land, Mines and Energy, along with four others have been indicted for falsifying a land deed over the years allegedly belonging to one Patricia Fahnbulleh.
A lengthy indictment, copy of which is in the possession of FrontPage Africa revealed that the grand jurors for Montserrado County, upon their oath, read “do hereby find more probably than not that Wilmot James, Rebecca Francis, Solomon Francis, Edmond Francis and Thompson D. F. Butler committed the crime of forgery, a felony of the third degree.”
Count-one of the indictment, stated that on June 4, 2010, the within named defendants were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with an alleged forgery of a land deed by the accused, which is said to be the property of one Rebecca Francis, who now resides in the United States of America (USA).
During the investigation, according to the indictment, one of the defendants, Thompson D. F. Butler admitted that he does not know how his name appeared on the deed that bears the name of J. D. Francis as the issuer of the deed.
The indictment established that all the defendants failed to tell the investigators as to who probated the deed that was prepared by surveyor, Wilmot James of the Ministry of Land, Mines and Energy.
In furtherance of the probe of the NBI, it is stated that a communication was sent to the National Center for Documentation and Records Agency (CNDRA), which revealed and confirmed that the defendants criminally, purposely, knowingly, willfully, perpetrated the crime of forgery, as the forged has no volume and number page in the registry at the CNDRA.
The case was placed on the docket after the lawyers representing the plaintiff filed a motion for the advancement of the case.
The motion yet to be argued in its substance, prayed the court to have the case on the trial docket for reason that its material witnesses are likely to travel out of the bailiwick of the country.
In that event, counsel for the plaintiff submitted that if the witnesses travel, while the case is still pending before the court, yet undermined, the movants might be deprived of the chance to proof its case beyond all reasonable that the Respondents did commit the crime of forgery.
It can be recalled that in 2006, Moses Garway, a resident of Duport Road Community in Paynesville was mobbed to death, when a group of ‘thugs’ attacked him at a construction site within the same vicinity.

POLICE BRUTALITY SURFACES -In Peaceful Assembly By Students

Wade Williams, wade.williams@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia -

Monrovia's main street, Broad Street was a scene of chaos when riot police armed with sticks resorted to violence to disburse a crowd of protesting students.
Students of the Matilda Newport Junior High School on Newport Street garthered Monday morning as early as 8:00am before the Ministry of Education to demand why teachers were boycutting classes. 
The students told reporters on the scene that they were told by their teachers that they (teachers) have not received their salaries from the Liberian government for several months now.
"The main reason that we are on the street is because our teachers are saying they have not been paid therefore they are not coming to classes,"
The police Anti riot unit were seen beating students with large sticks used as baton. Students expressed shock that the police who are expected to protect lives would want to harm them. 
"After a meeting with the Minister of education we came downstairs to talk to our students to calm down in the process the police officer jumped on me and started to beat me with the baton and tore my bag," says Timothy Kpelleh of the 9th grade.
Speaking to journalists in his office at the MOE Deputy Communications Director J. Shannon Goe, dismissed students claim that teachers are not being paid. “Teachers are being paid. I’m not aware that any teacher has not been paid. We asked them who are the teachers that are saying they have not been paid but they can’t tell us.”
Mr. Goe asserted that some hidden hands are using the students to cause confusion as this is a political season in the country and called on such individuals to desist from putting students in the street to demonstrate. He appealed to the students to always follow the right procedure in expressing their grievances.
Yonton B. Kesselly Deputy Minister for Vocational and Technical Education and Acting Deputy Minister for Instruction MOE made it clear that the students were not demonstrating but according to him:”What the students did was that they had a peaceful march before the Ministry of Education to make inquiry as to why there are no teachers in the classroom,” says Min. Kesselly.
The deputy minister described the situation of police using force against students as unfortunate and that it was not the intention of the students to engage the police. He appealed to the students to go home and return to school today.
Min. Kesselly blamed the situation on rumors and demanded that the teachers needed to answer questions on the issue raised by the students. “It’s absolutely a fallacy, it’s hearsay, it’s a ‘they say’ at no time has the government or the Ministry of Education in particular is owing any of its personnel so far as I know,” says Kesselly.
Continued Kesselly: “It was something masterminded by somebody but we’re going to dig the details out and get to the press as soon as possible.”
The Principal of the Newport Junior High School Mr. Steven George said there were few teachers at the school but revealed that students did not come prepared to go to class. “We talked to them that the rumors they heard are not true that teachers are not being paid, as I’m speaking to you all civil servants have received their pay for february,” says George. 
Police Commanders on the scene refused to comment on why they used force on the students but referred the Press to the Public Information section of the LNP. 
 

UL DISMISSAL SAGA: WHAT WENT WRONG IN THE EPISODE?

Nat.Bayjay@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia -

When Student Nicholas Fayad who is doing a Masters’ Program at the University of Liberia (UL) was given an ‘I’ (incomplete) for one of his courses, the University’s administration moved in to take a step against a lecturer thought to be corrupting the students. Fayad, a Lebanese student, had claimed the ‘I’ grade was wrongfully issued him. The course lecturer justified his grade with the display of Fayad’s exam notebook that shows he wrote nothing in it.
An FPA’s deeper look into the expulsion scenario of the lecturer from the University however seems scantier than a convincing episode with series of communication exchanges and academic materials suggesting the need for a deeper investigation into the matter.
Key among the documents available to FPA is a February 7, 2011 letter from the Director of the Masters’ of Business Administration (MBA) and Masters’ of Public Administration (MPA) suggesting that the student’s refusal to repeat a course led to the investigation of one of the lecturers whose courses were to be shortly cancelled and the lecturer expelled.
Professor Phillip A. Jayjay, Jr. in the communication to Student Fayad expressed complete dissatisfaction over Fayad’s ‘misrepresentation of the fact’ and refusal to detail everything that transpired between him and the lecturer in a formal letter to be addressed to him but rather chose to do so through an anonymous release or leaflet.
Romeo D. N. Gbartea, lecturing the post graduate Public Administration course Personnel Research Methodology (PADM 648) was shocked with the news that his courses had been cancelled based on the allegation that Student Fayad had accused him of ‘extorting money’ from him in exchange for a passing grade.
Gbartea was later axed in the process despite displaying a dismal failing grade to show reason why Fayad needed to repeat the course. Fayad’s scorebook, also obtained by FPA, showed that Student Fayad made 0/75 % after he only wrote his ID number 51052 and course name without writing a single letter in the entire exam copybook. Gbartea was to later learn of the cancellation of his courses and expulsion through a March 4, 2011 memo posted on bulletin board of the MBA/MPA department.
According to the obtained Professor Jayjay’s letter, Fayad otherwise known as ‘Cousin’ complained that in addition to some money he had already paid to Lecturer Gbartea, more was still being requested: “Notwithstanding, you flatly refused [to repeat the course] insinuating that you had paid the Lecturer money and he was demanding for more money. As to whether you had deliberately paid the lecturer money to give you ‘free grade’ is a very serious issue which we need to investigate.”
The document further detailed that Fayad who is said to be an influential Lebanese merchant accused the head of the MBA/MPA of wanting to keep it a secret.
According to the obtained Professor Jayjay’s letter to Fayad which was intended to formally acknowledge the complaint Fayad had launched to the professor’s office , he, Professor Jayjay, was misquoted that he wanted ‘everything kept in secret’.  The professor narrated the failure of the aggrieved student to reduce the complaints into formal letter but rather chose to do so in an anonymous leaflet neither addressed to the professor as head of the MBA/MPA nor signed by Fayad.
 The annoyed Professor did not hide his disappointment in the letter addressed to the Lebanese student: “Let the record show that I have seriously disagreed with you when you told me that you have given the Lecturer money, stating that this is against our ethnical norms of the day. If you remember well, I did say to you that you had no business giving anyone money. So, in this instance you committed the first error. Since you were telling me so many things which I did not know about, I asked you to put everything into writing. Even though you have put something into writing, it is very unfortunate that you have misrepresented the facts. For example, why will I tell you to keep secret and at the same time you to put everything into writing? I never said such to you. But you have written and said I said such.”
The letter with copies sent to the senior executives of the university including the offices of the President, and the Vice Presidents for Graduate Education, Academic Affairs and Fiscal Affairs and also to Lecturer Gbartea further states that when the investigation enquired from the lecturer why he gave an ‘I’ instead of an ‘F’, “he simply said to me that it would only be fair to you to give you another chance”. He further narrated to Fayad that Gbartea assured him Professor Jayjay that he wanted Fayad to attend at least two class sessions after which he would be given an assignment that would enable him to clear the ‘I’.
Fayad accordingly refused to follow the lecturer’s advice despite Professor Jayjay’s appeal: “In fact, I even appealed to you to accept this arrangement to enable you clear your incomplete. Notwithstanding you flatly refused insinuating that you had paid the lecturer money and that he was demanding for more money.” 
When contacted, Professor Jayjay told FPA that he was not prepared to discuss such matter in the media and that the University’s Public Relations would respond to it.
For the student whose grading led to the saga, he could neither confirm his bribery to the lecturer nor deny his dismal grade of 0/75 % .  Fayad who had initially spoken smoothly until an FPA reporter identified himself as a journalist   yelled over the phone: “I’m busy in a meeting now. Get to the University.”
Lecturer’s Complaint: In another document addressed to Professor Jayjay, Gbartea complained of Fayad’s attitude of “not attending classes frequently on the excuse of running errands for the President of Liberia.”
Narrating in the February 23, 2011 letter which copies were served the high level administrators of the university, Gbartea explains: “For the worst part, he did not even understand the fundamentals and essence of the course. He has treated the learning process as though the University of Liberia is the breeding ground for mediocrity and indiscipline attitudes. Notably, he continued to demand for grade that he has not earned; stating that he has been appointed by the President of Liberia to a country and therefore wants to graduate fast without exerting any intellectual prowess. Moreover, he has contacted so many personalities to ensure that I change his grade to what he wants but I refused on grounds that he must go back to class to understand the nature of the course like some of his colleagues who are repeating the course.”
In another letter dated March 17, 2011 to the President, Gbartea said: “Professor Jayjay has cancelled the PADM 648 Class without informing me the course instructor with just few days to the examination….I’m of the conviction that when this matter is thoroughly investigated politics will be separated from academic matters to reflect the true meaning of LUX IN TENEBRIS.”
Students’ Complaint: The cancellation of the course in the aftermath of the alleged bribery scandal has left several other students’ academic journey in limbo. According to the other affected students in a March 16, 2011 letter addressed to Dr. Dennis, the closure of the class on the eve of the semester’s climax was not only shocking for them but also did not do them academic justice.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the manner in which the investigation was conducted, the concerned students of the course wrote: “The investigation committee to probe the allegation……..did not complete their findings when the decision was made to cancel the class…..We humbly seek a redress in this matter for a reconsideration of the decision made against us. We are also suggesting that the University provides another instructor to give us an exam”.
 ‘Enough Smoke For Dismissal’: Dr. Dennis however told FPA that the situation was the case of ‘enough smoke which almost blinded his eyes’, implying enough evidence.
“When smoke is too much that almost got me blinded, you take an action”, the UL President told FPA via mobile.
Citing enough malfeasants that are making academics ‘too bad’ Dr. Dennis continued: “When these things happen, they happen in a draconian way. This is not a court case, this is academic.”
The UL President told FPA to get his Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Momolu Gataweh who could however not be reached throughout the weekend.

"REGRETFUL DEPARTURE": Out-Going Chinese Ambassador Wants Liberians To Maintain Peace Even After UNMIL

Clara.Mallah@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia -
The out-going Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Zhou Yuxiao, has said Liberians should hold on to the peace and stability prevailing in the country even if the United Nations Mission leaves the country. 
He said the development of Liberia lies in the hands of Liberians and if there is no peace and stability, the country’s development agenda will not move forward. And as out-going Ambassador, it is his hope that peace will remain in the country after UNMIL departs.
He noted that he is leaving Liberia with the greatest confidence, because he has witnessed so many positive changes in the last three years, and he is very proud to be a part of the change.
The outgoing ambassador named the building of schools, hospitals, universities, banks, shops and residential houses as positive changes made in the post war country.
Amb. Zhou also said over the past three years as an Ambassador, he witnessed peace and stability being maintained and the enhancement of democracy.
The Chinese diplomat noted that human rights have been ensured with numerous laws being put in place to facilitate rule of law.
Amb. Zhou noted that during his stay in the country he also saw huge foreign debts waiver by Liberia’s international partners which demonstrates that the tiny West African nation is on a good path to recovery.
Continued the Chinese diplomat: “Foreign aid and direct investment have been attracted; Liberia’s international status has been mightily been lifted. Tireless efforts have been made to move the country from dependency to self-sufficiency and turning the nation from poverty to prosperity are achievements that cannot be overlooked.”
Since the bilateral agreement between Liberia and China was renewed when President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took over the country, there has been massive cooperation between the two countries.
The former Ambassador, whose administration saw many projects undertaken by the Chinese Government dedicated and turned over to the Liberian Government, projects like the Tappita Hospital, in Nimba County, the rehabilitation of Central Agriculture Research Institute, CARI in Suakoko, Bong County, and the historical building of the University of Liberia (UL) Fendell Campus outside Monrovia that cost about US$20m.
The bilateral agreement has remained tight and the former Ambassador at his farewell message over the weekend said “Our bilateral relationship has entered its best. The achievements made here are the richest in his diplomatic arena.”
Mr. Zhou mentioned that he is not leaving Liberia to abandon the country, but make it known for more dynamic ambassadors to come to the country. And say he will volunteer as unpaid messenger for good will for Liberia if he called upon. “ I am  Leaving Liberia with the greatest confident that Liberia will export foods to China one day as it has abundant land, adequate rainfall, plentifully sunshine and sufficient manpower which are the ingredients for agriculture,” the outgoing Chinese Ambassador said.
He told guests at the event that he is proud, satisfied and fulfilled to have served in Liberia. Mr. Zhou noted that Liberia is the smallest Country he has served, among the many countries he had worked but the number of friends he has made in the country is the largest. “The support I received from the government and people are the strongest,” the outgoing Ambassador said. He said he is Happy with the work done and hoped he could stay and complete his unfinished dreams.
Also at the farewell program, several government entities presented special gifts to the out- going Ambassador. Liberia National Police (LNP) boss Marc Amblard promised the former Ambassdor that LNP will continue to protect the Chinese in the Country. The crowded farewell program was graced by the cabinet, legislature and well wishers.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said it was difficult to say    goodbye to a strong bilateral partner. She said for over three years, China has built strong bridges of friendship on a bilateral basis and personal basis for many in the country. The Liberian leader thanked the former Ambassador for leaving the city on many occasions and going in the rural areas to see the people and responding to some of the needs of those he met.
 Mr. Zhou said all the gifts and honor given to him by the government, he received on behalf of the Chinese people as well as the hard working Chinese Community in Liberia.
He thanked the President for taking him on some of her inspection tours like the unforgettable trip to Bella-Yella on a Christmas Day, and thanked the entire government and the people of Liberia including UNMIL, Chinese officials here for their constant cooperation during his time as ambassador.

MORLU ERA OVER - Ellen Says No To Renomination Of Auditor General

Monrovia - Press Statement by Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf  on the expiration of the employment contract of Auditor-General John S. Morlu II

March 25, 2011


In my Inaugural speech on January 16, 2006, I declared corruption public enemy number one, and promised to fight it. Since then, we have made some landmark strides in this direction:

a.      We have passed new procurement laws whose effects are felt through the bidding process;

b.     We are implementing the first ever Public Financial Management Act;

c.      We have joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), becoming the first African country to be validated as EITI compliant;

d.     We have established and empowered an Anti-Corruption Commission with full powers to fight corruption anywhere in Government, including at the highest levels;

e.      We have restructured and funded the General Auditing Commission, making it accountable to the Legislature as it is done in the United States and other progressive countries;

f.      We have given the GAC sweeping powers to audit any official and/or agency of government, even at the highest levels, at anytime, without necessarily seeking approval from the President or anyone else;

g.     We have required appointed officials to declare their assets to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission.

h.     We have ensured total freedom for the media to investigate and expose corruption everywhere in the country; we have required every agency of Government to fully cooperate with the works of the GAC and Anti-Corruption Commission. While we have always had qualms with the mode of operation of the GAC, we have fully supported the Commission and cooperated with its work;

i.       Although overall corruption clearly remains a serious challenge in the country, we have made progress in our fight against corruption as evidenced by our ranking on the Transparency International’s (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index, which shows that Liberia ranks 13th place out of 47 countries on progress made against corruption in sub-Saharan Africa today compared to 30th place in 2008, an improvement of about 13 places.

As I have always said, corruption is not a new problem in Liberia. It is almost as old as the country itself. Therefore, the fight against it has got to be the responsibility of all Liberians, and it will take time, sacrifices and patience from all of us.

Our current Auditor-General, Mr. John S. Morlu II, was recruited and nominated by me in January 2007, confirmed by the Liberian Senate in February 2007 and assumed the position in March 2007.

On my advice to them regarding this appointment, the European Union concluded an agreement with the Auditor-General to pay the salary for the first four years of the contract, with the understanding that the Liberian Government will assume this responsibility thereafter. We want to thank the European Union for ensuring that the Auditor-General’s compensation was lucrative and for providing other forms of support to the GAC for the past four years.

We did not always agree with the way Mr. Morlu performed his job, including an indictment that our Government was three times more corrupt than its predecessors, even before he officially commissioned his very first audit. However, we continued to support him and want to sincerely thank him for his immense contributions to our fight against corruption. Our disagreements over his mode of operation have never negated the fact that he has established a foundation that his successors can build upon in the fight against corruption.

Fellow Liberians, whatever our differences and opinions, whatever our motives and objectives, the Office of the President demands a certain amount of respect and I can do no less than assure that this is the case. Additionally, as the fight against corruption will continue to demand a hefty amount of our time, our energies, our thoughts and our resources, we can ill-afford needless distractions and controversies. Therefore, I will not be re-nominating him for the post of Auditor-General of the Republic of Liberia.

Thus, in conformity with the Act, approved May 5, 2005, which changed the status of the General Auditing Commission, the Deputy Auditor-General will act in the capacity of the Auditor-General until, through a professional recruitment process, a new Auditor-General is nominated. This will ensure continuity in the work and independence of the General Auditing Commission.

We will ask for continued financial and technical support of the European Union to the General Auditing Commission. This will enable us to act even more effectively in fighting corruption and in pursuing appropriate legal action against those charged with financial malpractice in the 40-plus audit reports that have been concluded.

Please be assured that the change in the Auditor-General represents a mere change in person. Our commitment to continue the fight against corruption remains inviolate.

MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS’ STILL EXISTS HERE

Despite agreement with Supreme Court, FrontPageAfrica remains committed to our readers and the expression of their views. Nothing, and we mean, nothing, will kill our fight to preserve the principles of free speech and the right to expression.
THE EVENTS of the last weekend has not in any way, shape or form deterred FrontPageAfrica from objective to expose the ills of our society and allow you, our readers a forum to express your views.

THOSE VIEWS may not be welcomed in many quarters or come as music to the ears of the powers that be but we strongly believe that our opinion pages is the right place for you to vent out your frustrations, your anger and dislike for the powers.

WE HOLD the belief that our opinion pages is the best place for everyone, regardless of religion, race, creed or beliefs to speak truth to power.
FOR DECADES we have stood by and watch as scores of our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers endure hardships, oppression and suppression under tyrannical previous administrations.

TODAY, one of those, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is head of our state. Until the arrest of the Editor of FrontPageAfrica, the administration had boasted a record of not having a journalist in jail.

SIRLEAF, in her State of the Nation address Monday said she strongly believes that the most essential ingredient of democracy is the total freedom of speech with the attendant political right that gives rise to a vibrant and thriving society. Said the President: ‘‘If we have learned anything during our years of advocacy and political opposition, it is certainly how precious freedom of speech can be. This Administration has never attempted and will never be part of any effort to curtail the freedom of expression.’’

IT WAS in view of this that the President, said in recognition of the freedom and the open society her administration has promoted since coming to power, 200 journalists from across Africa, at the African Editors Forum held in Bamako, Mali, in October, awarded her  the “Friend of the Media Award,” the first to be awarded a sitting President.
TURNING to Chief Justice Johnnie Lewis, the President then declared: ‘‘We are glad that the saga on the weekend has been resolved, allowing us to continue to enjoy the distinction of having no journalists or politicians in jail.’’

WE WELCOME and hail the behind-the-scenes efforts made by the President to secure the release of the FrontPageAfrica editor and we would hope that other branches of government would take heed and begin to exercise tolerance.

AS MUCH as the media is required to be responsible in their reporting, that responsible must never be accompanied by fear or the thoughts of being jailed, oppressed or suppressed for publishing commentaries and letters.

THE SUPREME COURT must exercise tolerance and must not allow it self to sway away from its core objective which is to dispense justice in a fair and impartial manner.

FREEDOM comes with responsibility but it also comes with the ability of all to exercise tolerance and respect for each and every Liberia’s views and the forum and medium through which those views are expressed.

IRONICALLY, Glady’s Johnson was allowed to express those views years ago when, in 1979, Liberia was hosting the annual gathering of the Organization of African Unity.  She wrote an opinion piece in the government-owned Liberian Age in which she took a stab at African leaders and the Tolbert administration.

NOT ONE hair was touched and one drop of blood drawn from the woman who would later be appointed to sit on the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice to dispense justice.

SO WHY should anyone else now be prevented from speaking their mind.?

THE ANSWER may be a difficult pill to swallow but members of the high court must make it their duty to ensure that the freedom of speech in Liberia’s post-war environment is preserved because in the final analysis, no one wants to live in a country where the highest court is intolerant to their views.

Allegations Of Corruption In Liberia: Blessing For Government Officials But Bane And Achilles Heel For The New Unity Party?(God Forbid!)

Last night during my usual “thoughts thinking” time and introspection, I arrived at a controversial but rude awakening that the issue of corruption in Liberia is becoming the "Achilles Heel" of the New Unity Party led government of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. In the confusion of my “thought out thoughts”, I resolved that if the New Unity Party does not take quick actions to meet corruption in the middle of the arena, the bout in 2011 might be more gargantuan than it imagined; if corruption continues to be a blessing for opposition parties, and a bane and Achilles Heel for the Old Ma and her New Unity Party, Counselor Varney Sherman’s march to victory will present untold angst.

My introspection was spurred by the recent speech delivered by one of Liberia’s finest statesman and journalists, Mr. Kenneth Y. Best, during the Anti-Corruption Day Observance in Monrovia. Mr. Best raised concerns over the rate at which corruption is becoming rampant, and dissented from the manner in which corruption cases are handled in our country. In his highly acclaimed speech, he challenged the President to take more concrete actions against corrupt officials instead of sending them on “administrative leave”, because according to him, such actions were only “slaps on the wrists”, and would not even assuage the situation. Adding her voice to Mr. Best’s food for thought, US Ambassador Greenfield advised, “Fire them.”

You see, Liberian people have the proclivity to label anybody who raises concerns over national issues as “opposition”; who would not concur with Mr. Best on such a constructive concern, a man who has proven a true patriot, and who has also stood the tests of time like Madam Johnson-Sirleaf herself? Mr. Best cannot be considered an opposition for expressing such lofty views, but a voice of conscience and caution for the New Unity Party.

The Blessing for Corrupt officials

The blessing from my introspection can be explained from several perspectives. For instance, corruption has proven to be a blessing to civil servants from abroad and local quarters. For those from abroad, the gains they make from corruption will always be blessings because they wield power they never imagined would come in a lifetime, not here in America, God forbid; some take home or send back remunerations they would never have dreamt of in the Diasporas from their “Group Home” jobs; if they ever earned those remunerations, it must have been by working their backsides on the hour. As Liberian civil servants, they don’t have to drive disabled and sick people around in their cars before making huge over-time wages, but simply sit behind a desk in Liberia for few hours and take long lunch hours. Who would argue that they are not blessed for such grave but glorious opportunities?
The Blessing for Opposition Parties
Blessing from another perspective is that corruption has become a tool with which opposition parties are being equipped to fight the incumbent New Unity Party. Come 2011, the mantra which will reverberate over the length and breadth of this nation among opposition politicians will be, “The Ellen led Government is corrupt and we all heard her confirm that many times, so why vote for her again?” The oppositions will use this tool in so many situations that it will become their trump card. Oppositions will back bench all of the achievements of this government including the highly welcome “Debt Forgiveness” and free speech, just to name a few. To the oppositions, these are just a drop in the bucket because, according to them, if Ma Ellen’s officials were not stealing the country’s money, we would have moved further than where we are.

The Bane for Madam Sirleaf

While it is true that corruption is commonplace, unlike leaders of other countries which were found to be corrupt, Madam Johnson-Sirleaf has kept herself very clean. It is understandable and sympathetic that she was betrayed. For instance, having won elections, the first thing I, Mwalimu-Koh Blonkanjay Jackson, would do is to recruit people who helped my campaign; the other people I would bring on board would be by recommendations from my so-called trusted-friends-turned hyenas. Now if these hyenas let me down, it becomes my “bane” or my bad luck. This is where I sympathize with the President. Let’s face the fact, nobody in her sound mind would find pleasure in recruiting an unabashed lot with signs of shady characteristics, to damage her administration. Unfortunately, the President has to drink from this bitter cup being served her by those who she thought would deliver the goods to the Liberian people.
The Achilles Heel

For brevity, an Achilles’ heel is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, which can actually or potentially lead to downfall. Baker (2005) in his thesis on "Capitalism's Achilles Heel and Dirt Money" metaphorically applied this Greek mythology. When Achilles was a baby, it was foretold that he would die in battle from an arrow in the foot. Naturally, his mother did not want Achilles to die so she took him to the River Styx which was supposed to offer powers of invincibility and dipped his body into the water. But as the mother held Achilles by the heel, his heel was not washed over by the water of the magical river. Achilles grew up to be a man of valor and war, and survived great battles. Unfortunately, one day, an arrow shot at him was lodged in his heel, killing him instantly.
In her response to Mr. Best’s, Madam Johnson-Sirleaf made insinuations, without any disrespect to
Her Excellency, that the fight against corruption was becoming the Achilles Heel of the Unity Party led government. Don’t smile yet, there is nothing wrong with admitting an Achilles Heel though. Note that even Barack Obama of the great USA identified his own Achilles Heel as the “Hell No” Republican Party attitude towards him. The great Apostle Paul also alluded to his Achilles Heel, “a torn in his flesh,” that he had accepted to live and die with. He lamented, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me” (Holy Bible, 2 Corinthians 2:7). In my struggle as a country RiverCess boy back in the days in pursuit of quality education, I identified my own Achilles Heel as being born to a poor painter in abject poverty, and here I am today audaciously writing this piece for worldwide consumption, having  engaged the insurmountable.

My word to the New Unity Party is simple. Because corruption is “systemic” does not mean an “All Out War” cannot be waged and fought tooth and nail. If corruption acceptably becomes the bane and Achilles Heel of this government, the New Unity Party is in serious trouble with the scores of opposition parties that are lined up, perched, teeth and claws sharpened, and geared up for a fierce 2011 political waterloo. 

Having thought out my thoughts, I could not sleep over the idea that an “Iron Lady” who has battled many governments over corruption, being vilified, jailed, and sacrificed her life many times, would accept the fight against corruption as her bane and worst of all, her Achilles’ Heel.
I refuse to stomach the notion that Counselor Varney Sherman, an erudite and highly acclaimed man of virtue and jurisprudence would allow such an irritating vice as corruption, dwindle the New Unity Party’s dream of a 2011 victory march and celebrations. God forbid!
When I finally began to rub some sleep into my eyes, I asked myself, “Is corruption in Liberia going to continue being blessing for corrupt officials, but bane and Achilles Heels for Ma Ellen and the Unity Party?” The answer quickly came, “God forbid!”
I am simply just “thinking thoughts.”

About the author

Mwalimu-Koh M. Blonkanjay Jackson who hails from RiverCess County, is a former senator of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Student Government, a YALE and UPENN Fellow and a Doctoral Student at Temple University. This Ivy League scholar’s authorship includes curricula in physics and mathematics, an anthology, and informative essays on education in Liberia. The Swahili title Mwalimu-Koh meaning Veteran Educator & Scholar, was conferred on Blonkanjay Jackson by his East African colleagues due to his achievements in academia. Mr. Jackson can be reached at 267 210 7531/6105343508 or mjb618@mail.harvard.edu, mblonkanjay@yahoo.com

FPA Editorial Team

EDITORIAL TEAM

RODNEY D. SIEH, MANAGING EDITOR

Rodney D. Sieh is a veteran Liberian journalist with more than fifteen years experience. During the height of the civil war in Liberia , he covered the war as a senior reporter for the Monrovia Daily News, venturing on the frontlines with ECOMOG peacekeepers to report on the casualties and progress of the devastating war.

In 1992, Sieh fled Liberia for The Gambia to help his uncle Kenneth Best in run the independent Daily Observer. While in The Gambia, Sieh became a correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC).  When Yahya Jammeh and a corps of lowly-ranked officers seized power from Sir Dawda Jawara, Sieh braved the skirmishes of gunfire and ventured to State House where he scored the first interview with the new ruler and his key lieutenants. Despite Jammeh’s pledge to distinguish himself from other African dictators before him, the aftermath of the coup saw a string of disappearances and mysterious killings. When Sieh’s uncle, Mr. Best was arrested in late September 1994, Sieh broke the news on the BBC and soon after Jammeh’s forces went out in search of him, forcing him into hiding.  Mr. Sieh fled the Gambia in November 1994 for London , England en route to the United States .

A graduate with honors in Media Studies graduate from Hunter College, Mr. Sieh has worked with several U.S. newspapers including Newport News, Syracuse Post Standard and the Daily Record.  He worked as an intern at including the Newark Star Ledger, the Kansas City Star.  At Hunter College, Sieh, was among the pilot team which launched the first online college newspaper, The Word, which many students past and present use to build their resumes and journalism credentials (writing samples etc) to find jobs. In 2009, Sieh served as a panelist at a United Nations Peacebuilding panel.

Today, he, along with a small team of dedicated staff, has successfully transformed these news visual and investigative skills into the widely-read FrontPageAfrica.com now FrontPageAfricaonline.com which was launched in June 2005 and now enjoys almost 20 million visitors a month. FrontPageAfrica, along with other civil society groups, have been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen Liberia's new democracy which, if it is to be sustainable, must be built on the rule of law, good governance and respect for Human rights. In this respect, FrontPageAfrica has been at the forefront of the battle to expose corruption and acts inimical to good governance in Liberia that has earned it the respect and admiration of the Liberian populace. The stories published by FrontPageAfrica have led to specific policy reforms to strengthen Liberia's new democratic institutions, and to provide greater transparency and public accountancy in government, but these struggles are far from over and must be sustained at all levels.

Continuing its hard-hitting cutting-edge approach, FrontPageAfrica in December 2009 launched its print version and has already rocketed to the most circulated and one of the most –widely-read newspaper in Liberia today.

NAT BAYJAY

Nat Bayjay is the Senior Reporter for FrontPageAfrica Incorporated. His responsibilities include writing lead stories and other feature-stories for the entity’s over 20 million online and print
editions’ audiences.

Notably among his masterpieces are the widely read articles ‘Man Without a Face: 1 Year after Armed Robbery Attack, Victim Lingers in Pain  and its sequel ‘FACELIFT: Man Without A Face Off to U.S. for
Surgery; Two Years after Acid Burn’, ‘Liberia's Sanitation Hell: In Clara Town, Scarcity of Toilets Pose Health Risks ‘ and the most recent stirring story ‘Bare-Floor Education: At One Liberian School,
Kids Learning The Hard Way ’.

He also coordinates and supervises nine other reporters and five nationwide correspondents, providing guidance and editorial assistances where needed.

Additionally, he has been involved with training three interns during the summer for the entity.

He is a graduate of the University of Liberia (UL) where he earned a Bachelor in Public Administration (BPA) with minor in Mass Communications. His recent attendances of other internationally-organized journalistic and other media related workshops and trainings have given him urge in reporting on issues in
Liberia’s post-conflict era.

Nat Bayjay, doubles as head of FrontPageAfrica county team and a Senior Reporter.  His responsibilities include writing lead stories and other
feature-stories for the entity’s over 20 million online and print
editions’ audiences.

Notably among his masterpieces are the widely read articles ‘Man
Without a Face: 1 Year after Armed Robbery Attack, Victim Lingers in
Pain  and its sequel ‘FACELIFT: Man Without A Face Off to U.S. for
Surgery; Two Years after Acid Burn’, ‘Liberia's Sanitation Hell: In
Clara Town, Scarcity of Toilets Pose Health Risks ‘ and the most
recent stirring story ‘Bare-Floor Education: At One Liberian School,
Kids Learning The Hard Way ’ .

He also coordinates and supervises nine other reporters and five
nationwide correspondents, providing guidance and editorial
assistances where needed.

Additionally, he has been involved with training three interns during
the summer for the entity.

He is a graduate of the University of Liberia (UL) where he earned a
Bachelor in Public Administration (BPA) with minor in Mass
Communications. His recent attendances of other
internationally-organized journalistic and other media related
workshops and trainings have given him urge in reporting on issues in
Liberia’s post-conflict era.

Wade Williams

Wade C.L. Williams is a Liberian Journalist currently serving as Editor of Frontpage Africa Newspaper. Her career as a journalist spans ten years. Wade holds a degree in Mass Communications from the United Methodist University. She believes in diligence in service.

She served for many years as a columnist on political issues with the Liberian Diaspora Newspaper. Before coming to FrontPage Africa, Wade was Executive Director of the Liberian Diaspora Magazine.

Her most challenging experience in the field was when she followed the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for seven days, cataloging every activity. As a student at the United Methodist University, Wade pioneered the first student newsletter ‘Inside UMU’ and graduated top of her class ‘Magna Cum Laude’.

Wade has a good sense of humor. Even amid the most difficult of situations she still finds time to smile.

AARON LEAF

Aaron Leaf has been a magazine editor and writer for five years now in Canada and in Zambia. He joins the FrontPage Africa team as a print media trainer for Journalists for Human Rights. His main interest is
in long-form investigative journalism and online multimedia stories.

You can contact him at aaron.leaf@gmail.com.

Gboko John Stewart

Coming from a family of writers, Gboko John Stewart is a self taught writer. His father, John H.T. Stewart is a journalist. His late grandmother, Sarah Porte Stewart wrote a collection of unpublished short stories while her brother, Albert Porte, was Liberia’s greatest pamphleteer who fought for social justice. He started as a copy editor/reporter in August 2008 at the Liberia Observer Corporation, Publishers of the Daily Observer Newspaper, and while in high school at Monrovia College. Pursuing his passion in investigative reporting, he moved on to FrontPage Africa. He brought the authorities attention to students’ heralded ‘Super Friday’- a day set aside by students in which students from every high school gathered on the beach and merry make (drinking, smoking etc). He loves reporting on issues that are overlooked in society (like the sale of alcohol and cigarette to minors).

David Kolleh

David B. Kolleh is a Liberian Journalist with a rich seven years of work experience at three of Liberia’s top media outlets including in print television and radio. He’s worked for Love TV, the Liberian Journal, Daily Observer and Insight. He is currently at FrontPage Africa as a staff writer. At both Daily Observer and Insight he served as a Senior Reporter, reporting from the Executive and Legislative branches of the Liberian Government. David believes that by exposing corruption he can help save the country’s resources from plunder.

Clara K. Mallah is a Liberian journalist, who has covered many stories mainly humor interest. With two years experience in the media, she has written heart-touching stories relating to women’s issues and some investigative reporting that has caught the attention of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and others including the ‘5LD for Sex’ story. She started reporting news in 2008, at the Daily Observer News Paper and currently works at the FrontPage Africa News Paper. Mallah is also a fellow at the New Narratives. She’s a graduating senior at the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU). She’s an associate member of the press Union of Liberia.

M. Welemongai Ciapha II

M. Welemongai Ciapha, II, a self -taught writer was born in Sanoyea, Bong County on March 13, 1958.

His early education was marred by difficulties, because of his interest in politics, which was considered at the time as a dangerous venture for a poor student.

With his interest of being a politician, Ciapha managed to have graduated from the Assembly of God Mission High School in Sinkor, Monrovia in1988.

In 1992, Ciapha took up his pen and went into hiding in the forest in his hometown, Gorla as an unknown writer for fear of the NPFL rebels, and began the publication of series of articles behind the rebel lines.

He was later tracked down by the NPFL with one of the articles at Tubman’s farm, near Totota on March 3, 1996 highlighting how a pregnant woman was being buried alive in Sanoyea, but was later set free.

Sports writer A. Macaulay Sombai  began his career writing for the then Sports Journal Newspaper. He  has undergone training at the Sports Department of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) 1998.

He became one of the popular sport reporters of the LBS Sports Department headed by Zoegar Jaynes and Henry Flomo. The latter currently is the communications Director at the Liberia Football Association (LFA).

Based on some of the changes that took place at the LBS after the 2003 LURD-MODEL’s incursion, Sombai joined King’s 88.5 FM owned by Royal Communication Incorporated (RCI) in 2005.

In December 2007, the Liberia Football Association (LFA) honored and certificated Sombai as the best sports writer of the year and in 2008 the Liberia Basketball Federation (LBF) also honored and certificated him as the best sports writer of the year.

Prior to receiving the two awards, he received certificate from LFA Sinkor, the LFA West Clara and the LFA Central Monrovia sub-committees in 2006, 2007 and 2008 as the best journalist of those years base on his accurate reporting.

Sombai has also received from the Inter School Sports Association (ISSA) for the past four years as the best journalist of the year. Presently, another award en route from ISSA- all is due to his excellent reporting.

GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT

FrontPage Africa Graphics Designer/ Layout Editor
Jacob Roland

It took me a long time, working in many different places, before I started working with FrontPage Africa. Graphic design is something that I love...art. I spent most of my time on the computer as a teenager growing up to become a graphic designer. I have passion for what I do. In addition to being a graphic designer, I am also a layout expert.

Am a student of the Stella Maris Polytechnic studying Electronic Engineering, I also have an associate degree in Desktop Publishing from ATIBC school of Technology in Nigeria.

My design expertise includes designing business cards, to billboards, logo design, brochures, newsletters, magazine etc.

As a designer, I strive to create designs; to push the envelope and welcome new challenges with excitement. Clean and uncluttered design is the common thread throughout my portfolo, and with my input as layout editor of FrontPage Africa, I have won awards, which is testament tos the widespread appeal of my work.

Albert T. Dayyeah 
I am a Graphics Designer and a Student of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU).
At AMEU I am reading Accounting and Economics. Graphics Designer is a whole lot of fun and entertainment. I worked in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Corel Draw 12 and others.

Chase Walker is an artist, a graphic designer and a book illustrator. Cartoon is the simplest way I find to convey my opinion.

The characters and text might look funny and make you laugh, but the mean aim is for the individual to digest the message, and when this happen I feel I’ve achieved something.

J. Ralph Lincoln is an experienced entertainment Journalist who has been fully involved in the field since 2003.  He served as Editor for Liberia’s premier sports and entertainment newspaper- Monrovia Tidings for four years and Sub-Editor of Ultimate Choice Magazine before moving to FrontPageAfrica where he serves as Lifestyle/Entertainment reporter/Editor.

He formerly produced and presented “Back From Church” and “Movie Box” both on Magic Radio 99.2 and is the present producer and host of “HOT FACTORS,” a live radio show that showcases the movers and shakers of Liberia, with focus on their lifestyles and the issues surrounding them. The television’s version of the program is set to go public soon.

Mr. Lincoln resides in Monrovia with his son J. Ralph Lincoln, Jr. (aka Raj) and other families…and if you are wondering…yes, he is a single dad.

J. Ralph Lincoln

Chase Walker

Jacob Roland

A. Macaulay Sombai

GEORGE TUBMAN LAID TO REST

Wade.williams@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia -

The body of the late George Emmanuel Tubman has been laid to rest. Funeral services over the remains of the former National Port Authority Managing Director, was held at the First United Methodist Church on Ashmun Street in Monrovia.
Following funeral rites over the body of the deceased, he was taken to the Smith’s family Cemetary in Bensonville where he was laid to rest.
At the funeral, tributes were paid by the family, the National Port Authority, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, LPRC, the Liberian government, the First United Methodist Church etc.
In her eulogistic sermon Rev. Erlene P. Thompson pastor of FUMC where Tubman was a dedicated member, described the deceased as a man who took care of his family, unlike other men who neglected their wives children, Rev. Thompson said Mr. Tubman was an example to good fatherhood. 
William V. S. Tubman Jr., described the late Mr. Tubman as a quiet man someone anyone could talk to whenever they faced difficulty in life. The son of Liberia’s Eighteenth President William V.S. Tubman Sr, revealed that it was during George Tubman’s administration as Managing Director of the NPA in 1969 that the country was able to pay up on all the debt incurred from the construction of the port.
The Children of the deceased described their father as an outstanding person, a man of principles with strong family values. The Government of Liberia in its lamentation said Liberia has lost a dedicated public servant.
The President of the Liberia Football Association, LFA Musa Bility in his tribute along with the LFA family recounted the numerous contributions made to football in Liberia by the deceased. He said in 1954 the late Tubman was selected to play for the national team and he played a major role in shaping football as it is today.
When the mortal remains of the late former NPA boss was being lowered into the grave his wife Rachel could not hold back her tears. She cried bitterly for her baby as she referred to him and the expression of great grief brought tears to the eyes of many. The couple stayed married for fifty years and their union was blessed with four children, Elizabeth Matu Tubman, Joycelyn Yvette Tubman Goodridge, George E. Tubman Jr. and Georgene Etina Tubman. The funeral was well attended by hundreds of people including family members, friends and sympathizers. Mr. Tubman was born on January 16, 1930 and was snatched away by the cold hands of death on February 20, 2011.