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NEWS EXTRA News Extra
VOL 8 NO.642
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2014
see PG 2, 3 & 4 - Interview
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
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
TUESDAY, JULY15, 2014 L$91.00/US$1 L$92.00/US$1
BUYING SELLING
L$86.00/US$1 L$87.00/US$1
L$86.00/US$1 L$85.00/US$1
MONDAY, JULY21, 2014
TUESDAY, JULY22, 2014
Crime Watch pg.7
Critics Say Robert Sirleaf is Trying
to Stitch up His Mothers Failures
THE
FIXER?

SUSPECT ARRESTED AT LOQUATO BORDER
MAKES STARTLING REVELATION
Mitchell King, according to immigration and police sources reportedly explained that
that he is a member of the Boko Haram group from Nigeria and came to Liberia to
inform the Liberian government that two of the groups members are on a mission to
bomb or attack Liberia at any time.
DONT SELL
OUR OIL
BLOCKS
Citizens Mount pressure on
lawmakers Not to ratify sale of Oil

IS BOKO HARAM REALLY
PLANNING LIBERIA ATTACK?
Page 2 |
Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
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Monrovia -
B
enjamin Sanvee, youth Advisor to former Liberian
President Charles Taylor who was recently
endorsed by the opposition Liberty Party as its
candidate for the pending Montserrado County
senatorial election says he is looking to be a fghter at the
Liberian senate if elected by the people of the most populous
county. Sanvee says Liberians mainly people in Montserrado
are looking for new trends and new ways of doing things and
that is what he brings to the national table. In an exclusive
interview with FRONTPAGEAFRICA Sanvee challenged
perceptions from quarters that the county is owned by any
political party, individual or politician judging from the
shrinkage in votes from 2005 election to 2011, vowing that he
is not looking after names but actively engaging the people of
the county to elect him to the senate where he will be a fghter
to work with the people to change things for the better.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Who is Benjamin Sanvee?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: I always like to let people know
that, fst of all, I am a father, I am a husband, I am someone
who deeply loves my country and I am a patriot. I believe
that service is probably one of the greatest callings that one
can have as far as serving ones county and one community.
So I consider myself a patriot and I do know that love I this
country to the extent that I am willing to serve. We will talk
about the political side of things but whenever people ask me
this question; I always like to name those three things, being
a father, a husband and a patriot because those are the things
that defne my life.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Why are you running to become
senator of Montserrado County?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: I am running not because I have had
his long-held dream to become senator, I saw a moment, I saw
a shock and I saw an opportunity for our people to start to
see things differently, to elevate a conversation that prior to us
entering this race was set in stone.
I am running not because I am looking for a job. I am running
because I have a passion to serve. I have a passion to do
what I do, I wake up every single day thinking about ways
in how we can uplift our people, ways in which we can help
a market woman who is trying to remove herself from the
current situation she is in to put herself in a better position. I
am running because of that young man who is riding the motor
cycle and does not have a future as far as where he goes from
riding the motorcycle. I am running because, I know that my
parents are depending on me, on mine generation to be able to
create and build a Liberia that they can retire in. I am running
that there is a certain symbolism in my candidacy; that for the
frst time our people are summoning themselves to something
greater than just the status co that because something is set
in stone or conventional wisdom speaks toward this thing, so
this is how it is supposed to be. So in essence from a policy
standpoint, I have always said I intend to be a fghter in the
Liberia senate; I dont consider myself a perfect human being.
I will not be perfect senator but I promise the people of this
county that I will be a fghter to fght for the issues that will be
able to uplift their lives.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: What has been your involvement
past and present with the people of Montserrado County?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: I was born and raised here, I went to
high school here, Cathedral High School had an opportunity,
I got a blessing to travel to go and further my study in the
United States but of course a lot of people know that I served
as National Youth Advisor to the former President of Liberia,
former President Charles Taylor. During my tenure, you know
it is a record that I am very proud of because we worked
tirelessly with relevant government agencies, we worked with
young people. Our advocacy led to the construction of a school
in the Borough of New Kru Town, our advocacy led to the
renovation and construction of the former Bassa Community
Academy. We worked hard with the Ministry of Education to
implement the Assistance Enrollment Program that benefted
close to 200,000 students, students from across this country.
Our advocacy and our recommendations led to the Liberian
Government paying the WAEC fees for the frst time for 9th
and 12th grade students in public schools. I represented this
country at numerous of conferences around the world, taking
along with me delegations, in some cases 10 to 20 young
people from across the political spectrum of this country. I
have always said that I do not have a lengthy resume but my
resume doesnt overshadow the passion that I have for service.
When I came from University, I started a nonproft
organization, I do not like to call it nonproft because it is a
political movement also, call the New Vision Park, what we did
was he had this program call Team Liberia Fellowship where
we trained young men and women into becoming community
leaders how to build strong communities around systems that
will be able to implement and uplift their lives and of course
the highlight of what we did was in 2011 elections when we
held the presidential and vice presidential debates and some
legislative debates in certain counties, so my service has been
one of passion, is one of my connection with the people of
this county and I felt that some point my fnger print were not
been seen because it was deliberate advising the president, you
F
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INTERVIEW
BENJAMIN SANVEE LOOKING TO UNLOCK MONTSERRADO
COUNTY IN UPCOMING MID TERM SENATORIAL RACE
THE GAME CHANGER
give your advise and the President decides to implement or
not. But those are some of the things that we have done and we
will continue to do, I dont like to talk about scholarship, how
many people I have on scholarship because those things, I am
doing it not because I want to score political points, I am doing
it because I believe that education is the foundation on which
any society or any successful country should be built.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: During the time you served as
youth advisor to former president Taylor, many will argue that
there were no known youth programs but instead youths were
conscripted and forced into the ATU and other militias to fght,
so how does that affect your candidacy?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: Well you know during my period,
in fact I served as youth advisor for 11 months and I think
it was from 1998 to 199 because I was in the 12th grade
after which when I graduated I had the opportunity to travel.
During my tenure, I never heard of cases where young people
were conscripted and in fact my ascendancy as youth advisor
was based on the premise of me not been in agreement with
what the government was doing on certain issues but at that
particular point in time, it was during that period, we did not
have the war, I do know it happened after the civil war, sparked
off again and it was something we were very vocal against.
We registered our disagreement and were very vocal on the
fact that the young people of our country should not be used
toward fghting war and pillaging and doing those things but
they should be used in a positive way and I believe that at this
particular point in time mine message to a lot of young people
is that we cannot allow our past to hold us hostage. Our past
should not defne what our future will look like, we will learn
from our past so that we do not repeat those mistakes and I will
continue to say that I am head focus on the future and what
we can do as a nation to not make those mistakes, because we
know where those mistakes got us.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Mr. Sanvee, the Liberty party has
not done so well in Montserrado County during the past two
elections in 2005 and 2011 in terms of legislative election.
What difference can the party make with a Sanvee as its
candidate?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: Well, you know one of the interesting
things of what had happened is that when we joined the Liberty
party, we were very, very clear that we were going to go from
a position of strength, prior to me joining the Liberty Party
earlier this year, we had built a movement, the Team Sanvee
movement which carved this whole candidacy, we have
built a movement across the county, look some of the most
inspirational stories that I have heard on this trail and that I am
going to be communicating during this campaign are stories
from young and old people who have stood up and have risen
up to say, we believe in what you are saying. We believe in
what this is about and we agree that this county deserves a
fresh part, so when it comes to the issue of the Liberty party,
you have to understand something, we may not have won as
many seats as other political parties have won but when you
look at the numbers, demographic, there were places where
Liberty Party candidates came third; where they came second
and when you add all of those components together, thats why
I believe that this county is not owned by any political party
because the numbers speak differently. So, we believe that our
candidacy coming on board provides an opportunity and the
Liberty Party will work hard, to be able to build. We know that
some of the things that we are doing have not been done before
in Liberian politics. We are reaching out; we are doing things
for the frst time and people are noticing and saying you are
doing something different.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Montserrado County is considered
the stronghold of George Weah and the CDC, what gives you
the confdence that you can make inroads in this county?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: Well, no one is be naive enough to
negate the fact that Ambassador Weah is an extremely popular
fgure, I have always said that I respect him, I believe he is
someone who love this country like I do but we just have
fundamental political differences. But again like I said, this
notion that one political party, one politician, one political
leader has a stronghold or ownership of an entire county, I
believe that the facts does not add up. If you look at what has
happened with the trend of electioneering across this country,
you will see that there has been some shrinkage when it comes
to the whole issue of numbers and where the CDC was in 2005
and where the CDC is today. So what we have done is not to
focus on what the CDC is going to do, we are focusing on what
we are going to do, how effective our campaign will be; that
is it for us. We are going to take the message to the people and
we are going take the fght directly to our opponents and let

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INTERVIEW
them know this is an election about the issues and it is not just
going to be about who is popular, what they done before and
many votes they had won in the past, because key to this is
that the mindset of our people is changing, there is a political
shift happening in the county and we are going take advantage
of that shift.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: This issue of privileged background
has been up in the days and weeks leading to your endorsement
by the Liberty Party. How do you hope to convince voters
that you are one of them, you understand their plights, you
understand their frustrations and whatever?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: The fact of the matter is I do not
believe that I come from a privileged background and I am not
running away from it. I am not from a rich family but I always
tell people that I am from a family of hard workers. I am from
a family of people who instilled into me the principles and
fundamentals of working hard and being honest in everything
that I do and I am not going to apologize for that. I am not
from a poor family, the reality is that when people work hard
and that is the message that we need to send across to our
people. That it is not ok for you to remain in the position
that you are in but it is not also ok for society to create an
environment where people cannot grow. That is why some of
us are in this race; that is why when I say to you that I intend
to be a fghter, that is what I mean because I was thought that
you dont get things easily that when you get things easily,
you dont appreciate it. Thats why someone said to me why
are you running now, you so young, youre 32-years-old, wait
for the House of Representatives. My thing is, that is one of
the reasons why we have a lot of defciencies when it comes
to leadership in our country because half of the people that
were elected got elected just based on the fact that someone
went into their communities, into their districts and put their
hands in the air and somebody followed them. So in the end
there is no appreciation of what the constituencies brought to
the table. What I have said and I will continue to say is that
my upbringing has defned me and shaped me into the man
that I am and that is something I am extremely proud of. I
have worked very hard in my entire life and I appreciate the
upbringing that I have, the whole value that was instilled in me
by my family and I believe that the people of this county are
not looking for somebody who necessarily is someone who
was born in particular part of the county, they are looking for a
fghter, they are looking for someone who will be able to help
work with them to solve the problems.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: This issue of citizenship is one of
the most talked about nowadays, you are one of many Liberians
who had the opportunity to travel outside the country so many
Liberians took up foreign citizenship because they needed to
get good jobs and better standard of living. Are you a Liberian,
an American or have citizenship of both?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: I am a bona fde Liberian and it was
a decision that I made, I had the opportunity if I wanted to,
to get US citizenship. But it was a decision that I made and I
am willing to provide all disclosures to that, my issue is, for
me it is something that I take very serious because our laws
are very clear, the issue of dual citizenship, we can have that
conversation but as it stands today anyone who intends to seek
elective offce in Liberia, you have to be a Liberian citizen and
I am one, I hold no other nationality apart from my Liberian
citizenship.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Lets look at the issue of the Robert
Sirleaf candidacy. There are reports that he has been paying
off some of the candidates that will be contesting the election.
Has there been any offer(s) from Mr. Sirleaf or anyone asking
you relinquish your quest?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: Well, no I wouldnt say there was an
offer but I will say there has been conversations. You know in
the political arena people have conversations, you talk, you
reach out to one another, you get a chance to interact with
one another but in the end, look I am in this race, I have made
it clear and I am sure that everyone is aware that when we
started this process, we were committed to this process and we
remain committed to this process. I am in this race, I said that I
will not, not when people believe in me when nobody thought
that there was even shock, here, so for me it is about validating
what I believe in and making sure that we still the course, so,
no I will not say offers were made, I will say conversations
were held that I will not deny, conversations happened because
in the end we welcome him into the race. I was one of the frst
persons, I think, I probably was the frst person that picked up
the phone and called him and thanked him when he made the
decision that he was going to accept the petition. The reason I

did that is because I believe it is good for our politics, we are
competitors but we are not enemies. In the end when Robert
Sirleaf becomes senator, he will be my senator, if I become
senator, I will be his senator. The fact of the matter is that it
is good for our body politics and we encourage everyone who
wants to come, all we ask for is an honest and spirited debate
on the issues, where our people can have an opportunity to
make a clear decision on who represents them in the Liberian
senate.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: During your conversations with Mr.
Sirleaf did he at any time make an offer asking you to back off
from the race?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: Well, no, I would not go as far as
saying that. I will say of course he did say at the end of the
day, this is what it is. I am thinking about it but Mr. Sirleaf did
not. Like I said, I have a great degree of respect for him and all
the other competitors in this race. We are all friends, we talk,
in fact last night I was with Ali Sylla, we were talking, we were
laughing; Ambassador Weah, I know him very well, so there
is nothing different with that. In the end what I have said and
will always say that come October 14 you will see Benjamin
Sanvee and the Liberty party on the ballot. For me that is what
it is and I think everybody knows that by now.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Is it true that you are rallying
support against Ambassador Weah and Mr. Sirleaf before the
NEC or the court for dual citizenship?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: No, I am not. I do not believe that I
have ever said that.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Others believe that you are planning
to do that either through some splinter groups or as Benjamin
Sanvee to take complain to the NEC challenging these guys
citizenship?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: Listen, I have been very clear on my
position when it comes to this citizenship issue. I too have seen
this purported passport of Ambassador Weah, I have seen all
these documents, I am hoping that and I think I have said this
before that these two and all other people being accused or
whatever is defned as accusations and whatever it is, I believe
that they are honorable people. I believe that they will do the
right thing and follow the law of our country and at the end
of the day what I believe needs to happen is that if there are
evidence to show that someone is a US citizen or is citizen
of another country not necessarily just the United States, that
person should not be running, it is just that simple, because our
laws are very clear on that but as it stands right now, I have
no intention whatsoever to do that because like I said again,
I have not heard from Ambassador Weah on the issue and I
am waiting to hear from him. I think I said that in a response
to this very FRONTPAGEAFRICA and I am waiting to hear
from him. I am waiting to hear Mr. Sirleaf saying what he has
to say on the issue and guess what I do believe maybe to solve
this issue, we should go a step further, maybe we should show
proof of our citizenship, maybe we should go a step further in
trying to calm this situation down and that is something I am
willing to do.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: If the two dont speak out and there
is no complaint from any other source, would you accept them
and go into the race?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: Well, no, not in the face of evidence.
If evidence is presented to me that is convincing that there
are US citizens participating in this election, defnitely than
there is a need for us to take action. But like I said, as it stands
right now these are allegations going on, people denying it and
people are saying that they are not, but like said I want to hear
from the horses mouth and then you will be able to form an
opinion or a decision about what you want to do.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: So do you have people looking for
that evidence for you because they are not going to bring such
evidence to you. For example Mr. Sirleaf is not going to bring
his passport to you. Do you have people doing some work for
you in the background to try to get these pieces of evidence
for you?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: No, right now we are focused on
building our campaign. Political parties are supposed to be
flling their candidates nomination to NEC, we are focused on
building our campaign team, we are focused on reaching out to
our people, continuing our awareness and when the campaign
starts. We will go into the nitty gritty of it but honestly I am
not aggressively out there. I dont have the luxury of time to do
that but again like I said if evidence is presented but I am not
going to go out there to look for it.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: There are several names in the
Montserrado race, prominent amongst them is George Weah
and Robert Sirleaf. Robert Sirleaf has lots of money hes
going to spend, George Weah is popular, how are you going
to counter the two?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: You know the interesting thing
about this race is that or, I do believe money is necessary in
electioneering. Yes, you have to print campaign materials,
you have to do that, but I do not believe that the driving force
in this race is going to be about money. If peoples strategy
coming in this process is to spend a lot of money and believe
that they will buy people or buy their votes, I have news for
them, because the reality is that the people of this county; I
would dare say the people of this country, have realized that
proper representation only comes up when they scrutinize and
reach out and understand what their candidates can do, thats
the bet that we have taken, the bet that we have placed and that
the people of this county will make an informed decision at the
end of the day. If you have your money to spend , I have said
to people , no one will refuse money, you know I will, l will not
be in the position to tell anybody to refuse money from people
when they have money to give you, all I have said to people in
whatever you do is that in the end, look at the issues, look at
the candidates, look at our different plans and then make your
decision , but at the end of the day popularity yes is needed,
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Wednesday, July 23, 2014

money yes is essential, but it will not be the only thing that will
drive the voters to making a decision in this race. We seen this
so far because we seen it so far, the fact of the matter is that
Ben Sanvee, look I am not rich, I have always said it; but I am
one of the top contenders so it is proven that mystery wrong
in fact.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: So Who do you consider your most
feared rival in this election?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: I dont take any one of the candidates
for granted. The fact of the matter is that we are going to work
hard. We are going to reach out to our people and we are going
to win on the issues. For me, it is not about singling out one
person, because I am not going to do that, what I am going to
do is to draw the contrasts. I am hoping that all the competitors
in this race will come up with their plans and debate the issues
because in the end the people should be able to hear from us.
They should be able to hear us explain the things we say we
want to do, thats the debate I am willing to have like yesterday.
We are willing to start this conversation and continue to take
this conversation, but one particular person I will never single
out one particular person. You know why, because I believe
we all have something we bring to the table but in the end, it
is about drawing that contrast from the people that is making
that decision.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: If you have the change to look in
the eyes
of each voters how will you convince them that you are
different from the current senator?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: I have said over and over that for
me this is not about saying all the right things and creating
expectations that I know I cannot meet. I have said over and
over that I intend to be a fghter and I intend to fght a good
fght because on that Senate foor is a competition of interest
and ideas. I do know that I have a passion to serve, I do know
that I have some good ideas; I do not have monopoly of ideas
and monopoly of solutions, but what I will say to the people
of this county is that what we represent in this process is a
fresh start. We represent opportunity for our people to start to
do things differently to start to see politics in a whole new
demission. We represent a shock in the system, the fact that a
Benjamin Sanvee is having this conversation and he is a top
contender for this seat in itself speaks to the mind set of where
our people are. So directly to our people I say to them that I
know you are frustrated; I know you are tired and some of
you dont want to vote but in the end, the only thing that can
guarantee you a stake in this process is your vote.
So thats why I encourage them so even if you dont want to
vote at the end of the day if you dont vote there still is going to
be a senator, people will go out there and elect that person and
that person will make a decision about your life for the next
nine years, which by the way I think is extremely long and I
believe we who are in this race must make a commitment that
there is a need for us to reduce the tenure.
My message is simple. We represent a fresh start, we have
new ideals, we are going to talk about the economy, education.
We are going to talk about, most importantly, the symbolism
of leadership, that when people decide when ordinary people
come together extra ordinary things happen; that when people
decide and say you can do thats when we say yes we can do
it. So my message is very simple it is not complicated it is not
over the top, it is a message of inspiration, it is a message that
yes with all of the frustration, with all of the despair that is
going on around here, we will sit and we will say at the end
of the day, it can still happen we cannot give up on Liberia
because Liberia is the only country we have.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: What kind of Lawmaker will
Sanvee be?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: Very progressive, very robust, very
engaging. I will remain steadfast in my engagement with my
constituency. I will remain steadfast in my engagement with
stakeholders because it is a tricky role, it is a numbers game, but
what I do believe is that Montserrado county presents a unique
opportunity based on the importance of this county within our
body politics, within our country the largest economy , the
most populated county, so it is in my interest to proffer bills to
be able to win support from my colleagues, for example when
I am fghting for more subsidies for the University of Liberia,
it is in the interest of the Bong County senator to support it
because there is a Bong Student Union at the University of
Liberia. Theres a Grand Gedeh Student Union, so theres so
many things that can happen but again it has to come from
outside the box. Thinking it cannot be the same old way, the
same old thing; it has to be something that people understand,
that you know what at the end of the day this is about us. This
cannot just be about the powers that be. How much money
you make or what you do is how we can uplift the life of our
people. So I intend to be very aggressive but I intend to be
very, very engaging and have access to our constituents.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Some believe that Sanvee sincerely
knows that he cannot win Montserrado County but he just
wants to go into the race to see what areas he is capable of
pulling votes from so that in 2017 he can make a run as a
Representative.
BENJAMIN SANVEE: look let me honest with you. I have
heard that theory, that was the frst thing people said when I
decided to run and I told them, you know ask anyone who
knows me I am not suicidal, getting popularity in Montserrado
county or Liberia is one of the easiest things to do. All I
probably need to say is President Sirleaf needs to resign, the
next day the headlines will read Taylor former Youth Advisor
calls for President Sirleaf resignation. I will be probably one
of the most popular people in this country and county. The
fact of the matter is that this is not a game to me. This is not
something I am taking lightly because you know what that
the people who believe in me, there are people who believe
in what we are talking about. There are people who believe in
what we intend to do so this cannot be a game this has to be
something far beyond everything that we know that has been
offered before.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: How was your relationship with
former President Charles Taylor before you left his regime and
how was it when you were away because based on that fact,
upon your return, theres this NPP you have not gone to the
party of the man you served, how do you think about all the
treatment that have been meted against Mr. Taylor?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: My relationship with President
Taylor was very cordial it was a good relationship. I always
tell people that I am proud of my record as Youth Advisor,
did we agreed on everything. No, in fact my initiation or my
entry into his government was based on the premises of me
disagreeing with him, standing up at the Unity Conference
Center and looking him in the face and telling him this is what
you are doing wrong and I believe this is not supposed to be
happening. But we did have a cordial relationship ok and at the
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end of the day I said this over and over, President Taylor has
gone through a process, he has been sentenced and is going
through a diffcult period in his life. I know his family very
well I am very close to his family. I know Senator Taylor, his
ex-wife is someone who I admire deeply. Shes very close
to me, I will even go as far as saying, we have a very, very
strong working relationship and personal relationship as far as
knowing where they have gone through as a family. I know
all his children but I will say, moving forward for me and I
have seen what has happened over the last couple of years, I
even think President Taylor will want me to focus more on the
future, he will want me to appreciate. When he was leaving,
he said I am leaving because I want Liberia to live. For me,
I appreciated that because in the end it is because of some of
those moment, some of those decisions that was made that
today a Ben Sanvee can stand up to say that he wants to be
Senator. So in the end for me I know it is a diffcult thing for
him. I know what he has gone through, but look we are headed
toward the future and we know where we are going?
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Why Did You Not Join the National
Patriotic Party?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: In all honesty I had consultations
with numerous political parties including the National Patriotic
Party but I felt that at this particular moment and I intend to
stay a member of the Liberty Party. I am not a grasshopper I
dont jump from one place to the other, but like I said, what the
Liberty Party presented to me was a political institution, that
was very constructive when it comes to national leadership and
how they engage national government. Liberty Party has lost
two elections and I never heard them going in the bush to start
a war. They are very constructive, they set a tone that other
parties have emulated in our democratic space. So for me it
was no disrespect to the NPP; it was no disrespect to the ANC
or to any Political party. In fact I reached out to all of them
when I made my decision to say that I have decided to go this
way. So it was nothing personal and it was nothing that comes
from negative place.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Some say you have not been active
in the Liberty Party over the past years and coming to be
endorsed as the party candidate for a county like Montserrado,
many are believing that it was a decision taken at the top and
you might not get the support of Liberty Party Partisans in
Montserrado County?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: Then those people who are saying
it, do not understand the level of commitment and level of
excitement that our entry into the party had drawn. Our caucus
that was held we received numerous endorsements. Look,
the fact of the matter is that yes I have not been a member
of the Liberty Party for the last ten years but in the essence
it was a mutual thing, it was a respect too. They understood
what capacity we were bringing to the party, and we respect
the institution that we were going to be a part of. So for me,
it is about what we do going forward. It is about building the
institution making it stronger and like I said in the end I believe
that the Liberty Party has positioned itself as the alternative.
We just need to continue to work thats why we are going to
fght to win Montserrado. We are going to fght to win Bassa;
we are going to fght to win as many counties as we can win
because in the end, what will happen is that people will then
see the Liberty Party as that alternative that they can go toward
and our campaign is not just focused on Liberty partisans, we
are a big tent and encouraging other people to come on board.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Is there anything we did not ask and
you want to comment on in your fnal words?
BENJAMIN SANVEE: I just want to continue to inspire
our people to alert our people that all hope is not lost; that
this moment that we standing is a moment where people
should summon their greatest aspiration and especially to my
generation, the young generation or we have an opportunity to
make history. We have an opportunity to do things differently.
I know that there are things that going to be enticing. I know
that there will be people who will try to scare you away and
make you believe that oh yes you know what? the future is
ahead. I say the future is today, the life expectancy in Liberia
is between 65 to I think 68-years-old. I am 32 years old so that
by virtue of that, it means that I am no longer a young man
if we were going by the life expectancy in Liberia. So thats
why I say the future is today. But my fnal message is simple.
We intend to have a honest conversation, we call for peaceful
election, I called on my competitors or would be opponents to
engage in a spiritual conversation that our people will be able
to make an informed decision. But I am excited and I look
forward to the days and months ahead.
Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Page 5
v
ROBIN RENEE SANDERS, Contributing Writer
AFRICA: HOW TO MAKE SURE THE
U.S.-AFRICA LEADERS SUMMIT IS ON
POSITIVE SIDE OF HISTORY
FrontPage
Commentary
COMMENTARY
Washington, DC
I
n two weeks, we will witness a historic happening
in Washington, DC, when for the frst time, an
American president will host African heads-of-state
and government to discuss key issues impacting U.S.
relations with that vibrant continent.
This event is a major step in the right direction for the United
States. However, Africa hands and activists on both sides of
the Atlantic and many African Leaders are asking why there
will be no individual meetings with participating heads-of-
states. China, France, and Japan have gotten this right. Their
summits with African leaders include one-on-one meetings,
even if they last only a few minutes.
I am not necessarily arguing for bilateral meetings, but what
about fve presidential sessions with the leaders of the west,
central, east, south and north Africa regions? This option
would not require an excessive amount of time (reportedly
the reason for no one-on-ones). Considering the cost and
time involved as these leaders travel to the United States
with their (large) entourages and the respect-balance ratios at
stake, shouldn't we be able to manage fve meetings?
Encouraging regional integration and cooperation has been a
cornerstone of U.S. policy, and these sessions could advance
the dialogue on key Summit agenda issues, including peace
and security, governance, investment, and the Young Africa
Leaders Initiative.
With Africa poised to become the most populous continent
by 2050 and with the United States needing allies and
partners on policy, business and counterterrorism, Africa is
increasingly key to U.S. interests.
White House-level S. focus on Africa is welcome , and Summit
themes are on target. Interactive dialogue, engagement, and
partnership are the Summit's stated goals. All good! Related
events - starting with this month's FEEEDS-Gallup-AllAfrica
Forum - will address key related issues.
But we need to do something more to address Africas
perception (not ours) of appropriateness. Thus, my suggestion
to add regional meetings to the program. This could further
concretize and synergize our positive rhetoric about raising
the U.S.-Africa relationship in an unprecedented manner.
The meetings could each be tied to a theme - peace and
security for west and/or central, given the challenges in
Mali, Nigeria, Niger, and Central African Republic and
related terrorism threats to U.S. national interest. East Africa
discussions could focus on economic issues and perhaps
energy.
The last three U.S. presidents, inclusive of President Obama,
have done a tremendous job of changing the post-Cold War
paradigm -- creating signature initiatives - AGOA, PEPFAR,
the Millennium Challenge Corporation, FEED the Future
and YALI. I am pleased to been involved as a former U.S.
diplomat with at least four of these and am proud of all the
successes.
I am also pleased that this Summit is taking place - more
than a decade after something similar was suggested in the
AGOA legislation of 2000. My hope is for this event to
be remembered in a good light. We talk about stemming
views that the United States is not as serious about Africa
as China, India, and newcomer Brazil. The Summit offers an
opportunity to really do this.
We don't want the footnote to be that the United States
couldnt fnd time to hold bilateral meetings. As I write, I
remember taking part in the2010 Nuclear Security Summit,
which had about the same number of world leaders (49),
where reports on the President's schedule at that time listed
9-10 bilateral meetings, one of which I attended. However
successfully the Summit plays out, the absence of heads-of-
state meetings with the host president, even at the regional
level, might be what is remembered most. And that would
be a shame.
Calling the Summit historic should not be hyperbole! I am
routing for the Summit to be remembered for all the things
we did right, not for the one thing we left out. Let's add
regional meetings to the agenda to ensure that the event is a
clear success.
Ambassador (Dr.) Robin Renee Sanders is CEO of FEEEDS
Advocacy Initiative and FE3DS, LLC. As a former
distinguished career U.S diplomat, she served as U.S.
ambassador to Nigeria and the Republic of Congo. She is
currently an Adjunct Professor & Public Service Scholar at
Pittsburghs Robert Morris University, director of the U.S.
Offce of Songhai Farms, author of The Legendary Uli
Women of Nigeria, and global advisor for the AGOA CSO
Network. Follow her on Twitter @rrsafrica.
v
EDITORIAL
SHORTLY AFTER HER election as the first woman
to head an African nation, President Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf made a solemn pledge that all prospective
government officials' human rights records,
competence and integrity would be thoroughly
vetted and that no one will work in her government
does not have a clean record.
SIRLEAF WAS INSTANTLY the darling of the
west whose early reservations and preference for an
indigenous head of state went awry when Liberians
and the international community took the save
way out in tipping Sirleaf over the football legend
George Weah in the second round of the 2005
presidential elections.
IN SIRLEAF, the United States in particular
saw a leader they could channel their hopes of
transforming a post-war Liberia into a Success
Story of Africa, a model for other war-torn nations
to emulate and post-war nations to follow.
IN PURSUIT OF this, millions of dollars in debts
were waived as the international community
showered goodwill in a nation on the mends and
looking to turn the corner after more than a decade
of war.
SINCE 2006, Sirleafs own words she said she
inherited, a devastated country, a criminalized
economy, dysfunctional institutions, brain drain,
most of our people out of the country, infrastructure
all destroyed because of lack of maintenance and
work over the years of conflict, and so we had to
start from scratch, so to speak.
THE SIRLEAF government inherited a large debt
overhang, external debt of some 4.9 billion that had
not been serviced for over 20 years. Entry into the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries program(HIPC)
and reached completion point in three years due
to a robust General Auditing Commission, and
strong integrity institutions which convinced the
international community that Liberia was on the
course to recovery and could do well with a little
push. Unlike other countries like Ghana which
had to go through all the HIPC requirements,
the international community relaxed some of the
requirements enable Liberia to get debt waiver so
that it could start a new life, with a clean balance
sheet.
THE SIRLEAF GOVERNMENT spent the first
five years repairing the damage done by 25 years of
violence and misrule. From its peak of prosperity,
prior to the 1980 coup, Liberia had become one
of the world's poorest nations, beset by illiteracy,
hunger and pandemic unemployment. In her first
years in office, Sirleaf negotiated the lifting of
international trade sanctions against Liberia, and
complete forgiveness of the country's crushing
external debt by June 2010.
TO HER CREDIT, Madam Sirleafs leadership and
rock star persona have brought a lot of attention
to Liberia. Her numerous trips abroad have helped
put Liberia in good footing with the international
community.
IMAGES OF DEAD bodies, bloodshed and gun-
toting child soldiers were suddenly replaced with
images of young and smiling children glowing in
WHERE DID EJS
GO WRONG?
COMPETENCE, INTEGRITY &
GOOD HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
the new realm of a tide that shifted in the aftermath
of the silencing guns and escaping refugees running
helter, skelter for shelter.
IN THE WAKE of the recent decision by Liberias
perennial stepfather, the United States of America
to cancel visas issued to Associate Justice Kabineh
Janeh and Youth and Sports Minister Lenn Eugene
Nagbe, eyebrows are now being raised about how
Sirleaf betrayed her pledge of vetting for officials
with clean human rights record, competence and
integrity.
IN FACT, many Liberians are now lamenting the
current corps of officials as lacking the expertise and
formula to salvage whats left of the Sirleaf legacy.
Many officials spent most of their time out of the
country and appear out of touch with the realities
on the ground. Undoubtedly, corruption, patronage,
incompetence and people with checkered past are
more present in the Sirleaf administration than
anyone would have expected. As it stands, many of
the reform and independent minded people have left
the Government or have been thrown out in favor of
the least competent and those with checkered past
and questionable credentials.
AS A RESULT, QUESTIONS are now being asked
about the failed pledge and how Sirleaf has allowed
her administration to fall in the bad books of the west
which has stood by her administration in the wake of
a wave of domestic criticisms about her policies.
ON THE EVE of a critical Mid Term elections, it is
important for Sirleaf to do all she can to salvage her
legacy by putting her house in order.
THE PRESIDENT CAN do this by resurrecting the
persona of old and ridding her administration of
those lacking competence, integrity and poor human
rights record.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE that time may not be on the
administrations side to make drastic significant
changes, but Liberians will take notice and read the
lines when sincere and strong attempts are made to
right the wrongs that have led the government down
a spiral slope in the past eight years.
Page 6 |
Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
STARKNESS OF ELLENS
DECEPTION DISTRIBUTES
POVERTY, BAD GOVERNANCE
A MELANCHOLY OF THE DEAD
TO PRESIDENT SIRLEAF ON
JULY 26, 2014
FrontPage
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E
DITORIAL TEAM
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
The Reader's Page
TARNUE MOLUBAH GBELEWALA
Watch out criminals and corrupt Liberian government offcials,
America and the West are no longer a hiding place for your. They
are tired with criminals and thieves running in their countries.
WILTON GEORGE JOKIESOCCERKING NEUMANN
UNIVERSITY
May God continues to bless the united states for it hard work......let
justice be done to all men!!!
TARNUE MOLUBAH GBELEWALA
The people who killed over 250,000 Liberian and foreign nationals,
should held accountable for their crimes, including president
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She was a member of ACDL, and she also
supported ACDL with US $10,000.
EDWARD WEA NEUFVILLE III WASHINGTON AND
LEE SCHOOL OF LAW
It appears that Associate Justice Janeh's role as leader and
spokesman for LURD served as one of the reasons for the denial
of his visa. Under US immigration laws, a person who supports
or is a member of a groups that uses frearms or explosives and
whose activities are unlawful in that country or the United States
is inadmissible. There is also recent prohibition in US immigration
law that barred persons who engaged in the use of child soldiers
from entering the United States.
SAYKU KROMAH TOP COMMENTER UNIVERSITY
OF LIBERIA
Well, Madam President, your penchant or preference for appointing
known abusers of human rights, and war criminals is being exposed.
Is the bottom falling out of your regime? I think your should resign,
and let Vice President Joseph Boikai complete the term. Hope you
see reason to avoid the great embarrassment to you and the country
that any Liberian observer can see coming. Don't be blinded like
those before you that failed to see the writing on the wall, with
horrendous consequences for them and us all.
AMBROSE TAPLAH TOP COMMENTER UNIVERSITY
OF LIBERIA
Please recall Mr. Kromah that you were in direct contact with Dr.
Amost P. Sawyer (Liberia) , Babagana Kingibe (1993) and Tom
Ikini (1995) of the Foreign Ministry of Nigeria when the Cotonou
Accord of July, 1993 was signed granting AMNESTRY to the war
lords. Why are you not protecting and defending the Government's
position when you may have participated in the discussion as a
senior offcial of the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Sir, I
cannot reconcile your position on this issue with respect to the
Cotonou Acccord/Amnesty to the leaders of the warring factions.
Where do you stand now?
PHIL GEORGE TOP COMMENTER UMASS LOWELL
Ambrose Taplah, your argument in defense of war criminals under
the guise of "Cotonou Accord" is disgraceful and lacks good
conscious. Are you truly convinced that a fimsy accord written
by warlords to absolve themselves of war crimes prosecution in
Liberia and Africa usurp international law? There are clear rules
of war and these Liberian warlords violated every rule in the book
which we all know was a war to loot the country of its meager
resources. It's time that they be held accountable for their criminal
conduct and I'm glad that the United States and other civilized
countries are cracking down.
JOSEPH WONDERFULPRINCE CONTO WORKS AT U.S.
ARMY
This is long over due....it's about time for us to know who the real
heroes are in that senseless war that killed so many Liberians and
destroyed the Country infrastructures. War crime court is the way
to go...every Liberians need to support this idea.
IGailah IGailah Works at Web & Interactive Media Designer
Job well done US. We are looking forward to more visas being
denied or cancelled. These criminals and rogue calling themselves
government offcials steal the country money and come pay their
mortgages in the US or Europe when 90% of the population of
Liberia are in extremely abject conditions. I am looking forward
to see Ellen visa being denied too. God has just begun to work
in the favor of our country and the poor Liberian people. Good
step there Uncle Sam. Block their overseas accounts and stop
them completely from depositing stolen money in their overseas
accounts. God does not sleep...
Cotonou Accord My Toes!!!!
If Liberian Warlords like, they should go to Cotonou and discuss
the Cotonou Accord. But before they do so, we want them to know
that where the Cotonou Accord ends, is where the rights of victims
of war in Liberia begin.
The Editor,
P
ermit me a chance to espouse on some burning national
concerns about my beloved motherland.
Liberia, a country of abundant natural blessings in
the form of minerals and productive soil has dabbled
in Economic qualms. A developing nation under a Harvard
trained economist still maintains an old-fashioned economy
that economists refer to as a rent-seeking economy. We
catalogue our resources and call people from abroad to come
and exploit them for US and pay. Its like renting. Ever since she
was pronounced president; misrepresentation, manipulation,
preferential treatment, corruption, and deceit have betrayed
and marred our hopes for a better Liberia. Cynicism and
annoyance have enthralled Liberians in every sphere as a
result; vandalism and destruction remain the only means of
sending out their displeasure on how this land of Liberty is
being governed. Yet, you sit there in your arrogance and call
them all sorts of names.
It is of no secret that the starkness of Ellens deception
distributes poverty, bad governance, poor health, insecurity,
diminished life span, paucity of Liberianism and increased
frustrations. More so, it has been evidenced that it no longer
seems possible that any form of reforms within the Ellen
Johnson Sirleafs government will respond to and tackle the
growing misery wrought by greed of the immoral leadership
and its attendants intend to return Liberia to the days of their
forefathers rule. Deepening economic imbalances, sliding
towards a rampant increase in intractable diseases are factors
and abuses that have the people of Liberia at the state of panic
for their future.
Ellen Johnson Warlord Sirleaf, promised to transform our
nation, pledge to uphold our constitution, curb corruption and
nepotism in public offces. Candidate president Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf also told the Liberian people that anyone who dares
play to the gallery would be prosecuted.
In contrast, the president is already aiding and abetting those
ills she vowed to combat. It has been proven that the madam
says one thing and does another in an attempt to trick the
Liberian people. This woman has come to reinstate elitism.
She has come to reconstruct the empires of divide and rule.
Beware! Fellow Liberians. The construct of a Sirleafs dynasty
is solidifying. Beware of Vision 2030! It does not make any
sense that a transformation agenda to be implemented by the
Sirleafs government which has failed so dismally could pave
the way for any such vision. This is a scam to keep the people
of this country in shackles and poverty for the decades. As
indicated by Dr. Neyor, Ellen vows to make her son president
against all odds must never be taken likely. It must serve as an
eye opener or Liberians are doomed. Even her very Unity Party
is a testimonial victim of her deception to place Liberia in the
hands of her family. Are we so thoughtless and naive that the
land which our forefathers bled for is being taken from us in
broad daylight with no opposition?
Oh! No. If any Liberian has hope to effect a change for the
better, it will not come from the messy avenue of false reality
makers (opposition political parties) but rather a true and
patriotic Liberian. To muster our cause from deception to
emancipation, we must get pass the puppets (Sirleafs freak)
and confront the real power structure of the Ellen Dynasty.
To reclaim Liberia, we must go decisively with a continuous
process of psychic De-Sirleafzing where an attempt to
ignore our appeal democratically is disrupted and thrown into
damning.
Gabriel M. J. Nyanti
nyantigabriel@yahoo.com
Dear Old Ma Sirleaf,
We are still waiting to hear from you oh. Your time is running
up and our wounds still hurt. We have all lost our bodies but
our souls and spirits are hanging around carrying the little parts
of us they can hold. We are still Liberians oh. Why no one is
talking about us?
Fahnbulleh will not talk for us.
Sawyer will not talk for us.
Tipoteh will not talk for us and
Mathews is no more around oh.
It is hell here oh. Our souls and spirits are still in Liberia with
you. Those of us with feet are walking in the rain and mud
hopping their steps would be heard. Outside of your window
looking toward the beach, a whole family got dumped there.
Their babies are still in their mothers arms crying for breast
milk. There are lots of spirits of children walking around in
Monrovia looking for their bodies. On the bridge and around
Providence Island many people are sitting and waiting but no
one is telling them "Come Home!" Many are stocked kneel
deep in the mud of the Du River. They are frozen in time. Some
are running along the highways but going nowhere. There are
many young girls who were raped and their souls are waiting
for the babies to be born. This gloomy war is still around
here. The sounds of guns, people screaming, running, crying,
falling, bleeding, and even jumping into rivers or forest. Some
are still running into homes of strangers who are very weak to
protect them.
Why no one is talking about us? We are still Liberians. We
hear cars go by, the calling of church bells, people dashing
in the bushes to poop, and all the noises of the markets. We
want to join you people but we are only bodiless spirits and
souls. Some of us have tried running to JFK Hospital hoping
our wounds will be treated but the dark stairways tripped us.
Plantains, bananas, cassava, pawpaw, and rice all around us.
We see and smell them, but no one giving them to us. We are
hungry oh. Our heads are down hopping to be noticed because
we are voiceless. 250,000 dead people walking around Liberia.
It is cold, wet and dark here. We are very scare. President
Sirleaf please take the lead and advocate for us 250, 000 dead
Liberians so we can fnally rest in internal peace.
Johnson can no more protect us.
Kromah can no more protect us.
No one sees Konneh, Roosevelt, or Boley and
Taylor is not around again oh.
So Old Ma Sirleaf if you too can no more help us like
Fahnbulleh, Sawyer, Tipoteh, Johnson, Kromah, Konneh,
Roosevelt and Boley, come join us so 251,000 Liberians will
be waiting for someone to talk for them. We are still here.
We are Liberians too. Happy Independence Day this July 26
2014. And remember our souls and spirits are hanging around
Liberia waiting for someone to talk for them.
Love
Dead Liberians who want to be heard
And if not now, when?
Won-Ldy Paye
wonldy@wonldypaye.com
WAR CRIMES COURT LOOMS?
TOP OFFICIALS VISA REJECTED
Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Page 7
F
RONT
PAGE
CRIME WATCH
F
RONT
PAGE
NEWS EXTRA
SUSPECT ARRESTED AT LOQUATO BORDER
MAKES STARTLING REVELATION
Mitchell King, according to immigration and police sources reportedly explained that that he is a member
of the Boko Haram group from Nigeria and came to Liberia to inform the Liberian government that two
of the groups members are on a mission to bomb or attack Liberia at any time.



IS BOKO HARAM REALLY
PLANNING LIBERIA ATTACK?
Monrovia
F
our months after Mr.
Frank Nyekan, the new
Director of the Executive
Protective Service
told the Senate Committee on
Security and Intelligence during
his confrmation hearing that
Liberia is being used as a hide-
out for leaders of Nigeria Islamic
terrorist group Boko-Haram, an
escaped Cameroonian claiming
to be a member of the group has
reportedly told security offcials
in Liberia that two naturalized
Liberians from Mali, Nigeria are
on reconnaissance mission in
Liberia to stage a bombing attack
on the post-war nation.
Mitchell King was arrested at the
Loquatuo border last Saturday
evening, July 18, 2014, by the joint
security.
King, according to immigration
and police sources reportedly
explained that that he is a member
of the Boko Haram group from
Nigeria and came to Liberia to
inform the Liberian government
that two of the groups members
are on a mission to bomb or attack
Liberia at any time.
The two mission men are said to
be naturalized Liberians, one from
Nigeria and one from Mali, the
suspect in custody, reportedly told
authorities.
In March, Nyekan told the
Senate committee: "Terrorism is
spreading now. Nobody needs to
tell you that Boko-Haram is next
door in Nigeria. Some are using
Liberia as a sleep-out where they
come and sleep when they do their
thing. They come as Nigerian
businessmen to sleep after a period
of time, they lost and returned to
Nigeria. They commit the act,
when they are being searched for,
they run to Liberia. From Liberia to
Nigeria is not far. You have to look
at it critically because the election
is coming; you need protection
here and at home. There is a need
for some kind of legislation that
will protect Legislators."
At the time, Nyekans declaration
drew criticisms from some
Liberians who accused him of
infating a threat to validate his
confrmation hearing.
The EPS director-designate made
the comment as he sought to
convince members of the national
legislature of the need to institute
good security measures for their
safety, through training of a special
group that will be charged with the
responsibility of providing that
August body with security.
Boko Haram is an Islamic militant
and terrorist organization based in
the northeast of Nigeria. Founded
by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002, the
organization seeks to establish
a "pure" Islamic state ruled by
Sharia Law putting a stop to
what it deems "Westernization."
The group is known for attacking
Christians and government targets,
bombing churches, attacking
schools and police stations,
kidnapping western tourists, but
has also assassinated members
of the Islamic establishment.
Violence linked to the Boko Haram
insurgency has resulted in an
estimated 10,000 deaths between
2001 and 2013.
Despite the threat in Nigeria, the
Nigerian government remains
committed to supporting and
maintaining post-war stability
in Liberia. Some 700 Nigerian
soldiers were recently deployed to
Liberia on a peacekeeping mission
despite a strong Boko Haram
insurgency in the North Eastern
part of Nigeria.
The insurgency plummeted to
international limelight on the night
of April 1415 when 276 female
students were kidnapped from the
Government Secondary School in
the town of Chibok in Borno State,
Nigeria.
Monrovia-
W
ith information that
there are ongoing
discussions
for the 53rd
National Legislature to hastily
ratify agreements for the sale of
additional oil blocks to foreign
companies, some Liberians
gathered at the grounds of
the Capitol Building Tuesday
protesting and calling on the
National Legislature not to ratify
agreements for the sale of new oil
blocks in Liberia.
Holding placards with slogans
The 53rd National legislature can
redeem herself by stopping the
sale of oil blocks 6,7,16 and 17,
reserve the remaining natural
resources for the future generation
and the betterment of Liberia, the
protestors are demanding the body
to ratify the sale of remaining
blocks in Liberia.
The National Legislature has
already ratifed the sale of several
oil blocks with no signifcant
provisions for beneft to the
struggling population amid huge
employment and raging poverty.
Liberians are skeptical that the
current legislators are busy
ratifying agreements for the
purpose of benefting their personal
interest not taking into account the
future impact these agreements
will have on the country.
Like its predecessor, the 52nd
National legislature of Liberia
which ratifed over 60 concession
agreements that did not culminate
into job creation for the population
as audit conducted by an
international independent auditing
frm Moore Stevens found that
more than half of the agreements
were marred by faws, the current
body has also ratifed several
agreements.
Many of the concessions were
signed without due diligence
conducted on the ability of the
concessionaires to perform as
after signing these agreements
some of the companies like
Buchanan Renewable Energy
which promised to provide cheap
electricity using dead wood could
not meet up with the terms of
the agreement signed with the
government of Liberia.
The 53rd Legislature has also
been following the footstep of its
predecessor by also signing into
law several oil agreements.
Recently the body expended close
to US$ 1 million for a row show
nationwide consultation on oil
reform laws for the country.
The group of Liberians under
the banner, Concerned Liberian
Citizens in a petition to the
National Legislature stated We,
a cross section of concerned
Liberian citizens, cognizant of the
poor and abusive management of
our natural resources, particularly
our last extractive frontier; the oil
and gas sector, and realizing our
conscious duty and responsibility
to defend and safeguard our future,
and childrens future, do hereby
assemble invoking Article 17 of
our Constitution to petition our
National Legislature not to ratify
the planned sale of oil blocks
6,7,16 and 17, and any future sale
of any oil blocks until at such time
when the ongoing reform process
is completed ensuring signifcant
Liberian participation.
The group headed by three
Liberians including Michael B.
Wah, Samuel F. McGill and Henry
P. Costa in the petition vowed to
champion the cause of the Liberian
people in ensuring that the right
things are done in the oil and gas
sector of the country.
The group further stated We also
hereby assure you, and swear to
our sacred commitment to Country
and People that; we shall continue
to champion this cause not only in
the oil and gas sector, but in the
natural resource sector in general.
Resources in many African
countries including Nigeria,
Central African Republic,
Equilateral Guinea and others have
been the main source of conficts
as despite vast resources standard
of living in these resource rich
countries is very poor.
Liberia has have its share of abuse
of resources when various warring
factions used gold timber and
other resources to fuel their war
machinery subjecting the country
to nearly 15 years of persistent
civil wars.
Pro temp blames Urey
Senate Pro-Temp Gbehzongar
Findley has accused Mr. Benoni
Urey of sponsoring the protesters
who are protesting against an
alleged attempt by the Legislature
to sell new oil blocks.
At a press conference Tuesday,
Pro-Temp Findley denied the
protesters claims and accused
Mr. Urey for supporting the
group of young people with false
information to cause instability in
the country.
Findley said: Mr. Benoni Urey
should know that this is a country
that enjoys stability so for him
to support this kind of group to
bring instability with lies and false
information and he wants to be a
leader for the country let him stop.
We know where that is coming
from we know who is behind the
concern group of Liberians all
NGO organizations are registered
if you check that group right
now I am sure this group is not
legitimate.
The protesters presented a petition
to the grievance committees of
both the House of Representatives
and Senate calling on them not to
proceed with the sale of oil block
6, 7, and 9. According to them they
were informed that the legislatures
along with the executive branches
of government are contemplating
selling the oil blocks.
In further comments the Senate
Pro-Temp called on Urey to
do away with what he termed
falsehood and stop encouraging
young people to bring instability.
I am calling Ureys name because
he is my friend but he needs
to know that is not the path to
becoming a President for Liberia
this is not the time, he added.
He also claimed that if an oil
block is to be sold it will be done
by negotiation noting that the
legislature is not the frst line of
negotiation. He also said, if there
is an oil block that is available and
people want to buy through due
diligence the legislature will look
into it.
The protesters action coincided
with a communication from the
National oil company sent to
the House of Representatives
requesting an audience with that
august body to plan on future
activities of NOCAL.
The letter from NOCAL was
endorsed and agreed by the House
of Representatives and meeting
was scheduled for Thursday of this
week.
The NOCALs Communication
though did not form part of the
plenary agenda for Tuesday but
it is believed that it is because of
the letter the House has postponed
the commencement of their
Independence Day holiday break
that should have started Tuesday
to Thursday the day set for the
meeting with NOCAL.
Citizens call for oil block to be
reserve
During the Nationwide tour
with the country draft oil law by
the House of Representatives,
reserving the remaining oil
blocks were among the many
recommendations forwarded by
citizens across the country to the
lawmakers.
Citizens who gathered from all
parts of the country at each of
the meetings held in Bong, Lofa,
River-Cess, Grand Gedeh and
Margibi Counties amongst others
called on their lawmakers to
reserve the remaining oil blocks.
The citizens referenced oil block
13 given out by the government as
a lesson learnt and did not want a
reoccurrence of such.
Since the end of the nationwide
tour the House of Representative
has failed to come out with a
fnalized oil law to be forwarded
to the senate that earlier passed the
law for concurrence promoting the
interest of the ordinary Liberian.
At one of his news conferences
Deputy Speaker Hans Bache told
reporters that fndings from the
tour are being fnalized and will be
shortly released to the public at a
national conference that will take
place in Monrovia.
DONT SELL OUR OIL BLOCKS
Citizens Mount pressure on lawmakers Not to ratify sale of Oil

Page 8 |
Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
F
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PAGE
VOICES
ENSURE TRC IMPLEMENTATION
Liberians Weigh In On Janeh, Nagbe Visa Cancellation
Monrovia-
I
n the aftermath of separate incidents involving two Liberian
government offcials with visas cancellation one in the
United States of America and another in France, Liberians
have been expressing diverse views on the incident with
majority supporting what they are celebrating as an attempt to
bring to end the culture of impunity in the country that is still
feeling the pinch of years of brutal civil wars.
Representative Moses Acarous Gray (CDC-District # 8
Montserrado County) has termed news about the cancellation of
the visas of the two current government offcials from Europe and
America as something Liberians should celebrate.
Representative Gray who chairs the House of Representatives
Committee on Good Governance feels one of the cardinal aspects
of good governance has to do with justice. According to him
people in Liberia who have committed atrocities against the peace
loving people of Liberia are moving around with impunity.
Rep. Gray said: The Action by the US and French governments is
a welcoming news that will serve as a deterrence factor because I
have come to realize that as a result of the Civil confict all sought
of buffoons have hijacked power at every sector of government.
Personally in my opinion Liberians should by now be rejoicing
with the breaking of such news.
The CDC lawmaker in an interview with FrontPageAfrica
recommended tougher measures against those past and current
government offcials who have being accused of war and economic
crimes either by arrest and possible detention.
He believes that if those he described as rascals are allowed to
come back to Liberia without being arrested by these foreign
governments especially in Europe and America they will continue
to enrich themselves with the country resources.
I even call upon the West African countries to join the fght if it
requires that Liberia signs into law an international treaty I ask
our president to sign into it. Let them be arrested and tried in the
west like it is being done to Charles Taylor no one should be off
the hook, he added.
Albert S. Doe

Well I see the action by the United States as the beginning of
a good fght but they have to go beyond that. We welcome the
idea and we believe that this is the kind of good thing in order to
have people who have created serious mayhem on the Liberian
people prosecuted. I believe that no sin goes unpunished. If
anyone creates a kind of atrocity in Liberia there is a need for us
to punish them. Because if you dont punish people, people will
always have the mind to go and do things with the notion set that
I will not be punished.
The US government has suffcient facts as it relates to the case of
Kabineh Janeh and Eugene Nagbe. Except for people who were
not around, Kabineh Janeh is a major player into the crisis that
took place in Liberia which led so many people today including
our mothers and children that died in the process. He took part
in the process and now there is a way for us to prosecute him.
Eugene Nagbe was with Taylor and he served Moses Blah and
we are aware of that. You cannot have people in Liberia that
committed mayhem which caused people lives and properties to
be taken away and today they pass within the corridors with ffty
thousand dollars cars and they go sky free.
So its about time now that the Liberian government in partnership
with US government see how best they can implement the TRC
report and prosecute those that created mayhems. Like madam
Sirleaf, Prince Johnson, Sekou Damate Konneh and even Alhaji
Kromah there is a need for us to look at the recommendation of
the TRC report and prosecute them. The action by the US clearly
signifes that sooner or later there are so many people whose visas
will be canceled by the USA. We heard of one man who took part
in the war in Liberia and he was arrested in America and now he
has been placed behind bars it should not be surprising when we
hear one day that even Alhaji Kromah or Prince Johnson have
been arrested and placed behind bars in America.
Esiaka M. Sheriff

We should not just celebrate it as a victory for Liberia because
the US government is doing it in line with their own security
protection. Those guys whose visas were cancelled are back in
Liberia and can still do anything, they can cause any harm to the
Liberian people because they did it before. Kabineh Janeh came
with LURD when former President Charles Taylor was here. They
killed our people and contributed to the economic downtrend of
our country. I think cancelling their visas could be a good thing
but I think its a good thing for America. If America is serious I
think they should now come around to ensure that the TRC report
is implemented to the fullest though setting up a war crimes court
in Liberia as recommended by the TRC that was presided over by
Cllr. Jerome Verdier.
Adolphus N. S. Weah

This situation is not actually strange to me because it is repetition
of what happened to Thomas Woewiyu. There was a report that
came here indicating that Thomas Woewiyu was arrested in
America when he tried to apply for citizenship in America on
grounds that he provided false information that could not
commensurate with the present for the fact that he participated in
the Liberian situation. And this is also strange to see them (USA)
having problems with citizens of Liberia especially government
offcials for some purpose which is best known to them. I have
no problem with whatever action that will be taken against any
government offcial in Liberia from the fact that if the people will
have problem with you that has to do with the Liberian crisis or
any international problem. So if these guys have any problem or
committed any crime or their association with the Liberian crisis,
I think in my own wisdom the United States government should
take issues against them.
Raymond K. Roberts

If you diplomatically look at this issue, it speaks volume. For a
sitting Associate Justice Visa to be cancelled, I think diplomatically
is something that is very troubling. What we need to do now is to
ask the U.S. government to really explain to us as to what they
really did for which they cancelled their visas. We understand that
America has one of the best justice systems in the world and so
these people go there to do some research and refect their mind
so that they can come back and provide good alternative when
it comes to the justice system. I am afraid that Liberia now is
crumbling. Sometimes ago, we heard that the Deputy Director
of Police went to America and he was arrested even though he
denied it. Today it is one of the Associate Justices along with the
Minister of Youth and Sports. Tomorrow it could be the Foreign
Affairs minister or even the President. And so America needs to
come out now and tell us why she is taking this critical decision
when our country is at a point where everybody is all crying with
hunger.
Musa S. B. Dorley

You know, the Americans have standard for citizenship. So at
any point in time the U.S. government can decide to revoke a visa.
So that is in the purview of the USA. So the cancelation of Visas
for the Youth and Sports Minister and the Associate Justice, is
nothing big. Maybe it is in the wisdom of the USA that these guys
went contra -positive or they went in violation of the American
laws. It is not a right to an American Visa, it is a privilege so
today, the Americans can give you a Visa tomorrow if they view
in their own understanding that the visa given to you is being
misused they can cancel it. So I dont think there is any big deal
about that.
Moibah V. Kiadii

This is a kind of surprising news to see people like Eugene Nagbe
and that of Kabineh Janeh. Look at the portfolio of Minister
Nagbe who is responsible for all youth activities. He carries on
lots of travels so that we can be able to have signifcant youth
programs. For me I dont want to say it is due to their participation
into the war here because I dont have any information on that.
Kabineh Janeh has been around here even during the crisis but I
am not still convinced because he has made a lot of travels, thats
not the frst one.





Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Page 9
Wade C. L. Williams, wade.williams@frontpageafricaonline.com

F
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PAGE
NEWS EXTRA
Monrovia -
T
he acceptance of a
petition to contest the
Montserrado County
elections by the son of
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,
Mr. Robert A. Sirleaf, has raised
some eyebrows especially with
declarations he made that the
county is in dire need of basic
social services that has not been
provided by past leadership.
What many critics fnd
mindboggling is Mr. Sirleafs
declaration that he cares about
the dilapidation of the countys
infrastructure especially the
major roads, when in fact his
mother President Sirleaf has
presided over the countrys
economy for the past nine years
and he has been special advisor
in her offce for over 99% of that
time.
Many ask what does Mr. Sirleaf
seek to change when he says: I
care that a public servant must
put the interests of the people
frst always serving the cause
of the people rather than the
cause of self.
I care that here in Montserrado,
homes get fooded when it rains,
and families have to endure long
nights without sleep. I care that
the lack of roads, bridges and
other basic essentials which
make life better have pushed
rural Montserrado farther from
urban Montserrado. I care that
our environment is changing,
that erosion is rapidly wiping out
historically important places and
communities, and that we need
affordable housing and better
sanitation.
Political commentators like
the leader of the opposition
Movement for Progressive
Change that challenged Sirleafs
mother for the Presidency in
2011 believes that the younger
Sirleaf is being disingenuous
based on the fact that these same
conditions he spoke about in his
acceptance speech existed long
before he declared his candidacy
and has become even worse
under his tenure as his mothers
advisor and chairman of the
National oil company of Liberia
an entity critics claimed he left
with question marks.
THE FIXER?
Critics Say Robert Sirleaf is Trying to Stitch up His Mothers Failures
Weve seen under the advisory-
ship of Robert and his mother,
weve seen the very bad road hes
spoken about, said Freeman.
Weve seen that most of the oil
deal clearly violates Liberias
laws; weve seen Ellen clearly
giving deals to Elenilto, guys
that had nothing, stole everything
from here, weve seen the BRE
arrangement. During that time
we did not hear one public
statement from Robert Sirleaf
distancing himself from bad
deals that were negotiated.
Freeman said as special advisor
to his mother the younger Sirleaf
must take responsibility for some
of the bad policies, that has led
Liberia into economic decadence
over the last nine years and
failure on his part to do makes
him no different from the status
quo. He said the candidate for the
Montserrado County Senatorial
seat wielded power that was
given him by his mother and had
the opportunity to improve the
living standards of the people of
a county he wants to represent
who nine years later still lack the
basic social services for which
they elected President Sirleaf.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf a couple
of months ago said she had
absolute confdence in Robert,
said Freeman.
Around here it is even being
rumored by government offcials
that whatever Robert wants, he
gets. A few months ago, Ellen
said that Robert Sirleaf was on a
mission (that was on NOCAL),
that the goal was for him to
attract American investors to
Liberia.
Critics say the President was
willing to cross the political no-
go areas even to the extent that
she could be accused of nepotism
and with such power the younger
Sirleaf would have made an
impact if he wanted to in the
county in which he is running for
political offce and beyond.
The candidates critics slam
him for not being able to use
his position to make meaningful
impact on the countys
development despite the fact that
he (Sirleaf) has engaged in the
construction of football pitches
around Montserrado County.
In London she spoke and said
there were a lot of incompetent
people in Liberia and the reason
why she appoints people like her
own family and her children in
government is because there are
limited skills, said Freeman.
We saw Robert Sirleaf instead
taking monies from Chevron
under the pretext of his own
resources and building football
stadia in communities.
That was in clear violation
of the fnancial management
law of Liberia, which says that
all monies must go into the
public fund and the legislature
must make a decision. It was
not within Roberts purview to
determine that football felds was
the best for the people in slum
communities whose children
most of them under the ages of
10 to 15 have not gone to school
since they were born.
But Sirleaf in an interview
with FrontPageAfrica over the
weekend said he couldnt be
judged based on his mothers
performance. He boasted of his
record of development in the
county, a record he claims no
one contending for the seat can
challenge his interventions made
in the county.
Of course, anytime you have
that type of relationship, people
are going to draw parallel lines,
said Sirleaf.
Continued Sirleaf: The
President never helped us
with BYC football, we began
the program in 2009; we built
the most successful football
organization by 2013. She
doesnt get credit or detriment
for being able to do that; that
was our own path. We started
to work in places like New Kru
Town, West Point, Brewersville,
Virginia, there were no parallels
drawn, when we did all this work
for the positive.
Mr. Sirleaf slammed his critics
for insinuating that he has not
created the needed opportunities
for the county in terms of the
level of development he has
brought to the county.
When we went to Nimba,
nobody accused Ellen of
infuencing or not infuencing
building the stadium up there.
When we went to Margibi, no
politician came out and said oh
they shouldnt build that stadium
or we shouldnt do any work in
Smell-No-Taste, he said.
I run for political offce, now
everything, me and her should be
parallel. Theres not a parallel,
shes my mother, I respect that.
I thank her; I bless her for that.
But yes its something that
were going to have to endure.
Its a very complex situation
for everybody. But if anybody
again looks at our record, there
is not a direct parallel between
the President and her agenda
and what we have been able
to accomplish in Montserrado
County.
But Sirleafs critics maintain he
is no different from his mother
and electing him senator will be
a disservice to the people and a
promotion of his mothers failed
agenda.
How can Robert Sirleaf care at
this juncture? The only thing we
can say to him is that the monies
that he did not give to the people
of Liberia, the money his mother
deprived the people of, he will
spend it this time, said MPC
Freeman in an interview with
FPA.
Continued Freeman: And this
time that is if he qualifes to be
a Liberian citizen. If we have to
remove our shirts and get in the
street and campaign excessively
against him, that will be done; we
will send a clear warning to Ellen
if she thinks Liberia is a country
where the mother is President,
the son becomes President, she
will have to be very careful lest
this thing results into something
she least anticipated, because
over our dead bodies is it ever
going to happen.
Mulbah Morlu of the Congress
for Democratic Change (CDC),
whose candidate George Weah
seems to be the favorite with
many saying that Sirleaf is
invading Weahs territory agrees
with Freeman that this is no time
for another Sirleaf to be given
a change to fx what the older
Sirleaf has not been able to do.
I think Mr. Sirleafs statement
is a refection of the failures
of this regime. I think Madam
Sirleaf is desperate so much for
protection that she has decided
to use her son as a cover and
protection in the senate and use
that as a platform to re-allocate
oil wealth at the detriment of the
poor people of this country and
then extend her tenure to a third
term, said Morlu.
Continued Morlu: The Liberian
people are afraid of a Sirleaf
candidacy, because a Sirleaf
candidacy sends shockwaves
across the constituencies of
Montserrado based on the
history of exploitation because
of the mother. Robert Sirleaf
is the de-facto vice president of
Liberia. I feel sorry for Joseph
Boakai our vice President who
has become a lame duck by
the manipulations of Madam
Sirleafs favorite son. Every
decision made in this country is
either made by Robert Sirleaf or
is infuenced by Robert Sirleaf,
the darling boy that has become
the de-facto vice president. We
do not have fear for an individual
who will not attract votes for his
of corruption at NOCAL. The
failures of the regime in the
last nine to ten years based on
the advice proffered by Robert
Sirleaf to his mother.
But Sirleaf maintains the race
for Montserrado will be about
the real issues and who among
the candidates has served the
best interest of the people over
the years and not the petty talk
that has dominated social media
and the news headlines from his
critics.
The issue is, are you going
to present to the people of
Montserrado County a platform
and a program to help them? Are
you going to represent them to
the best of your ability? Thats
what were going to do, said
Sirleaf.
Continued Sirleaf: NOCAL,
I think weve done a fantastic
job at NOCAL, I have heard the
situations about Robert Sirleaf
stole millions. Quite honestly,
Rodney, If I stole millions, (even
senior people have said this from
NOCAL), there is not one sheet
of paper fve years later that
shows where the money went.
Everyday, people are going to
talk about you; so you have
to develop the toughest skin.
Everyday, 33% of the people
who know of you, are never
going to like you regardless of
what you do, regardless of what
you say. Theres another 33%,
that sometimes you do, they
agree, sometimes they dont.
They process information and
make decisions and the other
33% is whatever I say, theyre
going to like, that is life. Ive
learned to accept that especially
when youre coming into public
offce at this level.
Monrovia-
S
houting this slogan:
We want our money,
we want our money,
angry workers of the
Liberia Maritime Authority
(LMA), stormed the Ministry
of Finance, early Tuesday
Morning, demanding six
months arrears owed them by
the Ministry.
The placards bearing protesters
instead of the LMA besieged
the entrance of the Finance
Ministry early Tuesday morning
demanding arrears owed them
and threatening to disrupt the
Independence Day celebrations
slated for July 26, 2014.
THERE WILL BE NO 26 CELEBRATION IF
- Angry Maritime workers threaten More protest Action
Mae Azango azma20062007@yahoo.com
If we cannot get pay, we will
be on it until 26, because if we
do not get pay, there will be no
26 celebration, said Edwin G.B.
Gbejay, a supervisor at Maritime.
Gbejay went to speak to Minister
Konneh on behalf of the crowd
and after the meeting told
his colleges to come in their
numbers on Wednesday for their
salaries or take to the streets on
July 26 to continue their protest
if they do not receive their pay.
The Minister said Friday, but
I told him we do not agree, we
want to be paid tomorrow and
he said the Maritime people
were on their way to central
bank to start paying tomorrow,
he said.
While briefng the workers,
Gbejay said that former Deputy
Minister for the budget Mr.
Sebastian Moah said ages ago
that they would get their money,
but up to present they are still
waiting to be paid.
The newly appointed minister
said the money they had to pay
us, had been used to fght Ebola,
so there is no money to pay us,
which is not fair to us, he said.
We know that in order to fght
Ebola, we need to keep our
environment clean because
when you fall sick from running
stomach, they will kill you
at the hospital and say it was
Ebola.
While Gbejay was still
speaking, a lady shouted from
the crowd and said: Augustine
Ngafuan used to pay us on
time, when he was Minister of
Finance, but Minister Konneh
time, we are standing under the
rain and begging for our own
money
Terrance Diggs, another
supervisor at Maritime, said
that it was the government
responsibility to pay them for
the six months arrears, because
the Government had taken over
the LMA.

Page 10 |
Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
F
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PAGE
EDUCATION
Brewersville, Montserrado
County-
F
ormer students of
one of Liberias best
academic institutions,
the Lott Carey Mission
Baptist School in Brewersville,
City, Montserrado County have
bestowed honor on one of their
long serving headmasters, Rev.
Jeremiah W. Walker.
The former students through
their active alumni Association
were able to reconnect former
graduates of the school dating
as far back as the 1960s to
current to pay tribute to Rev.
Walker for what they described
as his dedicated and committed
services to humanity and
Liberia.
Recalling chilling and heart
touching stories about Rev.
Walker the former students
had a representative each from
the 1960, 70, 80, 90, and 2000
to educate the audience about
the role their aging and former
principal played in shaping
their future and molding them
into what they are today.
Rev. Walker stood for Integrity,
he is a disciplinarian, and
always sought for scholarship
for deserving students asserted
one representative from the
students.
The former students said
due to the effort of Rev.
Walker, they are now serving
in their respective areas of
specializations with a sense of
commitment and dedication.
Paying Tribute
Representing the 1970-1979
Alumni, Daphane Williams
Willis described the former
principal as a man who is
caring and loves discipline
as she recounted some of the
interactions she and other
students had with Rev. Walker
dating as far back as the 70s.
She also presented a plate,
bow, cup and a bell to their
aging headmaster symbolizing
how well he fed them, and
that his motivational voice and
memories are with them and
is ranging like a bell in their
ears as they continue their life
sojourn.
As for Rev. Kollie T. Jallah,
who spoke on behalf of the
LCMAA 19801989 students
he said he was happy that most
of his colleagues are people of
integrity, something he said
Rev. Walker taught them during
their school days.
where is integrity, most people
in government institutions are
lacking integrity, thats why
you see our country in this state
of confusion, disunity, distrust ,
people entrusted with functions
compromise their integrity,
where is integrity Rev. Jallah
lamented.
Proud of Uncle Jerry
One of Liberias most
provocative and educative
radio political commentator ,
Henry Coata , paid tribute on
behalf of his colleagues from
the 1990-1999 . In his message,
Costa as was anticipated by the
gathering to be very critical
and speak about ills in society
like other speakers was only
thanking Rev. Walker for his
mentorship role to his former
students. Uncle Jerry we
are proud of you Costa said
looking in the face of Rev.
Walker with a smile.
According to Costa no matter
the praises heaped on Rev.
Walker it cannot be compared
to his life because according
to him Rev. Walker lived a
life worth living and impacted
thousands of people.
As for alumnus Dr. Charles
Ansumanah, it was because of
Rev. Walker that he obtained
a scholarship to further his
academic education.
Rev. Walker always boasts
about his student, and it was
because of that today I obtained
a scholarship from the Vice
President of Liberia to study
in Asia under the National Oil
company scholarship
Ansumanah lamented his life
changing story from that few
minutes and moment when Rev.
Walker boasted about him at
one of the schools graduation
ceremony.
Representing his colleagues
from the 2000-2009 , he
described Rev. Walker as a
beacon of hope and a man
who stood for principles as
evidenced by his role he played
in transforming the Lott Carey
Baptist Mission School and the
Baptist Churches in Liberia .
Where is the Lott Carey
Baptist Mission School that
was compared to non in Liberia
when it comes to academic
excellence Ansumanah said.
He said not much is being heard
about the school various clubs
and organizations in the school,
naming the famous French,
quizzing, Science clubs and
honor roll students list , sports
teams, amongst others activities
students were actively engaged
into which helped in shaping
the students intellect and life
as well.
Ansumanah called on the current
administration to embark on
academic competition amongst
students because according
to him it creates a conducive
learning environment for
students.
The former LMC Student
Council President told Rev.
Walker that they will live up
to his aspiration and will not
divert from what he taught
them, discipline , character, and
academic excellence through
scholarship .
Ansumanah said Rev.
Walker was a headmaster
who disciplined his students
when they disobeyed his
commandment and the schools
rules and regulations.
Poem for a preacher,
peacemaker
Also paying tribute was a
longtime friend to Rev. Walker,
one of Liberias Political
leaders, Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh.
His tribute to Rev. Walker
was through a poem which
described him as a preacher and
a peace maker. As usual Tipoteh
sang a song but this time it was
in the kpelleh language as he
shower praises on Rev. Walker.
Representing the Zion Growth
Baptist Church was Rev.
William R. Tolbert III, who
urged youths to emulate the
good life of Rev. Walker.
Rev. Tolbert III, said the Lott
Carey Baptist Mission former
headmaster was not only
serving in the education sector
but was also actively engaged
in spreading the message of
God and teaching members of
the Liberia Baptist Technology
Seminary Gods words.
One of Liberias renowned
legal practitioners, Cllr. Pearl
Brown-Bull, boasted that the
LMC Alumina Association
is united and has been
actively engaged in several
developmental initiatives in
Liberia and the USA.
Cllr. Bull said former students
of Lott Carey Baptist Mission
School are making headways in
the society because they were
provided proper education,
trained with values and have
self -discipline.
She also called on the current
administration to raise the
moral of the school through
academic education and other
social student engagements.
As for Catholic Sister, Mary
L. Brown , Rev. Walker was
practical in his whole life and
hope people are inspire by the
tribute paid to Rev. Walker
because he give so much to
Liberia and the education
system.
Bringing back memories
Rev. Walker in response lauded
the former students for honoring
him why he is alive and said he
was gratifed with the way his
former students are conducting
themselves in their areas of
specialization
He lauded the students for
bringing back his memories to
his active days why serving as
principal and pray Gods mercy
upon all his former students.
I feel decorated, you have
given me, you have decorated
my life to know that I did
something Rev. Walker told
the gathering as he beamed with
smile.
Rev. Walker also said
the honoring day will be
remembered because it showed
him how appreciative most of
his students are.
We will always remember this
day, as I said, you dont have to
come to my wake, hahahaha.
you dont have to make a tripe,
or. but I am very very pleased
to know that God is with me
and as the song says, I fear no
fore Rev. Walker noted .
The Honoring ceremony was
the Alumni Association of the
Lott Carey Baptist Mission
School own way of recognizing
the valuable contributions of
their former headmaster and
mentor and not waiting until he
is dead to refect and showcase
his contributions to society and
mankind.
The ceremony was attended by
scores of well-wishers, former
students, friends, churches,
choir, political and religious
leaders on Sunday July 20,
2014 at the Lott Carey Baptist
Mission School Chapel in
Brewersville, City.
LOTT CAREY MISSION ALUMNI PAYS HOMAGE TO LONG-SERVING HEADMASTER, CLERGYMAN
FLOWERS FOR REV. WALKER





Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Page 11
F
RONT
PAGE
EBOLA
FAO SAYS PEOPLE CAN GET INFECTED
WITH EBOLA BY EATING BUSHMEAT
A
s Liberia reports
22 more Ebola
infections and 10
deaths, increasing
the country's total to 196 cases,
which includes 116 deaths,
the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) issued a
warning today against eating
certain wild animals.
The FAO said that although
reducing person-to-person
Ebola transmission is the most
important focus, it is working
closely with the World Health
Organization (WHO) to raise
awareness about transmission
risks from wildlife among
rural communities that hunt
bushmeat to supplement their
diets and income.
The agency said communities
risk future spillover from
species that naturally carry
the virus, including fruit bats,
some monkeys, and many deer
species, if prudent action is not
taken.
We are not suggesting that
people stop hunting altogether,
which isnt realistic, said FAO
Chief Veterinary Offcer, Juan
Lubroth. But communities
need clear advice on the need
not to touch dead animals or
to sell or eat the meat of any
animal that they fnd already
dead.
He added that people especially
in rural communities should
also avoid hunting animals that
are sick or behaving strangely.
The FAO, however, said
fruit bats should be avoided
altogether, because they are
the most likely host for the
virus and can carry it without
showing signs of the disease.
In West African, fruit bats are
eaten dried or in a spicy soup
by some communities, the
agency added.
Several governments in the
region have tried to ban the
sale and consumption of
bushmeat, but bans have been
impossible to enforce and have
prompted suspicion from rural
populations, the FAO said.
Katrinka de Balough, DVM,
FAO veterinary public health
offcer and Ebola focal point,
said in the statement that
mistrust, myths, and rumors
are among the challenges
in controlling the disease.
She added that concerns are
growing about the impact the
outbreak might have on food
security in some parts of the
region, with some farmers
afraid to work in their felds
and some markets shut down.
The FAO said it has committed
resources and has been
working with partners to
improve information about the
disease using existing networks
that include rural radio and
agricultural extension services.
It also added that it will work
with governments to set up
wildlife surveillance systems
to more quickly detect the
virus.
"Rural communities have
an important role to play in
reporting unusual mortality in
the animal population, which
is another reason that their
collaboration is so crucial," de
Balogh said.
Another step will be to assess
the role of hunting, with an eye
toward identifying healthier,
more sustainable livestock
production options that can
provide more protein and
income sources, the United
Nations agency said.
Meanwhile, WHO said
Liberia's Ministry of Health,
and its other health partners
are assessing the outbreak
response in each country to
identify challenges and help
set priorities.
A recently completed
assessment in Liberia
identifed a number of gaps,
including low coverage of
contact tracing; persistent
denial about the disease and
resistance to response activities
in the community; weak data
management; inadequate
infection and control practices,
especially in outlying health
facilities; and weak leadership
and coordination at the
subnational level.
The WHO said some of the
challenges are driven by a
lack of fnancial resources and
human technical capacity. The
agency added that authorities
are mapping out the fnancial,
logistics, and human resources
needs as part of a national
operational plan to battle the
Ebola outbreak.
Similar assessments are under
way for Guinea and Sierra
Leone, as well, the WHO said.
West Africas frst human cases
of Ebola virus disease were
suspected to have occurred
in December 2013 in rural
Guinea, and according to
WHO more than 600 people
have died from the disease in
the region.
The virus kills up to 90%
of people who contract it,
causing multiple organ failure
and, in some cases, severe
hemorrhaging. There is
currently no vaccine for the
disease.

Wynfred Russell is a science
and health writer and be
contacted at wnrussell@
peppersoup.org

Wynfred Russell, wnrussell@hotmail.com
Mae Azango azama20062007@yahoo.com
LIBERIAN NURSES CONTRACT EBOLA
AFTER DEATH OF UGANDAN DOCTOR
F
our Liberian health workers have been admitted after
contracting the Ebola virus while treating patients.
The health workers, all nurses, were working at Phebe
Hospital in Suakoko, Bong County when they contracted
the virus.
This comes three weeks after a Ugandan senior surgeon succumbed
to the Ebola in Liberia where he had been working for three years
as a specialist.
Dr. Samuel Muhumuza Mutoro died at the John F. Kennedy
Medical Centre, Liberias biggest hospital in Monrovia where he
was being treated.
The West Africa countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are
currently battling an outbreak of Ebola which is highly contagious
with a high fatality rate.
According to the Liberia News Agency, the nurses had been
transferred to Monrovia where they are being treated and
monitored by doctors.
Dr. Jefferson Sibley, the medical director of Phebe Hospital said
the nurses may have contracted the virus from an unidentifed
patient who was admitted at the hospital.
Uganda is on alert and monitoring neighbouring DR Congo where
suspected cases of Ebola have been reported in Aru, in the north
eastern Orientale Province.
The samples were taken to Kinshasa for testing, according to Dr.
Asuman Lukwago, the ministry of health permanent secretary.
Ebola symptoms include fever, bleeding through body openings,
vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, headache, skin rash and red
eyes.
At the moment, there is no known cure for Ebola. The disease
can be spread through direct physical contact with body fuids
like saliva, blood, stool, vomit, urine and sweat from an infected
person as well as linen used by a patient. It can also be spread
through skin piercing instruments used by an infected person.


Monrovia-
W
ith a reported
donation of
fve hundred
Thousand United
States Dollars from Nigeria
to fght Ebola in Liberia, the
Ministry of Health says it is
doing its best to curtail the
deadly virus, but yet the corpse
of a suspected Ebola patient
was allegedly abandoned in
Louisiana, in Montserrado
County since Friday, with no
effort to remove the body.
Mr. Solomon Miller,
Commissioner of Louisiana,
via mobile phone on Monday
morning said that the body
has been in Louisiana since
Friday and when he contacted
the Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare; they sent health
workers to collect the body.
When the health workers
arrived to get the body, the son
of the deceased started throwing
stones at the car and refused for
the body to be removed, so they
got into their car and left, said
Commissioner Miller.
The Commissioner said, upon
returning from a funeral service,
on Saturday, he called Deputy
Health Minister Dr. Bernice
Dahn, and she told him she could
not send health workers without
police offcers there to protect
the health Team.
Mr. Miller said he then got the
police and called Dr. Dahn who
promised to send the health
team, but the whole of Monday
he and his people waited until
9:00 p.m. with the health team
not showing up.
The body is still here this
Monday morning as I speak to
you, and the entire Louisiana is
in fear and cannot pass the road
for fear they would get affected,
because they have been educated
that when a person dies of Ebola,
the virus becomes over active
and can affect anybody, said
Miller.
Case recorded
But when contacted via Mobile
phone, Dr. Dahn said she knew
about the case in Louisiana as it
has already been recorded.
I know about the case in
Louisiana and it has been
recorded, but I am in the middle
of something right now that I
cannot talk, but call 1333, they
are responsible, she said.
Upon speaking, she hung up, but
when FPA called 1333, which
is considered Ebola Hotline,
nobody answered the call as the
phone rang endlessly.
As to whether the lady who
died lived in Louisiana,
Commissioner Miller said the
lady and her son were strangers,
but he heard that she was a wife
of one Mr. Robert Fofee, who
lives in Fofee town, in Louisiana.
We do not know this woman
and her son and since the son
threw stone at health workers to
leave, he has not been seen and
he was the one looking after his
mother.
Miller said he heard that the
deceased was in Monrovia
treating her sister who was sick
and when the sister died, she
relocated to Louisiana but when
the she arrived in Louisiana, the
residents refused her because
they had already gotten a hint on
her sickness, and when she was
turned away, she died on her way
back to Monrovia.
With the number of confrmed
death from the disease in Liberia
rising, many citizens are afraid
to take their family members
suspected of Ebola to health
facilities in the Country, because
health workers are turning them
away.
IN LOUISIANA
Suspected Ebola victims Corpse abandoned
Page 12 |
Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
F
RONT
PAGE
EBOLA
EBOLA IS A DEADLY VIRUS
But Doctors Say It Can Be Beaten

S
aidu Kanneh was
given a hero's
welcome last week
when he walked into
a community meeting about
Ebola in a tiny village of mud
huts in the Kissi Kama region
of Sierra Leone. Kanneh was
diagnosed with Ebola early in
July, was treated for 12 days
in a Doctors Without Borders
hospital and overcame the
disease.
"God has made me as an
example to survive and then
get into the community to talk
to my people," says Kanneh,
who's about 40 years old
and runs a health clinic near
the border with Guinea and
Liberia. In treating Ebola
cases, he too caught the disease
he thinks he may have been
infected from contact with the
bodily fuids that transmit the
disease, perhaps because of a
gap between his rubber gloves
and his shirt sleeve.
Kanneh's message is that not
every patient dies.
And there are signs of hope:
changes taking place that could
be key to stopping the West
African outbreak that began
in March and has so far seen
1,032 cases in Guinea, Liberia
and Sierra Leone, with more
than 600 deaths.
"There is no cure but that
does not mean we can't treat
it with success," says Tim
Jagatic, a Canadian physician
at the Doctors Without Borders
hospital in Kailahun where
Kanneh was treated a series
of tents set up in a feld.
He says the human body can
fgure out how to combat it:
"This is just a virus. It's a virus
like infuenza. When we have
infuenza we know we stay
home, take our fuids and let
our bodies do the rest. That's
the same thing that we are
doing here.
"Our job is eliminating
distractions for the immune
system so it can create the
anitbodies [that] cure the
patient. So they can walk out."
Treating patients is one element
of the response to this outbreak;
the other huge challenge is
stopping transmission of the
virus through contact with
vomit, blood, sweat and mucus.
Funerals were initially a
major source of transmission.
"Relatives sometimes fall, cry
on the dead body, wash the
body," says Temba Morris,
who runs a government health
clinic in a remote village of
roughly 3,000 people near the
epicenter of the Sierra Leone
outbreak.
Funerals in Sierra Leone,
Morris says, are a very physical
expression of mourning. But
when someone dies of Ebola,
the level of virus in the body
is at its peak. The corpse is
incredibly contagious.
People have been told not
to touch the body of anyone
who may have died of Ebola.
Changing that custom, Morris
says, is very hard. "Especially
when a strong relative dies,
like a mother, father, a child.
Everybody wants to touch,
everybody wants to fall on the
dead. And maybe roll over it.
To maybe express their love for
the particular person. So it is
yet diffcult to accept that one."
Nonetheless, he says, Sierra
Leoneans are now accepting
that they must stay away from
the corpse of an Ebola victim.
That change in behavior could
go a long way to bringing this
outbreak to an end.
WEST AFRICA EBOLA OUTBREAK TOTAL TOPS 1,000
A
s 67 new Ebola
virus disease
(EVD) illnesses in
Sierra Leone and
Liberia pushed the outbreak
total to 1,048 cases, the United
Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) warned
about the risk of virus
transmission from wildlife,
especially fruit bats.
Along with new infections,
19 more deaths were reported
in Sierra Leone and Liberia,
raising the fatality count to
632, according to a Jul 19
update from the World Health
Organization (WHO) that
covers new cases reported
from Jul 15 to Jul 17.
The WHO said the outbreak
shows a decline in Guinea,
which was the frst country hit
by the outbreak, the biggest
and deadliest one of its kind
so far. The country reported no
new cases or deaths during the
reporting period.
However the country's
neighbors Sierra Leone and
Liberia reported a steady rise in
cases at a level that the WHO
said was serious.
Sierra Leone situation
Sierra Leone reported 45 new
illnesses and 9 deaths, lifting
the country's total so far to 442
cases, 206 of them fatal. The
country has for the frst time
more cases than Guinea, which
has logged 410.
Gambia has sent a team of 11
healthcare workers to help
Sierra Leone with its outbreak
response, based on a call for
regional collaboration made at
an early July health minister's
meeting in Accra, Ghana.
The WHO added that the
team will help with critical
human resource needs, but the
mission will also help boost
preparedness in Gambia.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone's
religious leaders have
criticized the government's
management of the outbreak
response, noting that a lack
of information is fueling
rural community resistance to
medical help, Reuters reported
today.
Bishop John Yambasu, head of
the United Methodist Church
of Sierra Leone and chair of
an interfaith task group, said
he was disappointment that
the government hasn't declared
a public health emergency,
which he said would increase
resources for outbreak
response, according to Reuters.
He accused the government
of being too concerned about
the political ramifcations of
declaring an emergency.
The country's health minister
has said the outbreak is serious
but hasn't reached emergency
levels, Reuters said.
Liberia developments
Meanwhile, Liberia reported 22
more infections and 10 deaths
to the WHO. The numbers
boost the country's total to
196 cases, which includes 116
deaths.
The WHO said it, Liberia's
health ministry, and its other
health partners are assessing
the outbreak response in each
country to identify challenges
and help set priorities.
A recently completed
assessment in Liberia
identifed a number of gaps,
including low coverage of
contact tracing; persistent
denial about the disease and
resistance to response activities
in the community; weak data
management; inadequate
infection and control practices,
especially in outlying health
facilities; and weak leadership
and coordination at the
subnational level.
The WHO said some of the
challenges are driven by a
lack of fnancial resources and
human technical capacity. The
agency added that authorities
are mapping out the fnancial,
logistics, and human resources
needs as part of a national
operational plan to battle the
EVD outbreak.
Similar assessments are under
way for Guinea and Sierra
Leone, as well, the WHO said.
In other developments, elected
offcials in Liberia have voted
to ask the country's president
to declare a health emergency
due to the country's EVD
outbreak, the Daily Observer, a
newspaper based in Monrovia,
reported on Jul 18.
A motion passed by the
country's Senate on Jul 17
orders its leadership to join
with the country's House of
Representatives in requesting
the health emergency and asks
that the government free up
$1.5 million to help the health
ministry battle the disease.
FAO caution singles out fruit
bats
The FAO said today that
although curbing human-to-
human EVD transmission is
the most important focus, it
is working closely with the
WHO to raise awareness about
transmission risks from wildlife
among rural communities that
hunt bush meat to supplement
their diets and income.
The agency said the
communities risk future
spillover from species that
carry the virus, including
fruit bats, some primates,
and duikerssmall antelopes
native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Juan Lubroth, DVM, the FAO's
chief veterinary offcer, said in
a statement that the group isn't
suggesting that people stop
hunting, because that wouldn't
be realistic. "But communities
need clear advice on the need
not to touch dead animals or
to sell or eat the meat of any
animal that they fnd already
dead."
He added that people in rural
communities should also avoid
hunting animals that are sick or
behaving strangely.
The FAO, however, said
fruit bats should be avoided
altogether, because they are the
most likely reservoir for the
virus and can carry it without
showing signs of disease. In
West Africa, fruit bats are
usually eaten dried or in a spicy
soup, the group added.
Several governments in the
region have tried to ban the
sale and consumption of bush
meat, but bans have been
impossible to enforce and have
prompted suspicion from rural
populations, the FAO said.
Katrinka de Balough, DVM,
FAO veterinary public health
offcer and Ebola focal point,
said in the statement that
mistrust, myths, and rumors
are among the challenges
in controlling the disease.
She added that concerns are
growing about the impact the
outbreak might have on food
security in some parts of the
region, with some farmers
afraid to work in their felds
and some markets shut down.
The FAO said it has committed
resources and has been
working with partners to
improve information about the
disease using existing networks
that include rural radio and
agricultural extension services.
It also added that it will work
with governments to set up
wildlife surveillance systems
to more quickly detect the
virus.
"Rural communities have
an important role to play in
reporting unusual mortality in
the animal population, which
is another reason that their
collaboration is so crucial," de
Balogh said.
Another step will be to assess
the role of hunting, with an eye
toward identifying healthier,
more sustainable livestock
production options that can
provide more protein and
income sources, the FAO said.

Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Page 13
REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET
Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption tale
T
he World Health Organization (WHO)
continues to monitor the evolution of
the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak
in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.
The current epidemic trend of EVD outbreak in
Sierra Leone and Liberia remains serious, with
67 new cases and 19 deaths reported July 15-
17, 2014. These include suspect, probable, and
laboratory-confrmed cases. The EVD outbreak
in Guinea continues to show a declining trend,
with no new cases reported during this period.
Critical analyses and review of the current
outbreak response is being undertaken to inform
the process of developing prioritized national
operational plans. Effective implementation of
the prioritized plans will be vital in reversing
the current trend of EVD outbreak, especially in
Liberia and Sierra Leone.
WHO has been working with national authorities
and partners in the affected countries to analyse
and review the current outbreak response. An
assessment of the outbreak response conducted
in Liberia identifed several gaps and challenges.
Some of the gaps identifed include low coverage
of contact tracing; persisting denial and resistance
in the community; weak data management;
inadequate infection prevention and control
practices, especially in peripheral health
facilities; and weak leadership and coordination
at sub-national levels. Underpinning these
challenges were limited fnancial resources
and human technical capacity. Comprehensive
mapping of the fnancial, logistics, and human
resource needs will be articulated in the national
operational plan under development. This
exercise of developing prioritized operational
plans is also being conducted in Guinea and
Sierra Leone.
Following the call for regional collaboration
during the Accra Ministerial meeting, the
government and the Ministry of Health of
Gambia provided a team of 11 healthcare
workers to support outbreak response in Sierra
Leone. While this team will contribute the
critical human resource needs, the mission will
be crucial for enhancing capacity for epidemic
preparedness and response in The Gambia. This
mission is being supported by UNDP, Gambia,
and WHO Sierra Leone.
Efforts are currently ongoing to scale up and
strengthen all aspects of the outbreak response
in the three countries, including contact tracing,
public information and community mobilization,
case management and infection prevention and
control, and coordination.
WHO does not recommend any travel or trade
restrictions be applied to Guinea, Liberia, or
Sierra Leone based on the current information
available for this event.
As of July 17, 2014, the cumulative number of
cases attributed to EVD in the three countries
stands at 1,048, including 632 deaths. The
distribution and classifcation of the cases are
as follows: Guinea, 410 cases (301 confrmed,
95 probable, and 14 suspected) and 310 deaths
(203 confrmed, 95 probable, and 12 suspected);
Liberia, 196 cases (76 confrmed, 56 probable,
and 64 suspected) and 116 deaths (54 confrmed,
40 probable, and 22 suspected); and Sierra Leone,
442 cases (368 confrmed, 48 probable, and 26
suspected) and 206 deaths (165 confrmed, 35
probable, and 6 suspected).
EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE IN WEST AFRICA: 67 NEW CASES, 19 DEATHS
DETERMINED EBOLA VS.
UNSERIOUS GOVERNMENT
W
hen things fall
apart, the center
can no longer
hold-these
words from Chinua Achebes
Things Fall Apart clearly
resonates in the Liberian
society today.
Liberians can liken the current
situation in our country as a
situation where things have
fallen apart and the electorates
are left to fend and protect
themselves.
The Ebola Hemorrhagic fever
is so serious and determined
that it does not renege on
killing anyone it seizes within
21 days if not properly cared
for by professionally equipped
health workers.
As of yesterday, the number
of casualty in Liberia was
a staggering 112 persons,
according to the Ministry of
Health and Social Welfare.
But do these Health Ministry
people really mean business in
this fght against Ebola?
Let us take into consideration
the lapses and common sense
approaches being downplayed
by this government:
UNSECURED BORDERS
Our land border ports of entry
remain open to visitors since
Ebola entered our land and I
see no efforts being exerted by
this regime to make sure that
those entering our country are
properly screened and oriented
on what to and not to do while
within our borders.
But the Ivorian government
has closed its borders with
Liberia and denied Ivorian
refugees entry into Ivory Coast
as a precautionary measure for
their citizens.
This is a very serious threat
to our sovereignty and our
government is taking it as if its
just a brush-aside affair. Why is
this government so wicked?
INADEQUATE PUBLIC
TRANSPORT
We have a Ministry of
Transport that does not place a
premium on the welfare of the
citizens of this nation but place
the highest premium on their
very own welfare, comfort and
how to fatten their pockets on a
daily basis.
The government has announced
through the Ministry of Health
and Social Welfare that we
should limit contact with
others through handshakes
and sweat and semen and all
these precautionary measures
as a means of avoiding being
infected, yet public transport is
scarce.
Take a walk down the street
and see the haul of people
standing to fght over a cab;
wait for a minute and see how
many people start to fght,
squeeze and push each other in
pursuit of a seat on a cab, bus
or trolley. Is that not a great
way for Ebola to fnd her way
into the populace?
If you just spent some more
time, you will see how many
people squeeze themselves on
the public buses provided by
the National Transit Authority
(NTA) on a daily basis en
route to their places of work or
hustle.
But the government through
the Ministry of Transport is
yet to institute the necessary
measures to curtail the hurdles
as they parade the streets in

F
RONT
PAGE
EBOLA
their sleek cars purchased by
the same taxpayers whose trust
they neglect. Am sure we do
not need a rocket scientist to
recommend these common
sense measures before they are
implemented, or do we?
What will it take to make sure
that there are enough buses
available for commuters as
a means of avoiding them
being crammed against each
other and rubbing sweat
against each other in pursuit
of transportation?; only
commitment and attention to
detail.
Every day we see folks selling
roasted fsh, meat, sausages
and pork along the streets
and there is no governmental
enforcement to make sure
that these things are done in a
sanitary manner in the face of
this Ebola outbreak; yet Ebola
is steadily creeping in Liberia
and has already established
territory in fve of our counties.
If the welfare of the people
who elected this government to
power is being trampled upon
and tossed to the dustbin, then
where are we headed?
Indian Peacekeepers wear face
masks at Foreign Ministry.
The Indian Formed Police
Unit assigned at the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs are now
seen wearing face masks and
gloves as a means of protecting
themselves, right in the face of
Madam President as she drives
in and out of work every day,
yet she keeps this emergency
on a low profle.
A government that does
not put the welfare of its
citizenry as its frst priority
is a government bent of
personal aggrandizement and
fulfllment, and this is one
such government today. Fight
Ebola with ferce seriousness
now, or it will fght you, the
government and haunt you
forever, I mean it.
By: E Owusu Dahnsaw-ACTOR 0777062159/0886789551

Indian Peacekeepers wear face masks at Foreign Ministry
Page 14 |
Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
IN BRIEF
ISRAEL POUNDS GAZA
DESPITE INTERNATIONAL
PEACE EFFORTS
I NO LONGER TALK TO
OBAMA: TURKEY'S
ERDOGAN
TRAIN CARRYING MH17
BODIES ON FINAL JOURNEY
REACHES UKRAINE CITY

GAZA/JERUSALEM
(Reuters) -
I
srael pounded targets
across the Gaza Strip
on Tuesday, saying no
ceasefre was near as
top U.S. and U.N. diplomats
pursued talks on halting
fghting that has claimed more
than 600 lives.
U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry held discussions in
neighboring Egypt, while U.N.
Secretary General Ban Ki-
moon few to Israel to see Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
and meet on Wednesday with
the Palestinian prime minister
in the occupied West Bank.
However, there was no let-up
in the fghting around Gaza,
with plumes of black smoke
spiraling into the sky, and
Israeli shells raining down on
the coastal Palestinian enclave.
DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) -
A
train carrying the
remains of many of the
298 victims of Malaysia
Airlines fight MH17
arrived in a Ukrainian government-
held city on Tuesday on the frst leg
of their fnal journey home to be
reclaimed by their families.
Five refrigerated wagons
containing 200 body bags reached
the city of Kharkiv after pro-
Russian separatists agreed to
hand over the plane's black boxes
to Malaysian authorities and the
bodies to the Netherlands, where
many victims had lived.
Istanbul (AFP) -
T
urkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
said he has stopped
talking to US President
Barack Obama on the phone, amid
growing strains between Ankara
and Washington over Syria and the
Gaza confict.
Turkey, a ferce opponent of Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad and
an open supporter of armed rebel
fghters, felt betrayed when the
United States backed away from
military action against Damascus
in September.
"In the past, I was calling him
(Obama) directly. Because I can't
get the expected results on Syria,
our foreign ministers are now
talking to each other," Erdogan
said in a live interview on pro-
government ATV channel late
Monday.
"And I have talked to (US Vice
President Joe) Biden. He calls me
and I call him.

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)
N
early a dozen parents
of the more than 200
kidnapped Nigerian
schoolgirls will
never see their daughters again.
Since the mass abduction of the
schoolgirls by Islamic extremists
three months ago, at least 11
of their parents have died and
their hometown, Chibok, is
under siege from the militants,
residents report.
Seven fathers of kidnapped
girls were among 51 bodies
brought to Chibok hospital after
an attack on the nearby village
of Kautakari this month, said a
health worker who insisted on
anonymity for fear of reprisals
by the extremists.
At least four more parents have
died of heart failure, high blood
pressure and other illnesses that
the community blames on trauma
due to the mass abduction 100
days ago, said community leader
Pogu Bitrus, who provided their
names.
"One father of two of the girls
kidnapped just went into a kind
of coma and kept repeating the
names of his daughters, until life
left him," said Bitrus.
President Goodluck Jonathan
met Tuesday with many parents
of the 219 kidnapped Nigerian
schoolgirls and some classmates
who managed to escape from
Islamic extremists. For months
the parents have been asking to
see the president and he fnally
agreed last week to a request
from Pakistani girls-education
activist Malala Yousafzai.
Chibok, the town where the
girls were kidnapped, is cut off
because of frequent attacks on
the roads that are studded with
burned out vehicles. Commercial
fights no longer go into the
troubled area and the government
has halted charter fights.
Through numerous phone calls
to Chibok and the surrounding
area, The Associated Press has
gathered information about the
situation in the town where the
students were kidnapped from
their school.
More danger is on the horizon.
Boko Haram is closing in on
11 PARENTS OF NIGERIA'S
ABDUCTED GIRLS DIE

F
RONT
PAGE
WORLD NEWS
HIV PILLS SHOW MORE PROMISE
TO PREVENT INFECTION
T
here is more good
news about HIV
treatment pills used
to prevent infection in
people at high risk of getting the
AIDS virus: Follow-up from a
landmark study that proved the
drug works now shows that it
does not encourage risky sex and
is effective even if people skip
some doses.
The research was discussed
Tuesday at the International
AIDS Conference in Melbourne,
Australia, and was published
by the British journal Lancet
Infectious Diseases.
It involves 1,600 gay men
and transgender women who
took part in the original study
showing that daily use of the
drug Truvada lowered the risk of
getting HIV.
After the study ended, they
were offered the chance to keep
getting the pills for free, and
three-quarters of them agreed.
All were studied for another 17
months.
None who took the pills at
least four days a week became
infected. Even use two or three
days a week lowered the risk
of infection compared to taking
the pills less often or not at all.
Researchers could tell how often
the drug was taken because they
measured it in blood samples.
"We're encouraged," said study
leader Dr. Robert Grant, an AIDS
expert at the Gladstone Institutes,
a foundation affliated with the
University of California, San
Francisco. "There's a demand,
there's some forgiveness for
missed doses. And it's safe."
Mitchell Warren, who heads a
nonproft group that works on
HIV prevention research, said
in an email from Melbourne
that "the story is now clear" that
this approach "is real, it works,
and it should be made available
to people at risk now as part
of high-impact combination
prevention."
Condoms remain the best way
to prevent HIV infection but not


Chibok, attacking villages ever
closer to the town. Villagers
who survive the assaults are
swarming into the town, swelling
its population and straining
resources. A food crisis looms,
along with shortages of money
and fuel, said community leader
Bitrus.
On the bright side, some of the
young women who escaped
are recovering, said a health
worker, who insisted on
anonymity because he feared
reprisals from Boko Haram.
Girls who had frst refused to
discuss their experience, now
are talking about it and taking
part in therapeutic singing and
drawing a few drew homes,
some painted fowers and one
young woman drew a picture of
a soldier with a gun last week.
Girls who said they would
never go back to school now are
thinking about how to continue
their education, he said.
Counseling is being offered to
families of those abducted and
to some of the 57 students who
managed to escape in the frst
few days, said the health worker.
He is among 36 newly trained in
grief and rape counseling, under
a program funded by USAID.
All the escapees remain
deeply concerned about their
schoolmates who did not get
away.
A presidential committee
investigating the kidnappings
said 219 girls still are missing.
But the community says there
are more because some parents
refused to give the committee
their daughters' names, fearing
the stigma involved.
Boko Haram flmed a video in
which they threatened to sell the
students into slavery and as child
brides. It also showed a couple
of the girls describing their
"conversion" from Christianity
to Islam.
At least two have died of snake
bites, a mediator who was
liaising with Boko Haram told
AP two months ago. At that time
he said at least 20 of the girls
were ill not surprising given
that they are probably being held
in an area infested with malarial
mosquitoes, poisonous snakes
and spiders, and relying on
unclean water from rivers.
Most of the schoolgirls are
still believed to be held in the
Sambisa Forest a wildlife
reserve that includes almost
impenetrably thick jungle as
well as more open savannah.
The forest borders on sand dunes
marking the edge of the Sahara
Desert. Sightings of the girls and
their captors have been reported
in neighboring Cameroon and
Chad.
In Chibok, the town's population
is under stress.
"There are families that are
putting up four and fve other
families," local leader Bitrus
said, adding that food stocks
are depleted. Livestock has
been looted by Boko Haram
so villagers are arriving empty
handed. Worst of all, no one is
planting though it is the rainy
season, he said.
"There is a famine looming," he
warned.
Chibok and nearby villages
are targets because they are
enclaves of staunch Christians
in predominantly Muslim north
Nigeria.
The number of soldiers guarding
Chibok has increased from 15 to
about 200 since the kidnapping
but they have done little to
increase security in Chibok, said
Bitrus. The soldiers often refuse
to deploy to villages under attack
though there is advance warning
90 percent of the time, he said.
Last month the extremists took
control and raised their black
fags over two villages within
30 kilometers (18 miles) of
Chibok. Last week they ordered
residents of another village
just 16 kilometers (10 miles)
away to clear out, Bitrus said.
Every village in the neighboring
Damboa area has been attacked
and sacked, and all the villages
bordering Cameroon have been
burned and are deserted, Bitrus
said, quoting residents who fed.
The attacks continue despite the
fact the military placed the area
under a state of emergency in
May 2013.
everyone uses them all the time,
so health offcials recommend
other options for certain groups,
such as gay men.
Some health offcials had worried
that taking Truvada might give a
false sense of security and make
men less likely to use condoms or
to limit their partners. However,
study participants reported no
increase in these behaviors, and
there was no rise in syphilis or
herpes, other sexually spread
diseases that might suggest risk-
taking.
The study was done in South
America, Africa, Thailand,
United States and paid for by
the U.S. National Institutes of
Health.
Truvada already is sold for
treating HIV. It's a combination
of two drugs, tenofovir and
emtricitabine, or FTC, made
by California-based Gilead
Sciences Inc. Its wholesale price
is $800 a month in the U.S. but
generic versions are available in
other countries and they cost as
little as 31 cents a day in Africa,
Grant said.
"The main challenge is to fnd a
way to make it more available,"
he said.
Frontpage
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 Page 15
Sports
SPORTS
WE TRIED, BUT
WE'RE SLIPPING
-- BRAZIL'S
NEYMAR
JEREMY LIN DEMANDS
MORE PLAYING TIME FROM
LAKERS NEXT SEASON
WITNESS: STERLING NEEDS
CLIPPERS SALE TO PAY DEBTS


Rio de Janeiro (AFP) -
S
ifting through the
ruins ofBrazil's World
Cup campaign, star
player Neymarsays
his team strove hard for glory,
but other countries have moved
ahead and they must catch up.
While refusing to pin the
blame on former handler
Luiz Felipe Scolari, Neymar
also warned young players
to beware the damage some
coaches could do to young
players' development.
In an exclusive interview with
Globo television broadcast
Sunday, the 22-year-old said
Brazil deserved at best seven
out of ten for a Cup showing
which ended with a 7-1 semi-
fnal mauling by champions
Germany.
J
eremy Lin is demanding a
more important role from
the Los Angeles Lakers
after spending the past two
seasons under the shadow of James
Harden during his tenure days with
the Houston Rockets.
Traded by the Rockets for salary
relief, the 25-year old Lin will
embark into a new chapter in his
career as a member of the fabled
Lakers franchise next season.
The former Harvard playmaker
averaged 12 points and 4 dishes
per game last season in a backup
role for the Rockets, who also lost
Omer Asik and Chandler Parsons
this offseason.
LOS ANGELES (AP)
T
he chief fnancial offcer
of Donald Sterling's
properties said Monday
that the billionaire may
be forced to sell a large portion
of his real estate empire to cover
$500 million in loans if he persists
in refusing to sell the Los Angeles
Clippersfor $2 billion.
Darren Schield, who oversees the
fnances of The Sterling Family
Trust, testifed Monday that three
banks are ready to recall their
loans to Sterling because of his
decision to dissolve the trust. His
move was designed to rescind his
signed agreement for the sale of the
Clippers, a team he bought for $12
million.
Schield said if Sterling has to dump
$500 million worth of apartment
buildings he could destabilize the
Los Angeles real estate market.
Real Madrid sign World Cup Golden Boot Winner RodriguezOnslaught
By Security Forces On The Activities Of The Insurgent Group"
RONALDO READY TO RUMBLE AFTER WORLD CUP FLOP
Tokyo (AFP) -
P
ortugal superstar
Cristiano Ronaldo,
putting a miserable
World Cup behind him,
on Tuesday declared himself
ft and ready to go as he chases
trophies at Real Madrid.
"I'll try my best all the season
like I do it every year. I'll try to
be the best, try to help my team,
try to score goals and try to win
titles," the 29-year-old striker
told a sponsor's event in Tokyo,
adding he would like to play

REAL GOLD

Madrid (AFP) -
R
eal Madrid on Tuesday
signedColombian
striker James
Rodriguez, the top
scorer at the World Cup, from
Monaco on a six season contract.
Neither team gave the transfer
fee, but Spanish media
reported a fgure of between
75 million and 80 million
($101m-$108m), making him
one of the most expensive
players in history.
Rodriguez, 23, scored six goals
for Colombia at the World Cup
to win the Golden Boot award.
He will be unveiled at Real
Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu
stadium at 8:00 p.m. (1800
GMT), the club said in a
statement.
Shortly before the
announcement, Rodriguez posed
for pictures and gave the thumbs
up sign as he left a Madrid clinic
where he passed a medical test.
"I am very happy. We will talk
later," he told reporters.
The Colombian striker is Real's
second major signing in fve
days as they prepare for a new
season of confrontation against
eternal rivals Barcelona.
German midfelder Toni Kroos
moved from Bayern Munich
on Thursday, just days after the
24-year-old helped Germany
win the World Cup.
Real have also been linked with
a move for Keylor Navas, the
goalkeeper whose heroics helped
Costa Rica reach the World Cup
quarter fnals. Navas plays with
Levante in the Spanish frst
division.
Rodriguez had only been at
Monaco for one year but his
sizzling performance at the
World Cup made him the
number one target for many
European clubs.
In a FIFA.com poll released
Monday, his volley against
Uruguay in the last 16 was
declared goal of the World Cup
by more than four million voters
-- three quarters of those who
took part.
Monaco paid 45 million
($60m) when he signed from FC
Porto of Portugal.
Spanish sports daily Marca,
"six, seven more years" at the top
level of club competition.
Portugal failed to make the
World Cup knockout round in
Brazil last month with one win,
one loss and one draw in their
group as an injury-hit Ronaldo
squandered plenty of chances
and notched up just one goal.
He had been hampered by a left
leg injury since just before the
global tournament.
"I'm really focused. My injury
is gone. I feel very, very good,"
Ronaldo said, adding he wanted
to kick off and fnish the Spanish
top-fight league season "in good
shape."
Without referring to his World
Cup diaster in Brazil, the
striker described last season as
"amazing". He listed several
individual trophies while Real
Madrid won a 10th Champions
League title and the Copa del
Rey, the oldest Spanish football
competition.
Ronaldo was the top scorer in La
Liga and the Champions League
and won his second Ballon d'Or
as well as the European Golden
Shoe, among other honours.
The chiselled Ronaldo was in
Japan to promote a series of
ftness products, including an
airplane-shaped device meant
to shape up facial muscles,
after posting an online photo of
himself wearing a black mask
that went viral.
Ronaldo added that he hoped
for a repeat of last season's
glory, saying he will have an
"opportunity to win fve, six
titles this year -- so fantastic. I'm
really focused".
"This is my goal for every season
-- to prepare myself 100 percent.
And for me every season is a
challenge so I want to be good
again.
"I dedicate myself 100 percent
and I want to carry on like that
until I fnish my career."
which has close ties with Real
Madrid's board, said Real will
pay 75 million straight away
and up to fve million more in
add ons.
If confrmed, the fee would
make Rodriguez the fourth most
expensive player in history
behind Gareth Bale, Cristiano
Ronaldo (both of Real) andLuis
Suarez who joined Barcelona
this month.
Rodriguez went to the World
Cup as Colombia's second best
known striker. But Radamel
Falcaowas injured in January
leaving the starring role to his
Monaco teammate as Colombia
reached the last 16 for the frst
time.
Uruguay's coach Oscar
Tabarez compared Rodriguez
to Argentine legends Diego
Maradona andLionel Messi, the
"players who succeed in doing
things because they are special."
The Colombian has made it clear
for a long time that it was the
Spanish league that he wanted
to get to.
"The Spanish league is a league
that I've always watched --
it's different from the English
League, which is very physical,"
he told FIFA.com in an interview
in November.
"The game in Spain is more
about technique, and about
getting more touches on the ball.
That's why I like it so much."
Rodriguez started his career at 16
for Colombian second division
side Envigado FC and built up
an immediate reputation.
In 2008, he was signed by
Argetinian side Atletico Banfeld
where he became known as
"James Bond of Banfeld" after
scoring an extraordinary left-
footed lob for the unfashionable
side in February 2010.
He moved to FC Porto in
Portugal where more spectacular
goals brought three league titles
in three seasons. Monaco bought
him in May 2013.
Rodriguez prides himself most
in having been dubbed 'El Pibe
Nueva' (the New Kid) in place of
Carlos Valderrama, Colombia's
star of the 1990s, who was
called 'El Pibe'.
"It's an honour to be considered
the heir to 'El Pibe' at my age,"
he told FIFA.com.
"Since I was little, I admired
Valderrama and I always wanted
to be like him. He was my hero
and I am proud to wear the
number 10 for Colombia while
helping the national team return
to the World Cup."
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