MONROVIA – Ms. Johanna Suberu Svanelind, an official of the Swedish Embassy near Monrovia, on Friday, May 26, officially launched the Civic and Service International (CSI) civic clubs, which are in operation at some schools in Liberia.

Before Ms. Svanelind, who is the Second Secretary and Program Officer at the Swedish Embassy, officially launched the program, she stated to CSI officials that she is “very impressed” with the work CSI does. 

“I like to start by congratulating Civic and Service International for launching this event. This is very successful already. I am sure we have great things to look forward to. Well done; and I am very impressed with your work that is why we accepted the invitation to be here today,” she stated. 

Ms. Svanelind used the UNSC Resolution 2250 on the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda to briefly speak to her audience, who predominantly were students. 

The United Nations Security Council adopted unanimously, on 9 December 2015, a ground-breaking resolution on Youth, Peace and Security which recognizes that “Young people play an important and positive role in the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security.”

“This Security Council Resolution urges all member states of the UN, including Sweden and Liberia, to increase inclusive representation of youths in all decision makings, including everything that affects you as youth both directly and indirectly.”

She told the young people that it is the state’s responsibility that there is a space for them to participate.

“But what can you do as youths to make sure that you are ready for this when you are offered this opportunity? How can you be sure that you are ready to fill that role to go to the table with adults and tell them what you think should be done about things that affect your lives?”

“I think the best that you can do to prepare yourselves for this is to know your rights, including what rights you have as youths, as citizens and know what rights you have as human (human rights),” the Swedish Embassy official averred. She urged the students to practice to keep raising their voices, initially before their friends. 

Ms. Svanelind concluded by officially launching the CSI’s Civic Club, which is now in operation at various high schools in Liberia. 

Also speaking, the 17th Superintendent of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS), Mr. Isaac Saye-Lakpoh Zawolo, said there can’t be anything better that is happening to Liberia than the reintroduction of civics back into Liberian schools at this time.

“Most of the challenges we face as a nation and people have to do with our understanding and appreciation of our rights and privileges. Because when we understand our rights and privileges, we will know that it doesn’t make sense to take the garbage from our houses, bring it and dump them in the drainage along the Japanese Freeway.” Supt. Zawolo also stated that those who are in high authority in government will also know that it doesn’t make sense to illegally pocket monies that are meant for development, Liberian children’s education, for better health facilities and others. 

As he thanked CSI, he urged the students to take their civic lessons very seriously; and he encouraged those of them who are eligible to vote on October 10, to get out and vote. Adding: “Because the future of this country, to a larger extend, depends on what happens on October 10, 2023.”

Also speaking, a representative from the Governance Commission (GC) said prior to the Liberian Civil War, Civics was one of the key subjects in the schools. 

“Unfortunately, after the civil crises this important subject disappeared from Liberian schools. Civics teaches a person his/her responsibilities to country, as well as a country’s responsibilities to its citizens.”

In brief remarks, Mr. Lawrence Yealue, Country Director of Accountability Lab, said Liberia’s biggest contemporary issue that it faces stems from a bad education system in the country. 

“Until we look at our education system and take it apart, rip it completely apart, and rejoin it, where the three sectors, what I call the ‘three sectors’, be put back together.” 

He named the sectors as parents playing their parts, adding: “We can’t teach civics when parents are not involved.” He stressed to the students that their part is to go to school and be serious to learn. He further emphasized that civics should create spaces for every student and not particular sections for those who are good in certain subjects, including STEM. 

Yealue further stressed that the civic club should be a place where students are being trained to be advocates for themselves. He urged the students to report sexual violence issues, including sex for grades and money for grades, etc. 

Speaking with journalists, College of West Africa 11th grader Faith G. Tokpah and member of the Civic Club said the club means a lot to her. “Civics focuses on the citizens and their government. With the help of the club, I have understood how our government works and how we as citizens can contribute to helping the government. I got to know understand that citizens have roles and responsibilities in promoting peace in their communities.”

Ms. Tokpah used the time to encourage the government and its donor partners to support CSI so that it can expand the program to other schools. outside Monrovia. 

For her male counterpart at B.W. Harris Episcopal High School, Dennis Mulbah said civic education helps citizens to show love and respect to their country. 

“One of the major questions is, are we showing love for this country? I see many Liberians saying negative things about our country. I feel sad. I hope that Liberians in and out will unite to make Liberia a better place so that we all can be proud of this ‘glorious land of liberty’,” he added.

Mulbah joined his CWA female counterpart, and also called on the donor community to support CSI so that it can expand the civic clubs to other schools across the country.

Unlike other clubs in schools such as Press Club, Health Club, etc. Civic Club is new to Liberia and this is the first its kind in the history of Liberia.

Speaking earlier, CSI’s Country Director, Mr. Otis S. Bundor who gave a background of CSI, said they were first established in 2012 as Child Steps International. 

“The reason we transitioned to the new name is, all countries that have come from war, there is always the issue of bad governance, people knowing their rights and responsibilities. So, we just synchronized all of our major works on civics.” He further said that because of CSI’s founder, Ms. Tenneh Johnson-Kemah’s passion about Liberia, good governance and rule of law, she established CSI.

“We have been doing lots of things. So, we have three flagship programs: Law + You, Community Program, Radio Program and Academic Program. 

He further asserted, “The purpose of the civic club is to educate students about their rights and responsibilities through role play, drama, mural design and use their skills and knowledge gained to identify problems in their communities and jointly collaborate to solve them. CSI will teach students about the importance of volunteerism, patriotism, human rights, etc. Our appreciation goes to the Open Society-Africa for partnering with CSI to launch this important program.”

LAW+YOU – Rights and Responsibilities of Liberian Citizens, which is the textbook that CSI developed, shows that with collective efforts, Liberians can do better.

The civics textbook, which is tailored at every grade level — from junior high to high school — was written by 20 accomplished authors, including Americans and Liberians. 

The indoor program was interspersed with drama performance by students on peaceful elections, a band performance and a comedy session on drug abuse, which was led by Veteran Liberian Journalist ‘Aunty’ Mae Azango. The program began with a street parade and ended in the hall of iCampus on Carey Street, Monrovia, Liberia.

Civics and Service International (CSI) wants to forge a partnership with like-minded Donors/partners in order to massively produce the civics text book that is currently being taught in few junior and senior high schools across the country.

Making the call recently during a brief remark at the Joint Education Sector Review Conference, which was held in Ganta, Nimba with the theme, “Transformation Education, the Fulcrum for National Development, Mr. Otis S. Bundor, Country Director, CSI said it was very expedient that the civic textbook that his organization, working along the Ministry of Education and others produced, can be mass- published and be placed in the libraries and in the hands of every junior and senior high schools, especially the public schools.

“Now the civics textbooks for secondary schools, LAW+YOU: Rights and Responsibilities of Liberian Citizen are in the Minister’s Office and what has been one of his challenges is how we can get them printed in mass,” Bundor said.

“We talk about civics, we are going to elections and people are going to be voting, all need to be done to reduce the invalid votes,” he stated; adding that citizens need to be thought more about their rights and responsibilities to the state.

In a separate interview, Mr. Bundor says that it will cost the minimum of $300.00 to get a set in a school. “ It is important to learn from the head of the West African Examination Council, Mr. Dale Gbotoe that Civics will be one of the mandatory subjects for student to passed the WASSCE. Based on our research, we intend to give at least 2 sets of the civic textbooks comprising 6 copies of the students’ textbooks for junior and senior high and 2 teacher guides. According to the publisher, Star Longman, a high quality set will cost at least US$300.00”.

Sometime last year, Bundor told this newspaper when the book was launched: “Today’s launching exercise of the LAW+YOU – Rights and Responsibilities of Liberian Citizen shows that with collective efforts, Liberians can do better. This has been a dream for many of us especially the President and Founder of Civics and Service International – Madam Tenneh Johnson Kemah. The vision of CSI is to realize a Liberia where children are empowered with the knowledge to grow up having a higher self-esteem and be able to engage in respectful debate, advocacy and action, holding their government accountable while maintaining a love for their nation,” he enthused.

About the Text Book

The civics textbook that the CSI Country Director is talking about is the “LAW+YOU – Rights and Responsibilities of the Liberian Citizen.” It is being taught in some junior and senior schools.

Civics returned to the classroom this academic year 2022/2023, more than three decades since it was officially taught in Liberian schools.

The return of this vital subject that is aimed at enlightening Liberian students on their rights, responsibilities, and others was done under the auspices of the Civics and Service International (CSI), formerly Child Steps International.

“Civics is one of the leading fields in building a nation’s democracy. According to the LAW+YOU Civic textbook- Rights and Responsibilities of Liberian Citizen, Civics is considered as the study of the rights of citizens and their responsibilities to each other and their government. This also entails love for their country and a passion to develop a wholesome functional society,” according to CSI.   

The release of the book was the culmination of more than seven years of work, developing and testing the curriculum, writing the textbook content, piloting the program in schools, as well as training school administrators and teachers in partnership with the Liberian Ministry of Education. The curriculum was initially developed and piloted. CSI also worked directly with the Ministry of Education to train more than 100 school administrators and teachers.

The civics book, which is tailored at every grade level — from junior to senior high school — was written by 20 accomplished authors, including Americans and Liberians.

In 2013, Civics and Service International (CSI) conducted an assessment with communities, civil servants, and schools and realized that most Liberians do not understand what it takes to be a citizen- responsibilities and rights. For example, it was common to hear citizens asserting that the country should be sold, and the money distributed among them.

CSI said the main essence of civic education is to provide sustainable constitutional democracy- human rights, conflict prevention and resolution, the role of citizens, vibrant self-esteem, etc. Liberia as Africa’s oldest independent nation, a country from a brutal civil war with many people still traumatized and school-going kids growing up without knowing their rights and responsibilities, CSI saw the need to write civic textbooks considering Liberia’s cultural context. 

Monrovia — The Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has cleared Mr. Herbie Teconbla MCcauley of all allegations of financial impropriety and corruption.

In its clearance to MCcauley dated December 20, 2021, Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, Executive Chairman, LACC, said, “The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission is pleased to present its compliments and informs you that it has concluded its investigation into allegations of financial impropriety and corruption involving you and other officials at the National Transit Authority (NTA).”

“We are pleased to inform you that the investigation found no criminal liability on your part as alleged. Therefore, you have been cleared by the investigation on all allegations levied as in the case mentioned supra,” Cllr. Martin said to MCcauley.

BACKGROUND

Back on December 15, 2021, when Cllr. Martin read findings into a number of investigations that the Commission had concluded, he announced that on 21^st July 2021, workers of the National Transit Authority initiated a go-slow protest in Monrovia and made series of allegations against the entity’s Managing Director Herbie MCcauley including the awarding of a contract to a Senegalese company outside of the Public Procurement and Concession Corporation (PPCC) regulations and the alleged illegal scrapping of the company’s buses.

“These allegations among other things found the bases for the investigations. The LACC found that the partnership agreement with Numherit-Liberia LTB has been entirely pre-financed by the company and the NTA has made no payment to company in question. The LACC also noted that the scrapping of the company’s buses was not done in agreement with the General Services Agency though an amount of US$4,000 generated from the scrapping had been placed into legitimate accounts at the United Bank of Africa (UBA).

“The LACC recommends that the partnership between the NTA and Numherit-Liberia be reviewed to ensure consistency with Public Procurement and Concession Commission Regulations; the National Transit Authority should ensure that all future scrapping be fully authorized by the General Services Agency (GSA); the LACC investigations did not establish criminal liability of the part of the Managing Director of the National Transit Authority (NTA) and other members of the senior management,” the LACC had concluded back in December 2021.

Monrovia —The Liberia National Police (LNP) has issued Mr. Eric Willise Wowoh their “confirmation clearance” clearing him of all alleged sexual misconduct (rape) that was said to have taken place within the Alexandria A. Andrews Academy School in Brooklyn Community, Gbarnga, Bong County and the Heart of Grace School located in Jacob’s Town, Rehab City View Community, Lower Johnsonville, Montserrado County.

Even though the alleged sexual misconduct was said to have been committed by Wowoh, interestingly, it was him who had reported it to the LNP for investigation, according to the police.

Wowoh is the founder/executive director of the Change Agent Network/Opportunity Network Liberia (CAN/ONLIB), which runs Triple ‘A’— Alexander A. Andrews — one of the academic institutions of CAN/ONLIB.

In the police’s clearance, they said that the CAN ED had told them that, “while he was in the United States of America in August 2021, he received a disturbing report from Hope Novak, an American citizen, about a sexual exploitation in the Alexander A. Andrews Academy located in Brooklyn Community, Gbarnga, Bong, the school he established in 2021 under his organization, Change Agent Network/Opportunity Network Liberia (CAN/ONLIB).”

According to the police, the report revealed that in the related development, Daniel K Dennis, president, Student Against Corruption (SAC), informed the Women and Children’s Protection Section of the Liberian Police in August 2021 that his organization, SAC, received information from Mathaline Howelley, Leetor Sibley, Justina Dunbar and Melessa Brisbane, student of the Triple ‘A’ Academy about sexual abuse of females in the school.

“That predicated upon the complaint, a team of officers from the Women and children’s Protection Section of the Crime Services Department, Liberia National Police, was constituted to probe the merit(s) of the complaint,” the police said in its clearance.

The LNP said its team of officers had gone on the campus of the school to authenticate the merits and statements were obtained from some individuals linked to the allegation including Daniel K. Dennis, Justina Dunbar, Marthaline Hawelley, Abel Dennis, Stephen S. Kendema, Bill G. O. Tarr, Shermaiah Dolo, S. Rufus Garga, Issac P. Bettie, Pastor Koffi Mensah, McGill G. Kowula, Danny K. Wreh, Jr., Korto Tarnue, Issac Naimah, Angie Suomie, Rita Suomie and Luch Suomie.

Police Findings

“That upon receiving information about the allegation of sexual exploitation and abuse at the Alexander A. Andrews Academy, Mr. Eric Wowoh, founder and Executive Director of said institution immediately initiated investigation into the allegation,

“That one of the expelled students of the Alexander A. Andrews Academy (Marthaline Howelley) who Daniel Dennis alleged to have been one of the victims of the sexual exploitation and abuse at the Triple A Academy maintained that at no time she was ever involved with any teachers at the school’s sexual exploitation and abuse as been alleged by Daniel Dennis.”

The Police further stated that Ms. Dunbar alleged that Bettie, who is the Chemistry teacher at Triple A, had made sexual advances towards her but she refused and was threatened by him.

The police also found out during their investigation that Ms. Dunbar and the Triple A Principle, Abel Dennis, has had sexual intercourse one time when she was in the 11^th grade. They, however, said that student Dunbar, who is now in the 12^th grade is an adult and is into a consensual sexual relationship with Daniel Dennis.

The SAC group, which had reported the matter with the LNP’s Women and Children’s Protection Section in Gbarnga, had also alleged that to cover up the allegation on the Triple A campus, some students, who had been expelled had to be reconsidered to compromise the sexual exploitation and abuse allegation against the teachers and administration of Triple A. But the police said this assertion is false and that it was based on the intervention of Bong County Education Board that the expelled students were considered to write their National Exams, which is administered to students within the West African subregion.

The LNP further stated that Hope Novak, who is an American and who Wowoh said he had received the report of sexual exploitation from while he was in the USA in August 2021, had sent US$80 to one Favor L. Saybekollie as transportation to travel to Monrovia and report the rape allegation against Wowoh.

“In view of the foregoing, the investigation has resolved to recommend that Abel Dennis and Koffi Mensah and Isaac Bettie of Alexander A. Andrews Academy be turned over to the Ministry of Education through the Bong County Education Board for administrative action for their sexual contact and sexual advances respectively towards student Justina Dunbar and that Hope Novak be held liable for tempering with witnesses and information in proceedings,” the LNP report, signed by Charles B. Blake, Police Commissioner for CSD, CID and Interpol Affairs, said.

See full report

Monrovia – Mr. Floyd O. Sayor, one of the commissioners at the National Elections Commission (NEC), has been accused by the head commissioner, of illegally inserting US$2,809,510 million in the Commission’s 2022 budget leading to the 2023 Presidential and General Elections Budget unbeknownst to her and other members of NEC Board of Commissioners.

In a memo to Commissioner Sayor, dated December 8, 2021, in the possession of this newspaper, NEC Chairperson, Commissioner Davidetta Browne Lansanah, brings this to Commissioner Sayor’s attention: “During the current or most recent (1-8 December 2021) Review of the 2022 Budget for defense, it was observed an insertion of some US$2,809,510.00 was made for live monitoring and tracking systems, for vehicles, bikes, casual laborers, canoes carrying Election Materials with no reference to my office, let along other sections, including Operations, Logistics, etc. Besides, there was no prior discussion or agreement/decision by the Board to undertake such an extensive venture in 2022-23, which increased the budget by US$2.8 million. Not having knowledge about this four (4)-line items and going into defense of the 2022 budget would have been a disaster on my part as Chair of NEC. This would have been irresponsible on my part not having knowledge of this budget aspect.”

She sternly stated in the memo to Sayor that her office takes exception to this event.

One of the listed items — live monitoring and tracking systems — raised by Chairperson Lansanah, has landed her in hot water and brought the Commission to public disrepute. She is now fighting a court battle to clear her name after the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) had found her guilty of using US$182,320 to rent 20 pieces of facial recognition system for the conduct of the by-elections in four counties from the company owned and operated by her biological brother, David Browne.

The intended use of the equipment was to detect the temperatures of voters during the November 16 by-elections in Nimba, Bong, Grand Gedeh, and Bomi Counties.

With the same or similar monitoring and tracking systems being captured again in the materials for the conduct of the 2023 Presidential and General Elections for a whooping US$2.8 million, the Commission and its Board of Commissioners risk being heavily ridiculed by the public.

Further in Madam Lansanah’s memo, she also pointed out other “gaps” to Sayor, who she and other commissioners agreed and made him Chairman of the Presidential and General Elections Steering Committee.

“I bring to your attention gaps in your handling of the administration of the 2023 Steering Committee

1. Apparent lack of or neglect of documentation from committee meetings, including lack of minutes and attendance and reports to be briefed and to adequately inform the Board of Commissioners (BOC) prior to the implementation of proposals which have come by way of the 2023 budget process
2. So far there has been no/limited knowledge or information to my office on whether or not Task Forces were constituted or not and what are their specific Terms of References or tasks.
3. Generally, a reporting mechanism is lacking, with intermittent and ad hoc delivery of some documents on Biometric Voter Registration, etc.
4. Generally, there is not a systematic call (agenda, date, and time) for meetings as none have reached my office
5. I am yet to see a fully researched and documented recruitment plan for temporary electoral workers (Temporary staff).”

In closing her memo to her colleague, Commissioner Sayor, the NEC Chairperson, Commissioner Lansanah hopes that as Chairman of the 2023 Steering Committee, Sayor will bring her office up to speed on the achievements and documentation as indicated going forward. She, however, cautioned him: “Please note that other actions may be necessary to ensure a smooth running of the 2023 Steering Committee.”

Responding to these allegations, Commissioner Sayor categorically stated that the alleged US$2.8 million that Madam Lansanah accused him about, is nowhere in the NEC budget that is now before the Legislature for passage into law.

He argued that all the four-line items that Commissioner Lansanah mentioned in the memo have been in the NEC budget since 2005, the same length of time, he claims he has been in the employ of the Commission. According to him, as Chairman of the Steering Committee, he had set up various committees all of which discussed, debated, and came up with the same line items but later were rejected and removed.

He emphasized that someone at the NEC, whom he didn’t name, is going down; adding: “This person wants to take me down along. I have done nothing wrong in my role as Chairman of the 2023 Steering Committee.”

Commissioner Sayor also accused Chairperson Lansanah of still allegedly presiding over the affairs of the Commission even though she has been indicted and is battling a court case.

Monrovia – The All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD), has welcomed Liberia’s Bicentennial Celebration also dubbed as “Year of the Diaspora Reunion”. This is going to be a ‘reunion’ in Liberia of thousands of blacks from all around the world, including diaspora Liberians, some of whom have never been to the land of their fathers and mothers. These visitors are expected to begin arriving this December 2021 and will continue coming all throughout 2022, marking Liberia’s 200 years of existence.

The Year of the Diaspora Reunion 2021-2022, which has been organized in collaboration with the Government of Liberia’s Bicentennial Commemoration, aims to celebrate 200 years of that movement. Agents of the American Colonization Society (ACS), which founded Liberia, purchased parcels of lands from indigenous kings in December of 1821, and freed black men and women, along with their families, began moving across the Atlantic in 1822 to what is today Liberia, formerly ‘Grain Coast.’

Welcoming the Reunion, the National President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), a partner of ALCOD, Mr. J. Shiwoh Kamara, has joined ALCOD’s Eminent Chairman Emmanuel S. Wettee, to appeal to the Liberian Senate to concord with the House of Representatives on the passage of the Dual Citizenship Bill that was recently passed by the House.

The diaspora’s appeal to the Senate comes in wake of reports that the Liberian Government, during the Year of the Diaspora Reunion, will be conferring Liberian citizenship on some of its guests.

“Restoring Liberian citizenship to natural born Liberians who have dual citizenship or nationality must start the Reunion,” said Eminent Chairman Wettee.

One senator mentioned that the Senate needs to concur with the House in repealing the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law as the nation celebrates the bicentennial.

The senator further stated that there is nothing unconstitutional about the 4th Session of 54th Legislature repealing a law enacted through the Fourth Regular Session of the 45th Legislature in 1973. “Any law enacted by lawmakers can be repealed by lawmakers,” the Senator, who also is a Counsellor at law, said.

Another senator can’t understand why the Senate will not concur with the House. For many years now, members of the Senate had introduced bills to repeal the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law and all efforts have failed.

The senator made an interesting point of wanting to see who will award Liberian citizenship to African-Americans during the bicentennial celebration without restoring Liberian citizenship to natural-born Liberians in a ‘pre-election year.

The Bill Before the Senate

The bill that Montserrado County’s District #8 Representative Moses Acarous Gray championed in the HOR, was done under the auspices of ALCOD, comprising ULAA, European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), Liberian Advocacy for Change (LAFC), Federation of Liberia Communities in Australia (FLCA), United Liberian Association of Ghana (ULAG), Liberian Association of Canada (LAC), and Conference of Liberian Organizations in Southwestern United States of America (CLOSUSA). ALCOD represents more than 500,000 Liberians living in the diaspora.

The bill specially seeks to repeal Part III, Chapter 20, Section 20.1; Chapter 21, Sections 21.30, 21.31, 21.51 & 21.52 and Chapter 22, Sections 22.1, 22.1 & 22.4 of the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law of the Liberian Code of Law Revised, Vol. II.

The bill was co-sponsored by 30 of Rep. Gray’s colleagues, including Deputy House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa.

Further in their appeal to the Senate, both diaspora Liberians’ leaders called on President George Manneh Weah to support the House’s Bill that was passed and is now in the Senate for concurrence.

“In the spirit of ‘Liberia-Bicentennial Celebration,’ diaspora leaders are appealing to President Weah to support the House’s Bill, repealing some sections of 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law, and ask the Senate to concur with the House. Mr. President, diaspora Liberians are returning home in record numbers for the Bicentennial Celebration and history shall remember you and each lawmaker if the Senate concurs with the House in passing the ‘Dual Citizenship’ bill: once a Liberian always a Liberian,” ULAA President Kamara said.

Few weeks ago, Eminent Wettee had pleaded with members of the Senate to concord with the House on the passage into law of the bill.

Since 2000, some members of the Senate, had on many occasions, introduced amendments to the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law on the Senate floor and those never passed.

The amendments had been submitted by Senators Cletus Wortoson of Grand Kru County, Varney Sherman of Grand Cape Mount County and recently Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County.

While the Senate is yet to take any major action on the ones their members have been submitting, the House has now passed a version and has sent it to the Senate for concurrence.

According to reports from the Senate, some feel that the permanent solution to dual citizenship problem is the amendment of the constitution (Articles 27 and 28) through a national referendum.

“We do agree with those who think that amending the Constitution through a national referendum is the permanent solution to resolving the issue of dual citizenship. However, we also encourage the repealing of the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law that has to do with citizenship and in conflict with the Constitution of Liberia,” Eminent Wettee said.

Meanwhile, ALCOD has extended their thanks and appreciation to all the 73 members of the HOR, including the Speaker, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, Deputy Speaker, Mr. Koffa and Rep. Gray for doing all to make some of their fellow Liberians in the diaspora, to still maintain their Liberian citizenship even though they (diaspora Liberians) also carry the passports of other nations.

ALCOD also thanked President Weah for backing their cause for the dual citizenship law to be passed. They appealed to him to lobby the Senate so that its members can concur with the House.

Monrovia – Approximately 100 students at the 72^nd Public School have benefitted from Leading Youths to Foster Transformation in Africa’s (LYFT-Africa) back-to-school donation that it is presently carrying on.

According to LYFT, because the COVID-19, which has severely affected the economies of many developing nations, including Liberia, it is buttressing the Liberian government’s efforts to support education.

On Tuesday, November 9, students at the 72^nd Public School in Paynesville were seen in a jubilant mood receiving back-to-school donations from LYFT Africa, a youth organization in their community. Volunteers of the organization were warmly welcomed by students, administrators, and teachers. Last October 2021, the external walls of their campus were painted by volunteers of LYFT Africa including J. Prince Zayzay, and Dorcas Somah, and others. Artistic works on the walls are currently ongoing.

The school is the only public school in the 72^nd Community and it accommodates hundreds of vulnerable children and youths whose parents can barely afford to facilitate their education at private schools.

Approximately 100 students at the 72^nd Public school each received the back-to-school package, which included half-dozen copybooks, four pens, four pencils, two sharpeners and two erasers.

For his part, the principal of the institution, Mr. George B. Walker, cherished LYFT Africa for its donations and added that the donation will alleviate some of the burdens on parents and encourage students to learn. He encouraged the organization to continue their community development interventions.

The back-to-school project was supported by a few volunteers of the organization and community members including Mariam M. Dukuly, Zathy H. Pennue, Linda T. Kai and Evelyn Johnson.

Additionally, a car wash that raise about L$8,000 and US$1, was supported by several volunteers of LYFT Africa including Momodu Gray, Venus W. McGill, Omaru Kanneh Jr, Aaron W. Peters, Neejay N. Lewis, Jerry Forkeyoh, Anita Morlu, and Abraham P. Conneh.

Mr. Sunnie Antonio Marcar Jr, Executive Director of LYFT Africa, informed this newspaper that the organization has been in existence since February 2018 and has made significant impact.

“To date, LYFT Africa has raised a little over US$9,000 through volunteers contributions and grants and has implemented over 16 major programs, imparting approximately 200,000 persons, with evidence of at least three youths from its  mentorship program being selected to participate in foreign-sponsored training such as the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Regional Leaders Center (RLC) training in Nigeria, the Mandala Washington Fellowship Program in the United States of America and the Swedish Institute Scholarship in Sweden.

Mr. Marcar Jr further elaborated that approximately 450 secondary students have benefited from his organization’s Career Development Programs (CDPs) and 27 from national youth symposiums.

Between August – December 2020, LYFT Africa and two organizations — Lend a Helping Hand Initiative and Initiative for Youth and Children Advancement-iYOCA — successfully implemented a US$7,783 ‘2020 Alumni Rapid Response Fund’ awarded by the US Embassy in Monrovia. The organizations conducted Survivors’ Spotlight – a live radio and online interview with COVID-19 survivals in Liberia which benefited 30 COVID-19 survivors from Liberia, approximately 125 callers, and imparted over 170,000 radio and online viewers.

Meanwhile, as LYFT seeks to make additional interventions, it is still accepting donations and volunteers. Individuals wanting to make donations and volunteer can contact the organization through +231 777 867 648 and +231 886 475 689.

MONROVIA – The distinguished Chairman of the All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD), Mr. Emmanuel S. Wettee is appealing to the Liberian Senate to please concord with the House of Representatives on the passage of the Dual Citizenship Bill that was recently passed by the House.

The bill, which sailed smoothly through the House, was intended to amend and or repeal some parts of the Aliens and Nationality Law of Liberia.

Specially, the bill sought to repeal Part III, Chapter 20, Section 20.1; Chapter 21, Sections 21.30, 21.31, 21.51 & 21.52 and Chapter 22, Sections 22.1, 22.1 & 22.4 of the Aliens and Nationality Law of the Liberian Code of Law Revised, Vol. II.

The bill was championed by Montserrado County Electoral District #8 Representative Acarous Moses Gray and was co-sponsored by 30 of his colleagues, including Deputy House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa.

In his appeal to the Senate, Eminent Wettee urged members of the Senate to please concord with the House on the passage into law of the bill.

Since 2000, some members of the Senate, had on many ocassions, introduced amendments to the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law on the Senate floor and those never passed.

The amendments had been submitted by Senators Cletus Wortoson of Grand Kru County, Varney Sherman of Grand Cape Mount County and recently Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County.

While the Senate is yet to take any major action on the ones their colleagues have been submitting, the House has now passed a version and has sent it to the Senate for concurrence.

According to reports from the Senate, some feel that the permanent solution to dual citizenship problem is the amendment of the constitution (Articles 27 and 28) through a national referendum.

“We do agree with those who think that amending the Constitution through a national referendum is the permanent solution to resolving the issue of dual citizenship. However, we also encourage the repealing of the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law that has to do with citizenship and in conflict with the Constitution of Liberia,” Eminent Wettee said. According to Eminent Wettee, plans are in placed to hopefully have the issue resolved in a national referendum in 2023.

According to many lawmakers, diaspora Liberians, political leaders, students, civil organizations and Liberian mothers, the 1973 Aliens and Nationality Law is obsolete, discriminatory and in conflict with the constitution of Liberia. The Supreme Court of Liberia has nullified Section 22.2 of the law. This law does not give a Liberian mother the right to pass on her citizenship to her child of birth or adopted child. 

The American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative in a report: “ANALYSIS OF THE ALIENS AND NATIONALITY LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA – May 2009,” listed the discriminatory attributes of the law.

Many lawmakers, who are prepared to vote and repeal the law have said that the sole purpose of the law was to prevent progressive Liberians from the diaspora from participating in the political landscape in Liberia in the 1970’s.

In the 1970’s, many Liberians in the diaspora and political leaders were returning home. In addition, the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), Student Unification Party (SUP) and other progressive organizations were founded in the 1970’s as a check to the political establishment.

To prevent, control or manage the influence of diaspora Liberians from participating in the political process, Title 3 of the Liberian Code of Laws of 1956, known as the Aliens and Nationality Law, was amended through the Fourth Regular Session of the Forty-Fifth Legislature, and repealed, and enacted in lieu thereof a new Aliens and Nationality Law, to be Title 4 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised. “TITLE 4 Aliens and Nationality Law was approved: May 15, 1973, and Amendments approved May 9, 1974”

Members in the House have concluded that all Liberians and every Liberian have a part to play or share in the development of Liberia therefore, “Once a Liberian Always a Liberian.”

One lawmaker, who was a progressive leader, community leader, a student leader, said that he can’t comprehend that Liberia, Africa’s first independent and democratic Republic and founding member of UN, OAU, AU, ECOWAS, etc, still has such a law on the book.

“It is about time that this law be repealed. This law anti to the growth and development of Liberia. And above all in conflict with the constitution,” the lawmaker stressed.

The Law Passed in the House

Rep. Gray submitted the Bill on Friday, October 29, and it was read on the House’s floor on Tuesday, November 2^nd, and forwarded to the Committee on Judiciary to report back to Plenary within one week.

The HOR passed the bill into law on Thursday, Nov. 11, and was sent to the Senate for concurrence. There are reports that Rep. Gray, who is a very staunch member of President George Weah’s ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), had scripted on his bill: “Once a Liberian always a Liberian.”

Rep. Gray, who is the Chairman on the House’s Committee on Executive, believes that this will satisfy the constitutional provision in Article 2 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, which states, “… Any laws, treaties, statutes, decrees customs and regulations found to be inconsistent with it shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void and of no legal effect…”

The bill that Rep. Gray championed in the HOR, was done under the auspices of The All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD), which includes the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), Liberian Advocacy for Change (LAFC), Federation of Liberia Communities in Australia (FLCA), United Liberian Association of Ghana (ULAG), Liberian Association of Canada (LAC), and Conference of Liberian Organizations in Southwestern United States of America (CLOSUSA). ALCOD represents more than 500,000 Liberians living in the diaspora.

Meanwhile, ALCOD has extended their thanks and appreciation to all the 73 members of the HOR, including the Speaker, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, Deputy Speaker, Mr. Koffa and Rep. Gray for doing all to make some of their fellow Liberians in the diaspora, to still maintain their Liberian citizenship even though they (diaspora Liberians) also carry the passports of other nations.

ALCOD also thanked President George Weah for backing their cause for the dual citizenship law to be passed. They appealed to him to lobby the Senate so that its members can concur with the House.

Monrovia – The Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Defense International-Liberia (FOHRD), Mr. Torbor Tee Wonokay, has rallied members of the human rights community to unite and begin speaking with one voice on national issues affecting Liberians and the country.

Wonokay told his audience recently that there are so many people in Liberia who are suffering, and those people are not responsible for the inflictions that they are going through. He stressed that after 174 years, Liberia’s democracy shouldn’t be where it is at the moment.

“There are boys and girls in this town that we call ‘zogos’, there are young people that we refer to as illiterate, sometimes people even call them plebians, but I want to tell you that it is this constitutional republic that has turned its back on those young people.”

He emphasized that five years ago, if Liberia had invested in the education of young people ‘as per the constitution’ things would have been different than it is now.

Wonokay, who is based in the US, made the statement when he delivered remarks at the one-day symposium organized by his rights group on November 5th at a local hotel.

“When I flew into this country, all the way from the airport to ELWA Junction and beyond, you can literally see that suffering has overwhelmed so many people in this country,” he stated.

He further told his audience, which included rights activists of various rights and civil society groups, and legal luminaries — former Chief Justice Frances Johnson Allison — that in a country where so many boys and girls can’t go to school because their parents can’t afford, “senators and representatives, ministers and directors of public corporations shouldn’t be making US$25 and US$30,000 per month.”

“There are people in this town who are sycophantically inclined to the issue of institutional injustice.”

Wonokay than rallied the rights community by calling on all of them to combine their efforts to be able to stand on the side of justice.

He reminded the audience that Mulbah Morlu, the chairman of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), had said to the opposition, according to him, just a month after the CDC ascended to state power: “We will annihilate you, we will destroy you, we will uproot your foundation, we will make you incapable to compete and you will be left with two choices, you eat the crumbs or you join our party.” According to Wonokay, Morlu’s statement meant clearly that they (ruling establishment) had intended to undermine the justice system of the country, adding: “You are saying, you can do whatever you want to do and get away with it.”

He disclosed that in the last two years, he has spent more than US$300,000 of his personal money fighting for the cause of justice, empowering human rights investigators and his investment is aimed at protecting the human rights of all and for the return of ‘constitutional order.’

“We have got to be able to stand on the side of justice, and we have got to be fearless…I hope this will begin the moment of new partnership between us, human rights groups, so that we will work together to demand for justice in this town. We have got to steak together. When we decide to come together today and stand on the side of justice and fight for human rights and constitutional and transformational democracy, we will bring about change in this country,” he rallied the rights community.

Monrovia — The House of Representatives has passed into law Montserrado County District #8 Representative, Mr. Acarous Moses Gray’s Dual citizenship bill that he recently introduced in House.

The House will now sent their version to the Senate for concurrence.

Rep. Gray’s bill, which was co-sponsored by 30 of his colleagues, including Deputy House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa in the HOR, was intended to amend and or repeal some parts of the Aliens and Nationality Law of Liberia.

Specially, the bill sought to repeal Part III, Chapter 20, Section 20.1; Chapter 21, Sections 21.30, 21.31, 21.51 & 21.52 and Chapter 22, Sections 22.1, 22.1 & 22.4 of the Aliens and Nationality Law of the Liberian Code of Law Revised, Vol. II.”

The Montserrado County lawmaker submitted the Bill on Friday, October 29, and it was read on the House’s floor on Tuesday, November 2nd, and forwarded to the Committee on Judiciary to report back to Plenary within one week.

The HOR passed the bill into law on Thursday, Nov. 11, and is expected to be sent to the Senate for concurrence. There are reports that Rep. Gray, who is a very staunch member of President George Weah’s ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), had scripted on his bill: “Once a Liberian always a Liberian.”

Rep. Gray, who is the Chairman on the House’s Committee on Executive, believes that this will satisfy the constitutional provision in Article 2 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution, which states, “… Any laws, treaties, statutes, decrees customs and regulations found to be inconsistent with it shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void and of no legal effect…”

The bill that Rep. Gray championed in the HOR, was done under the auspices of The All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD), which includes the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), European Federation of Liberian Associations (EFLA), Liberian Advocacy for Change (LAFC), Federation of Liberia Communities in Australia (FLCA), United Liberian Association of Ghana (ULAG), Liberian Association of Canada (LAC), and Conference of Liberian Organizations in Southwestern United States of America (CLOSUSA). ALCOD represents more than 500,000 Liberians living in the diaspora.

The CDC stalwart had submitted his version few days after it was published in the media, in late October, that some diaspora Liberians had become fed up with “lack of action and will” from Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon and had urged the Senator to withdraw similar bill that he had submitted with his colleagues, in the Senate, for legislative enactment.

The speed with which Rep. Gray’s bill picked up, far outweighs that of Sen. Dillon, who had submitted his version in March of 2021, and it was sent into committee room for perusal and advise to plenary but nothing tangible was done about it but “only gathering dusts on the shelf,” some dissatisfied diaspora Liberians stated.

Some of Sen Dillon’s Senate colleagues had confided in some journalists that as long it was Senator Dillon who submitted and was the lead sponsor behind the bill, it was going to “die naturally”. Their main reason is that Sen. Dillon was one of those who led a massive campaign during the December 2020 Special Senatorial Election against similar proposal on dual citizenship and that because of such anti-campaign, the proposed amendment to this provision in the Liberian Constitution was rejected by the voters.

Meanwhile, ALCOD has extended their thanks and appreciation to all the 73 members of the HOR, including the Speaker, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, Deputy Speaker, Mr. Koffa and Rep. Gray for doing all to make some of their fellow Liberians in the diaspora, to still maintain their Liberian citizenship even though they (diaspora Liberians) also carry the passports of other nations.

The ALCOD members are appealing to the Senate to concur with the HOR when the House sends their version to them for passage into law.