FENDELL, Liberia— Waiting all day under a mango tree, 28-year-old Daniel Karkpor ekes out  a living directing trucks that come by occasionally to places where the drivers can fill up with dirt.

By Dennise Nimpson with New Narratives

Karkpor’s father, who was his only source of survival, died days after his property, and those of about 2,150 others here, were razed eight years ago to clear land for the expansion of the University of Liberia. Karkpor and other residents have been suffering the consequences and fighting for compensation ever since. They’re last hope now is that the Boakai government.

“After the incident I lost my father,” Karkpor says. “Presently, as I am speaking to you, nothing I am doing. Those trucks, men, when they come looking for dirt, I talk to them and direct them so before they leave in the evening, they can find something for me.”

In 2016 the University of Liberia, under the direction of the government of then-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, demolished the dwellings to clear land for the expansion of the university. The government claimed that the Fendell residents were illegal squatters without deeds to the 5,800 acres it seized. The residents challenged the decision in court, but the government did not wait for an outcome. Residents say the government moved on the land and forcefully removed them—prompting scenes of confusion, protest and despair.

After George Weah became president in 2018, he met with residents, apologized for the government’s actions, and acknowledged that the government had wronged them according to residents. In 2019 President Weah assigned the Liberia Land Authority to create a special committee to bargain with the residents on settlements. The committee’s report – according to a hard copy viewed by FPA/NN at the Authority’s offices – concluded that the University of Liberia acted illegally and recommended payment of $US8 million to the residents of Fendell. That was half the $US16 million in damages the committee estimated was owed to the residents. Weah agreed to meet the residents halfway, according to the report, and the government agreed to pay $US8 million.

John Kollie, whose civil society group, Liberia Media for Democratic Initiatives was a key advocate for the settlement, says an out-of-court agreement was reached five years ago reduced the payment to $US5 million. It is not clear how that court settlement superseded the government’s agreement. A first payment of $US1 million was paid through the Ministry of Public Works, the agency responsible for disbursing the funds, and more than 2,000 victims received partial payments. But no more payments were made.

Adams Monobah, the Authority’s current chairperson and part of the negotiating team, declined to comment because, he says, not all the recommendations the special committee were implemented.

Clarence Karkpor, the older brother of Daniel Karkpor, claims that during the distribution of the first $US1 million to residents, he was compensated a fraction his property’s value.  

“My property worth something like over $US30,000,” Karkpor says. “I received $LD111,300 (less than $US600) while I had a school and five houses.”

Karkpor could provide no documents to support his claim.

Another resident frustrated with the slow pace of settlement is Ketteh Kumueh Murray, 70, a retired professor at the University of Liberia, who says he feels hopeless after losing all of his life savings when his property, and plans to build a multi-use commercial center, were destroyed.

“Some of us, that’s everything we had,” Murray says. “I still owe the bank, the money I credited from the bank, money I have my relatives interested in contributing. I put all of that there still we have not been able to get proper redress.”

The report also recommended that the government develop a resettlement plan for each resident of a demolished property and assist recovery by implementing “a sustainable reintegration/livelihood program.”

“The committee report made it clear, and it was established, that the forceful eviction was unprecedented,” says Adama Dempster, a human rights monitor who also advocated for the Fendell victims.  “And it was not necessary because the government should be finding shelter for its people rather than making them displaced. As a result, most of them lost their livelihoods, and properties were destroyed. It became a burden for the government, and I think President Weah was open enough to apologize, which we also recognize it because we were fighting for protection.”

Under Weah’s plan, the Public Works Ministry was assigned to disburse funds through its Environmental and Social Safeguard Division’s Resettlement Action Plan. Ministry officials did not provide details of the payments after repeated calls and promises of an interview.  

Still, advocates are optimistic that the Boakai-led administration will pay the balance owed to residents. “When the government can pay the balance of $US4 million, then we will feel accomplished that we fought a good fight,” Kollie says.

“I think it is important that what was promised to the people to be resettlement should be done once and for all,” Dempster says. “Because we still know that some of those people are still living in displacement. They lost everything, and most of their children are not able to go to school. The adequate standard of living has been taken from them so the new government should just go by what or where the last government stopped.”

Viola Lincoln, chairwoman of the Fendell community, says she also has good reason to be hopeful that President Boakai will intervene.

Lincoln says that in 2016 when their homes were destroyed, they reached out to Boakai, then vice president to Sirleaf and in her Unity Party, who said he had been wrongly told that the land claims had been paid off. She says, now that he is president, handling the matter will not be difficult.

“Our expectations are high because it was during Unity Party time our property was broken down,” Lincoln says. “So, before the president now we met him and he says he was not given the right information. Now that he has taken the seat, my expectations are very high. I know we will not have to struggle to get our balance money.”

President Boakai has made no public comments on the Fendell residents’ claims.

The Fendell case is one of a long list of land disputes in Liberia. In 2018 – two years after the Fendell land was seized – Liberia passed the Land Rights Act to set a process for communities to claim “customary land” that they had traditionally inhabited. The law was intended to give communities a process to protect the property from the government leasing or selling it as happened in this case. Experts say it would be much more difficult for the government to act with such disregard for owners in future.

That’s little comfort to Fendell’s victims who say it is the government’s responsibility to finally bring their eight-year battle to an end and pay the $US4 million they are owed.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of its Investigating Liberia Project. The story was funded by the US and Swedish embassies. The funders had no say in the story’s content.

MONROVIA—As Liberia struggles to narrow its gender inequality gap, women’s rights advocates have been highlighting the issues they say hinder the advancement of women and girls. One primary challenge is what advocates call “period poverty” — the inability of poor girls to obtain sanitary pads that make it possible for them to go to school during their monthly menstruation.

By Dennise Nimpson with New Narratives

Martha is one of them. The twenty-year-old says she often abandons her 11^th grade classes when her period approaches. Martha, whose last name is being withheld to protect her from stigma, says her academic performance is hurting as a result.

“I felt bad missing school because my friends were in school writing tests and I was not in school,” said Marth. Like most poor girls and women who cannot afford purpose made sanitary pads, Martha uses towels or cloths. She is forced to change the cloth in the bathroom at school and carry the soiled one in her bag.

Women’s rights advocates say a typical girl needs ten pads a month at a cost of $LD2000 or $US10. The World Bank says the average Liberian lives on just $US53 a month. That means the cost of pads alone would take twenty percent of the average Liberian’s income.

With pads out of reach girls like Martha are forced to use unhygienic strips of old clothing or towels as pads. Cloths are not designed to absorb blood. As they become soaked, smelly and uncomfortable to wear they can cause rashes and infections. Most girls who are forced to use them prefer to stay home. Part of the problem is a taboo on even discussing periods and sanitary pads in conservative areas of the country. Women and girls are left ignorant of their options and at risk of health problems.

In Liberia there is no clear data on the number of girls affected by period poverty but a report 2022 by ActionAid Liberia said that one in every 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses school due to lack of access to sanitary pads. As one of the poorest countries in Africa Liberia’s number is likely far higher. The UN estimates about 1.2 million women and girls in Liberia menstruate each month. Liberia has one of the world’s highest levels of children not in school.

In Ghana, where data is recorded, the majority of adolescent girls miss school each month due to menstruation, with prevalence ranging from 27.5 percent to 95 percent depending on the area.

Women and girls can face severe health consequences from using cloths which frequently cause painful and potentially dangerous urinary tract infections and risk misdiagnosis.

“If you have access to sanitary pads, you have access to education concerning the sanitary pads, obviously you will be reducing urinary tract infections very widely,” said John Senda, Chief Executive Officer of Health Land Laboratory Clinic. “We sometimes miss the diagnosis, because, when people use the unorthodox sanitary pad, it creates lacerations.” Senda said girls are frequently misdiagnosed with syphilis, a serious disease that is usually sexually transmitted.

Because sanitary pads are not made in Liberia they must be imported at a high price that also faces an import tax. In a bid to lower the price advocates have lobbied legislators to remove the 10 percent tax imposed on imports. In 2022 activists led by Youth Champion for Menstrual Hygiene, a civil society organization, sent a petition to the House of Representatives asking for a repeal of the tax. The petition was received by Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, Montserrado County District #4 Representative, who lambasted fellow lawmakers for failing to support the provision of pads in schools and public areas.

“When men are making decisions, they don’t mention it because they don’t see the need for sanitary pads to be in these places,” Dennis said.

Robert Haynes, Director of Press and Public Affairs at the House of Representatives, said more than a year after it was submitted, the petition is in “the committee room” of the Legislature with no date set to discuss it.

“The 54^th Legislature would expire in December,” said Haynes. “So, it’s optimistic. These things can come back or form committees when they come on the floor and decisions can be taken.”

Naomi Tulay-Solanke, whose organization Community Health Care Initiative (CHCI), was one of the petitioners, expressed frustration to FrontPage Africa/New Narratives over the failure of the Legislature to act on the matter.

“Every period you have 10 girls in the class of 30 that will step out of school for four to five days,” said the CHCI Founder and Executive Director.

Smallwood Gizzie said she works with more than 100 girls but struggles to find enough funds.

“We have this program that we came up with called the ‘period party’ where we invite schools, we invite the right people we invite different institutions to come out on that day. We have food on sale, we have the girls learning about menstrual hygiene, we have people just come to donate for the past two years that we have done, and we have seen where we can get a pad stockpile that will last for a whole school year.”

Betty’s organization also provides skills to the girls to help raise their own money to buy pads.

“No young lady wants to continuously use the towel or use lappa or something else to hold their period. So, we were able to train them to use their hands. They’re able to sell something either cookies or something to make sure they are able to buy the L$250 or one L$150 pads.”

As the matter attracts national attention Martha and other girls interviewed said they want national leaders to treat the issue with urgency. Their fate is now in the hands of an almost entirely new Legislature taking office next month.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the “Investigating Liberia” project. Funding was provided by the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. The funder had no say in the story’s content.

MONROVIA – The SOS Children’s Village in Liberia has commenced a four-day working session to brainstorm plans that will foster the growth and development of Child protection for the next five years.

By: Dennise Nimpson

The workshop which is taking place in Monrovia brought together partners and several national and international champions for the protection of children.

 Speaking at the opening session on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, the National Director Prosper M. Ndione said the condition of children across the country has not significantly improved regardless of the interventions.

“Recently we had dialogue sessions with all stakeholders and participants on our programs in Liberia and we heard how our organization is impacting the lives of many people – including children, young people, and families. Despite these efforts, the general situation of children across the country is not at the level we all want it to be. Poverty is high – low nutritional diet, poor healthcare, lack of quality education, etc. – and climate change poses more risk to children than ever before,” he said.

According to Ndione, the agenda 2028 is intended to derive strategies that would be used to address the challenges that stakeholders have reported over time and ensure a better livelihood for the children.

“We take into account their concerns and must continue to work with communities, partners, and stakeholders to effect change. These concerns should lay the foundation of what is expected of us in the coming five years, and it is upon all of us here to ensure that their voices are heard and acted upon,” Ndione noted.

He called on the participants to ensure that the remaining days were result-oriented and would nurture great ideas.

“During the next 3 days, I will not be acting as a BOSS. Rather I will be a member of a team – working together with you to develop a new roadmap that will impact the lives of many more children,” he said.

The Director of Social Assistance Division, Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection Alfreda Bestman-Jacobs on behalf of the Minister lauded the assembly and stressed the need for consented efforts to develop a comprehensive approach.

“This gathering of stakeholders is a testament to our shared commitment to advancing the well-being of children and reshaping the landscape of childcare in our nation. As we engage in meaningful discussions and share insights, let us keep in mind the tangible outcomes we hope to achieve. The success of this workshop will be measured not only by the ideas generated but by the transformative actions that follow,” she said.

Also making remarks on behalf of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, the Acting Chief of Child Protection, Sam K. Mensah stressed the need for the programs to be on pal with the evolving circumstances of the world as to better the lives of the children.

Mensah recommended that there is a need that the plans to inculcate ideas and solutions to handle emergencies and affected children.

 “let us not forget to ensure that we reflect emergency preparedness and community resilience to shocks as a result of emergency and how the strategy can address the specific needs of children who are most vulnerable and affected by such situation,” he said.

The Social Organization Society (SOS) is a childcare organization involved in bettering the lives of orphans and abandoned children established globally in in 1949 and started operation in Liberia in 1981.

MONROVIA, Liberia – A series of violent incidents by political partisans, and inflammatory comments from party leaders, has Liberians on edge in the runup to next month’s presidential and legislative elections. As the West Africa region boils with military coups and political instability – and an election outcome in neighboring Sierra Leone that many view as fraudulent—the international community, Ecowas and many Liberian community leaders are warning parties to stop inflaming tensions and keep their young members in check. 

By Dennise Nimpson with New Narratives

Experts say the violence could undermine Liberia’s hard-won peace twenty years after the end of the country’s 14 years of civil war. The violence follows reports of partisan militias in Lofa County and the discovery of large shipments of illegally imported weapons that have fueled fears that factions are planning to fight if the elections results don’t go their way. The growing financial crisis that has four in five Liberians struggling just to find food, is adding to the tension.

Many young people are unemployed so you can provide all the training, but it is not putting food on their table,” says Eddie Jarwolo, the Executive Director of accountability watchdog, Naymote. Jarwolo says that makes young people vulnerable to payments from political leaders looking to cause trouble instead of empowering them. “They can be manipulated by people who provide the money.” 

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), held a peace summit in Monrovia last month. The Women of West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), has been holding vigils at Fish market on Tubman Boulevard, a major road into Monrovia, where women’s groups famously held vigils that helped lead to the Accra Peace Agreement in 2003. Now, as then, they are singing and holding placards calling for peace.

“We fought for peace in this country,” says Bernice Freeman, coordinator, and head of Advocacy of WANEP. “We fought for our children, our husbands, our family so that we can have a better future, so the peace means a whole lot not for us but for the whole country.”

With eight coups in the West African region since 2020 –two in the last three months alone—and a heavily disputed election in neighboring Sierra Leone earlier this year, the international community and regional leaders are increasingly concerned about the fragility of democracies in the region. Rising food prices, unemployment, and climate change-induced challenges like rising sea levels, depressed farm yields, and flooding have all combined to fuel tensions.

In August a scuffle ensued between the supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), and the opposition Unity Party (UP), that led to four people being injured and one victim’s ear being chopped off.

Another incident that attracted concern was CDC youth carrying a casket bearing pictures of Joseph Boakai, the UP standard bearer. Critics condemned the act as inciting violence against Boakai. Emmanuel Johnson, National Youth League Chairman of the CDC, defended the actions, saying it symbolized the death of one of their colleagues during a clash between police and CDC youth ahead of the 2011 runoff election between Cllr. Winston Tubman of the CDC and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Boakai’s presidential running mate. But the act was condemned by President George Weah and CDC leadership.

“Before the electoral process as a youth league have come up with an anti-violence policy,” says Johnson. He says a committee was set up to probe and report and there are rules to stop violence at all levels of the party. “We have been disabusing the minds of young people with the party.”

The October 10^th elections are the first since the wars that the Liberian government is going to pay for itself. It will also have sole responsibility for security. Previous elections had heavy support from the international community. So far, it has not lived up to those obligations. The National Elections Commission (NEC), tasked with running the elections, has complained of constraints caused by the government’s failure to provide the full funding needed.  There has also been a well-documented failure to fund police throughout the country.

In April all political party leaders and the NEC signed on the Farmington River Declaration, an agreement that committed signatories to promote free, fair, and peaceful elections. The NEC said it has been pushing parties to live up to that agreement.

“The Commission is currently working with the political parties trying to ensure they adhere to the Farmington River Declaration that will keep the election peaceful,” says Ignatius Wisseh, Director of Public Affairs at the National Elections Commission. “We are also coordinating campaign schedules amongst them trying to avoid future electoral violence or would-be violence.”

Concern about the mounting violence prompted one leading presidential candidate, Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, Liberia People’s Party standard bearer and renowned human rights lawyer, to visit party headquarters.

“I went to nine political parties’ headquarters and talked to them about peace, that we need to live up to the Farmington Declaration,” Gongloe says. “The Liberian people deserve peace and we should not do things to be a benefactor of violence.”

Despite the funding shortages the Liberia National Police leadership insists the police are ready to combat violence.

“We have put in place mechanisms aimed at curtailing election violence ranging from engagement and awareness with political parties to ensure adherence to the Farmington River Declaration, the media, civil society, motorcyclists,” says Moses Carter, spokesperson. Carter said parties were requested to send in campaign schedules to assist police. He said consequences for anyone who engaged in any act against the undermined the peace would be charged and sent to court.

Jarwolo called on all public officials to step up their performance in the coming weeks.

“We calling on the leaders to be tolerant and the National Elections Commission to make sure that the election is transparent and credible to build trust by their ability to communicate properly,” says Jarwolo. “There are two areas where you encounter violence: during the campaign period and announcing of the result. So, these are the two areas we calling on the police to be as professional as possible and the courts to fast-track all the electoral cases.”

Freeman of WANEP said the group is actively promoting peace throughout the country. 

“We are in the communities advising the youth against violence. We have a sponsored project to mentor young people to take after us in promoting peace, we are advising people to maintain the peace and sustain it,” she says.

With the biggest tests ahead – election day and the release of results – activists are working hard to ensure peace prevails.

This story was a collaboration with New Narratives as part of the “Investigating Liberia” project. Funding was provided by the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia. The funder had no say in the story’s content.

MONROVIA – Lofa County District #3 Representative, Clarence Massaquoi, has expressed concerns over the recent passage of a new financing agreement worth over sixty million United States dollars, just months before the upcoming election. Massaquoi argues that this decision is counterproductive for the country.

By: Dennise Nimpson, Contributing Writer

On June 19, 2023, the Government and the International Development Association signed an agreement, extending credit of US$65,000,000.00 to Liberia in two installments. The repayment schedule includes January 15 and July 15, starting from July 15, 2029, until July 15, 2034, with an interest rate of 8.33334%. A final repayment is due on January 15, 2035, with an interest rate of 8.33326%.

Representative Massaquoi has raised questions about the timing and procedural aspects of the loan’s passage, stating that it did not adhere to the standing order. He argues that the approval violates the established rules of the House, which require a bill or law to be read three or four times before passage.

“It is unprecedented for an agreement to be passed using the wrong procedure,” Massaquoi emphasized. “This loan was submitted to the House and passed on the same day without proper readings, second reading, or referral to the committee room.”

The lawmaker from Lofa County further alleges that the loan was not thoroughly vetted, as required by law, due to the absence of a majority of lawmakers during the ratification process. Massaquoi contends that the rushed passage of the loan, with limited attendance in the session, raises suspicions about the government’s motives.

“A government that genuinely cares for its people would not burden the future generation with over sixty million United States Dollars in debt, especially considering the current situation,” he noted. Massaquoi expressed concerns about the state of the economy and questioned the government’s decision to accumulate more debt for the next six years, particularly in light of the limited time remaining before the current administration’s term ends.

During a press conference held in Monrovia on Wednesday, Representative Massaquoi asserted that his statement reflects the views of all opposition lawmakers who share apprehensions about the government’s hasty approval of the loan, particularly with a private company.

FREETOWN – The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) has announced that preparations are complete for the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Council Elections scheduled for Saturday, June 24, 2023.

On Saturday, over three million voters are expected to cast their ballots to elect the country’s leader for the next five years. Incumbent President Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) is seeking a second term.

On Wednesday, June 21, the country experienced a standoff when supporters of the main opposition party, the All Peoples Congress (APC), led by their flagbearer Samura Kamara, staged a peaceful protest at their party’s headquarters on Old Railway Line, Freetown. However, joint security forces used tear gas and live bullets to disperse the crowd, resulting in one fatality.

Dr. Kamara, the APC’s flagbearer, previously served as Finance and Foreign Minister under the Ernest Bai Kromah administration and was defeated by President Bio in the country’s 2018 elections.

In connection with the protest, Assistant Inspector General Mohamed Braima of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) revealed that sixty-six individuals have been arrested. Additionally, the party’s Security General, Lansana Dumbuya, was detained at the CID headquarters due to his involvement in the protest but was released on bail on Thursday, June 22, 2023.

However, the ECSL released a statement on Wednesday confirming that the elections would proceed as planned across the 11,832 polling places in the 16 districts of Sierra Leone. The Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Konneh, stated that a total of 3,374,258 ballot sheets had been delivered, including a 5% buffer for any unforeseen circumstances. He also mentioned that the training and deployment of polling staff would conclude on Wednesday, June 21.

Our sources have confirmed that political parties, including the APC, are currently training their polling agents to be deployed at various polling stations nationwide.

The head of the electoral commission emphasized that early voting for citizens attending the Hajj pilgrimage took place on June 15, 2023, at all 16 district offices to ensure their participation in the elections.

Meanwhile, the international community, in a joint statement, expressed concern about the recent violence and called upon both parties to uphold peace and demonstrate tolerance towards one another.

Calm has been restored, and businesses have resumed their normal activities; however, the military presence remains noticeable, particularly around the APC headquarters and the prison compound. Reports indicate that there are concerns that, in the event of any untoward incidents, citizens may attempt to storm the prison and release inmates, potentially escalating the situation.

This news story was made possible through the Female Journalist Association cross-border engagement, sponsored by Internews Media Activity.

FREETOWN-A twelve-member delegation from the Female Journalist Association of Liberia (FeJAL) is in Freetown, Sierra Leone to cover the general elections that are expected to occur on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

By: Dennise Nimpson, Contributing Writer

The arrival of the delegation to Freetown is said to be the first-ever cross-border experience sharing and learning initiative “The first ever cross border media activity in the country kicks off as twelve senior Female Newsroom Leaders arrive in Sierra Leone, the President, Siatta Scott Johnson said.”

USAID project through FeJAL recruited ten (10) females via an application and recruitment process who are part of the delegation along with the association leaders and a representation of Internews.

Those who formed part of the delegation are Siatta Scott-Johnson, Torwon Sulonteh-Brown, Christiana Winnie Saywah-Jimmy, Vivian Aletha Cooke, Weemon Jallahcole, Dennise Nimpson, Patience Koromah, Magdalene Saah, Tina Mehnpaine, Joyce Tokpah, Korto Snowe, and Grace Moleyeate.

The team on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, a day after arrival visited the Independent Media Commission (IMC) and had a roundtable discussion with the Chairman, Dr. Victor Massaquoi, and the Executive Secretary Khalil Kallon both men detailed the workings of IMC and how effective they are based on the statute that guides them.

The fellows along with the leaders are expected to link up with their counterparts, the Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism (SLAWIL), and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and collaborate with other media institutions to cover the elections.

But tension is mounting in the country with just a few days to the conduct.

The presidential poll is between the incumbent Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) who is seeking reelection and Samura Kamara of the opposition party the All People’s Congress (APC) Candidate.

APC has informed the Police Inspector General in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Lansana Dumbuya that their supporters have been notified across the country to converge at a venue not mentioned for a peaceful protest.

According to the party, there are discrepancies in the electoral process that the Election Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) needs to address before the conduct of the elections, and a 72-hour ultimatum was given on June 17, for the commission to act.

The Party claimed the time has elapsed and nothing has been done about it.

Some of the many issues cataloged in the APC position paper include, Lion’s share of single polling centers in the South East thus providing voters there with a comparative advantage of easy access relative to those in other parts of the country, discredited Voters Register detailing only names and photos and including under-age voters and voters born in the 16th century.

Others are the introduction of a new, untested electronic application (APP) without consultation with or the knowledge of other political parties and the usage in the midterm elections caused failures, non-eligibility of the Chief Electoral Commissioner, and the demands an audit of the Voters Register by an independent firm.

ECSL has replied with a rebuttal to the issues raised a lot of claims that the procurement process for voter registration equipment and software, the printing of VR Cards and Ballot papers were done through International Competitive bidding in line with the National Public Authority legal requirements and has been explained to APC and provided the names of vendors and suppliers through correspondence or public statements.

The electoral body said the Board of Commissioners is constitutionally constituted with clear procedures for the removal of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners has no intention of resigning.  The ECSL further that the facts are that cumulatively, the Eastern region reduced by 1,086 voters; the North increased by 306 voters; the North East increased by 342; the South increased by 92 and the West by 366.

But the communication issued on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, said all efforts by the Political Parties Regulatory Commission (PPRC) and the Peace Commission to remedy the situation after their seventy-two-hour expired has ended in deadlock.

The government has not responded to the APC communication of the planned protest in which they want the police to provide protection for their members during the demonstration and the peaceful citizens.

On Monday, June 19, APC regional office in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone gutted fire following their rally in the area and there were many minors seen in the party’s t-shirts.

Bo, Southern Sierra Leone is a stronghold of SLPP and it has been evident throughout the country with President Bio placards across the entire region with such also done in Freetown.

Another violence was on Tuesday, June 20, when the supporters of the two parties clash in Freetown during SLPP another branch of the APC was destroyed.

With all said the opposition is been quoted that elections may not go on Saturday but the ruling establishment is certain of the conduct.

MONROVIA – The General Auditing Commission in partnership with the GIZ and African Organizations of Supreme Audits Institutions (AFROSAI-E) climaxed a four-day Technology Driven Citizen Engagement Regional Training in Monrovia with an adoption plan.

By M. Dennise Nimpson

The gathering ended with a two-year roadmap leading to the development of a Mobile App named and styled CitizenEye for Liberia, Kenya, and Botswana was adopted.

Prior to the adoption of the roadmap, Auditor General P. Garsaw Jackson said the working session is occasioned by assessments and situational analysis conducted in Botswana, Kenya, and Liberia.

“This workshop is a follow-up activity from the results of needs assessments and situational analysis performed in Botswana, Kenya, and Liberia,” he said.

The Auditor General said the App will provide a channel for the citizen to engage Audit offices of the respective countries as means to foster good governance by reporting information concerning embezzlement and misuse of public funds with the protection of their identity.

“This platform will enable citizens and residents who have information relating to misappropriation and misapplication of public funds, systems deficiencies, and noncompliance with the relevant laws and regulations the avenue to safely and anonymously provide vital information to our respective national audit offices without fear of being victimized” he noted.

Making a remark at the end of the four-day regional training on Friday, February 26, 2023, Deputy Auditor General Winsley Nanka lauded the AFROSAI-E to have chosen Liberia as the venue to host the workshop and appreciated the level of support from GIZ to develop the APP.

Mr. Nanka stressed the GAC commitment to supporting the CitizenEye App.

 The training brought together auditors from Liberia, Kenya, and Botswana with facilitators from Ghana, Uganda, and South Africa.

MONROVIA – The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) of Liberia has launched a project named and styled Let’s Talk Peace Campaign as part of effort to foster peace across the country.

Country Manager, Abena Amedormey said the project is part of the Youth for Peace Activity (Y4P) initiative aim to engage the youths within three counties, Montserrado, Bong, and Nimba to ensure how peace can be maintained.

By M. Dennise Nimpson

Madam Amedormey told the launch at the Center for the Exchange and Intellectual Opinions (CEIO) on Friday that the maintenance of peace must be collective and the young people are cardinal to the endeavor.

The CRS Boss said the initiative will harness solutions to address pressing national issues within the corridors especially as the country prepares for general elections and thereof.

 “Let’s Talk Peace Campaign will be implemented with its partners to help articulate solution to emerging issues in Liberia especially before and during elections,” she said.

According to her, the fight against violence should be collective and should not be seen as only the duty of government, international organizations and donors as such the role of the young people are pivotal.

“Peace starts at the individual level, family, community, the state, and the world for each and every one play an important role to helping defeat violence. This work cannot be left to the government alone, the international organization, and the donors,” she added.

Madam Amedormey stressed that denouncing violence means everyone should speak out against violence by using the proper means.

“Being silent in the face of injustice allow violence to continue and during the act of speaking out against prejudice the most important aspect is to use nonviolence ways and the right channel,” she said.

The CRS country Manager told the gathering at CEIO that when intellectuals meet the ideology proffer must reflect peace and the CRS together with its partner the USAID is committed at ensuring such.

As the keynote speaker, Gwendolyn Myers, of the Messenger of Peace said only a continuous peace dialogue will accomplish peace, noting the talk of people should start from homes.

She said “Liberia has the best chance to heal divisions than any country, and this should not be an exception but a rule. We must cultivate that cautions optimism for a peaceful world and tall about peace.”

The launch saw the attendance of young people from several associations including FLY, and LINSU.