Author: Editorial Board

SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN THE PAST week appear to be making it more and more difficult for investors to have confidence in Liberia’s economic and political recovery. THE STILL-FRAGILE nation, tinkering with a post-war label despite two successive democratic transitions, the last, the transfer of power from one democratically-elected government to the next, continues to self-destruct as those appointed to positions of power misuse their job descriptions over petty differences while bringing unnecessary embarrassment to the President and government. THE FIRST incident involved a glaring attack on the second in command of the Liberia National Police who was simply doing his…

IN 1991, NEXT DOOR GHANA’s Cocoa Board established by ordinance to encourage and facilitate the production, processing and marketing of good quality cocoa and coffee, revamped the Agricultural Diversification Project resulting in improved pricing, liberalized markets and improved research and extension. All this was done to ensure that farmers are paid remunerative producer price. IN NEXT DOOR, Ivory Coast, the region’s top cocoa producer, earlier this year, averted defaults on export contracts by letting multinational commodities companies buy at-risk contracts direct from local exporters. THE IVORIAN GOVERNMENT took the decision following a dismal 2017/18 and 2016/17 growing seasons, during which…

BEHIND EVERY MAJOR road construction, every added cost to shipping through the main port of entry, the National Port Authority and now the monopolization of the cocoa sector, is the powerful Sidani family. THE LEBANESE FATHER AND SON DUO – Bassam and Hassan Sidani have been quietly amassing massive wealth with access and influence since the George Manneh Weah-led government took office last January. UNTIL LAST JANUARY, the Sidanis were known as owners of Hotel Buchanan, a newly-constructed facility in the capital of Grand Bassa County. The family were also believed to be involved in a small cocoa business which…

BUSINESS IS ABOUT PROFITABILITY and insurance for multinational billion-dollar companies like Coca Cola looking to break even. For any country to be taken seriously, it must have serious-minded people who are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that its citizens reap the benefits of its resources and investment opportunities. SADLY, IN LIBERIA, that has not been the case for quite some time now. LEADERS PAST and present often surround themselves with close friend and family members, or make appointments based on recommendation from a friend from the past who did them favor. Experience, capability…