MONROVIA – A new water advocacy group has been launched in Liberia, with a call on government to ensure the equitable and affordable provision of safe drinking water to citizens across the country.

By Obediah Johnson

The group named and styled Liberia Water Justice Forum was launched at the climax of a capacity building workshop held at the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Brewerville, outside Monrovia.

The Forum was launched by Church Aid International (CAI, in collaboration with the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) and Africa Water Justice Network based in Togo and Accra, Ghana respectively.

Speaking during the launch, CAI Chairman Bishop Kortu Brown disclosed that the Forum would advocate and ask hard questions surrounding access to water in Liberia.

He said those who would not listen and respond to inquiries being raised by others to address social and other challenges confronting Liberians, should not be leaders here.

“No matter how hard the questions are, we can find solutions to those hard questions. If you are leading people you must be ready to answer the hard questions. All those who are running away from the hard questions should not be leaders because leaders speak to the rock. You must find answers to the hard questions.”

Bishop Brown maintained that church and other religious leaders of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) must speak out and ask hard questions to find solutions to societal issues.

“We have to face the hard questions because if Moses does not speak to the rock, the water will not come. The are things that we God servants would like to pray Moses prayed and God said to find solution you have to speak to the rock.”

He said many leaders in Liberia get worrisome when asked the hard questions. He vowed that the church would not relent to continue to advocate for the supply of accessible and affordable safe drinking water to citizens across the country.

Bishop Brown noted that regardless of geographical locations or boundaries, all Liberians, especially women and children, should have access to water.

He called for concession companies operating in Liberia to pay fees for allegedly polluting rivers, creeks and other sources of water in their respective areas of operations.

He stressed that citizens in the leeward areas used the creeks and rivers to fetch water for drinking, cooking and other purposes and as such, these waters should not be polluted by mining companies.

“Where ever the difficulties are, we have to go there and speak. If you don’t know where the problem is, you can never find the solution. It is on this premise that I come to formally launch the Liberia Water Justice Forum.”

For his part, the Secretary General of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) Rev. Christopher Toe observed that though water covers a substantial percentage of the land space in Liberia, access to safe drinking water remains a challenge in households across the country.

He pointed out that the launch of the Forum is in promoting pillar six of the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which amongst other things calls for the provision of clean water and sanitation.

He maintained that with 70% of the human body comprising of water, it (water) should always be a component of every human life.

Rev. Toe emphasized that church leaders have a roll to play towards ensuring that there is justice for water in the Liberian society.

“Water is life, water is dignity. Our land space gets so much water but yet still we don’t have water in our homes or access to water. I think this forum is a justice component of water. God gives us water to make use of it (water) so that it benefits you. There are many a lot of people who are getting rich out of water. In everything we do, the politicians are aware that the Church is the lead.”

He said through advocacy, the church should speak with one voice on the significance of access to water to citizens across the country.

“There is a conversation about the third land. On that third lane we must ensure that water is in all our homes. Anybody who will be on that third lane, you will have to take water as a priority.”

He cautioned against attacks and suppression of the Church by politicians in the country. Also speaking, the acting Secretary General of the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in West Africa (FECCIWA) based in Lome, Togo, Mr. Michael Tettey, observed that access to water remains one of the biggest challenges on the African continent.

He said the idea of the Forum in Liberia was birthed in Benin a a result of expressed interest and willingness of Bishop Brown to drive the initiative.

He disclosed that it took just two months to plan and ensure that the Forum was established in Liberia to advocate justice for access to water in the country.

Mr. Tettey added that access or citizens’ right to affordable water remains critical to support development and social initiative for their well-being. He said Christians should advocate towards the promotion of good sanitation accountability.

Mr. Leonard S. Quartey, Coordinator of Africa Water Justice Network based in Accra, Ghana, commended CAI for leading the initiative. He pointed out that approximately 400million people on the African continent do not have access to safe drinking water.

He said with a very meager population of Liberian population having access to safe drinking water, the launch of the Forum would help raise awareness and advocate for the provision of safe drinking water to citizens.

“We are fighting against a system that wants to normalize the situation (of the lack of safe drinking water). Quartey said various water systems across the African continent should be improved for the betterment of the citizenry.

The capacity building workshop marking the launch of the Forum brought together participants and facilitators from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Togo, Guinea, amongst others.

The Plenary of the Liberian Senate has cited relevant authorities in the maritime and commercial sectors over the excessive delays in clearing of goods at the Freeport of Monrovia.

By Obediah Johnson

Those cited include heads of the National Port Authority (NPA), APM Terminals Liberia, MEDTECH Scientific Limited, Global Tracking and Maritime Solutions (GTMS), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) – Customs Department, as well as the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Brokers Union / Customs Brokers Association of Liberia.

The Senators took the decision on Tuesday, October 27 following the submission of a communication from Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh.

In his communication, Senator Konneh observed that for the past several months, Liberian business community, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have complained that containers destined for Liberia are spending an average of over 30 days at sea before berthing at the Freeport.

Quoting importers and shipping agents, Senator Konneh disclosed that  the majority of these vessels are being routed to and queued at ports in Côte d’Ivoire an Ghana.

Senator Konneh alleged that these delays are due to two critical operational constraints at the Freeport of Monrovia.

He named the operational constraints as the lack of adequate yard space to accommodate additional containers; and the inability of larger vessels to berth at the Freeport due to prolonged delays in dredging the port basin and channel.

He maintained that these delays are severely hurting business inventories, tying up working capital, leading to stock-outs, and imposing heavy demurrage costs.

Burdensome Transaction Costs

In addition to delays, Senator Konneh observed that businesses are burdened by a multiplicity of opaque transaction costs and fees charged by APM Terminals, MEDTECH, GTMS and other actors in the supply chain.

He added that these charges are being passed on to consumers.

He observed that prices are sticky despite macroeconomic improvement.

“Distinguished Colleagues, it is concerning that while headline inflation has declined to 4.6% and the Liberian Dollar has gained strength against the US Dollar, consumer prices remain stubbornly high. The inefficiencies and high costs at our ports are potentially a major driver of these sticky prices, thereby negating the gains of Government’s ongoing macroeconomic stabilization program under the IMF Extended Credit Facility.”

Senator Konneh disclosed that these issues, if not urgently addressed, will continue to undermine private sector competitiveness, discourage investment, and erode the purchasing power of ordinary Liberians.

He stressed that these officials should appear before the Senate to testify to these concerns and to present concrete solutions being proposed to address them:

“We seek clarity on the current state of dredging, the berthing and yard capacity challenges, the full schedule of fees charged and the immediate and medium-term measures being taken to decongest the port and reduce costs for Liberian businesses.”

Meanwhile, authorities of the various institutions are expected to appear before the Senate Plenary next Tuesday.

MONROVIA – Liberia’s Justice Minister-designate, Cllr. Betty Lamin Blamo, has pledged that the state’s power to prosecute will not be turned into a weapon against political opponents or a shield for friends of those in power, whether in the public or the private sector.

By Obediah Johnson

Appearing before the Liberian Senate for her confirmation hearing on Monday, October 26, Blamo acknowledged that fear of selective prosecution is widely held among Liberians, and said no case would be prosecuted for reasons outside the law.

“I am not unaware of concerns expressed in the press, at the bar, and in ordinary homes that the prosecutorial power of the state can be sharpened against opponents and [used as a] shield for friends. I take this concern seriously. A case will be brought because the evidence supports it and for no other reason.”

She told senators that while she would advance President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s policy agenda and remain accountable to him and to the National Legislature, her first loyalty would be to the Constitution and laws of Liberia.

No case lacking evidence would go forward, she said, however loud the public demand for it, and none would be pursued on the basis of political affiliation or status.

“Where the law is applied evenly, disputes end in courtrooms instead of on the streets, and ordinary citizens can plan their lives; where the law bends to power, nothing else that the government does will hold. The decision to prosecute will rest on facts, the law, the standard of truth and the standard of proof, and never on political affiliation, county of origin, wealth or status.”

She vowed not to be a minister who prosecutes adversaries with zeal and friends with reluctance, and said she would recuse herself from any case involving a conflict of interest.

Drug cartels

Blamo said illicit drug trafficking continues to destroy the future of young Liberians, and vowed to go after the importers, traders, financiers and protectors of the trade.

She said her administration would settle for “nothing less” than dismantling drug cartels operating in Liberia, while ensuring rehabilitation for those struggling with addiction.

“Liberia will not be a transit country, a laundering point, or a soft place to do bad business. Our success will be measured not by the number of arrests, but by convictions.”

The test already on her desk

Blamo’s promises will be measured first against the biggest narcotics prosecution in Liberia’s history, a case she inherited and that has already drawn accusations of both political targeting and uneven justice.

In June, authorities seized about 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport. In July, about four tons, valued at an estimated US$317 million, were found at a warehouse in Duazon. West Africa has long been used as a transit route for South American cocaine bound for Europe.

On October 7, a Montserrado County grand jury indicted 20 people in the US$317 million case, including former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, who served under President George Weah from 2018 to 2024 and is standard bearer of the opposition National Patriotic Party. She faces eight counts, including drug trafficking, criminal conspiracy and money laundering. She denies the charges and is presumed innocent.

Howard-Taylor was arrested at Roberts International Airport on August 19 and held at the Monrovia Central Prison, the same facility Blamo cited for its overcrowding with pre-trial detainees, before being placed under house arrest on medical grounds.

Her arrest has fed exactly the concern Blamo addressed before the Senate. Weah has called the prosecution bogus and accused the Boakai administration of interfering with justice, and members of her party have warned of “growing public perceptions” that the case is politically motivated. The government insists its cases rest on evidence, not politics.

Critics, including

FrontPageAfrica, have raised the opposite concern: that the state moved quickly against an opposition figure but slowly against others named in the same investigation.

Among them is Mark Quiah, the former deputy director for operations at Roberts International Airport. He was named in a June writ of arrest and dismissed by President Boakai in late July, but he was left off the first charge sheet filed that month, even though it placed him in the alleged scheme, and was reportedly cooperating with investigators. He was among those indicted in October. The indictment also names a former National Security Agency deputy director, Gerald Foley Smith, and two senior police officers, Deputy Commissioner Anthony T. Blaye and Assistant Commissioner Wadell W. Kwarbo, along with Croatian, Ukrainian and other foreign nationals. Several defendants remain at large.

Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman said in July that the Duazon operation was “definitely sanctioned by state actors at the very, very senior level”, but he has named no one. Blamo’s vow to go after the “protectors” of the drug trade will be judged on whether those actors are ever identified and charged.

Her warning about poorly preserved evidence also bears directly on the case. The US$317 million seizure has already been destroyed, which raises chain-of-custody concerns similar to those in an earlier cocaine case under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, when most of the drugs were destroyed before trial and the case ended in acquittal.

Blamo, who served as Solicitor General under Sirleaf, took over the ministry as acting minister on September 10. President Boakai had removed her predecessor, N. Oswald Tweh, and Solicitor General Augustine Fayiah a week earlier, while the prosecutions were under way.

The Executive Mansion described the move as an effort to strengthen institutions and did not link it to the drug probe. The October indictments were returned on her watch.

The weak link

Blamo identified the hand-over between police investigators and state prosecutors as one of the weakest links in Liberia’s criminal justice chain.

Too many cases collapse, she said, not because the accused are innocent, but because investigations are incomplete, evidence is poorly preserved and charges do not reflect the facts. The result: victims lose faith in the justice system, the guilty go free and the innocent languish in detention.

She promised to continue assessing the capacity of the ministry’s prosecution department and to draw up a clear roadmap to make it more effective. Cases, she said, must be evidence-based and professionally prepared, protecting the rights of the accused while assuring victims that serious crimes will be lawfully prosecuted.

Prosecutors quitting

None of this, Blamo admitted, can be achieved without well-trained staff. Many prosecutors have left the ministry since the government harmonized public-sector salaries, she said.

She urged lawmakers to provide budgetary support to recruit more prosecutors and to raise the pay of those still in service to reflect the risks and importance of their work.

Jailed but never tried

Blamo told senators that the conditions in which people are detained are a measure of the government’s commitment to human dignity.

Although Article 21 of the Liberian Constitution guarantees, among other things, that an accused person must be brought before a court within 48 hours, 2,848 of the 4,125 people held in prisons across the country – about 69 percent – had never been tried as of September 2026, she said. Some have not even been indicted.

At the Monrovia Central Prison alone, about 1,312 of the roughly 1,888 inmates – nearly 70 percent – are pre-trial detainees. Many, she said, are poor and cannot afford a lawyer or bail.

The ministry has begun reviewing the files of pre-trial detainees at the Monrovia Central Prison, an exercise she said would be extended nationwide once she is confirmed. She also called for additional correctional facilities to be built at Cheesemanburg in Montserrado County.

The government, she said, will either prosecute or release pre-trial detainees in accordance with the law. The ministry will also work with the judiciary to expand magisterial inspections, and with public defenders, the Liberia National Bar Association and legal aid providers to ensure that no one stays behind bars for long simply because they lack a lawyer.

“We must also state that the issue of pretrial detention and overcrowding of prisons is an issue that requires policy reform. If someone commits a crime, we can’t just let them go; we have to prosecute them. And so, the issue of pretrial detainees is a serious issue.”

She noted that specialized courts are overwhelmed with cases involving people accused or indicted for non-bailable offenses.

Corruption

Describing corruption as a menace in Liberia, Blamo said the ministry would work with the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) to investigate and prosecute those accused of corruption and to recover stolen assets for the Liberian people.

“If we are confirmed, we will pursue matters strictly on the basis of the facts.”

She also promised a crackdown on human trafficking and sexual and gender-based violence, saying the interests of ordinary Liberians would come first in every decision the ministry makes.

Monrovia- The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Audit Amara Konneh has observed that the increase in macro-economic stability in Liberia, low inflation and the execution of the over US$1billion budget have not positively impacted the lives of ordinary Liberians across the country.

By Obediah Johnson

Senator Konneh is representing the people of Gbarpolu county in the 55th National Legislature. He previously served as a Minister of Finance and Development Planning during the administration of ex-Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

According to him, the decline in the exchange rate between the United States and Liberian dollars is not bringing any relieve to ordinary Liberians.

He made these comments during the confirmation hearing of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Deputy Governor for Economic Policy-designate Euphemia Sweh Monmia

Senator Konneh stressed that despite Liberia’s current low inflation rate of 4.6%, the prices of basic commodities, including rice, cement remain high across the country.

He put the cost of a 25kg bag of rice in some parts of Gbarpolu county at US$22, US$15 for a bag of cement, which are far above the US$17 and US$8 they are being sold in Monrovia.

Currently, Senator Konneh claimed that the cost of a gallon of fuel in the county is also sold for L$1,500.

He maintained that the more than 87% increment in the prices of basic commodities in western Liberia cannot easily transition citizens from mud to bricks houses.
He said present hike in the cost of petroleum products are negatively contributing to the increase in basic commodities citizens need for survival.

Growth inflation dynamics
Senator Konneh noted that despite efforts being applied by the economic management team of Liberia to improve the country’s economy, inflation remains higher than growth.

“The economy is more stable now; the interest is that macro environment is stable and growth is expected to be more than 5% this year. We’ve worked hard from December 2024 to present to bring down inflation. However, inflation is still higher than growth. So, that dynamics is contributing to the legitimate noise amongst citizens.”

He said Liberians are not feeling the impact of the decline in inflation as the prices of goods and tuition fees for students continue to increase.

“Our money, the Liberian dollars is stronger here today against the US dollar. But with all of that we should see some relieve (on our people) technically. Eventhough inflation is 4.6% real on paper, but in Bopolu, Gbarpolu county, Kinjor in Cape Mount closed to where the biggest mining company in our country is operating today, and Tubmanburg, the prices are still high. The people are not feeling the impact of this impressive number. Prices are rising higher on top of an already price flow.”

He observed that the current situation is strangulating growth in real income.

Senator Konneh wondered why the prices of major goods are not reducing, despite the appreciation of the local currency.

He further alarmed over the unproductive capacity of both the mining and agriculture sectors, with manufacturing only contributing to 8% growth in the economy.

He maintained that though 87% of Liberians are in the informal sector, they are not captured in the Liberian economy.

Senator Konneh said government should intensify efforts to accelerate growth and decelerate inflation.

On US$1billion budget
He further observed that despite the passage of the US$1.25billion national budget, students of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) were constrained to stage protests for the return of their teachers to the classrooms over unpaid salaries.

He added that many public schools are in deplorable conditions, while the University of Liberia remains closed.

Senator Konneh indicated that citizens would only celebrate the execution of the US$1.25billion budget, if it impact their lives positively.

“We keep announcing low inflation, but inflation should be reflected in the consumer price index on the ground.This US$1billion budget should be celebrated because it is felt.”

High importation of fuel
Senator Konneh disclosed that 30% of Liberia’s economy runs on imported fuel.

He accused the Liberia Petroleum and Refining Company (LPRC) and the Ministry of Commerce of using March last year exchange rate circular to set the price of petroleum products for May without consulting the CBL.

He added that consumers were unknowingly paying the price at various filling stations as a result of the blunder from the two agencies.

Meanwhile, Senator Konneh has underscored the need for the executive to regulate and supervise price control to help alleviate some of the constraints citizens are experiencing.

He stressed that inter-agency coordination would address most of the problems confronting Liberians.

High petroleum Taxes
Senator Konneh pointed out that additional two levy fees being charged petroleum importers to the already existing including Goods and Services Tax (GST) and road fund are contributing to the increase in the prices of petroleum and diesel on the Liberian market.

He said the Economic Management Team (EMT) must sit with the relevant authorities to address the situation as lawmakers do not intend to take arbitrary actions to affect the smooth execution of the national budget.

“Our people are paying for the price at the pump through the transportation cost and the prices rice they eat. The importers are getting wealthier; the government is getting fatter US$1.3billion budget-about 80% goes to recurrent cost and we in the government are getting fatter everyday and the skinning man out there is paying for the price.”

He maintained that government should consider providing a “tax holiday” to importers to alleviate sufferings they are encountering on a daily basis.

Senator Konneh observed that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the engine of growth of the Liberian economy.

He said CBL monetary policy alone cannot fix the supply and pricing.

He noted that a shorter pay-back period for loan credited from commercial banks is strangulating the growth of many SMEs in Liberia.

Senator Konneh called on the CBL to be intentional towards ensuring low interest rate for SMEs and the reduction of risks to the sustenance of their businesses.

He said steps should be taken by the bank towards the publication of the daily exchange rate and the setting of a variation interest rate for both SMEs and large businesses.

He observed that despite the passage of the Small Business Empowerment Act of 2016, no single Liberian company has benefited.

Amongst other things, the Act calls for at least 25% of public procurement and contracts for goods and services to be allocated to Liberian owned Micro, Small and Medium-sized (MSMEs),

Senator Konneh said government must be deliberate to provide support to MSMEs operating in the country, adding that, “the interest rate is killing our people.”

MONROVIA – Grand Kru County Senator Albert Chie has raised an alarm over increasing hunger and the deplorable state of prison facilities across the country.

By Obediah Johnson

According to him, many prison facilities are overcrowded with pretrial detainees including ill persons and pregnant women. He made the observation during regular session in the chambers of the Liberian Senate on Thursday, October 22.

“We present our compliments and respectfully bring before this Honorable Body a matter of national concern raised repeatedly by citizens from all walks of life: the prolonged pre-trial detention of Liberians and foreign nationals and the overcrowded, dilapidated and unsanitary conditions, including hunger, in our detention facilities throughout the country, especially the Monrovia Central Prison.”

He said the current situation runs contrary to the 1986 Liberian Constitution. The Constitution is regarded as the organic law of the land.

“There have been consistent and credible reports that persons awaiting trial, among them pregnant women and persons in ill health, have remained in custody for extended periods without indictment or trial. Such conditions are difficult to reconcile with our Constitution and laws. The Constitution guarantees that every person arrested or detained shall be formally charged and presented before a court of competent jurisdiction within forty-eight hours (Article 21f).”

Amongst other things, Article 21 (e) forbids torture or inhumane treatment of any detainee, while Article 21g guarantees the writ of habeas corpus at all times. Article 21 (h) also preserves the presumption of innocence and Article 20 (a) underscores the need for due process of the law

Senator Chie pointed out that the Criminal Procedure Law makes bail a matter of right for non-capital offenses and requires courts to dismiss prosecutions not pursued within the next succeeding term absent good cause.

He noted that Liberia has also undertaken international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Articles 9(3) and 10(1)) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Article 7(1) (d)).

“We are mindful that under Articles 3 and 65 of the Constitution, decisions on bail, release or continued detention of any accused person belong to the courts.”

He maintained that though the prosecution and custody of detainees are functions of the Executive, as the Senate cannot order the release of any person or to direct any court or official in a pending matter.

“We ask instead that the Senate exercise its constitutional powers of oversight, appropriation and lawmaking (Article 34(d), (1) of the Constitution).”

He stressed that the Senate, through its Plenary,   should refer  this matter to the relevant Senate Committees for inquiry and to hold hearings with the Ministry of Justice, the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Liberia National Police and the Public Defenders, and by way of comity, to invite the Judiciary through the Office of the Court Administrator, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights and the Liberian National Bar Association, to brief the committee(s) on the number and duration of pre-trial detentions and the conditions of confinement.

He stated that lawmakers should also direct the committee(s) to recommend legislation amending the Criminal Procedure Law to strengthen statutory time limits, periodic case review and alternatives to pre-trial detention, together with appropriations for food, medical care, sanitation, decongestion of facilities, and expanded public defense and court capacity.

He added that upon the submission of the committee report, the Senate should adopt a resolution, for concurrence by the House of Representatives if Plenary, urging the Executive to implement remedial measures.

“Distinguished Colleagues, the dignity of every person in State custody is a measure of our Republic’s commitment to the rule of law and respect of human rights.”

Monrovia — Senate Revenue Committee Chairman Gbehnzohngar Findley has called on the government and telecommunications companies to explain rising mobile money transaction fees and the expiration of unused scratch cards, warning that the practices are placing an unnecessary financial burden on Liberian consumers.

By Obediah Johnson

Findley, speaking during a regular session of the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, October 20, questioned the increase in mobile money transfer charges from 1% to 2%, arguing that the higher fees could discourage the growing use of digital financial services.

He cited the charges imposed by major telecommunications operators, including MTN Liberia and Orange Liberia, saying customers are required to pay significant fees even when withdrawing salaries and transferring money through mobile money platforms.

“If you notice, lots of our transactions are going digital now; there is a contingency on mobile money. What is the charge for transferring mobile money? It used to be 1%, but it’s 2% now,” Findley said.

“Imagine that when you take your salary via mobile money, they tax you. Every time you send US$100, you pay US$2 for transfer to somebody.”

The senator called for greater transparency regarding the charges, including how much revenue is generated from mobile money transactions and how the proceeds are distributed among telecommunications companies and the government.

He specifically urged the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to account for the portion it receives from mobile money transactions and other related services.

“What is happening to the US$2 being collected? What is the amount that is being generated? The Central Bank of Liberia doesn’t contribute to the budget, but they receive a portion of the US$2,” Findley said.

He described the 2% charge as excessive, warning that it could undermine public confidence in digital financial services at a time when Liberia is increasingly relying on electronic transactions.

“I believe this is high and it is a disincentive to the digital platform we are beginning to rely more on,” he added.

Findley also questioned the apparent imbalance between the costs associated with cash-based and digital transactions. He noted that the government continues to spend millions of United States dollars printing additional Liberian dollar banknotes, while telecommunications companies collect substantial sums through digital transactions without incurring the same printing costs.

He urged the CBL to examine the situation and ensure that mobile money charges are reasonable and transparent to consumers.

Findley Questions Scratch Card Expiration

Beyond mobile money fees, the senator criticized telecommunications companies for imposing expiration periods on unused prepaid scratch cards sold to consumers.

He argued that customers should be allowed to use the airtime they purchase without being subjected to restrictive deadlines, particularly when they have already paid for the cards.

Findley said the grace period provided by telecommunications companies in Liberia is too short, limiting consumers’ ability to use purchased airtime at their convenience.

He contrasted the practice with what he described as a system in which customers who purchase multiple US$1 scratch cards should be able to use them over a period of their choosing, whether within a month or over a longer period.

“In other jurisdictions, when you buy five packs of US$1 cards—whether you want to use it for one or two years or one month, it’s up to you. But in Liberia, it’s less than a 30-day period,” he said.

The senator accused telecommunications companies of prioritizing profits at the expense of consumers and called for the practice to be reviewed.

His remarks raise broader questions about consumer protection and the regulation of telecommunications services, particularly as mobile money and prepaid airtime remain important components of everyday financial and communication activities in Liberia.

Calls For Stronger Prosecution Of Drug Offenders

Findley also called for stronger prosecution of individuals involved in drug trafficking and dealing, saying the government must do more to address the spread of illegal drugs in Liberian communities.

He expressed concern that some individuals arrested for drug-related offenses return to their communities after detention and allegedly intimidate peaceful residents.

The senator urged the government to increase budgetary allocations for the investigation and prosecution of drug-related offenses, arguing that enforcement efforts must extend beyond arrests to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.

“We need to start looking in the communities because we know that the drug dealers live with us; the kush, marijuana are right in our communities, and as they are arrested, they reappear into the communities again,” Findley said.

He stressed that the continued presence of substances such as kush and marijuana in communities requires a more coordinated response involving law enforcement agencies, the justice system and local authorities.

Findley also called for the establishment of additional rehabilitation centers across Liberia to help people struggling with substance use.

He said the government should support individuals and organizations working to rehabilitate and reintegrate disadvantaged youths into society, emphasizing that enforcement alone would not adequately address the problem.

The senator’s comments underscore the need for a comprehensive approach that combines effective prosecution, rehabilitation services and community-based interventions to tackle drug-related challenges.

His concerns over mobile money charges, prepaid scratch card expiration and drug enforcement place consumer protection, financial transparency and public safety among the issues requiring greater government attention.

MONROVIA — Lofa County Senator Joseph Jallah has called on the Ministry of Local Government to submit assessment reports and supporting legal documents on its proposed reclassification of municipalities across Liberia, urging the Senate to ensure that any changes comply with the law.

By Obediah Johnson

Speaking during a Senate session on Tuesday, October 20, Jallah said the Legislature must obtain the evidence and legal instruments underpinning the Ministry’s actions before reaching conclusions about the status of affected cities, townships and boroughs.

He cited the Local Government Act of 2018, particularly Sections 2.16 and 9.2, as provisions that must be interpreted and applied within the broader statutory framework governing municipal classification and local administration.

“Our greater responsibility is to ensure that the laws we enact work for the people, that the institutions we establish possess the capacity to perform their duties, and that the authority entrusted to government is exercised for the public good,” Jallah said.

He urged the Ministry to make its findings available to the Legislature so the appropriate committees can examine the matter and recommend any necessary clarification.

“We must understand the relationship between administrative assessment and the statutory authority of the Legislature,” he said.

Jallah stressed that the process should not favor one county over another but should ensure that every community receives fair, transparent and lawful treatment.

He also questioned the value of recognizing a community as a city if its municipal government lacks the legal authority, technical capacity and financial resources to protect residents and provide essential services.

According to him, cities must go beyond collecting revenue and maintaining their names and boundaries. They must also promote sanitation, manage public spaces, enforce applicable regulations and protect residents’ lives and property within the limits of the law.

Jallah Seeks Stronger Powers For MCC

Turning to Monrovia’s urban challenges, Jallah called for a coordinated legal and policy initiative to strengthen the capacity of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) to address abandoned, dilapidated and potentially dangerous buildings.

He described the condition of Liberia’s capital as a national concern, noting that Monrovia serves as the country’s administrative and commercial center and represents Liberia to residents, visitors, investors and the international community.

He warned that neglected properties and unsafe structures can endanger pedestrians, neighboring properties, businesses and surrounding communities, particularly during heavy rainfall and other adverse conditions.

“A property owner’s failure to maintain a building can impose costs and risks on an entire neighborhood,” he said.

However, Jallah cautioned against treating every neglected building as an immediate threat, insisting that enforcement must be supported by evidence and grounded in law.

“We must, however, distinguish between a building that is merely unattractive and one that presents a demonstrable danger. Government action must be proportionate, supported by evidence, and grounded in law,” he said.

He emphasized that property rights must be respected and warned against using public safety as justification for arbitrary demolition, unlawful entry, confiscation or denial of due process.

“The challenge before us is to protect public safety without sacrificing the rule of law,” Jallah said.

Proposes Review of Existing Laws

Jallah proposed that the MCC, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Justice and Legislature work together to assess the existing legal framework governing dangerous buildings and public nuisances.

He called for a review to determine whether Liberia needs amendments to the law establishing the MCC, a national Dangerous Buildings and Public Nuisance Abatement Act, or both.

He stressed that the review should first establish whether existing laws already provide sufficient authority and identify any gaps requiring legislative action.

Jallah said an appropriate legal framework should provide for the inspection and identification of potentially dangerous buildings, written notices to property owners, reasonable periods to correct violations and emergency intervention where structures pose an immediate threat to life.

He also called for administrative and judicial review mechanisms, clear rules governing the costs of remedial action and safeguards against conflicts of interest and arbitrary enforcement.

“Where the danger is not immediate, owners should ordinarily receive notice and a reasonable opportunity to remedy the problem before more serious measures are taken,” he said.

He added that the rights of tenants, neighboring residents and other affected parties must also be protected.

Jallah maintained that the proposal was not simply about removing dangerous buildings but about establishing a modern municipal system that balances public safety, property rights, urban renewal and the rule of law.

He said Monrovia would require clearly defined legal powers, trained personnel, effective coordination with national authorities and adequate resources to become a safer, cleaner and more orderly capital.

The senator argued that government should not impose responsibilities on municipal authorities without providing the legal tools and institutional support needed to fulfill them.

His proposals place renewed focus on municipal governance, the legal status of cities and the need for stronger mechanisms to address urban safety challenges in Liberia.

MONROVIA — Bong County Senator Prince Kermue Moye has raised concerns over the Ministry of Education’s centralized administrative system, accusing it of weakening the authority of County Education Officers (CEOs) to discipline, transfer or take administrative action against underperforming teachers in public schools.

By Obediah Johnson

Moye, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Budget, said the arrangement could undermine accountability among teachers and negatively affect the delivery of quality education across Liberia.

Speaking during a regular session of the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, October 20, the senator argued that County Education Officers should have the authority to address cases involving teachers who fail to meet their professional responsibilities.

He described the arrangement under the current administration as unprecedented and warned that limiting decision-making at the county level could weaken school administration.

“Can you imagine that a County Education Officer does not have the authority to transfer a classroom teacher that is observed not working to the expectation of that CEO? CEOs do not have that right or authority to even transfer a teacher who is not going to work under this administration. This is killing our school system,” Moye said.

Teacher Accountability Concerns

The senator warned that the lack of administrative authority could make teachers less responsive to instructions from County Education Officers, potentially affecting supervision and performance in public schools.

He argued that education officials responsible for monitoring schools should have the necessary powers to address persistent absenteeism and poor performance among classroom teachers.

Moye cited an incident in Bong County in which the government reportedly took nearly two years to recruit a principal for a public high school following the resignation of the previous school head.

He said the delay illustrated the administrative challenges that could arise when decisions affecting schools are not handled efficiently.

The senator maintained that restricting county-level officials from taking timely administrative action does not serve the interests of students, teachers or the broader education system.

His remarks raise questions about the balance between centralized control at the Ministry of Education and the authority required by county officials to supervise teachers and ensure accountability in public schools.

Volunteer Teachers Still A Concern

Moye also expressed frustration over the continued reliance on volunteer teachers in public schools, despite repeated budgetary allocations intended to address staffing shortages and facilitate their placement on the government payroll.

He said inadequate staffing remains a major challenge in several communities, particularly in rural areas, where some schools reportedly lack sufficient teachers to meet students’ needs.

The senator recounted his engagements with constituents across Bong County, saying the issue of volunteer teachers repeatedly emerged during meetings with residents.

“Everywhere I went in Bong, one of the key issues in all the meetings was the issue of volunteer teachers. Everywhere I went, schools were empty,” he said.

Moye questioned why the problem continues despite funding provisions in previous national budgets intended to support volunteer teachers and improve staffing in public schools.

He argued that the government must move beyond making budgetary provisions and ensure that qualified teachers are recruited, placed on the payroll and deployed to schools where they are needed.

The senator said the continued presence of volunteer teachers remains a source of concern for citizens, particularly in communities where public schools struggle to maintain adequate staffing.

Senate Urged To Verify Teacher Lists

To address the problem, Moye called on the Senate to empower its Committee on Education to conduct nationwide assessments of volunteer teachers and determine the actual staffing needs of public schools.

He said lawmakers must establish a reliable basis for making budgetary decisions rather than relying solely on lists submitted by the Ministry of Education and the Civil Service Agency (CSA).

According to Moye, legislators have often failed to independently verify the names of volunteer teachers presented by the relevant authorities, raising concerns about the accuracy of the information used to guide budgetary allocations.

“This time around, I really hope that the Committee on Education of the Senate will be empowered to go across the country so that we find a practical solution to this volunteer teachers’ issue,” he said.

He called for a stronger monitoring mechanism to ensure that qualified and competent teachers remain in public schools and that government resources allocated for education produce measurable results.

A nationwide assessment, he suggested, could help establish the number of volunteer teachers working in public schools, identify staffing gaps and provide a clearer basis for determining which teachers should be considered for placement on the government payroll.

Praises US$1.2 Billion National Budget

Despite his concerns about the education sector, Moye commended fellow senators for their role in supporting an increase in Liberia’s national budget to US$1.2 billion.

He attributed the increase in available public resources to sustained legislative oversight and inquiries into the country’s financial sector.

The senator urged his colleagues to maintain pressure on government institutions to ensure that public funds are properly managed and directed toward programs that improve the lives of citizens.

He stressed that lawmakers must continue to exercise oversight and push for policies that address persistent challenges in education and other critical sectors.

Moye’s remarks come amid continuing concerns about teacher shortages, school administration and the effectiveness of public spending on education. His proposed call for a nationwide assessment of volunteer teachers places renewed focus on whether budgetary allocations are translating into adequate staffing and improved learning conditions in public schools.

The Ministry of Education’s position on the senator’s concerns over the centralized system and the authority of County Education Officers was not included in his remarks.

MONROVIA — Senator Amara Konneh has warned that Liberia’s porous borders, rising drug abuse and youth unemployment could expose the country to increased drug trafficking, citing reports that wanted Dutch drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers is hiding in neighboring Sierra Leone.

By Obediah Johnson

Konneh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, raised the concern during a Senate session on Tuesday, October 20, urging the government to strengthen border security and intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking.

Reports by The Guardian, citing Dutch prosecutors, indicate that Leijdekkers has been in Sierra Leone since December 2022. The reports gained attention after footage published by Dutch media appeared to show him attending a New Year’s Day church service near members of Sierra Leone’s First Family.

Konneh warned that Liberia’s proximity to Sierra Leone, particularly in Gbarpolu County, makes stronger border controls essential.

“My county, Gbarpolu, is vulnerable. Madam Pro Tempore, Bassa is vulnerable, colleagues; all of our counties are vulnerable. But my county is vulnerable most because we border with Sierra Leone,” he said.

The senator also warned that Liberia was shifting from a transit point for illicit drugs to an increasingly significant consumer market.

Citing a 2025 report by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Konneh said drug seizures had increased by approximately 300%, which he said raised concerns about the volume of illicit substances entering the country.

He linked the problem to unemployment among young people, arguing that limited economic opportunities could push vulnerable youths into the drug trade.

“Unemployment among our young people is 70%, according to our official statistics. A young man finishes high school in Gbarma and has no job, so he is forced to sell kush for US$2,” Konneh said.

He also cited a report from the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, claiming that about 60% of admissions involving people aged 18 to 35 were drug-related. The figures were not independently verified in his remarks.

Konneh said the growing availability of kush, marijuana and other illicit substances was worsening challenges in communities already struggling with poor roads and limited access to healthcare and other essential services.

He called for increased budgetary support for drug investigations and prosecutions, alongside the establishment of more rehabilitation centers and support for programs that help disadvantaged youths recover and reintegrate into society.

The senator urged his colleagues to exercise their oversight responsibilities by holding hearings and pursuing practical measures to address drug trafficking and substance abuse.

“The next security threat in this country is not about fighting from the borders to Monrovia anymore for this one Mansion,” he said, warning lawmakers against remaining silent on the issue for fear of being accused of pursuing presidential ambitions.

Konneh called for a coordinated national response to protect Liberia’s borders, strengthen law enforcement and prevent more young people from falling into drug addiction.

However, his remarks did not establish any direct operational link between Leijdekkers’ reported presence in Sierra Leone and drug trafficking networks in Liberia.

MONROVIA – By eight o’clock on most evenings, the young women have already taken their places. Near an unfinished building in the VOA community of Brewerville City, outside Monrovia, they stand in the spots they know are best for catching the attention of passing men. They have a name for those men: “customers.” They have a name, too, for what they do. They call it “hustling.”

By Obediah Johnson

The word sounds like ambition. In this place it means survival. The young women are mostly between 18 and 24 years old, although teenagers are among them. They sell sex for sums so small that they would barely cover a snack in some parts of the world, and they do it night after night, driven by poverty, grief and, for some, the pull of drug addiction.

Their faces, observers say, show frustration, anger and despair. Behind those expressions lie stories of lost parents, interrupted schooling and a country where economic hardship continues to squeeze families who had little to begin with.

A Night That Begins at Eight

Rita, who asked that her real name not be used, is one of the regulars. She is 18 years old. She usually arrives at the site by 8 p.m. and does not leave until between 3 and 4 a.m. the next morning. Hers is a night shift in the most literal sense, and it is one she has worked for two years. She began selling sex at 16. Before then, she earned a living selling auction goods, the second-hand items traded in markets across Liberia. Then her mother died. With her mother gone, Rita says, nobody was left to take care of her.

“I am here to hustle because I was living with my mother, but she passed away. I don’t have anyone to take care of me, so I came on the road to hustle with my friends on the street. I used to sell auction goods before. I am doing this to support myself,” she said in an interview with FrontPage Africa in Brewerville City on Sunday, October 19.

Her explanation is plain, almost matter-of-fact. There is no suggestion that she chose this life over a better one. In her telling, the road simply replaced the family that had been taken from her, and her friends on the street showed her how to survive on it.

The Arithmetic of Survival

The money is meagre. Rita charges between L$200, which is about US$1, and L$300 for one round of sex. On a typical night, she sleeps with between three and five men. “Sometimes I make L$2,000 (US$11.7) or L$3,000 (US$17.6). I sleep with between three to five men at night. Some men who have feelings for us can give us L$400 (US$2) or L$600 (US$3),” she said.

Consider what these figures mean. A night of work that stretches for seven or eight hours, in the open air and among strangers, produces an income of roughly twelve to eighteen United States dollars at best. Some of the men pay a little more because, in her words, they “have feelings” for the girls. Most do not.

For Rita, that money must stretch across food, shelter, and every other need that comes with living alone. There is nothing in these numbers that suggests savings, and nothing that suggests a way out. Each night’s earnings are spent on the next day’s survival, and the cycle begins again at dusk.

When Drugs Set the Price

For others at the site, poverty is only half of the story. The other half is addiction. Miatta, also not her real name, is 22 years old and a junior high school dropout. She has spent nearly four years on the street, selling sex to feed a drug habit. According to her account, it was her sexual partner who introduced her to drugs several years ago. Today she sells sex to pay for the drugs and to cover a few basic needs.

“I am hustling here in the night. Sometimes when business is on our side, I make L$2,500 (US$14.7) or L$2,000 (US$11.7); sometimes when the business is rough, I make L$1,000 (US$5.8). Sometimes I sleep with about eight to 10 men. I use the money I make to smoke drugs,” she said.

The contrast with Rita’s account is striking. Where Rita speaks of three to five men a night, Miatta speaks of as many as eight to ten. Her earnings on a rough night are less than six United States dollars. The need to find enough money to satisfy her habit pushes her toward more encounters, and more encounters mean more exposure to danger and disease.

Her story shows why the crisis cannot be explained by poverty alone. Hardship pushes young women onto the street, and drugs keep them there. Each problem feeds the other, and breaking the cycle will require more than any single intervention can offer.

Pain Behind the Hustle

The dangers do not end with poverty and addiction. Many of those engaged in commercial sex in Liberia have suffered severe assaults and attacks, including from first-time customers and from disadvantaged youths who see them as easy targets.

The injuries that can be seen are only part of the harm. The scars carried in the heart, according to the account, are heavier than the ones on the body. The young women are sexually abused and assaulted, and the money they have earned is taken away from them by their attackers.

Miatta described how it can happen. “Some of them can even beat us; they can carry us behind here (pointing at the back of the unfinished building), have sex with us, take advantage of us (because of our look and habit) and take the money from us,” she said.

Her words capture a double injury. The attackers take the bodies of these young women and then take their pay as well. Those who work at night and use drugs are especially exposed, because the very qualities that mark them out also make it easy for others to dismiss them. They carry out their work in the shadows, and the shadows protect those who prey on them.

Sick, but Staying Out

The health risks are as serious as the physical dangers. The young women say they understand the risks of what they do for a living. They are exposed to sexually transmitted diseases because their encounters involve unprotected sex. They are also exposed to chronic tuberculosis, colds, and other illnesses because they remain outside through the night and the early hours of the morning.

Staying home is rarely an option. “Sometimes we get sick because whether rain or shine, we have to come hustle. We sometimes buy antibiotics when we feel funny in our bodies; but we don’t really go to the hospital or clinic because we don’t have plenty money,” said another young woman who preferred not to be named.

Her account describes a quiet gap in the health system. When something feels wrong, she and her friends buy antibiotics themselves instead of seeking a diagnosis. A clinic visit costs money they would rather spend on food or on a day’s survival. Illness becomes one more problem to be managed alone, and an infection that might have been treated early is left to continue.

A Troubling Sign

The condition of these young women reflects more than individual misfortune. It points to a wider pattern of rising poverty, limited opportunities and growing substance abuse across Liberia. It also raises serious concerns about the vulnerability of girls and about the need for effective social protection, rehabilitation and economic empowerment programs.

The young women themselves have an answer to what they need. They called on the government to provide social and economic opportunities that would help them return to society. They made specific reference to empowerment through vocational and technical skills training.

It is a practical request, not a vague appeal. Skills training offers the one thing that the roadside cannot: a trade that can earn a living without the daily risks of violence, disease, and exploitation. For women who say they have no one to take care of them, the chance to learn a skill may be the difference between survival and a future.

What the Research Says

The accounts from Brewerville fit a larger body of evidence. Several local and international reports, including those from the United Nations, link transactional sex in Liberia to poverty, drug addiction, and the sexual exploitation of young girls.

A United Nations report titled Transactional Sex and Sexual Exploitation in Liberia, published in April 2025, documented concerns about commercial and transactional sex in the country, particularly in Monrovia and in border areas. It found that economically disadvantaged women and girls face increased risks of sexual exploitation, especially in mining and rubber plantation concession areas.

It added that commercial and transactional sex reportedly occurs around major transportation centers and entertainment districts. Sex workers, it said, face health risks, exploitation, discrimination and exclusion from some social and healthcare services.

A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), titled “A Teenage Girl Who Turned to Transactional Sex to Survive,” gave a firsthand account from West Point, Monrovia. It profiled a girl called Mercy, who was 17 at the time of publication. She said that she and her family were forced out of her father’s home when she was 13. While her mother worked to support the family, Mercy began exchanging sex for money to buy food.

The same report described the broader problems facing adolescents in West Point, including poverty, limited educational opportunities, and inadequate access to basic social services. It also discussed how financial hardship can push young people toward activities that provide immediate income but expose them to additional risks.

A 2025 report by the United States Department of State on human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Liberia offered an international perspective. It detailed how women and girls from impoverished rural communities remain vulnerable to trafficking, and how traffickers sometimes promise young women better opportunities in urban areas before sexually exploiting and abusing them.

Read together, these reports and the voices at the roadside tell the same story. Whether in a Monrovia slum, a mining area or a roadside community in Brewerville, poverty and a lack of options leave girls and young women open to exploitation.

Plans on Paper

The government has not ignored the issue entirely. In March this year, it launched the Third National Action Plan Against Human Trafficking, which covers the period from 2025 to 2029. Among other aims, the plan is intended to prevent the recruitment or involvement of women in commercial sexual exploitation.

In December last year, the government launched its National Anti-Drug Action Plan for 2025 to 2030. Within that plan, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection acknowledges the relationship between drug dependency, commercial sex and the vulnerability of women and children. The plan points out that some women are driven into commercial sex work to support their drug habits. It also highlights the effects of substance abuse on children, including neglect, exposure to violence and loss of educational opportunities.

The Ministry of Health has launched Liberia’s National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Nutrition Strategy for 2026 to 2031. The strategy seeks to improve adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, nutrition services and relevant information, while addressing the social and behavioural barriers that affect young people.

In October this year, the government launched a Five-Year Strategic Plan for Women and Children, estimated at approximately US$58.667 million. The plan is meant to strengthen institutional performance, improve service delivery, promote gender equality and enhance protection for children and vulnerable populations. Child and social protection, the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence, and services for vulnerable groups are among its priorities. It also aims to address the situation of girls vulnerable to sexual exploitation, particularly where families struggle to provide food, education, and housing.

More Than Launches

Yet the stakeholders who follow these issues are not satisfied. Despite the growing involvement of young girls in transactional sex, they argue, the government’s efforts have been scanty. In their view, the launch of one plan after another is not enough to reduce the problem.

They want the government to go beyond announcements and address the conditions that push girls onto the street. These include growing economic hardship, drug abuse and dependency among young people, limited educational opportunities, and the sexual exploitation that continues to drive women and girls to exchange sex for money, favors, or other necessities.

The distance between a policy document and a roadside in Brewerville is considerable. A plan can be launched in a single day, but its effects depend on funding, staff and sustained follow-through. The young women who stand near the unfinished building each night are the measure of whether those plans work. If skills training, addiction treatment and affordable healthcare reach them, the plans will have meant something. If they do not, the documents will have changed little.

Before Dawn

When Rita finally leaves the site between 3 and 4 a.m., the night’s work is done, but nothing has been resolved. She has earned a few thousand Liberian dollars, enough perhaps for the next day’s food. She has also faced the risks that come with the road: the possibility of violence, the exposure to illness, and the knowledge that tomorrow the cycle will begin again.

Her story and Miatta’s are different in detail. One is an orphan trying to support herself, and the other is a young woman caught in addiction. Yet they share a common wish, which is to be given something better than the road. Skills, support and a chance to rejoin society are not luxuries to them. They are the difference between surviving the night and building a life.

The question that Brewerville poses to the country is a plain one. Plans, strategies and action programmes have been launched in the thousands of words that fill government documents. The young women of the unfinished building are waiting to find out whether any of those words will reach them.