MONROVIA — Maryland County District #3 Representative Austin B. Taylor has challenged the Ministry of Local Government’s decision to revoke the city status of communities that failed to meet the required criteria, arguing that residents should not be penalized for the government’s failure to provide basic services and infrastructure.

By Peter P. Toe, Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonline.com

Rep. Taylor made the remarks on Tuesday, October 14 during the First Sitting of the Third Quarter of the House of Representatives, where lawmakers discussed the Ministry’s nationwide decision announced in September 2026.

Under the decision, only Pleebo and Harper remain officially recognized as cities in Maryland County, while other communities that previously held city status have lost that recognition.

Speaking during the legislative session, Rep. Taylor questioned why communities should lose their city status because they lack essential services such as running water and banking institutions, which he argued are the government’s responsibility to provide.

“Some of the requirements for having a city are just basic,” Rep. Taylor told his colleagues, identifying running water and banking services as among the facilities expected in cities.

“Who is responsible for getting running water to the people? Is the government. Is it the citizens or the local people there who should be establishing banks?” he asked.

Rep. Taylor argued that the government must take responsibility for ensuring that communities receive essential services rather than penalizing residents for the absence of those facilities.

“We cannot be renegades and refuse the status of these communities and citizens, simply because of these basic things,” he said.

The Maryland County District 3 lawmaker also questioned why communities that have existed for decades, some for nearly a century, were still struggling to meet the requirements now being used to assess their status.

Liberia gained independence in 1847, Rep. Taylor noted, questioning why the government had failed to provide the necessary infrastructure to help long-established communities meet the requirements for city status.

“What has government been waiting for for these cities to catch up with the required status?” he asked.

Beyond the lack of basic services, Rep. Taylor questioned the process through which the Ministry arrived at its decision, arguing that the government must follow the law when determining whether communities should retain or lose their city status.

Referencing the Local Government Act, he maintained that the minister responsible should return to the Legislature to allow lawmakers to deliberate on the matter before any such decision is made.

“He cannot sit unilaterally and make such a decision,” Rep. Taylor said.

The lawmaker joined calls for the minister and his deputies to appear before the Legislature to explain the basis for the decision.

Rep. Taylor warned that if the officials failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, the Legislature should consider taking action against them.

The debate over city status carries particular significance for Maryland County, where two communities in Taylor’s electoral district—Karloken City in Karluway Statutory District and Glofaken City in Barrobo Statutory District—have lost their official city recognition under the Ministry’s decision.

However, efforts to address some of the infrastructure concerns in the two communities were already underway in August 2026.

During his activities in the county that month, Maryland County Superintendent Nathaniel Toe, Jr. disclosed that the government planned to take action against cities that lacked essential infrastructure, including city halls.

The superintendent said he had appealed for the affected cities to be given until December to meet the required standards, warning that the Ministry could act after the deadline if the necessary infrastructure remained inadequate.

On August 13,  two days after taking the oath of office, Superintendent Toe officially broke grounds for the construction of city halls in Karloken and Glofaken through the 2025 County Development Fund.

During an independent assessment tour on September 29 FrontPage Africa observed that construction work had commenced at both sites and was making steady progress.

The construction projects raise questions about whether the completion of the city halls, alongside the provision of other required infrastructure, could help the two communities regain their official city status.

Rep. Taylor’s remarks add to the wider debate over the Ministry’s nationwide decision and the responsibility of the government to provide basic infrastructure in communities seeking to retain or regain official recognition as cities.

As the debate continues at the Legislature, the progress of the city hall projects in Karloken and Glofaken could become central to discussions about the future status of the two communities. However, whether the ongoing construction and provision of other required infrastructure will lead to the restoration of their city status remains unclear.

Rep. Taylor’s call for the Minister of Local Government and his deputies to appear before the Legislature places the future of affected communities on the legislative agenda. The lawmakers are expected to seek clarification on the legal basis for the decision and the process used to revoke the cities’ status, while considering what steps may be taken if the minister fails to provide a satisfactory explanation.

HARPER, Maryland County — A protest at William V. S. Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County, halted academic activities on Monday morning, October 12, 2026 after protesters physically nailed shut classroom doors and administrative offices, prompting County Superintendent Nathaniel S. Toe Jr. to intervene and begin mediation.

By Peter P. Toe, Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonlince.com

The protesters are demanding the immediate interim suspension of University President Rev. Dr. Olu Q. Menjay and an independent investigation into allegations of corruption, administrative irregularities, questionable appointments, and financial mismanagement at the institution.

Reporters who visited the campus early Monday observed that the doors of classrooms, college offices, the university’s main administrative building, the administrative annex, the finance office, and the university’s radio station had been nailed shut.

The disruption left students stranded on campus, with some standing in the rain while others returned home amid heavy rainfall. The incident occurred as the university was scheduled to begin its first-semester midterm examinations.

The situation prompted Superintendent Toe to invite the protesters to his office at the Harper Administration Building, where they presented their grievances and submitted a petition addressed to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

Jackson Williams, a staff member of William V. S. Tubman University who spoke on behalf of the protesters, read their grievances to Superintendent Toe before submitting the full document.

The 16-page petition, dated October 12, 2026, was addressed to President Boakai through the Maryland County superintendent.

Signed by 20 individuals identified as concerned citizens and stakeholders of Liberia, the document outlines allegations involving the university’s leadership, financial administration, recruitment practices, and use of public resources.

The petitioners argue that the issues raised require an independent investigation to establish the facts and ensure accountability at the state-run institution.

They are requesting the immediate interim suspension of Menjay pending the outcome of the proposed investigation, while emphasizing that the measure should be precautionary rather than a declaration of guilt.

One of the petition’s central concerns is the legal basis of Menjay’s appointment and his continued service as university president. The petitioners cite Section 2 of the William V. S. Tubman University Charter of 2009, arguing that the appointment process must comply with the institution’s governing law and involve the appropriate authorities.

According to the document, the Executive Mansion announced on September 25, 2023, that former President George Manneh Weah had appointed Menjay to lead the university.

However, the petitioners allege that they have not seen a formal resolution of the Board of Trustees or other legally sufficient documentation establishing the full basis of the appointment.

They also question the application of Executive Order No. 123, which the petition says was issued on November 22, 2023, and are calling for a legal determination of whether it authorized Menjay’s continued service beyond January 22, 2024.

The petition requests an examination of the university charter, appointment records, Board proceedings, and other relevant documents. These claims have not been independently verified.

The petition also raises concerns about alleged nepotism and irregular appointments to senior positions at the university. One allegation concerns the reported appointment of Aaron G. Woods, identified in the document as Menjay’s maternal nephew, as Chief of Staff and Executive Assistant to the university president.

The petitioners want investigators to determine whether the appointment followed established recruitment procedures and whether the appointee’s qualifications and the circumstances surrounding the appointment were properly documented.

The document also questions the reported appointment of a Vice President for University Advancement, alleging that the process may not have followed the required recruitment and approval procedures.

Other appointments under scrutiny include positions within the university’s financial administration. The petitioners allege that search committees conducted recruitment exercises and submitted recommendations that were not followed in some final appointments.

They are calling for a review of recruitment notices, applications, interview records, committee recommendations, and appointment decisions to determine whether the processes complied with university policies.

A substantial portion of the petition focuses on executive allowances, salary increases, travel expenditures, and the use of university resources. The document alleges that Menjay receives a monthly transportation and communication allowance of US$5,000, in addition to a reported gross monthly salary of less than US$7,000.

It compares the reported allowance with the US$500 monthly transportation and communication allowance attributed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The petitioners are asking investigators to examine the university’s compensation policies, payroll records, budgetary allocations, and authorization procedures.

The petition also questions reported salary increases for selected employees, including an alleged increase in the monthly salary of the Director of Public Relations from approximately US$1,200 to US$2,700.

The petitioners want the relevant authorities to determine whether the adjustments were properly authorized and supported by approved salary structures and personnel records.

The allegations concerning compensation have not been independently established.

The petition further alleges that cumulative Daily Subsistence Allowance payments to the university president exceeded US$250,000 over approximately three years.

According to the document, reported allowance rates have included approximately US$1,000 per day for domestic travel and US$1,500 per day for overseas travel.

The petitioners are requesting a forensic audit of travel expenditures, including authorization forms, payment vouchers, tickets, itineraries, accommodation records, and other supporting documents.

They also question expenditures involving a student information system reportedly costing more than US$80,000 and an internet-service arrangement involving reported annual spending exceeding US$75,000.

The petition calls for investigators to examine procurement procedures, contracts, services delivered, equipment installed, and whether the expenditures represented value for money.

Additionally, the document raises concerns about the construction and management of campus commercial facilities, including a campus store, and alleged preferential treatment in supplier selection.

The petitioners want the appropriate authorities to establish whether the transactions complied with applicable procurement regulations and university policies.

The petition also calls for a review of undergraduate tuition and related charges to determine whether they comply with applicable government policies.

The petitioners argue that the university’s approved fee schedules, student invoices, payment receipts, and other records should be examined to establish whether any charges violated government policy or legal requirements. They request corrective action, including reimbursement to affected students where improper collections are established.

The document further raises concerns about alleged wrongful dismissals, delays in salary and benefit payments, and possible violations of employees’ due-process rights.

The petitioners are asking for a review of employment records, disciplinary procedures, relevant court decisions, and the university’s compliance with applicable legal requirements. The claims remain allegations pending independent verification.

Multiple Government Institutions Asked to Investigate

The petition calls for a coordinated investigation involving several public institutions, including the Ministry of Justice, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, General Auditing Commission, Internal Audit Agency, Liberia Revenue Authority, Civil Service Agency, Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, Ministry of Education, and National Commission on Higher Education.

The petitioners want these institutions to examine the allegations within their respective legal mandates and recommend appropriate action if wrongdoing is established.

They also call for measures to preserve university records, protect witnesses from intimidation, and prevent possible interference with the investigation.

Following his meeting with the protesters, Superintendent Toe called for mediation and urged that the university be reopened to allow academic and administrative activities to resume.

The superintendent assured the protesters that he would do everything within his authority to address the concerns raised while making efforts to ensure that their petition reaches President Boakai for consideration.

He emphasized the need to restore normal operations at the institution as discussions continue over the grievances presented.

Toe also indicated his willingness to work toward resolving issues that fall within his authority.

Following the meeting with the protesters, Superintendent Toe invited representatives of the university administration to participate in the mediation process.

As of the time of reporting, the superintendent was holding a closed-door meeting with deputies of University President Rev. Dr. Menjay at the Harper Administration Building.

Sources indicated that Menjay was outside Maryland County. His whereabouts and whether he had been formally briefed on the protest were not independently confirmed.

The university administration had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the petition as of the time of reporting. The protest has left students uncertain about when classes and the scheduled midterm examinations will resume.

While the petitioners seek government intervention into their grievances, the superintendent is urging dialogue and the reopening of the institution. The allegations in the petition have not been independently verified, and no findings of wrongdoing have been established. Responses from the university administration and the relevant authorities will be important in determining the next steps.

HARPER, Maryland County — Maryland County District #1 Representative P. Mike Jury has honored 56 academically outstanding students from 10 schools across Harper District, providing each beneficiary a certificate of honor, a backpack, 22 copybooks  and full payment of school fees for the academic year.

By Peter P. Toe, Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonline.com

The recognition ceremony, held on Friday, October 9  at the Catholic Parish Hall in Harper City, brought together educational stakeholders, students, parents and other well-wishers to celebrate the students’ academic achievements.

The beneficiaries, drawn from grades seven to eleven, were selected based on their academic performance, with each maintaining an average of at least 85 percent.

School authorities confirmed that Representative Jury had already begun paying the students’ fees school by school. Parents who had previously paid their children’s school fees are expected to be reimbursed in the coming week.

The initiative is intended to recognize academic excellence while encouraging students to remain committed to their studies, regardless of whether they attend public or private schools.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Representative Jury said the recognition was intended to appreciate their efforts and motivate them to maintain their academic performance.

“In all of the high schools in Harper District, these are students topping from seventh grade to eleventh grade. Their averages are beginning at 85 percent upwards. There are even more of them whose averages are above 90,” he said.

The lawmaker noted that the selection process was based primarily on academic performance, explaining that students from both public and private institutions were included in the program.

He also encouraged students who might wish to transfer from public to private schools to maintain the required academic average, emphasizing that their grades would remain the major consideration for future recognition.

Representative Jury challenged the students to remain disciplined, work harder, and serve as examples to their colleagues who were not included among this year’s beneficiaries.

“You did not arrive at this point by mistake or by chance. You are here because of choices that you made when you had sleepless nights to study,” he told the students.

He attributed their achievements to discipline, determination, and the willingness to prioritize their education over distractions.

The lawmaker further urged the beneficiaries not to become complacent because of their current accomplishments, but to continue working toward higher academic goals.

“Be proud and do not stop here, because you are laying your foundations day by day, step by step for tomorrow, and you will be recognized,” Representative Jury added.

He expressed hope that the recognition would encourage other students to improve their grades and qualify for similar honors in subsequent years.

Representative Jury also disclosed that the initiative is intended to become an annual program, providing continued motivation for students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance.

Meanwhile, one of the female beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the recognition, pledging to sustain her academic performance.

“I am grateful for this opportunity. I will not take it lightly. I will hold it to the best of my ability to maintain my grades,” she said.

The students’ recognition comes with financial support intended to ease the burden of school expenses on their families while encouraging them to remain focused on their education.

The 56 beneficiaries were drawn from 10 schools across Harper District.

East Harper Elementary and Junior High School recorded the highest number, with 13 students, followed by J. Hodo Manston High School with seven and Cape Palmas High School with six.

Other participating institutions were Our Lady of Fatima High School, J.S. Pratt United Methodist High School, John Hillary Tubman High School, Jireth Solid Foundation High School, Yuakpe Foundation High School, Harper Demonstration High School, and Education First Academy.

The initiative is expected to encourage greater academic competition among students in Harper District, as the lawmaker seeks to make the recognition an annual event for students who meet the established academic requirements.

PLEEBO, Maryland County — Nearly four years after a Maryland County court bailiff was publicly accused of involvement in an alleged gang rape, official court records show that the case later ended with a Grand Jury Bill of Ignoramus, a court-ordered permanent release and a Certificate of Acquittal.

By Peter P. Toe Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonline.com

The case involves Joseph Ponpon, who was serving as an assigned bailiff at the Gedetarbo Magisterial Court in Pleebo when he was arrested and charged in 2022.

On November 5, 2022, media reports indicated that Ponpon and Alphonso Togba had been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged gang rape involving a 13-year-old girl in the Zone 8 community of Pleebo District.

The report, citing a police charge sheet, said the two men were charged with gang rape under Section 14.73 of Liberia’s Penal Law. Ponpon denied the allegation.

The police charge sheet also contained allegations concerning the circumstances of the reported incident and referenced a medical examination of the alleged victim.

But the criminal case did not end with the police charge. Court records obtained by FrontPage Africa show that the matter subsequently proceeded to the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Harper, Maryland County.

The case was recorded as Republic of Liberia by and through the Ministry of Justice versus Joseph Ponpon and Alphonso Togba, with the charges listed as Statutory and Gang Rape.

On March 20, 2023, the Grand Jury of Maryland County returned a Bill of Ignoramus in the matter. The Grand Jury’s finding is recorded simply as “Bill of Ignoramus.”

The document was signed by the Clerk of the Grand Jury and approved by the Forelady.The finding meant the Grand Jury did not return an indictment in the matter presented to it.

Following the Grand Jury’s action, the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court issued an order on March 21, 2023. The court addressed several matters presented during the February Term of Court and specifically referenced the Bill of Ignoramus in the statutory and gang rape case.

The court ordered the Clerk to issue a “permanent release” to the defendant based on the Bill of Ignoramus returned by the Grand Jury. The order effectively brought the criminal proceeding against the defendant to an end at that stage.

Two days later, on March 23, 2023, the Clerk of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court issued a document formally titled “CERTIFICATE OF ACQUITTAL.”

Certificate Says Defendants Were Acquitted

The certificate identifies Joseph Ponpon and Alphonso Togba as the defendants in the case and states that they had been charged with “STATUTORY & GANG RAPE.”

The document says the Grand Jury’s “unanimous FINDINGS of ‘BILL OF IGNORAMUS’” were brought down in favor of the defendants and were “confirmed and affirmed by this Honorable Court.”

The certificate further states that the defendants: “they are hereby acquitted and set free from the said crimes charged and shall enjoy their liberties as free citizens of the County and Republic aforesaid, henceforth.”

The certificate was signed by the Clerk of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court and dated March 23, 2023. More than three years after the court proceedings, Ponpon says the legal outcome did not erase the effect the original allegation had on his reputation.

Speaking to FrontPage Africa on Monday, October 5, 2026, Ponpon said he was given the Certificate of Acquittal following the court proceedings and released. “After the court proceedings, I was given this certificate of acquittal and released,” Ponpon said.

He emphasized that the matter went beyond the police charge sheet. “The case did not just end with the police charge sheet,” he said.

According to Ponpon, the allegation affected a reputation he had built over several years. “Something I didn’t do affected my character I have built over years,” he said.

Ponpon also said that he was not contacted by journalists to provide his side when the allegation was initially reported. “The journalists who did that story did not reach out to me to hear my side when the allegation was made,” he said.

He said the absence of a follow-up report after the court proceedings contributed to the continued public perception surrounding the case. “Today people point fingers at me,” Ponpon said, attributing that situation to the lack of a follow-up informing the public of the court’s decision.

“I am a law-abiding citizen and we are doing our best, still serving the country through the judiciary,” He stated.

Following the court proceedings which resulted to issuance of an official Certificate of Acquittal, Ponpon now continues to serve as a bailiff at the Gedetarbo Magisterial Court in Pleebo.

The court documents provide important context to a case that initially became public through a police charge in 2022. The original report concerned an allegation and criminal charge. The subsequent court records show that the case proceeded to the Grand Jury, which returned a Bill of Ignoramus.

The Fourth Judicial Circuit Court then ordered the defendant’s permanent release, followed by the issuance of a Certificate of Acquittal. The records reviewed by FrontPage Africa therefore show no conviction against Ponpon in connection with the allegations reported in 2022.

While the initial allegation received public attention, the subsequent court proceedings and their outcome were not similarly brought to the wider public’s attention.

That gap left the original allegation more familiar to some members of the public than the court’s eventual decision. The purpose of the present report is to clarify the legal outcome documented in the official court records—not to revisit the original allegation as an established fact.

For Ponpon, however, the impact has continued beyond the courtroom. He remains at his post as a bailiff at the Gedetarbo Magisterial Court in Pleebo, while maintaining that he is a law-abiding citizen who continues to serve the country through the judiciary.

The court records reviewed by FrontPage Africa provide the subsequent legal outcome of a case that began with a 2022 police charge: the Grand Jury returned a Bill of Ignoramus, the court ordered permanent release, and a Certificate of Acquittal was issued on March 23, 2023.

HARPER, Maryland County — The lifeless body of Papa Abraham Stemmer, a fisherman who went missing last week following a canoe capsizing incident, has been discovered in Harper City, with the Independent Human Rights Commission in Maryland County reporting what it described as suspected missing body parts.

By Peter P. Toe, Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonline.com

The body was discovered by fishermen on Monday morning, October 5, 2026 in the waters between Lake Shepherd and the Atlantic Ocean, according to eyewitnesses at the scene.

S. Boniface Nyema, Human Rights monitor with the Independent Human Rights Commission in Maryland County, said members of the Commission visited the scene after receiving information about the discovery and observed what he described as severe injuries to the body.

Nyema alleged that both ears, both eyes, the upper and lower lips, tongue and anus appeared to have been removed. He further said the hair appeared to have been scraped from the victim’s skull.

“We observed the two ears have been removed. His hair is scraped off from his skull. Both eyes are also removed. Both upper and lower lips are forcibly removed. His tongue is removed. His anus is removed,” Nyema said.

He also alleged that an oily substance, which he described as resembling fuel or waste oil, was found on parts of the body, while blood was reportedly coming from the ears.

Nyema said the Commission’s observations were made before police arrived to conduct an official examination of the body. “Even though police have not yet come to do investigation on the body, we the Human Rights Commission, we do not believe in police report. We believe in observing and seeing the facts,” he said.

He said the Commission was preparing to report its observations to the Maryland County Administration. The allegations by the Human Rights Commission have not been independently verified by police or medical authorities, and the cause and circumstances of Stemmer’s death remain unclear.

Stemmer was reported missing on September 29, 2026, following a canoe capsizing incident near Richard Sea-Port in Maryland County. A preliminary police report issued by the Maryland County Police Crime Services Department said Stemmer and another fisherman, identified as Bishop Toe, 20, had boarded a canoe from Nekambo to engage in fishing activities.

According to the police report, the sea became rough as the two approached the vicinity of Richard Sea-Port, with strong waves and currents causing the canoe to capsize.

The report said both men entered the water and began swimming. Bishop Toe reportedly told police that he attempted to locate Stemmer but could no longer see him. He eventually reached safety after being carried by the sea current toward the shoreline.

At the time of the police report, Stemmer’s whereabouts remained unknown, and police said the investigation was ongoing. Following the discovery of Stemmer’s body, Edwin B. Wadeh, head of the victim’s maternal family and Chief of Barriken Township, described the development as shocking.

Wadeh said the family had spent days searching for Stemmer and seeking assistance from medical practitioners, prayer centers and traditional healers. “After all we have been going through, going from country doctor to country doctor, going from prayer-to-prayer yard, a herbalist told us that the child was to be found alive in two days or three days’ time. But today we are seeing, we are hearing that our child is dead,” Wadeh said.

Wadeh also spoke about disagreements involving Stemmer’s maternal and paternal families over claims allegedly made by traditional healers during efforts to locate him.

According to Wadeh, Stemmer’s mother has repeatedly denied allegations made by a traditional healer that she was responsible for his disappearance.

The allegations and claims made by the traditional healers have not been independently verified. Another eyewitness at the scene, Prince Copeland, questioned the absence of police several hours after the body was discovered.

Copeland said authorities respond quickly to reports involving rape and theft but questioned the lack of an immediate police presence following the discovery of a dead body.

“The government can pressure people when people rape, when they hear that rape case, stealing case, but life is lost, and no police is yet on the scene since this morning. It’s now 10 a.m. This is really horrible,” Copeland said.

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist identified as Quassee, who was also present at the scene, called on young people to be more vigilant. “We need to mind ourselves as young people. Our own Mothers are the ones killing us today,” Quassee said.

When asked what he meant by the statement, Quassee declined to provide further explanation. The discovery of Stemmer’s body has raised fresh questions about what happened to him after the canoe capsizing.

The initial police account attributed his disappearance to rough sea conditions, strong waves and currents. However, the Human Rights Commission’s reported observations have raised concerns that require further investigation.

As of Monday, there was no official police or medical determination establishing that Stemmer was murdered or confirming how the reported injuries occurred.

A formal examination of the body, including a medical determination of the cause of death, is expected to provide further information. The Maryland County Police authorities had not publicly released a statement on the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body as of the time of this report.

Harper, Maryland County — House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon has donated a bus to the J.J. Dossen Memorial Referral Hospital in Harper City, Maryland County, fulfilling a commitment he made during a visit to the hospital in December 2025.

By Peter P. Toe, Jr

The donation was made over the weekend at the hospital’s facility in Harper during a ceremony attended by health practitioners, local authorities, traditional leaders and other stakeholders.

Making the presentation, Speaker Koon said the donation was in fulfillment of a promise he made during his December 2025 visit, when hospital authorities raised several concerns about the institution’s needs.

Among the concerns raised were the need for additional space to expand hospital facilities, the placement of long-serving volunteer nurses on the government payroll, and transportation for health workers.

Then County Health Officer, Dr. Siedoh Freeman, described the requests as urgent needs for the J.J. Dossen Referral Hospital.

In response, Speaker Koon promised to provide a bus to address the transportation challenge, while committing to take the other concerns to the House of Representatives for consideration and possible budgetary allocation.

Clarifying the condition of the vehicle during the presentation, Speaker Koon said the bus was not new but urged the hospital to properly maintain it.

“Let me clarify this. This bus is not a brand-new bus; it is a fairly used bus. The more you take good care of it, the longer it will last,” the Speaker said

Receiving the bus on behalf of the county’s health sector, Maryland County Health Officer Dr. Methodius George praised Speaker Koon for fulfilling his commitment.

Dr. George said the vehicle would not only serve the J.J. Dossen Hospital but would benefit the wider county health team.

“This bus is not only for J.J. Dossen. It will be used by the Maryland County Health Team, the Pleebo Health Center and other health facilities in the county,” Dr. George said.

He called on other lawmakers to support the county’s health sector by undertaking similar initiatives.

Also speaking, Medical Director of the J.J. Dossen Memorial Referral Hospital, Dr. Shadrach Gono, thanked Speaker Koon for the donation and assured that the bus would be used for its intended purpose.

Dr. Gono said the vehicle would help address transportation needs associated with the hospital’s operations and health workers.

Maryland County Superintendent Nathaniel S. Toe, Jr. also praised Speaker Koon and the government for what he described as developments taking place across the county.

Superintendent Toe said the bus is an important addition to the J.J. Dossen Hospital, while pointing to several other projects and initiatives in Maryland County.

He referenced the provision of “yellow machines” under the Presidential Development Project, the groundbreaking for the Ministry of Transport’s regional hub in Maryland County, and other ongoing projects.

Superintendent Toe described the bus as “one of the good things that has ever entered” the J.J. Dossen Hospital. The cost of the bus was not disclosed during the donation ceremony.

Frontpage Africa subsequently followed up with the Speaker’s office to establish the actual cost of the vehicle. Sources within Speaker Koon’s media team said the bus was given to the Speaker as a gift by a friend, and as a result, its monetary value is not known.

Following the donation, the bus has been put into use and is currently being used by health workers in Maryland County. The donation is expected to provide transportation support for health workers and facilitate movement for health workers in Maryland County.

HARPER, Maryland County — The Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Maryland County has sentenced Lewis Saywon to four years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to charges of Theft of Property, Terroristic Threat and Burglary.

By Peter P. Toe, Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonlince.com

The sentence was handed down Wednesday, September 16 during the 32nd day of the August 2026 Term of Court presided over by Assigned Circuit Judge Cllr. George S. Wiles Jr.

The court’s judgment shows that the case initially included a charge of Armed Robbery, but the prosecution later requested that the charge be dropped.

According to the court record, prosecution counsel asked the court to amend the indictment, arguing that the armed robbery charge should be dropped and that the remaining charges should proceed to trial on their merits.

The court granted the application and dismissed the armed robbery charge with prejudice.

The amended charges against Saywon were listed as Theft of Property, Terroristic Threat, and Burglary.

Following the amendment of the indictment, prosecution counsel requested that the Clerk of Court read the charges to Saywon and have him enter his plea.

The court granted the request.

The Clerk subsequently read the indictment to Saywon, after which he pleaded guilty to the charges.

The court then questioned Saywon about whether he understood the indictment and whether his guilty plea was made voluntarily.

According to the judgment, Saywon informed the court that he understood the charges and had entered the guilty plea voluntarily.

The court noted that, under Liberian law and practice, except in capital cases, a trial is no longer necessary when a defendant voluntarily pleads guilty after being properly informed of the charges.

The court, therefore, proceeded to sentencing without a trial.

In its ruling, the court stated that Saywon had admitted to the commission of the crimes of Theft of Property, Terroristic Threat and Burglary.

He was consequently sentenced to a term of imprisonment for four calendar years.

However, the court took into consideration the time Saywon had already spent in detention before the sentencing.

The judgment states that he had been in detention for one year and six months, which was credited toward the four-year sentence.

As a result, Saywon is to serve two additional years and five months in prison, beginning from Wednesday, September 16, according to court records.

The court said the sentence would serve, among other purposes, as a deterrent to other young men from unlawfully taking the belongings of citizens.

Following the sentencing, the court ordered the Clerk of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court to prepare a Permanent Commitment and place it in the hands of the Sheriff.

The commitment is intended to facilitate Saywon’s detention at Harper Central Prison for the remaining period of his sentence.

The judgment was signed by Cllr. George S. Wiles Jr., Assigned Circuit Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court, Maryland County, Liberia.

The court record reviewed for this report does not provide details of the specific property allegedly stolen, the circumstances surrounding the terroristic threat or burglary or the identities of any alleged victims.

PLEEBO, Maryland County — The Ministry of Transport has broken ground for the construction of a US$187,679 regional office in Maryland County, a project officials say will bring transportation services closer to citizens in southeastern Liberia.

By Peter P. Toe, Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonline.com

The groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday, September 15, at the outskirts of Pleebo City, bringing together officials of the Ministry of

Transport, Maryland County authorities, traditional and religious leaders, women and youth representatives, contractors and residents.

The facility is expected to provide driver and motorcycle training, as well as the processing of transportation documents that currently require residents to travel outside the county.

Speaking during an overview of the project, Wilmont B. Chearu, Director for Planning, Policy and Research at the Ministry of Transport, said the initiative is part of the ministry’s efforts to decentralize its operations.

Chearu said the regional office will serve Maryland, Grand Kru, River Gee, Grand Gedeh and Sinoe counties.

“When completed, this office will provide citizens with easier access to the services of the Ministry of Transport without having to travel long distances,” Chearu said.

Pleebo City Mayor Larry Geekor welcomed the project and commended President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Ministry of Transport for bringing the initiative to Pleebo-Sodoken District.

Mayor Geekor said the project would create employment opportunities for young people and contribute to economic activity in the district.

He pledged the cooperation of the city authorities and urged the contractor to prioritize qualified residents of Maryland County for jobs during construction.

For him, maryland County Superintendent Nathaniel S. Toe described the project as an important step toward expanding government services in the county.

Superintendent Toe commended President Boakai and the Ministry of Transport, while also appreciating the traditional authorities of Pleebo-Sodoken for making land available for the project.

He called on citizens to protect public development projects and urged the contractor to complete the facility within the expected timeframe.

The Maryland County’s Superintendent Toe stressed that his administration would continue working with lawmakers, government officials and other stakeholders to advance development initiatives in Maryland County.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Deputy Minister for Transport Rudolph Natt who described the project as a major investment in expanding transportation services across Liberia.

Natt disclosed that similar groundbreaking ceremonies were being conducted in Bomi, Nimba and Lofa counties, alongside Maryland, as part of the ministry’s broader decentralization program.

He said the new regional office would also create additional employment opportunities while reducing the financial burden on residents who currently travel long distances for transportation-related services.

The Ministry of Transport says the regional office is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.

HARPER, Maryland County — The Minister of the Ministry  Finance and Development Planning(MFDP),  Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has described William V.S. Tubman University as a symbol of Liberia’s resilience, saying the institution’s history demonstrates that a nation can emerge from the wounds of war without surrendering its future.

By Peter P. Toe, Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonline.com

Minister Ngafuan, who served as keynote speaker at the university’s 17th Founders’ Day Celebration in Harper City on Monday, September 14, said the occasion was about more than marking another anniversary.

He said Tubman University represents an institution that survived Liberia’s civil conflict, was rebuilt after years of destruction and continues to develop minds and contribute to the country’s future.

“Tubman University is one of the clearest proofs that a nation can be wounded without surrendering the future,” Minister Ngafuan stated.

According to the Minister, the university’s history reflects a journey from vision, through war and destruction, to restoration and renewed commitment to excellence.

He said Harper and Maryland County remember the devastation of Liberia’s civil war, but also demonstrate the ability of communities and institutions to rise again.

“Harper remembers how to rise. Liberia remembers how to rise,” the MFDP Minister asserted, stressing that Tubman University stands as a reminder of the country’s determination to rebuild.

The Minister used the occasion to honor individuals and institutions that contributed to the establishment and development of the university.

He recalled the people of Maryland County who donated land in honor of former President William V.S. Tubman.

Minister Ngafuan also recognized former President William R. Tolbert Jr., under whose leadership the William V.S. Tubman Technical College was established and opened in 1978.

He commended the administrators, faculty members, students and workers whose contributions helped establish the institution’s reputation over the years.

The MFDP boss  further recognized former President Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf, whose administration made the rebuilding of the institution part of Liberia’s post-war recovery efforts.

He also highlighted the contribution of Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell, crediting her determination with helping transform a damaged college into a comprehensive university.

Minister Ngafuan said the development of Tubman University demonstrates that quality higher education should not be limited to Monrovia.

“We honor all who refused to accept that quality higher education must stop in Monrovia,” he intimated.

He also commended the university’s current Board of Trustees, President Dr. Olu Menjay, faculty members and administrators for continuing to carry forward the institution’s mission.

The Minister said the Founders’ Day Celebration should not only be an occasion to remember the institution’s past but also an opportunity to renew commitments toward its future.

“So today we remember and then we recommit,” Minister Ngafuan  added.

The 17th Founders’ Day Celebration brought together university administrators, faculty, students, government officials, alumni and other stakeholders in Harper to reflect on the institution’s history and its role in Liberia’s post-war development.

HARPER, Maryland County —  Liberia has crossed the US$1 billion mark in domestic revenue collection for the first time in the country’s 179-year history, the Minister of the Ministry Finance and Development Planning(MFDP),  Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan,  has announced.

By Peter P. Toe, Jr., peterp.toe@frontpageafricaonlince.com

Minister Ngafuan made the disclosure on Monday,  Monday, September 14  while serving as keynote speaker at the 17th Founder’s Day celebration of William V.S. Tubman University in Harper City, Maryland County.

The MFDP Minister said he received a real-time revenue dashboard update from Liberia Revenue Authority Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah showing that domestic revenue had surpassed US$1 billion.

“Liberia, your country, my country, has just crossed the threshold of one billion United States dollars in domestic revenue within a single year,” Minister Ngafuan stated.

According to him, the government has set a US$1.3 billion domestic revenue target for the end of 2026, expressing confidence that the target will be achieved.

Minister Ngafuan pointed out that the milestone should not be credited solely to the government, but to Liberians across the country who contribute to national revenue through taxes and other payments.

He named President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, himself, the LRA leadership and other government officials, while emphasizing that the achievement belongs to the Liberian people.

“The market woman who pays her taxes, the worker whose income is taxed, the business that applies for the loan and the customs officer who does an everyday honest work,” he said, are all part of the achievement.

The minister acknowledged that increased revenue alone does not mean that every aspect of life has improved, but argued that the development demonstrates an expansion in the state’s ability to mobilize resources.

“Revenue alone cannot prove that every aspect of life is better today,” Minister  Ngafuan said. “It does prove that post-war Liberia is expanding the capacity of the state and that recovery can grow into renewal.”

He said the milestone was particularly appropriate to celebrate at Tubman University because public revenue is increasingly being reflected in investments across the country.

Minister Ngafuan pointed to government-funded salaries, health facilities, roads, schools and other public infrastructure as examples of how increased revenue can support national development.

He highlighted support to the Jackson F. Doe Memorial Regional Referral Hospital in Tappita City, Nimba  County, including seven vehicles, ambulances, employee buses, drugs and operational logistics as well as an emergency ward under construction and a 50-kilovolt generator.

He also cited a new College of Nursing complex and auditorium at Grand Gedeh University.

At  William VS Tubman University, Minister Ngafuan said government support has increased significantly since the institution’s transformation. He recalled that approximately US$1.5 million in government support in 2009 helped launch the transformation of the university.

Under the 2026 national budget, he said Tubman University’s allocation stands at approximately US$6.4 million. Minister Ngafuan stressed that the allocation should not be viewed as a final destination.

“Six point four million is not a destination. We are on a journey upwards,” he said. He added that approximately US$1 million of the current allocation is supporting priority capital projects and rehabilitation at the university.

According to Minister Ngafuan, the impact of the funding is already visible in ongoing repairs at the university’s Academic Complex and Elizabeth Davis Russell Building.

The minister said the government’s broader objective is to transform increased domestic revenue into sustainable investments that improve public services and expand opportunities for Liberians.

The Founder’s Day Celebration brought together government officials, university administrators, faculty, students, alumni and other stakeholders in Harper to mark the institution’s 17th Founder’s Day Observance.