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The most pressing issue for now though remains
the geographical complications looming heavily on
the leadership of the Senate with only two possible
conclusions: The Western Belt fortifying its hold
on the leadership of the Executive and Legislative
branches or the Southeastern belt making a move for
a high stakes political play in hopes of tipping the
balance of power in Liberias fragile democracy.
Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
Monrovia
With Cllr. Varney Sherman, chair of Liberias
ruling Unity Party, all but resigned to bowing out
of contention for the coveted Senate leadership
position, Senator Joseph Nagbe(APD, Sinoe County)
and Senator Armah Z. Jallah(NPP, Gbarpolu) appear to be the two
leading contenders for the post expected to be vacated in the wake
of the recent defeat of Pro Temp Gbezohnga Findley(Independent,
Grand Bassa).
Senator Jewel Howard Taylor(NPP, Bong) appears uncertain about
contesting although some sources say she is opting instead for the
powerful Ways, Means and Finance committee leadership also
being eyed by Senator Edward B. Dagoseh( Unity Party, Grand
Cape Mount County).
As we conclude our consultations, we will nd out but Im not
sure at this point if thats what I would be doing, the Senator told
reporters Saturday after she was certicated as the victor in the
Bong County Senatorial race.
Senator Taylor hinted that the build up to the elections is a bit
contentious. It will be up to the 30 Senators to decide who replaces
Findley. Thats a decision that will be taken by 30 members of
the Liberian Senate. Right now deliberations are going on but there
is a little bit too much inghting and I think if something belongs
to someone, it wouldnt be that difcult. So maybe in the next
few weeks we will get together and begin to talk about what will
happen. I can just say I will be the Jewel Howard that I have been
and I will work hard in whatever position I nd myself.
Senator Dan Morias(NPP, Maryland) is also said to be weighing
his options and his aides are not so sure he is denite not running.
As it stands, the leadership battle could boil down to Nagbe, a
southeasterner and Jallah from the Western belt, already elding a
speaker in Alex Jeneka Tyler(Unity Party, Bomi) and the President
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf(Bomi) prompting some political and
legislative observers to raise questions about likelihood that the
presidency and the legislative leadership will be dominated by the
Western Belt.
In the backdrop of what many anticipated would be a Sherman
candidacy derailed by an argument against giving mantle to a
newcomer, many see the race now likely to be both Jallah and
Nagbes to lose but deliberations in the coming days could offer a
clearer picture on who will most likely get the edge.
Shermans aides say he all but give up his quest due to the perception
that hidden forces were pushing for him not to contest.
Allegations Fly Over Sherman Omission
Sherman was one of three newly-elected Senators not allowed to
participate in the certication of the National Elections Commission
last Saturday due to a petition led before the Supreme Court by Dr.
Fodee Kromah, one of the contestants for the senatorial seat of the
county.But Nathaniel McGill, Secretary General and Acting Chairman of
the CDC told FPA on Saturday the Party has no idea on how Mr.
Kromah went to the supreme court, the party has no knowledge of
the decision, the party has never seen Mr. Kromah since the election,
we are not aware. Said McGill I do not know the basis of his
compliant, the party will invite him for him to say why he went to
court without courtesy to the party. He is a partisan; he should have
contacted the party. If you want your case to get ground it should
be led by a party, going alone, there is likelihood you can lose your
case, because you will not have the privilege from a strong party
like the CDC
Darius Dillon, a former legislative aide to both Senator Taylor and
former Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe said the partys standard
bearer President Sirleaf did a disservice to Sherman and accused
Sirleaf of being behind the plot to keep Sherman out of the race.
She has effectively made him a lame duck Chairman of the 'Ruling
Unity Party' and left him running an empty 'vessel'. She did not stop
there.... during the just ended Special Senatorial Election, she only
did not support him in Grand Cape Mount County, she is said to
have undermined him and even supported another person against
him so as to ensure he did not win.
The issue is even more complicated with the candidacy of Nagbe,
a southeasterner who some are already suggesting could be another
Findley whose close ties to the Executive Branch put the Senate
under immense scrutiny regarding its independence from the
executive branch.
That theory is said to be the driving force behind the opposition
Congress for Democratic Change pushing their prominent Senator
Peter Coleman(CDC, Grand Kru County) another Southeasterner
into the mix in a bid to offset the rapidly growing inuence of
Senator Nagbe.
Not Handpicked by President Sirleaf, Senator Nagbe Says
Football legend George Weah who has also ruled himself out of the
running is said to be aggressively pressing Coleman, who heads the
Senate Committee on Health, to throw his hat in the race.
But Senator Nagbe, in an interview with FrontPageAfrica Sunday
dismissed the suggestion alluding that he will be another Findley
but conrmed that he is in the race to win.
That is false, that is not true at all. I dont know how will somebody
feel as a lawmaker that you must wear gloves for a ght with
another branch of government like the judiciary or the executive.
Taking a stab at his critics, the senator said on the contrary he has
been one of the most vocal lawmaker in the Senate in the last few
years. I am one of the critical voices against government policies.
I spoke against the civil servants salary issue, the former Minister
of Health, Dr. Walter Gwenigale and a host of others. So how can
someone say I am handpicked by the president? Besides, whatever
a Senator does, he will have to be advised by the senate. It is thesenate that will authorize, not one person.
Senator Nagbe explained that positions in the legislature are based
on seniority and currently he is the most senior senator in the
senate. I am the most senior senator with immense experience and
training in parliamentary work abroad.
Sources: CDC Flirting With Coleman Candidacy
The sticking point for many within the CDC, according to sources
is that Coleman appears to be leaning toward supporting Nagbe and
has been avoiding overtures from his party to enter the fray.
That leaves Jallah, head of the inuential Committee on Internal
Affairs and Governance who is being courted and supported by a
Senate bloc boasting what one source says, comprising16 Senators
who are poised to tip Jallah as their candidate in the coming days.
Supporters of Nagbe point to the potential geographical dominance
of the Western Belt comprising President Sirleaf, Speaker Tyler and
a possible Pro Temp from the area as a key negative against having
Jallah as their candidate.
But a Senator from the Jallah bloc told FrontPageAfrica Sunday
that the argument is not holding among the majority. It is not
working with the majority. Everybodys pushing Armah because
he is straight forward and not easily compromised. The rest of thepeople are the same yes sir people which we do not want and they
do not have the majority to pull it off.
Regarding the likelihood that Coleman who is said to be part of
the bloc supporting Jallah tipping his backing to Nagbe, the source
said, Coleman hands are tied on the matter because he could lose a
lot of support on other issues and with Senators who aligned with
him in the past. Coleman will not get the kind of support we have
been giving him, his hands are tied, the Senator who spoke on
condition of anonymity because the plan is still in the making.
The source added that senators are keen to ensure that whoever is
elected will have an open and independent mind. Findley was not
in the interest of the Senate, his main goal was for the president,
to agree on everything. He was not objective; we cannot remove
Findley and put the same kind of people there. It is left with us to
nd someone who will work with integrity. So everyone can see
that were credible. We cannot have a pro temp that is too much in
bed with the presidency. Were not saying anti-president but at least
one with an independent mind, the source said. Armah is a person
who has always stood his ground, he can work with everybody andhas everybodys interest at heart.
Sherman Infuence Still Looms
Nagbe, a counselor at law, who chairs the Senate Committee on
Judiciary, has not hidden his desire to contest and was quoted last
week as saying that the Senate is in desperate need of someone who
commands respect among his colleagues; and garners long years of
governmental and Legislative experience.
But even with Cllr. Sherman out of the race, his inuence looms large.
The ruling party chairman reportedly had as for the certication last
Saturday, eight senators under his belt. That number, sources say
has been cut to seven with Senator Prince Johnson(Independent,
Nimba) poised to throw his weight behind Senator Nagbe in part
due to the support he received from the president during the just-
ended senatorial elections which gave him a second nine-year term
as Senator.
One option also in play is the future of Speaker Tyler, whose
leadership is said to be on the ropes with his colleagues said to
lobbying heavily to oust him in the rst quarter of the New Year.
For the immediate future, the Senate race appears poised for what
many believe would be a hard fought race pitting Liberias western
belt against the southeastern belt. But more importantly, the
intricacies and dynamics of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering has
all the makings of a political plot lled with intrigue. Whichever
way the saga ends, the senate which has historically settled on
electing a person from a small party appears to be on course with a
serving of Jallah and Nagbe.
That regional balance is an issue people are looking at and this
is why most senators believe this is my time, Senator Nagbe told
FrontPageAfrica Sunday.
Rule Says Full Seating Required for Voting
For the foreseeable future however, the outcome of these elections
could offer a gauging point of how the last few weeks and months
of the Sirleaf presidency would end.But rst, thirty senators will have to be seated for any voting to take
place, at least according to Chapter 5, Rule 14, Section I of the Senate
guidelines which states: On the rst day of the Regular Session
following a general and Presidential election, the Secretary of the
Senate, or in his/her absence, the Assistant Secretary of the Senate,
whose term shall not expire until his/her successor is elected, shall
call the Senate to order, conduct devotions, and announce to the
senators present that the Senate is without a President Pro-Tempore
to serve for a term of six years. The President Pro-Tempore shall be
elected by a simple majority of the duly seated Senators. Election
of the President Pro-Tempore shall be held and the Secretary of the
Senate shall then administer the oath of ofce and appoint a Special
Committee which shall escort the President Pro-Tempore to his/
her seat.
With three Senators on hold, voting for the Pro Temp will have
to await the outcome of a Supreme Court ruling Monday over
whether there is any validity to claims against Sherman and others.
An overturn of those election results would mark an unprecedented
rst in Liberias political history. For southeasterners the choicecould be Dr. Peter Coleman or Cllr. Joseph Nagbe. All now hinges
on whether George Weah can convince Coleman to enter the race
for Pro Temp. The most pressing issue for now though remains the
geographical complications looming heavily on the leadership of
the Senate with only two possible conclusions: The Western Belt
fortifying its hold on the leadership of the Executive and Legislative
branches or the Southeastern belt making a move for a high stakes
political play in hopes of tipping the balance of power in Liberias
fragile democracy.
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Commentary
EDITORIAL
USHERING IN THE NEW YEAR last week, President Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf made a rallying cry to Liberians to reconcile, discard old habits,
grievances and differences and begin afresh.
THE MESSSAGE for many has been lost in translation owing to what
many perceive from past experiences that the President has scored low
marks in the court of public opinion when it comes to delivering on
many of her professed statements and pronouncements in the past.
STARTING IN JANUARY 2006 when the then newly-minted Sirleaf
sat on top of the world at her inauguration with a string of stinging
declarations Corruption pledging to rid the country of what she
described as the debilitating cancer of corruption.SAID SIRLEAF: Corruption erodes faith in government because of
the mismanagement and misapplication of public resources. It weakens
accountability, transparency and justice. Corruption short changes and
undermines key decision and policy making processes. It sties private
investments which create jobs and assures support from our partners.
Corruption is a national cancer that creates hostility, distrust, and anger.
Throughout the campaign, I assured our people that, if elected, we
would wage war against corruption regardless of where it exists, or by
whom it is practiced. Today, I renew this pledge. Corruption, under my
Administration, will be the major public enemy.
We will confront it. We will ght it. Any member of my Administration
who sees this afrmation as mere posturing, or yet another attempt by
yet another Liberian leader to play to the gallery on this grave issue
should think twice. Anyone who desires to challenge us in this regard
will do so at his or her personal disadvantage.
HISTORY SINCE those words have proven to the contrary. The
mechanics of change in auditing, concessions and procurement and of
late anti-corruption have all become victims of a system that encourages
corrupt ofcials to discredit their work and leave them struggling foridentity and purpose in a post-war nation lacking precision in the ght
against graft.
IN HER 2006 INAUGUARAL address, Sirleaf acknowledged that
while issues of accountability, and transparency were key to Liberias
post-war resurgence, it would be difcult to reawaken peoples faith
in government if the urgent and imperative issues of post-conict
reconstruction are not addressed.
WHILE ACKNLOWLEDGING THAT There Would be no quick
xes to national reconciliation and healing, Sirleaf urged the nation
to reconcile and heal with deliberate and purposeful commitment, as
she pledged her personal involvement in the work of reconciling and
healing our country.
BUT DESPITE those strong words, reconciliation has been one of the
neglected areas of the Sirleaf administration in the past eight years.
Particularly, many were taken aback last week amid reports that
members of the ruling Unity Partys youths were reportedly driven
away from the Presidents farm residence in Bomi County by aides to
the president who accused the youths of not voting for the Presidents
son and for making derogatory remarks about Robert Sirleaf during theheight of the just-ended senatorial elections.
WHAT BAFFLES US is that many of those so-called members of the
presidents inner circle a re bent on using the same tactics, the same
methods and falling into the same missteps that has the president in
the bad books of many who voted for her in 2005 and re-elected her
in 2011.
SADLY, TIME is not on the Presidents side to reconcile the country
which makes it extremely important that she does all she can to
addressing the pressing disunity within her ranks and especially within
the party on whose back she rode to attain state power.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, perceptions in various parts of the country
suggesting that the President is favoring a candidate outside her own
party for the Senate President Pro Temp position does not bode well
for her quest to tackle the burning issue of reconciliation in post-war
Liberia.
TWO HIGH-PROFILE Liberians, Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee
the football legend George Weah have both had stings at heading the
herculean reconciliation commission with mixed results. Both have
cited lack of support and seriousness on the part of the government as a
key reason why they stepped aside from the post.
NOW REPORTS ARE SURFACING that the presidency is set to tap
yet another reconciliation czar.
THE APPOINTMENT, FPA has learned will coincide in the expected
visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Liberia later this month
in a bid to showcase the governments readiness to address what is
undoubtedly the single-most important issue needed to be address in
post-war Liberia today.
THIS TIME around we hope that the government will approach this
COMMENTARY
EJSS RECONCILIATION
DILEMMAGeorge K Fahnbulleh, [email protected], Contributing Writer
Iread with the utmost amount of shame and disgust, the recent 17(seventeen) page missive, by a national security operative of theGovernment of Liberia, Grant Solomon, against the former JusticeMinister of Liberia, Christiana Tah.
Three months after Madame Tah resigned from the Sirleaf government,the government is still undertaking an intense effort to discredit her. Tome, it is evident the President and her National Security Team feel theneed to impeach her credibility, to preempt and discredit anything shemay say about her time in government.I have included in this paper, an extensive bibliography, to demonstrateto the security researcher that when you write a 17 page document, youshould include information which can be veried.The manner of Madame Tahs resignation, and the insight it provided intothe Presidents actions in obstructing investigations (GIAHYUE), wasunlike any other resignation in this government.That fear was evident and conrmed in a letter to Madame Tah by the
National Security Council, in which the government believed it wasnecessary to admonish Madame Tah, a lawyer, of her obligation not todivulge state secrets.Ironically, the people demanding she maintain secrecy, are now spreading
gossip, not only about the workings of the Ministry of Justice, under Tah,but about her place of birth, her family life.There are so many things that are disgusting and false about this piece,it is difcult to even begin to organize my thoughts. Some of the thingsthat jump out at the reader, are not only the venom and vitriol in the letter,
but the pettiness.The piece does not simply deal with Madame Tahs tenure at the Ministryof Justice, but delves into her personal life and attacks her marriage andher children. This is something low class people do. Mr. Solomon writes:She is married to Dr. Tah, a gynecologist, and almost twenty yearsher senior. The union is blessed with two children, a young lad, of lesssignicance to society, and a budding young lady who is a caricature ofher mothers dual personality.How is the age difference in a persons marriage the concern of thenational security agency? Mr. Solomon refers to Madam Tahs son, whoautistic as a young lad, of less signicance to society. Thankfully,the young man is a citizen of a country, America, which values all of itscitizens, even the ones with disabilities.What kind of human beings, let alone a President, and her NationalSecurity Team, attacks an autistic child to go after his mother?Solomon goes on to say of Tahs daughter a budding young lady who is a
caricature of her mothers dual personality. This young lady has excelledwith multiple degrees from some of the top universities in the world.Although Mr. Solomon states Tah has the following academic credentials:1. Masters in Sociology / Corrections Kent State University2. LLB Law Degree Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law3. LLM Law Degree Yale Law SchoolHe attempts to diminish her credentials by suggesting she graduatedfrom the Grimes Law School with a 2.1 GPA, when in fact she graduatedMagna Cum Laude.According to the Yale Law School website Applicants for the LL.M.
program must have completed their law degree at an accredited U.S. lawschool or a non-U.S. law school with substantially equivalent standards,and must have a strong record of academic accomplishment.We are to be convinced that a person with a 2.1 GPA met the strongrecord of academic accomplishment required by Yale Law School.This leaves one to wonder, why are these people so insecure that they seekto diminish the accomplishment of others.It also begs the question: why would the President would appoint a personof such low academic standing as Justice Minister?The answer to the rst question can be found in the Presidentsautobiography, This Child Will Be Great. The foreword of the bookstates:
She holds a master s in public administration from Harvard University,a B.A. in accounting from Madison Business College, and a certicatein economics from the University of Colorado, in addition to honorarydoctorates from nine universities in the United States and Africa. PresidentSirleaf lives in Monrovia, Liberia.This is a woman who has been able to con the world that she is a Harvardtrained economist over the past 12 years, when in fact, she has a 2 yeardegree from Madison Business College , described in Wikipedia as:Madison Business College was the name of a business college inMadison, Wisconsin, founded in 1858. It was also known as NorthwesternBusiness College and School of Shorthand, Capital City CommercialCollege, Madison College, Madison Junior College, and Madison JuniorBusiness College; it closed on September 22, 1998.She was able, through her work with the Government of Liberia, to parlaythat 2 year degree into a 9 credit certicate program designed specicallyfor people from third world countries, by Harvard. Lawrence Summers,the former US treasury secretary, is a Harvard tra ined economist.It is also noteworthy that this president has managed to drive out ofher government just about every woman of qualication and substanceincluding Antoinette Sayeh and Olubanke King-Akerele. Imagine awoman president who despises competent women; quite the contradiction.
The NSA robs Korean BusinessmenWhat seems to strike a raw nerve with the President and her entire
National Security Team, was the public disclosure by Madame Tah, of thePresidents refusal for the Ministry of Justice to investigate allegations ofrobbery against agents of the National Security Agency made by Korean
businessmen.Madame Tahs allusion to this incident, in her resignation statement, soirked the President, that New York Times writer, cum Sirleaf biographer, Helene Cooper attempted to cast aspersions and derision on it, in herOctober 30, 2014 article. Ms. Cooper wrote:Ms. Tah, used her resignation news conference to accuse Ms. JohnsonSirleaf of trying to block a corruption investigation into Liberias NationalSecurity Agency, which is headed by another of the presidents sons. Ms.Johnson Sirleaf denied the charge; it was the same son, Fumbah Sirleaf,who helped American agents pull off West Africas largest drug bust in2010.The crime was initially reported on extensively by the National Chronicle,in a series of articles:1. In Alleged Organized Crime Gold, Diamond Deal:NSA,Lebanese National Rob Koreans Of US$284,0002. After Sharing Korean Businessmens US$284,300: NSA AidsLebanese Man To Escape
On August 14, 2014, ofcers of the Police Support Unit (PSU) barricadedand tear-gassed the ofces of the National Chronicle, seized computersand arrested its editor, Phillibert Browne. On September 9, 2013, thePolice Director, Christian Massaquoi barred Mr. Browne from traveling.This raid was ordered directly by the President of Liberia, bypassing theMinistry of Justice.The Ministry of Justices attempts to take hold of the investigation werethwarted by the Executive Mansion. In a letter dated July, 11, 2014The Deputy Minister of Justice for Administration and Public Safety,Wheatonia Y. Dixon Barnes wrote:
"We are indeed very concerned about the legal implication this issue posesto the Government of Liberia (GOL), and the potential negative impactit may have on investors. In this connection, therefore, we advise thatyou forward this matter to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) for a thoroughinvestigation in conjunction with the NSA. To protect the integrity of the
process, we further advise that the amount in question be deposited into anescrow account until the legality of this issue is determined. Additionally,we request that you stay a ll forms of investigation with respect to this case
pending our joint sitting."Those instructions were never carried out, even though the by law theDirector of the National Security Agency is required to report to the
President through the Ministry of Justice on all Matters affecting thework of the Agency, as circumstances may require or as directed by thePresident. The law further requires the Ministry of Justice to issueorders and regulations with the approval of the president with regards tothe performance of such additional function as circumstances may dictatefor securing the safety of the State. The National Security can give noaccount of the money, seized by its agents.Solomon, who claims he is a security researcher has obviously neverheard of the internet. He tries to pin the dismissal of Deputy MinisterBarnes on Madam Tah, when the Executive Mansion website, onSeptember 13, 2014, posted a list of three deputy Ministers from Justicewho were dismissed by the President being out of the country without anexcuse. Why concoct a fantastical lie, when the information is readilyavailable?The fact is the President dismissed three of Minister Tahs Deputies evenafter Minister Tah submitted medical excuses and pleaded in person formercy for the three Ministers. The real target of the dismissals at Justicewas Wheatonia Barnes, because of the instructions she gave FumbaSirleaf noted above. The President could not stomach the idea that any
person would instruct her son to hold on to evidence of a crime. The othertwo ministers were simply collateral damage.Are we supposed to believe that 5 rogue agents, seized nearly $250,000
dollars and that money was never turned over to the authorities withinthe agency?Madame Tahs assertions were vindicated when the Special IndependentCommittee set up by the President, to bypass the Ministry of Justice, andto investigate accusations of money laundering, counterfeiting, illegalarrest, and conspiracy to defraud the Korean businessmen made 3ndings and recommendations, which were:a) Appropriate administrative actions be taken against theoperatives of the National Security Agency (ve in all) who were directlyinvolved with the arrest of the Korean and Sierra Leonean nationalsimmediately.
b) The operatives of the National Security Agency (ve in all)who were directly involved with the arrest of the Korean and SierraLeonean nationals, and their co-conspirators (two who do not work withthe NSA) be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution inorder to clear the name and image of the National Security Agency.c) The Government of Liberia refunds to the Korean nationals thefull amount of US$247, 500, which they withdrew from the InternationalBank of Liberia (IBLL) on July 8, 2014, and which they proceeded withdirectly to the City King Hotel, immediately thereafter, and were arrestedshortly after their arrival.Liberian Observer 11/10/2014
IN LIBERIA: A DISGRACEFUL GOVERNMENT
matter with urgency, precision and provide the support needed to make
it work.
TOO MANY LIBERIANS have died, scores of others have been crippled
and yet we nd that many are still struggling to atone with their past.
RECONCILIAITON MUST be treated with care as we continue our
journey to post-war stability.
THIS IS NO time for anyone to be proud, no time for anyone to take
their eye off the ball; no time for any close aide or kitchen Cabinet folks
to stand in the way of the bigger picture; and no time for anyone to play
lip service to this all important issue standing in the way of Liberias past
and its future as it struggles to complete its journey from war to peace.
President Must follow New Years Days message
with concrete action, visible steps to unite Liberia
The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it ~ George Orwell
please read full commentary online: www.ftontpageafricaonline.com
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Monrovia
I
n the wake of series
of recent Stay Orders
from the Supreme Court
of Liberia delayingpolitical processes and creating
uneasiness amongst politicians
and political activities, there
is a growing discontent from
ofcials of other branches of
Government and even within
the ranks and les of the court
against the numerous decisions
by high Court which is gradually
developing into political strains.
It all started with more than
a week of Stay Order on
the holding of the Special
Senatorial election, halting all
political activities, demoralizing
Liberians who were already in
the zeal for politics, a decision
from the Supreme Court which
perhaps might have impacted
the low turnout during the
December 20 senatorial election.
When Liberians who have been
quiet for several months due to
the outbreak of the deadly Ebola
virus nally left their homes to
engage in political rallies, the
court halted the process with a
writ of prohibition and following
weeks of delay in political
campaigning, the court at the
end decided that the process
should go ahead, leaving only a
week for political campaigning.
The highly anticipated senatorial
election nearly lost avor as a
consequence of the Supreme
Court Stay Order which grew
out of a writ of prohibition led
by some Liberians and politicalparties against the National
Elections Commission.
High court strikes Senators
certication
With the memory of the Stay
Order against the senatorial
election still fresh on the
minds of Liberians, the high
Court acting on three separate
complaints from candidates
who participated in the election
placed a hold on the certication
of three candidates including
Cllr. Varney G. Sherman of
Grand Cape Mount, Morris
Saytumah of Bomi and Jim
Tornonlah of Margibi County.
The Congress for Democratic
Change (CDC), the politicalparty of one of the complaints,
Dr. Fodee Kromah from Grand
Cape has declared that it is not
aware of any complaint by its
candidate to the Supreme Court.
Dr. Kromah should be aware
that he is a party candidate,
even though he is a Liberian and
has his right but any complaint
to the court should be to the
knowledge of the political
party he represented during
the election but in his case, we
are not aware as a party of anycomplaint by our contestant,
CDC Secretary general and
Acting Chairman Nathaniel
McGill told FrontPageAfrica.
Proceeding wrongly
The outcry against the action of
the Supreme Court continues
and it caught the heart of
the head of the rst branch
of government, House of
Representatives Speaker J. Alex
Tyler when he declared that the
court is proceeding wrongly.
The Supreme Court Stay
order was not known to many
Liberians ahead of Saturdays
certication as they gathered to
witness the certication of 15
newly elected senators before
NEC Chairman Jerome G.
Korkoyah disclosed that only
12 of the 15 were qualied to
receive certicates due to the
high Court mandate.
Speaker Tyler did not hide his
disagreement when he expressed
disappointment over the decision
of Court, cautioning the court to
focus on legal and constitutional
issues and leave political issues
with politicians.
Recent developments from
our sister branch needs to be
discussed if Democracy must
grow, we do understand that the
court is part of the democracy
that we all have been yearning
for but it is equally important to
say here that political questionsmust be left with politicians
while constitutional and legal
questions be left with the court
said Speaker Tyler
Court setting wrong Precedent
In an exclusive interview with
reporters shortly after the
ofcial certication program,
Speaker Tyler further elaborated
his stance against the Supreme
Court decision, expressing that
the court is setting the wrong
precedent.
The Speaker argues that as per
the law, electoral issues should
be left with the NEC to handle
and individuals not satised with
the outcome of NECs decision
can go to the Supreme Court forfurther redress.
There are laid down procedures
and processes by law, the
National Elections Commission
has the authority to investigate
complaints coming out of
elections, what we said was
at the end of those processes
parties that are not satised can
go to the supreme court, said
the Speaker.
The head of the Legislature
who is an Attorney At-Law
proposed a legal argumentthat the involvement of the
Supreme Court in such issues as
complaint from individuals will
force the high court into looking
at evidence when it should not
be doing so as per law.
If the supreme court which is
supposed to be the nal arbiter
of justice can become the one to
start investigating rst, than we
will go nowhere, I dont think it
is good for our democracy and I
think it is a wrong precedent, I
think and I want to reemphasize
that, I think the precedent is
wrong, it is a very bad precedent
for our emerging democracy
and it is important that we allow
people to exhaust the laid down
processes, he stated.
In a strong expression, the
Speaker said he and others
cannot continue to allow the
Supreme Court to set the wrong
precedent.
Said Speaker Tyler We cannot
allow the Supreme Court to
continue or set the wrong
precedent and I maintain that
and if the bench wants me to
explain further, I will do that
because of the interest of the
country.
He is calling on the Supreme
Court to speedily look into
the matter. I hope they will
speedily look at the issues laid
before them but I am quite aware
that the Supreme Court cannottake evidence so if they start to
investigate, than they will have
to look at evidence.
Decision ignores the law
NEC Chairman Korkoyah
also expressed that as citizen
of Liberia and a lawyer, it is a
strange indicating saying that
the decision by the Supreme
Court ignores the law.
Said Chairman Korkoyah It
is strange indeed, because I
absolutely see no reason why
prohibition will prevent the
certication of the senators
elect, I see no reason. I am
disappointed because in my
profession as a lawyer; I have
learned to respect the decisionof the court, so I had to do so.
But when decision ow from
court that has the potential to
ignore the law that appears
to be something outside of
the law than as a lawyer I get
disappointed.
The NEW Chairman said some
Liberians see the decision by the
Monrovia-
On Saturday the certication of the Chairman of the
ruling Unity Party, Cllr. Varney Sherman as Senator ofGrand Cape Mount County was aborted due to a stay
order from the Supreme Court of Liberia growing out
of a petition to the high court by Dr. Fodee Kromah, one of the
contestants for the senatorial seat of the county.
While the petition is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court
today, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) on whose
ticket Dr. Kromah contested the senatorial election has declared
that it is not aware of any complaint from its contestant but Dr.
Kromah has told FrontPageAfrica that the CDC was served a copy
of his complaint.
Nathaniel McGill, Secretary General and Acting Chairman of the
CDC told FPA on Saturday The Party has no idea on how Mr.
Kromah went to the supreme court, the party has no knowledge
of the decision, the party has never seen Mr. Kromah since the
election, we are not aware.
McGill said as Chairman of the party, if any of his candidates had
dissatisfaction over election matters, he should have been notied
to enable the party defend the candidate in court, something he
said candidate Kromah failed to do.
Said McGill I do not know the basis of his compliant, the party
will invite him for him to say why he went to court without
courtesy to the party. He is a partisan; he should have contacted
the party. If you want your case to get ground it should be led by
a party, going alone, there is likelihood you can lose your case,
because you will not have the privilege from a strong party like
the CDC
CDC cannot go to court
The CDC Secretary general conrming whether the party will be
in court to stand by its partisan said The rst thing he went to
court without the party consent, he should have come to the party
rst before proceeding, the party is not aware and cannot go to
court.
According to McGill partisan Kromah has never visited the party
headquarters neither has he called him as Chairman of the party
since the end of the senatorial election.
He disclosed that the CDC is aware of a complaint from the party
candidate in Margibi County, where he said the party wrote themagistrate in Margibi outlining its complaint.
McGill also said candidate Bhofal Chambers of Maryland County
has lled a compliant with the Board of Commissioners of NEC
and the complaint is being investigated.
The CDC ofcial commended the National Elections Commission
for what he termed the transparent conduct of the senatorial
election.
Said McGill NEC chairman has been very transparent, hope that
he will continue to do so, I have not seen any bias on his part.
The party appreciates the role of the chairman of NEC; he has
been very transparent in handling these issues, McGill declared.
I served Party
Meanwhile, Dr. Kromah has told FPA that he served the CDC a
copy of his complaint.
The case is in court and I do not want to say anything about it. I
served the party a copy of my complaint, said Dr. Kromah.
Dr. Kromah said his complaint relates to election irregularities
during the senatorial election.
I sent a compliant of election irregularities to NEC and CDC was
served a copy, he further said.
Cllr. Sherman won the Grand Cape Mounty senate with 13, 651
votes representing 61.7% while Dr. Kromah managed runners-up
with 3,431 votes representing 15.5 percent.
Dr. Kromah managed a distant second with a margin of 10,220
votes between him and Cllr. Sherman.
The Supreme Court is expected to hear Dr. Kromahs petition
today.
KROMAHLEFT ALONE?Opposition Congress for Democratic Change
draws line from Cape Mount senatorial
candidate complaint to Supreme Court
court as an attempt to undermine
the court of NEC
As a citizen, I do not believe
that there is basis to stop these
people because the law is clear.
The law is very clear that in the
event of a protest from election,
the protest does not operate as
a stay, the law further provides
remedy. Why you stop the
people, the court should explain
that, I think people should not
play with the political stability
of our country in this manner.Some candidates matter have
been heard and dismissed the
people who are complaining
now have failed to complain
to the commission Chairman
Korkoyah further said.
Contempt for Speaker Tyler?
The head of the Liberia National
Bar Association, the umbrella
organization for all lawyers, Cllr.
Theoliphus Gould has described
the statement by Speaker Tyler
against the Supreme Court as
contemptuous in nature.
I am surprise by trainee Tyler
to question the wisdom of the
Supreme Court. He has no
capacity to do that and he should
realize that he can be held incontempt of the court, said Cllr.
Gould.
The head of the Bar Association
expressed that the Speaker
should be held in contempt by
the Supreme Court.
Said Cllr. Gould He should be
held in contempt because he
has no place in questioning the
wisdom of the Supreme Court.
I hope the Supreme Court will
warn him never to do that.
Cllr. Gould contends that the
Supreme Court does not create a
case but rather citizens and party
litigants petition the court on
issues and the court looks into
those issues.
The outbursts by the Speaker and
NEC chairman signal that many
Liberians including stakeholders
are getting weary of the
persistent decisions by the court
on political issues even though
Chief Justice Korkpor recently
stated that the court does not rule
on political doctrine.
Speaking on the writ of
prohibition against the senatorial
election, the Chief Justice said
The Supreme Court cannot rule
on political doctrine we discuss
issues that are judiciable though
we are concern of the virus in
the country; all we can do is to
request the National Elections
commission to put in measures
that will minimize the spread of
the deadly Ebola virus.But two associate justices of the
full bench namely Justice Philip
Banks and Justice Kabina Janeh
in different view differed with
the majority on grounds that the
issues brought to the court is
not political as the citizens see
the court as the nal arbiter of
justice.
Justice Janeh said we are 3 to
2 on the bench, but the majority
spoke for the entire court and
despite of their opinion we have
our rights to oppose what they
said, this does not meant that the
bench is divided.
While Justice Banks said he
believed that there are limitations
imposed on the two politicalbranches of the government
and that holding a narrow
interpretation as the majority
opinion ignore the rights granted
the people of Liberia by the
Constitution, defeats the intent
and purpose of Article 2 of the
Liberian Constitution.
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A BLESSED CHILDHOOD
Monrovia
P
resident Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf participated in
the naming ceremony
of a two-month old
baby girl recently.The child was born unto the
union of Jefferson S. Mansaray
and Aminata Fofana of Clara
Town, Bushrod Island on
Wednesday, October 29,
2014, the same day President
Sirleaf celebrates her birth
anniversary. Mr. Mansaray
hails from Grand Cape Mount
County while Miss Fofana
hails from Lofa County.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, the child was
named by President Sirleaf as
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Mansary
at the request of her parents.
The Liberian leader wished
little Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Mansaray a blessed childhood
and life lled with love, care
and the fear of God. She
prayed that God will grant the
parents the passion to love
and effectively care for her
namesake. God has blessed
President Sirleaf Names Two-Month Old Girl
FRONTPAGE
NEWS EXTRA
you both with this little angel
and it is my hope and prayer
that you will care for her and
bring her up in the things of
God, President Sirleaf urged.
President Sirleaf prayed that
her namesake will follow her
good examples and grow upto become one of Liberias
most powerful and productive
women and be a true
representative of the dreams,
hope and aspirations of her
parents.
The parents informed the
Liberian President that they
decided to name the child
in her honor due to their
personal love and admiration
for the President and the
wonderful leadership she has
and continues to provide for
Liberia.
Madam President, I love
you so much and was very
instrumental in your election
in 2005 and 2011 and hold noregret for my decision. My
love for you, couple with the
fact that my daughter shares
the same birthday with you,
we decided to name her in
her honor, Mr. Mansaray
emphasized.
He thanked President Sirleaf
for accepting to perform the
naming ceremony and for
sharing the same name with
their beloved and cherished
daughter.
SINOEANS WANT UNCONDITIONAL
CLEARANCE FOR TEAHJAYSSTEWARDSHIP
The Former Secretary General of Dugbe River Union of
Liberia, Mr. Aaron J. Manneh has congratulated Sinoe
County Senator-Elect Hon. J. Milton Teahjay for his
preferment to the countys higher post in the rst branch
of government, while urging also him to ensure complete and
unconditional clearance for his stewardship in Sinoe County.
The prominent Sinoean told his Senator-elect Hon. J.Milton
Teahjay that the Sinoe County citizens and residents have chosen
him, amongst others to mainly help bring about sustainable peace
and unity, infrastructural, social, economic, political development
and growth in the county.
He urged Hon. Teahjay to strive to begin clearing his name of
corrupt charges levied against him as Superintendent of Sinoe
County and also prioritize the supreme interests of Sinoe County
instead of further enriching himself as business as usual.
Mr. Manneh, a former Assistant Minister for Administration at
the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said he was joining his voice with
those citizens of Sinoe who are expressing reservations on your
senatorial win in Sinoe County in the midst of public cries of an
alleged indictment of county development funds hanging over
your head.
Mr. Manneh, a former Liberia National Police Ofcer observed
that those who seek the high ofce of the county as senator and
Superintendent must be free of all blemishes and their recordsmust not be tainted.
The people of Sinoe deserved better than electing you in the midst
of controversial of nancial improprieties. I am equally calling
on you sir, to ensure that there is complete and unconditional
clearance of your stewardship as former Superintendent of
Sinoe County, averred Mr. Manneh who is eyeing the post of
Superintendent of Sinoe County.
He further urged Mr. Teahjah to do an honorable thing for himself
and all democratic minded individual of Sinoe County and the
world to free himself of such alleged indictment charges prior to
taking seat to that distinguished body of the Honorable Members
of the Liberian Senate.
Mr. Manneh observed that Mr. Milton Teahjah has fallen short
of the glory of the good elements of democracy which point to
accountability and transparency in government and so he cannot
be honored as senator until he seeks legal remedy to clear himself
of those charges and to remove such negative clouds.
According him, the slogan "you kill my pa or ma I will votefor you" cannot hold water in Sinoe County, adding that those
responsible for keeping the County under-development while
developing their status and farms against the overall development
goal of all sectors of the county must be opposed.
The former Minister said that this cannot and must not work
in Sinoe County this time around because such behaviors have
been contributing largely to the backwardness of the county for
decades on the part of the past and current leaders who always in
the habit of SIGNING NO to the development of Sinoe County.
SENATORIAL ELECTION BRIEFING
Monrovia
The Board of
Commissioners of the
National Elections
Commission (NEC)
led by its Chairman, Cllr.
Jerome Kokoyah recently paid
a special visit to President
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
According to an ExecutiveMansion release, the visit was
aimed at brieng the Liberian
President on the outcome of
the 2014 Special Senatorial
Election and to formally
present to her the results. The
meeting took place in the
temporary ofce of President
Sirleaf at the Foreign Ministry
on Tuesday, December 30.
Chairman Kokoyah was
accompanied by NECs
Co-chair Sarah Toe,
Commissioners Jonathan
Weedor, Davidetta Brown
Lassana, Sam Joe and the
Executive Director, Lamin
Leigh.
The NEC Chairman, on behalfof his colleagues, thanked
President Sirleaf for accepting
to meet with the Board of
Commissioners. He later
briefed her on the overall
electoral process and formally
presented the outcome of
the elections. Cllr. Kokoyah
stressed that the NEC was
pleased and satised with
governments protection
of the independence of the
Commission.
Madam President, let me
personally thank you for
respecting and protecting the
independence of the National
Election Commission. You
promised just that when youappointed me along with
other Commissioners and I
am pleased that you kept your
word. You absolutely respected
our independence and there
was no interference. This is a
real boost to our democracy
and we owe it to you and
the Government of Liberia,
Chairman Kokoyah said.
He commended the Ministries
of Finance and Development
Planning, Health, Justice and
the various security parastatals
for the various roles they
played in the conduct of a free,
fair, transparent, safe, peaceful,
credible and successful
election.
In response, President Sirleaf
thanked the NEC for efciently
and effectively managing the
Special Senatorial Election
process.
The Liberian leader expressed
serious concern about the low
voter turnout and stressed that
government was still trying to
nd out what was responsible.
She stressed that it was
important for the NEC to do
a critical reection on the
process and nd out what
could be done much better next
time especially as the country
moves toward the general and
presidential elections in 2017.
My government remains
committed to giving the
NEC its independence and to
completely avoid interference
in any form and kind. I am
also glad that the NEC could
basically conduct the 2014Special Senatorial Elections
on its own without the usual
deeply involved international
partners. This is a reection
of growth and maturity of our
democracy and real hope for
the future, she stressed.
NECs Board of Commissioners Pay Special Visit to President Sirleaf;Presents Final Results of the 2014 Special Senatorial Election
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FRONTPAGE
NEWS EXTRA
BELGIUM LIBERIAN-BASED GROUPIDENTIFIES WITH NEEDY ORPHANS
T
hirty orphans began
their New Year's Day
with smiles when they
became beneciariesof a supply of assorted food and
non-food items and cash from
the United Liberia Association inBelgium (ULAB).
The Belgium based Liberian
association, through its
Coordinator Gertrude A.
Kronyahn, on Thursday
delivered the supplies that
included several bags of rice,our, sugar, and gallons of oil,
boxes of quaker oats, butter,
clorax, and other disinfectants,
among others, to the Love A
Child Orphanage Home locatedon the Robertseld Highway
outside Monrovia.
Ms Kronyanh said the donationwas the group's noble gesture
towards the needy children of
Liberia which ULAB hopes and
prays to continue.
"Ebola has tested the love
and strength of West Africa
and Liberia; therefore, it isincumbent upon us to pick the
rst stone in rebuilding this
nation for the betterment of our
people, particularly the children
of this nation Liberia", she statedin her brief remarks.
She then called on other
Liberians, irrespective of their
locations, to stand in solidarity
with each other, adding, "Weshould work tirelessly to ensure
that our peace is strengthened by
our actions."Both Mr Albert Wreh and Mrs.
Rebecca Wreh, founders of the
orphanage, thanked and praised
ULAB for their continual support
to her group as she received the
donated items and cash. "God
will continue to bless the workof your hands", they stated.
The presentation is ULAB
Christmas, New Year and Ebola
donation to the orphanage home
and is the second successive timethe group has identied with the
orphanage.Teta Kollie who is the rst
registered orphan of the home,
on behalf of all the orphans,
prayed God's replenishment of
the resources used in double-
fold.
Earlier, Isaac Yeah, also basedin Europe who accompanied
Ms. Kronyanh to the donation
ceremony, rained praises on Mrs.
Wreh for the good manner in
which she continues to maintain
the orphanage with specic
emphasis on the impressivehygienic condition of the
facilities of the orphanage.
He also stressed the need
for Liberians the world over
to replicate similar gestures
towards the needy in the country,
particularly during this time ofthe Ebola crisis in Liberia.
The Love A Child Orphanage
is one of the well known
orphanages in the country that
has been catering to dozens of
orphans since its establishmentin 1998.
MAKING MOVIES IN RURAL LIBERIAFRONT
PAGE
LIFESTYLE
When Archie C. Weah, a
student of A.M.E.U left
Monrovia for Yekepa,he carried with him one
dreamrecruit youths and start a movie
production companythat was in January
2014. Barely one year after his arrival in
Yekepa (Yollywood), Archies dreams
have started to unfold. Archida Movie
Production and Entertainment Grouphas been formed, and already the group
has two movies to its credit. Thanks to
a group of dedicated youths in Yekepa,
the chanced meeting with ArcelorMittal
Resident Communications Manager, Jerry
Mwagbe, and a year of hard work. the group ison its way to create a niche for itself in Liberias
evolving movie industry.
Archie Weah had starred in some local movies
and had some years of experience acting and co-
directing some short lms. At the beginning of
2014, I felt the need to be more adventurous, and
so I decided to go to Yekepa and test the waters.Shortly after his arrival in Yekepa, the rst task
at hand was to recruit would be actors. It was a
tough job recruiting personnel, because many of
the youths who were willing to join the effort had
no acting experience or training. Excited by the
chance to be part of a movie, the rst meeting was
held on March 15 with 12 persons in attendance.Archies initial efforts were scaffolded, when
Jerry Mwagbe, a manager at ArcelorMittal andpatron of the arts visited the groups rehearsal.
After watching the group rehearsed, he pledged
his support and started working with the group.
Shortly thereafter, Mwagbe was unanimously
selected to serve as Interim President. Accordingto Mwagbe, the group lacked funds, equipment
and rehearsal space, thus making the task
herculean. In April, the group managed to raise
its own funds by securing a contract to dramatize
messages for ArcelorMittal Health and Safety
Day. With the assistance of Mwagbe, the group
successfully implemented the contract and gotsome seed money.
While the group wanted to move ahead with
the lming of its rst movie, The Heart is not
so Smart, Mwagbe differed and encouraged
the group to do more rehearsals, complete the
registration of the group and raise more funds
to cover production costs. This became a majorsource of disagreement between the group and
me. I felt they were not ready for production, but
the youths were determined and insisted. So, I
decided to give in.
The equipment and logistics were major
challenges. There was no nancial support for
the set design and costumes, and the recruitedactors were not delivering. Against these odds,
lming for Heart is not so Smart began in June.
However, it became evidentthat some of the concerns the
President had raised made sense,
and the decision was made
to hold off the production of
Heart is not so Smart, whichwas an urban movie that dealt
with a universal theme and had
many nancial and logistical
requirements. Instead, the group
focused on producing Seghyi
Kingdom, which have a villagesetting and lesser nancial and
logistical requirements.
Seghyi Kingdom, is the story
of a kingdom in which evil
was the order of the day. The
kingdom had draconian laws that
targeted youths, and provided
no opportunities for youthdevelopment. As a result the
youths had constant running with
the elders and traditions of the
land. The major plot surrounds
the triumph of good (represented
by Pastor Mehn) over evil(represented by the age-old
traditions). The subplot of the
movie deals with the young
prince who also challenges
traditions by opting to nd
his own bride and refused the
princess his father had selectedfor him. The themetradition
vs. modernity comes alive in this
movie from various aspects.
The group admits that this
lm may not be a professional
production but represents a rst
drop in the bucket. The group iscalling on lm lovers and other
lovers of the arts to provide
any support by purchasing their
lms and donating professional
cameras and lighting. The group
is expected to release Heart is
not So Smart later this year.
Liberian Group Ready to turn Yekepa to Yollywood
Monrovia
President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf recently met
with Women SituationRoom of the 2014
Special Senatorial Elections and
shared information and reected
on the just ended electoralprocess, their role and ndings.
The delegation was led by the
head of the Women SituationRoom, Cllr. Yvette Chesson-
Wreh.
According to an Executive
Mansion release, President
Sirleaf thanked the Women
Situation Room for the service
rendered the country relative tothe electoral process and added
that their contribution was
crucial to the overall success of
the Special Senatorial Election.
She pointed out that the elections
may not have been perfect
due to the different issues andcircumstances but stressed that it
was held and was successful.President Sirleaf recognized
the rights of those who have
expressed grievances about
the process and hope that they
remain within the connes of thelaw.
We had a single woman
elected during the elections
and so we need to do more to
support women and enhance
their interest to participate and
support women candidates inelectoral processes. The year
2017 is crucial for women and
elections and the work to be done
must start now, she pointed out.
Speaking earlier, Cllr. Yvette
Chesson-Wreh briefed President
Sirleaf on the different activitiesof the Women Situation Room
during the just ended electoral
process. We engaged the
candidates, NEC ofcials,
preached peace messages,
denounced violence, sent out
Elections Observers and helpedaddress issues as they unfolded,
she informed the President.
Making interventions, other
members of the delegation lifted
issues such as the difculty of
some voters to locate voting
centers, late start of voting insome places, complaints from
some candidate about the process
as issues that must be corrected
in future elections. They frowned
on the low turnout of voters
which they put at 25percent andlow womens participation put atjust over 2 percent.
Key members of the delegation
included Sister Mary Laurene
Brown, Liberia Marketing
Associations President Lusu
Sloan, Madam Theresa Leigh
Sherman, Madam MiattaBeysolow, among others.
WOMEN SITUATION
ROOM ON 2014
SPECIAL SENATORIAL
ELECTION MEET WITH
PRESIDENT SIRLEAF
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Monrovia -
The just ended special
senatorial election
produced fteen
candidates but it was a
moody scene at the headquarterof the National Elections
commission; when three seats at
the certication of winners of the
program were seen empty due
to an order from the Supreme
Court on the certication of
three candidates based on
complaints led by their rivals inthe election.
According to the chairman of the
National Election commission,
Jerome Korkoya, the
commission received an order
from the chamber justice PhilipA.Z. Banks on grounds that the
certications of three senators
elect should not be done.
The program was intended
to certicate 15 senators, we
received the rst order at night
from the justice in chamberPhilip Banks and this morning
we received two more orders,
so we wouldnt certicate Cllr.
Varney Sherman of Grand Cape
Mount County, Morris Saytuma
of Bomi, and Jim Tornolah ofMargibi County, on the strength
of the order from the court
we will not be certicating
these senators, NEC regret the
inconveniences caused to them
and their families, but thats law
and we must live with it. Hesaid
In the contested counties,
Saytumah of the ruling Unity
Party was declared the winner
with 8,093 for 47.2% ahead of
incumbent Senator Lahai G.
Lansanah of NPP who has sofar got 6276 votes 36.6% of the
provisional vote cast.
In Grand Cape Mount County,
the ruling Unity Party candidate,
Varney G. Sherman captured
13,651 votes totaling 61.7%defeating Fodee Kromah of theCDC who won 3,431 votes for
15.5%, signaling the end for the
incumbent Abel M. Massalay of
NPP.
In Margibi, the incumbent
Senator Clarice Jah in Margibi
County bid the Senate farewellafter losing out to Womba Jim
Tornonlah of PUP who, after
100% precinct reporting won
7,893 votes for 30.5% ahead of
CDC candidate, Ansu Sonii with
6,640 votes 25.7%
Cllr. Korkoyah before awardingthe 12 candidates pointed out
elections have been seen as
trhe best means through which
change of leadership can be
effected in a democracy.
Elections are important because
it gives power to the people tochoose their leaders to make
decision on their behalf he
added.
The NEC Chairman said
the NEC has received
commendations from
international and local partnerson the peaceful conducting of
the special senatorial elections
under difcult circumstances.
the successful elections
could not have been possible
without the support and timely
provision of the needed fundingto commission and the NEC
is grateful to Government and
people of Liberia especially Hon.Amara Konneh and the Ministry
of Finance and Development
Planning for providing the
needed resources for theconduct of the elections, we
also commend our international
partners for their support.
He added that the NEC remains
committed and mindful of its
obligations and executing of its
mandate in conducting elections
including chieftaincy elections
as required under section 2.9(g)
of the New Elections law of
1986.
Voters turn out low
The head of the NEC consented
that the commission can not shy
from the fact that voter turnoutduring the elections was lessthan desired.
Cllr. Korkoya said even though
legislative and by-elections
are often marred by low voter
turnout, the commission will
begin to take necessary actions
to increase voter participationthrough the conduct of robust
Civic voter education activities
axcross the country to achieve
this the commission intends
to expand its civic education
campaign nationwide and calls
on government and partners tosupport its initiative.
It can be recalled the just ended
special senatorial elections had
a low voter turnout due to what
many voters said was due to
the poor performances of theirleaders.
Senators-elect Cautioned
Cllr. Korkoya said the NEC
certication to the candidates is a
testimony of the power that was
transferred to them by the peopleof Liberia when they went to the
polls on December 20, 2014.
The power that has been
entrusted to you by the people
comes with a great deal of
expectation and responsibility,
expectation to change their livingconditions by the laws you make
and the programs you undertake.
Responsibility in the sense that
each passing day you need to be
reminded that there are people
out there who are counting onyou to move their lives forward,you cannot afford to disappoint
their trust.
Names of those who were
certicated by the NEC include
Jewel Howard Taylor of Bong
County, Daniel Nateehn of
Gbarpolu, Johnathan Kaipay ofGrand Bassa County, Dennis
Marshall of Grand Gedeh, Albert
Chie of Grand Kru, Stephen
Zargo of Lofa Gbleh-bo Brown
of Maryland, George Weah of
Montsearrado, Prince Johnson of
Nimba Francis Paye of RivercessCommany Wesseh of River Gee
and Milton Teahjay of Sinoe
County.
The grounds of the NEC were
also seen with several supporters
and sympathizers of senatorsholding placards and womengroup jubilating in their cultural
style for the only female Senator
Jewel Howard Taylor.
The program brought together
several dignitaries including
Liberias Finance Minister
Amara Konneh, Vice PresidentAmbassador Joseph Boakai,
House Speaker Alex Tyler, and
Deputy Chief of mission of the
US Embassy Sheila Paskman
among others.
Also speaking at the program
Deputy Chief of mission of theUS Embassy, Sheila Paskman
said elections are the bedrock of
a nations democracy and free
and fair elections are the sign of
mature democracy.
The fact that the NEC and thepeople of Liberia can carry out afree and fair elections in a very
difcult time really speaks well
for Liberia as they walk the path
of democracy, let me also remind
that democracy is something that
we need to work on continuously
and its duty of every citizens totake responsibility of the wrong
NEC AWARDS 12 CANDIDATESLEAVING THREE IN COLD.....
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government and to make sure a
democracy stays alive, we havetremendous sign of the people of
Liberia
she added.
For their part, a representative of
the senators, Atty Jewel Howard
Taylor said though it was a
difcult year but the senators
commend the National ElectionsCommission for its work as it
was a great challenge for them.
We thanked the NEC for the
conducting of the elections with
their work it has proving that
they love Liberia and remain
committed in conducting a free,
fair, and transparent elections.She said
The Bong County Senator also
commended the campaign team
of the senators elect for working
with them for the victory.
Senator Howard also called on
those who did not win to accept
the results as the country havewon and not one Liberian.
For those who have lost Liberia
have not loss and the result
must be accepted, our priority
as senators is to the Republic
of Liberia, which is to work
together to ensure that the aims
and objective of the people cometo pass.
According to the Election laws
of Liberia, if a candidate is
aggrieved he or she has the rst
line of complaint, followed by
an appeal to the hearing ofcer
and then the NEC board. A
decision of the board can beput forth to the supreme court
if the complaining party is not
satised. However in this case,
the process was skipped to the
high court without going through
the required process.
The icing of certication ofthe three candidates is the rst
time in Liberias history that
elected ofcials have had their
certications iced.
Cllr. Theophillus Gould toldreporters after the ceremony that
Speaker Tyler was out of line toquestion the wisdom of the high
court regarding the placing of the
certication on hold. Surprised
at Tyler to question the wisdom
o fth supreme court. It puts him
in contempt of the supreme
court. He should be held incontempt because he has no
place to question the wisdom of
the supreme court. You cannot
question the wisdom of the
supreme court and Alex Tyler
is in the wrong and I am very
surprised.In late December, the Supreme
Court itself had distanced itself
from the political process when
in a 3-2 opinion marred by
dissent from two members of
the bench, Chief Justice Francis
Korkpor, opined that the courtis not a political branch, thus
the issue before this court is
political making it impossible
for the court to hear the petition.
"Wherefore and in view of the
foregoing, the majority of the
honorable Supreme Court benchhereby quashed and denied the
writ of the prohibition and the
stay order on the pending special
senatorial election is hereby
lifted.
Explained Chief Justice Korkpor:
"This court is not a politicalbranch and the issue before this
court is political and we cannothear this petition.
In a related development, Senator
elect and football legend George
Manneh Weah has ruled himself
out of the race for the Pro Temp,saying he is not opting to contest.
Im watching, observing and
whoever wins the pro temp will
be deserving and do the work of
the Liberian people.
According to legislative sources,
the Executive Mansion ispushing another friendly Senate
pro temp candidate in person of
Joseph Nagbe of Sinoe County.
Sources have hinted FPA that
senators who were considered
favorites including Cllr. Varney
Sherman, Senator Jewel H.Taylor and others have all
relinquished their ambitions
leaving the race between
Senators Nagbe and Armah J.
Jallah of Gbarpolu County.
One senior legislative sourceindicated that President Sirleaf is
in support of Senator Nagbe and
her action is creating uneasiness
amongst the senators with the
supporters of Senator Jallah
accusing her of interference in
the politics of the Legislature.Speaker Alex Tyler and Bomi
County Senator elect Morris
Saytumah are said to all be
lobbyists in the Senate pro Temp
race. Tyler, a long time ally to
Sherman is himself on the verge
of controversy with members ofthe lower house unhappy over
reports of bribery in the recently
Block 16 passage and what some
say is his alliance with Saytumah
and the executive to interfere in
the pro temp elections.
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It was more than an
elementary schoolboys
error when Jerome George
Korkoya mounted the
podium to deliver a statement
and certicate winners of thespecial senatorial elections on
January 3.
Before reading from his prepared
speech, Cllr. Korkoya, chairman
of the National Elections
Commission (NEC), announced
that Varney Sherman of GrandCape Mount, Morris Saytumah
of Bomi and Jim Tornolah of
Margibi Counties wouldnt be
certicated due to a stay order
from Supreme Court justice in
chamber Philip A. Z. Banks, III.
Cllr. Sherman didnt attendthe program while Tornolah
had to leave upon receiving
his writ and Cllr. Saytumah sat
next to Montserrado County
Representative Edwin Snowe
in the segment reserved for
lawmakers and invited guests.
Following that announcement,
Korkoya turned to his preparedtexts and began reading but there
was an air of silence when the
NEC boss couldnt nd page
three of his statement.
In the words of a renowned
stateswoman, Jeane Kirkpatrick,
a former United Statesambassador to the United Nation,
elections are the, elections are
the, he twice repeated while
desperately shufing the papers
to nd the connecting link at
a program broadcast live on
UNMIL Radio 91.5 FM andELBC 99.9 FM.
When it was obvious that the page
with the rest of the quotation was
missing, Korkoyah said: Who
caused this embarrassment.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am sorry
I cant nd page three of my
speech. Somebody took it from
the le. So Ill have to continuewithout page three.
Korkoyah was seemingly
embarrassed even as he read
from the remaining pages and
presented certicates to the 12
senators.
In bits and pieces of the speech,Korkoyah said NEC continues to
receive words of commendation
from Liberians and foreigners
for successfully and peacefully
conducting the elections under
difcult circumstances.
The successful conduct of thesenatorial election couldnt
have been possible without the
support and timely provision
of the needed funding to the
commission; for this, the
commission is grateful to
the government and people
of Liberia, particularly Hon.
Amara Konneh and the Ministryof Finance and Development
Planning family for providing
the needed funding to support the
electoral process, the outcome
for which we now celebrate.
The commission also wishes to
acknowledge the level of supportit received from its international
partners, including USAID,
UNMIL, EU, UNDP, ECOWAS,
AU and IFES. As we celebrate
the gains of the special senatorial
elections, the commission
remains mindful of its obligationto fully execute its mandate to
conduct all elections including
chieftaincy election as required
under section 2.9(g) of the new
elections law of 1986, he said.
Korkoyah then announcedattorney Nathan P. Garbie, NEC
director of programs, as head
of a technical committee that
will formulate the necessary
mechanisms for the conduct of
chieftaincy elections.
Planning to abort voters
apathy
He said voters turnout was less
than desired, which NEC cant
shy away, but announced plans toencourage voters participation.
Even though legislative and
by-elections are often marred
by low voter turnout, the
commission will begin to take
the necessary actions to increase
voter participation through theconduct of robust CVE [civic
and voter education] activities
across the country. To achieve
this, the commission intends
to expand its civic education
campaign nationwide and callson government and partners to
support this initiative, he added.
The peoples power
Turing to the senators-elect,
with two re-elected, Korkoyahreminded them that power is
inherent in the people.
The certicates we are
issuing to you today is a
testimony of the power that was
transferred to you by the peopleof Liberia when they went to thepolls on December 20, 2014. The
power that has been entrusted to
you by the people comes with
a great deal of expectation and
responsibility.
Expectation to change their
living conditions by the lawsyou make and the programs you
undertake. Responsibility in the
sense that each passing day you
need to be reminded that there
are people out there who are
counting on you to move their
lives forward. You cannot affordto disappoint their trust. I thank
you! he concluded.The highlight of the program
was neither comments from
Vice President Joseph Boakai,
who praised the growth andmaturity of democracy in Liberia
where losers openly concede
defeats and congratulate winners
nor Finance & Development
Planning Minister Amara
Konneh, who said Liberians
should be proud that the conductof the elections was nanced
by taxpayers money but it was
Korkoyas infamous schoolboys
error.
And it draws comparison to
James Fromoyan, who signed
letters he didnt proofread in therun-up to the November 8, 2011
run-off presidential election.The then NEC chairman
signed an October 25, 2011
communication to the Unity Party
and Congress for Democratic
Change (CDC), notifying themabout their qualication for the
run-off election but swapped the
gures they accumulated.
The situation, which reinforced
the CDCs claims of foul play in
the electoral process, led to the
dismissal of Bobby Livingstoneas director of outreach and public
affairs while deputy director
Nathan Mulbah was suspended
for six months without pay and
Fromoyan eventually resigned.
Interestingly, Fromoyan and his
two sons were in the conferencehall named in his honour when
Korkoyah was fumbling over his
speech.
It remains to be seen whether
Korkoya will shufe the pecking
order in his clerical staff in order
to save face on a disgustingembarrassment and blows the
nal whistle on the funny game
of speech tempering at NEC.
Danesius Marteh, [email protected]
Kennedy L. Yangian @frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781
Who causes Korkoya to be embarrassed at Saturdays certication program?
FRONTPAGE
POLITICS
FRONTPAGE
NEWS EXTRA
JAMES FROMOYAN IN REVERSE?
IOM CONSTRUCTS ETU IN THREE COUNTIESMonrovia-
The outbreak of the
deadly Ebola Virus
in the country and
attempt to ght it is
an effort that continues to be
exerted by the government and
its international partners.
As more experts from around
the world continues to arrive in
the country to help government
in this direction, another
international partner, called the
International Organization For
Immigration (IOM) says it is
also helping to ght the Ebola
Virus.
IOM was established in
1951 and is leading inter-
governmental organization in
the eld of migration.
The IOMs action on migration
health is organized around four
pillars, monitoring migration
health,enable conducive policy
and legal frameworks on
migration health, strengthen
migration friendly health
systems, facilitate partnership
networks and multi-country
frameworks on migration
health.
A day to the new year, the Chief
of Mission of IOMSortino
Salvatore told FrontPageafrica
that the organization is working
with other key partners
including WHO, Ministry
of Health, Armed Forces of
Liberia (AFL) United States
Department of Defense
to construct ETU in three
counties, Cape Mount, Bomi
and Grand Bassa Counties.
He stated that besides the
construction of ETUs the
organization is involved in
providing logistics as well as
training for the staff to manage
future ETUs in the country
In Grand Cape Mount Countywhere there have been reports
of new cases of Ebola,
Salvatore indicated that there is
still some hotspot in the county
that needs concentration.
There is still some hotspot in
Cape Mount, which requires
concentration, but we need
some level of awareness, said
Salvatore.
IOM Chief of Mission indicated
that the organization is working
with several communities in
the three counties as well as
health centers in order to ght
the virus and promised more
support in terms of logistics.
He stated that the reason
that the IOM is responding
to the Ebola crisis is due to
grave nature and the threat
the epidemic had posed to the
lives of Liberians and foreign
residents.
The IOM Chief of Missionsaid besides the Ebola ght the
organization would be working
with the government to tackle
child trafcking.
Also speaking to
FrontPageafrica, the Project
Coordinator of IOM, Andrew
Lind called on Liberians to
report to the nearest ETU
whenever they experiencesigns and symptoms of Ebola.
He stated that even if Liberia
is declared Ebola-free there
is a need to ensure that other
countries that borders the
country is also free to prevent
future outbreaks.
Our ultimate goal in working
in this direction is to ensure
that all our migration processes
are safe, Lind stated.
He praised Liberians for being
very receptive in their approach
and added the country is a great
place to work.
The IOM Project Coordinator
stated the best way to save thecountry from further spread of
the epidemic is for everyone
to abide by the preventive
measures.
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FrontpageMonday, January 5, 2015 Page 11
Christmas has come
and gone but it
came a bit early
for Redemption
Hospital and Island Clinic Ebola
Treatment Unit (ETU) in the
Borough of New Kru Town as
the New Kru Town Association
in the Americas (NKTAA) made
a big donation to the two health
facilities.
Redemption was given 22 bags
of rice (25 kilos) and seven
containers of cooking oil (thethree gallons) while Island
Clinic received 18 bags of rice
and ve containers of cooking
oil respectively.
On behalf of the New Kru Town
Association in the Americas,
they asked me to present this
Christmas gift of 22 bags of rice
and seven gallons of Argo oil
to the Redemption Hospital,
said Thomas Chie on behalf of
NKTAA president Eric Daniels
on December 23.
Responding, interim
administrator Dominic Rennie
thanked the NKTAA for the kind
gesture on behalf of the staff and
administration.
This is a clear indication thatthe New Kru Town Association
in the Americas has not
forgotten Redemption Hospital.
Redemption Hospital has been in
service for a very long time and
has been serving the people of
New Kru Town with the people
adjacent in other counties.
It is important that we all are
Liberians and we feel very proud
when people of such, who have
travelled far, will think about
us in this kind of difcult time.
We believe that this gesture is
something that everyone should
emulate. We want to remain
resolute to the services that we
are going to give to the people of
redemption.We feel as one family and
we believe that we should
continue this good practice.
So, the medical director, Dr.
Mohammed Sackor, is not
around this morning. He has
worked here for a very long
time as well. And I am sure if
he too was here he would have
rained praises on the people of
New Kru Town, said Rennie,
who promised to distribute the
rice to the employees as their
Christmas.
The Ebola virus disease, which
started in Voinjama, Lofa
County