Monday, January 05, 2015 Edition

8/10/2019 Monday, January 05, 2015 Edition

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Page 2 | Frontpage Monday, January 5, 2015

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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FrontpageMonday, January 5, 2015 Page 3

FrontPagev

v

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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5/16


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.


6/16


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


7/16


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


8/16


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.....

FRONTPAGE

POLITICS


9/16


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.


10/16

Page 10 |Frontpage Monday, January 5, 2015

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.


11/16


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

Documents

Monday, January 05, 2015 Edition