TOP

STORIES

Aviation

pg 10

NOW
BOARDING

Flights To Rural Liberia, New

Carrier Launched

POLITICS

pg 7

BARNES IN
2017 PLAY

Former Ambassador to the United

States of America joins The
National Democratic Coalition

LAW & ORDER

pg 10

ATTEMPT TO

COMMIT MURDER
Dismissed EPS Officer
Darlington George
Finally Charged

FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com

VOL 9 NO.155

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015

PRICE L$40

AMID REPORT OF SHORTAGE, BIDDING SAGA, TRANSPORT

MINISTRY, CONTRACTOR SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

LIBERIAS LICENSE
PLATE WAHALA

The truth of the matter is, this doesn't happen to our foreign friends. They get an easy pass. How can a guy
whose bid was US$2.6 million, a full US$1.1 million more than my bid claim that he was cheated. He also claimed
that he already had license plates in the country along with an embossing press and would save GOL money, yet
he submitted such outrageous bid price. - Mr. Jeff Blibo, President, CEO, Union Strong Group(USG)

Transportation- pg. 6

CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA

MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES

LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR

BUYING

SELLING

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

L$87.00/US$1

L$88.00/US$1

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

L$87.00/US$1

L$88.00/US$1

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015

L$87.00/US$1

L$88.00/US$1

These are indicative rates based on results of daily surveys of the foreign exchange market
in Monrovia and its environs. The rates are collected from the Forex Bureaux and the
commercials banks. The rates are not set by the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Research, Policy and Planning Department, Central Bank Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia

Page 2 | Frontpage

FROM PAGE 1

Monday, October 5, 2015

Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monrovia
n the end, Mr. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan
stayed true to an earlier declaration made
in a FrontPageAfrica interview, that he does
not intend to sit on the sidelines when
the play for the 2017 presidential elections
commences.
On the tail end of the 70th session of the United
Nations General Assembly, the former student
leader and advocate who had been a staunch
supporter and campaigner for President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf, called it quits on his own terms,
in a carefully-worded statement signaling a man
determined to be a player in deciding the next
chapter of Liberias post-war political sojourn.
A RICOCHET OF SPECULATIONS

Consistent with the outcome of my reflection

and consultations, I made it unequivocally clear
about two years ago that I did not intend to be
inactive in the 2017 Presidential and General
Elections, which depending on how it pans
out, will determine whether our country will
progress or retrogress. I have reiterated and
re-emphasized this position in subsequent
speeches, interviews and public remarks, the
departing minister said.
The announcement was preceded by a ricochet
of speculations; Mr. Ngafuan would later admit
in a phone call to FrontPageAfrica, pushed the
timeline of his exit decision ahead of schedule.
Mr. Ngafuan dismissed suggestions of an
acrimonious exit with President Sirleaf, saying
that the decision came after a frank discussion
with President Sirleaf.
I have had a frank and cordial discussion
with President Sirleaf on the rationale of my
decision; and she has gracefully accepted my
resignation. On behalf of my family, friends, and
well-wishers, I extended to President Sirleaf
my deepest gratitude and appreciation for the
opportunity afforded me to serve my country
in the capacities of Budget Director, Minister of
Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean
of the Cabinet.
Mr. Ngafuan says he assured the President that,
to the extent consistent with law and to the
extent that it would be needed, he would remain

committed, as a patriotic citizen, to lending his

time, expertise and advice to the forward march
of Liberia.
After his discussions with the President,
FrontPageAfrica would later learned that both
Mr. Ngafuan and President Sirleaf had agreed to
hold off on making an announcement until both
of the returned home, in a bid to avoid having a
Foreign Minister quitting report in the aftermath
of the UNGA.
DEBUNKING ACRIMONIOUS EXIT CHATTERS

The minister when contacted Friday amid a

whirlwind of speculations, that he had submitted
a letter of resignation, asked that FPA hold off
on the report until Saturday evening but was
forced to issued a statement when the reports
and insinuations eclipsed his planned date of
an October 10 announcement which he and the
President had agreed on.
I began to receive calls that the report had
leaked and that radio stations were discussing
it. I immediately informed the President that
it was only prudent that I put out a statement
explaining the decision, the minister told
FrontPageAfrica early Saturday. But while Mr.
Ngafuan appeared to go to great length to dismiss
talk of an acrimonious exit, the speculations
about the whys continue to linger.
Some reports suggest developing strains between
the President and the departing minister and
some of her key lieutenants who sources say
have been eclipsing the ministers functions and
interfering in his ability to perform his job.
One report suggested that the President was
an unhappy that the minister arrived late
for number of sessions at the UNGA although
those reports have been rebuffed by photos
released by the Executive Mansion showing the
minister being seated along with Gender and
Development Minister Julia Duncan Cassell and
others showing him at the side of the President.
Others however point to a couple of diplomatic
snafus recently which saw the President
designating Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former
Finance Minister of Nigeria to represent her at
functions where the minister was present.
The minister is also said to have been on the

wrong side of long-time Sirleaf aide, Mary

Broh, Director General of the General Services
Agency(GSA). The two according to multiple
sources did not get along with Broh reportedly
questioning the ministers loyalty amid his
interest in 2017.
BOAKAI COMPLICATION VS. NGAFS 2017
AMBITION

But Mr. Ngafuan appears undeterred about his

2017 interests amid concerns among his peers
that it will undermine the candidacy of Vice
President Joseph Boakai whom Sirleaf has told
aides she intends to support as her possible
replacement when she leaves the stage.
I have therefore determined that my continued
service in the Government in the position of
Minister of Foreign Affairs will have the net
effect of legally making me politically inactive,
an outcome that conflicts with my intention for
the future. It is in light of the aforementioned,
coupled with my desire to keep my political
options open, that I have written the President
of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Mrs. Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf, tendering my resignation from
the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Liberia effective October 10, 2015.
Mr. Ngafuan appears to have already calculated
his play with an eye on the tapping into the
rugged political terrain in 2017 by making note
of provisions of an Act of Legislature Prescribing
a National Code of Conduct for All Public
Officials and Employees, stipulating that officials
appointed by the President of the Republic of
Liberia shall not engage in political activities,
canvass or contest for elected office, serve on
a campaign team of any political party, or the
campaign of any independent candidate.
PIVOTAL NEXT FEW MONTHS

The Act states: Wherein, any person in the

category stated in section 5.1 herein above,
desires to canvass or contest for an elective
public position, the following shall apply:
(a) Any Minister, Deputy Minister, DirectorGeneral, Managing Director and Superintendent
appointed by the President pursuant to article

56 (a) of the Constitution

and a Managing Director
appointed by a Board of
Directors, who desires to
contest for public elective
office shall resign said post
at least two (2) years prior
to the date of such public
elections. I must stress
that I do not concur fully
with some of the provisions
cited above; however, as a
law-abiding citizen, I do not
intend to disobey the law.
President Sirleaf recently
told party hierarchy that
she intends to put on her
campaign hat once more and
throw her weight behind VP
Boakai. Both Ngafuan and
the vice President hail from
the vote-rich Lofa County
and the coming months
leading to the presidential
and legislative elections
could prove pivotal to the
political futures of both Mr.
Ngafuan and VP Boakai.
Mr. Ngafuans name has
also been associated with
the opposition Congress
for Democratic Change
amid reports that he has
been making headways in
discussion with football
legend George Weah, the
political leader of the
opposition Congress for
Democratic Change who
is said to be courting Mr.
Ngafuan as a possible
running mate.
FORCING THE CODE OF
CONDUCT ISSUE

The
timing
for
the
ministers exit is also
drawing concerns from
many who say potential
voter fatigue of the ruling
party may put him and
virtually anyone with ties to
the ruling establishment, at
a disadvantage.
While many are critiquing
the minister for going
against
the
partys
establishment,
others
say he has brought the
controversial
Code
of
Conduct issue to the fore by
taking the lead and forcing
others officials with an eye
on the 2017 elections to
follow suit. According to the
Act, ministers, Managing
Directors, Ambassadors etc
must resign by October 10,
2015 if they plan to contest
in 2017. President Sirleaf,
on May 14, 2014 urged
officials eyeing political
offices to quit by the
stipulated date.
For Mr. Ngafuan who some
say may be biting off the
hand that has fed him and
elevated him to political
relevance, an entry into
the rugged political terrain
could complicate the ruling
partys quest to retain
power depending on how
much of a political edge
Mr. Ngafuan has on Vice
President Boakai in the
interchanging
dynamics
of the quest to succeed
President Sirleaf.

Monday, October 5, 2015

FROM PAGE 1

Frontpage

I DO NOT INTEND TO DISOBEY THE LAW:

Page 3

IN HIS OWN WORDS: NGAFUAN OUTLINES REASONS FOR LEAVING

country.

s our dear country braces itself for a democratic transition in 2018, I

have over the months been deeply reflecting on the challenges ahead
and what contributions I can possibly make to my country and its
future. I have been widely consulting on my future with family, friends
and well-wishers both at home and abroad. Consistent with the outcome of
my reflection and consultations, I made it unequivocally clear about two years
ago that I did not intend to be inactive in the 2017 Presidential and General
Elections, which depending on how it pans out, will determine whether our
country will progress or retrogress. I have reiterated and re-emphasized this
position in subsequent speeches, interviews and public remarks.
Additionally, I have taken keen note of provisions of an Act of Legislature
Prescribing a National Code of Conduct for All Public Officials and Employees,
especially Part V on Political Participation.The following provisions of the
Code of Conduct are of particular relevance:
5.1 All officials appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia shall not
a) engage in political activities, canvass or contest for elected office.

b)serve on a campaign team of any political party, or the campaign of any

independent candidate.
5.2 Wherein, any person in the category stated in section 5.1 herein above,
desires to canvass or contest for an elective public position, the following shall
apply:
a) Any Minister, Deputy Minister, Director-General, Managing Director and
Superintendent appointed by the President pursuant to article 56 (a) of the

Constitution and a Managing Director appointed by a Board of Directors, who

desires to contest for public elective office shall resign said post at least two
(2) years prior to the date of such public elections.
I must stress that I do not concur fully with some of the provisions cited above;
however, as a law-abiding citizen, I do not intend to disobey the law.

I have therefore determined that my continued service in the Government in

the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs will have the net effect of legally
making me politically inactive, an outcome that conflicts with my intention for
the future. It is in light of the aforementioned, coupled with my desire to keep
my political options open, that I have written the President of the Republic
of Liberia, H.E. Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, tendering my resignation from
the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia effective
October 10, 2015.
I have had a frank and cordial discussion with President Sirleaf on the
rationale of my decision; and she has gracefully accepted my resignation. On
behalf of my family, friends, and well-wishers, I extended to President Sirleaf
my deepest gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity afforded me to
serve my country in the capacities of Budget Director, Minister of Finance and
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet.

I have also assured the President that, to the extent consistent with law and to
the extent that it would be needed, I remain committed, as a patriotic citizen,
to lending my time, expertise and advice to the forward march of our dear

For nearly ten unbroken

years, even without a single
vacation break, I have had
the ennobling opportunity,
amidst numerous challenges,
of applying my heart, my
head, and my hands to the
forward march of my country.
Over these years and in my
various positions, I have also
been blessed to work with
many wonderful Liberians
in the Cabinet, in the three
branches of Government,
at the erstwhile Bureau of
the Budget, the erstwhile
Ministry of Finance, and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
I am immensely thankful to
all of them for all what we
were able to achieve working
together for our country and
our people. I also cherish
the contributions made
by
many
non-Liberians
representing
various
bilateral and multilateral
partners both at home and
abroad to the achievement of
numerous goals and targets
in the respective portfolios
I have held over the years in
government.
Lastly, but most importantly,
my appreciation goes to all
Liberians dispersed in the
fifteen counties across the
nation and in the Diaspora
whose ultimate interest it has
been my duty and my honor
to protect and advance in
Government.
As I embark on this new
phase of my life, I assure
all and sundry that I shall
continue to uphold the values
and principles that have
earned me their respect over
the years both out and within
government.

May the Good Lord shower

His bounteous blessings of
peace, unity and sustainable
progress upon our Nation.
Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan
MINISTER OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS

OTHER HIGH-PROFILE EXITS : A LOOK AT OTHER MORE RECENT MINISTERS TO DEPART THE UNITY PARTY-LED GOVERNMENT
CHRISTIANA TAH, FORMER
JUSTICE MINISTER

CHRISTIANA TAH, FORMER

JUSTICE MINISTER

The fiery minister of Justice

took her bow in October 2014
stating that she could not be
the Minister of Justice and not
supervise the operations of
the security agencies under
her department. The former
minister also cited her lack of
independence to investigate
allegations of fraud against
the National Security Agency,
declaring that it had become
unbearable to continue as
minister amid determination
to systemically undermine and
gut the portfolio of relevance
and effectiveness.

SAMUEL KOFI WOODS,

FORMER PUBLIC WORKS
MINISTER

Woods became the Minister

of Labor in 2006 and later
became Minister of Public
Works in 2009 following a
cabinet shake-up. Woods
called it quits in May 2013
to return to his advocacy
of social justice and human
rights. Woods was reportedly
unsettled over the issue
corruption
and
threats
against the media.

FLORENCE
FORMER
MINISTER

CHENOWETH,
AGRICULTURE

Chenoweth ended her second

in this position when President

Sirleafs office confirmed that

the president had accepted her
resignation although it wasnt
clear whether the Minister
was asked to resign or left on
her own. Chenoweth who was
appointed in 2009, endured
a turbulent six-year run as
Minister. Her appointment
immediately
resurrected
concerns about her previous
stint as Minister of Agriculture.
While serving in that capacity
in the government of President
William R. Tolbert, Chenoweth
in early 1979 made a proposal
to the cabinet for an increase
in the subsidized price of rice
from US$22 for a 100-pound
bag to US$26.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Page 4 | Frontpage

FrontPage COMMENTARY
EDITORIAL TOWARDS 2017
IMPLEMENTING
LIBERIAS CODE 2
OF CONDUCT
v

BY COUNSELOR WINSTON TUBMAN , Contributing writer

Departing Foreign Minister

Augustine Ngafuan Strikes
A Chord That EJS Must Enforce
LIBERIAS FOREIGN MINISTER, MR. AUGUSTINE
Ngafuan has set the tone for the 2017 presidential and
legislative elections by channeling a never-used act of
the national legislature that could set a precedent for
the upcoming political configuration play.
UNTIL NOW, the act since its passage and signing by the
President has been catching dust behind the walls of the
national legislature.
IN ANNOUNCING HIS DECISION to resign at the
weekend, Mr. Ngafuan declared that he has no
intentions of breaking the law and therefore was forced
to abide by the Act of Legislature Prescribing a National
Code of Conduct for All Public Officials and Employees,
especially Part V on Political Participation, particular
relating to their participation in elections.
SAID MR. NGAFUAN: I must stress that I do not concur
fully with some of the provisions cited above; however,
as a law-abiding citizen, I do not intend to disobey the
law. I have therefore determined that my continued
service in the Government in the position of Minister of
Foreign Affairs will have the net effect of legally making
me politically inactive, an outcome that conflicts
with my intention for the future. It is in light of the
aforementioned, coupled with my desire to keep my
political options open, that I have written the President
of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Mrs. Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, tendering my resignation from the position of
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia
effective October 10, 2015.
THE provisions of the Code of Conduct are of particular
relevance:
5.1 All officials appointed by the President of the
Republic of Liberia shall not
a) engage in political activities, canvass or contest for
elected office.
b)serve on a campaign team of any political party, or the
campaign of any independent candidate.
SECTION 5.2 STATES: Wherein, any person in the
category stated in section 5.1 herein above, desires
to canvass or contest for an elective public position,
the following shall apply: (a) Any Minister, Deputy
Minister, Director-General, Managing Director and
Superintendent appointed by the President pursuant
to article 56 (a) of the Constitution and a Managing
Director appointed by a Board of Directors, who desires
to contest for public elective office shall resign said post
at least two (2) years prior to the date of such public
elections.
MINISTER NGAFUANS DECISION and use of the code
of conduct will no doubt spur a wave of discussion and
discourse.
THIS IS THE PROBLEM with Liberia where officials
are quick to trumpet legislations but often slow to
implement.
WITH ALL OF its shortfalls, the Code of Conduct is an
important piece of legislation that requires a closer look
by those who are considering running for public office
in 2017. The Act is clear that all officials of government
MUST resign By October 10, 2015.
THIS PROVISION of the law (Section 5) is similar to
the USA Hatch's Act, which also requires officials of US

017, the year of general and presidential

elections in Liberia will mark two centuries
since the establishment of the American
Colonization Society which founded Liberia
in 1821. Because the Unification and Integration
policies pursued most notably by William V S
Tubman, Liberias eighteenth President still remain
indispensable for peace, security and prosperity in
Liberia, the ensuing elections present an historic
opportunity for Africas oldest republic to finally
realize the ideals for which it was founded: African
independence, unity, dignity, peace and prosperity.
The goal of Liberias founders was to create a great,
free, black African sovereign nation. But because they
refused to integrate Africas culture and people into
the new nation from the beginning, they failed to
achieve their intended objectives. Consequently, the
establishment of the envisioned powerful black nation
that excluded the indigenous people was fortunately
stunted. Nevertheless, their efforts spearhead Africas
march to independence and unity. At the same time,
left behind in America were the majority of the
transported Africans, whose continued suffering and
mistreatment stemming from racism empowered
them to make more perfect Americas founding
documents, thereby transforming the United States
into the worlds most powerful Democracy and
indispensable nation!
Endowed with a profusion of resources, itself a
macrocosm of the rich African continent, Liberias
challenge from its birth till today has been to develop
and share its vast riches equitably among all Liberians,
especially the majority. Thus, historically the countrys
most prosperous and peaceful periods coincided with
the more intense and focused effort by its rulers to
realize national unification and integration, while by
all possible means necessary developing the country.
For some Liberians, the resulting progress was
too slow and never enough; therefore, seeking
to accelerate development and bring about
transformational change, they provoked clashes and
civil war; uprooting and scattering inside the country
and abroad almost the entire population. Properties
worth billions of dollars were destroyed and citizens
in the hundreds of thousands slaughtered; throwing
the country back generations!
Thus, the bicentennial elections of 2017 afford Liberia
the opportunity for a fresh start. In this, Liberians
v

Government to resign when planning to contest. This is

why Hilary Clinton etc resigned.
MR. NGAFUAN HAS taken the lead and now it is time for
all including ministers, Managing Directors, Ambassadors
etc to resign by October 10, 2015 if they plan to contest
in 2017.
PRESIDENT SIRLEAF made it a point to tell everyone on
May 14, 2014 to RESIGN. To Sirleaf's credit, this was a
bold step and she must be credited for it.
THIS MUST MARK the beginning and end of POLITICAL
CORRUPTION in Liberia, where officials of Government
abuse their offices and public assets to advance their
personal political agenda.
PRESIDENT SIRLEAF MIGHT NOT have been able
to prosecute corrupt officials, but if she enforces
administratively Section 5 of the Code of Conduct, I
believe it could wipe out 75% of her lack of political will
to battle corruption and corrupt officials.
IT MAY BE too premature to be over optimistic and excited
about Sirleaf's actions and efforts on the corruption front,
but key stakeholders like former Auditor General John

must return to the tenants of Unification and

Integration where the ideals of one common Liberian
family, with the well-being, security and proper
education of all members of the society; especially
the young, must become again the indispensable
social contract between government and people! The
issues of impunity, war and economic crimes must
be resolved, if justice is to prevail, especially because
Liberians will be all the better for it and their country
will otherwise not be able to move forward!
Due to the auspiciousness of the 2017 political
campaigns, Liberians must reset the political
trajectory of their country, given that it has yet to
measure up to the ambitious hopes that sparked its
founding. Political parties must therefore go beyond
blandishing glittering material gifts and promises.
Instead politicians must provide a new vision and
plan for job creation, prosperity and economic growth
with development. In other words, they must teach
Liberians to fish, thus making them self-sufficient for
the long haul rather than rendering them dependent
on the government and others including outsiders for
daily sustenance.
Given their almost two centuries long history of
political interactions, Liberians know one and other
very well; whom to trust and whose word is as good as
their bond. Reliance on this kind of experience- based
trust is a better way for the electorates to go rather
than allowing themselves to be bought by politicians
boasting of what they have done or will do, since the
selling of votes is detrimental to democracy.
Winston Churchill famously said: Democracy is
the worst form of government except all the others
that have been tried. Even so, Democracy is not
self-executing but requires the input of the people
through the electoral process. One could engage as an
individual but, by grouping together in political parties
individually or in alliances, the people can act in unison
and thereby realize what the Liberian national anthem
asserts: in union strong success is sure! This is why;
pursuing the policy of Unification and Integration
through as many political parties as possible in 2017
is the best point of departure or course of action in
Liberian politics today, especially because it is a
work already in progress and which must continue
until racial discrimination and all other forms of
segregation have no place in Liberian law and life.

Morlu and others have pushed hard for this since 2006
and worked with Dr. Sawyer-led Governance Commission
to include this provision in the Code of Conduct and other
strong provisions in the PPCC Act and LACC Act. Section
31 (b) of the PPCC Act is the next one: "not later than
sixty (60) days from assuming responsibility and thirty
(30) days after leaving office, make a declaration of their
assets and liabilities in such form as the Commission may
determine and the declaration shall be updated annually
as well as whenever there is a substantial change in
assets and liabilities."
MINISTER NGAFUANs resignation and tone of his
departure must be followed by swift action by President
Sirleaf who must now follow up by ensuring the
enforcement of the Code of Conduct Section 5 together
with PPCC Act Section 131 (b). It would mark a great
start and show that Liberia is once again on the verge of
getting back to the basics and back in business, paving
the way to save millions of dollars in stolen money and
waste of public resources.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Frontpage

The Reader's Page

FrontPage

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB

COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE

MOCKERY: ELLEN
LETTER TO LEGISLATURE
ABOUT TRC REPORT

TQ Harris CEO at HV WoodGas Technology

Now that President Ellen Johnson has shown interest in
implementing the TRC recommendations, we stand ready
to give her our fullest support. As the original advocate for
the formation of a War Crimes Court for Liberia and a strong
supporter of the truth and reconciliation component of the
national healing process, it would be my pleasure and indeed an
honor to serve as the administrator of the TRC implementation
phase to ensure it is handled properly and in accordance
with international standards. For my time and services, I will
accept no compensation. Madam President, any further delay
in dealing with the TRC issue will only mean more suffering
for the Liberian people. We must act now and close this ugly
chapter in an otherwise impressive history. Let's Go! 231 77
011-0119 / 231 88 040-2479
Sarr Abdulai Vandi
Isn't she crafty, cunning, tricky and treacherous?

After deliberately debunking and refusing to implement the

TRC recommendations, which questioned and jeopardise her
2011 Presidential bid, she now disingenuously recommends
the implementation of the recommendations in the dying days
of her corrupt and incompetent governance, and illegitimate
rgime.
John Williams, Works at Unemployed
I think it would be an affront to the Liberian people and a
mockery of the international system if Ellen actually wrote
such a letter! The TRC Report was very clear on what to do
about stamping out impunity in Liberia! It recommended that
Ellen and others should have been banned from taking any
in political leadership for a number a years. Ellen and those
sanctioned deliberately disregarded the Recommendations
of the TRC. Regrettably, the Liberian people, unlike their
Burkinabe counterparts, lacked the courage to confront evil.
To add insult to injury, the international community remained
silent on the issue. In fact, Ellen was awarded a "Nobel Peace
Prize". This "Prize" was a slap in the face of the Liberian
people and convinced some to re-elect Ellen "because the
international community wants her". Some people argue
that "for the international community to support the TRC
Recommendation, the Liberian people should have led the
way". This is a lazy argument! Did the people of Sudan "lead the
way?" Did the people of Kenya lead the way?" Did the people of
Rwanda "lead the way" when one of their officials was arrested
for human rights violations while on a foreign trip? Ellen will
be completed two terms very soon. Then she has the nerves of
writing a letter to implement a TRC Recommendation that bans
people from politics while, when she herself should have been
disqualified long ago? Of course, the international community
can take whatever action it deems necessary to "assist the
Liberian people and discourage impunity". However, some
Liberians will also wonder "Had Prince Johnson, George Boley,
Alhaji Kromah etc become President in 2005, would it have
been the same way?" But the Liberian people are to blame!
Burkinabes have shown all of Africa that the people are the
custodians of their own destiny. Compaore was a darling of the
international community but they kicked him out and banned
his buddies from contesting the coming elections. When his
surrogates tried to crawl in, they put them in their place. When
ECOWAS tried to arrange a "sweetheart deal" for them, the
people refused. "As you make your bed, so shall you lie on it!"
Moses Harris, Works at Retired
Mr. Williams, we cannot blame the international community for
treating us the way it does; they do this because we (Liberians)
don't know what we want. My fellow Liberians, until we change
our thinking (our mindset), we will always be ruled by those
individuals with the get, grab and go (what's in it for me)
mentality. My people, if we continue to sell our birthrights,
we will continue, as a nation, to suffer. With most, if not all,
of our resources auctioned off by this government, the next
government will have a serious problem managing (meeting)
its affairs; yor jus wait, yor will ce what hard time is.

DISCLAIMER: The comments expressed here are

those of our online readers and bloggers and do no
represent the views of FrontPageAfrica

Page 5

Send your letters and comments to:

editor@frontpageafricaonline.com
YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!

A LOOK AT SECURITY AS
UNMIL DRAWDOWN (PART 1)
The Editor,

fter about ten (10) years of keeping

a fragile peace and spending millions
of dollars on security, I support the
drawdown of UNMIL but. The first most
needed situation that must be available for any
country to develop is security. As our country is on
a very slow pace of development due to the weak
security system even in the presence of UNMIL, we
need to consider security at the technical level. It
has been announced that the UNMIL drawdown
process will be completed in September of 2016.
I think a good security or security system is just not
the amount of equipment carried by strong and well
trained men, but the approach to major security
threats and the technical administration are
vital. The following definitions below will give an
insight on what a security system should be. Some
simplified definitions of the word security are:
a.
Things done to make people and places safe.
b.
The state of being protected or safe from harm.
c.
Measures taken to guard against espionage or
sabotage, crime, attack or escape.

Considering the definitions of security or security

system as stated above, I think all the definitions
must be properly implemented so that we can build
and keep a security system before and after the
departure of UNMIL. The government of Liberia and
UNMIL are not doing well to implement the first
definition of the word security as stated above.
The government of Liberia must always be in
the position to address the issues of protests or
demonstrations. The idea of preventive security is
better than defensive security. Over the years, our
government has not been able to address simple
issues from various concern groups, until they take
to the streets in protest or demonstration. Some
of those demonstrations that took place in the
past are : students demonstration for vacation job
payment protest, retired AFL benefits protest, AFL
widows benefit protest, former police officers and
dead police officers benefits protest, health workers
hazard benefits protest, dead health workers
benefits protest, private teachers hazard benefit

protest, former ATU benefit protest etc. I am not

discussing the legality of those claims that led to the
following protests but the ability of our leaders to
swiftly intervene to prevent security threats.
Our government has not been responsible enough
to quickly intervene to prevent those protests or
demonstrations. Sometimes prior to some of these
protests, there have been several consultations that
could not resolve little issues. It was alleged by one
former ATU officer that several meetings were held
and no result to prevent violence and protest as was
seen on September 28, 2015. The Government must
always be in position to frankly and professionally
resolve and prevent protest as UNMIL is drawing
down. It is a national security risk to have concern
groups protesting before their concerns are
addressed.
I have included the United Nations Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL) into this unfortunate security
situation because, they are expected to advice the
Government of Liberia on major security threats and
how to professionally implement security strategies
as the national security is mainly monitored by
them. I am therefore recommending that the
Government work on the following security threats:
a.
Resolve little things on the table to prevent
protest
b.
Sensitize the public against protests and
demonstrations
c.
Fight corruption, nepotism, tribalism
d.
Provision of quality education for the public
e.
Reduction of poverty
I am equally not calling on the public to make
unnecessary claims to our Government in the name
of protest or demonstration. I condemn such act
seriously. Bravo to the GOL and UNMIL for the ten
(10) years of peace. Liberia is good, getting better
and will
be the best
MARTIN M. TUMOE
martintumoe2g6@yahoo.com
0886552635/0777552635

EDITORIAL TEAM

Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666;

077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com;
rodney.sieh@FrontPageAfricaonline.com
Samwar S. Fallah, News Desk Chief, 0886-527
541, samwar.fallah@frontpageafricaonline.com
Gboko Stewart, Copy Editor 0886 484974
gboko.stewart@frontpageafricaonline.con
Danesius Marteh, Sports Editor, danesius.
marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886236528
James-Emmanuel D. Cole, Jr, Graphics Designer
& Layout Editor, echange4life@gmail.com;
0886 211 390, 0777 027 030
Henry Karmo, Reporter, henry.karmo@
frontpageafricaonline.com
Bettie Johnson, Reporter, , / betty.johnson@
frontpageafricaonline.com/0886971922

Al-varney Rogers, Reporter, al.rogers@

frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-304498
Kennedy L. Yangian, Reporter, kennedy.yangian@
frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781
A. Macaulay Sombai, Sports Reporter, macaulay.sombai@
FrontpageAfricaonline.com, 077217428
COUNTY NEWS TEAM
Grand Bassa, Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, 0777432042
Bong County, Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-484666
BUSINESS/ADVERTISING
Kadi Coleman Porte, 0886-304-178/ 0777832753,
advertise@frontpageafricaonline.com

Monday, October 5, 2015

Page 6 | Frontpage

AMID REPORT OF SHORTAGE, BIDDING SAGA, TRANSPORT

MINISTRY, CONTRACTOR SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

LIBERIAS LICENSE
PLATE WAHALA

Monrovia
ince the Ministry of
Transport in Liberia
unveiled what was
trumpeted as the new
and improved motor vehicle
license plates in May, a lot has
surfaced
Transport Minister Angela
Bush-Cassell told a news
briefing recently that the new
sets of plate are designed to
address a number of issues with
the existing plates including
coding that did not meet
standardized
requirements
for visibility and appearance
and design specifications
that lacked security features,
rendering the plates exposed
to duplication. She said for
Liberia to have been on par
with international transport
best practice, it was imperative
for the Ministry of Transport to
introduce the new improved
license plates.
The minister went on to say that
the new features, she indicated
that the plates are designed to
be retro-reflective so that they
have higher visibility at night
to also assist law enforcement
officers identify vehicles plying
the streets at night.
But critics have been quick
to pounce what many see as
lapses with the plates and
have taken the ministry to
task for not making sufficient
number of plates available
for the consumer market and
Union Strong, the company
contracted to ensure that a
sufficient number of plates are
on the market, has it self come
under scrutiny amid questions
the company has drifted
away from stipulations of the
agreement by printing the
plates outside Liberia when it
should be printed in Monrovia.
The company has also
been accused of lacking the
equipment that manufacturers
the license plates as stipulated
in the contract and has in
fact failed to use aluminum
materials to print the plates as
agreed but is instead using zinc.
Critics have also charged that
the plates are not being made
of retro-reflective sheeting
laminated on aluminum as per
the ministry specification.
In a bid to get to the
bottom of the controversy,
FrontPageAfrica has been
making inquiries from the
various parties involved to
ascertain a true picture and
get to the bottom of some of
the concerns being raised by
concerned parties and critics
alike
Mr. Jeff Blibo, President and
CEO of Union Strong, speaking
to FrontPageAfrica at the
weekend explained that both
manufacturer, J.R. Wald and
USG are in full compliance with
the specifications
Mr. Blbo also explained that
since the contract was signed,
his company has delivered
38,700 sets of automotive
plates and 12,200 motor cycle
plates to IBLL all of which were

Rodney D. Sieh, Rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com

airlifted at the cost of about

US$100,000.00. The Ministry
has only taken possession of
20,217 automotive plates for
disbursement. There remains
about 18,000 automotive
plates and all 12,200 motor
cycle plates still in the banks
vault, Mr. Blibo said.
Regarding reports that the
company is getting more
percentage at 60, against 40
for the government of Liberia,
Mr. Blibo said the report
is false.
The ministry of
Transport, his company, USG,
the Liberia Revenue Authority
and the IBLL are carrying out
the terms of the MOU with the
payment arrangement agreed
to that provides for daily
sweep of 60% of the fees to
GOL and 40% to USG.
Mr. Blibo lamented at how
Liberians are going to great
lengths to disparage one
another.
Blibo says negative reports
against USG are being driven
by Mr. John Youboty, who has
had the previous contract to
manufacture the plates for the
past fifteen years.
Said Mr. Blibo: The truth of
the matter is, this doesn't
happen to our foreign friends.
They get an easy pass. How can
a guy whose bid was US$2.6
million, a full US$1.1 million
more than my bid claim that he
was cheated. He also claimed
that he already had license
plates in the country along
with an embossing press and
would save GOL money, yet
he submitted such outrageous
bid price. Four companies
that submitted indication of
interest were pre-qualified
and short-listed for the bid. My
company, Union Strong Group
(USG), was selected by the bid
evaluation committee as the
most responsive lowest bidder.
Mr. Youboty's company was the
highest bidder.
Mr. Blibo dismissed claims
by Mr. Youboty and Mr. John
Gbeesay's that he enjoyed
special favors from Minister
Bush as completely false. I did
not know Minister Bush and
I have never met her prior to
the awarding of the contract to
Union Strong Group. I did not
meet any of the bid evaluation
committee members during
their evaluation. I was in the
US for the entire process. I

met Minister Bush for the first

time when I was invited to
the Ministry on December 19,
2014 to begin negotiation for
the contract. Their claim that
I am married to the Minister's
sister is total fabrication. My
wife is not a sister to Minister
Bush by blood line or adoption
nor do they belong to any
sisterly organization. One
person in GOL that knows
me personally and knows my
wife's family is Mary Broh. She
can verify this. My wife's father
was Filmore Robert Neal from
Cape Palmas. Her mother is
Jennie Mah-Neal. Her mother
and my father are from the
same quarter in Barclayville,
Grand Kru. My wife's older
brother was David Franklin
Neal, one of the 13 executed by
Doe. This is the nonsense they
took to the PPCC as the basis of
their case. As small as Liberia
is, finding evidence that
someone is related to another
person, should be the easiest
thing to prove. What a waste of
time and resources.
Mr. Blibo said from the time
he was invited for contract
negotiation, there has been
purposeful delays. From
December 19, 2014 to January
14, 2015, for one month, we
were negotiating the design
of the plate. The contract was
signed between Minister Bush
and I in January. The contract
was then sent to Justice and
Finance and it was in March
that I received the fully
executed contract signed by
all parties (MOT, USG, MOJ and
MOFDP). With the signing of
the contract, we immediately
began negotiation on the MOU
regarding the implementation
of the contract involving
MOT, USG, LRA, and IBLL
(international Bank). The MOU
specified the roles for each
entities. The custodianship
of the license plates fell to
IBLL as well as the collection
of the license plate fees and
disbursements of revenue to
GOL (60%) and USG (40%).
LRA provides oversight and
audit for the entire process
with the straight requirement
for daily reconciliation of
all revenues collected. MOT
handles the administration of
license plates enforcement,
registration and disbursement
to the public, GOL, State Owned

Enterprises, Diplomatic Corps

and UN and other missions.
USG is required to produce
the plates on the request,
order and demand of MOT.
All plates produced are to be
turned over to IBLL. All parties
are present for this exchange.
Plates requested by MOT for
disbursement are officially
requested and signed by 2
Authorities from MOT. Again,
all parties are present for this
exchange.
Blibo said before they could
conclude the financing for
the production of the plates
and begin the manufacturing
process,
Youbouty
and
Gbeesay, having lost their case
at the PPCC, filed a case against
MOT, USG and IBLL with the
Civil Law Court and further
succeeded in having the court
place a temporary injunction
on the process. Although
the temporary injunction
was in error since it was not
accompanied with a bond as
required, the judge allowed
it and would the judge would
later admit this error at the
hearing. This process caused
another month's delay, Blibo
lamented.
Blibo said his company did not
begin executing the contract in
earnest until the end of April.
Meanwhile, he added, the
Ministry of Transport began
the collection for the license
plate fees in January 2015
under the old arrangement
with Ecobank. Faced with this
delay, Blibo said, the Minister
was now under pressure to
produce the plates. That
pressure was transferred to us.
Even at this time, there were
still numerous changes been
made to the plate designs and
additional categories were
been added. We appealed
to our manufacturer to
get limited quantities into
production on request of MOT.
Blibo said the Minister
requested that USG airlift the
first order of finished license
plates, 5,400 sets of auto
plates and 1,800 motor cycle
plates, which was brought in
at the end of May. Once the
first shipment was brought in,
subsequent partial shipments
had to be airlifted in order to
meet the public's demand. 13,
500 sets of finished auto plates
were airlifted in June. 19,800
sets of finished auto plates and
10,400 of finished motor cycle
plates were airlifted in August.
This has been costly for us to a
tune of US$100,000.00 for air
shipments alone.
Although the Minster had
appealed for the airlifting of
over half of the 75,000 sets
of finished auto plates and
20,000 motor cycle plates as
required by the contract, Blibo
said, by the end of August
there were still about 1/2 of
the plates delivered still sitting
in the IBLL's vault waiting to
be disbursed by the ministry
while the ministry's employees
were informing the public that

there were no plates in town.

Blibo said during a sweep
at the Ministry by the newly
appointed Minister of Land and
Rail, Madame Bropleh, plates
were found under the desks
of a number of the ministry's
employees responsible for the
disbursement of the plates.
Mr. Blibo says the remaining
36,300 sets of finished
auto license plates and
7,800 of motorcycle plates
will be completed by the
manufacturer on October 15.
Our intention is to send this
shipment by sea along with
the embossing machine. We,
however, just received a notice
from the ministry 2 days ago
to consider airlifting about
5,000 sets of finished auto
plates to meet anticipated
demand.
Meanwhile
the
specialized plates (plates
with special initials) have not
been addressed. We received
the first listing of specialized
plates
containing
1,771
entries on October 25 and a
revised listing on September
30 that reduced the entries
to 1,561. These listings are
not official. The license plate
design with the LB only allows
for 6 character spaces. Yet the
listing contains many entries
with more the 6 characters.
We have asked the ministry to
vet the entries and approve the
final listing. We await this to be
done.
Mr. Blibo explained that what
the Ministry has requested
was retro-reflective license
plates (auto and motor
cycle) although no plates
designs were provided. The
specifications for the retroreflective plates were provided
to all bidders, he says, adding
that the process encompasses
developing a plate design
including
graphics.
The
design and graphics are
then incorporated into the
retro-reflective
sheeting.
There are only 2 recognized
retro-reflective
sheeting
manufacturer in the US,
3M Corporation and Avery
Dennison. We presented the
options to the Ministry based
on the required lead time for
each sheeting manufacturer.
3M requires 6 to 8 weeks and
Avery Dennison 4 to 6 weeks.
The ministry chose Avery
Dennison for the shorter lead
time. After the Avery Dennison
has produced the sheeting,
it is sent to the license plate
manufacturer, JR Wald, where
the sheeting is applied to
the
aluminum
substrate
through a thermal process to
produce the finished blank
plates ( the plates without
the serialization). The next
step is to applied the serial
numbers by running the plates
through the embossing press
to produce the finished plates.
Blibo says the initial intent
was to produce the finished
blanks with JR Wald, the
manufacturer, then complete
the embossing process here
in Liberia with the embossing
press to be acquired for
this purpose. The tooling
equipment for the embossing
press are specifically designed
for the particular fonts letters, numbers and special
characters required for the
finished plates.
The USG head explained that
due to the delays caused
by the grievance and legal
process brought on by Youboty
and Gbeesay, the ministry
instructed USG to produce

the finished plates in order

to shorten the time. However,
with this option, he says, there
was no need for the embossing
press at the start of the process.
Mr. Blibo says to date there has
been no reliable estimates for
the number of automobiles
in Liberia. But that they have
come to the realization that
it is far more than the initial
75,000 sets as required in
the contract. I have been
appealing to the ministry
now for the last 3 months for
the authorization to produce
additional plates, blank plates.
We can then embossed the
plates in Liberia.
Blibo says his company is now
in the process of the embossing
press which will mean that the
plates will be manufactured in
Liberia. As part of the terms
of purchase, the manufacturer
offers a one year warranty.
The
manufacturer
also
requires that they install the
machine and provide training.
They require 2 personnel
for training/installation for
a minimum of 5 days that
would come to Liberia for this
purpose. The manufacturer
recommends that we set up
for full production to produce
several thousand to 10
thousand units to work out any
bug in the system.
Mr. Blibo says the machine
is produced in Germany and
the tooling dies in the US by
JR Wald. Against our better
judgement, the ministry is now
asking us to bring the machine
ahead of any authorization for
additional plates and given the
long lead time to produce the
sheeting and finished blanks.
We suspect that this is in
response to this staged crisis.
FrontPageAfrica also contacted
the plates manufacturers, J.R.
Wald, where an executive there
explained that the Liberia
automotive(6x12)
and
Motorcycle (4x7) are sized
per SAE(Society of Automotive
Engineers)standards
and
are are manufactured with
aluminum substrate .027
thick (Alloy 3105 H21) that
is laminated with Avery
Dennison L3050 Reflective
sheeting that has an embedded
security image/date code
Ensure Mark.
Mr. Michael Rodli, President.
Responsible for planning,
directing, and controlling
Company resources toward
the achievement of established
corporate objectives at J.R. Wald
explained that the Production
Process
entails
Digitally
Print (Thermal transfer) the
graphic backgrounds on rolls
of the base Reflective Sheeting.
The rolls of Sheeting and
coils of aluminum are taken
to the blanking process. In
this process the materials are
laminated together in coil
form and then indexed into
Blanking press with a custom
die. Individual blanks of the
finished size with mounting
holes are produced. These
blanks must then set on edge
for 24 hours to allow the
adhesive to cure.
A Hydraulic press with a
custom tooling mechanism is
then used emboss the variable
serial numbers and the rim of
the plate. Numeral coating is
the final step in the production
process. A liquid ink is applied
to the raised (embossed) serial
numbers and then through a
curing system.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Monrovias the time for

departure of the
United
Nations
Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) draws closer, the
question of whether the state
securities can maintain the
peace after and before the
2017 general and presidential
election is lingering.
Some say state security will
have a huge task in maintaining
peace and with the recent
violence from Ganta, Nimba
County it has created further
fears that the Liberia National
Police is incapacitated to
respond quickly to situations
that have the propensity of
jeopardizing the more than a
decade peace that Liberians
are enjoying.
With
support
from
international
partners,
Liberia looks to be training
more personnel to add up
the number as the country
prepares to take over security
but it is no doubt that there are
still loopholes in the security
sector which the government
is trying to address.
In an effort to beef up the
strength of national security
throughout the country, the
CEO and General Manager
of
the
Security
Expert
Guard Agency of Liberia
(SEGAL) and also the vice
president for administration
of the Association of Private

Frontpage

MAINTAINING PEACE AFTER UNMIL

PRIVATE SECURITY SEEKING COLLABORATION
Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, daffae82@gmail.com

Securities in Liberia, Momo

Cyrus is calling on the national
government to see reason in
collaborating with the private
securities in order to maintain
the peace which he says is still
fragile.
Speaking over the weekend to
reporters at his SEGAL office
in Sinkor, the SEGAL head
Cyrus said the strength of the
private security upbeats that
of the national security, saying
the private security needs
to collaborate with national
security to maintain the peace
after UNMIL leave.
According to the SEGAL boss
there are four private security
officers to one national
security officer in the country.
He however said looking at
the level of disparity in the
numbers it is a must that they
sit on the table with national
government.
This will only happen
when we sit on the table to
discuss intelligence sharing
methodology with national
government, Cyrus said.
According to Cyrus the public
lacks trust in state security
citing the recent incident in
Ganta, Nimba County as an
example.

You can believe with me

right now the citizens have
problem with the state
security especially the police.
Their trust is lacking, you can
see a clear example of what
happened in Ganta a few days
ago, when there is an incident,
instead of the citizens going
to the police for redress they
start to attack the police,
in that situation with the
collaboration of the private
securities which are in Nimba
county, I think the damage
would have been minimized,
the SEGAL boss said.
Looking at private security
officers level of training the
SEGAL head said there are
more officers in the private
security that have national
security background which he
says is 60 to 65 percent.
My own officers here at SEGAL,
most of them are ex-service
men, so we got some expertise
to show to government; the
main thing is for us to maintain
the peace, he said.
The SEGAL boss however
disclosed that the private
securities need to be part of the
joint security meeting because
for him the private securities
are in locations that the state

securities are not and based on

that he said whenever there is
a strange movement they the
private securities will be the
first to observe such situation.
There must be a chain of
command in that such incident
you must talk to the Defense
Minister or the Immigration
Commissioner. We need to
know what kind of information
to give to what kind of
commander depending on the
intelligence you got; this can
only happen when we sit at the
table with the law enforcement
agency, the SEGAL boss noted.
He continued: we in the
private sector need to do
our business, if there is any
instability in this country we
will not have to do business
with our partners we provide
security for, they will all leave
the country and that is going to
affect our business.
VERY PREPARED

The SEGAL boss however said

that the private securities are
prepare for the collaboration
with the national securities
which he says the association
of the private securities
has sent a document to the

BARNES IN 2017 PLAY

Former Ambassador to the United States of America joins The National Democratic Coalition

Monrovia mbassador Nathaniel

Barnes has officially
announced
that
he
has
taken
membership in the Free
Democratic Party (FDP), one
of the two national political
parties that is currently part
of the National Democratic
Coalition.
Ambassador Barnes stated:
Considering the proliferation
of
political
parties
in
our
fledgling
democracy,
rather than challenging the
decertification of my original
party, Liberia Destiny Party
(LDP) or seeking to establish
yet another political party, I
thought it wise to associate
myself with an existing
organization whose ideology,
goals and objectives are
extremely compatible with
my vision for Liberia as we
approach 2017.
Initially, seven political parties

Page 7

combined to organize a
formidable coalition (the NDC)
for effective participation in the
2011 presidential and general
elections. However, today the
NDC consists of the two parties
that were most determined to
build a lasting coalition: Free
Democratic Party and the New
DEAL Movement.
In addition to the shared view
that Liberian Political parties
could benefit from more
mergers, Ambassador Barnes
says he is impressed by the NDC
ideology of social democracy
which is the combination
of political freedom with
economic justice. According to
Ambassador Barnes, the role of
government is to empower the
people socially, politically and
economically so that they may
have an integral part to play in
their own destiny.
Warmly receiving Amb. Barns
into the NDC, Ciapha Saah
Gbollie, the Vice Chairman of

the NDC stated, we welcome

Ambassador
Barnes
into
our institution as he brings
tremendous value through his
experience, knowledge and
vision especially as reflected
in his covenant with the
people of Liberia. We look
forward to the contribution of
his leadership ability within
our ranks.
For his part, Alaric K Tokpa,
the chairman of the NDC
said he was receiving Amb.
Barnes with outstretched
arms as the NDC is striving to
bring together well meaning,
professional and nationalistic
Liberians in preparation for
the 2017 presidential and
legislative elections. Chairman
Tokpa also disclosed that the
NDC will participate.
Barnes was Minister of Finance
under President Charles Taylor
from 1999 to 2001. Running as
the LDP presidential candidate
in the 11 October 2005

elections, Barnes placed 12th

out of 22 candidates, receiving
1.0% of the vote.[2] From
2006 to 2008, he served as the
Permanent Representative of
Liberia to the United Nations,
and from 2008 to 2010 he
served as Ambassador to the
United States.[3]
Barnes graduated from High
School at the College of West
Africa before spending a term
at the University of Liberia.
He worked as an intern in
Liberia's
banking
system
before eventually going to the
United States for college. He
earned a degree in the United
States at Rider University in
1978 and an MBA from Pace
University in 1979.[1] On May
15, 2009, Barnes received an
honorary Doctorate of Laws
degree from Rider University
in Lawrenceville, NJ. Barnes
received his award from Dr.
Mordechai Rozanski, President
of the University.

national legislature in which

they are asking the national
legislature to intervene. He
also said that because most of
the private securities officers
are ex-soldiers they need to be
used in order to maintain the
peace.
Like I told you six-five percent
of our officers know about
arms so we got to be armed, it
is just a matter of the training
but they know it already. With
the issue in Ganta, Nimba
County, if the private security
and the national security were
coordinating or operating
together their presence was
going to deter event in Ganta
city, CEO Cyrus said.
Cyrus added that his security
firm has over three thousand
officers and has assigned men
almost
all part of the country.
NEED FOR TAX REDUCTION

Currently the Government of

Liberia is charging 10% as
tax and Cyrus is calling on the
government to recognize the
help that the private securities
are providing in the country by
reducing the tax rate.
As one of the major help, he
said that private securities
are constantly recruiting exsoldiers, some of whom were
always striking for benefit.
You can remember sometimes
ago
when the ex-soldiers
were in the streets demanding
for their money but as of
now they have some level of
empowerment, instead of
them organizing themselves to
protest they are busy executing
their private security jobs so
we need to be applauded in
that direction, the SEGAL CEO
said.
He asserted that most of the
contracts they normally sign
are not good financially but
they do so only to pay their
employees in line with the
labor laws after which the

percent that remains he said

is not a befitting income to
effectively run their securities
firms.
Cyrus is asking the government
to reduce the tax rate from ten
percent to five or six percent.
We businessmen got to
contribute to the country
revenue; let me make it clear
the private securities are not
asking for a total waver but
rather a reduction in taxes
because we and the foreign
company should not pay the
same ten percent because why
we are trying to develop our
country the foreigners will
carry the money outside, COE
Cyrus said.
EXTENSION
CLEARANCE

IN

TAX

The government of Liberia

requires tax clearance from
business operating in the
country on a quarterly basis
and Cyrus says the three
months allotted for the tax
clearance is too short.
He is calling on the government
to reconsider by increasing the
time for tax clearance from
three months to six months
noting that the bureaucracy is
so high and it takes up to one
month two weeks to acquire
the document, something he
noted is giving businesses hard
time
For anybody to do business
with you, you must complete
your tax clearance to show
that you are tax compliance.
We pay the money but to get a
tax clearance is a war, SEGAL
head concluded.
Meanwhile the SEGAL boss is
calling on the civil society and
other key state actors to see
how their proposed plan can
come to reality because for him
in the absence of peace there
cannot be a forward march for
Liberia.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Page 8 | Frontpage

STILL HOPEFUL
National Toiteirs Inc Factory building at Bernard Farm, Paynesville

CBL Governor Jones Predicts Future Economic Boom for Liberia

Monroviaespite criticisms
in some quarters
against
offering
micro-finance to
empower small businesses
across the country with
some Liberians squarely
saying that the loan offer is
politically motivated which
is yet to be established,
Central Bank Governor Mills
Jones remains hopeful that
prosperity lies ahead for the
countrys economy in the
wake of dooming hardship
currently facing the average
Liberian.
Governor Jones who is
expected to end his second
year tenure expected in
April 2016 just a year to
the countrys third post
war election has called on
Liberians not to lost hope as
a people and nation.
We have the facts about the
CBLS private sector initiative
but what is more interesting
is the story associated with
the facts that with vision and
commitment we can use the
resources even if not much,
to transform lives, that we do
not have to wait for others to
do for ourselves. But above
all, the story to tell is that
Liberia still has the chance to
live up to its promise, to be a
land of possibilities for all
said CBL Governor Jones.
The Central Bank Governor
spoke Friday when he served
as guest speaker at the 2nd
Anniversary of the of a local
business
establishment,
National
Toiletries
Inc
attended by cross section
of
Liberians
including
former National Investment

Kennedy L. Yangian kennedy.yangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 0777296781

A cross section of platform guests with Dr. Jones

Commission Chairman Dr.
Richard Tolbert, Liberia
Bank for Development and
Investment (LBDI) John
Davies.
The
National
Toiletries
INC owned by a Liberian
businessman
Fumba
Trawally was established in
2013 and is located in the
Bernard Farm Community in
Paynesville.
Touching on the entitys two
years existence Governor
Jones indicated to the cross
sections of Liberians who
gathered at the occasion that
Liberian owned business

has performed exceptionally

well and is trumpeting
the unfolding story of the
emergence of the new
Liberian economy.
He stated that the lives
of Liberians who are in
business or want to go into
business can be changed
by the successful story of
Trawally adding that the
circumstances of ones birth
should not be an eternal
chain of poverty.
Governor
Jones
lauded
that the successful story
of businessman Trawally
indicates that discipline, hard

work, setting high standards

for oneself, self-confidence
and being focused can make
the
difference
between
failure and success.
Outlining the CBL loans
initiative
despite
some
criticisms
and
many
commendations from the
locals who are benefiting,
Governor Jones stated that as
of the end of July 2015, 198
borrowers have benefited,
including 26 loans to gain
home ownership from the
National Housing Authority
(NHA).
Governor Jones continued

that the deposit with the

Afriland Bank has facilitated
lending to 47 farmers
in 10 counties and that
alluding some of these
individuals being prominent
personalities in the society
have chosen to condemn
the policies of the CBL in
the public even condemning
the micro-finance program
which makes available small
amounts of Liberian dollars
to poor cities, towns and
villages while receiving
thousands of United States
dollars at low interest loans.
Dr. Jones who has repeatedly

pleaded against divisive

politics while offering out
most of the micro- finance
loan in the country told the
gathering that those are
preaching politics of division
are on the losing side of
history.
Those who preach the
politics of division are on the
losing side of history, indeed,
we can and we will move
forward together as one
people, building a stronger,
more inclusive economy as
the basis for peace, stability
and democratic governance
said Dr. Jones.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Frontpage

Page 9

CBL Chief Of Staff Mr. Crayton O. Duncan, Dr. J. Mills Jones and Mr. Fumba Trawally

A cross section business people at the ceremony

A representative from US Embassy

Dr. J. Mills Jones

Mr. Fumba Trawally & Dr. Jones in the National Toileir factory

CBL Director of Administration Madam D. Sheba Brown and others at the ceremony

Former NIC Boss Richard Tolbert and others at ceremony

National Toiteirs employees at work

NOW BOARDING
AVIATION NEWS

Page 10 | Frontpage

Monday, October 5, 2015

Flights To Rural Liberia, New Carrier Launched

Monrovia ransport MINISTER,

Angela Cassell Bush
has commended the
management of the
Mission Aviation Fellowship
Liberia (MAF) for investing
in Liberias aviation sector by
providing alternative means of

transportation to rural areas of

the country ,particularly within
the south-eastern region. She
also disclosed plans underway
by
the
Government
to
establish 17 weather stations
across the country as well
as the establishment of the
Liberia Meteorology Center

LAW & ORDER

by early next year, which will

complement efforts to revive
domestic air transport in the
country. Your investment is
another means to alleviate
hardship as it provides option
for us to access the rural
communities, she stressed.
Mr. Max Gove, Special Project

Director of MAF, in opening

remarks, said the light
aircraft services launched
will indeed bring help to the
most vulnerable people in the
country. He said the inspiration
for the establishment of MAF
was conceived in 1945 by exservicemen from the United

Kingdom and the United States

of America who flew aircrafts
and brought destruction to
people during World War II.
He said the mission, which
officially began operation on
October 23, 1946, was now
shuttling in 25 countries with
Liberia as the 26th and the

first in Africa. Mission Aviation

Fellowship (MAF), a faithbased organization which
operates light aircraft services
to rural communities in several
countries around the World,
will also be providing medical
evacuation charter services
amongst others.
The Cessna Metallic Aircraft,
which is based at the James
Spriggs Payne Airstrip in
Sinkor, has a seating capacity
of up to 15 persons at a time
and will serve RIA, Greenville,
Sasstown, Grand Cess, Harper/
Cape Palmas, Foya, Voinjama,
Zwedru and Sarbo Sweaken at
the moment.
Also speaking during the
occasion, was the Managing
Director of the Liberia Airport
Authority, Hon. W.B. Freeman,
who lauded the group for the
investment and promised the
authoritys fullest support.
He said their investment in
the aviation industry opened
a gateway to boosting the
rehabilitation of airstrips in
rural Liberia to airlift patients
and provide disaster relief.

ATTEMPT TO COMMIT MURDER

P
Monroviaolice in Monrovia
has finally charged
former
Executive
Protection Service
Deputy Director Darlington
George
who
allegedly
brutalized Madam Esther
Glain three weeks ago and he
is expected to appear in court
today, Monday October 5.
George and his accomplice,
James Tamba have been
charged with multiple offices
including Criminal attempt
to commit murder and
aggravated assault and are
expected to appear before
the criminal court today.
Tamba is another EPS officer
assigned to the Vice President
of Liberia Joseph N. Boakai.
On Sunday September 13,
2015 at the Barnersville
Sports pitch, a lady, Esther
Glain of Barnersville Estate
was allegedly brutalized by
George and others.
Esther told FrontPageAfrica
that she was severely beaten
by George and his men.
Esther explained that on
the said date George and his
accomplice Tamba terribly
beat her after he (George)
missed her with his car
and she tried to inquire by
asking what was going on,
something she said prompted
him (George) to slap her in
the face.
According to her, she and her
friends were discussing after
watching a football match
when an SUV jeep ran so
close to them almost to the

Dismissed EPS Officer Darlington George Finally Charged

By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr (231886458910)-edwin.genoway@froontpageonline.com

point of ramming them.

I yelled and my friend and I
walked to the car, my friend
went to the passenger door
and I went to the driver door
and knocked the glass and
the driver who having to be
Darlington George brought
down his glasses and I asked
him do you want to kill us

with your car, and he insulted

me and said f you, Esther
narrated.
She continued I asked
him you know me before
you
insulting
me,
he
responded and said look
at this prostitute, get the
f from around my car, he
immediately slapped me with

his left hand pushed open

the car door on me and the
cane of Rox I was drinking
wasted, he got down and
step me in the chest, thats
when his bodyguard James
Tamba came down from the
car with Malta battle and
he hit me on the face with
the battle through the order

of Darlington George, she

explained.
She furthered narrated that
Mr. George grew furious and
struck her hard in the face,
kicked her to the ground and
ordered his men to join in.
When he was beating me,
one of his men used a Malta
bottle and smashed it on my

head and later stabbed me on

the jaw, she noted.
Esther said she was left
unconscious while George
and his men drove away and
she later found herself in a
local clinic where she was
treated.
The alleged flogging of Esther
has generated debate among
Liberians in and around
Monrovia. One of Esthers
friends, Rebecca Yeeyea
who witnessed the incident
expressed disappointment in
the security sector of Liberia.
Rebecca said it is evident that
most Liberians do not trust
this current security sector
of president Sirleaf because
of its habitual tendency of
abusing those it is claiming to
be protecting.
Public
confidence
is
lacking as a result of
bribery, extortion, coercion,
corruption, and humiliation.
Even the LNP is no longer
seen as an institution to fully
rely on for safety as political
interference
undermines
its overall mandate and
operations, it is no secret
that the LNP now is being
extremely
manipulated
and
micro-managed
by
external forces to carry
out unacceptable acts, she
expressed.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Frontpage

Ministry of Finance and Development Planning

Department of Administration
Administration Division
External Vacancy Announcement
Position Title: Assistant Director: Training & Development
Report To: Director of Human Resource
Directly Supervises: Performance Management, Training and Development
Department/Functional Relations:

Departments of Administration/Fiscal

Affairs/ Economic Management and Budget and Development Planning

External Relationships: Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of
Education
Purpose:

The Assistant Director of Training & Development is responsible for conducting needs
assessment and designing training modules for staff to improve their skills and knowledge.
Collaborate with training organizations to enhance the capacity of the staff in order to
achieve the mandate of the department. Responsible for conducting performance appraisal
of staff.
Key Results Area:
Capacity Building through Training & Development
Performance Evaluation

Duties
General Management Functions
Conducts training sessions for employees such as In-House Training (IHT) or outsource to
local or international training organizations.
Identifies training and development needs within MFDP through training needs
assessment and regular consultation with departmental and sectional heads. Develop an
evaluation form for trainees.
Submit a needs assessment report to the HR Director.
Submit annual report on training and development of staff.
Develop the training directory and training calendar.
Ensure that performance appraisals are conducted regularly and staff has opportunities for
training and development.
Technical Duties
Develop training policy and procedures for staff.
Facilitates the development and use of training modules to facilitate training delivery.
Develop and implement training evaluation system to assess training output, outcome and
performance.
Establish the criteria for evaluating training delivery
Organize training on a regular basis for MFDP employees to perform effectively on their
job.
Develop inventory/database on training institutions.
Keep Updated database and records on training institutions.
Inform Management on the benefits of training.
Organize and conduct employees orientation.
Liaise with Finance department to ensure that there are adequate funds for training.
Collaborate with the HR Director to design and implement career planning and
development systems and processes.
Supervisory Functions
Coordinate performance Management Process
Ensure staff development plan, training and capacity development budgets
Provide annual reports on employees development and performance

Education
Bachelors Degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration or related
field.
Work Experience
3-5 years experience in Human Resource management, Training and development or
related field.
Ability to design training modules
Knowledgeable in designing training evaluation forms
Report Writing
Other Requirements
Excellent Communication skills
Integrity & Accountability
Results Oriented
Detailed Oriented
Team Work and Cooperation
Interpersonal skills
Proven Planning and Organizing skills
Negotiation skills
Excellent Presentation skills
Sound decision making based on thorough analysis
Sound decision

Current Knowledge of people learning and growth in: Large institution, Understanding of
best practices in the field training and development specialist, Computer skills in Microsoft
office, Experience in managing learning and development of staff , Training facilitation &
administration , Financial and Budgetary Management, Influencing and negotiation skills,
Analytical Skills, Interpersonal relations, Reporting skills, People Management skills
Please send your application to the address below:
Office of the Assistant Minister for Administration
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP)
6th floor, MFDP Building
Broad Street, Monrovia Liberia
Alternatively, you can send your application to: mfdprecruitment@gmail.com
For Further information kindly contact: 088-662-4869/0776-953-884
Deadline for Submission is:
Date: October 9, 2015
Time: 12:00pm

Page 11

Republic of Liberia
Civil Service Agency
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)
Testing Consultant Firm
EOI NO: CSA/SG/TC/10/15
IDA GRANT ID: TF 010792
REQUEST OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
The government of Liberia (GOL) through the Civil Service Agency (CSA) has
received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) for
Strengthening Governance-Civil Service Reform Capacity Building Project
(CSRCBP). The Civil Service Agency intends to apply part of the proceeds
of this grant to eligible payments under the contract for hiring a Testing
Consultant Firm to develop new Civil Service Tests that will reflect Regional
and international Standards and meet the requirement of the CSA.

The CSA administers sixty-nine qualifying tests to individuals desirous of

entering the service. Most of these tests have been administered for more
than twenty years and need urgent revision to reflect the changing realities of
the social, economic and technological environment which the public service
has undergone since the development of these tests.
OBJECTIVES OF THIS CONSULTANCY, to:
Under take the revision of existing Civil Service Entrance Test that are
currently administered by the CSA,
Develop new test as necessary and,
Develop and execute a capacity building plan to train staff of the CSA to
undertake similar tasks in the future.

This assignment is estimated to cover approximately 100-staff day over 150

calendar days. The start date of the assignment will be no later than seven (7)
days upon the signing of the contract.

The Civil Service Agency now invites eligible Consulting Firms to indicate
their interest in providing this service. Interested Consultants must provide
information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services by
submitting their detailed information (brochures, past performance records,
references of similar assignments executed in the recent past). They must also
provide description of work both general and on similar assignment. Specific
experience on World Bank founded projects will be an added advantage.
The short listing criteria are:

Experience in undertaking similar assignments and number of years in

business;
Experience in working with the World Bank and/or Donor-funded Projects;
Technical and Managerial Organization of the firm;
Availability of competent staff with relevant qualification and experience to
undertake the assignment;
Experience developing civil service tests in the Sub-Sahara Africa Region.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the
World Banks Guidelines: Selection and employment of Consultants under
IBRD loans and IDA credits and grants by World Bank Borrowers (January
2011). (Consultant Guidelines), setting from the World Banks policy on
conflict of interest. Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of
a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications.
A Consultant firm will be selected with the procedures set out in the World
Banks Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank
Borrowers. Selection is based on the Consultants Qualification (CQS) as set
out in Consultant Guidelines (May 2014, Revised October 1, 2006, May 1,
2010 & January 2011).
Interested Consultants may obtain further information at the address below
during office hours from 09:00 and 17:00hours, Mondays to Fridays.

Expression of interest must be delivered in a written form clearly marked:

Ref: Testing Consultant of the CSRCBP, at the address below in person or
by mail or by email on or before 16 Friday, October at 17:00hours.
The Project Coordinator
Civil Service Reform and Capacity Building Project
Civil Service Agency
63 Carey Street, Monrovia, Liberia
Email:publicsectormodernizationcsa@gmail.com
Attention: The Project Coordinator-CSRCBP

Page 12 | Frontpage

Monday, October 5, 2015

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

MINISTRY OF HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE

P.O. BOX 10-9009
1000 MONROVIA 10, LIBERIA

The Liberian Bank for Development & Investment organized and operating under the Laws of the Republic of Liberia,
is seeking for qualified Liberians to fill the below vacancy. Duty station is at its Monrovia Offices. Successful candidates
should be willing to travel out of Monrovia.
All applications should be addressed to the Human Resource Department no later than October 12, 2015. All signed
applications should be sent to recruitment@lbdi.net. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for interview. For
additional information you may call: 0880 159 159.

TREASURY OFFICER (TRADING & INVESTMENT)

Job Title
Grade Level: P1-P3
Reports To Vice President Treasury

Job Purpose
- Assist in the undertaking of a wide range of treasury management activities, developing long-term financial
projections, investment strategies and financial risk analysis.
Key Duties
- Measure impact of interest and exchange rates on Banks investment portfolio;
- Report/Analyze major development on global financial markets that impact the Banks portfolio;
- Raise memo to effect changes on system in exchange market, Money markets, Government and other securities;
- Conduct gap analysis and advise appropriate investment action;
- Maintain daily dashboard, measure the Banks cost of funds and advise on pricing of credit products;
- Measure, monitor and report the Banks FX exposure and resolve all transaction discrepancies to ensure settlement
by close of day and within 24 hours;
- Analyze bank cash flow requirements and identify funds available for investment;
- Advise and implement the transfer of funds and securities to implement;
- Help prepare investment proposals and contracts;
- Assist with formulation and implementation of investment policies
- Perform portfolio analysis and prepare periodic performance reports
- Perform any other duties assigned by Management
Key Performance Indicators
- Timely response to the Banks day-to-day cash requirements;
- Quantum of successful deals handled per period;
- Timely updates of exchange rates in the operating system.
Education & Experience
- Bachelors degrees in economics, finance or accounting;
- Three (3) years work experience in treasury management with at least two (2) years in treasury trading environment;
Skills
- Goal oriented, extremely capable communicator;
- Good analytical skills;
- Computer skills in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word;
- Good Knowledge of financial products;
- Knowledge of regulatory and/or liquidity processes;
- Understanding of banking products-both assets and liabilities;
- Knowledge of investment principles and practices related to securities
- Understanding of cash management principles assets and liabilities;
- Ability to evaluate and interpret economic and financial information
- Capability to asses and apply economic and financial conditions to current investment decision
- Ability to negotiate the purchase and sale of investment instruments

The Liberian Bank for Development & Investment organized and operating under the Laws of the Republic
of Liberia, is seeking for qualified Liberians to fill the below vacancy. Duty station is at its Monrovia Offices.
Successful candidates should be willing to travel out of Monrovia.

All applications should be addressed to the Human Resource Department no later than October 12, 2015. All
signed applications should be sent to recruitment@lbdi.net. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for
interview. For additional information you may call: 0880 159 159.

TREASURY OFFICER (LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT)

Job Title
Grade Level P1-P3
Reports To Vice President/Treasury

Job Purpose
- To implement the resource mobilization initiatives of the Bank, proactively monitor and manage the Banks
liquidity portfolio.

KEY DUTIES
- Monitor and measure the liquidity position against established benchmark and report exceptions;
- Monitor and report the Banks daily inflow and outflow of cash;
- Maintain daily treasury dashboard;
- Implement the approved strategies to raise funds in domestic and international capital markets;
- Provide inputs into the monthly, quarterly and annual treasury business plan;
- Prepare daily and weekly Management reports on liquidity and rate outlook;
- Inform and provide recommendations to the Treasurer of significant developments, emerging opportunities
and challenges in areas of responsibilities;
- Carryout any other duties assigned by Supervisor/Management.
Key Performance Indicators

- Timely response to the Banks day-to-day cash requirements;

- Timely reporting of exceptions;
- Timeliness in identifying and establishing hedge positions and recommendation to mitigate risk position;
Education & Experience
- Bachelors degrees in economics, finance or accounting;
- Three (3) years work experience in treasury management with emphasis in liquidity management.
SKILLS
- Goal oriented, extremely capable communicator;
- Good analytical skills;
- Computer skills in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word;
- Good Knowledge of financial products;
- Knowledge of regulatory and/or liquidity processes;
- Understanding of banking products-both assets and liabilities;
- Understanding of issues within liquidity management and liquidity risk management

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

(Consulting Services Firms Selection)

Ebola Emergency Response Project, Loan No. /Credit No./Grant No.: D0080
Assignment title: technical assistant for overall management of the
implementation of the Health workforce program, ref. No. MOH/EERP/QCBS/002

The Government of the Republic of Liberia has received financing from the
World Bank toward the cost of the ebola emergency response project (EERP),
and intends to apply part of its proceeds for consulting services.
The consulting services (the Services) include the provision of technical,
managerial, and operational support to the Ministry of Health to implement and
monitor and evaluate activities needed to achieve the following results:
Available and accessible health workforce with the right capacities to meet the
needs;
Productive health workforce that performs and respond acceptably to needs;
Quality health workforce production and development of pipeline aligned to
prioritize health sector needs; and
Robust needs and evidence-based health workforce planning, management and
development.
The consultant will among others be required to:
1. Policies, plan and approaches: help develop and revise national policy,
standard, plan, coordination system, and approaches for the overall health
workforce program;
2. Monitoring, evaluation and implementation support: provide performance
monitoring of key components of the health workforce program;
3. Contract management and supervision: assist to procure (following World
Bank and other relevant procedure) and supervise workforce implementers;
4. Capacity building: provide hand-on capacity building support to the Central
Human Resource.
The detailed Terms Of Reference (TOR) for the Services is available on www.
mohsw.gov.lr. The assignment should commence as soon as possible and
will be for an initial 12 months, with po y of extension subject to satisfactory
performance and availability of funds.
The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Liberia now invites eligible consulting
firms (Consultants) to demonstrating that they have the required qualifications
and relevant experience to perform the Services. The short listing criteria are:
a) The consulting firm should be adequately experienced and active in the area
of Program Management, Health Workforce Production, Health Workforce Policy
Regulations, Monitoring and Evaluation, operational research.
b) Have at least (5) years experience providing technical assistance in
management and implementation of health workforce production.
c) A track record capacity building and south-south knowledge in transfers,
d) Experience in partnership with NGOs and Government. Previous collaboration
with the Ministry of Heath of the Republic of Liberia in a relevant capacity will be
an added advantage.
The attention of interested consultant is drawn to photograph 1.9 of the World
Banks Guidelines: Selection and employment of consultant under IBRD Loans
and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers January, 2011 and revised
July 2014 ( Consultant Guidelines), setting forth the World Banks Policy on
conflict of interest.
Consultants may associate with other firm in the form of a joint venture or a subconsultancy to enhance the qualifications.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and cost based
selection (QUCBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.
Further information including a detailed terms of reference can be obtained from
the PIU at the address below during office hours 0800 to 1600 hours.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below
(in person, or by mail or fax, or by E-mail) by, on or before October 9, 2015 at
1500 hours GMT.
Ministry of Health of the Republic Of Liberia
Attn: Mr. Jacob L.N. Wapoe, Director of Procurement
Oldest Congo Town, Tubman Boulevard
1000 Monrovian 10, Liberia
Tel. +231886 515 565
proumohsw@gmail.com

Monday, October 5, 2015

Frontpage

Page 13

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION)
Republic of Liberia
Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Project (IPFMRP)
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
Credit No.: IDA50260
Reference No.: IPFMRP/C/IC/95
Assignment Title: International Procurement Specialist
The Republic of Liberia has received Financing from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), the International Development Association (IDA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) toward the cost of an Integrated Public Financial
Management Reform Project (IPFMRP), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this financing for consulting services.
The consulting services (the Services) include the following:
The Procurement Specialist will be responsible for procurement of all goods, consulting services and other services for IPFMRP and for supervision and oversight of
contracts for the supply of goods and services until the goods (services) are delivered to their final destination as specified in the respective contracts. The Consultant
shall carry out procurement in accordance with the applicable procurement procedures set out in the Legal Agreement(s) of the projects; World Bank "Guidelines:
Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits" dated May 2004 (revised October 2006 and May 2010) and "Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants
by World Bank Borrowers" dated May 2004 (revised October 2006 and May 2010); the World Bank's Standard Bidding Documents (SBD) and Standard Request for
Proposals (SRFP).
More specifically, the work involves:
i. Update and arrange the publication of Specific Procurement Notices (SPN) in accordance with Bank Guidelines and specific requirements of the Grant Agreement.
ii. Draft and issue Bidding Documents (BD) and Request for Proposals (RFP) on the
basis of the Banks SBD and SRFP, and the Borrowers Standard Documents for
International Competitive Bidding (ICB), National Competitive Bidding (NCB) and Shopping acceptable to the Bank. The Procurement Specialist shall review TOR and
specifications for completeness, consistency and fairness, and if necessary suggest amendments.
iii. Receive, secure and open Bids/Proposals immediately after the deadline for
submission has passed in accordance with the procedures and bidding requirements
(instructions) of the BD and RFP. During the bidding period, the Procurement Specialist shall respond to questions from bidders and issue amendments to the
procurement documents in accordance with relevant clauses of the BD and RFP.
iv. Evaluate bids/proposals and make contract award recommendations
to the Client in accordance with the respective clauses and confidentiality requirements of the BD or RFP. Bid evaluation reports should be submitted using the forms
included in the SBDs as applicable. Upon contract award, the Procurement Specialist shall proceed to issue the notice of award to the winning contractor/supplier or
invite the highest ranked Consultant to negotiate as applicable. Upon signing a contract, the Procurement Specialist shall notify the bidders/consultants that have lost
about the final award decision.
v. Draft and process each contract for signature on the basis of any contract
finalization proceedings for goods and works or negotiated consultant
proposal. Except for contracts for the supply of certain goods and equipment,
the responsibility of the Procurement Specialist ceases with the signing and
delivery of each contract.
vi. Supervise contracts for the supply of goods and equipment in accordance with
the respective contract including the processing of payments, physical inspection and
testing, receipt and transfer of the goods to the Client and closing of respective contracts.
vii. Prepare the IPFMRP Procurement Plan and update it on a monthly basis or as
and when it becomes necessary.
viii. Perform other tasks as assigned by the Coordinator, Public Financial Management Reforms Coordination Unit.
The duration of the assignment is one year.

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning now invites eligible Individuals (Consultants) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested
Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The short listing
criteria are:
Professional purchasing and logistics qualification (CIPS) and Bachelor's degree, or a Master degree in Procurement, Business Administration, Social Sciences or
related discipline;
Minimum of eight (8) years of experience in public procurement practices and procedures;
Minimum of four (4) years of experience in handling, managing or overseeing international competitive procurement of World Bank funded or administered projects
Knowledge of Project Management, appropriate involvement and /or experience in similar projects in developing countries
Demonstrated computer skills, knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite preferred
Experience of similar assignments in the Region is highly preferred.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Banks Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA
Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers, January 2011 (Consultant Guidelines). A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection
method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1600 hours GMT. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to
the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 1700 hours GMT on October 15, 2015.
Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Project (IPFMRP)
Attn: Mr. Bernard Jappah, PFM Reforms Coordinator
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, 4th Floor
Broad and Mechlin Streets
Monrovia, Liberia
Tel: +231886-512-462
E-mail: bjappah@mfdp.gov.lr
Cc: iofei@mfdp.gov.lr

Page 14 | Frontpage

PAGE

WORLD NEWS

Monday, October 5, 2015

SOLID ARGUMENTS
RONT

What has Burkina's failed coup meant for the transition?

OFFICIAL: MULTIPLE BOMB BLASTS

IN NIGERIAN CAPITAL, 15 DEAD

LAGOS, Nigeria (AP)

ultiple bombs detonated in two locations of the
Nigerian capital, Abuja, killed at least 15 people,
the National Emergency Management Agency said
Saturday.
The explosions Friday night were in Nyanya and Kuje, both
satellite towns of Abuja, agency spokesman Sani Datti said in a
statement. He said 13 people died in the blast in Kuje and two
in Nyanya. At least 41 people were wounded, Datti said.
No group has claimed responsibility but the attack has
attributes of others by Boko Haram, the home-grown Islamic
extremist group. Boko Haram extremists have largely been
carrying out attacks in the country's northeast but occasionally
have attacked other towns.

INTERNATIONAL CHARITY'S AFGHAN

CLINIC BOMBED, 9 STAFF DEAD

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)

he international charity Doctors Without Borders said
nine local staffers were killed when its clinic came
under "sustained bombing" Saturday in the northern
Afghan city of Kunduz, where Afghan officials said
helicopter gunships had returned fire from Taliban sheltering
in the facility.
The group said the facility, which was treating more than 100
patients, came under attack at 2:10 a.m. (2140 GMT). The
charity did not say whether insurgents were present, and it was
not immediately clear whether the staffers were killed by the
Taliban, government or U.S. forces. The group said another 30
people were missing after the incident.

VATICAN SACKS GAY PRIEST AFTER

HIGHLY PUBLIC COMING OUT

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) he Vatican on Saturday dismissed a gay priest from his
Holy See job on the eve of a major Church meeting for
a highly public coming out that challenged the Roman
Catholic teaching that homosexual acts are a sin.
Monsignor Krzysztof Charamsa, a Polish theologian, had
worked at the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, the
Vatican's doctrinal arm, since 2003. He was also sacked from
his jobs teaching theology at pontifical universities in Rome.
Charamsa, 43, told Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper that
he was gay and had a partner in an interview published on
Saturday. The Church does not consider homosexuality a sin but
priests, whether heterosexual or gay, are meant to be celibate.

Dakar (AFP) failed coup that

shook Burkina Faso
less than a year after
Blaise Compaore's
regime was deposed has
actually boosted support for
the democratic transition, said
Rinaldo Depagne, west Africa
specialist at the International
Crisis Group.
The elite army force, the RSP,
that staged the September 17
coup has now disbanded, and
putsch leader General Gilbert
Diendere is now in police
custody, awaiting military trial.
While one of the putschists'
main demands was for
former regime members to
be allowed to run for office
in a slated general election, it
now appears more unlikely
than ever that a ban on their
participation will be lifted.
Has support for change been
strengthened by the failed
coup?
"Those who wanted to do
away with the remains of the
Compaore regime now have

solid arguments to do so,"

Depagne told AFP.
"The
abortive
coup
precipitated
the
RSP's
dissolution and has played into
the hands of those who wanted
to get rid of this regiment that
is loyal to Compaore."
For nearly three decades,
Compaore ruled Burkina with
an iron fist. He was deposed
by a popular uprising last
October and replaced by an
interim government mandated
with taking the landlocked
west African country forward
towards a democratic vote.
"The coup has sped up the end
of the Compaore regime. Its
last standing pillar -- the RSP
-- is dead now," Depagne said.
How will Compaore loyalists
be affected?
The leaders of Compaore's
CDP party -- which still has
representation in parliament
-- may now find themselves
in a difficult spot after failing
to publicly condemn the coup,
said the ICG's Depagne.
Djibrill Bassole, who was

foreign
minister
under
Compaore, was arrested two
weeks later on September 29.
Fourteen people including
Bassole have had their assets
frozen,
while
Diendere
himself has acknowledged
the attempted overthrow had
been a "mistake" that did not
enjoy popular backing.
Has the transition been given

organised crime, said in a

statement on its website that
its international corruption
unit arrested five people across
London.
The arrests were "part of an
investigation into suspected
bribery and money-laundering
offences", it added.
No further details were given
but Nigerian media reported
that Alison-Madueke was
granted bail but had her

passport seized and was

ordered to stay at her London
address.
The 59-year-old, a close
ally of Jonathan whose
administration was dogged
by allegations of corruption,
has faced accusations of graft
in the past but denied wrongdoing.
Buhari, who was elected on
an anti-corruption ticket, has
pledged to crack down on

a boost?
While the country's first
general election since the 2014
uprising had been planned
for October 11, the interim
administration has said the
vote will likely be pushed back
several weeks in the wake of
the coup chaos.
Fears of an immediate return
to despotic rule however seem
to have been dispelled -- at
least for now.
"We are back in the game of
politics, which has admittedly
been shaken up quite a lot"
partly by the coup, Depagne
said.
"The new president must
fully acknowledge the strong,
proud,
well-organised
civil society and its many
demands," he said, referring
to the movement that led the
October 2014 uprising that
unseated Compaore.
With problems as endemic as
Burkina Faso's however, the
activists' dreams may prove
tough to make true.
"In a country this poor, it won't
be easy to satisfy their calls
for social change," Depagne
warned.

NIGERIAN FORMER OIL MINISTER 'ARRESTED': REPORTS

Lagos (AFP) igeria's former oil

minister has been
arrested in London,
the BBC said on
Friday
quoting
unnamed
family members, after Britain's
National Crime Agency said
it had detained five people
over alleged international
corruption.
The identities and nationalities
of those held were not
disclosed but the broadcaster
said on its website that
relatives of Diezani AlisonMadueke confirmed she had
been arrested in the British
capital.
Alison-Madueke
was
Nigeria's
minister
of
petroleum resources from
2010 until earlier this year
when Muhammadu Buhari
defeated Goodluck Jonathan in
presidential polls.
She was the first woman to hold
the post in Nigeria -- Africa's
number one crude producer -and the first female president
of the global oil cartel OPEC.
Britain's
NCA,
which
investigates
serious
and

endemic fraud in government

and state-run agencies, in
particular in the oil sector.
He has said that "mindboggling" sums have been
stolen over the years and
promised to prosecute those
responsible.
But he has also said he
would not conduct a witchhunt against the former
administration.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Frontpage

Sports

Page 15

SPORTS

MANCHESTER CITY 6-1

NEWCASTLE: FIVE-GOAL
AGUERO STEALS THE SHOW

S
TORRENTIAL RAIN AND STORM

ergio Aguero was in

untouchable form in
front of goal, as the
Argentine smashed
five of Manchester City's
goals to down Newcastle
United 6-1 at the Etihad
stadium.
The
Argentine
forward
levelled
for
Manuel
Pellegrini's men just before
half-time, and hit four
more in a blistering start to
the second half to end the
Magpies' hopes of taking
something from the match.
Kevin De Bruyne rounded off
the scoring for the hosts with
a fine volley.

SEVILLA 2-1 BARCELONA:

CHAMPIONS SUFFER IN
MESSI'S ABSENCE

Puts ATS 8-Month-long Renovation in jeopardy

By: Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

aturdays torrential rainfall, marred by heavy storm, has put the ongoing
renovation of the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) into further jeopardy.
The ATS, which has been undergoing its fifth renovation in two years
since March, hosts the first leg 2018 World Cup qualifier between Liberia
and Guinea Bissau.
But the heavy storm has left the VIP and around VIP sections, including the
conference room, in a pool of water thereby casting doubt over the suitability of
holding spectators with the stadium wings uncovered.
The roof of the Nicom building also collapsed as LFA president Musa Bility and
some executive committee members, who had just completed an extraordinary
session at the PAs Rib house, toured the stadium.

The Musons Group Incorporated (MGI), located in the Rose Garden Plaza, have
been renovating the ATS at a cost of US$500,000 without any bidding in violation
of the threshold set by the Public Procurement and Concession Commissions
Regulation #003 on the schedule of thresholds.
But MGI chief executive officer and president Joe Mulbah (no relation to deceased
University of Liberia mass communications department chairman Joe Mulbah)
has told FrontPageAfrica that it will require at least US$1 million to meet the
internationally-accepted standard approved by Fifa.
Mulbah has, however, failed to give a copy of the contract to our reporter, referring
him to Bility, who has also referred him to MGI for all and any inquiries relating
to the renovation.
There will be details in our subsequent publications ahead of the match.

DEBBAH REVEALS

Why Sekou Jabateh-Oliseh was omitted from his squad

Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com

iberia head coach

James Salinsa Debbah
has revealed why
Sekou Jabateh-Oliseh
was dropped from the pending
2018 World Cup qualifiers with
Guinea Bissau.
The first leg takes place on
October 8 at the Antoinette
Tubman Stadium (ATS) with the
return leg slated for the multipurpose 20,000 seater Estdio
Nacional 24 de Setembro in
Bissau on October 13.
Addressing a news conference
on October 1, Debbah said he

couldnt pick Jabateh-Oliseh

because hes in Moldova to sign
a new contract.
Jabateh just left the country
for Moldova [to sign a new
contract]. We are looking at [the
possibility]. It is impossible for
him to come back in time [for the
games], said Debbah.
Asked what was the rationale
of selecting Jabateh-Oliseh for
the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations
qualifier with Tunisia, having
been clubless since Russias
CSKA Moscow ended his fiveyear deal on July 31, Debbah

said: He was in transition. He

wasnt clubless.
Jabateh-Oliseh was an unused
substitute in the 1-0 on
September 5 at the ATS.
Before his departure, he dodged a
media inquiry about his reported
transfer to Qatars Al Gharafa
Sports Club.
Jabateh-Oliseh said he will only
speak to UNMIL Radio sports
producer and presenter Martina
Brooks about his failed deal.
In late August, the local media
reported that Jabateh-Oliseh was
in Doha to finalize a deal but has

been in Monrovia since he was

invited by Debbah for the tie
with Tunisia.
Jabateh-Oliseh
had
been
unresponsive to phone calls and
text messages but finally picked
his call on September 25 at 21:03
GMT (9:03PM local time).
Who gave you my number?
I will only speak to Martina
Brooks of UNMIL Radio
because that my sister and I gave
her my number. I didnt share my
number with you. Thank you and
bye-bye, said Jabateh-Oliseh,
who later hanged-off.
He had shared a picture of
himself with team officials Fahad
Al Yahri and Hussein Al Yahri at
the Hamad international airport
with few journalists and friends,
which went wide on Facebook.
Fahad and Hussein had gone to
welcome Jabateh-Oliseh, who
was scheduled
to undergo a medical before
putting pen to paper ahead of the
new season, which kicked-off on
September 11.
Jabateh-Oliseh was to replace
Australias Mark Bresciano but it
is now evidently cleared that the
reported deal didnt materialize.
Al Gharafa have Congolese

striker Alain Dioko, Brazils

Anderson
Martins,
Mesud
Shojaei of Iran and Tunisias
Yassine Chikhaoui as foreign
players.
Chikhaoui, who moved from FC
Zurich of Switzerland, captained
Tunisia and was the latest player
to be unveiled on September 9,
four days after leaving Monrovia.
Neither is Jabateh-Oliseh listed
on the clubs official website,
algharafa.com, nor has he been
registered for the current season.
Jabateh-Oliseh joined CSKA
from Denmarks FC Midtjylland
in 2009 and had loan spells at
Greeces PAOK for 2012/2013
and 2013/2014 seasons and
Russias Kuban Krasnodar for
the half of the 2014/2015 season.
He last played a total of 12
competitive matches when
Kuban lost 1-0 away to CSKA
on match day 17, replacing
Romanias Gheorghe Bucur in
the 63rd minute on December 6,
2014.
In total, Jabateh-Oliseh played
for 739 minutes before he was
recalled from his loan deal
following the departure of Ivory
Coast Seydou Doumbia to AS
Roma in Italy in the January
transfer window.
According to transfermarket.
co.uk, Jabateh is valued at
US$1,082,865.
He last played for Liberia in a
2-0 defeat to Lesotho in a 2015
Africa Cup of Nations at the
Setsoto Stadium in Maseru on
June 1, 2014.

Lionel Messi-less
Barcelona lost for
the second time
in three league
games as they were stunned
2-1 by Sevilla on Saturday
afternoon.
Goals from Michael KrohnDehli and Vicente Iborra
in the space of six secondhalf minutes at the Ramon
Sanchez
Pizjuan
sealed
the win, with Neymar's
penalty
nothing
more
than a consolation for the
champions.
It leaves Luis Enrique with
work to do in the weeks and
months ahead as talisman
Messi recovers from the knee
injury he suffered early in
Barca's 2-1 win at home to
Las Palmas in their previous
league game.
BLATTER STANDS FIRM DESPITE
COCA COLA, VISA AND MCDONALD'S
DEMANDING RESIGNATION

epp Blatter insists

he will not resign
as Fifa president,
despite
coming
under fire from three of
the organisation's biggest
sponsors,
Coca
Cola,
McDonald's and Visa.
The corruption scandal
engulfing world football's
governing body last week
caught up with Blatter, as
criminal proceedings were
opened against him by Swiss
authorities on suspicion of
criminal mismanagement
and misappropriation.

Sports
TORRENTIAL

FrontPage
www.frontpageafricaonline.com

VOL 9 NO.155

MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2015

PRICE L$40

RAIN AND STORM

PUTS ATS 8-MONTH-LONG
RENOVATION IN JEOPARDY

see page 15

VISIT UNCLE ZEH'S LAUNDRY

& DRY CLEANING SERVICE
ON CROWN HILL, BROAD STREET

WHERE THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST

Call: 0775-149-376, 0775-149-161