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MONROVIA Education
VOL 8 NO.640
MONDAY, JULY 21, 2014
see PG 2 - Story
see PG 8,9 & 10 - Interview
CENTRAL BANK OF LIBERIA
MARKET BUYING AND SELLING RATES
LIBERIAN DOLLARS PER US DOLLAR
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
THURSDAY, JULY10, 2014 L$91.00/US$1 L$92.00/US$1
BUYING SELLING
L$91.50/US$1 L$92.50/US$1
L$93.00/US$1 L$92.00/US$1
WEDNESDAY, JULY16, 2014
THURSDAY, JULY17, 2014
Politics pg.5
FIRST ROAD INTERVENTION
FIAMAH
RESIDENTS
SLAM

CHAIRMAN SOLO IN LIMELIGHT OVER
ALLEGED ROB SIRLEAF OFFERS
In fact it is the work of our detractors who want to see the party in disarray, we just
had teleconference with Ambassador Weah and Chairman Solo, we all spoke very well.
Mulbah Morlu Congress for Democratic Change
REMAIN
STEADFAST
AND FOCUS
-Defense Minister Samukai Urges
African Methodist Episcopal (AME)
Zion Academy High School

DOLLAR POLITICS
INFILTRATES CDC?
Page 2 |
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014
Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com; Wade C.L. Williams, wade.williams@frontpageafricaonline.com
Im a Liberian citizen, always has been
for many years. I travel on the passport,
voter registration card and everything
remains the same. Im very sensitive that
discussing peoples private paperwork
issues, of anybody including mine; of
anybody else in Liberia I dont think is a
fair representation and I shouldnt take a
stand on that.
Robert Alvin Sirleaf, Senatorial
Hopeful, Montserrado County
Monrovia
L
ooking to quell speculations about his purported American
citizenship, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleafs son, Robert
has for the frst time addressed the issue, declaring in a
no-holds-barred FrontPageAfrica interview that he is bona
fde Liberian citizen.
Said Sirleaf: My father was born and raised in Liberia and died a
Liberian citizen, my mother was born and raised in Liberia and is a
Liberian citizen. I was born and raised in Liberia and I am a Liberian
citizen by birth, by birthright, all the rights; voting registration card,
passport, traveled on such a passport.
The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization(BIN) was recently
mired in controversy after a purported leaked application said to
belong to Robert Sirleaf, seeking a change of immigration status went
viral on the social media Facebook.
The Robert Sirleaf documents included two pages of a letter dated
June 2010, purported to be written by Mr. Sirleaf stating that he is an
American citizen seeking a change of status in consonance with the
Alien and Naturalization Act of Liberia. The second is a form flled in
handwriting requesting an adjustment in immigration status.
Article 28 of the Liberian Constitution states that Any person, at
least one of whose parents was a citizen of Liberia at the time of the
Person's birth, shall be a citizen of Liberia; provided that any such
person shall upon reaching maturity renounce any other citizenship
acquired by virtue of one parent being a citizen of another country. No
citizen of the Republic shall be deprived of citizenship or nationality
except as provided by law; and no person shall be denied the right to
change citizenship or nationality.
In the aftermath of the controversy, BIN suggested that the Sirleaf
documents may have been doctored We have immediately ordered
a full scale investigation into these infringements which contravenes
the ethical value of the Institution, including, the Standard Operational
Procedures and the Code of Conduct section 15.0 that serves as a
sentry principle for the institution, and maintains the highest standard
of integrity.
Last week, BIN indefnitely suspended six personnel at the immigration
agency without salary for forgery, doctoring of Immigration related
documents, taking bribes and falsifcation of the Commissioners
signature.
The U.S. citizenship issue has been dogging not only Sirleaf but
football legend George Weah, who himself appears to be engulfed in
similar scrutiny. The U.S. embassy in Monrovia is steering clear from
the controversy. Sally Hodgson, Public Affairs Offcer, at the U.S.
Embassy in Monrovia told FrontPageAfrica last week: As a matter
of law and policy, we do not comment on citizenship or residency
status of individuals.
There have been calls in some quarters for the National Elections
Commission to disqualifed alleged U.S. citizens eyeing seats in the
upcoming senatorial races. Last week, Joey Kennedy, Public Affairs
Director at the National Elections Commission told FrontPageAfrica
that NEC has not received any offcial complaint from anyone
questioning the citizenship of any candidate in the senatorial race. In
both cases, verifcation has been a burning issue.
The assertions by Sirleaf, a former Chair of the National Oil Company
of Liberia, come less than a week after he accepted a petition to
contest the upcoming Montserrado County senatorial elections.
Pressed whether he had ever naturalized as an American citizen
and recently renounced his ties to America, Sirleaf said: There are
always speculations about what I did seventeen, eighteen, twenty
years ago; I dont think its any different. Right now, I am currently a
Liberian citizen.
The Sirleaf controversy took up steam again last week when yet
another document surfaced on social media indicating that he was
registered to vote in the U.S. elections and is listed as an Active
Democrat. Only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in U.S. elections.
Asked to comment on the controversy, Sirleaf explained: The
Internet is a very interesting place that I think youre very aware of,
people post all kinds of things, people say they have records of all
kinds of things and that is ok. I think people have a right to do that. I
think what youre refecting on is something that was seventeen years
ago. I think 1998 maybe 1995. Were in 2014, lots of things have
changed, Ive changed as a person. Passports for me are consistent
like the Liberian passport that I travel on. I would suspect this is
going to continue. Other things have opposed to the other week before
that had me flling out applications to the immigration. Certainly on
those applications I wouldnt misspell Monrovia, I wouldnt say I
live adjacent to Fish Market, I wouldnt say mothers name Madam
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Im sure people are going to put a lot of things
on the internet.
The issue of dual citizenship has been dominating discussions about
the upcoming senatorial elections. President Sirleaf recently fueled
fre on the issue when she acknowledged in an UNMIL Radio
interview that many offcials in her government hold both Liberia
and U.S. passports. U.S. Ambassador Deborah Malac was quoted
by the News Newspaper last week as saying that while the U.S. do
not comment on the issue of citizenship or residency status of any
individual, the U.S. is a country that recognizes dual citizenship. We
don't have the same kind of structures that the Constitution of Liberia
has, so the discussion of dual citizenship is an issue the United States
treats very differently."
Pressed as to whether there was a situation where he was at one point
an American who has since renounced his citizenship, Sirleaf said
he has always been a Liberian. Im a Liberian citizen, always has
been for many years. I travel on the passport, voter registration card
and everything remains the same. Im very sensitive that discussing
peoples private paperwork issues, of anybody including mine; of
anybody else in Liberia I dont think is a fair representation and I
shouldnt take a stand on that.
Asked whether he would be willing to present all relevant
documentation to prove his case of not being a U.S. citizen, Sirleaf
said he has already presented everything upfront. Weve presented
cards, weve presented our passport. Immigration has our fle for years
that we presented all the documents. Everything is fair and clear.
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014 Page 3
J. Yanqui Zaza, Jyanqui@aol.com, Contributing Writer
NOCALS $38 M: IN GOLS COFFER
OR PRESZ SIRLEAFS COFFER?
FrontPage
Commentary
COMMENTARY
O
n June 30, 2014, during a press conference, according to FrontPage Africa, Dr. Edwin McClain, chief executive
of the Liberian National Oil Company (NOCAL), took on critics of his boss, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
as well as NOCAL. He said that NOCAL is performing a super job, apparently, trying to counter critics such
as Dr. Christopher Neyor, who has accused President Sirleaf and NOCAL of siphoning money from NOCAL
to President Sirleafs coffer.
According to Frntpageafrica, Dr. McClain stated that NOCALs critics based their stories on falsehood. He even tried to
imply that NOCAL did not unlawfully spend $138 million dollars, although the Liberian 2012/2013 Budgetary Documents
indicated so. Additionally, he claimed that NOCAL is transparent, again, even though NOCALs revenue and expense
fgures are not reported for two consecutive fscal periods, 2013/14 and 2014/15, a violation of the 2009 PFM Law.
According to Frntpageafrica, Dr. McClain stated that NOCALs critics based their stories on falsehood. He even tried to
imply that NOCAL did not unlawfully spend $138 million dollars, although the Liberian 2012/2013 Budgetary Documents
indicated so. Additionally, he claimed that NOCAL is transparent, again, even though NOCALs revenue and expense
fgures are not reported for two consecutive fscal periods, 2013/14 and 2014/15, a violation of the 2009 PFM Law.
It was the fear of violating another law on transferring public money to personal coffer that made Dr. Neyor write an email
to President Sirleaf. Instead of receiving a badge of honor for disclosing an unlawful request, Dr. Neyor said President
Sirleaf dismissed him. The would-be unlawful act began when a presidential adviser asked Dr. Neyor, then chairman
and chief executive of the lucrative Liberia National Oil Company, to donate $2 million to the presidential campaign. He
declined to carry out the request. Not satisfed, he informed President Sirleaf in the presence of the Minister of Justice. As
a follow up, he wrote an email to President Sirleaf and reported his complaint.
In an unrelated article preceding Dr. Neyors series of allegations, I had asked whether the Liberian lawmaker did authorize
NOCAL to spend $138 million in fscal year 2012/13, which was about one-third (1/3) of the national budget. I also, asked
why President Sirleaf, through her economic adviser, did not include NOCALs revenue and expense fgures within the
national budget of the 2013/14 fscal years. The below 2014/15 budget is the offcial budget.
Public Corporations (fy2012/2013, fy2014/2015)
During the conference on Monday, June 30, 2014, Dr. McClain did not comment on why NOCALs revenue and expense
fgures were not included within two consecutive budget documents. However, to prove that critics information and
numbers were based on falsehood, Dr. McClain asserted that NOCAL has contributed money to the Liberian National
Budget. For instance, NOCAL donated dividends to the government, he said. Also, Dr. McClain stated that NOCAL netted
US$45 Million for the government in the 2012/2013 fscal Period from an agreement reached with Exxon Mobil on Block
13. Well yes, the executive summary of the 2012/13 and 2013/14 Budget documents did disclose that NOCAL and LPRC
donated dividends, but not anything close to the $45 million. Mathematically, it was diffcult for NOCAL to have remitted
$45 million in 2012/13 fscal years since NOCALs net income was $7 million ($145 million revenue minus $138 million
expenses).
Okay, if one were to assume that the $45 million donation was included within NOCALs $138 million expenses, where
does the $45 million appear within the revenue section of the national budget? Since the $45 million cannot be traced to
any section of the revenue of the national government, were the recipients other state-owned entities, other governmental
agencies or Presidential advisers as Dr. Neyor has alleged? Or did Dr. McClain, in an effort to refute Dr. Neyors allegation,
give wrong information? Did his subordinate(s) mislead him about the $45 million?
If not misled by his subordinates, did the chief executive succumb to undue infuence and give the $45 million to
presidential advisers? The latter scenario is not a far-fetched scenario. According to Professor Leonard Shaidi, an author
of a book about corruption in Tanzania, individual(s) engage in corruption when there is meeting of opportunity (i.e., an
employment/bribe) and inclination (i.e., the desire to assist an investor or a superior). And even when subordinates try
to be honest and be principled, intense lobbying and undue infuence compel them to succumb to misappropriation and
corruption.
Looking at NOCALs number of employees (155) and total salary expense ($7 million) as compared to next higher paid
state-owned entities, LPRCs $6 million for 300 employees, there was good employment opportunity at NOCAL than at
any another state-owned entities. With such a lucrative salary arrangement, was it not possible for employees, including
managers, to yield to intense lobbying? I think so.
If NOCAL offcials, including Robert Sirleaf, President Sirleafs son, did not have the fear of reporting $138 million
questionable expenses and, or violating 2009 PFM Law, would they risk their employment and resist undue infuence?
I doubt it. More so, President Sirleaf, not wanting to hire lieutenants who dare to question her request, continues to seek
subordinates who are susceptible or gullible to manipulation and presidential power. So, it is not diffcult to believe Dr.
Neyors version of the story, nor diffcult to imagine why President Sirleaf appointed her son to manage the most lucrative
state-owned entities at a time she needed money in order to fnance her 2011 presidential campaign.
v
EDITORIAL
ON WEDNESDAY AT the Cholera Unit of the John F.
Kennedy Medical Center man was rushed to the facility after
being rejected at the main entrance of the John F. Kennedy
Hospital because he was showing signs of the deadly Ebola
virus but was abandoned at the gate of the unit where many
health workers and officials of the ministry of health watched
him vomit with blood without doing anything to help him for
more than 30 minutes.
THE MAN WAS rushed in by his brother who claimed
that his relative has been vomiting with blood and showing
consistent signs of weakness at their West Point residence.
THE SICK MAN was seen vomiting with blood and as soon
as they got to the facility his brother tried calling for help
from the health officials but they only stood there, hands
folded, watching the man die.
THE ARRIVAL OF the suspected patient quickly drew the
attention of some residents of the 24th street community
where the JFK Cholera Unit is situated as many rushed to
the scene just to take a glimpse at the patient who was lying
squarely before the entrance of the unit vomiting with blood
while awaiting health workers to attend to him.
THIS ACTION ON the part of health workers on duty at
the time of the mans arrival is broad day wickedness and
it exposes how health officials in Liberia continue to loathe
people affected by the deadly virus leaving them to the fate
of death including health workers themselves.
TO KNOW THAT upon arrival at the Cholera unit on 24th
Street, Sinkor, in the full presence of some medical doctors
and Health Ministry authorities including Assistant Minister
for Preventive Services Tolbert Nyenswah, the man was left
lying in pain for over 30 minutes is disheartening.
IS THIS HOW WE TREAT people who are sick with deadly
diseases in our society with people trusted to manage our
health sector just standing by with their hands folded and
instead the patient and his brother asked by heath workers
assigned at the unit to follow what they termed as normal
procedure in the Ebola response system? What kind of Ebola
Response Unit do we have that will leave a patient in pain
to die simply because of not following proper procedures?
THE MAN PERHAPS was being punished for failing to
contact what they call the Ebola hotline for an ambulance
to pick up his sick brother from their West Point residence.
IT IS WRONG THAT for nearly thirty minutes, the suspected
Ebola patient was seen lying abandoned by heath workers
while he continued to vomit with blood at the entrance of the
JFK Cholera unit.
IT WAS AFTER SEVERAL consultations among members
of the Ebola response team posted at the center, that two
health workers later arrived from the fence of the Cholera
unit to attend to the patient who was then sprayed with
disinfectant before being taken inside for attention.
DR. MOSES MASSAQUOI justified why the health workers
did not instantly attend to the patient when he was brought
in.
MASSAQUOIS JUSTIFICATION WAS that the patient
should have called the Ebola response unit through the
hotlines for an ambulance to transport them to the hospital.
SAID DR. MASSAQUOI: We dont just treat patients. We
go through investigation. You might have seen me closing
the door. It did not mean we are not running through the
system.
AS SOON AS WE ran through the system and we got the
information, we took him in even though he was not brought
in the right way. So we did not refuse him thats why hes
now considered a case.
THIS IS A SHAME and it shows that health authorities in
Liberia really do not know what they are doing hence the
rapid spread of the deadly disease. This indeed is a shame!!!
ITS A SHAME
Liberian Health Authorities gambling
with Peoples Lives

Page 4 |
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014
THE TIME HAS COME TO VOTE
OUT FAILED SENATORS
FrontPage
Send your letters and comments to:
editor@frontpageafricaonline.com
YOU WRITE; WE PUBLISH; THEY READ!
COMMENTS FROM
FPA ONLINE
DISCLAIMER
The comments expressed here are those of our online readers and
bloggers and do no represent the views of FrontPageAfrica
Rodney D. Sieh, Managing Editor, 0886-738-666;
077-936-138, editor@FrontPageAfricaonline.com;
rodney.sieh@FrontPageAfricaonline.com
Wade C. L. Williams, News Desk Chief, wade.
williams@frontpageafricaonline.com; 0880664793
Sports Editor, Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886236528
Henry Karmo, henry.karmo@frontpageafricaonline.
com
Al-varney Rogers al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.
com, 0886-304498
Sports Reporter, A. Macaulay Sombai,macaulay.
sombai@FrontpageAfricaonline.com, 077217428
COUNTY NEWS TEAM
Grand Bassa, Alpha Daffae Senkpeni, 0777432042
Bong County, Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@
frontpageafricaonline.com, 0886-484666
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0886257528
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E
DITORIAL TEAM
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
ABOUT OUR STORIES ON THE
WORLDWIDE WEB
The Reader's Page
SYLVESTER MOSES TOP COMMENTER
The Liberian people paid the price for their poor judgment
in electing a do - nothing Legislature, so nobody should be
surprised that they want new leadership. Politics is a quid pro quo
relationship: constituents in a democracy vote for someone in order
to receive through his/her representation the developmental aid and
other assistances their areas need from the government.
It is a transactional affair; you elect someone, and expect that
person to get things done for the community. And frankly Robert
Sirleaf has demonstrated that he has the empathy and compassion
to get things done for the communities in the county. He wasnt
compelled to get involved in the various projects he initiated and
completed in various neighborhoods.
If the enthusiastic crowds he is drawing anything to go by, the race
for Monsterrado County between him and Ambassador George
Weah would be a tug - of - war. And thats great for the county,
our people deserve to have caring, capable and credible legislators,
and we believe either of those two gentlemen would perform a
wonderful job; the people will decide with their votes.
CHARLES SAYWON TOP COMMENTER WEST
AFRICA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
What are we thinking when we try to petition people for public
service. Have we done our home work properly before coming up
with such a crirical decision that will either spoil or be good for our
nation. Or, are we carried away by just receiving little things from
their pockets as bits to blind oue eyes. My fellow Liberians, let
us think twice before taking such decision. If we want to petition
someone for any public offce, we should take a clear look at
other countries' examples. For example, Ngeria, if a man should
be petitioned for any public offce, that person must have done
something very rewarding for the people in general not just a few
handfull and you turned that as development for that locality. What
is football pitch for which you are selling your own birthright.
Can't you think through the Holy Book, the Bible, what happened
between Esau and Jacob. I don't need to go far you know the rest of
the story. Please, let all of us as Liberians put Liberia frst and not
just a little thing that will go away sooner or latter. May the Lord
Jesus saves our nation from the hands of the wicked ones!!
PLEEBOCOLLINS25 (SIGNED IN USING YAHOO)
Liberians are so desperate for leadership and for simple basic needs
that they will turn to their oppressors for help. Liberians are a
laughable people and hypocritical too. This Robert must be having
delusions of grandeur and think that we want him. Lliberians just
want to eat and if he will buy them food , they will vote for him.
Don't confuse that with love or confdence in Robert Sirleaf.
OBEDIAH WEAHWEAH CUTTINGTON GRADUATE
SCHOOL
This is democracy, we need to respect everyone opinions and
decisions. I think our constitution give the right to everyone
who meet the requirement to via for any public offce. I support
Mr.Sirleaf senatorial bid!
ROB SIRLEAFS COMPLEX QUEST TO BECOME MONT.
COUNTY SENATOR
PHIL GEORGE TOP COMMENTER UMASS LOWELL
This story is very intriguing. Robert Sirleaf is not the UP candidate
but he may run as a independent candidate? Wouldn't this weaken
his mother's party (UP) chance of taking the seat? This brings
to mind some interesting questions. If he wanted to run for the
seat, why didn't he compete in the UP primary and become its
candidate? Did the party think that he stands a poor chance of
winning the seat in the general election, so they decided to go with
another candidate? Anyways my thought is that because President
Sirleaf is very unpopular in the country right now for political and
economic reasons, a UP candidate stands a very poor chance of
wining the seat no matter who it is. Also if Robert Sirleaf runs he
will loose because the entire Sirleaf family is unpopular on account
of President Sirleaf's dismal leadership.
MAXWELL HOOKS STRAYER COLLEGE
Are these guys "nuts", petitioning Robert Sirleaf for a senatorial
bid irrespective of his mother's inability to govern with glaring
evidence of poverty in every quarter of Liberia? When will
Liberians learn to face reality and stop this hunger-driven politics...
look a man in the face and say, NO, IT's Enough? You sit in your
little corners and quarrel, grumble about ills, corruption, Ellen
failure to improve your lives, Robert Sirleaf extortion of NOCAL's
millions yet you petition the man to be your senator. Will he make
any difference than his mother? WOW Liberians!! I thought we
were, by now have been politically reawaken....hehehehehehe!!!!
The Editor
O
ur beloved nation Liberia, the onetime beacon of hope
on the African continent is at a critical junction in its
national history. The fourteen- year bloody upheaval has
since ended and the nation is currently experimenting
democracy at all levels across the country but perennial problem of
corruption is impeding development and growth in the country.
People who are greedy for money and have weak allegiance to the
State considered the Senate not as a place to render due service to their
various counties but as a place of rapid personal enrichment while
majority of the population live in miserable poverty. This decisive and
cardinal decision rests in our hands and let nothing cause us to make
a bad choice. Some of these corrupt old guards have turned over night
as humanitarians-to extend even if they heard that their neighbors
dog die, they are ready to sympathize with that neighbor.
Just envisage, in the midst of hopeless, hardship and destitution in the
country where greater part of the population lives on handout and the
mercy of God, the top offcials at the leadership of the First branch
of Government-the National Legislature including House Speaker
Alex Tyler, President Pro tempore Gbehzohngar Findley and Deputy
Speaker Hans Barchue have allotted over US$3.5 Millions to their
offces in the 2014-2015 draft budget. Speaker Tyler has allotted over
1.054,372 million to his offce of which US$345,664 is allotted for
compensation of employees in his offce while civil service employees
at the same offce get US$62,810.
Those working in the Speakers offce serve as his will and pleasure;
he determines their monthly salary and benefts. In the 2013-2014
approved budget, Speaker Tylers offce received the amount of
US$1.174 million excluding other benefts. The draft budget fellow
shows US$210,854 as general allowance for the speaker of which
US$72,000 is appropriated for special allowance, while US$497,854
allotted for goods and services for the offce of the speaker. Such a
huge allotment is nothing like service but a personal enrichment and
has the propensity to keep our people in poverty and increase their
destitution.
The President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate Gbehzohngar
Findley who is facing diffculties for his re-election in Grand Bassa
County offce is allotted over US$1.341 million in the draft budget for
2014-2015. Perhaps, Senator Findley is allotted more amount than the
Speaker Tyler to helps strengthen his fnancial power for re-election
in the October 2014 Senatorial polls. It has also been uncovered
that compensation of employees in Findleys offce accounts for
US$397,433 while civil servants employees in the same offce are
allotted US$97,133. Those working in the Pro Temps offce serve as
his will and pleasure; he determines their monthly salary and benefts.
Senator Findleys offce gets US$228,300 for general allowance and
US$72,000 for special allowance for the same offce while goods
and services the offce of Senator Findley is allotted US$386,254,
respectively.
Besides, the Draft Budget for 2014-2015 also appropriated
US$742,387 for the offce of Deputy Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Hans Barchue while US$236,297 is allotted as
compensation for employee in the Deputy Speakers offce. Also,
US$64,740 goes towards civil service in the offce while goods and
services amounts take US$499,090. Those working in the Deputy
Speakers offce serve as his will and pleasure; he determines their
monthly salary and benefts.
Despite of these huge allotments and benefts that go toward these
state bureaucrats and capitalists, their leaderships are persistently
being accused of rampant corruption. The transparency International
2013 report leveled the First Branch of government-Legislature in
Liberian as the most corrupt public institution in Liberia. It has been
reported that all nominees must make available cold water before they
can be confrmed while no concession agreement is passed without
giving members of the legislature cold water. I have no doubt while
they are normally referring to as cold water legislators.
However, in less than seven months time, we will be at the polls to
elect 15 new Senators who are expected to institute good laws in the
interest of the masses and those greedy individuals who only care for
the pockets will be booted out of the capitol. There is no doubt that the
October 11, 2014 Senatorial Midterm Election is to decide whether or
not to entrust the leadership of this nation to a new group of self center
political elites or the old corrupt guards who are enriching their selves
at the detriment of the improvised masses .
This decisive and cardinal decision rests in our hands and let nothing
cause us to make a bad choice. Some of these corrupt old guards
have turned over night as humanitarians-to extend even if they heard
that their neighbors dog die, they are ready to sympathize with that
neighbor.
If we truly love our country and we want Liberia to rise again as a
unifed nation and people, and regain her once ruffed status amongst
the comity of nations, then let us not repeat those same old mistakes
to entrust our future to those corrupt bureaucrats and those who lack
vision for this nation. This 2014 Senatorial Elections must be a point
at which all Liberians of 18 or above can speak with one voice to
make a sound decision to elect people who loved and cherished this
nation and its people, and not those self-centered individuals who
would want to enrich themselves at the detriment of the suffering
masses.
This is another opportunity to decide whether we want a senator
that subscribes to good governance, human rights, rule of law, social
justice and sound economic policies and who would unite and build a
strong and prosperous nation bordered on the country of law and not
of one-track-minded men; a country free to and for all wherein all of
us can be participants of the wealth and enjoy the luxury of peace, joy
and happiness. Our country needs good senators with an exemplify
leadership and sound policymakers who have genuine love for the
masses and concern for peace, stability, and national development.
The time has come for us to make sure that those who violate the trust
of the people, lack leadership ability and misuse the nations wealth
and human resources to promote their own interest are shown the red
card and never again put in positions of trust to repeat their crimes.
The fnal decision rests in our hands and not the international
community. It is time that we make the best decision by electing
people of trust and not greedy, corrupt, unproductive, failed
politicians to the senate. Let me repeatedly emphasis that the time
has come to carefully select the sheep from among the corrupt goats,
come October 11, 2014, or we will bleed this country to death for
another long unforeseeable years.
Jacob T. Newton/ jacobnewton78@yahoo.com
I'VE TO THINK: ROB SIRLEAF SENATE
BID DECISION IN GODS HANDS
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014 Page 5
F
RONT
PAGE
POLITICS
F
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PAGE
COUNTY NEWS
CHAIRMAN SOLO IN LIMELIGHT OVER ALLEGED ROB SIRLEAF OFFERS
DOLLAR POLITICS INFILTRATES CDC?
In fact it is the work of our detractors who want to see the party in disarray, we just had teleconference with
Ambassador Weah and Chairman Solo, we all spoke very well. Mulbah Morlu Congress for Democratic Change
Monrovia-
T
he senatorial election in the most populous county
in Liberia, Montserrado has taken a dramatic trend
following the emergence of the son President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf, Robert Sirleaf into the race after
months of speculations about the political future of the man who
headed the National Oil Company of Liberia and is a powerful
fgure in his mothers regime.
The younger Sirleafs senatorial ambition on the ruling partys
ticket took a cool turn when the party (the Unity Party) elected its
candidate for the Montserrado County race in person of Ali Syla,
allaying rumors that he (Sirleaf) was contemplating contesting
since the party headed by his mother had endorsed a candidate
for the race.
Sylas election by the Unity Party at its caucus did not deter
Sirleaf from pushing his ambition as he was petitioned by a cross
section of citizens from Montserrado at a ceremony in a Congress
for Democratic Change (CDC) stronghold, the Doe Community
on the Bushrod Island.
Although Sirleaf still delayed the unveiling of his political interest
by informing his petitioners that he was taking their request to
God, Robert few days later accepted to contest the Montserrado
race.
Since his name surfaced and confrmed as a senatorial candidate,
according to sources there has been intense lobbying by Mr. Sirleaf
to see the withdrawal of George M. Weah, the CDC candidate
for Montserrado County from the race to enable him reduce the
competition.
According to unimpeachable sources, Sirleaf had made several
offers to Weah to back off but Weah seems resolved to contest
as some CDC sources have also hinted the political leader of
the party is under intense pressure not to accept any offers from
Sirleaf that will see him relinquishing his candidacy.
Insiders say Robert is pushing some executives of the CDC
to prevail on Weah to accept his offers and drop from the race
resulting to an alleged tension between Weah and the party
Secretary general, George Solo.
Party Chairman Solo according to sources is believed to have held
discussions with Mr. Sirleaf with the hope of playing a key role
in prevailing on Weah to abandon his quest for the senatorial seat
but to instead prepare and wait for the 2017 presidential election.
Accordingly, bad blood is swelling between Weah and Solo over
the support to Sirleaf and one partisan of the CDC confrmed that
they have gathered information that Solo had allegedly received
offers from Robert to help push the President sons agenda in the
CDC.
But Mulbah Morlu, Vice Chairman of the CDC for Operations and
Mobilization recently told FrontPageAfrica in an interview that
there is cordial relationship between party political leader Weah
and Chairman Solo.
In fact is the work of our detractors who want to see the party
in disarray, we just had teleconference with Ambassador Weah
and Chairman Solo, we all spoke very well, Mulbah told FPA a
week ago.
Solos alleged involvement into discussions with Robert ignited
few days later when news surfaced that he has been suspended by
the Executive Committee of the CDC, but Solo responding to a
FPA inquiry insisted that such news of his suspension are untrue.
False, says Solo
Totally false and misleading! Solo stated in a text message,
although he refused to be interviewed via mobile.
Inside CDC sources have hinted FPA that Chairman Solo is
now viewed with suspicion over his alleged role in playing an
underground role for Robert Sirleaf to see Weah give-up his
candidacy.
Weah can never do that to the people, that is last thing he will
ever do one staunch member of the CDC told FPA on the basis
of anonymity.
In April Morlu declared that CDC political leader Weah is above
purchase as no amount of money can stop him from contesting the
pending senatorial election.
Weah cannot be bought with money, he is above the purchase,
George Weah is a property of the Liberian people, and you cannot
buy that kind of man. Ambassador Weah wants me to tell you that
the only thing that can stop him from running is death and God
will be gracious to us to let him live to serve as Senator and to
be President to serve two terms. So that information is false, it is
misleading, it is unfounded, it is gibberish, it has no iota of truth
said Morlu.
The CDC offcial said only death can stop Weah from contesting
the Senatorial seat of Montserrado County in October.
With Sirleaf now in the race, the talk of money politics is now
overshadowing the election with Robert, son of the President
doing all to win the race.
As his mother prepares to leave power the question of succession
has been in the spotlight with President Sirleaf exerting efforts to
have a say in who becomes her successor.
Political pundits believe that Sirleaf is preparing her son to
succeed her and the frst step is the Montserrado selection, which
if Sirleaf succeeds in winning will serve as a basis for him to take
over from his mother in 2017.
Whatever the scenario, the Montserrado race is bound to be
intriguing as Robert Sirleaf lines his pocket against George
Weahs popularity.
IMMINENT DANGER
Monrovia-
G
rand Kru County is
one of the far away
from the Capital
Monrovia and is
inaccessible during mainly the
rainy season as roads leading to
the county become impassable.
The Government of Liberia had
just cancelled the celebration
of the independence of the
country which was scheduled
to be jointly hosted by Grand
Kru and neighboring Sinoe
County citing bad roads
and other conditions for the
decision.
Days after the decision, a
prominent citizen of the county
has alarmed that the bridge
linking the county to Maryland
which is the main route to
the county is at the verge of
collapse and needs urgent
attention.
The Nedilor Bridge links Grand
Kru to Pleebo in Maryland
county which is the main route
used by many travelling into
that County.
Gbenimah B. Slopadoe, I told
FrontPageAfrica, displaying
photos that the bridge is about
to collapse and is therefore
calling on the Liberian
Government and international
partners to act in order to avoid
a crisis where the county will
be completely cut off from the
rest of the country.
The bridge is about to collapse
and this is an imminent danger
to the county, the county
will be completely cut off
and people will not have
the means to move out, the
bridge is sinking and we are
calling on the Government and
international partners to help
the people of Grand Kru county
by rebuilding this bridge, said
Slopadoe.
According to the former
lawmaker, local county offcials
have informed him that the
African development Bank has
made commitments to support
the project for rebuilding the
bridge, but he said knowing
that donors processes are time
consuming, he is making an
urgent call for the ADB to fast
track its commitment to the
-Bridge Linking Grand Kru Nears Collapse
people of Grand Kru.
I am very concern because
it is better to prevent this
from happening than to wait
and allow it take place before
moving in while the people are
already suffering the impact,
he indicated.
Special Fund for Roads
The citizen of Grand Kru
also said the decision by
the Government of Liberia
to cancel the hosting of the
pending July 26 celebration in
the county is not the solution to
the problems facing the county.
The senatorial candidate for
the pending special senatorial
election said the people of
Grand Kru are hurt by the
cancellation and it serves
as evidence of the bad road
situation in the county,
as he challenged national
government to fnd a remedy to
the situation.
Cancelling or postponing the
celebration in Grand Kru is not
the solution to the problem; we
need permanent solution which
is the construction of roads, our
people need roads, if you travel
throughout this country, the
people will tell you they need
roads, so why not we focus
on construction of roads, he
averred.
He said to connect towns
and villages around Liberia;
the National legislature must
make budgetary allocation
exclusively for roads with
funding placed in an escrow
account.
Slopadoe is recommending the
allocation of US$45 million by
the Legislature to be allotted
3 million for each of the 15
counties for construction of
roads.
He furthered If we can have
that US$ 3 million per county
over the next two to three
years only to be used for roads
construction, it will bring relief
to our people, road is a major
priority to our people.
Said Slopadoe we need to
empower our people so that
they can fend for themselves,
all we can do is to give them
good roads, they will be able
to move from one place to
another for survival.

Page 6 |
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014
Mae Azango azama20062007@yahoo.com
Kennedy L. Yangiankennedylyangian@frontpageafricaonline.com 077290781
F
RONT
PAGE
EDUCATION
by Togba-Nah Tipoteh
You, ArchBishop William Nah Dixon
A Godly Son
Hailed from the County of Rivercess
As a Child of God and nothing less
The Rivercess of people
Who are in body feeble
Because they smell their wealth
Torturing their daily health
Yet they do not taste their wealth
To build up their daily health
Yes, the people do not taste
What few others use as waste
This too is the Country called Liberia
With all of its malaria
The Country of Smell No Taste
Where big shots are in no haste
To end the massive poverty
That is still Liberia's reality
Then enters you, ArchBishop William Nah Dixon
A Rivercess Son
With a running vision
Set on a burning vision
Not for yourself
But for otherself
Starting a long time ago
Exactly some ffty years ago
You built the School for the Deaf and Dumb
While few others damaged Liberia with their bomb
Seeing the people starving
When few others were greeding
You, ArchBishop William Nah Dixon
A Rivercess Son
Set out to Feed The People
No matter how feeble
Then the Civil War came
With no better name, it came
And made Liberia worse
Giving Liberia a curse
Then you, ArchBishop William Nah Dixon
A Patriotic Rivercess Son
Joined hands with other patriotic Liberians
Taking action together as Muslims and Christians
To put an end to the Civil War
With the people saying NO MORE WAR
WE WANT PEACE
PEACE WITHOUT CEASE
You, ArchBishop William Nah Dixon
A Peaceful Rivercess Son
Set on a Peace Mission
Directly by your Godly Vision
Spoke on the radio wave
With the voice to you that God gave
This was the voice of the people
No matter how feeble
The voice that brought Liberia to a standstill
Without any violent societal ill
On January 10, 1997
With Blessings from Heaven
Opening up the People's Gate
Bringing in Liberia's most democratic event to date
As over one million Liberians stayed home
They were no where in the streets to roam
They stayed home, voting for peace over war
And the Civil War ended, as we all saw
Now, let us memorialize ArchBishop William Nah Dixon
A Patriotic Rivercess Son
By taking action together for justice
Without any form of prejudice
Because it is only justice that brings peace
The peace that comes without cease
REFLECTION ON THE
LIFE OF
ARCHBISHOP
WILLIAM NAH DIXON
Monrovia-
T
he African Methodist
Episcopal (AME)
Zion Academy High
School on Benson
Street, over the weekend,
graduated 121 students.
The 34th graduation exercise
was held at the AME Zion
University Campus in Vincent
Town, Po River, outside of
Monrovia.
Serving as Keynote speaker for
the program, Defense Minister
Brownie J. Samukai urged the
graduates to remain focus on
their education and strive for
excellence at all times.
You are the incoming
generation who will replace
some of us when we are old
and are leaving the stage, so
you should remain steadfast
and focused, and you will
achieve in the end.
Admonishing the graduates,
REMAIN STEADFAST AND FOCUS
-Defense Minister Samukai Urges African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Academy High School

the minister explained his
success story that had a rough
start thirty fve years ago, but
he went through because he
took his education seriously.
I was once like you 35 years
ago, when I came through
these same walls of the AME
Zion Academy and if anybody
had told me I was going to be
the next Defense Minister, I
would never have believed
them, because it was not easy,
Says Minister Samukai.
I graduated and did not have
money to go to college, so I
joined the military, and the
military paid my school fees, I
was private frst class for many
years while I was in college
and later became an offcer. So
you see, it was not easy, but I
brave through the storm and
you can do the same if you stay
focus.
Minister Samukai warned the
graduating class against drugs
and alcohol, if they want to
succeed in life because it would
only destroy their future. And
he admonished the girls to
remain focus because they
too could be next President of
Liberia as Madam Sirleaf.
To the girls, you too can be the
next President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf or the next minister, but
you have to push ahead and go
to college. Do not be carried
away by the men in the fashy
cars and big cash because it
wont last, but what you learn
in college, will carry you a long
way if only you stay focused.
AME Zion Academy Principal
Raymond F. Tucker, disclosed
that the schools biggest
challenge is a building of
its own because the rent for
building used as the annex
on Benson Street, is now
US$17,000 and the school
cannot afford, so the school is
asking for assistance to build a
school building in the next two
years.
As Family members and well
wishers happily gathered in
the hall of the Solomon D.
Lartey building in Po River,
121 students of the graduating
Class, dressed in white long
sleeves shirt, royal blue long
pants and skirts and a royal
blue neck tie, sang a famous
song Carry your Candle and
go light the world as they
marched in the hall to receive
their respective diplomas.
GBOWEE CALLS FOR REFORM IN
MESSY EDUCATION SYSTEM
As Foundations Scholarship Recipients Return From US
Monrovia-
N
obel Peace laurel
Leymah Gbowee
has frowned on the
poor quality of the
countrys education system and
called for a reform in order to
tackle the current challenges
facing it.
Madam Gbowee who heads the
Gbowee Foundation a peace
building and advocacy initiative
providing several scholarships
to deserving students both at
home and abroad stated that
it was disheartening to realize
that some of the graduates
from higher institutions in the
country with high mark cannot
write a proper letter.
Can you imagine that a
university graduate with a 3.00
point GPA cant write a letter?
How did he/she earn the high
GPA? Gbowee wondered.
She stated that the countrys
education system has two
technical problems; one she
said is the infux of unqualifed
teachers roaming the
classrooms and the other is the
lack of motivation on the part
of the students, something she
claimed required reform in the
education system.
Madam Gbowee made the
comment at the Gbowees
Foundation Headquartered
in Congo Town Friday, when
she presented degrees and
diplomas to three graduates
who are benefciaries of the
Gbowees Foundation. Two
of the graduates were among
three others who graduated
from the Eastern Mennonite
University in the United States.
The graduates include Vaba
Flomo who received a degree in
confict transformation, Grace
Jarson also received certifcate
in confict transformation,
while Gwendolyn Myers
received degree in confict
transformation and Ernestine
Vulue a graduate of the Effort
Baptist High School received
diploma.
She congratulated the
graduates for their studies and
claimed that the challenges the
foundation faced, is that some
of the recipients were fnding
it very diffcult in passing the
foreign exams as the result, the
foundation has to call on its
partners to give the recipients
time in order to prepare
themselves to re-sit the exams.
Madam Gbowee said because
of the poor performance of
some Liberian students, the
foundation has to extend the
foreign scholarship program to
Ghanaian students as well.
The Nobel Peace laureate
indicated that student desirous
of the scholarships should
be able to fall in division one
and two of the West African
Examination Council (WAEC)
and also students in the
communities who are desirous
of learning but cant afford the
tuition can beneft from the
scholarship.
She warned female students
who are beneftting from the
scholarship are not allowed
to get pregnant while on the
scholarship. She said female
students who get pregnant
would have to drop and reapply
after giving birth. Gbowee said
this is the standard set by the
foundation, because people
who offer these scholarships
will like to get value for their
money.
Madam Gbowee said she
has gotten complaints from
females on the foundations
scholarship, that there are
some instructors in the habit of
requesting the female students
for sex for grades and hopes to
expose them.
We have gotten lot of
complaints from our female
students that some instructors
are in the habit of asking
them for sex for grades but at
an appropriate time we will
expose them, said Gbowee.
Gwendolyn Myers who spoke
on behalf of the graduates
indicated that their studies in
the United States was very
rewarding and called on other
females to take advantage of
these kind of opportunities and
do away with the feeling that
the people have their people for
such program.
What I will like to tell
my fellow females is be
determined, focused and
passionate of what you want to
do then you will succeed said
Myers.

Madam Gbowee In White Poses with the Graduates
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014 Page 7
F
RONT
PAGE
MONROVIA
Monrovia -
O
n a recent
weekend in
the Fiamah
community, a
visitor whose attention was
drawn to a road intervention
on the Lologtna Road
decided to take photos in
apparent admiration for what
he thought was a community
initiative.
All of sudden, a lady (name
withheld) emerged from
behind him and smilingly
asked, So, your the
government people ready to
fx our lil community road
na? (She was asking out
of curiously if the visitor
was a government offcial
who had gone there to
make assertions ahead of
an eventual government
intervention on the road.)
But the visitor replied, So
who is the Good Samaritan
that did this one for your
community in the frst place,
ma?
Neither the lady nor the
visitor up to that point knew
who did the intervention on
the road that has crushed
rocks spread on it from the
intersection of the Fiamah
Road and the Coleman
Avenue down towards the
Lologtna School.
Later did the visitor and the
curious lady who is a resident
of the community know
that the minor intervention
made on that stretch of road
was Public Works Minister,
Antoinette Weeks frst road
intervention.
It was later gathered
that Minister Weeks and
team spent US$6,000 to
make what was an urgent
intervention that would
enable the President and
entourage have a smooth
visit to the third graduation
exercise of the Lologtna
School less than a month ago
at the time. (The school is an
educational program setup
for underprivileged children
by the President in 2011,
Lolognta being a Kpelle
word, meaning Childrens
Place.)
And for that third graduation
exercise slated for June 13,
the Public Works Minister
was instructed to fx the
drainage-prone and potholed
road that leads to the school.
The school was designed to
improve the development of
children through a holistic
approach that combines
education, health, nutrition
and social development.
In simply description of the
road intervention, the Public
Works wasted crushed rocks
on the little stretch of road
not more than three blocks,
and built a small concrete
wall in a drainage meant


to serve as culvert. About
six sand bags, provided by
residents, are wasted behind
the concrete wall to provide
support against drainage
problems.
Less than three weeks
following the Presidents
visit to the school, a visit
to that road shows only
remnant of the crushed
rocks while the entire road
work shows poor drainage
work, leaving residents
of the area including the
previously mentioned lady
to not imagine that it was
an intervention done by the
Governments Public Works
Ministry.
Even worse, some of
the community dwellers
complained that the
intervention has threatened
their houses due to the poor
interventions done on the
drainage system in that
community.
You see since that time,
water can ful our house dem
when the rain come because
the water can bypass this
lil thing they put here and
straight to us..this work they
did here was bad. That why
I was asking you if you one
of the government people
who na come to take pictures
for the place so your can
come fx it for good na,
the woman lamented to the
visitor.
Recent downpours of rain
have even worsened the
situation there, leaving the
impression that the US$6,000
was spent just to last for two
to three weeks. And that was
Minister Weeks frst road
intervention since taking
over.
Then the concern arises
about the Ministers initial
condemnation about
poorly constructed and
substandard roads done
under her predecessor
including ones that the
former Public Works
boss had made temporary
interventions on.
Minister Weeks told
members of the Senate
confrmation team at the
time that almost all of the
road works and interventions
done under Samuel Kof
Woods were substandard.
Though the President
recently backed her under-
performing Public Works
Minister in pleading for
more time for her to show
her juice, the poorly done
Lolognta road suggests
that if the Government
was spending such an
amount of US$6,000 on
road interventions, public
and donors fund would be
wasted, one observer noted.
Due to poor planning and
lack of innovations on the
part of the Public Works
Minister, the Finance
Ministry withdrew about
US$1.2 million from the
Ministry and diverted same
to the Agriculture Ministry
before the collapse of the
Fiscal Year 2013-2014.
The observer further hopes
that the Public Works
boss has realized the risk
of criticizing even before
venturing into a job. With
Public Works boss frst road
intervention, it tells that if the
Government was spending
the calculated amount of
US$6,000 every two weeks
that elapsed and with 52
weeks in a year, there would
be US$312,000 spent for
poorly done interventions
that would last for just two
weeks.
FIAMAH RESIDENTS SLAM
FIRST ROAD INTERVENTION
Page 8 |
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014
FPA Exclusive Interview
F
RONT
PAGE
INTERVIEW

Monrovia -
R
obert Sirleaf is taking a major risk in George Weahs
territory. His quest to become the next Senior Senator
for Montserrado County is even more complicated by
the fact that he is running as an independent. The
ruling Unity Party which brought his mother, President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf to power, has already tipped Ali Syllah as its
candidate in the senatorial race, meaning Sirleaf could be left
on his own in a race that many anticipate would be the most-
competitive of all the senatorial races this year. FrontPageAfrica
kicks off the frst of several interviews with candidates contesting
the senatorial race, with President Sirleafs controversial son,
Robert. In this exclusive interview, Sirleaf holds no punches
in addressing everything from his purported U.S. Citizenship,
his stance on gay rights, allegations that he is buying other
candidates from the race, his perceived privileged advantage,
his beef with Chris Neyor, his challengers and how he plans
to defy the odds in a race many see as a referendum on his
mothers presidency.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Mr. Sirleaf, Lets start with why youre
running for senator of Montserrado County?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Last two years, weve worked tirelessly
in Montserrado and the people have always come to me and said
you need to represent us. You do something that nobody else has
done for us. You hear us you feel us you touch us; why dont you
run for offce? For a long time I resisted that; you can classify that
as false malice, not wanting to take credit. I think you and others
are aware of all the work we have done in the last fve years. Over
the past six months Ive fnally decided; instead of having (maybe
there is this spasm, honestly, I should represent the people to the
fullest, give them another platform; give us another platform to
do the work); so it was really a symbol of that. It is the will of the
people pushing me to do it.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: This is considered George Weahs
Territory, Im sure there was some advice that you should consider
either Gbarpolu or some other county where your mothers from
but you decided Montserrado; what makes you so confdent to
believe that you are capable of challenging Weah in his territory?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: I think every candidate in the race should
have confdence unless you should not be running. All due respect
to Ambassador Weah, I will agree with you, he is extremely
strong, their brand is extremely strong in Montserrado County. Its
going to be about the issues, past, present and future performance;
its going to be about the right people in the right job and thats
what Im going to focus on. No pretense at all, Ambassador Weah
is extremely strong, extremely popular in the county and were
going to respect that.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: But you launched in his territory, thats
like a daring move, what was the motive behind that?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Quite the contrary Rodney, what youre
talking about, it wasnt daring; it wasnt a location I expect, we
had a hundred and twelve places we could have picked from, from
the work weve done; that was one of the ones that they decided
for many reasons to do it. We had done a footpath in that area; we
had done a market in that area, we had done a football feld in that
area. If I had gone to New Kru Town they would have said thats
their territory but we had done the football in that area and if I had
done it at the carwash, they would have said that is right across the
street from the CDC headquarters why did you pick that? Win or
lose, they were going to say something; you know Liberia talks.
We picked the area because we thought it was the best place for
what we wanted to accomplish.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Now, one issue which has been
dominating the Internet, Facebook and Twitter, is about the issue
of your citizenship. Are you a Liberian citizen?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: My father was born and raised in Liberia
and died a Liberian citizen, my mother was born and raised in
Liberia and is a Liberia citizen. I was born and raised in Liberia
and I am a Liberian citizen by birth, by birthright, all the rights;
voting registration card, passport, traveled on such a passport.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Were you ever a naturalized American?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: There are always speculations about what
I did seventeen, eighteen, twenty years ago; I dont think its any
different. Right now, I am currently a Liberian citizen.
ROBERT SIRLEAF ON 2017 PRESIDENCY TALK, HIS
INDEPENDENCE FROM UP AND HIS SENATE QUEST
NO PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: But, the last couple of days there has
been some voter registration of your residence in North Carolina,
some people are saying that because of that youre still an
American citizen because you are still listed as active to vote in
U.S. elections?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: The Internet is a very interesting place
that I think youre very aware of, people post all kinds of things,
people say they have records of all kinds of things and that is
ok. I think people have a right to do that. I think what youre
refecting on is something that was seventeen years ago. I think
1998 maybe 1995. Were in 2014, lots of things have changed,
Ive changed as a person. Passports for me are consistent like the
Liberian passport that I travel on. I would suspect this is going to
continue. Other things have opposed to the other week before that
had me flling out applications to the immigration. Certainly on
those applications I wouldnt misspell Monrovia, I wouldnt say
I live adjacent to Fish Market, I wouldnt say mothers name
Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Im sure people are going to put a
lot of things on the internet.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Was it a situation where you were an
American at one point and you renounced it; were you ever an
American?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Im a Liberian citizen, always has been for
many years. I travel on the passport, voter registration card and
everything remains the same. Im very sensitive that discussing
peoples private paperwork issues, of anybody including mine; of
anybody else in Liberia I dont think is a fair representation and I
shouldnt take a stand on that.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: One issue thats been dominant is the
perception that youve been trying to get the other candidate out
of the race; so you alone can become senator; are there any truth
to the fact that youve been trying to buy off Weah, Sanvee and
others?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: (Chuckles) Absolutely not, it would be an
insult to them, it would be an insult to us to even have that type
of approach. But I think you can ask them that question. I think
everybody have come out and said absolutely not, Robert Sirleaf
never approached us to buy us out. That is a fairly consistent
statement everybody has made. We havent done it in the Robert
Sirleaf camp. The Ben Sanvee camp has said we havent done
it, the Ali Syllah camp has said we havent done itthe Weah
camp, anybody else outside of that creating this narrative about
its going on, they are going to have to show the evidence. If the
people who are supposed to be having this discussion have said
this discussion is not going on, I dont know what other narrative
they want to have. Its creative storylines. It makes for a very
interesting narrative.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Do you think the level of work youve
done in these areas, Clara Town, Slipway, do you think it gives
you an edge over Weah, others?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Not at all; I think weve done work all over
Montserrado, but weve done work in Bomi, weve done work in
Nimba, weve done a lot of work in Margibi, I dont think its about
the edge, I think its about the message. I think the population of
Montserrado County, should be looking at the record, they should
be paying attention. What has somebody done before, what are
they doing now and what are they going to be doing in the future?
It comes down again to the key of whos going to represent you at
this level and everybody in the race has a good story to tell. Thats
why I think makes it a very interesting race, I think it makes it a
very fair race with everybody in the race. Regardless of everybody
whos an expert on Sunday, or on the radio at 10:00 Oclock in the
morning or the small children who just call in and start yelling; all
these kinds of things. I think its a very mature contest, I think you
are going to see a demonstration of civility in this contest for the
maturity that people have and we look forward to it.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: But a lot of your critics are saying
that you have an advantage because you are from a privileged
background. Your mother is President and you have an edge over
them and youre using that edge to do all these charity work. Its
not fair to them, how do you address that?

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I have no aspirations and if you notice Im not using the word current. Thats how
the pundits will do it and say but he didnt say the word current. It is not like I have no
current. I have no aspirations to run for President. I would be 63, thats enough. After
seeing the job sometimes upfront it is ten times diffcult than what most people think it is
and that is not exclusive to Liberia.
Rodney D. Sieh, rodney.sieh@frontpageafricaonline.com;
Wade C.L. Williams, wade.williams@frontpageafricaonline.com
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014 Page 9

FPA Exclusive Interview
F
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INTERVIEW

ROBERT SIRLEAF: Im the son of the person who is President.

The Presidents son, sounds like shes directing. I happen to have
that birthright. Sometimes that birthright is challenging because
people point to you, people say; youre almost micromanaged
from a lifes standpoint. Everything to me in life (not everything),
most things to me in life is relative. Compared to other presidents
children, past in Liberia, what has my performance been? I think,
everybody who has talked to us and seen what we have done in
Montserrado County, it never really have been a discussion about
oh hes an unapproachable person, he doesnt relate to the people,
hes somebody out there beating somebody, yelling at people and
taking advantage of people on his privileged position. I look
at it differently, I look at it as I set a bar, for how I think, how I
was raised; the values that I have of how people of any privileged
position, should perform; should act, should care, should pay
attention to. Outside of that, I dont see that as an advantage, the
administration isnt giving me any advantageous edge. Im not a
standing member of the Unity Party; Im running as independent
and so we have a lot of challenges to be able to do that.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Lets look at the independence of your
candidacy, the party is your mothers party, they put her there
in 2005 and in 2011. Youre not running with them, they have
their own candidate, dont you think its kind of complicated that
youre an independent and youre going to take votes away from
the partys candidate?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: If you went out in Montserrado today, I
dont see anybody saying Robert Sirleaf is a statue of the Unity
Party, so Ali Syllah has a huge constituency; religious, some
tribal, youve got to respect that, thats a force to be reckoned
with. I think a weaker candidate is anybody who runs like we do,
you dont have an apparatus, you dont have a party, and you dont
have establishments in certain places. So, I think thats a tougher
challenge running as independent and its the road that we feel
were most comfortable with and I as an individual I have always
been somewhat independent. In terms of the complexities, how
that kind of works itself out, yeah, life is complex.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: The issue that is kind of complicating
things is that some people feel that theres a rubber of factors
that may affect your candidacy, the corruption, nepotism issues,
dont you think it will rub off on you and affect your chances?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Of course, anytime you have that type of
relationship, people are going to draw parallel lines. The President
never helped us with BYC football, we began the program in
2009; we built the most successful football organization by 2013.
She doesnt get credit or detriment for being able to do that; that
was our own path. We started to work in places like New Kru
Town, West Point, Brewersville, Virginia, there were no parallels
drawn, when we did all this work for the positive. When we went
to Nimba, nobody accused Ellen of infuencing or not infuencing
building the stadium up there. When we went to Margibi, no
politician came out and said oh they shouldnt build that stadium
or we shouldnt do any work in Smell-No-Taste. I run for political
offce, now everything, me and her should be parallel. Theres
not a parallel, shes my mother, I respect that. I thank her; I bless
her for that. But yes its something that were going to have
to endure. Its a very complex situation for everybody. But if
anybody again looks at our record, there is not a direct parallel
between the President and her agenda and what we have been able
to accomplish in Montserrado County.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Your acceptance speech was about
caring about issues of fooding about issues in prison conditions
and stuff like that, have there been times where youve brought
these issues up with the president and she didnt listen to you
because people say she doesnt listen to you at times and yet they
call you prime minister?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: About a subject matter that Im extremely
passionate about in trying to fx it not only do I call her, I would
call any sector of the government to try to get their advice, how
to solve the problem. On the fooding in New Kru Town and West
Point, I only not let her know, I talk to lands and mines, Ill make
all the phone calls. Thats what a representative should be doing;
what is your plan to do it? What is your plan to fx it? They may
have their challenges and I may feel that not responding to that
subject matter that I would like to respond to, in a faster manner
and you do your best to solve it; they had their challenges. Its one
of the frst things that were going to look at as a senator. Lets get
a permanent solution to the erosion problem in West Point; lets
get a permanent solution to the erosion in New Kru Town. To my
understanding, this has been going on for 25 years; theres been
lot of senators, lot of representatives and different presidents. If it
can be solved, we will solve it.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Lets turn to the issue of the Chris
Neyor factor, you used to work together and at some point he
decided to go after you; what is the relationship like now? Some
of the charges that came up is that you were trying to plot some
conspiracy against him, how do you view the charges he came up
with?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Chris is fne in my world, I have no personal
issues with Chris, Ive never expressed anything publically
about his performance. Chris was CEO of the company when I
was actually on the board. I wasnt the chairman at the time; the
chairperson was Clemenceau Urey. Chris has expressed publically
his thoughts; sometimes its discouraging because I certainly
dont (for the years that we worked together); would publically
express any type of frustrations. Anytime you work with anybody
in a company, you dont necessarily agree with the decisions they
were making. The history of NOCAL during his tenure, you can
look at that. What was the performance? Its not me to go second
guess; thats something in the past. Hes a longstanding member
of the church; hes very active in his church so as a Christian,
Chris has got to do whatever is on his conscience.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Still with NOCAL: Your tenure there
was very controversial; there was talk radio bashing everyday,
besides there were nepotism issues and stuff. You survived it at
some point and then you fnally left. Did that bother you when you
listen to the radio and heard people talking about it?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Everyday, people are going to talk about
you; so you have to develop the toughest skin. Every day, 33%
of the people who know of you, are never going to like you
regardless of what you do, regardless of what you say. Theres
another 33%, that sometimes you do, they agree, sometimes they
dont. They process information and make decisions and the
other 33% is whatever I say, theyre going to like, that is life. Ive
learned to accept that especially when youre coming into public
offce at this level. Im a human being Im no different than other
human beings.
If you took a razor and put it on my arm as you put it on anybodys
arm and you cut it, blood will come out red. I dont say I dont
have emotions; what you get despondent about is people who
knowingly write things and say things and they know these things
are not true. Their conscience is what bothers me; howre you
going to sleep at night? How do you say these kinds of things
about anybody and then go to sleep when you know theyre not
true; for the sake of dislike. Our campaign is not going to indulge
ourselves in anybodys privacy protected by I think its Article 16
of the constitution. Were not going to delve into peoples homes;
were not going to delve into what people drink, where and what
they smoke, that is not the issue.
The issue is, are you going to present to the people of Montserrado
County a platform and a program to help them? Are going to
represent them to the best of your ability? Thats what were
going to do. NOCAL, I think weve done a fantastic job at
NOCAL, I have heard the situations about Robert Sirleaf stole
millions. Quite honestly, Rodney, If I stole millions, (even senior
people have said this from NOCAL), there is not one sheet of
paper fve years later that shows where the money went. If its the
assumption, everybody at NOCAL, one hundred and sixty-three
people, theyre my friends? So the whole company protected me?
Everybody at Finance, 800,000 people that my friend? Everybody
at Justice thats my friend? Its not possible; everybody in the
Presidents offce, my friend? Yet not one sheet of paper that said
I stole anybodys and the conversation about me having shares in
any oil company; I do not have any oil company shares. My job
at NOCAL was to come in. I told the President seriously people
are going to yell. The word nepotism is about qualifcation, its
not about relationship, its about qualifcation; people who are not
qualifed. Even when I was there and Chris was there at the time,
we did a decent job. But to say that I stole millions from anybody
else and the Liberian government is false, its misleading, its
unjustifed, and its unfair. But the people who say it actually
know that because Ive asked them. Ive asked the people whove
said Robert Sirleaf took government money; they get elected
2012, we developed a relationship, I asked them I said, you make
these type of statements, were you sure when making these type
of statements? You know what they responded? We gave those
pekin $5 $10, we gave them scratch cards; we just tell them to go
say, of course I know you didnt do it. If I knew you did it I would
have evidence, if I knew you did it I would have brought piece
of paper. Yet we havent seen it. Its not about sources tell me,
its not about I heard, here is where Robert Sirleaf stole millions
from NOCAL. It doesnt exist, it has never existed, Im tired of
talking about it. You talk about the Chevron, the legislature has
investigated, theyve investigated three times, result is still the
same. Heres all the paperwork, heres how we spend our money.
Thats all I can do at this point. If somebody in this wide world,
ask whether I stole money from NOCAL, all 163 people or
NOCAL is my friend; they need to go bring the paper.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: How do you feel about the billionaire
story that talked about you being a billionaire; the FBI was
investigating you, did that bother you?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: The people who wrote that story, I wonder
how they sleep at night; so it doesnt bother me. It was new to
me. The math didnt work. Liberia has a budget of 600Million,
550Million; to understand what a Billion Dollars is in the context
of 18 months. Im going to ask a very simple question. You have
other African countries; you have people who are billionaires
in the world, theyre on Fortune Magazine, theyre on Business
Week, theyre on CNN, theyre on BBC; none of them interviewed
me if I had a billion dollars. Wouldnt I be on some magazine
somewhere, in terms of assets? Do people not believe if they
look at the people who they claim (theyre international anyway);
who claim XYZ people have a billion dollars, theyve put their
pictures on their magazines and theyve said here are the assets
heres where they come from. I dont have, Im not even remotely
close to a billionaire. Its not mathematically possible with no
oil in Liberia. Even if there was oil in Liberia, to reach a billion
dollars, that is a tremendous lot of money and if I had it, it would
be right here spending it. I dont have it, never was a billionaire
and seriously doubt I ever will be one.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: The issue of the Kuwaiti assignment,
was that permanent or temporary?
Robert Sirleaf: It was a one-time deal. Let me tell you the story
behind it. The President called me and I had nothing to do with the
process or what they were working on and I hadnt gone there, I
didnt know what it was about. She said I want you to go deliver a
letter and I said, am I like the only courier? And her view was, the
Middle East is very family sensitive, their sensitive to families;
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Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014
its what theyve done for 400 years. You take this letter, it will
show them the importance of me; the leadership of Liberia that I
sent a child of mine to deliver the letter. They say why she didnt
send somebody else? I was the one available; so I went, I delivered
the letter I left. I knew by the time I came back I heard that I was
made Ambassador; I was the special envoy on oil. What oil? I was
asked to deliver, it was a very simple and typically special envoys,
once you leave the country, your job, your role ends.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: You spoke about identifying with the
poor people in your speech, those at the bottom of the economic
ladder, but if you look around the legislature, the senate and the
house and you listen to talk radio and you listen to people on the
street, theres a big resentment. People are not happy with whats
happening. What guarantee do people have that if they put you
there, theyre going to beneft?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: If youre going to change the world,
youve got to start. Life has no guarantees. What I can say is if
you look at what weve been able to do, I dont think outside of
the residents of the communities that weve worked with if you
did a relative value check, even people who write things from
the internet, who sit in the U.S and write things about me what I
do and what I dont do. They do not have the knowledge that we
have in these economic challenges that exists. Were the best in
the business when it comes to the economically challenged. We do
some work in some other neighborhoods that are not. We are the
best in the business. We will never know because I dont sleep in
Buzzy Quarters, I may not sleep in West Point but the amount of
times that we have visited, the amount of work that we have done,
I can tell you pretty emphatically, Slipway, what the challenges
are, which is our frst one fve years ago in fxing their water issue.
Its a good feeling to be able to identify and make a difference.
We cant solve all the problems all the time, sometimes its much
bigger than what we can do. But nobody knows it better than us. I
dont think anybody know the Don Bosco boys, who else, would
go and build them a house? Theyve been here ten years, they
didnt. We heard them.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: I know you have the fear that your
mother is on her last term and this race may be about her more
than about you. It may be a referendum on her. Do you have any
fear that this could be a possibility and how do you handle that?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Its convenient Rodney; you know its
convenient. As much as I am my mothers child Im my fathers.
First thing we did, we did a lot of markets, to understand that the
women are the backbone of the community. Regardless of people
calling in and say I havent done anything in Clara Town and the
same people who do it their mom cross the foot bridge that we
did every day for them and they say I havent done anything. Its
convenient to make it a referendum.
If I were parallel tied to her I would be on the Unity Party ticket.
I would have joined the Unity Party fve years ago. So it is pretty
obvious, we have a path that we want to cover-of independence.
Im not saying, is there one day I may join a party? Maybe, right
now were very comfortable with our independent thinking and
its convenient to draw her into it. So, I ask the people out there,
make the decision on me, what Ive done; the vision that we have
for the people of Montserrado County. What we are going to do
and how the people feel because people say it all the time; look
what does she have? If that was the case then I would be this
de-facto prime minister and if I was, it might look different, the
decisions might be different. The pace of how it is was going to
be different. Do we have a match, a record of accomplishment?
I think people need to make the phone call when theyre on the
radio and say: you know anybody in Clara Town that says Robert
Sirleaf has been there? You know anybody in New Kru Town,
West Point, Brewerville, Old Road, Sinkor, Paynesville, Red
Light ELWA, has he come there? What is he like? What has he
done? Writing on Facebook is not going to work. The real voters
are going to make the decision on what we said; what we have
done and on the record.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: This vote might to be decided by
turnout and Im sure you are aware of some candidates in the
counties that have taken from here to go and register in those
counties, do you think that will affect your situation especially in
this tight Montserrado?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: I think it will affect all of our situations if
that is the case. I dont know the facts about it, I think it will affect
everybodys situation if thats the case. Registered voters is six
hundred and forty something thousand, its not a presidential year,
so youre going to have to cut probably sixty percent of the people
that is going to go; during the rainy season, so Im going to be wet.
Im going to put on the rain boots and Im going to go there; Im
going to go to every corner and talk to everybody who I can. Im
going to do my best convince them that we have a better story;
yeah all of us, Ben has it, Ambassador Weah has it, Ali Syllah has
it, or anybody else who is going to be in the race, we all are going
to have the same challenges to get out to vote. But people need
to vote because I think its an important message for the people
of Montserrado County. Regardless what they say on the radio,
regardless of what they say on Facebook and in the Diaspora. Its
about you. It is a democratic right. The boss in this entire affair
isnt any one of us running, its the voters. They will make that
decision; people forget that. Decisions are not made by what I
say in a few hours right; the decision is going to be the voters of
Montserrado County is going to say I employed that candidate,
Im the boss and that is the beauty about democracy.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Do you have any strings at NOCAL
currently? Have you cut off completely from them because there
are reports that you are still monitoring things from outside?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: This is Liberia; if you do or you dont
they will say you do because it makes for better narratives. Hes
running here, hes pulling the strings from the back. I go back
to my same argument, if Im pulling the strings, if Im pulling
the strings, if Im writing emails, where are they? Do people who
work there I know? Yes I have people, friends who work there,
but I dont go making decisions and it would be an insult to the
current chairman and CEO. Now, if the current CEO comes out
and says oh hes pulling strings at my company. Two things, hes
not effective if Im able to do it, right? Or Im better than I think I
am. They havent heard that.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Any last word for the voters/ the
Liberian people about this whole process? Do you fear losing and
if you win whats your frst priorities?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: I dont fear losing. That is interesting
because we dont fear we are going to. I dont think about it.
People have said to me, what happens if you lose? And I always
have to pause; it exists. Were going to do everything possible to
convince people that we have a good story to tell. I think winning
is challenging; expectations; winning is challenging for any of us
because Montserrado County is the most populous county. People
are going to expect so much of you if you win. This is a nine years
job; very few jobs in the world that people stay in those jobs for
nine years. This is a nine-year commitment. So people who are
talking about other people running, its a nine-year job.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Some might say for you its a two-year
job because you might run in 2017 as president?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Were not interested in the presidency.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Politicians say Ill run for one term and
then they run for two terms; youre saying now its only one term
for you?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: I have no aspirations and if you notice Im
not using the word current. Thats how the pundits will do it
and say but he didnt say the word current. It is not like I have
no current. I have no aspirations to run for President. I would
be 63, thats enough. After seeing the job sometimes upfront it is
ten times diffcult than what most people think it is and that is not
exclusive to Liberia.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: This country is very rugged in politics,
are you ready for this? Im sure it is going to be nasty, it is going
to be a very dirty campaign season, are you ready to fght?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Its about tone to us. Some have started
that already. I think youve seen the reaction. The people tired
of it. Its an old model. Were still a young country. We will
engage with all our competitors and try to change the tone. Lets
not make up stuff. Everybodys aware, you give the people $5
scratch card or $10 just to call in a say things. I tell you a story;
there some kids who were holding some placards, a very small
number to the hundreds we had in Doe community and they ran
against the people who were supporting us. I was told the next
day they arrested 29 of them, and they broke some peoples
market in the scuffe. We sent people to the central prison; we
freed all 29 of them, for and against, then paid for the market
women damages. And then the candidate Robert Sirleaf did the
next step, we brought the against to meet me and then I asked
them: Your were holding these placards, you have a problem
with me so Im here to talk to you all face to face. Three of them
sat in the offce and their response was: Papay, we got nothing
against you; you actually have helped us. My cousin is on your
scholarship, I play football at Logan Town feld but somebody
gave us $10 to go hold the placards. Shame on those people, those
kids spent hours in Central Prison; they were beaten for what is
called jail fee (entrance fee, something like that), for that and the
people who actually gave them the money were going to put
them on the media Rodney, were going to put them. That has to
stop. To me if youre big person and you have money you go hold
the placards. Dont take advantage of the children. Thats what I
mean by tolerance in these elections. Every time you hear on the
radio oh were going to go protest; a petition ceremony? I would
clap at Ambassador Weahs petitioning ceremony, welcome him
as my brother, Hes reverent, how could you ignore somebody
like that? I would clap at Ben Sanvees petitioning ceremony, Ill
put my hand around him and clap for him. I will not give $10
through two or three different channels for somebody to go hold
a placard and say oh Ambassador Weah XYZ. Its uncalled for.
Those are the people who are not doing the country justice; not the
children who are taking it because they told me, we have nothing,
somebody just said we should go and do it and we should go hold
the placards. Thats unfair to the children that is something we
would like to change.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: One of your opponent George Weah
face similar problems you face with citizenship, should someone
fle a complaint and say you guys should declare or go through
some investigation, would you be willing to present everything?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: We have presented everything upfront.
Weve presented cards, weve presented our passport. Immigration
has our fle for years that we presented all the documents.
Everything is fair and clear. I dont prescribe to go into anybodys
house to go look to see what kind of passport they have or they
dont have. Practically, you can have an Iraqi passport Rodney. If
my roof is leaking and youre fxing my roof, your passport can
come from Parkistan or Canada, I just want my roof fxed. People
who research these things, their roofs are already fxed, they dont
live in places that theyre threatened. So the people who go to do
the work for them, trying to improve their lives, then they say
so I say come do it better than me. I have no problems with that.
FRONTPAGEAFRICA: Some of your critics have been
concerned about how you would vote on issues of gay rights if it
ever comes up when elected. What would you say to that?
ROBERT SIRLEAF: Theres been a lot of rumors conversation
about how I would handle the gay rights bill, how I would handle
that whole issue. The rumors never cease to entertain me. My
children get more worked up about it, than I do. Lot of people
dont know it. One of them may come for the election. My job and
all of our job is to represent the will of the people in the confnes
of our constitution and our laws; in a narrower confnes of our
social norms.
The reason I say that is, I dont want to go into anybody and
say oh Windy, I heard you smoke weed, where you smoke it at?
Where you buy it at? I heard your father drinks twenty bottles
o stout, gin or Nicon, thats not my job. I will respect the will
of the Montserrado people. I am very aware and astute to our
cultural norms; I accept that. My job is not to take a divergent
path from how they want to do that. Theyre the boss, if they say,
any bill, we do not want our senator from Montserrado County
voting for or against that bill, that is my job. I can talk to them
and say this is the way I see it. Also, lets be smart. The world is
a changing place you know. 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, black people
wouldnt eat in the same restaurants as white people in America;
they rode a different bus. Look where we are today, they have a
black president. In Africa you have Albinos, in Liberia you have
people who are deaf, theyre not accepted as handicap; therere
handicap generally around the world. The world is a changing
place. Im not going to be shortsighted and hurt our constituency
from any personal view. If people want to change lives within the
confnes of the law and the constitution and the norms, Im not
going to verbally get up and do what these people do on the radio.
You know, yell this, theyve heard, you know whos sleeping with
who. Thats not the issue. Will this person, will this man, will this
woman, represent the people wisely, smartly, extremely creatively
to solve their issues; that is the issue. The personality is not going
to do. Youve heard it on me, youve heard it on other people in
the race; all kinds of what theyre going to do. People may know
a lot more than they think they know because its the only way
I would know what goes on in peoples homes; if I was there,
or if I participated. That is my view on it. Im going to be smart,
respecting the constitution, the cultural norms of Liberia.
F
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FPA Exclusive Interview

COMING WEDNESDAY: BEN SANVEE- THE GAME CHANGER
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BACKGROUND
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airport was used to support US Air Force activities during World War II. After the war, the
airport served as the principal hub for Pan American Airlines (Pan Am) in Africa. From the end
of World War II to 1985, Pan Am managed the airport terminal, which was under contract with
the Government of Liberia. The airport utilized both a main and ancillary terminal prior to the
war, which were both damaged during the civil crisis. Additionally, RIA has an asphalt runway
measuring 11,000 ft. (3,353m), which is being used by international carriers. The runway is
shortly to undergo full renovation commencing the latter part of this year.
Currently, RIA uses two of its ancillary terminals and its asphalt runway to service international
carriers as well as the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). UNMIL maintains a
helicopter and airplane at the same airport. The current terminals have the capacity to handle 330
passengers every 30 minutes, and passenger numbers stand at 115,800 outbound and 112,500
inbound as of the last operational year. Given the current trajectory, total passenger numbers
for RIA are projected to grow to at least 450,000 over the next few years. However, there is the
potential for a further signifcant increase in both carrier and passenger numbers over this period
as investments into Liberia continue to increase, particularly with the discovery of oil.
The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) invites eligible international frms to submit Expressions
of Interest to source funding and Build a new state-of-the-art Airport Facility, with the potential
to become a key hub for air transport within West Africa. This should include cargo handling,
storage and processing facilities, fuel supply terminals and parking garages to name a few. All
facilities must meet relevant ICAO standards. The interested frm must submit a proposal that
includes at a minimum, the following:
Technical drawings of the proposed terminal and other ancillary facilities;
Technical data on a modern hotel/conference center complex that are representative of
an Airport City;
Technical proposal for an airline to use RIA as a hub;
Technical proposal for establishing a free zone manufacturing complex;
Timeline for the construction of the proposed facility;
Outline for the Operation of the airport; and
A Financial Analysis of the associated costs and suggested fnancing options;
In addition, all interested frms should include within their Expression of Interest:
General information on the frm, including main business, country/countries of
establishment and operation, and duration of business activities;
Technical capacities to design, construct, fnance, maintain and/or operate a civil
aviation airport. Interested bidders will need to demonstrate a suffcient level of experience to
build, maintain and operate the airport and should have capabilities to design, construct and
maintain an airport demonstrated by doing this for at least one airport of a similar size;
The annual turnover of the frm should have exceeded US$70 million in each of the
last three fnancial years (the frm should supply audited fnancial statements for the previous
three years);
A signed statement by a duly authorized representative of the frm, to the effect that
the frm is in sound fnancial order, is not bankrupt, nor having their affairs managed by a court,
has not suspended its business, entered into an arrangement with its creditors or similar related
situations that could call the fnancial standing of the institution into question; and
An expressed or demonstrated willingness/commitment to ensure strong local content
participation by designing a program that included local procurement or linkages as an integral
part of the proposal.
The frm will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the Public Procurement
and Concessions Commission Act of Liberia.
Firms may express their intentions singularly, or in consortium with other frms. If the Expression
of Interest is from a consortium of frms, information on each of the frms within the consortium
is required. The lead frm of the consortium must be clearly stated. The nature of the consortium
arrangement must be specifed and accompanied by a consortium agreement or letter, signed by
all participating frms.
Expressions of Interest must be delivered to the address below:
Liberia Airport Authority (LAA)
James Spriggs Payne Airfeld
Sinkor
Monrovia, Liberia
West Africa
Attn: Mrs. Cecelia Sio
Robertsfeld1952@yahoo.com
+231886511196
Republic of Liberia
Liberia Airport Authority
James Spriggs Payne Airport, Airfeld
Monrovia, Liberia
REQUEST FOR AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
July 16, 2014
The general public is here by notifed that the service of Registered
Land Surveyor, Mr. Reuben Johnson) has been hired by Mr. Samuel
Tetroien Nimley and Mrs. Lydia Wyiata Sandimanie Nimley to
resurvey 3.44 Lots of land on Tuesday July 22, 2014 at the hour of
3:00pm.
The land to be re-surveyed is lying and situated near rehab Paynesville,
Montserrado County and adjoining Mr. K. Sonnie Nagafu, Mr. Joe
Nagbe, Mr. Maxwell and cornerstones bearing initials JMY and
DAC.
Therefore, anyone having claim on the said Samuel Tetroien Nimley
and Lydia Wyiata Sandimanie Nimley 3.44 Lots of land is asked to
be present at the site on the day of the re-survey along with their
deed(s) and diagram(s) and technical representative(s) to support
their claim.
Signed: Reuben Johnson
REGISTERED LAND SURVEYOR
CELL# 0886-53-83-88
SURVEYORS LICENCE
NAME: Reuben Johnson
License #028
SURVEY NOTICE
Page 12 |
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014
F
RONT
PAGE
EBOLA
Monrovia -
T
he President and
Chief Executive
Offcer of Morweh
Energy Group in
Liberia, Dr. Christopher Z.
Neyor has underscored the
need for adequate support and
attention to be given to health
workers in Liberia in the midst
of the deadly Ebola virus.
According to him, health
workers must be provided the
necessary safety gears by the
Government of Liberia (GOL)
and others to help combat
the deadly Ebola virus in the
country.
Ebola is a deadly disease that
has no cure or vaccine.
Over 60 persons including
ten (10) nurses have died as a
result of the Ebola virus since
the outbreak in March, 2014 in
Liberia.
Dr. Neyor maintained that
the primary objective of
government is to protect
and empower its people and
therefore, health workers
across the country must be
properly protected to cater to
patients.
The former President/CEO
of the National Oil Company
of Liberia (NOCAL) was
speaking on Saturday, July 19,
2014 when he served as guest
speaker at a program marking
the 34th Initiation of the First
Year Medical Students of the
A. M. Dogliotti College of
Medicineof the University
of Liberia in Congo Town,
outside Monrovia.
He said government must
prioritize the health of not only
its citizens but those that are
providing medical services to
people who are ill.
He stated that more emphasis
must be placed on the training
and recruitment of specialists
in different medical felds to
help guarantee the survival
of patients, noting that,
prevention is less expensive
than cure.
Dr. Neyor noted that
government must invest in
fnding solutions or preventing
diseasesthat are dangerous to
the livelihood of the citizens.
He said fear amongst the health
workers combating the Ebola
virus would be curtailed or
minimized, if more protective
gears are provided to them
across the country.
Health workers are the
frst respondents during the
outbreak of any disease; and
you cannot send your soldiers
to battle without empowering
them. Any government that
does that means it does not
love its own people. We should
give health workers gears not
only to help the patients but to
also protect their lives. Health
workers lost their lives; they
are now afraid. And the way
to avoid that is to ensure that
the necessary protective gears
are provided.
The prime duty of any
government is to protect
and empower the citizens;
and ensuring the health and
wellbeing of your people is
an integrated part of this. He
quoted British Prime Minister
in the 1800s Benjamin
Disraeli who said, the frst
duty of a statesman is the
health of the people.Seeking
the health and wellbeing of
your people do not only mean
providing hospitals or clinics
but also ensuring investment
in training health workers and
preventing diseases. We should
place emphasis on preventive
medicines as it most cost
effective to prevent than to
cure. We need to also put
emphasis on the development
of specialists, he stated.
He said it was essential to invest
in the health infrastructure,
equipment, supplies along with
the specialists and associated
health workers as not everyone
can afford to seek medical
attention in Ghana or South
Africa or the United States.
Meanwhile, the Morweh
Energy boss has provided the
amount of LD$250,000 to help
purchase preventive gears for
health workers. Hon. Neyor
stated that the gesture would
help bring courage to the health
workers while carrying on their
respective functions in the
midst of the epidemic.
He pointed out that the
purchasing of the protective
gears for the medical
practitioners would be done
by the Liberia National Red
Cross Society (LNRCS) in
collaboration with the Liberia
Medical Students Association
(LMSA).
He, however, used the
occasion to call on the Liberian
government to use funds
allocated for the celebration
of this year July 26 to the fght
against Ebola in Liberia as
the National Legislature has
initiated.
Mr. Neyor also added his voice
to that of Kof Woods and
others that instead of the pomp
and pageantry for celebration
of Independence, the necessary
funding must be appropriated
towards purchasing safety
gears for those that risk their
lives to cater to persons
affected with the Ebola virus.
According to him, the
celebration of National
Independence in Liberiaat this
time is uncalled for.He urged
Liberians to use the day to
offer national prayers and fast
to God to help redeem their
country from the deadly virus.
NEYOR GIVES LD$250,000
TO FIGHT EBOLA

CALLS FOR MORE SUPPORT TO HEALTH WORKERS
WHO CAN'T FULLY DEAL WITH EBOLA
OUTBREAK, HEALTH OFFICIAL WARNS
I
nternational health
offcials warned
Thursday that recent
budget cuts have impeded
the ability of the World Health
Organization to respond to the
Ebola outbreak that has killed
at least 603 people in Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone.
"The situation in West Africa
should be a wake-up call to
recognize that this weakening
of this institution on which we
all depend is not in anybody's
interest," Scott Dowell, director
of disease detection and
emergency response at the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, said during a
briefng in Washington. "In my
view, there's no way that WHO
can respond in a way that we
need it to."
Partly because of declining
donations from member
countries during the global
recession, the United Nations-
backed WHO has suffered a
12% drop in its program budget
in the last two years. This year's
budget is $3.98 billion.
Efforts to address the
deadliest outbreak of Ebola
in 40 years also have been
hindered by the failure of some
countries to implement the
WHO's International Health
Regulations, which went
into effect in 2007, Dowell
said. The regulations require
countries to report outbreaks
of certain diseases, including
smallpox, polio and new
strains of infuenza, to the
organization.
"We saw spread and chaos
and, frankly, a lack of strong
leadership combined with very
poor public health infrastructure
in the area," Dowell said. Such
poor management led to the
resurgence of the virus, he said.
About 80% of U.N. member
countries, including the United
States, have not met their public
health policy obligations to the
organization, Dowell said.
Many countries could take
years to develop the ability
to survey disease outbreaks,
including monitoring who
is traveling into the country
and developing a laboratory
that can track pathogens
nationwide, said Keiji Fukuda,
WHO assistant director general
for health security. In the mean
time, they will need technical
assistance from wealthier countries, he
said.
"If there are poor areas of the world where
pathogens can get a head start, we're all
vulnerable," Dowell said.
Fukuda also expressed concern about
his organization's ability to respond to
simultaneous, multiple outbreaks around
the world.
"I think the answer is fairly clear," Fukuda
said. "I don't think we're quite ready. We're
not adequately set up or prepared to deal
with those things."

Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014 Page 13
REGULATOR STILL IN LACC DRAGNET
Commission on Higher Education Director General long Corruption tale
F
RONT
PAGE
EBOLA
There is no such thing as Ebola
EBOLA SPREADS IN LIBERIA
Monrovia -
T
he Ebola virus has spread to four additional counties
in Liberia, Health Ministry offcial Tolbert Nyenswah
said on Thursday.
That brings the number of affected counties to seven
out of a total of 15.
The four new counties are Bong and Bomi in the west, Nimba in
the centre and Grand Gedeh in the east of the country.
So far, Ebola had affected mainly western Liberia. Nyenswah said
at least 105 deaths have been recorded since the Ebola outbreak
in May. The Liberian senate meanwhile said it wanted the lower
house of parliament to join it in asking President Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf to declare a state of emergency.
The senators described the Ebola outbreak as a threat to the
livelihood and very existence of Liberians.
Ebola, which has spread through several West African countries
in the latest outbreak, causes massive haemorrhages and has a
fatality rate of 90 percent. It is transmitted through blood and
other body fuids

WRONG MYTHS LINGERING DEADLY OUTBREAK

I dont believe in Ebola,

Craig Mannings local
driver told him as he
chauffeured the viral
emergency specialist through
Freetown, Sierra Leone, where
infection rates are rising. The
man came from a rural part
of the country where people
were already dying from the
virus. He was adamant, like
many others in his community,
that there is no such thing as
Ebola.
He is wrong. The epidemic, the
deadliest on record, continues
to batter Sierra Leone, Guinea
and Liberia, with 85 new cases
and 68 new deaths reported
in only four days earlier this
month, according to the World
Health Organization (WHO).
Sierra Leone bore the brunt of
new infections and deaths, with
49 new cases and 52 deaths
reported. The total number of
cases stands at 982, with 613
deaths as of July 17.
Yet, as the Ebola virus
continues to spread in West
Africa, so do the rumors. Some
say you can contract Ebola
from a motorcycle helmet.
Others say you can cure the
deadly virus by drinking
Nescaf mixed with cocoa
and sugar or with two large
onions.
Its Mannings job to take
onions out of the equation.
A health communications
strategist with the Viral Special
Pathogens Branch of the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Manning was sent
to Guinea at the frst outbreak
of the Ebola crisis in March.
When one of his colleagues,
Pierre Roland, an expert on
Ebola, gave a presentation
at the U.S. Embassy in
Conkary about mitigating
risks of transmission, Manning
recorded him. He then had
the edited 30 second snippets
translated into 10 local
languages and broadcast over
local radio stations and TV.
When the virus spread to Sierra
Leone, Manning followed it,
teaming up with BBC Media
Action to bring together radio
station managers from across
the country to help spread the
word.
Manning said aggressive
intervention is necessary to
prevent more people from
becoming infected, but ensuring
local populations understand
Ebola frst is essential. For
instance, in areas where the
virus has spread, relatives wash
bodies by hand before funerals,
putting families at risk of new
infections.
People do not easily accept
the idea that teams will take
their deceased loved one, put
them in a bag and bury them
somewhere different, said
Manning. The challenge is to
strike a balance.
This balance demands
communication, according to
WHO spokesperson Daniel
Epstein.
There are a set of beliefs
and myths that impede our
messages about treatment it
is a huge challenge, he said.
Doctors Without Borders has
been unable to gain access
to some affected areas due
to hostility from the people
there. Local communities
fear outsiders are bringing
the virus with them or want
to exterminate the infected,
since so few who get treatment
return alive.
WHO is helping coordinate
information sessions on Ebola
to train local leaders how the
virus is transmitted and how
people can stop it.
It is necessary for any group
engaging in Ebola control
to provide health education
prior to initiating any other
intervention, said Rashid
Ansumana, a researcher at
Mercy Hospital Research
Lab in the city of Bo, Sierra
Leone, where 15 physicians
treat a population of more than
150,000. Ansumana comes
from the city of Kailahun,
an epicenter of the outbreak,
and said a large number of
new infections are going
undetected. His family lives in
constant fear.
One false rumor that is
circulating is that health
offcials might inject suspected
Ebola patients with lethal
substances, he said. He
suggested HIV prevention
protocols, which people are
familiar with, can be used
to explain how Ebola can be
transmitted through blood or
other body fuids.
In 2012, Mercy Hospital
used the crowdsourcing
platform Ushahidi to monitor
an outbreak of the highly
infectious Chikungunya virus,
technology he believes could
be employed to combat Ebola.
Crowdsourcing data during
emergencies has become an
important new way to quickly
source information about
people at risk and to locate
the epicenters of the crisis,
used to great effect during the
earthquake in Haiti to aid a
targeted, effective response.
In West Africa, someone
who has Ebola might not seek
testing or treatment due to
the monetary costs or the fear
of getting a positive result
for the virus, the impact and
potential stigma that has for
their family, said Kathryn H.
Jacobsen, associate professor
for epidemiology at the
Department of Global and
Community Health at George
Mason University. For diseases
such as malaria, she said,
people in this region will often
go to a local pharmacy where
medication is available without
a prescription, rarely going to
hospital.
To have people reporting in
cases through text messaging
would be a very helpful
system, she said.
WHO has been operating
emergency Ebola hotlines in
the affected countries that get
200 to 300 calls a day. The
organization is exploring text
messaging, since 40 percent
of affected populations use
mobile phones.
Doctors Without Borders have
brought anthropologists on
board in an attempt to better
understand the traditions and
cultures of the people they are
treating.
While expert advice is
important, the key to getting
the message through to
communities in more isolated
areas is building a network
of local spokespersons and
engaging religious and cultural
leaders.
There have been small
victories. Manning said his
driver had come to trust him.
One day, his driver tugged on
his sleeve at a gas station. Out
of the blue, he said: I want
you to speak to these people
about Ebola.
An 'Overhappy' Survivor, A
Guarded Forecast: Reporting
On Ebola
by MARC SILVER
Government health workers are seen during the administration of blood tests for the
Ebola virus in Kenema, Sierra Leone, June 25, 2014. (Umaru Fofana/Reuters)
Health workers carry the body of an Ebola virus victim in Kenema, Sierra Leone,
on June 25, 2014. (Umaru Fofana/Reuters)

Healthcare workers prepare isolation and treatment areas in Gueckedou, Guinea, in March 2014. (Kjell Gunnar Beraas/MSF via AP)
Page 14 |
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014
IN BRIEF
UKRAINE: REBELS
HAVE TAKEN ALL PLANE
CRASH BODIES
IRAN ELIMINATES SENSITIVE
URANIUM GAS STOCKPILE
UNDER NUCLEAR DEAL: IAEA
SOMALIA FACING DISASTER
THREE YEARS AFTER
DEVASTATING FAMINE

HRABOVE, Ukraine (AP)
S
eparatist rebels have
spirited away all 196
bodies that workers
recovered from
the Malaysia Airlines crash
site to an unknown location,
Ukraine's emergency services
said Sunday.
Associated Press journalists
saw the pro-Russia rebels
putting bagged bodies onto
trucks at the crash site Saturday
in rebel-held eastern Ukraine
and driving them away.
On Sunday morning, AP
journalists saw no bodies and
no armed rebels at the crash
site and emergency workers
were searching the sprawling
felds only for body parts.
Ukraine and the separatists
accuse each other of fring a
surface-to-air missile Thursday
at Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
as it few from Amsterdam to
Kuala Lumpur some 33,000
feet (10,000 meters) above the
battlefelds of eastern Ukraine.
Nairobi (AFP) -
T
hree years after famine
in Somalia killed a
quarter of a million
people in six months,
aid agencies warned Sunday a
new catastrophe is looming unless
urgent aid arrives.
A joint statement issued by a group
of charities and aid agencies said
there were more than 300,000
malnourished children in the east
African country and 2.9 million
people in need of life-saving help.
"Aid agencies today caution, again,
that the signs of a drought are re-
emerging in Somalia and urge for
these not to be ignored in order to
avoid a relapse into the conditions
of the 2011 catastrophe," the
statement said.
VIENNA (Reuters) -
I
ran has moved to eliminate
its most sensitive stockpile of
enriched uranium gas under
an interim nuclear deal with
six world powers reached last
year, according to a monthly U.N.
nuclear watchdog update obtained
by Reuters on Sunday.
The report by the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
showed that Iran had met the
terms of the six-month agreement,
which had been due to expire on
Sunday but which will be extended
with some adjustments, after
Iran and the six powers failed to
meet the July 20 deadline for a
comprehensive agreement to end
the decade-old nuclear standoff
and agreed to continue talking.

Gaza City (Palestinian
Territories) (AFP) -
A
t least 97 Palestinians
and 13 soldiers were
killed Sunday as
Israel ramped up a
major military offensive in the
bloodiest single day in Gaza in
fve years.
As regional leaders met in Doha
for urgent talks on a ceasefre,
the Gaza Palestinian death toll
soared to 435, with a spokesman
for the emergency services
saying more than a third of
the victims were women and
children.
The Israeli army said 13 soldiers
had been killed in a series of
attacks inside Gaza on the third
day of a major ground operation.
"Over the course of the day, 13
soldiers from the IDF's Golani
Brigade were killed in combat
in the Gaza Strip," an army
statement said.
Their deaths raised to 18 the
total number of soldiers killed
since Israel's ground operation
began late on Thursday. It was
the largest number of soldiers
killed in combat since the 2006
Lebanon war.
Most of Sunday's Palestinian
victims were killed in a blistering
hours-long Israeli assault on
Shejaiya near Gaza City, which
began before dawn and has so
far claimed 62 Palestinian lives,
with another 250 wounded.
With ambulances unable to
reach the area, the International
Committee of the Red Cross
called for an urgent temporary
ceasefre to allow paramedics to
evacuate the dead and wounded,
which was agreed on by the two
sides.
Inside the ravaged
neighbourhood, there were
BLOODY SUNDAY

F
RONT
PAGE
WORLD NEWS
NIGERIA'S FREE-WHEELING MEDIA FEARS
CRACKDOWN OVER BOKO HARAM BATTLE
ABUJA/LAGOS (Reuters) -
N
igeria's press is
traditionally free
to write almost
anything about
anyone - whether it's true or not.
But reporters fear a government
sensitive to criticism is now
cracking down, especially on
coverage of the battle against
Boko Haram.
After 15 years of democracy,
journalists believe the state
is trying to tame the vibrant,
prolifc media during its faltering
campaign to stamp out the
militant Islamist group.
One Friday last month the army
seized newspaper print-runs,
halted distribution vans across
the country and ransacked
offces of newspaper distributors
and agents, detaining staff for
several hours, the Nigerian Press
Organisation said.
For Femi Adesina, now editor-in-
chief of Nigeria's top tabloid, The
Sun, this awoke bad memories
of life under military rule, when
reporters were routinely hauled
in for questioning over their
news stories.
"You virtually had your heart in
your mouth. You wrote the story
and you didn't know whether
you should sleep at home or
sleep somewhere else," recalled
Adesina, who is also president of
the Nigerian Guild of Editors. "If
we are not careful as a country,
we could slide back to those dark
days."
While reporters accuse the
security forces from time to
time of intimidation, conditions
for journalists remain a long
way from the era of military
dictatorship. Newspapers are
able to publish vitriolic criticism
of President Goodluck Jonathan
that is largely tolerated.
Spokesmen for the presidency
and police and a spokeswoman
for the state security service did
not respond to Reuters requests
for comment.
However, the military said it
made the searches last month
after receiving intelligence on
the movement of "materials with
grave security implications"
through newspaper distribution
channels. One security source
told Reuters there was a genuine
concern that militants were using
the vans to transport explosives.
Nevertheless, the press
organization says the military
is using national security as
an excuse for a crackdown on
critical media coverage before
elections next year.
Adding to journalists' anger,
Nigeria's broadcast regulator has
ruled that stations must give at
least 48 hours' notice in writing
before airing a live political
program - a near impossibility
given the impromptu nature of
such coverage.
A local election in the western
state of Ekiti in June that was
otherwise deemed free and fair
was marred by allegations of
intimidation of local journalists,
fve of whom were arrested by
police. In Akwa Ibom state in
the oil producing Niger Delta,
the editor of the Global Concord
newspaper has been detained for
two weeks after being bundled
into a car by state security
agents. The paper had repeatedly
criticized the local government.
Nigeria ranks 112th out of 180
countries on the Reporters
Without Borders press freedom
index, above India and Mexico,
but below East African nations
Kenya and Uganda.
Jonathan has repeatedly
expressed his support for
freedom of the press, while also
calling on its members to be
"professional and accurate".
"Under my leadership,
journalists in our country will
continue to fully enjoy their
constitutional rights and freedom
of expression," he said in 2012.
LOSING PATIENCE
The government seems to be
losing patience with press
coverage of its fght against
Boko Haram, an insurgent group
which has killed thousands since
2009 in a push to carve out
an Islamic state in the largely
Muslim north.
Boko Haram's own attitude
to press freedom was neatly
displayed in 2012, when it blew
up the offces of mildly pro-
government ThisDay for what it
called "insulting the Prophet".
The newspaper had angered
Muslims a decade ago when one
of its columnists suggested the
Prophet Mohammed might have
wanted to marry a beauty queen.

hellish scenes of carnage and
chaos as a convoy of ambulances
moved in to make the most of
the calm, an AFP correspondent
said.
Entire buildings were collapsed
on themselves or strewn into the
streets, while others were still
ablaze, sending pillars of black
smoke skywards.
There were also bodies,
blackened and charred almost
beyond recognition, some with
whole limbs missing.
As the violence raged,
Palestinian president Mahmud
Abbas arrived in Qatar to discuss
a ceasefre with Hamas leader
Khaled Meshaal, with UN chief
Ban Ki-moon due there later
Sunday at the start of a regional
tour to push truce efforts.
So far, truce efforts have been
rejected by Hamas.
Undaunted by the Israeli
bombardment by land, sea and
air, it has pressed on with its own
assaults.
- Shejaiya burns -
Following a night of terror
in Shejaiya, thousands began
feeing for their lives at frst
light after heavy shelling left
casualties lying in the streets, an
AFP correspondent reported.
Clouds of black smoke billowed
into the sky as the shelling
continued and Gaza's eastern
fank burned.
Among those feeing was a
group of gunmen with automatic
weapons, some with their faces
covered by scarves.
Women and children were among
the dead, as were a Palestinian
paramedic and a cameraman
killed when the ambulance they
were in was hit.
"He wasn't a fghter, he was a
fghter for humanity," wailed one
relative as the family buried him.
"He was an ambulance worker,
did he deserve to die?"
So far, UNRWA has opened
61 of its schools to shelter
those feeing the most heavily
bombarded areas, with more
than 81,000 people taking refuge
in them, the UN's Palestinian
refugee agency said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu has put the blame
for civilian casualties squarely
on Hamas, accusing it of "using
innocent civilians as human
shields".
- An end in sight? -
Speaking 24 hours after the
ground operation began, Israel's
Chief-of-Staff Lieutenant
General Benny Gantz warned
there would be "moments
of hardship", alluding to the
possibility of further Israeli
casualties.
Although Israel said earlier
Sunday it was expanding its
ground operation to destroy
the network of tunnels used by
militants to stage cross-border
attacks, Netanyahu also said
troops could end their mission
"fairly quickly".
97 Gazans, 13 Israeli soldiers killed
Jonathan, a southern Christian,
has been criticized at home and
abroad for his slow response to
Boko Haram's April kidnapping
of more than 200 girls from a
school in the rural northeast,
and for his inability to quell the
violence.
"Newspapers have reported this
insurgency independently," said
The Sun's Adesina. "Apparently
they're not comfortable with our
independent reportage of what is
happening in the country."
While press freedom is
guaranteed under Nigerian
law, in reality the media face
retribution that is "episodic,
unpredictable and very often
arbitrary", said John Campbell,
a former U.S. ambassador to
Nigeria and a senior fellow at the
Council on Foreign Relations.
Going after the wrong "Big Man",
or politically well-connected
person, can be dangerous.
"In a general climate of
lawlessness, if a newspaper
publishes something that a
big man or some part of the
government doesn't like,
it's likely to have its offces
ransacked by a mob," Campbell
said.
Nigerian journalists are still
killed for their work, just as
activist and writer Ken Saro-
Wiwa was hanged by the
military government in 1995.
The Committee to Protect
Journalists names Nigeria as one
of 13 countries where the murder
of a journalist is most likely to go
unpunished.
Frontpage
Monday, July 21, 2014 Page 15
Sports
SPORTS
Liberias Sekou Jabateh-Oliseh joins Russias
Krasnodar on loan from CSKA Moscow
AC MILAN SAY THEY WONT
PAY OVER THE ODDS FOR
11M-RATED MANCHESTER
UNITED WINGER
GOURCUFF NAMED AS
ALGERIA COACH
WITH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
WIN, RORY MCILROY NOW JOINS
GOLF'S IMMORTALS

A
C Milan are
interested
in signing
Manchester United
winger Nani this summer,
but are not willing to pay the
clubs current asking price of
11m for the player, according
to the Daily Express.
The Portuguese international
has been badly off form for
the Red Devils for the last two
seasons now, and is widely
expected to be shown the door
this summer following the
arrival of new manager Louis
van Gaal.
United have been linked with a
host of new attacking midfeld
players, most notably Real
Madrid star Angel Di Maria,
and will likely be looking to
sell as well as buy as they look
to make major changes in that
part of their squad.
The likes of Ashley Young
and Wilfried Zaha are also
being linked with moves away
from Old Trafford, and Nani
could be San Siro-bound if the
club are ready to lower their
demands for the inconsistent
wide-man.
R
ory McIlroy is now one
of golf's giants. We can't
believe it either, but here
we are. This 25-year-old
kid, who arrived in this world right
about the same time as the third
Indiana Jones movie, is offcially,
certifably, indisputably a legend.
McIlroy won the Open
Championship on Sunday with
only the briefest of hiccups. He
was paired withRickie Fowler,
playing one pairing behind Sergio
Garcia, and both of them veered
within two strokes of McIlroy at
two points in the afternoon. But
McIlroy responded to the challenge
with smooth drives straight enough
to fre through a keyhole.
Algiers (AFP) -
F
ormer Lorient coach
Christian Gourcuff
has succeeded Vahid
Halilhodzic as coach
of Algeria, the Algerian football
federation has announced.
Gourcuff has been handed a
contract leading up to the 2018
World Cup in Russia, with a more
immediate target the 2015 Africa
Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Over more than 25 years in
management Gourcuff has coached
Lorient on three separate occasions.
Halilhodzic stood down after
leading Algeria to the last 16 at the
World Cup for the frst time. The
Bosnian has taken up a job with
Turkish side Trabzonspor.
KEMAYAH FINALLY TAKES OATH AS LFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER
D
ee-Maxwell Kemayah, President
of Watanga Football Club has
been inaugurated as Executive
Committee Member of the
Liberia Football Association (LFA) having
been omitted from the April 12, 2014
induction that was held at the Executive
Pavilion in Monrovia.
The EC Member took oath on Saturday,
July 19, 2014 at a short program held at the
Headquarters of the LFA in the presence of
other colleagues.
The Watanga FC President was not a part of
the April 12, 2014 induction ceremony with
the rest of his colleagues due to the fact that
he was out of the Country.
Administering the section, the President
of the Liberia Football Association, Musa
H. Bility admonished the LIBA boss to
discharge his duties diligently and in line
with LFA Approved Statutes.
Kemayah, also the President of the Liberia
Business Association (LIBA), was among the
new LFA offcials that were overwhelming
elected at the 19th Ordinary Congress on
March 22, 2014 in Buchanan, Bassa County.
He said it is more than a pleasure serving
Liberians through the Executive Committee
at the LFA.
I
s he on a desperate search for playing time? Has his promising
career taken a spiral dive to the bottom of the ocean? And will
he end up like Americas Freddy Adu?
Those are amazing questions for Liberian pundits and football
authorities as
Sekou Jabateh-Oliseh embarks on another loan move as the 2014/2015
season gets underway in Russia.
Jabateh has joined Kuban Krasnodar from Greeces PAOK
Thessaloniki FC, where he spent the second half of the 2012/2013 and
the entire 2013/2014 seasons on loan from Russias CSKA Moscow.
At PAOK, he made 23 appearances (totaling 1,364 minutes) in the
Super League where they were twice runner-up to Olympiakos
Piraeus on the 18-team table.
Jabateh had joined CSKA on loan from Denmarks FC Midtjylland in
July 2009 and the club were pleased to offer him a fve-year deal after
some impressive performances four months later.
However, Jabateh dropped down the pecking order in 2010 to
attacking midfelder Milos Krasi.
Following Krasi's transfer saga to Juventus, Jabateh rarely started
but he didnt disappoint coach Leonid Slutskiy.
Playing time became scare for Jabateh when CSKA signed Ahmed
Musa from Dutch club VVV Venlo on a four-and-a-half-year deal for
an undisclosed fee.
Slutskiy preferred Musa to Jabateh as either a right or left winger
because of the Nigerians ability to quickly track back and forth down
the wings.
Having been deemed surplus to requirements but apparently unwilling
to offoad Jabateh, CSKA loaned him to PAOK in January 2013, with
the deal extended fve months later.
And after a 19-month stay that may not have yielded good results,
Jabateh has returned to Russia, joining the club he made his CSKA
debut against on October 4, 2009.
His 20-minute appearance, in which he replaced striker Tomas Necid,
was capped with a goal in a 4-0 victory.
But a string of loan moves for Jabateh has prompted some to believe
that a once promising career that earned him the wonder boy
nickname is slowly fading away.
So what has gone wrong for Jabateh, who had a starring performance
for
CSKA in a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the frst leg knock-out round
of the Uefa Champions League on February 21, 2012 in Moscow?
We are happy that hes back in Russia, although not on a permanent
basis, because Russia is higher than Greece [in terms of the coeffcient
used by Uefa to rank its members leagues and clubs]. Secondly,
he will need to raise his game to be more established in terms of
permanent deals.
We will like to see the Jabateh of old. [We will like to see] that
form that made him to showcase against the likes of Real Madrid.

We are praying that he will use
this loan deal as a stepping stone
to go somewhere bigger because
this loan, loan and loan is almost
like hes having a trial here and
there, said Wleh Bedell, former
assistant secretary-general of the
Sports Writers Association of
Liberia (Swal).
Born on 5 June 1990 in
Monrovia, Liberia, Jabateh
began his career with Gedi &
Sons before Churchill Oliseh, an
ex-Nigeria international, adopted
him to play for Ebedei FC.
He later moved to Midtjylland
in 2006 and made fve league
appearances from 2008 to 2009.
A call-up from Hungarian coach
Bertalan Bicskei (deceased)
ended with a debut goal for
Jabateh against Zimbabwe in
a 2012 Afcon qualifer at the
Samuel Kanyon Doe sports
complex on September 5, 2010.
He will soon be compared
to George Weah or James
Debbah following some fne
performances for Liberia.
But a lack of playing time at
club level seems to have affected
his international performance,
which ended-up with a frst half
own goal in a painful 2-0 defeat
to Lesotho in a 2015 Afcon
qualifer in Maseru on June 1.
And there are fears he may end-
up like Freddy Adu, who was
thought to have a promising
career.
Adu, born on June 2, 1989,
is a Ghanaian-born American
footballer, who is currently a free
agent.
Like Jabateh, Adu plays
primarily as an attacking
midfelder but he is also used as
a winger or forward.
At 14, he became the youngest
athlete ever to sign a professional
contract in America, after he
was selected by DC United in
the 2004 Major League Soccer
(MSL) Super Draft.
On April 3, 2004, he became the
youngest player to appear in a
MSL game when he came on as
a substitute against the San Jose
Earthquakes.
On April 17, he became the
youngest scorer in MLS history,
scoring a goal in a 32 loss to the
Metro Stars.
Adu was considered an up-and-
comer for America and much
speculation surrounded his
potential for future success that
he was even referred to as "the
next Pel".
Adu played for America in the
Fifa under-17 World Cup in
Finland and under-20 World
Cups in the United Arab Emirates
in 2003, in the Netherlands in
2005 and Canada in 2007 and
2008 Summer Olympic Games.
He was invited to a training
camp by then coach Bruce
Arena in January 2006 for a
friendly match against Canada
and debuted on January 22 (at 16
years and 234 days), becoming
the youngest player to debut
for America when he replaced
an injured Eddie Johnson in the
81st minute at the university of
San Diegos Torero Stadium in
California.
By playing in the 2007
championship, Adu became only
the second player in the world
to play in three under-20 World
Cups.
On July 3, Adu scored a hat-trick
in the 61 victory over Poland in
the group stage and it made him
the frst player to ever score a hat
trick in both the under-20 and
under-17 World Cups.
But Adu may have crumbled
under an intense media spotlight,
perhaps from the Voice of
Americas Sonny Young.
His career has since fattered to
deceive with loan moves to AS
Monaco in France, Belenenses
in Portugal, Aris FC in Greece
and Caykur Rizespor in Turkey
having moved from MSLs Real
Salt Lake to Benfca for 1.5
million Euros on July 31, 2007.
He returned to MSL with
Philadelphia Union on a free
transfer on June 11, 2011 and
another free transfer to Brazils
Bahia on March 25, 2013.
And it appears the gold linings
have faded on Adus promising
career, which saw him earned 17
caps and two goals for America
from 2006 to 2011.
So is Jabateh, with more than 17
caps and two goals for Liberia,
likely to end-up like Adu?
I dont hope for that and I dont
think so. Freddy Adu was still
in America when he had all the
praises but I think Jabateh didnt
have the praises when he was
in the lower leagues in Liberia,
Nigeria or when he went to
Denmark.
With age still in his favor, I
think he can go a step further
than Freddy Adu, Bedell,
the founding president of the
Liberian Football Players Union,
said.
But Adu is just a year and three
days older than Jabateh and
Bedell admits complacency may
have caught-up with Jabateh.
I think to some extent
complacency has played on him
because, in the past when our
players showcased, they get all
the praises and out of a sudden
there is a dip in form.
So apparently, the pressure to
remain up there was a problem
for him. There were a lot of
names given to him [such as]
the new generation leader, star
is born and wonder boy and he
played in the Uefa Champions
League after many years of
seeing a Liberian do so.
So yes, complacency crept
in [his ability to do more] but
we would like for him to shake
that-up and open a new chapter
going forward. So he should say
no to complacency and keep his
feet on the ground. He should
consider himself as somebody
who has achieved nothing and
the sky should be his limit,
Bedell concluded.
A. Macaulay Sombai, so mbai121@gmail.com
Danesius Marteh, danesius.marteh@frontpageafricaonline.com
IS HE ANOTHER
FREDDY ADU?



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IS HE ANOTHER
FREDDY ADU?

Liberias Sekou Jabateh-Oliseh joins Russias
Krasnodar on loan from CSKA Moscow