2023 was a year filled with excitement, enthusiasm, disappointment, encouragement, and moreover, a time when Liberians gathered in their numbers to decide the next political path the country would tread for the next six years.
And sure, the Inquirer Newspaper stood vibrant, as one of Liberia’s most credible news outlets that followed, covered, and reported the news as it unfolded from every sector of the country, be it the economy, politics, religion, crimes, social justice, as well as individual news makers.
The YEAR IN REVIEW presented an earth-shattering experience for us all as Liberians, despite our political, religious, or professional affiliations, especially for those of us in the media who covered and reported the news from different angles.
In this maiden edition of our own YEAR-IN-REVIEW, we sought to recap some of the major stories that we published in 2023 and give credit to some personalities who made incredible or negative impact on the newsstand as well as the authors.
Sentenced Maritime Officials’ Families Describe Crime As Shameful And Embarrassing, But…
By S. Siapha Mulbah
Relatives of the two Liberian government officials sentenced to nine years imprisonment each by the Korean court for Sexual Assault are calling for a home-based prosecution for their family members.
Moses Owen Browne and Daniel Tarr’s families gathered on the streets on April 6, 2023, with the aim of appealing to the Government of Liberia to engage the Korean Government diplomatically in getting the two guilty officials back home to be prosecuted.
A man who identified himself as Owen Browne’s brother expressed disappointment in the news of his brother being involved in such situation, and termed it as a national embarrassment and shameful to the country he represented at that international event that took place in Korea.
Eugene Jones said his brother’s and Daniel Tarr’s actions caused the face of the Liberian Government to bow in utmost shame that the family strongly condemned.
He apologized to Liberians, home and abroad, for the inconvenience caused by the two individuals and appealed that the government works as soon as possible with the Korean Government so that the two Liberian citizens involved in the act can be brought home to face the consequences of their actions.
“We are really disappointed from the time we as a family became engaged by the Liberia Maritime Authority that Moses and Daniel got themselves in that great embarrassment. We are sorry to the Government and the people of Liberia, because the actions of our relatives have brought them huge shame,” Jones added.
“We Are Unprotected!” Liberians Scream At Gov’t
Liberia is being reduced to a hub of fear, where calls for citizens’ protection are increasing for fear of being hunted, if possible, murdered or harmed, thereby bringing to question policies that are being put in place to curtail such menace.
This scary vulnerability has left many Liberians mute in the scorchy economy as the country propels on its own in an imbalance because even in one’s house, there is no longer safety.
The most recent is the case of Charloe Musu, 28, a graduating senior at Starz University who was murdered. Alice Johnson, 18, a 12th grader at the Life International School in Logan Town, is critically wounded and is in the hospital, as well as one Gertrude Newton who is in her early 50s who is also slightly wounded by an individual.
Charloe and Alice are nieces, while Gertrude is a cousin to Cllr. Gloria Scott, the latest prey of unknown individuals whom she (Scott) alerted had entered her house under the cover of darkness.
On Wednesday, February 22, 2023, the murderer invaded the home of the former Chief Justice and a community member’s account is that Cllr. Scott narrowly escaped death when he and other community members swiftly responded to her cry.
30 Lawmakers Failed Massively In Representation …As IREDD Releases 2022 Legislative Performance Monitoring Report
By Alex Yomah
The Institute for Research and Democratic Development (IREDD) has launched its latest Legislative and monitoring performance reports, stating that out of 73 representatives, 30 lawmakers failed in attendance.
IREDD also recorded that the Legislature is weak and lacks political independence to effectively exercise its oversight responsibilities required by statutory mandate.
IREDD Executive Director, Matthias M. Yeanay, monitored and recorded that less than 10% of the 120 Government Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) that received direct budgetary support on a fiscal basis, submitted budget performance reports on Representation, Lawmaking, and Oversight.
Giving an overview of the report, Yeanay stated that in the Legislative and Monitoring Performance report, 30 representatives scored F, failed to be in attendance, while few representatives were muted.
He named the 30 Representatives who scored F for low plenary attendance to be; Lawrence Morris-IND. Dist. 1 Montserrado County; Thomas P. Fallah-CDC Dist. 5 Montserrado county; Samuel Enders-IND. Dist. 6 Montserrado County; Yekeh Y. kolubah IND. Dist. 10 Montserrado County; Edward W. Karfiah PUP Dist. 5 Bong County; Hans M. Barchue-IND. Dist. 1 Grand Bassa County; Mary M. Karwor/UP. Dist. 2 Grand Bassa County; Vincent S.T. Wille-IND. Dist. 3 Grand Bassa County; George S. Bolley/UPP Dist. 2 Grand Gedeh County; Crayton Oldman Duncan/UP Dist. 2 Sinoe County; Francis S. Dopoh/UP Dist. 3 Rivergee County; Nathaniel N. Bahway 1 Grand Kru County; Finda Gborie Lassanah/IND. Dist. 1 Bomi County; Haja Farta Siryon/PUP Dist. 3 Bomi County; Manah Bishop Johnson/CDC Dist. 2 Bomi County; Alfred G. Koiwood-CDC Dist. 1 Gbarpolu; Joseph M. Matthews, Jr./IND. Dist. 3 Gbarpolu County; Clarence G. Gahr/CDC Dist. 5 Margibi County; Emerson V. Kamara/CDC Dist. 3 Grand Cape Mount County; Mambu M. Sonii/LP Dist. 2 Grand Cape Mount County.
Chief Justice Yuoh Emulates Justice Lewis …Opens Spelling Class For Bailiffs
By Grace Q. Bryant
Chief Justice, Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh, demanded two bailiffs of the 6th Judicial Circuit Civil Law Court to make court returns in the public, which she termed as part of the rebranding of courts’ activities.
With reference to the term ‘Returns’, the law says that when one sues a person, partnership, corporations, or the government, he or she must give formal notice to the other side that you have started the legal process. In the same way, when one is already involved in a case and files papers with the court, he or she is required to give the other side notice of the paperwork he or she has filed.
The legal way to give formal notice is to have the other side served with a copy of the paperwork that you have filed with the court.
Chief Justice Yuoh’s action during the opening of the Civil Law Court was based on Judge Kennedy Peabody’s charge complaining that the bailiffs could hardly file a return after an application had been filed.
According to Judge Peabody, the court has noticed that assignments are not recorded and when he gets to court and asks for returns; nothing can be available, asserting, “When we call the sheriff for returns, he normally replies that he doesn’t know who served the said Writ. We have a procedure to record all summons and assignments and how we serve said assignments.”
He complained, “We are appealing to all lawyers and party litigants that I will not preside on any case that a lawyer will give assignment to a bailiff, because the bailiffs keep those assignments in their pockets and when they come to court, we do not see anything.”
Haywood Administrator Alarms Education Danger …As Females Rank Low On UNESCO Report On Liberia
The 2015 UNESCO Education sector analysis report says the females’ literacy rate in Liberia stands at 34.09 percent
According to the report, Liberia has an adult literacy rate of 48.3 percent, out of which males are 62.7 percent, thereby showing a big gap between the sexes.
Meanwhile, the principal and administrator of the Haywood Mission Institute on the Old Road said the report is alarming and troubling and must be given prompt attention.
Bishop Leo M. Simpson said the Education sector analysis further revealed that over 350,000 children of school going ages are out of school in Liberia.
Simpson decried the increasing numbers of children out of learning centers across the country, noting that it speaks to the education danger the country will face if not addressed immediately.
According to him, the UNESCO education sector analysis report made it clear that Liberia has one of the world’s highest levels of out-of-school children, with an estimated 15-20 percent of 6-14 years children who are not in class, and is therefore calling on the government and parents to find lasting solutions to the situation.
The report observed that over a third of pre-school scholars have access to early childhood learning programs and about 54 percent of children completed primary education.
Lawmakers Provoke Students’ Uproar On UL Campus
By Bill W. Cooper
The University of Liberia’s (UL) main campus was a scene of pandemonium as a result of a stalemate between Montserrado County District 8 Representative, Moses Acarous Gray, and the Student Unification Party (SUP).
The situation, according to our reporter, also led to the disruption of normal learning activities on the campus, as well as the stalling of economic activities in central Monrovia and its environs.
In retrospect, the disruption was triggered after Finance Minister, Samuel Tweah’s Office Assistant, Aloysius Howe, was chased out of the UL campus by SUP, on grounds that he was part of those government officials bent on looting the country’s resources at the detriment of the citizenry.
And in reaction to the alleged act by SUP, Rep. Gray, in his Facebook post, vowed, “I and Rep. Dixon Seboe will on Monday, March 13, have launch with students and my supporters on the University of Liberia campus. You can drink anything on me.”
The post agitated SUP to have issued a press statement challenging the government official of the Weah-led administration accused of corruption, or those seen in the company of any of those accused of thievery, on the premises of any of the campuses of the University.
‘Liberia’s Greatest Potential Lies In Agriculture’ …Says FAO Country Rep.
By Alex Yomah
FAO’s Country Representative to Liberia says the real evidence shows that Liberia’s greatest potential lies in its agricultural sector in the country.
Madam Mariatou Njie cited the prospects for job creation, the sector’s contribution to GDP, untapped ecological endowment to leverage, and a young and vibrant population immensely eager and ready to exploit the right opportunities thereof.
According to her, this means that Liberia has all it takes to change its narratives amongst the comity of nations, most important of all, a vibrant human resource and a natural endowment.
She emphasized that, more than ever before, now is the time for Liberia to engage, collaborate, and build partnerships toward the creation of an enabling environment to facilitate an inclusive development.
“Agriculture diplomacy is certainly a key recipe to doing so. You, and many more to follow, as agriculture-diplomats, should use the sectorial potential already acknowledged to initiate and negotiate innovative financing mechanisms from sources tied to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts through sustainable use and management of the environment, marine ecosystem, and related natural resources for production, value addition, marketing, consumption, and even waste management,” she noted.
Liberia Remains On Tier 2 – As US Gov’t Hails Efforts To Curtail Trafficking-In-Person
The United States Government 2023 Human Trafficking report has revealed that the Liberian Government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so.
The U.S Government, in its 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report released by the US Embassy in Monrovia Thursday, June 15, 2023, is an exact replica of last year (2022 report).
The U.S July 2022 TIP report said: “The Government of Liberia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so.”
It added, “The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts, compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore, Liberia was upgraded to Tier 2.”
The latest 2023 report, which says Liberia remains on the Tier 2 watch list, however commended the Liberian Government for demonstrating overall increasing efforts, compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity.
Among other things, the report says TIP victim services need to be expanded and there should be increased efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking cases.
District 6 Mourns …As Road Accident Leaves 7 Dead; Several Wounded
By Bill W. Cooper
Montserrado County District 6 was on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 a scene of sadness by residents, after a 12-tyre truck loaded with electrical appliances lost control along the ELWA-RIA High way, resulting in the deaths of at least seven persons.
Information had it that, most notable among those individuals was an officer of the Liberia National Police (LNP), identified as Emmanuel Boyah, and a promising young student of the African Dream Academy School, Lucky Smart.
According to our reporter, others who met their untimely demise include Kekeh riders, motorists, Pettit traders, taxi drivers, and pedestrians who were plying along the ELWA-RIA Road.
Education Tops Health, Justice In Citizens’ Corruption Perception Survey
By Bill W. Cooper
Accountability Lab Liberia has reported a citizens’ perception report that the Education Sector is the most corrupt sector, followed by Health and the Justice Systems.
The corruption perception survey rated that corrupt sectors Education, 74 percent; Health, 73 percent, and the Justice System, 72 percent.
Accountability Lab Liberia’s citizens’ corruption perception survey was conducted in five counties, namely, Bong, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Montserrado, and Nimba.
A total of 123 persons were randomly interviewed from different walks of life across 10 key government sectors, which include Agriculture, Education, Fisheries, Forestry, Health, Internal Affairs, Information, Justice, Lands & Mines, and Public Works.
According to the Accountability Lab report, the number of females interviewed during the survey constituted 42 percent, while the males constituted 58 percent.
NEC Boss Assures Credible And Transparent General Elections
The Chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC), Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, has assured the public that the 2023 General Elections will be free, fair, transparent, and in a credible manner, to help maintain the stability of the nation and facilitate the actualization of the development of Liberia.
Giving remarks at the launching ceremony of Early Warning and Early Response System in Sinkor, Madam Browne- Lansanah noted that election is the central act of democracy and it is usually the bridge between peace, stability, and economic devolvement on the one hand, and conflict, violence, and economic stagnation on the other.
“We who manage the electoral process and all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society and international partners, must be mindful to play our roles in a way that lend credibility to the process and to ensure the outcome is acceptable” she noted.
According to Madam Browne- Lansanah, NEC has taken a number of actions to ensure the 2023 voter registration and electoral processes remain peaceful.
Gongloe Wants Lawmakers’ Salaries Reduced
Liberian People’s Party (LPP) Presidential aspirant, Tiawan Saye Gongloe, is calling for the reduction of salaries earned by the Speaker of the House of Representative, the President Pro-tempore of the Senate, as well as the entire members of the National Legislature.
He said Speaker Bhofal Chambers and Pro-tempo Albert Chie’s salaries are too huge for an underdeveloped country like Liberia, while majority of the people continue to live in abject poverty to the extent that begging has become the order nowadays everywhere in the country.
Gongloe said Liberia is an underdeveloped country, therefore, lawmakers, including ranking members, should not be earning more than what their counterparts in the United States make. Last year, Chambers’ annual salary was US$245,540, while his United States’ counterpart and now former speaker, Nancy Pelosi, earned US$223,500.
He stated, among many things, that it is a shame for Chambers, who recently traveled to his hometown in Pleebo-Sodoken, Maryland County, through Ivory Coast, and upon arrival, was seen displaying hundreds of thousands of Liberian dollars to persuade the poor people to receive the money and vote for him, thereby engaging in vote buying, in violation of the Global Magnitsky Act.
Similarly, Gongloe continued that the Senate Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate received an annual salary of US$254,250 last year, while the Senate Pro-Tempore of the United States Senate received US$193,400 during the same period.
“This means that the Speaker in Liberia received US$22,040 more than the speaker of the House in the United States last year, and the President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate received US$60,860 more than the Pro-Tempore of the United States Senate,” he noted.
