Amb. Greenfield Gets Liberian Passport

As the State Bid Her Farewell

Love your country more than you love yourselves President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson has honored outgoing U.S. Ambassador, Her Excellency Linda Thomas Greenfield as the first honorary citizens of the Republic of Liberia. The honorary citizenship was conferred upon Ambassador Greenfield during the souvenir program for the farewell reception and investiture ceremony held in her honor at the ministry of foreign affairs. Speaking at the program, President Johnson highlighted the ambassador’s role in helping to build the capacity of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the justice system in the country. She said the Ambassador Greenfield was a critical partner who helps in identifying lapses in the country and provided ways forward. According to the Liberian President, Madam Greenfield did for the Liberian people what deserve commendation. “During your time in Liberia you have many accomplishments. It is not what you have done but what you have shared with us is what really matters,” President Johnson said. In further remarks the Liberian leader said the U.S. Diplomat had come to Liberia when the country was making strides toward where it is today and have stood tall by the Liberians ‘unlike others who would sit in the comfort of their offices.’ She said because of such commitment to the country Madam Greenfield has become Liberia’s first honorary citizen who did not require a visa to the country. Besides the honor of becoming Liberia’s first honorary citizen, the guest of honor was also admitted into the Humane Order of African Redemption by President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson. President Sirleaf thanked the Government of the United Stated for their ambassador of the country. The souvenir Program was a glamorous event attended by H.E. Joseph N. Boakai and many high profiled individuals from the Government of Liberia, civil society, international NGOs, the United Nations, the United Nations Mission in Liberia, members of the 53rd National Legislature, Cabinet Ministers, staffers of the United States Embassy, journalists and the Armed Forces of Liberia Band Unit. Ambassador was dressed in a neatly pattern country cloth gown by Chief Zanzan Kawor, on behave of the National Traditional Council of Liberia. He hoped that the next ambassador of the United States to Liberia will be as their predecessor Linda Thomas Greenfield. At least eleven government ministries and agencies presented gifts of appreciation to the outgoing U.S Ambassador for the level of support she had given to each of them. The Ambassador received carvings, customized photos of her and President Johnson, police officer uniform, frame designed with the 16 ethnic group dance masks and a plaque with the map of Liberia and a pigmy hippopotamus in it. In response to the numerous praises and honor bestowed upon her, ambassador Greenfield thanked the gathering and said she intend to return to Liberia some days. She give a brief African-American history on which Liberia has its bases as a people who were not wanted in the Americas and were repatriated to Africa and became pioneers of the Republic of Liberia. The outgoing ambassador used the occasion to call on all Liberians to love their country more than they love themselves. “Love your country more than you love yourselves. It is not a hard thing to do. I have been in the country for about three years and I have seen so much selfishness and less care for the common man,” the critical Ambassador said. She further said the potential of Liberia progressing is so great though the country have gone through many dark years. “Liberia will be a better place. I pray that Liberia prosper and make all Liberians proud of being a Liberian,” madam Greenfeild stated.

3 Media Executives Summoned

For Reports on Alledged ‘Mis-applied’ US$1.2M by Supreme Court At least three media executives have been summoned by Justices of the Supreme Court to give reasons, if any, as to why they should not be held in contempt for publishing articles surrounding the alledged misapplication of some US$ 1.2 Million intended for the purchase of 27 vehicles to be used by circuit court judges around the country. Those summoned to appear before the Supreme Court judges today include: Mr. Jerome Dolieh, Managing Editor of the News Newspaper, Mr. George D. Watkins, Managing Editor of the Daily Graphic Newspaper and Mr. Rodney Sieh, Managing Editor of the Front Page Africa Newspaper which published the allegation on this February 7, 8, and 22 respectively. According to the Writ of Summons for Contempt addressed to the Marshall of the Supreme Court, the News Newspaper in its February 7, 2012 Vol. 23, No. 185 published an article under the headline US$1 Million Dollars Diverted at Temple of Justice, while the Daily Graphics in its February 8, 2012 published another article titled Rotten Supreme Court. The writ which also mentioned the Front Page Africa (wikileaks) which February 22, 2012 publication entitled High Court Scandal- Supreme Court Justices Feast on US$ 1 Million intended for Courts had an attached web article copied from the FPA website entitled Liberia Supreme Court Justices on Fire after US$1.2 Million Feast. Accordign to the attached web article, President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, who allocated the funds, had promised to establish a full-scale investigation into the why the US$1.2 Million for vehicular purchase was not used for its intended purpose. The article alledged that the four associate Justices of the Supreme Court, namely: Philip A.Z. Banks, Francis S. Kporkor sr., Jamesetta Howard Wolokollie and Kabinah M. Ja’neh, received about US$125,000 of the mis-applied funds, while Chief Justice Johnny Lewis refused to take his US$150,000 share of the funds. Despite the refusal of his portion to the alledgedly shared money, as the article puts it, reliable sources told the FPA that the Chief Justice approved the funds for the purchase of vehicles. It is not clear what level of damages the various newspapers’ articles have inflicted on the third brench of government, but it has been speculated that the articles could bring the Judiciary to disrepute. It can be recalled that in 2006 when His Honor Johnny Lewis took over the Supreme Court as Chief Justice of the Republic of Liberia, he promised to eliminate corruption in the judicial circle of Liberia. With the recent reports circulating in the media about the diversion and mis-application of entrusted funds given to the Supreme Court to help strenghten the capacity of judges in the country, some critics have begun to argue that corruption has intensified in the justice system. Since the writ was issues, some critics have been saying that the action is intended to silent the media from reporting on frauds in the justice system and the government as a whole.

Media Recounts Electoral Challenges

Several media practitionals and supporting partners over the weekend gathered at the Baptist Youth Camp off the Robert’s International Airport (RIA) highway for a two-day media retreat held under the theme ‘the Media and the 2011 Elections: Best Pratices and Lessons Learned’ to critique the role of the media in the past elections. The retreat was organized by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) with support from the USAID and IREX in efforts to identified issues of short comings on the part of the media during the 2011 elections and how those issues can be addressed to enhance the performance of the media in future elections in the country. Making solidarity remarks during the first day of the retreat, Mr. Kenneth Y. Best, Managing Director Liberia Observer Corporation, Mr. Norris Tweah, Deputy Minister for Information, Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism, and Tilly Reeds Chief of Party IREX commended the media for its credible performance during the elections. Though the orators lauded the media for performing fairly well during the 2011 election, they also noted there were some short-comings in the media that needed to be addressed. According to Deputed Minister Tweah, during the 2011 elections, the media was faced with the challenge of subjectivity and objectivity which led citizens to term some journalists as ‘partisan-journalist.’ He hoped that the retreat was going to draw guidelines that would help journalists to rise above fraud in the implementation of their duty to the people of Liberia. Day-one of the retreat was characterized by the solidarity remarks, plenary sections on various sectors of the Liberian media. During the plenary sections, it was learnt that in 2011 elections, some individuals used the media to tarnish the reputation of others; which some participants at the program said shouldn’t be accepted. Such usage according to some of the participants is usually backed by corruption because those who write maling articles collect money from the individual the story originated from. It was argued that those journalists who collected money from newsmakers were doing so because the media houses to which they belong was not paying them attractive salaries to compensite their daily lives. But such argument was debunked by Peter Quaqua, President of PUL, when he said that nothing should give journalists the audacity to compromise the profession. It was also learnt at the event that many journalists where not pushing too hard to get an accurately balance story, thus seeking refuge in the cliché ‘all efforts to contact party X prove futile.’ According to Prof. James Wolo, Head of UNMIL Media Monitoring Unit, who critique the points raise during the plenary, the media should strive for truthfulness because that what is expected of it.

UNMIL Pakistani Corp gets Medals of Honor

Members of the Pakistani Contigent of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), last Wednesday February 22, 2012, received the UN Peacekeeping medals for their efforts to assist Liberians and their positive contributions to the peace and stibility that have being restored to Liberia and the West African sub-region. The Medals of Honor were confered on the Pakistani Contigent at the Samuel K. Doe Sport complex in Paynesville by Mr. Moustapha Soumare, Acting Special Representative of the Secretary General (ASRSG) to Liberia. According to an UNMIL release, ASRSG Soumare told the Pakistanis that by devoting themselves to improving livelihood of several local communities in the country they have earned the respect and love of the Liberian people. “By devoting yourselves to improving livelihood in the local communities, you have earned the respect and love of the Liberian people, young and old. The UN recognizes and appreciates your devotion. Your actions have fostered understanding and promoted peace and stability in liberian and the region,” Mr. Soumaré highlighted during the ceremony before awarding the UN Peacekeeping medals to members of the UNMIL Pakistani Contingent. Mr. Soumaré said since the deployment of UNMIL troops in 2003, Pakistan has established itself as a strong, reliable and dedicated partner in Liberia’s search for peace, stability and development. “UNMIL has also benefitted from Pakistan’s experience and generosity in the number and expertise of troops it has provided to the Mission, including highly qualified senior military officers, with two Force Commanders and one Deputy Force Commander,” Mr. Soumaré noted. The Acting SRSG described the positive response of the Pakistani Government to the Security Council’s request for UNMIL troops to reinforce the sister Mission in Ivory Coast as another demonstration of Pakistan’s long standing commitment to peace and security in the world. Meanwhile, Mr. Soumare used the occasion to re-echoed the a UN Technical Assessment Mission have come to liberia to assess the situation in Liberia and conduct a thorough review of the progress made towards the implementation of UNMIL’s strategic objective of a steady state of security in the counntry and the Liberian security institutions that are independently operational without the peacekeeping mission. According to the Acting SRSG the TAM, having conducted assessment on the UNMIL and Liberian security institutions, will develop recommendations for the future of the UN Mission in Liberia which could call for a drawdown sooner or later. The Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Moustapha Soumaré highlighted that this was not the first Technical Assessment Mission to come to Liberia. He said the technical assessment is customary a event during the UN mission as a specific phase or benchmark is accomplished. Mr. Soumare said the completion of the peaceful elections in the country was a benchmark in the existance of the mission in the country since 2003 and calls for the assessment that will be carry out by the TAM. “I would like to underline that the United Nations is committed to Liberia, and UNMIL will continue to work on the transition while the entire UN family will remain to ‘Deliver as One’ for the Liberian people.”

“National Security is a Priority”

-Says President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia, President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, has termed National Security a priorty ahead of the yet to come transition of the UN mission in libe (UNMIL). The CIC said six years ago, her government was focused on the restoration and reform of the AFL and the security sector in general; but the next six years would be spend on forstering log-termed security and economic development of the security sector and the country as a whole. President Johnson made this assertion when she delivered the 55th Armed Forces Day massage over the weekend at the Barclay Training Center (BTC) where members of the 53rd legislature, international partners, government officials and families of enlisted men of the AFL had gathered to commemorate the day. The AFL CIC acknowledged insights by UNMIL Force Commander, Major General Muhammad Khalid when he urged the Government of Liberia should ‘speed up building the capacity of the AFL, in preparations for the drawdown of UN forces because the Mission was not intended to stay in Liberia perpetually. The Liberian President pointed out that in order to meet the need of security after the UNMIL has transition, the strenght of the army must be increased. Acknowledging the need to of expanding military bases to have health and recreational centers and schools, President Johnson said her government will support the necessary allocatiion of additional budget to meet the needs of the army. Having stated the increase in force and the welfare of the army as national security priorty, President Johnson called on international partners including the U.S, UNMIL and member states of ECOWAS among others to keep up their support to the AFL to have it improved to become the force of good. She said the AFL has a charged history of honor, duty and loyalty to the state adding that such was significant in keeping a peaceful and democratic nation. Though members of the new AFL can execise their inalienable rights to vote during elections, the presidents told the gathering that soldiers were not politicians. It can be recalled during the early 1970s and late 1980s when the army interfered with politics is the country, Liberia was plunged into a state of total anarchy until 2003 when its civil crisis came to an end with the departure of Ex-president and Warlord Charles G. Taylor. President Johnson cautioned the gallant men and women of the AFL that unlike politicians, they (soldiers) were governed by the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) which will hold them accountable for their actions. The president sighted the National Defends Act of 2008 which calls for an unequivocal loyalty from every man and woman of the AFL as she reemphasized that soldiers are not politicians. Deliverin the keynote earlier, outgoing U.S ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfeild thanked all other nations and organizations thathave worked with and supported the efforts of the Liberian Government to have the AFL at where it is. She said today the men and women of the AFL are individuals of good moral character, courage, and integrity and a tremendous resource ‘who can, who will and who must’ play a strong role in rebuilding and long-term development of Liberia by leading lives driven by duty, honor, pride and country. H.E. Greenfield: “there can be no return to old ways of self-interest over duty and national interest; no return to a sense of privilege and entitlement over honor, intergity, selfless service and respect; no return to a force that thinks it is above the law and preys on its population rather than serve them.” “This is a new day,” she said, “where the members of the AFL are model law-abiding citizens, expressing their will at the ballot boxes, and holding themselves to the highest standard of good conduct.” Also making remarks at the program held under the theme ‘Armed Forces of Liberia Supports the Foundation for Long-term Security and Economic Development in Liberia, Defense Minister Brownie Samukai reassured the commitment of the AFL to serve the people of Liberia to the best of Professional Standard. He said as the minister of defense, he would work and do everything possible to improve the tives and welfare of Members of the AFL. Aknowledging the role other nations have played in developing the liberian army into what it is today, the defense minister said it was his hope that he coast guard be further improve to protect the maritime of Liberia. He used the occasion to declear that recruitment to upmend the strenght of the AFL will begin as earlier as March AD 2012.

New Milestone Reached against Anti-Graft

As GAC Certificate 65 CFEs

Cllr. Francis Johnson Allison, Head of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has termed the certification of 65 Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) a milestone reached in the fight against corruption Liberia since the fomulation of the General Auditing Commission (GAC) and the LACC. Delivering the keynote at the program which saw 65 employees of the GAC and the Ministry of Finance certificated in fraud examinations, Cllr. Allison warned of the honorees of the traps that awaits them in their career as waste and abuse auditors. She cautioned the honorees that hatred will arise from individuals who may not favor audits for reasons best known to them by they (CFEs) must remain professional in the execution of their duties. The LACC boss hinted the CFEs have undergone three months capacity-building training in the area of audit from October to December of 2011 that corrupt individals will try to defame their integrity by offering them bribes. She told the beneficiaries of the GAC’s Proffessional and human resource capacity development policy that in the field of audits, integrity matters. Cllr. Allison lauded the GAC for the successful conduct of audits which have aided in the struggle of anti-graft and the CFEs capacity building program which have advance another 65 young Liberians who will boost the fight against corruption in the Liberian society. The LACC boss however expressed dissatisfaction over the exclusion of staffers from the LACC who are also working to minimize the occurance of fraud, waste and abuse in the country. The certificate program organized by the GAC brought together 47 staffers of the GAC and 18 of the MOF and facilitated by the Executive Director Jane Mugo, of the Kenyan Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) was geared toward the opening of the Liberian chapter of the ACFE. ACFE was founded by individuals who recognized that the prevention and deterrence of fraud can only be realized through forging strong public and private sector relationship. Also speaking at the program, Mr. Winsley S. Nanka, Acting Auditor General of the GAC told the honorees that their completion of the certificate program makes them automatically eligible to become a member of the ACFE which is umbrella organization of all CFEs. The acting GC advised the CFEs that integrity was better than personnal gains that individuals seek: ‘it is better for you to die poor with your integrity in tack, then to get wealth by doing things that will bring your integrity under question.’ Making remarks to the Honorees, Mr. Charles Egu, comptroller of the USAID, told the beneficiaries that the issurance of cerficates by the ACFE and the GAC was a manifestation of the amount of trust that had been invested in the CFEs. He acknowledged them that undergoing the training and getting certificated was the easy part of the auditing profession but the hardest part will be for each of the individual CFEs to stay in line with the code of ethics of the proffession.