https://www.liberianobserver.com/ Liberia's First Independent Daily en Mon, 29 Apr 2024 19:25:49 +0000 Tue, 02 Apr 2024 02:47:15 +0000 https://www.liberianobserver.com/stand-chairman-morlu-commits-support-residents-kinjor-justice — Wraps up fact-finding mission at Bea Mountain Mulbah K. Morlu, chairman of a civil society organization, the Solidarity Trust for a New Day (STAND), has affirmed the organization’s unwavering commitment to support residents of Kinjor in Grand Cape Mount County in their quest for justice… dyates460@gmail.com (David A. Yates) 47310d07-3840-4aa3-8ff3-7adb39bd8d60 Tue, 02 Apr 2024 02:47:15 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/stand-chairman-morlu-commits-support-residents-kinjor-justice — Wraps up fact-finding mission at Bea Mountain Mulbah K. Morlu, chairman of a civil society organization, the Solidarity Trust for a New Day (STAND), has affirmed the organization’s unwavering commitment to support residents of Kinjor in Grand Cape Mount County in their quest for justice… 47310d07-3840-4aa3-8ff3-7adb39bd8d60 Tue, 02 Apr 2024 02:47:15 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/breaking-barriers-women-politicians-liberia-through-legal-aid-support .... “Women never seem to have justice, and people take their cases for granted. And this is where we come in. We know that this issue will not go away unless we document it, unless we take it seriously, unless we champion this issue,” said Atty. Mmonbeydo Joah. Atty. Joah is the Executive… 1e07368d-e2c8-472c-b424-a75fc9dcf8bd Fri, 29 Dec 2023 14:43:55 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-trans-woman-gay-man-battle-family-neglect-and-violence .... “Some of my siblings grew angry about my sexuality and decided to throw me out of the house immediately after my mother passed away,” says Renelle, who is currently seeking refuge at a friend’s home in Monrovia. Throughout her stay in her parents’ house in Kakata, Margibi County,… 6ff147f5-1e5c-46dd-8ecc-6c675604c34b Wed, 22 Nov 2023 11:22:40 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/one-year-liberian-lady-disconnected-kids-sweden .... Michael Oparah, age 10, and Grace and Emmanuel Oparah, ages eight and five, respectively, have been separated from their biological parents for over a year and a half now since they were reportedly picked up from their campuses by a Social working group headed by Birgitt Wallin in Gävle,… 4e27ecc1-9c71-4b0f-a531-cfce94412702 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:01:18 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-rights-groups-accuse-pres-weah-unmet-commitments-justice .... No Action On War Crimes Court Despite UNGA 2019 Commitment President George Weah’s failure to implement the commitment he made at the United Nations General Assembly in 2019 to begin to determine the venue, funding, and timing to establish a war and economic crimes court in Liberia to… 303b284e-a467-4444-9536-8351694f975a Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:17:25 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-religious-leaders-are-angry   tmehnpaine@gmail.com (Tina S. Mehnpaine) 535fd15a-6286-4c43-911f-2933365a4ca2 Mon, 17 Jul 2023 06:58:43 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-umu-campus-not-disabled-friendly   harmonwilliam89@gmail.com (William Q. Harmon) f2cf1b67-a683-4dee-9191-f384b1d5d578 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 06:37:02 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-fhi360s-outing-victim-attempts-suicide .... A month ago, Bropleh accused global health organization FHI360 of outing his HIV status when it published flyers across Liberia depicting him as living with HIV.  Dominic Bropleh, the man who accused FHI360 of outing his HIV status  attempted committing suicide on yesterday’s… 1a6d92bf-5b42-43ac-8120-d14bbb30e629 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 04:51:05 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/forgotten-voices-harsh-reality-children-liberia ..... ….Today, as Liberia joins other nations around the world in marking the International Day of the African Child (DAC), the extent of the problem can be seen in the statistics. The sun had barely risen over the horizon when the sound of feet shuffling and pots clanking echoed through the… tmehnpaine@gmail.com (Tina S. Mehnpaine) 2e99c8b2-46bd-4e74-b398-7ddf397a6693 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 04:39:14 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-petition-document-liberias-war-crimes-court-surfaces-washington-dc   011036eb-5baf-4df7-96a0-3665e33edafe Fri, 19 May 2023 07:48:47 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-gay-man-accuses-fhi360-outing-hiv-status ... “They put the flyers out without letting me see the message. They told the whole of Liberia I have HIV. When I saw it, I called Cytirus [Cytirus Kerbay] from FHI to let her know that I was not ok with the message because it was going to put me in trouble with my family. She said she was… a81ba9b4-3b3a-493e-92b1-6f7996709cf9 Tue, 16 May 2023 17:33:48 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-liberian-justice-campaigner-receives-peace-justice-award-us   dyates460@gmail.com (David A. Yates) c46a7f3e-5c24-407c-a908-d0d28bbc519b Wed, 03 May 2023 07:09:42 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/human-rights-75-launching-commemoration-75-years-universal-declaration-human-rights-statements-art   f570f3d4-75b8-42f8-84ef-50b4711c64a8 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 05:42:23 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-calls-war-and-economic-crimes-court-intensify   dyates460@gmail.com (David A. Yates) 1076d4b6-3f4a-436d-9992-cc3daa35a304 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 01:05:54 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-calls-war-and-economic-crimes-court-intensify   1076d4b6-3f4a-436d-9992-cc3daa35a304 Mon, 24 Apr 2023 01:05:54 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-us-govt-takes-steps-protect-lgbtqi-rights-globally The continual targeting of the people perceived to be from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex community across the world has drawn the ire of the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.  Addressing the UN Security Council… 871db56f-bf70-4454-b4c9-8e3ba4ca8418 Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:10:04 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-gang-uses-senators-photo-target-gay-men .... “They surrounded me and started slapping, kicking, and hitting me. They said I was into faggy business. There were more than seven men — they took my money away and left me standing,” Says  Abe Johnson By Gboko Stewart, contributing writer For Abe Johnson, it was a dream two months… 9c308ffe-3955-427d-b842-74ec660f9890 Fri, 24 Mar 2023 10:42:22 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-statement-family-cllr-gloria-musu-scott ... The family takes note of statements by some top government officials and other state actors, as well as investigators including Col. Prince Mulbah, Deputy Inspector General for Investigation, and others, conveying that that the investigation has been concluded. Monrovia, Liberia,… 4d909f94-8404-4cd6-a9d6-ee17a28bb667 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 20:34:23 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/sub-saharan-africans-desperate-leave-tunisia-after-attacks .... Advocacy groups have documented an increase in attacks against sub-Saharan Africans following comments from Tunisia’s president. Nikki Yanga left the Democratic Republic of the Congo for Tunisia five months ago, dreaming of a better life. There was the potential to work in Tunisia… 6a55e928-c22d-46e8-84bd-8be7d6c91272 Sat, 04 Mar 2023 15:04:39 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-panelists-calls-internet-inclusion-persons-disabilities Panelists at the media roundtable discussion on  persons living with disabilities (PWD), say in  order for Liberia to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 10, access for the internet must be inclusive. PWDs will be able to engage equitably and contribute significantly to… tmehnpaine@gmail.com (Tina S. Mehnpaine) 8728970e-feff-499e-8509-c61e0879222d Thu, 08 Dec 2022 14:46:33 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-chief-zanzan-karwor-orders-halt-fgm-practice .... As of Jan. 2023 The National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NACCEL) has committed to close all bush schools and stop the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Montserrado County in January 2023. The Chairperson of NACCEL, Chief Zanzan Karwor made the commitment… 4efad0ac-a167-4ca8-96a1-c0148461c095 Fri, 02 Dec 2022 08:43:36 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-people-disabilities-rights-seriously-violated-says-undp — Study finds as second national action plan validated by stakeholders As Liberia’s National Commission on Disability winds down the country’s first-ever National Action Plan on Disability Inclusion 2018-2022, the country still has a long way to go in ensuring that people with disabilities… 6c6961b6-a532-426b-841d-75ae9af28183 Thu, 01 Dec 2022 13:17:14 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-no-money-no-ending-fgm ....  “I have two hundred proper Zoes in Montserrado alone, with about 2,000 across the country, how do they expect us to live when the Government is not living by their promises to us,” Kandakai emphasized.  A leading female traditional leader in Montserrado county has threatened that the… ecb04677-eb6d-4a3a-b124-236d9879af50 Mon, 28 Nov 2022 03:33:58 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-govt-hailed-fight-against-fgm ... “We cannot end FGM without the involvement of traditional leaders. The communities have to take ownership of it,” Dukureh said. A Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women has applauded the Liberian government for its success in enacting a three-year moratorium on female genital mutilation (… tmehnpaine@gmail.com (Tina S. Mehnpaine) 4bd066b8-75fe-44bd-8d29-d1400a4e735c Tue, 22 Nov 2022 04:05:50 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/un-experts-liberian-govt-put-people-profit .... "Basic infrastructure and services were lacking, especially outside Monrovia.  The general neglect of local communities in development planning is unacceptable,” said Working Group Chair Fernanda Hopenhaym. The Government of Liberia and businesses operating in the country must urgently… liberianobserver@gmail.com (Staff Editor) 29834e5e-1bdf-475e-a4fa-df71d2e1c308 Mon, 21 Nov 2022 06:11:39 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-rights-group-demands-justice-fgm-survivor The forceful initiation of an 11-year-old girl into the Sande Society in Margibi County that resulted in her being inflicted with Fistula has been denounced by the Civil Society National Reference Group on the Spotlight Effort, an EU-funded initiative.  On September 15,  when… tmehnpaine@gmail.com (Tina S. Mehnpaine) 5ae86ddd-e63d-44bf-8231-3ed24acb28c5 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 18:53:41 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-gol-sued-passage-restated-lacc-act … The suit against the government is the latest in a long-running debate around the restated LACC act, which the LACC boss has claimed will be used to suppress the fight against corruption in Liberia. The Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), has sued the… abednegodavis75@gmail.com (Abednego Davis) d577dd96-5394-42ff-8e08-29bb1a0cf145 Thu, 13 Oct 2022 06:50:08 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-govt-says-rice-country-getting-it-nightmare ....“They say rice is in the country but this is not true. When we have enough rice here, it is easy to buy any quantity without the daily stress we are going through now,” said Kolee, who owns a bigasan shop selling a variety of rice in Waterside. Before the ongoing rice crisis, Youtee… tmehnpaine@gmail.com (Tina S. Mehnpaine) 2915e5b2-1e6e-4a89-89d5-eb24c7cd5e87 Thu, 06 Oct 2022 04:50:23 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily https://www.liberianobserver.com/liberia-soss-childrens-village-accused-wrongful-dismissal .... “Allieu came to SOS Liberia with a clean record of excellence from the multiple international jobs in which he served at senior levels,” Legal counsel for Augustine Allieu, a former SOS staff in a complaint to the Ministry of Labour. A former senior staff of the SOS Children’s Villages has accused the world's largest non-governmental organization, which focused on supporting children without parental care and families, of wrongful dismissal. The staff — Augustine Allieu -- a  former Country Director of the SOS Children's Villages in Liberia who was relieved of his position on allegations of administrative and financial malpractices.” The decision by SOS grew out of an internal audit it claimed implicated the former national director as well as findings from other staff. But Allieu’s lawyers, in a complaint to the Ministry of Labour, filed on Sept. 9,  denied the SOS audit report accusation — terming it as “unsubstantiated” and “unfounded” part of which was based on “staff perception.”    Allieu’s lawyers claimed that the entire audit process and content were manipulated and that the motive was personal against him. “One of the audit team members and conductor of the staff perception survey currently serves in his position as acting national director. The audit report, among other things, claimed that Allieu approved and utilized salary loans and salary advance without approval and contrary to policy, which is not true,” the Allieu September 9 letter said.   “It also accused him of committing the crime of using counterfeit banknote(s), something they failed to report to the government authorities.” According to Allieu’s lawyers, the SOS audit was rebuffed by their client in a nine-page response, but strangely the receiving authority based in Dakar, Senegal, where the audit team is based at the SOS Regional Office, refused his side of the story and suspended him from work.  The suspension culminated in a termination letter dated April 12, five years after he was hired on July 10, 2017.  Allieu, a  Sierra Leonean national and expatriate worked for the SOS, having served leadership posts at several international NGOs in Liberia and Sierra Leone.  He once served as Head of Programme Strategy at Plan International, West, and Central Africa Region and as Country Director at Plan International Sierra Leone, and Country Director at Plan International Liberia in succession.  Allieu also served as Head of Programs at the Catholic Relief Services Liberia Program. “The draft audit report shared for [our] client’s response, which was used as one of the basis to terminate his services, was much different from the one that was finally published and used for his dismissal,” Allieu lawyers claimed.  “When the plotters found that their claims were not strong enough to merit termination, they launched a factitious post-audit internal investigation whose outcome was predetermined.  It was in this other audit and or ‘purported staff perception survey,’ that Allieu, who was no longer around to respond to, was accused of “sexual harassment, intimidation, bullying, and threats against some of his staff.” “The investigation, referenced here, did not accord him due process and fairness, as he was never given the opportunity to respond to the opinions of the carefully selected group of staff spoken to, of which said outcome cannot constitute automatic guilt,” the lawyers said. “Without the result of a hearing judgment on criminal or serious allegations, no one should be condemned. This is a violation of his constitutional rights.” Among other things, Allieu’s lawyers said that their client’s accusers’ prejudice is also be seen in the use of an over four-year-old “unsubstantiated sexual harassment allegation to make a case for dismissal.”  And while the auditing was going on, Allieu's lawyers said he was being accused of allegedly raping a 16-year-old minor and then, placed under police investigation along with two other male staff of the SOS for the alleged rape act. The Liberia National Police investigation culminated in the performance of a paternity test on the alleged rape victim's baby, to determine who fathered the baby. “That DNA results obtained from John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital through the Minister of Justice established that ‘Allieu’ is excluded; [and] not the father of "baby" because the probability is 0.00%. [And] that the allegation of Rape against Augustine Allieu was unfounded,” a report from the police Women and Children Protection Section (WACPS) said. And for Allieu's lawyers, the rape allegation intended to tie their client up in the criminal justice system so that he does not have the chance or time to bring an unfair dismissal complaint against SOS. The lawyers further stated that since Alllieu started working at SOS in 2017 before his dismissal, he was never at any point in time given any warning letter. “Allieu came to SOS Liberia with a clean record of excellence from the multiple international jobs in which he served at senior levels,” the lawyer said.  swiakanty902@gmail.com (Simeon Wiakanty) 877c2515-09aa-4deb-aff2-da883ab2f03e Fri, 16 Sep 2022 03:49:10 +0000 Liberian Observer - Liberia's First Independent Daily