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Tag: Liberia

  • Liberia’s ruling party backs challenge to presidential result

    Liberia’s ruling party backs challenge to presidential result

    Liberia’s Unity Party ( UP ) said it would back a legal challenge to the result, accusing President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of interfering in the vote.

    UP, Liberia’s ruling party candidate finished runner-up in the first round of this month’s presidential election.

    Unity Party said in a statement that the Oct. 10 poll, meant to usher in Liberia’s first democratic transition of power since 1944, was “characterised by massive systematic irregularities and fraud”.

    The statement, read to reporters by Unity Party Chairman Wilmont Paye, said Johnson Sirleaf had acted inappropriately by meeting privately with elections magistrates before the vote.

    “Greed has resurfaced in its most callous form, sowing seeds of discord yet again with the intent of disrupting the fragile peace of Liberia,” the party said in its statement.

    Unity Party officials said they were supporting a legal challenge by Liberty Party of the third-place candidate Charles Brumskine, which has petitioned the elections commission for a re-run of the first round.

    The All Liberian Party of businessman Benoni Urey also said on Sunday it was backing the complaint.

    “It doesn’t mean we will not take part in the (run-off),” Augustine Ngafuan, Unity Party’s national campaign chairman, told Reuters.

    “We hope the court can rule before the run-off. If not, we will decide what next to do.”

    An official from the elections commission said it expected to hear the formal complaint on Monday.

    he commission’s findings can be appealed in the Supreme Court.

    At Johnson Sirleaf’s residence, where she was celebrating her 79th birthday, her spokesman Jerolinmek Piah told reporters that he would comment on the accusations later as he did not want to overshadow the festivities.

    International observers from the European Union, the Carter Centre and the National Democratic Institute have said they saw no major problems with the vote.

    Unity Party’s statement cements a falling out between Johnson-Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and her party’s leadership after 12 years in power that saw the country consolidate a post-war peace but it also drew sharp criticism over alleged corruption and underdevelopment.

    Joseph Boakai has served as Johnson Sirleaf’s vice president since the president’s inauguration in 2006.However,

    Johnson-Sirleaf declined to endorse him and he distanced himself from the last administration.

    George Weah, a former soccer star in Europe, won the first round with 38.4 per cent of the vote to Boakai’s 28.8 per cent and has momentum heading into the run-off.

    On Thursday he picked up the endorsement of former warlord Prince Johnson, who won eight per cent of the vote in the first round.

    Morluba Morlu, a senior official from Weah’s CDC party, said those challenging the result were “opting to stage trouble”.

    “But no matter what they do … they cannot stop the election of Ambassador Weah,” he added.

    Weah has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador.

    NAN

  • Jonathan Leads NDI observation mission to Liberia’s presidential run-off

    Jonathan Leads NDI observation mission to Liberia’s presidential run-off

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan will this weekend leave for South Africa where he is scheduled as a key speaker at the inaugural
    African Presidential Leaders Centre Roundtable holding in Johannesburg.

    The Ex-President will be joined by other former Presidents and eminent African statesmen to explore how the continent’s economic growth could be enhanced through functional education.

    The theme of the conference is “Addressing Africa’s Educational Challenges in the 21st Century”.

    Speaking ahead of the meeting ex-President Jonathan, who is also the Chairman of Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, said he is excited by the theme of the meeting, stressing that education is key to unlocking Africa’s rich potentials and solving the nation’s economic, social and security challenges.

    A statement issued by the ex-President’s media adviser Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, said that at the end of the programme , the former President is
    billed to proceed to Liberia where he would be leading the National Democratic Institute’s International Election Observation Mission to
    the Liberian Presidential run off polls holding on 7th November, 2017.

    Ex-President Jonathan who was initially invited as co-lead of the NDI team for the October 10 Liberian elections could not honour the
    invitation because of his earlier commitment to attend the 15th Rhodes Forum in Greece, where he presented a paper on ‘Multipolarity and
    Dialogue in Regional and Global Developments’.

    He had however promised to honour NDI’s second invitation to lead the Mission to the runoff polls, after none of the presidential candidates failed to win 50 percent of votes cast during the first ballot.

    The National Democratic Institute is a United States based organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions
    worldwide, through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

    NDI works with local partners in more than 70 countries to encourage community dialogues, observe elections, increase citizen
    participation, and improve the responsiveness of government.
  • Aisha Buhari urges Govts to give priority to education of women, girls

    Aisha Buhari urges Govts to give priority to education of women, girls

    The Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday called on government at all levels to give priority to education and empowerment of women and children.

    Buhari made this call in Abuja at the International Sheroes Forum with the theme: “Advancing women’s roles in business leadership and governance.”

    Buhari, who was represented by the Wife of the Nasarawa State Governor, Hajiya Salamatu Al-Makura, said that education is the foundation for empowerment of women and children to achieve gender equality.

    “We need to come together by supporting and encouraging each other in creating positive impact by empowering women and girls.

    “I believe education is the foundation for empowerment of women and children, especially the girl child.

    “I wish to call on government at all level and Non Governmental Organisation to ensure that issues that has to do with the right of women and the less privileged empowerment is mainstreamed.

    “We have to come together as partners to confront gender inequality.

    “We need to work with government, Civil Society and private sector to address the underlying bias and social norms that permit women and girls to be treated as lesser breed than men and boys.

    “We still have a long way to go in terms of enjoying a gender equal world; we also need to be vigilant against sliding back on progress already made,” she said.

    She said that there can be a change through legislation by working on the design progressive laws and ensuring that the laws are effectively implemented in other to be truly successful in the goals of equality.

    However, Ms. Comfort Lamptey United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, said that the conference needs relevant stakeholders to get the desired equality.

    Lamptey, who was represented by Adji Ndiaye, Deputy Country Representative, said that women in Africa were grossly marginalised, stating that Nigeria has the lowest level of representation in Africa.

    She said that the main objective of UN women was to close the gap of marginalisation, saying that in 2019 election women should invest in political participation.

    Sen. Jewel Taylor, Vice Presidential Candidate, Liberia, said that women in Africa should create a national fund to assist in increasing women participation in politics.

    “We can begin to raise funding to get women in national governance because that is the button line, we have to put our money where our mouths are.”

    NAN

  • China approves domestically-developed Ebola vaccine

    China approves domestically-developed Ebola vaccine

    China has approved a domestically developed Ebola vaccine, according to China Food and Drug Administration ( CFDA ) on Friday.

    CFDA said the vaccine was developed by Academy of Military Medical Sciences and CanSino Biologics INC.

    It stated that the approval made China the third country to develop vaccine against Ebola following  United States and Russia.

    The vaccine is based on 2014 mutant gene type and in the form of freeze-dried powder which can
    remain stable for at least two weeks in temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius and suitable for climate in West Africa.

    The vaccine was clinically approved by CFDA in February 2015 and underwent clinical trials in Sierra Leone, one of the country’s worst hit by Ebola.

    The virus was discovered in 1976 and severely affected countries including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone from 2013, claiming the lives of more than 11,000 people.

    NAN

  • Liberia set for presidential runoff next month

    Liberia set for presidential runoff next month

    Liberia ’s electoral body has said a runoff was inevitable early November since no candidate obtained the required 50 per cent plus one vote in the Oct. 10 presidential poll in the country.

    Head of the National Elections Commission Jerome Korkoya announced the final results of the presidential and parliamentary polls in the country on Friday, noting the electoral body was set for the runoff exercise.

    According to Korkoya, with 100 per cent of the votes counted, opposition coalition candidate George Weah is in first place with 596,037, equivalent to 38.8 per cent of the total votes.

    While vice president Joseph Nyumah Boakai, who is running on the platform of the governing Unity Party, got 445,716 votes, equivalent to 28.8 per cent.

    He said Charles Walker Brumskine of the Liberty Party is first-runner up with 149,495 or 9.6 per cent of the votes cast.

    The electoral commission has fixed Nov. 7 for the runoff between Weah and Boakai.
    Korkoya said campaigning for the runoff had commenced immediately and will end at midnight on Nov. 5.

    Read Also: Liberia election: Weah retains lead as more results announced

  • Weah has raised the bar for Africa’s youths and Sports stars- Shittu 

    Weah has raised the bar for Africa’s youths and Sports stars- Shittu 

    As former football star, George Weah and incumbent Vice-President, Joseph Boakai, edge towards what may later be a run off in the Liberian presidential election next month, Olatunji John Shittu, manager and confidant of Weah for over two decades, on Sunday, posited that the leading candidate in the Liberian presidential election has raised the bar for African youths, especially sports stars, who need to do more for their societies and not turn their back because they have conquered poverty and found fame and fortune.
    At the weekend, Weah had 39.2 percent of votes cast and counting while his closest rival, Boakai has taken 29.6 percent. If no single candidate gains more than 50 percent of the vote, a run-off will be scheduled in November between the top two contenders, according to Liberian law.
    Shittu, who spoke from Liberia, said the driving force of Weah’s presidential ambition is the urge to serve.
    “He rose to the pinnacle of global football, winning the African, European and World footballer of the year award, the first and only African to achieve this feat. He is famous worldwide and wealthy but Weah believes he is still poor for as long as millions of Liberians and blacks are living in poverty.
    “After his experience during his first attempt at the presidency, he could have walked away and joined the high flying elites of the world to enjoy his wealth but he judges that political power will enable him set up strong institutions and lay a foundation for a prosperous Liberia”.
    Shittu revealed that was why Weah had to re-start his education from the basics by acquiring a bachelor and masters degree.
    “Members of the sports family are conversant with Weah’s selfless sacrifice for Liberia’s football including sponsoring the national team but that was just a tip of the iceberg. His acts of philanthropy in Liberia transcend sports, it includes service in healthcare, education, construction and many more.
    “As president, Weah will use his global contacts to turn Liberia into a nation that will be the envy of the world’’.
    Shittu urged African youths, especially sports stars, to emulate Weah,
    “it is beyond personal breakthrough, because sports stars are loved. They should use the power and love citizens have for them to make positive changes and impact their societies positively instead of abandoning the masses and societies after they have conquered poverty’’ said Shittu.
  • Liberia Polls: Weah in early lead

    Liberia Polls: Weah in early lead

    Football icon, George Weah, is in early lead, according to the official provisional results of Tuesday presidential elections in Liberia.

    The results were released by Mr Jerome Korkoya, Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) at the commission’s headquarters in Monrovia.

    The results of 1,232 polling units or 22.9 per cent of the total 5,390 polling units across the country were announced.

    Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) led other candidates in 11 out of the 15 counties that constitute Liberia in the results released so far.

    He won in Bomi county with 3,763 votes, while Vice President Joseph Boakai got 2807 votes. In Bong, Weah got 28,233 votes, while Boakai got 24,367.

    Weah also beat Boakai in Grand Bassa with 6950 votes.  Boakai got 1786.

    The county was won by Charles Walker Brumskine, the opposition leader and candidate of Liberty Party with 10,350 votes. He also won Rivercess county with 2970 votes. Weah came second here with 2873, while Boakai got 1089.

    At Grand Cape Mount, Weah  beat rival Boakai, with 2,663 votes to 2,152. Grand Gedeh also cast their lot with the ex-footballer, giving him 4462 votes to Boakai’s 704. A similar result emerged in Grand Kru, where Weah polled 3983 to Boakai’s 742 votes.

    In Gbarpolu, Weah won 3075 votes, narrowly beating  Boakai, who got 2768.

    Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP) led in Lofa County, where he got a massive endorsement, winning 27,614 votes to Weah’s 2036 votes.

    Former warlord and presidential torch bearer of the National Union for Democratic Progress, Prince  Yormie Johnson, defeated others  Nimba county. He polled 13786 votes. Weah won 1848 votes here and Boakai came out stronger here, with 4744 votes.

    Weah won his highest vote of 38285 votes in Montserrado. His opponent, Boakai got 20,211 votes. Weah also led Boakai in Margibi with 13,270, Maryland, 3892, Rivercess 2873 and Sinoe 9391

    While results of the remaining 4,158 polling units are being awaited, the NEC boss was quick to note that no winner has been declared yet.

    “It is important to point out that results published by the National Elections Commission are the only official results.

    “The Commission asks all other organisations to refrain from announcing anything other than the official results released.

    “Candidates and political parties should also be patient and await the official results and not rush to premature conclusions.

    “The Commission is committed to the timely release of the results, but this cannot be done at the expense of accuracy.

    He advised the media against reporting results that have not been verified by the commission.

    “This can lead to problems and expectations that cannot be met. It is important for all to be responsible at this point. This includes the media.

    “The National Elections Commission also calls on any person or party that has a complaint to use the established legal channels.

    “Our complaints process will investigate thoroughly any complaints and we ask aggrieved parties to submit evidence to support their claims.

    “We also call on all parties to be responsible in any allegations they make,’’ he said.

  • ECOWAS, AU score Liberia elections high

    ECOWAS, AU score Liberia elections high

    The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Liberia on Wednesday said the country’s general elections held on Tuesday were on the path to being credible.

    It said this in its preliminary report presented by its leader and former President of Ghana, Mr John Mahama, at a joint press conference with the African Union ( AU ) delegation in Monrovia.

    Mahama said although there were isolated cases of violence and late commencement of voting in some parts of the country, the exercise was generally transparent up to the point of vote counting.

    “Let me emphasise here. The mission believes thus far, up to this point, that with the environment in the lead up to the election, the voting day activities, sorting and counting of the ballots, Liberia is largely on track to achieve a credible poll.

    “This is the meat of my report, and I don’t want to be misreported; thus far, thus far. I am utilising my Kenyan experience; thus far.’’

    The experience cited by Mahama bordered on the public criticism he received for rating the last presidential elections in Kenya as credible.

    He was one of the observers in that election, which was later nullified by the country’s Supreme Court due to irregularities.

    Mahama commended the National Elections Commission ( NEC ) for the “professionalism displayed by its leadership and officials in the field, urging it to expedite action on quick release of the results to dowse public anxiety”.

    “The mission urges the electoral commission to approach the concluding phases of the process with fairness and transparency until the final proclamation of results.

    “It calls on the party leaders and candidates, their followers and the media to maintain the same posture of restraint, serenity and patriotism until the collation has been completed and the announcement of the results made.

    “The ECOWAS observation mission urges NEC to expedite action on the proclamation of the results in order to prevent anxiety within the population.’’

    The ECOWAS mission team leader also lauded the candidates, their parties and supporters for their “maturity during the campaigning and the voting process”.

    He called on all the candidates to put Liberia first by maintaining the prevailing peace in the land, while also urging the candidates to accept the will of the people.

    Mahama emphasised the need for candidates to seek redress only through legal means in the event of genuine grievances.

    Mr Erastus Mwencha, who led the AU team, said there was a “lot of convergence’’ in both reports.

    In his remarks, Mwencha noted that democracy was taking deeper root in Africa judging by the Liberian experience.

    “We found there was a lot of convergence, and so don’t expect me to say anything outside what the president has said.

    “In fact, I was telling him that I was simply coming to say `ditto’, that is all that I needed to say.

    “Having witnessed the election of 2005, the election of 2011, and now that of 2017, we have seen democracy being entrenched and Liberians taking this process as their own.

    “The first election was done with a lot on international support, but this election was largely an exercise conducted by the people of Liberia.’’

    The Liberian electoral body is expected to release provisional results of the elections on Thursday.

    NAN

  • Liberia set to elect new president

    Liberia set to elect new president

    Voters in the West African nation of Liberia are set to elect a new head of state, as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf prepares to step down after 12 years in power, an official poll has said on Tuesday.

    Report says Tuesday’s polls are expected to mark the first time in 73 years that a democratically elected president is peacefully handing over power to a successor chosen by the people.

    Twenty candidates are in the race for president, with 72-year-old Johnson Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace Prize-winner often dubbed the “Iron Lady,” retiring after two six-year terms in office.

    The official report said that there are only three contenders who analysts believe have a real chance of winning.

    They are Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party ( UP ), former international football star George Weah, who leads the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change ( CDC ) and Charles Brumskine, the head of the Liberty Party ( LP ).

    Boosting the economy, creating jobs and fighting corruption are high on the agenda of all candidates’ campaigns.

    The last peaceful transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents took place in Liberia in 1944 when former President Edwin Barclay handed over to William Tubman.

    Liberia remains one of the poorest countries in the world and continues to struggle with the aftermath of the 2013-15 Ebola crisis, which killed over 4,000 people nationwide.

    As well as a brutal 14-year civil war that ended in 2003 after having claimed over 250,000 lives and displaced about a million people.

    The roughly 2.2 million registered voters in the country of 4.1 million are also set to elect 73 members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

    NAN

  • Liberia: Nigerian envoy sues for peace during elections

    Liberia: Nigerian envoy sues for peace during elections

    Nigeria’s new ambassador to Liberia, Mr James Dimka, has sued for peace as his host country heads to the polls for Tuesday’s presidential and House of Representatives elections.

    Dimka told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, that sustaining the prevailing peace in the country was critical to its full socio-economic and political recovery.

    Reports say that this will be the first time for the transfer of power from one democratically elected president to another in the country since 1944.

    “My expectations are clear. We are praying there should be peace, before, during and after the elections in Liberia. No nation develops where there is rancor.

    “Peace is cardinal, justice must prevail, transparency should be there. Once there is transparency; there is justice, people will be satisfied with the results of the elections. And that is what I expect should happen tomorrow.

    “Those who win should remember that people voted them; those who lose should know that it is only one person that can win at a time.

    “Once you know that people are involved, that if you win you are going to govern people, then you pray that there should be peace.’’

    If there is no peace and there are no people, then you cannot be president, you cannot be governors.”

    The envoy, who assumed duty on Monday, also stressed the need for Nigerians resident in the country to go about their normal duties and remain law abiding.

    NAN reports that many Liberians are praying for a violence-free election and hoping for a new government that would improve the economy and maintain peace in the country.

    Some of them told NAN of their prayers for peace from all the 20 presidential candidates, their parties and their supporters.

    At a peace concert, Queen Juli Endee, a music artist, urged her fellow Liberians to shun violence during the elections.

    “I am here to promote peace; that is what I do to continue to sustain the peace and we must maintain the peace.

    “And it is important for us Liberians to respect the mandate of the international community because peace in Liberia is peace in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

    “The West African countries have done very well for us. Now, it is our responsibility to maintain the peace that we have had over the years.

    “We want a culture of peace, and denounce all forms of violence during and after the elections.”

    Liberia has been through turbulent times in recent years occasioned by two brutal civil wars that left the country in ruins.

    Outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who has served out her constitutional two terms in office, is lauded for restoring order and sustaining peace in the country in her 12 years in office.