Indicted MD Parker Entered Non Guilty Plea

MONROVIA—Both the indicted former Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA) Matilda Wokie Parker and Comptroller Christina Kpabar Paelay threw out a challenge to state prosecutor on Thursday when they denied all charges against them. Parker dressed in yellow African attire with black spot and a black head-tie while Paelay in white suit worn since the trial begun on November 10, 2015 stood before the court with right hands up while the clerk read the volume of indictment against them.

Following the reading of the indictment by the clerk and ascertained their plea both responded in the negative but in a loud voice where everyone witnessing the case could hear from every corner of the court. “You have listened to the reading of the indictment are you guilty or not? Both of the defendants looking straight into the eyes of the middle-aged clerk replied “we are not guilty hereby entering issue with the state.

Speaker Alex Tyler’s Blind Presidential Quest

Hawa Wesseh

This month, having served as house speaker for almost a decade, Alex J. Tyler resigned from the ruling Unity Party [UP], perhaps sensing the party has spent it political capital with Johnson Sirleaf calling the shots since 2005, or sensing he will not get his party nomination. But whatever recognized public perception there might be, with the ruling UP running up to 2017, there is no way Alex Tyler can extricate himself from the record already laid. Tyler, reports say is contemplating forming his own party to run for the Liberian presidency instead! Tyler’s perceive ambitions to a larger extend is a microcosm of the typical Liberian politician that gallivants from one party to another no matter the circumstance to hold a ‘Government job.”

Liberia A Country In Search Of Answers

By: Hawa Wesseh

Judging by the euphoria which recently greeted Liberia 3-1 win against Guinea Bissau, you would think the country must have just won the African cup of nations, or that it went to the world cup, played in the finals and did lost to a worthy opponent, this wasn’t even the Nigerian Super Eagles, or the Lions of Cameroon or the Black Stars of Ghana, this was my people after all a win against a team that calls itself the African Wild Dogs, one of the continent lowly seated teams on the fifa billboard, and this was after all what sent ripples of celebration across the country especially Monrovia. The near silliness with which the celebration took on a fiesta, with some Monrovia newspapers running editorials to declare a new dawn not just for football but sports in general, says Liberia is a country in search of answers.

African Centre Edmonton Celebrates Eid

Press Release 

African Centre, Edmonton, AB

EDMONTON, ALBERTA (July 19, 2015) — The African Centre in Edmonton Alberta, joined Africans from the continent residing in the city, to celebrate the annual Muslim festivity EID, which saw performances, speeches, traditional meals and gifts on the day. Local Muslims leaders attending the program preached a message of peace and justice, which was also the Centre’s central missive, as it rallied African Muslims in the city for the second year running. Eid is a happy time for Muslims, in the Islamic religion, at which time families and the community come to together to give back and rejoice.

Ronaldiho Wleh Put Liverpool on Notice

Patrick Wleh made headlines this week with a monster goal against Liverpool

Patrick ‘Ronaldinho’ Wleh tested Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan with a grounder in the seventh minute before making his second chance count six minutes later. 

John H. T. Stewart goes to Probate Court

Former TRC Commissioner John H.T.Stewart

Am facing, Probate Court Judge Vinton Holder on Monday to answer charges of fraud. To make a long story short, I filed before the Civil Law Court an Action of Ejectment against Samir Abdul Wahab and Samir Kashouh

Five Reasons Coach Debbah Needs Skipper Laffor

Skipper Sundowns hitman Anthony Laffor www.nanews.net

By Ralph Geeplay


1. Liberia Lone Stars manager James Salinsa Debbah have already announced his era is here. How long he will stay at the helm as coach though, is another matter that remains to be seen, but he has come in with a bang and in doing so have left out the bulk of the players that anchored the team for the past eight or more years. Key players Dioh Williams, Patrick Wleh and most importantly NS Metrix goal scorer Francis Doe didn’t get an invite. A decision that could hunt the newly appointed coach. Debbah needs leadership and consistency in the pockets. He also needs stability given the drastic changes he has rollout. It therefore makes sense keeping the Sundowns forward who himself has scored important goals for the national team and should the keep the locker room steady.

James Debbah Lone Stars Selection Draws Fire

Hawa Wesseh

New Liberian coach James Salinsa Debbah has come under fire from football journalists in the country, for naming players that are not playing regularly in the respective teams abroad, to the national team, the Lone Stars.

Liberia Lone Stars Calls Up Inaki Williams of Alethico

Inaki Williams scored 22 goals in 32 appearance for Alethico Bilbao

Hawa Wesseh

The Liberian national football team Lone Stars has begun training in Monrovia as the team gets ready to face Togo in preparation of the Afcons. Newly appointed coach James Debbah for the Lone Stars has said his team will play "attractive and effective" football. The coach has announced that 25 out of the 40 called-up local players would make the team for the joint 2017 AFCON and 2016 CHAN qualifiers.

South Africa's Violent History

A man is burned alive while a baby is left bleeding by violence

It’s the photo that has shocked a nation: the stark image of a helpless Mozambican migrant pleading for his life as a gang of men brutally murdered him in a Johannesburg street in front of a silent audience of onlookers.

11 Questions Vamba Sherif: Writer, Novelist

Vamba Sherif was born in Kolahun, Lofa County. His upcoming Novel Bound to Secrecy will be published by HopeRoad this month. A novelist principally, Sherif has written stories for The New York Times, The French magazine Long Cours, which is a subsidiary of L’Express, the German magazine Kultur Aaustauch, and for various Dutch newspapers and magazines like Trouw, De Volkskrant, One World, and many others. Vamba Sherif has had stints in acting and likes reviewing films. He’s currently an ambassador for the Dutch Refugees Council. In this capacity, he helps guide asylum seekers by sharing his stories of life in Liberia and in Kuwait where he lived, and how he made it in Holland.

Liberia: Baptizing Liberia Into A “Christian Nation!”

By Josephus Moses Gray

This article deals with one of the most important issues that arose from the recent gathering in Gbarnga, Bong County – the proposition to amend the 1984 Constitution of the Republic, declaring Liberia, a nation with diverse religious beliefs and cultural practices, as a “Christian State”. The intent of this account is not to pass a verdict, instead to provide an in-depth analysis of the potential clashes of constitutional and fundamental rights under the 1984 Liberian constitution and the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Besides, this article deals with the ongoing debate concerning the “Christian nation” concept. First, I will look at the historical background of this case. I will then examine the Christian nation” project itself, with a particular emphasis on the recent Bong County gathering for the amendment of certain provisions and articles in the 1984 Constitution.

What Happened to Red Rooster When a Visitor Came

B O O K R E V I E W

What Happened to Red Rooster
When a Visitor Came: A Delicious
Tale about the Importance of Self-
Awareness By Robtel Neajai Pailey

What Happened to Red Rooster When a Visitor Came is a parody about the dangers of inflated self-importance. While this moralizing tale may appear somewhat heavy, Stephanie Horton’s lyrical prose makes it a timeless classic.

Red Rooster begins with the sing song-like cadence of fables and fairy tales, drawing the reader in with each punctuated first line:

Liberia 2017: Is Kwame Clement Ready?

By Hawa Wesseh [analysis]

hwesseh@gmail.com

Talk about the upcoming 2017 Liberia’s presidential and legislative elections and names will start popping up! It is the perfect opportunity: Johnson Sirleaf will be leaving office after what has been a long twelve years of two consecutive presidential terms! Those who watched Liberian developments will tell you that two established political parties stand to gain the most, the Congress for Democratic Change [CDC], Liberia’s largest political opposition and the ruling Unity Party [UP]. The CDC and the UP will be looking to consolidate their ranks and gains by absorbing smaller parties to bolster their chances in an effort to bag the Executive Mansion—Liberia’s presidential palace! Liberia is never short of political candidates and especially the presidency, when general elections rolled around, but it remains to be seen if Kwame Clement whose name has been heard repeatedly, has what it takes to win this coveted seat. His name is mentioned almost instantaneously whenever 2017 comes up in public debates and discussions!

Liberia Must Keep It Borders Closed!

E D I T O R I A L

News this weekthat the Liberian government was lifting the curfew it imposed in the wake of the Ebola outbreak must be welcomed, but not so fast that it is lifting the border closure with Liberia’s  neighbors of Guinea, and Sierra Leone! This is bad policy and it is serious, and especially press reports that the borders are poorly manned! Liberia once the hotbed of the crisis has scored an enormous victory against ebola, although not wholly as few cases in the single digits still remain!

11 Questions: Wayétu Moore, Writer

Wayétu Moore is the Publisher of One Moore Book. She produces and publishes children’s books specifically focusing on kids in countries with low literacy rates. Moore graduated with a BA, Journalism from Howard University, subsequently receiving a Masters of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Southern California. As the former editor of “The Coup Magazine”, her objective was “UNIFYING WOMEN OF COLOR” through social and political consciousness. Her work can be found in Guernica Magazine, The Atlantic Magazine, Gawker, The Huffington Post and Waxwing Literary Journal, among others. Her writings can also be read in the respected online publication Conversations on Liberia. She is based in Brooklyn, NY.