By Nathan N. Mulbah – Liberia, a West African State, with a population of about 3,476,608 is nursing itself from the scourge of a 15-year civil cum military upheaval that bedevilled the country thus leaving political and social commentators to describe it as a “Fail State”. However, in 2005, a Special Election was held under the auspices of the National Elections Commission (NEC) with assistance from the International Community. It was that election that catapulted Liberia’s and Africa’s first female president, Ellen Johnson to power. But with five years at the helm of political affairs of the bruised West African... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Saturday, September 18th 2010 |
The representatives of the Paris Club creditor countries met with representatives of the Government of the Republic of Liberia on 16 September 2010 and agreed on a debt cancellation for the Republic of Liberia following its Completion Point under the enhanced initiative for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (enhanced HIPC Initiative) reached on 29 June 2010. Paris Club creditors welcomed the Republic of Liberia’s determination to continue to implement a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy and an ambitious economic program providing the basis for sustainable economic growth. In order to contribute to restore the debt sustainability of the Republic of Liberia,... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Saturday, September 18th 2010 |
When Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected Liberia’s president—and Africa’s only female head of state—in 2005, she inherited a country decimated by years of violence. Between 1989 and 2003, two horrific civil wars had killed as many as 250,000 of Liberia’s 3 million people, and displaced thousands more; more than 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers were deployed on the ground to maintain a fragile peace. At the time of her election, Sirleaf—who held positions at the World Bank and the U.N. before her political run–told NEWSWEEK, “I’m most concerned with being a mother to Liberia. I want to heal the deep wounds of... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Friday, August 20th 2010 |
Andrew Gregory – THE HAGUE – Supermodel Naomi Campbell swapped texts with war lord Charles Taylor hours before his men gave her “blood diamonds”, a court heard yesterday. The supermodel’s embittered ex-agent Carole White claimed she received three or four updates, telling her when the precious stones were due. But under cross-examination, Ms White, 60, admitted she could not be sure who was texting Ms Campbell, 40. She was then accused of telling “a complete pack of lies” to smear Ms Campbell, whom she is suing for breach of contract. She was also forced to deny making up claims that... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Wednesday, August 11th 2010 |
By Bruno Waterfield and Andy Bloxham – Naomi Campbell, the model, admitted that she was given “dirty rocks” by the former Liberian ruler Charles Taylor as she gives evidence at his war crimes trial. As the Charles Taylor’s warcrimes trial continues, the court was shown documents from the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund “categorically” stating that the charity had not received the diamonds, although records showed Campbell made cash donations to it in 1997 and 1998. The actress Mia Farrow claimed that Taylor gave the model an uncut diamond after a dinner party hosted by Nelson Mandela in South Africa in... Continue Reading
Publish Date: Thursday, August 5th 2010 |
