Happy Independence day Mama Liberia.....

Happy birthday Liberia, and happy independence day to all my fellow Liberians and friends of Liberia all around the Globe, as we all gather to celebrate the anniversary of our homeland independence this July 26, let us not forget who we are or where we came from, let us remind ourselves that though we may be of many tribes, we are still one people with one common destiny. May God always continue to shower his many blessings on the peoples of Liberia.

 

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf sworn in for a second term .

President Sirleaf and vice President Boakai at the inauguration ceremony.

Liberia’s president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was sworn in Monday for a second term in a ceremony attended by several world leaders, and the U.S secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"We inaugurate a new beginning -- a rebirth of our democracy," Sirleaf told the crowd of thousands, as supporters blew horns. "Today we can say with conviction that our country has turned the corner. Liberia is no longer a place of conflict, war and deprivation. We are no longer the country our citizens want to run away from."

In her inaugural address, Sirleaf directly addressed those who felt she has not done enough to lift them from poverty.

"To all who have yet to feel the hands of progress touch your life, your time has come," she said, as cheers erupted. "We have laid the foundations for peace and prosperity, and must now hasten our true mission: Putting people -- especially young people -- first. And lifting the lives of all Liberians."

And she responded to the opposition's claim that she was not listening to the country's disenfranchised youth: "The youth of Liberia are our future and they have sent us a message," she said. "Let me say to them: We heard that message. It is our solemn obligation to ensure that their hope will not be in vain."

Hillary Clinton (left) meets Liberian Foreign Minister Toga Gayewea McIntosh on arrival in Monrovia.

Thousands of people, many of them dressed in colorful ceremonial gown, gathered hours before the start of the ceremony in the capital Monrovia. The military fired two cannons Monday and hoisted the flag at the presidency.

Liberia is recovering from 14 years of civil war and conflict that ended in 2003. Sirleaf became Africa's first democratically-elected female president in 2005, and last year was one of three women awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

The inauguration ceremony closed with a parade by security forces through the streets of Monrovia and floats representing Liberia's 15 counties.

Congratulation to President Sirleaf and Leymeh Gbowee both of Liberia for winning this year Nobel peace prize..........

I learned with joy and pride this morning that Two Liberians were among the winners for the Nobel peace prize.

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, sharing the award with fellow Liberian, Leymah Gbowee and Yemen’s Tawakkul Karman, for work to promote women’s rights and peace building.

Johnson-Sirleaf, 72, Gbowee and Karman were announced as winners of the 10 million-krona ($1.5 million) prize on Friday by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo. They were awarded the prize for “their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work,” the committee said.

Among those who welcomed this year's award was German Chancellor Angela Merkel, viewed as the most powerful woman in Europe, who said: "This will hopefully encourage many women, but also many men, around the world to campaign for freedom and democracy and against injustice."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "Above all, it underscores the vital role that women play in the advancement of peace and security, development, and human rights."

Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty said: "This Nobel Peace Prize recognizes what human rights activists have known for decades - that the promotion of equality is essential to building just and peaceful societies worldwide.

We congratulate these women on their achievements, today is a day that all Liberians should be proud of.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee of five people chosen by Norway's parliament and is named for Alfred Nobel, a Swedish scientist and inventor of dynamite.

Nominations come from lawmakers around the world, university professors, previous Nobel laureates and members of the Nobel committee.

Ecowas seeks UN help for Liberia and Ivory coast security.

Leaders from West African countries on Saturday called on the UN to bolster monitoring of Ivory Coast's border with neighbor Liberia, which is set to hold general elections next month.

Liberian authorities last month announced a seizure of a "worrisome" amount of arms and ammunition near the border with Ivory Coast, which is still recovering from a bloody post-election crisis.

Presidents from six countries "urged the United Nations to intensify joint UNOCI-UNMIL (peacekeeping missions) monitoring and control of the common border zone between the two countries."

The special mini summit was called by Ecowas, to come out with ways to address security concerns after Liberian immigration said they had seized weapons which included rockets, machine guns and assault rifles and a large amount of ammunition from unnamed people.

In a statement the leaders meeting under the aegis of the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) "declared zero tolerance for any attempt to oppose the verdict of the ballot box."

Liberia is still fragile as it recovers from bloody civil wars waged by warloards and drugged child soldiers, that left some 150,000 dead between 1989 and 2003. The Country is set to hold Presidential election in October. The October vote is the second since the end of those devastating wars.

Massive show of support for President Sirleaf reelection bid....

As elections fever continue to rock Liberia, News coming out of Monrovia say

A group of former fighters have pledged to support President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s bid for re-election in October.

“She has done well,” Austen Clarke, who was deputy defense minister under ex-President Taylor told reporters in Monrovia, the capital, yesterday. He cited developments in living standards and freedom of expression in the Country.

Clarke who is also the chairman of the group Nimba Citizens United for Progress said his group comprises about 80 percent of the country’s so-called Special Forces generals who led various factions during the years of conflict. The leaders have influence over as many as 100,000 former fighters.

In related developments there have been a massive show of support for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as she seeks reelection for a second term.

Addressing thousands of residents of the Communities of Barnesville and Garnersville on Sarturday, the President said the election was not about her, “It was about the country.”

Here is a Video of the President making her case for why she should be reelected to thousands of supporters in Monrovia.

The Liberian leader says she remains committed to ensuring that the gains made by her government over the past five years are sustained. She said a strong foundation for growth and prosperity has been laid, cautioning that the nation stands to lose unless Liberians excise the right decision in the forthcoming referendum and presidential and general elections.

Large amont of arms and ammunition seized in Liberia.....

The Government of Liberia has seized a "worrisome" amount of arms and ammunition in the south of the country near the border with Ivory Coast, an official told a press conference Wednesday.

"The Bureau of Immigration with maximum support from the Ministry of Justice was successful in retrieving a cache of arms and ammunition through the cooperation of some ex-combatants," Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization commissioner Chris Massaquoi told journalists.

He did not give details about the former combatants who he said collaborated with state security authorities to find the weapons.

But he added: "This discovery of weapons is worrisome".

The weapons were found in the counties of River Gee, Maryland, Grand Gedeh and Nimba.

Some of the weapons were displayed during the press conference.

They included rockets, machine guns and assault rifles and a large amount of ammunition.

"The arms and ammunition were collected by Immigration Special Border Patrol Officers following intensive intelligence gathering in certain towns along the Liberian-Ivorian border," the immigration commissioner said.

He noted that the bureau in collaboration with other security officials would make sure that there were no internal and external security threats as the country is to hold general and presidential elections on October 11.

The Bureau of Immigration appealed to all Liberians, "especially those living near or around the borders of Liberia to report to national security the presence of any and all strange movements within or near the borders as well as the presence of arms and ammunition of all sorts, and any threat to national security".

Liberia charged 36 people in late June in connection with the discovery of a large arms cache near the border with Ivory Coast two weeks earlier.

The weapons stash included war weapons and ammunition, including Kalachnikovs and rocket launchers.

They were believed to have been sent to Liberia after a lengthy post-electoral crisis in neighbouring Ivory Coast which turned violent as former strongman Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat in November polls to arch-rival Alassane Ouattara, who was sworn in as president in May.

Gbagbo was arrested on April 11 in Abidjan, after some 3,000 people died in the violence in which Liberian mercenaries were alleged to have taken part.

Meet Shadow, Liberia's new musical sensation ......

Samuel Morgan AKA the Shadow.

Samuel Morgan aka the shadow is a Liberian musician, singer, composer, producer, and audio engineer who also happens to be, i am proud to say my own biological brother. Shadow and other Liberian refugee live and work in the Buduburam Liberian refugee camp near Accra, Ghana. He has spent most of his adult life in the run down refugee camp and Like most Liberian refugees, he wants to return home to Liberia but fears there is nothing there for him. Meanwhile, he makes music, partly to earn a living,and partly to inspire other Liberians with hope for the future. Last year, he and other musicians in the camps cut their first CD, with songs that tell the tale of horrors and flight from war and the desire to return home.
Despite the deplorable situation in the refugee camp. Samuel and other Liberian refugees try to stay positive and represent Liberia the best way they know how, through their wonderful music.

Here is one of my favorite song call super lady from my superstar brother.



Keep it up little brother, keep representing Mama Liberia, we are all proud of you.

Charles Taylor trial comes to an end, world awaits verdict..............

The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, once among West Africa's most powerful and by far the most brutal figures, ended Friday with judges expected to take months to reach a verdict on whether he can be linked to murders and amputations during Sierra Leone's civil war.

The three judges of the Special Court for Sierra Leone must weigh tens of thousands of pages of evidence, more than 1,000 documents and exhibits, and the testimony from more than 120 victims, former rebels - and from Taylor himself, who was on the stand for seven months.

Taylor has pleaded innocent to 11 counts of murder, rape, pillaging and deploying child soldiers in Sierra Leone.

His defense team has argued that the prosecution provided only unconvincing circumstantial evidence connecting Taylor directly with the rebels, who were notorious for slicing off limbs, ears and lips of civilians to impose a reign of fear during the 1991-2002 war. It portrayed him as a man of peace who tried to mediate an end to the conflict in the neighboring country, and said the testimony for the prosecution by former rebels was often tainted by payments from the prosecutors. can you believe that? Taylor a man of peace? we who saw first hand that brute handiwork in Liberia find it laughable that Charles Taylor can ever be associated with peace. The man hands are literally dripping with the bloods of thousands of innocent people in both Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

The people who committed acts of violence against innocent women and children must pay for their crimes.

We must never forget what these monsters did to our country....... These barbaric people should pay for their crimes.

While we await the final verdict, it is my hope that the judges will weigh all the thousands of evidence against this monster and put him behind bars for good, This man was the cause of terrible sufferings not only in my own Country Liberia, but across all west Africa, he must pay for his crimes, only then can we give justice to the thousands of innocent people who perish for nothing, in this asshole senseless wars.

One by one they will pay!!!!...........................

Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and Burkina Faso's Blaise Compaore are responsible for the death of thousands of innocent Liberians.

An old African proverb says he who dines with the dogs will eat feces, That is exactly what Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi i bet, is feeling these days. As we watched events unfold in Libya and their lunatic dictator Gaddafi loses his grip on power, one cannot help but to be happy for the Libyan people who for so long have had to live under the brutal rule of this man and his family.

Charles Taylor with the help of Libya, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast, killed almost 200,000 of our countrymen in a senseless war.

Many of us Liberians have serious beef with this fool who was one of the main player in all of the instabilities across Africa. It was Gaddafi who trained, armed and dispatched thugs like Charles Taylor and Foday Sankoh to take power in West African countries, initiating the brutal slaughter of innocent people in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. One by one all of these people and countries who hands are stained with the blood of our countrymen, Ivory coast, now Libya and one day Burkina Faso's Blaise Compaore will pay in blood too.

Tragedy at the Buduburan refugee camp again........

Reports coming out of Ghana this morning speaks of at least 5 Liberians reportedly been shot dead by Ghanaian police at the Buduburan Refugee Camp outside Accra during a riot over leadership.

According to report still coming in, the incident occurred Sunday at a Church when a group of Liberian refugees attempted installing a new leadership despite call from the refugee board to halt the process.

Reports say there has been opposition against the current leadership at the Buduburan Camp headed by Varney Sambola. Mr. Sambola has been accused of tribalism and being in cohort with both the UNHCR and the Ghanaian authorities to relegate the interest of the Liberian refugees.

According to one eyewitness, the police surrounded the hall where the ceremony was set to take place and arrested two, including the leader who was about to be sworn in.

"As the police drove off with the two, some residents pelted the convoy and the police responded with gun shots and tear gas," the eyewitness said.

Police in Ghana have arrested a Liberian, Tyrone Marshall, said to be ringleader of the campaign to replace the current leadership on the camp. Other sources said the police are moving from house to house rounding up Liberians.




A resident of the camp told journalist by phone that reinforcement of the Ghanaian police in their hundreds has surrendered the refugee camp to the total amazement of the camp dwellers!

Another said that police are rounding up every male refugee as night falls going from door to door asking every occupants to come outside with their identification cards and as the result of that every male Liberian refugees has taken to their heels to safety in the surrounding villages within the Gomoa district and parts of Accra!

while we do not question the Ghanaian authorities right to maintain law and order in their country,they also have a duty to protect every one that resides within their borders. Did they really have to to use live bullets against unarmed people?

The Buduburam Refugee Camp has been home to refugees who fled the civil war in Liberia more than two decades ago. The camp currently hosts 15,000 to 18,000 refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone as well as nationals from other West African countries, many of whom have settled into what has now become a town.

Couple of Interesting videos about Liberia on the Web.....

The international reporting project just did a couple of interesting pieces on Liberia....
In the first video Etweda Cooper, mayor of Edina, Liberia, discusses her vision for the small town's future in the wake of 14 years of civil war.

In the second video, Firestone the largest foreign corporation in Liberia, which has come under scrutiny in recent years has made concerted efforts to improve its facility and the condition of its workforce, but have they done enough?

Liberia,Egypt, and China sign A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Tappitta Hospital..............

The Chinese,Egyptian, and Liberian representatives at the signing ceremony .

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the smooth operation of the newly constructed modern Tapitta Hospital, in Northern Nimba County, Liberia has been signed among the Chinese, Liberian and Egyptian governments. The agreement among the governments of the three countries was signed last Tuesday in Monrovia, with the Ambassadors of the governments of China and Egypt affixing their signatures to the agreement, while the Minister of Health of Liberia Dr. Walter Gwenigale signed on behalf of the government of Liberia.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Yuxiao recalled that the hospital has since been officially turned over to the Liberian government since July 26, 2010 as a gift from his government to the Government of Liberia on the natal day of the country, but noted that it had not been operational since its hand-over due to the inadequacy of medical workers in Liberia.

Chinese Ambassador Yuxiao underscored the importance for everything to be done to ensure the speedy opening of the hospital and the training of Liberian health practitioners in China, who will return later to render services to the hospital. For his part, Egyptian Ambassador Maher El-Adawy expressed happiness over the signing of the MOU and assured that his country is prepared to play its part despite the on-going political crisis in Egypt.

According to the MOU, Liberian Government will take ownership of the facilities and would manage and operate the hospital at its own cost. The GOL will also provide accommodations, local transportation and complimentary medical treatment and make available other convenient services for both the Chinese and Egyptian medical experts who will be made available by the two countries in keeping with the agreement.

Also in keeping with the MOU, these foreign health practitioners would be exempted from paying taxes from their salaries and given other duty free privileges on their personal effects. In keeping with the agreement, the Chinese government is expected to dispatch five experts to help with the operation and maintenance of the major medical equipment, while providing on-the-job trainings for local technicians.

The Chinese government will also bear the travel cost and training expenses for 25 medical, technicians and managerial personnel from Liberia to travel to China for a period of 45 days to learn and return, while the Egyptian government would also send to the country around two to five medical doctors in specialized areas such as Obstetrics/Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and ENT to assist in the running of the hospital.

What goes around does indeed comes around...............

Supporters of Ivory Coast opposition leader Alassane Ouattara protest in the city of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010.

It has been reported in recent days that thousands of Ivorian refugees have cross over into Liberia, fleeing the instability in their Country.
Tension has been mounting in recent weeks in the World's largest cocoa producing country following presidential elections in that neighboring state. It can be recalled that the Electoral Body in Ivory Coast recently declared opposition leader and Prime Minister Alassane Ouattara as winner of the presidential polls, but the commission's announcement was contested by the country's constitutional court that later confirmed incumbent Laurent Gbargbo as president elect and subsequently inducted him into office.

Reports coming from Abidjan say opposition leader Alassane Ouattara has also declared himself and has been inducted into office as president of the Republic of the Ivory Coast. According to the BBC, Mr. Ouattara was inducted into office yesterday at a local Hotel in Abidjan amidst heavily armed UN Security presence.

United Nations soldiers from Togo stand guard outside the Golf Hotel, where opposition leader Alassane Ouattara was sworn-in as president, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010. The two candidates in Ivory Coast's disputed presidential election took dueling oaths of office Saturday after each claimed victory


Many Diplomat and foreign observers in the country have predicted that war is eminent and have suggested that the west African regional body ECOWAS should called an urgent meeting to address the crisis before it turns into a full skill war.

In the main time The Liberian President, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued a stern warning to Liberians to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Ivory Coast," a press release from the foreign ministry said on Monday night.

"This comes on the heels of reports that certain individuals and former warlords have been contacted unofficially to intervene," the release says.

"The people of the sisterly and neighbourly Republic of Ivory Coast need all the support we can muster as they are currently going through a difficult period following the contested election results," Johnson is quoted as saying.

It was Ivory coast that once assisted Charles Taylor and his band of barbarians to rack havoc upon the Liberian people,while we do not want war in our sister Country, and we certainly do not want chaos on our border, I cannot help but see how Karma have come back to bite them in the butt.What goes around does indeed comes around.

Vice President, Joseph Boakai Commends Chinese Role in Liberia .......

Liberian Vice President, Joseph Boakai, has commended the Chinese Government positive involvement in maintaining peace and stability in postwar Liberia, he attended a farewell reception held at the Chinese Ambassador's residence in Congo Town .

While making a toast during the reception, the Liberian V.P. said it as an honor to be able to associate with Chinese peacekeepers during the farewell reception held by Chinese Ambassador ZHOU Yuxiao, and expressed the Liberian government's appreciation and gratitude towards the meaningful contribution made thus far by the Chinese Government and its people, not only in the area of the peace and stability, but also in showing their solidarity by been the first major power in the world to send its President to visit Liberia in 2007, and giving numerous development assistances after the resumption of the bilateral diplomatic relationship between the two countries in 2003.









For his part, Chinese Ambassador ZHOU Yuxiao thanked Vice President Boakai for his kindness and high regards to the bilateral relationship between China and Liberia by honoring his presence at the farewell reception. The senior Chinese envoy commended the departing Chinese peacekeepers for their devotion and sacrifice to the peace building and postwar reconstruction of Liberia, and challenged them to bring back to China not only the unforgettable experiences and memories, but also the daily progress in peace and development made by Liberian Government and its people.

Meet Liberia's own Gregory Artus Frank.......

Lovers of African Movies have seen him in a number of African blockbuster film like who loves me and Chelsea, but few know that this talented Actor is a Liberian, who struggle for years, before making it big on the silver screen all across Africa.



After receiving a Human Resources Management degree from AME University in Monrovia, Gregory decided to pursue his passion for acting. He started out doing a lot of minor roles, but then he decided he wanted to do something on his own. His first film Juetey (Children’s Business), a film he both directed and starred in, was also his first big attempt at doing screenwriting.
By 2008, Juetey has won six movie awards including Best Writer, Best Supporting Actress and Movie of the Year, just to name a few.

Here is scene from one of his movie WHO LOVES ME.......

Gregory Artus Frank was born on May 4th 1979 in Montserado County Liberia.

Withdraw the Maritime act from the Senate Madame President...............

President Sirleaf

The Executive and the Legislative branches of government in Liberia, are said to be locked up in continuing discussions over the passage of the new Maritime Act that, among others, seeks to transform the Bureau of Maritime Affairs into an Authority and gives it the power to collect its own revenue, creates its own security unit and immunes its officials from prosecution while serving a seven-year term, among others.

The United States Government, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund have all slammed the Act, with the US warning that it potentially violates Liberia Public Financial Management Law. Even other government agencies such as defense and finance ministries have respectively opposed the financial autonomy and the establishment of a security unity under the Act.

Last week renowned Liberian rights activist Kimmie Weeks joined the chorus of opposition by denouncing the act as an affront to the Liberian People, Mr. Weeks claimed that the Act, which is being debated by the Senate and stands to give the Bureau of Maritime Affairs and its commissioners a broad power, gives way to the creation of an entity that will be unanswerable to the Liberian people and removes safeguards that prevent widespread corruption.
”We cannot allow ourselves to go back to the years long ago when multinationals and large companies could convince the Liberian Government to pass loss in their favors, but which were extremely detrimental to the Liberian people in the long run. We‘ve been accused of passing some of the worse contracts in the world. Let‘s not let history repeat itself. Just say no to Maritime act,” Mr Weeks said.

As a huge supporter of the Sirleaf Administration, i have praised the President when ever she did good, and when ever she was wrongly criticize for political reasons for the many good work she was doing for the Liberian people, but this Maritime act submitted by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is just not a step in the right direction. We just cannot let an agency of the government collect its own taxes, have their own security force and at the same time give them a wide range of powers including policing themselves, with out the input of the Liberian people. The international community thinks the act is seriously flawed, the Liberian people wants it withdrawn, and we think the President should seriously consider withdrawing it from the Senate.

couple of Interesting stories featuring Liberia on CNN Inside Africa.......

CNN inside Africa this week has a series of interesting report about Liberia, that i will also like to share here on my blog.

In the first story Prince Johnson -- once a rebel commander in Liberia's civil war, and a man accused of crimes against humanity -- says he has found God, and he wants to lead Liberia to a secure future as a born again Christin.

This fool was not only responsible for the death of many Innocent Liberians during the civil war, but he was also caught on tape drinking Budweiser while his men were cutting off the ears of then President- Samuel Doe to his amusement, before torturing and killing him. and to think he has the audacity to want to be President and govern Liberia makes me sick, this criminal should be in prison along with his Pal Charles Taylor where they all belong.

The next story in the series and one of my personal favorite is about the dissemination of information to the masses, and the voice and vision of the young generation of Liberians ready to rebuild after years of war.

The final story in the series is about surfing in Liberia, and a young Liberian who is trying to get recognition for the sport.

Happy Independence Day...........................

On July 26 1847 exactly 163 years ago 11 men, representing different parts of the commonwealth of Liberia, and led by Hilary Teage, signed the Liberian Declaration of Independence. By signing the declaration of independence these patriotic sons of Liberia told the world that a new country,called Liberia, the land of the free, the first free negro nation on the African continent was born.

Liberians will gather all over the world to celebrate Independence day.....

Happy birthday Liberia, and happy independence day to all my fellow Liberians and friends of Liberia all around the Globe, as we all gather to celebrate the 163 years birth anniversary of our homeland this July 26, let us not forget who we are or where we came from, let us remind ourselves that though we may be of many tribes, we are still one people with one common destiny.

The Liberian People are a proud, resourceful, and Patriotic people who despite all the hardship and horrors of the last decades, continue to rise and put our nation first. the daunting task of rebuilding the country,after decades of war, may seem sometimes impossible, but the future holds nothing but possibilities if we all just work together for the common good of our Country.
Long live the republic of Liberia, Long live the peoples of Liberia.

World bank cancels Liberia's 4.6 billion dollar debt....

One of the greatest achievement of the Sirleaf Administration came yesterday when the World bank agreed to cancel Liberia's 4.6 billion dollar external debt.
Noting that the country "has successfully implemented its poverty reduction strategy and maintained a stable macroeconomic environment, despite the global economic crisis.

The debt relief is expected to free up resources for Liberia to rebuild its social services following years of civil war.

"Liberia can now mobilize additional resources to rebuild the road network and the electricity supply system, providing the infrastructure needed to allow economic growth, while continuing to expand the health care and education systems," IMF mission chief for Liberia Chris Lane said in announcing the decision. "Liberia will also be able to further develop its own financial market and channel private savings to productive uses."

Liberia becomes the 29th country to reach the completion point under the HIPC Initiative. The completion point marks the end of the HIPC process, which started in 2008 when the Executive Boards of the IMF and the World Bank agreed that Liberia had met requirements for reaching the decision point, when countries start receiving debt relief on an interim basis.
Tuesday's announcement will reduce Liberia's debt by 90 percent, according to the IMF, relieving 4.6 of the 4.9 billion dollars the country owes.

We applaud the President and her team in Monrovia, for doing a great job, The granting of debt relief marks a significant milestone in our Country's path toward recovery, it would not have happen without the leadership of the President.

Actor Director Dermot Mulroney will direct a film based on George Weah....

Actor Director Dermot Mulroney will direct a film based on the life of Liberian football player George Weah.
The actor - who recently completed filming on his directorial debut Love Wedding Marriage - and his partners are said to be excited about making a movie about the soccer legend.


Weah known in Liberia as King George rose from the slums of Liberia's capital, Monrovia, to not only become one of the best soccer player in the world, but also the only person to win FIFA World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year and African Footballer of the Year in one season (1995). He used his popularity as a sports figure to help child soldiers lay down their weapons during Liberia's civil war, and he was a factor in bringing down the bloody dictatorship of Charles Taylor, presently on trial at the Hague for international war crimes.

Mulroney, along with producing partners Tharita Cutulle and Rainier Negri, recently secured a deal for Weah's life rights after making a final presentation to him at his Miami home.