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.

Bob Johnson....... A True Friend of Liberia.....

There is a saying “The friend who can be silent with you in your moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with you in your hour of grief and bereavement, who can fight for you, when you can no longer fight, that is a friend who cares, that is a true friend.

That is exactly what Robert Johnson have been to Liberia...... A true Friend.
Mr Johnson has worked tirelessly for the people of Liberia, investing and encouraging companies, and major corporations from around the world to invest in Liberia. Mr Johnson once said black Americans need to have the same commitment to Liberia that many American Jews have to Israel. "I believe passionately that African Americans have a responsibility to support Liberia, much like Jewish Americans support Israel. Given the long historical relationship between our two countries, we have a special responsibility to do whatever we can to ensure that President Sirleaf succeeds in her effort to rebuild the country.

Mr Johnson was in Liberia for Delta's first direct flight to Monrovia.

As a Liberian, I truly admire and applaud the efforts of Mr. Johnson to bridge that gap between Africans and African-Americans.

Johnson, the founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies (RLJ),has significant business and development projects in Liberia including the nation’s first four-star oceanfront hotel.

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.