Author: Akoi Baysah

By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr. The Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA), backed by the World Bank–funded Liberia Investment, Finance, and Trade (LIFT) Project, has concluded a high-powered study tour of Mauritius, one of Africa’s most successful Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Freeport models, as Liberia intensifies its drive toward global competitiveness and industrial transformation. LSEZA’s Acting Director of Administration, Madam Hattie Wureh Hunder led the Liberian delegation and engaged top government ministries, major private-sector institutions, and leading industrial operators in Mauritius, extracting strategic insights that could redefine Liberia’s SEZ landscape. Over the course of a week, the team conducted…

By: Wilfred Duosi Lead Campaigner of the newly established True United Party (TUP), Mengistu E. Wolokolie, says Liberia must nationalize its natural resources if the country is to generate meaningful revenue and ensure that citizens truly benefit from the nation’s wealth. Appearing at the CEIO Intellectual Forum in Monrovia, the former U.S. soldier and 2029 presidential hopeful argued that the current system allows foreign companies excessive control over Liberia’s minerals, leaving citizens with limited gains. Wolokolie stated that, if elected President in 2029, his administration will prohibit foreign entities from independently mining or selling Liberia’s natural resources. Instead, he said…

By: Wilfred Duosi The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, has released the findings of a comprehensive investigation into the death of the former Boulevard Palace Hotel Manager, Anwar Futloo, concluding that the deceased died by suicide. In a statement issued Wednesday, December 3, the Ministry clarified that no foul play was discovered during the investigation. According to the release, signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Jutonu Y. Kollie, the autopsy conducted on January 7, 2025, determined that Mr. Futloo’s death resulted from a self-directed action. The Ministry disclosed that the autopsy was performed…

By: Joseph Kerkula A two-day High-Level Dialogue aimed at strengthening the mandate, functions, and institutional powers of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) officially commenced on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, in Monrovia. The forum brings together key stakeholders from government entities, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, development partners, and the Legislature. Over the next two days, participants will discuss critical issues affecting land governance and management across the country. The dialogue is expected to produce actionable recommendations geared toward improving transparency, reducing land-related conflicts, and restoring public trust in the national land administration system. Delivering opening remarks, LLA Chairman Samuel Kpakio…

By: Akoi M Baysah, Jr. A routine city enforcement exercise in the bustling Redlight commercial district took a dramatic turn on Wednesday when a confrontation between a Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) officer and a pregnant street vendor escalated into a physical tussle, prompting public concern and an immediate response from city authorities. In this situation, many eyewitnesses have insinuated that the pregnant woman is dead which led to marketers staging a demonstration at the offices of the Paynesville City Corporation. The PCC has refuted the news of death of the unnamed pregnant woman and said Officer Solomon Boakai was enforcing…

By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr. ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) has received high commendation from AFCONS Infrastructure Limited for its strong commitment to workforce compliance and skills development, following the successful training and certification of 42 Liberian workers under a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The recognition was extended to AML’s Contractor Compliance and Management Unit, which has played a key role in resolving 16 workforce-related issues and ensuring smooth coordination between the companies during ongoing project activities. The 42 trainees completed an intensive 90-day hands-on technical program facilitated by AFCONS, gaining practical expertise in conveyor installation, piping, equipment maintenance, warehouse and…

By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr The National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC-Liberia) has launched a week-long electoral reform study tour in Accra, Ghana, where a nine-member delegation is assessing Ghana’s electoral system and its application of key reforms, including boundary delimitation and the use of advanced voting technologies. The initiative is part of Liberia’s ongoing effort to strengthen its electoral framework by adopting regional best practices. Officials say insights from Ghana, considered one of West Africa’s most stable electoral environments, will help Liberia address past electoral challenges, improve public trust, and increase citizen participation. According to a statement issued on…

By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr. The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has reopened prosecution in the longstanding corruption case involving former senior officials of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LIGIS) over the alleged misuse of funds allocated for the 2022 National Population and Housing Census. Criminal Court “C” resumed full proceedings on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, following the selection and induction of a fifteen-member jury. The development marks a major breakthrough in a case stalled since 2023. The current defendants on trial are Dominic Paye, former Comptroller of LIGIS, and Lawrence George, former Deputy Director-General for Administration. A…

By Abraham K Morris, Sr. By any honest measure, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has built a thoughtful strategic foundation for national renewal. The ARREST framework and the AAID agenda give Liberia something it has lacked for years: coherence. The political signals on anti-corruption have been strong, the rhetoric tightly aligned with reformist expectations, and the administration’s intent broadly credible. Yet, for ordinary Liberians, intent is not rice on the table, pavement under their feet, light in the home, or medicine in the clinic. Intent does not patch roads, clean water pumps, or stabilize the price of a bag of…

By: Wilfred Duosi The Senate Committee on Ways, Means and Finance has announced the introduction of a bill seeking a significant reduction in the salaries of members of the Legislature. The disclosure was made by the committee’s chair, Bong County Senator Prince Moye, during the Senate’s regular session on Tuesday, December 2. Senator Moye informed the plenary that the proposed legislation, submitted by Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, calls for a downward adjustment of lawmakers’ salaries from the newly proposed US$8,000 to US$5,000 monthly. He noted that senators currently earn US$5,000, but the draft 2026 National Budget proposes an…