Author: Julius Konton

By: Julius Konton Liberia has launched a pioneering school-based intervention aimed at combating substance abuse among young people, marking what education and development advocates describe as a significant shift toward prevention-focused policies in schools. The initiative, known as the Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE) School-Based Intervention Program, was officially rolled out at William V.S. Tubman High School in Monrovia during a ceremony attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, school administrators, student leaders, civil society organizations, educators, development partners, and members of the media. The program, spearheaded by the Global Action for Sustainable Development (GASD), seeks to address substance…

By: Julius Konton A coalition of eight countries, led by the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom alongside partners spanning four continents have launched a new international initiative aimed at reducing violence against women and girls globally, in what officials describe as an ambitious effort to halve gender-based violence within the next decade. The coalition, formed during a hybrid ministerial meeting, brings together Morocco, the United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jamaica, and South Africa. The initiative seeks to strengthen international cooperation, share policy expertise, and enhance political commitments to address one of the world’s most persistent…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is expected to break ground on the long-anticipated Mendicoma–Voinjama Highway Project in Lofa County on Saturday, marking what government officials describe as a strategic investment aimed at strengthening regional trade, improving transportation access, and accelerating economic growth in northern Liberia. The announcement was made by Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, during an appearance on the state broadcaster’s Super Morning Show on Liberia Broadcasting System (ELBC). According to Minister Ngafuan, the Mendicoma–Voinjama road project represents one of the flagship infrastructure priorities of the Boakai administration and is expected to deliver…

By: Julius Konton Guinea-Bissau has reaffirmed its longstanding and unwavering support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara region, reinforcing growing African diplomatic backing for Rabat’s position on one of North Africa’s most enduring geopolitical disputes. The position was reiterated by João Bernardo Vieira, Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities, following high-level talks in Rabat with Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates. Speaking during a joint press briefing, Vieira reaffirmed what he described as Guinea-Bissau’s “firm and constant” position supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over all of its territories, including the…

By : Julius Konton Liberia’s government has announced sweeping corrective measures aimed at strengthening public financial management and improving transparency after a major compliance audit exposed weaknesses in the country’s revenue collection and reconciliation systems spanning more than six years. Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan disclosed that the compliance audit conducted by the General Auditing Commission (GAC) into government revenue collection and reconciliation processes for the period July 1, 2018, through December 31, 2024 marks what he described as a critical milestone in Liberia’s effort to strengthen fiscal transparency, accountability, and public financial integrity. Speaking during a…

By : Julius Konton Liberia’s government has launched an ambitious youth-centered academic and professional initiative aimed at strengthening economic governance, policy innovation, and leadership development among university students, as authorities seek to prepare a new generation of economists and public sector professionals capable of addressing the country’s long-standing development challenges. Speaking at the official launch of the Liberia National Economic Students Hub (LNESH) at the main campus of the University of Liberia on Capitol Hill in Monrovia, Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan said the initiative forms part of a broader national effort to build human capital and…

By: Julius Konton Madagascar has commended Morocco’s growing role in advancing African development, with Malagasy Foreign Minister Alice N’Diaye praising the leadership and continental vision of King Mohammed VI during high-level diplomatic engagements in Rabat. Speaking following bilateral talks with Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Tuesday, N’Diaye applauded what she described as the monarch’s far-reaching commitment to Africa’s socio-economic transformation, peace, and regional cooperation. In a joint communiqué issued after the discussions, the Malagasy foreign minister expressed appreciation for Morocco’s expanding development partnerships on the continent and highlighted the enduring impact of King Mohammed VI’s 2016 state visit to…

By : Julius Konton In a significant effort to strengthen unity, deepen understanding of church reforms, and combat misinformation within congregations, the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church (LAC/UMC) has concluded an intensive day-long training on peacebuilding, reconciliation, effective communication, and regionalization for members of the Gompa District Conference in northern Liberia. Held at the Suasan Potter Hall within the historic Ganta United Methodist Mission Station in Ganta, Nimba County, the workshop brought together clergy, lay leaders, youth representatives, and church members from local congregations across the Gompa District Conference to engage in dialogue on issues shaping the…

By Julius Konton Liberia’s dream of returning to Africa’s biggest football stage has been reignited after the official draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers placed the West African nation in what many supporters and pundits describe as a “competitive but manageable” Group K alongside Mali, Cape Verde and Rwanda. The draw, released Tuesday, has triggered cautious optimism among Liberian football followers who believe the Lone Star may finally end a 24-year absence from the continental championship. For a nation that has qualified for the AFCON finals only twice, in 1996 and 2002 , the prospect of…

By: Julius Konton The management of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center has strongly dismissed social media reports alleging that doctors at the institution are protesting over salary concerns and that no physicians are currently on duty, describing the claims as “false, misleading, and dangerously alarmist.” In an official statement issued for immediate public attention, hospital authorities categorically denied reports circulating online suggesting disruptions in healthcare delivery at Liberia’s largest referral hospital, emphasizing that medical operations remain fully functional and uninterrupted. The management stressed that at no point has there been a protest, work stoppage, or suspension of services by…