Author: Julius Konton

By: Julius Konton The Director General of the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), Hanson Kiazolu, on Saturday conducted a high-level field assessment in Jekandor, a rural community in western Liberia, following alarming reports of an alleged chemical spill linked to operations of Bea Mountain Mining Corporation (BMMC). The visit, which brought together technical experts and environmental monitors from the NBC, comes amid growing concerns from residents that industrial waste may have contaminated streams, creeks, and other waterways that serve as the primary sources of drinking water and domestic use for several villages in the area. Jekandor is among the communities…

By: Julius Konton Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has launched a five-day executive training program on unlocking land-based revenue, bringing together African city leaders, urban planners, and policy experts to explore sustainable ways of financing the continent’s rapidly expanding cities. The high-level training, held in Monrovia, aims to equip municipal leaders with practical tools to transform land resources into reliable revenue streams capable of funding infrastructure, housing, and public services in Africa’s fast-growing urban centers. Opening the program, Minister Ngafuan urged participants to see land not simply as a physical asset but as a strategic…

By: Julius Konton Former Liberian President George Manneh Weah, community leaders, clergy members, and residents have commended Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr., Political Leader of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), for his sustained commitment to human capacity development and grassroots empowerment initiatives across Liberia. The praise came during the graduation ceremony of forty-nine Liberian women who successfully completed a vocational skills training program organized by MOVEE in Paynesville City. The initiative supported by Ambassador Kemayah and his wife, Rev. Mrs. Dialokai Golanyon-Kemayah aims to equip women with practical livelihood skills and promote economic self-reliance in communities often challenged by…

By: Julius Konton Women of Liberia’s Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) made a historic debut in the country’s official celebration of International Women’s Day, joining hundreds of women from government ministries, civil society organizations, development partners, and private sector institutions in a nationwide observance dedicated to advancing gender equality and recognizing the achievements of women. The national celebration, held in Monrovia under the theme “Give to Gain: Support Women for National Development,” brought together women leaders, advocates, policymakers, and young professionals from across Liberia to reflect on progress made in promoting women’s rights while renewing commitments to expand opportunities…

By: Staff Writer The Government of Liberia has secured a major infrastructure boost after signing a JPY 2.45 billion (approximately US$16 million) grant agreement with the Government of Japan for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the critical Freeport–Gabriel Tucker Bridge corridor in Monrovia. The agreement, signed in Tokyo on Friday, marks one of the most significant grant-funded urban road rehabilitation projects in Liberia’s capital in recent years, aimed at easing congestion, improving drainage, and strengthening access to the country’s busiest maritime gateway. The contract was signed on behalf of Liberia by Deputy Minister for Technical Services at the Ministry of…

By: Julius Konton Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has outlined an ambitious national vision aimed at rebuilding the country’s economic foundations beyond post-war recovery, declaring that the government is not merely restoring what existed before the civil conflict but laying the groundwork for a modern and resilient economy. Speaking at the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Exit Conference Final Meeting on Compact Development near Monrovia, Minister Ngafuan emphasized that Liberia’s development agenda is anchored on transforming the energy sector, strengthening infrastructure, and mobilizing partnerships with international development institutions and the private sector. According to the minister, Liberia…

By : Julius Konton Liberia has begun a new phase of strategic engagement aimed at strengthening its domestic revenue systems, particularly within the country’s lucrative mining sector, as a joint delegation from the Korean Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) opened high-level consultations with the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The discussions, held in Monrovia, form part of Phase One of the 2025–2026 KSP–AfDB Joint Consulting Project, an initiative designed to help Liberia improve domestic resource mobilization through data-driven policy reforms, stronger institutional coordination, and modernized fiscal systems. Government officials say the engagement reflects Liberia’s growing…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has issued a strong and controversial warning to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (Liberia), calling on the institution to urgently tighten oversight of imported goods and protect the Liberian market from becoming a dumping ground for substandard products. Speaking during a recent cabinet meeting at the Executive Mansion (Liberia), the Liberian leader criticized the growing influx of low-value food imports into the country, citing the example of chicken feet shipments frequently sent to Liberia from abroad. “I see a lot of friends, they are kind. When Christmas comes, they send chicken feet,”…

By: Julius Konton The Chief Executive Officer of Intel Sports, Besario Boakai, has called for a renewed national commitment to grassroots football development and modern sports infrastructure, describing the sector as a powerful but underutilized engine for youth empowerment, economic growth, and national unity. Speaking in an interview with reporters, Boakai emphasized that Liberia possesses an abundance of raw football talent but lacks the structural investment needed to transform that potential into a sustainable sports industry. “Football can be developed with strong government support and direct intervention,” Boakai said. “We already have the talent. What we need now is investment…

By: Julius Konton Civil society organization InfoQuest Liberia has strongly criticized the Government of Liberia’s decision to extend the mandate of the country’s Asset Recovery Team, arguing that the move undermines ongoing institutional efforts to combat corruption. In a press statement issued Thursday, the Executive Director of InfoQuest Liberia, Matthias Yeanay, described the extension as “unjustified and ineffective,” urging the government to instead redirect financial and logistical resources toward the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the country’s principal anti-graft institution. Mr. Yeanay emphasized that while the Asset Recovery Team was originally created to help trace and reclaim public assets allegedly lost…