Author: Julius Konton

By: Ben T.C. Brooks The once-bright vision that cocoa farming could have driven economic growth and infrastructure development in Liberia’s southeastern region is rapidly fading and overshadowed by a troubling economic trend of growing dominance of CFA franc transactions in the local cocoa trade. The shift, fueled largely by Burkinabé migrant farmers operating in River Gee and Grand Gedeh Counties, is draining local markets of Liberian dollars and destabilizing an already fragile rural economy. According to statistics from the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), more than 45,000 Burkinabé nationals were officially registered in the two counties as of July 2025, while…

By: Julius Konton In a major step toward enhancing the judicial response to gender-based violence in Liberia, the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL), with support from the Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY), conducted a one-day intensive training for 21 magistrates and judges on the effective application of the Domestic Violence Act of 2019. Held at the Corina Hotel in Sinkor, Monrovia, the workshop titled “Survivor-Centered Rehabilitation, Prevention and Justice in Liberia” focused on strengthening the capacity of Liberia’s judiciary to handle cases of domestic and sexual violence with greater legal clarity and survivor sensitivity. In her opening remarks,…

By: Staff Writer In the quiet village of Kpaytuo, Nimba County, an 18-year-old girl has narrowly escaped forced female genital mutilation (FGM) in a chilling case linked to her mother’s past as an anti-FGM activist. Late-Night Flight: How One Girl Dodged a Secret Ritual Anna S. Gibson says she fled her home on the night of October 12 after receiving a tip that members of the Sande society were planning to forcibly initiate her, a term often used to mask FGM in rural Liberia. “I was nearly captured,” Anna said from an undisclosed location. “They wanted to punish my mother…

By: Julius Konton Liberia’s First Lady, Kartumu Yarta Boakai, delivered a stirring keynote address as Guest of Honour at the 12th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, calling on African First Ladies to rise beyond ceremonial roles and become powerful agents of transformation across the continent. Addressing a distinguished audience that included President Adama Barrow of The Gambia, First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, fellow African First Ladies, and global health leaders, Madam Boakai framed the gathering as “a cathedral of compassion” and declared: “If women are the backbone of society, then First Ladies must be the moral spine of…

By: Julius Konton A dedicated member of Infoquest Liberia, Sialyn Bockarie has been selected as one of sixteen Liberian professionals currently participating in the fifth round of the International Training Programme on Land Governance (ITPLZ), now underway in Sweden. The prestigious nine-month program, jointly attended by participants from Liberia and Zimbabwe, is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and implemented by Lantmäteriet, Sweden’s national mapping, cadastral, and land registration authority. Focused on promoting inclusive, transparent, and sustainable land governance, the ITPLZ program equips participants with essential tools and knowledge to strengthen land institutions and support equitable access…

By: Julius Konton On the opening day of the 2025 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, led a high-level delegation in strategic discussions aimed at strengthening Liberia’s economic reform agenda. The Liberian team held talks with the IMF Mission Team and the IMF Executive Director, Ouattara Wautabouna, focusing on critical areas such as the country’s continued commitment to reform, the importance of reliable economic data, and the implementation of both the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). These discussions mark a…

By: Stephen N. Sonpon Naymote Partners for Democracy and Development has revealed a new policy brief that the Liberian government’s flagship ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development faces critical implementation gaps under its governance and anti-corruption component—Pillar Four—with continued service unavailability at the county level, persistent manual systems, and slow digital adoption undermining reform progress. The 2025 Policy Brief on Governance and Anti-Corruption, launched Friday, October 10, in Monrovia, paints a mixed picture of early-stage reform efforts, warning that limited institutional capacity could erode public trust and slow Liberia’s transition toward transformative governance. Presenting the findings, Naymote’s Executive Director, Eddie D.…

By: Julius Konton In a powerful address marking the opening of the October Term of the Supreme Court of Liberia, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. urged the nation’s Judiciary to lead with integrity, impartiality, and a renewed sense of purpose. Speaking from the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, the President emphasized the vital role of the courts in safeguarding democracy and national development. The occasion also served as a ceremonial welcome to His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay as the new Chief Justice and His Honor Boakai N. Kanneh as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. President Boakai hailed their appointments…

By: Julius Konton Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has called on public sector employees to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, stressing that efficient service delivery begins with ethical leadership and sound financial literacy. Speaking during a two day strategic planning retreat themed “Transforming Priorities into Strategies: Pathway to Efficient Service Delivery”, Minister Ngafuan laid out a compelling vision for reform and performance within the Ministry. “We Must Be Custodians, Not Consumers”, A Call for Ethical Stewardship Addressing senior staff and employees, Ngafuan emphasized that as custodians of the nation’s financial resources, integrity…

The Senior National Team of Liberia, The Lonestar has Arrived In Malabo, Equatorial Guinea Ahead of Final World Cup Qualifiers fixture on Monday. As a sound of further motivation, Amb. Alioune Kebe, Liberia’s Sports Ambassador for Youth and Sports Development also a former international player is part of the delegation to encourage the players to continue on their wining form which will help boost more fans confidence in the team.