M-News Africa

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

Clar Hope Foundation Challenges Legality of AREPT Subpoena in Ongoing Court Dispute

Monrovia, Liberia: The Clar Hope Foundation has issued a formal response to a recent public statement by the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), clarifying that its ongoing legal action centers on the legality of a subpoena issued in connection with an investigation into the Academy matter.

In a statement released Friday, the Foundation said it is not contesting the State’s authority to investigate public assets and does not claim immunity from lawful scrutiny. Instead, it emphasized that its court filing specifically challenges what it describes as a procedurally defective Subpoena Duces Tecum obtained at the instance of AREPT.

According to the Foundation, its Motion to Quash before the Honorable Court is based on allegations that the subpoena was issued beyond statutory authority and in violation of established legal processes. The organization argues that while accountability and transparency are essential, they must be pursued within constitutional limits.

“The Foundation’s objection does not arise from resistance to inquiry,” the statement noted, “but from the use of judicial process to obtain evidence through what it believes to be an unlawful and overly broad instrument.”

The Clar Hope Foundation contends that AREPT invoked the Court’s jurisdiction in a manner inconsistent with due process safeguards. It further asserted that references by AREPT to a broader review involving multiple institutions do not resolve questions about the legality of the specific subpoena at issue.

While AREPT has described its operations as evidence-based and respectful of the judiciary, the Foundation said such assurances must be reflected in strict adherence to constitutional and statutory procedures.

Despite the dispute, the Foundation reiterated its willingness to cooperate with any investigation conducted in accordance with the law. It stressed that the matter is now properly before the Court and called for restraint while the judicial process unfolds.
“The judicial process must be allowed to take its course,” the Foundation stated, adding that the Court will ultimately determine whether the subpoena and the evidence sought comply with Liberian law.

The statement was signed by Jackson Paye Gbamie, General Manager of the Clar Hope Foundation. The case is expected to proceed through the courts in the coming weeks, with the outcome likely to shape how investigative bodies employ judicial subpoenas in asset recovery efforts.

04/02/2026

PCC clarifies Champion Designs' “unfounded” claims regarding outsourcing procedures

Paynesville, Liberia – February 4, 2026 – The Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) wishes to clarify recent assertions made by Enoch Toga, CEO of Champion Designs and Computer Accessories, alleging that the outsourcing of advertisement-related activities in Paynesville to Magic Group of Companies was conducted without following due process.

PCC emphasizes that all procurement procedures related to this outsourcing were carried out transparently and in strict accordance with Liberia’s procurement laws and regulations. The entire process included competitive bidding and thorough evaluation to ensure fairness, accountability, and value for money.

PCC categorically deny any claims suggesting procedural irregularities or lack of adherence to legal standards. The selection of Magic Group of Companies was based on merit, and all necessary documentation and approvals were duly obtained and documented throughout the process.

The City government of Paynesville remains committed to transparency, integrity, and good governance.

It is worth noting that Champion Designs and Computer Accessories is still in arrears of US$ 20,344.30 with Paynesville City Corporation (PCC) from 2023 to 2025.

Meanwhile, PCC is admonishing Champion Designs to settle its current liabilities with the outsourcing entity, rather than scapegoating the city headed by Mayor Robert S. Bestman II.

19/01/2026

MCC Delegation Holds Technical Engagements with Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission


As part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact development process, a high-level delegation from the United States government agency on Tuesday January 19, held technical engagements with the Board of Commissioners and management of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) at the Commission’s offices in Monrovia.

The engagement marks an important step following the MCC Board’s decision in December 2025 to reaffirm Liberia’s eligibility for a second MCC compact. Discussions focused on Liberia’s electricity sector and the potential role of the Commission under a new compact framework.

LERC itself is a direct outcome of Liberia’s first Millennium Challenge Compact, highlighting the long-term institutional impact of MCC’s partnership with the Government of Liberia. When approved, the proposed second compact is expected to provide significant support to the electricity sector, with an emphasis on expanding nationwide access to reliable and affordable power.

The MCC delegation was led by Ms. Carrie Monahan, Managing Director for Africa at the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and included officials from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. During the engagement, Ms. Monahan briefed Commissioners on the purpose of the delegation’s visit and reaffirmed MCC’s mandate of providing grant assistance to eligible countries to promote economic growth and poverty reduction.

She noted that Liberia’s first compact was a major success, particularly citing the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, which restored a critical source of renewable energy for the country.

According to Ms. Monahan, Liberia’s selection for a second compact reflects the positive outcomes and strong performance achieved under the initial program. She added that MCC is currently awaiting the Government of Liberia’s final decision on priority areas of support and stands ready to work closely with LERC in advancing reforms and investments in the electricity sector.

Responding on behalf of the Commission, the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Hon. Claude J. Katta, expressed appreciation to the MCC delegation for the technical engagement. He emphasized that LERC is a flagship success story of the first compact, underscoring how MCC support helped establish a credible and independent electricity regulator in Liberia.

Chairman Katta recalled that the first compact provided critical operational and technical support to the Commission and expressed hope that a second compact would build on those gains.

He recounted progress made by LERC since the close of the first compact, including improvements in Liberia’s standing on the African Development Bank (AfDB) Electricity Regulatory Index for Africa and advances toward liberalizing the electricity sector.

Chairman Katta noted that continued technical assistance, particularly in capacity building, would further strengthen LERC’s ability to regulate the sector effectively and support Liberia’s broader electricity access goals.

09/01/2026

Former Monrovia Mayor Jefferson Koijee Vindicated? As Unity Party Supporter, Journalist, Police, and Activist Say Allegations were all lies and falsehood

Monrovia, Liberia– Former Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee has been further publicly vindicated following a series of testimonies and official findings involving
Momo Johnson,a staunch supporter of the ruling Unity Party;journalist Lennart Dodoo;the Liberia National Police (LNP);and social media activist Matina Konateh.

Momo Johnson Details Caldwell Land Incident and Other Alleged Falsehoods

In a Facebook post made just a few hours ago, Momo Johnson,widely known as a vocal supporter of the ruling Unity Party, defended Koijee against what he described as years of fabricated allegations.

Johnson highlighted the Caldwell land-dispute murder allegation,recalling that on April 22, 2021,talk show host Henry P. Costa accused Koijee of murdering a man over a land dispute in Caldwell. Johnson noted that the woman interviewed on the program introduced as a family spokesperson explicitly stated that Koijee’s name had never been mentioned in connection with the dispute involving her brother.

Johnson emphasized that no evidence ever linked Koijee to the incident, that Koijee was never arrested or charged,and that the allegation remained unsupported.

Journalist Lennart Dodoo Refutes Assault Allegation

Further bolstering Koijee’s defense, on December 13, 2025, Lennart Dodoo;Managing Editor of The Liberian Investigator and former News Desk Chief of FrontPage Africa, publicly rejected claims that Koijee assaulted him or seized his professional equipment in March 2021.

The allegation, published by online outlet DTV Liberia,claimed that Koijee confiscated Dodoo’s gadgets while serving as mayor. Dodoo dismissed the report as false and called on the outlet to issue a correction.

“As a media professional, truth and accuracy must always come first,” Dodoo stated.

His clarification directly contradicts the allegation and clears Koijee of wrongdoing in that matter.

On July 23, 2024,the new leadership of the Liberia National Police (LNP) announced that it had reopened and reviewed the January 6, 2023, arms-importation investigation and concluded that the earlier findings were authentic and free from political influence.Addressing a press conference, Inspector General of Police Col. Gregory O. W. Coleman confirmed that one Boyd Benjamin Baker remained the suspect in the case.

The LNP reiterated that Jefferson Koijee was not linked to the illegal importation of arms seized in shipping containers in 2023. Although Koijee’s name circulated widely on social media at the time, police investigators found no evidence connecting him to the ownership, importation, or distribution of the weapons.
Matina Konateh Issues Public Apology
In another public development, Matina Konateh, a social media activist, issued a live Facebook apology to Koijee for falsely accusing him of involvement in the murder case connected to former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott, in which Charlotte Musu lost her life.

“I lied on Jefferson Koijee,” Konateh admitted, acknowledging that she and others had made untrue claims linking him to the case.

Sanctions: When and Why Koijee Was Designated

Despite these domestic vindications, Jefferson Koijee was designated on the U.S. sanctions list between December 8 and 9, 2023,by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

According to OFAC, Koijee was sanctioned based on allegations that he was responsible for or complicit in serious human rights abuses and corruption, The designation triggered asset-blocking measures and restrictions under U.S. law.

Koijee has publicly rejected the basis of the sanctions in past interviews, maintaining his innocence and asserting that the measures would not silence him. He has repeatedly expressed confidence that he will ultimately clear his name.

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

📢 JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) invites qualified and motivated Liberians to apply for the following contract positions:

🔹 Compliance Officer – 47 Positions
🔹 Enforcement Officer – 59 Positions

🗓 Application Deadline: January 14, 2026

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply online. Full details, including the Terms of Reference (TOR) and application requirements, are available on the LRA website and this official page.

HOW TO APPLY

1️⃣ Visit: www.lra.gov.lr

2️⃣ Click MEDIA on the menu bar
3️⃣ Select Job Vacancies
4️⃣ Choose the position of interest and carefully read the job details
5️⃣ If qualified, complete and submit the online application as instructed

🔗 Direct Application Links:

👉 Compliance Officer:
https://eservices.lra.gov.lr/apply/apply?vacCode=DTD-CT-001

👉 Enforcement Officer:
https://eservices.lra.gov.lr/apply/apply?vacCode=DTD-CT-002

Qualified Liberians are strongly encouraged to apply.

01/01/2026

LIBERIA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT GETS KEY DIASPORA SUPPORT!
---As PS4 Liberia Endorses January 7 Petition.

Public Safety for Liberia (PS4 Liberia, Incorporated), a U.S. based Liberian diaspora nonprofit organization, has announced its full support for the January 7, 2026 petition organized by the Patriotic Entrepreneurs of Liberia (PATEL) and the Economic Action Movement of Liberia (EAM), to push for the passage of the Liberia Business Development Authority Act.

The petition calls on the Legislature to pass the LBDA Act, first submitted in March 2023, seeking to protect Liberian businesses, expand job opportunities, and create a fairer, safer, and more stable economic environment for all citizens.

In a release issued Monday, December 29, 2025, PS4 Liberia, an organization dedicated to strengthening public safety, civic responsibility, and community empowerment, said it believes that public safety and economic justice are inseparable, adding that a nation cannot be safe when its people are unemployed, marginalized, or excluded from their own economy.

The LBDA Act, when passed, would
create jobs for Liberians, strengthen local businesses and entrepreneurs, and
reduce economic exploitation and unfair foreign competition.

The Act also seeks to establish a Fast-Track Economic Court to address business abuses, promote transparency, accountability, national stability,
ensure Liberians benefit from construction, reconstruction and other development contracts and programs, and also benefit current and future lawmakers, who would some day retire and transition to private life, where a fair and stable business environment will matter to them as well.

PS4 Liberia is calling on Liberians in all 15 counties at home, Liberians in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and other parts of the world; motor riders, traders, teachers, youth, market women, professionals, community leaders, religious institutions and organizations, alumni groups, and county associations, to stand in solidarity with this national effort.

PS4 emphasized that the pro-LBDA mobilization effort is not a political rally, partisan agenda, but a national development movement intended to help build a Liberia where Liberians are first in line for jobs, local businesses protected, communities safer, families dignified, and the economy works for everyone.

The organization reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national development efforts, strengthening civic education, public safety; mobilizing diaspora expertise and partnerships, standing with Liberian institutions that promote fairness, justice, and opportunities.

The PS4 release, signed by its founder and Executive Director, Philip E.P. Woods, ll, is meanwhile encouraging all Liberians to support the January 7th petition and to join the call for a stronger, safer, and more economically just Liberia.