M-News Africa, Monrovia (2026)

20/07/2026

CAM Alleges Simeon Freeman Received US$10,000 Monthly Allowance Under Weah Administration

The Citizens Action Movement (CAM), a political pressure group, has accused the political leader of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), Simeon Freeman, of receiving a monthly allowance of US$10,000 during the administration of former President George Weah.

In a statement, CAM alleged that the payments were made through what it described as a “gentleman’s agreement” between Freeman and former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah. According to the group, Freeman benefited from the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC)-led government by allegedly receiving the monthly payment despite not holding a government position. CAM claimed the alleged arrangement contributed to Freeman’s silence throughout much of the Weah administration.

The group further alleged that Freeman is a “belly-driven politician” who portrays himself as a wealthy businessman while privately negotiating for personal benefits from those in power. CAM claimed that because Freeman was allegedly receiving a monthly US$10,000 payment from the Ministry of Finance during the CDC government, he refrained from publicly criticizing the administration. It further alleged that his recent criticism of President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung stems from the fact that those alleged benefits are no longer available.

CAM also claimed to have discovered that Freeman sought appointment as either Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia or Minister of Finance under the current administration but was unsuccessful.

“We can confirm that he requested and pleaded with this government so that he can head the Central Bank of Liberia or the Ministry of Finance. Due to the President’s rejection of his request to serve in those positions, Freeman has gone on the rampage criticizing and insulting the President everywhere he goes,” the statement alleged.

The pressure group urged Freeman to stop what it described as unnecessary attacks against President Boakai and instead concentrate on his presidential ambition.

“It is mind-blowing to see a man who claims to be a millionaire chasing a government job, and when he doesn’t get it, he goes on the rampage insulting people. Let Freeman focus on his failed investments that are no longer functional, yet he wants to become President of Liberia when he cannot control his own businesses,” CAM said.

The organization also called on Liberians not to take Freeman seriously, alleging that he pursues personal interests rather than those of the Liberian people.

“Simeon Freeman needs to keep quiet and continue negotiating for the job he started seeking from the beginning of this administration. We don’t have space for self-seeking politicians like Freeman who only want everything for themselves. CAM stands ready to expose these individuals, including Freeman, who seek only their personal interests,” the statement concluded.

14/07/2026

'The Smoke From JFK Is Killing Us'

- Sinkor Community Raises Alarm Over Open Burning of Medical Waste

Less than nine months after it was commissioned with fanfare as a milestone for public health, Liberia's largest referral hospital is accused of abandoning its new modern incinerator and returning to open burning of hazardous medical waste in the middle of one of Monrovia's most densely populated neighborhoods.

Residents of 19th Street, Airfield, and Central Sinkor say they have for weeks been forced to live under a thick cloud of acrid, chemical smoke billowing daily from the compound of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, not from its incinerator stack, but from open pits dug on the ground just meters from homes, businesses and food stalls along Tubman Boulevard.

What they describe is no longer just a nuisance. They say it is a slow-moving public health emergency.

From Promise to Pollution

In October 2025, House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon officially commissioned and dedicated a brand-new, high-temperature incinerator at JFK Medical Center. The ceremony was hailed by the Ministry of Health and hospital authorities as a turning point for infection prevention and control in Liberia.

The facility, valued at US$31,000 and built from March 2025, was designed to safely destroy the hospital's most dangerous waste streams - infectious materials, pathological waste, used sharps, expired pharmaceuticals and contaminated plastics - through controlled combustion at 800 to 1,000 degrees Celsius, neutralizing pathogens and preventing toxic emissions.

Residents say that promise has literally gone up in smoke.

"They have abandoned the incinerator. Now they burn everything in the open right where we live. From morning to evening we inhale smoke," said a mother of three who lives directly behind the hospital fence. Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, she added: "My children are coughing nonstop. We cannot even dry our clothes outside. The smell is chemicals, blood, plastic."

"We Are Getting Sick" - Community Cries Out

During interviews over the weekend, several mothers and elderly residents described sleepless nights, burning eyes, respiratory distress in children, and a stench they say is unmistakably medical.

Madam Yassah Jones, a mother of four, said the situation has become unbearable.

"This thing has affected us seriously. The medical waste is causing us problems, and the hospital management needs to take this seriously because it will cause health problems," she lamented.

Martha Harris, a mother of two, said the current crisis is part of a long pattern of alleged negligence. She claimed that in the past, hospital staff dumped dead tissue and other waste materials behind the facility's perimeter fence.

For 66-year-old Joseph Dennis, the fear is for the most vulnerable.

"Both adults and children are suffering from this pollution. Medical waste needs to be taken good care of because these wastes are harmful to humans," Dennis said. "If the Government of Liberia, the Environmental Protection Agency, and JFK management cannot handle this, we as a community are going to take unspecified action."

What Our Reporter Saw

When this paper visited the site on Saturday, July 12, residents' claims were visible and overwhelming.

Less than 50 meters from residential homes and bustling roadside businesses, an open pit was actively burning. The pile contained a dangerous mix of what appeared to be blood-stained gauze and bandages, used surgical gloves, plastic IV bags and fluid bottles, syringes, mixed with kitchen food waste and general garbage.

Heavy black smoke, driven by the afternoon wind, drifted directly into nearby compounds, homes, schools and cook shops. No protective fencing, no warning signs, no hospital personnel in protective equipment were seen at the burning site.

A Clear Violation of Liberia's Health Laws

Public health experts say the practice, if confirmed, is not just reckless but illegal.

Liberia's National Guidelines for the Safe Management of Healthcare Waste (2020), developed by the National Public Health Institute of Liberia and the Ministry of Health with technical support from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strictly prohibits open burning of infectious healthcare waste.

The guidelines mandate strict segregation at source, safe collection and transportation, and destruction only in licensed, high-temperature facilities.

Uncontrolled open burning of medical waste mixed with plastics releases some of the most toxic pollutants known to science, including dioxins and furans - persistent organic pollutants classified as human carcinogens - along with particulate matter, carbon monoxide and acid gases. Beyond air pollution, it exposes waste handlers, children, and the entire community to blood-borne pathogens including HIV, Hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious agents, as well as injury from contaminated sharps.

"This is not just pollution, it is a violation of medical ethics and the law," said an environmental health official at the Ministry of Health who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak on the matter. "JFK should be the standard bearer for infection prevention and control for the entire country. If JFK is burning infectious waste in a community, what message does that send to clinics in the counties?"

JFK Medical Center has a long and troubled history with waste management. For years, residents and the Monrovia City Corporation have complained about medical and domestic waste littering streets and sidewalks adjacent to its perimeter fence in Sinkor.

Silence From JFK

When contacted on Friday, July 11, with detailed questions about why the newly dedicated incinerator is not in use, how long it has been non-functional, what caused its abandonment, and what interim measures are being taken to protect the surrounding community, the JFK Medical Center administration did not provide an immediate response up to press time.

That silence has further enraged residents.

"We are calling on Speaker Koon who dedicated this incinerator, and the EPA to come and see what is happening here," said Mary Dennis, a mother of three. "The hospital that is supposed to save lives is making us sick. They must return to using the controlled, high-temperature facility and stop burning waste among us."

The community is now demanding immediate intervention from the Ministry of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Monrovia City Corporation to halt the open burning, investigate the status of the US$31,000 incinerator, and compel the hospital to return to safe, controlled disposal.

Until then, Sinkor residents say, they will continue to live with their windows shut, their children coughing, and the daily reminder that the smoke from Liberia's premier referral hospital is drifting into their homes.

05/07/2026

Hon Freeman Write...
Creating Millionaires in Liberia

According to a UBS(Union Bank of Switzerland) report, America minted more than 1200 new millionaires daily in 2025. That's more than 440,000 annually. Financial services - stocks and bonds - created 79% of them.

Which sectors, created by public policy, have the capacity to create wealth for Liberians?

Governments are supposed to create the enabling environment for private wealth creation. Such environment enables increased taxation and job creation. We must move away from a very large government, large bureaucracy and bad public spending habits that facilitates poverty and enables deprivation in a growing and youthful population.

02/07/2026

Why LNP authority had to reassign with those controversies that border on integrity?
....As Concerns Arise Over the Reappointment of Suspended Official of the Liberia National Police

Monrovia, Liberia – A cloud of uncertainty looms over the Liberia National Police as discussions surrounding the reappointment of former Chief of the Financial Crime Investigation Division, Alvin G. James, spark serious concerns among police ranks and the public alike. Recently suspended for soliciting $5,000 from an ambassador, James’ controversial history raises questions about the integrity of the police leadership.

Despite being suspended less than a month ago, whispers of James’ return to the role of Chief Investigator (R-1) have ignited outrage among law enforcement officers. James is no stranger to controversy; he has faced two reprimands for bribery and was involved in the improper sale of an impounded NGO vehicle, tarnishing his reputation within the department.

As rumors swirl, sources reveal a growing disenchantment among police officers, who fear that reinstating James could further damage the credibility of the police force. Critics argue that his return would undermine ongoing investigations into professional standards, signaling a troubling trend of interference by influential figures attempting to shield him from accountability.

William K. Mulbah, the Deputy Inspector General for Administration, who previously suspended James and his associates regarding the NGO incident, finds himself at the center of rising tensions. Officers are increasingly calling for decisive action from the Executive Mansion, emphasizing the need to maintain the integrity of the police force.

The public and police personnel are closely monitoring the situation, demanding transparency and justice in light of the serious allegations against James. As this troubling story unfolds, many hope that the authorities will prioritize accountability over favoritism, ensuring that the principles of justice prevail within the Liberia National Police.

02/07/2026

MPC political leader Simeon Freeman write....

2030 January Prisoners, turn farm workers for government farms.

01/07/2026

Simeon Freeman Says Unity Party Missed Chance to Show National Unity at CDC Anniversary

Political leader of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), Simeon Freeman, says the ruling Unity Party missed an important opportunity by not taking part in the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) 22nd anniversary celebration held in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.

The CDC marked 22 years as a political party, a milestone that brought together supporters and political leaders from different backgrounds to celebrate the party’s journey in Liberian politics.

Freeman praised the CDC for reaching such an important stage in its history. He noted that the party has experienced both victory and defeat, having served in government and later becoming an opposition party.

One of the major talking points from the celebration was the absence of former President George Weah, who founded the CDC. According to Freeman, some critics have argued that the CDC cannot function without Weah. However, he said the large turnout and successful program proved otherwise.

“The event was well attended, even in his absence, and it was a resounding success,” Freeman said.

Freeman explained that he attended the celebration not only because he was invited, but also because he believed it was important to recognize the achievements and survival of a major political party in Liberia’s democracy.

He argued that Liberia needs a strong multi-party democracy where political parties can compete peacefully and respect one another despite their differences.

According to him, the Unity Party should have attended the celebration as a sign of respect for democracy and political tolerance.

“If the Unity Party had attended, it would have shown that political rivals can still respect each other’s contributions to peace and democracy,” Freeman said.

He added that political competition should not be viewed as a threat, but as a healthy part of democracy that helps improve governance and accountability.

Freeman further stated that peace and political stability are important for attracting investors, creating jobs and improving the economy. He said both the government and opposition have responsibilities to maintain that stability.

The MPC leader also criticized the Unity Party for focusing too much on fighting political opponents instead of concentrating on governing the country and addressing national issues.

He said opposition criticism should be seen as an opportunity for improvement rather than as an attack.

Despite his criticism of the government, Freeman ended his remarks by congratulating the CDC for choosing Zwedru as the venue for the celebration and for organizing what he described as a colorful and successful event.

He said the gathering created an opportunity for political leaders to share ideas and build relationships that could help solve Liberia’s long-standing governance and economic challenges.

“The event created a great opportunity for collaboration of ideas and perspectives to improve the lives of Liberians,” Freeman concluded.

22/06/2026

Opposition Bombshell Freeman Pushes Sanctions on Boakai, Top Officials Over $19M Drug Scandal

MONROVIA – Opposition politician Simeon Freeman has launched a strong attack on President Joseph Boakai’s government, accusing it of failing to properly investigate one of Liberia’s biggest drug seizure cases.

Freeman, who leads the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), is calling on the international community to consider sanctions against President Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Koung, and other top government officials if the investigation is not completed within 14 days.

At the center of the controversy is a shipment of illegal drugs worth about US$19 million that was seized at Roberts International Airport. Some reports have estimated the drugs could be worth as much as US$50 million.

Freeman says too many important questions remain unanswered. He is demanding to know why the drugs have not yet been publicly destroyed and why they are still being stored while the investigation drags on.

“The drug story isn’t adding up,” Freeman declared, arguing that the government’s actions have been full of contradictions.

One of his biggest concerns is that authorities refused to reveal the names of people allegedly connected to the drug shipment, claiming it could harm the investigation. However, Freeman says the government quickly exposed the identity of the whistleblower who helped reveal the case, potentially putting that person’s life at risk.

While praising the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for making the seizure, Freeman questioned why no arrests have been announced weeks after the drugs were discovered.

He argues that investigators should already know key details, including who sent the drugs, who was supposed to receive them, where they were headed, and how they passed through airport security.

According to Freeman, Liberians deserve clear answers about whether drug traffickers may have used the country before and whether anyone inside government institutions helped them.

In one of his strongest accusations, Freeman suggested that the delay in identifying suspects has fueled public suspicion that powerful figures could be involved.

He also repeated claims that an expensive mansion reportedly built in Foya may have been funded by money linked to illegal drug activities, although no evidence has been publicly presented to support that allegation.

Freeman warned that Liberia’s international reputation is at risk. He said the country could be viewed as a major transit point for drug traffickers if authorities fail to act quickly and transparently.

“We urge the international community to sanction Boakai, Koung, and top officials, including asset seizures, if this investigation is not concluded in 14 days,” Freeman said.

The LDEA has defended its handling of the case, saying the investigation is still ongoing and that some information cannot yet be released.

As pressure continues to grow, many Liberians are waiting for answers in what has become one of the country’s most closely watched drug investigations in recent years.

“The outcome could have major consequences for law enforcement, public trust, and Liberia’s reputation around the world

17/06/2026

Survival community Residents Embark on Road Rehabilitation Project.
By Sunny Gibson
+231774461030
In a display of community spirit and self-reliance, residents of a local community have taken matters into their own hands and embarked on a road rehabilitation project to improve access to their community roads. The project, which is being funded by the community members themselves, aims to provide a smooth and safe passage for vehicle owners and pedestrians during and after the rainy season.According to Charles Sumo Jr., the chairman of the community, the decision to undertake the project was necessitated by the deplorable state of the roads, which had become a major concern for residents. "We decided to take the bull by the horns and embark on this project to improve the condition of our roads," he said.The chairman disclosed that the project is being funded by the community members themselves, but they are open to receiving support from anyone within or outside the community. He listed some of the materials needed for the project, including wheelbarrows, shovels, cutlasses, and other essential tools."We are in need of materials such as wheelbarrows, shovels, cutlasses, and other tools to fast-track the work. "We are calling on anyone who can assist us, either financially or with materials, to come on board and support this worthy cause."Chairman Sumo Jr. expressed his gratitude to all residents who have so far devoted their time and resources to the project. "We want to thank all our residents who have been actively involved in this project, donating their time and resources to make it a success," he said.The community members are working tirelessly to complete the project, which is expected to be finished soon. The rehabilitation of the community roads is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of residents, improving access to their homes, businesses, and social amenities.The project has also brought the community together, fostering a sense of unity and cooperation among residents. As one resident noted, "It's heartwarming to see everyone coming together to work on this project. We're all in this together, and we're confident that we'll get the job done."With the rainy season approaching, the completion of the project will be a welcome relief for residents, who will no longer have to navigate through muddy and potholed roads. The community's self-help effort has demonstrated that with determination and collective action, even the most daunting challenges can be overcome.
Survival community is located in electoral district 1 Margibi county.

07/06/2026

My God’s Given Gift Has Become My Crime!

A Personal Reflection on Faith, Persecution, Purpose, and Destiny.

By Mayor Jefferson Koijee

There are moments in the life of a man when destiny and suffering meet, when purpose is misunderstood as rebellion, and when a gift from God becomes the very reason for persecution. In such moments, one is left to wrestle with a painful question.

Why does the very gift God placed within me become the reason I am hated, attacked, misunderstood, and targeted?
This question has stayed with me for years. Yet every time I search for an answer, I am reminded that what God ordains for purpose, men often resist out of fear.
I was born in Lofa County, in the northern region of Liberia, to humble and struggling parents.

I did not come from privilege, influence, or wealth. I was raised in the harsh realities of the slums and streets of Montserrado. There, I did not study poverty. I lived it. I did not hear about suffering from a distance. I experienced it myself.

Those streets became my classroom.
The struggles of ordinary people became my education.
The cries of the vulnerable became my calling.
Because I lived among them, I understood them. Because I suffered with them, I could speak their language. Because I walked their path, I carried their pain.

From my earliest days as a community organizer, I felt a deep responsibility to stand with the voiceless. That journey grew into national youth and student activism, where I became a voice for the hopes and aspirations of many young Liberians. In time, I was entrusted with the leadership of the Revolutionary National Youth League of the mighty Congress for Democratic Change.

But influence, especially when it comes from the grassroots, is often seen as a threat by those who believe power belongs only to them.
For nearly twelve years under the Unity Party government and the presidency of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, I endured slander, mischaracterization, persecution, and repeated incarceration. My crime was never corruption or violence.

My crime was connection. It was my ability to relate to ordinary people, to inspire young people, and to mobilize those who felt forgotten.
When I later became Mayor, the youngest in the history of our country during the last six years of our administration, I became an even greater irritation to entrenched arrogance.

To them, it was difficult to accept that someone they considered a nobody, someone who grew up in the slums, could rise to become the chief administrator of the capital city.

I did not fit their expectations.
And so they decided I had to be brought down.
What God placed within me as a gift to connect, to uplift, and to lead was redefined as a threat. What heaven intended for service was presented as a crime.
As Scripture reminds us, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).

Over the past six years, a deliberate and sustained effort has been made to destroy my reputation both at home and abroad. I became, in their eyes, an obstacle to power. They launched continuous campaigns of defamation, which eventually led to sanctions being placed on me without a single proven piece of evidence.

The approach was clear. Attack the man until the people begin to doubt the mission.
But even in this difficult season, God has remained faithful.
Despite everything that has been done and continues to be done against me, He has sustained me. Even under sanctions, He has opened doors for me to travel abroad and continue my academic journey. This is proof that what God has purposed cannot be limited by human decisions.

I have come to understand that truth has endurance. Falsehood may rise quickly, but it does not last. Time has a way of revealing what is real.
As the Word of God says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn” (Isaiah 54:17).

I do not claim to be perfect. I am human, and I acknowledge my imperfections. But I remain grounded in faith. I believe that purpose is greater than persecution, and that God’s judgment is greater than human opinion.

The Liberian people remain the ultimate judges. They know my journey. They have seen my sacrifices. They understand that my strength does not come from privilege, but from shared struggle.

History will separate truth from propaganda.
Time will distinguish accusation from evidence.
If my gift to mobilize, to inspire, and to serve has become my crime in the eyes of men, then I accept it with humility. Because I know that what God has ordained cannot be undone by human hands.
So I stand today unbroken, unbowed, and unwavering.
Anchored in faith.

Strengthened by adversity.
Committed to the people.
My gift may have become my crime in the eyes of men, but in the sight of God, it remains my calling.
And a calling from God can never be cancelled by man.
To God alone be the glory. JTK.

05/06/2026

Court Records Confirm Cllr. Bestman Juah Not Lawyer for Defendants in Alleged Human Trafficking Case

Dismissing claims linking Public Defenders' Association President to the case; Next Hearing set for June 8, 2026

All defendants formally charged in a high-profile human trafficking and fraud case remain in the custody of Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice, judicial authorities confirmed Thursday, pushing back against months of public speculation and bribery allegations targeting Cllr. Juah, prosecutors, and police investigators

The confirmation comes after social media commentaries and publications by FrontPage Africa and New Narratives suggested that Juah and others had sought to improperly influence the release of certain defendants ahead of trial.

Amongst those named in the allegations was Cllr. Bestman Juah, National President of the Public Defender Association of Liberia — a group of defense lawyers whose primary duties amongst others is to represent indigent criminal defendants under Liberian legal system.

However, both certified court records and the Liberia National Police now say those claims are unfounded.

Court Records Show No Link to Juah

A review of certified minutes from the Paynesville Magisterial Court, Trafficking in Persons Section of the Liberian National Police (LNP) and Criminal Court “A” shows no entry listing Cllr. Juah as counsel of record at any stage of the proceedings.

Documents from preliminary hearings held at the Paynesvile Magisterial Court between October and November 2025 identified Atty. Prince S. Conway as defense counsel during initial proceedings. Filings related to a March 18, 2026 bail motion list Cllr. Mamee S. W. Gongba Jr., Cllr. David M. Kolleh Jr. and Cllr. Pelvis Dolopei of the Liberty Law Firm as appearing for the defendants.

The prosecution team is similarly documented, with no reference to Juah in any capacity.

Police: Allegations ‘Completely Unfounded’

Sources within the Trafficking in Persons Section of the Liberian National Police told reporters that claims connecting Juah to the case are “completely unfounded.”

“The allegations are false, misleading, and intended to damage the credibility of individuals not connected to the investigation,” one source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.

Authorities confirmed that all defendants officially charged remain under the jurisdiction of Criminal Court “A.” The Ministry of Justice reiterated Thursday that “the trial process will proceed in accordance with law, free from outside interference” and that no releases have been granted despite the reported allegations.

Case Background: $100K Fraud Allegations

The case stems from complaints filed in 2025 by several residents of Nimba County. Defendants named in the indictment include Daniel David, Preston Y. Logan, Boimah Saweah, Johnny Dahn, Shirley Suah, Bill Dorkor, Jerome Genseh, and others.

They face multiple charges: trafficking in persons, theft of property, r**e, misapplication of entrusted property, and criminal facilitation.

According to the indictment, complainants allege they paid the defendants more than US$100,000 for purported travel opportunities to Canada. Instead, prosecutors allege the complainants were transported to Montserrado County, confined in a private compound in Paynesville, and directed to participate in an online marketing operation. Requests for refunds were allegedly denied.

The defendants were arrested following a writ issued in September 2025. They remain in pretrial detention at Monrovia Central Prison. A motion to admit several defendants to bail was argued before Criminal Court Assizes " E" for Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia on March 18, 2026. The court reserved ruling, and no trial date has been set.

Next Steps and Legal Warnings

Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has scheduled the next hearing for Monday, June 8, 2026. The session is expected to address pre-trial motions and the status of legal representation.

The Liberia National Police’s Trafficking in Persons Section cautioned media institutions and the public to verify facts with court records and authorized law enforcement sources before publication.

“Due process requires that accusations be supported by evidence filed before the court,” the Section said in a statement. “Linking individuals not named in official documents interferes with the rights of both complainants and defendants.”

Under Article 21(h) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, all persons accused of crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction. Legal analysts note that implying involvement of individuals not formally charged or retained as counsel can expose publishers to defamation claims under Liberian law.

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