Weah’s budget: Pro-poor or business as usual?
Liberians heaved a sigh of relief when President George Weah through his Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) Samuel D Tweah Jr. submitted the Draft National Budget for 2018/201; writes Seltue Robert Karweaye, Sr. The proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2018/2019 budget envisages spending US$562.4M, an increase of about 5% from the 536.2M of the […]
Liberia: Is that Emmanuel Shaw, again?
Is that Emmanuel Shaw, again? That was my reaction to a picture in which the French President Emmanuel Macron and Emmanuel Shaw were standing side by side and smiling. Both appeared as if they were former schoolmates meeting at a class reunion gathering. But this was not at a class reunion gathering. It was at […]
Shaping change in a time of disruption
Before 1800, nearly everyone on the planet was poor. Royalty and large landowners were a small minority, and wealth was tied to land – those who controlled land, controlled much of the world’s wealth. Nearly everyone else lived in poverty. This was what society looked like for virtually the entire recorded history of humanity: Jim […]
Congo and OPEC: A marriage of mutual need
The Republic of the Congo has suffered dearly during the oil collapse; and Congolese President Denis Nguesso has pledged that the country would no longer be sitting on the side lines — suffering the effects of global decision-making in the oil industry without a voice. In an official communiqué announcing the bid for OPEC membership, […]
Gambia’s road to democratic reform
Since the inauguration of Adama Barrow after 22 years of authoritarian rule, Gambia’s democratic reforms have benefited from political will, national ownership, and international backing. However, the country’s dark legacy continues to pose risks to the process. Little-known candidate Adama Barrow was sworn in as Gambia’s president in January 2017 after winning the presidential election […]
George Weah writes: Don’t forget about Liberia
I grew up in the Gibraltar area of Clara Town, a slum in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Sport was my passport out of poverty. A combination of luck and hard work enabled me to make my improbable journey from the dusty football fields of Clara Town to glamorous stadiums in Europe. I played professional […]
Minister Wallström’s speech at global gender forum
Excellencies, ministers, parliamentarians, activists, ladies and gentlemen, friends, I stand on the sacrifices Of a million women before me Thinking What can I do to make this mountain taller So the women after me can see farther… These are the words of Indian-Canadian poet Rupi Kaur, a young woman with millions of followers. I thought […]
Liberia: Pro-Poor or Nouveau Riche?
While Liberia might have experienced growth over the last decade, the country has been swamped by huge economic challenges especially since the twin shock (Iron ore and rubber prices reduction) coupled with the post Ebola epidemic: writes Stephen Johnson. In this article, we strive to explore the challenges for achieving sustainable pro-poor growth and poverty […]
Liberia: United Nations, why now and not then?
Implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC’s) recommendation now will not put food on the Liberia people’s table but will instead cause instability and prevent food from getting on the table; writes Jerry Gbardy. The call by the UN Deputy Secretary-General for implementation of the TRC recommendations as was reported in the FrontPageAfrica March 23rd […]
Liberia: Making sense of a true change
It does not make any sense for government officials of Liberia to make more salaries and allowances more than their American counterparts. This is because payments of salaries and allowances in all successful countries and companies are determined by productive capacities. In the Liberian situation, what is the benchmark? There is huge doubt for any […]
