Liberia Roundup: Protests, ministerial appointments, health trainings

Salary increase for military personnel

Liberia’s Minister of National Defence Retired Major General Prince C. Johnson III has called for an increment in salaries of military personnel in the country, GNN Liberia reported. According to him, this will serve as an incentive and motivation for these personnel. Speaking at the Armed Forces Day symposium on February 6, 2024, Major General Johnson III (Rtd) noted that the salaries of the Forces must complement their education qualification. The symposium was themed, “The Armed Forces of Liberia Commitment to Sustainable Democracy in Contemporary Time”.

Ministerial appointments

Former presidential candidate in Liberia Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe has urged President Joseph Boakai to appoint at least one cabinet minister from each of the country’s counties per the new Executive Law of 1973, section 10.2. The section says, “As far as practicable, the President shall appoint at least one member of the Cabinet from every county of the Republic”. This comes after ministerial appointments made by the President since his assumption of power in November 2023. According to Front Page Africa, the President has appointed 15 ministers to head ministries so far, including two ministers of state without portfolio.

Health training

20 Liberian nurses from government-run hospitals in four counties are set to undergo special training in Zambia. According to The New Dawn Liberia, the initiative is being sponsored by the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church International in partnership with the Ministry of Health. The selected nurses are persons who have catered to people suffering from hearing complications in the country and region and the training will focus on hearing instrument specialty. After the training, they will be expected to help fight the disease in various government referral hospitals across the country.

African Heritage Awards nominations

Former President of Liberia George Weah has been nominated among high-profile Africans for the African Heritage Awards (AHA) in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Liberian Observer reported. Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Chairman/CEO of Vista Equity Partners, Texas, United States, Robert Smith have also been selected for the Awards. The African Heritage Awards is a gathering held to celebrate and recognize outstanding global accomplishments of Africans within the continent and Diaspora in areas of business, politics, philanthropy, entertainment, and arts among others.

Protests

Chairman of the Unity Party in Liberia led protests outside President Joseph Boakai’s residence on February 2 to protest against the failure of the president to appoint him to his government despite his contributions to his electoral win in November 2023. Rev. Luther Tarpeh and his supporters carried placards outside his home, expressing grievances and demanding that Boakai withdraw some names and replace them with their candidate, Front Page Africa reported.