By Aria Deemie and Jake Duffy with New Narratives Summary: PAYNESVILLE, Montserrado – On a warm Saturday afternoon, Chris Onanuga, Liberia’s newly appointed presidential envoy for tourism, mingles with young people at a recreation day in Voka Mission. Some kick a football; others seek shade beneath sprawling trees. To Onanuga, the scene is something more…
Liberia Faces Persistent Human Rights Issues According to Latest US Human Rights Report
By Aria Deemie with New Narratives Despite a raft of government reforms and international partnerships, Liberia continues to face serious human rights challenges, according to the 2024 U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices released this week. The report found there were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Liberia…
Conservationists Raise Alarm as “Eco-guards” Resume Hunting in Nimba Reserve
By Jerome Saye with New Narratives Summary: GBOBAYEE TOWN, Nimba County – It is evening here as Paul Flomo hangs his single barrel shot gun over his shoulder and heads into the forest to hunt. Not so long ago it was Paul’s job to stop hunting in this ecologically rich part of the Nimba Mountain…
Nobel Laureate Gbowee Pushes for War Crimes Court Office to be Made Statutory Body; Some Activists Disagree
By Anthony Stephens, senior justice correspondent with New Narratives Leymah Gbowee, one of Liberia’s most celebrated peace activists, on Wednesday called on the country’s Legislature to pass a law making the Office of the War and Economic Crimes Court of Liberia a statutory body, thereby protecting it from the whims of a future president who…
Citizens’ Fury Boils Over as Monrovia Residents Torch Drug Den
By Nemenlah Cyrus Harmon and Anthony Stephens with New Narratives Summary: · Residents of Saye Town in Monrovia have destroyed a notorious drug den, accusing authorities of years of inaction against crime and addiction in their community. · The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency welcomed the raid, but locals remain distrustful, citing alleged collusion between some…
Lonestar Cell Sues EPA Over Noise Fine, Agency Confirms
By Aria Deemie, Environment Reporter New Narratives Summary: Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency said it is facing a legal challenge after telecom company Lonestar Cell filed a lawsuit contesting a $US15,000 fine for noise pollution at its Congo Town facility. The case, filed on May 27, is currently before the Civil Law Court in Monrovia. According…
Experts Say Liberia’s New Environment Lab Could Slash Pollution if the Government Matches it With Enforcement
By Aria Deemie, climate change reporter New Narratives Summary: Experts say Liberia’s new fully equipped environmental laboratory is a breakthrough that could transform how the country tackles pollution. The laboratory, launched last month by the Environmental Protection Agency, will allow EPA technicians to conduct forensic testing on air, water, and soil samples, allowing them to…
After Years of Delay, Sea Wall Funded by Global Climate Financing Set to Begin Construction as 1000 Community Members Await Relocation
By Joyclyn Wea, senior correspondent with New Narratives with photography by Allison Hunter WEST POINT, Monrovia — As heavy rains batter the coast, fear thickens in West Point. Five years ago a storm surge took the home Sarah Gary’s father built when she was a child. Now Gary lives in a house just feet from the Atlantic’s…
As Rural Healthcare Struggles, One Lofa Entrepreneur Steps Up to Bridge the Gap
By James Papy Kwabo Jr. and Peter Kollie with Alternate Youth Radio and New Narratives ZORZOR, Lofa County – In a region where access to essential medicine can determine whether someone lives or dies, one young nurse is quietly building a health movement from the ground up. Despite the lack of support for entrepreneurs in…
Experts Say Liberia’s Security Council Seat Could Strengthen Push for Climate Security, as U.N. High Court Issues Landmark Ruling
Summary: By Aria Deemie, climate change reporter with New Narratives In a historic ruling, the United Nations’ highest court has declared that countries have a legal duty to act on climate change, a decision advocates say could reshape global climate diplomacy. The ruling comes as Liberia regains a seat on the U.N. Security Council for…
“We Are Not Ready”: As Rainy Season Gets Underway Disaster Agency Goes Unfunded With Hundreds of Thousands at Risk
By Aria Deemie, climate change reporter with New Narratives As Liberia’s rainy season gets underway, the country’s national disaster agency warns it is not prepared for what could become one of the worst flooding seasons in recent history. International forecasts warn that more than 825,000 people are at risk in the coming weeks. As the…
As “Lifestyle” Diseases Surge, Ganta Hospital Leads Fight Against Diabetes
By Tetee Gebro with New Narratives GANTA, Nimba County — McArthur Davis was 18 when doctors told him to burn his clothes to cure what they thought was an infection. His vision was failing, sores covered his body, and though clinic after clinic had treated him, he never got better. It wasn’t until he reached…
Building Financial Independence at West Africa’s Newsrooms
New Narratives, with support from the Swedish government, has partnered with InOldNews, a consultancy led by Manon Verchot and Sanshey Biswas, to transform our news partners’ businesses to take advantage of new sources of independent revenue….
Job Alert: Consulting Editor – New Narratives
Recruitment closed. Applications are being processed. Thanks for your interest in New Narratives. Location: Remote OR based in Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, or The Gambia Position Type: Part-time consultancy (10-25 hours/month, flexible) Reports to: Editor-in-chief, New Narratives About New Narratives New Narratives is a media development organization that supports leading journalists and media outlets in resource…
Meet Aria Deemie: Championing Climate Journalism for Social Impact in Liberia
New Narratives is pleased to welcome Aria Deemie to the team as our first dedicate climate, environment and science reporter. Aria’s work is funded by the American Jewish World Service and the Swedish Embassy in Liberia. Aria has hit the ground running with important exposes on the failure of Liberia’s $10 million Green Climate Fund…
Climate Change Is Making Life Harder For All Farmers – For Ghana’s Farmers With Disabilities It Can Mean Devastation
By Jennifer Ambolley Summary: By Jennifer Ambolley BALUNGO, Upper East Region –Asoke Douglas Aganawini rises with the sun each day in this remote community in the far northern part of the country. Climate change has pummeled farmers here with unpredictable rainfall and higher temperatures. But for Asoke it’s been particularly hard. The 45-year-old began losing…
NN Welcomes Josephine Boakai Sumo to Africa Team as Finance and Administration Officer
New Narratives is thrilled to welcome Josephine Boakai Sumo to join our Africa team in the role of Finance and Administration Officer. Josephine is based in our Monrovia office and supports our teams in Liberia, Ghana and The Gambia. Josephine Sumo is a seasoned finance and administration professional with a Master’s in Business Administration (Auditing…
Anthony Stephens Assistant Editor and Senior Justice and Government Correspondent
Anthony Stephens is an award-wining journalist and lawyer. Anthony leads NN’s coverage of governance issues including Liberia’s establishment of a war and economics crimes court. His reporting appears in FrontPage Africa and Okay FM and on NN partner radio stations across the country. Anthony cohosts and produces Democracy in Focus, Liberia’s leading current affairs…
Aria Deemie Alum
Aria Deemie is an award-winning Liberian journalist, fact-checker, and digital content creator with a passion for social impact reporting. She was NN’s climate, environment, and science reporter in 2025. Aria has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and holds a master’s in Clinical Social Work from Stella Maries Polytechnic University. She combines the deep understanding…
No Christmas Cheer For Growing Number of Liberians in Poverty
By Fatu Kamara with New Narratives TODEE DISTRICT, Montserrado County – For Christian Liberians Christmas is normally a period of smiles, joy and exchange of gifts with friends and loved ones. But as more Liberians fall below the poverty line, for many, that is not their experience this year. This year’s Christmas has brought more…