GARPUE TOWN, Grand Bassa County – Schools are now open in Liberia, but 14-year-old Tutugirl has not joined her classmates. Tutugirl says it has been impossible since she returned injured and traumatized from the “bush school” where she and her friends were forcefully taken after they were kidnapped from this town in September. While she…
Liberia gets Tough on Human Trafficking with Amended Law
In part three of this three-part series Anthony Stephens looks at the Liberian government’s efforts to get tough on human trafficking. In September 2021 the Liberian government sent a signal it was getting tough on human trafficking. The Legislature passed a revision to a 2005 law increasing the prison sentence for anyone found guilty of…
NSA Agent, Brother on Trial For Human Trafficking
MONROVIA – A disgraced agent of the National Security Agency has gone on trial with his brother for allegedly taking payments from international trafficking agents to mislead young Liberian women into traveling to the Middle Eastern country of Oman where they were to work as domestic servants. The indictment alleges Arthur Chan-Chan, and his brother…
Traditional Leaders Say They Will Not Stop Female Genital Cutting Without More Money
Massa Kandakai, the head of over three hundred FGM practitioners in Montserrado County, says she along with her women have fulfilled their part of the bargain with UN Women by closing all bush schools in Sonkay Town and Todee in Montserrado. Kandakai says UN Women should uphold the agreement by continually supporting them – with monthly salaries, access to cell phone networks, fishponds and processors for making Farina or flour from cassava and potatoes. The women say they will revert to the practice if their requests are not met….
Using Technology to Stamp Out Corruption
By: R. Joyclyn Wea with New Narratives MONROVIA-Corruption has plagued Liberia since its founding and threatens to engulf the Weah administration still reeling from the US Treasury’s dramatic move to place three top ministers on the Magnitsky Sanctions List. It is well proven that corruption constrains economic growth entrenching the majority of Liberians in extreme…
Liberian Public Prosecutors Call off Three-Week Strike
Monrovia – Liberian state prosecutors have called off a three-week strike which paralyzed courts across the country. The prosecutors, who represent the government in legal cases, were demanding the government increase their monthly salaries and provide benefits, including vehicles. But after a lengthy meeting among themselves, the prosecutors have conditionally agreed to return to work. By…
In a Whatsapp Group Trafficked Women in Oman Plead for Help, Suspect Flees
In part two of this three-part investigation Front Page Africa and New Narratives look at efforts to repatriate women trafficked to Oman and efforts to bring traffickers to justice. Monrovia – After a harrowing six months in Oman Sarah and Kolu, victims of human trafficking, returned home in early March. Their families were vexed with…
Door Closes on Oman as Destination for Trafficked Women
Monrovia – In separate chilly mornings in September and October 2021 Sarah and Kolu defied the weather to travel to Roberts International Airport with one thing in mind: a trip to “paradise,” where all their sufferings and hardship would end. The pair, cousins in their 20s whose names FPA/NN is concealing for their security, say…
Liberia: 2022, A Bad Year for Victims of Child Rape
Martu Yardolo had just turned 17 when she says she was given a drug hidden in a drink and gang raped by three men. It was the night of her birthday. Yardolo was looking forward to celebrating with her friends. Instead but it ended in violence that has destroyed her world Commentary by Evelyn Kpadeh…
Accused Oman Trafficker Skips Bail, Family Members Jailed Over His Escape
Monrovia – A Liberian man facing a minimum 20-year sentence for trafficking nearly 200 Liberian women to Oman has skipped bail and vanished leaving victims angry. Cephas Selebay, believed to be in his early 30s, worked as an accountant for the Forestry Training Institute in Bomi County before he was arrested in August. By: Anthony…
Police and Public Officials Step Up Attacks on Journalists in Liberia
As the 2023 general elections approach tensions are rising everywhere. No one has felt that more than Liberia’s journalists. Newsmen and women have faced arrest, threats and physical assault. Press freedom advocates say these are designed to intimidate them from doing their jobs. It has worked. Newsrooms across the country report a sense of fear…
Domestic Violence and Gender Based Violence Continue to Plague Liberians
Domestic and Gender Based Violence continue to be major problems in Liberian society including here in Bong County. Of about two hundred and fifty five inmates currently behind bars at Gbarnga Central Prison, seventy are there for sexual violence offences. But anti-violence activists say cases that make it to conviction are just a tiny share…
Forgbe Kloh NN Fellow, Lux FM News Editor
Forgbe Emma Kloh is the News Editor at Lux FM, the University of Liberia radio. She has over five years of experience in journalism. Forgbe has been a fellow of New Narratives since 2017. She is a graduate of the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism and a candidate of Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications…
Rita Jlogbe Doue Reporting Fellow, FrontPage Africa
Rita Jlogbe Doue is a Liberian journalist with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Mass Communication. Rita joined New Narratives in 2022 as part of our US Embassy-funded project “Investigating Liberia”. She has been in the field of journalism for more than 7 years. Rita’s works have mostly focused on health, elections, human rights and environmental issues. Rita is currently…
Joseph Titus Yekeryan Reporting Fellow, Radio Gbarnga
Joseph Titus Yekeryan is a Liberian Journalist based in Bong County, Central Liberia. He has eight years of Journalism experience. Joseph is currently the News Editor-in-Chief of Radio Gbarnga, the Correspondent for NewDawn Newspaper and KMTV Liberia. Joseph earlier served as Editor of News for Kwatekeh FM and Hott FM Radios. He is an Internews…
Jerome Saye Reporting Fellow, Radio Nimba
Jerome Saye has more than 10 years experience in journalism. He is a reporter with Radio Nimba, based in the city of Sanniquellie in the northern Liberian county of Nimba. Jerome has also contributed to Front Page Africa newspaper. He has taken part in elections coverage with Irex, the Press Union of Liberia and the Nimba…
Fatu A. Kamara Reporting Fellow, OKFM
Fatu A. Kamara is a reporter and senior news anchor at Okay Communications Network Incorporated, a private media institution. Fatu is OKFM’s reporter assigned at the Ministry of National Defense. She has four years experience in the field of journalism with the last three of those years covering gender issues. Fatu joined New Narratives in 2022…
Nukanah Kollie Reporting Fellow, Super Bongese Radio
Nukanah Kollie is a reporter with the Bong Communication Service Inc. (Super Bongese Radio104.9 MHz) in central Liberia. Nukanah is a current BSC Candidate at Cuttington University. He started his journalism career as a high school reporter at Alexandria Alexis Andrews Academy in Central Liberia. With deep passion for journalism, he later gained employment as…
Moses Geply Reporting Fellow, Liberian Broadcasting System
Moses Geply is a Liberian journalist with 17 years of experience in both broadcast and print journalism. He is currently serving as County Correspondent for the Liberia Broadcasting System and Fortune TV Liberia southeast Correspondent. He is based in Harper City, Maryland County. Moses is a founding member of the Local Voices Liberia Media Network….
King Brown NN Fellow, News Public Trust
King Brown is a Liberian journalist with more than five years’ experience. He has worked with several media institutions in Liberia including Kreative Mindz Television, Spoon Radio/Television, Newspublictrust, King’s FM and among others. Brown is presently the Head of Production, talk show host, News writer and caster at Magic FM in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. He…
As Climate Change Hits Farmers Find Success in Lowland Farming
Farmers in Liberia are moving away from subsistence farming with the help of international partners. As climate change is causing higher temperatures and unpredictable rainfall, donors are trying to help Liberians adapt. Subsistence farmers – as much as 80 per cent of the population – are already facing a food crisis from the changing climate. …