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It said both GIFT and IBP (lead steward and a founding member of the network) work to support, from complementary perspective and trenches, improvements in open budgeting practices in Liberia.

Accordingly, the dispatch revealed that in 2019, Liberia was selected to be part of the Fiscal Openness Accelerator, a project to pilot public participation mechanism in the budget process and further improve in budget transparency.

“But now, we would like to take some additional steps, small but with significant impact. First, given the catastrophic pandemic and its profound implications in all areas, including public finances and fiscal systems, we would like to help Liberia in facing this crisis with the greatest possible fiscal transparency.

As part of its global mandate and collaborative approach, the GIFT network has developed a guide to support its members in responding to the fiscal challenges of COVID-19 with timely and accessible information that helps identify governmental datasets and data fields required for informed decision-making processes and meaningful fiscal transparency, with a user-centered and purpose-oriented approach” the communication disclosed.

The communication also expressed the interest of the two bodies in having discussions with Minister Tweah or a high-level representative on concrete, possible and simple steps the Ministry could take to substantially improve budget transparency and public participation that are in line with the OBS2019 results for Liberia as well as the targets set in IBP’s call to action on open budgets.

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MONROVIA: The management of Bridge-Liberia is calling on the public not take serious, allegations about the institution being involved into acts that are in relations to labor improprieties.

In a statement issued in Monrovia Wednesday, Bridge-Liberia said it has come to the knowledge of the institution that there are rumors in the public linking the organization to bad labor practices and questionable merit system.

According to Bridge-Liberia, the institution has over the years been in good standing with its workforce and will never do anything to jeopardize its relationship with her employees.

All appointments are Bridge are made on merit, following a clear interview process, and based upon published job descriptions.

All staff are promoted on the basis of merit and success in prior roles, and the claim that women have been promoted for any reason other than that is malicious and untrue. There is no evidence at all to support the claims now being asserted publicly, the statement said.

Bridge-Liberia said, like other institutions across the country, the presence of Covid-19 in Liberia created an unfavorable situation at every job-site, pushing managers to take the necessary steps to contain the virus spread.

The institution stated that, as a partnered to the Government of Liberia LEAP program, it was mandatory for the organization to subscribe to the Ministry of Education decision to shut down schools and reduce its staff as a means of defeating the killer decease.

Bridge-Liberia revealed that, despite its decision to reduce her staff capacity due to the Covid-19 pandemic, employees who were asked to be home, continue to receive a monthly payment from the institution.

Meanwhile, Bridge-Liberia has also clarified that the institution believes in merit based approach and do not promote individual on the job on the basis of amity.

The institution claimed that those spreading such falsehood in the public about Bridge-Liberia being associated with bad-labor practices are two of its former employees who were sacked by the organization.

According to Bridge-Liberia, the two individuals were sacked in early this month due to a breach of contract with the institution.

At the same time, Bridge-Liberia has promised to work continuously with the Ministry of Education in its quest to transform the country’s educational environment despite the current health challenges in the country.

Bridge began in order to help solve a single, seemingly intractable problem; one-in-two children are not learning. 
The organization helps children in parts of the world where there is a shortage of learning, by boosting government schools or running complementary community schools. Since 2007, we have reached one million children through hundreds of schools across Africa and India.

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TUBMAN BURG: The eleventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge Nancy Sammy has found Jonathan William guilty of Killing Super FM Journalist Tyron Brown.

Brown was murdered on April 15, 2018, in a case that initially sparked concerns over the safety of journalists in the country. 

Speaking on Friday, Feb. 28 after he took the stand to testify on his own behalf, Williams recounted that on April 15, at about 11 p.m., he was informed by his niece that an unknown person was knocking at their window, so he decided to come out to know what was going on.

So I decided to check outside, but I took a knife with me because too many criminal activities go on in our community,” Williams told the court.

The suspect said that when he came out, he noticed that Brown was standing in the compound without any apparent purpose, which then prompted Williams to ask the journalist questions. According to Williams, Brown then started insulting him, which then resulted in a fistfight between the two men.

Instead of him responding politely, he decided to insult me, so I told him to leave the compound and he refused,” Williams said.

As the two men tussled, suspect Williams said he felt suddenly overpowered by the journalist, which prompted him to pull out a knife and stabbed Brown three times in the back, hoping only to scar him or temporarily disable him. But the stabs were more serious, leading to major wounds.

Williams said when he attempted to rush the victim to the nearby Kingdom Care Clinic, he was cautioned by an unidentified man not to do so out of fear of being linked to Brown’s death. Williams recounted dumping the journalist’s body on the roadside close to the medical facility.

But, making a final ruling on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Judge Nancy Sammy of the 11^th Judicial Circuit said Prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubts that Journalist Brown was intentionally murdered by Williams.

Judge Sammy told the Court that all evidences provided by the Prosecution proved  that the deceased was not a Criminal as was insinuated by Williams.
According to Judge Sammy, Prosecutors also established that Brown had been visiting his Friend Edwina Toutee,who is believed to be a niece to Williams prior to the night he was stabbed and killed.

The Judge maintained that Williams intentional refusal to take the deceased to a nearby Hospital proved him guilty of the crime of murder.

Moreover, Judge Sammy said the theory of Temporary insanity and self defense pushed by Williams Lawyers could not last as record also proves that the decease had no weapon to have placed Defendant Williams at risk to defend himself.

However, Defense Lawyers have announced an Appeal to the Supreme Court.

Lawyers’ of the defendant claimed that their client Williams killed Brown in self defense and due to temporary insanity was meant to seek sympathy from the Court.

Judge Sammy has announced Monday March 23, 2020 for Sentencing Jonathon Williams, pending Probation checks on Williams conduct to be submitted before Friday, March 20, 2020.

The post Circuit Court convicts Jonathon Williams for murdering Journalist Tyron Brown first appeared on OK FM.

Health workers have confirmed that Phillips was a primary contact of Mr. Blama when he returned to his residence.
The release maintains that health workers are continuing to trace and test several persons who might have come in contact with Mr. Blama.

The Liberian government is urging all citizens including foreign residents to observe health protocols that have been recommended by the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute.

The Incident Management Team is expected institute additional measures following the second tested and confirmed case of the corona virus intended to curtail the transmission of the disease.

Additionally, the government informs the general public that after health authorities conducted tests on five of the primary contacts of the first case of the Coronavirus disease in the country, four have tested negative.

The contacts included the driver of the suspended boss of the Environmental Protection Agency, Nathaniel Blama, and another person who is said to have accompanied Blama to Switzerland while the only other contact whose result has come back positive is Johnny Phillips.

In spite of the negative tests, the National Public Health Institute has decided to keep all five primary contacts under special quarantine observation and will re-administer another round of tests in 7 days.
NPHIL has expressed optimism that Blama and Phillips, who continue to be in stable condition, will make full recovery.

Meanwhile, President George M. Weah has mandated NPHIL to create additional testing centers to be able to cope with the need for more testing.

The President has also instructed Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and Foreign Affairs Minister Gbehzongar Findley to work closely with the Ministry of Health in order to bring in the country additional testing and treatment equipment.

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ZWEDRU CITY: Despite low rate of female students in Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program in Liberia, women and girls are still acquiring trainings in mechanical and electrical engineering which are male-dominated.

 Lillian Kamaweah is a 26 year old student receiving training in Electrical engineering at the Zwedru Multilateral High School in Grand Gedeh County.

She started the technical skills training as a 10^th grade student in 2018; a precondition for every student acquiring Technical, Vocational Education and Training at the school.

The European Union in September 2018 presented Nineteen Million, five hundred thousand euro ($19, 500, 000) to the Government of Liberia to boost its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program.

Grand Gedeh Multilateral High School is currently promoting the YOUTH RISING Technical Training for Young Liberians, an initiative that aims to support Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Liberia.

The six years TVET program is being funded by the European Union (EU) in-partnership with the Ministry of Education and Youth and Sports, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

20 year old Lillian  is now involved with  electrical demonstrations of  what is known as the single pole, single choke, and double pole, double choke in parallel and both in series.

My friends usually tell me that I will die from current, if I become a professional electrician, but I can ignore all of those statements because I really want to learn electrical work.
And as a 12th grade student, my desire is to become a professional electrician that would work to electrify my Country Liberia and to also become a role model for other young women and girls who see Technical skills training as difficult

I see limited number of females doing electrical work in Liberia so, I want to take the lead and become an example for other female students to follow.” Lillian stated.

The prospective female electrician furthered encouraged other female students to challenge their male counterparts in Technical Vocational education and Training, TVET, as means of bridging the existing gender disparity in Liberia.

Accordingly, the YOUTH RISING Project is in alignment with Liberia’s National TVET Policy (2015-2020). The project contributes to youth employment by improving access to quality technical and vocational education for young women and men, promoting entrepreneurship, and connecting education with the private sector.

To achieve this goal the project is supporting six schools which are the Monrovia Vocational Training Center in Montserrado County, Booker Washington Institute in Kakata, Margibi, Greenville Multilateral High School in Sinoe County, Zwedru Multilateral High School in Grand Gedeh and Cape Palmas High School in Maryland County.

DISCLAIMER:
The contents and image of this publication belong to this website (www.okfm.com.lr) and does not necessarily reflect the views and responsibility of the European Union Delegation in Liberia.

The post I want to electrify my Country, Liberia, says 26yr old TVET student first appeared on OK FM.

The patient, is Nathaniel Blama, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, who returned home Friday, March 13, 2020 following a visit to Switzerland.

The government urges all to remain calm as health officials continue to trace all those the infected person came in contact with, as well as quarantine them for the incubation period of the virus.

Meanwhile Liberian President George Manneh Weah addressed to the nation on Monday, March 16, assured citizens of the Country that the Government is taking every precaution and action to protect our borders and ports of entry.

President Weah’s speech continues:

MY FELLOW CITIZENS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I regret to inform you that Liberia has recorded a confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus. The infected person is Mr. Nathaniel Blama, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, who arrived in Liberia on Brussels Airlines on Friday night, the 13th of March. Along with several other officials of Government traveling on the same flight, Mr. Blama chose not to be quarantined, in keeping with the health protocols that were in place at the airport.
An intensive tracing exercise is underway to identify and test all persons with whom he came into contact. Meanwhile, all other persons who traveled on that flight and by-passed the mandatory screening protocols, are being made to report to the health authorities immediately and without any further delay, for testing.Any other persons who attempt to by-pass screening at any port of entry will be arrested and taken into compulsory quarantine.

“I want to assure the Liberian people that the situation is under professional management by the health authorities, who have adequately prepared themselves well in advance for this eventuality. There is no need to panic. I ask that all of you should remain calm, and report any suspicious medical behavior to the authorities for our own safety.It is very important that we all follow the guidelines set out by the health authorities, and adapt our behavior accordingly.

MY FELLOW CITIZENS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:In view of the above, it is necessary to take certain immediate actions in response to this threat.
1. There must be a strong focus on hygiene from every individual and organization.
2. Everyone should wash their hands often, several times a day, with soap and running water, and use hand sanitizers, wherever available and affordable.
3. All offices, businesses schools, churches, and places of public gatherings should provide hand-washing facilities at their entrances.
4. There should be NO HANDSHAKING whatsoever. Use a nod of your head for greeting each other.
5. My impending national county tour is hereby postponed due to this new development on the coronavirus situation.
6. All travels to and from all countries with over 200 or more Corona Virus cases are hereby banned
7. All citizens and residents are urged to avoid public gatherings and large crowds, and try to keep a minimum social distance of at least 6 feet from people with fever, cough, sneezing, and difficulty in breathing.
8. Non-essential travel by all officials of government is hereby banned
9. All non-essential employees of the government are hereby granted a paid leave until further notice. The Civil Service Agency will announce the roster of employees in this category
10. Minimize your travel within Liberia, and to and from abroad, to that which is absolutely necessary.

This refers specifically to cross-border traders and travelers coming to Liberia from infected countries, and applies particularly to all Government officials.As President, I will remain focused at the highest level of leadership and concern, until this threat has been neutralized. However, as Liberia has now moved from the precautionary stage, to a containment stage, we will need your fullest support and cooperation as you change your behavior to follow the simple guidelines and measures that have been recommended above.
We will also be relying on the cooperation and support of our international partners as we work together to eliminate this deadly virus from our country.”

The post Liberia records first confirmed case of COVID-19 first appeared on OK FM.

KAKATA CITY: The shortage of adequate equipment is reportedly affecting practical exercises for students acquiring Technical and Vocational Skills training at the Booker Washington Institute in Margibi County.

The disclosure was made by a 26 year old student Kpannah Varney of the TVET department, who is an interim of Heavy equipment operation also known as heavy duty operator.

We really want the Government and the European Union to bring additional equipment for us to practice because, we don’t have enough equipment at the practical session”

Despite student Kpannah’s statement, the European Union has provided nineteen million-five hundred thousand euro towards a five year YOUTH RISING technical training for young Liberians.
The youth rising project aims to support technical and vocational education and training in Liberia, funded by the European Union, implemented by United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Youth and Sports.

Kpannah Varney expressed gratitude to the European Union for the support towards technical vocation training for young people, especially women and girls in Liberia.
She further encouraged young Liberian women and girls to take advantage of male dominated areas especially technical skills training.

For my saying and my thought, anything men do, women can do the same. Back in the days as a kid, I decided that when I grow up, I will become a heavy duty operator.  

I would like to encourage my fellow friends especially the women to put time into technical skills training.
Women must always get the thinking that anything men do, we women can do the same.

26 year old Kpannah, who is expected to shortly graduate from the BWI TVET program called on other organizations to create work space for students who are graduating with technical educational skills.

The Heavy Duty interim spoke Thursday, March 12, in an exclusive interview a participant of the EU-Liberia partnership for young media professionals at the BWI-Japan Heavy equipment operator school.

“YOUTH RISING” is in alignment with Liberia’s National TVET policy (2015-2020).

The project contributes to youth employment by improving access to quality technical and vocational education for young women and men, promoting entrepreneurship, and connecting education with the private.

DISCLAIMER:
The contents and image of this publication belong to this website(www.okfm.com.lr) and does not necessarily reflect the views and responsibility of the European Union Delegation in Liberia.

The post My dream came through: 26yrs old Heavy Equipment Operator testifies. first appeared on OK FM.

ZWEDRU CITY: A professional female Auto-Mechanic, Josephine Glay has challenged young women and girls in Liberia to prioritize technical vocational education and training program as means of sustaining their livelihood.

Josephine is a heavy duty mechanic and employee of Welt Hunger Hilfe in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County.

She graduated from the Zwedru Multilateral High School in 2018 with both academic and Technical Training skills. Josephine Glay said, she experienced difficulties to complete her academic studies as well as the TVET program which is required of every student of the Zwedru Multilateral High school before graduation.

According to Josephine, several students, including other people told her earlier that being a mechanic is not good for women because, it’s a dirty job. Following her successful achievement as an Auto-mechanic, Josephine Glay is now training female interims of the Zwedru multilateral high school.

Some of my friends told me that mechanic job is not good for women because, it’s a dirty job. The boys that were in the Automotive class with me, always laughed when I’m not able to lift up the mechanic tools bar and other materials.

But, I ignored all of the mockery and discouragements and kept focus on the training, that’s why today, I am a professional Auto-mechanic” she said.

Josephine is now training female interims of Zwedru multilateral high school.

It can be recalled in September 2018, the European Union provided a total budget of nineteen million-five hundred thousand euro  towards a five year YOUTH RISING program for young people in Liberia.

The project seeks to support youth employment by improving access to quality technical and vocational education for young women and men, promoting entrepreneurship and connecting education with the private sector.
The Youth Rising Project is being implemented by United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Youth and Sports.     
      
The project activities are the Monrovia vocational training center, Booker Washington Institute in Margibi, Zwedru Multilateral high school, Greenville Multilateral High and Cape Palmas  High School in Maryland county.

DISCLAIMER:
The contents and image of this publication belong to this website(www.okfm.com.lr) and does not necessarily reflect the views and responsibility of the European Union Delegation in Liberia.
         

The post Unskilled laborer turns professional auto-mechanic through TVET program first appeared on OK FM.

Monrovia, Liberia: Beneta Karko is a local farmer in Nyonben town, Grand Bassa County; producing marketable food, including vegetables and other nutritious produce for income.

She has received technical training in crops production provided by Concern Worldwide through the Partners Program funded by the European Union in Liberia.

Beneta became a member of the Smallholder farmers group in 2018 as part of the five years Agriculture Road-map to Nutrition and Entrepreneurship-Partners Program funded by the European Union with the aims of improving productivity and sustainability of nutrition sensitive agriculture in seven counties of Liberia.

Before 2018, her farming produce were limited, and only meant for family consumption; but, Beneta now produces and sells more Plantains, eddos, Potatoes, pineapples and Cassava to finance her children’s education.

Well, I thank God for Concern worldwide and the EU because before, we use to buy food before me and my children can eat. But now, the people teach us how to grow the four star food like the energy food, body building food, the protective food and they told us to eat the best part of the food.

And most of us in this town now can sell the food we grow to send our children to school but it was not like this before so am happy”

About thirty Smallholder farmers in Nyonben town are benefiting from the European Union technical assistance program being implemented by Concern Liberia and other partners, which seeks to insure improved methods of growing crops for increased income generation.

The trainings are meant to make farmers more resilient to food and economic shocks and to also have improved livelihoods through participation in sustainable agriculture value chains activities.

Six thousand-six hundred smallholder farmers from 220 communities are expected to benefit from the interventions across the seven Counties. 109 farmer Assistants (Male: 107; Female: 02) have been selected and trained in good agricultural practices. These Farmer Assistants (FAs)are providing extension services to fellow smallholder farmers.
One of the program ideas is to promote Agri business by strengthening the value chains of five strategic crops( Cassava, Groundnut, pineapple, plantain and Moringa) so as to meet the required food quality standards for human consumption thus increasing the capacity of smallholder farmers to access finance and improve agriculture productivity.

DISCLAIMER:
The contents and image in this publication belong to this website(www.okfm.com.lr) and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union Delegation in Liberia.

The post EU Support Enhances Capacity of Smallholder Farmers in Grand Bassa County first appeared on OK FM.