Author: Chester Smith

IPNEWS: The Liberia National Police says its investigation into dismissed Police Commissioner Johnny Bolar Dean is nearing completion and could soon be forwarded to court, marking a significant official development in the wider cocaine investigations that have implicated senior security officials. LNP spokesman Deputy Commissioner of Police Sam Collins said during a September 3 appearance on OK FM’s Legal Hour that Dean’s case was “almost at its concluding stage” and that he could be sent to court “anytime soon.” The comments were reported on September 7 by Verity News. Dean previously served as Commissioner of Police for Criminal Investigation, Intelligence…

IPNEWS: The National Elections Commission (NEC) Hearing Officer has ordered the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) to return to the status quo that existed before its internal leadership crisis, effectively nullifying the competing suspensions and expulsions that have fueled a bitter power struggle over the period.  The ruling, issued today, September 7, 2026, by NEC Hearing Officer Atty. Fomba A.M. Swaray followed months of legal arguments between factions aligned with Cllr. Tiawan Gongloe, embattled Chairman J. Yanqui Zaza, and party official Major Tamba Samukai. However, the legal team representing Zaza took exception to the ruling and announced that it would appeal…

By Amos Harris IPNEWS: Liberia’s nearly two-decade effort to renovate the historic Executive Mansion has emerged as a major public-spending controversy, with an independent investigation indicating that successive governments may have spent or committed as much as US$47 million on a project that has repeatedly faced delays, additional funding demands and questions over its final cost. The investigation indicates that approximately US$40 million was spent under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, while an estimated US$7 million was subsequently spent under former President George Manneh Weah on continuing renovation and rehabilitation works at the Executive Mansion. The figures raise serious questions…

IPNEWS: Liberia has taken a major step toward restoring its once-thriving coffee industry by signing a US$60 million implementation agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and JR Farms Group Inc. under the Liberia Coffee Prosperity Partnership.‎‎The 20-year initiative, running from 2026 to 2045, is expected to transform coffee production across seven counties while creating new economic opportunities for nearly 200,000 smallholder farmers.‎‎The program will benefit farmers in Bomi, Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, and Grand Cape Mount Counties through the distribution of improved coffee seedlings, the establishment of nurseries, farmer training, enhanced processing facilities, and stronger access to domestic…

Kenya is moving to end the export of raw minerals as East Africa’s largest economy pushes to process more of its natural resources locally, create jobs and retain a greater share of their value. President William Ruto said on September 6 that his administration was exploring ways to ensure minerals extracted in Kenya are processed locally before export. He named gold, limestone, iron ore, graphite, titanium and soda ash among the resources targeted under the policy. “Going into the future, our position as the government. Whether we are talking about Magadi Soda or oil or all our minerals we have…

IPNEWS: A 12-member jury at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County has returned a guilty verdict against two senior officers of the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and a Nigerian national in connection with a major drug trafficking case involving US$181,008 and LD$63,201,600. The defendants have been identified as Joe Logan, a senior-ranking LDEA officer assigned at the Roberts International Airport (RIA); Lovette Flowers, a senior female LDEA officer; and Tony Obi, a Nigerian national. The guilty verdict followed approximately two hours of intense closing arguments between state prosecutors and defense lawyers after a month-long trial. According to…

IPNEWS: The Managing Director of the National Port Authority, Hon. Sekou A. M. Dukuly on Friday, September 4, 2026 paid a courtesy call on the Director General of the Port of Abidjan, Hon. Kassoum Traore. The visit formed part of a high-level discussion centered on the modernization of Liberia’s port infrastructure and development projects. Welcoming the NPA boss, Hon. Traore said he was delighted by the visit. He went on to recount the long-standing relationship between Liberia and Ivory Coast, a bond built on diplomatic ties and the exchange of goods and services. Furthermore, he noted that Liberia’s role in…

By Amos Harris IPNEWS: The Government of Liberia is set to strengthen the country’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector with the dedication of the newly renovated headquarters of the Agricultural and Industrial Training Bureau (AITB). The facility is expected to be officially dedicated on Tuesday, with Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung expected to lead the ceremony. The event is anticipated to bring together senior government officials, development partners, private-sector representatives, TVET administrators, instructors, students, and other stakeholders. The rehabilitation of the AITB headquarters is being presented as part of broader government efforts to modernize technical and vocational…

—-Wants Public distinguish between unproven allegations, indictments, and convictions IPNEWS: The family and legal support team of former Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has issued an official statement maintaining her complete innocence, demanding due process, and clarifying their legal strategy. This statement comes after her arrest in late August 2026 on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy, and her subsequent release to house arrest on compassionate grounds. The defense highlighted that she has not yet been indicted by a grand jury. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and does not equate to a conviction or formal…

IPNEWS: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Government of Liberia and development partners, convened a co-creation workshop on September 2, 2026, bringing together government institutions, civil society organizations, development partners, consultants and other stakeholders to identify practical and transformational solutions to Liberia’s development challenges. The workshop brought together stakeholders to exchange knowledge, experiences and perspectives, assess existing development efforts, identify critical gaps, and contribute to the design of a shared framework to advance Liberia’s development priorities. Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Louis Kuukpen, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, emphasized the importance of moving away from traditional approaches…