Author: Chester Smith

As part of preparations for Liberia to host the first-ever Young Democracy Union of Africa Conference, from July 1 to 5, 2026, the Chairman of the Unity Party National Youth Congress, Cde. Togar Melvin Cephas, held a very fruitful meeting with the distinguished Amb. Lahoucine Rahmouni, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Liberia, to secure technical support for this historic gathering. From the Atlas Mountains to the shores of the Lone Star, Africa’s democratic forces are joining hands. This engagement affirms that Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, is reclaiming its place at the vanguard of democratic renewal on the continent.…

IPNEW: As preparations intensify for the nationwide rollout of Value Added Tax (VAT) in January 2027, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has launched a three-week intensive training program on its upgraded Liberia Integrated Tax Administration System (LITAS) to strengthen staff capacity and support the transition to the new tax regime. The training forms part of the LRA’s broader efforts to modernize tax administration, strengthen institutional capacity, and enhance service delivery through the deployment of advanced digital solutions. The recently upgraded LITAS platform has been specifically enhanced to support the administration and management of VAT, which is expected to replace the current…

IPNEWS: The National Elections Commission (NEC) on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, commenced a series of regional consultations on its draft Communications Strategy, Policy, and Protocol in Ganta, Nimba County. The three-day consultation brings together editors, station managers, media development organizations, and NEC magistrates to review and provide input on the new communication frameworks aimed at strengthening transparency, stakeholder engagement, and public access to electoral information. The consultations form part of NEC’s efforts to modernize its communication systems and enhance its capacity to provide timely, accurate, and credible information throughout the electoral cycle, in line with its new five-year Strategic Plan.…

By Amos Harris IPNEWS:The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has begun reviewing a petition filed by the Alternative National Congress (ANC) seeking an investigation into the controversial Mano River Union (MRU) Center for Regional Peace and Development Project currently under construction in Foya, Lofa County. The move comes amid growing public debate and political scrutiny over the project’s financing arrangements, procurement procedures, and the circumstances surrounding its implementation. In a communication dated June 4, 2026, the LACC confirmed receipt of the ANC’s complaint and disclosed that it has initiated a preliminary assessment to determine whether the allegations raised merit a full-scale…

ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML) has formally transitioned fifty-six young Liberian artisans to full-time employment, following their successful graduation from the company’s training academy and a period of service as short-term employees. The newly hired employees, including plant fitters, electricians, boilermakers, mechanics, and other skilled tradespeople represent the latest milestone in AML’s ongoing commitment to building Liberia’s local workforce. At a ceremony held in Yekepa to mark the occasion, ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Chief Executive Officer Michiel Van Der Merwe congratulated the graduates-turned-employees and expressed pride in what the company has accomplished in training and developing local talent. CEO Van Der Merwe urged the…

IPNEWS: The Monrovia City Police (MCP) is actively expanding its footprint to enforce municipal laws, clear congested streets, and maintain public order across Liberia’s capital. Operating as the enforcement arm of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), the municipal force is transitioning from a passive utility unit into a highly visible, proactive policing agency. This gradual assumption of local authority directly complements the broader statutory mandate of the Liberia National Police (LNP). A Strategic Mandate for Urban Stability The MCP’s resurgence is driven by an explicit focus on city ordinances, public safety, and traffic management. Rather than replacing national security structures,…

IPNEWS: The mine is running. The concentrator is crushing ore. The train is loading Liberia sinter feed. Over five hundred houses have been refurbished. A sports complex is rising. Seventeen local contractors are on site. More than two hundred Liberians have gone through vocational training and every one of them is now employed. These are the numbers that ArcelorMittal Liberia CEO Michiel Van Der Merwe put before the Minister of Mines and Energy, Hon. Minister Murray, during a multi-day official visit to Nimba County that took the ministerial delegation from the Buchanan port facilities and rail workshop all the way…

IPNEWS: A disturbing incident at the Foya Free Pentecostal Mission School in Foya District, Lofa County, has sparked concern among residents following reports that a school administrator allegedly stabbed a student during a disciplinary confrontation. According to eyewitness accounts, the incident involved the school’s Dean of Students, who reportedly took issue with a student’s failure to cut his hair in accordance with school regulations. https://web.facebook.com/reel/941652675593390 What began as a disciplinary matter allegedly escalated into a violent encounter that left the student injured. Sources at the school disclosed that the dean instructed the student to leave the classroom after noticing that…

IPNEWS: Former Chief of Protocol to ex-President George Weah, Nora Finda Bondo, has reportedly entered Liberia through Roberts International Airport on Tuesday without being arrested, despite an outstanding warrant issued by Criminal Court “C”. Bondo, who is facing multiple criminal charges including money laundering, theft of property, misuse of public money, criminal conspiracy, forgery, and criminal facilitation, allegedly arrived aboard an Air Peace flight and passed through immigration authorities without incident. The development has raised serious concerns over the enforcement of court orders and the credibility of Liberia’s border security system. . Court records show that Bondo has filed a…

IPNEWS: The National Elections Commission (NEC) on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, commenced a series of regional consultations on its draft Communications Strategy, Policy, and Protocol in Ganta, Nimba County. The three-day consultation brings together editors, station managers, media development organizations, and NEC magistrates to review and provide input on the new communication frameworks aimed at strengthening transparency, stakeholder engagement, and public access to electoral information. The consultations form part of NEC’s efforts to modernize its communication systems and enhance its capacity to provide timely, accurate, and credible information throughout the electoral cycle, in line with its new five-year Strategic Plan.…