Author: Chester Smith

IPNEWS: Montserrado County, Liberia — In a spirited meeting held on Sunday political leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Mr. Alexander Benedict Cummings, addressed a large crowd of residents from Point Four and the Supermarket area in District #16 as part of his preparedness for the upcoming 2029 Presidential and legislative elections. Mr. Cummings, who grew up in the community, shared heartfelt stories about his childhood, reconnecting with old friends and neighbors. His engagement aimed to resonate with the constituents who remember him from his formative years. In his remarks,Mr Cummings speak on couples of issues affecting the life’s…

Public Health Expert and Award Winning Liberian Scientist, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, has described the Ministry of Health’s proposed US$4.2 million Ebola preparedness budget as excessive, controversial, and lacking sufficient justification. In a statement posted on social media, Dr. Nyan argued that the proposed budget is higher than NPHIL’s annual national budget allocation of approximately US$3.3 million and suggested that a budget of about US$1.3 million would be adequate for current preparedness efforts. The former NPHIL boss further noted that the proposed Liberian preparedness budget compares unfavorably with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s reported US$7.3 million response budget despite that…

IPNEWS: ArcelorMittal Liberia Reaffirms Commitment to National Development as Mines Minister Urges Stronger Resource Management and Sector AccountabilityArcelorMittal Liberia has reaffirmed its commitment to Liberia’s long-term development, emphasizing that the company’s success is closely tied to the country’s broader economic progress. The Chief Executive Officer of AML Michiel Van Der Merwe made the remarks during a high-level visit by the Minister of Mines and Energy, R. Matenokay Tingban, who toured the company’s operational facilities in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County over the weekend as part of a nationwide assessment of the mining sector.During the engagement, the AML CEO reiterated the company’s…

There is a particular kind of institutional moment that does not arrive with fanfare. It arrives quietly, almost reluctantly, in the language of strategic plans and governance frameworks, in the slow discipline of cost-containment and compliance reviews. But make no mistake: when the National Port Authority of Liberia released its 2025 Annual Performance Report, it was not filing a bureaucratic return. It was announcing a transformation. Consider what has actually happened here. An institution that serves as the literal gateway to Liberia’s economy, every container, every vessel, every consignment of import and export passing through its jurisdiction, has in the…

As widely noted for his bold questioning during public and confirmation hearings, especially on matters of national importance, Montserrado County Senator has raisen serious concerns during a confirmation hearing of the Chairman-Designate of the National Elections Commission (NEC). Senator Dillon requested that NEC Chairman-Designate Jonathan K. Weedor provide evidence of his resignation from his former political party in order to properly inform his vote on the nomination. The Senator’s demand is rooted in Section 2.5 of Liberia’s New Elections Law, which states: “No Commissioner, election officer, or any employee of the Elections Commission shall be a member or an affiliate…

The Government of Liberia, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has officially launched the Strengthening Agricultural Resilience Through Transformational Livelihood Adaptation in Liberia (SARTLA) Project. The five-year initiative (2025–2030), valued at approximately USD 103.9 million, aims to strengthen climate resilience, improve food security, restore ecosystems, and support sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable communities across seven counties in Liberia. The high-level inception event brought together representatives from government institutions, development partners, farmer organizations, civil society, private sector actors, and community stakeholders, reaffirming a collective commitment…

Liberia’s Journey Toward the US$1bn Revenue Milestone: How Far? By Danicius Kaihenneh Sengbeh Never in Liberia’s history has domestic revenue surpassed US$600 million within just five months of a fiscal year, not after six months, not at the halfway mark, but before the country even reached midyear. As of May 26, 2026, the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) had already mobilized over US$636.838 million in unconsolidated revenue, representing 51% of its annual domestic revenue target of US$1.176 billion, with US$612.843 million (49%) remaining to hit target. This means that with seven months still remaining in the fiscal year, Liberia has already…

With less than 24 hrs following the ruling by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie of Criminal Court “A” to thro-out the independent autopsy conducted on Toni Jackson, has sparked debate across Monrovia. Judge Willie ruled that the examination legally “invalid” and inadmissible. The decision, handed down on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, voids the medical findings because the examiner, Dr. Rockefeller F. Cooper II, does not hold a proper license as a pathologist from the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC). The court declared Dr. Cooper’s post-mortem examination “null and void ab initio”. It cannot be used to support the defense during…

The Executive Secretary of the West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF), Mr. Jules Tapsoba, on Tuesday held high level discussions with the Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, H.E. Traore Kalilou, on strengthening domestic revenue mobilization, regional tax harmonization, and West Africa’s collective response to emerging global tax reforms. The strategic engagement, held at the Ivorian Embassy in Abuja, also focused on enhancing regional cooperation among tax administrations, strengthening fiscal sustainability across West Africa, and reinforcing institutional partnerships aimed at supporting the region’s development financing needs amid declining donor support. During the meeting, Mr. Tapsoba provided an overview of WATAF’s…

IPNEWS: The Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority (LSEZA) has convened a high-level stakeholders’ discussion focused on two critical issues impacting the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Liberia, investment incentives and tariff exemptions. The discussion brought together key institutions and stakeholders, including the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), the National Port Authority (NPA), the Ministry of National Defense, and private security actors, all of whom play essential roles in the successful implementation and operation of SEZs in Liberia. Speaking during the meeting, LSEZA Executive Chairman, Prince Wreh, described the working session as a critical step toward strengthening Liberia’s tax incentive…