Author: Chester Smith

IPNEWS: The Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) has commended Sierra Leonean authorities following the arrest of Randy P. Z. Tuweh, Deputy Commander of the Border Patrol Unit (BPU) in Grand Cape Mount County, on narcotics charges. In a statement released over the weekend, the LIS characterized the arrest as a “significant step” in the regional battle against drug trafficking. The agency underscored that the trade in illicit substances remains a grave transnational threat, destabilizing regional security, public health, and economic growth. Deputy Commander Tuweh was apprehended on March 14, 2026, in Jendema Town, Sierra Leone, during a targeted operation by the…

..Mystery Deepens as Police Intensify Investigation into Death of Economist’s Wife By Amos Harris IPNEWS: Mrs. Toni Jackson, the wife of prominent Liberian economist and political commentator Samuel D. Jackson, has ignited intense national debate and triggered a wide-ranging investigation by the Liberia National Police. What began as a private family tragedy has rapidly evolved into one of the most closely watched investigations in recent months, raising troubling questions about the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Jackson’s death and the sequence of events that unfolded inside the Jackson family residence. Authorities say the case remains under active investigation, with forensic examinations, witness…

IPNEWS: A growing controversy is unfolding over Liberia’s national response to drug abuse, as the Global Action for Sustainable Development (GASD) formally calls for a sweeping audit and structural overhaul of the country’s anti-drug framework, raising serious questions about accountability, coordination, and impact. In a submission to the General Auditing Commission (GAC), GASD presented findings from an Independent Impact Evaluation conducted in partnership with Infoquest. The report reviews activities of the Multi-Sectoral Steering Committee (MSSC) on Drug Abuse and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) between January 2024 and June 2025. The findings, while acknowledging government efforts, paint a troubling picture of…

IPNEWS: The Ministry of Labour has given LAC 30 days to explain why it has allegedly failed to pay work permit fees for foreign workers since 1959. Labour Minister Cooper W. Kruah Sr. says records show nearly 70 years of non-compliance, despite previous warnings. Labour Minister Cooper W. Kruah Sr. stated that records indicate nearly 70 years of non-compliance with work permit regulations, despite the company paying immigration residence permit fees. The Ministry has warned that if LAC fails to provide a satisfactory explanation within the 30-day window, the government is prepared to pursue the matter in court. LAC has reportedly claimed it…

..Warning from former Warlord “General Butt Naked” By Amos Harris  IPNEWS: Controversial former warlord-turned-evangelist Joshua Milton Blahyi, widely known by his wartime alias “General Butt Naked,” has ignited a wave of public debate across Liberia after warning that the country could face another armed conflict if tensions along the Liberia–Guinea border are not urgently addressed. Blahyi’s remarks, delivered during a gathering with followers and community members in Monrovia, come at a time when concerns are mounting over reports of confrontations along Liberia’s northern frontier in Lofa County. Residents in several border communities have alleged that soldiers believed to be from…

IPNEWS, WASHINGTON: The State Department has slashed by about 80% the fee for Americans to formally renounce their U.S. citizenship. After years of legal battles with several groups representing Americans wanting to give up their citizenship, the department on Friday published a final rule in the Federal Register that reduces the cost from $2,350 to $450. The new fee, which took effect on Friday, had been promised in 2023 but had never been implemented. The cost is now the same as it was when the State Department first started charging Americans to formally renounce their citizenship in 2010. Renouncing U.S.…

IPNEWS: The House of Representatives of Liberia’s 55th National Legislature on Friday held a diplomatic engagement with members of the international community accredited to the country, aimed at strengthening cooperation and enhancing dialogue on issues of mutual interest. The engagement, organized by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs of Liberia in consultation with the Speaker, Richard Nagbe Koon, brought together lawmakers and representatives of the diplomatic corps including United States Ambassador Mark C. Toner and Chinese Ambassador Yin Chengwu at the Capitol Building in Monrovia. According to the House Authorities, the meeting was intended to foster stronger relationships between Liberia’s legislative…

‎IPNEWS: The Alliance of Bikers Aimed Towards Education (ABATE) of Liberia has lauded motorcyclists in Foya District, Lofa County, for what it described as an extraordinary act of patriotism and bravery during a tense moment at the Liberia–Guinea border. ‎‎In a statement issued by the National Coordinator of ABATE of Liberia, Ziki N. Yarpah, the organization praised the riders for their swift and courageous response at the Sorluba crossing point, where they reportedly stood their ground to defend Liberia’s territorial integrity before national security forces arrived. ‎‎According to the statement, the actions of the Foya motorcyclists demonstrated a strong sense…

IPNEWS: More than twenty-five firefighters at the National Port Authority (NPA) have undergone specialized training aimed at improving safety, security, and operational efficiency at Liberia’s ports. The training was conducted under the SCOPE Africa Initiative, a European Union–backed program focused on enhancing port systems across West and Central Africa. Speaking at the close of the four-day exercise, NPA Deputy Managing Director for Administration James R. Bernard commended the initiative, describing it as a critical step toward aligning Liberia’s port operations with international safety and security standards. According to Bernard, the training marks the beginning of a broader capacity-building effort targeting…

By Amos Harris IPNEWS: The Government of Liberia, through the Civil Service Agency (CSA), has begun a nationwide personnel and credential verification exercise targeting employees of the Ministry of Local Government as part of ongoing reforms to strengthen transparency, accountability, and integrity within the public sector. The verification process, which officially commenced on March 9, 2026, is being conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government formerly known as the Ministry of Internal Affairs with technical and logistical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Government officials say the exercise forms a key component of Liberia’s broader public…