By Staff Investigative Reporter Monrovia, Liberia, June 9, 2026 – A growing chorus of telecommunications experts, legal analysts, lawmakers, and industry stakeholders is demanding answers over what many are describing as one of the most controversial regulatory decisions in Liberia’s telecommunications history: the Liberia Telecommunications Authority’s approval of the Numtel Liberia/Numbase LLC joint venture despite the existence of a legislatively ratified Telecom International Alliance (TIA) concession agreement. At the center of the controversy stands LTA Chairman Clarence K. Massaquoi, whose decision to champion the Numtel arrangement has reignited a national debate about regulatory authority, constitutional obligations, investor protection, and respect for the rule of law. The fundamental question being asked is simple: How can a regulatory authority lawfully replace or circumvent a concession agreement that was ratified by the National Legislature and became law, without first complying with legislative directives regarding that agreement? A Concession Agreement Backed by Law The...

By Stephen G. Fellajuah Monrovia, Liberia, June 9, 2026 – Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has formally petitioned the Liberian Senate to intervene in her ongoing struggle to obtain pension benefits she says have remained unpaid since she left office in January 2024. In a communication addressed to Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence and members of the Liberian Senate, Howard-Taylor expressed frustration over what she described as the government’s failure to fulfill its legal obligations regarding her post-service benefits. According to the former vice president, she has satisfied all statutory requirements outlined in Liberia’s pension laws but has yet to receive the benefits to which she is entitled. “I want my pension benefits,” Howard-Taylor stated in her appeal, urging the Senate to take action on the matter. Under Section 1.4.2 of Liberia’s June 2010 Pension Law (Non-Contributory Pension Scheme), a former vice president who has honorably transitioned to private life and...

Vol.16 No. 91 TUESDAY, JUNE 09, 2026Download The post Vol.16 No. 91 TUESDAY, JUNE 09, 2026 appeared first on Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news. Source link

Senate-brokered resolution brings clarity to Liberia’s petroleum sector; Justice Ministry proposes simpler law to prevent future disputes  MONROVIA, June 8, 2026 – The National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) has agreed that it and its partners, GeoPartners Limited and Searcher Geodata UK Ltd, will formally apply to the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) for reconnaissance licenses, ending a dispute over the authority to authorize offshore survey activities. The agreement, reached under the watch of the Liberian Senate, settles tension between the two institutions and draws a clear line: the LPRA issues reconnaissance licenses; NOCAL’s role in administering those licenses begins after the LPRA has granted them. The resolution is a significant moment for Liberia’s petroleum governance — one that drew in the Legislature, the Ministry of Justice, and senior officials from both institutions to resolve what had become a very public, and embarrassing institutional standoff. The dispute began after NOCAL...

The reported rapid influx of Burkinabè migrants into southeastern Liberia, as brought to public attention by the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), warrants serious national consideration. If the figures presented to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai are accurate, the development constitutes a matter of considerable national importance, with significant security, humanitarian, and socio-economic implications. According to the LRRRC report, approximately 140,000 Burkinabè nationals are currently residing in Grand Gedeh and River Gee Counties, with many engaged in mining and agricultural activities. Such a concentration of foreign nationals within a limited geographic area understandably raises concerns regarding competition for resources, pressure on land use, and the capacity of local authorities to manage the situation effectively. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s decision to elevate the matter to Cabinet for urgent national security and policy deliberation is both prudent and appropriate. The scale of the reported migration necessitates a coordinated state response that...

Vol.16 No. 90 MONDAY, JUNE 08, 2026Download The post Vol.16 No. 90 MONDAY, JUNE 08, 2026 appeared first on Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news. Source link

By Lewis S. Teh Monrovia, June 5, 2026 — The Ministry of Youth and Sports and UNICEF have signed a renewed partnership agreement, reaffirming their shared commitment to improving the lives of adolescent girls across Liberia through coordinated programming and enhanced accountability. The signing ceremony, held on June 4, 2026, brought together key officials including Minister Atty. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah and UNICEF Country Representative Andy Brooks, marking another milestone in their longstanding collaboration. Stronger Coordination for Better Results Minister Kruah praised UNICEF’s continued support and dedication to expanding opportunities for adolescent girls. She emphasized the importance of gender mainstreaming and stronger coordination among government institutions addressing youth issues. To maximize impact, Minister Kruah announced plans to engage the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ministry of Education, aiming to better align resources and programs targeting adolescent girls. “We want to improve coordination, monitoring, and accountability so that...

By Bridgett Milton Capitol Hill, June 5, 2026 — Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility has urged the House of Representatives to repeal section 5.1 (A) and related provisions of Liberia’s new election laws that allow the exclusion, suspension, deregistration, or disqualification of legally registered political parties solely based on their performance in previous elections. In a formal communication to plenary on Thursday, June 4, 2026, Rep. Bility argued that such provisions undermine fundamental democratic principles. He emphasized that the survival of political parties should be determined by the will of the people, not government-imposed restrictions. “This proposal is rooted in a simple democratic principle: the people, not the government, should decide which political parties survive and which disappear,” Bility stated. He further asserted that the government’s role in election laws should be to facilitate—not restrict—political participation. Bility pointed to constitutional guarantees of freedom of association, equal protection...

By Bridgett Milton Capitol Hill, June 5, 2026 – President Joseph N. Boakai has formally requested the House of Representatives to amend Chapter 50B of the New Executive Law, Title 12 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised, which established the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE). In his communication, President Boakai highlighted LACE’s pivotal role in improving living standards for underprivileged communities through basic social services, income-generating infrastructure, and community-driven development initiatives. However, the President noted that emerging national priorities under the ARREST Agenda, along with the need for enhanced institutional capacity, transparency, and accountability, make it necessary to amend the existing LACE Act. The proposed amendments aim to strengthen governance and institutional capacity by introducing new leadership and oversight mechanisms. Notably, the reforms would create a third Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Operations to improve supervision of field projects and donor coordination. The bill also seeks to...

Monrovia, Liberia, June 5, 2026 – Liberia’s National Security Advisor, Samuel Kofi Woods II, has praised the country’s new National Security Strategy, stressing that more than a decade has passed since the last strategy took effect and that significant changes have since transformed the national and global security landscape. He described the policy document as a major turning point in national security planning, emphasizing that the document was developed through an inclusive process that brought together government institutions, security agencies, lawmakers, international partners, civil society organizations, and ordinary Liberians. The strategy, officially launched on Wednesday at the Executive Mansion on June 3, 2026, marks the first comprehensive review of Liberia’s security framework since the previous National Security Strategy became operational in 2008. Addressing the ceremony, Woods said the policy document seeks to redefine the country’s approach to security by placing citizens, human rights, and prevention at the center of national...