PUNCH TV LIVE, Monrovia (2026)

28/05/2026

President Boakai Targets Wasteful Spending with New Restrictions On Officials' Foreign Travel

By: Lois Paybayee

MONROVIA, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has issued a sweeping Cabinet directive aimed at drastically reducing official foreign travel by Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials, warning that excessive overseas trips are undermining government efficiency and placing unnecessary strain on public finances.

The directive, announced Thursday during a Cabinet meeting at the Executive Mansion, introduces strict new conditions governing all foreign travel involving ministers, heads of agencies and commissions, ambassadors, and other senior officials.

President Boakai said the decision was driven by increasing concerns that frequent international travel has negatively impacted Cabinet participation and disrupted critical government operations.

“Some of these travels have affected effective Cabinet participation and deprived the Administration of critical policy input and leadership at important decision-making levels,” the President stated in the directive.

The Liberian leader further emphasized that repeated foreign trips have created additional financial pressure on government resources at a time when the country faces pressing national development priorities.

Under the new policy, no government official will be permitted to undertake official foreign travel without the expressed prior approval of the President.

In a major policy shift, President Boakai also introduced a “Virtual Participation First Policy,” directing Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions to prioritize participation in international meetings through virtual platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams whenever feasible.

“All travel requests must now include detailed justification outlining the strategic relevance of the trip to Liberia, estimated costs, funding sources, delegation composition, and reasons why virtual participation would not be sufficient,” the directive stated.

The President stressed that attendance at international conferences and engagements would only be approved where it is “demonstrably necessary” and clearly aligned with Liberia’s national interest.

As part of the restrictions, President Boakai ordered that, except under extraordinary circumstances, no Cabinet Minister or senior government official should embark on more than one official foreign trip per quarter unless specifically authorized by him.

The directive further warns that travel requests will be rejected if the absence of an official is likely to affect Cabinet deliberations, institutional leadership, urgent decision-making, or other critical government functions.

The policy also reinforces strict compliance with existing government travel regulations, including limitations on travel class, per diem allowances, accommodations, and related expenditures.

Implementation and monitoring of the directive will be jointly supervised by the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs and the Cabinet Office, although the President reserved the right to grant exceptions in cases involving compelling national interests.

President Boakai urged all government officials to fully comply with the new measures, describing them as necessary steps toward responsible governance, operational efficiency, and prudent management of public resources.

28/05/2026

Adventist University along Robertsfield is demanding prospective undergraduates to pay US$ 755 for graduation fees

28/05/2026

JJ Roberts Educational Foundation Graduates 39 Students in Robotics and Digital Skills Training

The Joseph Jenkins Roberts Educational Foundation (JJREF), in partnership with Yamoransa Lab Liberia, has graduated thirty-nine high school students from its digital skills and robotics training program.

The initiative, which includes the Spike Prime Robotics and Digital Skills for Future Innovators programs, is aimed at equipping Liberian students with practical knowledge in information technology, innovation, and STEM education.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Eric Johnson, emphasized the importance of digital education in preparing young people for future opportunities.

He noted that the program is helping to strengthen students’ understanding of information technology and disclosed plans to expand the initiative to accommodate more students and additional IT-related subjects.

Head Trainer Favor Shatamon said the robotics and digital skills training was designed to provide students with practical and relevant technological experience.

According to him, students in the digital skills category received training in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint, among other essential computer skills.

Also speaking at the event, Representative of Yamoransa Lab Liberia, Delou Zeo, praised the Foundation for the initiative and encouraged students to prioritize STEM education and vocational training to enhance their competitiveness in the global job market.

The graduation marks another milestone in JJREF’s ongoing commitment to empowering young Liberians through education, technology, and innovation.

28/05/2026

Former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called on the Ministry of Public Works to speed up work on the Roberts International Airport (RIA) Road Project, stressing that the highway gives international visitors their first impression of Liberia.

Sirleaf said the condition and timely completion of the road are important for national pride, public convenience, and economic growth. She made the remarks during ELBC’s “Changing Minds, Changing Attitudes” program alongside former Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh.

27/05/2026

Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko has expressed frustration with members of his cabinet and public officials over what he described as rigid and sluggish government systems.

Speaking recently, Boko criticized officials for relying on outdated methods that have repeatedly failed to deliver results, warning against “routinized sluggishness” and resistance to urgent action.

“Sometimes I get frustrated by you public officers with your rigidities, your routinized sluggishness, your inability to respond instantly, decisively and boldly to pressing problems,” Boko said.

The Botswana leader urged officials to abandon excessive formalities and focus on solving real national issues instead of maintaining systems that “have not worked.”

27/05/2026

“We’re Going to Rock Some Muscles With the Men in 2029… You Will Not Like Me, You Will Not Love Me, but Once We Have to Increase the Number, We Have to Work Together With Unity”

Rep. Moima Briggs Mensah Rallies Women to Unite for Political Power at Women Political Aspirants Forum in Paynesville

27/05/2026

The Liberian Government through the Ministry of Health, has procured 25 ambulances aimed at strengthening maternal healthcare services and improving emergency response across the country.

By: Darius Kemoh

The initiative is expected to enhance access to timely medical transportation for pregnant women and patients requiring urgent medical attention, particularly in underserved communities.

Health authorities noted that the ambulances will be deployed to various health facilities nationwide to support the government ongoing efforts to reduce maternal mortality and improve the overall healthcare delivery system in Liberia.

Picture credit : Favor G. Koboi

27/05/2026

‎Printiss T.K. Domah
‎Liaison
‎Office of the Minister of Youth & Sports

Writes:
‎
‎
" ‎Liberia’s current budget is $1.293B— total of the Approved 2026 National Budget [$1.248B] and Supplementary Budget [$45M].
‎
‎US $9.6M ($9.1M from Approval National Budget and $500K from the Supplementary budget) representing 0.74% goes towards supporting youth development programs through The Ministry of Youth and Sports Liberia.
‎
‎Liberia’s largest demographic is the youths: with 74% of its overall population below the age of 35, and 60% of its voting population aged 18-35.
‎
‎A $20M (representing 1.54% of our current budget) budgetary request by Min. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah to support youth development programs is not only justifiable, but would present a starting point for our government’s intentionality towards youth development and empowerment across the country".

27/05/2026

Women Leaders Urge Unity, Courage Ahead of 2029 Elections

PAYNESVILLE - More than 500 women gathered in Paynesville on Wednesday for the National Networking and Experience-Sharing Forum for Women Political Aspirants organized by Sister Aid Liberia Inc. in partnership with UN Women under the Liberia Elections Support Project.

The event brought together women leaders, political aspirants, lawmakers and development partners to discuss increasing women’s political participation ahead of the 2029 elections.

Speaking at the forum, Sister Aid Liberia Executive Director Miatta Darwolor said women’s leadership is critical to Liberia’s democratic growth.

“Women’s leadership is not peripheral to democratic progress but essential to building a more inclusive, peaceful and accountable Liberia,” she said.

Representative Moima Briggs Mensah called on women to remain united politically.

“We have not given up yet, we’re still going to rock some muscles with the men in 2029,” Briggs Mensah declared.

Deputy Representative of UN Women, Yemi Falayajo, urged women to move beyond discussion and take action.

“We must move from rhetoric to action,” Falayajo said while highlighting the low number of women in Liberia’s Legislature.

Meanwhile, Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence encouraged aspiring women leaders to lead with courage and integrity.

“Leadership should not be about us; it should be about the people and the country,” Lawrence said.

The forum also featured panel discussions where former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor and other female leaders shared their political journeys and experiences.

Participants praised Sister Aid Liberia for creating a platform to mentor and inspire women ahead of the 2029 elections.

By: Gibson Gee Gibson

Sister AID Liberia INC
UN Women Liberia

27/05/2026

LSEZA Launches First-Ever Media Training for Journalists, Talk Show Hosts

The Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority has commenced a two-day media training aimed at strengthening journalists’ understanding of Special Economic Zones and their role in Liberia’s economic growth and investment drive.

The training, described as the first of its kind by the Authority, brings together 25 journalists, reporters, talk show hosts, and media practitioners from broadcast, print, and online media institutions.

Providing an overview of the engagement, Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority Corporate Communications Manager, Daniel Ankrah, said the initiative is designed to create a platform for media practitioners to better understand the workings, mandate, functions, and objectives of the Authority.

According to him, the training organized by the Communications Department of the Authority deepens journalists’ knowledge of the role Special Economic Zones play in promoting national economic growth, attracting investment, and creating employment opportunities.
Ankrah described the initiative as a pivotal moment in the LSEZA's communication and public engagement efforts.

Delivering opening remarks at the start of the training, Executive Chairman of the Authority, Prince Wreh, emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the media and the Authority.

He noted that informed and responsible journalism remains critical in promoting investment opportunities and advancing national development.

Also speaking, President of the Press Union of Liberia, Julius Kanubah, commended the Authority for organizing what he termed a strategic and laudable initiative intended to educate media professionals about the national importance of the institution.

Kanubah urged journalists participating in the training to fully utilize the opportunity and continue reporting in ways that promote economic development, investment awareness, and national progress.

According to LSEZA, Day Two of the engagement will focus on discussions involving talk show hosts and managing editors, with emphasis on media collaboration, strategic communication, and reporting on national economic development.

The Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority says it remains committed to building stronger partnerships with the media as part of its mandate to attract investment, create jobs, and promote sustainable economic growth in Liberia.

About Liberia Special Economic Zones Authority:

LSEZA is an Authority of the Government of Liberia, mandated by a 2017 Act of the National Legislature to, amongst other things, create an enabling environment for investment within specific geographic areas, to boost industrialization, and to generate employment opportunities that empower Liberians.

LSEZA is responsible for designation and regulation of SEZs across Liberia working in alignment with the 1st Pillar of the ARREST Agenda (Macroeconomic Stability and Infrastructure-development) of the Government of Liberia. LSEZA encourages investment in sustainable, innovative and solution driven investments that can stimulate economic growth and development in Liberia. Based on field information and working closely together with our partners, the LSEZA provides tailor made investment services for all our investors seeking to do business in Liberia.

27/05/2026

MY TAKE ON THE JFK NURSE SAGA -By: Journalist Jerome Carngbe

"No amount of sympathy, empathy, emotion, and political distortion can hide the truth, and that truth is, this woman (Paola) breached professional, ethical and public order protocols. She's on the verge of losing her license on professional grounds, and none of these supposedly supportive write-ups and comments will help her. I pray the health authorities temper justice with mercy. She has betrayed her oath and violated her code of ethics. This is the real issue that, unfortunately, some of us are missing.

Hypothetical argument (why if she had not disclosed the privileged and precautionary information and it turns out that Ebola broke out in Liberia), cannot help her. It does not erase the fact that she's violated the basic principle of confidentiality, which governs her profession as a health practitioner----public health worker for that matter. Is there Ebola in Liberia? No! Was she authorized to disclose the privileged information? No! So, where is the heroism some of our compatriots are shouting about?

This singular act by this woman could have plunged this country into chaos. It could have ignited dangerous conspiracy theories with the propensity to cause uncontrollable social disorder. History is replete with accounts of how disinformation and misinformation have created social and political instabilities, especially in gullible societies like ours.

This is not about whether or not what Ms Bedell released has a semblance of truth. It's about ethics, professionalism and the principle of public order---maintaining standardized information management to avoid public chaos. This woman is a medical professional. She had no authority or authorization to release or spread such an unverified, unconfirmed and privileged information.

Whatever alert provided behind closed doors, that was, and is still subject to verification and confirmation, gave her no right to go public. All professions/disciplines have codes of conduct and ethics. The medical field is highly driven by trust, believability and confidentiality.

In the media environment, for example, there's something called embargo. When a story or information is embargoed, you are not to release it until the authorized or appropriate time. Sometimes you are given a hint or Intel that sounds or looks very interesting, but after a careful follow-up and review, editorial decision is made not to go further with it due to either no or weak reliance, lack of supporting evidence (facts), etc.

Likewise the security setting. Some intelligence shared are not necessarily for public consumption. Intelligence can be shared internally and after a review, sometimes it is declared weak, harmless, not worthy of any pursuit, and therefore discarded.

Also, there are pieces of information and/or proposals and feasibility studies that are preliminarily discussed among CEOs, incorporators, shareholders and senior staff members in boardrooms. Those are not immediately meant for public pronouncement or announcement. No member of staff privileged to such information must release it without authorization. Why if it turns out that the company, after careful review, realizes that those ventures are not profitable, not timely, and therefore decides not to pursue them further?

Additionally, in the hospital, not every personnel is authorized to pronounce a patient dead. That authority is reserved for particular people in the medical field. Same applies to the media. No journalist covering an accident or disaster of any kind, is ethically authorized to declare any victim dead. For example, three persons are feared dead (not are dead) after a canoe capsized on the St. Paul River.

The case involving Ms Paola Bedell borders on oath, authority, truth, and the management of information to maintain public order. Her action has given rise to conspiracy theories which themselves undermine national efforts in dealing with public health crisis.

To those who say that if Paola had not done what she did, the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute would not provide the information they are providing now, my question is, who released any "hidden" information about Ebola in 2014 and COVID in 2020 before the Government of Liberia announced the first cases in those two outbreaks?"

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