News Ganjaa

08/06/2025

Letter from Saclepea
With Musa Hassan Bility

We Cannot Go Back

I am not writing from Saclepea, not this time. I am somewhere quiet, yes, but not cut off. I am fully awake, fully burdened, and fully heartbroken by the sound of a nation gasping for breath.

Liberia is suffering.

And I say this not as a politician, but as a witness to the slow decay of a dream we once shared. I look around me, and what I see crushes the spirit.

To my left, those who govern, so desperate to cling to power that they will crush any voice, rewrite any truth, and spend the country’s soul just to stay in charge. They are not leading, they are guarding a throne. And the cost is bleeding through the lives of children who die without care, women who labor without hope, and families who feed on despair.

To my right, the so-called opposition, wounded, fragmented, and driven not by a vision of redemption, but by vengeance. They do not challenge the system, they mimic it. They speak of change, but their hands are heavy with the past. The baggage they carry is not just theirs, it weighs down the rest of us, too.

And in the middle of this dark theater, Liberia cries.

We are caught between those who will do anything to hold power and those who will say anything to take it. But neither side is listening to the people anymore. They are trading retribution while our schools fall apart. They are plotting comebacks while our hospitals run dry. They are shaking hands behind closed doors while the rest of us bury our dignity in silence.

So I sit here, not in bitterness, but in deep reflection, and I ask: What if we stopped looking left and right?
What if we looked forward?

The truth is, we cannot go back, not to those who broke this country in the first place, nor to those who watched it break and said nothing. Liberia must not return to her abusers.

We need to look somewhere else.

There are men and women, quiet, uncelebrated, uncorrupted, who are ready to rise. They are not perfect, but they are principled. They are not loud, but they are listening. They are not seasoned in deception, but they are shaped by sacrifice. And they are waiting, not for permission, but for recognition.

The future is not in the usual place. It is in the Third Option. The Third Lane. The one we’ve ignored for too long because it’s not paved with party colors, tribal comfort, or war-era fame. But it is real. It is rising. And it is ours if we dare to see it.

Liberia cannot be rescued by those who broke her. She cannot be healed by those who traded her wounds for wealth. And she cannot be led by those who see leadership as entitlement.

This moment is not just a choice. It is a test of national memory. Will we go back to what failed us, or forward to what frees us?

Let this be the moment we stop searching for saviors and start building a country. Let this be the moment we believe in ourselves again. Let this be the moment we finally say: Enough.

From my solitude,

06/06/2025

Remarks By Madam Kou Meapeh Gono
Superintendent of Nimba County, Liberia
On the Commissioning of
ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Concentrator Plant

Yekepa, Nimba County |June 5, 2025

Your Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia;
Your Honorable Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Vice President of the Republic of Liberia;
Honorable Chairman Saye Sylvester Mianah and members of the Nimba County Legislative Caucus,
Representatives from B**g and Grand Bassa Counties,
Honorable Ministers and Members of the Legislature,
Officials of ArcelorMittal Liberia,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Development Partners,
Fellow Local Authorities, Traditional Leaders, Citizens of Nimba County,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is with deep humility and pride that I stand before you today to extend, on behalf of the people of Nimba County, a heartfelt welcome to this historic event — the official commissioning of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Concentrator Plant.
We are especially honored by the presence of His Excellency the President and His Honorable Vice President, whose attendance underscores the national significance of this milestone. Your presence inspires confidence in our collective path toward growth and transformation.

A Bold Step in Liberia’s Industrial Evolution

Today, we celebrate not just an industrial facility, but a milestone in Liberia’s development journey. The commissioning of this concentrator plant marks the transition from direct ore exportation to value addition — a key step toward a more robust, sustainable, and inclusive economy.

We commend ArcelorMittal Liberia for its vision and long-term commitment to Liberia. Let us not forget: it was in 2005, when our nation was still fragile and emerging from the ashes of civil conflict, that ArcelorMittal became the first major multinational investor to believe in Liberia’s future. That was a bold and historic decision.
For that early trust — and the continuous partnership since — we say thank you.

A New Day, New Expectations

However, as Liberia evolves, so too must the agreements that guide our extractive sector. The conditions that justified many of the compromises in the original Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) have changed. Liberia is no longer a post-conflict nation in recovery — we are a stable democracy that has held four peaceful presidential elections and transitions of power.

It is now time that our new or revised agreements reflect this progress and the rightful aspirations of our people.

Enforcing Mining Laws: Liberians First

We respectfully urge that the current and future frameworks for mining operations give full effect to Liberia’s labor and mining laws, particularly those that give preference to qualified Liberians over foreign hires.

Local Voices in MDA Negotiations

We also believe the time has come for local authorities and affected communities to have a seat at the table during the review or extension of the MDA.

The Revenue Sharing Law and the Local Government Act have laid the foundation for a more decentralized and inclusive governance model. Let us, therefore, apply a bottom-up approach in shaping mineral agreements — where local realities and aspirations are fully integrated into national decisions which empowers the county administration The Superintendent superintends all finances of the county and leads the President’s development agenda in the counties.
We strongly call on AML to support your development agenda by abiding by the Public Financial Management Laws and the Local Government Act of 2018 laws that provide that the heads of counties manage all public finances and execute the development agenda throughout the counties.

No concession has the right to do so in any form using public money, as was done in the past.

Corporate Social Responsibility: A Call for Expansion

As operations expand and production intensifies, so too should the benefits to host communities. We therefore strongly recommend an increase in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or County Social Development Fund allocation to the concession counties during the next round of MDA discussions.
This increase should correspond to the scale of operations and directly support improved infrastructure, education, healthcare, job training, and economic empowerment for our citizens.

A Word to Our Youth

To our young people: this plant is a doorway to opportunity. But doors must be walked through with preparation. Let us commit to learning the skills, acquiring the discipline, and demonstrating the maturity required to earn and keep the jobs that this expansion will bring.

Violence and protest do not solve problems — dialogue, skills, and strategy do.

Mr. President, many of the young people raising concerns about AML have genuine grievances. Some of these issues are shared by citizens in concession areas across Liberia.
We are working to sit with them — and we encourage AML to engage with them as well. In fact, we have proposed some of their concerns to be incorporated into the new MDA.

Most of the young people raising these issues are not opposition. On the contrary, many of them are your own partisans and supporters. People get away with misinforming the President — saying these young people are opposition. No! That is not true.

Their issues are with AML, not with you, Mr. President. Therefore, we respectfully ask that you ensure that some of their grievances are addressed in the new MDA before it receives your signature.

We will work with the youth. We will work with the Legislative Caucus. We will work with AML to ensure that these concerns are heard and solutions are found. We have been speaking with Michel, the CEO and he is doing well. We trust that he is committed to sitting with us and finding solutions for the young people and the Communities.

Conclusion: A Partnership for Progress

Today’s commissioning is more than the start of a machine — it is a symbol of a partnership that must now move forward with deeper collaboration, transparency, and mutual respect.

Let this be the dawn of a new, shared era of industrial progress and social justice — one where investment drives growth, and growth delivers dignity.

To ArcelorMittal, to the Government of Liberia, and to the people of Nimba — congratulations on this important milestone.

Thank you, and may God bless the people of Nimba and the Republic of Liberia.

05/06/2025

During a press briefing in Washington, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor ruled out talks under coercion and accused Pakistan of fostering terrorism, invoking Hillary Clinton’s “vipers in the backyard” warning. Pakistan, meanwhile, claimed it is the bigger victim of terror.

WION

During a press briefing in Washington, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor ruled out talks under coercion and accused Pakistan of fostering terrorism, invoking vipers in the backyard warning of Hillary Clinton. Pakistan, meanwhile, claimed it is the bigger victim of terror.

05/06/2025

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday banning the nationals of 12 countries from entering the US, saying the move was needed to protect against "foreign terrorists" and other security threats.

The Jerusalem Post

The countries affected are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

05/06/2025

Editorial | The time has come for haredim to fully join the national effort – not out of coercion, but out of conviction.

The Jerusalem Post

Zionism is not a secular ideology to be shunned; it is the modern manifestation of a 2,000-year-old hope. What could be more Torah-true than helping defend Jewish life in the land of our ancestors?

05/06/2025

Government advances dismissal of A-G • Israel reportedly diverted Gaza aid funds to 'security establishment'

05/06/2025

“This is a basic truth. It's biological, mathematical, and verifiable. No one can change it.”

The Western Journal

It was a healthy antidote to all of the "pride" month garbage - and people definitely responded, most in a positive way.

05/06/2025

National Elections Commission Liberia Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah, has stressed the importance of capacity building to ensuring a credible electoral body at all times.

Madam Browne Lansanah also encouraged continuous and stronger collaboration with relevant partners and electoral stakeholders in moving the Commission forward.

According to a post by NEC Liberia , NEC Chairperson was speaking Wednesday, 4 June, 2025 when she visited the BlueCrest University in Congo Town, where some 12 staff of the Commission and UNDP Liberia are undergoing a 16-week Digital Communications Training.

The Chairperson was welcomed to the classroom by BlueCrest University President, Dr. S. Mangai, who later appreciated the partnership and hoped that the training will help complement the skills of the participants.

The training is funded under the UNDP - Liberia Electoral Support Project, the post said.

Credit: NEC Liberia

For more information on , login www.necliberia.org or [email protected]

05/06/2025

Relay

03/06/2025

ADDRESS TO THE NATION: A NEW CHAPTER IN LIBERIA'S GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
Delivered By
His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
President of the Republic of Liberia
On Liberia's Election to
the United Nations Security Council (2026–2027)

Excellencies;
Distinguished Delegates;
Fellow Liberians;
Friends of Liberia:

Today, we stand at the threshold of a new chapter in our nation's history. The United Nations Security Council has honored us with a non-permanent seat for 2026-2027, recognizing our resilience, commitment to peace, and dedication to global cooperation.
We extend our deepest gratitude to all UN Member States for their confidence. This is a moment of honor and humility for our 178-year-old republic, Africa’s first independent nation, whose long and storied journey continues to inspire.
Our election is not just a national achievement. It symbolizes African perseverance and is a tribute to generations of Liberians who have held firm to freedom, self-governance, and global solidarity. From our role in the League of Nations and as a founding member of the United Nations to our contributions to African independence, Liberia has always punched above its weight on the global stage.
We honor the memory of Ambassador Angie Brooks-Randolph, Africa’s first female President of the UN General Assembly, whose call for substance over symbolism still echoes. And we recall the foresight of President William R. Tolbert Jr., who warned that global peace was impossible without African freedom and justice.
Liberia has walked a difficult road from conflict to recovery, but it has never been alone. We remain grateful to the United Nations, ECOWAS, and the African Union for their role in our peace process. We especially pay tribute to the two hundred and two United Nations peacekeepers who died in the cause of Liberia.
From the ruins of war, Liberia has risen as a democracy, holding successive peaceful elections and achieving historic power transfers. Today's election affirms Liberia is again a credible and relevant voice on the world stage.
Unlike our first partial term in 1961, today's election is a testament to our nation's journey toward peace and reconciliation. We have overcome conflict and are poised to contribute meaningfully to global peace-building and conflict resolution. It validates Liberia's commitment to international peace and our readiness to contribute meaningfully at the highest level.
We take on this responsibility during global uncertainty, marked by persistent conflicts, climate-related insecurity, terrorism, and development disparities. Liberia will be a principled and dependable voice on the Council. We will advocate for Africa, the developing world, and inclusive, lasting peace.
Drawing from our own experience of reconciliation and nation-building, we will promote conflict prevention, support peacekeeping reform, and champion the protection of civilians, especially women and children. Liberia will also continue its growing role as a troop-contributing country to UN missions.
To our African brothers and sisters, we pledge to be your voice. To the global South, we offer solidarity. And to all UN members, we promise constructive engagement and bridge-building diplomacy rooted in Liberia's humility, honesty, and freedom values.


We stand on the shoulders of giants, including Presidents Joseph Jenkins Roberts, Edwin Barclay, William V.S. Tubman, William R. Tolbert, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who flew the flag of Liberia high on the international stage, other icons of this democracy we enjoy today, as well as countless unsung heroes who kept our nation’s spirit alive through adversity. This moment is the fruit of their labor and prayers.
To all Liberians at home and abroad, this victory is yours. Let us rally together to make this tenure a success. When Liberia sits at the Council, it will be your hopes, resilience, and dreams that she will carry.
I thank our Foreign Minister, Her Excellency Madam Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the UN, campaign teams in New York, Monrovia, and Addis Ababa, and all those across government who made this achievement possible. You have worked hard to open a new chapter in our nation’s global engagement.
As promised in our campaign, Liberia's voice at the Council will reflect our people. We will consult with women and youth nationwide to ensure our representation is inclusive and grounded.
This new chapter in our global engagement presents opportunities for growth, collaboration, and progress. I call upon all Liberians to embrace this moment and work together to build a brighter future for our nation and the world.
May God bless the Republic of Liberia, ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations.

Thank you

Credit: Executive Mansion-Liberia

02/06/2025

Letter from Saclepea
With Musa Hassan Bility

The Third Lane: Where Principles Trump Politics

In every election, we are told we must choose between the same two roads, one paved with familiar failures, the other with recycled promises. And when we dare ask for something new, they say we are being unrealistic. They insist Liberia has only two choices.

But Saclepea says otherwise.

There is a third lane narrower, harder, but nobler. It is the lane of principle over politics, of conviction over convenience. It is the path where loyalty is not to party or tribe but to the people and the truth.

Liberia is not broken because we lack options. It is broken because we keep choosing between what we already know doesn’t work. We dance between extremes, one-moment seeking saviors, the next surrendering to strongmen. And in that dance, our dreams fall between the cracks.

But the third lane is different.

It does not promise instant results. It does not offer quick fixes. It gives us honest leadership rooted in uncomfortable truths and demanding, often painful, choices. It calls for integrity, not alliances. Thinking, not theatrics.

Those who walk this lane are often mocked, misunderstood, and mislabeled. They are told to pick a side or stay silent. But they choose to stand firm, even alone, because they know that standing for something is far greater than falling in line.

This third lane was not born out of protest but out of purpose. It was not created to oppose for opposition’s sake. It was forged to build. Build a nation where public service is sacred, leadership is accountable, and progress is measured not by who wins power but by who uplifts the people.

In this third lane, politics is not war. It is work. It is sacrifice. It is the courage to say no when others say yes and yes when people cry out in despair.

This is the politics we owe our children. We must clear this path for those who will come after us. The road may be rough, but the destination is worth it.

So to every Liberian who feels politically homeless, to every citizen tired of choosing between the lesser of two evils, know this: the third lane exists.

And we are walking it, not because it is easy, but because it is right.

Join us. Not as followers but as fellow builders.
The third lane is not a party. It is a principle.

And principles, when held with courage, can move nations.