Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), and Thomas Yaya Nimely, of the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), now senator of Grand Gedeh County, were among the 28 senators who affixed their signatures, marking a significant step towards accountability more than two decades after the end of the devastating civil conflict.

Liberia’s two brutal civil wars, which lasted from 1989 to 2003, killed an estimated 250,000 people, saw the use of child soldiers, and displaced thousands, some of whom have yet to return to the country. Despite international and domestic demand, Liberia has yet to try anyone for crimes committed during the bloody conflicts, which resulted in massacres, mutilation, rape, and cannibalism.

Nimba County, in Northern Liberia, the second largest county in Liberia, was considered Prince Johnson’s stronghold and has gained so much regard, even further being considered the political godfather of the country long after the war.

Johnson, a fierce critic of the establishment of the war and economic crimes, surprised many including residents of Karnplay when he was among the senators who overwhelmingly endorsed the establishment of a long-awaited war crimes court.

“I just want to praise God that the old man (Prince Johnson) took the bold steps to sign that document, we embraced the idea because everyone was looking at Prince Johnson.”

Sixty-one-year-old Sam Gayegumtoah’s countenance fell as he looked and slowly pointed to a mass grave in Karnplay zone 2 in which he said about a hundred people including his father were buried.

In the 1990s, the 62-year-old recalled, the murder of his father by men he said were believed to be Samuel Doe’s troops forced him to join Charles Taylor National Patriotic Front of Liberia, which fought alongside Prince Johnson against forces loyal to Samuel Doe.

But, two decades since the end of the wars, Sam is among many Liberians who hold the belief that impunity for war crimes and atrocities must end.

“Those who were involved that killed innocent civilians in Karnplay from that time up until now, nothing has been done about them, and so I embrace the idea of the war crimes court coming to Liberia.”

Sam Gayegumtoah told this paper that not only would the court put an end to war crimes impunity, but would also prevent the country from slacking back into hostilities and civil unrest noting that when people are prosecuted for their crimes but would set a precedent.

“The war crimes court is very important, and it would teach people lessons,” he said. Adding that “If people are guilty and sentenced for life or some years, people would not be able to bring war here anymore.

The former NPFL fighter also stressed that a war crimes court would set the pace to ending public corruption, and misuse of government’s resources and help to develop the country since corruption was one of the major factors that contributed to the country’s 14 years of brutal civil wars.

“When the war crimes court comes, people will not be able to steal the country’s money and use the big term embezzlement. If people steal, they will be carried to court and it will help to improve our country.

Gayegumtoah described the decision by warring faction leader Prince Jonson as a step in the right direction, but said the court process would benefit the country provided that the court does not target only one group of people or targeted at one person.

Jerome Titus, a youth in the area, agrees with Gayegumtoah that a war and economic crimes court is the way to go, adding that war perpetrators and financiers of the war atrocities must pay for their roles in the wars.

“I feel fine about the court coming to Liberia because during the past, people did so many things and nothing has happened to those people.”

Other residents in Karnplay who spoke to this paper said it has been several years of peace; therefore, setting up a war crimes court would be a recipe for conflict or one that could trigger political instability and further divide the country.

They want Joseph Boakai’s administration to abandon its plan of setting up a court fearing that Liberia’s peace is still fragile.

“I am not happy for war crimes court to come to Liberia, so those who sign the paper, they should go back and erase it and let the war crimes court business cease.” 52 years old Annie Gweh said.

Victoria Sonkalay, and Betty Nulay, petty traders, both share the thoughts that the new administration must focus its efforts on providing basic social services to improve the living conditions of the poor and unite the country rather than establishing a war crimes court.

Since the Liberian wars ended in 2003, not a single perpetrator of the war has been prosecuted within Liberia. Only a handful of Liberian war victims have been able to get justice following a few international war crimes trials in Europe of America where some former Liberian warlords have been tried for war crimes committed in Liberia.

Long-serving civil society and human rights advocate, Madam Yah Balleh, described a war and economic crimes court as a very important step to moving the country forward saying that justice for war crimes would help victims of the wars heal.

“Though we’ve passed the war, we have somehow forgotten but we still have the stigma and trauma,” she said adding that “ Liberia can never grow unless we start to hold people accountable.  I feel that war and economic crimes courts are very important.”

Responding to fears across some communities elsewhere in Nimba that the war and economic crimes court could risk or stir trouble, Yah Balleh Suah disagrees.

“It’s not about an individual, it’s about us Liberians because if justice is not done, there would be another group that would wake up some days and say we are going to get rid of that president, and we could go into another problem. So we should establish this court so that others will be deterred.”

In 2009, Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommended the establishment of a war crimes tribunal, but this has largely gone unheeded, particularly in the name of peacekeeping as many accused warlords remained influential in Liberia’s governance system.

One of the most prominent of these is current senator Prince Johnson, shown in a video sipping the beer of the country’s former president Samuel Doe while fighters under his command tortured Doe to death in 1990.

As mixed reactions heap debates throughout Nimba of Senator Prince Johnson affixing his signature to the resolution for the setting up of a war crimes court Liberians wait to see how soon a bill for the court comes fast.

The story of 20 years old Exodus Dolo

Each time Exodus dreams and finds himself developing aircraft, cars, and various electronic materials, and when he wakes up and repeats what he did in his dream, using rubber bottles and other waste materials, it turns out to work in real life.

Twenty-year-old Exodus Dolo, now a tenth-grade student in Gbarnga Bong County goes around collecting waste such as old car batteries, rubber bottles, wires, old light bobs, and many disposed materials transforming them into airplanes, transmitters, cars, and projectors. After several days of work, and connecting various wires following his completion of building the object, the cars and planes he makes out of water materials do move.

“When I go to bed to sleep, I sometimes see myself fixing cars, planes, and other things, and when I wake up; I can write it down and then begin to put it into practice and I can work. I need support to be able to put my country out to the world and help my country.”

Liberia’s youthful population accounts for over fifty percent of the country’s five million people. However, unemployment among Liberian youths remains high while an undocumented number of Liberian youths are endowed with untapped talents and the necessary support to enhance their skills to fill the huge unemployment gap and build a workforce for the crucial employment sector.

In Gbarnga Bong County, twenty-year-old Exodus Dolo collects wastes materials from dump sites to create his own electronic devices such as Bluetooth, cars, planes, projectors, and transmitters among other things.

After assembling the collected trashed rubber, cartoons, connecting wires, and shaping them into trucks, and planes, Exodus uses an old black car battery, making the cars and plane move on the group

Now in the tenth grade, Exodus dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer. Nevertheless, life for him from his birth, his mother told him was marred by rejection, and the poverty condition of his single mother makes his dream realization far from over.

“I do not know where my dad is. I live with my mother, and my mother told me that my father denied the pregnancy when she was pregnant with me.” Exodus said as his facial appearance dropped looking down to the ground.

In many rural and semi-urban communities, Exodus is just one of the many undocumented and unsupported young Liberians with untapped talents, whose parents’ impoverished conditions cannot afford to improve nor provide the necessary opportunity to advance their extraordinary talents.

Despite the circumstances surrounding Exodus’ birth and his mother’s impoverished condition, he is not resting on his laureate.

Exodus’ talent has gained much admiration in the neighborhood. Gibson Gogo, one of Exodus’ neighbors told this paper with the right support to Exodus, he could be of great asset to Liberia in contributing to the innovation and automobile industry sector.

“His talent is amazing,” Gibson said. Adding that “sometimes we sit and say the white people are making witch, it’s not all about witchcraft. Exodus, takes cartoons, waste materials, and put wires making the connection to the power source and it starts and moves, therefore, we need to utilize these kinds of skills to develop Liberia.”

Gibson believes that if people like Exodus are spotted and provided the right opportunity, it would contribute to job creation and empowerment among the country’s already high youth unemployed.

Liberia’s unemployment rate in 2023 declined to 2.85 percent. Nevertheless, the last two years recorded a significantly higher unemployment rate than the preceding years.

According to a 2023 global multidimensional poverty index shows that 52 percent of the population live in poverty, below two dollars, fifteen cents per day.

Employers and companies in Liberia including many businesses endure challenging economic times and struggle to recruit the right talents. Addressing the skills shortage is a part of the high unemployment.

Activists argue that if the national government and employers start identifying and nurturing untapped talents among the country’s young population, it could significantly reduce human resource capacity gaps.

“In Africa, and Liberia we have talents,” Said Awalayeh Mar, adding that, “Some people are born with these talents, and in the case of  Exodus he already has the knowledge, so all he needs is money and a greater opportunity.”

Exodus appeals to the national government and mechanical engineering companies for support to fulfill his dreams of establishing car manufacturing in Liberia.

“I am asking for support. The materials I am presently using, I find from dump sites for now, but I need the advanced ones so that I can fix (it) planes or cars and someone enters into it and move it.” Exodus pleaded saying.

Exodus Dolo eagerly seeks assistance to realize his dream of creating Liberia’s inaugural plane or car. He relies on skills he claims are inspired by his dreams, yet the speed and source of forthcoming aid remain uncertain.

This story is produced by  FeJAL Mentorship Fellow, through the support of Internews USAID, Year 3 Media Activity Reporting  Program. I am Susanna Reeds reporting.

— FeJAL’s Media Monitoring Report indicates, paints an unfavorable picture of women’s coverage, representation in media

The Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) on Friday, July 12, launched its latest media monitoring report focused on promoting gender equity in media coverage. The report, conducted under the Internews-USAID Media Activity, analyzed the representation of women in the Liberian media across various thematic areas.

The report, with the theme, “Inclusive Narratives, Diverse Perspectives: Promote Gender Equity in Media Coverage,” was produced to determine the gender gap within the media landscape in Liberia, focusing on Montserrado as a case study.

The report highlighted the prevalence of women as news sources in narratives on gender-based violence. At the same time, male voices dominated coverage in areas such as politics, sports, and the economy, indicating a gender disparity in news representation.

The report’s launch, held at iCampus on Carey Street in Central Monrovia, brought together partners, stakeholders, many media houses, and journalists to discuss the issue.

Laura T. Golakeh, the Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MoGCSP), commended FeJAL and its partners for their commitment to the project. She addressed the challenges faced by women journalists and emphasized the need for equitable representation in the media landscape.

Golakeh stressed the importance of addressing issues such as gender-based violence and sexual harassment in newsrooms. She encouraged female journalists to actively participate in diverse reporting areas and advocated for the promotion of women’s voices in media content.

She expressed the Gender Ministry’s commitment to working with FeJAL to support female journalists in Liberia.

She emphasized the importance of encouraging women to engage in reporting on topics such as economics, sports, and politics, rather than stepping back and allowing male counterparts to dominate these areas, thereby expanding their potential to cover a diverse range of stories.

The Deputy Minister mentioned that the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection is dedicated to collaborating with FeJAL to promote equal representation and active participation of women in the Liberian media landscape. In her statement, she expressed a strong commitment to addressing issues related to gender-based violence, and sexual harassment in newsrooms and ensuring that female journalists are provided with opportunities to report stories based on professional merit rather than personal relationships with male executives. The Ministry affirmed its ongoing support for female journalists to work in a safe environment and contribute effectively to the development of Liberia.

Lien Bach, Chief of Party at Internews, highlighted the organization’s advocacy for equal representation of women in media and urged media institutions to include more women’s voices in their content.

Dwede Tarpeh, Head of the Gender Department at the Embassy of Sweden, emphasized the significance of inclusive media coverage and accountability in storytelling for the strength of democracy.

FeJAL program officer Rita Jlogbe presented the report on the ten media institutions, including ELBC, OK F.M, Truth FM, LUX F.M., and Prime F.M. while print covered: Daily Observer, Front Page Africa, Women Voices, Inquirer, and New Dawn Newspapers.

“During our findings, we captured 1,689 stories and out of that number, only 19 percent of the stories were captured from news sources, while 17 percent of the stories were reported by female journalists. Today’s program recognizes three institutions that performed well during the assessment, and they are: OK F.M. as the institution with the highest number of female newscasters, ELBC as the institution with the highest number of female sources in their news stories, and Women Voices, as the institution with the highest number of news sources and number of stories done on women issues,” she said.

The launch of the media monitoring report signifies a step towards promoting gender equity and diverse perspectives in the Liberian media landscape. The collaborative efforts of FeJAL, Internews, and other partners aim to create a more inclusive and representative media environment in Liberia. Participants at the event expressed their commitment to upholding these values and working towards a positive change in the media industry.

The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection (MGCSP) has introduced a new national policy dialogue platform aimed at enhancing social and livelihood services for women and girls in targeted communities. The national policy dialogue platform is a component of the Liberia Women Empowerment Project (LWEP)– with objectives geared toward fostering positive social norms and bolstering the government’s capacity to advance gender equality.

The LWEP is a US$44.6 million multi-sectoral initiative that intends to address key barriers to gender equality in the country, and as well aligns with government priorities on women’s empowerment and GBV prevention and response. The project also complements ongoing investments and pilot new initiatives in healthcare, education, and GBV survivor services.

During the launch at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Congo Town on Thursday, May 30, Gbeme Horace Kollie, Minister of Gender Children and Social Protection (MGCSP), highlighted the significance of the policy dialogue platform in supporting existing interventions and policies related to gender equality, women’s economics, and gender-based violence.

“This national policy platform aims at improving social and livelihood services for women and girls in targeted communities, foster positive social norms, and strengthen the government’s capacity to advance women and girls’ empowerment,” Minister Kollie disclosed. “The platform is intended to support our existing interventions and policies relating to gender equality, women’s economics, and gender-based violence.”

Funded by the World Bank, the minister noted that the platform will help enhance women-related issues, especially advocacy and support to women groups.

Comfort Lamptey, UN Women’s Country Representative to Liberia, emphasized the importance of prevention in the fight against gender-based violence and the need to address root causes through challenging negative social norms.

“Prevention is key and central to all of the work that could be done. Working on negative social norms means addressing the root causes, and if they can make progress, they will be able to prevent gender-based violence,” she said. “Promoting a good-opportunity life for women is a prevention measure because women are empowered, they have agency, and they have a choice to walk out.”

Minister of Education, Jarso Maley Jallah, underscored the need to prioritize girls’ education and engage in dialogues to address policy issues affecting girls, such as teenage pregnancy and discriminatory practices.

Jarso Maley Jallah, Minister of Education, lauded the stakeholders for making the collaboration possible.

“The importance of the project cannot be overemphasized and there is urgency to wake up young people and the consciousness of girls who are writing policies that impact girls,” the minister said. “Girls’ education is one of my major priorities. And the outcomes for girls in their educational journey literally start at the foundational level because they fall off when they reach junior high level.”

“What’s the cause of that?” she asked. “These types of dialogue are critical and important because they are the ones that inform what we do in the various sectors.”

“One of the things that caught my attention since I took office is the issue of teenage pregnancy. You will see the girls are discriminated against and not allowed in class but the boys are, and these things are policy issues that need to be talked about because it’s discrimination,” she added.

Deputy Minister Laura Golakeh also highlighted the policy dialogue platform as a forum for open and honest conversations to address pressing issues faced by women and girls. She expressed optimism about future policy dialogues and encouraged collaborative efforts to make a positive impact on women and girls in Liberia.

The launch, she added, marks the beginning of a critical conversation, and the gathering of stakeholders signifies their shared commitment, both from the government and partners, to address some of the present issues that women and girls face and to find sustainable solutions to the issues.

She indicated that the platform is a forum where everyone can share ideas, have an open and honest conversation, and think about strategies for women’s issues.

By: Christiana Mabande

Despite modest progress compared to many sub-Saharan nations, access to education remains a significant barrier in Liberia.

The sector has many difficulties including low learning outcomes, overage enrolment, inadequate infrastructure, bad learning environments, and unskilled and unprepared teachers.

The situation is more severe in rural areas, where only 59% of children finish primary school. This underscores the urgent need for prompt actions to improve educational opportunities and outcomes in these places.

“The children are not learning as they should. Philips said, “That is discouraging especially the environment, you cannot have a child coming and sitting on the floor two to three times they wouldn’t want to come again,” Bah Philips.

Philips oversees Buyowoh Public School in Todee District lower   Montserrado County as its principal.  In the school, more than 300 pupils attend the ABC–6th-grade primary school, which was constructed in 2014 during the administration of former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (EJS). However, the current enrollment has decreased to 60 compared to the previous school years.

Liberia has the highest percentage out-of-school children in the world, with 56% of primary school-age children not receiving an education, according to UNICEF. 15–25% of children aged 6–14 who are not in class, and 54% of kids who finish primary school.

Many students choose not to attend the school because of its terrible status. Children are made to take their chairs from home to keep them from sitting on the unpaid floor.

“I haven’t gotten instructional material from the government or MOE since the EJS regime. Weah six years we didn’t receive supplies till now,” Bah Philips.”

It’s not just Boyouwoh Public School that has this problem. Another Margibi County elementary school with such restrictions is Lloydsville Public School. The school is the only educational facility in the township.  It provides services to more than 3,00 kids. The mat structure is an elementary school with two teachers. Students are said to be learning less than half of the curriculum each semester as a result of these different underlying issues.

The school is the only educational facility in the Lloydsville township and  provides services to more than 3,000 kids.

As a result, students are only learning less than half of the curriculum each semester while some are no longer finding the school attractive thereby engaging in farming activities.

Children are made to take their chairs from home to keep them from sitting on the unpaid floor.

Jebbeh Smith attends Lloydvill’s Public School. She explains the unfavourable atmosphere in which they are immersed. In addition to mentioning the paucity of furniture, she added that during classes, when the few chairs they have are occupied, they sit on bricks.

She went on to say that they all are placed in the one classroom that was unaffected by the strong windstorm that destroyed the roof of the school building last year.

“We have Nursery to third grade on one side while grades 4-6 on the other side which are divided by the chalkboard,” Jebbeh narrates.

A parent named Dorothy Sukpah is pleading with Margibi, the county’s leadership, to renovate the public school in Lloydvillie.

She said the condition of the school is frightening away the children as many of them have opted for farming activities than going to school.

“As I speak, we are cutting sticks to be used for the roofing of the building but no zinc, and we don’t have money to buy zinc,” Sukpah.

The people of Lloydsville Township are pleading with the county’s Legislative Caucus and other pertinent individuals to act quickly to save their children’s future.

By Zahn Mercy Gbhoe

The dreadful hands of maternal mortality are rapidly outweighing women’s safety and healthcare providers too appear troubled and believe a timely redress is intrinsic.

In some instances, some healthcare providers in Liberia have been branded “Careless” about the well-being of their patients due to the awkward experiences some have had. However, it is not the case with all of them as like thousands of them, Mr. Joseph Zondoe, Officer In Charge of the Liberia Government Hospital in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County has drowned the line and acknowledged the horrific hand work of maternal mortality and the need to proactively engage it.

Globally, women are faced with lots of challenges that lead to the lack of access to equitable, respective, and quality care particularly in reproductive health. Global report shows that every day, an estimated 810 women die from preventable pregnancy-related issues. 94℅ of these maternal deaths occur in developing regions, and 80℅ of them are preventable.

Maternal Mortality is unacceptably high. About 287,000 women died during and following pregnancy and childbirth in 2020. For over 800,000 babies each year, their day of birth is also their last day of life, and an additional 1 million newborns die within seven days of their birth.

According to him, they interviewed pregnant women concerning bleeding and if by any means it’s true, they’ll take the person’s case seriously to prevent maternal mortality and encourage all pregnant women to give birth at the hospital.

“I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact it can have on families, communities, and healthcare systems. The causes of maternal mortality are multifaceted and often rooted in systemic issues such as lack of access to quality healthcare, inadequate pre- and postnatal care, and social determinants of health such as poverty and discrimination, he narrated.

He said nurses play a crucial role in addressing maternal mortality by providing compassionate and competent care to pregnant women during all stages of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery. “They are often the first line of defense in identifying and addressing potential complications that can lead to maternal mortality,” he stated.

Additionally, nurses can advocate for policies and practices that promote maternal health and safety, as well as educate patients and families on ways to prevent maternal mortality Mr. Zondoe stated that they are raising awareness in the communities and informing pregnant women of maternal mortality.

It is important for healthcare providers, including doctors and nurses, to work collaboratively to implement evidence-based practices, improve access to healthcare services, and address the root causes of maternal mortality. By working together, we can strive to reduce maternal mortality rates and ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to have a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth experience, he concluded.

Unarguably, life has thrown ugly heavy stones at many and these bad experiences have often not been reflected on them particularly, but those they hold next to their hearts and their biggest regret has often been heightened by the fact that these complications are mostly avoidable but less effort are being applied by those with the responsibility to deliver a substantive remedy.

Undoubtedly, this is the case of Laura Holt, an affected family member to a victim who died during childbirth disclosed that in many parts of the world, particularly rural and remote regions, access to maternal healthcare is limited and Grand Bassa County is no exception.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my beloved aunt due to childbirth. It is a devastating tragedy that no family should ever have to face. My heart aches with grief and sorrow, knowing that her life was cut short far too soon. I will forever cherish the memories we shared and hold onto the love we had for each other. I am left with a void that can never be filled, and I can only hope that one day, maternal mortality will be eradicated so that others do not have to endure the same pain and loss as me,” she stressed.

Word Bank Gender Data Portal shows that Liberia’s maternal mortality is higher than its regional average. 652 women die per 100,000 live births due to pregnancy-related issues in this country.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global Maternal Mortality Rate ( MMR) is higher at approximately 216 deaths per 100,000 live births.

By: Christine B. Sajery

A cross-section of Survivors from the Massacre Kpolokpala-Bong County, this town, along with several others in rural Liberia, is still scarred from a 1994 massacre that claimed the lives of over 600 innocent people.

The locals welcomed the War and Economic Crimes Court and see it as a blessing in their lengthy search for redress for the atrocities committed against them during the war.

“The War and Economic Crimes court should not be seen as showy, but rather executed to enable perpetrators to give account of the hideous crimes they committed against humanity,” Michael Biddle.

Biddle is an investigative journalist and a resident of GbarngaCity who also survived the Massacre. In 1998, he was privileged to join other human rights organizations in Kpolokplala, Jorqulleh district, Bong County to conduct a fact-finding of the massacre in that town.

The Liberian Peace Council (LPC), a rebel organization led by Geroge Bolay, a former Grand Gedeh representative, is said to have attacked the town in September 1994, killing over 600 residents and wounding a large number of people who had sought shelter in the town, during the height of the civil war. Nearly three decades later, Liberia President Joseph N.Boakaimustered the political will to set up the court through an executive order to bring relief to many Liberians who have the curve for the court to seek justice for atrocities committed against their families.

“Psychologically, these people have been and are going through a lot, and can respond to situations differently considering what they experienced during the civil war” Biddle added.

Biddle believes justice should not be swept under the carpet, those that are involved with committing these crimes against humanity and the international law should be called to justice to be able to account for their actions. He said it is not in the range of citizens to decide as to whether a perpetrator should be investigated or set free.

Biddle further went on to say, that it is not the right of citizens or any community to give freedom or forgive people who have committed hideous crimes. Mr. Biddle said it is incumbent on national leaders to ensure that accountability is considered from the period the war started in Liberia.

Biddle is not the only local who believes that the court’s establishment promotes justice and reconciliation. During this atrocity, Korto Kerkulah, who was in her late 60s, lost every member of her family. She now endures daily agony from her regrets as she fights for justice.

“I lost my husband and four sons that day. She said in a teary mood “Now I have no one to look after me in my old age. I have to beg people to survive.” Ma Korto averred how life has not been easy since she lost her family during the massacre decrying the lack of basic social services.

Rev. John Kennedy who witnessed the entire Massacre explains to FeJAL (Sitting on the memorial grave) Rev. John Kenndyfurther elaborated on the physiological trauma he faced alongside the community as a result of the massacre over the decades.

As a survivor of the Massacre, he has managed to live with the wounds all through his life and has now concluded forgiving the perpetrators. Speaking to a team of female reporters, Mr. Kenndy said their forgiveness comes as a result of fear.

He said they see The War and Economic Crimes Court as a means of opening old wounds. The prelate wants humanitarians, the United Nations and other organizations to help the Government achieve its promise to establish the Court to bring an end to impunity.

Rev. Kennedy mentioned that ever since the massacre; the town has never been the same. They live every day with the scar of the horrible seen of that day. Most importantly, the town remains in ruin as absolutely nothing is working for the generation after one another. “A town mostly affected by war and still sees the pitiful condition of the people and no hope for development is like people living dead.”

The locals of Kpolokpala recall a time before the war when the community thrived in terms of agriculture. Neighboring counties, including those from Grand Bassa, Lofa, and Nimbaused to visit for agriculture purposes. The citizens want civil servant actors, journalists, and the International Community not to relent in pursuing justice for the victims of the civil war in Liberia especially those who were affected by the massacre.

This story was produced under the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) Women in Newsroom Leadership program. Funding was provided by USAID through Internews, as part of Year III of its Media Activity Program. The funder did not influence the contents of this story.

By: Comfort G. Giwlay

A strong educational foundation for any country is the basis of quality learning. Liberia, since the elapse of the civil war, continues to struggle with the advancement of the educational sector. The quality of the Liberian educational system has dropped below the standard at which it was operating in line with other African and Western countries.

The drastic decline in the quality of Liberian education led to Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf describing it as a complete mess. President Sirleaf further declared all public schools to be tuition-free, and at the same time mandated a free and compulsory primary education policy as part of strategies to restore quality in Liberian classrooms.

The policy provides the opportunity for parents to send their kids to school no matter the economic situation. Since the pronouncement of free and compulsory primary education by former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, parents have fought to make sure that their children are in school.

Despite this provision, there are still challenges in the rural parts of Liberia where parents find it difficult to send their children to school. Kpolokpala community in Jorquelleh District Two in Bong County is one of the rural communities faced with such a reality. With over five hundred inhabitants, the community has a single public elementary school lacking qualified teachers, access to a conducive learning environment, and parents’ ability to afford their children’s school fees. Mr. Jeremiah Yarkpawolois the principal of the Kpolokpala public school.

According to him, the facility, which became functional in 1975, was built by citizens who saw the need for their children to go to school. Mr. Yarkpawolo further stated that the operation of the school has been the responsibility of the parents with no assistance from the government. He, however, acknowledged the support of Mary’s Meals in terms of feeding and Bridge Liberia in the provision of textbooks.

Commenting on current constraints affecting the lone public elementary school in the area, the Kpolokpala School Principal maintained that the institution has three volunteer teachers with he (the Principal) being the only person with a “C” certificate. He underscored the need to have the other staff trained in the area of their discipline.

Part of the challenges highlighted by Principal Yarkpawolo is the alarming school dropout rate amongst school-going kids in the area. “From the beginning of this school year, we had a total enrollment of 183 students. But currently, this number has dropped to 60 students due to parents not being able to pay LR$1,000 as mandated by the government,” Yarkpawolo added.

He furthered that as part of efforts by parents to ensure that their kids stay in school, some of those unable to afford the LR$1000, agreed in the PTA meeting to assist teachers with their farm work by occasionally volunteering some time. Besides, several things are contributing to the impediment of the learning environment. Students and teachers at the KpolopkalaCommunity School currently lack access to safe drinking water.

The current latrine serving the school was constructed by an NGO, Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) while the desks that are on the verge of collapse due to the poor condition of the school building, were since provided by Hon. Prince K. Moye. The learning environment in Kpolopkala town is not conducive for the children who are to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Ma Kortor Kerkulah, an eminent resident of the community, stressed that the women have to sell their farm products to feed and send their kids to school, something she described as a challenging experience considering that most of them are single mothers and old widows who are unable to produce enough to feed and send their kids to school.

There are so many challenges to the learning atmosphere in Kpolopala ranging from the use of a makeshift structure as a school, limited sitting capacity for students to poor administrative functions. Besides, students graduating from Kpolokpala Public School have to migrate to Gbarnga to continue their studies with relatives. Those without relatives to accommodate them for their schooling period in Gbarnga remain in the community with no prospect of furthering their education.

In a joint call, the citizens are appealing to their lawmakers and the government at large to see reason for addressing the challenges they are facing. Meshach F. Jonson is the president of the Bong County Students’ Union; he sees the denial of these kids to have access to quality education as a violation of the right to education. He wants the requisite school authorities to address challenges faced by schools in the rural part of the county effectively as education is the constitutional right of all citizens.

The BONSU Boss also called on the Bong Legislative Caucus to address these issues using their oversight responsibility to ensure legislative intervention through the Ministry of Education to support volunteer teachers who are providing services to minimize some of the lapses in the classroom. Pastor Amos S. Konneh is the PTA chair of Bong County. He narrated that parents in the rural areas are very reluctant about sending their children to school thus making it difficult for the PTA to work with them. Pst.

Konneh maintained that there have been numerous meetings to encourage parents to send their children to school. Mr. Aaron Sackie-Fenlah is the chairman of the Bong County Civil Society Council, he stressed that most of the schools were built as a result of political promises and most of the politicians only construct these facilities to fulfill these promises not taking into consideration what it takes to run the school.

He at the same time promised to go after the educational stakeholders to make sure that these concerns are addressed as the rights of the children are being abused by the lack of quality education. Mr. Sackie-Fenlah has frowned on how school administrators address gender issues on campus, he stressed that the civil society council of Bong has advised school administrators about securing the privacy of these students by constructing toilet facilities that are secure for both boys and girls without interference of any sex with the other.

But expressing his dissatisfaction, Mr. Sackie-Fenlah mentioned that schools’ administrators have not adhered to this mandate and constructed facilities where both boys and girls used the same toilet facility with just separate rooms which he referred to as school-related gender-based violations as girls will encounter their periods on campus and having an exclusive toilet facility for them is vital.

He at the same time blamed the Ministry of Education for paying little or no attention to these schools which is why everyone is doing as they pleased. In his capacity as Bong Civil Society Boss, Mr. Sackie-Fenlah promised to always engage educational stakeholders to address the numerous challenges faced by the school system.

Mr. Folo Moses Plator, prominent son and Principal of the chief Compound Public school in Bong County outlined some reasons why the education sector is diminishing in terms of quality. In his statement, Mr. Plator said, that leaders who are to enforce the implementation of policies for the betterment of the sector have not implemented because their kids are not in these schools.

Referring to the Education Act of 2011, Mr. Plator narrated that there are provisions in the Act such as teacher training, improvement of school facilities, and increment of teachers’ salaries with priority to teachers willing to move to rural communities. He at the same time added that teachers should be paid based on their qualifications.“ Look, we are in the 21st century and we are still using chalk, everyone is being taught the same thing. By now, students should be taught based on their area of interest. Not everyone doing the same thing”, Platorpointed out.

He at the same time called on the Ministry of Education to carry out proper monitoring of schools to curtail the proliferation of schools which is undermining the quality of the system. He asserted that because of the weakness of the system, students migrate from one school to another because they don’t want to repeat a class they have failed in and because these substandard schools are after the monetary benefit, they will not investigate why the child is leaving from his or her school and give them promotion. The Chief Compound Public School Principal wants the government to pay keen attention to the education sector of the country if we must have a sustained and vibrant country.

Speaking from the office of the superintendent, Mr. J. CammueN. Dormea, the Advisor to the Bong County Superintendent, admitted that the education sector is challenged with inadequate budgetary allotment for the smooth operation of the sector. He stressed that there is a need for education stakeholders and civil society to work together for the betterment of the county school system concerning the Education Reform Act of 2011.

The Education Reform Act of 2011 provides for free and compulsory primary education for children between the ages of three to five years. This act intends to promote the government’s efforts in guaranteeing children’s rights to quality elementary education irrespective of economic status, social class, religious and political affiliations, and ethnicity.

The free and compulsory primary education policy also seeks to provide the necessary opportunities to develop the appropriate skills in a child starting from nursery to kindergarten. Not much has been done to make sure that this law is effective. Parents complain of paying extra fees in schools that are not required by the Ministry of Education on grounds that the schools are not getting budgetary allotment that entails a smooth operation.

This story was produced under the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) Women in Newsroom Leadership program. Funding was provided by USAID through Internews, as part of Year III of its Media Activity Program. The funder did not influence the contents of this story.

Sussanah Reeds/Mentorship Bong County: The story of 20 years old Exodus Dolo

Each time Exodus dreams and finds himself developing aircraft, cars, and various electronic materials, and when he wakes up and repeats what he did in his dream, using rubber bottles and other waste materials, it turns out to work in real life.

Twenty-year-old Exodus Dolo, now a tenth-grade student in Gbarnga Bong County goes around collecting waste such as old car batteries, rubber bottles, wires, old light bobs, and many disposed materials transforming them into airplanes, transmitters, cars, and projectors. After several days of work, and connecting various wires following his completion of building the object, the cars and planes he makes out of water materials do move.

“When I go to bed to sleep, I sometimes see myself fixing cars, planes, and other things, and when I wake up; I can write it down and then begin to put it into practice and I can work. I need support to be able to put my country out to the world and help my country.” 

Liberia’s youthful population accounts for over fifty percent of the country’s five million people. However, unemployment among Liberian youths remains high while an undocumented number of Liberian youths are endowed with untapped talents and the necessary support to enhance their skills to fill the huge unemployment gap and build a workforce for the crucial employment sector. 

In Gbarnga Bong County, twenty-year-old Exodus Dolo collects wastes materials from dump sites to create his own electronic devices such as Bluetooth, cars, planes, projectors, and transmitters among other things.

After assembling the collected trashed rubber, cartoons, connecting wires, and shaping them into trucks, and planes, Exodus uses an old black car battery, making the cars and plane move on the group

Now in the tenth grade, Exodus dreams of becoming a mechanical engineer. Nevertheless, life for him from his birth, his mother told him was marred by rejection, and the poverty condition of his single mother makes his dream realization far from over.

“I do not know where my dad is. I live with my mother, and my mother told me that my father denied the pregnancy when she was pregnant with me.” Exodus said as his facial appearance dropped looking down to the ground.

In many rural and semi-urban communities, Exodus is just one of the many undocumented and unsupported young Liberians with untapped talents, whose parents’ impoverished conditions cannot afford to improve nor provide the necessary opportunity to advance their extraordinary talents.

Despite the circumstances surrounding Exodus’ birth and his mother’s impoverished condition, he is not resting on his laureate.

Exodus’ talent has gained much admiration in the neighborhood. Gibson Gogo, one of Exodus’ neighbors told this paper with the right support to Exodus, he could be of great asset to Liberia in contributing to the innovation and automobile industry sector.

“His talent is amazing,” Gibson said. Adding that “sometimes we sit and say the white people are making witch, it’s not all about witchcraft. Exodus, takes cartoons, waste materials, and put wires making the connection to the power source and it starts and moves, therefore, we need to utilize these kinds of skills to develop Liberia.”

Gibson believes that if people like Exodus are spotted and provided the right opportunity, it would contribute to job creation and empowerment among the country’s already high youth unemployed. 

Liberia’s unemployment rate in 2023 declined to 2.85 percent. Nevertheless, the last two years recorded a significantly higher unemployment rate than the preceding years.

According to a 2023 global multidimensional poverty index shows that 52 percent of the population live in poverty, below two dollars, fifteen cents per day.

Employers and companies in Liberia including many businesses endure challenging economic times and struggle to recruit the right talents. Addressing the skills shortage is a part of the high unemployment.

Activists argue that if the national government and employers start identifying and nurturing untapped talents among the country’s young population, it could significantly reduce human resource capacity gaps.

“In Africa, and Liberia we have talents,” Said Awalayeh Mar, adding that, “Some people are born with these talents, and in the case of  Exodus he already has the knowledge, so all he needs is money and a greater opportunity.”

Exodus appeals to the national government and mechanical engineering companies for support to fulfill his dreams of establishing car manufacturing in Liberia. 

“I am asking for support. The materials I am presently using, I find from dump sites for now, but I need the advanced ones so that I can fix (it) planes or cars and someone enters into it and move it.” Exodus pleaded saying.

Exodus Dolo eagerly seeks assistance to realize his dream of creating Liberia’s inaugural plane or car. He relies on skills he claims are inspired by his dreams, yet the speed and source of forthcoming aid remain uncertain.

This story is produced by  FeJAL Mentorship Fellow, through the support of Internews USAID, Year 3 Media Activity Reporting  Program. I am Susanna Reeds reporting