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Liberia: President Sirleaf Spells Out Development Areas, As ADF Brehm Pledges 1m.
Apr 13, 2006
by Michael Kpayili / Staff Writer

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has spelled out Liberia's potential areas in targeting it developmental purposes. The president named turning scrap metals into farming tools, brick making and bamboo products as areas to prioritize.

The head of state spoke Tuesday April 11, when she met with a high power delegation from the African Development Foundation. President Sirleaf assured the three man-delegation that her Government was trying to move track with the African Growth and opportunities Aid(AGOA), which was constituted by the United States Congress to aid African businesses.

For his part, the chairman of the ADF, Mr. Ward Brehm pledged one million dollars to assist in Liberia's development priorities and praised Dr. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for the tremedous impact made during her recent visit to the United Nations and the United States. Mr. Brehm said his organization is planning on establishing an office in Liberia within six weeks, which would ensure the Foundation's direct presence and make opportunities for job creation. Members of ADF delegation to Liberia include: Mr. Rodney J. Mcallister, president and his vice president and program officer Mr. Nate Fields while the program was graced by the chairman of the National Investment commission Mr. Richard Tolbert, Dr. Antionette Sayeh , Minister of Finance among others.

In another development, eleven students of the Cuttington University College have been suspended for two semesters in connection with an alleged tuition forgery and fraud. Another two hundred other students have also been suspended for two weeks by the University College authorities after a forgery and fraud scan that robbed the school out of over US 100,000.00 dollars. The alleged fraud was detected when authorities of CUC tried to reconcile financial records with the various local Banks that are receiving tuitions and other fees from students.

In a related development, parents of the affected students are appealing to the head of the CUC Board of Trustees Episcopal Bishop Edward Neuville to reconsider the Board's decision to suspend the students allegedly involved. The parents told journalists that their children were penalized after they had made full payment of the tuition. The cause of the alleged fraud has been blamed on higher-ups either at the various local Banks or at the institutions who are part of the syndicate said the parents.

About the Author:
Michael Kpayili is a staff writer for TheLiberianTimes.com. Kpayili has written articles which have appeared on TheLiberianTimes.com since late 2005, and his hard hitting investigative journalism has earned the respect of the Liberian press community.

Michael Kpayili may be contacted at mkpayili@theliberiantimes.com.