Author: Kerkula Blama

Liberia has signed a landmark US$124 million health cooperation MOU with the U.S. State Department, becoming the first country in West Africa to enter this category of agreement. The five-year partnership focuses on stronger disease surveillance, outbreak response, laboratory systems, digital health, and frontline health workers nationwide.

President Joseph Boakai has received the 2025 Samuel Kanyon Doe Peace and Progress Humanitarian Award from Teddy Kimba Doe, son of the late President Samuel K. Doe. Boakai described the honor as a meaningful step toward national healing, praising the launch of the Samuel Kanyon Doe Legacy Foundation and its upcoming scholarship program for Grand Gedeh County University.

Liberia’s House of Representatives has voted to add 14 new seats to the Legislature, expanding the body from 73 to 87 members ahead of the 2029 elections. The move follows the 2022 Census and aims to realign constituencies based on population changes. The plan now goes to the Senate for concurrence.

A grieving father in Kakata says his daughter and grandchild died at C.H. Rennie Hospital after nurses and doctors allegedly refused to operate because he only had L$10,000 of the L$21,000 surgery fee. “They said they won’t touch her until the money is complete,” he told lawmakers during a constituency consultation. He is calling for urgent government action.

The Liberia Music Awards has released the full list of winners for its 2025 edition, with King Dennis securing Artist of the Year. DJ Sama, Will Flash, and Samuelyn Wilson also recorded major wins across key categories.

Stanton Witherspoon has admitted that he and other commentators intentionally pushed false narratives linking former President George Weah to several high-profile deaths, including auditors and the three missing boys, purely for political gain. He says routine deaths were framed as targeted killings to damage Weah’s image, and even forensic experts like Benedict Kullie were unfairly attacked despite only reporting medical findings.

Sweden has announced it will end bilateral aid to Liberia and close its Monrovia embassy by 2026, citing major cuts in its global development budget. The move affects several African countries but is not linked to any policy issues in Liberia. Sweden says multilateral support will continue and plans to shift the partnership toward trade and business cooperation.

Liberian musician Teddyride is facing public outrage after splashing and stepping on Liberian banknotes in a toilet. The act could be illegal under the National Bank Act, carrying fines up to L$500,000 or two years in prison.

NOCAL says its technical teams have completed initial field assessments on the reported hydrocarbon seep in Grand Bassa County and are now conducting laboratory analyses to determine the fluid’s origin and composition. The company is urging the public and media to avoid speculation as scientific evaluations continue, promising a full evidence-based update once results are finalized.

Ministry of Justice confirms autopsy findings on the death of former Boulevard Palace Manager Anwar Futloo, classifying it as “unnatural” and consistent with suicide.