Putu Development - Grand Gedah Association in the Americas register Disappointment

GGAA Disappointed With Gedeh Mountain Concession Agreement

(Letter published in the Liberian Journal)

(Sep 13, 2010)
[photo: Jeremiah Garwo Sokan, Sr. Secretary General, GGAA]

The National Administration of Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas learned this past week that the Putu Mountain (Gedeh Mountain) concession agreement presented to the Liberian legislature few days ago was passed by the august body and is now enacted into law.

We the citizens of Grand Gedeh County are disappointed in the manner in which the Government of Liberia handled the entire process:

1) Government of Liberia failed to include a representation from the Grand Gedeh County on the committee responsible for the drafting the Putu Ore Mining Concession Agreement and inform the people at least about key provisions.

2) The draft concession agreement was kept as a secret from the people of Grand Gedeh County by the Committee-in-Charge and the Government of Liberia. Drafting a document that would affect the lives and livelihood of people residing in the areas of mining should not have been kept as secret until it passes into law. This practice is unfair and overlooked the opinions of the citizens of the region.

3) Government of Liberia blended the deliberations on this critical agreement with the complex debate of the 2010 Annual National Budget of the Republic of Liberia. As a result, the 150-page, plus document (the Putu Mountain Concession Agreement) was rushed down the throats of the people of Grand Gedeh County without them knowing the content.

In this 21st century, a participatory leadership style is the bedrock to good governance. It is incomprehensible that such aspect of civil service will elude our leadership on critical issues that will affect the lives and livelihood of people who live in the areas of the mining activities.



Signed:

Jeremiah Garwo Sokan, Sr.
National Secretary General, GGAA

Tel: 484- 948-9484, e-mail: jsokansr7@msn.com

Editor's Note: GGAA press release.


© Copyright 2008 The Liberian Journal - All Rights reserved.

Chinafrica (28) Watching for PRC Influence in Africa

ET China Defends Activities in Africa
Wall Street Journal
MAY 12, 2010, 9:43 A.M.


By J.R. WU
BEIJING - China Vice Commerce Minister Fu Ziying pushed back against Western criticism over China's activities in Africa, describing Chinese investment as "more market-driven" and defending Beijing's stance on recent flare-ups.

Economic activity in Africa has surged in recent years with Beijing becoming an important investor, creditor and donor for many African nations. But with the rise of China's financial influence on the continent, concerns persist that Beijing is preying on the continent's resources to feed the Chinese economy, contributing little significant improvement to African livelihoods.

Amid such criticism and as China asserts that its presence in Africa is increasingly being shaped by nongovernment actors, Beijing has put in place some mechanisms to deal with issues surrounding its investment and trade on the resource-rich continent...

Read on... link:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704247904575240021751743004.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

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EARS for the Masses - Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LEITI)

Local NGO on LEITI’s Awareness in Nimba
Publication Date: March 22, 2010 - 8:56pm
Updated: March 22, 2010 - 8:56pm
News Section:Community News

Mr. Aaron L. Dayee: ‘It is EARS for the Masses’ own way of helping to achieve LEITI’s effort’
By: Joaquin Sendolo
A local non-governmental organization, Effective Activities for the Restoration of Stability for the Masses (EARS for the Masses), has begun a massive awareness campaign in towns and villages in Nimba on the activities of the Liberia Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (LEITI).

LEITI is a non-governmental organization that is responsible for informing citizens of Liberia how much government receives from revenue generation and what they should benefit from their resources.

According to EARS for the Masses Executive Director Aaron Dayee, the decision to sensitize the locals on the activities of LEITI was due to the fact that LEITI’s presence had not fully been felt among people in the county.

Mr. Dayee, who walked into the offices of the Daily Observer last week, said it was important for citizens to be sensitized so that they would not feel that their resources were being freely taken away by some people without any benefit accruing to them (the citizens).

He said as an advocacy group that has been actively engaged in speaking for the voiceless, they as members see a need to create awareness so that people will know their rights and entitlement in terms of the available resources they have.

Mr. Dayee said because of the significance of LEITI to the Liberian populace, his outfit took the initiative to carry on the sensitization program.

He disclosed that they were carrying on the sensitization through sporting activities, quizzes among students and cultural exhibitions.

Mr. Dayee said his organization was in close partnership with the Foundation for International Dignity (FIND) and the Women in Peace-building Network (WIPNET) in the pre-awareness campaign for LEITI.

He added that after the awareness campaign, LEITI itself will be moving to the county to begin workshops with the locals in towns and villages to fully acquaint them with its activities as being done in other areas.

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