Sequel to a Verdict: As Dorbor, Julu Celebrate Victory, Liberia Cries Foul

05/03/08 - Bill K. Jarkloh, FPA Staff Writer

Monrovia -

It was freedom at last for the treason defendants when the presiding judge of the Criminal Court ‘A’, His Honor, Peter W. Gbeneweleh, pronounced a not-guilty verdict and final ruling which electrified the jammed parked courtroom with applauses from the a suspicious crowd of relatives and well-wishers of the accused, while state prosecutors and apprehensive legal practitioners as well as curious journalists who stormed the courtroom to know the outcome of the legal proceedings of the treason trial of two former military officers were watchful of the scenario, the frontpageafrica.com/ reports from the Temple of Justice.




But not too long following the verdict, Justice Minister Philip A. Z. Banks condemned the ruling of Judge Gweneweleh and said it demonstrates his incompetence as judge, and vowed that the Government would gather more evidence to pursue the treason case against the two acquitted individuals, Julu and Dorbor.

Family members and well wishers of Dorbor and Julu celebrate the not guilty verdict last Friday in Monrovia.
Retired General Charles Julu and former Armed Forces of Liberia Colonel Andrew Dorbor were charged with treason for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Administration, but the jury de facto and judge of the second trial, His Honor, Gweneweleh, said the prosecution “miserably failed to produce” corroborative evidence that would prove the treason charges brought against the defendants as set forth in the indictment.

“Determination of the case,” the Judge notwithstanding said, “is whether or not the prosecution has established sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that may warrant conviction of the two defendants.” He made the statement shortly after the trial judge parading the courtroom with testimonies of the seven witnesses that the State Prosecutors – Montserrado County Attorney Samuel Jacobs and Counselor Joseph Constant –produced in court.

The final hearing of the case started about 2:00 pm (1400) hours universal time (GMT) at the Temple of Justice on the Capitol Hill. Before the trial got underway, hundreds of court audience trooped to the Temple of Justice ground as early as 10:AM to inquire of the time of the final judgment, and they were told by court bailiffs that the hearing was set for 2:PM Friday, May 2, 2008.

Getting Started at the Court

All the fainting expectations were awakened at 13:10hrs or 1:10 Liberia time when a convoy of a white mini-bus sandwiched by a Correctional office motorbike at its front and a Pakistani UNMIL jeep at its back scurried into the courtyard of the Temple of Justice at which time curious journalists scrambled for shots of the accused who were destined for their freedom or doom.




A rushing crowd of audience at the entrance of the court forced court bailiffs assisted by police to demand a queue and search before admission into the courtroom, and few minutes later at 13:59 (1:59PM Liberian time) the Judge and Jury de facto walked into the courtroom, took his throne with the usual rise of court audience in respect of honor due him.

The defendants were represented Cllr. T. Dempster of the Center for the Protection of Human Rights, Cllr. Thompson Jabbah – Center for the Protection of Human Rights, Attorneys Idris Sheriff, S. C. Lopel Kanneh and Saymah Serenus Cephus.

With the judge acknowledging representation, His Honor, Cllr. Gweneweleh, went on to summarize the testimonies of prosecution witnesses, saying the indictment of September 25, 2007 during the August Term of the Circuit Court has its second hearing as a result of controversial ‘guilty’ verdict derived from the first hearing by the empanelled jury presided over by Judge Charles K. Williams of the Criminal Court “A” during trial of the November 2007 Term of the court.

Having said establishment of sufficiency of evidence by prosecution is cardinal to determination to warrant conviction, Judge and Jury de facto Gweneweleh told the audience, “We should take recourse in to the indictment which says the two defendants on diverse occasions connived, conspired and planned to overthrow the legitimate government of Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.”

Evidences that didn’t suggest treason

Judge Gweneweleh said the prosecution produced witnesses that members of the former Armed Forces of Liberia had series of meetings and that they collected from their midst L$50 each to underwrite charges for lawyers for their disbandment, but added that these meetings in the opinion of the court did not constitute any element of treason.

The trial judge and jury de facto further noted that prosecution also produced that Retired General Julu called a meeting of members of the disgruntled and disbanded Armed Forces of Liberia, which meeting was not held due to lack of quorum, but added, “This Court says the meeting by the defunct AFL did not constitute any element of treason.”



According to the judge and jury de facto, “ Due to the failure by the prosecution to disclose the nature of the meeting that was not held, it can not be held that it was intended to overthrow.”

He said in a strong worded statement in his ruling, “The prosecution failed during the trial to establish before this court what constitutes any element of treason that defendants attempted or committed’” saying, “Chapter 11.1 of the Penal Code “d' and “e” which the prosecution asked the court to take judicial notice of provides that any attempt of subversion, rebellion, insurrection and /or mutiny are some elements of treason which, of course the prosecution did not establish in their evidence before this court.”

Judge Gweneweleh narrated that prosecution alleged that Jacob Garan visited General Julu, introduced him to Col. Dorbor and Ephraim Gaye, but the judge went on to dismiss the testimony when he noted that there was no corroboration except that Jacob Garan hosted them [Dorbor and Gaye] in Ganta and gave them US$50, adding, “Prosecution did not establish whether the US$50 was intended for coup plot.”

“It is unthinkable, unbelievable and inhumanly impossible for Col. Dorbor to visit Col. Julu on February 1, 2007 and at the same time for this same Dorbor to be in Ivory Coast negotiating for arms. This creates a serious doubt in the minds of the court,” indicated the Judge who was pointing his finger at the audience – moving from side to side as his black gown flipped behind him

Judge Gweneweleh added, “The prosecution miserably failed to produce the father of Jr. Gaye [the brother of Ephraim Gaye both of whom testified in the case] to corroborate testimonies of Jr. Gaye that the accused had planned to overthrow on Inauguration Day.” Besides that, the Judge said prosecution also failed to produce before the court copies of the video recordings that

would validate claims that monitory equipment were set up when Dorbor visited Ivorian General Delaford, the alleged armed dealer to whom Julu reportedly sent co-defendant Dorbor to negotiate for arms, ammunition and 3000 pieces of military uniforms.

He ruled that the Criminal Court during the trial granted prosecution’s motion for deposition of the Ivorian General Delaford and the other general who reportedly arrested Col Dorbor in the Ivory Coast, General Papie Kasaraki. “These two prosecution witnesses were never seen from the Ivory Coast, the deposition was never produced. This failure to produce these material evidences/witnesses also created serious doubts in the minds of the court,” the Judge noted. He said the testimonies of the Ivory security personnel were to serve as material evidences to corroborate the prosecution’s allegations against the accused, but added that instead of the deposition or the witnesses, what was purported to be an “investigative report” was produced, adding that this purported investigated report stands to be credible only when a deposition is

taken, since in fact it was never cross-examined by the defense lawyers.

“Section 2.1 of the Criminal Procedure Law says where there is a reasonable doubt in a criminal trial,” the judge said, “it must operate in favor of the defendants.” Wherefore and in view of the fore going [both prosecution and defense lawyers stood to receive the final judgment but the

judge left saying he was going to urinate and pandemonium of suspicion nearly broke out in the court when he suddenly returned], it is the final judgment of the court that Retired General Charles Julu and Retired Col. Andrew Dorbor are ‘NOT GUILTY” – enthusiasms apparently from well-wishers, relatives and families overwhelmed the jammed parked courtroom momentarily rendering it uncontrollable with the judge and sheriff banging gavels to bring the court under control.

It was thereafter the judge, amidst snapping of cameras, instructed the Sheriff of the court to prepare the release of the accused “without a day going by and so ordered.” From there the celebration and jubilation took over the Temple of Justice Compound.

Final Arguments before the ruling

The arguments were the final legal confrontation between the prosecution and the defense, and two hours were allotted for each side by Judge Gbeneweleh

The State prosecutor, Montserrado County Attorney Samuel Jacobs said the prosecution has submitted sufficient and corroborated evidence before the court that should warrant the conviction of accused. Mr. Jacobs said the rule on the “sufficiency of evidence” and “corroboration” as provided for under the laws should be the guiding principle of the trial judge, saying that all of their witnesses’ testimonies pointed to the fact the defendants did plot to overthrow the government of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. According to him, the state has established a “prima faci case.” Attorney Jacobs maintained that the government has intelligence all within the sub region, noting that government’s intelligence had captured the accused when they were crafting their “diabolical” plan. “But let me tell you, you will never be able to over throw this government; our intelligence is strong all over the sub region,” he said.

Atty. Jacobs also said the Judge should take cognizant of “historical facts” of the conduct of the defendants, saying that retired General Julu and Col. Dorbor were not on trial base on their past treasonable activities.

Defense Final Arguments

Presenting its argument, the lead defense counsel, Cllr. T. Dempster Browne said the court should acquit Julu and Dorbor. Cllr. Brown said the state hasn’t proven its allegation against the accused.

The defense lawyers through Cllr. Browne pointed out that of the eight that were accused earlier and arrested only Julu and Dorbor were being prosecuted. “Your honor, no two can plan to unseat a government,” Cllr. Brown said.

The defense lawyer furthered that the testimonies of the prosecution are at variance regarding where and when Dorbor was arrested, and reminded the judge that where doubt exists in such a case it should operate in favor of the defendants.

Browne said one of prosecution’s witnesses said he was bribed US$1500 to lie on General Julu, noting that today Dorbor is being prosecuted because he equally refused to lie on General Julu. Besides, the defense said video tapes that were allegedly alluded to during hearings have never been produced in court, saying that if prosecution witnesses testified that they have video taped meetings of the plot, why didn’t they produced them in open court for public view, Cllr. Brown asked.

The lead defense who was assisted by Cllr. Morris Kaba in presentation of the defendants argument added that an investigative report from which prosecution said came from the Ivorian Government was notarized before it was prepared, questioning the possibility of how a document that was not formed would be notarized.

Background of the case

Julu and Dorbor were arrested along with others some time last years on allegation of plotting to subvert the government. At the time, it was said that Dorbor was sent to Ivory Coast to procure armed for their alleged subversive operation, but was nabbed by Ivory security forces who contacted the Liberian Government. Dorbor was flown to Liberia, investigated and prosecuted along with Julu who was reported to have been the mastermind of the plot. The first trial was nullified based on suspicion of bribery solicitation by the empanelled jury and a retrial ordered by the presiding judge at the time, Judge Charles Williams.

Autobiographical works of Panwhanpen

Curriculum Vitae

I: PERSONAL DATA

NAME : BILL K. JARKLOH

DATE OF BIRTH : 27 NOVEMBER 1964

PLACE OF BIRTH : PANWHAN TOWN, SANQUIN /SINOE COUNTY

MARITAL STATUS : DIVORCED

RELIGION : CHRISTAINITY (MORMONISN)

HOBBIES : READING, SWIMMING AND MOVIES


II: Educational Background

• CANDIDATE (GRADUATING SENIOR), BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MASS COMMUNICATION (EMPHASIS ON BROADCASTING WITH SOCIOLOGY MINOR) DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION AT UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA, CAPITOL HILL (2004 - UP-TO-DATE)

BASIC TRAINING ACTIVITIES: Reading courses in news gathering and new writing; interview techniques and reportorial responsibilities; elements of news and ethical responsibilities of a good journalist; opinions and editorial writing; photo journalism and map reading; effective public relations and public affairs reportage and responsibilities of a Public Relations and Public Affairs Officers; Mass Communication, its origin and basic communication theories; the social responsibility of journalists and developmental reportage; international relations in mass communication; basic tenet of Radio and Television Production; Media Law and Ethics; and a Thesis. These courses highlight theories and practical.


• CERTIFICATE OF MASS COMMUNICATION IN PRINT JOURNALISM (COMPRESSED REGULAR DEGREE COURSES FOR WORKING JOURNALISTS) DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA, CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – LIBERIA (1989-990)

BASIC TRAINING ACTIVITIES: Read courses in news gathering and new writing; interview techniques and reportorial responsibilities; elements of news and ethical responsibilities of a good journalist; Media Law and Ethics; opinions and editorial writing; photo journalism and map reading; effective public relations and public affairs reportage and responsibilities of a Public Relations and Public Affairs Officers; Mass Communication, its origin and basic communication theories; the social responsibility of journalists and developmental reportage amongst others. Note that thesis writing was not required under the Certificate Program of the Mass Communication Courts at the University. In stead of Thesis, one was assigned at another media for evaluation (internship) by that media house with report made to the Department of Mass Communication to qualify candidate for completion.

• HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA & CERTIFICATED/ TWE HIGH SCHOOL NEW KRUTOWN, BUSHROD ISLAND MONROVIA-LIBERIA (1984-86)

BASIC TRAINING ACTIVITIES: Read basic secondary school senior high school curriculum which include basics of Mathematics; English Grammar; English and African Literatures; Social Studies – History and Geography; Biology, Chemistry and Physics and Economics.

•JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL CERTIFICATE
SINOE HIGH SCHOOL, GREENVILLE CITY
SINOE COUNTY, LIBERIA(1981-1983)

BASIC TRAINING ACTIVITIES: Read basic junior secondary school or junior high school curriculum which include basics of Mathematics; English Grammar; English and African Literatures; Social Studies – History and Geography; Biology, Chemistry and Physics and Economics.


III: OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

•2007 (Dec 13-15) : Benefited from a three-day regional
Workshop on ICT Issues under the auspices of Panos Institute West Africa (PIWA). The workshop discussed blogging, the citizen journalism versus professional journalism: advantages and disadvantages as well as the legal problems associating with weblogging and anonymity in the use of internet in information society especially within the regional context –using Senegal the host country of the workshop as a case study amongst others. At the end of the workshop, I developed and acquired the skill of setting up weblogs and development more interest in ICT issues.

•2000 : CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION/ AGRICULTURE
REPORTING WORKSHOP -Sponsored by Liberian Institute of Journalism (LIJ). Highlights include a month-long basic agricultural reportage relating journalistic rudiments to agricultural reportage; highlighted different of species of rice and cassava, animal husbandry and different kinds of farming. What to look for and what not to look for in covering agricultural stories from the fields as well as fishery.

•FEBRUARY 07-19, 1999: CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION/A
workshop highlighting the overview of judicial process in the U. S. and Liberia organized by the united states information service in collaboration with the press union of Liberia.

•APRIL 24-MAY 24, 1999: CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT/JUDICIAL TRAINING FOR LIBERIAN JOURNALISTS -Sponsored by USAID, center for democratic empowerment (CEDE) and carter center through the press union of Liberia; extensively discussed the criminal justice system, prison conditions, rights of detainees and convicts, the limitation of the police; structure of the Liberian judiciary compared with the system of the united states; the role of the supreme court; contempt charge - whether it can be challenged or not and reporting of crimes.

•July 1-2, 1999 : CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION
Media workshop on Judicial Coverage with emphasis on Criminal Contempt; administered by carter center & press union of Liberia at the auditorium of the University of Liberia.

•APRIL 29-MAY 1, 1997: CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION/MEDIA COVERAGE OF ELECTIONS; highlighted basic electoral laws, what is required of a journalist at pooling center; pre-electoral reportage and coverage of political parties’ activities. Sponsored by UNDP and Media-2000 Inc.

•4TH FEBRUARY 1994: CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT/A two weeks
Editors’ workshop that highlighted basic news philosophies in making sound news judgment; it discussed basic logics and news editing.

•1989: CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE (USIS LIBRARY
AUDITORIUM) Ashmun Street, Monrovia ( January-March, 1989 - three month refresher course administered under the sponsorship of the united states embassy information service (USIS) in collaboration with the press union of Liberia (PUL). workshop highlighted training in basic news gathering and new writing techniques; elements of writing lead of a story and headlining; basic interview techniques and reportorial duties; elements of news and ethical responsibilities of a good journalist; media law and ethics; opinions and editorial writing; photo journalism and map reading; effective public relations and public affairs reportage and responsibilities of a public relations and public affairs officers; mass communication, its origin and basic communication theories; the social responsibility of journalists and developmental reportage amongst others.

IV: WORK EXPERIENCE

•EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR INFORMATION
EMBASSY OF GHANA
(2005- TO DATE)

DUTIES: Prepared daily news summary of local dailies for briefing for the Ambassador; served as liaison between the Embassy and the Public; collect information from external sources for use and benefits of the Embassy where ambassadorial and diplomatic interests involved; go on errands for the Embassy; write diplomatic notes, signed and dispatch them based on authorization from the Head of Chancery; write press releases for the Embassy and prepared press conferences for Ambassador; published a quarterly newsletter for the Embassy and executed any other executive or public affairs assignment designated to implement. P

.CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
NEW VISION (LIBERIA) NEWSPAPER
(2007 - Present)
DUTIES: Performs regular editorial services including editing scripts of reporters, writing columns and opinions, managing the newsroom at free hours from Ghana Embassy Work.

.CORRESPONDENT
FrontPageAfrica.com (online US based) magazine
(2007-TODATE)
Duties: do photographic and news gathering for the frontpageafrica as the Monrovia correspondent. I do this at my free time while out of job from the Ghana Embassy. Conduct interviews, developed scripts and email them sometimes with photos to the editor@frontpageafrica.com

•COPY EDITOR
THE ANALYST NEWSPAPER
www.analystliberia.com
(2004-2005)
DUTIES: Strategize in collaboration with the News editor and the subeditor to improve news contents of the paper; Coordinate and supervise activities of reporters; strategize along with editorial Assigned reporters to beats; received stories from reporters and subeditor, edited them and forwarded them to Editor for selection or placement for publication; write opinions, including features, editorials and commentaries for the paper; negotiated and arranged interviews with executives of companies, newsmakers in public and diplomatic arenas, conducted the interviews and wrote scripts including news analyses; executed any other assigned editorial duties delegated to me by my bosses.

•FEATURE WRITER (EDITOR)
THE NEWS NEWSPAPER
(2000-2004)

DUTIES: Wrote opinions, such as features, editorials and commentaries for the newspaper; received and edited features and commentaries from outside for publication; helped to edit other materials as passed onto my desk by my superiors.

•ACTING NEWS EDITOR
THE NEWS NEWSPAPER
(2001-2004)

DUTIES: Restructured correspondents’ reports from various counties; rewrote press releases issued to The NEWS for publication; edited scripts (stories) from reporters and forward them to the Editor in Chief; coordinate activities in the newsroom – i.e. ensure logistics supplies, per diems, functional beats for reporter; assigned reporters to follow-up unfinished news businesses; held meetings with reporters to discuss direction of weekly news contents of the paper and lapses in previous week to device strategy of correction. These duties were executed in addition to the duties of the feature writer.

•JUDICIAL CORRESPONDENT
THE INQUIRER NEWSPAPER
(1997-2000)

DUTIES: Covered the criminal Justice System in Liberia – the courts, the police stations, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, NSA and NBI respectively; covered and reported the famous treason trial involving some 18 Krahns and Mandingoes accused by the Charles Taylor regime of plotting to overthrow the government (1997-199); did other investigative reporting on a case by case basis. Also assigned, in addition to covering the criminal justice system, to cover and report from the National Legislature. I later made political desk editor.

•ORGANIZING PARTNER AND FOUNDING NEWS EDITOR
THE POST NEWSPAPER (DEFUNCT -1996-1997)

DUTIES: Restructured correspondents’ reports; rewrote press releases issued to The NEWS for publication; edited scripts (stories) from reporters and forward them to the Editor in Chief; coordinate activities in the newsroom – i.e. ensure logistics supplies, per diems, functional beats for reporter; assigned reporters to follow-up unfinished news businesses; held meetings with reporters to discuss direction of weekly news contents of the paper and lapses in previous week to device strategy of correction in addition to helping to write opinions such as features, editorials and commentary. Besides, I attended Board Meetings to decide welfare of management. These duties were executed. I was later made Editor prior to my resignation for another job for personal reason.

•FREELANCE JOURNALIST
(1994-1996)

ENGAGEMENTS: I always strive to be the first on scenes of breaking news so that I will the opportunity to get full story and supply news institutions. Investigate issues and situations exclusively and supply news media institutions scripts of findings of investigations; Commented on critical national issues through guest editorials, commentaries and features. Attend press conferences and supplied absentee media institutions stories from those press conferences. Did other things that could enable me practice professional journalism as a self-employed journalists.

•SENIOR REPORTER
THE EYE NEWSPAPER (DEFUNCT)
1992-1994

DUTIES: Organized reporters for meeting with News Editor or Editorial Board; collected news story scripts from reporters and did first time editing; put forward grievances of reporters to management for redress; giving some roving assignments to cover press conferences, proxied for beat reporters to cover new-making events whenever they are attending other assignments; exercised other reportorial duties assigned to me by my bosses.

•SENIOR REPORTER
TORCHLIGHT NEWSPAPER & CRESCENT MAGAZINE(defunct)
(1990-1992)

DUTIES: Organized reporters for meeting with News Editor or Editorial Board; collected news story scripts from reporters and did first time editing; put forward grievances of reporters to management for redress; giving some roving assignments to cover press conferences, proxied for beat reporters to cover new-making events whenever they are attending other assignments; exercised other reportorial duties assigned to me by my bosses. Besides, I was sent frontline to cover engagements of belligerent forces under the protection of the ECOWAS Ceasefire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG); Cover the Capture of Tubmanburg in Bomi County and Poor River Bridge in Montserrado County by forces of the United Liberation Movement of Liberia (ULIMO) under the Commend of General Prince Seo from the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) of Major Charles Ghankay Taylor. Covered the battle for Caldwell between General Prince Johnson’s Independent National Patriotic Front (INPFL) and Charles Taylor’s NPFL co-name “Octopus,” at the end of which battle ECOMOG shielded Prince Johnson away to Nigeria and the INPFL was forced to dissolve.

•SENIOR REPORTER, THE LIBERIAN POST NEWSPAPER (defunct)
(1988-1990)

DUTIES: Besides assisting to edit scripts forwarded to editors for publication, I Organized reporters for meeting with News Editor or Editorial Board; collected news story scripts from reporters and did first time editing; put forward grievances of reporters to management for redress; giving some roving assignments to cover press conferences, proxied for beat reporters to cover new-making events whenever they are attending other assignments; exercised other reportorial duties assigned to me by my bosses.




•CUB-REPORTER TO SENIOR REPORTER, THE MIRROR NEWSPAPER(defunct)
(1985-1988)

DUTIES: As cub-reporter, I started rewriting press release, covering church and school programs. When I rose to the rank of reporter, I was assigned to cover the National Legislature from where I reported Legislative sessions and other programs. Latter, I was assigned at the Court and the Liberia Electricity Cooperation (LEC) as my beats. I was therefore given the task making me responsible to cover activities at the courts, the police and the LEC. 1987, I was appointed senior reporter, responsible to coordinate reporters in the newsroom, receive scripts from them for editing by the news editor, sent on roving assignments such as breaking news events and/or press conferences where the beat reporter was not available. Ensure that the welfare of reporters was always sought by management – becoming obvious spokesman for the reporters.

V: OTHERS

2001 : Travel to the United States of America under sponsorship of State Department on the International Visitor’s Program; Did sight seeing of United States Infrastructures including cultural and historic buildings; attended training sessions conducted at intervals in Washington D. C.; New York, Florida and DeMoins in IOWA in investigative journalism and judicial reporting; explore the criminal justice systems of Liberia and the USA in a bid to know their commonalities and differences.

VI: TRAVELS
Travel to the United States, Paris, Brussels, Ivory Coast, and Senegal


____________________________________________________________________________________


The Journey of Life: My Perfect Example A Lesson(A brief Auto Biography By Bill K. Jarkloh)

A Liberian of the Kru tribe of that country, my journalism career has made me a very curious person whose curiosity has made me to know a lot of things by practical experience and skills practice and applied professionally. For instance, driving and moving earth equipment such as caterpillars, tractors and light vehicles was not something that I formally learned from people or institutions. What this should mean is to tell of the fact that education is not only in the classroom, but it is a process of know and gaining new ideas through human determination and applied skills. This was exactly how I went through life to reach to the medium height that I find myself today, as a career journalist and Information Officer of a foreign mission. However, it is a know fact that every journey through which life is acquired is not an easy one as one may see in my case.

Born unto the Union of Mr. Johnson Weah Jarkloh (a fisherman and sailor) and Madam Anna Jlopleh-Jarkloh (a farmer) on November 27, 1964, I started my academic sojourn at the Panwhan Public School and went through the doors of Sanquin Jr. High School and Sinoe High School where I completed my Junior High (Jr. Secondary) School education. The fourth of seven children – five boys and two girls now - scattered around Europe and Africa, this third boy of my illiterate parents was really born in a remote village [Panwhan Town], Sanquin Municipality which later becomes a district in the Southeast, Sinoe County to be précised. Upon the death of my dad in 1983, Bill left the Sinoe High School in Greenville City and went to Monrovia, the Capitol City of Liberia, to continue his education.

Meanwhile, He was a cameraman while going to school in Greenville, owing to the fact that he has no source of support as his poor parents were far away in the remotest part of the County – Sinoe. Greenville is the Capitol City. Consequently, Bill was working for one Jonah Tifueh, a brother of his friends Emmanuel Shine and the late William Butch, whose mother’s generosity caused him to live with the family eventually. It was at this time that Jonah asked Bill to take his camera around, promising him five Liberian dollars on every pack film used. It was a quick service camera which I carried around nightclubs, entertainment centers and school campuses to ensure that I make life possible and gain something with which I would pay my school fees and contributed to class activities. That I did - and it worked well - until 1983 when I found myself in Monrovia as a result the death of my dad.

My coming Monrovia was painful. I felt for my dear mother, whose companion was my dad. Amid adversities, my mom was busy on the farm while my dad was on the sea – all struggling to sustain the younger ones. But the death of my dad left my mom vulnerable as all of us who used to help her farm and fetch fish were all away from them, except for the last two brothers – Rudolph (now in Ghana) and Justine now in Monrovia. Besides, my dad sometimes could take to Greenville by Canoe, produces of the farming they did at home, sold them to complement efforts at schooling. So his death pierced my heart and I decided to return home to my mom to help her. By this time I have promoted to the 10th grade at the Sinoe High School.

But my mom wanted all her children educated. The genius who is the second of us the brothers and sisters, Joseph N. Jarkloh was already in Russian at the Odessa Polytechnic Institute pursuing a Masters of Science Degree in Radio and Electronic Engineering; Morris Karpeh Jarkloh, now a Methodist Cleric with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology (BTh.) was teaching a local Junior High School, Martha M. Jarkloh, the third of my parents children was in Monrovia pursuing a high school diploma (she now works with the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization) and I the next in line was now back home, joining Rudolph J. Jarkloh and Justin J. Jarkloh – all kids at the time – to be with our mom fro her help and comfort. Tina G. Jarkloh, who next to me, was already in Monrovia with our aunt, although she hadn’t started school. But our mom did not like her children to be unlettered like her and dad; she begged me to go Monrovia to her sister, Klaplah-dee to continue my school. When I was insisting to stay and help her farm, she said: “Your future is bright, I can see. You will be a blessing to us when you. Let me pour this my mother blessing: Your suffering is limited. Jobs will look for you and no enemy of yours shall succeed – for the God I serve says to me that your enemies are your footstool.” She then sipped the cup and poured the water on my back from her mouth. I then agree to take the challenge of life.

When I cam to Monrovia, Aunt Klaplah-dee said she could not afford to send me to school. “Not everyone in the family can know book. Some of your friends are at the Freeport throwing bags of rice to make life for their people,” se said in an apparent thought of making me a bread winner for Tina and I who were now under her roof along with her biological children and grand children. But I insisted on schooling. I went to the Duala Market in Monrovia –this market was within the proximity of my locality. I totted loads of marketers from cars to - selling tables for dims, nickels and at most quarters of a dollar. The aggregated collection was used towards my entrance at the D, Tweh High School in 1984, and I was able to matriculate at the school.

At D. Twe I started my journalism career as an amateur. Named News Editor for Voice of the Atlantic, the press club of the school, I served as the newscaster, representative the press club to the Student RECORDER Newspaper on which all schools of the time had representations. When General Thomas Quiwonkpa’s attempt to overthrow the Samuel Doe Government failed in 1985 when I was an eleven grad student, I was one of those called to active national journalism by the Ministry of Information. For me, that was the beginning of the blessing my mom told me of. The MIRROR Newspaper I was seconded by the Ministry trained me through workshops, local seminars and refreshers courses. I then took responsible assignments such as reporting the National Legislature, the Judiciary and other parastatals o0f government. From Cub Reporter I was elevated to reporter and then to senior reporter. From their after my completion of the D. Twe High school, I was sponsored to the Certificate course of the Mass Communication Department of the University of Liberia where I earned a Certificate in 1990.

Today, the need for education has become an indispensable factor of life. This has drawn me back to the University of Liberia for a Bachelor of Acts Degree in Mass Communication with emphasis on Broadcasting – doing my senior courses. But education is dynamic. It isn’t achieved only through classroom lessons, but through other interactions. So I worked with a number of Liberian newspapers. To name a few in recent postwar Liberia are: The INQUIRER, THE NEWS, THE ANALYST, THE NEW VISION and www.frontpageafrica.com/ online outlet that has arouse my interest in internet journalism. Interesting, while in active journalism, I am applying the Public Affairs skilled gained in school, at the Embassy of Ghana where I work as Executive Officer for Information. I was taught public affairs reporting and public relations at University of Liberia, and the opportunity at the Embassy is an avenue for practice of these skills. But I will never forget my mom, for her prophecy has come through. Everywhere I work, I was called to the job instead of seeking jobs. I am always contented with my work putting into it my best – so I always won awards at work places – either reporter of the year, best feature writer of the year and others.

Moreover, one thing that suited me in contemporary journalism is my involvement with internet journalism. This started with my online reportage with the U. S. based Liberian online agency, frontpageafrica.com/ the climax of this interest is my recent attendance of the Panos Institute West Africa initiated Regional Workshop on ICT issues. This workshop has introduced to me a new dynamism in journalism, and brought to sharp focus the participation of the ordinary citizens in shaping their destiny through the dissemination of information. The discussion at this added more to may achievements, especially having discussed the channels and ways they are used to ensure that the ordinary people participate and have a say in the governance process I for instance through the use of the cyber communication on internet and mobile phones. This has arouse my interest in the information communication technology of information societies, and they way these channels of communication help the people to participate in decision making processes that affect their well-being through person-to-person and person-to-institution contacts. I will appreciate if I should participate in more of these workshops, to explore new dynamism in area of concern so as to enhance my potentialities and my contribution to society and humanity.

UN Secretary Feneral Expresses Commitment & Support

...To Liberia's Recovery Process


UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arrives in Monrovia late Monday evening.

Monrovia -

“I was very much impressed and overwhelmed by such very warm welcome at the airport upon my arrival,” the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Radio in an exclusive following his arrival to Liberia late Monday evening.

He said he was visiting Liberia to express his strong support and the commitment of the United Nations to help the Liberian Government and people overcome its socio-economic and political challenges. “At the same time, I hope the Liberian leadership and people will continue to exert their efforts to make their country more democratic based on norms and procedures as well as make the country more prosperous.”

He said he was very pleased to visit Liberia for the first time in his capacity as UN Secretary General to see first hand the progress that Liberia has made and is making with the cooperation of the United Nations. “As this is a country that has experienced a long conflict and now is in the process of peace-building, I just wanted to bring a strong message to the Government and people of the United Nations commitment to support their noble efforts to bring peace, stability and development,” the UN Secretary General emphasized; noting emphatically his admiration for Africa and Liberia’s first female President, Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her leadership in bringing peace and stability to this country.

On whether the UN still considers Liberia as a country in crisis, Mr. Ban replied in the negative saying that this country is in a peace consolidation phase which is gradually drawing to a close and would soon lead to normalcy.

He said Liberia, during the last four and half years, has made tremendous progress in the area of peace building. Mr. Ban said that he was very proud over the achievements that Liberia has undergone since the end of the civil war in the area of peace-building, strengthening their relationship with their neighbors including ECOWAS, as well as enhancing good governance.

As regards the planned drawdown and what the Mission would look like, Mr. Ban said he has made recommendations to the UN Security Council for the first phase of the drawdown plan which has set September 2008 for the phased drawdown of military and police; this has been approved. He noted that based on core benchmarks, the Security Council will then consider the second phase of the drawdown. “I have also discussed with President Johnson Sirleaf about the eventual three phase drawdown plan which lapse in 2010,” he stated; adding, “This drawdown will be done in a gradual step-by-step manner so that it wouldn’t create any negative impact to this peace consolidation process.”

Mr. Ban noted furthered that even during the drawdown phases, UN specialized agencies, funds and programmes will continue to operate geared towards the country’s development efforts.

The UN Secretary General said even though the country is lagging behind in the area of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he was quite confident that over the next five years, through the peace consolidation process, Liberia will be known for enhancing its democratic process, economic development, and transparency.

When questioned about calls from Liberians on the UN travel ban and assets freeze lists to have their names removed or be heard since the reasons for them being placed on these lists no longer exists with former Liberian President Charles Taylor now facing trial at The Hague, the UN Secretary General made it emphatically clear that decisions to remove names from the travel ban list rests solely with the UN Security Council Committee concerning Liberia.

“I’m aware that the Committee is engaged in reviewing the list in light of the developments in Liberia. A mechanism exists by which individuals on the list can appeal to the Security Council Sanctions Committee,” he said; adding, “I understand two persons have already been removed from the travel ban list through this mechanism.”

On the larger sub-Saharan Africa scene with regards recent problems over the rise in the international prices of food and oil and how is it affecting the work of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and how does it plan to deal with the issue as most relief food is purchased from the same major suppliers who are deciding to reduce their exports?

Mr. Ban emphasized that this is a very serious issue which he has already taken up in close coordination with the international community, noting that it does have a very negative impact especially WFP and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

He said these two UN agencies are experiencing shortage of their resources. “WFP has made an urgent appeal to donors to fill this missing gap. However, in a longer term, this will also negatively affect our efforts to realize the MDGs. I’m afraid that it will affect the poorest of the poor in the world mostly in African countries,” Mr. Ban disclosed.

He has decided to urgently create a task force where eminent experts and policy authorities including international financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund will participate. “On the basis of their recommendations, I’m going to take actions to address this very serious issue so that the international community will be able to help those people overcome these acute shortages,” Mr. Ban said; noting that unfortunately, they have seen many protests and riots in many parts of the world including Haiti, Egypt, Burkina Faso. As such the international community needs to importantly address this issue with the greatest sense of urgency.

On the question of whether an African solution through the African Union (AU) for resolving African conflicts a real option and whether it is in fact working? Mr. Ban said the UN continues to maintain a very strong and close partnership with the AU in addressing many serious political and regional conflicts, development, human rights issues. “This is a very important pillar of our work in addressing many important African challenges.”

He citied an example where there was a very important debate at the Security Council that saw the involvement of many African and European Heads of States and Government discussed how to strengthen partnership between the UN and AU and how to strengthen the UN overall capacity and cooperative relationship with regional organizations. He said it was an encouraging one and is committed to work closely with AU in addressing African challenges.

He noted that main challenges facing the UN at this time as the pillar that comprises Peace & Security and Development and Human Rights.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ban shortly addresses the joint session of the 52nd National Legislature at the Capitol Building.

Following his address to the joint session of the 52nd National Legislature, Mr. Ban will visit the Foreign Ministry for an official photograph and will sign the Guest Book.

He will also meet with members of the Cabinet and raps up his visit with a press conference on the ground floor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Following lunch hosted by the Vice President Boakai at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ban and delegation departs to the James Spriggs Payne Airport where he will take a helicopter ride to the Roberts International Airport where he will continue his trip to Burkina Faso, the third stop on his West African tour

Travel Ban, Assets Lift Rests on Security Council

...UN Chief Hears Liberians' Plea

FPA Staff Report

Monrovia -

“The decisions on this travel ban and assets freeze are made by the United Nations Security Council. There are relevant UN Security Council Committees dealing with the Liberian case. Therefore, I would suggest that if there are any such requests, the parties or people concern will have to bring this/his case to the focal point of the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee on Liberia.

The www.frontpageafrica.com/ website quoted Mr. Ban as saying, “As I understand there have been two such cases where two individuals have been de-listed upon their appeal and this should be a subject of discussion at the UN Security Council Committee members.”

UNited Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addressing the Liberian Legislature yestarday at the Capitol Building

This was the response of the UN Secretary-General when one of three questions was posed to him during a brief interaction with the journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

Earlier before addressing the 52nd National Legislature, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bomi County’s Representative Alex Tyler drew Mr. Ban’s attention to the travel ban against officials of the former Liberian President Charles Taylor, his associates as well as other Liberians, including some members of the National Legislature.

“A few years ago these individuals were placed on this ban. Whatever the reasons were for the ban have not been fully comprehended by Liberians; even more so when they have not been charged in a court of law. Therefore, for most Liberians, the motive for the ban seems obsolete and parochial.

“Our legislature is besieged by appeals from many quarters including our constituencies to have this matter addressed especially under the momentary efforts that are being undertaken to bring healing, reconciliation, pacification, not only here in Liberia where there is a new leadership; but also in neighboring Sierra Leone where it is progressing under its own democratic leadership,” Speaker Tyler said.

He furthered that as Mr. Taylor is presently in The Hague undergoing due process, the Speaker prayed that the travel ban be reviewed and those placed on it be given due process to afford them the opportunity to defend themselves.

Addressing a press conference on his visit to Liberia, the UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban said any decision on the travel restriction of those placed on the travel ban is made by the Security Council.

He said concerns raised by the National Legislature on the matter will be the subject of discussion at the next UN Security Council meeting on Liberia.

On other issues Mr. Ban reiterated that his visit was to see first-hand the achievements of the Liberian Government in post-conflict recovery.

On the issue of being disappointed as the Liberian president is out of the country while he’s visiting, Mr. Ban said he was aware of her planned absence because of the unavoidable scheduling problems.

He said he planned the visit to the sub-region at a very short notice specifically to attend the opening of 12th UNTAC meeting in Accra, Ghana. He said he then decided to visit the countries in the sub-region that have UN peacekeeping operations to acquaint himself of developments there.

Mr. Ban said President Johnson Sirleaf did call him up to inform him about the scheduling problems and he told her to go ahead with her planned travel schedule. “As such, he noted that that should not have been any concern or regret as the Vice President and other members of Government were quite capable of discussing the issues with him during the visit though very brief.

He told journalists during the short stakeout at the Foreign Ministry that he also wanted to place emphasis on UN peace-building efforts and on highlighting progress on the Millennium Development Goals. “The recent worldwide protests over soaring global food prices has demonstrated the need for Liberia to meet the MDGs in order to be safe from the weaknesses of globalization while taking advantage from its myriad opportunities for growth and prosperity,” Mr. Ban said.

He said his visit afforded him the opportunity to see and realize that Liberia still faces significant development and reconstruction challenges. He, however, noted that the Government is working hard, in partnership with the international community, to surmount these challenges. As a result the international community has been generous and urged them to continue to support Liberia’s recovery

“The opportunities that are being presented to Liberia to improve the country should not be squandered,” he urged; adding that it will be equally important for Liberians themselves to show their resolve to pursue peace, end corruption and improve the economy.

Mr. Ban reassured Liberians that as UNMIL has begun the first phase of its drawdown process, it will proceed in a cautious and gradual manner. “We will not put at risk the gains that have been made so far. A gradual withdrawal should allow the Government sufficient time to assume full responsibility for national security.”

Touching on the issue of rape among the Liberian population and sexual exploitation and abuse, he reiterated the UN policy on zero tolerance for these practices. During a meeting he had with UN staff, he said such conduct goes against everything that the UN stands for. “It undermines the trust that is essential for our success in this country and elsewhere.”

He expressed his regrets that rape continues to be the most commonly committed crime in Liberia. He used the occasion to call on traditional and community leaders and elders to take the lead in combating the scourge of rape and other acts of sexual and gender based violence. “Violence against women should not be tolerated,” he stressed.

He ensured that UNMIL, together with the UN funds, programmes and agencies in Liberia, will continue to support the Government, under one umbrella, in meeting its humanitarian and development objectives.

It's A Shame That Government reneging On Security

…It's Also An Evidence of Police Abandonment of Security The Masses

By: Bill Jarkloh

Introduction
Hundreds of residents of Monrovia have been holding meetings intended to formulate vigilante forces to counter and help curb the increasing waves of armed robbery in the city, but these vigilante forces or community watch teams may have their own disadvantages that could operate against innocent people.
However, the meetings come in the wake of persistent attacks of armed robbers on peaceful citizens at varying intervals around the city which continues to claim lives and victimized people under the cover of darkness.
Background
One of such meeting was held at the G. W. Gibson High School Campus where residents of Perry Street and Capital Bypass converged and expressed their misgiving of the persistent armed robbery and criminal attacks on peaceful people under the cover of darkness.
The residents cited the instance of a recent visit of the armed criminals when the marauding armed robbers raged hell on the Perry Street where they victimized an entire family, chopped the wife and wasted acid water on the son and his father. The armed robbers also reportedly surfaced in New Krutown where two of them were fortunately killed in the Point-4 area while two others who were escaping to seek protection under at the Magisterial Court were chased by residents who almost mob the court and nearly set it ablaze to release the robbers to them.
On the other hand, residents at the G. W. Gibson meeting cited other incidents of armed robbery instances that were reported from the Paynesville, Old-Road Sinkor and other areas. They noted that the worst feature of this menace is the staying away of police patrols from coming to the rescue of the citizens from the robbers armed with machetes, rifles and/or pistols when emergency numbers publicized – for instance 911 and 355 – are rung. The robbers are sometimes armed with knives, sticks and deadly acid water of late.
“Apparently, the government is unable to curb the armed robbery as evident by the reluctance of the police and UNMIL security forces to rescue victims ,” a resident remarked, saying, “the residents must move now to take their own security into their hands.” This is evident that the government is reneging on its security responsibility, if people should take their own security into their hands.
The meeting was attended by Montserrado County Representative Rufus Neufville who donated L$10,000 to the community residents for the upkeep of the Community Watch team – otherwise referred to a vigilante group.

People's Security & Its Odds
At present, watch teams are all over Monrovia. They are the new anti-armed robbery forces that have basically took over police duties. Instead of police patrols to scare away the criminals at night, watch teams are all over the place, creating difficulties for ordinary travelers at night, who might have genuine reason for staying up at night. The dangerous thing about the watch-team vigilante groupings in neighborhoods or community is that it restricts free movement across communities or one may innocently be considered criminal and innocent harmed by members of vigilante groups or community teams an enemy of his may be serving on which he may not belong.
Besides, the vigilante kind of security that springs up as a result of police reneging on security responsibilities may victimize one e whose detractors may see him at night going about their normal routine or perhaps making his way home.
Conclusion
Finally, the idea of Community Watch Teams or formation of vigilante groups across the city is though helpful in curbing the increasing wave of armed robber, it is equally hazardous. Its hazard is constraints posed to neighborhoods or insolvent community members, the possibility of such security platform being used by some enemies against their possible targets, the restriction of free movement and the mob action against perceived, accused or suspected criminals that may deny them access to the criminal justice system that should establish their innocence and guilt and therefore set them free or proscribe penalties for equitable to the gravity of their offence(s).

MEDIATIC Project & Competitive Experiences of Bloggers in West Africa

MEDIATIC PROJECT - CALL FOR ARTICLES n°2
In the framework of the Haayo-Mediatic project, you are kindly invited, for the second time, to produce stories on the following theme: “Blogging in West Africa”. We have the pleasure to invite you to send one or two (not already published) article(s) on this theme. Each of the articles should contain between 5, 000 and 6, 000 letters.
The article can deal with blogging by the media, civil society or political actors, the state of the art, the issues and perspectives. It can be based on interviews, on the analysis of the issues around this subject or on both. The articles will be appreciated by our teams and the articles thus selected will be published on the project’s web site.
At least ten (10) articles will be selected according to their pertinence, the quality of their contents and writing. Each selected article will be granted FCFA 100,000 (about USD 200, the reference currency being F CFA) . The Haayo Mediatic project is sponsored by OSIWA. Other calls will be launched during this project’s first year of implementation.
Modalities
Selected articles are also designed to be collected in a paperback publication (that will be made available to relevant national and international stakeholders on a non commercial basis). The authors accord PIWA the right to publish the productions received. PIWA reserves the right not to award grants if the articles submitted are not up to an appreciable quality. The decisions made by PIWA are supreme and beyond all possible dispute. All participants in this contest implicitly accept the rules presented in this note.
Francophone West African journalists as well as English speaking ones are eligible – The articles can therefore be sent either in English or in French.
Dates/Submission
Your articles must be sent by electronic mail to atounkara@panos-ao.org AND to contact@cipaco.org no later than 30th March, 2007. Please join your resume and a note attesting that the article has not been published before.
CONTACT
Send your articles to/For more information: Panos Institute West Africa
atounkara@panos-ao.org
contact@cipaco.org
Tel: +221 849 16 66


http://www.haayo.org


Blogging in West Africa
Now, evidence abound in the West African Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that shows it has taken a new dimension with the evolution and advent of blogging.
The web call blogs
Now, evidence abound in the West African Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) that shows it has taken a new dimension with the evolution and advent of blogging.
This was boosted with the acceptance of ICT and strengthened by the massive roll-out of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), which has pushed up the need to improve on value added services such as the Internet in the country, as the subscriber-base rises.
Blogging, an ICT industry term is daily increasing reception among various upcoming professionals since the web advancement caught up with the region and in Nigeria and Ghana precisely, Hence, the need to examine blogging by parts of media, civil society and political class in West African region at large.
Primarily defined as act of keeping a dairy on the web, weblog often referred to as a web-log, weblog or blogging, while those involve in carrying out this mission of pushing more information through the ‘community journalism’ module are known as bloggers. Also, blogs have since grown into what some experts categorized as push-button-publishing, a concept that has simplified its module of ownership and publication, which actually takes the push of a button to accomplish.
So, to own a weblog, a potential blogger requires, a computer system connected to the Internet and then make a choice out of the several Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) templates. This entails that programmers; those who coded the initial formula for weblog made it free for users to have access to the programmable codes and change same at will, without hiccups of proprietary.
This is unlike proprietary software being propagated by the likes of Microsoft and Adobe, were simply paid for; align to FOSS activists believe that this attitude contributed to the widening of digital divide between several stratums in the society.
Creating blog …
Creating a weblog lasts for less than 10 minutes, depending on the skilfulness of the potential-blogger and the speed of the Internet access.
And by simply logging on to any weblog-inspired sites such as UserLand.com, ScriptNews.com, TypePad.com and Blogspot.com to name a few, borders on issues of paramount importance to an individual and content generation could be consistently raised among peers both locally and globally, and given the ‘global village’ epistle, with the choice of making it FOSS affair or private like in http://donaldduke.blogspot.com.
Typically, weblogs are initiated on non-profit basis though dated with logs as in diary, which could be updated daily, weekly or as frequently as possible. It’s also published in reverse chronological order, making it handy on a specific subject with sub-themes. Name it and there is a blog for it and could contain recorded ideas too.
13 blind men?
Ten online media websites examined during the course of our investigations across seven acclaimed national dailies in Nigeria and three magazines, additional to three Ghanaian media websites. Outcome showed that only one media website reflected a weblog column in its home page, which is an intension to tap into the future and benefits of weblog through engaging its readership and obviously getting some newsworthy materials as feedbacks. Incidentally this column found in Daily Champion, was not active.
Others consist of Nigerian Tribune, The Guardian Nigeria, The Nation, The Sun, The Punch, Vanguard, The News, NewsWatch and Weekly Trust.
Ordinarily weblogs afford people with the ICT-power to write, share experiences by posting them online, and through a new global diary format called ’a web in our log’ by some industry analysts. As for neighbouring Ghana, our investigations showed that media organisations in this domain are not distanced to ICT but the effect of blogs and consequent usage or propagation is totally absent. Study also revealed that an Accra-based Ghanaian Chronicle, styled to be independent and published thrice weekly, does not have weblog column, while Daily Guide also based in Accra was very difficult to access and Ghanaian Times was not different either.
Nigerian Journalists blog!
Today, blogs in Nigeria and Ghana are visible on Technorati.com and search would unveil estimated 289 blogs on Nigeria sorted out by relevance, cutting across arts, blogs, books, business, design, entertainment, humour, life, media, movies, ICT, music, news, personal, politics, sports and travel among others.
As-such there is a Nigeria Official blog-DTI with 60 blogs linked to it that definitely have to do with Nigeria, even as specific events could be sourced through and positive focus on Nigeria. Equally, Nigerian ICT-media has explicitly risen to the occasion with weblogs dedicated to the sector, including ITRealms Online and ICTNewsNow to name a few.
Research also informed that very few journalists actually have access to the Internet, while very little have access at homes; even at offices journalists find it difficult to blog because supervisors could be watching which would amount to abandonment of duty.
Mr. President’s blog!
Significantly one of the April Presidential election in Nigeria, Prof. Pat Utomi, has been severally described as the new face of Nigerian technocrats, mostly as he has a blog called UtomiNotes.com; where he share his thoughts and actions towards the new Nigerian dream hinged on WordPress, an FOSS component. Apart from being the first Nigerian presidential aspirant to take such a step, it goes to show Prof. Utomi’s passion for ICT-entrenched growth and need to engender this factor in every facets of the economy. In so doing, its seen by stakeholders as an alternative to reaching out to millions of Nigerians in diaspora and specifically the youth, whose embrace to blogging is on the rise. Experience is said to be the best teacher, especially if shared the Utomi way and expected to boost ICT penetration in the country.
Blogger’s Voice
Speaking on impression of blogs in the region, Nigerian blogger cum ICT Consultant, Mr. Gbenga Sesan, said that there are a number of blogs and bloggers in West Africa both in terms of citizenship and location, but this does not compare favourably with the high volume of blog traffic that exist in some other regions of the global.
“In West Africa, Nigeria commands a high number of blogs and bloggers. Blogs on Nigeria and by Nigerians cut across various discussion topics are a number of platforms through which some of these blogs can be seen as a group; the Nigerian Weblog Ring, Nigerian Blog Aggregator and Global Voices,” he said, calling for more collaboration among bloggers, especially with the much-needed task of popularising blogs as a tool of local content propagation, citizen participation and tool for development.
He said that blogs impact positively in Nigeria, especially this election year, even as he blogs about the elections among other topics and judging from the comments, people are reading politics a lot these days. _ He noted that some candidates are going online, citing Prof. Utomi’s Notes, where he shares stories from the field, campaign pictures and response to questions raised thereof.
On way forward, he advocated for collaboration among bloggers to sharpen each other, learn more and jointly to take advantage of blogging, declaring, “Let’s drop guns and pick up keyboards. It’s time for West Africans to blog!” Even as improved Internet access would naturally facilitate increased number of bloggers from this region.
Conclusion
Efforts by media practitioners could boost blogging in the region, if various stakeholders group like the JACITAD set up in 2003 with 75% membership drawn from the media, key into available options in partnership with local, international and service provision entities to make this dream a realty through workshops narrowed down to webloging, Internet-ready Personal Computer ownership structure for media practitioners and annual prizes for best-of-blogs in West Africa.
Author : Remmy Nweke

Blogging: The Ghanaian journalist’s experience
There are few bloggers in Ghana, including some few committed journalists who are proud to flaunt their newly acquired competence in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) publicly.
They comprise Emmanuel Bensah, a web journalist with the Third World Network, Isaac Tetteh of Radio Gold, Enoch Darfoh Frimpong of the Daily Graphic and Rayborn Bulley of Radio Ghana.
Mr Bensah is currently the acting President of the Ghana Association of Journalists in ICT who seizes every opportunity to promote blogging.
His blogs, which goes by the addresses: http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com and http://ekbensah.blogspot.com.
The first blog seeks to chronicle his trials and tribulations (perspectives, queries, worries) of living and working in Ghana, with a very critical and irreverent analysis of life in Ghana whilst the other looks at general issues affecting his life, but which cuts across EVERY INDIVIDUAL, with some slant that goes for someone who’s come back to his home country after years, and is both reflecting and reminiscing about the trajectory of his life. He also has links and side issues on WSIS and ICTs in general and has five other blogs to his credit.
Mr Bensah is among just about 10 journalists in Ghana with knowledge about blogging.
Some veteran journalists have attributed the lack of interest in blogging to the fact that bloggers in certain countries have been arrested sanctioned or sacked from their work places for publishing articles deemed to be unethical or harmful for public consumption.
Such incidents abound in some Arab countries but experts dismiss it as too remote to take away the benefits and uses of blogging.
An executive of penplusbytes, an international institute for ICT journalism based in Ghana, Kwame Ahiabenu II, has blamed the lacklustre attitude of Ghanaian journalists to blogging on what he called practical challenges such as the lack of skills, access to ICT facilities and time constraint.
All the 10 regional capitals and some districts have Internet facilities, yet a number of journalists lack the basic skills to take advantage of the service.
A recent survey undertaken by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) with membership of more than 500 revealed that less than 20 per cent of Ghanaian journalists have ICT skills. The skill to blog is therefore a remote venture.
Steadfastly penplusbytes has carried on with its objective to create awareness on ICTs among journalists and had on several occasions published articles on blogs to educate journalists in Ghana and in the West African sub-region.
Despite these efforts, journalists in Ghana still find it difficult to create and manage blogs. Interestingly most of the journalists who go through training on blogging end up forgetting the processes involved. One of such training sessions was organised in April 2006 for 20 journalists.
Only three of the journalists who benefited from the training session including Mr Bensah are active bloggers.
The French Embassy in collaboration with the GJA also organised a workshop for journalists in 2005 but the tutorials for blogging was in French which made it difficult for the participants in the Anglophone West African country to grab the techniques.
In the face of the numerous challenges inhibiting the Ghanaian journalist from blogging, Ahiabenu believes there can be a way out.
He is of the view that journalists can seek dialogue with their workplace management to facilitate access for blogging.
Ahiabenu says the local Ghana Association of Journalists on ICT (GHAJICT) can collaborate with the umbrella association-the GJA, to design guidelines that would protect journalists from interferences that could occur when they seek to give their opinion through blogs.
Journalists in most countries already have certain privileges that protect them in the performance of their duties and to Ahiabenu Ghana could emulate the example. There is a test case of a group by the name ‘media bloggers’ who are seeking to be granted the same privileges and protection as journalists in the United States.
Ahiabenu says the benefits of blogging far outweigh the reasons for non-blogging.
According to a web definition, a blog in simple terms is a web site, where one can write on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, to enable visitors to read what is new for their comment through e-mail.
Since blogging was launched almost five years ago, it has helped to reshape the web, impacted on politics, shaken up journalism, and enabled millions of people to have a voice and connect with others.
Blogs are easy to create and have been identified as the convenient way to publish anything at all for a wider public through the Internet. In most cases, search engines give results on topics from blogs.
Journalists in Nigeria are reported to be far ahead in blogging within the West African sub-region even though Ghana is more advanced in the establishment of ICT infrastructure with teledensity penetration of both rural and urban communities reaching 25 per cent at the end of 2006.
Ghanaian journalists have been slow in catching up with the use of blogs and according to Ahiabenu the percentage of bloggers is at about one to two per cent.
Penplusbytes is inculcating the culture of blogging among Ghanaian journalists and to Ahiabenu journalists can allow the process to thrive by asking their editors to edit their stories in order to ensure that there are no excesses that would bring about sanctions from higher authorities.
In addition there should be guidelines on blogging and the engagement of managers to facilitate the acquisition of ICT facilities.
Author : Emily Nyarko

Weed Out the Rotten Ones From the Liberia national Police

An Open Letter to Director of Police


Dear Madam;

Although delayed due to my busy schedule, I write to formally complain Officer Boakai Kamara of the Liberia National Police for trampling on my liberty by using the name of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia. Officer Kamara on Sunday morning, 24th February, 2008 used the name of the Minister of justice to deny Me, Bill K. Jarkloh – a Monrovia correspondent of the FrontPageAfrica.Com online and Executive Officer for Information at the Embassy of Ghana in Monrovia to denied me my right to treatment and relief when he told the Executive Director of ZODWOCA, an Immigration Personnel who happens to be my sister - Martha Jarkloh - and the Driver of the Ambassador of Ghana ( Mohammed Bashiru) that he could not release to these people because the Justice Minister ordered me detained on account of simple assault for a matter that involved the Sorbor George family and me.

Madam IGP, it all happened when one Sorbor George and his brother jumped at me at my backyard, which faced the George family’s apartment, for no genuine reason after another journalist, David Targbeh who was sitting with George and his brothers behind my kitchen called to greet me. My happiness to see this journalist and to welcome him in the area by a reciprocal greeting was fouled when George’s brother inflicted on my foreface two fists while Gorge simultaneously pulled my feet from under me, giving me the cause to apply self-defense to free my self from them. Following intervention of some neighbors who pleaded with me to let go the temptation which I yielded to, Sorbor George and family played smart and invited the police on Me, Bill Jarkloh, under the pretext I, Bill, had fought George’s wife.

Madam, I did intelligently cooperate with the police as a law abiding person. I was driven first to Camp Johnson Road Police Station in an UNMIL vehicle; thereafter, I was brought here at the Central Police Headquarters in a Star Radio vehicle, where Officer Boakai and a group of police officers at the charge-of-quarter received statements from me, George, George’s wife and his brother, one Natt. I was then charged with “Simple Assault”. It was thereafter Officer Boakai, as Commander at the Charged of Quarters refused every effort by the Executive Director of ZODWOCA Inc, the Senior Chauffeur of the Embassy of Ghana, Sergeant Jefferson Blaye who is the Deputy Commander of the Internal Security Section of the LNP to have me released to them for treatment until the following day when I would be brought back for processing. Besides, Boakai did not listen to my plea for police to take me to a clinic of hospital so that I will be treated at my own expense, but rather told officers who took over from him that It was the Justice Minister that had incarcerated me so they should not allow anyone free me for that night.

It may interest you, Madam IGP, to know that officer Boakai’s claim for refusing these attempts to allow me go home to treat my self was, “Unit 10 has interest in the case; Justice Minister ordered the man detained and says no one should release him.” What puzzles me, Madam IGP, is the claim that the Justice Minister who has nothing to do with the matter between the Gorge family and me to have reportedly ordered me detained in Sorbor George’s behalf, thereby denying me treatment for wounds inflicted on me when the family jumped at me in a fight. I sincerely hold the view that the Justice Ministry’s involvement in such petty case as “simple assault” and my denial of treatment throughout that day was against the spirit of rule of law, justice and fairplay this government has stood for, and has violated the legal maxim that the accused is innocent unless proven guilty.

Beside, I was accordingly humiliated, denied treatment of the wounds he sustained from the fight and thrown into the police holding cell when I should have gone home and prepare my legal defense for court action. This act is on the part of Boakai using the police uniform and the name of the Minister of Justice to violation the basic rights I should enjoy in such a situation until if I was proven guilty contravenes it shows malice and prejudices against me, especially in exercise of my right to medical treatment and liberty. I must say that I could not have absconded the country for simple assault if attempts to have me gone home for treatment were not made fruitless by officer Boakai. This is because my engagements in the society are far more than “simple assault case.” For instanced, I am contributing-editor of the NEW VISION, Monrovia Correspondent of the FrontPageAfrica.com online media institution on part time basis, and the Executive Officer for Information at the Embassy of Ghana on a full time basis. I believe I deserve treatment more that officer Boakai gave me at the expense of the Justice Minister’s name, and I am therefore calling for an immediate investigation of this matter in a bid to to establish the following:

1. Was Boakai telling the truth that Justice Minister said no one should stand for me to go home until the court processing the next day?

2. Was it right for the Justice Minister to order me detained simply because one Sorbor George’s family and I had misunderstanding?

3. What was the Justice Minister’s interest in ordering a family head detained because that family head and another family are in a conflict that does not concern him as Minister of Justice – especially when such was not treasonable to warrant his personal intervention?

4. If it wasn’t true that the Justice Minister ordered me detained and instructed Officer Boakai to ensure that I was not freed or treated, what had given him the courage to have used the name of such high profile official to detain a Liberia without regard to his basic rights.

5. And finally is Boakai the type of police officer the Liberia National Police wants to keep – one who uses the name of higher-ups to violate the rights of people?

Madam IGP, I rely on your timely action of this complaint as I belief the conduct of Officer Boakai, if publicized will be one of those that could detract the good intentions of the Liberian national Police in particular and the government in general.

With sentiments of our highest esteem.


Yours truly,


Bill K. Jarkloh
A Liberian Journalist