Africa > West Africa > Liberia

Liberia

Capital: Monrovia; GDP grouth (annual %) 2016 : -1.6%

The State of the Race - It Is George Weah's to Lose

The soccer icon has shown he is better prepared in these elections than most people expected, accoding to political consultant, Robin Lee Tarpeh. Tarpeh says Weah has been able to "plan properly and raise [additional] resources for his campaign".

Presently that campaigning for the 2017 elections have finally open, there is a need for us, the pundits, to assess the race and provide our perspectives as to where things stand.

Without going any further let me clarify that these elections will produce no "dark horses"; the winners are known candidates.
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Africa’s economic growth in 2016 was driven by East Africa

While the continent’s major economies were hit by the fall in commodity prices in 2016, Africa retained its position as the second-fastest growing continent globally recording an average of 2.2% GDP increase, behind only South Asia, according to the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Much of Africa’s increase in 2016, AfDB says, was driven by East Africa where several nations recorded “strong performances.” In general, of the continent’s sub-regions, East Africa posted the highest increase rate with 5.3%, led by Ethiopia.
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Africa property offers rich pickings for the brave

Some property pundits believe there are major opportunities for investors or companies on the continent.

While most pundits will acknowledge that the saying “Africa is not for sissies” rings authentic at the same time as it comes to property investment , some commentators believe that there are major opportunities for investors on the continent.
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Key Facts: Full name: Republic of Liberia
Population: 4.1 million (UN, 2011)
Area: 99,067 sq km (38,250 sq miles)
Languages: English, 29 African languages belonging to the Mande, Kwa or Mel linguistic groups
Major religions: Christianity, Islam, indigenous beliefs
Life expectancy: 56 years (men), 59 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Main exports: Diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee
GNI per capita: US $200 (World Bank, 2010)
Internet domain: .lr
International dialling code: +231

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Country Profile

Africa's Relationship With China Is Ancient History
2017/07/02
In 2002 South Africa's Parliament unveiled a digital reproduction of a map - of China, the Middle East and Africa - that some speculated could be the initial map of the African continent. The Da Ming Hun Yi Tu - the Comprehensive Map of the Great Ming Empire - was drawn up around 1389 during the Ming Dynasty, according to historian Hyunhee Park.

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Climate change laws around the world
2017/05/14
There has been a 20-fold increase in the number of global climate change laws since 1997, according to the most comprehensive database of relevant policy and legislation.

The database, produced by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Sabin Center on Climate Change Law, includes more than 1,200 relevant policies across 164 countries, which account for 95% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

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Classroom at the rural primary school Ecole Keur Madaro near Thies, Senegal.
2016/05/28
Over the last 15 years, West African governments and the international community have been successful at expanding access to primary schooling and from presently on, a ground-breaking regional learning assessment has revealed that the quality of education has remained elusive. The majority of children surveyed were not acquiring the basic literacy and math skills that are crucial for building human capital in the region.

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Trickle of Liberian Children Returning to School Reflects Lingering Ebola Fears
2015/03/07
A couple of dozen students sat quietly inside the C.D.B. King Elementary School’s dim and dusty auditorium on their initial morning back. Despite the stuffy heat, a lot of of the children wore long sleeves and trousers that covered as much skin as possible.
A second grader wore pink knit mittens that muffled the sound of his clapping at the same time as the teachers introduced themselves. As everyone rose to sing Liberia’s national anthem, he saluted with his left hand, still sheathed in the mitten.

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Liberia’s economy has come a long way since its devastating civil war
2014/02/25

Liberia faces challenges that few other nations in sub-Saharan Africa, let alone the rest of the world, face. The west African country of 4.4 million people has only been at peace since 2003, at the same time as a civil war that had lasted for most of the previous 14 years ended.
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Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
2013/05/29
A decade next the worst fighting of its long conflict, which killed an estimated 200,000 of a pre-war people of 2.8 million and forcibly displaced a majority - as a lot of as 1.8 million people - Liberia has addressed much of the worst devastation. But enormous challenges remain.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says that her prime six-year term finished stabilization and her second is devoted to transformation, with tackling poverty as goal one. Although evolution has been slower in several key sectors than projected, she still hopes Liberia can achieve a middle-gain economy by 2030 - a message she brought to high-level discussions in Washington, DC, formerly this month and shared in her new AllAfrica interview.

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Africa: Making Things Happen at the Bank - 'Not a Talk Shop' - Akin Adesina
2017/07/02
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is focusing on five areas to achieve the African and world goals for a prosperous continent since becoming president of the African Development Bank - Africa's major public financial institution in September 2015. He was a keynote speaker at this month's Corporate Council on Africa's U.S.- Africa Business Summit in Washington D.C. and moderated a lively panel with five African government ministers. He as well received the Gene White Lifetime Succcess Award from the World Child Nutrition Foundation. This week, he was named the 2017 recipient of the World Food Prize, a prestigious honor that includes a $250,000 award. In an interview in Washington, DC, Adesina discussed the Development Bank's ambitious schedule and his vision for attracting the increase capital Africa needs. Posting questions for AllAfrica was Noluthando Crockett-Ntonga.

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Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,
2013/01/14
"It is not enough that our children are in school; we must ensure that amount children have access to quality education that provides them with literacy, numeracy, critical thinking and other competences for the 21st century."

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Outlook for 2013-14
2013/10/09
The country (Liberia) is situated in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone.
Liberia has borders with Ivory Coast for 716km, Guinea for 563km and Sierra Leone for 306km. Land in Liberia is mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast. Liberian land covers an area of km²

The climate is tropical, hot, humid with dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights. it is wet with cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers. Liberian(s) speak English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence.

OVERVIEW

The president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was re-elected in November 2011 and her ruling Unity Party (UP) won a larger share of the vote, increasing its ability to pass legislation but falling just short of a majority. The government will now focus on delivering on its socioeconomic policies through job creation and better service provision.

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