Liberia: Democracy in Focus

New Narratives/Front Page Africa
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Democracy in Focus is a new program from New Narratives and Front Page Africa looking at Liberia's governance and democracy. It's a collaboration with reporters from some of Liberia's leading newsrooms in the New Narratives program. Funding is provided by the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. The funders had no say in the program's content. 

  1. DEC 9

    COP30 Tensions, Liberia’s Stress Crisis, the Latest War Crimes Court Tensions, and the Fight for Clear Vision

    Coming up in this episode.  At this year’s cop climate change summit, global powers move forward with green energy expansion despite U.S. withdrawal. But vulnerable nations like our own rage as adaptation funds fall short. A survey finds Liberians are among the world’s biggest worriers as experts link rising stress to chronic diseases, especially in women. Justice advocates lobby to kill a surprise bill that would stop war crimes from being tried in Liberia’s war crimes court. And cost and lack of awareness leave millions in Liberia with poor vision, limiting children’s education and putting lives at risk Welcome to our program looking at the state of Liberian democracy. It’s a collaboration with Frontpage Africa with reporting from journalists in the New Narratives program.  Support the show Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

    29 min

  2. NOV 20 · BONUS

    SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Fatou Bensouda, former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court

    As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court and national anti-corruption court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with Liberian and international experts and stakeholders about how the courts will work. In this interview, Anthony Stephens speaks with Fatou Bom Bensouda, a former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, on the sidelines of the African Investigative Journalism Conference in Johannesburg this month. A Gambian and the only woman to date to hold the role, Bensouda led the Court’s prosecutorial team from 2012-2021.  Some notable prosecutions took place under her watch included former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo; Kenya’s former president Uhuru Kenyatta; and William Ruto, now Kenya’s sitting president, who at the time had just been elected deputy to Kenyatta. Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was also prosecuted under her watch.  Support the show Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

    24 min

  3. NOV 16

    Abortion Pills Are Saving Lives; Women Struggle With Postpartum Depression; Farmers Without Market Prices Shortchanged by Middlemen and War Crimes Court Advocates Criticize Decision to Prioritize Anti-Corruption Court

    COMING UP IN THIS EPISODE.  AS LIBERIA’S DRUG CRISIS WORSENS, UNLICENSED REHABILITATION CENTERS ARE PROFITING FROM FAMILIES’ MISERY. EXPERTS WANT THEM CLOSED.  AS A BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE ABORTION IS AGAIN DEBATED IN THE SENATE, MEDICINES THAT END PREGNANCIES ARE QUIETLY SAVING LIVES. WITH NO INFORMATION ABOUT MARKET PRICES, RURAL FARMERS SAY MIDDLEMEN ARE EXPLOITING THEM AND PAYING TOO LITTLE FOR THEIR PRODUCE. AND LEADING LIBERIAN JUSTICE ADVOCATES CONDEMN THE DECISION TO PRIORITIZE THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COURT OVER THE WAR CRIMES COURT. WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM LOOKING AT THE STATE OF LIBERIAN DEMOCRACY.  Support the show Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

    29 min

  4. NOV 3 · BONUS

    SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Lofa County Senator Joseph Jallah on Why He Has Introduced a War Crimes Court Bill to the Legislature Now

    In this interview, I speak with Lofa County Senator Joseph Jallah — who along with Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence - has introduced two bills to establish Liberia’s war and economic crimes courts.   The bills have surprised the court’s proponents because they have seemingly come out of nowhere and they have some controversial elements that contradict a bill submitted to the legislature in 2021 by Liberian Bar Association. That bill had buy-in from most of the court’s advocates and was seen to be a starting point for new bills that must go to the legislature soon to trigger the start of the court. Critics say Jallah’s bills could slow down or undermine years of advocacy to establish the courts.  Support the show Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

    23 min

  5. SEP 22

    Protestors Demand Action on Drug Crisis, AID Cuts Hit Entire Economy, Seawall For West Point Set to Begin, and Expert Warns War Crimes Court Security Must Start Now

    Coming up in this episode.   The country’s drug crisis takes center stage. Citizens march on the capitol demanding action as vigilantes destroy drug dens. The massive cuts to us aid being felt across economy. From street sellers to medium sized businesses the loss of business is hurting.  After years of delay a seawall meant to save thousands of homes from being swallowed by the sea in West Point is finally set to begin.  As the Office of War and Economic Crimes Court begins an outreach campaign one expert says security needs to be taken seriously.  Welcome to our program looking at the state of Liberian democracy. It’s a collaboration with FrontPage Africa with reporting from journalists in the new narratives program.  Support the show Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

    29 min

  6. AUG 14 · BONUS

    SPECIAL: Cecil Griffiths, security expert, on the challenges of protecting witnesses and national security during a war crimes court

    Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens. As plans for Liberia’s war and economic crimes court get underway, we’re running a series of special interviews with Liberian and international experts and stakeholders about how the courts could work. In this interview, I speak with Cecil Griffiths, head of the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association and a key adviser on national security issues. Griffiths trains Liberian security personnel and has a good understanding of the country’s security sector.  Support the show Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

    24 min

  7. JUL 25

    Government Suspends Chaotic ID Rollout and Liberia's Forests Face New Threats as Charcoal Production Soars and EcoGuards Resume Hunting

    Coming up in this episode.  Following a chaotic rollout process, the government indefinitely suspends its compulsory national ID registration program.   As climate change causes more and more farms to fail, rural dwellers turn to charcoal production to survive in a renewed threat to Liberia’s forests  At the same time, the end of international funding for ecoguards, has forced many back to the forests to hunt renewing threats to biodiversity.  Support the show Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

    29 min

  8. JUL 23 · BONUS

    SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Marvin Tarawally, founder of LiberiaGivingMonth, the new online nonprofit donation platform

    Welcome to this special edition of Democracy in Focus, a collaboration between New Narratives and Front Page Africa. I’m Anthony Stephens. It’s not news to anyone that Liberia has been one of the countries most impacted by US President Donald Trump’s cuts to aid. Hundreds of Liberian NGO jobs have been lost. But a new online donation platform called Liberia giving Month hopes to bring donor money directly to Liberian organizations through a few clicks on a phone.  I speak with the founder of the platform Marvin Tarawally about his ambitious goals of raising millions of dollars a year for local nonprofits.  Support the show Funding for this podcast comes from the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. See more of our collaborations with media in West Africa at www.newnarratives.org

    28 min
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About

Democracy in Focus is a new program from New Narratives and Front Page Africa looking at Liberia's governance and democracy. It's a collaboration with reporters from some of Liberia's leading newsrooms in the New Narratives program. Funding is provided by the Swedish embassy in Liberia and the American Jewish World Service. The funders had no say in the program's content. 

Information

  • Creator
    New Narratives/Front Page Africa
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Liberia: Democracy in Focus
  • Show Website
    Liberia: Democracy in Focus