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Liberia

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BASIC FACTS

CAPITAL: Monrovia

LANGUAGE: English is the official language, but only 15% of the population speak it. Most Liberians speak one or more of about 30 African languages.

AREA SIZE: 96,320 sq. km

Source: NI World Guide

USEFUL INFO

TIME ZONE: GMT+0
Source: Greenwhich Mean Time website

CLIMATE: Hot, tropical climate with little variation in temperature. May to October is the rainy season. Dry Harmattan wind blows from December to March. From November to March, the weather is generally dry and sunny.

CURRENCY: Liberian dollar

TELEPHONE DIALLING CODE: (+) 231

Source: NI World Guide

Background and history
Liberia is known for its mineral rich land. Prior to its civil war both local and multi-national companies were operating in the country and had demonstrated capabilities in respect of diamond and gold mining and in the production of coffee, cocoa and timber. After a long period of volatility, Liberia, with the aid of the World Bank and the United Nations, is now enjoying a period of greater political and economic stability.

The countries of West Africa, particularly Liberia, have been deprived of capital investment for many years and economic activity has continued at a snail's pace.

The Directors believe there are local entrepreneurs and teams of skilled people on the ground that require access to capital. The management is aware of many potential candidates and teams, and intends to recruit those persons that allow the Company to pursue its aims effectively and stimulate economic activity.

These teams are expected to bring appropriate skills and local knowledge into the organisation at lower wage costs than that associated with developed countries.

Certain of the Directors worked in the territory for many years during the period of unrest and have built up relationships with the Government, the local communities and tribal chieftains thus reinforcing the Company's position within the country. The Directors believe that these long standing relationships offer the Company and stakeholders a significant commercial opportunity based upon the improved regional stability and the concessions already awarded to the Company.

The legal system of Liberia is based on American law and there is an independent judiciary and an appeal structure culminating in the Court of Appeal. Legal contracts are fully respected and guaranteed under Liberian law. There is no record of any contract, freely entered into between the Government and a third party not being upheld by successive Governments. The doctrine of precedent is a fundamental part of case law history in Liberia. Only in the event of a third party reneging on a contract does the Government have the power to rescind that contract - as in most legal systems. In that regard, Liberian Law is comparable with America and UK Law.

Liberia

Overview

Located on the West coast of Africa, Liberia is bounded on the north by Guinea; on the west by Sierra Leone; on the east by the Cote D'Ivoire and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. It covers the landmass of 43,000 square miles. Six key rivers - Mano, Cavalla, St. John, St Paul, Lofa and Cestos - flow through Liberia and empty into the Atlantic Ocean. The country is now divided into 14 political sub-divisions for administrative purposes.

Climate
The climate in Liberia is tropical, but there are two seasons - the dry and the rainy seasons. The dry seasons run from November to April, while the rainy season covers May through October. The two seasons run six months each year, but during December to January, Liberia experiences the Harmattan wind, which blows from the Sahara Desert in northern Africa. During the dry, the temperature may rise as high as 33 degrees Celsius falling to 25 degrees Celsius during the rainy season. Some areas such as the capital, Monrovia, average about 140 inches, or above, of rain a year, while areas in the interior may average about 70 inches.

Liberia's total territory is 111,370 sq km with 96,320 sq km is land and 15,050 sq km representing its water boundaries.

Terrain
The terrain consists of a narrow flat coastal plain rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast.

Population
Liberia's population as of July 2000 was estimated at 3,164,156. The majority of the population was categorised into two groups 43 per cent. aged between 0-14 years and 54 per cent. 15-64 years. It is estimated that the population is growing at 1.94 per cent. per annum.

Ethnic populations
The current populations by Ethnic groups are indigenous African tribes as to 95 per cent. (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians as to 2.5 per cent. (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves) and Congo People as to 2.5 per cent. (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves).