Benoni Urey
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Benoni Wilfred Urey (born 22 June 1957) is an
Americo-Liberian Americo-Liberian people (also known as Congo people or Congau people),Cooper, Helene, ''The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood'' (United States: Simon and Schuster, 2008), p. 6 are a Liberian ethnic group of African Am ...
businessman and politician, who was formerly the Liberian Commissioner of Maritime Affairs. In 2014 ''
The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British newspaper published weekly in printed magazine format and daily on Electronic publishing, digital platforms. It publishes stories on topics that include economics, business, geopolitics, technology and culture. M ...
'' reported that Urey was Liberia's wealthiest man."'Goldfinger' and the presidency"
''The Economist'', January 18, 2014.


Early life and career

Urey was born on 22 June 1957 at his family home in Careysburg, Montserrado County,
Liberia Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to Liberia–Sierra Leone border, its northwest, Guinea to Guinea–Liberia border, its north, Ivory Coast to Ivory Coast–Lib ...
. His father was married to three women, his mother, Emma Boyce Urey, Martha Urey and Kpannah Urey. Two of his father's wives were Kpelle and one was Americo-Liberian. His father, Daniel Urey, was an Americo-Liberian from Careysburg. Urey’s father met two of his wives in Caresyburg and one in Bong County. Two of Urey's mothers were dominantly native women who never spoke English, while the other was a school teacher. His father was subsistence farmer. This family lived in Careysburg throughout their lives.Cuttington University, "Cuttington Honors Two of her own!!"
undated.
Benoni is the eighth of eleven children. He attended kindergarten and first grade at Careysburg Public School. With the aid of a scholarship from the U.S. government through the
Voice of America Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is an international broadcasting network funded by the federal government of the United States that by law has editorial independence from the government. It is the largest and oldest of the American internation ...
relay station, Urey attended the American Cooperative School (A.C.S), a private American school in Monrovia, from first grade until his graduation from high school in 1976. While attending A.C.S, he participated in almost every varsity sport, including basketball. His love for basketball led him and some friends to form The Uhuru Kings and Queens, a social and sports club that eventually became a first division member of Liberia Basketball Federation. Uhuru Kings still is a member of the Liberian Basketball Federation and has participated in numerous national championships over the years. After high school, Urey attended
Cuttington University Cuttington University is a private university in Suacoco, Liberia. Founded in 1889 as Cuttington College by the Episcopal Church of the United States (ECUSA), it is the oldest private, coeducational, four-year, degree-granting institution in sub-S ...
, in
Bong County Bong is a county in the north-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has twelve districts. Gbarnga serves as the capital. The area of t ...
. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in General Science with emphasis in chemistry in 1980. At Cuttington University, Urey served as the President of The Mason Social and Athletic Club, and in his last year, President of the Senior class. Later in 2010, Urey was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) ''Honoris Causa'' from Cuttington University. After university, Urey moved to Monrovia and began to work for the government, at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). He worked as a Training Officer until he was awarded a scholarship to pursue a M.A. in Public Finance and Human Resource Development and a M.Sc in Planning from the
University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in ...
. He graduated from USC in 1986.Winne.com "Interview with: Mr. Benoni W. Urey"
June 21, 2001.
Upon his return to Liberia in 1986, Benoni was appointed Deputy Director General for Planning and Training of the Liberia Electricity Corporation Training Center under the Presidency of the late President Samuel K. Doe. He worked at the corporation until the war broke out. In 1990, when the Liberian Civil War broke out, Urey left Liberia and traveled to
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered to the southeast by Liberia and by Guinea to the north. Sierra Leone's land area is . It has a tropical climate and envi ...
and lived there for eight months and later moved to
Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest List of ci ...
. While there, he started to work at
African Development Bank The African Development Bank Group (AfDB, also known as BAD in French) is a multilateral development finance institution, headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast since September 2014. The AfDB is a financial provider to African governments and ...
as a consultant. In 1994, Urey returned to Bong County, Liberia and started to work as the Managing Director at Liberia Rubber Development Corporation.


Political career

Under the Interim Government of Liberia, chaired by
Wilton Sankawulo Wilton Gbakolo Sengbe Sankawulo Sr. (26 July 1937 – 21 February 2009) was a Liberian politician and author who served as the President of Liberia, leader of Liberia from 1 September 1995 until 3 September 1996, as chairman of the Council o ...
, in 1995, Urey was appointed President of Agricultural Cooperative Development Bank of Liberia. In 1996, the Council of State appointed Urey as Commissioner of Maritime Affairs. When Charles Taylor came to power after winning elections in 1997, Urey was reappointed to his position as Commissioner of Maritime. He served as Commissioner until 2003, when Taylor resigned from office. In 2000, Urey was sanctioned by the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
for his alleged role in arms procurement (starting in summer of 2002) and also for his alleged “ongoing ties with Charles Taylor”.United Nations, January 21, 2013
Urey breached an earlier UN travel ban in August 2001.Report of the Panel of Experts pursuant to Security Council resolution 1343
, page 93.
His name was added to the
US Treasury Department The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States. It is one of 15 current U.S. government departments. The department oversees the Bureau of Engraving and ...
's
Specially Designated Nationals The Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, also known as the SDN List, is a United States government sanctions/embargo measure targeting U.S.-designated terrorists, officials and beneficiaries of certain authoritarian regimes, a ...
list, prohibiting him from conducting business with US companies, citizens and residents, and blocking all US based assets.US Treasury Department, "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List"
, April 9, 2014.
US Treasury Department, "An overview of the Former Liberian Regime of Charles Taylor Sanctions Regulations -- Title 31 Part 593 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations"
, May 23, 2007.
A 2005 report from the Coalition for International Justice reported that Urey helped Taylor "siphon off" funds from a shipping firm to pay for arms and was the primary contact between Taylor and
Viktor Bout Viktor Anatolyevich Bout (; ; born 13 January 1967) is a Russian Arms industry, arms dealer and politician. A weapons manufacturer and former Soviet military translator, he used his companies to smuggle arms from Eastern Europe to Africa and the ...
.FoxNews.com, "Firm that paid Obama adviser in business with warlord-tied official"
August 11, 2012.
Liberian Observer, "Benoni Urey De-Listed From UN Ban: Pro Or Con For Liberia"
January 12, 2014.
The United Nations Panel of Experts concluded in their November 2013 report that "evidence indicates, however, that in approving the funds Urey was acting on the orders of Taylor." The Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommended in its final report that Urey be prosecuted for the commission of economic crimes during the civil war and barred from holding public office for 30 years.
, Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Consolidated Final Report, June 30, 2009.
During the TRC hearings, Urey was identified by witness James Paul as operating the Liberian Rubber Company and exporting "hundred of thousands of tons of rubber", the proceeds of which were never accounted for.
TRC Hearing transcripts, Monrovia: Day 9, January 22, 2008
Urey has denied any involvement in the violence of the Liberian and
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered to the southeast by Liberia and by Guinea to the north. Sierra Leone's land area is . It has a tropical climate and envi ...
civil conflicts, maintaining that as a civilian being appointed to head the Maritime Commission, he made no war-related decisions. An investigation by the United Nations Panel of Experts on Liberia's political situation in 2013 concluded that it “did not have information suggesting that Urey was involved in activities that would destabilize Liberia and the subregion”. The Panel also stated that “Urey’s business activities, and the profits gained from them, would appear to suggest that civil conflict in Liberia would have a significant negative financial impact on him”. In December 2013, Urey was de-listed from the United Nations Sanction Lists. In November 2015, the US Treasury Department lifted sanctions against a number of Liberians, including Urey. But a Liberian newspaper reported that Urey was subsequently denied a US entry visa in 2016, a claim which was denied by the
All Liberian Party The All Liberian Party (ALP) is a political party in Liberia. History The ALP was certified by the National Elections Commission on August 7, 2015. Benoni Urey served as the first standard bearer of the party. Urey is a businessman who previousl ...
. In 2009, Urey was elected Mayor of Careysburg City by the City Council. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf endorsed the appointment by subsequently appointing him Mayor. He served as Mayor until 2012. President Sirleaf relieved Urey of this post when it became evident that he would not support her re-election bid in 2011, instead, supporting the
Congress for Democratic Change Congress for Democratic Change (abbreviated CDC) is a Liberian political party formed by supporters of George Weah's during the 2005 presidential campaign. History During the 11 October 2005 elections, Weah placed first in the presidential pol ...
.


Business career


Lonestar Cell

Urey currently owns Lonestar Communication Corporation, Liberia's largest mobile phone service provider which is partnered with the
MTN Group MTN Group Limited (formerly M-Cell) is a South Africa, South African multinational corporation and mobile telecommunications provider. Its head office is in Johannesburg. MTN is among the List of mobile network operators, largest mobile netwo ...
, through his PLC Investments group. Lonestar is one of the largest taxpayers in Liberia. Urey has served as the Chairman of the Board since the establishment of the corporation. FrontPageAfrica, OFF UN BAN, RIGHT INTO POLITICS? WHAT'S NEXT FOR BENONI UREY, December 29, 2013.


Wulki Farms I & II

Urey established an agricultural farm and resort in Careysburg City, Wulki Farms I and Farmers Paradise Resort, developed on land owned by his father, Daniel Webster Urey IV. Benoni’s wife, Mai Urey, is the Managing Director of Wulki Farms and Farmers Paradise. The property includes commercial production of poultry and eggs, fish and fresh produce and guest accommodation."About Wulki Farms"
accessed January 30, 2014.
Urey owns the sixth largest rubber plantation, Wulki Farms II, located in Konola, Margibi County.


Love Media Incorporated

Owned solely by Urey, Love Media Incorporated was established in 2003 and comprises radio and television stations and a newspaper. These stations are based in Monrovia and Careysburg City. Shiata FM, another station owned by Urey, was established in 2005 and is based in Careysburg City. During the 2011 election campaign, Love Radio and TV stations were set on fire. Urey accused the Government of being involved in the burning of his stations because he was a financial supporter of the opposition party, Congress for Democratic Change.


U-Housing Incorporated

U-Housing is a real estate development company owned by Urey. He began developing real estate in 1994 when he returned to Liberia. U-Housing has acquired and developed a wide range of commercial and residential properties throughout the country.


2017 Presidential Elections

In December 2013, Urey declared his desire to run for the Presidency of Liberia in 2017, with initial speculation in Liberian media that he would do so with the Congress for Democratic Change party headed by former footballer
George Weah George Manneh Oppong Weah (born 1 October 1966) is a Liberian politician and former professional Association football, footballer who served as the 25th president of Liberia from 2018 to 2024. Before his election for the presidency, Weah served ...
. Urey subsequently launched the All Liberian Party in November 2015 at the
Antoinette Tubman Stadium The Antoinette Tubman Stadium (frequently abbreviated ATS Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium located in Monrovia, Liberia. It is used mostly for football matches although it has also been used for music concerts, major church events, political r ...
in Monrovia.Front Page Africa, "Liberia: Benoni Urey Eyes Transformation in New Political Manifesto"
November 5, 2015.


Personal life

Urey married Mai Bright Urey on 26 May 1986. They have four daughters: Danielle Ashlee Urey,
Telia Urey Telia Urey is a Liberian businesswoman, philanthropist, and politician. Urey is the daughter of the Liberian businessman and politician Benoni Urey. In 2019, she contested in a representative election in Liberia, where she ran on a ticket of coal ...
, Jebbeh Naomi Urey and Benita Whitney Urey. He is a Christian. He was born and raised as a
Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
and serves as the sexton at the First Presbyterian Church of Careysburg. Urey is fluent in English and his native language, Kpelle. Urey also serves as “Deputy District Grand Master” of the Grand Lodge of the Republic of Liberia, and Honorable Grand Patron of the
Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star The Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star is a Masonic appendant body affiliated with Prince Hall Freemasonry. It functions as a predominantly African-American equivalent of the mainstream Order of the Eastern Star. History The idea for the crea ...
of Liberia.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Urey, Benoni 1957 births Living people Liberian businesspeople All Liberian Party politicians Candidates for President of Liberia People from Montserrado County Cuttington University alumni Liberian Presbyterians Americo-Liberian people People of Americo-Liberian descent University of Southern California people 21st-century Liberian politicians