The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014

The Cooperation agreement signed between Liberia and Ghana, the life sentence of 13 Liberians found guilty of mercenarism, the news of the deadly Ebola virus in Liberia, the Governance Commission’s 2013 Annual Report pointing out poor performances in the health and education sectors and theLiberia Electricity US$13 million dollars 10 Megawatt Heavy Fuel Oil power project areamong stories dominating the selected dailies for today Wednesday, June 18, 2014, edition of our regular summary.

DOMINANT STORIES

Liberia, Ghana Sign Mutually Rewarding Agreement

The Republics of Liberia and Ghana have signed an Agreement that will lead to the establishment of a Permanent Joint Commission between the two West African nations. Liberia’s Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, signed on behalf of their respective countries as the latter ends a two-day official visit to Liberia. Through the Agreement, signed at the Foreign Ministry on Capitol Hill,  the two governments will seek to expand cooperation in mutually rewarding areas including Economic, Trade and Investment, Energy and Mineral resources, Agriculture and Livestock Development, Education Health, Tourism and Culture, Science and Technology, Security and Military Cooperation, as well as Foreign Affairs, Legal and Judicial matters aimed at solidifying and strengthening the existing friendly relations between both countries. After the signing ceremony, Minister Ngafuan expressed happiness because of the huge Ghanaian and Liberian communities cut across both countries. “We have not put together a legal framework for our cooperation which appears a little strange, but we know that we were cooperating [to the extent] that our predecessors didn’t even think that they needed to sign some documents. Now that we have done it, we have created the legal basis,INSIGHT reports.

Related Captions:  Liberia, Ghana Sign General Cooperation Agreement(FOCUS), Liberia, Ghana Sign Cooperation Agreement(Heritage), Liberia, Ghana Sign Pact(New Democrat), Liberia, Ghana Sign Agreement(In Profile Daily), Liberia, Ghana Sign Mutual Agreement(The New Dawn)

Forever In Jail! – As Court Gave Final Verdict On Alleged Mercenaries

The Criminal Court “D” at the Temple of Justice has pronounced life imprisonment for thirteen Liberians who were arrested over armed attacks at the Liberia-Ivory border in 2011. They were indicted by the Government of Liberia through the grand jury of Montserrado County in 2011 and 2012. Seven UN peacekeepers were reported killed in the attacks, The New Republic reveals.

Related Captions:  Judge’s Verdict: All 13 Mercenaries Get Life Imprisonment(Heritage), Jailed For Life-As Judge Affirms Jurors’ Verdict (New Democrat), Sentences To Life 13 Liberians Found Guilty Mercenarism Get Life In Prison(Daily Observer), 13 Liberians Sentenced To Life Imprisonment (National Chronicle), Life Imprisonment 13 Sentenced For Mercenarism (Frontpage Africa)

Ebola Creates Fear In New Kru Town

Montserrado County Electoral District # 16 Representative Edward Forh has disclosed that the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has created fear in New Kru Town on the Bushrod Island in Monrovia. According to him, some of the residents of the densely populated township are living in fear due to report that the illness has entered New Kru Town. He mentioned that most of the residents of the area have refused to go for treatment at the Redemption Hospital and other medical centers on the Bushrod Island, FOCUS reports.

Related Captions: Ebola Deaths Turn Redemption Hospital Into Ghost Town(Frontpage Africa)

Ebola Resurfaces In Foya District

The Health Officer of Lofa County, Dr. Aaron Kollie, has reported a fresh outbreak of the Ebola virus in Foya District, Lofa County. During an Ebola update meeting at the weekend in Voinjama City, Dr. Kollie disclosed that three new cases of the Ebola virus were recorded in Foya District over the past few days, INSIGHT reports.

Related Captions: Ebola Risk At Redemption – Nurse Killed(The NEWS), EbolaKills 9 In Lofa(The New Dawn)

UNICEF Urges Unity In Ebola Fight

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said Liberians can stop the spread of Ebola as victory over the killer disease relies on the collective efforts of communities. Speaking to the Liberia News Agency via mobile on Monday in Monrovia, the Officer in Charge of UNICEF’s Information and Communications Unit, Adolphus Scott, said Liberians should accept that Ebola is in the country, and come together as a unifying force in battling it, INSIGHT reports.

GC Releases First Annual Governance Report

The first Annual Governance Report released by the Governance Commission has named Nimba County as the first county poised to achieve universal primary education in Liberia with an over average score of 2.67 across the major governance components. Montserrado County with an average score of 2.22 would be the last. The Report said the average scores underscore the need to upscale interventions across the country in the educational sector. The assessment which was carried out in the Health and Education sectors, covered five counties, including Nimba, Bomi, Rivercess, Grand Bassa and Montserrado. Speaking Tuesday, June 17, 2014 in Sinkor at the launch of the first Annual Governance Report for 2013, GC Program Manager, Matthew Kollie, said good governance is the management of the nation’s affairs and its resources in a manner that is open and accountable, equitable, transparent and responsive to the needs of the people under the rule of Law, New Dawn reports.

Related Captions: GC Identifies Poor Performances-At MOE, MOH&SW(The New Republic), Health, Education Sectors Lack Transparency & Accountability (Insight), Governance Commission Launches Annual Reports On MOE, MOHSW(Daily Observer), GC Launches Annual Report(Heritage)

LEC, World Bank Break Ground For 10 Megawatt HFO Power Project

Official ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) power plant has taken place in Monrovia. The project will cost US$13 million dollars and is under the supervisions of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony held at the LEC’s Bushrod Island power plant, World Bank Country Manager Ingune Dobraja said energy is the foundation and engine for many income generating activities that could bring changes in Liberia. Manager Dobraja added that the World Bank group has invested about US$225,000.000 in the Liberian energy during the period under-review, Daily Observer reports.

Related Caption: Power Boost LEC, World Bank Break Ground For Thermal Generation Plant(FrontPage Africa)

AFL Rotates Troops In Mali-As Min. Samukai Hosts Bangladeshi Soldiers

If all goes well in line with plans by authorities at the Ministry of National Defense by collaborating with the United Nations Missions in Liberia (UNMIL), the platoon-size unit of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) stationed in Mali will be rotated by another batch of soldiers in a week’s time. Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai, Jr. made the disclosure Tuesday, June 17, at the Ministry’s Barclay Training Center (BTC) offices on UN Drive when visiting Bangladeshi six-man senior military personnel headed by Lieutenant/General Md. Mainul Islam paid a courtesy call on him, Daily Observer reports.

Related Captions: Minister Samuai Appreciates Bangladeshi Support(In Profile Daily), Offering AFL Support Bangladeshi General Extends Open Invitation To Liberian Army (Frontpage Africa)

U.S. Deputy Secretary Of State Visits Liberia

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Heather Higginbottom arrives in Liberia June 19 for a two-day official visit as part of a three-nation African tour. The visit began with stops in Senegal and Kenya. Deputy Secretary Higginbottom will hold talks with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and other Liberian officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will also meet with the Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General, Karin Landgren, and representatives of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), New Dawn writes.

Related Captions: U.S. Deputy Secretary Of State Visits Liberia(The News)

House Passes Anti-Drug Act

The House of Representatives has unanimously concurred with the Liberian Senate to pass the Anti-drug Act of Liberia. In a report Tuesday to plenary, the Committee on National Security and Judiciary said considering the negative implication of drug trafficking, it is important that Liberia takes appropriate actions for safety. Convincing his colleagues as to why they must see reason to concur with the Senate, the Committee Chairman, Jefferson Karmo said Liberia is under serious international criticism during to its weakness to tackle drug trafficking, The NEWS writes.

Related Caption: Legislature Votes Drug-Related Offenses Non-Bailable(Daily Observer)

GoL Presents Vehicles To LNP

The Government of Liberia (GoL) on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 presented 13 vehicles to the Liberia National Police (LNP). The vehicles are to be used for the smooth operations of the LNP as it gears up to take over the security of the state as the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) draws down gradually. While presenting keys of the vehicles to the LNP, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf cautioned that proper maintenance mechanisms are put in place to ensure that they last longer, Heritage writes.

Related Caption: 13 Vehicles for Police (The New Dawn)

IBEX Empowers Bankers

The USAID Liberia’s Investing for Business Expansion Program (IBEX) Tuesday began a series of training workshops on “Environment Compliance System” for local staff from selected partner bank staff and local environment consultants According to Madam Watchen Harris Bruce the weeklong training was organized with support from USAID to IBEX, New Democrat reports.

Related Caption: IBEX Trains Bankers, Consultants on ‘Environmental Compliance System’(Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES

AU Opposes Death Penalty

The African Union (AU), formerly the Organization of African Unity (OAU), has instructed member-States of the union to put an end to death penalty. In a communication addressed to the Rescue Alternatives Liberia dated May 9, 2014, the Secretary to the commission Dr. Mary Maboreke said the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Benin is expected host a continental conference on Death Penalty from July 2-4, 2014 in Cotonou, Benin, The New Republic reports.

Traditional Marriage Certificate Introduced

For the first time in history, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has introduced the Traditional Marriage and Divorce Certificates that will be locally and internationally acceptable for Liberians to use. Aruna George of Bong County and Kemah Kiazulu of Grand Cape Mount are said to be the first traditionally married couple under the new scheme, disclosed Losene F. Bility, Assistant Minister for Legal Affairs at the Ministry of International Affairs, New Democrat reports.

Stakeholders Brainstorm On Land Governance

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with partners has begun a three-day seminar on the governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests in the context of national food security. Speaking Tuesday at the opening program, FAO Representative in Liberia Mr. Jean-Alexandre Seaglia said land tenure and governance is key to food security, The NEWS reports.

Lawmakers Urged To Funds WASH In Schools

Concerned Liberian students have appealed to members of the 53rd National Legislature to allot funds in the 2014/2015 National Budget to improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in schools.  The appeal was made by students Theresa S. Kanneh of the G. W. Gibson High School and Michael B. Dennis of the St. Theresa’s Convent Catholic High School on Monday, June 16, 2014 at the Capitol Building, FOCUS reports.  

Rural Radio Stations To Get Funding 

The House of Representatives has unanimously endorsed a report from its joint committee on Information, Culture, & Tourism, Ways, Means & Finance along with Judiciary to allocate funds in the National Budget yearly for rural community radio stations. The joint committee report submitted by its Chairman Representative Richmond Anderson said the passage of the Rural Community Radio Station Sustainability Act of 2012 is timely and will help propagate government’s policies and programs to rural dwellers, FOCUS reports