BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA

NEWS SUMMARY, THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2019

Today’s news summary highlights stories about President George Manneh Weah’s pending address at the 7th Edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD); news of the Government of Liberia and the World Food Program Signing US$50.2M Strategic Plan For School Feeding Program as well as the training of 7 Female Law Enforcement Officers by the Foreign Service Institute following a two week training in basic Diplomacy, Protocol and Etiquette among others.

DOMINANT STORIES

Weah Addresses TICAD7 Today Poised To Market PAPD

President George Manneh Weah is expected to address the 7th Edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) today, August 28, 2019 – an address that will focus on strengthening bilateral ties with the second largest Asian economic power. The President’s speech before an audience over 4,500 participants including private sector investors of Asia, will explore the need for cooperation, coordination and collaboration with Japan placing emphasis on road connectivity, education and health in Liberia and Africa at large. The Chief Executive will on the same Wednesday hold a tête-à-tête with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at which time he is expected to acknowledge and commend the tremendous development assistance the Government and people of Japan continue to give to Liberia, the News newspaper write.         

Related Caption Pres. Weah Takes TICAD7 Rostrum (Daily Observer) GOL, WEF Sign 2019-2023 Country Strategic Plan( Heritage newspaper)                                                                                

WEP, GOL Sign US$50.2M Strategic Plan For School Feeding Program 

The Government of Liberia (GoL) through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the World Food Program (WFP) on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 signed the agency’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for the period 2019 to 2023. WFP Liberia’s Country Director, Dr. Bienvenu Djossa, termed the signing of the four-year plan, which has a budget of US$50.2 million, as an important milestone in the history of WFP’s engagement with Liberia. Dr. Djossa expressed delight that the CSP is keenly aligned with the government’s Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD), and its aim is to address Liberia’s challenge of poverty alleviation, the News newspaper relates.  

Related Caption: GoL, WFP Sign 2019/2023 Strategic Plan (Daily Observer)  

7 Female Law Enforcement Officers Graduate From Diplomacy Training

According to the Inquirer release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, August 27 graduated Seven Female Law Enforcement Officers who successfully completed a two-week intensive training in Basic Diplomacy, Protocol and Etiquette Training. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the seven female law enforcement officers were recruited from the Liberia National Police. The training was conducted by the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with support from the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).  Speaking at the program marking the closing ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister for Administration, Mawaine Diggs, admonished the graduates to utilize the knowledge acquired to effectively discharge their duties at assigned areas. “It is pride to see young women ceasing unto opportunity to improve their capacity and we hope you apply what you have learned”, Deputy Minister Diggs stressed. Also speaking at the closing program, the Acting Director General of the FSI, Mr. Remongar Dennis thanked the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) for the support and added that there is a need for more capacity building of employees and officials serving in the various Government Ministries and agencies.

Related Caption: 7female Police officers Graduate from protocol training ( New Dawn newspaper) Following intensive Protocol Training: Foreign Ministry Graduates 7Female Police officers( Heritage newspaper)

‘’Remember the Road that Leads You Home”  Amb. Conteh urges Liberians in Nigeria                                       

Liberia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria has cautioned his compatriots to “remember the road that leads [them] home.” He drew his admonition from a strong patriotic message from the popular song by South African singer Master KG and vocal powerhouse Zanda Zakuza. Ambassador Al-Hassan Conteh advised Liberians in the Nigerian Diaspora to remain law-abiding, and not to forget to contribute positively to Liberia, their homeland. So I am drawing my message from that popular song of the South African singer Master KG and vocal powerhouse Zanda Zakuza that says, ‘Remember the road that leads you home,’” he said, the Daily Observer newspaper relates;

Related Caption: Remember the Road that Leads You Home’’ Amb. Conteh urges Liberians in Nigeria                 ( Daily Observer) “Remember The Road That Leads You Home”…Ambassador Conteh urges Liberians In Nigeria (The Inquirer)

CBL, CBN to Facilitate Liberia-Nigeria Trade  

The Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Mr. Nathaniel R. Patray, III and his Nigerian counterpart Governor Godwin I. Emefieleheld a fringe meeting to discuss issues of mutual interests including Liberia-Nigeria trade during the just-ended joint statutory meetings of WAMZ (West African Monetary Zone), West African Monetary Agency (WAMA) and West African Institute for Financial & Economic Management (WAIFEM), held in Conakry, Guinea 16-23 August, 2019. As a result of the discussions, the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to visit Liberia shortly to continue discussions on Liberia-Nigeria trade, following which a scoping mission will from Nigeria will be fielded to Liberia to discuss the technical details of the proposed collaboration, the Heritage newspaper write. 

Related Caption: CBL, CBN To Facilitate Liberia-Nigeria Trade (The Inquirer)

Chinese Embassy Donates To Veep Taylor’s Scholarship Program

The Inquirer attested that, the Government of the People’s Republic of China, through its embassy near Monrovia, has presented a check of USD2, 000 to the scholarship program of Liberia’s Vice President, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor. According to a release from the office of the Vice President, the amount is specifically targeting twenty female graduates of the formal More Than Me Academy, now called “HILLTOP School”. It can be recalled that at the inaugural graduate ceremony of the school recently, the Vice President promised to lead the change of forming a coalition in order to secure a scholarship program for about 1,500 female students to attend the Ricks Institute in Virginia, outside Monrovia. VP Howard-Taylor disclosed that the cost for each girl’s upkeep per annum is about US$@,000, which includes the school fees, uniforms and supplies, expressing the hope that others will join the endeavor to assist these promising young girls complete their high school education. Presenting the check on Tuesday, August 27, Chines Ambassador of Liberia Fu Jijun said the donation is a humanitarian aid to help the Vice President underwrite the cost of the students’ tuition fees.  Ambassador Jijun said China remains a strong development partner to Liberia and will continue to support all sectors of the country. 

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Related Caption: China Donates to Vp Howard-Taylor Scholarship Program                                                     (New Dawn newspaper)