BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA

NEWS SUMMARY, Tuesday, November 24, 2020

The sole dominant story in today’s summary is that the CBL board has retained the monetary policy rate at 25 percent.

President Weah declares 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence, Linda Thomas Greenfield named US ambassador to UN, UK ambassador urges young leader, CEMESP kicks off senatorial candidate debates in five counties are some of the stories selected for today’s media summary.

DOMINANT STORIES  

CBL Board Retains Monetary Policy Rate At 25 Percent                                                                                              The Board of governors of the central Bank of Liberia (CBL), during its November 17, 2020 sitting approved to retain the monetary policy rate of 25.0 percent in the previous quarter A statement said the decision was driven by development in the global and domestic economies in quarter three projected headline inflation in the bandwidth of about 14.7 plus or minus 3.0 percentage points for quarter 4, and the high level of currency outside banks. The monetary policy rate of 25.0 percent is expected to support liquidity management by not only attracting investment for the CBL Bills, but also retaining currency in the banking system, while at the same time strengthening CBL’s capacity to protect the purchasing power of consumers. On the global front, commodity prices relatively strengthened during quarter three of 2020, with global inflation for 20 projected to moderate at 3.2 percent from 3.5 percent in 2019. Monetary policy rates in advanced economies remained stable at 0.25 percent and 0.10 percent in the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively. On the regional front, monetary policy rate in most countries of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) remained stable, except in Nigeria, where the rate was lowered, The News newspaper discloses.

Related Caption: CBL Board Retains Monetary Policy Rate At 25% (Front Page) andCBL’s Board retains 25% monetary policy rate(The New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES

President Weah declares 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence

President George Weah has by Proclamation declared Wednesday, November 25 through Thursday, December 10, 2020, the Sixteen (16) Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence to be observed throughout the Republic as a Working Holidays. The Proclamation calls on Government Ministries and International Organizations, the Children’s Parliament, the United Nations System and the General Public to join the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in collaboration with the Gender Based Violence Taskforce, women Organizations and Men’s Groups to plan and implement appropriate programs befitting the occasion. A Foreign Ministry release says the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence is a Global Champaign dedicated to end Gender-Based Violence and highlight other significant dates such as: November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women; November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day; December 1, World AIDS Day; December 3, International Day of Disabled Persons; December 6, Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre and December 10, International Human Rights Day, the New Dawn newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release.

Related Caption:President Weah Declares Wednesday 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence(The News)

Linda Thomas Greenfield Named US Ambassador to UN                                                                                         Former United States Ambassador to Liberia and Assistant Secretary for African Affairs in the Obama Administration Linda Thomas Greenfield, is expected no to represent the United States at the United Nations as its Ambassador when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Administration takes over from Donald trump in January next year. Upon claiming victory in the just ended November election in the United States, President elect Biden tasked Ambassador Greenfield to head the transition team at the level of the US state Department where she has serve for many except during the administration of Trump. With 35 years of experience in the U.S. Foreign Service, Ambassador Thomas Greenfield served as Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs under the Obama-Biden Administration and diplomatic positions for the US to Liberia, Switzerland, Pakistan, Kenya, The Gambia, Nigeria, and Jamaica. While in Liberia as an Ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield achieved a lot in transforming post-war Liberia through her diplomatic interventions. For instance, she was one of the key instrumentalists of the reformation of the Armed Forces of Liberia who enhanced US support to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) The Daily Observer newspaper reveals.

CEMESP Kicks-Off Senatorial Candidate Debates In Five Counties                                                                                  The center for media studies and Peace building with support from USAID through Internews-Liberia is conducting senatorial candidate debates in five of the fifteen counties: Rivercess, Grand Bassa, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi counties. These debates are meant to give candidates the opportunity to sell to the voters their Priorities, visions and aspirations for the counties. The debates start in Rivercess County, on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at the Cestos City Hall in Cestos City, Rivercess County beginning at 11 in the morning and end at 1:30PM. On Thursday, November 26, 2020 our team will move to Grand Bassa County to host the Grand Bassa senatorial Candidates Debate at the Tubman Unification Pavilion on the Fairground in Buchanan City beginning at 11:00 AM. The Senatorial candidates debate for Gbarpolu County will be held on November 28, 2020 at the Bopolu City Hall at 11 AM, while the debate for Grand Cape Mount County has been scheduled for 11:00AM and 1:30 PM, on November 30, 2020 at the Robertsports City Hall. According to the In Profile newspaper, CEMESP will climax the conduct of the Senatorial candidate debates in Bomi County at 11 AM on December 2, 2020 at the Tubmanburg City Hall. At the debate, the candidates will be asked questions on the general economy of the country, the County Social Development Funds, Education and Health sectors, tackling corruption, Agriculture and Food Security, the delayed Referendum and recent influx of refugees etc.

The Untold story & Strives For Liberia’s Better Information & Telecommunications Technology {ICT} At The Ministry Of Post &Telecommunications                                                                                                   Tremendous change and development have been made through the efforts of the Minister of Post and Telecommunication, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr. and his principal deputies over the past three year with support of the President of Liberia, H.E. George M. Weah in the Information Communications Technology (ICT) sector. Improving the ICT sector in line with the Pro Poor Agenda of President George M. Weah, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications was created by an Act of National Legislature in September 1978 to provide affordable and accessible postal and telecommunications Service through the creation of an enabling environment to foster growth in the sector. By law, the Ministry id mandated to ensure the expeditious movement of mails and formulate Postal and Telecommunications policies that are geared toward providing access to affordable and reliable postal and information communication Technology (ICT) services across Liberia. The Ministry provides Administrative Guidelines for Postal and ensures compliance to acceptable standards set by Universal Postal Union (UPU) and International Telecommunications Union (ITU). According to the Inquirer newspaper, the Ministry has worked to ensure that the Information Communications Technology (ICT) policy, which outlined Liberia’s vision to utilized Information and Communications Technology for all institution economic growth and development, has been induced by the Cabinet and has also gotten Presidential approval.

‘Investment In Education will Drop Illiteracy Rate’ Deputy Education Minster Advise

The Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Education (COTAE) has ended a two-day training workshop to increase stakeholders knowledge about the ‘Abidjan Principles’ and other key issues relative to the fulfillment of the right to education in Liberia. COTAE is a group of human rights experts from around the world who adopted the Abidjan Principles on the right to education and the training workshop was also held in collaboration with the open society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) for the media institutions and Civil Society Organization. Serving as one of the facilitators, the Deputy Minister of Education, Alton V. Kesselly, advice the participants to invest in education in order for the level of illiteracy in the country to drop; Minister Kesselly said when you invest in education, you reduce unemployment and  that way, it can also help to boost the country’s economy and place individuals as well as citizens in better positions in the society so that they are able to undertake initiatives the will contribute to the democracy of the Country, asserts The Inquirer newspaper.

UK Ambassador, Others Urge Young Leaders                                                                                       

The Ambassador of United Kingdom (UK), Neil Bradley is urging the youths to continue to speak truth to power (government) and challenge them to be better by demonstrating integrity and commitments to solve problems. The British envoy further encourage the young leaders to develop good moral values that will make them agents of transformation for positive change, shaping who they are and what they want to be. Amb. Bradley spoke to COHORT 7 of the Young Political Leadership School Africa (YPLSA) organized by NAYMOTE and its partners which brought together many dignitaries and several young African leaders from across West Africa. He emphasized that humility and respect are two important attributes that young people should cultivate as they seek leadership because good leaders live and lead by example and show respect to each other by sharing their expertise or knowledge to build each other up. According to him, instead of letting or allowing their past mistakes retard their progress, young people should rather use those mistakes to their advantage by learning from them to improving their decisions and other aspects of their leadership or entire lives, The Inquirer newspaper pens.

OTHER STORIES                                                                                                                         

“You Are Leaders IN Waiting, Formar President Sirleaf Tells Participants of the Young Political Leadership School Africa Cohort Seven

The Front Page Africa newspaper is reporting that Liberia former President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has admonished participants of the Young Political Leadership School Africa Cohort Seven to be steadfast in shaping the destiny of the African continent. The former Liberian leader made the assertion Monday when she served as a motivational speaker to young participants at the Cohort Seven of the Young Political Leadership School Africa at the Bella Cassa Hotel in Sinkor. Representative of Political parties, University students and Young-led Organizations from five Countries across the ECOWAS region are participating in the one-week training. Madam Sirleaf stressed that Governments in African should be people driven, something she says should unmatched the potential of it women and youthful population. “It’s important because there are 1.2 million people of the age 15 to 25 years that are accounting for 16 percent of our global population. That aspiration says the future belongs to you,” Madam Sirleaf said.  

Seeking “Coherence In Migration Management” IOM, ECOWAS And Partners Hold Training In Liberia For LawEnforcement Operatives From Mano River Union (MRU) Countries Trade, Others 

A three-day training aimed at strengthening the capacity of Law enforcement operatives from Mano River Union (MRU) Countries to enhance the thorough and scrupulous implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Free Movement Manual has begun in Liberia. The Training of Trainers on the ECOWAS Free Movement Manual Kicked off on Monday, November 23, at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County. It is being implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) with funding from European Union (EU) and ECOWAS. The training also seeks strengthen the capacity of border operatives and relevant authorities to ensure “Coherence in Migration Management”. Speaking during the official opening ceremony, the Special Representative of the President of ECOWAS to Liberia, Ambassador Babatunde Ajisomo, disclosed that the free movement of persons, goods services and capital had long been identified as an indispensable pillar in the realization of integration, the fundamental mission of the regional organization. Consequently, he added that, West African States, fully conscious of the immense benefits accruable from free movement of persons, goods and services, quickly followed the signing of the ECOWAS Treaty of Lagos in 1975 with the region’s flagship Protocol relating to the Free Movement of Persons, and the Rights of Residence and Establishment in 1979, theFront Page Africa newspaper reports.

Stop Praising Men. Support Women a message to women voters

In the quest to providing opportunities for women in the governance system of Liberia, the Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL), has concluded a one-day round table discussion with heads of several women organizations in Gbarnga, Bong County, on the upcoming Special Senatorial Elections (SSE) in Liberia. The discussion focused on supporting women in politics and increasing their chances to be in elected government office and participate in the governance process. It also encourages networking and support for community women to prevent pre and post-election violence against women. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. According to the New Dawn newspaper, at its heart are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries in a global partnership.  SDG 5 seeks to achieve gender equity and empower all women and girls and promotes full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life.

Retreat on ECOWAS Code of ethics and processioned Conduct

The Officer of the Secretary General, in collaboration with Department of General Ministration and Conference, held a three-day retreat on ECOWAS Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct for staff of WCOWAS Institutions and Agencies from 19-21 November, 2020 in Lagos, Nigria. The retreat was an initial stage in the process of institutionalization of ethics among ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies and was chaired by the Secretary General of the Commission Dr. Nelson Magbagbeola.  He welcomed participants on behalf of the President of Commission, His Excellency Jean-Claudue Kassi BROU, and stated that the overall objective of the retreat was to sensitize staff members of the sensitize staff members of the ECOQA Institutions and Agencies on the importance and elements of code of ethics and professional conduct in ECOWAS with a view to developing a strategy and action plan of promoting ethics in ECOWAS. He highlighted that ECOWAS has built credibility, reputation and positive image within the community and among the development partners as one of the leading regional economic   communities (RECs) on the African continent and that ECOWAS has achieved a lot in its work program especially in the areas of regional economic integration, political stability, peace and security. However, he noted that ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies have suffered reputational damage because of unethical behavior of a few staff members. Participants examined the current ECOWAS Code of Ethics, identified areas of improvement and discussed the ECOWAS core values of integrity, honesty, transparency, loyalty, accountability and professionalism, state The New Dawn newspaper.

Liberia Internet Exchange Point Association Installs New Ladyship; Promised to bring more value, opportunities to Liberia

The Liberia Internet Exchange Point Association (LIXPA) has installed a new leadership which is headed by Mada Titilope Fakuade of Lonestarcell MTN, the Executive Chairperson. She has promised to bring more value and opportunities to Liberia. “Our goal is to become an independent, open community for interconnection and interconnecting and for exchange traffic in a manner that inspires innovation and promotes affordability,” Mandam Fakuade said. The new leadership was instead last Thursday at an elaborate program which brought together several executives in the sector including the Minister of Post and Telecommunications. Madam Fuade who will now spearhead LIXPA said she and her team intend unlocking untapped potentials in the market, attract in county and external networks for cost effective traffic exchange and spur innovation.  She also stressed the importance of allowing Liberians produce more relevant local content and easy access to international applications. “We can achieve these goals if we collaborate, communicate, engage and trust other then we will progress. I am confident that we are all up to the task,” Madam Fakuade maintained, the Front Page newspaper.