The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2017

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights news of the agreement between the Government of Liberia and TIDFORE (Hong Kong) Investment (LICEMCO) for the establishment of a Steel Plant in Liberia and the Vice President and Chairman of the Liberia Chapter of the West African College of Physicians, Dr. Rose Jallah Macualey, assertion that mental disorder is a problem globally, but particularly in Liberia.

The summary also includes President Sirleaf’s congratulatory messages to the governments and peoples of the Republics of Mozambique and Madagascar on their 42^nd and 57^th Independence Anniversaries respectively.

DOMINANT STORIES

GoL, TIDFORE Investment Company Sign Agreement for Steel Plant In Liberia

The Daily Observer says President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has witnessed the formal signing ceremony of the Agreement between the Government of Liberia and TIDFORE (Hong Kong) Investment (LICEMCO) for the establishment of a Steel Plant in Liberia. The plant will transform raw Iron Ore and Lamp Stones into steel and Cement.  According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf reflected on the history of Firestone and a number of Iron Ore Mining Companies that started investing in Liberia in the 1920s and 1950s and how they have not been able to add value to the raw materials from Liberia. She therefore indicated that the agreement with TIDFORE Investment was a realistic break from the past that will enhance Liberia’s efforts towards manufacturing and value addition. The 200-Million investment will among other things ensure the utilization of iron ore for steel production for both and national and international market; provide jobs for over 1000 persons; improve revenue collection, reduce the cost of both steel products and cement as well as improve infrastructural development.

Related Captions: GoL/TIDFORE Sign US$200M Steel Plant Deal (New Dawn), Liberia, TIDFORE Investment to Establish Steel Plant in Liberia (FrontPage Africa), Government of Liberia, TIDFORE Sign Agreement for the Establishment of a Steel Plant in Liberia (In Profile)

Conflict, Ebola Exacerbate Mental Disorder In Liberia

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the Vice President and Chairman of the Liberia Chapter of the West African College of Physicians, Dr. Rose Jallah Macualey, says mental disorder is a problem globally, but particularly in Liberia, where the situation has been exacerbated by prolonged armed conflict and the Ebola epidemic. Speaking on Friday, 23 June at the first Annual General and Scientific Meeting (AGSM) and the 10th Dr. Joseph Nagbe Togbah Memorial Lecture Series of the home chapter under the Theme, “Mental Health - An unrecognized Emergency in Liberia” Dr. Macualey notes that mental health has become an emergency because it has been neglected over the years. According to her, the AGSM provides an opportunity to highlight the problem and elevate advocacy so that government and development partners would treat mental disorders as an emergency by prioritizing it in their policies, programs and budgets.

Related Captions: ‘Mental Health Unrecognized Health Emergency – Doctors Raise Alarm (Daily Observer), “Mental Disorder is A Problem Globally but, Particularly in Liberia” says Dr. Macualey (In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf Congratulates Mozambique On 42^nd

The In Profile Daily quotes a Foreign Ministry release: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a Congratulatory Message to her colleague, the President of the Republic of Mozambique, His Excellency Mr. Armando Guebuza on that country’s 42^nd Independence Anniversary on June 25. In 1974, the revolution in Portugal restored democracy to the country and led to a change in attitude over overseas territories such as Mozambique. FRELIMO took control of Maputo, the capital, in April 1974 in a coup. Independence for Mozambique was officially declared just over a year later on June 25, 1975. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, extended warmest congratulations and best wishes to President Guebuza, and through him the Government and people of the Republic of Mozambique.

Related Caption: President Sirleaf Salutes Madagcar, Mozambique (Daily Observer)

President Sirleaf Congratulates Madagascar On Its 57^th Independence Anniversary

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a Congratulatory Message to her colleague, the President of the Republic of Madagascar, His Excellency Mr. Hery. Rajaonarimampiania on that country’s 57^th Independence Anniversary on June 26. The Republic of Madagascar celebrates its Independence Anniversary on June 26 each year, the day in 1960, Madagascar proclaimed its independence from France as the Malagasy Republic. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, extended warmest congratulations and best wishes to President Rajaonarimampiania, and through him the Government and people of the Republic of Madagascar, the In Profile Daily reads.

VP Boakai launches Disbursement Linked Indicator’s Payment System

Liberia’s Vice President recently launched the Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs) payment system to seven participating ministries of government’s public sector modernization project (PSMP), describing it as a significant milestone with governance and service delivery. “Everyone acquires education to perform. Most people look for their names on the payroll, but don’t show up for work. But, the reforms within the government being championed by the civil service agency, the governance commission and the Liberia Institute for Public Administration are laudable efforts to fight corruption,” the Vice President said, reads the INSIGHT newspaper.

I’ll Work With Anybody…Ellen Says

The New Dawn newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says she will work with anybody who becomes elected president after the October elections this year and promises to stay here in Liberia after transition of power to watch what the other president will do. “So I will be watching what that other president will do; but I will also work with anybody so that we can all work together because what we all have done, all the progress we have made we all have to continue to work together so we can do even more”, Mrs. Sirleaf said on Thursday, 22 June while climaxing a farewell tour in Bong County.

INCHR Gets Voting Right At GANHRI

The Independent National Commission on Human Rights of Liberia (INCHR) says it has received ‘A’ status accreditation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). INCHR says the accreditation comes after a period of application, assessment and observation by GANHRI and other National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI). GANHRI is the governing body of all National Human Rights Institutions. The organization is based at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. In a release issued over the weekend, INCHR quoted the Chairman of GANHRI, Prof. Dr. Beate Rudolf, as saying the accreditation is a reflection of the hard work that the Independent National Commission on Human Rights of Liberia has put into the process by ensuring that Liberia fully complies with the UN Paris Principles for National Human Rights Institutions, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption: Independent National Commission on Human Rights Receives ‘A’ Status (FrontPage Africa)

GVL Moving Headquarters to Sinoe County At End of July 2017

Golden Veroleum Liberia says its headquarters will be moved to Sinoe County at the end of July 2017 with several staff members in Monrovia reassigned to headquarters office in Sinoe County and sub offices in Grand Kru County. The move is a part of a long standing plan in fulfillment of GVL commitment, which seeks to work with Liberians to take headquarters, real industries and factories to rural communities in southeastern Liberia. As part of the move, GVL will make available transportation from Monrovia to assigned counties and accommodation. GVL core operation is concentrated in its concession areas in Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties respectively as this is also in compliance with government own decentralization scheme. GVL is expecting various government services to be made more available in Sinoe and Grand Kru not necessitating presence in Monrovia, according to the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: GVL To Move Headquarters To Sinoe (Daily Observer), GVL Relocates Headquarters To Sinoe (New Dawn)

DRC Ends Mission In Liberia

According to the New Dawn newspaper, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), an international NGO have finally drawn down its operations here, ending nearly two decades of humanitarian work in Liberia. The Denmark humanitarian organization, which started operations in Liberia since 1998 after the first round of hostilities, was involved in building the capacity of Liberians and working with ex-combatants, among others. DRC head based in southeast Liberia, Andrus Jimmy, says the organization is finally leaving the country, because its mandates no longer suit the current atmosphere of political and economic stability here, and there is no need for refugees.

Ministry of Internal Affairs, ACCORD End Election Dispute Management Training in Gbarnga

The Peace Building Office at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in collaboration with the African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) based in South Africa has ended a three-day election dispute management training in Gbarnga, Bong County. The training was aimed at empowering youth of various political parties and civil society organizations on how to manage election disputes ahead of the October 10, 2017 Presidential and Representatives elections. The participants in several counts resolution promised to remain peaceful during and after the electoral process. According to the civil society and political parties youths, they have resolved and agreed to say “Yes to Peace” and “No to Violence”, as well as be ambassadors of peace in their various organizations/institutions, communities, and counties, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

For Sanctions Against ‘Corrupt Liberian Officials,’ Others: Liberian Group Lobbies With US Congress

A back-page story of the INSIGHT newspaper reads that a group of Liberian human rights defenders and professionals on Thursday, June 22, 2017, visited some Congressional Members of the United States; underscoring the need for the US to consider corrective measures toward the culture of impunity as well as ending the continuous human rights violations in Liberia.  Speaking in Washington DC, the young Liberians highlighted the country’s current economy conditions as well as security implications affecting the pending elections in October.

Police Launch Anti-Bribery Campaign

The Liberia National Police (LNP) have launched an anti - bribery campaign dubbed “Don’t Bribe the Police”, in a bid to discourage its officers and members of the public against engaging in corrupt practices used in many cases to compromise the rule of laws. “We’re asking that you all please be compliant with the laws of the land, finish. And that is all”, Police Inspector General Col. Gregory Coleman said Friday, 24 June at Point Four on Bushrod Island where he officially launched the campaign supported by Swedish Embassy, the Carter Center and USAID. He says the campaign is just one aspect about accountability, noting that the police authorities are going the extra mile to improve accountability in the service. The police chief argues that bribery is a two way-street on grounds that someone gives and another takes, suggesting that while the police are committing themselves not to take bribes, the public too has no reason to offer bribes, reports the New Dawn newspaper.