The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017

Our summary of the local dailies highlights news of the National Elections Commission pronouncement on a runoff election between Senator George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change and Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party and the opening of campaign for the runoff election and President Sirleaf’s condemnation on what she calls the abuse and misuse of social media through the use of invective, hate speech and outright vulgarity as stories topping the news stand today.

DOMINANT STORIES

CDC, UP Face-off in Runoff Election - NEC Releases Final Results

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has declared campaign open for the run-off election between Vice President Joseph Boakai and Senator George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).The runoff comes in the wake of failure by the two political parties to obtain the constitutional 50 plus one vote to be declared winner of the election. In the final results announced by the Chairman of the NEC Jerome Korkoya, George Weah of the CDC obtained five hundred & ninety-six thousand thirty seven (596,037) votes which constitute 38.8%, followed by Joseph Boakai with four hundred forty-six  thousand, seven hundred sixteen votes (446,716) constituting 28.8%.  “As no single candidate achieved an absolute majority of valid votes cast to be elected to the office of President in the October 10, 2017 election, in accordance with Article 83b of the Constitution and 4.15a of the New Elections Law, the National Elections Commission herewith announces, pursuant to Article 83c and the elections timetable, an election run-off to be held on November 7, 2017 between the two candidates with the most votes in the first round: Mr. George Manneh Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change and, Mr. Joseph Nyuma Boakai of the Unity Party.

Related Captions: Battle Line Drawn…As CDC, UP Go For Run-Off (Heritage), Runoff Election Campaign Begins (The INQUIRER), Boakai Or Weah: NEC Declares Nov. 7 Runoff Campaign Open (Daily Observer)

Social Media Vulgarities Liberian President Slams Abuses, Violence Ahead of Runoff Elections

Ahead of the upcoming runoff Presidential elections, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has condemned in the strongest terms what she calls the abuse and misuse of social media through the use of invective, hate speech and outright vulgarity. In a nation-wide address Thursday, the Liberian leader said the social media abuse threatens the peace as well as the run-off. “Barely a week after the end of first round of elections, our attention has been drawn to displays on social media that are extremely inimical to the survival of our peace and democracy.” The FrontPage Africa newspaper says the President used her address Thursday to urge Liberians to remain civil, responsible and continue to be tolerant of diverging opinions and views that might not necessarily be favorable to ours.  According to the daily, the President’s message came just moments after the National Elections Commission declared campaign open for the run-off election between the Unity Party (UP) of Vice President Joseph Boakai and the coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) George Weah.

Related Captions: Ellen Decries Electoral Violence (Heritage), Ellen Concerned About Contents On Social Media (The INQUIRER), Ellen Frowns At ‘Abuses’ On Social Media (Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES

Liberia Presents Readiness Package At FCPF Meeting In Laos

The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) says Liberia has presented a Participatory Self-Assessment and Synthesis of its R-Package (Readiness Package) at the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) Participants’ Committee and Participants Assembly meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos. Quoting a release from the FDA, the Daily Observer reads that the presentation by Liberia was stratified into four components including REDD+ Integration and Alignment with national development agenda, Liberia’s R-Package Assessment and Progress, Participants Committee (FCPF Highest Decision Making Body) comments at Mid-term Report (MTR) versus progress and next steps. Under integration and alignment with national development agenda, the release said Liberia reported that the REDD+ Strategy is consistently being integrated and aligned with major laws and policies in Liberia, including but not limited to the national Agenda for Transformation (AfT), the National Climate Change Policy, Climate Change Gender Action Plan and Protected Areas and Wildlife Law and the National Forestry Reform Law (2006).

Preparation For Liberia’s First Biennial Climate Change Report Gets Underway

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through its Climate Change Department has kicked activities in preparation of Liberia’s first biennial report to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat. Recently, the department assembled nearly 100 representatives from various relevant line ministries and agencies as well as civil societies and non for profit groups in an intensive training at a local hotel in Paynesville. EPA Climate Change Coordinator, Ben Karmo, said the training was aimed at building the capacity of the various stakeholders on tracking the national efforts on mitigation, adaption and actions to remedy technical challenges and greenhouse gas inventory among others, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Supreme Court Addresses Several Cases

According to the INSIGHT newspaper, the Supreme Court of Liberia says it has disposed of 30 cases during the just-ended March 2017 term of court. Addressing the High Court Bench on Wednesday, Chief Justice, Francis Korkpor, disclosed that the cases included nine pre-elections cases. The Chief Justice indicated that “there are no more pre-elections cases pending before the Supreme Court. At the same time, the Chief Justice has named Associate Justice Kabineh J’neh as Justice in Chambers for the October term of Court, replacing Justice Philip A. Z Banks. The rotation of the Justice in Chambers is part of the Chief Justice’s administrative functions as provided by law.

NEC Magistrate Dismisses Election Complaints In Bong

Lower Bong County Senior Elections Magistrate, Barsee Kpangbai, has dismissed the case involving legislative candidates Silas Siakor and Amos Kornumugie verses NEC as defendant and Representative Edward Karfiah, co-defendant. Candidates Siakor and Kornumugie recently filed a complaint to the NEC objecting the manner in which the election was administered at David Feijue precinct in Gbartala, Yellequelleh District. Siakor and Kornumugie in their compliant argued that the election was characterized by insecurity, making the process chaotic and disorganized and leaving hundreds of voters not to vote.The candidates further claimed that voting continued at the David Feijue precinct until the morning of October 11. The pair requested the NEC for re-run of the voting at the David Feijue precinct. But according to the NEC magistrate, Barsee Kpangbai, the case was dismissed due to the lack of standing on the part of the complainants because, according to him, both complainants failed to state the injury suffered as the result of some eligible voters not casting their votes at the Gbartala precinct on Tuesday, October 10. In his investigation, Magistrate Kpangbai said, a party seeking to demonstrate standing must show the court sufficient connection to and harm from the law, action or inaction challenged otherwise, or the party lacks standing to file lawsuit. Magistrate Kpangbai ruling also stated that the complainants’ argument was entirely based on rights of people who were not before the court and that the candidates failed to exhibit authority from those they represent, reports Heritage newspaper.

3 World Food Prize Laureates Call for Global Action to Save African Crops

A dispatch from the African Development Bank (AfDB), has said the fall army worm reportedly has a foothold in 28 African nations, and it feeds on crops that include maize, which more than 200 million Africans depend on for food security. According to the dispatch, the world’s anti-hunger organizations have an opportunity to prevent widespread destruction of African crops by stopping the spread of an insect, warn three of the most respected thinkers on international agriculture. “The army worm is a clear and present danger,” said Akinwumi Adesina, who was to be inducted as the 2017 World Food Prize winner yesterday in Des Moines, Iowa, the United States of America. “Doing nothing is not an option. What we need are urgent actions to support Africa, to rapidly address this real threat to its food security.” The World Food Prize is popularly known as the Nobel Prize for agriculture. Adesina is President of the African Development Bank. He is calling for action from the world’s governmental, non-profit, corporate, and academic leaders gathered for a three-day symposium surrounding his induction, asserts the Daily Observer.