The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017

Today’s stories in the Summary include the signing of the Joint Commission Agreements between the Liberian and Ivorian Governments; on-going Cabinet review in the Educational Sector and others.

Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire Sign Eight Cooperation Agreements

Relations between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire have reached new heights with the revival of the Joint Commission and the signing of several cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between both countries. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the three-day technical working sessions between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire climaxed Wednesday, August 30, with the signing of eight Cooperation Agreements and a Joint Communiqué by Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Her Excellency Ms. Marjon V. Kamara and Côte d’Ivoire’s Foreign Minister, His Excellency Mr. Marcel Amon Tanoh on behalf of their respective countries. The signing ceremony took place in the Foreign Ministry’s C. Cecil Dennis, Jr. Auditorium. Other agreements signed included: Revised Agreement on the Joint Commission; Technical, Vocational and Educational Training; Sanitation and Urban Development; Agriculture; Fishery, Livestock Farming and Aquaculture; Forest and Wildlife; Production, Transportation and Energy Supply; and Submission to the Commission of Limits of the Continental Shelf. Liberian Institutions involved included the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Lands, Mines and Energy, Agriculture, Public Works, Youth and Sports and Education. Others were the Liberia Maritime Authority and the Liberia Electricity Corporation. The two foreign ministers acknowledged the privileged nature and exceptional quality of the bonds of friendship and solidarity that unite their countries. They also welcomed the commitment of their Governments to the peace ideals, justice and progress shared by their countries. The Joint Commission is expected to meet every two years and the next meeting will be in 2019 in Côte d’Ivoire, report New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption:Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire Sign Several Cooperation Agreements in Monrovia(FrontPage Africa), Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire Sign Fight Cooperation Agreements(Heritage)

Cabinet reviews ongoing reform in Education Sector

Cabinet has received status update and carefully reviewed the ongoing reform in the education sector at its sitting in Monrovia. The updates focused on Partnership Schools for Liberia (PSL) Project. According to an Executive Mansion release, Cabinet received an overview of the education sector from 2006 – 2017; an Accelerated Quality education (AQE) at the behest of USAID; sector updates at the level of the Ministry of Education; presentations from Partnership Schools Liberia Provider and Partnership Schools for Liberia Mid-line Evaluation. Cabinet also received updates on successes and momentum; system needs; vetting and testing update; human resource roadmap; data mapping; Ministry of Education GIS Web maps; local and bilateral scholarships. The Partnership Schools for Liberia includes Bridge International Academies, BRAC Liberia, Accelerated Quality Education (AEQ), Rising Academies, More Than Me Partnership Schools, Omega Schools, Youth Movement for Collective Action, and Street Child. Meanwhile, Cabinet received preliminary evaluation update from Innovations for Poverty Action in partnership with Center for Global Development as a result of a randomized evaluation of the Partnership Schools for Liberia project, reports New Dawn newspaper

Related Caption:Cabinet Receives Status Update on Reform in Education Sector(FrontPage Africa)

Ghana, Slovenia to print ballots

The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission announces here that contract for the printing of ballot papers for the October 10th presidential and representative elections have been signed, following approval of sample ballots by political parties and Independent Candidates. Chairman Jerome George Korkoya told a news conference in Monrovia on Wednesday, 30 August that the agreement was signed with a European-based printing company, CETIS. He says ballot papers for candidates vying for seats in the House of Representatives will be printed in Ghana, while ballots for presidential candidates will be printed in Slovenia. The NEC boss notes that during the 2011 elections, some of the ballot papers were printed in Ghana, and that the company has a strong reputation in these kinds of work. Korkoya continues that ensure this is achieved, the commission has introduced a “SMS program” that enable registered voters to check information placed on their Voter Cards and get clarity on electoral matter at any time free of charge, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption: Slovenia & Ghana To Print Ballots(Insight)  

LRA CG Appointed to UN Expert Committee 

UN Secretary General António Guterres has appointed Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General Elfrieda Stewart Tamba to the United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters. Commissioner General Tamba will work along with 24 other members on the committee for tenure of four years. The Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters comprises 25 members nominated by their Governments but acting in their personal capacity. CG Tamba and her fellow members were selected from a pool of 60 nominations received by the UN, reports Insight newspaper.

Related Caption: UN Appoints LRA CG To Committee of Experts On Tax Matters(Daily Observer)

One-Week Free Eye Care at JFK

A visiting American ophthalmologist (eye doctor), Dr. Snow Slade, is on his fourth day of a one-week free eye care (August 28 to Sept. 3) at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center. Dr. Slade, in an interview with the Daily Observer, said he examined 20 individuals with various eye problems on the first day of the exercise on Monday, August 28, and scheduled 10 for surgery. Dr. Slade is an adjunct professor in the department of the John Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah in the United States. He said one of the most common eye diseases in the world is glaucoma, which damages the eye’s optic nerve.

Outgoing EU Ambassador Receives Honor from MFDP

The Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Boima Kamara says the sustenance of 14 years of peace following 14 years of civil war in Liberia came as a result of roles of key players including the international community. As such, European Union Delegation Ambassador Tiina Intelmann is one of the players to remember. Minister Kamara made the assertions on August 25, 2017 at the Monrovia City Hall where the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) and its subset, the National Authorizing Office (NAO) held a farewell program for Ambassador Intelmann as she departs Liberia. He noted that the appreciation of Ambassador Intelmann did not come as a mere gesture, but an appreciation depicting that Ambassador Intelmann worked hard during her stay in Liberia, asserts the Daily Observer.

Norway signs US476K agreement with ABIC

According to the New Dawn newspaper, The Government of Norway, through its Embassy in Accra and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will, on Monday September 4, 2017, sign a contribution agreement of US$476,000 in support of the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace & Security Women’s Situation Room – Liberia 2017 to promote peace & mitigate violence around the October 10 2017 General and Presidential Elections. The Women’s Situation Room (WSR) is a women’s peace building mechanism to mitigate conflict before, during and after elections. It mobilizes women in collaboration with youth to lobby and advocate stakeholders to support the call for peaceful elections in accordance with UNSCR 1325 which affirms the role of women in peace processes and peace building. It was initiated by the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) and other Liberian women organizations during Liberia’s 2011 Presidential and Legislative Elections. Liberian women leaders and women peace activists came together to lobby for peace, which calmed tensions and helped de-escalate election related violence.  

Monrovia City Court Summons Mary Broh on Multiple Charges 

The Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice has put out a Writ of Summons for the Director General of the General Services Agency (GSA) Mary Broh to appear before the court on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at the hour of 9:00a.m to answer to multiple charges of official oppression, simple assault, criminal solicitation and facilitation. Legal practitioner says that the charge of official oppression levied by the magistrate court against Broh emanates from alleged abuse of office by the public official. This the second in recent times that the lower court has summoned the GSA Director since a suit was filed to the lower magistrate court for allegedly assaulting a man identified as Shiek Kouyateh, reports FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: “General” Broh Summoned(Heritage), and Court Summons Mary Broh (Inquirer)

NEC Introduces Voter Inquiry System

The National Elections Commission (NEC) says it has concluded a contract with Wankina Consultant and Technology Group, a Liberian Company, for the installation of a voter inquiry system. According to NEC Chairman Jerome Korkoya, the group will install, grade configure and deploy voter inquiry system software for use during the 2017 elections. Chairman Korkoya explained that the voter inquiry system will enable every registered voter who sends SMS to the platform to receive on their mobile phone information on his/her polling place. He said the voter inquiry system is aimed at increasing access to information to voters and citizens in the 2017 elections. Chairman Korkoya noted that the company is a registered Liberian company and that it has immense experience in that line of work, the Heritage newspaper reads.

NAMUWACA Identifies with S’Leoneans

The National Muslim Women Caucus of Liberia (NAMUWCA) yesterday visited the Sierra Leone Embassy outside Monrovia to sympathize with the Ambassador and staff. Reading the condolence statement from NAMUWCA, the secretary of the organization, Madam Binta Barry said their deepest condolences goes to the Government and people of Sierra Leone for the human loss they suffered in the mudslide. She noted that this is a trying time from the Almighty and they do sincerely hope that it will only serve to strengthen their faith the Almighty  and that they are praying that the Almighty will have mercy on all those that died, Inquirer newspaper reads.