The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017

The lone story dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies is news of the passage of a US$40,000,000 Financing Agreement Act between the Government of Liberia and the International Development Association to upgrade and rehabilitate a 4.5km ELWA to Redlight Road, including the construction of an intersection at ELWA, thus completing the Monrovia through Gbarnga to Ganta Highway.

The summary also includes Congratulatory Message sent to the President of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita by President Sirleaf on that country’s 57th Independence Anniversary on September 22, 2017.

DOMINANT STORY  

House Passes US$40m Road Financing Agreement 

The House of Representatives has passed a Financing Agreement Act between the Government of Liberia and the International Development Association. The US$40,000,000 agreement seeks to upgrade and rehabilitate a 4.5km ELWA to Redlight Road, including the construction of an intersection at ELWA, thus completing the Monrovia through Gbarnga to Ganta Highway. Speaking in session Thursday, 21 September, the House’s Chairman on Ways, Means and Finance Rep. Prince K. Moye reported that the instrument is also geared towards ensuring that there is constant maintenance of the Monrovia - Gbarnga - Ganta Highway over the period of ten years. He says in addition, it is intended to support the government of Liberia’s effort in reducing the cost of road transportation from Monrovia to Ganta and to the Guinea Border and to maintain the road in good condition over the stated period. Rep. Moye says the instrument will create the opportunity to rehabilitate, upgrade, maintain periodically and routinely and install proper mechanism for control of road right of way from Monrovia strict to The Guinea Border. According to Moye, based on the agreement, [repayment] is due on each June 15 and December 15 and will begin June 15 2023 up to and including December 15 2054 at the rate 1.5625% of the principal amount of the credit, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: House Passes US$40m Financing Agreement For Road Pavement, Maintenance -From ELWA Junction To Red Light-Guinea Border(Daily Observer), House Approves US$40M Seal New Loan Agreement For Roads(FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES  

Ellen Congratulates Mali On 57th Independence Anniversary 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a Congratulatory Message to her colleague, the President of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, on that country’s 57th Independence Anniversary on September 22, 2017. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to President Keita, and through him the Government and people of the Republic of Mali on the occasion of its 57^th Independence Anniversary, “As we join you and your compatriots in observing this momentous occasion, it is my fervent prayer that the bonds of friendship and cooperation so happily subsisting between our two countries in the spirit of continued regional cooperation and partnership will be strengthened in furtherance of the principles of promoting international peace and security among all nations,” the Liberian leader said, reports Heritage newspaper.  

Pres. Sirleaf Meets with High Profile Individuals-Including Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, WB Vice President, Dr. Makhtar Diop; On the Margins of UN General Assembly 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 met privately with Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. The closed door meeting focused on matters of bilateral interests to both countries. The Liberian leader also had separate meetings with the Vice President of the World Bank on the margins of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. Finance and Development Planning Minister Boima Kamara along with Commerce and Industry Minister Axel Addy joined President Sirleaf leader during the separate meetings. According to a dispatch from New York, President Sirleaf thanked the World Bank through Dr. Diop for standing with Liberia over the last 12 years; describing the partnership as productive and rewarding. She noted that the current World Bank Review Team in Liberia is working well with the government team to take stock of the investments in Liberia over the years as well as look at the prospects for future partnership as the country moves into transition. Providing updates on the country’s current engagement with the World Bank, Finance and Development Planning Minister Boima Kamara noted that the Bank has stood well with Liberia and provided updates on the Bank’s current mission to Liberia in concert with the International Monetary Fund, pens the FOCUS newspaper.    

Center For Peace Education Celebrates World Peace Day 

The Center for Peace Education (CPE) joined the rest of the world on Thursday to observe the International Day of Peace. During the occasion, CPE Executive Director, Mainlehwon Ebenezer Vonhm, called on Liberians not to vote for dishonest political aspirants in the October 10, 2017 elections. Mr. Vonhm stressed that most of the political aspirants are using “stolen cash” from the government coffers to persuade voters to vote for them. “For those who are using your stolen cash from the government to campaign, they will never be audited, let alone face persecution. They will live with impunity, even though they stole your cash to manipulate you. Very sad!” He encouraged Liberians to get what they can get from dishonest political aspirants to help pay their children school fees and put food on their table, but shouldn’t vote them in to office, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

East Point, Georgia Former Mayor Will Become Honorary Citizen Of Liberia at 2017 United For Liberia Gala

Patsy Jo Hilliard, former Mayor of East Point, Georgia will become an Honorary Citizen of Liberia at this year’s United for Liberia Global Health Fundraising Gala. The dinner will take place on Saturday Sept. 30, 2017, at Morehouse School of Medicine starting at 6 p.m.  “I have always thought of myself as a Liberian citizen, so I am thrilled to finally have this honor. The six years we spent in Monrovia, Liberia, were some of the best years of my life,” Hilliard said. Each year, the University Consortium for Liberia (UCL) honors an influential U.S. citizen with honorary Liberian citizenship. Past Honorary citizens include award winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. Honorary citizens are selected based on their service to Liberia or their Liberian ancestry.   In 2016, Hillard traveled to Liberia with the Liberian Consulate in GA for the Liberian Business Summit, but her relationship with the country extends further back. Hilliard taught first grade at Bright Functions School in Monrovia, Liberia, in 1964. Help the organization raise funds to help bring brighter futures through education and understanding, writes the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

European Union: Charles Taylor Is Being Monitored Closely

No elected President of Liberia has the power to bring former President Charles Taylor back from jail before the completion of his 50-year jail term, the European Union has confirmed to FrontPage Africa. Of late, there have been growing concerns among members of the international community over assurance given by Mr. Taylor’s ex-wife, Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor, who is also the vice standard bearer of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) that the CDC will bring ex-President Taylor’s agenda back on the table, if elected to political power. The European Union Embassy in Monrovia informed FrontPage Africa that as part of terms, on which Taylor was jailed, he is not supposed to meddle in Liberia’s politics and he is therefore being monitored to ensure adherence the terms and conditions of his sentence. “Charles Taylor was convicted by the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone and is serving a 50 year sentence.  This sentence cannot be overruled because of a change of President in Liberia," according FrontPage Africanewspaper.

Ellen Seeks Legislature Approval To Re-name Roads, Bridges

According to the Daily Observer, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has decided to re-name certain roads and bridges, and also dedicate them in commemoration of the lives and memories of certain personalities who played meaningful roles in the country’s history. Though opinions differed on what her most lasting legacy might be, the President and some Liberians believe that one of her legacies would be infrastructure (roads, bridges, and buildings) erected during her administration. Besides infrastructure, it is evident that the single undeniable aspect of Mrs. Sirleaf’s legacy is that she has demonstrated that a woman can become president of Liberia. Meanwhile, during last Tuesday’s session, members of the House of Representatives voted to forward the President’s bill to the Committees on Public Works and Judiciary to report within two weeks.

President Sirleaf ‘Wants Young President’ - Calls For Generational Change

According to FrontPage Africanewspaper, counting less than 20 days to elections in Liberia, outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says her stepping from power should be a strong signal to her colleagues in Africa that it is time for generational change and young people should be given the opportunity to lead. President Sirleaf made the statement in an interview with CNN Christiane Amanpour. “I’m sending a strong signal; not only should we respect the Constitution and the law, but it also says it’s time for generational change.” “We have young people that are vying for leadership, that have the capacity, that have the passion and the capability and it’s time for them to take over and we've to make way for them and if we are going to practice democracy which we all want to do and we all strive for do, the we’ve got to do it by example,” she said.

LRA Commissioner General Emphasizes Need to Battle Tax Crime

The Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Elfrieda Steward Tamba says tax evasion and other related crimes are becoming complex that there is a need for administrators to collectively battle to save domestic revenue. Madam Tamba made the assertion on September 20, at the beginning of a two-day capacity building for tax auditors, organized by the LRA and the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD). The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Administration drafted Vision 2030 under the theme, “Agenda for Transformation” and the African Development Bank (AfDB) has a long-range plan of Vision 2060 which calls for “The Road Towards Inclusive Growth” in 50 years. In order to achieve these visions and long-term goals, Commissioner Tamba said there is a need to accelerate the battle against tax evasion and other illicit financial flows, asserts Daily Observer.  

President Sirleaf Expresses Surprise at Recalled Diplomat’s BBC Interview 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed surprise at a BBC interview granted by Ambassador El Mohammed Sheriff. According to a dispatch from New York, President Sirleaf expressed surprise because Ambassador Sheriff has already received a permanent recall from his current assignment for behaviors unbecoming of a Liberian Diplomat. According to a dispatch from New York, President Sirleaf expressed surprise when her attention was drawn to the BBC interview granted by recalled diplomat, according to FrontPage Africa newspaper.

In Support of Partnership Schools (PSL), Pres. Sirleaf Attends Education Funders Breakfast Event In New York; Makes Strong Case For Education Sector

The FrontPage Africa newspaper says in Support of Partnership Schools (PSL), President Sirleaf Attends Education Funders Breakfast Event in New York; Makes Strong Case for Education Sector. (New York, USA – Thursday, September 21, 2017) President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Thursday joined Randall Lane, Editor of Forbes, who hosted a high-level breakfast dialogue attended by philanthropists, activists and leaders in global education at Forbes in New York City. President Sirleaf, alongside Education Minister, George K. Werner, discussed Partnership Schools for Liberia (PSL), an innovative government-led pilot program launched in 2016, which pairs independent education providers with public primary schools to improve the quality of education; an urgent and compelling need in Liberia following decades of conflict and the Ebola virus outbreak. According to a dispatch from New York, the results from the program’s first year, as measured in an independent evaluation, provide promising evidence that PSL can serve as an accelerator for improved learning nationwide, and has the potential to be replicated in other developing countries.

Liberian Actor Unveiled ACF Brand Ambassador In Nigeria

Esau Owusu Dahnsaw, a Liberian movie actor, has been unveiled as Liberia’s Brand Ambassador to the Africa Cinematography Festival (ACF). According to a dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in Nigeria, the Liberian actor whose stage name is ‘Major Dahnsaw’ was signed as a brand ambassador in Lagos, Nigeria earlier this week at an official press conference and unveiling ceremony at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites on Victoria Island. The ACF is a training, production enhancement, networking, technology & film expo that “unites Africa through the arts of cinematography”. The FrontPage Africa newspaper quoting the dispatch, says the mouth-watering deal which saw Dahnsaw flown to Lagos over the weekend to attend the ceremony on Monday consummated a deal that stands till infinity.

Related Caption: Liberian Actor Unveiled ACF Brand Ambassador In Nigeria(Heritage)