The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2017

The story topping the local dailies of our summary today is the provisional results from the NEC which put the Coalition for Democratic Change and the ruling Unity Part ahead of their counterparts in the October 10 presidential and legislative elections.

The summary also highlights stories concerning the presentation of credentials by Liberia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Mrs. Musu Jatu Ruhle, as well as the Proclamation issued by President Johnson Sirleaf declaring Sunday, October 15, 2017 as “World Sight and White Cane Safety Day.” to be observed as a Working Holiday.

DOMINANT STORY

Weah Now 39.0%, Boakai 29.1% Of Votes Tallied So Far

According to the Daily Observer Newspaper Liberians will be revisiting the polls to decide on who becomes the country’s next president in a run-off presidential election between the two candidates who have obtained the most number of votes from the October 10 polls. Having tallied 95.6% of all votes cast on October 10, the two candidates with most of the votes so far have not been able to secure 50%+1. So far the top opposition contender, George Manneh Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has secured 572,453 votes, which amounts to 39.0% of the 1,550,923 votes already tallied across the country. Vice President Joseph N. Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP), trails behind Weah with 427,550 votes, 29.1% of the national tally so far.

Related Captions: Weah, Boakai Head For Presidential Runoff (INSIGHT), Weah, Boakai Head For Presidential Runoff (INSIGHT), In Presidential Race: Weah, Boakai Head For Run-Off (Heritage), Run Off Certain…As ALP Objects To Some Results; Invalid Votes Swell To Over 84,000 (The INQUIRER), Run-Off Lobbying Underway With 95.6 Percent Of Votes Counted, George Weah Of The Coalition For Democratic Change And Vice President Joseph Boakai Are On A Collision Course To Woo And Sway The Rest The Rest Of The Field Of 20-Candidates Eyeing The Liberian Presidency Into Their Corner, Promises Of Jobs Likely To Dominate Discussion Table (FrontPage Africa)  

OTHER STORIES

Liberian Envoy Presents Letters Of Credence To Sierra Leone’s President

The Heritage newspaper says Liberia’s newly accredited Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Sierra Leone has pledged to work tirelessly and in concert with officials of that Government, to further solidify the already excellent relations subsisting between both countries and peoples. According to a dispatch from Freetown, Liberia’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Mrs. Musu Jatu Ruhle, made the statement when she presented her Letters of Credence to the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma at State House recently. Ambassador Ruhle succeeds Ambassador Jarjar M. Kamara, who has been appointed Senior Ambassador-at-Large, Republic of Liberia. Ambassador Ruhle stressed that while the natural integration of peoples of both countries is a welcome phenomenon, she looks forward to strengthening cooperation with Sierra Leone as the world is becoming more challenging as criminals engage in transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking, smuggling of goods and small arms. Accepting Ambassador Ruhle’s credentials, Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency Dr. Koroma first appreciated the warm sentiments and indicated that both countries have long standing bilateral relations built on a platform of mutual trust, respect for sovereignty and the belief that all nations have the right to aspire for prosperity and peaceful co-existence.

Today Is ‘World Sight, White Cane Safety Day’

The Heritage newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared Sunday, October 15, 2017, as “World Sight and White Cane Safety Day,” to be observed throughout the Republic as a Working Holiday. As the day falls on Sunday, President Sirleaf has directed that the day be observed on Monday, October 16, as a Working Holiday. According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s World Sight and White Cane Safety Day’s celebration will take place at the S.T. Nagbe United Methodist Church on 13th Street in Sinkor, under the theme: “Respect the White Cane”. The Proclamation calls on the National Commission on Disabilities, Ministries of Justice and Education as well as other relevant agencies of government, local and international NGOs, civil society organizations, partners-in-progress to join the Ministry of Health in organizing appropriate programs befitting the observance of the Day.

WaterAid In Liberia And Sierra Leone Calls For Action To Improve WASH in Schools This Global Hand Washing Day

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, with Global Handwashing Day on Monday, October 15, WaterAid in Liberia and Sierra Leone has renewed its call for improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene in schools. WaterAid Global Head of Campaigns Savio Carvalho said: “Clean, plentiful water, good sanitation and good hygiene including handwashing with soap are absolutely essential to effective education, wherever you are in the world. The daily says WaterAid’s vision is of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation.  The international organization works in 35 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific Region to transform lives by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in some of the world’s poorest communities. 

Related Caption: WaterAid In Liberia, Sierra Leone Call for Action to Improve WASH in Schools This Global Hand washing Day (Heritage)

MOA, FAO To Celebrate World Food Day In Monrovia

The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and other strategic partners will on today, October 16, 2017 celebrate World Food Day in Monrovia under the theme: “Change the future of migration. Invest in food security and rural development.” The FrontPage Africa says the celebration will be climaxed with a press conference and a stakeholder’s dialogue at the Project Management Unit of the MOA in Fendell, Montserrado County. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the Day is a global event celebrated to promote worldwide responsiveness and action for those who suffer from hunger and to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all.

Related Caption: FAO, GoL, WFP and Partners Celebrate World Food Day (INSIGHT)

3000 Cocoa Farmers To Benefit From Grow-Liberia Partnership With LPMC

 Grow-Liberia, a part of  its support to improving the agriculture regulatory authority, formerly the Liberia Marketing and Produce corporation LPMC that will benefit over 3000  cocoa farmers in Liberia. GROW is a private sector development initiative operating in Liberia to promote pro-poor economic growth and suability through partnership with private sector. The  FrontPage Africa newspaper says  GROW’s Team Leader, Yoqual Lavals,  under the partnership, his entity is rendering support to LPMC and local cocoa farmers in Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties to boost the production of cocoa in the country.