The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2017

The Press Union of Liberia PUL has called on authorities of the Liberia National Police LNP to expeditiously investigate an arson attack on the home of Journalist Smith Toby, a staff of the OK FM, a local radio station in Monrovia, on Wednesday and Liberia Crusader for Peace’s request for the maintenance of peace in Liberia to be a priority of all political party leaders.

Also included in the Summary is the assertion of the new Country Manager of the African Development Bank in Liberia, Dr. Orison Amu, that his administration will prioritize investments in Agriculture empowering women and creating jobs for youth.

DOMINANT STORIES

Unknown Men Attack Journalist Smith’s Home…PUL Wants Police Probe Incident

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has called on authorities of the Liberia National Police LNP to expeditiously investigate an arson attack on the home of Journalist Smith Toby, a staff of the OK FM, a local radio station in Monrovia, on Wednesday. The PUL President, Mr. Charles Coffey, Jr., said the investigation into the arson attack must be exhaustive, credible and the outcome released in a timely manner. The PUL leader described the attack as act of terrorism and urged the police to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice. According to the INQUIRER newspaper, early Wednesday morning, some unknown men reportedly attempted setting ablaze the home of journalist Smith Toby, on the Roberts Field Highway. According to information, the unknown men poured gas at the front of the house and set it on fire.

Related Captions: PUL Calls For Investigation In Okay FM Station Manager Fire Incident (FrontPage Africa), Along Monrovia-RIA Highway: Journalist’s Home Attacked With Fire (INSIGHT), Suspected Arson at Journalist’s House (Daily Observer), Arson Attack On Journalist’s Home Condemned (Heritage)

Carter Center, Liberia Crusader For Peace Tackle Post-Election Violence

Liberia Crusader for Peace (LCP), with support from Carter Center, says maintaining the peace in Liberia should be a priority of all political party leaders. Ambassador Julie Endee says political parties should engage the legal process and stay away from demonstrations. Endee said the Peace Action Network (PAN) implemented by LCP is supported by the Carter Center in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy. Madam Endee disclosed that LCP is working with Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in preaching the culture of peace as the country awaits the pronouncement of run-off from the elections commission, reads the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: Crusaders For Peace Hail Carter Center (The New Dawn), Juli Endee Warns Against Violence (The INQUIRER)

OTHER STORIES

New AfDB Boss Identifies Agriculture, Women, Youth Empowerment As Top Priorities For Liberia

According to the Heritage newspaper, the new Country Manager of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Liberian, Dr. Orison Amu, says investing in Agriculture empowering women and creating jobs for youth will be his priorities as he takes assignment in the country. Dr. Amu said while he intends to continue the bank’s interventions in infrastructure development, including the construction of roads, expansion of electricity, investment in agriculture among others was key to the revival of the nation’s economy.. Dr. Amu pointed out that the lack of capital including machinery, technology among others as a major challenge farmers are being faced with and disclosed the bank’s strategy for addressing such issue with a focus on women. The new Liberia AfDB boss, a Ghanaian who is succeeding Margret Kilo presented his letter of Credence to Foreign Minister Marjon Kamara on Friday, October 13, 2017.

NEC Declares Run-Off Today

The New Dawn newspaper reads that the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) will today, Thursday, 19 October announce final results of the October 10, 2017 Presidential and Representatives’ Elections. The NEC’s Press and Public Affairs Director, Henry B. Flomo, disclosed to this paper via mobile phone Wednesday, 18 October that NEC Chairman Cllr. Jerome George Korkoya will release the names of winners of the 73 electoral districts throughout the country. Mr. Flomo explains that the press conference will also witness the declaration of the commencement of political campaign for the expected 8 November run-off presidential election that is likely between the governing UP and the CDC, forerunners from Tuesday’s polls. The two contenders obtained the two highest percentages far ahead of 18 other presidential candidates, most of whom fell below one percent after the counting of 95 percent of the votes cast on 10 October.

Deputy Foreign Minister Shoniyin Gets Notable Church Honor

The Steven Trowon Nagbe United Methodist Church has bestowed Upon Liberia’s Principle Deputy Foreign Minister, Elias Shoniyin, one of its most venerable recognitions, the Laity of the year. The Heritage newspaper quotes the Church Council as saying that Minister Shoniyin was selected through a thorough process and from among several other committed and dedicated men and women of the church. Inscribe on a plaque presented to him in recognition of his services, the church said Minister Shoniyin was unanimously found outstanding among his peers. The honoring ceremony was held Sunday at the ST Nagbe Church edifice in Monrovia.

LPRC Boss Resigns

The Heritage newspaper says the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company (LPRC), Mr. Sumo Kupee, has resigned his post. The daily says though no official reason has been given for his resignation, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has accepted Mr. Kupee’s letter of resignation. According to the daily, the Liberian leader has appointed the resigned LPRC Managing Director as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the National Port Authority (NPA), a position he has accepted.

Related Caption: LPRC Boss Resigns-Cites Health Reason, But… (The INQUIRER)

FAO Builds Global Capacity To Tackle Migration Problems

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is building the capacities of countries in the global community to address migration problem around the world. FAO Country Representative Marc Abdala made the assertion when he addressed the program marking the World Food Day at the Ministry of Agriculture’s Program Management Unit (PMU) in Fendell, outside Monrovia. The Heritage newspaper says the program was held under the theme, “Change the Future of Migration, Invest in Food Security and Rural Development”. Mr. Abdala pointed out hunger, the lack of food security and poverty, among others as factor causing global migration which, he said, FAO has an obligation to fight and promote sustainable use of natural resources.

AfDB Urges Global Support For Young African Farmers

The New Dawn newspaper reports that the African Development Bank has called for global support for Africa’s young farmers and “agripreneurs”, highlighting how agribusiness is the answer to the continent’s youth employment. In collaboration with the Initiative for Global Development, the Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD), Michigan State University, Iowa State University, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, the AfDB brought together stakeholders to discuss how to expand economic opportunities for Africa’s youth throughout the agricultural value chain, from lab to farm to fork. The session titled “Making Farming Cool: Investing in future African farmers and Agripreneurs” was held on the sideline of the ongoing 2017 World Food Prize Symposium-Borlaug Dialogue in Des Moines, Iowa. The Bank President highlighted major efforts needed to provide young Africans with new business opportunities, modern and practical skills, access to new technologies, land, equipment and finance that will allow them to transition from subsistence livelihood into higher-paying work, whether these are on or off the farm

LADA Commits US$2 million To Improve Food Security

The Deputy Chief of Party for Programs at the Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity (LADA), Watchen Harris Bruce, has disclosed that her institution has already committed over US$2 million from its US$3 million matching grant fund to help improve various agribusinesses in the country. She made the disclosure last Monday during a program commemorating this year’s World Food Day. World Food Day is celebrated globally every year to highlight food security challenges facing the world. The theme of this year’s celebration was “Change the Future of Migration; Invest in Food Security and Rural Development.” The Day was celebrated in Liberia by the Ministry of Agriculture and several development partners, assert the Daily Observer.

World Bank Liberia Office Celebrates End Poverty Day Anniversary

The World Bank Liberia Country office has joined the rest of the World Bank Group across the world to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the International Day to Eradicate Poverty. Speaking at programs marking the official celebration of the event in Liberia on Tuesday, October 17, the officer-in-Charge of the World Bank Liberia country Office, Sekou Kamara, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to fighting poverty in Liberia. He noted that the Bank, through several implementing partners including private and governmental entities, is supporting the government to improve the lives of its citizens. The FrontPage Africa newspaper says the program is providing income support to adolescent girls and young women who have lost their livelihoods as a result of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) crisis in Liberia.

Related Caption: World Bank Celebrates Africa End Poverty-Urges African Countries to Break Cycle of Poverty from Generation to Generation (Daily Observer)

Cancer Society, SDA Hospital Offer Free Breast Screening

The Liberia Cancer Society (LCS) in partnership with the Seventh Day Adventist’s (SDA) Cooper Hospital will on Sunday, October 22, offer free breast screening and consultation to women and men between the ages of 15 and 90. Dr. Dawn Cooper Barnes, who is the President of the LCS, said the screening will be done in consultation with the Ministry of Health and will bring together over 50 participants. According to her, the screening program will also raise breast cancer awareness and counseling regarding any breast problems that are found, teach women to get a yearly breast exam and to train more healthcare professionals to screen for breast cancer, according to the Daily Observer.