The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017

Liberia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Al-Hassan Conteh’s tribute Paid on behalf of Liberia to the late ECOMOG Force Commander, Lieutenant General Victor Samuel Leonard Malu is the lone story dominating our summary of today’s local dallies.

DOMINANT STORY  

“General Malu Risks Everything For Liberia’s Peace”…Amb. Conteh Pays Tribute To Fallen Former ECOMOG General  

The Heritagenewspaper reads that Liberia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Al-Hassan Conteh says the late ECOWAS Force Commander, Lieutenant General Victor Samuel Leonard Malu, risked everything, including his life, for Liberia’s peace. A press release from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja says the Liberian Envoy made the comment when he, on behalf of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf extended Liberia’s heartfelt condolences on the sad passing of the late Nigerian army general, during wake-keeping over the remains on Wednesday evening, October 25, 2017 at the Command Officers’ Mess in Asokoro, Abuja. General Malu passed on October 9, 2017 in the United Kingdom. He continued, “On this sad occasion, Liberians of all ages and social strata wish to pay tribute to his selfless work in securing peace and stability in their country. He will always be remembered as a man of professionalism, discipline and bravery, which was clearly demonstrated during the time of greatest need in Liberia. Madame President prays that as the people of Nigeria mourn their great departed son, the Almighty Allah will grant President Buhari and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the courage and fortitude to endure this difficult period of bereavement.”  The late retired Lieutenant General Malu, a former Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, was Force Commander of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Peacekeeping Force (ECOMOG) who served in Liberia and Sierra Leone, respectively.

Related Captions: “Gen. Malu Risks Everything For Liberia’s Peace”…Amb. Conteh Pays Tribute To Fallen Former ECOMOG General(INSIGHT), Liberia Pays Tribute To Gen. Malu …Amb. Conteh Evokes Contribution To Peace (In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES  

Tackle Small Arms New Nigeria Ambassador Makes Plea to President Sirleaf And Other Regional Leaders 

Nigeria’s new ambassador accredited to Liberia is seeking collaborative efforts from the Government of Liberia to stop the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which he said is posing serious security challenges in the sub-region. Ambassador James Dimka, who replaces outgoing Ambassador Chigozie Fidelia Obi-Nnadozie, said preventing small arms proliferation is important considering the destruction of lives and properties occasioned by militant groups like Boko Haram in Nigeria and its immediate neighbours, and others in Mali, and also cited the recent disturbances in Burkina Faso. He expressed hope and optimism that while he is in Liberia he will be able to work closely with the President, her Cabinet and other heads of key state agencies and departments. The Nigeria Diplomat furthered expressed his belief that it is in the mutual interest of the two countries to forge closer economic ties and unity of purpose. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the new Nigerian ambassador made the assertion when he presented his Letter of Credence to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Receiving the Ambassador’s Letter of Credence, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf welcome him and said, Liberia and Nigeria have a long history of diplomatic relationship and hope that the two countries can continue to build on the good, existing relationship.

Information Minister Throws Light on Liberia’s Fight against Corruption

The FrontPage Africa newspaper says Information Culture and Tourism Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe has shared Liberia’s experience in curbing corruption with the Global Governance & Fight against Corruption at the Crans Montana Forum in Brussels, Belgium. According to him, Liberia sees the dialogue as very strategic, especially because of the country’s recent history and the current heart-breaking rise of terrorism in the region.  “Liberia and its neighbors have experienced first-hand how corruption, abuse of public resources and economic crimes in general can fuel wars, undermine state authority and human security,” he said. He noted that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took over a country that had been decimated by civil war, with all the apparatuses of the state crumpled.  “The country was on its knees. We had experienced the greatest economic breakdown any nation had since World War II. President Sirleaf inherited not a government to administer, but a failed state to rebuild. As onerous as the task was to bring back Liberia from the brink, the President did not for a minute believe that the fight against corruption, the prime culprit which had fuelled the war in the first place, should be left to wait. Minister Nagbe averred that the gains made in the fight against corruption by President Sirleaf in the past 12 years are “strong and foundational

Bong Police Chief Speaks On Crime, Drug Abuse

Bong County Police Superintendent Fredrick Nappy says the abuse of harmful drugs is a major contributing factor to the increasing wave of crimes in the county. According to Nappy, the proliferation of harmful drugs is not only damaging most people, especially the young people, but pushing many of them to commit crime. Speaking to the Liberia News Agency, Nappy said even though the police and Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency are working against drug trafficking and abuse in the county, much more is required of community residents. He explained that maximum corporation from community residents in identifying criminal hideouts and sales of harmful drugs will greatly help in reducing crime in the county. The Bong County Police boss is, meanwhile, recommending to the government and partners to establish of a rehabilitation center for drug addicts and other less fortunate citizens in the society. Nappy said the arrest and detention of criminals and other drug addicted youths are not sufficient measures in fighting crimes and wants the government and partners to give serious attention to the establishment of rehabilitation centers in the country, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Partnership For Research On Ebola Virus  Releases Results on Vaccine-1

At the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) Thursday, the co-principal Investigator, Dr. Fatorma Bolay of the Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia (PREVAIL), said the clinical study aimed at bringing the Ebola outbreak under control in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone was launched on February 2, 2015. PREVAIL was established in 2014 in response to a request made by former Liberian Health Minister, Dr. Walter T. Gwenigale, to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell, for the United States Gov't to assist Liberia in the development of vaccines and therapeutics to tackle Ebola.  PREVAIL 1 was the first large-scale Ebola study conducted in Liberia. Between February 2 and April 30, 2015, 1,500 men and women ages 18 and older were enrolled into the study at Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town, Monrovia. Mr. Emmanuel Lansana, the first vaccine volunteer, said his inoculation with the Ebola Vaccine on February 2, 2015 was met with a great resentment from his wife and other family members. According to him, regardless of the consequences he could have faced, he felt obligated to raise the profile of Liberia to better heights in this researched naive country. He called on Liberians to join the PREVAIL research so that vaccines and therapeutics can be developed to tackle Ebola, according to the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: PREVAIL Publish Ebla I Vaccine Results …Study Produce Year-Long Immune Response(In Profile Daily)

JFK Holds Two-Day Retreat

The Board of Directors of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Medical Center is holding its year-end retreat at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County. The two-day deliberation, which also brings together partners, seeks to integrate stakeholders’ support to the JFK. The gathering will also identify priorities for the continued development of the center. A release quoting the Board Chair, Health Minister, and Bernice Dahn as saying the retreat was significant to align the partners’ support to the JFK. Dr. Dah said there were many partners supporting the JFK, but they needed to coordinate to avoid overlapping of their activities, reports Heritage newspaper.

Election Security Taskforce Release After Action Report

According to the National Elections Security Taskforce (NEST) has released it after action for its performances in the Tuesday, October 10, 2017 Representative and Presidential Elections. NEST is made up of all various state security agencies in Liberia that are providing security for the 2017 elections. The taskforce, in a statement read by the Inspector General of the Liberia national Police (LNP), Col. Gregory O.W. Coleman, announced that its after action review report suggest that the general security atmosphere during the October 10 poll went well without any major security breach, writes the Heritage newspaper.

National Food Fortification Alliance To Be Launched Today

The official launch of the National Food Fortification Alliance (NFFA) of Liberia is expected to take place today in Monrovia. Deputy Minister of Commerce and Industry, Roland S. Carey, told a Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism regular press briefing  Thursday that the program take place at the Alliance’s head office in Sinkor. Mr. Carey explained that the program seeks to keep mind and body strong to fight disease by eating fortified food. “The institution is promoting production of fortified food that will include vitamin and mineral to keep the body and mind strong,” he added. He quotes Statics that 33% of Liberian children are malnourished, which he said leads to a lot of physical and mental deficiency, considering it critical to their growth and health. Mr. Carey said there is also malnutrition in adults which leads to high blood pressure, sugar and among others. The Commerce official said the program also sees to protect and make sure that there is good and fortified food on the market for the Liberian citizens.

ECC Prepares Observer For Presidential Run-Off

The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), a non-profit group, has disclosed that it is gearing up and training election observers to be deployed in the 73 electoral districts for the Presidential run-off election slated for November 7. The Head of the ECC Steering Committee, Oscar Bloh, said the ECC is still figuring out its role given the limited strategic resources and how the observers can be distributed during the deployment. He made the assertion Wednesday in a telephone conversation with UNMIL Radio talk show “Coffee Break” in Monrovia, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Training For Trainers Workshop For Labour Commissioners And Inspector Underway In Monrovia

According to the Heritage newspaper, Training for Trainers (TOT) Workshop on Participatory Action-Oriented Training methodology focusing on the Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE) Programme will be held in Monrovia from October 31 – 2 November 2017. The aim of the TOT workshop is to enhance the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) capacity of Labour Commissioners and Inspectors and provide practical workplace compliance. The objectives of the workshop are; to contribute to the promotion of a preventive safety and health culture in Liberia, to extend OSH protection to SMEs and Informal Economy Workplace in Liberia; and to formulate a network of OSH facilitators understanding WISE workshops and carryout follow-up activities in workplaces in improving the working conditions and the productivity in SME in Liberia and the region.