THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2017

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies among other stories highlights news of President Sirleaf’s call for women to work towards the fulfillment of whatever goals they set for themselves, the conduct of a sanitation and hygiene inspection exercise at all food processing facilities in the country by the National Public Health Institute of Liberia in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the National Codex Committee of Liberia and the planned conference of Women in the Security Sector by the Gender and Security Sector National Taskforce.

‘Burst of Women Leadership In Africa Cannot Be Stopped’ - President Sirleaf

The FrontPage Africa newspaper quotes President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as saying that the burst of women leadership in Africa cannot be stopped, and she called upon women to work towards the fulfillment of whatever goals they set for themselves. According to a dispatch from Washington, D.C., President Sirleaf was speaking Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at a program in “Celebration of African Women Leaders,” honoring her and former Malawian President Joyce Banda. The well-attended event, held at the African Union (AU) Mission in Washington, D.C., was hosted by Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, Permanent Representative of the AU to the United States. President Sirleaf said African women have made great strides in political participation at virtually all levels of government. The Liberian leader, however, cautioned that while major strides have been made, there was still more work to be done regarding the empowerment of African women. “We don’t yet have the equality we seek as women,” she added.

Gender Security Confab Opens Thursday

The Gender and Security Sector National Taskforce conference of Women in the Security Sector opens on Thursday, 14 December 2017 in the Conference Room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia. Presentations are expected to be made on issues including the situation of women in the security sector and their role in maintaining peace; women’s trajectories and stories: the challenges of being female in the Liberian Security Sector and in peace negotiations. Meanwhile, the conference will present awards to security sector actors that have demonstrated their commitment in promoting gender equality in their institutions, In Profile Daily writes.

Public Health Institute of Liberia Commences Inspection of Food Centers

The FrontPage Africa newspaper says the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Codex Committee of Liberia is conducting sanitation and hygiene inspection exercise at all food processing. The inspection exercise will cover food establishments within Monrovia and its environs and will officially start on December 11- 31, 2017. According to the daily, the categories of food establishments to be inspected include: restaurants, hotels, cook shops (lappa be door), bakeries, tea shops, street food vendors, canteens, mobile food vending machines, meat shops etc. The specific purpose of this food safety inspection is to prevent food borne illness including cholera, diarrhea and typhoid; and to ensure compliance with the Public Health Law of Liberia. The daily says the Environmental health inspection is required to ascertain how food service operators are fulfilling their responsibility to prevent food borne illnesses.

Senate Holds Major Executive Session Today – Cites LRA Commissioner, Minister of Finance, CBL Governor, Commerce Minister

According to the Daily Observer, the Senate is scheduled to hold probably its biggest Executive Session today that will include the heads of the country’s foremost financial houses: the Executive Governor of Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), the Ministers of Finance and Commerce, and the Commissioner General of Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA). The daily says Minister Kamara is requested to appear to provide an update on the 2nd Quarter of the 2017/2018 Budget and revenue generated during the quarter under review in line with the LRA’s revenue projection, for which he should appear with “all relevant documents appertaining thereto, so as to enhance the discussions.” The CBL Executive Governor, Milton A. Weeks, is expected to provide an update on the current rate of exchange between the United States dollar (USD) and Liberian dollar (LRD), citing the uncontrollable increase in the rate between the two. Commerce Minister Axel Addy will provide information on the hike in the prices of basic commodities and plans for stabilization. And the Commissioner General of the LRA, Madam Elfrieda S. Tamba, like the Finance Minister, will be expected to provide an update on the 2nd Quarter of the 2017/2018 Budget and revenue generated during the quarter under review in line with the LRA’s revenue projection.

EPA Hosts 5-Day Climate Change Seminar in Monrovia

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a five-day (Dec.11-15) National Capacity Building workshop on climate change in Monrovia. The seminar is about the preparation of Liberia’s first Biannual Update Report-1 (BUR-1).  Participants are drawn from the University of Liberia (UL), United Methodist University (UMU), Ministry of Health, TOTAL, Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy and the EPA. Dr. Charles Asumana, Sr., National Project Coordinator, at Monday’s opening session said the objective is to prepare and submit the BUR-1 to fulfill Liberia’s obligation to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). According to the Daily Observer, the project falls under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) support for convention-related reporting and assessment, and is implemented on an agreed full cost basis requiring only in-kind contribution by GEF-eligible countries.

GOL, UN Prepare For Justice, Security, Rule Of Law Perception Survey

According to the Daily Observer, the Liberia Peacebuilding Office (PBO) and the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) in collaboration with the UNDP and UNMIL have begun training 36 enumerators ahead of the start of a public perception survey on justice, security and the rule of law in Liberia in early 2018. PBO Program Manager Christopher K. Fayia stated recently at the closing session of the justice and security workshop for the 36 participants that the survey is expected to assess the current situation in the country in terms of people’s perception and knowledge of a variety of issues regarding justice and security and the rule of law services in Liberia. He added that the survey will be conducted in Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, River Gee, Grand Kru and Maryland counties where the government with support from partners has made considerable investments to improve services. Mr. Fayia said the survey is intended to compare results in counties that have benefited from international support (treatment group) and other counties, referred to as the control group, where there have not been direct justice, security and rule of law interventions.

Health Ministry, Donors Review 11-year Programs, Documents Under EJS

The Ministry of Health in collaborations with donor partners and the private sector held a three-day conference to review programs and documents on the health sector’s performance from 2006 to 2017. The review of the sector during the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration is known as the 9th Annual Health Sector Review. The revision of the health sector is to promote governance, and improve accountability and performance for quality service delivery within the country’s health sector. Deputy Health Minister for Planning Yah M. Zolia said the objectives of the three-day meeting are to identify key challenges and make recommendations to improve the health sector’s performance, the Daily Observer reads.

Ahead of Presidential Runoff: ECOWAS Aids NEC…In Cleaning Up Final Voter’s Roll

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed its willingness to assist the National Elections Commission (NEC), in the cleaning up of the Final Registration Roll (FRR).  The cleaning up of the FRR is one of the high points of a recent Supreme Court ruling in an electoral dispute case involving the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Liberty Party (LP) and the Unity Party (UP). ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Tunde Agesombo told a news conference over the weekend in Monrovia that information technology experts from the region are determined to help in the process, INSIGHT newspaper reports.

Liberia Council of Churches Urges NEC to Fully Implement Supreme Court’s Mandate

The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) has commended all major stakeholders in the election process and the Government of Liberia for ensuring that a smooth transition of political powers is carried out. The Council in a release signed by its President, Bishop Kortu Brown, said the citizens of Liberia have grown over the years exercising political maturity and Liberians have continue to demonstrate a good posture of saying no to violence and yes to peace by going to the polls and demonstrating their actions by voting for political candidates of their choice. The Council noted that it acknowledges the pathway of petitioners to seek legal redress through the Court system on the conduct of the October 10, 2017 elections and also the matured manner in which the Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia has acted making sure that the due legal process was followed, asserts the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: LCC Wants NEC Overhaul Election Mechanism (The INQUIRER)

ECC Wants Supreme Court Clarify Mandate To NEC

The Daily Observer says the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) has called on the Supreme Court of Liberia to clarify some of the directives to the National Elections Commission (NEC) as contained in its Thursday, December 7 opinion. According to the ECC, the call is an effort to help the NEC to properly execute the high court’s mandate and also for the public to understand the NEC’s scope of operation. In its ruling for a runoff rather than a rerun as prayed for by Liberty Party (LP) and Unity Party (UP) versus the NEC, the Court’s ruling seemed to have finally put the political impasse (that engulfed the country since the polls) to rest. However, according to the ECC, the mandate from the ruling is creating more questions. In a statement issued in Monrovia yesterday, the ECC raised questions over the vagueness of some of the directives from the high court—highlighting the implications of some of the directives contained in the modification of the Court’s opinion in affirming the decision of the Board of Commissioners. ECC Chairman Oscar Bloh said the High Court’s mandate for the NEC to clean the FRR in compliance with the provision of the law, is unclear. “It is unclear what ‘cleaning up the FFR’ means and we want to call on the Supreme Court to provide clarity on what it means,” he said.

Related Caption: ECC Seeks Clarification From Supreme Court…On Voter’s Roll Cleaning Issue (The INQUIRER)

Strategies On Ebola Recommended To Combat Corruption

The Director of Global Mission, Communication, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty South-West Liberia Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists, Gemane Getteh, has recommended to the Government of Liberia to use strategies they used to eradicate Ebola on corruption. Getteh made the disclosure over the weekend at the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission International Anti-Corruption Day celebration under the theme: ‘Corruption, an Impediment to sustainable Development Goals in Monrovia Liberia”. He stressed that the country needs to use the Ebola eradication method, noting, “It was not only the government or doctors that fought  the virus, everyone united against Ebola and in the same way, everyone must unit to fight against corruption”, In Profile Daily reports.

Over 100 Students Complete Various Levels of Alfalit Skills Training Program

About 147 students have received certificates completing various levels of the Alfalit Skills Training program; which marked the 4^th closing and second graduation exercises for the 2016 and 2017 tailoring program. Live skills program is part of Alfalit International Program in Liberia aimed at empowering students of the literacy program upon acquiring basic reading and writing skills as a form of economic empowerment. About 40 students graduated completing the advance stage of the program while 107 have now move to advance stages of the skills program to continue their learning to adequately prepare them for the job market. Speaking at the occasion, Director of the Alfalit Liberia, Rev. Emmanuel Giddings, encouraged the students to always seeks excellence in whatever they do and especially with the new skills acquired to enable them deliver excellent work for their would be customers.  The December 8^th graduation marked the 2^nd graduation and 4^th closing exercises of the job live skill program putting the total of students into the program to over 700 from 2013 to present, Heritage newspaper reports.

RRA Expert Provide Technical Support To LRA

A delegation from the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) is in Liberia on the invitation of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) to provide best practices and technical assistance in risk and compliance management. While in Liberia, the experts from the RRA have presented standards and best practices to enhance LRA’s technical capacity in tax compliance management. The delegation is headed by Munyentwali Gadi, RRA Deputy Commissioner General for Compliance and Risk Management and Nicole Dakuba, an IT expert. Their mission to Liberia was facilitated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) through its Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD), and AFRITAC West 2, In Profile Daily reports.

60 ‘Illegal Immigrants’ Face Probe…As LIS Officers Undergo Training In Border Surveillance, Others

Col. Lemuel Reeves, Commissioner General of Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), has disclosed that over 60 illegal immigrants are being interrogated at the headquarters of the LIS for their alleged illegal entry into Liberia. He quoted the alleged illegal immigrants as saying they were brought into the country by a woman, identified as Rebecca Tumah, said to be an owner of a local mining company. The LIS boss also disclosed that the illegal immigrants have been given 50 days grace period to stay in the country after which they will be allowed to return to their home countries, INSIGHT newspaper reports

CG Tamba Wants Adequate & Smart Investment In LRA…Holds Talks With Visiting US Research Students

Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General Elfrieda Stewart Tamba has emphasized that domestic resource mobilization is a major pillar for any economic development in Liberia. The Commissioner General says in order for the LRA to effectively and efficiently administer revenue mobilization in the country, there is a need for the Government to ensure appropriate and adequate smart investments.  The CG was speaking Wednesday (Dec 6) when Public Policy students from the College of Dartmouth in the United States visited the headquarters of the LRA and held talks with the Executive Management team of the Authority. Key issues discussed ranged from voluntary tax compliance, reforming Liberia’s tax policy regime, and support to the LRA for enhancing tax administration efficiency, and possible ways to strengthen legitimate trade facilitation, the INSIGHT newspaper writes.

Tripatite Discussion Reveals Coverage Of Occupational Injury By NASSCORP

The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently conducted a one-day Tripartite and Capacity Building Workshop on extending coverage to occupational injury.  Occupational injury is bodily damage resulting from working while there are needs for said person to be care for either through the Employer Injury Liability (EII), the Employer Liability (EI) or through Social Security. ILO Chief Facilitor Pierre Palmondon presented on the advantages of employment injury insurance over employers-Liability, Governance of an employment injury social security scheme; how to read an actual report, data collection for the assessment of an employment injury; social security scheme and financial systems for employment injury insurance. The one day event, which took place at a local hotel in Sinkor, Monrovia, also deliberated on improving compliance through awareness raising about workers social security rights and employers’ duties to register all employees with the NASSCORP, the Ministry of Labor, representatives of worker unions, and the Civil Society as well as the media, Heritage newspaper reports.

Nimba College Graduates 114

The Nimba County Community College (NCCC) over the weekend graduated 114 students in various disciplines in Sanniquellie City, Nimba County. The 3^rd Graduation exercise of the institution brought together top officials of Government from various Ministries and Agencies. The occasion was gracefully attended by the Chief Justice of Liberia, Francis Korkpor; Senator Thomas Grupee, Representatives Larry Younquoi, Prince Tokpah, the Chiefs, Elders and local county officials. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the President of NCCC, Dr. Yar Donlah Gonway-Gon described the graduation as special and historic since this college was founded six years ago as a community college, for her to serve as the first female President to reach thus far. The college was established under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with the dream to offer Bachelor degree in higher education. Dr. Gono added that the President’s dream must come true. Speaking in separate remarks, the Guest Speaker, Chief Justice Francis Korkpor lauded the administration of the college for their work over the years and urged the graduates to put into practice what they have achieved, the INQUIRER newspaper reports.

Related Caption: NCCC Graduates 110 (Daily Observer)

NEC Nullifies Nimba District #8 Recount Hearing Officer Declares Saye Miannah Winner

Authorities at the National Elections Commission (NEC) have again nullified the results of the recount in Nimba County District #8 that put Larry P. Younquoi ahead with 17 votes, to his closest rival Saye Miannah following a recount. Initially, Miannah was declared the winner of the October 10 polls with 19 votes ahead of Younquoi, but following a recount, Younquoi was found in the lead with 17 votes, which led Saye to file a complaint before the NEC, citing fraud and irregularities during the recount process. However, in his ruling Monday, December 11, the NEC Hearing Officer, John Wonsehleay said in line with the Constitution and Election Laws of Liberia, the NEC has upheld the results of the October 10 election in which Saye Miannah led with 19 votes. He indicated that the resolution signed by the NEC Board during the 2005 elections cannot be used during the October 2017 elections and as a result, the November 1 recount result in Nimba District #8 is null and void, reads the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: NEC Declares Mianah Winner of Nimba County District #8 (FrontPage Africa)

Ecobank Awards Cash Prizes To UL Graduates; Says Education Plays A Pivotal Role In The Development Of Any Nation

The management of Ecobank Liberia has presented an amount of US$500 each to two students that acquired the highest academic honor in Accounting and Management of the University of Liberia (UL). The two winning students are Nazarine Watson and Sulaiman Jalloh. Delivering the convocation address recently of the College of Business and Public Administration at Fendall Campus, the bank’s Managing Director, George Mensah-Asante, whose statement was read by Steve Howard, head of Corporate and Investment Banking, told the students and faculty that the bank will not limit itself to providing only banking services to this institution but will also assist in bringing out the full potentials of students via recognition and awards. The Ecobank MD said the bank will continue to render support to the University through the provision of improved financial services that will bring convenience to faculty, staff and students, reads the Daily Observer.

FeJAL To Hold 5^th Annual Retreat

The Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) is expected to hold its 5^th annual retreat with focus on the presentation of the Association’s status reports on activities of the year in review which will include committee’s yearly reports as well as financial reports. The retreat begins December 13-17, 2017 in Ganta, Nimba County and will assemble over 100 female journalists from across the country. FeJAL’s partners including the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) and her auxiliaries will make remarks at the official opening of the retreat on December 14, 2017. This year’s retreat is being sponsored by Action Aid Liberia, Internews, UN Women, Carter Center and other media institutions, and as well as individual contributions, the INQUIRER newspaper says.

Related Captions: FeJAL Holds Retreat In Nimba (INSIGHT), FeJAL 5^th Annual Retreat Underway (Heritage), Female Journalists Hold Retreat In Nimba (In Profile Daily)