The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2017

Today media summary includes stories on the Plenary Meeting of United Nations 72^nd General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution on Universal Health Coverage chaired by Liberia, the call for Independent Government at the University of Liberia, and the start of CBL seminar for rural financial institutions in Ganta are among other stories. 

Liberia Chairs 72nd Plenary Meeting As UN General Assembly Adopts Major Resolutions for Universal Health Coverage

The Insight newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release: “Under the Chairmanship of Liberia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Israel Davies, the UN General Assembly has adopted two draft resolutions in support of improving universal health coverage. On Tuesday, December 12, 2017, Liberia co-sponsored the two resolutions – “Global health and foreign policy, addressing the health of the most vulnerable for an inclusive society” and “International Universal Health Coverage Day”. Liberia recognizes that despite progress in the health sector, challenges in global health including major inequities and vulnerabilities still remain and require urgent attention. According to a dispatch from Liberia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the UN General Assembly noted that global health is not just an end but a pre-condition to making progress in the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and urged all Member States to respect, protect and promote the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health”.

Ghana’s President Calls For Independent Governance At UL Commencement

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo says the struggle for rapid economic development is farfetched in Africa and as such there is a need to encourage democratic governance throughout the continent in achieving economic development. At the 98th Commencement Convocation of the state-run University of Liberia in Fendell, outside Monrovia, President Akufo-Addo noted that the lack of economic development in Africa has resulted to many Africans being faced with poverty while attaining freedom still remains unachievable.  “Too many of our people are still faced with extreme poverty and the struggle to obtain freedom has not been attained. He told the gathering that only a democratic outcome would be accepted in the Liberia’s elections, challenging the Supreme Court and the Election Commission to be up to the task in setting the country to a successful transition. “ECOWAS and West Africa is not prepared to see Liberia sliding back to instability. Democracy is at the ballot and not the bullet as a preferred way of changing government, reports FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: “ECOWAS Cannot Afford Another Crisis in Liberia”…Ghanaian President Says it’s time to move forward (Daily Observer)

CBL Begins Seminar for Rural Financial Institutions in Ganta

The Central Bank of Liberia is conducting a seminar and capacity building forum on the management of rural community financial institutions (RCFIs) in Liberia. The seminar, which started on Monday, December 11 at the Guinea Embassy Entertainment Center in Ganta City, Nimba County, will bring together Board Members of the RCFIs – local banking institutions established by the CBL. The workshop will cover topics such as, RCFIs prospects and challenges (the Liberian experience); needs assessment of RCFIs; discussion SWOT analysis of ACDI/VOCA; and the importance of community banking (the Sierra Leone experience). Others will be the role and responsibility of the APEX/TASU in the supervision and regulation of RCFI (the Sierra Leone experience); regulatory framework; returns and reporting standards for RCFIs; core banking software/procedures and operation of the RCFIs’ credit and credit risk analysis in RCFI, among others, reports Daily Observer.

EAIF Secures US100 Million Loan From AfDB

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the African Development Bank has approved US $100 million to The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), a Public Private Partnership (PPP) company, to reduce gap in sub-Sahara Africa. Through a US $325-365m million debt raise, EAIF intends to develop the fund’s strategy of growing its loan portfolio over the next 3-5 years and to become a sustainable and concrete alternative to development finance institutions and commercial banks. Since its inception, the Fund has played a key role in the infrastructure landscape in Africa, investing in structuring and long-term infrastructure projects, to the tune of over US$1.2 billion in about 70 transactions. Working closely with the African Development Bank since its inception, EAIF plans to reinforce investments in 49 eligible countries and fragile states with a clear focus on crucial sectors for the development of the continent including power, telecommunication, transportation, and manufacturing, among other sectors. The expected outcomes of EAIF business model will be a clear demonstration of how to achieve green and sustainable growth in Africa; it will include the creation of 3,500 permanent jobs, improved or new access to infrastructure services for millions of people in Africa and investments in environmental, social and gender projects.

‘Healthcare for All Liberians A Necessity’

The Executive Director of Public Health Initiative Liberia (PHIL), Joyce K. Jarwolo, has indicated that the government needs to craft health policies that will enable every Liberian to have access to affordable healthcare services in the country. Jarwolo made the statement yesterday during a program marking the Universal Health Coverage Day, held at a resort in Monrovia. She urged the Liberian government not to focus on reforms that provide an advantage for those in the formal employment sector. It may be recalled that on December 12, 2012, the United Nations unanimously endorsed a historic resolution urging all countries to accelerate progress towards universal access to affordable and quality health care services for all. According to her, the policies should include those marginalized due to poverty, ethnicity, youth, age, disability, gender, sexuality, religion, migration status, conflict, distance, remoteness and key populations, all of whom are currently denied their full right to access quality health services, pens the Daily Observer.

Health Minister Embarks on Rural Tour…Salutes Health Workers, Stakeholders

According to the Heritage Newspaper, Health Minister Dr. Bernice Dahn, On Wednesday, December 13 visited Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties, expressing gratitude to healthcare workers and county stakeholders for their service in the health sector during her more than two years of administration. Minister Dahn said was not only visiting, but to also report on promises made during her previous visit that preceded her confirmation by the Liberian Senate. Minister Dahn said she was pleased that with the support of government, donors, healthcare workers and other stakeholders, much has been achieved in the health sector.

RCFIs To Get US10M IFAD Grant Facility, Loan

The Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Mr. Milton A. Weeks, has informed Rural Community Finance Institutions (RCFIs) that the Government of Liberia has signed a USD10.8 million finance agreement with the international fund for agricultural Development (IFAD) for a grant facility and loan for rural community finance institutions in Liberia. The funding is being channeled through the Central Bank of Liberia and will support the establishment of additional rural finance institutions while strengthening existing ones. The CBL Executive Governor made the statement during the opeing ceremony of a four-day national RCFI seminar and capacity building training in Gompa City Nimba County on 11 December 2017, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Related Caption: RCFIs To Get US10.8 Million IFAD Grant Facility and Loan (New Dawn)

Government to Repatriate Stranded Liberians In Libya

According to the Heritage newspaper, the President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Senator Armah Zolu Jallah, is urgently seeking the repatriation of several Liberians stranded in Libya and being treated inhumanely. In a formal communication addressed to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Senate Pro Tempore Jallah presented his compliments and congratulated President Johnson Sirleaf for her relentless and enormous strides made in transforming Liberia into a true post conflict success story, diligence and tenacity to succeed which have made Liberia proud nation on the continent of Africa. “Nevertheless Madam President, as you may be aware by now, African migrants, some of which are Liberian citizens, are currently trapped in Libya and are undergoing unbearable and deadly inhumanity being meted out against them,” said Senator Jallah, who is also the Chairman of the Gbarpolu County Legislative Caucus.

Related Caption: Pro Tempore Jallah Appeals To Ellen Over Stranded Liberians (New Dawn)

Smartphones Take Agricultural Data Collection to New Level

According to the Daily Observer, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) with support and funding from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has engaged several extension workers in a three-day training at the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) in Suakoko District, Bong County. The 24 extension officers, including six employees from the Liberia Institute for Geo-Information Services, were trained in the latest data collection technology. At the end of the training, each participant received a state of the art mobile phone that they will use for their assigned areas of work. In an interview with this newspaper recently, Nasi Broh, National Project Coordinator for the Rebuilding of Statistics at the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), said the participants were selected from Bong, Lofa, Nimba and Bomi counties.