The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY JANUARY 19, 2018

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights news of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s   meeting with wives of aggrieved soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia in an effort to resolve outstanding problems surrounding the compulsory savings they claimed the Ministry of Defense owes them as well as Defense Minister Brownie Samukai’s assertion that the Ministry of National Defense is responsible for the procedural lapses in the management.

The summary also includes the signing of the Host Country Agreement that will facilitate the establishment of the first West African SDGC/A sub-regional center in Monrovia by the Government of Liberia and the Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa among others.  

President Sirleaf Meets Wives Of Aggrieved Soldiers

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has met wives of aggrieved soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) in an effort to resolve outstanding problems surrounding the compulsory savings they claimed the Ministry of Defense owes them. She assured the aggrieved wives of AFL soldiers of government’s commitment in resolving their concerns. She said government will pay the money into the soldiers’ accounts over a period of time, noting: “I, as well as the President-elect have been briefed by the Chief of Staff of the AFL." she revealed.  According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf met the aggrieved wives of AFL soldiers on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at her Fish Market residence.  The In Profile Newspaper on the other hand quotes Defense Minister Brownie Samukai As saying that the Ministry of National Defense is responsible for the procedural lapses in the management, expenditure and utilization of AFL pension benefits. He says the Government of Liberia has determined that it is appropriate and the right thing to do is to restitute the full amount of US$1,147,656.35 deducted from the past several years. Minister Samukai said the Ministry should not have used the funds for the benefit of the soldiers without requisite. Reporting under the caption “Defense Ministry Admits Lapses-Defers AFL Benefits Payment To New Gov’t”, the Defense boss noted that said fund shall be immediately provided in the next budget appropriation of the AFL by the Government of Liberia.

Relate Captions: As MOD Takes Responsibility For AFL Pension Benefits: Weah’s Gov’t Will Restitute Over US$1M(Heritage), For Soldiers’ Pension Benefits: Defense Ministry Admits ‘Lapses’ But…(INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES  

Liberia Signs Host Country Agreement With SDG Center For Africa 

The INSIGHT newspaper reads that the Government of Liberia and the Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa (SDGC/A) have signed a “Host Country Agreement” that will facilitate the establishment of the first West African SDGC/A sub-regional center in Monrovia. The SDGC/A sub-regional center in Liberia will support countries of the Mano River Union (MRU) and member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Its establishment is at the request of the MRU countries (Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia) and comes with the approval of the SDGC/A Board of Directors. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Foreign Minister, Madam Marjon V. Kamara signed on behalf of the host government; while the Director-General of the SDGC/A, Dr. Belay Begashaw, signed on behalf of his organization. The event took place in the Foreign Ministry’s conference room on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Under the terms of the Host Country Agreement, Liberia will provide facilities and services required for the sub-regional center that will support the achievement of the SDGs and Agenda 2063. 

'We Could Not Have Done It Without You' - Ambassador Brown Tells UN

Liberia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lewis Brown has thanked the United Nations and the international community for the support to ensuring democratic transition in Liberia after more than seven decades. Speaking at an informal session of the UN General Assembly convened to hear a briefing by UN Secretary General António Guterres on his priorities for 2018, Ambassador Brown said Liberia would not have achieved the historic democratic transition of power without the support of the United Nations and other international partners. A dispatch from Liberia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations quotes Ambassador Brown as saying that “for the first time, many people were bursting with hope and a new sense and new impression of what diplomatic relations can truly represent”. He made the comments on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. The top Liberian diplomat at the United Nations described his country as a true UN success story, the INSIGHT newspaper.

Chinese Ambassador Admitted Into The Order Of The Star Of Africa

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has admitted Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, H. E. Zhang Yue, of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Liberia into the Order of the Star of Africa with the Grade of Grand Band. Quoting an Executive Mansion release, the In Profile Daily reads that President Sirleaf who is also Grand Master of the Order of Distinction recounted the significant contributions and role played by the People's Republic of China in the development efforts of Liberia. She named ongoing works on the new state of the art Airport Terminal and Runway rehabilitation, the construction and renovation of the SKD Sports Complex, the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, the Annexes at the National Legislature, and related development initiatives across the country.  The daily says President Sirleaf made the statement on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 in the C. Cecil Dennis Jr. Auditorium during an Investiture Ceremony held in honor of Ambassador Zang Yue for his invaluable services and support to Liberia's development initiatives. 

Related Caption:  Chinese Ambassador Admitted Into The Order Of The Star Of Africa(Heritage)

For Large Cash Withdrawals From Banking System:…Calls For Use Of Payment Systems

Central Bank Governor Milton A. Weeks has called on stakeholders to make use of the current payment systems rather than withdrawing huge amounts of cash from the banking system. Governor Weeks said the bank, and by extension Liberia, spends huge amounts of funds to print and import currency; distribute and collect currency. The CBL Executive made the disclosure Thursday, January 18, 2018, in Monrovia when he addressed a National Payment Systems Stakeholder’s Forum organized by the Central Bank of Liberia. The Governor said the CBL looks forward to all stakeholders embracing the payment systems as a means of creating efficiencies that will lead to cost-savings in the long run, according to the INSIGHT newspaper.