THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, May 4, 2015

The dismissal of Abraham Kromah, Deputy Police Director for Operations, and the appointment of new government officials by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as well as UNICEF's donation to Monrovia City Corporation are the dominant stories on today's newsstand.

Dominant Stories

AB Kromah, Others Fired

New Dawn newspaper reports that the Executive Mansion in Monrovia has announced the dismissal of Deputy Police Director for Operations Abraham Kromah and three others at the Liberia National Police with immediate effect. The three others fired by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf are Assistant Director for Intelligence Samuel Nimley, Assistant Director for Administration Phil Tougbey, while Assistant Director for Crimes Services Joseph B. Flomo has been transferred to Intelligence as Acting Assistant Director. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader also mandated the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia, to constitute a "Change Management Committee" at the LNP with the view to formalizing the procedure for the promotion and changes in the management structure at the Liberia National Police. Pending the recommendation of the "Change Management Committee", the Liberian President, upon the recommendation of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, has designated Prince Mulbah, Chief of Professional Standard Division as Acting Deputy Director of Police for Operations and Sadatu F.M. Reeves, Chief of Gender Affairs as Acting Assistant Director for Administration with immediate effect. In another development, the President has dismissed Imam Mohammed A. Passewe as Superintendent of Grand Cape Mount County, forwarding him to the Ministry of Justice for misusing public funds. The Assistant Superintendent for Development has been mandated to serve as Acting Superintendent. Meanwhile, the President has made a number of appointments at the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, State for Presidential Affairs and National Housing Authority, as well as the Boards of Tax Appeals, Liberia Maritime Authority, Liberia Airport Authority and Liberia Electricity Corporation subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate where applicable. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Brahima Kaba has been named Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while Jarjar Kamara is now Liberia's new Ambassador to neighboring Sierra Leone. At the Ministry of Internal Affairs, President Sirleaf has appointed Mrs. Youngor S. Sherman as Development Superintendent of Lofa County, Mr. Jumah Gull, Superintendent, Suehn Mecca Statutory District in Bomi County, Ms. Mammie Dulleh, Township Commissioner of Bakedu Township in Lofa County and Richard Flyjour, Commissioner of Kongba in Gbarpolu County.

Others named by the President are Thomas Ezike, Commissioner of Gbarma in Gbarpolu County, John Gormu, Commissioner of Bokomu District in Gbarpolu County, as well as Mr. John Suloken, Commissioner of Gouwalala, Gbarpolu County and Mr. Learphey Binda, County Inspector, Gbarpolu County. Mr. Abel Plackie of the Ministry of Information was also appointed 2nd Deputy Press Secretary to the President. Meanwhile, President Sirleaf has named Mr. Prince Anything Wleh as Deputy Managing Director for Administration of the National Housing Authority, while Mr. David Kolleh was also named member of the Board of Tax Appeals.

Mr. Edward Dunn was also appointed to the Board of the Liberia Maritime Authority as a member, replacing Mr. Willard Russell. At the Liberia Airport Authority, former President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate Gbehzhongar Findley is now the new Chairman of the Board of Directors. Others appointed by the President of Liberia are the Minister of Transport, Statutory Member, the Minister of Public Works, member, Liberia Civil Aviation Authority, Statutory member, SN Brussels' Managing Director, member, Ms. Aumou Abdallah Ebanks, Member, as well as theManaging Director, Secretary. Those appointed to the Liberia Electricity Corporation Board are Mr. Ian Yhap, Chairman, Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Statutory Member, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Statutory Member, Minister of Justice, Statutory Member and Dr. Clarence Moniba, PDU, member. Others are Mr. Monie Captan, member, Ms. Mona Doe Siaffa, Member and Mr. Cooper Kromah, member.

Related Captions:Controversial LNP Deputy Chief Falls (Analyst), Ellen Drops 'Bombshell' At LNP (Heritage),Jubilation Marks Kromah's Dismissal (In Profile Daily), Motorcyclists Celebrates Kromah's Dismissal (Insight), Pres. Sirleaf Relieve Col. Kromah (Insight), Ellen Dismisses A.B Kromah, Others (Inquirer), Police Chiefs Fire (New Democrat),  andAB Kromah Sacked (FOCUS) and A.B. Kromah Sacked (News),

New Appointment In Government

On the local government level,Mrs. Youngor S. Sherman  has been appointed Development Superintendent, Lofa County; Mr. Jumah Gull   Supt., Suehn Mecca Statutory District, Bomi County, others are Ms. Mammie Dulleh,, Township Commissioner, Bakedu Township, Lofa County; Mr. Richard Flyjour, Commissioner, Kongba, Gbarpolu County,; Mr. Thomas Ezike   Commissioner, Gbarma, Gbarpolu County; Mr. John Gormu , Commissioner, Bokomu, Gbarpolu County; Mr. John Suloken , Commissioner, Gouwalala, Gbarpolu County and Mr. Learphey Binda, County Inspector, Gbarpolu County. At the Ministry of States for Presidential Affairs, Mr. Abel Plackie goes as 2nd Deputy Press Secretary, reports the New Democrat newspaper.

UNICEF Donates Six Trucks To MCC

The Heritage newspaper reports that the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has donated six brand new trucks to the Monrovia City Cooperation (MCC). The trucks, which were donated at the weekend, worth over US$460,000. The donation was made at the MCC’s Service Office on the UN Drive in Monrovia. Speaking during a brief turning over ceremony, UNICEF Country Representative, Mr. Seldon Yett, said the donation came as a result of a request made by the MCC.

Related Captions:UNICEF Donates Six Trucks To MCC(News), and UNICEF-Liberia Donates Six Brand New Iveco Trucks To MCC (New Dawn New) and MCC Gets 6 New Trucks (Insight)

Other Stories

May Proclaimed Red Cross, Red Crescent Month

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has, by proclamation, declared Saturday, May 1 through 31, 2015 as"Red Cross Month" and May 8, 2015 as World "Red Cross Red Crescent Day" to be observed throughout the Republic as a Working Holiday. The Proclamation is in recognition of the World Red Cross Red Crescent Movement commitment to rendering relevant and timely services to distressed and needy people throughout the world in time of trouble, sickness, war, natural calamity, and other forms of disasters. The Proclamation noted that after 150 years of its birth, the Red Cross and Red Crescent continues to provide humanitarian services to vulnerable communities and remains committed to doing so. The Proclamation further noted that after more than 130 years, the devoted Volunteers of Liberian Red Cross have responded to challenges in the various counties, districts and communities with compassion and generosity, including the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus disease from which the nation is gradually recovering. The Presidential Proclamation mentioned that in the space of the fast changing world, young people will lead positive change as recent surveys indicate that half of the13 million Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers worldwide are youth who are innovators embracing new ideas and technologies faster than any generation before them, acknowledging that thousands of them worldwide have been trained as peer educators in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, the New Dawn newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release.

MIA Holds ConsultationSensitization confab

The Inquirer newspaper reports that in an effort to boost the decentralization process in the country, the Ministry of Internal Affairs held a three-day confab on Stakeholders High Level Consultation and Sensitization on rationalization of local government administrative structures in Gbarnga City, Bong County, with the support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The confab brought together Civil Society Organizations, government officials and traditional leaders from Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Lofa, Grand Bassa, Rivercess and Bong Counties. Speaking at the opening of the confab, the Deputy Minister for Research and Development Planning at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, J. Tiah Nagba said Decentralization is very essential because it is a Good Governance that divides government business between central and local actors and it brings more people into the process of development and services delivery, and promotes greater accountability.

 UNICEF Delegation Pleased with Ebola Messages

A high level UNICEF delegation visiting Liberia says it is so far pleased with the level of Ebola awareness messages carryout by SHALOM, INC. a local non-governmental organization which concluded a massive sensitization campaign on the deadly Ebola virus in four communities in the Borough of New Kru Town. UNICEF delegation over the weekend concluded a one day interactive working visit with adolescents and most vulnerable girls at risk which led an intensive fight against the Ebola virus in several communities around the Bushrod Island area and expressed hope that training acquired will be utilized in the future. The working forum was characterized by question and answer section, where the girls were afforded the opportunity to explain their difficult ordeal in spreading the Ebola awareness messages during the height of the outbreak which claimed the lives of thousands and felt the needs to ensure that the disease was eliminated from Liberia, the Inquirer newspaper reports.

GC urges Empowerment of Women in Local Governance

The Governance Commission through its Commissioner for Political and Legal Reforms, Governance Commission, Mr. Yarsou Weh-Dorliae, has pledge to take proactive measure to ensure the active participation of women at all level of the local government as part of the decentralizations process in the country. Speaking at the just ended Stakeholders High Level Consultation and Sensitization on Rationalization of Local Government Mr. Weh-Dorliae said the GC will ensure that women be represented on local councils and administrative bodies, as well as involving in development planning and community meetings, the Insight Newspaper writes.

New Retro-reflective License Plates Arrive

A consignment of new motor vehicle license plates designed with retro-reflective features to enhance vehicles visibility at night are due to arrive in the country shortly, according to the Ministry of Transport (MOT). Disclosing this in an interview with the Liberia News Agency Friday, Deputy MOT Public Affairs Director Lemuel O. Kleeme said the highly sophisticated license plates are also intended to improve the vehicle licensing system. Kleeme noted that the plates are designed in accordance with international standards with technical security features that will prevent them from being forged, the Insight newspaper writes.

Related Caption:New Vehicle Plates For Liberia(FOCUS)

Putu Ofers 50 Scholarships

Forty students from four faith based private schools have benefited from scholarships from Putu Iron Ore Management (PIOM) as the company continues to build confidence pending full operations. Schools concerned are the Assembly of God, Bishop Juwle, Lutheran (Nixon Garlo ) and Bishop JUWLE High Schools. Ten other from the University of Liberia will also benefit, making the beneficiaries to fifty. The scholarships were recently announced by the PIOM High Power Delegation headed by its government relations and human resource manager, Ambassador Bangura, in the conference room of the administration building in Zwedru, In Profile Daily reports.

Several Children Receive educational Materials, Others In New Kru Town

Several children in the borough of New Kru Town on the Busrod Island, outside on Saturday, may 2 received a huge donation of educational material and assorted food items from the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity was founded on December 4, 1906 by seven undergraduate students known as “The seven Jewels” at Cornell University. It was the first intercollegiate fraternity among African American men. With the Great Sphinx of Giza as its symbol, and the motto “First of all, Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All”, Alpha Phi alpha dedicated itself to defend the rights ad to promote the responsibilities of African Americans, Heritage reports.

GOL Embarks On Mass Participation Initiative – Deputy MICAT Boss Says To Give Voice To Citizens

Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Information Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), Andrew G. Tehmeh, said citizens’ participation into the decision processes of the government is important and matters most to the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf led government. The Deputy Minister and the statement in Monrovia over the weekend at the launch of the open government partnership initiative by Government of Liberia.  Minister Tehmeh said the open government partnership (OGP) process is intended to enable citizens have their say in government activities relating to the running of the state. Minister Tehmeh ted that the open government partnership initiative will basically enhance god governance which the President Sirleaf promises the people and has been demonstrating since her administration of state affairs, The Analyst reports.

NEC Ends CVE Toolkit Workshop

Participants and facilitators of the National Elections Commission (NEC) organized civic ad voter education toolkit workshop have validated components derived to develop a national CVE toolkit for future elections in Liberia. Prof., Francis N. Maweah, Director of Regional Planning, University of Liberia, lectured participants on the strategy focusing the production and use of print materials in CVE, In Profile Daily reports.

LEITI Gets New Deputy head Of Secretariat

The Multi-stakeholders Steering Group of the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency initiative (LEITI) has appointed a new Deputy Head at the LEITI Secretariat. Mr. Myer W. Saye was appointed by the MSG recently following a competitive recruitment process in which several other Liberians participated, In Profile Daily reports.

Related Caption:LEITI Appoints New Deputy(News)

Omega Market Unveiled

The Omega in When Town, Paynesville, outside Monrovia was unveiled at a colorful ceremony during the weekend. The Omega Market is one of the Sirleaf Market Women’s Fund (SMWF) market projects, which has been hugely supported by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKA) Incorporated, a fraternity group. Construction of the Omega Market is part of an effort aimed at decogesting the main Red Light Market. It can be recalled that AKA in 2010, contributed an iitial US$500,000 towards the Omega Market Project and pledged an additional US$500,000 towards the project. Also in 2013, members of the Eta Beta Omega (EBO) Chapter of AKA, Inc. raised close to one million United States Dollars in honor of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, was also AKA member, 75^th birthday celebration. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, President Johnson Sirleaf lauded the great initiative of the AKA for its kid gesture aimed at changing the living standards of marketers, Heritage writes.