THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Stories dominating our summary of today’s local dailies include: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s request for the National Legislature to ratify a US$20 million loan agreement between the Government of Liberia and the International Development Association and the US Center for Disease Control Director’s assertion that Liberia’s situation is much better.

DOMINANT STORIES

Ellen Submits US$20M Loan Agreement to Legislature

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has requested the National Legislature to ratify a US$20million loan agreement between the Government of Liberia and the International Development Association (IDA). In a letter to the body dated December 16, 2014, the Liberian leader indicated that the loan is for budgetary support to finance the Second Poverty Reduction Support Development Policy which seeks to sustain and deepen government’s efforts in governance reform and human capital development. The Poverty Reduction Support Development Policy further aims to improve transparency in government and reduce opportunity for corruption as well as enhances exclusive growth and employment. The Liberian leader informed the House that the principal amount of the credit shall be repaid between March 15, 2015 to September 15, 2052, the News newspaper reports.

Related Captions: Ellen Submits US$20M Loan Agreement To Legislature For Ratification(Heritage), Ellen Submits US$20M Loan Agreement To Legislature For Ratification(INSIGHT), US$20M Loan Agreement Submitted For Ratification(The New Republic), President Sirleaf Submits US$20M Loan Agreement To Legislature For Ratification(In Profile Daily)

‘Situation In Liberia Much Better’, Visiting CDC Director Declares

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has received a delegation of the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headed by its Director, Tom Frieden. According to an Executive Mansion release, at a meeting held at her Foreign Ministry office on Friday, December 19, President Sirleaf briefed the CDC delegation about the current state of the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease and expressed appreciation to Mr. Frieden for the role of the CDC has played in the fight. “The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been there with us at the time all hope seemed to have been lost. You stood as a true partner and helped turn the scourge around for the good of the country, the Mano River Union Basin and the global community”, President Sirleaf stressed. She told the delegation that the focus will now change from treatment to prevention, and that the government is now keen on strengthening its regular healthcare system with strong infection control measures. In response, director Tom Frieden expressed joy at being back in Liberia and thanked President Sirleaf for her leadership in the fight against the deadly Ebola virus disease. “I was here around August and September and it seemed all was lost. Coming back, the difference is unimaginable,” he stressed. Dr. Frieden said the situation in Liberia was much better, not just in terms of case management but robust response as well. He urged the Liberian government and partners to now find a way to ensure safe and dignified burial for victims of the Ebola virus so as to address the concerns of families who have lost and continue to lose love ones, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Captions: Dr. Tom Frieden Pays Courtesy Call On President Sirleaf(Daily Observer), CDC Director Pays Courtesy Call On Ellen(The News), CDC Officials Visit Liberia(The New Dawn), US CDC Director Returns(The New Republic), CDC Director Impressed With Liberia’s Progress(In Profile Daily), CDC’s Director Visits Liberia(The Analyst), ‘Situation Was Better For Liberia’(New Democrat)

OTHER STORIES

U.S. Senator Impressed With Ebola Progress

United States Senator and member of the Senate Committee on African Affairs and Appropriation, Chris Coons, has expressed satisfaction over the vigorous stand Liberia and its partners have taken to chase Ebola out of the country and sub-region. Senator Coons, who is visiting Liberia to assess how resources, including financial and human, are being used in the Ebola fight in West Africa, told a news conference in Monrovia Monday that significant progress had been made in the fight. In the wake of the improvements in Liberia, the U.S. Senator said investors who left the country in August because of Ebola should begin to think about coming back to resume normal activities. He warned that the virus is still far from under control as it can break out at any time if people are not careful to observe practices that have helped to bring decline in cases. Safe burial, hand washing, taking of temperature, amongst others, are among safety practices being put in place by health authorities to prevent the spread of Ebola, Daily Observer reports

NEC Releases Provisional Results

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has released the first provisional results of the December 20, 2014 Special Senatorial Election. Speaking at a news conference at the headquarters of the commission Monday, 22 December. NEC Chairman Jerome George Korkoya said, as part of the transparent nature of the electoral process, immediately following the close of the polls, the reconciliation, sorting and counting of votes commenced at all polling places across the country.   Korkoya said that out of the 4,701 polling places in the country, 1,636 polling places have reported, with 183,052 votes already counted and tallied, the New Dawn reports.

Related Caption: NEC Releases Provisional Results(The Analyst)