THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015

News of President Johnson Sirleaf’s planned meeting with U.S. President Barrack Obama in Washington D.C., government’s lifting of curfew imposed during the Ebola epidemic and President Johnson Sirleaf’s appointment of local government officials are among stories dominating today’s summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Ellen Meets Obama Again

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is expected to meet U.S. President Barrack Obama at the White House in Washington D.C. this Friday February 27, as both leaders look forward to a stronger cooperation at this critical time. President Sirleaf's meeting with Obama comes after the U.S. President  announced last week, that  the United States is moving to the next phase of its Ebola response, which will be characterized by an intensive effort to reach zero Ebola cases in West Africa.  A statement issued by White House Press Secretary Sunday said President Obama looks forward to building on a strong and historic partnership with Liberia and discussing a range of topics with President Sirleaf, including the ongoing Ebola response, the region’s economic recovery plans, and other issues of mutual interest, according to the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Ellen Meets Obama Friday Ebola Response, Economic Recovery on the Agenda(Daily Observer), Presidents Sirleaf, Obama Meet February 27(New Democrat), Ellen Off To US, Belgium(FOCUS), Ellen Meets Obama This Week(The News), Pres. Sirleaf Off To The United States And Belgium(INSIGHT)

Curfew Lifted

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has ordered the lifting of the curfew imposed nationwide, beginning Sunday, February 22, 2015. She has also ordered the reopening of all the country’s main borders that were ordered closed during the Ebola outbreak.  The In Profile Daily quotes an Executive Mansion release as saying that the Liberian leader’s decision is based on the advice of the National Security Council of Liberia. The nationwide curfew was imposed as part of several measures meant to contain the further spread of the deadly Ebola virus disease and ensure national security. Likewise, the Ministry of Health has been requested to ensure the adoption and implementation of health protocols that will prevent the importation of the virus through any of the crossing points, while members of the Joint Security assigned at the borders are mandated to work closely with the health authorities to ensure adherence to the health protocols and safety at all times.

Related Captions: Curfew Lifted, Borders Opened Ahead Of Obama-Sirleaf Meeting(FrontPage Africa), Borders Opened, Curfew Lifted Montserrado, Margibi Remain Ebola ‘Red’(Daily Observer), Curfew Lifted, Borders Opened(The New Dawn), Borders Open, Curfew lifted(New Democrat), Curfew Lifted(FOCUS), Liberia Lifts Curfew, Open Borders Ahead Of Obama-Sirleaf Meeting(FrontPage), Curfew Lifted Main Borders Opened(INSIGHT), Nationwide Curfew Lifted…Main Borders Reopened(Heritage)

Ellen Makes Additional Appointments In Gov’t Affecting Local Government Structures

President Sirleaf has made additional appointments in government, especially affecting the Ministry of Internal Affairs local government structures. According to an Executive Mansion release, the appointments are subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate, where applicable. Those appointed at the Ministry of Internal Affairs are Mrs. Lomeh Roberts, Commissioner of Dixville Township, replacing Ms. Annie Dillon, Mrs. Miatta H. Flowers, Commissioner of Virginia Township, replacing Ms. Musu Marshall and Mr. Sampson J. Nyan, Commissioner of the Township of West Point, replacing Ms. Miatta Flowers. Others appointed are the Rev. Clarrisa J. Robertson, Commissioner of Caldwell Township, replacing the Rev. Alexine Howard, Mrs. Alveria Morris Raynes, Commissioner of Clay Ashland City, Montserrado County. President Sirleaf also appointed Madam Caroline M. Momoh as City Mayor, Kolba City in Lofa County and Dehe Paye as District Commissioner of Kpanta District in Bong County, reports the Heritagenewspaper.

Related Captions: Additional Appointments In Government(The New Dawn), More Appointments In Gov’t(New Democrat), Ellen Makes Appointments In Local Govt.(FOCUS)

UNMIL Welcomes New Force Commander

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of UN Operations in Liberia, Karin Landgren, has welcomed the newly appointed Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Salihu Zaway Uba of Nigeria, to UNMIL. Maj.-Gen. Uba succeeds Maj.-Gen. Leonard Muriuki Ngondi of Kenya, who will complete his tour of duty on 25 February 2015. Special Representative Landgren expressed her gratitude to Maj.-Gen. Ngondi for his dedication and exemplary service during his tenure with UNMIL, and highlighted his commitment during the Ebola crisis, according to the In Profile Daily.

Related Captions: UNMIL Gets New Force Commander(Heritage), UNMIL Gets New Force Commander (The New Republic), UNMIL Gets New Force Commander(The News)

Rivercess By-Election Set For April

The New Dawnnewspaper reports that the National Elections Commission (NEC) has commenced preparations for the Rivercess County by-election. According to a release, NEC will on Monday commence the Candidate Nomination Process for the Rivercess County Electoral District Number 2 Representative By-Election. The exercise, which will run from February 23 to March 7, 2015, will be held at the headquarters of the Commission in Monrovia. During the nomination Period, individuals who meet the requirements and are desirous of contesting the Rivercess County Electoral District Number 2 Representative By-election, will process their applications in line with the Nomination Procedure that has been published by the Commission. The Rivercess County By-Election will be held on April 21, 2015.

Related Captions: Nomination Of Candidates In Rivercess By-Election Begins Today(Heritage), Nominations Underway For Rivercess District No. 2 Elections(FrontPage Africa)

Ebola Puts Liberia’s Economy In ‘New Territory’ Says CBL Governor Mills Jones, Honored by Savings and Loan Women

A forceful action is necessary to restore Liberia’s economy to normalcy because Ebola has put our financial system in new territory, says the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Dr. J. Mills Jones. Meanwhile poverty still remains high in the country and therefore Liberians must lead the effort to restore the national economy, Dr Jones maintains.  “That is why the Board of the CBL decided to take steps to help the rural economy and put new life into the microfinance sector of the country,” he added. Dr. Jones was speaking last Saturday, when he was honored by the National Apex of Savings and Loan Association as the ‘Champion of women economic empowerment’ at the official opening of its headquarters on the Old Road in Monrovia, writes the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Ebola Virus Has Puts Liberia’s Economy In ‘New Territory…Asserts CBL Boss As He Receives Accolade(Heritage), “Poverty Not Our Destiny”…CBL Governor(The News)

Pres. Sirleaf Asks Inter’l Help To Move Beyond Ebola Crisis

Liberia's leader on Sunday urged the United States and other countries to keep up their support to the West African nation as it epidemic and refocuses attention on infrastructure projects that will better position it to tackle future outbreaks of disease. In an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said Liberia needs outside help to see through its “post Ebola agenda” of building up basic public services – development that she said was needed to prevent another deadly epidemic from becoming “a global menace. Among the needs she highlighted power projects to keep hospital equipment running, roads for the sick to access medical facilities, and clean water to prevent diseases from spreading, reports the Analyst newspaper.

Related Caption: Ellen Liberia Needs Outside Help (The New Republic), Ellen Begs For Post Ebola Aid(The New Dawn)

USAID Food Security Initiative Yields Results

Smallholder farmers have had tremendous results increasing their crop yields in the past year through new planting practices, improved seeds and technical support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Together with the War Affected Women Educational Empowerment Program (WAWEEP), USAID is working to improve food security in Liberia by promoting agriculture productivity and increasing the income of farmers. A visit to two of USAID’s Food and Enterprise Development (FED) rice farming clusters in Melekie and Bellemu in Bong County showed that, unlike in the past when farmers could not grow enough rice to eat and sell on the local market, they are now selling their surplus to local rice processors and the World Food Program (WFP), increasing their incomes. Lead Farmer, Musu Barto of the WAWEEP in Melekie, Bong County commended USAID for training them to become better farmers and entrepreneurs. USAID worked with the farmers to improve field layouts, planting and irrigation techniques, fertilizer usage and provided the farmers with tools, improved seeds and business development skills, writes the In Profile Daily.

Related Captions: USAID Food Security Initiative Yielding Results(Heritage), USAID Food Security Initiative Yields Results(The News)

OTHER STORIES

Veep Boakai Challenges Superintendents

Liberia's Vice President, Joseph N. Boakai, has challenged county superintendents and local officers to lift the burden of deprivation that the locals have had to endure and make them excited and optimistic participants of the Country’s governance system. Ambassador Boakia spoke at the climax of the de-concentration platform launched on Saturday, 21 February 2015 in Gbarnga, Bong County, where for seven days, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and local officials brainstormed on the task of decentralization of government services, politics and administration. He reminded the superintendents that progress in successive phases hinges largely on what they will make of the de-concentration phase. Internal Affairs Minister, Morris Dukuly, said a total of 45 services have been identified for de-concentration, and said local government officers were now prepared after the re-orientation exercise to administer services in the counties, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

16 Health Centers Get Support From Episcopal Church

As the decline in the Ebola fight continues, the Episcopal Church, with support from the Episcopal Community in the United States has distributed some medical and assorted food items to 16 health centers in the country. The Most Rt. Rev. Bishop Dr. Jonathan B.B. Hart, who made the presentation recently on the compound of the Lutheran Church in Monrovia, said the donation would enhance the ongoing fight against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country. According to him, the church, through its development and health services arms, has always been in the vanguard to support government initiatives. Bishop Hart named the Bendaja Community Clinic in Porkpa District, St. Timothy Government Hospital in Robertsport, Mbaloma Community Clinic in Gola Konneh District in Grand Cape Mount and Mambo Community Clinic as health facilities that benefited from the assorted medical items in that region. In Montserrado County clinics that benefited included United Pentecostal Church Medical Health Center in Soul Clinic and MASHCO Medical Center on Somalia Drive, Kingsville Community Clinic and Bensonville Health Center, among others. He said these donations were made through the support of the United Society in England, the Trinity Wall Street Church in the United States and the International charity NETS FOR LIFE, reports the Daily Observer.

China Vows To Help In Post-Ebola Recovery

According to the Inquirer newspaper, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Liberia, Zang Yue, has announced China’s commitment to contribute meaningfully to Liberia’s post Ebola recovery program especially in medical assistance. The Chinese Ambassador noted that China will be sending medical personnel to Liberia to help refurbish Liberia’s heath delivery system. Ambassador Yue said Doctors who will be sent to Liberia will also assist in the training of medical personnel while playing a pivotal role in revamping the overwhelmed Liberian Health Sector as a result of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

UNMIL Dedicates Court, Police Station In Gbarpolu

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has dedicated two modern structures including a court and police station in Weasuah Town, Gbarpolu County. The structures were constructed under the UNMIL’s Quick Impact Project. Resident Judge George w. Smith of the 16^th Judicial Circuit Court in Gbarpolu County has urged residents to take advantage of judicial process and desist from coming into conflict with the law, writes the FOCUS newspaper.