THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016

News of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Montserrado and Margibi counties and the outgoing Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Amara M. Konneh’s trip to the USA to attend the 2016 Spring Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are among stories highlighted in today’s summary of the local dailies.

Also Included in the today’s summary is the resumption of normal activities at the Bureau of Passport and Visas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Tracking Completion President Sirleaf Inspects Projects in Montserrado, Margibi 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Thursday, April 14, 2016 inspected several infrastructure projects – mainly roads in Montserrado and Margibi counties; commencing the inspection from SD Cooper Junction to the intersection of the SKD Sports Complex.  According to an Executive Mansion release says in Marshall, the Liberian leader interacted with the contractors and urged them to do everything humanly possible to accelerate the pace of work as the raining season was fast approaching. President Sirleaf’s visited the Police Academy road under construction, the Somalia Drive – where Japanese-owned Dai Nippon Construction (DNC) is implementing the construction of a 13.2km Freeport to Red-Light project. When completed, the project will ease congestion along the Somalia Drive and promote economic and social activities.  Phase I of the project will focus on the expansion of the current 2-lane to 4-lane, constructing 2 completely new lanes along the current road; the construction of a new Stockton Bridge and repair of Double Bridge. Also inspected, was the Kesselly Boulevard located opposite the Barnersville Junction where a new innovation and cost-saving road construction technology is being tested by engineers of the Ministry of Public Works. The convoy made its way to the Doe Community area as its next stop during which President Sirleaf along with her delegation was taken along an access road, which if rehabilitated and connected by bridge will link the Doe Community to Clara Town thereby reducing vehicular traffic in the area. In a related development, the Liberian leader made a technical stop in Logan Town in order to inspect ongoing rehabilitation works that leads to Brewerville, reports that FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Captions: President Sirleaf Delighted over ongoing Road Projects-Inspects Somalia Drive Road Project, Others(Women Voices), President Sirleaf Inspects Key Infrastructure Projects In Montserrado, Margibi (FOCUS)

Konneh Leads High Power Delegation To Washington

Outgoing Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Amara M. Konneh, at the head of a high-powered Liberian Government delegation, is in Washington DC, USA to attend the 2016 Spring Meetings of the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The NEWS newspaper reports that while in the United States, Minister Konneh is expected to hold talks with senior officials of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, The United States Peace Corps, United States Government departments of State and Treasury, African Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, among other partners. According to a dispatch, Minister Konneh commended Liberia's development and traditional partners for the level of support Liberia enjoys and emphasized the need for further financial and technical assistance.  He commented on the critical need for swift intervention amid the twin shocks the Liberian economy has experienced from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), the decline in the global commodities prices, particularly the traditional growth sectors of Iron Ore and Rubber, the imminent United National Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) drawdown in June 2016 as well as the upcoming General and Presidential Elections; all of which, he emphasized, poses further uncertainties that may have economic, political, and social and security risks. In response, Liberia's international partners assured the Liberian government through Minister Konneh, of their unrelenting support to the Agenda for Transformation (AfT), and the Economic Stabilization and Recovery Plan (ESRP), with specific emphasis on budget support, the UNMIL drawdown as well as the 2017 presidential elections. 

Related Captions: Finance Minister Leads Liberian Delegates To USA-Spring Meeting (Women Voices), Finance Minister Leads Liberian Delegates To USA-Spring Meeting (Heritage), Finance Minister Amara Konneh Desires Liberia’s Economy Recovery-Leads High Power Delegation To Washington (FOCUS)

EU Ambassador Cautions Liberians On Peaceful Elections

According to the FOCUS newspaper, the European Union (EU) has stated that effective coordination and clear ownership by different electoral actors will ensure peaceful and successful elections. Speaking at a workshop on “Addressing Security Challenges for the Management of the 2017 Elections in Liberia: Creating a Sense of Ownership,” in Monrovia on Wednesday 13^th April 2016, EU Ambassador to Liberia Tiina Intelmann said election security was a good example of the importance of coordination, not only between election stakeholders, but also with other ongoing processes in the security sector such as decentralization and preparations for UNMIL drawdown.

Related Captions: EU Diplomat On Ways To Peaceful, Successful Elections (Daily Observer), EU Envoy Suggests Path To Peaceful And Successful Election (The New Dawn)

Related Captions: Cellcom Launches Fastest Internet In All Of Africa (Heritage), Cellcom Launches Fastest Internet In All Of Africa-Introduces 4G+ LTE Technology (FOCUS)

OTHER STORIES

Passport Problems Resolved

The Women Voices newspaper quoting a Foreign Ministry release says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed the general public that the technical problems experienced at the Bureau of Passport and Visas earlier this week have been resolved.  According to the release, adult passport applicants who were given the necessary tickets to come on Friday, April 15, 2016 are advised to come to the Bureau of Passport and Visas to begin the process of obtaining their Liberian ECOWAS biometrics passports; while minors are advised to return on Tuesday, April 19, 2016, which is the next enrolment date for children.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to thank the general public and passport applicants for their understanding.   

UNDP Tops Global Index ...For Int'l Aid Transparency New York 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) remains the most transparent aid organisation in the world, according to a leading global ranking released on Aril 12, 2016.   The 2016 Aid Transparency Index recognized UNDP as the leading aid organisation among 46 international agencies, representing 98 per cent of Official Development Flows. The index is produced by Publish What You Fund, a non-profit organisation that advocates for and measures transparency. It is the second consecutive year that the UNDP has been ranked first in the index, which assesses the state of aid transparency among the world's major donor organisations.  According to the NEWS newspaper, the index is based on the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) standard, which sets a common global benchmark for publishing timely, forward-looking and comprehensive aid information. “We are thrilled to be recognized for our commitment to transparency, which is at the core of our mission,” said Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator. More than 25 developing countries have endorsed the initiative and are active members in its governance. Among the UN system, 14 agencies already publish to the IATI Standard: IFAD, OCHA, OCHA-FTS, CERF, UN Women, UNCDF, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN-Habitat, UNICEF, UNOPS, WFP and the World Bank, with firm commitments from UNEP, UNIDO and FAO to begin publishing within the year.  

IMS Gets Presidential Applause For Capacity To Manage Ebola

President Johnson Sirleaf has applauded the determination, commitment and professionalism with which the Incident Management Team (IMS) cum Ministry of Health has demonstrated Liberia’s proven capacity to effectively and efficiently manage the recent EVD resurgence and other related outbreaks in the country.  According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the commendation on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at the regular Cabinet Meeting in the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia. The Liberian leader took particular note of the impressive international recognition regarding the technical performance and ability the IMS has brought the country owing to its capability to not just contain but professionally manage and apply all of the scientific interventions necessary to address any outbreaks whatsoever.  Speaking to Executive Mansion press following the Cabinet meeting, the elated Deputy Minister for Health, Mr. Tolbert Nyenswah said the IMS was delighted for the acknowledgement as it was a manifestation of the hard work, devotion and altruism on the part of professional Liberian health personnel who have been trained in the Science and Arts of dealing with the outbreak of infectious diseases, report the Heritage newspaper.

‘A Step In The Right Direction’-CNDRA Lauds Passage of Land Authority Act

The Director General of the Center for National Documents, Records and Archives (CNDRA), Madam Bloh Sayeh, has lauded the Liberian Senate for the passage of the Land Authority Act. The CNDRA, custodian of public records, has been vociferously calling for the passage of the Act. Addressing journalists at the Ministry of Information Culture Affairs and Tourism regular briefing on Thursday, Madam Sayeh said the passage of the bill by the Senate is in the right direction towards land tenure security in the country. According to the CNDRA Director General, the land rights Act is important, as it brings all land services under one entity instead of the services being fragmented, something she said can lay the foundation for sustainable development, the FrontPage Africa newspaper writes.

Related Captions: CNDRA Takes-Step To Resolving Land Related Crisis-Embarks On Digitizing Land Deeds (Women Voices)

Govt., EU Launch "B" Certificate Program For Teachers

The Government of Liberia in collaboration with the European Union will today, Friday, 15 April launch ‘’B’’ Certificate program for 100 teachers in junior high schools across Liberia. The launch will take place at the Kakata Rural Teachers Training Institute (KRTTI) in Margibi County, and will be graced by Vice President Joseph Boakai and the EU Ambassador to Liberia. The 100 teachers from all 15 counties of Liberia are to benefit from the in-service training opportunity, including 25 females. It is hoped that in the future more teachers will benefit from the exercise. In line with the Agenda for Transformation and international education standards, the updated curriculum now includes cross-cutting elements, such as conflict sensitivity, promotion of gender equality, principles of inclusive education and good governance among others. The New Dawn newspaper writes that the Government of Liberia has allocated US$400,000 (four hundred thousand United States dollars) in the current fiscal year to support the pilot conducted by a national faculty team, with Technical Assistance provided by the European Union.

Ellen Backs MOE Test says Teachers who fail to take Test “will Be out of Job”

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has backed the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) decision to administer a standardized test for public school teachers. The news says those  who refuse to take the test may lose their job. Speaking yesterday, in Marshall, Margibi County, at the Kpakparkon Public School, President Sirleaf told the school’s Vice Principal for Administration, Meshes Goah, after he admitted he had not taken the test that “Teachers that will not take the test will be out of job”, theDaily Observer reports.

Over 200 Fire Victims Get Red Cross Help

The Liberian Red Cross has given several relief items to over 200 people from 83 family heads to restart lives after fire ruined their belongings in late January this year. The Liberia National Red Cross Society, as a foremost humanitarian responder, is helping victims of disasters to put away their pains by providing relief and recovery materials and psychosocial support to rebuild their lives and gain hope. The donation is part of Red Cross’ help to vulnerable people such as those affected by fire disaster in Taylalor town, Tewor District, Grand Cape County, reports the FOCUS newspaper.