THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016

News of a special panel discussion under the theme: “The Threat of Terrorism” under the auspices of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MOU between the National Elections Commission and the United States Agency for International Development aimed at building the administrative and organizational capacity of the Commission, NEC accreditation of two political parties are among stories dominating today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies.

The summary also includes a Foreign Ministry responds to an editorial of the FrontPage Africa newspaper captioned “The Government of Liberia Wasteful Diplomacy – Time for Government to Consider Cutting Cost”.

DOMINANT STORIES

Foreign Ministry Holds Special Forum on ‘Threat of Terrorism’ Today

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the auspices of the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute, will hold a special panel discussion under the topic: “The Threat of Terrorism in the West African Region and the Need for Greater Collaboration among West African Nations.”  According to a Foreign Ministry release, the forum which will be held at the C. Cecil Dennis Jr. Auditorium on Friday afternoon, May 6, 2016, brings together stakeholders including sub-regional ambassadors, the representative of ECOWAS accredited near Monrovia, and security professionals to discuss and devise strategies for collaboration as well as find ways at preventing and combating terrorism within the sub-region. According to the New Democrat newspaper, the forum panelists include: the Doyen of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea, His Excellency Mr. Abdoulaye Dore; Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Kodjo Asimeng Wadee; Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Brima Acha Kamara and Ambassador of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, His Excellency Dr. Feni Kouakou. Others are the Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon, His Excellency Mr. Beng Yela Augustine Gang; the Charge d’Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed Tahir and the Special Representative of ECOWAS, His Excellency Mr. Tunde Assisomo. 

Related Caption: Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute Holds Special Forum On ‘Threat Of Terrorism’ Today (The Inquirer), Foreign Service Institute Holds Special Forum On ‘Threat Of Terrorism’ (Daily Observer), Foreign Service Institute Holds Special Forum On ‘Threat Of Terrorism’ Today (Heritage), Forum On ‘Threat Of Terrorism’ Commences (Focus)

NEC/USAID Sign MOU

The National Elections Commission (NEC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at building the administrative and organizational capacity of the Commission to enable it conduct free and fair elections with greater efficiency and autonomy. The New Dawn newspaper reports that in pursuit of these goals, the USAID is funding the Liberian Administrative and Systems Strengthening (LASS) Project being implemented by IBI International to promote sustainable and relevant institutional changes in response to the specific needs of the Commission. Under the terms of the MOU, LASS will provide NEC staff with the essential tools and trainings so that they are better prepared to perform critical administrative functions. The overall objective of the USAID-LASS project is to strengthen the Commission’score administrative and management functions to plan, budget and administer future electoral activities in compliance with regulations of the Government of Liberia. The MOU was signed Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at the headquarters of the NEC in Monrovia. NEC Chairman Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoya signed on behalf of the Commission while the Country Director of USAID, Dr. Anthony Chan, signed on behalf of his organization.

Related Captions: NEC, USAID Sign Capacity Building Memorandum of Understanding (FrontPage Africa), NEC, USAID Sign MOU (Heritage), NEC, USAID Sign MOU (FOCUS)

NEC To Accredit 2 Proposed Political Parties Today

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the National Elections Commission (NEC) will today, May 6, 2016, accredit two proposed political parties. The proposed political parties are the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) and the Vision for Liberia Transformation (VOLT). The accreditation of the two proposed political parties is consistent with Article 79 of the Constitution of Liberia and Chapter 2 Sub-Chapters A and B or the Regulations and Guidelines Relating to Political Parties and Independent Candidates.

Related Captions: NEC Accredits 2 More Parties Today (New Democrat), NEC To Accredit 2 Parties Friday (FOCUS)

IMF Predicts Liberia’s GDP To Grow 2.5%

Higher gold production and a rebound in services and construction will help Liberia's economy grow by 2.5 percent in 2016 compared to an estimated 0.3 percent last year, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday. In a statement released at the end of a visit by its mission to Monrovia recently, the IMF said that economic growth was projected to stabilize at around 6 percent over the medium term. But the 6 percent growth projection is significantly lower than an earlier forecast of 8 percent growth, which the IMF said reflected a lowering of the mining sector's investment and production targets, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: Economy Picking Up (New Democrat), IMF Projects Liberia’s GDP At Grow 2.5% In 2016 (FOCUS)

Liberia ‘Ebola Heroine’ Dies Of Cancer “She Was very resilient, an Ebola guru” -Tolbert Nyenswah

The Daily Observer writes that one of the many African medical practitioners who came to Liberia to help save lives during the height of the nation’s Ebola crisis, Dr. Atai Annae Omoruto, has died of pancreatic cancer, the New Vision, a local Ugandan daily reports. Dr. Omoruto passed away at 3a.m. Thursday at the Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, New Vision said.

Dr. Atai, as she was affectionately known in Liberia, was at the head of a team of Ugandan medical specialists comprising two doctors and seven nurses who came to the country in June 2014 during the height of the deadly Ebola virus epidemic. Speaking with the Daily Observer, Ms. Liliane Luwaga, a Ugandan working with the World Health Organization (WHO) office in Liberia, said: “Dr. Atai was among the first brave ones who came to Liberia when most people were running from this country. We are going to miss her. Africa, including Liberia, will miss her so dearly.” Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Deputy Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah stated that the African medical community had lost a “very resilient health worker, an Ebola guru,” adding that she will be greatly missed. Mr. Nyenswah disclosed that Dr. Atai was “a very strong advocate for Ebola healthcare workers to be treated with respect and dignity.”

Related Captions: Doctor Atai Omoruto Succumbs To Death (Heritage), Liberia Ebola Heroine Dies Ugandan Expect Dr. Atai Omoruto Succumbed To Cancer Thursday (FrontPage Africa)

OTHER STORIES

Foreign Affairs Responds to FrontPage Africa’s Editorial of Monday, May 2, 2016

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is arcane to balance the centrist-like editorial of the FrontPage Africa newspaper, Vol. 10 No. 81 of Monday, May 2, 2016 under the caption: “The Government of Liberia Wasteful Diplomacy – Time for Government to Consider Cutting Cost”. In its editorial, FrontPage Africa indicated that with the exception of the United States of America, the People’s Republic of China and the government of South Africa, Liberians spend millions each year on travel to a third country as visa submission points to obtain visas to travel to other countries outside ECOWAS. The Ministry wishes to inform that prior to our civil crisis all western countries with embassies near Monrovia were issuing entry visas to their respective countries. However, due to the crisis, many of them pulled out with the expectation that the crisis would have subsided in few months. Following the inception of this administration, a key component of government’s foreign policy objective was the return of all bilateral partners that withdrew their presence prior to the crisis and encourage new partners to establish resident missions near Monrovia. Today, there are 54 diplomatic missions accredited to Liberia out of which 27 are resident, compared to 23 accredited in 2006 and only 11 were resident. Liberia’s diplomatic representation abroad consists of 25 resident embassies, three Consulates and 25 Honorary Consuls. Work is ongoing to renovate several of our foreign missions in deplorable conditions out of years of neglect. At the regional level, the Liberian Government has since 2007 introduced the use of ECOWAS Biometric Passports. This usage affords Liberian passport holders visa free opportunity to enter into ECOWAS Member States. Similarly, ECOWAS Member States using the ECOWAS Biometric Passport have similar access to Liberia. As regards Liberia’s missions abroad, this administration launched the “Hub and Spokes” strategy in the conduct of government’s diplomatic engagements, which has reduced Liberia’s international representation by about 50 percent; however, with an even more aggressive impact. Despite these measures, the Ministry also review qualification and output of our Foreign Service personnel thus allowing the Ministry to deploy the minimum number of staff but with maximum output. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes constructive criticisms of its activities, it is opened to inquiries from the public on updates of our mandate which we will be very happy to provide since the Ministry is a public institution, reports the FOCUS newspaper.

Related Caption: Foreign Ministry Responds To FrontPage Africa (The Inquirer)

Cherue Named New Justice Minister: Former River Gee Senator Succeeds Benedict Sannoh Who Resigned Recently

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has named former River Gee Senator Cllr. Frederick Cherue as Minister of Justice following the recent resignation of Cllr. Benedict Sannoh.  According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the new appointments in government affect the Ministries of Justice, State for Presidential Affairs, Internal Affairs, Public Works, Central Bank of Liberia, National Port Authority, and the Law Reform Commission. Amongst those appointed are Cllr. Fonati Koffa , Minister of State Without Portfolio  (An additional portfolio within the Ministry), Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs; Dr. Mounir Siaplay - Deputy Governor for Economic Policy, Central Bank of Liberia; Cllr. Ruth Jappah,  Commissioner, Law Reform Commission and Mr. John Bestman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, National Port Authority.

VP Boakai Commend ECOWAS

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has commended the Economic Community of West Africa Sates, ECOWAS, for its role in the prevention of crisis in the sub-region and said that a regional approach to the resolution of ECOWAS problems especially with the advent of the new threat of terrorism is important. The New Dawn newspaper writes that Vice President Boakai was speaking Tuesday on Capitol Hill when he received Mr. Valdemar Vrey, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Rule of Law during a courtesy visit. He spoke of the importance of putting an early warning system into place to prevent the happening of crisis in the region, a release from the Office of the Vice President said. Earlier, the new Deputy SRSG said he has had a positive experience in Liberia since his arrival in the Country and hailed the Vice President for his support towards the establishment of the early warning system in Liberia, the release added.

Ivory Coast Wants Refugees Home

The New Dawn newspaper reports that the Ivorian Minister of Solidarity, Social Cohesion and Compensation Madam Mariatu Kone and the Executive Director of the Liberia Refugee, Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) Cllr. Abla Gadegbeku Williams, along with the UNHCR Country Representative to Ivory Coast have met with Ivorian refugees in Bahn, Nimba County, Liberia and encouraged them to return home. The Ivorian Minister told her fellow citizens seeking refuge in Liberia that it was time for them to return home and help build their country, Ivory Coast. Several thousand Ivorians sought refuge in Liberia during dispute over the 2010 elections that led to civil war and eventual ousting of President Laurent Gbargbo, who is being tried along with his wife in The Hague for alleged war crime. However, the executive director for the Liberia Refugee, Repatriation and Resettlement Commission Cllr. Abla Gadegbeku Williams, has pledged the Liberian government support to the repatriation process of Ivorian refugees in the country.

Justice Korkpor Instructs Judges, Lawyers To Observe Law Day

The Heritage newspaper reports that the Supreme Court Chief Francis S. Korkpor has relieved all judges, lawyers and magistrates official duties on May 6 compelling them to attend the National Law Day program. The observance will be hosted by the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) in the Banquet Hall of the Supreme Court of Liberia. The LNBA was established by an Act of the National Legislature as a body representing the interest and aspirations of Lawyers in Liberia.

Related Caption: Justice Korkpor Instructs Judges, Lawyers To Observer Law Day (FOCUS)