THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

News of President Johnson Sirleaf Congratulatory message to the European Union on the occasion of the 66th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the Mano River Union countries’ commitment to combating terrorism and the opening of the Media Law Reform Conference in Monrovia are among stories dominating today’s edition of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Pres. Sirleaf Hails EU On 66^th Anniversary Of Schuman Declaration

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the European Union or EU on the occasion of the 66th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. The Schuman Declaration is the statement laid forward by the French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on May 9, 1950. Inspired and for the most part drafted by Jean Monnet, this was a proposal to place Franco-German production of coal and steel under one common High Authority. The declaration is to be the founding text of European integration. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian leader, in her message to the President of the European Council, His Excellency Donald Tusk, extended heartfelt congratulations and through him to the Governments and citizens of the European Union. President Sirleaf recognized the growth in the relationship that exists between the Liberian Government and the European Union.  “My Government acknowledges with a sense of satisfaction that relations with the EU is evolving exponentially,” she said, noting that engagements between the Liberian Government and the EU have endured in the face of geopolitical changes which have further strengthened the need for cooperation in all spheres including the promotion of peace and security, the fight against terrorism, illegal migration and the enhancement of green climate,FOCUS writes.

Related Captions: President Sirleaf Congratulates EU(The New Dawn), Liberian Leader Hails EU On 66^th Anniversary Of Schuman Declaration(Women Voices),

President Sirleaf Concludes One-Day Working Visit to Guinea and Sierra Leone; MRU Countries Commit To Combating Terrorism

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has concluded a one-day working visit to Guinea and Sierra Leone with a commitment to collaborate on the fight against terrorism in the Mano River Basin and beyond. The Liberia leader visited the two countries on Friday, May 6, 2016. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf and the leaders of Guinea and Sierra Leone, Presidents Alpha Condé and Ernest Bai Koroma agreed to cooperate in intelligence sharing and security alertness to combat terrorism in the region. The West African leaders condemned terrorism and recognized the danger it poses to the region and other parts of the world and reflected on the horror committed in Burkina Faso, Mali, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. The visit allowed President Sirleaf, her Guinean and Sierra Leonean counterparts to exchange views on bilateral, political, health, and socio-economic issues as well as reflect on the progress and challenges of the three countries in the aftermath of the Ebola Crisis that affected the region, the INFORMER reports.

Related Caption: MRU Countries Commit To Combating Terrorism – As Ellen Pays Two Days Working Visit To Guinea And Sierra Leone (Women Voices),President Sirleaf Concludes One-Day Visit To Guinea, Sierra Leone (The New Dawn), MRU Countries Commit To Combating Terrorism(The CAPITOL TIMES)

Ellen To Open Media Reform Confab Tuesday

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is this Tuesday expected to deliver the opening address at a two-day Media Law Reform Conference in Monrovia to be held at PA's Rib House in Lakpazee, Monrovia. The Media Law Reform conference is organized by the Press Union of Liberia, in partnership with the British Firm, Albany Associates as part of the Liberia Media Development Program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The LMD is being implemented under the leadership of Internews, with PUL, LMC and Accountability Lab as the main national partners.  The conference is intended to renew discussions on the current legal and regulatory regime governing the Liberian Press, as well as encourage amendments and repeals that will ensure that the Liberia legal/regulatory environment conforms to 21st Century realities, and those of a genuine democracy.   Press Union of Liberia President Abdullai Kamara said he hopes the “the conference will develop a road map to renew advocacy and lobby on key instruments including: the establishment of an independent broadcast sector regulator; the sustainability of community radio; the future of UNMIL Radio, the status of the Liberia Broadcasting System vis-à-vis Public Service Broadcasting; repeal of criminal defamation/libel laws and the establishment of an effective self-regulatory body”, theNEWS  newspaper says.

Related Captions:President Sirleaf To Open Media Reform Confab Tuesday(FOCUS),Media Reform Confab Begins Tomorrow  (The CAPITOL TIMES)

UBA Expands In 25 Countries

The Chairman of the Board of Directors for the United Bank for Africa or UBA has announced its expansion in 25 countries. Group Chairman Tony O. Elumelu reconfirmed Africa network as strategic priority, and pledged further capital for growth. He spoke at a forum in Nigeria recently to review the impressive growth of the Bank’s African network over the past 11 years, and to provide a platform to reaffirm and embolden its strategic goals. “We are one bank; the United Bank for Africa", Mr. Elumelu said as he opened the Forum. “Bringing together our senior leadership talent from across the continent and the distinguished leaders who chair our subsidiary businesses is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to forge one bank for Africa,” he added.Meanwhile the forum brought together 90 participants, including the entire Board of UBA, all Chairmen and all CEOs of UBA subsidiaries across Africa and the United Kingdom. It was timed to coincide with UBA’s Annual General Meeting and Group Board Meeting. Press statement, the New Dawn reports.

Related Caption: UBA Expansion Targets 25 African Countries(FOCUS), UBA To Expand Footprint To 25 African Countries (The NEWS), Leading In Africa: UBA To Expand Footprint To 25 African Countries (New Democrat)

Norway Gives $37M For Forest Management

Liberia has received a $36.7m grant from Norway to support its efforts to improve the integrated management of forests. The Liberia Forest Sector Project (LFSP) aims to support Liberia’s transition from commercial management of forests to one that incorporates conservation and social value. Harrison Karnwea, Managing Director of Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority, said: “The project…will increase the sharing of benefits accrued and support small-scale and community-based enterprises based on the sustainable use of these resources”. The LFSP was the first project signed under the World Bank’s Forest Action Plan, which was launched in April 2016 and has been under development for 10 years. This project is part of the country’s post-Ebola economic stabilization and recovery plan and will help the country to ensure that its major natural resource is used to benefit the economy and the Liberian people”, said Inguna Dobraja, the bank’s country manager for Liberia, New Democrat reports.

Related Captions: Liberia Gets USD 37 Million For Forest Management(Women Voices), Liberia Gets $37M To Help Manage Forest Sustainability(The INFORMER),

OTHER STORIES

V.P. Boakai Launches Wash In School Technical Report

Liberia’s Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has launched the Wash in School Technical Assessment Report outside Monrovia. VP Boakai performed the launch over the weekend at the Careysburg High School in Montserrado County outside Monrovia.  Giving an overview of the report, a technician at the Ministry of Public Works, Mr. Abdul Koroma, said the wash in schools was conducted in schools across Liberia with actual data collection conducted between December 2015, and January 2016 thru a combination of quantitative methods. According to Mr. Koroma, the objectives of the nationwide assessment were to provide information on key wash in schools indicators which will serve as baseline for all stakeholders, and to provide a list of key wash data and indicators to be incorporated into the Education Management Information System or (EMIS) at the Ministry of Education in Monrovia. Delivering the keynote address to participants at the official launch, Vice President Boakai said the focus on the need for water in various schools could not be more welcomed, and that government has employed such a best practice by first conducting a scientific assessment of needs in the area that has set the country on the right course, the New Dawn writes.

Related Caption: WASH Technical Assessment Report Launched(Women Voices)

Bassa District 1 To get first High School

The Project Management Committee (PMC) of Grand Bassa County has started the construction of the first high school in District Number One in the county. The ground breaking ceremony took place on Friday on the campus of the Bokay Town Elementary and Junior High School in Compound One. According to the PMC Chairman Theophilus Wah Bedell, the elevation of the junior high school to senior high level was requested by delegates of District One at the July 15, 2015 County Council Sitting held in Big Joe Town, Grand Bassa County. According to the PMC Chairman, the county requested from government US$2.4 million as part of their County and Social Development Funds for Fiscal Years 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, but Government agreed to make available US$1.2 million due to the budget shortfall. He added that Government has made available US$399,000 as part of the US$1.2 million. For his part, the CEO of Wreyou Construction Company, Steve Wreyou, thanked the leadership of the county for giving him the opportunity to construct the school, and promised to exhibit professionalism in the performance of the contract, FOCUS writes.

Related Caption: Bassa District Number Get first High School (The NEWS)

Gender Minister Threatens ‘Irresponsible Men’

Gender and Children Development Minister Julius Duncan Cassell has threatened to deal with any man who abandons his offspring. Madam Cassell said some men are in the habit of abandoning their children and going after other women who already have child or children for other people. Speaking recently at the Gender Ministry, Minister Cassell said she has already started confiscating male employees’ cheques at unnamed ministries and agencies for child abandonment. She describes abandonment as “wicked and devilish” act that needs serious attention, noting: “this is why many children are in the streets begging while some of them are criminals because of lack of parental trainings, the CAPITOL TIMES says.

ABIC Builds Women Potentials – Graduates Over 30 Rural Women

The Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) for women’s empowerment, leadership development, peace and security over the weekend graduated 30 women from its first phase of the rural women adult literacy project under the theme, “Develop the potential of rural women for social and economic empowerment,” in Gbarnga, Bong County. The keynote speaker at the program, Bong County Senator Jewel Howard Taylor congratulated the women for taking one step forward to secure their future and the future of their children. According to the Bong Senator, the women of Liberia are today fighting for more participation of women in government, as such women are demanding for 30 percent in government. Also speaking at the program, the Establishment Coordinator of the ABIC, Cllr. Yvette Chesson Wureh told the gathering of women not be deterred in their educational pursuit and advised them to remain resolute to compete with their male counterparts, Women Voices