The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2018

Our summary of the FrontPage Africa newspaper highlights news of the holding of the first meeting of the transitional committee and the congratulatory message of the White House through the Press Secretary to President-elect George Weah on his victory.

Joint Transition Team Holds First Meeting Ahead of January 22 Inaugural

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and President-elect Senator George Weah co-chaired the first meeting of the Joint Presidential Transition Team (JPTT) on December 31, 2017 in the Cecil Dennis Auditorium at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The team, the first of its kind over 70 years, will organize the smooth transfer of power on January 22, 2018 which will be the third working Monday of month. Vice-President-elect Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor also took part in the meeting. The daily says the presidential team as whole will meet at least three times before the January 22, 2018 inauguration. Other subsidiary working groups will meet at various frequencies depending on their tasks.

White House Congratulates Weah On His Victory

The White House through the Press Secretary has extended congratulatory message to President-elect George Weah on his victory. The National Elections Commission declared Senator Weah winner of the presidential election on Friday, 29 December 2017. In a White House statement, the Press Secretary acknowledged that this would be Liberia’s first peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected head of state to another in more than four decades. According to the White House, this represents a major milestone for Liberia's democracy. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the U.S. Government also extended appreciation to Vice President Joseph Boakai for “his positive campaign and years of honorable service to Liberia.” According to the White House Press Secretary, the U.S Government remains deeply committed to her longstanding relationship with Liberians and its people.

President-Elect George Weah Promises Pro-Poor Public Governance

Liberia’s President-elect, George Manneh Weah, has assured Liberians that transforming the lives of all Liberians would be the “singular mission and focus of my presidency”. The soccer legend made the statement while delivering his acceptance speech Saturday in Monrovia. “I can truly say that the best way to celebrate all Liberians is to improve their lives through the instruments of pro-poor public governance." "I declare publicly today that transforming the lives of all Liberians is a singular mission and focus of my presidency,” he asserted. He told the press gathering that his administration would have no room for people who will “cheat the Liberian people through corruption”. He promised to build on the institutional gains made by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The President-elect called on Liberia’s international partners to strengthen relationship with Liberia.

Orange Liberia Assures ‘Big Plans’ For 2018

The Chief Executive Officer of Orange Liberia, Mr. Mamadou Coulibaly, has issued a special statement commending the government and people of Liberia for making Orange’s entry into the Liberian telecommunications market in 2017 a resounding success. Mr. Coulibaly said that the cooperation of the Liberian authorities had been essential to the Orange Group’s decision to enter the Liberian market and to invest millions of dollars into the Liberian economy. Mr. Coulibaly says that the company has set as its overall theme for 2018: “Reaching New Horizons Together” and says is a clear signal that Orange Liberia will remain a key partner in Liberia’s progress and development by providing a plethora of new innovations that will give customers the freedom to do what they want, reads the Frontpage Africa newspaper.