The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY  OCTOBER 26, 2018

News about Over 3,500 vulnerable Liberian youth to increase household income through agriculture, the signing of 6M Euros Agreement between the government of Liberian and the European Union for the Pavement of Sanniquelle to Loguatuo Road are topping today’s edition of our summary.

Other stories include LRA initiating Dialogues with Public Sector Institutions to Boost Tax Compliance as well as President George Weah congratulatory message to Czech Republic on National day celebration.

DOMINANT STORIES  

BOOSTING CROSS BORDER TRADE GoL, EU Sign 6M Euros Agreement to Pave Sanniquelle to Loguatuo Road 

The Frontpage Africa newspaper is reporting that the Government of Liberia and the European Union (EU) on Thursday, October 25, 2018 singed an initial funding of six million Euros (US$ 6.87m) to pave the road connecting Sanniquelle to Loguatuo with asphalt. The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah signed on behalf of the Liberian government while the EU Ambassador Hélène Cavé signed on behalf of the European body. The EU regional envelope for West Africa also allocated EUR 14.2 million to the project and the European Investment Bank (EIB) is expected to contribute EUR 17 million. Liberia has approximately 500km of asphalted roads, most of which were recently upgraded with co-funding from the EU. Of the international connecting roads, only the road to Sierra Leone is asphalted on the Liberian side. All other international links are gravel roads. The project which is a one stop border post between the two Mano River Union countries (Liberia and Ivory Coast) will be implemented within 48 months. It will also enable authorities of both countries to monitor imports and exports to and from their countries. Speaking during the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Finance, Minister Tweah described EU gesture as a breakthrough towards monitoring cross-border trade flows and capturing the maximum share of revenues from road development works across the country. According to Minister Tweah, the act of generating the right and direct revenues through the one stop shop will help the government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development deliver its objectives by meeting the hope and aspirations of the Liberian people. “Our government is working and ensuring that its partners realize the dividends of development initiatives,” MFDP boss disclosed.

Related Caption: Sanniquelle-Loguatuo road gets asphalt pavement –As EU provides US$6.87m (New Dawn), GOL, EU Seal 40m EUR Grant For Sanniquellie-Loguatou Road(Democrat), EU, Liberia Sign 6m Euro Agreement (Heritage), EU Gives EUR 6M…To Pave Sanniquella-Loguatuo Road (The NEWS)

Over 3,500 Liberian youth to increase household income through agriculture

The Youth opportunities project- Yop with support from the World Bank is shortly recruit over 3,500 Vulnerable Liberian youth to benefit basic life skills training and labor subsides for the farming. The recruitment exercise will begin in early November 2018, and target rural youth between 18-35 years pens the New Dawn newspaper.

RELATED CAPTION: Over 3,500 Liberian Youth To Increase Household Income through Agriculture (Heritage) OVER 3,500 LIBEERIAN YOUTH TO INCREASE HOUSEHOOD INCOME THROUH AGRICULTURE(FrontPage)

Weah Congratulates Czech Republic on National Day

President George Manneh Weah has congratulated the Government and people of the Czech Republic on the auspicious occasion commemorating the National Day of the Czech Republic. In the message to His Excellency Milos Zeman, President of the Czech Republic, President Geogre Manneh Weah on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Government and people of the Czech Republic as they celebrate this historic millstone, writes The NEWS newspaper.  

Related Caption: Weah extends felicitations to Czech Republic (New Dawn) On National day celebration: President Weah Extends felicitations to Czech Republic (Heritage

LRA Dialogues With Public Sector Institutions TO Boost Tax Compliance

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has held a one day tax dialogue with key actors within the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and public corporations. The event which took place at the LRA Headquarters in Paynesville on Wednesday, October 24, brought together comptrollers and staff of finance departments of SOEs  and public corporations to discuss issues hindering withholding tax payment and to formulate requisite means of addressing them, pens the New Dawn newspaper.

Relate Caption: LRA dialogues with SOEs, Public corporations –on tax compliance

(New Dawn)

Pres. Weah Extols UN at the 73rd Anniversary

 President George Manneh Weah has hailed the United Nations for its sacrifices and efforts in maintaining world peace, security and the rule of law. He also paid tribute to men and women of the world body as well as the donor community for their countless contributions in lifting up the ideals for which the organization was founded 73 years ago. “Liberia has been a direct beneficiary of the United Nations’ interventions and assistance, and it is now on its way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” President Weah said. The Liberian leader made the assertions Wednesday, October 24, 2018, when he joined the UN family in Monrovia in commemorating the 73rd Anniversary of its founding. President Weah, who was UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in service to humanity, recalled that the UN was established in 1945 to maintain world peace and security and to improve relations amongst nations for the good of mankind. He used the occasion to reflect on his speech at the recently held UN General Assembly where he outlined Liberia’s efforts towards maintaining peace, security and development after long years of conflict. He told his audience that maintaining national stability in Liberia is more important and this can be achieved through dialogue amongst Liberians since peace is still fragile. “Peace-building takes time, and we all know it is a process and not an event, the Frontpage Africa newspaper writes.

Related Caption: Weah Extols UN At 73^rd Anniversary (The NEWS)

FIGHTING INFECTIOUS DISEASES…USAID Turns over Modernized US$150,000 Infectious Disease Outpatient Clinic to JFK 

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) last Friday, October 19, turned over to the Government of Liberia, through its Ministry of Health (MoH), a modern Infectious Disease Outpatient Clinic. The clinic, which is situated on the compound of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Sinkor, was renovated at the cost of US$150,000 of the US Government’s taxpayers’ money. The Frontpage Africa newspaper saysthe former Chest Clinic was reconditioned by John Snow Research and Training Institute, Incorporated (JSI). Before he formally turned over the building to the Liberian people,  Dr. Chan said the clinic will play a frontline role in the country’s efforts to enhance its disease preventionand control. “If there is one overriding lesson we learned from the 2014 to 2015 Ebola outbreak, it is that early detection and prevention systems are critical to halting the spread of infectious diseases,”

Fishing Industry Welcomes Protection of Sharks and Rays

Fishermen and fish retailers in Liberia have welcomed the protection of sharks and rays found within Liberia’s territorial waters. Liberia has taken a historic step to commit to a national plan of action to protect Liberia’s sharks and rays in the next three years. The fishermen’s commendation comes in the wake of the Liberian government’s decision to launch the National Plan of Action (NPOA) to conserve and manage sharks and rays. Government, through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NAFAA), said the action plan will not only make the country a leader in ocean conservation in West Africa, it will also help safeguard the food security and livelihoods of tens of thousands of Liberians. The NAFAA has asked the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) to help implement the plan.

 Deputy Director General for Technical Services of Liberia’s NaFAA, William Boeh, said the implementation of the plan will take place over the next three years. “We, the people of Liberia most especially here at NAFAA are very proud and excited to announce that today we formally welcome and commit to EJF’s report recommendations to implement on a national action to sustainably manage and conserve sharks and rays no later than 7th of January 2019, and to have a finalized sharks and ray fishery management plan with concrete measures within a three year time-scale, say Frontpage Africa newspaper.  

EPA Hosts Technology Needs Assessment Workshop 

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Danish Technical University (DTU) Partnership on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 commenced a three-day inception workshop on the Technology Needs Assessments (TNA) Project. The TNA project assists developing countries, which are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to determine their technology priorities for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change. The project is implemented by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Danish Technical University (DTU) Partnership on behalf of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). EPA Executive Director, Hon. Nathanial T. Blama Sr, said the TNA project seeks to transfer technological knowledge and skills from developed countries to Liberia. Hon. Blama disclosed that as a member of a global village, Liberia benefits from technology advancement including the invention of mobile phones and disclosed that the project seeks to transfer some of those knowledge used to developed phones and other device. He explained that the project can’t achieve its objectives in the absence of information on Liberia’s technology deficit and called on participants representing line government ministries and agencies to cooperate with the project team by releasing information on their capacities when they are approached, asserts the Frontpage Africa newspaper.

MOE announce US$100m investment for education Sector

According to the New dawn newspaper The Ministry of Education has announced its target of approximately $100 Million United States Dollars for the educational system, which includes building and renovation of schools and cleaning of payroll, among others. According to Mr. Thong, government has planned a program for all 12grades to study every Saturday for five hours in preparation for the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).

NPHIL, MOH Curtail Yellow Fever Outbreak in Grand Kru

 According to the new Democrat newspaper The Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Tolbert G. Nyenswah, has disclosed that the institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) has curtailed the recent outbreak of yellow fever in farina Town, Barclayville in Grand Kru Country.

Ex-Gender Boss Commends Government… For Reopening MTM Rape Case

The News: Former Gender Minister Julia Duncan Cassell has commended the government for the reopening of the rape case at the More Than Me Academy in Liberia. Madam Cassell commendation came in a statement issued in Monrovia recently. While the case is being reopened, the formal minister asked the media to respect the safety, security, confidentiality, and dignity of the survivors while reporting the issues, The NEWS newspaper asserts.  

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NaFAA BOSS Gets Seamen Union Award….Commits To Empowering Local Seafarers

The NEWS newspaper is reporting that in recognition of the significant progress made in the Fisheries sector  of Liberia, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, through its Director General has received another prestigious Award from the United Seamen, Ports and General Workers Union of Liberia. The National Seafarer’s Patron Award from the United Seamen, Ports and General Workers Union of Liberia. The national Seafarer’s Patron Award signifies the Union’s appreciation for the  tremendous progress made towards empowering the Union through capacity building of seafarers, as well as, continuous support to its headquarter offices.  Presenting the Award Thursday October 25, 2018 at the Seamen Union office on the Bushrod Island, the Union’s President Samuel K. Siaffa described NaFAA boss as result-oriented leader who delivers on her promises at all times.

‘Real Change’

According to The NEWS newspaper, the change that was promised by President George Manneh Weah during his political campaign and emphasized in his inaugural message appears to be a reality as feeder roads across Monrovia will soon be accessible to citizens and community residence. Already, the government has broken grounds for several feeder roads including the Johnsonville to Mount Barclay road, Coca cola Factory to ELWA Junction road, among others. Funds for these roads have already been available to commence the work during the dry season. Among the feeder roads that were promised by President Weah for pavement is the Doe Community to Clara Town road, which is already in progress and might be completed anytime soon