THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

News ofthe presentation of Letter of Credence to President Ellen Jonson Sirleaf by Ivorian Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary, accredited to AU, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Dr. Feni KOUAKOU and the news appointments made by President Johnson Sirleaf are stories dominatingtoday’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

New Ivorian Ambassador Presents Letter of Credence

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has commended the brotherly people of Cote D’Ivoire for that country’s longstanding cordial relationship with Liberia, which she said permeated various shades of cooperation, mutual respect and trust between our two peoples and countries. The Heritage newspaper quotes an Executive Mansion release as saying that President Sirleaf was speaking when the new Ivorian Ambassador Extraordinary Plenipotentiary, accredited to AU, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Dr. Feni KOUAKOU presented his Letter of Credence at her temporary Foreign Ministry Office. The Liberian leader said she was exceedingly glad over the profound friendship both countries continue to enjoy and indicated that she firmly recognizes the spirit of collaboration, which has subsisted between the two nations. She stressed the warmth embedded in the Liberia-Cote D’Ivoire ties that extends to the level of the Mano River Union and ECOWAS. President Sirleaf then alluded to the similar history of conflict situation that had engulfed the countries of the region but noted it is imperative to appreciate MRU States that were once riddled by upheaval have all transitioned and are currently treading the path of peace and economic development. For his part, Ambassador KOUAKOU lauded President Sirleaf, the Government and people of Liberia for the warm hospitality accorded him since his arrival. He praised the Liberian leader for her astute leadership and paid tribute to her for being Africa’s democratically elected female President.  Ambassador KOUAKOU said there is a lot to learn from the Liberian leader in view of her enormous experience in both the public and private sectors. “Your exemplary and distinguished service, Madam President renders you a monument and a fountain of knowledge and as such we can achieve a great deal from you” – the Ivorian Envoy noted. He also thanked President for encouraging and motivating Cote D’Ivoire to join the Mano River Union (MRU) Block, which he said represents a building block for regional integration, reports the Heritage newspaper. 

Related Captions: New Ivoirian Ambassador Presents Letters Of Credence(The INQUIRER), New Ivorian Ambassador Presents Credentials(The NEWS)

Ellen Makes Appointment

According to the NEWS newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made a number of appointments in Government affecting the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Information, Culture & Tourism, Youth and Sports, Lands, Mines and Energy, Public Works, Transport, Post and Telecommunications, Independent National Commission on Human Rights, Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, Law Reform Commission, Executive Protection Service and the Judiciary. These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate where applicable. Among those appointed are: Marjon Kamara, Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lewis G. Brown,    Ambassador, J. Wesley Washington  Assistant Minister for Public Affairs. Others are Henrique Tokpah ,  Minister of Internal Affairs, Eugene Nagbe ,  Minister of Information, Saah N'Tow,   Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Adolphus Wade, Commissioner, Independent National Commission on Human Rights, Ms. Tonia Wiles, Commissioner, Mr. Wilfred Gray Johnson , Commissioner and  Rev. Bartholomew Colley , Commissioner At the Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy, Mr. Joseph Howe is appointed as Assistant Minister for Energy and Boakai Kanneh ,  Member of the Law Reform Commission.

Related Captions: Elle Makes New Appointments In Government(Heritage), Ellen Makes More Appointments In Gov’t(The INQUIRER), Ellen Rotates Officials Again(The New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES

LNP Donates 200 Bags Of Rice, LD100, 000 To Duport Road Residents

The Liberia National Police as part of its community outreach program ahead of the drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia has identified with over two hundred residents in the Duport Road Block-A community. The Police gave to the two hundred residents 25kg locally produced bags of rice to a house hold, accompany with five hundred Liberian Dollars each. At a well-attended program, Police Inspector General Col. C. Clarence Massaquoi said the Liberia National Police’s move to identify with the community people in providing rice and cash is intended to build mutual trust between the people and police. Welcoming the Police in the community, the Chairman of Block –A Duport Road, Philip Whymah lauded the Police for the gesture, stressing that the community was grateful to the Police for identifying with them, the INQUIRERnewspaperreports.

Related Caption: LNP Donates 200 Bags Of Rice, Cash To Several Duport Road Residents (Heritage)

Boakai Inspects BIN Foya Training Academy

Construction work at the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) Training Academy in Foya, Lofa County, is progressing with Vice President Joseph N. Boakai calling on contractors to ensure quality work. He told the contractors that their failure to do professional job, they would be held accountable. Inspecting ongoing work at the training academy recently, the Vice President expressed delight over the construction of the facilities. Earlier, the spokesperson for the construction company Clement Tamba said phase one of the project is nearing completion, the NEWS newspaper writes.

Two Mining Firms Use 76% Of Explosives – LME

The Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy (LME) has disclosed that 76 percent of 376,000kg of Emulsion Explosives were used by two iron ore mining companies in 2014. According to the LME 2014 Annual Report released recently, Arcelor/Mittal and China Union produced and shipped 5.1 metric tons and 0.7 metric tons of iron ore respectively during the period under review. The report, according to the Liberia News Agency (LINA), stated that the remaining 24 percent of explosives was used by Class B companies or quarries, an explosive consumption level which denotes that mining activities have increased and that bulk explosives are needed to cope with the increasing demand, Heritage newspaper writes.