THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015

Stories on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's Annual Message, the visit of officials from U.S. Center For Disease Control and Prevention and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to assess the impact of their contributions towards the fight against the Ebola virus in Liberia, and UNDP communities based outreach are the dominant stories in today's dailies.

Government To Decriminalize Media Laws

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has announced plans to summit series of bills to the Liberian Legislature that will decriminalize all media related laws and degrees that currently affect the work of Journalist in the country. President Johnson Sirleaf made the pronouncement Monday, 26 January when she delivered her annual message to member of the Liberian Legislature in the Williams R. Tolbert joint chambers at the Capitol Building in Monrovia. She said that repealing those bad laws and degrees is intended to create an enabling space for Journalists to do their work freely and accordingly. She noted that expected bills that are to be submitted shortly are in compliance with the table mountain declaration signed by in 2012, which call for Journalists and media practitioners to practice freely without hindrance from the national government or individuals in high places, NEW DAWN writes.

Related Captions:Pres. Sirleaf Delivers Annual Message (Analyst), Annual Message On The State Of The  Republic (FrontPage Africa), President Sirleaf Addresses The Nation Delivered At The Capitol Building On Monday, 26 January 2015(The News)

Related Stories:According to the New Democrat newspaper caption:President Vows Radical Changes, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has vowed to institute radical changes in the nation’s productive sector to save the economy becomes one of the hardest-hit areas since the outbreak of the Ebola in March last year, which entered the country through the northeastern part of the country. The country’s national budget is said to have suffered a setback of over US$250 million since the Ebola epidemic crept into the country with reports of major decline in exports and revenue generation. The Inquirer newspaper captionedNew Court For Economic Crimes, Corruption …another Act In Sight To Give LACC Prosecutory Power also reported from the President Annual Message thatPresident Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has challenged her government to commit to the fight against corruption through the process of prosecution as she promises to submit a bill to the Legislature for the creation of a specialized court to be identified as Criminal Court ‘F’. “we will submit a bill outlining procedures for the exercise of the constitutional authority for Expropriation, and a bill creating Criminal Court ‘F’ as a specialized court for economic crimes of corruption”, she said. Making the disclosure yesterday when she delivered her State of the Nation’s Address as a constitutional requirement in line with Article 58, President Sirleaf said corruption continues to create the lack of systems in institutions and government policies amidst deep rooted poverty. Ellen Offers Girls Free Education Up To G-12 – as Feb 2 Remains School reopening Date a Daily Observer captioned pens thatAs of yesterday, young girls and women throughout Liberia who desire to pursue quality education up to high school level are being provided the privilege to do so free of charge, President Ellen Johnson announced yesterday in her State of the nation Address. President Sirleaf said her government had on several occasions demanded quality education, but the process had suffered a series of setbacks as evidenced by the mass failure of Liberian students in exams administered by the University of Liberia and that of the west African examination Council (WAEC).

U.S. Foundation Officials Gain Firsthand Insight Into Ebola Response

Donations from U.S private - sector  foundations, companies, and individuals have been vital to the response that is helping to bring the Ebola outbreak under control in Liberia. Officials from two key foundations - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation - visited Liberia January 17 - 19, 2015 to see how their organizations' contributions are being used to support the Ebola response. Earlier in the week, they stopped in Guinea and Sierra Leone to assess response efforts in those countries. The CDC Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to connect CDC with private sector organizations and individuals to help make the world healthier and safer through public health programs, reports the Analyst newspaper.

Related Captions:U.S Foundation Officials Gain Firsthand Insight Into Ebola Response (The Inquirer, In Profile Daily, Heritage, Focus, The News and Insight)

UNDP Mont. Initiative Tasks Ebola Outreach To Muslim community In G. Cape Mount

The UNDP Montserrado Community-Based Initiative continues its Ebola Community out-reach to Muslim communities, and has now taken the sensitization to the town of Jenewonde, one of the worst Ebola affected towns in Tewor District, in Grand Cape Mount County. The Outreach was a special case for the MCBI Project given the severity of the Ebola situation in the County. Under the auspices of the Madala Incorporated, a group composed of Muslims, some of whom are UNVs Active Case Finders, the outreach is a continuation of similar activities in hot spot communities in Montserrado. During the Outreach in Jenewonde, Ebola preventive flyers with content written both in Arabic and English were distributed. Briefing the UNDP Out-reach Team, the Town Chief of Jenewonde, Jebbeh Sannoh said over 100 children made orphans as a result of the Ebola virus disease and more than 25 widows in the town are in dire need of food, clothing and other forms of assistance and support, Inquirer writes.

Related Captions:UNDP Montserrado Initiative Takes Ebola Outreach To Muslim Community (Heritage), UNDP Intensifies Ebola Outreach In Muslim Communities (In Profile Daily) and UNDP Mont. Initiative Takes Ebola Outreach To Muslim Community In G. Cape Mount(The Inquirer)

Ellen Congratulated India on 66th Republic Day And Promises To Strengthen Ties

The Heritage newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry's release: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a congratulatory message to the Government and People of the Republic of India, on the occasion commemorating the 66^th Republic Day Anniversary of that country. In her message to  His Excellency Pranab Mukherjee,  President of the Republic of India, President Johnson Sirleaf conveyed warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Government  and People of  India on behalf of the Government and  People of Liberia,  and in her own name. President Johnson Sirleaf further asserted that as the people of India celebrate this historic event, her government looks forward to continuing the cordial relations subsisting between Liberia and India, aimed at improvingthe prosperity of their two peoples and lead them to a brighter future.

MYS Vacation Job Kicks Off

According to the In Profile Daily, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) kicked off its annual vacation job program Monday, January 26. 2015 across Liberia, bringing together over 3,000 students to participate in the weeklong program. The MYS annual vacation job program which was expected to kickoff in the middle part of last year, was postponed to this year due to the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. The exercise is expected to run from Monday to Friday with students being afforded the opportunity to serve their country in different capacities at various governmental line ministries, agencies, corporations as well as community service among other.

S/Leone Extols Rep. Saah Joseph

According to the New Republic newspaper, the Government of Sierra Leone has extolled the efforts of Representative Saah Joseph in the fight against the Ebola virus, which has claimed the lives of over 8,000 citizens in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. Though there remain skirmishes of the virus in some areas of the affected nations, huge rate of infection has receded considerably, thanks to the combined efforts of local organizations, individual as well as international partners. As cited by the CNN, he was lauded during the presentation of the three Ambulances to that Country's Ministry of Health and Sanitation on behalf of the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Government of Liberia at the Youyi Building compound in Freetown.

Foreign Doctors Return To JFD Hospital – As Ebola Cases Decline In Liberia

The Jackson Fiah Doe Memorial Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County has resumed normal operations as the deadly Ebola virus infection rate gradually declines in Liberia. Acting Chief Executive officer James Sorbor said normal activities at the facility were temporally scaled down and the hospital was only operating on emergency due to the fuel shortage that was experienced in the country during the height of the Ebola outbreak. “The epidemic is now on a slow pace and with twelve out of the fifteen counties not reporting new cases for the past twenty-one days, the hospital has now resumed active operation as all departments are now opened,” Dr. Sorbor disclosed to this paper recently in the county, The New Republic reports.

US$162K Health Center Dedicated In Lofa County

United States Ambassador to Liberia, Deborah Ruth Malac, last Thursday dedicated the newly constructed Barkedu Health Center, in the Quardu Gboorni District in Lofa County to the enchantment of the residents and the county leadership. The leadership was represented by Superintendent George S. Dunor. In her dedicatory remarks, Amb. Malac recalled the difficulties encountered in the construction work on the health center, especially due to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak last year. The outbreak devastated that particular region of Lofa County, recording many deaths,  Daily Observer reports.

Related Caption:US$ 162K Health Center Dedicated In Lofa County (In Profile Daily)

UNICEF Official Commends Liberians For Reversing Ebola

An official of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended Liberians for volunteering to spread Ebola awareness and subsequently reverse the spread of the deadly virus in the country. The Director of Program Division of UNICEF, Ted Chaiban, observed that the world had thought that Liberia would have been overwhelmed by the Ebola outbreak because of the kind of medical facilities in the country. “I came purposely to Liberia to appreciate you for your tireless work in kicking out Ebola,” Chaiban said, adding, “This exploit in disease reduction has become a topic of worldwide conversation and achievement for your country”, the NEWS newspaper reports.

MOE Releases 2015 Academic Calendar – Restricts Schools To One Day ‘Gala’ Activities

In keeping with the February 2 school reopening date set by  the government, the  Ministry of Education (MOE) has released the calendar of events for academic year 2015. The MOE has hence warned school administrators to abide by the academic calendar to ensure the smooth management of  school activities across the country. Commencing the first semester, old and new students were to register from January 12-17 followed by orientations from January 19-24, with emphasis being placed on Ebola awareness. The first instructional period will run from February 2 to March 18 and the second marking period will ensue from March 19 to May 4. Easter Break will be observed from April 3-6 immediately followed by the third marking period from May 5 to June 16. The decision of the government to reopen schools is the result of the drastic decline in the number of new Ebola cases across the country, Daily Observer reports.

NEC To Conduct By- Election in 90 Days                                                                                                                  

 The National Election Commission or NEC is expected to conduct a by-Election within the next 90 days to fill a vacancy in the House of Representatives. The move follows a notification sent to that body from the speaker of the house of Representatives notifying NEC . The Notification was contain in a letter written through the directive of the speaker by the chief clerk of the House of Representatives, Mildred N. Sayon. In the letter addressed to the chairman of the NEC, Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoya, speaker Alex Tyler said the vacancy is a result of Rivercess  County  Electoral District Number 2 Representative Francis Paye election as Senator during the December 20, 2014 Special Senatorial Election, NEW DAWN reports.

Related Caption:House Notifies NEC Of Vacancy (Heritage)

U.S. Ambassador Gowned, Named ‘Mama Dukuly’

Scores of residents in Barkedu, Quardu Gborni District in Lofa County, through their political leaders represented by the county Superintendent, George S. Dunor and paramount Chief Musa Kamara, over the weekend conferred a traditional name on United States Ambassador to Liberia, Debora Malac. Ambassador Malac was named ‘Mama Dukuly’ and gowned by the traditional leaders of Barkedu Town during a ceremony marking the official dedication of Barkedu health Center. The citizens thanked her for her numerous contributions to the development of the district. Ambassador Malac was named after the district’s first female representative in the National Legislature in the 60s, called Mama Dukuly, Daily Observer reports.

Government Warms Public School Administration

The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Education (MOE) has sounded a stern warning to Public School Administrators who will violate government position in providing free primary education to the Liberian people. In an MOE statement issued in Monrovia, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to the public that from kindergarten to grade 9^th in public schools is free of all fees and the amount of L$700.00 will be paid from grade 10^th to 12^th. According to the MOE, the L$700.00 payment should be paid in three installments, thus giving parents enough time to settle the remaining fees. Since the outbreak of the Ebola virus in march of 2014, schools within the three most affected regions of the virus has been closed in an effort to prevent the further spread of the disease. Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone have been the epicenter of the plague, thus leaving more than 9,000 persons dead within the three West African nations,FOCUS reports.