The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARYFOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2014

The reopening of the University of Liberia and highlights of President Johnson Sirleaf’s 9^th Annual Message to the National Legislature dominated our selected dailies for today, Wednesday, January 29, 2014.

Dominant Stories

UL Reopens Today

After months of indefinite closure of the state-owned University of Liberia (UL), Administration announced few days ago that “normal academic activities” are expected to resume today, Wednesday, January 29^th.  The decision to reopen the institution follows the board of Trustees’ endorsement of the partial report of the Mediation-Investigation Committee. The front page story of the Daily Observer reports that the committee was set up with reference to the change of the Academic leadership of Dr. Wede Elliott-Brownell as Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost with immediate effect. The Board reached the decision on Wednesday, January 22, 2014.

Related stories: UL Classes Resumes Today (New Dawn and New Democrat)

Pres. Sirleaf Wants More Caution On Budget Passage

According to the Insight Newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has asked the House of Legislature to exercise caution and consultation in their review and action on the next fiscal budget. According to President Sirleaf, development, especially in rural Liberia, will only be achieved through a realistic budgetary process and a collaborative effort that recognizes respective constitutional mandates. President Sirleaf made the statement during her annual address to the Legislature on Monday.

Corkrum to Face Trial in US!

A front page story of the New Dawn newspaper reads that Lawyers representing the Government of Liberia in the United States are said to be reviewing the over US$ half a million the theft case involving fugitive ex-Roberts International Airport or RIA Managing Director Ms. Ellen Corkrum and others, president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said in her state of the nation’s address Monday. Mrs. Sirleaf said the ongoing review also includes extradition of the ex-RIA boss, a statement which suggests that trying Ms. Corkrum in the US could be another possible option. “This matter is under review by counsel in the United States for legal redress, including extradition” Mrs. Sirleaf said.

Ellen Announces the Unexpected

What many had thought President Sirleaf would have never attempted, considering her strong ties with the NGO community, became a crucial national issue is her State of the Nation Address on Monday. It was even made clear that the Government of Liberia is just set to put in place tough measures for the operations of Nongovernmental Organizations or NGOs here. Then came the unexpected when President Sirleaf announced that the Government will now require national and international NGOs to submit reports of their annual activities, as well as register with the relevant government agency each year, emphasizing that NGOs would also disclose to the Government of Liberia details of the pledged by donors for project implementation in the country with assurance that funds secured for capacity-building are utilized, in collaboration with the relevant ministries or agencies of Government, the New Dawn reports.

Related story: NGOs Invading National Sovereignty-Ellen Sounds Alarm (Daily Observer)

U.S $9.3 Million for Agricultural Loan-Prez. Sirleaf Discloses

The inside story of the Daily Observer reads that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has disclosed that government  has allotted US $9.3 million in the national budget for Liberian farmers to access more loan opportunities. She made the during her annual message to the National Legislature at the Capitol Building in Monrovia. According to the Liberian leader,  a 3-year annual investment of US$1.7 million is intended for the support of farmers engaged in lowland rice production. She furthered that another US$ 2.3 million has been identified for mechanized farming in a 3-year proposal for annual investment.

Other Stories

War Dominates Talks at AU Summit

According to the inside story of the Daily Observer, even though the 54-member meeting of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is being held under the theme “ Agriculture and Food Security”, the discussions are unfortunately  focusing more on war in Africa than the designated subject matter. The daily quotes a dispatch from the AFP in Addis Ababa as saying that war in the Central African Republic (CAR) and South Sudan are the key concerns at the summit.

World Bank approves US$29m For Infrastructure

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors today approved to total of US$29M in additional funds for the Urban and Rural Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (URIRP) in order to continue to support road and bridge improvements in Liberia’s capital city of Monrovia and surrounding rural areas, and improves the government’s institutional capacity to manage the country’s road sector. The URIRP was approved in 2009 to support the government’s goal of ensuring that Liberians nationwide have reliable, safe, affordable and efficient transport services by upgrading existing roads, rehabilitating or replacing unsafe bridges and completing roads along the Monrovia – Buchanan corridor. To date, the project has benefitted some 744, 980 individuals and provides 90 percent of the rural population in the targeted areas with access to an all-season road, reports the Insight Newspaper.