The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUAY 7, 2014

Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokollie’s call to forge united front in rebuilding the judiciary, Finance Minister Amara Konneh’s admittance to error in the publication of information for the 2013/2014 National budget and Police Chief Clarence Chris Massaquoi’s open apology to the Liberian Senate on what he described as the unfortunate incident are dominant stories in the Friday, February 7, 2014 edition of our news summary.

Dominant Story

Forge United Front In Rebuilding Judiciary – Justice Wolokollie Urges

The Analyst newspaper says Supreme Court Associate Justice Jamesetta Wolokollie has called for united efforts in rebuilding the judiciary and justice system of Liberia. She lauded the international community, especially the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), for initiating the Security Hub program as UNMIL prepares to draw down. Justice Wolokollie observed that Liberia needs the international community to achieve its development agenda.

Related Caption:Associate Justice Calls For United Front In Rebuilding Judiciary(INSIGHT)

Min. Konneh Confesses Error – Apologizes To Legislators

The INSIGHT newspaper reveals that the under pressure Minister of Finance has admitted to error in the publication of information for the 2013/2014 National budget, specifically allotments for RiverCess and River Gee Counties Minister Amara Konneh was summoned last Thursday by the Plenary of the House of Representatives to provide tangible reasons on series of errors identified by the Legislature in the Citizen Guard to the National Budget circulated for the MOF. Appearing before the House’s Plenary yesterday Min. Konneh began his clarification by admitting to errors and attributed it to typo-graphical errors.

Related Caption: Budget Swap!...Finance Minister Apologizes; But Lawmaker Demands Resignation(The Analyst)

For ‘Arrogant Behavior’, Police Chief Apologizes To Senate

The Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Clarence C. Massaquoi, has openly apologized to the Liberian Senate on what he described as the unfortunate incident which led to the presence to huge armed police officers on the grounds of the Capitol Building while members of the Liberian Senate were in sitting. Even though the Senate was opting for the dismissal of the Police Director, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf last month wrote the Senate informing them that the Police Director would be suspended for two days for his unruly action against the Pres. Sirleaf, in her communication, indicated that the two day suspension would afford Col. Massaquoi to write an apology letter to be read openly to the senate, the INSIGHT newspaper reports.

Related Caption: Dismissal Worries Police Chief (FOCUS)

Other stories

AFL New Chief Promises Robust Force

The man who is expected to take over as Chief of Staff of the new Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Dee Ziankahn, has told the Senate Committee on Defense, National Security, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs that if confirmed by Plenary, his vision is to have a small and robust force but would have a large tactical operational impact on the society. Speaking yesterday in the chambers of the Senate after he took an oath to explain his scopes of operational for the Army Col. Ziankahn told the 15 man senate Committee members that Liberia does not need a large military force for now because of limited resources. Considering the current economic status of the country, Ziankahn narrated that a large army will always experience high attrition rate and the issue of logistics would become a predicament. He assured the Senators that under his command as Chief of Staff of the AFL, he will execute orders from his bosses and ensue that discipline remains the hallmark of the day. Answering to questions as to whether he has any political ties in the country, Ziankahn disclosed that his loyalty goes to Liberia and not individuals or a political party. As for his Deputy, Col. Dennis Eric Wamu, he promised to work with the Chief of Staff to ensure that the territorial borders are protected. He told the committee that the issue of human rights and all other rules of engagement will be adhered to in the new army while taking over as Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFL, the Inquirer newspaper reports.

World Bank Provides US$100K To Digitalize Land Deeds

The INSIGHT newspaper asserts that the World Bank has provided more than US$100,000 to the Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA) to digitalize land deeds to ensure land tenure security in Liberia. CNDRA Director-General, P. Bloh Sayeh, said the grant provided by the World Bank will assist the country to develop lad tenure security through digitalization to prevent land conflict in Liberia. Director Sayeh made the disclosure Tuesday in an interview with the Liberia News Agency at the CNDRA headquarters in Sinkor, near Monrovia.

NCHE Closes Bible College

The FOCUS newspaper says the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) has closed the Spiritual Bible College located in Brewerville for allegedly refusing to be accredited. The Commission took the decision during the graduation of the college at the Monrovia Christian Center in Sinkor, Monrovia on Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Speaking to reporters, Dr. Koliga Dahn said the religious institution, after several reminders, refused to be accredited and given permission for full operation.

NAC Takes HIV Coordinating Structure To Southeastern Liberia

In support of the Government’s Decentralization and Local Government Policy, a high power delegation from the National AIDS  Commission (NAC) and the United Nations Joint Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) is currently conducting series of workshops in the southeastern counties of River Gee, Maryland and Grand Kru, to Fish Town, River Gee’s acting superintendent Rev. Richard Sekah. He pledged his county’s full National AIDS Commission and its partners, and to ensure the fulfillment of the President’s dream of zero new HIV infection, the FOCUS newspaper writes.

FGM Persists In Liberia Despite Dangers

Thursday marks the U.N. sponsored International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Despite International campaigns, the United Nations says millions of girls in Africa remain at risk. In Liberia, there is no law against it and FGM is still common practice. It is around this time of year in Margibi County that village women take girls into the forest to induct them into the secret female society known as Sande, the FOCUS reports.