The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARYFOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014

Today, Tuesday, February 18, 2014 edition of the news summary highlights President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s congratulatory messages to the Governments and peoples of Kuwait and the Gambia, her nationwide tour among others.

Dominant Stories

President Sirleaf Congratulates Kuwait, the Gambia

The Inquirernewspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that the President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency Madam. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and People of the State of Kuwait on the occasion marking the 53^rdIndependence Anniversary of that Country. In her message to His Royal Highness Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Emir of the State of Kuwait, President Sirleaf extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Government and People of the State of Kuwait on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia and in her own name. The Liberian leader expressed the hope that as the people of Kuwait celebrate this historic event, the cordial ties of friendship and cooperation which subsist between both countries will be strengthened in the spirit of Afro-Arab solidarity. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf then wished that both countries continue to collaborate in furtherance of deeper cooperation at the United Nations and other International forums aimed at promoting international peace, security and cooperation among all nations. She prayed that the Almighty Allah will endow His Royal Highness Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with abundant wisdom and strength as he leads his compatriots to greater prosperity. In a related development, President Johnson Sirleaf has sent a congratulatory message to the Government and People of the Republic of The Gambia on the memorable and auspicious occasion marking the49^th Independence Anniversary of that country. In her message to her Gambian counterpart, H.E. Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, President of the Republic of The Gambia, President Johnson Sirleaf extended heartfelt felicitations and best wishes on behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Liberia, and in her own name to the Government and People of The Gambia as that West African state observes its Independence Anniversary.  President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf expressed the hope that as the People of The Gambia celebrate this historic event, they will continue to experience lasting peace and security. The Liberian leader also prayed that the Almighty Allah will continue to shower President Dr. Yahya Jammeh with abundant wisdom and strength as he leads his compatriots to greater prosperity. President Johnson Sirleaf expressed confidence that the longstanding and cordial relations subsisting between the two countries and peoples will be further strengthened in the spirit of peace and African solidarity.

Related story: Ellen Congratulates Kuwait & Gambia(Heritage newspaper)

Ellen Begins Three-Day official Visit to Lofa

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf departs the Capital Tuesday for a three-day official visit to Lofa County. According to an Executive Mansion release, the visit to northwestern Liberia is the beginning of the Liberian leader’s nationwide tour this year. She will visit six of Lofa’s seven districts: Foya, Vahun, Kolhun, Voinjama, Zorzor, and Salayea. In Foya, the President will visit the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) Training Center. She will later travel to Yandohun, Kolahun District, to dedicate the Yandohun Mini Hydro Project-a rural electrification pilot project 53 kilometers southwest of Vonjama. When fully operational, the project is expected to generate 60 kilowatts of power during the rainy season and about 30 kilowatts during the dry season, the Heritage reports.

Related stories: President Begins Nationwide Visit (New Democrat), President Sirleaf Begins Nationwide Tour, Visits Lofa County (Inquirer)

Other stories

Ellen Names Committee to Manage Waterways

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has appointed a five-man committee headed by the Commissioner of the Bureau of Maritime Affairs, Mr. Binyan Kesselly to manage all waterways along the Mesurado River. Other members of the committee are the Director General of the General Services Agency (GSA), Madam Mary Broh; the Minister of Public Works, Dr. Antoinette Weeks and Montserrado County District # 14 Representative Abraham V. Conneh. The Heritage newspaper reads that the committee will ensure that people who own houses along the Mesurado River bank have toilets in their houses adding that no one will be allowed to dump feces and other waste into the river. The Heritage quotes the Liberia News Agency (LINA), as saying that President Sirleaf made the appointments at the weekend at a program marking the dedication of the Chevron Monrovia central Park.

Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Cameroun, Tanzania Seek End to Exam Fraud

The New Democrat reports that the battle line has been drawn between examination fraudsters and examination fraud combatants, as the Exams Ethics Marshal International brainstorms new ways of curbing the menace in the African continent. These and many other burning issues were discussed during a three day conference and awards organized by the Exams Ethics Marshal International, held at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) International Conference Hall recently. The participating countries were Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun, Tanzania, and Liberia. Speaking at the conference, the founding chairman of the group, Mr.  Ikechukwu Onyechere disclosed the Exam Ethics Marshal International was set up by people of like minds to provide a platform to deal with the challenge of education across the continent.

125 Women Police for Liberia

A 125-member women contingent of paramilitary CRPF is coming to Liberia to render UN police duties in the West African country. The all-women squad of Indian was given a send-off by the force chief Dilip Trivedi from the headquarters and it will render United Nations mandated civil police duties in that country. The squad, led by second-in-command officer Neeraj Bala, has been imparted a seven-week specialized professional training keeping in view the prevailing situation in Liberia, theNew Democrat reports.

MOH Unveils US$ 2.7 Million Health Project…Wants Program Implemented Through BRAC LIB

The Inquirernewspaper reports that the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare (MoHSW) has unveiled a US$ 2.7 million/ three years health project which will be implemented through BRAC Liberia in collaboration with the Family Health Division of the MoHSW. According to the Inquirer newspaper, the project which has been hailed by several key stakeholders in the health sector is aimed at improving the reproductive , maternal, newborn and child health of 106,000 women and adolescent girls as well as 53,000 under five (5) in 7 counties in the country. The disclosure was made during a National Advocacy Meeting on a Community  based approach to improving  Reproductive Health Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (RMNCH) program for adolescent girls and under five in Liberia” on February 14 in Monrovia.

INCHR Urges Liberians to Use Palava Hut Method

The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has called on Liberian to make use of the palava hut method in the nation’s reconciliation process. The Vice Chair of the Commission, Mr. Boakai Dukuly said the palava hut method was the only way forward for Liberians to settle their differences. Mr. Dukuly also noted that for the country to forge ahead with its development agenda, Liberians must be will to forget the past and unite efforts in the rebuilding of a vibrant society. He made the statement recently in an interview with the Liberia News Agency (LINA), according to the Heritage newspaper.

WAHO Delegation Visits Liberia

A two-man delegation from the West African Health Organization (WAHO) arrived in the country on Saturday to embark on a five-day visit to the country, a forerunner to the fifteen edition of the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers meeting which is scheduled to be hosted by Liberia for the first time in April this year. The delegation comprises of Dr. Johanna Austin Benjamin, the Director of WAHO Department of Primary Health Care and Mr. William Deiyan Towah, the organization’s Professional Budget Officer. The delegation is expected to meet with Health Minister, Dr. Walte T. Gwenigale, members of the National Coordinating Team ( NCT) organizing committee, inspect available facilities and infrastructures with a view to making informed decision that will facilitate a hitch-free hosting of the annual event by Liberia, the Inquire newspaper writes.