The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

The dedication of a Mini-Hydro Plant in Lofa by President, the commencement of motor inspection in Monrovia, the urge of Liberia students to be patriotic by Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and the recommitment of workers in Lofa County are among dominant stories on today’s newsstand.

DOMINANT STORIES

Pres. Sirleaf dedicates Mini-Hydro Plant In Lofa

The New Dawn newspaper reveals that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has dedicated the Micro-Hydro Power Plant in Yandohun Town, Kolahun District, Lofa County with a call for the residents to maximize the facilities to transform their lives. During the dedication ceremony last Wednesday, according to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf encouraged Yandohun residents to see the energy as an opportunity to once and for all transform their lives by engaging in small businesses that would benefit them and their families. The President mentioned ice making, cold water, and rice mill processing as examples for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) they could invest in to greatly transform their lives. She challenged the residents to form a cooperative in achieving this, which would lead to more SMEs. “Do not just use this electricity to dance at night under light; it’s your opportunity to make use of what you have been blessed with, and the only way you can help government fight poverty is by getting involved in the fight. This is why the hydro has been built here,” the President told a cheering crowd. President Sirleaf paid tribute to Peace Corps Volunteer Gary Duncan, traditionally named Selle, who conceived the idea in the late 1970s and later experimented with the idea of a 30-kilowatt plant that served the local community before it was destroyed by war. The rehabilitation and expansion of the plant to 60 kilowatts became a government initiative when President Sirleaf issued Executive Order No. 23, directing the Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy (MLME) to turn a dream into reality by ensuring that off-grid rural communities benefit from low- cost energy under a project called Catalyzing New Renewable Energy in Rural Liberia. This led to the establishment of the Rural Renewable Energy Agency (RREA), with the Yandohun project being the pilot to the initiative. To the sounds of drumming, singing and dancing, the residents of the town said they could not have imagined their new life where they enjoy 24-hours electricity at low cost. The facility serves the communities of Yandohum, Dagalahun I, and Dagalahun II, and collects L$200 from each house monthly in maintenance cost, with plans to extend to nearby communities.  In an effort to make the community take ownership, during the construction period the RREA trained100 local residents to operate and manage the facilities, including switching, connection, bill collection and maintenance, among others. Following the indoor ceremony, President Sirleaf proceeded to the transmission site, which she described as “incredible,” and challenged those in the energy sector to speed up similar projects since the funds for several more had been secured. The challenge to the energy sector was in response to an announcement by the World Bank’s Country Manager, Iguna Dobraja, that the Bank has appropriated US$25 million for rural energy, while the African Development Bank has allocated another US$25 million, as announced by Mr. Stephen Potter, Projects Director at the Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy, for a total of US$50 million for similar projects across the country. Before the Yandohun dedication, President Sirleaf had spent the night in Vahun, which borders Sierra Leone, and encouraged the citizens to remain peaceful and law abiding. The President interacted with various civil society groupings, including students, women and business associations, each one presenting a statement of support to government’s development program, while advancing recommendations, which the President received with a promise to review and take action where necessary. Some of the recommendations included: increasing the number of high schools from one to at least two in Vahun District; and youth inclusion in decision-making at the district level. The President thanked the people for preserving the peace. She reminded them to do all that they could to keep their children in school, and challenged the adults to take interest in vocational education, especially carpentry, masonry and other life-supporting ventures, for their survival. Amidst continuous drumming and dancing, the people of Vahun gowned the President for her effort to reconnect their district to Liberia by road once again. Before the reconditioning of the Kolahun/Vahun highway, the district, according to the residents, was completely cut off from Liberia, and the people did nearly everything with neighboring Sierra Leone, including trading, and used the Leone as their currency. “We now feel as citizens of Liberia by the reconditioning of the road and the arrival of a Liberian President in Vahun for the first time in 30 years,” Augustus Bimba told those gathered at the program to officially welcome President Sirleaf to Vahun. The people of Vahun, through their representative, Hon. Fofee Sahr Bimba, called on the government to open up the road between Vahun and Tubmanburg, Bomi County, which, he said, would be a five-hour drive as compared to the route from Monrovia through Gbarnga to Voinjama, which takes over ten hours. Apart from President William R. Tolbert, President Sirleaf is the second Liberian leader to have visited that part of the country. While in the district, she inspected several projects, including a cocoa nursery, women weaving projects, among others.  Briefing the President on state of affairs of the district, Superintendent George Dunor said schools and clinics are all functioning well, in support of government’s development agenda. The President’s Lofa trip has already taken her to Foya, Kolahun and Voinjama to inspect the progress being made at the Lofa Community College. Among those officials accompanying President Sirleaf on the trip to Lofa are Senator Sumo Kupe; Representatives Clarence Massaquoi and Fofee Sahr Bimba; Commerce Minister Axel Addy and Public Works Minister, Dr. Antoinette Weeks, among others.

Related Caption: “Turn Power Into Development”…Ellen Tells Lofians As She Dedicated Mini-Hydro Plant In Yandohun (The Inquirer), Pres. Sirleaf Commissioned Yandohun Power Plant…Power Restored (The Parrot), Lofa: Yandohun Gets 24-Hr Electricity (INSIGHT), Pres. Sirleaf Dedicated Mini-Hydro Power Plant (FOCUS), Pres. Sirleaf Dedicates Mini-Hydro Power Plant In Lofa – Brings Light To Rural Communities; With Roads Improved (The Analyst) –2^nd Liberian President To Visit Vahun – Pres. Sirleaf Holds Town Hall meeting(The Analyst)

Motor Vehicle Inspection Starts Today

 The Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with the Liberia National Police says it will on Monday, February 24, begin inspection of motor vehicles with specific emphasis on the insurance registration. Addressing a press conference at his Broad Street office Friday, Transport Minister, S. Tornorlah Varpilah said the inspection exercise is in keeping with the Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance scheme launched early this year. Minister Varpilah said the inspection is a regular exercise carried out twice every year by the Ministry of Transport, aimed at improving road and public safety. He said the ministry and other stakeholders, including the ministries of justice and finance, have put in place measures to ensure that road safety laws and regulations, such as motor vehicle insurance registration, are respected. Minister Varpilah said the insurance scheme will help reduce the number of accidents in and around Monrovia and will also help accident victims who cannot afford to seek treatment on their own, to do so through their insurance partners. He disclosed that about 50,000 insurance stickers have already been deposited at GT Bank and can be purchased through the Ministry of Finance, while the Ministry of Transport will be responsible to help the police scrutinize all motor vehicle documents during the inspection. For his part, Police Inspector General, Col. Chris Massaquoi, said the LNP, as the implementing arm of the Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance scheme, will ensure that the measure is implemented to the fullest. The Police Inspector General said the issue of road accident and safety is very serious as victims of road accidents over the years have not been justly compensated, indicating that the insurance scheme will bring relief to would-be accident victims. He said motor vehicles refusing to be insured will be impounded and a fee will be charged in order to enforce the motor vehicle insurance registration policy. Meanwhile, Transport Minister Varpilah and the Police Chief are calling on business owners and the general public to stop the importation of Tricycles as plans are afoot to stop them from plying the major streets. Minister Varpilah disclosed that they are in discussion with relevant partners to import into the country 29 buses this year to ease the high cost of transportation in the country, and called on Liberians to exercise patience, theNew Dawn newspaper reports.

Related Caption: Motor Vehicle Inspection Starts Today (The Parrot), Transport, Police begin Motor Insurance Inspection Today (The Inquirer), Motor Vehicle Inspection Starts Today (INSIGHT)

Minister Ngafuan Urges Liberian Students To Adapt Patriotism

Foreign Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan is calling on Liberian Students to put Liberia above personal interest as they develop their dreams and ambitions. Minister Ngafuan made the cal while serving as a Key Note Speaker at the Tubman University’s First Career Day Fair in Maryland County on February 21. He said while it is not bad to have personal ambition and dreams, the fact is Liberia remains the common denominator for all. Minister Ngafuan: “We should never pursue our personal ambition or objectives to the detriment of national ambition. Our dreams and visions should be in syne with the national vision; a vision for national development and prosperity, a vision for unity and reconciliation, a vision for peace and security within our borders, the sub-region and our entire world.” He explained it was important Liberians did not lose sight of the nation where they live; because if the vision of Liberia is not achieved, it would be difficult for anyone to achieve his/her individual ambition, the Daily Observer newspaper reports.

Related Caption: Ngafuan Speaks At Tubman University – Urges Students: Never Put Nat’l Interest Above Personal(The Analyst)

Health Workers In Lofa Recommit Services

The New Dawn newspaper reports that in the wake of go-slow by health workers across Liberia, those assigned in Lofa County have expressed a commitment to delivery and pledged to continue to provide services to the people of Lofa. The Executive Mansion said the Lofa health workers told President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that while they have grievances, they also took an ath to save lives, and should not let their grievances undermine healthcare delivery. Similar pledges were made in Kolahun, Voinjama and Zorzor, respectively when the President visited them to learn about the situations in the wake of an announced go-slow by the national health Workers Association of Liberia.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Visits Lofa Health Centers – Workers Express Commitment To Provide health Care To People ( The Analyst)

U.S. Envoy Praises Gov't’s Corruption Fight, But…

The United States Ambassador to Liberia Deborah Malac has given the Liberian Government a pat on the back for setting up institutions to fight corruption in Liberia. According to Ambassador Malac, the setting up of institutions like the General Auditing Commission (GAC), Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), and the Liberia Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative (LEITI) are all commendable strides in the fight against corruption.  Ambassador Malac made the commendation last Thursday, when she addressed the Great 16 Inter-High School Accountability and Transparency Forum, organized by the Mano River Union Youth Parliament Liberia chapter in Monrovia. The Forum was held under the theme: “Tackling Corruption and Promoting Accountability and Transparency in Liberia”. But the U.S envoy challenged  officials of the executive branch to follow the Code of Conduct and submit annual asset declarations that are verified. She also urged the legislative and judicial branches to implement similar measures to fight corruption. She noted that President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in her inaugural address in 2006 declared corruption as ‘public enemy number one’, and that since then, the United States Government and other international partners have continued to work with the Liberian government to address the menace of corruption. Ambassador Malac then urged Liberian students to join the fight to defeat this menace, if the country should become a better place for all Liberians, because she observed, corruption not only affects government and the private sector, noting that it also has infested the schools. She explained that school administrators and teachers collecting pay checks they don’t work for and students cheating in home work and exams are also forms of corruption which eat away at the fabric of a society. She pointed out that corruption damages Liberia’s social and economic growth by deterring foreign investment and greatly reducing the impact of development assistance, and hence that every Liberian should play a part in tackling corruption, the Heritage newspaper says.

Related Caption: U.S. Envoy Pats Govt’s Craft Fight (FOCUS)

LEC Warns Against Bribes For Light Poles

The New Dawn newspaper reports that the Management of the Liberia Electricity Corporation or LEC has threatened to take serious action against customers or individuals found in communities, giving money to employees or contractors with the aim of buying electricity poles in their respective communities. According to the management of the LEC, no contractor or employee has the power to plant poles, or give electricity to anybody without the authorization of the management. In a press statement issued over the weekend, the LEC management said it will drastic actions, including termination of service against any employee or contractor, who is caught in the act of receiving money or requesting money from customers in various communities to buy electricity for their respective areas. The release stated that the cost of poles is already embedded in the customer’s registration fees and as such there should be no cash payments made by customers to anyone claiming to be an employee or contractor for electricity or planning of light poles. The management also stated that at no time in its existence has it requested or demanded money or sold electricity poles to community dwellers or individuals in any community. The management strongly emphasized on community dwellers, who cannot afford the light bill to stop the bad habit such as giving money to employees or contractors just to have what the management referred to as deferred payments. The release said the threat came in the wake of public complaints that some unscrupulous employees and contractors have been extorting money or receiving money from customers and various communities as payments for electricity poles that are being erected in those areas. The LEC management pointed out that all electricity poles that are being erected in various communities had already been designated for those locations before they are transported for planning.  The management also urged the general public to report such cases to avoid misinterpretation of the institution. At the same time, the LEC management is appealing to customers to exercise patience it undertakes projects to improve the system.

Related Caption: LEC Threatens Action Against Customers, Employees (Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES

Sight Savers, MoHSW Hold Stakeholder’s Meeting

The Country Director of a UK based NGO, Sight Savers, Madam Adoley M. Sonni, has called on the government to fully support the establishment of a training program for eye care medical practitioners to increase the capacity of health practitioners in dealing with eye problems. According to Madam Sonni, the intent of the Workshop is to push for the establishment of a training program that will train Liberians in ophthalmic nursing by professionals in Liberia thereby reducing the cost for overseas training of Liberian practitioners in the area. Sight Savers, Madam Sonni , said , is involved with the treatment of blindness caused by cataract, and other eye sicknesses,  theAnalyst reports.

Like ‘Pehn-Pehn’: Tricycles Face Tough Restriction

Transport Minister, S. TornorlahVarpilah and the Police Inspector General, Col. Chris Massaquoi have disclosed that there are plans to stop Tricycles from plying the main streets in Monrovia and its environs. Against this backdrop, Minister Varpilah and Police Chief Massaquio are cautiously calling on business owners and the general public to stop the importation of the Tricycles into the country.  As in the case of the motorcycles, the  Transport minister and police boss  said this is part of the government’s ongoing   measures  aimed at protecting lives and properties as well as  reducing accident cases, mainly in Monrovia and its environs. 
Motorcycles are generally referred  to here as ‘pehn-pehn’.  It could be recalled that  in November of 2013, the government stopped  motorcycles from plying the major streets in Monrovia and its environs. The restriction of motorcycles followed a crackdown by police on motorcyclists after they were involved in setting ablaze a bus and wounding several police offices, including Col. Darlington George, Deputy Police Commissioner for Operations. 
The action by police authorities also followed mob violence by motorcyclists avenging the death of one of their kind who was hit by a 75-seater transport bus. The mob burnt the bus. 
The two government officials were speaking on Friday, February 21, 2014 when they addressed a press conference in Monrovia to announce the inspection of motor vehicles with specific emphasis on the insurance registration. They said the inspection exercise is in keeping with the Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance scheme launched early this year. The inspection begins today, Monday, February 24, 2014.  Minister Varpilah explained that the inspection is a regular exercise carried out twice every year by the Ministry of Transport, aimed at improving road and public safety. He said the ministry and other stakeholders, including the ministries of justice and finance, have put in place measures to ensure that road safety laws and regulations, such as motor vehicle insurance registration, are respected. The Transport Ministry mentioned that the insurance scheme will help reduce the number of accidents in and around Monrovia and will also help accident victims who cannot afford to seek treatment on their own, to do so through their insurance partners. He disclosed that about 50,000 insurance stickers have already been deposited at GT Bank and can be purchased through the Ministry of Finance, while the Ministry of Transport will be responsible to help the police scrutinize all motor vehicle documents during the inspection. Meanwhile, Col. Massaquoi said the LNP, as the implementing arm of the Motor Vehicle Third Party Liability Insurance scheme, will ensure that the measure is implemented to the fullest. The Police Inspector General said the issue of road accident and safety is very serious as victims of road accidents over the years have not been justly compensated, indicating that the insurance scheme will bring relief to would-be accident victims. He said motor vehicles refusing to be insured will be impounded and a fee will be charged in order to enforce the motor vehicle insurance registration policy, the Heritage newspaper reports.

Political Parties Defy NEC

 Twenty (20) political parties whose registration and certification risk revocation of the National Elections Commission (NEC) have in the strongest term, dismissed the NEC’s petition filed before the Civil Law Court at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.  The parties described the petition as a hunt-down of legitimately registered and recognized political parties in the country. According to them, the commission’s action is a witch-hunt orchestrated to confuse the electorate ahead of election. The parties argued that no part of the Constitution of Liberia gives the National Elections Commission the power to penalize political parties it believes are in constitutional breach. The NEC recently filed a petition before the civil law court, seeking the revocation of registration and certification of 20 political parties, including the National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP and Citizens Unification Party or CUP, amongst others. The NEC said its action is in line with Article 79(c) of the Liberian Constitution, which requires that the headquarters of registered political parties should be situated in the capital city, and Article 83(d) which mandates political parties to publish and submit their sources of funding and assets, including bank balance of US$10,000 and expenditures on the 1st of September each year, no later than thirty (30) days prior to the holding of an election. The NEC in its petition against the parties also cited Part II, Chapter IV of the Electoral Guidelines which provides for penalties against political parties specifically revocation of registration and certification upon failure to adhere to both articles 79(c) and 83(d) in the provisions of the Constitution.  With the petition filed by the NEC, it is incumbent upon the political parties concerned to make their returns after 10 days, something the parties said they did on February 20, 2014 through their lawyers.  But the 20 political parties in a joint press conference held at the headquarters of the National Union for Democratic Progress (NUDP) said, the NEC is in grave error by not taking into consideration Article 84 of the Constitution, which gives the Legislature the power to provide penalties by law for any violations, not the NEC. However, NEC Communication Director Joey Kennedy told the New Dawn that the commission would not respond to the parties as the matter is already before the Civil Law Court.

Health, Education, Youth Empowerment Top Lofians’ Priorities

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was accorded an awesome reception last week on her tour of Lofa County. In every city, town and village she entered, many expressed joy at seeing for the first time, the Liberian leader they have overwhelmingly supported over the years. Lofians had nothing more to demand from the Liberian leader than better health and educational facilities with a qualified and well paid staff to carry out their duties effectively, the Daily Observer newspaper writes.

Move Refugee Camps From The Birder – Gov’t. Requests Int’l Community; Expresses Concern Over Alleged Arrest of Ivorians

The Liberian Government is requesting assistance from the international community to move refugee camps away from the Liberia’s border with Cote d’Ivoire. Government believes that doing so would remove the ease with which non-state actors and mercenaries continue to go back and forth planning and sometimes implementing activities inimical to peace, security and stability of the two countries. Making the request in the press statement issued last evening, the Government of Liberia says it also views with grave concern reports of alleged arrest of some Ivorian nationals along the Liberian/Ivorian borders on suspicion of engaging in activities intended to destabilize the two countries. The reports also alleged that these Ivorian nationals, some of whom may have been refugees, were returned to la Cote d’Ivoire, the Analyst newspaper says.