BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA

NEWS SUMMARY, Thursday, March 5, 2020

Today’s edition of our daily summary captures stories about Ambassador Isaac W. Nyenabo appointment to Chair the African Union Of Ambassadors In Brussels (GAAB), President George Manneh Weah congratulatory message sent to the Government and People of the Republic of Ghana on the occasion commemorating the 62nd Independence Anniversary of that country as well as the British Government Training Forest Rangers of the Forestry Development Authority.

Ambassador Isaac W. Nyenabo, Appointed To Chair The African Union Of Ambassadors In Brussels (GAAB),

The Heard of the Liberia Delegation to the Permanent Mission of the African Union headed by H.E Dr. Isaac W. Nyenabo II was today appointed as Chairman for the period of the three(3) months on a rotational basis of the African Group of Ambassadors Commonly called the African Group of Ambassador Isaac W. Nyenabo commence from March 4, through June, 2020, which Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, South Africa, Togo, Chairpersons of the Bureau of African Ambassadors. According to a dispatch from Brussels, H.E. Isaac W. Nyenabo replaces is Kenyan Counterpart, H.E Joshua MUGODO (outgoing chairperson) hose tour of duty as Chair of the group came to end during the last term. The income Chairman will consider the outcomes of 33^rd Summit of the African Union held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 6-10 February 2020; issues concerning the next AU-EU Ministerial meeting in Kigali (10^th College-to-College) report, State of play on the ACP-EU Post-2020 Cotonou negotiations (African Regional Protocol), Preparation for the upcoming celebration of African Day 2020 and the European Development Days. According to the Inquirer, in this remark Ambassador Nyenabo expressed warm appreciation and gratitude to the 55 member states of the African Uion in Brussels for the opportunity given him to serve as Chair of the Group.

Related Caption: Amb. Nyenabo appointed to Chair African Union Group Of Ambassadors (The Analyst) Amb. Nyenabo To chair…AU Group Of Ambassadors In Brussels (The News)

Liberia Applauds Ghana On 63^rd Independence Observance

The President of the Republic of Liberia, H. E. Dr. George Manneh Weah has sent a congratulatory message to the Government and People of the Republic of Ghana on the auspicious occasion commemorating the 62^nd Independence Anniversary of that country. According to a Foreign Ministry's release, in his message to his Ghanaian counterpart, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, President Weah conveyed warmest felicitations and sincere best wishes to the Government and People of Ghana, as they celebrate this historic event. “I reflect on the long, but determined journey of your country towards a speedy and sustainable development. Today, we all take pride in the development and democratic gains Ghana has achieved, “the Liberian Leader declared. President Weah further hoped that the cordial ties of friendship and cooperation subsisting between Liberia and Ghana will be further strengthened, both bilaterally and within the context of regional cooperation, as the two leaders work together for the promotion of regional and international peace and security. President George Manneh Weah then prayed that, as Ghana celebrates this joyous occasion, the Almighty God will continue to endow President Akufo-Addo with abundant wisdom and strength as he leads his compatriots to greater prosperity, assert the Inquirer.

Tumutu Is A “Dream Come True”

The President of the Liberian Senate, Vice President of Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, yester signed the “Act Repealing the Act Creating the Tumutu Agriculture and Technical College for onward submission to President George M. Weah, saying the passage of the Act is a “dream come true”. Vice President stated that the proposed Tumutu Agriculture and Technical College is to be constructed based in Salala District, Bong County. The bill was introduced and submitted to the Senate by Bong County Senator Dr. Henrique F. Tokpa in September 2019. Signing the document at her Capital Building Office on Tuesday, 03 March 2020, Vice President Howard-Taylor termed the passage of the bill as a dream come true, while extending special appreciation to Senator Tokpa. VP Howard-Taylor said, the dreams of Tumutu has been a long opted dream of the people of the lower part of the county. She said that it has been the quest of the people of Lower Bong to have a tertiary institution and a major hospital facility in that part of the county so that they too will have access to some of the facilities people of the upper part of Bong County enjoy, the Analyst writes.

British Gov’t Trains FDA Forest Rangers

According to the News newspaper, At least 10 rangers from Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Manager of the Confiscation Unit Alis Kais have begun a three-week long advanced training course that could equip them ably counter illegal wildlife trade among other forest related crimes. The training is being held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from March 2, 27,2020. The rangers are among hundred others including law enforcement officials drawn from across the Mano river Union (MRU) region. The training package and all related costs are being shouldered by the British Government, something the management of the Forestry Development Authority described as highly commendable. It can recalled that last year, British Ambassador to Liberia, His Excellency Daviid Belgrove, promised his government‘s commitment to provide advanced training for Liberia’s forest rangers and sharpen their skills to combat forest crimes consistent with the global tenet of conservation of nature. Meanwhile, FDA Managing Director Doryen has praised through Ambassador Belgrove for the gesture he described as worthy and timely gesture, especially at a time when FDA is focused on conservation efforts in collaboration of all its traditional partners.

President Weah Appoints Jude Onye Bernard…As Liberia’s Honorary Consul To Zambia

President Dr. George Manneh Weah has with immediate effect approved the appointment of Dr. Jude Onye Barnard as Liberia’s Honorary Consul to Lusaka, Zambia. In a letter addressed to Dr. Bernard and signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gbehzohngar M. Findley, the president said his appointment is ‘predicated on his tested ability, integrity and his strong desire to serve the interest of Liberia’.  Noting further, Minister Findley said, “We are confident that you will deploy your best effort in promoting the foreign policy objectives of Liberia including the strengthening of relations between Liberia and the Republic of Zambia”, the letter to the Liberian Diplomat said. Speaking in an exclusive interview with this outlet, Dr. Barnard expressed thanks and appreciation to the Liberian leader for his preferment, adding, “I am very optimistic that this opportunity will open bigger and better ones in the interest of our respective countries. Dr. Bernard’s appointment was revealed at a two-day Special Retreat for Honorary Consuls held in the Ministry of Foreign affairs, C. Cecil Dennis Jr. Auditorium, in Monrovia, the News newspaper release.

Liberia Ready For Peer Review

Liberia Minister of Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr, and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)Focal Point, on the 4th March 2020, received a technical support mission on the APRM Liberia Process led by the APRM Continental Secretariat CEO, Prof. Eddy Maloka. The technical briefing which was requested by the Government of the Republic of Liberia, was aimed at discussing the road map to the Peer Review of the Liberia Country Review Report by African Heads of State and Government. The Republic of Liberia undertook its first generation review in April 2017 and subsequent to the production of the report and following the election of H.E. President George Manneh Weah, the report was revalidated upon the request of the government, to ensure that the findings and recommendations are aligned with the Pro-Poor Agenda for Transformation. During the briefing, Hon Tweah, reaffirmed the decision of the Government of Liberia to undergo the Peer Review and highlighted several areas that the Government has undertaken to address some of the recommendations contained within Liberia’s Country Review Report. Liberia remains a highly active member of the African Peer Review Mechanism and valuable source of best practices in a number of areas to the continent at large. The APRM is Africa’s Self-Assessment for Good Governance the APRM has 40 member states out of Africa’s 55 countries, the Analyst.