The Bureau of Public Affairs   

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

Today’s dominant stories include, President Sirleaf’s challenge to newly commissioned Government officials to expose and prosecute perpetrators of corruption, Minister Samukai’s praises to the US Government, and Liberia’s supports gained towards the fight against Ebola.

Dominant Stories

“Expose, Prosecute”

The News Newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s has issued a new mandate to four integrity institutions challenging the to fight corruption without fear of favor. The President challenge her newly commissioned officials to expose perpetrators of corruption and prosecute them in accordance with the laws of Liberia. The Liberian leader on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, commissioned four government officials at the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium at the Foreign Ministry, namely; Auditor General of the General Auditing Commission, Yusador S. Gaye; Chairman of the Independent National Human Rights Commission, Justice Gladys Johnson; Chairman, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission, James N. Verdier; and Deputy Auditor General for Administration, General Auditing Commission, Boakai G. Kiazolu.

Related Captions: President Sirleaf Commissions (News Newspaper), Ellen Commissions LACC Chairperson, Three Others (Heritage Newspaper), Ellen Nudges Integrity Officials To Fight Graft (In Profile Daily), and Fight Against Corruption Remains Unabated (The Inquirer Newspaper)

ECOWAS On High Ebola Alert –As Sen. Coleman Requests US$1.2mTo Fight Virus

Leaders in the West African sub-region have raised a red flag, calling for a concerted effort to battle the deadly Ebola Haemorraheagic fever which broke out in Guinea recently and spread across the borders here and to neighboring Sierra Leone. Already health officials here say at least five Guineans who crossed the border into Liberia to seek treatment have died. The Liberian Government announced Wednesday that no new cases of Ebola infected patients have been reported since the last deaths in Lofa, a Liberian region bordering Guinea. In an update on the virus Wednesday, the government said there was no need for panic, saying that two patients transferred from the Ganta Methodist Hospital Tuesday suspected to have contracted the virus were diagnosed and the test proved negative at the JFK. It said samples from suspected persons have been forwarded to the French charity MSF in Guinea for preliminary examination, and further confirmation from the preliminary findings will be provided from Lyon, France. But at the regional level the Mediation and Security Council of ECOWAS, comprising Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of the ECOWAS sub-region, has expressed deep concern over the outbreak, which it said, it considers a threat to regional security. In a communiqué issued by the Mediation and Security Council at the end of its 31st Meeting in Yamoussokro, Cote d’Ivoire on March 25, 2014, the Council underscored the need for a robust regional response in putting a halt to the further spread of the deadly scourge.  The Council called on the President of the ECOWAS Commission, in consultation with the West African Health Organization (WAHO), to take appropriate and swift actions to mobilize the stakeholders and the needed resources to stem out the epidemic from the region. The Council also appealed to the International Community to assist the affected countries in the management of the Ebola epidemic in the region.

Speaking on the issue during the Council’s Meeting, Liberian Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and his Guinean counterpart, Lounceny Fall, separately informed the Council about the extent to which the deadly disease has impacted their respective countries and steps that had been taken by their respective governments along with other partners to contain the outbreak.
Minister Ngafuan, quoting reports from the Liberian Ministry of Health, informed that the Liberian health facilities along the border with Guinea had recorded four deaths of Guineans Ebola victims who had crossed into Liberia for treatment. The Liberian Foreign Minister further informed the Council that, considering the contagious nature of the Ebola epidemic and the frequent cross-border movements by citizens of both countries for trading and other purposes, it was important that ECOWAS and other international partners move quickly in assisting Liberia and Guinea in containing the virus. Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister of Guinea informed the Council that the Government of Guinea has initiated some preliminary measures with a view to preventing the contraction and spread of the Ebola epidemic. These measures include quarantining those diagnosed of the Ebola Haemorraheagic fever; and discouraging the consumption of bats which are believed to be transmitters of the Ebola virus,

the New Dawn reports. Related Story: Pres. Sirleaf Off To 44^th ECOWAS Summit In Yamoussoukro

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has departed the country for a three-day official visit to Cote d’Ivoire. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader is in the Ivorian administrative capital of Yamoussoukro to attend the 44^th ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government. High on the Agenda of the Summit is the political and security situations in Mali and the development in Guinea Bissau, the INSIGHT reports.

Related Caption: US$1.2m For Ebola Fight – MOH Discloses (INSIGHT), To Fight Ebola: ECOWAS Urges International Community’s Assistance (National Chronicle)

Defense Minister Hails US Support To AFL

The Daily Observer Newspaper reports that the Minister of National Defense, Brownie J. Samukai Jr., Thursday, March 27, 2014, hailed the Government and People of the United States of America for the positive ties and their nonstop support to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) from the restructuring process in 2006 up to transformation, now in process. Minister Samukai informed the visiting delegation that the AFL is currently carrying on its own recruitment and training exercises. The exercises, he said are being led by the very soldiers who were trained in the United States are part of the restructuring process of the AFL.

Related Captions: Defense Minister Hails US Government (Heritage Newspaper), US Pledges More Support To AFL (New Democrat Newspaper), and Minister Samukai Hails U.S Support To AFL (In Profile Daily Newspaper)

USAID-IWASH  Delivers Anti-Ebola Materials

Along the Liberia-Guinea border, where six suspected Ebola cases have occurred, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IEASH) program is delivering materials to prevent potential spread of the disease. Materials have been distributed to health facilities that are in the “front line” in responding to the Ebola outbreak in the Foya District border region, in Lofa county. Mr. Piet Devries, who is the Chief of Party of the IWASH Program said, “We met with the WHO surveillance team and the District health officer to discuss the priorities and then began supplying facilities closest to the border’, the FOCUS says.

Related Caption: USAID-IWASH Program Delivers Materials To Prevent Potential Ebola Spread (INSIGHT),USAID-IWASH Program Delivers Materials To Prevent Potential Ebola Spread (The National Chronicle)

Other Stories

BIN Increases Border Posts

According to the News Newspaper, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) has disclosed that the Bureau has increased Liberia’s official border posts from 36 to 45. Commissioner Lemuel E.A. Reeves said the Border Patrol Unit, which is the armed unite of BIN, has been deployed to these border posts. He said, the deployed officers conduct foot and mobile patrols as means of curtailing and preventing transnational crimes.

Related Caption: 141 Borders Unmanned (New Democrat)

“U.S. Aware Of Corkrum’s Indictment”

Ambassador Deborah Malac says the Government of the United States of America is aware of the Liberian Government’s indictment against former Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), Managing Director Ellen Corkrum. Madam Corkrum is indicted for Economic Sabotage, Theft of Property and Misapplication of Entrusted Property. She is also accused of defrauding the Government of Liberia of US$1 Million while serving as Managing Director at the LAA, writes the News Newspaper.

Related Caption: US Embassy Breaks Silence (Focus Newspaper)

EU To Invest US$1.2M in New Youth Program

The Search for Common Ground (SFCG) Talking Drum Studio in collaboration with the European Union, has launched a regional program aimed as targeting over 2,000 children and youth across the region with the European Union investing 1.2 million Euros. Speaking at the official launch of the program at Corina Hotel in Sinkor Thursday, March 27, 2014, the Country Director of SFCG, Mr. Oscar Bloh said the project will focus on the research that will utilize a listening and learning approach that will benefit children and youth from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, pens the Daily Observer Newspaper.

Commerce, ECOWAS Explore Stability

According to the New Democrat Newspaper, the Ministry of Commerce and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will on April 8, 2014 launch an awareness partnership meeting in Monrovia to conclude on free trade initiative amongst member states. The importance of the initiative is to remove trade barriers amongst peoples of member states for lasting economic stability in the sub-region. The meeting will conclude a free trade agreement that will enhance the growth of the agricultural sector and agro-industrialization and the development of agricultural exports.

ILI  Set To Break Ground For US$1M Education Center

The International learning Institute (ILI) has announced plans to construct up to US$1M educational center in Liberia very soon. ILI Founder and Chief Executive Officer Mildred Dean told a news conference Wednesday in Monrovia that the Institution will soon break ground for the Center which she believed will be the first of its kind in post war Liberia. Madam Dean a veteran educationalist said the aim of the project is to create the avenue for young people, most especially the less fortunate to gain access to quality education, theINSIGHT reports.

Several Returnees Benefit From UNIDO Skills Training Program

At least 320 persons including returnees and locals are expected to benefit from a UNIDO training project in several vocational and skills training institutions in the country.  The project is being funded by the Government and people of Japan. UNIDO, a United Nations organization has embarked on various skills training program intended to reintegrate thousands of returnees who left the country during the nearly 14 years of Civil conflict which devastated every fabric of the society. Objective of the training program according to Mrs. Pewee Culaton Viray, Chief Technical Advisor of UNIDO, include, to assist returnees in their socio-economic reintegration in the country through skills training and job creation-how to set up a business, the Inquirer Newspaper reports.

Senate Confirms New EPS Director

The newly appointed Director of the Executive Protective Service (EPS) Frank Nyenkan has been confirmed by the Liberian Senate. He was recently named to take over from Othello Warrick, who is yet to be reassigned. The new EPS Director upon his confirmation by the Liberian Senate, was sworn into office at the EPS headquarters on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Monrovia, theFOCUS reports.

Bo Waterside Public School To Get US$20K Annex

The administration of the Mano River Bo-Waterside Community Public school in Tewor District, Grand Cape Mount County has disclosed plans to build an annex to the school at a cost of over US$2o,000. Principal Brima Zogbo told the Liberia News Agency (LINA) in Grand Cape Mount County recently that the annex has a library, laboratory, auditorium, teachers’ lounge, cafeteria and additional classrooms due to the growing student population, the INSIGHT reports.

Meleke constructs $94,000 Road In Caldwell

The Meleke Sand Mining Company, currently engaged in river sand mining within the Bus Stop community in the upper Caldwell Township, has constructed a stretch of road in the township that runs from the main junction to the bus stop. The company started this operation in early 2013, as part of its corporate social responsibility and has built one and half (11/2) kilometer road, creating allays to enable residents of the community reach their various homes by way of cars and motorbikes. According to the general manager of the company, Mr. L. K Reddy, the road is estimated at Ninety-four thousand United States Dollars (USD 94, 000, 00). He also said that the company has employed 31 Liberians since the commencement of its operation here.
“The company has also fenced the community, church, and built a sport pitch for the youth of that community and also currently undergoing an agriculture project” the manager noted.
Meanwhile, Mr. Reddy has expressed the company’s readiness to fully participate in the reconstruction process of Liberia in buttressing the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy now dubbed the Agenda for Transformation, by creating more job opportunities for Liberians.
Mr. L.K. Reddy, an Indian national, and his American Managing Director, Mr. Ajay Nalamada, are both working together to help build Liberia from its war-devastated stage to another level, the New Dawn reports.

GoL Fights Acute Malnutrition

In the Government of Liberia’s strive to revamp the health sector of the country and prevent sicknesses and diseases that are deadly, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced that 550,000 children have been given medication to prevent acute malnutrition. According to the Assistant Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Tolbert Nyensuah, the exercise was carried out across the country, The FOCUS reports.

 Abraham Kromah Out Of Police

The  INSIGHT  reveals that recent appoint by the Executive Mansion has named Mr. Gregory O. W. Coleman as the new Commissioner of Police for Operations – a position recently held by Mr. Abraham Kromah. Also replaced is the Deputy Police Director for Administration, Madam Rose Stryker. She has been replaced with Mr. William K. Mulbah. No reason has been given so far for the unexpected replacements at the Liberia National Police (LNP).