The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2014

Highlights of our summary of the local dailies for today include: the Turkish Government’s expression of regrets over the shooting of four Liberians, Liberia’s qualification to the second round in the African Championship and the Ministry of Education week-long awareness on early child learning.

Dominant Story

Turkey ‘Regrets Shooting Of Liberians’-GoL Dispatches Senior Diplomat to Istanbul

The Daily Observer quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Professor Ahmet Daavutoglu, has expressed his government’s deepest regrets over the shooting incident involving four Liberians, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia said Monday, April 21. The incident occurred early this month in Istanbul, Turkey’s capital. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Turkish Foreign Minister, who spoke in a telephone conversation with Liberia’s Foreign Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan, said all efforts are being exerted by security forces in Istanbul to have the perpetrator arrested and brought to justice. Foreign Minister Ngafuan had earlier called his counterpart’s attention to the need for proper post-surgical medical care for the victims. Minister Ngafuan also called on his Turkish counterpart to ensure proper security for the four as well as other Liberians living in Turkey in order to avert any possible recurrence of the situation. The Liberian Foreign Minister also urged Turkish authorities to step up efforts aimed at ensuring the shooter is speedily brought to justice. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dispatched Senior Ambassador-at-Large, Marcus Kofa, to the Republic of Turkey on a special mission.  Amb. Kofa arrived in Istanbul on Sunday, April 20, and met with the victims Monday morning. Ambassador Kofa informed headquarters that arrangements have been concluded for the victims to be given continued and adequate medical attention by Turkish authorities. The Foreign Ministry release said Ambassador Kofa is now heading for Turkey’s political capital, Ankara, where he will hold talks with Turkish Government authorities on the unfortunate incident and the need to bring it to a mutually acceptable conclusion. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also announced that it is fully sponsoring the travel of one of the family members of the victims to Turkey to ascertain first hand the conditions of their loved one and to provide domestic care for them. The family member is to depart Liberia this week. It can be recalled that an unknown gunman at a coffee shop located in Sisli Mecediyeko around the Trump Tower in Istanbul, shot and seriously wounded four Liberians. The four Liberians are Bemore N. Toe, Patience Roberts, Deddeh Simmonds and Blessing Vinton. Turkey does not have a diplomatic mission, representative or Honorary Consul in Liberia at present. The Liberian Government had to send a diplomatic note to the Turkish Embassy in Accra, Ghana, seeking explanation into the shooting of Liberian citizens there. Regardless of the absence of a Turkish representative to Liberia, however, the two countries continue to enjoy some level of mutual relationship as manifested by Turkish business establishments and a school in Liberia. Some Turkish entrepreneurs early this year opened a furniture store on 23^rd Street in Sinkor.  It can also be recalled that based on the kind gesture of the Turkish Government some Liberian business tycoons including Liberian Business Association president Dee Maxwell Kemayah and renowned Liberian banker and president of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, Francis A. Dennis, travelled to Turkey last year with others to attend a business meeting there. From the meeting, some Turkish business entrepreneurs assured their Liberian counterparts of relating to them in business venture especially in the area of Transportation. The Turkish Light International School is also located in Sinkor, Monrovia and is catering to the education needs of Liberians here.  A few years back the school took some of its Liberian students to Turkey for a visit to gain some experience in that country. There are also many Liberian students in Turkey, benefiting from bilateral scholarships in order to return to Liberia to help develop the country.

Related Captions: Turkey regrets shooting of Liberians(Insight),TURKEY REGRETS SHOOTING OF LIBERIANS, GOL DISPATCHES ENVOY(Frontpage Africa), Turkey Regrets Shooting Of Liberians(In Profile Daily), Turkey Regrets Shooting Of Liberians(New Dawn), Turkey Regrets Shooting Of Liberians(FOCUS),Turkey Regrets Shooting Of Liberians…As Government Dispatches Senior Diplomat to Istanbul(Inquirer), Turkey Regrets Shooting Of Liberians(The News)

Liberia Wins Protest Against The Gambia-For using 5 overage players

The U-20 national team, Satellites crossed over to the second round of the preliminary stage in the African Championship after winning their protest against the Darling Scorpions of The Gambia. According to the Secretary General of the Liberia Football Association (LFA) Alphonso Armah, a communiqué with the ruling of The Gambia’s disqualification for fielding illegal (overage) players in accordance to the September 2, 2013’s CAF Circular has been sent to the Gambia Football Association and copied the LFA. Armah, who spoke with the Daily Observer last evening, said the return-leg between the Satellite of Liberia and the Darling Scorpion of The Gambia has been automatically cancelled and Liberia is awarded the points.

On Sunday, April 6, 2014, Liberia protested against The Gambia for fielding five overage players in a match that The Gambia won 1-0. The over-aged players in question are Sampler Mendy, born July 12, 1994, Buba Sanneh, born November 14, 1994, Bubacarr Trawally, born November 10, 1994, Saloum Faal, October 10, 1994, and Ali Sowe, July 14, 1994. The Gambian Daily Observer had quoted a Gambian FA official admitting that overage platers were used with his understanding that Sowe is the eldest, Sowe who will celebrate his 20th birthday in June, would then be illegible. “We are very much aware of the rules of this competition. We know that in the competition proper, all the players have to be born in 1995 but during the qualifiers, a player is eligible to play as long as he is less than 20. This is U-20 tournament and not U-19 so our players are eligible to play in the game,” Mr. Kebbe Touray of the GFF said. With the disqualification, The Gambian official misunderstood the rules. Liberia now qualifies for the second round, and the Satellites are presently undergoing minor preparation at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium. Daily Observer

Related Caption:Liberia faces Ivory Coast after winning protest(INSIGHT), Liberia’s Under-20 Wins protest against Gambia(The New Dawn)

Early Child Learning Takes Effect Next Academic Year

Assistant Education Minister for Early Child Learning Felicia Doe-Sumah has disclosed that implementation of the early child learning policy in schools  across the country will begin next academic year. Madam Doe-Sumah observed that implementation of the policy is critical to building the Liberian educational system at the foundation level because children should start school at the age of three. Speaking in an interview with Liberia News Agency recently at the Questionnaire Data Information Seminar for County Education Officers (CEO) and District Education officers (DEO) held in Monrovia. She told the CEOs and DEOs to create awareness among parents and guardians about the policy, the IN PROFILE DAILY reports.

Related Caption: MOE celebrates Young Child Week(The New Dawn)

VP Boakai Opens National Housing Policy Validation Workshop

The Daily Observer reports that Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has officially opened the National Housing Policy workshop for its Housing Policy validation process. At the Thursday, April 17 ceremony, VP Boakai expressed gratitude for the great effort put into the policy crafting enterprise, which cumulated into a Draft National Housing Policy. VP Boakai stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring the improvement of Liberia through the provision of a program that would provide more accommodation for needy citizens. “This is squarely in consideration of the reality that housing constitutes one of the four basic requirements for human survival, including clothes, food, and dignity, that are critical to human rights issue.” VP Boakai explained that the government is aware that a shortage of housing has always been a serious problem over the years in this country---a situation that was compounded by the civil crisis in Liberia. “We want to register thanks to the National Housing Authority and all of the key actors in the sector who have pushed the policy formulation process to the level we recognize today.” VP Boakai called on the public to always appreciate the efforts of the government---making salaries and other benefits available for better livelihood, especially under difficult circumstances. According to VP Boakai, the government is working with other actors to formulate strategies and approaches to tackle the twin-problem of affordability and accessibility that has long impeded the progress of housing in the country. The National Housing Policy workshop brought together officials of government and UN partners, including the chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia, Chief Zanzan Karwor; and Clara Doe Mvrogo, of the Monrovia City Corporation. The Managing Director of the National Housing Authority, Mr. Samuel Thompson, said Liberia had a coherent housing policy, but lost the chance to make the most of that opportunity. He explained, “This has resulted in inefficient land use, unresponsive markets, very poor functionality of shelter, and minimal construction skills, among other issues.” Mr. Thompson expressed thanks to the committee of the National Housing Policy and other partners for the roles in ending some of the difficulties faced by the housing sector in the country.

Related caption: Gov't pledges support to National Housing Policy (Heritage), NHA Ends Policy Validation Workshop(The Inquirer),

Grand Gedeh County gets 13 wells soon

The Rural Integrated Development Agency (RIDA), a local NGO operating in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, has started identifying sites to construct 13 wells in Zwedru and surrounding communities. According to the Liberia News Agency Correspondent in Grand Gedeh County, RIDA is already working with the Zwedru City Corporation and community leaders in this process. The project will comprise eight hand-dug wells and five bore holes to help meet the water supply needs of inhabitants of the selected communities. Grand Gedeh Development Superintendent Abraham T. Gbeway gave the go-ahead on behalf of Superintendent Peter L Solo following a county-wide consultative meeting in Gbarzon, Konobo Statutory and Tchien Districts. The consultative meetings were intended to get the inputs of locals in the county’s eight administrative districts. RIDA officials said the project when started will be completed in six months. RIDA is a non -governmental organization recently approved by UNICEF, the Governments of the United Kingdom and Liberia to carry out water and sanitation (WASH) projects around the country. They are to build water and latrine facilities in communities to promote hygienic environments, according to the INSIGHT newspaper.

Related Caption: NGO To Build 13 Wells in Grand Gedeh County(In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES

Liberia Urged To Adopt ECOWAS Disaster Policy

The Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a number of measures aimed at helping Liberia recover from its decade-long civil decadence. In a paper recently presented at Liberia’s Ministerial High Level Disaster Response Meeting hosted in Monrovia, the Director-General of Nigeria National Emergency Management Agency, Muhammad Sani Sidi, recalled how the West African Region has witnessed several nature-induced disasters and conflicts over the years. According to him, this leads to the fact that disaster management is cross-cutting, “because disaster itself is trans-boundary in nature.” The government high level disaster response meeting was organized by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and supported by the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine. The ECOWAS Humanitarian Affairs Policy was adopted by member states in 2012, and was developed to provide a solid framework for the prevention and management of humanitarian crises. He said the departments and units should comprise planning, research and forecasting, research and rescue, relief and rehabilitation, disaster risk reduction, training, etc. “The main goal of the Humanitarian Policy and Plan of Action,” he said, “is to create a powerful region, effective and efficient enough to manage the disasters that plague it.” According to Mr. Sidi, meeting the standards of the ECOWAS Model Disaster Management Agency by member states, translates to strengthening the West African Disaster Management capacity. “When this happens, Member States can fully explore the benefits of South-South cooperation in the implementation of the Humanitarian Policy and Plan Action.” Daily Observer

THE NEWS RADIO, TV COMING

The News newspaper writes that the Founder and Chairman of Board of Directors of The NEWS Newspaper has unveiled plans to add radio and television components to the paper he established. Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh did not say exactly when he intends to add radio and television stations to the newspaper; however, such an ambitious undertaking could take considerable time. Tarpeh’s statement prompted thunderous applauds from the audience including members of The News family who greeted the news with great optimism. Making remark at a memorial lecture series in observance of the 25th anniversary of The NEWS newspaper last Friday at the Auditorium of the University of Liberia, Prof. Tarpeh said despite difficulties the paper experienced over the years, the institution remains determined to expand in scope and operation. As part of efforts to expand the paper, he indicated that the management has already set up a printing press that is expected to be fully functional. “We will get there, and all of these that we are doing, the government should take pride, because it is happening under your watch; it is because of the conducive atmosphere you’ve established…” the Board Chairman stressed. Prof. Tarpeh told the audience that the paper has made significant commitment to remain on the newsstand as vibrant institution. Last Friday’s lecture series was in memory of fallen staff of the News newspaper who passed away in the discharge of their duties over the years (April 1989 to April 2014). They include, Klon Hinneh, John Vambo, Big Steve, Bobby Tapson, Juku Harris, Veronica Kpahn, Musu Haddah and Ema Harmon.

Bomi Caucus Allots Annual US$20K For Tubmanburg

The Bomi County Legislative Caucus has resolved to allot US$20,000 from the County and Social Development Funds each year to develop Tubmanburg City, the provincial capital of the county. The decision which takes effect this year was reached based on a petition from 17 communities in Tubmanburg during the County Council Sitting in Klay District recently. According to the Liberia News Agency, community leaders  who signed the petition include Sumo Jallah, Vai town community, Komba Tamba Stewart Camp Community, Peter Sampson New Road Community and Moore E. James Konnah Community among others, the IN PROFILE DAILY  reports.