The Bureau of Public Affairs   

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2014

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Proclamation declaring Wednesday, May 14 as National Unification Day, the Governments of Liberia and Cameroon’s decision to establish a Joint Commission for Technical Cooperation and President Johnson Sirleaf’s signing of the Book of Condolence, admitting that the Country will surely miss former Chairman Charles Gyude Bryant are dominant among the selected stories for today’s news summary.

DOMINANT STORIES

Wednesday Is Unification Day

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared Wednesday, May 14, 2014 as National Unification Day to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday. The Proclamation further orders all public buildings and business houses closed during the observance. The observance is in consonance with an Act of Legislation enacted in 1960, declaring the 14th of May of each year as a National Unification Day of Liberia. The release recounted that since the Unification and Integration Policy became an integrated part of the National Development Plan, the Nation has seen marked progress and improvement in all spheres of national endeavor, particularly in the economic, educational, communication and social fields. The Proclamation also recalled that the wisdom of the Unification Policy has found expression in the national fabric through the representation of all sections of the country in the Legislature and every other branch of government thereby prompting conditions of peace and unity in the country. According to the Proclamation, the Government of Liberia adheres to the principles of justice, fair-play and equal opportunities for all, regardless of tribe or clan, section, creed or economic status so that Liberians might be united in a consolidated whole, New Dawn reports.

Related Caption: Proclamation Out For National Unification Day(Heritage), Tomorrow Is Unification Day(The Analyst), Pres. Sirleaf issues National Unification Day proclamation(INSIGHT), Ellen Issues Unification Day Proclamation(NEWS), Wednesday Is National Unification Day, A National Holiday (FrontPageAfrica), Tomorrow Is Unification Day(IN PROFILE DAILY), Tomorrow Is National Unification Day(Daily Observer)

Liberia, Cameroon To Establish Joint Commission

The Foreign Ministers of the Republics of Liberia and Cameroon have agreed to work for the establishment of a Joint Commission for Technical Cooperation between their two countries. Liberia’s Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and the Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Cameroon, Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo, made the commitment during bilateral discussions held at the Cameroonian Ministry of External Affairs at the end of the just ended First Ministerial Conference of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICADV), held in the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé. They agreed that officials and technicians from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia and the Ministry of External Affairs of Cameroon will sort out the details leading to the establishment of the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission aims to focus on agriculture, education, forestry, sports as well as trade and commerce. The Foreign Ministers recalled the historical ties and friendship between both countries dating back to 1919 when Liberia played a pivotal role at the League of Nations when German-Cameroon was placed under trusteeship and the 1960’s during the struggle for independence in Africa. Cameroon’s Foreign Minister Mbonjo, for his part, recounted the good works of the Liberian Embassy’s Minister Counselor/Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Siaka G. Fahnbulleh, Sr. which he said have restored and rekindled the strong bond of friendship between the two countries.  He committed himself to working closely with Minister Ngafuan to deepen and solidify the bilateral ties that have existed between the two countries for more than five decades. Sitting through the discussions were Liberia’s Minister Counselor/Charge d’Affaires accredited to Cameroon, Mr. Siaka G.Fahnbulleh,  Sr. and Cameroonian Ambassador accredited to Liberia Amb. Beng’yela Augustine Gang, New Dawn writes.

Related Caption: Liberia, Cameroon To Establish Join Commission (Heritage), Liberia, Cameroon To Establish Joint Commission (IN PROFILE DAILY), Liberia, Cameroon To Establish Joint Commission(Daily Observer)

Pres. Signs Book of Condolence

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has led an array of officials of the Government of Liberia to sign the Book of Condolence for the former Chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL), Charles Gyude Bryant. According to an Executive Mansion release, the solemn and mournful ceremony took place in the Foyer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, May 12th, 2014. Others who signed the book were Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Speaker of the House of Representative, Alex Tyler and members of the House of Representatives; followed by the President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Gbehzohngar Findley and members of the Senate. This was followed by the Chief Justice, and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court and other members of the Judiciary, including the President and members of the Liberian Bar Association as well as other dignitaries. Former Chairman Bryant died April 16, 2014 at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center following a brief illness. He was in his 65th year. Speaking to journalists later, President Sirleaf said signing the Book of Condolence in his honor is an expression of sorrow and an appreciation for the role he played in promoting peace and reconciliation in the country. “I’m glad that we’re able to spend these few moments to his memory,” she said. The Liberia leader, who took over from NTGL Chairman Bryant on January 16, 2006, admitted that the country will surely miss him. Members of Mr. Bryant’s family, including two of his children, Cheryl Bryant and Charles Gyude Bryant, Jr., where in attendance at the ceremony, INSIGHTreports.

Related Caption: Liberia Will Surely Miss Former Chairman Bryant…Ellen Admits As She Signs Book of Condolence(Heritage), Bryant’s Book Of Condolence Swarmed-Pres. Sirleaf Says Liberia Will Miss Him(The Analyst), Ellen Signs Bryant’s Book Of Condolence-Cabinet Ministers Snub Signing Ceremony(Daily Observer)

President Sirleaf Urges Liberians To Get Back To The Soil

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has encouraged Liberians to go back to the soil and engage in agriculture and food production as the rewards for doing these things are immense. “Though farming is hard work, when you work hard and you can see the results of your labor, it makes you feel proud of yourself,” the Liberian leader said. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the statement at the weekend when she was invited to begin the harvesting of three hectares swamp rice (Narica L-19) farm undertaken by the Community of Hope in Zubah Town, Duport Road. President Sirleaf, herself a farmer, said Liberians can try to fight hunger in many ways, including supporting farmers, providing funding, through technical assistance; but most especially, by themselves getting back to the soil. She challenged Liberians to use the uninhabited parcels of land around their communities to make small gardens and farms as this will help us (Liberians) address the problem of food sufficiency. President Sirleaf applauded the Community of Hope Agriculture Project (CHAP) for continuing to grow. Making remarks earlier, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Florence Chenoweth praised CHAP as one of the Ministry’s success stories, but noted that they are not there yet. She noted that the introduction of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is one of the many methods the Ministry has employed in the country to increase rice production and CHAP has been the institution that has been using this method very successfully. The Community of Hope Agriculture Project (CHAP), a faith-based entity established in 2008, is working in urban and rural communities with the aim at training local farmers, women and youth and to provide them with basic farming tools and equipment to increase their productivity and provide them with job opportunities. CHAP, the development arm of Abide in the Vine Fellowship Incorporated, which seeks to reduce hunger in the country, FrontPageAfrica reports.

Related Caption: Ellen calls for agriculture, food production(New Dawn),    Pres. Sirleaf Wants Liberians Engage In Agriculture(FOCUS), Liberians Urged to Engage in Agriculture & Food Production (Heritage), Pres. Sirleaf Urges Liberians To Engage In Agriculture And Food Production(The Analyst), Getting Back To The Soil (FrontPageAfrica), President Sirleaf Urges Liberians To Engage In Agriculture And Food Production(IN PROFILE DAILY), Fighting Hunger In Liberia(New Democrat)

Ellen In Gender Ministry’s Programming Donor Roundtable Dialogue

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has challenged women organizations to keep up their advocacy to uplift women and their works in Liberia. She said women are still great partners in all aspects of life and only needed to be tapped in order to experience their potential. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader was speaking at the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium where she participated in the Ministry of Gender and Development Programming Donor Roundtable Dialogue at the weekend. She said government sees the protection of woman as a primary responsibility and informed the audience that significant progress is being made in that direction; but at the same time called on Liberia’s partners to assist government. President Sirleaf said despite the challenges women face, they are still the largest actors in the agricultural sector in the agricultural sector. She pledged government’s commitment to further create the enabling environment for the sustenance of their livelihood, Heritage reports.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf In Gender Ministry Dialogue(FOCUS), Lack Of Parental Care Leads To Prostitution – Says President Sirleaf(NEW DAWN), Pres. Sirleaf In Gender Ministry’s Programming Donor Roundtable Diallogue – Challenges Women Organizations To Keep Up Their Advocacy(The Analyst), Challenging Women Organizations To Keep Up Their Advocacy-President Sirleaf In Gender Ministry’s Programming Donor Roundtable Dialogue(FrontPageAfrica)

OTHER STORIES

Liberian Cultural Troupe Rocks Egypt

The Liberian National Cultural Troupe, headed by Louise McMillian, Assistant Minister for Culture at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, put up splendid performances during the International Festival for Drums and Traditional Arts under the theme, ‘Drums Dialogue for Peace’ held in Egypt late last month. The Liberians performed at several locations including the historic Salah El-Din Citadel (Castle) and The Opera House in Cairo. The troupe was then hosted by Alexander H.N. Wallace III, Liberian Ambassador to Egypt, on 23 April at his residence for a dinner performance which was attended by several ambassadors and Egyptian government officials. Thirty-one folklore bands representing about 21 countries from the Middle East, Africa and Asia participated with their drums and traditional folk arts in the festival organized by the Bureau of Foreign Cultural Relations of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism. At the closing ceremony on 25 April, the Egyptian Minister of Culture, Dr. Mohammed Saber Arab was joined by the Liberian Assistant Minister for Culture, Madam Louis McMillian and the Minister of Culture of South Sudan to cut the ceremonial ribbon. Minister McMillian met with several dignitaries including Dr. Arab and the Director Of International Culture Relations, among others. Discussions between the Minister and officials of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture focused on the improvement of cultural cooperation between both nations, Focuswrites.

PPAL Launches “Global Day Of Action” Today

The Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia (PPAL), formerly the Family Planning Association of Liberia (FPAL), a member organization of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPPF), will today, May 13, 2014, formally launch in Monrovia what it calls “Vision 2020 Global Day of Action”.  Speaking with the In Profile Dailyon Monday, the Executive Director of PPAL, Madam Miatta Karen Kiawu said, the program in Liberia will raise awareness on the issues of reproductive and health rights, and expressed hope that government will see need to make the corresponding interventions.

Medical Doctor Cheers Bong Women’s Initiative

The Medical Director of C.B. Dunbar Maternity Hospital in Gbarnga, Bong County, Dr. Obed W. Dolo, has welcomed a fund-raising intervention undertaken by women in the county to help the hospital. Dr. Dolo was speaking during phase two of an ongoing clean-up campaign under the auspices of “Grassroots Women of Bong County” to raise US$200,000 in support of the hospital in Gbarnga last Saturday. The clean-up campaign was carried in several communities in the city. In an interview with the Liberia News Agency, Dr. Obed described the women’s intervention as a worthwhile initiative because, he noted, it will help subsidize the hospital’s expenditure and reduce constraints facing the institution. According to him, since the departure of Medicine Du Monde in August 2013, Government funding to the hospital has beenoverstretched due to huge service demands on the facility, a situation which, he said, underscores the need for the government to increase support to the hospital. The C.B. Dunbar Hospital, as the county’s premium maternity health facility, provides free medical services to women, infants and attends to maternity cases and their related complications. The C.B. Dunbar Hospital has in the last two years conducted up to 2,000 deliveries per annum, catering for pregnant women from Bong and neighboring counties, New Dawn reports.

Africare-Liberia Donates To Bong Health Team

Africare-Liberia has donated a new ambulance to the Bong County health and Social Welfare team. The cost of the ambulance is more than US$60,000.00. Making the presentation of the ambulance to the County Health Team at its Phebe Hospital office last weekend, Africare-Liberia Health Advisor, Dr. Garfee Williams said the ambulance was intended to ease the many constraints with which the CHSWT was confronted. Dr. Williams, a former Medical Director of Phebe Hospital and |bong County health officer, expressed his institution’s commitment to supporting efforts toward the improvements of the county health sector. Adding that with the issue of maternal mortality being a major concern, the provision of the ambulance would assist, especially in quickly transporting pregnant women, the New Dawn reports.

IBEX Facilitates Over US$608,000 In Loans To SMES… As Bankers, SMEs Get Impact Investing Training

The Chief of Party at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded…Liberia Investing for Business Expansion (IBEX) Program, has disclosed how her organization helped Liberian-owned micro, small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to obtain over US$608,000 in loans from the various banks in Monrovia since its inception in 2012. IBEX’s COP Watchen Harris Bruce made the disclosure recently at the just end two day IBEX’s impact investing training seminar for SMEs and bankers in the country, Daily Observer reports.

PPAL Launches “Global Day Of Action” Today

The Planned Parenthood Association of Liberia (PPAL), formerly the Family Planning Association of Liberia (FPAL), a member organization of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPPF), will today, May 13, 2014, formally launch in Monrovia what it calls “Vision 2020 Global Day of Action”.  Speaking with the In Profile Dailyon Monday, the Executive Director of PPAL, Madam Miatta Karen Kiawu said, the program in Liberia will raise awareness on the issues of reproductive and health rights, and expressed hope that government will see need to make the corresponding interventions.