The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

The boost in Liberia’s agriculture, the launch of Liberia’s Collateral Registry by the International Finance Corporation, the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State to Liberia, the granting of residence permits to 3,800 Liberian Refugees in Ghana are among selected stories for today’s summary.

DOMINANT STORIES

'Prospects For Liberia’s Energy Sector' - US Dep. Sec. Of State

The Unites States of America’s Deputy Secretary of State currently visiting Liberia, Ms. Heather Higginbottom said, while in the country, she held talks with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on the importance of developing Liberia’s energy sector for continued economic growth. At a news briefing Friday, the U.S. Official climaxed her week-long visit to Liberia, with a meeting with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during which she discussed several other issues, including the upcoming African Leaders Summit in Washington, which will underscore President Obama’s Strong commitment to Africa and the recent travel of Liberia’s 15 YALI fellows to the United States as part of President Barrack Obama’s Youth initiative.  “I also commended President Sirleaf for her leadership of the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the common African Position Commission. I reaffirmed that the United States welcomes the common African position, and I expressed support for Africa’s leadership and participation, as we work together to pursue a successful post 2015 Development Agenda” Said Higginbottom, quotes FrontPage Africa. Related Story:According to New Dawn caption: America Assesses Liberia,a top official of the State Department of the United States has visited Liberia to assess the US Government’s assistance and Embassy’s operations here. The US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Ms. Heather Higginbottom says the ties between both Governments and Peoples are strong, assuring that both sides will continue to strengthen the partnership in the years ahead. She spoke with reporters in the Foyer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia after meeting with President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on Friday, June 20, 2014. Presenting Ms. Higginbottom at the press take-out, Liberia’s Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, described her discussion with President Sirleaf as “very productive.” “They discussed issues that relate to our bilateral relationship. She’s been here to assess US Embassy operations in Liberia and US Government’s assistance in Liberia,” said Minister Ngafuan. He said before Ms. Higginbottom arrived in Liberia, she had made a brief tour to sisterly countries of Senegal and Kenya. Mr. Ngafuan finally said at the last leg of Ms. Higginbottom’s visit to the African countries, she also discussed with President Sirleaf the upcoming US-Africa Leader Summit. Ms. Higginbottom said the African Leaders Summit in Washington will underscore President Barack Obama’s strong commitment to Africa, and the recent travel of Liberia’s 15 Young African Leaders Initiative or YALI Fellows to the US, New Dawn reports.

Related Caption: Ellen Discusses With U.S. Deputy Secretary (The NEWS), State Dept. Lauds Liberia (New Democrat), Pres. Sirleaf Meets With US Official (FOCUS),  Pres. Sirleaf Meets With US Dep. Of State (INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES

3,800 Liberian Refugees Granted Residence In Ghana

The Ghanaian Government has granted residence permits to 3,800 Liberian refugees who have chosen to integrate into the Ghanaian society, the Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ms. Chansa Kapaya, has said. The integration falls within the framework of the local integration policy for refugees approved by Ghana. The integrated Liberians would receive Liberian passports affixed with Ghanaian residence permit, which would give them alternative legal status in Ghana, New Republic reports.

Related Caption: 3,800 Liberians Remain In Ghana (New Democrat)

Liberia To Celebrate African Public Service Day

Liberia will join other African countries on today, June 23, 2014 to celebrate African Public Service Day, an official at the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs & Tourism (MICAT) has disclosed. Public Affairs Director Abel Plackie said a proclamation issued by the Government said the day will be observed as a working holiday. According to Plackie, the proclamation is in consonance with the African Union 6^th Conference of African Ministers for Public Service meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya 2010. The Meeting adopted June 23 each year as Africa Public Service Day, to reflect the gains and challenges of public service, FOCUS Newspaper reports.

Related Caption: Liberia To Celebrate African Public Service Day (INSIGHT)

Agricultural Boosts

In order to boost agricultural production in Liberia, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) – World Bank, Smallholder Tree Crops Revitalization Support Project (STCRSP) on Friday, provided several vehicles, motorbikes, office and field equipment to Cooperatives Development Agency (CDA), as well as heads of Counties Agriculture Offices (CAOs). Turning over the vehicles and the items, the Project Coordinator of the STCRSP, Nyada Yoba Balded, noted that the CDA and the CAOs should ensure that the vehicles, motorbikes, and other equipment should be used to facilitate their work in helping to alleviate poverty and increase the social and economic wellbeing of the smallholder tree crop farmers, reports the In Profile Daily Newspaper.

Related Caption:GOL-WB STCRSP Gives Out Vehicles, Motorbikes (New Dawn Newspaper)

IFC Launches Liberia’s Collateral Registry

International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the Word Bank Group, and the Central Bank of Liberia has announced the launch of the Liberia’s first Collateral Registry, a financing innovation that will support economic growth and job creation by allowing smaller businesses to obtain loans using equipment, inventory or other movable asserts as collateral.  A release said, the establishment of the Electronic Collateral Registry, a public database that contains information on security interests in movable asset, will bring increased transparency to Liberia’s credit system, potentially benefitting thousands of businesses in the country by unlocking large amounts of private capital, writes the In Profile Daily.

Former LNP Official Ready To Train Blind

A former Police Spokesman Alvin Jask, now visually impaired, has expressed his readiness to train his colleagues in the country to advanced technology. According to him, he has the capacity and ability to train his fellow blind to master the technology to the extent that they will be on par with those who are not blind. Mr. Jask said while he was in the United States going through medication for his eye, he went through training to master computer technology, FOCUS Newspaper writes.

Media Key To VPA Success…VPA Earmarks Training

The team leader of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) Support Unit has underscored the importance of the Media in the implementation of VPA in Liberia. VPA is a bilateral trade agreement between the Liberian Government and the European Union that allows only legally acquired timbers to leave Liberia for Europe and other parts of the world. Mr. John Casey said the Liberian media has a critical role to play if the VPA must succeed in the post conflict nation, writes the NEWS Newspaper.

Liberia Police Chief Reiterates Zero Policy On Corruption

Police Inspector General Col. Chris C. Massaquoi, has reaffirmed his stance to weed out corruption from the Liberia National Police (LNP), stressing that his administration will continue to uphold a policy of zero tolerance on corruption/ bribery within the Police. Director Massaquoi addressing hundreds of Police officers Sunday who converged at the Monrovia City Hall to celebrate the Police General Assembly said, he will not relent in his drive to reshape the image of the LNP, which he said has been badly hit by misconduct as the result of Liberia’s prolonged civil conflict. The Police Chief said corrupt practices that tend to undermine the integrity of the Police would not be condoned, adding that those who will get involved in such ugly and embarrassing acts will be dealt with, reportsFrontPage Africa.