THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2015

News of President Johnson Sirleaf’s dismissal of seven government officials, the news of  Finance and Development Planning Minister, Amara M. Konneh urging  African Governments to explore alternative means of resource mobilization for the enhancement of economic growth, and the Mayor of Paynesville City Corporation,  Madam Cyvette M. Gibson’s participation in a three-day international forum in Accra, Ghana and the suspension of twelve employees of the  National Drugs Service are stories highlighted in today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Morris Dukuly, Others Dismissed…As Ellen  Accepts Ngafuan’s Resignation

The NEWS newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirlleaf has with immediate effect dismissed several key officials of her Government. Those affected include the Minister of Internal Affairs, Morris Dukuly, Chief of Protocol, Republic of Liberia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rufus Neufville; Assistant Minister for Land and Rail Transport, Ministry of Transport, Abu Kamara and  Assistant Minister for Public Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Horatio Bobby Willie. Others are Assistant Minister for Administration, Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Ms. Margretta General-Smith; Willard Russell, Member of the Board of Director, Liberia Maritime Authority and Rev. Emmanuel Bowier, Member of the Board of Director, National Port Authority. The Liberian leader also suspended for time indefinite the Deputy Minister of Justice for Economic Affairs, Cllr. Emmanuel Tulay. The daily reports that President Sirleaf has acceptance the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan.

Related Captions: As Ellen’s Axe Falls: 7 Fired, One Suspended (Heritage), Ellen Vexed-Boots Out Morris Dukuly-Dismisses Ngafuan Confidant, Several Others (FOCUS), Ellen Dismisses 7, Suspends One…As Cabinet Discusses Several Issues (The  Inquirer), Ellen Sweeps Ahead Of 2017 (The New Dawn), Ellen Sacks Dukuly, Bowier, Neufville, Others (INSIGHT), Dukuly Others Dismissed (In Profile Daily), Pres. Sirleaf Kicks Out Seven! (Hot Pepper), several Dismissed, Others Suspended As Ellen Accepts Ngafuan’s Resignation (The Informer), Ellen Vex? Dismisses Morris Dukuly, Several Others (Daily Observer)

Africa Needs Fiscal Space For Development

Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Amara M. Konneh has challenged African Governments to explore alternative means of resource mobilization for the enhancement of economic growth in the wake of shrinking concessional financing from multilateral institutions from partners and donors. Delivering the opening remarks at the regular Governor’s Policy Dialogue Series of the Africa Group 1 Constituency of the International Monetary Fund on October 10, in Peru, Minister Konneh observed that sub-Saharan African countries have  made significant economic progress in maintaining macroeconomic stability and growth but challenges still remain that require a collective sense of urgency. According to a MFDP Press Release, the Policy Dialogue session was held under the theme “Creating Fiscal Space to deliver on our Development Aspirations” on the margins of the World Bank/IMF meetings in Lima, Peru. Speaking at the forum, Minister Konneh, who is also Chairperson of the Group 1 Constituency, said from the IMF country surveillance reports, the continent still faces the recurring challenges of impediments to growth, the need to manage external and fiscal balances, and gaps in infrastructure spending- a principal threat to long-term economic growth targets, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Minister Konneh Challenges African Leaders (The Inquirer), Africa Needs Fiscal Space to Deliver On Dev. Aspiration (The News), Konneh Advocates For Fiscal Space-To Deliver On Development Aspiration In Africa (In Profile Daily)

Paynesville Mayor Highlights Women Issues In Ghana

The Mayor of the Paynesville City Corporation (PCC), Cyvette M. Gibson, last week, joined several influential women across Africa at a three day international forum in Accra, Ghana, to highlight issues affecting women’s participation in politics or in government, the New Republic newspaper reports.

Related Captions: PCC Boss Speaks On Women’s Issues At Int’l Forum In Ghana (Heritage), PCC Boss Speaks On Women’s Issues At Int’l Forum In Ghana (FOCUS)

12 Suspended At NDS

According to the Daily Observer, at least 11 employees of the National Drugs Service (NDS), including its head, Beyan Johnson, have been suspended from office for a month pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into disappearances of drugs and other alleged improprieties at the NDS. The Health Ministry, in a memorandum to at least 12 employees of the NDS, signed by Acting Health Minister Edward B. Tolbert, said “the MOH has over the past weeks received several complaints from institutions including partners alleging disappearances of essential drugs donated or procured and placed under your care at the NDS.” Tolbert told the suspended NDS employees that the Ministry is exerting every effort to establish responsibility for the aforesaid loss of government properties under the watchful eye of the NDS’ management team.

Related Captions: Mass Suspension At NDS…MOJ Probes Disappearance Of US$324,622 Drugs (The News), NDS Employees Suspended (In Profile Daily)

OTHER STORIES

Ellen Wants Land Authority Set-up…Submits Bill To Legislature

In an effort to permanently resolve land conflicts in Liberia, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has submitted to the House of Representative a bill entitled: “An Act To Create the Liberia Land Authority (LLA)”, pleading for that august body speedy passage into law. President Sirleaf described the bill as a significant milestone in the land governance process of the country and said its passage should not be delay, FOCUS newspaper reports.

Relief For Liberia’s Mental Patients Visible

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that at least 166 health personnel have been trained by the Government of Liberia (GoL) through the Ministry of Health to provide metal health clinical services at health centers across the country. The disclosure was made by Amanda Gbarmo Nborbor, Acting Director of the Metal Unit at the Ministry of Health during the Ministry of Information press briefing on Thursday in Monrovia.

Liberia Is Endowed With Resources…VP Boakai

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai is urging Liberia’s to seek opportunities provided by other resources the country is endowed with, rather that fold their hands and complain about the decline in iron ore and rubber prices. He said Liberia is a country endowed with numerous resources, among which agriculture ranks high, the NEWS newspaper reports.

House Notifies NEC On Vacancy

The Speaker of the House of Representatives has notified the National Elections Commission (NEC) of a vacancy in the House of Representatives. The Notification is contained in a letter to the Chairman of the Commission, Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoya, which states that the vacancy is a result of the death of the Lofa County Electoral District Number 2 Representatives, Fofi Sahr Baimba.  The notification constitutes the legal authority of the NEC to conduct as Representative By-Election in Electoral District Number 2, Lofa County, Heritage newspaper reports.

Related Caption: House Notifies Election Commission Of Vacancy In Lower House (FOCUS)

17,000 Guineans Vote In Liberia

According to the New Democrat newspaper, over 17,000 Guineans residing in Liberia Sunday took to the polls to elect a new President to lead their native land. Mr. Billy Yansane, head of Guinea’s Independent Election Commission in Liberia made the disclosure in an exclusive interview.

ECAP 2 Program To Benefit 1.5M People

Mercy Corps has launched a second phase of its Ebola Community Action Platform (ECAP 2) in Gbarnga to strengthen community health and improve disaster surveillance and response in the country. Funded by the office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), the program targets a wide network of local nongovernmental organizations, radio stations across Liberia to bolster community preparedness against Ebola, as well as other major infectious diseases. “These groups will help communities develop plans for improved disease surveillance and response, and link communities to clinics and health programs”, the statement quoted Mercy Corps’ Program Director Catherin Brown, the New Republic newspaper reports.

Gov’t Begins Demolition Of Structures On Somalia Drive

In an effort to commence the construction of the two lane road on the Somalia Drive, the Government of Liberia (GoL) through the Ministry of Public Works has begun the demolition of several structures. The Works Ministry is carrying out the demolition exercises in collaboration with Liberia National Police (LNP), Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) and the National Investment Commission (NIC), Heritage writes.

Legislature Scrutinizes US$256.7M MCC Agreement Today

The Joint Committee of the legislature on Ways, Means, Finance and Development Planning is today Monday October 12 to review the terms and conditions of a multi-million dollar agreement between the Government of Liberia and the United States Government which was singed the 2nd of October in the United States. The Joint Committee will also evaluate the ‘Act to Establish the Millennium Challenge Account, the NEWS reports.

World Cup Qualifier: Liberia Off To guinea Bissau, With a Mountain To Climb

A 34 man Liberian Football Association (LFA) delegation Sunday left Monrovia for Bissau to honor a second led 2018 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. LFA President Musa Bility heads the delegation, which includes Sports Minister Len Eugene Nagbe, FrontPage Africa reports.