THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

The signing of a US$37 million agreement between the Liberian Government and Arcelor-Mittal for the pavement of the Ganta/ Yekepa Road,   Liberia’s Cross-Border meeting on the prevention of Ebola in West Africa, the Government of Liberia’s launch of a nationwide “No New Cases Campaign”  are among stories dominating our summary of today’s local dailies.

Dominant Stories

US$37.28M Ganta-Yekepa Road Pavement Agreement Signed Public Works, Senators, Reps Others Want Quality Works

At long last, an agreement between steel giant Arcelor-Mittal and the Liberian Government for the pavement of the Ganta/Yekepa Road at the cost of a little over US$37 million was yesterday signed in Monrovia. At the well-attended signing ceremony held at the Ministry of Public Works in Monrovia, various legislative committees and senior officials of the Ministry sounded a clarion call on the bid winner to carry out quality and durable works. Many Liberians that attended the signing ceremony described the road agreement as a ‘land mark’ with Arcelor-Mittal and the Liberian Government in rural Liberia. In remarks, Acting Public Works Minister Claude Langeley reminded Liberians that what matters to him most is for Liberians to get the best value to the taxpayers’ money. Minister Langeley pointed out that the Ganta/Yekepa Road should serve as a model for other vital road projects throughout the country. The Company Sahelian Enterprise (CSE) is a Senegalese firm which operates in engineering, civil engineering, construction of road infrastructure as well as sanitation in Senegal and around Africa, report the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: US$38M Road Project Signed(The News), Ganta-Yekepa Road Project Signed(The Inquirer), Ganta-Yekepa Road Begins(New Democrat), US$40M Ganta-Yekepa Road Contract Agreement Signed(Heritage), Ganta-Yekepa Road Project SealedFinally(FrontPage Africa)

Determined To Progress: Liberia Hosts Meeting On Ebola Cross-BorderCollaboration On Prevention Of Ebola In West Africa

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says Ebola will not derail the determination of affected African countries to make progress in developing their respective nations.  According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader made the assertion when she welcomed participants attending a meeting on cross-border collaboration on the control of the Ebola virus disease in West Africa held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium. The meeting brought together national leaders on the Ebola response from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, Nigeria and host Liberia. It was organized by the Liberian Government and the United Nations Mission for the Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER). Delegates examined key issues in the cross-border transmission of the virus and sought to create opportunities for closer cooperation between the affected countries and the Ebola response. Speaking at the opening, President Sirleaf thanked Liberia’s response team and UNMEER for initiating the meeting and the participating countries for attending. She reflected that the three most affected countries have common history, culture, tradition and a common war against the Ebola virus disease. “We are dealing with an unknown enemy that we did not know, and we had a common determination to overcome our challenges when Ebola came. However, Ebola will not be the one to derail our progress,” President Sirleaf assured participants.  FrontPage Africa

Related Captions:  Liberia Hosts Meeting On Cross-BorderCollaboration On Prevention Of Ebola In West Africa(Heritage), Liberia Hosts Meeting On Cross-BorderCollaboration On Prevention Of Ebola In West Africa(INSIGHT), Ebola Countries End Cross Border Meeting(The New Dawn)

President Sirleaf Launches ‘No New Cases Campaign’ in the Fight to Eradicate Ebola by the End of 2014

The Government of Liberia has launched a nationwide “No New Cases Campaign” aimed at eradicating Ebola from Liberia by the end of the year, 2014. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf launched the “Ebola Must Go!! Ebola is Everybody’s Business,” campaign at the Christ Kingdom Harvest Church in the New Georgia community on Monday, December 8, 2014. The Christ Kingdom Harvest Church was selected for its role in helping the community fight the deadly Ebola virus.  Speaking during the launch, the Liberian leader said the campaign is a nationwide effort between the Government of Liberia, partners and particularly the people of Liberia to achieve the national goal of “No New Cases” by the end of the year. She indicated that Liberia has made great progress in stopping Ebola but noted that the disease is still in the country. “We all have to intensify our efforts to travel that very difficult last mile,” she appealed; quoting someone who said, “To go from 100 to 90 is hard but to go from 10 to 0 is even harder”. The Liberian leader emphasized that through the efforts of the Liberian Government and partners, the disease has retreated to places that are hard-to-reach and some communities across Liberia, especially rural areas, appealing to all to find a way to deal with it. “We must all be committed to say Ebola must go,” she urged.  President Sirleaf stressed that everybody knows that “Ebola Is Real” and we’ve now passed that stage. “Now we must highlight that “Ebola Must Go”, she said, adding, “This is why I am joining this community that has been such a strong group in fighting Ebola. We are launching it in a place where they have made a difference”.  She urged everyone in Liberia including Government, partners, the United Nations family, Non-Governmental Organizations, churches, mosques, marketers, student organizations, yanna boys, amongst others and this must be done in every county, reports the News newspaper.

Related Captions: “Ebola Must Go!”…Pres. Sirleaf Buttresses Community Efforts Against Virus(The Inquirer), Ellen Launches “Operation Ebola Must Go”(The Reporter), Pres. Sirleaf Launches ‘No New Cases Campaign’-Bent On Eradicating Ebola By The End Of 2014(INSIGHT)

IFC, GT Bank Sign US$7.5M Agreement

According to the Daily Observer, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced an agreement with GT Bank Liberia to provide a US$7.5 million liquidity facility to the Bank.  The facility, according IFC, will support the importation of basic goods, including energy, food and agricultural commodities, and other manufacturing goods that will help strengthen the Liberian economy following the Ebola crisis. The two parties signed the agreement behind close door last week. The Ebola Emergency Liquidity Facility (EELF) is a rapid response facility that combines working capital and trade support, to provide US dollar liquidity that will finance import of basic goods in Liberia. This IFC initiative is part of the World Bank Group's broad effort announced recently to provide support during the Ebola epidemic and prepare for economic recovery in the worst Ebola-affected countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. "As the Ebola crisis continues, trade and business activity is declining and so we are facing increased liquidity risks" said Dan Orogun, Managing Director, GT Bank Liberia.

Related Captions: IFC Supports GT Bank Liberia To Boost Liquidity And Trade In Liberia(The Catalyst), IFC Supports GT Bank Liberia To Boost Liquidity And Trade In Liberia (INSIGHT)

Break Away From Corruption, Boakai Urges

The Daily Observer quotes Vice President Joseph Boakai as saying that Liberia’s endemic corruption is a specter that haunts the country’s development agenda, and it behooves Liberians to break away from the past characterized by bad economic and political governance. According to the daily, Ambassador Boakai made that remakes while launching the three-year strategic plan, (2014-2017), marking the commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day in Monrovia. He said the country must refocus its energy and attention on promoting accountability and transparency. To achieve the desired result would mean sincerely joining the daunting fight against corruption in the Liberian society, he said. He told officials of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and other officials of government, including representatives from several international organizations, that the administration supports an independent and robust Anti-corruption Commission. “There will be no effort on the part of our administration to stifle the work of the Commission in going against corruption in the society,” he said. 

Related Caption: ‘Govt Institutions Hinder Corruption Fight’-VP Boakai Admits(INSIGHT), Gov. Launches Strategic Plan For LACC(The Inquirer), LACC Launches 3-Yr Plan(In Profile Daily)

UNDP Team Visits Active Case Finders' Volunteers

A high level Team from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Liberia, has conducted a one-day field visit to the townships of West Point and Caldwell in Montserrado County. The Catalyst writes that the visit was part of efforts aimed at getting firsthand experience about the daily work of Active Case Finders' volunteers, including their achievements and challenges in the field. The Team was headed by Frederick Ampiah, UNDP Ebola Focal Point and Eric Opoku, Head of UN Volunteers Program. They were accompanied by Sanaka Samarasinha. Mr. Samarasinha is UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus. He was in Liberia to support UNDP Resident Representative Office in strategically positioning the Agency to respond in a timely manner, to the national agenda of the government in its fight against Ebola.

Related Captions: UNDP Team Visits Case Finders' Volunteers in West Point, Caldwell(FrontPage Africa), UNDP Team Visits Active Case Finders’ Volunteers In West Point, Caldwell(Heritage)

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf the Consoles Nigeria on Death of Former Foreign Minister

The In Profile Daily quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of condolence to the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria following the death of His Excellency Mr. Olugbenga A. Ashiru, CFR, Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In the message, President Johnson Sirleaf extended deepest condolences to His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan, and through him, to the People of Nigeria, especially the bereaved families for the irreparable loss sustained. President Johnson Sirleaf further prayed that the Almighty God consoles His Excellency and the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as they go through this period of national mourning.

Minister Ngafuan Acknowledges Nigeria's Partnership Role

Foreign Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan says Nigeria's partnership role in Liberia signifies true and laudable friendship. Speaking at a dinner hosted by Nigerian Ambassador Chigozie F. Obi-Nnadozie for medical professionals who have arrived in the country to help in combating the Ebola virus, Minister Ngafuan recounted the many instances Nigeria has identified with Liberia. He mentioned the cardinal role Nigeria played in helping to restore peace in Liberia as one major instance that his country and fellow citizens cannot forget. Minister Ngafuan, who has been crying foul against some countries for stigmatizing Liberians and cancelling flights to Liberia, declared that the roles of Nigeria and other African countries in the Ebola crisis affecting Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone manifest true African solidarity. As he departs for Abuja, the Nigerian capital, for the ECOWAS Summit this week, he will stand among ECOWAS members to express Liberia's gratitude to those who have helped to reduce the cases of Ebola in Liberia. With reports of decline in new cases of Ebola, Minister Ngafuan expressed hope that the arrival of the Nigerian health professionals will help partners on ground totally to eradicate the disease in a shortest possible time. Speaking earlier, Nigeria's Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Madam Chigozie F. Obi-Nnadozie, stressed that the health professionals, some of whom are students, have come to help in their respective professional areas to curb the Ebola epidemic. Ambassador Obi-Nnadozie expressed that Nigeria has done this to manifest her country's true love for Liberia and to ensure that Nigeria will always stand by Liberia in good and bad times. She also expressed hope that as Ebola gets on the run, the collective efforts of all partners will get Liberia to soon be declared Ebola-free, according to the Daily Observer.

FIU Begins Anti-Money Laundering Workshop

The Financial Intelligence Unit of Liberia (FIUL) in collaboration with the United States Embassy has embarked on a two-day training workshop on Anti-Money Laundering and combating Financing of Terrorists in Liberia. The training workshop which was held in the Banquet Hall of the Supreme Court of Liberia brought together several reporting institutions and other relevant institutions. Speaking during the opening of the workshop, Cllr. Augustine Fayiah said the training is important and timely because Liberia is at the crossroads in its economy and as such more attention needs to be paid in the struggle against money laundering. Cllr. Fayiah noted that the purpose of the Financial Intelligence Unit of Liberia will not be achieved without proper coordination stressing that it takes collaborative efforts to make reality the goals of the FIUL, Inquirer reports.

Related Caption: FIU Hold Stakeholders Workshop(FOCUS)

Bong College Gets Over  LD$1M In Fundraising, Donations

In Profile Daily reports that the Bong County Community College (BCCC) in Gbarnga, Bong County over the weekend raised LD$1.820.00 and US$500.00 in cash and pledges during a fund raiser for the completion of the college. Speaking during the fundraising rally held at the Gboveh high School, Tokpa warned his colleagues against allowing politicians to infiltrate the education sector. “What we anticipate is growth and cordially in the relationship between the BCTC and CU”, he emphasized.

UMMS To Reopen Hospitals In Liberia

UNASS Medical School (UMMS) is leading an initiative to restore critically needed basic health care in Liberia by reopening hospitals overwhelmed by Ebola outbreaks, thanks to funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundations. “Everyone has heard about the deaths from Ebola, but many people don’t realize how many women who need C-sections are still dying. Children with malaria have nowhere to go. Most hospitals are still closed”, said Patricia McQuilkin, MD, clinical associate professor of pediatrics at UMMS and a project leader on the $7.5 million Ebola relief grant, FOCUS reports.

Liberian, S/Leonean, Guinean In U.S. Honor Ebola Victims

As the United States Capital City, Washington DC observed “Ebola Awareness Day,” last Friday, December 5, Diaspora leaders from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Mali gathered in Washington DC to express solidarity with their four nations in the global fight to halt the Ebola Epidemic. In a solemn ceremony of regional kinship, leaders of the Mano River nations, along with Malian nationals paid tribute to the deceased victims of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) including doctors, health workers and individual citizens, when they presented plaques of honor to their Ambassadors in Washington. Special honors were also given to the noted Ebola survivors, Dr. Kent Brantley, and Nancy Writebol of Samaritan Purse, who were evacuated to the United States after contracting the deadly Ebola virus. The presentations were made at National Ebola Summit held at the Washington DC Convention Center by the Diaspora Ebola Network, (DEN), reports FrontPage Africa newspaper.