THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2015

News of the Government of Liberia’s honor bestowed on the outgoing United States Ambassador, Deborah Ruth Malac, for her invaluable services to the state and society during her three-year tenure as Ambassador of the United States to Liberia, the appeal for support in the fight against corruption and the Supreme Court’s lifting of the stay order on the Presidential Task Force headed by GSA boss Mary Broh are the dominant stories in today’s local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Outgoing US Ambassador Gets Traditional Name 

The outgoing United States Ambassador, Deborah Ruth Malac, has received one of Liberia’s highest distinctions for her invaluable services to the state and society during her three-year tenure as Ambassador of the United States to Liberia. The Grade of Grand Band in the Star of Africa, one of Liberia’s highest distinctions, was conferred upon Amb. Malac by the Liberian Government at a Farewell Reception and Investiture ceremony in honor of the Ambassador at the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium, the INQUIRER newspaper reports.

Related Caption: “Take Care of Each Other Now…” US Embassy Political Officer Caution Liberians (Daily Observer), Govt. Honors Ambassador Malac(The New Dawn)

‘No Time to Compromise’ LACC Seeks Liberians’ Support in Fighting Corruption

The Daily Observer reports that the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has appealed to political leaders, civil-society partners and the student community to support its fight against corrupt practices in the country. In his message in the observance of Anti-Corruption Day on December 9, LACC Chairperson, Cllr. James Verdier said, “We need your support. We are in this together as one nation, one people confronted with one common enemy.” “This fight is not LACC’s fight; it’s the Liberian people’s fight. You have to own this process, stand up against corruption and from wherever you are, uphold integrity, break the chain of corruption in our society.” He reviewed the history of corruption and its influences on the Liberian society since 1847 up to 1929, and from 1956 when the Bureau of Audit was established to fight corruption. “Twenty years later, we established the National Force for the Eradication of Corruption,” he said. “And yet the problem of corruption is still endemic in the Liberian society.” He also reviewed the fight against corruption from 2005 to 2010 when several anti-corruption institutions were established by the Liberian government. He said with the level of democracy in the country today, coupled with educational programs through engagements with local officials, among others, people have come to understand that corruption is a virus that retards development. “It contributes to poverty and human suffering. Education and prevention remain the best tools in fighting corruption, as prevention is better than cure,” Cllr. Verdier said. He called on the public for moral support especially during prosecution, and urged the public to encourage those accused of corruption to vindicate themselves in court. “We cannot break the culture of corruption when we support those that cause our treasury to bleed,” he said. The International Anti-Corruption Day is a commemorative reminder for political leaders, governments, legal bodies and lobby groups to work together against corruption by promoting transparency, with the participation of the general public.

Related Caption: “Corruption Destroys Democracy”…LACC Boss(The NEWS), Calls For Robust Actions In Corruption Fight(In Profile Daily), LACC Outlines Achievements, Challenges(The INQUIRER)

Broh Back In Action S/Court Lifts Stay Order with 5 Days Left to Complete Clean Up Mandate

According to the Daily Observer, following hours of legal arguments yesterday at the Supreme Court between lawyers representing Mary Broh’s Taskforce and the aggrieved citizens, Justice in Chamber, Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh, announced the lifting of the stay order which the court placed on the Taskforce. Justice Ja’neh also instructed the Taskforce not to demolish any structures, but rather refer anything that has to do with demolition to the court, and wait for further decision from the court before the Taskforce can take any action. “Do not break down any structures that may be considered dirty or dilapidated, rather seek the legal recourse because your mandate is to clean the city. If a structure is on the alley, refer that house owner to the requisite authority. But if there is a contention, take that person to court. If you fail to do so, and I hear any more complaints, I will fine you and or send you to jail,” Justice Ja’neh warned Broh and her team before a large crowd at the court. Two Wednesdays ago, the Supreme Court ordered a halt with immediate effect, to the ongoing demolition of dilapidated and wrongfully located structures by Broh’s Taskforce until a judicial review of its scope of operations could be decided by the court. The decision to stop Broh’s operation was taken by Justice Ja’neh following a petition for a Writ of Prohibition filed to the High Court by a group under the banner, “Aggrieved Destroyed Properties Owners of Central Monrovia, Bushrod Island, Sinkor, Gardnersville and the New Georgia Community.” Cllr. Dempster Brown of the Center for the Promotion of Human Rights filed the complaint on behalf of the aggrieved property owners. Based on the complaint, Justice Ja’neh instructed Madam Broh to stop further demolitions pending the outcome of a conference scheduled for Monday, December 7, but that meeting was held yesterday with the outcome that lifted the stay order. With the court’s decision yesterday, the Broh Taskforce is expected to be back on the streets today. It has five more days left to complete its mandate.

Related Captions: Mary Broh Yellow-Carded(The New Dawn), Stay Order Lifted On Broh, But… (The INQUIRER)

OTHER STORIES

Korea Donates 10 Computer Sets To Foreign Affairs

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Mr. Noh Kyu-duk, has donated, on behalf of his Government and People, 10 sets of computers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Earlier, the Korean Diplomat met privately with Hon. B. Elias Shoniyin, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs. Acting Minister Shoniyin remembered fondly how in the 1980s South Korea provided about 20 protocol vehicles for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the INQUIRER newspaper reports.

‘Transport Sector Needs Exceptional Leadership, Proper Plans’ – Korean Ambassador Asserts

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea accredited to Liberia, Noh Kyu-duk, said the area of transport calls for individuals with exceptional leadership, vision, planning and the ability to execute programs. Making the statement during the donation of 30 sets of computers with other accessories to the Ministry of Transport Wednesday in Monrovia, Ambassador Kyu-duk said he was impressed by the Government of Liberia assessment of what the problems are and specific plans to tackle the challenges especially in the areas of public transport and meteorological station to enhance the operations of the aircraft and farming industries in the country, In Profile Daily reports.

Africa Needs New Approaches To Housing Policy…Says WB Group

Africa faces a major housing crisis due to rapid urbanization and a growing slum population and as such, new, targeted approaches to affordable housing are necessary if countries want to take advantage of the demographic shift to make cities inclusive, spur economic growth and expand job opportunities, according to a new report by the World Bank Group, INSIGHT newspaper reports.

VP Boakai Boosts School Feeding Program

Liberia’s Vice President, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, has donated some food items for distribution to some schools in the country. The Ministry of Education (MoE) is spearheading the distribution of 110,800 cans of couscous or gari to 120 schools in eight counties in Liberia, an official has disclosed. Assistant Education Minister Augustine M. Kuleh said the food items were donated recently by Vice President Joseph Boakai for distribution to selected schools in Nimba, Lofa, Bomi, Bong, Montserrado, Margibi Grand Cape Mount and Grand Bassa counties to strengthen the school feeding program, INSIGHT newspaper writes.

GC Holds Policy Dialogue Today

The Governance Commission will today, December 10th, hold a policy dialogue in the James Fromayan Conference Hall of the National Elections Commission in Monrovia on the topic, “The role of political parties in the peaceful resolution of election disputes.” A press release from the GC says the policy dialogue is the second in a series of four organized as part of its effort towards paving a smooth democratic process during the 2017 presidential and national elections. The release says officials of political parties, the Supreme Court and the National Elections Commission are expected to grace the dialogue, which starts at 10 A.M.  Panelists include the chairman of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change, Mr. Nathaniel McGill, and Mr. Fonati Koffa of the Liberty Party, while the President of the Press Union Liberia, Mr. Abdullai A. Kamara will serve as moderator, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption: GC Holds Dialogue On Resolution Of Election Disputes(The Inquirer)