THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2015

The summary of our selected local dailies among other stories highlight President Johnson Sirleaf’scongratulatory message to the Government and People of the State of Qatar on the occasion marking the independence anniversary of that country and the conferral of honorary Doctorate Degree on Liberia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and four other prominent distinguished UL Alumni and former Presidents of the UL.

Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Qatar

The INFORMER newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has sent a congratulatory message to the Government and People of the State of Qatar on the occasion marking the independence anniversary of that country. In the message, President Johnson Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia and in her own name, expressed pleasing congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and through him to the Government and People of Qatar as they celebrate this historic occasion. Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf expressed cooperation between Liberia and the State of Qatar remarking that this joyous occasion marks a significant day in the history of the great people of Qatar. While congratulating His Highness and the People of Qatar, President Johnson Sirleaf assured the People of Qatar of the fullest support and solidarity of the Government of Liberia. The Liberian President hoped that the historic bond of friendship, which has so happily subsisted between the two countries, would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead wishing for the great people of Qatar peace, unity, and prosperity as they celebrate this momentous event. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf further prayed that the Almighty Allah will continue to shower his bountiful blessings and prosperity on the Government and People of Qatar.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Qatar(The New Dawn)

Amb. Conteh Gets UL Honor

The INFORMERnewspaper reports that Ambassador Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh and four other prominent distinguished UL Alumni and former UL Presidents, Prof. Dr. Frederick Gbegbe, Dr. Ben Roberts and Dr. Patrick L. N. Seyon, including  former Interim President  Prof. Amos Sawyer received the Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) in international relations and education. In his letter of invitation, the President of the University of Liberia, Professor Dr. Emmet Dennis, informed Dr. Conteh that he was being honored because of his role in redeveloping the University at a very difficult time in the history of Liberia’s flagship institution of higher learning.  Ambassador Conteh served as the president of UL between 2004 and 2008.  He is  credited for rebuilding a strong foundation of the University, including finalizing the plans under the partnership of  the Governments of Liberia and China for the construction of new buildings at the UL Fendell Campus, working with USAID and the Chinese Embassy in Monrovia to refurbish and equip the engineering building of the Fendell campus, initiating a Summer Faculty Institute, establishing relations between the UL with major United States universities,  and starting an endowment fund for the University with the Trustees of Donation for Education in Liberia, based in Boston, USA. After the conferral of degrees, Ambassador Conteh, who is Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), announced on behalf of the Global Paint for Charity, which he serves as Goodwill Ambassador, a donation of one container of paints towards the UL’s campaign to revamp its buildings and grounds.

Related Caption: Amb. Conteh Gets Honorary Degree…From His Alma Matter(The News)

Liberia Finally Accedes To WTO

According to the NEWS newspaper, Liberia has finally acceded to the World Trade Organization with President Sirleaf describing the event as another turning point in Liberia’s history as the country continues the journey of economic transformation for inclusive growth. She said although long and tough, the road to accession has come with milestones of economic growth.   The daily quotes a dispatch from Nairobi as saying that President Sirleaf spoke on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at the World Trade Organization’s 10^th Ministerial Conference held in Nairobi following Liberia’s accession to the WTO. The accession makes Liberia the 35th Least Developed Country to be admitted into the WTO and the organization’s 163rd Member State. Speaking further, President indicated that with over twelve unbroken years of peace and stability, Liberia created the fiscal space by removing an external debt burden of $4.9 billion through the HIPC process; Domestic revenue increased by over 600%, and substantial support to invest in trade facilitation and infrastructure are being mobilized. She assured her administration’s continued commitment to solidify investments in the country’s ports of entry and to aggressively pursue new investment opportunities that will modernize ports infrastructures to advance trade and investment. World Trade Organization’s Director General, Ambassador Roberto Azevedo commended President Sirleaf for the extraordinary leadership role played in the epoch-making achievement. He said Liberia met WTO standards through painstaking effort. He also praised Liberia’s Chief Negotiator and the team of technicians for their efforts. WTO Member States congratulated to Liberia one after the other at an elaborate ceremony at the Kenya International Convention Center.   

Related Caption: Liberia Accedes To WTO(The New Dawn)

4 Forklifts For NPA

The Government of Liberia has donated four forklift machines to the National Port Authority, though the General Service Agency (GSA), to ease the constraints. Speaking Thursday at the Free Port of Monrovia, the Deputy Managing Director for Administration at the NPA, Nyekeh Y. Forkpa, expressed gratitude to President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and the GSA for aiding the NPA in such a special way, promising to utilize the forklifts for its intended purpose. He said one of the forklifts will be assigned to the Port of Buchanan, while another will be dispatched to the Port of Harper. He said the remaining two will be at the Free Port of Monrovia, according to the New Dawn newspaper.

Duala Marketers Face Relocation

The Mayor of the Monrovia City Cooperation or MCC, Clara Doe-Mvogo, has disclosed here that the Duala market on Bushrod Island, outside Monrovia will be relocated shortly. Mayor Mvogo attributed the decision to encroachment of marketers on the main road leading to the St. Paul Bridge. According to her, the Government of Liberia has acquired about 16 acres of land along the Caldwell Road for the relocation of marketers of the Duala Market for transactions. According to the New Dawn newspaper, Mayor Clara Doe-Mvogo made the disclosure at the Information Ministry regular press briefing on Capitol Hill Thursday, December 17, 2015.

Related Caption: Duala Market To Be Re-located Soon(The INFORMER)

USAID FED Highlights Achievements

The United States Agency for International Development Food and Enterprise Development (USAID FED) has highlighted several achievements over the years in the four food value chains in the Agriculture sector of Liberia. Speaking Wednesday at a program marking the USAIDFED knowledge-sharing and handover of extension material program, under the theme: Breaking the Barriers to Food Security in Liberia, held at the Paynesville City Hall, the outgoing Chief of Party of USAID FED, Agnes Luz, highlighted many successes her organization scored as efforts to improve agriculture in the country. Ms. Luz said the organization’s project uses an all-inclusive strategy that incorporated Micro, small and medium farmers, processors, suppliers, women and youth in partnership with the Government of Liberia and local civil society organizations to achieve food security in the country. She indicated that the FED program, under the United States President Barrack Obama’s Feed the Future program, seeks to increase food production, availability, utilization and accessibility by assisting agricultural stakeholders in adopting commercial approaches that are built upon improved agriculture technology for productivity and profitability, expanded and modernized input supply and extension system, commercial production, marketing and processing, business development services and workforce development and vocational training in agriculture, reports the New Dawn newspaper.