THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2015

The summary of our selected local dailies among other stories highlight a briefing from the Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States’ meeting in their 48th Ordinary Summit in Abuja, Nigeria and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s response to her critics that she has done nothing to develop the country.

“I Have Done Nothing” – Pres. Sirleaf Throws ‘Sarcasm’ At Critics

A sarcastic President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said her administration has done nothing. Speaking during the dedication of a housing project funded by the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation known as NASSCORP village and built by the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Liberian leader said she has done nothing.  “Today, I have done plenty nothings. The first nothing - today I went to LEC to see the new generator that’s coming in two weeks to give more electricity to Monrovia”, said President Sirleaf.  The Liberian leader noted that while she has done nothing, her government has tried in its own way to implement development projects. President Sirleaf again referenced the construction of roads, ongoing construction of the long awaited Mount Coffee Hydro Power Project, the construction of the road leading to White Plains and the setting up of a system to supply water to Monrovia and its environ as some of the few developments thus far, FrontPage Africawrites.

Related Caption: Ellen Mocks Critics(New Dawn), ‘I Did Plenty Of Nothing…’ –President Sirleaf Responds To Critics As She dedicates 35 Additional Housing Units At NASSCORP Village(Daily Observer)

ECOWAS Heads End 48^th Session

Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meeting in their 48th Ordinary Summit in Abuja, Nigeria during the week took several decisions in the interest of the Community. The decisions covered issues of regional integration and development, peace, security and democracy and institutional matters. The regional leaders also observed the 40th Anniversary of the Community. They also welcomed the conduct of credible, transparent, free and peaceful presidential elections in Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. A dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja says President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria played host to his West African counterparts at the two-day event held from the 16th and the 17th of December, 2015. The 48th Ordinary Session followed the 75th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the 35th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council held previously between the 13th to the 15th of December. Taking due account of the principles of rotation and modalities of appointment laid down in Supplementary Act (A/SA.14/02/12) of 17th February 2012 governing the allocation of the positions of President and Vice-President of the Commission, the Authority allocates the position of President of the Commission to Benin and the position of Vice President to The Gambia. The Authority’s decision comes as the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo of Burkina Faso and Vice President Dr. Toga McIntosh of Liberia end their tenure in February of 2016. The Presidents of Benin and The Gambia have therefore been asked to propose to the current Chairman the nomination of one their nationals for these positions who will serve from March 2016 to February 2018. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mrs. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas were also in attendance. The West African leaders then concluded with a decision to hold the next Ordinary Session in Dakar, Senegal at a date to be agreed upon after consultations, the New Dawn newspaper reports.

Related Caption: ‘Ban VeilDress Code’(The NEWS)

Ellen Breaks Grounds For Rehab Of Water Treatment Plant

President Sirleaf inspects ongoing development works at Mount Coffee and Liberia Electricity Corporation; breaks grounds for the rehabilitation of the White Plains Water Treatment Plant and dedicates 35 new housing units at NASSCORP Village Estate in Brewerville. According to an Executive Mansion release, the leader first stopped over at the Bushrod Island Facilities of the Liberia Electricity Cooperation (LEC), where she inspected on-going works to increase and enhance the supply of power to Monrovia. Three different Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) plants are currently under construction at the Bushrod Island Facilities and expected to provide additional 38 megawatts of electricity in addition to the 22 megawatts already available. The HFO plants being built include 18 megawatts financed by the Government of Liberia, 10 megawatts by the World Bank and 10 megawatts by the Government of Japan. The projects are in their advanced stages for completion, FrontPage Africareports.

Ambassador Von Ballmoos Suffers Fatal Heart Attack In London

The Liberian Ambassador to the Court of St. James in London, United Kingdom (UK), Rudolph von Ballmoos, died in a London hospital last Thursday night, a reliable source at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia told the Daily Observer yesterday. Rudolph von Ballmoos was born 55 years ago to the union of Mr. Rudolph von Ballmoos and his wife, Mrs. Agnes von Ballmoos. A reliable source at the Foreign Ministry, however, told this newspaper that the Liberian government is arranging for the body of its Ambassador to London, Mr. Rudolph von Ballmoos, to be flown to Liberia in the very near future.

UN Slams Liberia

A UN report released Friday December 18, has documented the negative impact on human rights of some traditional and cultural practices here, including female genital mutilation, forced initiation into secret societies, accusations of witchcraft, trials by ordeal and ritualistic killing.The report*, released by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, draws on in-depth interviews with victims, family members, community leaders, Government officials and civil society members between January 2012 and September 2015. The report shows that such violations disproportionately affect women, children, elderly people, destitute people and those with disabilities. “Criminal offenses perpetrated through harmful traditional practices often go unpunished due to their perceived cultural dimensions,” the report notes. Some 58 per cent of Liberian women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice widely used by a secret society called Sande, says the report. Women and girls from poor households are twice likely to experience FGM than those from wealthy ones. “Liberia’s human rights obligations must take precedence over any local practices considered to be ‘cultural’ or ‘traditional’ where such practices are incompatible with human rights principles,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the New Dawn newspaper asserts.

Related Caption: UN Reports Calls For Liberia To ‘Root Out’ – Cultural Practices That Violate Human Rights (Daily Observer)

No Troops For War On Terror

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf says Liberia has no intention of deploying troops in the global fight against terrorists. According to the President, the country already has troops in Mali. “Absolutely not, we have no intention of [deploying] troops; we already have troops in Mali and that’s as much as we can do right now,” she told reporters at the Roberts International Airport recently upon her return from Kenya where Liberia had joined the World Trade Organization or WTO. Regarding Liberia’s accession to the WTO, she said: “Our team did an exceptional job and they were well-praised by everybody at the meeting”. Being the last West African country to access the WTO, Mrs. Sirleaf said, Liberia expects post-accession support, including technical assistance and help to complete required laws and rules to support the small and medium-sized businesses here, among others, the New Dawnreports.

Related Caption: Liberia Is 163^rd WTO Member – Represents Integration Of World’s LDCs Into The Global Trading System(Daily Observer)

Media Organizations Tells S/Leone Gov’t

Media rights organizations, on Saturday, called on Sierra Leone authorities to release the managing editor of a local daily newspaper after his arrest on charges of publishing false information. The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists released statements saying this is a case of political harassment which undermines the freedom of press. Jonathan Leigh, Managing Editor of the Independent Observer, was arrested Thursday on accusations of publishing false information, the organizations said. The front-page article was about reports of political violence in Kono that killed at least three people ahead of local by-elections, they said. "The detention of Jonathan Leigh and the threat of criminal prosecution is a troubling reminder that Sierra Leone continues to use colonial-era laws to undermine freedom of the press," said Peter Nkanga, West Africa representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists. "Authorities should immediately release Leigh and allow journalists to report on the lead up to elections unobstructed", the New Dawnnewspaper reports.

Finance Minister Urges Youths To Engage In Entrepreneurship

Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Mr. Amara Konneh, has encouraged young people across the country, especially those graduating from vocational institutes to engage in entrepreneurship. Min. Konneh said such will help reduce the high unemployment rate and create avenue for Liberians to own their economy. Min. Konneh made the assertion Friday, December 18, 2015 at the graduation ceremony of Amb. George Weah Global Institute of Vocational Education (GIVE) in Sinkor, Fiamah Community located in Montserrado County District #9.He thanked the CEO of the institution, Mr. Dave Wreyou, for his far sightedness in establishing such a vocational institute noting that, “There are jobs in Liberia but the truth is we don’t have enough qualified Liberians; but, it is good that we have institutions like this that is training professionals in skilled labor”, the New Dawn newspaper writes.

Related Caption: Youths Urged To engage In Entrepreneurship(The NEWS)

LNP Confirms Top Brass Link To Armed Robbery

Authorities at the Liberia National Police have confirmed reports of conspiracy in armed robbery cases by some senior officers. The LNP said such senior officers were undergoing investigation for their alleged involvements in armed robbery incidents. The Director of Police, Col. Christian Clarence Massaquoi confirmed news of the investigation, but said the police will not release the names of those involved until the end of the investigation. Col. Massaquoi, who described the police as a professional security institution under oath to defend and protect lives and properties, expressed regret for such situation to unfold within its ranks, the New Dawnreports.

‘Police Not Perfect – Police Chief admits Bad Apples In Force’

The FrontPage Africa newspaper asserts that amid the widespread rumors and allegations of some officers the Liberia National Police being involved in acts of armed robbery in Monrovia and its environs, Police Director Col. Chris Massaquoi has admitted that there are indeed bad apples in the Police. On Thursday December 17, 2015, the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) through its youth league chairman, Jefferson Koijee, at a news conference accused the Liberia National Police of being behind the sudden increase in armed robbery in the city and its environs. Speaking, Col. Massaquoi said the LNP will not cover up for any Police officer that will go against the law. “We are not perfect, there are bad apples in the Police force and every other institution has bad apples, but we will not cover up for any Police officer that will commit wrong. We will apprehend any Policeman that will go against the law,” he noted.

Ellen Receives Int'l Person

The Nigerian Pilot Newspaper/Nigerian Newsworld Magazine has awarded President Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf the International Person of the Year. A dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja says the elaborate, colorful event was held on December 15, 2015 at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. Handling out the award, the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper/Nigerian Newsworld Magazine, in a special citation remarked:  “Today, the Liberian Leader is celebrated for sustaining peace and security in her country, her fight against corruption, and for ensuring free speech and press freedom, electricity supply, access to water supply, internet connectivity, housing, health care, and education, amongst other developmental strides”. “In 2010, Newsweek listed President Sirleaf as one of the ten best world leaders while Times counted her among the top ten female leaders. That same year, The Economist called her 'arguably the best president the country has ever had'…” the citation continued, the NEWS reports.

Ballot Papers Arrive...In Lofa

Ballot papers for the conduct of the Representative by-election in Lofa County District #2 have arrived in the country. The arrival of the 41,250 ballot papers was announced last Friday by the National Elections Commission (NEC). Ten qualified candidates are set to battle for the seat that left vacant by the death of Representative Fofi Sahr Baimba of the ruling Unity Party. The Chairman of the National Elections Commission Jerome G. Korkoya told a news conference that the ballot papers arrived in the country on Friday via the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County from the Republic of Slovenia in Eastern Europe and are under protective care of the Liberia National Police. Cllr. Korkoya said the arrival of the Ballot papers demonstrates that the Commission is prepared to conduct the by-election. Some31,273 registered voters are expected to troop at the 20 voting precincts and 73 polling places in the district to select candidates of their choice, as the vacant seat will only accommodate one person, the NEWS reports.