THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

Today’s edition of the local dailies’ summary highlights news of the Senior State Department Official’s two day visit to Liberia for the Promotion of the Global Health Security Agenda,the turning over of explosive devices by the United Nations Mission in Liberia and the Liberia Revenue Authority seizure of a huge quantity of goods allegedly smuggled into the country.

DOMINANT STORIES  

US Wants Capacity Gap Strengthened in Global Health Sector 

Visiting United States’ Ambassador on Global Health Bonnie Jenkins has expressed the need to strengthen the capacity gaps in the global health sector and in West Africa. Ambassador Jenkins remarks followed a presentation at the start of a two-day Laboratory Conference on Highlighting Diagnostics in Liberia for laboratory Technicians,the NEWS daily reports.

Related Captions: Senior State Department Official Promotes Global Health Security Agenda At Lab Week(Heritage), State Department Official Visits Liberia(New Democrat), U.S. Envoy To Promote Global Health Security Here(The New Dawn), Senior State Department Official Promotes Global Health Security Agenda(GHSA) At Lab Week(The INQUIRER)

UNMIL Turns Over Devices Against Explosives

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has turned over the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) responsibility to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). The ceremony, according to the INQUIRERnewspaper which took place at the Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday, April 27 also witnessed the donation of some anti-explosive equipment to be used by the AFL in disposing off explosive materials. Mr. Waldemar Very, Officer-in-Charge of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on the Rule of Law at UNMIL said the EOD is the technical aspect of security which has been taken care of by UNMIL with the training of some AFL personnel. The UNMIL official said the donated items are required for the AFL to do the job effectively and professionally and expressed hope that they respond quickly when called upon by the Liberia National Police (LNP) to dispose off any explosive items.

Related Captions: UNMIL Hands Over Equipment To AFL(The New Dawn), UNMIL Hands Over Explosive Ordnance Disposal Equipment To AFL(Heritage)

LRA Seizes Huge Quantity of Smuggled Goods

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has seized a huge quantity of goods allegedly smuggled into the country by some Nigerian businessmen. The goods, including several motorbikes with spare parts and dozens of cartons of the herbal liquor ‘Baby Oku’, were confiscated last Friday in the Chugbor Community on the Old Road. The LRA was aided in the seizure after the Bureau of Immigration (BIN), acting on a tip off, visited the compound housing the business entity and discovered the packaged goods. Through its Anti-Smuggling and Intelligence Unit, the LRA visited the site of the discovery with a court warrant to effect the seizure, while immigration authorities arrested the Nigerians to probe their status in the country, the News newspaper asserted.

Related Captions: LRA Seizes Huge Quantity Of Smuggled Goods(The NEWS), LRA Seizes Huge Quantity Of Smuggled Goods(Heritage), Nigerians Arrested With Smuggled Goods(New Democrat)

OTHER STORIES

World Bank, GoL Sign US$36.7M Deal

The World Bank Group and the Government of Liberia have signed a grant agreement in the amount of $36.7 million. Finance and Development Planning Minister Amara Konneh and Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Managing Director Harrison Kanwea signed on behalf of the Liberian government, while World Bank Liberia Country Manager Inguna Dobraja signed on behalf of the Bank. The grant, which is managed by the World Bank in Liberia, was provided by the Government of Norway. It is intended to improve the management of Liberia’s forest and improve livelihood. Ms. Dobraja said the WB is not a newcomer to Liberia’s forest sector, adding “they have been providing technical assistance to the sector since 2004 and assisting the country in meeting conditions required to lift sanctions under the country’s forestry initiative”, the News newspaper writes.

Related Captions:  World Bank/GOL Sign US36.7 Million Forestry Deal(The New Dawn)

U.S. Team Renders Free Medication

The New Dawnnewspaper reports that ateam of medical and mental health Doctors from America, including the Chicago Global Health Alliance is conducting free medical services at the Ganta United Methodist Hospital in Nimba County. The head of the team, Doctor Demenia Gbarbea, said they are in the country to offer free mental health services at the Phebe Hospital, in Bong County, Ganta United Methodist Hospital, and the J.F.K. Hospital in Monrovia.

Gov’t Generates Over US$20,000 From Service Center

An official of the Governance Commission (GC) has disclosed that the government decentralization program has generated over US$20,000 and more than 100, 000 Liberian Dollars. GC Program Manager, Mr. Abraham Yean, disclosed that the recently dedicated Service Center in Grand Bassa County has generated over US$20,000 plus more than 100,000 Liberian dollars. The Service Center is expected to provide 21 services, including processing of birth certificates, driver licenses, land deeds and payment of taxes, among others. Mr. Yean made the disclosure recently in Monrovia, while paying a courtesy visit to the Grand Bassa Service Center, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Amara Bade Farewell to President

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 encouraged out-going Finance and Development Planning Minister, Amara Konneh to hold back his tears as he bade farewell to the Liberian leader and his Cabinet colleagues at his final Cabinet Meeting. Minister Konneh had worked with the Sirleaf Administration for over 10 years. Outgoing Minister Konneh will Monday take up a new assignment with the World Bank Nairobi Office. President Sirleaf, while informing members of the Cabinet about Minister Konneh’s departure indicated that Wednesday’s Cabinet Meeting was his last and praised him for his many roles and initiatives that helped Liberia in its transformational process, the New Democrat newspaper reports.

Liberia Accepts Biological Diversity ABS Protocol EPA Discloses

The Heritage newspaper reports that The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially announced that Liberia has formally agreed to join the Biological Diversity Access Benefit Sharing (ABS) Protocol. In a statement issued in Monrovia on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, the EPA disclosed that it represented the Government and people of Liberia at the conference. In a statement issued in Monrovia on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, the EPA disclosed that it represented the Government and people of Liberia at the conference. The EPA further disclosed that as of September 2, 2015, Liberia’s accession instruments were deposited with the United Nations in its Headquarters in New York, United States of America.