THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2016

Dominating the stories on the newsstand today include stories on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Congratulatory Message  to Muslims in Liberia, the appointment of new officials in government, and the augmentation of Vice President Joseph N. Boakai’s support towards the 2017 presidential elections.

Other stories include President Sirleaf’s congratulatory message to the Philippines and her condolence messages to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Dominant Stories  

President Sirleaf Congratulates Liberian Muslims for Successful End of Ramadan 

According to the Analyst newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has congratulated Liberian Muslims and colleagues across the world on the occasion of the successful end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.  According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf on behalf of the government, the people of Liberia and in her own name, expressed delight over the milestone achievement of Liberians Muslims in their lives. She then urged all Muslims to join other Liberians to pray for peaceful co-existence and prosperity in our land for the sake of future generations. The Liberian leader noted that more than fourteen centuries ago, Muslims believe that the Almighty Allah commanded Mohammed (SAW) that all adherents of the Islamic faith abstain from food, drink and select activities during the month of Ramadan to cleanse their souls and show obedience to God. Accordingly, during this period, Muslims are required to show kindness and generosity to all human beings and other creatures while every Muslim is specifically commanded to share with his or her neighbors whatever material wealth God has bestowed upon him or her.

Related Caption:Ellen Congratulates Liberian Muslims For Successful End of Ramadan(Heritage) and Muslims End Ramadan…Prez Sirleaf Lauds Muslims for praying for peace (Daily Observer)

Ellen Makes New Appointments

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made additional appointments in government - affecting the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and Internal Affairs. According to an Executive Mansion release, those appointed include:  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. George S. W. Patten, Sr. - Ambassador-Designate to the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, Ms. Genevieve Kennedy – Ambassador-Designate, Republic of Ghana and Ministry of Internal Affairs Hon. Lahai Lasannah - Coordinator on Disputes and Concession Affairs. And also in government: Grand Cape Mount County, Madam Hannah K. Stewart - City Mayor, Robertsport, Mr. Varney Diggs - Township Commissioner, Madina Township Mr. Harrison D. Donuwah - City Mayor, Bonbohun City, Porkpa/Goala Konneh Statutory District Mr. Momo Kaikonoi - Township Commissioner, Beh-Gondor Township,   Gola Konneh District Mr. J. Jengbe Seituah - Township Commissioner, Kongo Township, Porkpa District; Lofa County Madam Sarah Kullie - Mayor, Voinjama City, Lofa County. These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Honorable Liberian Senate where applicable, reports the News newspaper.

Related Captions: Appointment In Government(Women Voice newspaper), and New Appointments Announced For Foreign and Internal Affairs(Daily Observer)

BOAKAI SUPPORT SWELLS

According to the New Dawn newspaper, a latest endorsement comes from the party’s largest concentrated diaspora based in the United States, overwhelmingly declaring their support for Vice President Boakai, as the man to lead the UP for its straight third-term quest in 2017. In a solidarity statement addressed to the officials of the convention, captioned- Our Future is Bigger and Brighter; members of the UP in the U.S said “We want to assure you that we, Unity Party in America, unanimously support Joseph Nyuma Boakai as our Party Standard Bearer for the October 2017 elections. While regretting that they are unable to send a delegation due to schedule conflict, the party stewards said they “intend to make a strong physical showing in the campaign with our Standard Bearer, Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. “…, we will mobilize every resource at our command, material and otherwise to ensure his victory. We will campaign with you from county to county knocking on every door to ensure that Joseph Nyuma Boakai becomes the 25th President of Liberia.”  

Related Captions:Unanimous Support For Boakai (News), UP Partisans In Diaspora Support Boakai (Inquirer), and ‘Boakai Is Our Choice’ …UP – USA Endorses Candidate Ahead of Gbarnga Convention(Analyst)

Other Stories  

Critical Decisions On Legislative Agenda, Energy, Econonmy, Revenue Generation 

The Cabinet, meeting Wednesday, July 06, 2016, at its regular sitting has reviewed additional performance updates and accordingly mandated critical decisions covering the government’s Legislative Agenda, Executive Orders, the Energy Sector, Public Procurement, the Economy, the 2016/2017 Budget, LRA Revenue-Generation and Real Estate Tax. According to an Executive Mansion release, Cabinet was updated on the status of Bills mentioned in the 2016 Annual Message and submitted to the Legislature, Bills previously submitted but recalled; Bills not mentioned in the Annual Message but submitted to the Legislature; new Bills under review, Bills passed into Law as well as Bills promised - received and are under review by the Office of the Legal Advisor to the President. Cabinet reviewed the performance updates from the energy sector involving key generation projects in line with the medium-term plan, including Mount Coffee hydroelectric power Plant and HFO plants and commencement of construction on additional plants by the private sector to stabilize power supply; key transmission and distribution projects ongoing; 20,000 additional connections and 3000 street lights across the country by LEC while rationalizing the compelling need to reduce tariff to be matched by improved delivery in electricity  services. Mount Coffee is generally on target for commissioning Unit #1 on December 16, 2016. Cabinet has therefore mandated that mechanisms be instituted with adequate emphasis on connecting more customers and improving the provision of electricity services to the Liberian people. Cabinet emphasized that it will be constrained to initiate appropriate measures that will ensure sufficient progress is made in the government’s energy program, reports Analyst newspaper.

Related Captions:Cabinet Reviews Additional Performance Updates(Heritage)

Ellen Consoles Pakistan, Bangladesh and India

According to the In Profile Daily, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent separate messages of condolence to the leaders of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh over the deaths of at least 102 persons recently. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in separate messages to the Presidents of the three nations, His Excellency Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, President of the Republic of India; His Excellency Mr. Mamnoon Hussian, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and His Excellency Mr. Abdul Hamid, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Liberian leader expressed profound shock and deep sorrow for the loss of innocent lives in three tragic incidences in those countries. On Saturday, July 2, in the Himalayan State of Uttarahand and Arunachal Pradesh in India, at least 40 persons were reported dead and more than 30 missing as a result of torrential rain which triggered landslides and floods; while on Sunday, July 3, 40 deaths were reported with another 40 injured as a result of heavy downpour of rain, which triggered landslides and floods in the northern province of Pakhtunkwa in Pakistan. Sadly in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, there was an obscene terrorist attack, which led to the death of 22 persons and 40 injured.

Related Caption: President Sirleaf Consoles India, Pakistan, Bangladesh(Daily Observer)

Elections Commission Holds Regional Information Session On Election Laws

FrontPage Africa newspaper said the National Elections Commission (NEC) in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through IFES and the European Union through UNDP has concluded the fourth in a series of information Sessions on the Amended Elections Law of 2014. The consultation was held in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, and was attended by more than eighty representatives of civil society organizations, political parties, media and local elections magisterial officers from Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Montserrado Counties. The amended Elections Law among other things, reduces voters registration documentation barriers, prevents voting malpractices, avoid voter’s confusion and increases the number of voters in larger precincts; Creates new requirements for political parties and independent candidates as well as addresses issues of withdrawal and death.

Related Caption: NEC Trains Electorate On New Elections Law(News)

President Sirleaf Congratulates President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on his Inauguration As President of the Philippines

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a congratulatory message to His Excellency Mr. Rodrigo Roa Duterte for his election and inauguration as President of the Philippines. President Duterte (71), won the presidential election in May and was sworn in as the Philippines’ 16 president on June 30^th. He succeeds Mr. Benigno Aquino III. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Johnson assured President Duterte of her Government’s determination to continue strengthening the cordial relations subsisting between their two countries. The Philippines is a Southeast Asian country in the Western Pacific, comprising more than 7,000 islands, writes Women Voice newspaper.

FOA, MYS Launched Aquaculture Project

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNIFAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Youths and Sports launched an aquaculture project over the weekend in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County. The launching program brought together scores of Liberians from Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties. The launched of the initiative took place after series of training workshops which were conducted among young men and women from Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties respectively by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and Ministry of Youth and Sports, reports the Analyst newspaper.

Minister Kamara Pledges Lasting Relations with Egypt

Foreign Affairs Minister Marjon Kamara told a gathering of diplomats and local and foreign businessmen at the observance of Egypt’s National Day on Tuesday that Liberia wishes good lasting relations with the Arab Republic of Egypt. Held at the residence of Ambassador Alaa Issa in Monrovia, Minister Kamara, in her remarks, extolled the bilateral relations with Egypt and called for a further strengthening of Egypt–Liberia cooperation in the economic, agricultural and educational fields that could boost the already sisterly relations. Earlier, Ambassador Issa explained the importance of the National Day to Egyptians and said the gathering of diplomats and foreign and local businessmen at the occasion underscores the importance they have attached to a celebration that is dear to Egyptians. Although the National Day of Egypt falls on July 23, it is celebrated at various dates in July, embassy officials said, writes Daily Observer.

Swiss Lift Arms Sanctions on Liberia

Switzerland has decided to allow the resumption of arms trading with Liberia following a protracted period of peace and stability in the African state. The lifting of the arms embargo on Wednesday signaled the final dismantling of sanctions imposed by Switzerland in 2001. The Country’s first female President, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has been credited with ensuring stability since she was first elected in 2005. She was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2011. Since then, Switzerland has steadily been reducing its various embargoes. In 2007 it lifted its ban on the trade in rough diamonds and last year repealed financial sanctions and travel restrictions, the New Democrat newspaper writes.

LTA Waives US$200M to GSM Companies

An investigation conducted by the Liberian Senate has unveiled that the Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) has over time waived a total of US$200 million to GSM service providers in the country. The report of the probe, which was conducted by the Senate’s committee on Post and Telecommunication, was presented to the Senate’s plenary session on Tuesday. It disclosed that this amount was a cumulative total of fines imposed on GSM providers as the result of several violations carried out in the sector, the New Democrat reports.

LICC Graduates 114

The Liberia International Christian College last Sunday awarded Associate Degrees to 114 graduates in various disciplines in Ganta, Nimba County. The college has the enrollment of over three hundred students, offering courses in Agriculture, Business Management, Education and Pastoral Theology. Speaking during the commencement, the Guest Speaker, Dr. Michael Slawon, admonished the graduates to be committed to their professions in the country, the In Profile daily asserts.