THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2016

Today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies highlights news of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s call for the building of resilience in the healthcare system of Ebola-affected countries in the West African region, the new Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund– Liberia, Dr. Suleiman Braimoh’s presentation of his Letters of Credence, including the redundancy plan of the Firestone Rubber Company for 500 employees.

Ellen Opens Post-ebola Conference…Call For Resilience Health System In Sub-Region

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called for the building of resilience in the healthcare system of the Ebola-affected countries in the West African region. She pointed out that this was necessary to ensure that the deadly Ebola virus disease and other infectious diseases do not resurface in sub-region. She said using the Liberian experience will help prepare the health sectors of the affected countries. According to an Executive Mansion release, The Liberian leader made the statement on Thursday, July 28, 2016 at the Monrovia City Hall when she formerly opened a two-day Post-Ebola Conference.  President Sirleaf noted that reforms in Africa are achievable if the political momentum is built among African leaders and their peoples. She expressed optimism that the ongoing conference will accomplish the targeted outcomes if African states and their partners find solution to issues and matters related to sectors deliberated. For his part, Prime Minister Komi Sélom Klassou who proxy for Togolese President, Faure E. Gnassingbe appreciated the efforts of the three most affected West African Countries in defeating the virus and now strategizing to be prepared for future outbreaks. Mr. Klassou proposed the setting up of scientific institutional mobilization framework that will help with the prevention of Ebola and other diseases. Also making remarks, the Regional Director for United Nations Aids, Dr. Djibril Diallo called for combined regional efforts to eradicate the deadly Ebola Virus disease, reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

Related Captions: Int’l Health Confab On Post-Ebola…Opens In Monrovia (The NEWS), Pres. Sirleaf Opens Two-Day Post Ebola Conference (FOCUS), 2-Day ECOWAS Post Ebola Global Reform Conference Opens In Monrovia (Heritage), Building Resilient Health President Johnson-Sirleaf Calls for Regional Preparedness for Epidemic (FrontPage Africa), ECOWAS Embarks On Post Ebola Strategy (New DEMOCRAT)

New UNICEF-Liberia Representative Presents Letters Of Credence

The new Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – Liberia has committed his agency to supporting the Liberian Government in all of its activities affecting children including rights, survival, development and protection. Quoting a Foreign Ministry release, the FOCUS newspaper reads that Dr. Suleiman Braimoh made the commitment when he presented his Letters of Credence to Foreign Minister, Ms. Marjon Kamara, at her office on Thursday, July 28. The new UNICEF Representative to Liberia agreed that there are challenges but looked forward to dialogue when the need arises; adding, “Where there is no dialogue, one will find it difficult to move forward.” He hoped that by the time he ends his tenure of duty, he would have been able to make the situation better for the children of Liberia. For her part, Foreign Minister Kamara applauded the UNICEF-Liberia Representative for the renewed commitment to support Liberia’s children as it relates to its mandate. She was quite certain that Dr. Braimoh’s tenure will mark even closer collaboration with Liberia as he executes his mandate.

Related Caption: New UNICEF-Liberia Representative Presents Letters Of Credence (The INQUIRER)

Firestone Liberia to Cut 500 Jobs ‘to Maintain Sustainable Business in Face of Down Industry’

A front page story of the Daily Observer newspaper reports that Firestone Liberia, an indirect subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Inc., yesterday announced it will reduce its workforce at the Harbel facility by approximately 500 employees, or roughly 7% of its regular workforce, as a result of the company’s ongoing significant and unsustainable losses at its Liberia-based natural rubber producing operation.

Related Captions: Firestone Redundant 500 Employees…In Face Of Down Industry (The NEWS),‘Uncertain Business Climate’ Firestone losing US$40m annually, Sacks 500 Employees (New DEMOCRAT)

Liberia Network of People Living With HIV Meet UNAIDS Regional Director

The Liberia Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (LIBNEP+)  and civil society actors in the HIV sector Including Stop AIDS  in Liberia (SAIL), LEGAL, Anti AIDS Media Network  concluded a successful meeting with the Regional Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) for the West and Central Africa, Dr. Djibril Diallo. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the meeting was held at the UNAIDS Country Office on Wednesday July 27, 2016 in Monrovia during the second day of Dr. Diallo and team visit to Liberia. Speaking during the meeting with civil society actors, Dr. Diallo noted the regional team is currently in readiness to facilitate the development of an Emergency Plan for West and Central Africa (WCA) Region. He said the WCA Emergency Plan is an emanation of the 2016 Political Declaration and it will aim at catalyzing the country and regional AIDS plans.

Related Caption: People Living With HIV, Others Present Case To UNAIDS (The INQUIRER)

LRA, Joint Security Seize L$200,000 Counterfeit At Bo Waterside

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) in collaboration with the joint security assigned at Bo-Waterside has seized $200,000 counterfeit Liberian bank notes from a Nigerian national. Mr. Oyenka F. Nnameni was arrested by the joint security Wednesday morning (July 27) while in route from Sierra Leone to Liberia with the L$$200,000 in 100 bank notes denomination. Customs officials at the border discovered the counterfeit money tucked in a large television sealed in a cartoon. Mr. Nnameni has been turned over to the Liberia National Police in Monrovia for further investigation, writes the New Dawnnewspaper.

Related Captions: ‘Fake’ L$200,000 Seized At Bo Waterside (The NEWS), LRA, Joint Security Seize Fake L$200,000 At Bo Waterside (Daily Observer)

China Gives To Faith-Based School In Liberia

As part of its benevolent services to the Liberia society, the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on Thursday July 28, 2016 donated several computers and accessories to the Faith Foundation School (FFS). Located in Congo town on the outskirt of Monrovia, FFS is a Faith-based Christian institution operated by the Bethel World Outreach Ministry International. Speaking at the donation ceremony, the deputy chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy, Li Zhuang said the Chinese government decided to give to the school because it has over the years gained good reputation and has deeply attracted Students. The Chinese diplomat pointed out that the good reputation gained by the school has attracted several students, reports that Heritage newspaper.

UNAIDS Regional Director Concludes Mission To Liberia

Dr. Djibril Diallo, the Regional Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UIAIDS) for the West and Central Africa (WCA) has concluded a four-day official mission to Liberia. Dr. Diallo was accompanied by Dr. Joy Backory, Regional Community Mobilization and Networking Adviser of WCA. The mission took place in the context of the newly adopted Political Declaration on ending AIDS by 2030 in June 2016 at the UN General Assembly in New York, USA, the FOCUS writes.

VP Boakai Receives Togolese Prime Minister

A back-page story of the NEWS newspaper writes that Vice President Joseph N. Boakai was on Thursday, July 28, 2016, on hand at the Roberts International Airport to receive Togolese Prime Minister Komi Selom Klassou, who is in the country to deputize for his President Faure Essozmna Gnassingbe, at the High Level Ebola Meeting. In November 2014, at the height of the Ebola outbreak, West African leaders appointed President Faure Gnassingbe to supervise the Region’s efforts to contain the deadly epidemic.

SRC Renews Commitment Despite Global Decline

The Management of the Salala Rubber Corporation (SRC) has renewed its commitment to the implementation of social development projects in its concession area amidst the prevailing global decline in commodity prices, the NEWS newspaper writes.

Stellar diamonds P L C Joint Ventures In Guinea and Liberia

According to the New DEMOCRAT newspaper, Stellar Diamonds a London-based diamond development focused on West Africa, has signed binding heads of terms with Citigate Commodities Trading, a Dubai-based commodities group, to formulate joint ventures over the Baoule Kimberlite Project in Guinea, and over two new explorations licenses in Western Liberia. Under the arrangement, Citigate  elect to progress Phase-2 of the program it will invest at further US$2 million for a further 25% interest and will make a further investment of US$4 million at Phase -3 of the program for an additional 35% interest. All work programs for Phase-2 and Phase -3 will be determined based on the ongoing results and projective.