THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016

News of the Regional Director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS for West and Central Africa, Dr. Djibril Diallo, meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. B. Elias Shoniyin, the Governments of Liberia and Ghana agreement to partner in the areas of defense and security, power, and fisheries and the arrival of the remains of the fallen Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr. including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Swiss Confederation, as they celebrate the 725th anniversary of the founding of Switzerland are stories dominating today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Deputy Foreign Minister Meets UNAIDS Regional Director

The Regional Director of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) for the West and Central Africa, Dr. Djibril Diallo, paid a courtesy call on Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. B. Elias Shoniyin. According to a Foreign Ministry release, during their brief discussion Thursday, July 28, Mr. Shoniyin said Liberians were grateful for the visit. “For us, this is a manifestation of your commitment and partnership to confront the challenges as it relates to HIV and AIDS,” the Deputy Foreign Minister said.  Mr. Shoniyin further indicated that everyone is aware that the disease is one of the major challenges in Africa and Liberia is of no exception. “You have come at a very critical period because I was informed a few weeks ago that the HIV prevalence rate in Liberia saw a marginal increase as compared to previous years,” he said. Responding, Dr. Diallo stated notwithstanding the slight increase in the prevalence rate of HIV in Liberia, they intend to use Liberia as an “Island of Hope”, for their Emergency Plan for West and Central Africa expected to be launched shortly at the UN Headquarters in New York, U.S.A. He said these regions need to have more attention if the world is to attain the goal of ending the pandemic. Meanwhile, Dr. Diallo, addressing journalists following his closed-door meeting with President Sirleaf on Thursday, July 28, disclosed that she has been asked by the specialized UN Agency to serve as its Emergency Plan Leader for West and Central Africa. The meeting is expected to take place on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in September, this year, according to the NEWS newspaper.

Related Captions: UNAIDS Regional Director Meets Deputy Foreign Minister (In Profile Daily), UNAIDS Sees Liberia An Island Of Hope’-Wants President Sirleaf to as ‘Emergency Plan Leader’ For West And Central Africa (Daily Observer)

Liberia, Ghana Form Cooperation

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and John Mahama of Ghana have agreed to cooperate in the areas of defense and security, power, and fisheries. The In Profile Daily quoting a dispatch from Accra said this was disclosed by Ghanaian President John Mahama when they addressed reporters in Accra following bilateral meetings with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. President Mahama indicated that Liberia could benefit from Ghanaian technical expertise in expanding electricity supply throughout the country. He said with the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydro power facility, transmission and distribution is critical adding, “Ghana is ready to offer technical expertise to our Liberian counterparts. The Ghanaian leader also announced that under an Agreement between the Ministries of Defense of Ghana and Liberia, training and capacity development for members of the Armed Forces of Liberia will be implemented at the facilities of the Ghana Armed Forces. The program will include the training of officers and under that Agreement, Liberian soldiers are to be granted access to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana. The two leaders also agreed to allow their intelligence and security agencies to cooperate in the exchange of information in the wake of the growing menace of terrorism in West Africa.  For her part, President Sirleaf welcomed Ghana’s offer of cooperation in several areas. She said with the historic bounds between the two countries, such cooperation would be mutually beneficial. “With your country’s experience in power generation and distribution, Ghanaian expertise would be helpful to Liberia’s power expansion program”, she pointed out.

Related Captions: Ghana To Offer Liberia Support In Power Sector (Daily Observer), Liberia, Ghana to Cooperate in The Areas Of Defense & Security, Power and Fishery (FrontPage Africa), Liberia, Ghana To Cooperate In Several Areas (The NEWS), Liberia, Ghana Partner On Security & Energy (New DEMOCRAT), Ghana To Rescue Liberia (The New Republic), Presidents Sirleaf, Mahama Meet-Hold Regional, International And Bilateral Talks (The New Dawn). At the same time, at least ten Ghanaian vocational teachers are scheduled to arrive in Liberia September this year as part of a project to help build the capacity of Liberian technical and vocational teachers. The New DEMOCRAT newspaper reads under the caption “Ghanaian Teachers To Arrive In September” that the project, named JUMPSTART, is part of a Tripartite Arrangement between the governments of Ghana and Liberia on the one side and UNESCO on the other to train about 400 TVET teachers from Four Regions in Liberia in the areas of Adult Learning, Curriculum Development, Learner Assessment and Quality Assurance.

Related Caption: Ghanaian Vocational Teachers For Liberia (In Profile Daily)

Remains of Former Minister of State Edward McClain Arrive in Liberia

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Sunday, July 31, 2016 led an array of government officials, family members and well-wishers at the Roberts International Airport to receive the remains of the fallen Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr. Minister McClain died on Saturday July 23, 2016 at the Wilgers Life Hospital in Lynwood, Pretoria, South After following a period of illness. According to an Executive Mansion release, the remains of Minister McClain were taken to the Samuel A. Stryker Funeral Parlous in Sinkor where a brief service was held pending funeral arrangements. Delivering a brief message during prayer time at the Samuel Stryker Funeral Chapel, Rev. Charles O. Diggs, Director of Administration of the Providence Baptist Church encouraged the bereaved family, President Sirleaf and others to take solace in the Lord as they go through the period of bereavement.  

Related Captions: Dr. McClain’s Body Arrives In Liberia (Daily Observer), Ellen Weeps Over Fallen Minster (The New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES

President Sirleaf Applauds Swiss Confederation On 725th Nat’l Day

The INQUIRER newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to her counterpart, H.E. Mr. Johann N. Schneider-Ammann, President of the Swiss Confederation, the Government and people of the Swiss Confederation, as they celebrate the 725th anniversary of the founding of Switzerland. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, expressed satisfaction that Liberia and Switzerland have marked decades of close friendship and cooperation through which they continue to achieve mutually rewarding benefits to their two countries and peoples. “Our perspectives on issues of international affairs continue to converge, particularly as we remain committed to the continued pursuit and promotion of world peace and prosperity,” she indicated.

Related Caption: ‘Be Ethical’ Cuttington University Commencement Speaker Tells Over 700 Graduates (FrontPage Africa)

Power of Positive Collaboration …Strazs Institute Makes Strides

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has extolled what she called 'The Power of Positive Collaboration' between local authorities and community members adding: "If they had not put their hands around authorities of the University of Liberia, the David A. Straz Technical and Vocational College in Garwular District, Grand Cape Mount County would not have been there today."   According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the commendation on Saturday, July 30th, 2016, when she along with Ambassador David A. Straz, a Benefactor and American humanitarian visited the David A. Straz Technical and Vocational College of the University of Liberia in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County as part of Liberia’s 169th Independence Anniversary, aimed at seeing some of the legacies of President Sirleaf and Amb. Straz. For his part, Ambassador David A. Straz commended President Sirleaf, authorities of the University of Liberia and students of the Straz Technical and Vocational College for their cooperation in working to leave such beautiful legacy behind in the name of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-led administration, reports the In Profile Daily.

Cllr. Tweh Warns CU Graduates of ‘Education Piracy’

According to the Daily Observer Cllr. Oswald N. Tweh, Managing Director of Pierre, Tweh and Associates, Incorporated, a law firm in Monrovia, has warned of ‘education piracy’ that often leads to problems in the country. Cllr. Tweh warning was contained in his speech delivered on Saturday, July 30 at Cuttington University’s 55^th Commencement Convocation held at the university’s main campus in Saukoko, near Gbarnga, Bong country. “In our world of short morals and integrity, the importance of honorable and ethical conduct without regards to ethical obligations and standards is like piracy that often leads to lots of problems, some of which are very prevalent in our society,” Cllr. Tweh told the 721 CU graduates. According to the lawyer, the same can be said of the lack of ethics in the professional life of anyone, irrespective of career, profession on vocation.

Chinese Embassy Donates Computers to Faith Foundation School

The Chinese Embassy near Monrovia has donated 10 brand new Dell desktop computers to the Faith Foundation School in Congo Town. The ceremony took place in the edifice of the Bethel Cathedral of Hope, which is parent institution of the school. Making the donation on behalf of the Embassy, Mr. Li Zhuang, Deputy Chief of Mission, said the school was chosen because of its high quality and advanced teaching methodology, which has deeply attracted students, reports the Daily Observer.

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