THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016

Today’s Summary highlights news of the Government of Liberia’s enforcement of the issuance of the ECOWAS Biometric Identification Cards, US Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Christine Ann Elder’s meeting with Defense Minister, Brownie J. Samukai,  among other.

Gov’t Enforces ECOWAS Biometric ID Card

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the Ministry of Labour in collaboration with the Bureau of Immigration and Nationalization (BIN) and the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has begun a nationwide enforcement of the issuance of the ECOWAS Biometric Identification Cards. According to a press release issued in Monrovia Monday, the ECOWAS Biometric Identification Card is used as work permit for ECOWAS Citizens working within the informal sector of Liberia. Regulation #17 Category B of the Labour Law of Liberia states that “ECOWAS Citizens who seek employment in the informal sector shall pay a work permit fee of US$100.00 (One Hundred United States Dollars). ECOWAS citizens who are qualified for this category are ECOWAS Businesses/ECOWAS Citizens with an Annual turnover of more than $250,000.00 (Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Liberian Dollars). This category by law is required to pay an annual work permit fee of US$100.00 (One Hundred United States Dollars).

Related Caption: Labor, Others Begin ECOWAS Biometric ID Cards (The INQUIRER)

The ANALYST newspaper reports that Liberia’s Defense Minister, Brownie J. Samukai has lauded the United States Government for its support towards the Capability enhancement of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Minister Samukai made specific reference to the recent donated fleet of jeeps, two boats, two Ford truck boat launchers, along with assorted spare parts. Minister Samukai further assured the US of the Defense Ministry’s preparedness in working with other counterparts for ensuring regional peace and stability.  According to the daily, Minister Samukai made the assertion on Monday when US Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Christine Ann Elder paid a courtesy call on him at his Barclay Training Center office. Speaking during the visit, Ambassador Elder expressed great pride and confidence in the AFL and assured Liberia’s Defense Authorities of her government’s continuous support.

Related Caption: Defense Minister Meets US Ambassador (In Profile Daily)

Global Peace Road (GPR) 2016 has been launched in Liberia under the theme, “Come let us reason together for a better tomorrow. “PR is a reconciliatory initiative by the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles-Liberia or (CARP-Liberia) and the Family Federation of World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) as well as the Universal Peace Federation (UFP). It was launched recently in Monrovia. The head of the Family Federation of World Peace, Rev. Pamela S.M. Mwanga said as part of the launch, CARP-Liberia and FFWPU conducted a 21-day youth camp to teach young people how to become good citizens. “A 21-day youth camp for young people have just ended and we taught them how to be peace soldiers in their communities” she said. Rev. Mwanga cautioned Liberians to continue to walk for peace until the entire world can become totally peaceful, which she said is the vision of the Universal Peace Federation, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General to Liberia, Mr. Farid Zarif has called on Liberians to take responsibility in developing their own country. The UNMIL Boss made the statement over the weekend at the Thanksgiving Service of the Mother Tegeste Stewart Apostolic Pentecostal Mission School (MTSS) in Brewerville. The UN Diplomat said Liberia as a country has helped lots of African countries to gain independence in the past, yet the country is still languishing in poverty, while countries that recently got independence are one way or the other flourishing and moving ahead with development. He said it was now time for all Liberians to roll up their sleeves to fight against corruption and vices that are contributing to the under-development of Liberia, the INQUIRER newspaper writes.

Authorities at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) have assured the public that it would shortly reintroduce coins to ease the situation of smaller change on the local market. A team of CBL Senior staff made the pronouncement on Monday, August 1, 2016 during interactive discussions with residents and business people of Kakata, Margibi County. The discussions were mainly to raise awareness about the new banknotes that the bank would shortly introduce into the country, the Daily Observer reports.

The Government of Liberia (GoL) has vowed to decriminalize press offenses and identify foreign accounts held by government officials and their families. As a member of the United States-Africa Partnership on Illicit Finance (PIF) the GOL has also pledged to take the necessary steps aimed at promoting government’s transparency, combating corruption and the loss of government’s revenues to criminal activity and combating impunity and promoting accountability. According to a GOL Statement issued in Monrovia, yesterday the Liberian Government has created a National Action Plan as an additional means to curbing illicit finance from corruption, tax evasion and other financial crimes, the INQUIRER writes.

Gov’t Urged to Build Vibrant Health Sector

The visiting Sierra Leonean Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Joseph Fitzgrald Kamara, has said the Liberian government must commit itself to Liberians because they are the ones that elected officials to the government. Speaking recently at the Monrovia City Hall when he received a Golden Image Award, he said it is not good for any nation to shy away from corporate social responsibility to its citizens and if that should happen the citizens will end up living in abject poverty, the Daily Observer writes.

The Monrovia City Court has detained an eighteen-year suspect identified as Alpha Bah, at the Monrovia central prison for allegedly stabbing victim, Abu B. Kabbah to death with a kitchen knife. Defendant, Alpha Bah, 18, was detained at the weekend based on the orders by City Court for allegedly committing the crime pending investigation, reports the In Profile Daily.

Nat’l Lottery Authority Strengthens

The Liberian Government through the National Lottery Authority (NLA) has announced the approval of gaming regulation 001, following its adoption by the NLA’s Board of Directors. Gaming Regulation 001 which is due to come into effect soon was approved by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on July 20, 2016. It is the first legal instrument issued since the National Lottery Act was amended by the National Legislature and published into handbill by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 6, 2015, reports the In Profile Daily.