THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia  

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2016 

Ambassador Al-Hasan Conteh’s address about the Welfare of Liberians in Nigeria being cardinal to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; the launch of the General Audit Commission’s 5-year strategic plan, the Central Bank of Liberia’s campaign awareness on the soon to be released new banknotes, the release of WAEC results by Friday, and the appointment of a new Ecobank Limited Regional Executive for West Africa are stories highlighted in today’s newspapers.

Dominant Stories

GAC Launches 5-Year Strategic Plan

Liberia’s General Auditing Commission (GAC) has launched and formally adopted a five-year strategic plan showcasing the prospect and achievements of the Commission. According to a GAC release, the 2016-2020 Plan of Action covers three primary goals that will guide the Commission in its operations and programs over the five-year period. “The Strategic Plan, will be revised and reviewed on a periodic basis to meet the needs and demands of the rapidly changing environment,” the GAC said. The Auditor General of Liberia, Madam Yusador S. Gaye, who officially launched the strategic plan, expressed the hope that the new GAC would be a professional Supreme Audit Institution that promotes trust, accountability, transparency and value for money in the management of public resources, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: GAC Launches 5-Year Strategic Plan (Heritage), GAC Launches 5-Year Strategic Plan (News), GAC On Strategic Planning(New Democrat), and GAC Launches 5- Year Strategic Plan(In Profile Daily)

‘Your Welfare is Central To President Sirleaf’s Agenda’, Amb. Conteh Assures Diaspora Liberians In Nigeria

The Inquirer newspaper reports that Liberia’s Ambassador of Liberia to Nigeria, Professor Al-Hassan Conteh has assured all Liberians residing in Nigeria of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s commitment in seeking their interest and welfare. “I look forward to working with your organization and its elected leaders on issues and concerns of the Liberian communities in Nigeria.  I would like you to know that your welfare is central to the Agenda of Transformation of the Administration of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf”, Ambassador Conteh told hundreds of Liberians residing here. According to a dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja, the Ambassador’s comments were contained in his opening remarks delivered at the opening of the Second National Convention of the Association of Liberian Communities in Nigeria held in Onitsha, Anambra State.  The Convention which the Liberians in Nigeria also used to observe their country’s 169^th Independence Day was held from the 29^th to the 30^th of July, 2016. Mr. Nat Bayjay, Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs of the Liberian Embassy in Abuja delivered the Ambassador’s remarks on his behalf, the dispatch adds.

Related Caption:‘Your Welfare is Central To President Sirleaf’s Agenda’, Amb. Conteh Assures Diaspora Liberians In Nigeria(News Newspaper) Welfare of Diaspora Liberians Central to President’s Agenda (Heritage)

CBL On Awareness Campaign

According toNew Dawnnewspaper, authorities at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL), Monday August 1, kicked off the start of a nationwide awareness campaign with an interactive session in Kakata, Margibi County over the new banknotes to be introduced soon. A team of CBL officials told participants in Kakata that the Bank would be introducing a new series of banknotes to replace mutilated and damaged notes that have been withdrawn from circulation. The new bank notes to be released, the CBL officials said, will be of a higher quality with new security features to prevent fraud and counterfeiting. Commenting on the L$500 dollar new bank notes, the Assistant Director of Banking, Mr. William N. Dargbeh, said the new denomination was being introduced to ease the transportation of money in larger volume and also serve as store of value. The Forum, held in collaboration with the Liberia Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI), attracted hundreds of residents of Kakata, including business people.

Related Captions: CBL Begins Awareness Campaign(News), and CBL Begins Awareness Campaign New Liberian Dollar Banknotes (Analyst)

Other Stories

2015/2016 WAEC Results Expected Friday

AccordingNew Dawn, the Minister of Education, George K. Werner, has disclosed that result of the 2015/2016 West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams across the country are expected in by Friday, August 5, 2016.The exams for 12th graders were administered on Monday, June 27 to July 1, after 9th graders had earlier written theirs in early June. Minister Werner said results of the exams qualify schools to hold graduation ceremony. The Education boss said schools that will violate the mandate of the Ministry will not go unpunished, although several private schools have defied this regulation.

Ecobank Appoints New Regional Executive For West Africa

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) has announced the appointment of Dan Sackey as Managing Director of its Ghanaian subsidiary, Ecobank Ghana, and Regional Executive for Anglophone West Africa, subject to regulatory approval. His appointment takes effect from September 1, 2016. Mr. Sackey, according to a release, has risen through the ranks in the Ecobank Group, which he joined in 1995 as a Risk Analyst in the Corporate Banking Division of Ecobank Ghana. He replaces former Ecobank Ghana Managing Director Samuel Adjei, who was appointed Managing Director of Ecobank Kenya and Group Executive, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa earlier this year, writes the Daily Observer.

Market Links Boost Profits For Farmers

According to the New DEMOCRAT newspaper, the United States Agency of International Development Food and Enterprise Development (USAID-FED) in Liberia says it has helped increase market relations and profits by US$500 a month for vegetable farmers. Making the disclosure to journalists via Mobile phone on Tuesday, USAID FED Chief of Party Lee Rosner said beneficiaries include group members of the Liberian vegetable farmers, who are covered by the FED program. He revealed that by the end of 2016, the program will have an estimated 35 farming groups consisting of more than 700 farmers that will benefit from high value vegetable market linkages.

Related Caption:Market Links Boost Profits For Liberian Vegetable Farmers(Heritage)

Judicial Training Institute Holds Workshop for Public Defenders

According the Frontpage Africa newspaper, the James A.A. Pierre Judicial training Institute of Liberia at the Temple of Justice is carrying out an intensive five day workshop in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County for Public Defenders from across the country. The training, which started Monday, August 1 and ends Friday, August 5, intends to build the capacity of Public Defenders also known traditionally in Liberia as ‘Poor-Man Lawyer’, in ensuring Public Defenders effectively carrying out their duties in their respective counties. The training, under the auspices of the Judicial Institute, is being sponsored by the Government of Liberia, PAE-INL, and CHECCHI – a USAID sponsored project. Speaking during day two of the training on Tuesday, August 2 in Buchanan, Atty. Moses B. Kollie, the Training Coordinator of the Judicial Institute, called on public defenders to use the workshop in order to build their individual legal skills in performing their respective functions.        

Cabinet Reviews Status Update on Health, Justice and Security; Mandates Key Actions

Cabinet has scrupulously reviewed critical targets met in the areas of Health, Justice and Security with a view to furthering the agenda of the government while mandating sector ministries to remain on course to ensure that the aspirations of the people are addressed, reports The Analyst newspaper. According to an Executive Mansion release, Cabinet received and reviewed progress update regarding health infrastructures across the country, pending and ongoing development and modernization works at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital and commitment to holistically tackle the question of workforce in building a resilient healthcare system for the country. Cabinet received updates - that so far 15 new Triages have been constructed in major referral hospitals across the country with 9 Health Centers new Triage construction underway. Towards a resilient healthacare system, 15 Liberians are currently undergoing a one-year medical equipment maintenance training in Kenya while 3 are currently in the United States on a six-month long capacity building. Six new X-Ray machines, 4-full Chemistry Laboratories and 6 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) equipment have been installed at hospitals and health centers around Liberia.