THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2016

News of President Johnson Sirleaf’s congratulatory message to the Government and People of Côte d’Ivoire on its 56^thIndependence anniversary observance; the World Bank Executive Director for Liberia, Dr. Louis Rene Peter Larose’s five-day visit to Liberia and the Deputy Education Minister Romelle Horton’s commendation to the female candidates in the 2016 West African Exam for their excellent performance are stories dominating today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Ellen Applauds Côte d’Ivoire on 56^th Independence Anniversary

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations and best wishes to the Government and people of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on the occasion commemorating the 56^thIndependence Anniversary of that neighboring country. Quoting a Foreign Ministry release,  the Heritage newspaper reads that President Sirleaf in the message to her Ivoirian counterpart, H. E. Mr. Alassane Ouattara, expressed the hope that the historic and cordial ties of friendship and cooperation subsisting between the two countries and peoples will be further strengthened and cemented for their mutual benefits as they continue to work together in furtherance of the principles of the Mano River Union, the  Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and the United Nations for the promotion of international peace, security and economic cooperation amongst all nations.

Related Captions: Liberia Congratulates Ivory Coast On Independence((New DEMOCRAT), Liberia Wishes I. Coast Well(INSIGHT), Ellen Applauds Côte d’Ivoire… on 56^th Independence Anniversary(In Profile Daily)

World Bank Executives Arrives In Liberia

The In Profile Dailyreports that the World Bank group Executive Director for Liberia Dr. Louis Rene Peter Larose has arrived in the country for a five-day official visit aimed at reviewing the political, economic issues, development, infrastructure, and post-conflict challenges, as well as World Bank Group support. Dr. Larose is accompanied by a senior advisor, Dr. Anthony Barclay, a Liberian with over 30 years of development experience. While in Liberia, Dr. Larose, a national of Seychelles, will meet and hold discussions with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Minister of Finance and Development Planning Boima Kamara, Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia Milton Weeks and other senior officials of the Liberian Government, and hold discussions with the World Bank Group family in Liberia.

Related Captions: World Bank Chief In Liberia(New DEMOCRAT), World Bank Group Executive Director For Liberia Arrives(Heritage), World Bank Group Director On 5-Day Visit (Daily Observer), World Bank Official On 5-Days’ Visit Here(The New Dawn)

MOE Cheers Female Performance In WAEC Results

The New DEMOCRAT newspaper reads that Deputy Education Minister Romelle Horton has lauded the level of performance of female candidates in the 2016 West African Examination Council (WAEC) exam. Madam Horton speaking at the Ministry of Information regular press conference in Monrovia Thursday said of the total of 16,062 that passed the exams, 7,200 was females while 8,872 were male candidates. I am impressed with the performance of our girls and this is worth commending them for, she said.

Related Captions: MOE Official Cheers Female Performance In WAEC Exams(INSIGHT), MOE Official Cheers Female Performance In WAEC Exams(Heritage)

OTHER STORIES

Veep Boakai Dedicates Urban Water Supply Project in Grand Bassa

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai  over the weekend dedicated the urban water supply and sanitation Project (UWSSP) approved and founded by the African Development Bank (AFDB) to enable residents have access to pipe borne water after several years of civil war which led to the destruction of several public facilities. The UWSSP was successfully implemented by the Liberia water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), statutorily tasked with the mandate of providing water and sewer to the people of Liberia, reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

Related Caption: Grand Bassa Braces For Pipe Borne Water After 26 Years(New DEMOCRAT)

UNMIL Boss Warms Against Bribery

The INSIGHT newspaper writes that the United Nation Secretary General’s Special Representative to Liberia, Farid Zarif has strongly called on Liberians to refrain from offering bribes, a practice he described as illegal. Mr. Zarif wants Liberian to understand that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibilities of all citizens not just one sector of the society. He acknowledge government stance in the fight against corruption but cautioned Liberian authorities to do more in mitigating such practice in the country. Mr. Zarif said if bribery is not tackled, it could reduce the level of respect of government institutions and discredits the country’s justice system. According to the daily, the UNSRSG made the comment Friday, August 5, 2016 on ELBC radio in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.

Related Caption: ‘Hold Public Officials Accountable’-SRSG(Daily Observer)

Court Charges 2 Men For Rape

Police in Ganta, Nimba County have arrested and charged two men separately with rape. The suspects are 29-year-old Abraham Keita and Nya Dolo, 43. According to police charge sheet, the two suspects have been charged and sent to the Ganta Magisterial Court in Ganta City, Nimba County. Suspect Abraham Keita was charged for allegedly raping a14-year-old girl in Guinea road community, while suspect Nya Dolo, resident of LPRC community both in Ganta has been charged for raping a 45-year-old woman, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Carter Center Initiative Graduates To Help In Mental Health Care

The New Dawn newspaper says an initiative developed by the Atlanta based Carter Center in the United States in partnership with the Liberia’s Ministries of Health, Education and Gender on Friday graduated 21clinicians specializing in child and adolescent mental health. The graduates, the first cohort of clinicians focused on children and youth from the partnership, will provide mental health and psychosocial care in schools, clinics, and other child and youth-centered settings. The daily quoting a release issued by the Carter Center reads that the graduates add to the 166 mental health professionals previously trained in the collaboration to significantly increase access to mental health services in Liberia. The Child and Adolescent Post-Basic Mental Health Training program is part of a three-year initiative to address the psychological effects of Liberia's Ebola crisis and to promote psychosocial health in the country. The project, Supporting Psychosocial Health and Resilience in Liberia, is funded by Japan through the Japanese Social Development Fund, a trust fund administered by the World Bank. The project is expected to reach approximately 18,000 beneficiaries in Montserrado (housing Monrovia) and Margibi counties.

Firestone Pays Off 189 Employees

According to the Daily Observer, the management of Firestone has paid off 189 employees out of the 500 to be affected in its current downsizing action. The management of the company last Monday began implementing its decision to complete the layoff process affecting 189 workers and has asked them to vacate its premises within 15 days. The Public Relations Officer of Firestone, Mr. Rufus Karmo, noted that the redundancy action began after several consultations with the workers and FAWUL, adding that the company’s decision is backed by its current challenges. “The decision is due to the facts that the company is losing daily because we have low production and the market value of rubber has massively dropped,” Karmo said. He said the layoff is not a witch hunt neither an attempt to deny the workers their jobs, but an effort to save the company from gradual collapse. The daily reports that the affected employees have appealed to the leadership of the Firestone Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL) to intervene on their behalf. FAWUL’s president, Mr. Harris Kerkulah, said his office is not happy with the redundancy but called on the affected workers to remain calm as his leadership is planning an immediate joint meeting with the Margibi County Legislative Caucus, local county authorities, the Ministry of Labor and the Firestone management to look into the matter.