THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

News of the passage of the 2016/17 Fiscal Budget by the House of Representatives and the additional appointment made in Government by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf are among stories highlighted in today’s newspapers.

DOMINANT STORIES  

House Passes US$623M Budget 

The 2016/17 National Fiscal Budget of US$623 million has been passed by the House of Representatives, pending concurrence from the Senate. According to the Daily Observer, Plenary overwhelmingly voted in favor of the budget based on recommendations from the Joint Committee of the Legislature on Ways, Means, Finance and Development Planning and Public Accounts, chaired by Bong County Representative Prince Moye. The Executive submitted a Draft Budget of US$555.9million but additional revenues were realized during the budget hearing on Capitol Hill thereby forming an increase of about US$67.1million to be generated in the fiscal year, which has affected the budget allotments to some ministries and governmental agencies.

Related Captions: House Approves 2016/17 Budget(New DEMOCRAT), House Passes Over US$600M Draft Budget(Heritage), House Passes 2016/17 Budget, Seeks Senate’s Concurrence(FOCUS), House of Representatives Okays 2016/2017 Budget With Additional US$46M(FrontPage Africa)

President Sirleaf Makes More Appointments In Government

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made additional appointments in government affecting the Ministries of Finance, Information, Foreign Affairs, and National Security Agency, and Internal Affairs. According to an Executive Mansion release, those appointed include: Ministry of Finance, Adolphus Forkpa, Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs; Mrs. Juah Feika, Deputy Minister for Administration and Mr. Hanson Kiazolu, Comptroller & Accountant General, among others; Ministry of Information, Mr. Jacob V. Jallah, Assistant Minister for Technical Services and Mrs. Vivian W.G. Lombeh, Minister Counselor for Press & Public Affairs, Liberia Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Edward Essiah, Deputy Minister for Administration and Madam Vivian Wreh, Ambassador, Republic of Guinea. Others are from the National Security Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs and local Appointments in Lofa, Grand Bassa, Rivercess and Maryland Counties. According to the INQUIRER these appointments are subject to confirmation by the Honorable House of Senate where applicable.

Related Caption: Additional Appointments In Gov’t(Daily Observer)

House Concurs On Land Authority Law

The Daily Observer reports that the Legislature has finally enacted the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) Law after it was submitted by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to both Houses, and was received and subsequently referred in Committees’ room almost a year ago on Tuesday, September 22, 2015. The House of Representatives unanimously concurred with the Liberian Senate during yesterday’s extraordinary session, and have ordered the Offices of the Chief Clerk to forward the Bill to the Chief Executive for approval and subsequent printing into handbills. The Secretary of the Senate and the President Pro Tempore affixed their signatures for the Liberian Senate, while the Acting Chief Clerk and Deputy Speaker/Presiding Officer have signed for the House of Representatives. The enactment of the law establishes the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), an autonomous agency of government solely devoted to land matters.

ECOWAS, GOL Pay Homage To UNDP’s Dr. Kamaluddeen

The Ambassador of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Liberia, Tunde Ajisomo, has lauded outgoing United Nations Development Program Country Director Dr. Kamil Kayode Kamaluddeen for his immense contributions to peace, good governance and infrastructural development as well as the rule of law in Liberia. Speaking at a cocktail reception held in KK’s honor in Monrovia, Ambassador Ajisomo said Director Kamaluddeen, who is affectionately referred to as KK, has left an indelible mark on Liberia as a development specialist by the policies and strategies he helped to draft leading to some considerable levels of developmental improvement in the country. For his part, Acting Foreign Minister Elias Shoniyin said KK will truly be missed because he has been a strong pillar to rely on. “KK has been a true friend to this government and our country. He was very instrumental in the crafting of the Poverty Reduction Strategy that helped us significantly to set us on our path of national development,” the Minister said. Responding, KK said his tenure may have come to an end, but he is leaving as a very proud man, adding that he is grateful to God for his contribution to Liberia. According to him, his greatest achievement is leaving in a peaceful country. “We’re very happy that Liberians have embraced peace and I’m of the conviction that this peace will be sustained because without peace there can be no development,” KK said, adding that he now considers Liberia a second home, reports the Daily Observer.

Thousands of Books Sent To Liberia

More than 100,000 educational textbooks were shipped off from Milton Keynes to thousands of school children in of Liberia. Ihezie Foundation-Book Relief Africa, based in Kiln Farm, welcomed MPs Mark Lancaster and Iain Stewart, Deputy Mayor Cllr. David Hopkins, dignitaries from Sierra Leone and Liberia, as well as individuals from the Milton Keynes business community to see off the delivery, the New DEMOCRAT reads.  

MIA Trains Decentralization Communicators 

An inside story of the New DEMOCRAT newspaper reports that 15 County Information Officers and Public Relations Officers of the 14 Ministries, Agencies and Commissions involved with service De-concentration are undergoing weeklong intensive capacity building training in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The training which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is intended to provide the county and Ministry communicators with the practical knowledge of the goal and objectives of the government’s Decentralization program as well as deliver a set of practical communication skills for community engagements and sensitization of the program, especially at County levels.

LRA kicks Off Regional Forum on Liberia’s 1^st Nat’l Revenue Summit

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, with support from the United Nations Development Program, on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 kicked-off a two-day stakeholders’ regional dialogue in Buchanan City, Grand Bassa County, in preparation for the county’s first ever national revenue summit. The National Revenue Summit, slated for late November, is intended to stimulate a culture of voluntary tax compliance and to raise awareness on the importance of Domestic Resource Mobilization in light of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda, the New DEMOCRAT reads.  

MOH Graduates, Certificates 128 Emergency Medical Practitioners 

Following an eight-month intensive training, the Ministry of Health (MOH) through its International partners has graduated and certificated a total of 128 Emergency Medical Personnel. The personnel were trained in different disciplines from the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division of the Ministry. EMS is considered as a pre-hospital, and is aimed at providing first-hand medical assistance to patients while in route to the hospital on ambulances in an effort to further enhance the healthcare delivery services in the country, the Heritage reads.  

Senate Passes MoH, National Public Health Institute Act 

The Senate yesterday voted unanimously to pass into Law an Act establishing the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL). According to the Daily Observer, the objective of the new MoH Act is to amend the Act that established the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoH/SW) and create the MoH, while the Act establishing the National Public Health Institute of Liberia now repeals the Act that created the National Research Institute of Liberia, commonly known as Liberia Institute for Biomedical Research (LIBRI). Additionally, Section 30.2 (d, e, o) of the 1972 Executive Law, title 12 of the Liberian Code of Law revised, will be amended, transferring Public Health and Biomedical Research functions of the Ministry of Health to the National Public Health Institute of Liberia. The daily reads that under the new Act, there will be three departments at the MoH, including Health Services, Administration, and Planning and Development.  

Catholic School In Nimba Expels 19… Suspends 2 Teachers For “Selling Grades” 

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the St. Lawrence Catholic High School in the commercial city of Gompa, Nimba County, has expelled 19 students. The principal of the school, Amos Wuo said the students were expelled for acts unbecoming of students and that the decision of the school has received the backing of the board members of the Diocese of Gbarnga. He said the board agreed with the decision of the administration of the institution to expel the 19 students for being rude, uncontrollable and also for disorderly conduct. He said some of the students even insulted teachers and fellow students on the main campus during school hours.  

ECOWAS And FAO Hold Workshop For Animal Health Experts And Production Networks 

In collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the ECOWAS Commission is holding a 5-day regional workshop of animal health experts, production networks, senior regional government officials and representatives of supportive international agencies. The workshop which also draws participants from Directors of Veterinary Services and producer organizations opened Abuja on the 19^th of September 2016, to share experiences, exchange ideas on the trends and challenges of the livestock sector and make recommendations on the way forward, reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

Twenty-Three Organizations To Participate In Workshop On Adolescent Girls Education From USAID

The Inquirer newspaper reports that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has selected twenty-three organizations to participate in a co-creation workshop to develop concept papers for a new program to empower adolescent girls and increase their access to education in Liberia. The new program will be part Let Girls Learn initiative of the United States Government, designed to ensure adolescent girls get the education they deserve. Building on USAID’s initial Let Girls Learn funding and education programs, the initiative elevates existing programs, including in areas of conflict and crisis, leverages public-private partnerships, and challenges organizations and governments to commit resources to lift up adolescent girls worldwide.

Related Caption: 133 Teachers Gain Skills To Deal With Students(Daily Observer)

Restrictions For ‘Keh-Keh’ Soon

The Liberia National Police (LNP) has launched an operation for the restriction of tricycles popularly known as keh-keh from plying major streets in the capital. As part of the operations, LNP and the Liberia Tricycle and Motorcycle Association (LITMCA) have officially launched the data base collection of tricycles across Monrovia and other parts of the country. The coding of tricycles operation was officially launched on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 by Deputy Police Chief of Traffic for Administration, Alphanso D. Bindah, at a brief ceremony held on Carey Street in Monrovia. Speaking during the ceremony, Superintendent Bindah noted that the move made by the LNP and LITMCA is also intended to collect data base on every tricycle plying the streets of Monrovia and other areas, reports FOCUS newspaper.

Related Caption: LNP, LITCMA Take Steps To Restrict Tricycles’ Movement(Heritage)

Digital Services Working Group Launched

According to the FOCUS newspaper, the inaugural session of the national Digital Financial Services Working Group (DFSWG) has been launched in Monrovia, with Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) Executive Governor, Mr. Milton A. Weeks, stressing the critical role Digital Financial Services (DFS) play in promoting financial inclusion. Governor Weeks noted that DFS will expand the delivery of basic financial services to the poor through innovative technologies like mobile-phone-enabled solutions, electronic money modules and digital payments platforms. Digital channels, the CBL Executive Government indicated can drive down costs for customers and service providers and open the door to remote and under-served populations. Governor Weeks noted that financial regulators around the world have realized the tremendous role DFS can play for financial inclusion by creating enabling environments for digital financial services. The CBL Executive Government was speaking Tuesday in Monrovia, when he delivered the opening remarks at the official launching for the Digital Financial Services Working Group.

Related Caption: CBL Introduces Digital Financial Service(New DEMOCRAT)  

ECOWAS Sensitizes Regional Media on EU/West Africa Economic Partnership Agreement 

The ECOWAS Commission has convened a two day sensitization workshop on the European Union/West African Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for members of the media in West Africa in Abuja, Nigeria in an effort to attain economic integration within the region. The sensitization program which is in collaboration with West Africa Economic and Monetary Union of West Africa (WAEMU), aims to improve the awareness and capacity of regional journalists by enabling them disseminate factual information about the EPA to Community citizens. The two-day meeting which is geared towards ensuring that participants are familiarized with the EU/West Africa EPA and introduced to Regional Trade Agreements and their relation with multilateral trading systems is attended by journalists from all ECOWAS member countries including Mauritania, writes FOCUS newspaper.

Related Caption: ECOWAS Sensitizes Regional Media On EU/West Africa Econmic Partnership Agreement (EPA) (The INQUIRER)

GVL Dedicates 3 Public Schools, Rehabilitates 2 In Grand Kru

The Daily Observer says Golden Veroleum Liberia has dedicated three newly constructed public schools in Grand Kru County and rehabilitated others as part of its ongoing commitments to support the development of local communities, a press release said. The schools include a three classroom kindergarten, elementary schools in Ylatwen and Big Town, and a six classroom elementary school in Piddy/Nyanbo. GVL rehabilitated six classroom schools in Beloken in Trembo District, and Wutuken in Wedabo District. Speaking at the dedication, Ofori Lartey, GVL’s General Manager for Sustainability in Grand Kru, said the projects fulfilled key commitments set out in the Memorandum of Understanding incorporating Social Agreements agreed between the communities and GVL. The MOUs provide that GVL may develop community land for oil palm and, in return, GVL will employ people, provide benefits and deliver various community support projects, such as these schools.