THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016

Today’s summary includes stories on the commissioning ceremony of six senior Government officials, National Elections Commission's target of registering 2.5 million voters, the Government's 10 million youth employment project, and Vice President Joseph N. Boakai's stance against hate and divisiveness among other stories.

Dominant Stories  

President Sirleaf Commissions Six Senior Government Officials 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has commissioned six senior government officials recently confirmed by the Liberian Senate while at the same time - recognized their efforts as people who have served the Government and people of Liberia so well, that deserved continuous recognitions and elevations. “We are here to recognize those who have served our country and continue to do so. They have demonstrated patriotism, loyalty and competence to carry out the roles they are and continue to perform,” President Sirleaf said. President Sirleaf made the remarks on Tuesday, December 20^th, 2016, in the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when she commissioned six newly confirmed senior government officials. President Sirleaf recounted the level of commitment, dedication and patriotism the commissioned officials including Sylvester M. Grigsby, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Madam Vivian Wreh, Liberia Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea, among others have over the years demonstrated in serving their country. Similarly, she commended family members of the commissioned officials for standing by them in making their country a place for all, reports FrontPage Africa.

Related Caption: President Sirleaf Commissions Six Senior Government Officials(FOCUS)

NEC Targets 2.5 Million Voters

Of Liberia’s 4.5 million citizens, the National Elections Commission says it expects to register 2.5 million as eligible voters. “This figure is based on the Liberia Statistics and Geo-information Services’ (LISGIS) population projections; and to achieve this target, the Commission has trained and deployed 438 civic educators and 219 gender-mobilizers across the country,” NEC Chairman Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoyah said. Serving as the ‘launcher’ of the civic education and voter registration, Cllr. Korkoyah said NEC will disseminate civic education messages based on a standardized toolkit developed by the Commission. He said as the Commission prepares to undertake this monumental task, it is appreciative of Government’s support and the partnership of the international community through UNDP, the European Union, USAID, friendly governments as well as every organization closely engaged in enhancing the tenets of democracy globally, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: NEC Targeting 2.5 Million Voters For Registration(Heritage), and NEC Targets 2.5m For 2017 Voter Registration (Inquirer)

Liberia to Implement US$10M Project For Unemployed Youths

Fifteen thousand Liberian youth are expected to benefit from a US$10 million youth opportunity project aimed at reducing the unemployment rate affecting the youth population. The project is a five-year plan of the Liberian government for youth development and capacity building, and it is sponsored by the World Bank.  The project is expected to be implemented on a stage-by-stage basis. Youth and Sports Minister Saah Charles N’Tow told a news conference in Monrovia Tuesday that the program is designed to benefit youthful Liberians across the 15 counties. He said the decision was made following series of consultations on finding means of addressing the youth unemployment situation in the country. N’Tow noted that 2,000 of the 15,000 vulnerable Liberian youths, between the ages 15 and 17, will be recruited from Montserrado County for basic job skills training, reports FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: 15, 000 Youth To Benefit 10M Project(In Profile Daily)

Other Stories  

Veep Boakai Warns Against Hate & Division 

The Inquirer newspaper reports that the Vice President Joseph Boakai has warned against hate and division as Liberians move towards the electioneering period in 2017 reiterating that we must all unite against conflict and instability. “We must all unite against any form of violence and win a victory of hope, reconciliation, honest service and unity for our dear nation, Liberia. With reconciliation, we can win together,” he continued. Delivering the commencement address at the first graduation ceremony of the Grand Gedeh County Community College over the weekend, Vice President Boakai further called on Liberians to reconcile with each other and together they will be able together they will be able to provide better opportunities for young people.

Security Council Reviews UNMIL’s Mandate Today

According the Daily Observer, after extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) until December 31 of this year, the Security Council will today, Wednesday, December 21, discuss whether or not to maintain its force in the country, UN Police Commissioner Simon Blatchly said yesterday. Blatchly made the disclosure during the launch of a five–year strategic plan by the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), formerly the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN). Mr. Blatchly, the Commissioner of the United Nations Police (UNPOL) in Liberia, told the audience, many of them LIS officers, that the UN Security Council will review UNMIL’s mandate today with the hope of extending it by a year. The five-year plan launched by LIS focuses mainly on the strategic directions of the force regarding its role in maintaining the security situation as well as protecting the country’s territorial integrity and sustainability during and after UNMIL’s transition.

Several Persons Earn Degrees From Nimba College

According to the Insight newspaper, one hundred and fifty-four (154) students have graduated from Nimba County Community College (NCCC) after successfully completing their studies in various disciplines. The graduates were awarded associate degrees in Accounting, Criminal Justice, Forestry, Primary Education, Sociology, and Engineering among others. The graduation ceremony took place on December 17, 2016 at the compound of the college in Sanniquellie, Nimba County. This year’s graduation ceremony marks the second graduation of NCCC since its establishment.

Church Donates Checkpoint Materials to LNP

The Fire for Fire International Ministries has made donation of checkpoint materials to the Liberia National Police (LNP). The materials which include designed steel poles among other was made recently in Monrovia.  Inscriptions on the materials were as followed: ‘STOP, CHECK POINT, Liberia National Police”; “Building of the national depends on the church by Pastor Enoch Annor”’ among others. The materials which were painted with red, white and blue colors would now be used by LNP officers at various intersections including Sinkor, ELWA, and other areas during the night hours, reports the Insight newspaper.

Related Caption: Church Makes Donation To LNP(FrontPage Africa)

Pro Temp Lauds Ellen For Dedication of Hydro

According to the Daily Observer, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate has written a letter to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf congratulating her and the Government of Liberia (GoL) for the formal turning on of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant after 26 years of dormancy. On June 2, 1990, the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant was rendered ineffective by rebel forces of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL). In a letter to President Sirleaf, Pro Temp Armah Zolu Jallah described the turning on of the hydro as an event that will engender a major boost in economic activities in the intended 18 communities and the country as a whole. “Launching of the 22 megawatt turbines will provide encouragement to businesspeople to step up their purchase of products knowing that they will be preserved for a longer time by the use of electricity and that families will remain up for a longer time merry-making, especially during this festive season,” the Gbarpolu County Senator said.

LoneStar Cell MTN Gives Alms to the Needy

According to the Heritage newspaper, Liberia’s premium GSM Company, LoneStar Cell MTN through the LoneStar Cell MTN Foundation on Tuesday, December 20, 2016 concluded a two-day alms-giving exercise at various orphanage homes across Montserrado and Margibi Counties. During the alms-giving gesture, the company donated several bags of rice, cash and toys to the various orphanages. The exercise began Monday, December 19 with the Foundation extending alms to the Marpu Transit Home in Cong Town on the outskirt of Monrovia and then at the Children Rescue Center in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.

Related Caption: LoneStar Cell MTN Foundation Donates To Orphanages (New Dawn)

One-day ABS Capacity Building Workshop for Media, CSOs Ends In Monrovia

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, conducted a one-day capacity building workshop on the Access and Benefits Sharing (ABS) Protocol of Liberia’s Genetic Resources for Media groups and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The one-day capacity building workshop, which was held in the conference Room of the YMCA on Broad Street in Monrovia, was under the Global support for ratification and entry into force of the Nagoya protocol on access to Genetic resources which Liberia formally became a part of on August 15, 2015. The ABS is the way in which genetic resources may be accessed and how the benefits that result from their use are shared between people or countries (users) and the people of countries that provide them (Providers), writes the Heritage newspaper.

Outgoing Ghanaian Leader Has “Great Faith” In ECOWAS Future

According to the Heritage newspaper, outgoing Ghanaian President John Mahama has expressed “Great faith” in ECOWAS, noting that with the political will leaders are demonstrating, they will speed up the integration process within the sub-region for the benefit of the people. Mahama, who attended the 50^th Ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja as his last meeting, thanked his colleagues for its role in the success of his country’s elections. He also thanked the ECOWAS and other observer missions for the role they played in the successful elections.  

Korean Envoy Hails Liberia For Peaceful Intervention and Assistance 

The Korean Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Mr. Kyu-Duk Noh, has lauded the Government of Liberia (GOL) through the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for its peaceful intervention and assistance rendered during the country’s regional crisis. The Korean envoy recalled that during the Korean’s regional crisis, which broke out between North and South Korea, Liberia was among the foreign countries that gave significant support to restore the country’s peaceful democracy. He extended his country’s appreciation during a lecture session with students of the University of Liberia (UL) on the main campus of the university, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Archbishop Zeigler Commends Civil Peace Service In Liberia

The Archbishop of the Catholic Church Liberia, Lewis Zeigler, has commended the Civil Peace Service in Liberia. He said that the Civil Peace Service through AGEH which is its implement partner in the country has been working tirelessly aimed at peace building. The Archbishop made these assertions when he delivered the keynote address at program marking the official commemoration of the ten years AGEH Civil Peace Service in Liberia during the weekend in Gbarnga City, Bong County, reports the Inquirer newspaper.

LPRC Retires Five Long Service Employees

The Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company over the weekend retired five of its employees for long service to the institution and people of Liberia. Speaking during the ceremony at the City Hall on Friday, December 15, 2016, the Managing Director, Professor Sumo Kupee referred to the five retirees as the “Tremendous Five” and noted that the entity is a better place to be because of the tremendous work done by the five retirees while serving the institution. Those honored were: Mr. G. Henry Yanior, former President of the LPRC Workers’ Union and Mason Technician in the Maintenance Department; Mr. Alexander C.  Gueh, Budget Analyst, Finance Department, Mr. John B. Kollie, Security Guard in the Security section of Administrative Department with assignment in Ganta; Mr. Moror J. Zuoh, a professional chauffeur was trained by the Liberia National Police, Traffic and Safety Session, reports theInquirer newspaper.