The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2017

News of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s assertion that modern Ghana is a shining star in Africa today, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning launch of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism in Grand Bassa County and the plan launch of a US$10 million Youth Opportunity Project by President Sirleaf are among stories dominating today’s edition of our Summary of the local dailies.

The Summary also includes the death news of Liberian former interim President Ruth Sando Perry in her 77^th year.

DOMINANT STORIES

“Like The Ancient Ghana Stood More Than A Thousand Year Ago Modern Ghana Is A Shining Star Today”…President Sirleaf Tells Ghanaian At  Akufo-Addo’s Inauguration  

The INQUIRER newspaper reports that the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has told Ghanaians that "Like Ancient Ghana stood more than thousands years ago modern Ghana is a shining star in Africa today", she said, "Let the light shine even brighter", she told thousands of Ghanaians at the inauguration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. She spoke on behalf of ECOWAS and the Republic of Liberia. According to a dispatch from Accra, President Sirleaf pointed out that the inauguration marked a very historic day for ECOWAS and Africa as a whole, as the world witnessed another democratic transition in Ghana. President Sirleaf said that the world witnessed the completion of a democratic process of peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another. She commended the professionalism and commitment of the Independent Electoral Commission of Ghana and all the political parties for applying the needed restraint that paved the way for the peaceful conduct of the Elections. President Sirleaf, on behalf of the ECOWAS Heads of State and in her own name extended the greatest salutation to former John Dramani Mahama for his leadership in organizing a free, fair and transparent electoral process. She applauded President Nana Akufo-Addo for his longtime work and commitment to peace and democracy. “We have no doubt that you will strengthen those ideals and will continue the political actions that have made Ghana a great nation and an example for all of us.

Related Captions: ‘Let The Ancient Ghana Stand’-Liberian President To Akufo-Addo ( Daily Observer), “ Modern Ghana Is A Shining Star Today”-President Sirleaf  Tells Ghanaians At  Akufo-Addo’s Inauguration (In Profile Daily), “We Can’t Afford Military Coups” Ellen Asserts (INSIGHT)  

Min. Kamara Assures Inclusive Participation; Launches APRM Sensitization in Grand Bassa 

Finance and Development Planning Minister, Mr. Boima Kamara has officially launched the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in the Provincial City of Buchanan, Grand Bassa and assured Liberians that the pending conduct of the country’s self-assessment study and review processes will be inclusive to reflect nationwide participation. The event held in Buchanan is the manifestation of the emphasis we place on the involvement of the local population in the APRM process, instead of focusing on Montserrado County alone declared Minister Kamara, the FOCUS newspaper reads.

Related Captions: Finance Minister Launches APRM Sensitization In Grand Bassa (The INQUIRER), Finance Minister Launches APRM Sensitization In Grand Bassa-Assures Inclusive Nationwide Participation!!! (In Profile Daily), Finance Minister launches APRM Sensitization in Grand Bassa (INSIGHT)

President Sirleaf Launches US$10m Youth Opportunities Project

According to the Daily Observer, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf will today, January 9, launch a US$10m Youth Opportunities Project at the Paynesville Town Hall to improve access to income generation opportunities for targeted youth. The daily reports that this financing will also provide support for strengthening the government’s capacity to implement its Social Cash Transfer program. The Liberia Youth Opportunities Project (YOP) directly targets about 15,000 youth aged 15–35 years, 50 percent of whom would be vulnerable females. Youth aged 15–17 years will benefit from a Pre-Employment Social Support Component, which will provide job-readiness training to prepare 2,000 youth to participate in the labor market, while youth aged 18–35 years will benefit from a Household Enterprises Component that will provide skills training opportunities and support for the initiation or expansion of small businesses to 3,000 vulnerable youth.

Related Captions: President Sirleaf Launches $10m Youth Opportunities Project (The INQUIRER), Pres. Sirleaf Launches US$10M Youth Project Today (In Profile Daily)  

Court Sentences Man, 38, To Life Imprisonment For Stabbing Friend To Death 

According to Heritage newspaper, the Presiding Judge of Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, Roosevelt Willie, has sentenced a 38-year-old man to life imprisonment for stabbing his friend to death over electricity confusion early last year. Defendant Dominic Bility, a resident of the Johensen Waterside Community, was arrested March 3, 2016 for stabbing to death Frank Tarlue over a misunderstanding in the electricity business they operated. The defendant and the deceased had an argument over the sale of electricity which resulted into a fist fight, leading to the stabbing of Tarlue on his neck that led to his death.

Related Captions: Man Sentenced To Life Imprisonment (In Profile Daily), Court Sentences Man, 38, To Life Imprisonment(INSIGHT)  

OTHER STORIES

Former Liberian Interim Leader Ruth Perry is Dead 

The Head of the Liberia Council of State established during the Liberian 14 years civil unrest, Madam Ruth Sando Perry, has died at the home of her son, Ralph Perry, in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Madam Perry died on Sunday morning, January 8, 2017 at the age of 77, family source told FOCUS Newspaper. She served as interim chairwoman of the Council of State of Liberia from September 3, 1996 to August 2, 1997. The interim Council of State consisted of a civilian chair, as well as members of warring factions.  

Gender Ministry, MCC Embark On Street Child Campaign 

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP) in partnership with the Monrovia City Cooperation (MCC) has embarked on a campaign to remove children involved in street selling from the streets, especially during school hours. Making the disclosure on the UNMIL Radio “Coffee Break” talk show Friday, MCC Mayor Clara Doe Mvogo warned that while carrying out the exercise, commuters caught purchasing from school-age kids along the road will be arrested and fined. The Monrovia City Mayor called on employees of the MCC to get actively engaged in the exercise to ensure that the streets of Monrovia and its immediate environs are cleared of child peddlers who are the future leaders.

Related Caption: Gender Ministry, MCC Embark On Street Child Campaign (Heritage)

Last Session-53rd Legislature Begins 6th And Final Session Today

Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives will today begin the last session, which will be the 6th of the 53rd Legislature. The return of the Legislators to the Capitol Building is in fulfillment of Article 32 (a) of the Constitution which states that, “The Legislature shall assemble in regular session once a year on the second working Monday in January.” According to the protocol, members of the 53rd Legislature will assemble at the front of the main entrance of the Capitol Building at about 10a.m. to proceed to their respective chambers to begin the official opening of the Final Hours of the 6th Session. As enshrined in the political tradition and legislative culture, The President of the Senate, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, and House Speaker J. Emmanuel Nuquay, will address their respective colleagues on several challenges and offer strategies to mitigate issues with a robust agenda, asserts the Daily Observer.

WOFIM, OXFAM Conclude Intensive Training On Sexual Reproductive Health For 18^th Street Residents

A total of 132 participants from the slum community of 18^th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia have ended a one-day long intensive training workshop on sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). The forum was made possible through the partnership between Young Liberian Women for Improvement (WOFIM) and OXFAM Liberia, which sets the basis for WOFIM to conduct a one day training workshop for 125 women, men and youth in one selected Liberian community in the Monrovia area, reports the Heritage newspaper.