The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2017

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights the announcement by the Liberian Government of the death of Madam Ruth Sando Fahnbulleh Perry, former chair of the Council of State of Liberia; President Sirleaf’s commendation to South Africa-based footballer, Anthony Snoti Laffor for winning the Confederation of African Football Champions League which brought pride to Liberia and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s  measures  put in place to identify and detect potential threats pose by the Plastic Rice on the Liberian market.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Government Announces Death Of The Former Interim Chair Of The Council Of State, Madam Ruth Sando Perry 

The Government of the Republic of Liberia has announced with profound regrets the death in her 77th year of Madam Ruth Sando Fahnbulleh Perry, former chair of the Council of State of Liberia. Quoting a Foreign Ministry release, the In Profile Daily said Madam Perry died at the home of her son in Colombus, Ohio, United States of America early Sunday morning, January 8, 2017. The daily said Madam Perry served as the third Interim Chair of the Council of State during the country’s civil crisis from September 3, 1996 to August 2, 1997. She succeeded Professor Wilton G. S. Sankawulo and presided over the transition of power to Mr. Charles Taylor following the 1997 special elections.

Related Captions: Gov’t Announces Death Of Ruth Sando Perry(Heritage),GoL Announces Death Of Madam Ruth Sando Perry-Former Interim Chair of the Council of State(Daily Observer), Gov’t Announces Death Of The Former Interim Chair Of The Council Of State, Ruth Sando Perry(INSIGHT)

President Sirleaf Congratulates Laffor for Outstanding Performance

Liberia’s Chief Patron of Sports, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has congratulated South Africa-based Anthony Snoti Laffor, the first Liberian player to win the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League, for his outstanding performance in making Liberia proud. He received Jersey # 28. Laffor played a key role for his team, Mamelodi Sundowns and is the first Liberian to appear in the final to win a trophy. President Sirleaf praised Anthony Laffor for his endeavor in putting Liberia on the soccer landscape of Africa. According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader made the comments went she received in audience Liberia’s professional player Anthony Snoti Laffor, on Thursday, January 12, 2017 during a courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Speaking earlier, Anthony Snoti Laffor said if he had not come to Liberia to present his medal to President Sirleaf, he would have been ungrateful to Liberia. He thanked President Sirleaf for the audience and presented his championship medal along with his number ‘28’ Jersey to President Sirleaf in appreciation of her support to the development of sports, according to the FOCUS newspaper.

Related Captions: Laffor Presents medal To Chief Patron Of Sports(The New Dawn), Ellen Congratulates Laffor For Outstanding Performance…Receives Medal, Jersey#28(Heritage), President Sirleaf Congratulates Laffor For Outstanding Performance; Receives Medal, Jersey # 28(The INQUIRER),Sirleaf Congratulates Laffor For Outstanding Performance; Receives Medal And Jersey # 28(The INQUIRER)

Ministry of Commerce and Industry Embarks on Awareness and Sensitization on “Plastic Rice”

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry says it has put into place measures to identify and detect any threat “Plastic Rice” may pose to the public. According to a press release, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said all rice importers have been notified to adhere to the standard and quality for the importation of rice into the country. “While the Ministry can neither confirm nor deny the existence of such rice on the continent or elsewhere, it wishes to assure the public of its determination to execute its statutory mandate of consumer consumption, the Heritage newspaper reports.

Related Captions: Commerce On Plastic Rice, Water Price(The INQUIRER),Threats Of ‘Plastic Rice’ Emerges(Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES

Prez Sirleaf Makes Several Appointments In Gov’t

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Thursday made several appointments in government affecting the ministries of Finance, Information, Agriculture, Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs as well as the Land Authority, Small Arms and Anti-Corruption Commissions. Among those appointed are Dr. Cecil T.O. Brandy, as the Land Authority’s chairperson; Ms. Bennietta Jarbo, member of the National Commission on Small Arms; Ms. Sheba Browne, Commissioner of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and Mr. Jeddi M. Armah, appointed Deputy Minister for Public Affairs, while Mr. Ricks W. Barsi-Giah will become Deputy Minister for Technical Services, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Others are Atty Philomena Williams, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Agriculture and Mr. Anthony G. Myers, Assistant Minister for Budget Division and Mr. Theophilus Addey, Assistant Minister for Regional and Sectoral Planning and Coordination Division, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning; among others. The appointments, the Daily Observer says are subject to confirmation by the senate where applicable, according to the Presidential announcement.

Related Caption: Sheba Brown, Ballout Back In Government-President Sirleaf Makes New Appointments(FrontPage Africa)

Internal Affairs Minister Rants on Decentralization Success

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Dr. Henrique Tokpa, says the decentralization program is well on course with all three components (Administrative, Fiscal and Political Decentralization) being implemented. The MIA has in recent time embarked on town hall meetings with citizens on the importance of service centers across the country. Dr. Tokpa  said in an effort to raise awareness about the herculean governance reform drive, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is rolling out several public awareness activities, by which the public is informed, it appreciates the government’s efforts and As well take ownership. Dr. Tokpa was speaking at a one-day town hall meeting on Service Deconcentration at the Gbarnga administration building on Thursday, reports the FrontPage Africanewspaper.

Memorial For 8 Religious Advocates Tomorrow

According to the Daily Observer, Liberia’s eight religious leaders who passed away in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and most recently on Saturday will be memorialized by the National Religious Advocates Memorial Program (CHRAM) on Saturday, January 14 at the Monrovia City Hall in Sinkor. According to the program’s organizing chairperson, Julio Theodore Mason, the eight distinguished Liberian religious advocates were chosen for the recognition because of the roles they played during the country’s 14 years civil crisis and also during the years of dictatorial regimes. The eight late advocates included Bishop Stephen Trowen Nagbe, UMC, Rev. Mother Wilhelmina Dukuly, Faith Healing Temple of Jesus Christ; the Most Rev. George Daniel Browne, Episcopal Church of Liberia; Rev. Dr. Roland Jigi Payne, Lutheran Church of Liberia; Most Rev. Michael Kpakala Francis, Catholic Church of Liberia; Rev. Walter D. Richards, Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention; Rev. Dr. William Nah Dixon, Don Stewart Christ Pentecostal Church; and Sheik Kafumba Konneh, National Muslim Council of Liberia. He said the religious advocates risked their lives during the course of the civil war by venturing into rebel held areas to bring peace to Liberians irrespective of religious background.

“Liberia needs efforts to Maintain Peace” Amb. Tolbert

Liberia’s Ambassador for Peace, William R. Tolbert, has called on Liberians to make everything humanly possible to see their country have free and fair elections in order to sustain and maintain peace in Liberia . Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism regular press briefing in Monrovia Thursday, Tolbert noted that 2017 is a very critical year for Liberia. he maintain that, in order to keep the peace Liberians are enjoying, they are working with all peace organizations and Civil Society Organizations to come out with programs that will help in maintaining peace, the In Profile Daily says.

Minister Nagbe Against Bad Criticisms

The Minister of Information, Len E. Nagbe, has urged all Liberians to stop seeing everything Liberia does in the negative way. Nagbe said the Miss Liberia pageant was a pride for Liberia and as such people should stop taking it the other way and try to be appreciative, noting that the government did not give anything to the Organizers, the In Profile Daily says.

Lawmakers Want Detainees to Vote

Some lawmakers are advocating for inmates to exercise their constitutional rights by partaking in the upcoming Presidential and General Elections. Representative George Mulbah of District #3, Bong County yesterday in a communication, brought to the attention of plenary to allow the National Elections Commission (NEC) to open registration precincts at various prison facilities around the Country. The Bong County lawmaker explained that those citizens who are in jail and have not been convicted or those who are in jail and have not yet been opportune to go for trial should have the right to perform their constitutional rights, reads the Inquirer newspaper.