The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017

Today’s edition of our Summary of the local dailies highlights news of President Sirleaf’s congratulatory message to the Economic Community of West African State for declaring January 16 each year as ECOWAS Human Rights Day and her reiteration that the position of ECOWAS on the Gambian situation remains unchanged.

DOMINANT STORIES

Ellen Congratulates ECOWAS On ECOWAS Human Rights Day

FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that the Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has congratulated the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) for declaring January 16 - each year as ECOWAS Human Rights Day. The day is also in honor of President Sirleaf in recognition of her unwavering support to the regional goal of the advancement of the promotion and protection of human rights for the benefit of ordinary ECOWAS citizens "I am honor and deeply gratified by the decision of ECOWAS Heads of State for their choice of 16th January every of year to be celebrated as ECOWAS Human Rights Day which, coincide with the day I was first shown-in as President of the Republic of Liberia," she said. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf was speaking on Monday, January 16, 2017 at the Maiden celebration of the ECOWAS Human Rights Day at the Monrovia City Hall under the theme: "Promoting and Protecting Women's Rights Towards the Attainment of ECOWAS Vision 2020".

Related Captions: Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates ECOWAS As Regional Group Celebrate ECOWAS Human Rights Day (FrontPage Africa), Pres. Sirleaf Cheers ECOWAS-As Regional Group Celebrates Human Rights Day: Receives Special Envoy From Chad (FOCUS), “ECOWAS Day Is Renewed Dedication To Bloc’s Principles’…Ellen Asserts; As UCHR Chair Lauds ECOWAS Leaders For Rights Day (The INQUIRER), Ellen: ‘ECOWAS Day Is Renewed Dedication To Bloc’s Principles (Heritage)

“ECOWAS Position Remains Unchanged”…Says President Ellen Sirleaf

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that the Liberian President and Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has re-emphasized that the position of ECOWAS relative to The Gambia’s electoral saga remains unchanged. President Sirleaf wants Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to respect the Constitution of The Gambia as well as the result of the December 1 presidential election, which opposition politician Adama Barrow won by official results. The Liberian leader said in a telephone interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Monday that this position by ECOWAS has been conveyed on several occasions in the sub-regional group’s quest to resolve the ongoing electoral wrangling in The Gambia. President Sirleaf’s statement comes in the wake of a telephone conversation she held with the defeated Gambian leader Jammeh on Sunday, January 15, in which talks centering on the ongoing mediation efforts by ECOWAS was made public by Jammeh without her consent. Relative to the conversation, President Sirleaf told the BBC that Jammeh telephoned her to make an appeal to the ECOWAS authority to make Judges available to address the electoral crisis. According to President Sirleaf, this request from Jammeh was absolutely nothing new as he (Jammeh) has made similar appeals to the mediating team twice in Banjul, The Gambia.

Related Captions: ‘Gambia’s Constitution Must Be Respected’ (Daily Observer), Jammeh Secretly Records Ellen (The New Dawn), “ECOWAS Position Remains Unchanged”…Ellen Tells Jammeh (The INQUIRER) 

OTHER STORIES

VP Boakai Calls On Liberians to Register for October Elections

According to FrontPage Africa newspaper, Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has called on Liberians eligible vote to form part of the National Elections Commission's voter registration exercise by turning out en masse to register. Vice President Boakai said the success of the voter registration exercise, which is expected to kick off early February this year, will be one of the key factors in determining successful elections come October, 2017. VP Boakai made the comments on Sunday January 15 during the dedicatory ceremony of a bridge constructed by the Wings of Boakai, with support from the office of the Vice President in Kissi Camp, GSA Road.

MIA Ends Interactive Forum On Service Center

According to The New Dawn newspaper, The Ministry of Internal Affairs has concluded a two-day intensive interactive forum on the Bong County Service Center. The Service Center is a one-stop shop government service delivery under its de-concentration program. The forum, which first took place in Upper Bong County on Thursday, 12 January, was taken to Salala District, Lower Bong County on Friday, January 13, to educate citizens about services being provided. At the commencement of the forum, Internal Affairs Minister Dr. Henrique Tokpa told citizens that the Service Center is meant to bring essential government’s services at their door steps, to avoid them traveling to Monrovia at huge cost to seek those services. Dr. Tokpa added that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has promised to bring government to the people, which is a major fulfillment of her administration. The Internal Affairs Minister urged citizens to make use of the facility, adding that it is for them. The facility, which is being provided in various counties, is made possible through support from the Government of Sweden

NHA To Dedicate 70 Housing Units

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the National Housing Authority (NHA) here in Liberia says all is set for the dedication of phase three of 70 additional housing units in Berwerville City, Montserrado County. NHA Acting Managing Director Mr. Prince Wreh speaking told UNMIL Radio’s Coffee Break program recently that the newly constructed housing units will aid in curtailing the hardships being faced by citizens to easily construct houses in the country. Mr. Wreh said the dedication is in line with the NHA’s mandate which calls for building affordable housing units for citizens across the country, adding that the essence of dedicating those housing units was to fulfill NHA’s mandate.  He said housing was a social good and an asset which promotes individual and collective dignity, privacy and security. In the economic sphere, he says housing contributes to employment creation and labor productivity, community economic development and capital formation at both the micro and macroeconomic levels. “Our goal is to make sure that every citizen of this country has their own house.

Dr. Browne Inducted As CU President

The Daily Observer reports that Dr. Herman B. Browne was inducted as the seventh president of Cuttington University on Sunday, January 15 by the Most Reverend Jonathan B.B. Hart, Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Liberia & Archbishop of the Internal Province of West Africa. The event, attended by government officials, faculty, students, friends and well-wishers, was held at the Cuttington University’s Main Campus in Suakoko, Bong County. During the induction and surrounded by his wife and children, Bishop Hart promised to Dr. Browne all the support needed to take Cuttington University to the next level. He reminded Dr. Browne that the task at Cuttington University is filled with challenges but promised to provide guidance. He was given the CU Charter, the key to access all the university’s facilities and the seal. In his remarks Dr. Browne promised to take CU to another level. He said that things will be done as usual and reminded all CU employees that changes are on the way. “These changes,” he said, “will be done in the interest of moving CU forward.”

LEC Retires Deputy CEO

The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) on December 30 retired its Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph T. Mayah whom employees described as one of the engines of the entity. Mr. Mayah joined the LEC in 1979 and served in various positions, including Managing Director. Foday S. Sackor, the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director said it was difficult to tell Mr. Mayah good-bye considering his years of institutional knowledge. Director Sackor said Mr. Mayah has been constant over the years in serving the people of Liberia and the institution. “With your experience, the LEC management will continue to reach out to you to ensure that your legacy is cemented and we can look up to you for tutorial at any time,” MD Sackor said. He stressed that working with Mr. Mayah for the past few months was a great experience and hoped it would continue after his retirement. In response, Mayah said he was delighted to receive such an appreciation and honor from the LEC family, after many years of service, according to the Daily Observer.

China Medical Team Offers Free Health Services In Paynesville

In an effort to support Liberia’s health sector, the China Medical Team over the weekend rendered free health services to 80 persons in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. In her welcome statement earlier, Paynesville City Mayor Cyvette M. Gibson said she was impressed to have the China Medical Team providing free health services to residents of the city, especially those with serious complications. Mayor Gibson said, “We are very excited by the number of doctors, including an Ophthalmologist, Gynecologist, and China Traditional Medicine practitioner and others rendering these free health services to our people.” She said Paynesville City has also completed discussion with the China Medical Team to continue free health services every three months, in the various communities in the city. David Zhang, Director of the Political Section at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Liberia, said the medical team was delighted to support Liberia’s healthcare delivery through the provision of free health services, writes the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: PUL President Makes Several Appointments (INSIGHT)

Lonestar Cell Cites “Technical Problem” to Settle with Customers who Recharged After Jan. 15

The management of the Lonestar Cell MTN seems to be regretful about the impromptu disruption of its services especially on the three-day free call promotional package even though it has blamed it on the new measures from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) concerning the US$0.01 cent on all domestic voice calls. According to the Company’s Corporate, Zenu Miller, the three days service is still on and that the Company was only making adjustments in its promotional services and therefore urged those having problems with their diminishing credits to call the Lonestar Cell Customer Care or visit their service center for redress, the INQUIRER newspaper reads.

TRANSCO CLSG Signs EPS Contracts to Start Transmission line and Sub St6ations Construction

A major milestone takes place in the CLSG interconnection project when the Management of TRANSCO CLSG starts awarding contracts to qualified international firms to kick off the construction of the 1,303km of transmission line and multiple sub stations in Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. TRANSCFO CLSG wishes to announce that the commencement of the multi-million energy project that will expand energy integration in the Sub-region, began Friday, January 13, 2017 when the General Manager, Mohammed M. Sherif affixes his signature to multiple EPC Contracts for the design, supply, and installation and commissioning of 225 kv overhead transmission, the INQUIRER newspaper reads.

LEC’s Expansion Scheme in Motion 450 more Homes get Services

The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) under its expansion project recently connected 450 additional homes in Montserrado County. This number, according to LEC Communications Specialist James Kpargoi, is part of a total of 2,500 homes that are targeted for connection as a result of the commissioning of Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant in White Plains outside Monrovia, FOCUS newspaper says.

Serious Set-Back Looms over MVTC, if

The Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC), which was established in 1978, is said to be suffering serious set-backs as students complained about the lack of training equipment and other materials for practical works, while some instructors complained about poor facilities and incentives. According to some students, who spoke to the FOCUS and want to remain anonymous, indicated that following the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus in the country in 2014, the MVTC has been out of practical facilities up to date, the Focus says.

PUL Appoints Executive, Special Committees

The Press Union of Liberia has named new team of members to its Executive Committee and special committees as follow: Membership Committee, Titus Tokpah-Chair; C. Winnie Saywah Jimmy-Co-Chairman; Sports and Entertainment Committee; Julu Johnson-Chairman/PUL Coach, Martina Brooks-Co-Chairman; Intellectual Committee, Raymond Zarbay-Chairman; Festus Poquie-Co-Chairman, amongst others. The PUL President has meanwhile announced that the Union’s National Media Council will be constituted later January as part of ongoing rigorous process relative to vetting individuals to lead the PUL’s self-regulatory regime, the INQUIRER newspaper says.

Firestone Liberia Hosts CSI For Seventh Mission to Liberia

Firestone Liberia has welcomed Children’s Surgery International (CSI) back to Liberia for its seventh surgical mission in the country and sixth mission at Firestone. The medical team arrived Friday, January 13, 2017, at the Roberts International Airport in Margibi County, and is expected to be in the country for one week. Upon arrival at the Firestone Medical Center in Duside, Lora Stege Koppel, CSI Board Member and Mission Lead, expressed her happiness to be back in Liberia and at Firestone after a three year absence due to the Ebola crisis, the Heritage newspaper says.

Public Health Law under Review

The Ministry of Health through its legal section has started a week-long review of the current Public Health Law. The current law, which is more than forty years, had gone through some amendments but those amendments are in segment. A release from the ministry said that review is currently taking  place in Gbarnga, Bong County and has drawn together over 30 legal minds and experts in other disciplines, the Heritage newspaper says.

VP Boakai Calls for new Spirit of Investment and Commitment among Africans

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has called for a new spirit of investment and commitment among Africans in which Africans will look inside the continent for the resolution of African problems through job creation. Vice President Boakai said when Africans invest in Africa they are doing good for themselves and that looking elsewhere for the creation of opportunities in African nations should be something of the past because in his words the continent has abundance of natural resources that can be used to improve the lives of its people the Heritage says.

Rural Journalists Trained on Elections Coverage

Community Radio Journalists for Bomi, Bong, Margibi and Nimba Countie, who were recipients of a two-day training conducted by Center for Media Studies and Peace-building, have expressed optimism that their coverage of the elections will be professional in advancing reforms that have been made to enhance the integrity of the 2017 elections. The Liberia Media Development project supported by USAID through Interviews is designed to come out with a handbook for effective elective elections reportage and coverage, the Heritage says.