The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2017

Dominating today’s Media Summary are stories on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf describing her government as the Most Achievable Regime; Liberia Benefiting from 11 Million Euros Budget Support; Senator George Weah choosing Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor as his running mate on the Coalition for Democratic Change ticket; and US Ambassador Christine Elder urging graduates of the Foreign Service Institute to Promote Liberia’s Image. Other dominant stories are the President’s Final State of the Nation Address Today and the LRA Applauding Macs for Buttressing the National Budget.

Dominant Stories

Most Achievable Regime

According to the New Dawn newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has described her administration as the most achievable administration than allotherprevious regimes in Liberia.  Addressing partisans of her governing Unity Party in Congo Town Friday, 20January President Sirleaf said though critics and members of the opposition continue to criticize her leadership, the Unity Party-led government has done more for the country, and Liberians should expect more if her Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai is elected in October. “No government has done much as compared to our regime and for any government to achieve, that government has to be building on foundation,” she added. The Liberian leader boasted of paving and constructing more roads as compared to her previous counterparts, urging UP partisans to take advantage of the impending voters’ registration exercise, which starts on 1 February up to 7th March to enable them exercise their constitutional duties.

Related Captions:“No Gov’t Will Do As Much As We have done”…President Sirleaf(Daily Observer), Ellen: No Gov’t Has Done As Much As I Have Done (Heritage), “No Government will do as much as we have Done” Ellen Asserts (Insight), and ‘No Gov’t has done what we have achieved’…President Asserts(Inquirer)

Liberia To Benefit US$11 Million Euros Budget Support

Liberia is poised to benefit from a 11 million Euros grant from the European Union to support the Government of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in enhancing the country’s education and health sectors. According to a dispatch, the Liberian delegation to the Cotonou Forum headed by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Boima S. Kamara, in his capacity as National Authorizing Officer (NAO) was instrumental in the acquisition of the grant. Minister Kamara revealed the content of the grant during the just-ended meeting of stakeholders of the African Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP), the National and Regional Authorizing Officers and Senior Officials in charge of Development Financing in West Africa, which took place in Cotonou, Benin from January 18 to 19, 2017. The dispatch said at the margins of the ACP meeting, Minister Kamara held bilateral talks with the European Union delegation from Brussels. Those in attendance were Mr. Klaus Rudischhauser, Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation and Development; Mr. Didier Verse, Head of Geography Coordination Unit for West Africa; Mr. Zoltan Agai, Head of Regional Program for West Africa; and Hans-Peter SCHADEK, Chief of Division for Africa, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions:EU Grants 11m Euros For Liberia’s Education, Health Sectors(Daily Observer), Liberia Poised To Benefit 11 Euros Budget Support (Heritage), Liberia to benefit US$11M Euros as Liberia’s Finance Minister Pushes for Improved Education, Health(In Profile), and Liberia To Benefit 11M Euros Budget Support (Inquirer)

Promote your Country’s Image-US Amb. Tells Liberian Foreign Service Graduates

The Insight newspaper reports that United States Ambassador accredited to Liberia, H. E. Christine Elder, has urged emerging Liberian Diplomats to exercise patriotism in any capacity in the representation of the country. According to Ambassador Elder, once one enters Foreign Service, it is no longer about that person but the country he or she represents. Delivering the keynote address, Friday January 20, 2017, at programs marking the graduation exercise of 28 emerging diplomats at the Foreign Ministry’s Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI), the US Envoy cautioned the new Liberian diplomats to develop policies and promote actions that promote the country’s image positively.

Related Captions:Place Country Above Self(Heritage), and ‘Be Patriotic’ US Ambassador Admonishes FSI Graduates(In Profile)                                                                                   

Ellen’s Final State of the Nation Address Today

In adherence to Article 58 of the Liberia’s Constitution, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will today appear in the joint-chambers of the National Legislature to give the State of the Nation Address. Article 58 states that, “The President shall on the fourth working Monday in January of each year, present the administration’s legislative program for the ensuing session, and shall once a year report to the Legislature on the state of the Republic. In presenting the economic condition of the Republic the report shall cover expenditure as well as income, the Focusnewspaper reports.

Related Captions:Ellen’s Final Annual Address(Daily Observer), Ellen’s Final State Of The Nation Address Today (FOCUS)and Ellen Delivers final Annual Message Today(Inquirer)  

LRA Applauds Macs For Buttressing National Budget 

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner for Domestic Tax, Darlingston Talery, has applauded revenue-collecting Ministries, Agencies and Commissions (MACs) for contributing to the national budget for the first half of the 2016/2017 fiscal period. “We are pleased, but we are not complacent,” Commissioner Talery said, adding, “we can do more and we must work hard to meet our revenue targets.” According to a press release, he spoke Friday, 20 January during a meeting with MACs in Paynesville. The meeting was intended to review performances, discuss challenges and strategize mechanisms in addressing those challenges as a way of spurring revenue collection and meeting the targets of the 2016/2017 National Budget of US$600.2 million. The Commissioner said it will require concerted and consistent efforts by all stakeholders in the revenue collection cycle to raise the needed revenues that will foster national growth and development.

Related Captions:LRA Applauds MACs For Contribution to National Budget(Daily Observer) and LRA Applauds Government Institutions for Contribution to National Budget(In Profile)  

George Weah, CDC Seal 2017 Ticket With Jewel - Rallies Others to Join 

According to FrontPage Africa newspaper, the political leader of the newly-minted Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) opposition, Senator George Manneh Weah (CDC, Montserado County) and Senator Jewel Howard Taylor (NPP, Bong) have been selected on the party’s ticket to contest the upcoming October presidential elections. The NPP, which was once headed by former President Charles G. Taylor, early November 2016 formed a coalition with the Congress for Democratic Change alongside the Liberia People’s Democratic Party (LPDP) which was formed by former Speaker J. Alex Tyler. The Coalition upon formation granted Weah the reserved right to choose a vice standard bearer from any of the two parties. Weah told supporters Saturday that his decision to choose Jewel was based on her experience in government and the level of work she has done in improving the lives of Liberia, especially her record of being a strong women’s advocate.

Related Captions: Weah Lifts Jewel(FrontPage Africa),‘Bong Traps in Divisive Politics’ as Jewel Taylor Becomes Running Mate to Weah (Insight), and Weah Takes Jewel(Heritage), George Weah Names Jewel As Running Mate(Inquirer)

Other Stories  

Gas Goes Up 15 Cents, Fuel Price Steady 

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the Government of Liberia through the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company ("LPRC") and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has announced an increase in the prices of gasoline on the Liberian market. According to a petroleum price circular issued by the government, the retail pump price for a gallon of gasoline has increased from US$3.01 or its Liberian dollar equivalent of LD$295.00. to US$3.16 or its Liberian equivalent of LD325.00 While the retail pump price for a gallon of diesel fuel remains at US$3.13 or its Liberian dollar equivalent of $320.00. The prices in Liberian dollars were calculated using the Central Banks approved exchange rate of 1USD to LRD$103.00. The new petroleum price ceiling circular issued by the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company and the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, took effect as of Tuesday, January 17, 2017. The decision to increase the price of gasoline is a result of a shift in the perimeter that is frequently used to determine the price of the product in the country. Meanwhile, the circular warned that the Ministry of Commerce inspectorate will closely monitor the approved ceiling prices to avoid the arbitrary hike in the pump prices of gasoline and fuel on the local market. The circular further warned that the Ministry will also be closely monitoring the effectiveness of the price circular to ensure that importers do not undercut fellow competitors on the market. 

Related caption:Gas Goes Up 15 cents, Fuel Price Steady(Daily Observer)  

LNP Prepares Riot Officers

The New Dawn newspaper reports that ahead of Liberia’s representatives and presidential elections due in October, Police Inspector General Col. Gregory Coleman has urged riot and crowd control officers from the Police Support Unit or PSU of the Liberia National Police to be prepared, as they are depended upon to ensure stability. On Friday, 20 January, Col. Coleman said the need for crowd control cannot be overemphasized here as Liberia draws closer to elections, after being presented 152 “in -service” PSU officers who were graduating from a two - week French - sponsored advanced crowd control training program at the National Police Training Academy in Paynesville. He was buttressed by Lofa County Sen. Steve Zargo who warned that it was time for officers to be prepared because Liberia was at a critical juncture where there was no “incumbent factor”, and yet all aspirants for different positions were desperate for elected posts. Assistant Justice Minister for Correction and Rehabilitation Mr. Siakor Sirleaf had also warned that there will be speeches, celebrations and protests in the coming elections and the police must be ready.

Related Caption:152 Riot Control Officers Complete Training (Heritage)

Tourism Association Launched in Liberia

A tourism group called Tourism Association of Liberia (TAL) was launched at the observance of International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development held Wednesday, January 18, 2017, at the University of Liberia (UL) in Monrovia. Assistant Minister for Tourism and Culture at the Ministry of Information, Jacqueline Capehart, officially launched the Association on behalf of government. Assistant Minister Capehart said tourism promotes inclusive and sustainable economy growth, employment, conservative and sustainable use of the ocean, among others, the In Profile newspaper reports.

Youth Group Hosts Inter-Party Debate Series

A youth group calling itself Youth Political Leadership School (YPLS) has organized an inter-party youth debate series program among four political parties to disclose their political parties’ manifestos to the youth people on issues relating to land reform and education in Liberia. The inter-party debate was held on Friday, January 20, 2017, in the auditorium of the University of Liberia main campus in Monrovia, bringing together many community youth leaders, students of various high schools, colleges, universities, and other higher institutions of learning in Liberia, reports the In Profile newspaper.

With NOCAL Funding Support: Midwives get more Training in Six Counties

According to the Insight newspaper, a UK-based organization, Life for African Mothers (LFAM), on Friday, January 20, 2017, completed the training of 24 midwives in Bopulu, Gbarpolu County. The training exercise marked the beginning of several others expected to take place in the rural counties. “We, at Life for African Mothers, are pleased to let the public know that we have started our training workshops in the rural counties, beginning with Gbarpolu County. The two workshops were held by a team of three UK Midwives in persons of Tracy Reynolds, Fiona Chinneck, and Vanessa Smith,” LFAM Country Director, Abdul-ranham Bah said.