The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017

The meeting of Moroccan Foreign Minister, Salaheddile Mezouar with President Sirleaf, the holding of a memorial service by the Liberian Government for the Late Council of State Chairperson, Madam Ruth Perry and the World Bank’s approval of  a US$16 million grant to improve the health sector are among stories dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

King Of Morocco Sends Message To Prez Sirleaf

The Daily Observer reports that according to an Executive Mansion release, Mr. Mezouar briefed President Sirleaf about a current tour of several African countries by the King who also plans to visit Liberia, reflecting on the long standing relations between Liberia and Morocco, which he described as ‘currently strong.’ Mezouar presented the message from the King of Morocco to President Sirleaf. President Sirleaf thanked Mr. Mezouar for the visit and for delivering the special message from King Mohammed, adding that Liberia’s position on Morocco remains unchanged, promising to follow through on all outstanding issues concerning Morocco. She also embraced Morocco’s decision to seek membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), but noted that the approval, which must be consistent with the ECOWAS Treaty, remains the prerogative of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Related Captions: Ellen Receives Special Envoy From The Kingdom Of Morocco (Heritage), Morocco Foreign Minister Salaheddile Mezouar Hold Bilateral Talks With Pres. Sirleaf (FrontPage Africa)

President Attends Memorial Service of Late Council of State Chairperson Ruth Perry

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Saturday, February 25, 2017 led an array of senior government officials, family, relatives and mourners at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Paynesville City to attend the Memorial Service for fallen Chairperson of the Council of State of Liberia, Madam Ruth Sando Fahnbulleh Perry who died in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America early Sunday, January 8, 2017. 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 and turned power to Mr. Charles Taylor following the 1997 special elections. The FrontPage Africa newspaper says the ceremony was graced by former government officials, members of the NTGL, members of the diplomatic and Consular Corps, family members, relatives and friends.

Related Captions: Pres. Sirleaf Attends memorial Service Of Late Council Of State Chairperson Ruth Perry (FOCUS), Clergy Warns Politicians (The New Dawn)

World Bank Approves US$16m For Health Sector

The World Bank has approved a US$16 million grant from the Global Financing Facility (GFF) to improve the quality of primary and secondary health care services, with a focus on reproductive, maternal, new-born, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH).According to World Bank Liberia Country Manager Larisa Leshchenko the Health Systems Strengthening Project additional financing is critical in addressing the health of women and children. She says it will help to significantly reduce maternal mortality and preventable deaths of children under the age of five. The New Dawn newspaper quoting a World Bank release said the areas were identified by the Ministry of Health, United Nations agencies, bilateral partners, NGOs, and the World Bank through the joint development of national RMNCAH investment case supported by the GFF.

Related Captions: WB Approves US$16m For Reproductive, Maternal, Child Health (FOCUS), World Bank Approves US$16m To Support Reproductive Health In Liberia (FrontPage Africa)

China Strengthens AFL’s Capabilities

In another effort to contribute towards the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) civil military  initiatives, the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, on Thursday, February 23, 2017, provided huge military assistance gratis including medical equipment, supplies and engineering equipment to Liberia’s Ministry of National Defense in the tone of three million United States Dollars ($3,000,000). The equipment and supplies provided will enable the AFL perform more effectively in its medical outreach at all its military installations and also cater to civilians residing in and around such facilities, the FOCUS newspaper says.

Related Captions: China Enhances AFL’s Capabilities (In Profile Daily), China Provides US$3M Military Aid to AFL (Heritage)

OTHER STORIES

US Ambassador Stresses Issues’ Discussions

The United States Ambassador to Liberia, Christine Ann Elder, has admonished all female politicians and young people to be of more issue-focused and push forth more ideas than money.  According to the In Profile Daily, Amb Elder spoke Friday during her one-day visit to Voinjama, Lofa County. Ambassador Elder stressed that politics is not all about sharing T-shirts and head caps and also not about money sharing. She said it is about discussing issues relevant to the growth of the nation. She said women in the world in politics face lot of challenges but noted they have to be engaged with the people and know it is not about money but value.

Vice President Boakai Commends LEC Management

The In Profile Daily says Vice President, His Excellency Joseph N. Boakai has Commended the new management team of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) for the level of progress made so far and promised government’s continued support to the corporation in the efforts to take affordable electricity to  the people. The Vice President made this remark when the Managing Director of LEC Mr. Foday Soko Sackor paid him a courtesy call to provide him detailed update on the current status, and progress being made at the LEC.

Health Minister Expresses Delight Over National Public Health Institute

Health Minister, Dr. Bernice Dahn, has expressed delight over the creation of the National Public Health Institute, the first of its kind and further thanked President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for the level in the involvement in the setting up of the institute. A Health Ministry Statement quotes Minister Dahn as saying the creation of the Public Health Institute was triggered by the unprecedented Ebola Virus that claimed more than 4000 lives, in Liberia and 11,000 lives in the three most-affected countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia). She recalled that following the epidemic, the Ministry developed a National Investment Plan with nine pillars, phase three of which plan called for capacity building, surveillance and response and the development of the National Public Health Institute, the Heritage newspaper writes.

Related Caption: Health Minister Expresses Delight Over National Public Health Institute (FrontPage Africa)

Who Begs President Sirleaf For Money? PUL Calls On Top Media Executives To Discuss ‘Latest Embarrassing Scandal’

A back-page story of the INSIGHT newspaper reads that the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has invited all Editors, Heads of News, the Executive Mansion Reporters Corps and past  officials of the PUL to a “very important meeting” today, Monday, February 27, 2017, at 11a.m. prompt. The meeting according to PUL invitation, will take place at the Union’s Headquarters on 44 Clay Street in Monrovia. According to the PUL invitation, today’s meeting will focus on the “latest scandal that has rocked journalism in Liberia.” The Union said the Daily Observer, in its Wednesday, February 22, 2017 edition, reported the occurrence of a meeting between Finance Minister Boima Kamara and Executive Mansion Reporters in Nimba during which they are quoted as saying “talk to the old-ma for us”.

Gov’t Plans Vigorous Inspection Exercise To Identify Illegal and Quack Water Companies

Amidst reports of the proliferation of illegal and substandard Mineral Water Companies across the Country, the Ministries of Health, Commerce and Industries, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are expected to shortly embark on a vigorous inspection campaign nationwide. The inspection exercise would be carried out by a joint taskforce, the Insight newspaper understands. Making the disclosure Friday, February 24, 2017, at his Health Ministry office, the Director for Division of Environmental and occupational Health, Dehwhen O. Yeabah, revealed to Insight that his division, in keeping with its mandate, is to ensure that water produced for  public consumption, is clean and safe, the INSIGHT newspaper says.

MOCI Engages Rural Business People

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) has ended a 2-day engagement with business people in Bong and Nimba counties, aimed at helping them to improve their businesses through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and to address some of the challenges, among others. The SBA is intended to assist, promote and foster the interests of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) by ensuring that they receive their fair share of procurement contracts for the provision of goods and services to the government, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Axel M. Addy has said. Minister Addy was accompanied by his Deputies Minister and Inspectors, Minister Addy said his ministry will continue to work with all businesses and partners, including the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to handle some of the issues raised as the commerce ministry cannot address them alone, reports the Daily Observer.

House Committee Demands MCC, LNP For Laws To Seize Goods From Street Sellers

The House’s joint Committee on Commerce, Ways, Means, Finance and Development has mandated the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) to furnish the Joint Committee with copies of the statutes or laws that give them authority to auction (publically sale) seized businesses from street sellers. The Committee’s request to the LNP and the MCC was a result of complaints from small Liberian business owners, through the Patriotic Entrepreneurs of Liberia (PATEL), owing to the “bad economy of the country and the inhumane behaviors of the LNP and the MCC officers against them.” The chairman of the House’s Joint Committee, Nimba County District # 5 Representative Samuel Kogar, in a meeting on Wednesday, instructed the LNP and the MCC to submit the documents within one week. Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman and the City Police Commander, Kenneh Harris, admitted to PATEL’s claims of auctioning “seized goods” but rejected the accusations of brutalizing street sellers. The LNP and MCC argued that confiscated goods are usually auctioned within 24 hours or shared among inmates, asserts the Daily Observer.

GoL Must Use Elections To Strengthen Citizenship

The Annual Governance Report (AGR) of the Governance Commission (GC) has recommended that the Liberian government must use the forthcoming elections to strengthen the country’s citizenship by using contests among political parties and individuals to promote the people’s commitment to the country. The AGR already released to the Government said elections are the core of democratic governance, and democratic governance drives as well as benefits from Liberia’s development agenda. “The 2017 (October) Presidential and Legislative Elections are an integral part of Liberia’s Triple Transition,” the report said. The other two, according to the Daily Observer, are the transfer of security responsibilities from UNMIL to Liberian security forces, which took place last year, and the transition from the five-year Agenda for Transformation (AfT), which has just ended, to a new five-year development plan, that is in the making.

Technology Boost: K3 Telecom To Provide  Broadband Internet Service In Liberia

A new internet service provider, K3 Telecom, has assured Liberians of cutting edge ultra-fast broadband internet service that would enable them to access Netflix and internet TV and unlimited upload and download access without interruptions. K3 Telecom is a Swiss-based company with its subsidiary registered in Liberia that implements fix telecommunication network- not mobile or GSM. Opening its first offices in Monrovia over weekend, Mr. Ernest K. Boakai, CEO of K3 Telecom said the company would be the only service provider that will be proving fix network internet service with unlimited data for a monthly subscription. According to the CEO, K3 Telecom is designing a package for university campuses and health centres where services would be offered at minimum cost, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: K3, The New Player In Telecom Sector (Daily Observer)

Several Attend Fourth PCC Health Fair

Several Liberians on Friday, February 24, 2017 turned out at the Paynesville City to take advantage of the fourth annual Paynesville City Health fair. The Paynesville City Health is an annual event organized by the city government of Paynesville in collaboration with health providers to offer free medical services, especially for complicated medical ailments to Liberians, especially to underprivileged residents of Paynesville. Launching the fourth health fair, Paynesville’s City Mayor Madam C. Cyvette M. Gibson, said plans are underway make the initiative twice or thrice a year owing to the high demand for the service, the Heritage newspaper reads.

Related Caption: Scores Of Paynesville Residents Get Free Medical Services (FrontPage Africa)

Lofa Group in New South Wales Impacts Lives at Home

An inside story of the Heritage newspaper reads that in an effort to touch the lives of people living back home in Liberia, the Lofa County Association of New South Wales Incorporated in Sydney, Australia has distributed several non-food items to hundreds of citizens in the country. The materials included cloths, books, as well as assorted dishes and cooking utensils. The association is a non-profit humanitarian and social body intended to care for citizens of the country. Members of the association are sons and daughters of the county living in a small community seeking charity to support brethren at home, especially after the deadly Ebola Virus Disease that ravaged the county.