The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017

News of former Central Bank Governor Dr. J. Mills Jones’ political party, MOVEE, insisting that he will still participate in the ensuing presidential elections in spite of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Codes of Conduct; reports of a lower court threatening to fine some government officials involving in the ongoing Sable Mining Bribery allegation case; President Sirleaf’s proclaiming tomorrow Wednesday, as Decoration Day, which will be a National Holiday and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission holding a workshop in which a whistleblower bill was drafted, are among stories toping today’s newsstand in Monrovia.

Other stories included in the top newsstand are the Liberia National Police embarking on a nationwide violence-fee awareness campaign ahead of the Presidential elections; the Liberian Government bestowing honors on some officials, including Defense Minister Brownie Samukai, University of Liberia President Dr. Emmet Dennis; and VP Joseph Boakai meeting with senior Ghanaian Government officials, including President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

DORMINANT STORIES  

Dr. Mills Jones Will Contest At All Cost – Political Party 

The Frontpage Africa newspaper reports that the Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Cllr. Jerome Korkoya, says the Commission will comply with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court on parts of the codes of conduct. “What the National Elections Commission will be doing is to obey the Court’s opinion and comply strictly with the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Code of Conduct. I don’t want to comment on this further, but I can tell you this: whatever the Supreme Court says will be followed to the letter,” Cllr. Korkoya said on a local radio talk show. If the Supreme Court broadens the language on the Code of Conduct, we will follow that opinion; if it narrows the language on the Code of Conduct, we will follow anything the Supreme Court says.”

Related Caption:MOVEE Beats War Drum(The New Dawn), Jones Will Be On Ballot Paper; Says MOVEE(The Inquirer), ‘Detractors Responsible for False Campaign;’Kemayah Assures Partisans Dr. Jones’ Presidential Bid Is on Course(Daily Observer), ‘Mills Jones Will Contest,’ MOVEE Assures (INPROFILE DAILY)  

Court Fines GW Indictees 

The New Dawn newspaper reports that several Liberian officials facing economic sabotage trial based on Global Witness accusations of receiving bribes have each been fined US$200.00 for not attending a Court session, except former House Speaker J. Alex Tyler who was present and Sen. Morris Saytumah who the Court “inadvertently” did not serve the notice of assignment.Global Witness had claimed that the indictees allegedly received bribes of over US$950,000 from U.K. - based Sable Mining to make law declaring Mount Wologizi in Lofa County a non - bidding concession in favor of the mining company. The case began since 2016, but legal formalities have been interplaying ahead of the main hearing which should have begun on Monday, 6 March with the reading of the entire indictment to the indictees to ascertain their plea whether or not they were guilty.

Related Caption:In Bribery Case: Sherman, Several Others Risk Arrest(Heritage), Court to Arrest Sherman, Others If They Fail to Show up Today(Daily Observer), Court Threatens to Arrest Defendants-In Global Witness Reports(INPROFILE DAILY)  

Wednesday, March 8, is Decoration Day; to be Observed as ‘National Holiday’ 

According to the Heritage newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation, declared Wednesday, March 8, 2017 as “Decoration Day” and is to be observed throughout the country as a “National Holiday”. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Proclamation stresses that it is befitting that a day be set aside to celebrate the memory of those blessed dead, who have lived and died in the interest of the country, thereby keeping ever alive their deeds and invaluable contributions made to society and the State for onward march to progress. The National Legislature, realizing that important events in the history of our nation should be constantly kept in the minds of citizens and youths to inspire them to larger measures of service and patriotism, did, by an Act approved on October 24, 1916, declare the Second Wednesday of March in each year as “Decoration Day” to be observed as a National Holiday.

Related Caption:Tomorrow Is Decoration Day(Daily Observer), Liberia Observes National Decoration Day Tomorrow(INSIGHT), Tomorrow Is Decoration Day-To Be Observed As ‘National Holiday’(FOCUS)

LACC Workshop Drafts Whistleblower Bill

The Heritage newspaper reports that participants at the end of a three-day Whistleblower and witness Protection Workshop have completed the drafting of a whistle-blower bill. Participants also constituted a committee to draft a bill on witness protection. The workshop organized by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) in collaboration with integrity institutions, government functionaries and civil society organizations. Held from March 1 to 3, 2017, the workshop was aimed creating a platform for discussion for the drafting of a Whistleblower and Witness Protection Bill.

Related Caption:LACC Ends Workshop on Draft Whistleblower Bill(INPROFILE DAILY), LACC Workshop Participants Complete Draft Whistleblower Bill(The INQUIRER), Whistleblower Bill Drafted at LACC’s Workshop(FOCUS)  

Police Extends ‘No To Violence’ Campaign to Three Counties 

The Liberia National Police (LNP) at the weekend extended its “No To Violence Outreach Campaign” to Grand Bassa, Rivercess, and Margibi Counties. The campaign which is aimed at creating awareness among youth across the country to do away with violence in their communities was recently launched in Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, and Gbarpolu Counties. Three teams headed by senior officials of the Liberia National Police were dispatched at the weekend to carry out the no-to-violence outreach campaign in Rivercess, Grand Bassa, and Margibi Counties, reports the Frontpage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption:Police Extends ‘No To Violence’ Campaign to Three Counties(HERITAGE), LNP Launches Violence-fee Elections Campaign-Ahead of Presidential, Representatives Elections(FOCUS)

Gov’t Honors Defense Minister, Others

Government has held an investiture ceremony for Defense Minister Brownie Samukai, state run University of Liberia President Dr. Emmett A. Dennis and late former Internal Affairs Minister Ambulai Johnson for their services to the state. The honoring of the three officials, one of which was posthumous for former Minister Johnson, came Monday, 6 March when President Ellen Johnson - Sirleaf called a special convocation in the C. Cecil Dennis Auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia. Government officials and members of the diplomatic corps assigned here had turned out on government invitation to witness the event. Government praised the honorees for their immense services to the state and their contributions made in helping to boost national transformation in their various roles in government, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption:Ellen Bestows National Distinctions on Dr. Dennis Others(Daily Observer), ‘Doyen Samukai,’ Others Receive Honors(The INQUIRER)  

Vice President Boakai Meets Ghanaian President Akufo Addo 

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has been participating at programs marking the 60^th Anniversary of Ghana and met with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in Accra at which time Vice President Boakai formally conveyed the best wishes of the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Government and people of Liberia on the occasion that was attended by several African Heads of State. In a brief meeting with President Akufo-Addo, Vice President extolled the long standing ties between Ghana and Liberia dating back many years and wish for the people of Ghana peace and prosperity in the years ahead. He informed the President of Ghana about the democratic process that is well on course in Liberia and recounted the role that played Ghana in the Liberian peace process, according to the Frontpage Africa.

Related Caption:VP Boakai, Ghana’s Akufo-Addo Hold Talks on Bilateral Ties(Heritage)

MIA Saddened By Storm Impact

The Ministry of Internal Affairs says it is saddened by the level of destruction caused by Saturday night’s violent storm which spread across in several counties rendering many people homeless. The Minister of Internal Affairs heads the board of the newly created National Disaster Management Agency, formally the National Disaster Relief Commission, NDRC. According to a press release, the Ministry said far it has received reports of destruction of properties in five counties including Lofa, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, Bong and Montserrado, reports the INPROFILE DAILY newspaper.

Meanwhile, in related development, the Daily Observer reports that in Nimba County, heavy storm left trail of ruined homes and 3 persons injured. A torrential tropical rainstorm backed by heavy winds have destroyed several houses in Beo Blemieplay town, Twah River District in Nimba County, leaving hundreds of residents homeless.  

Rwandan Speaker Stresses Affirmative Action In Liberia 

The Speaker of the Rwandan Parliament, the Right Honorable Mukalabisa Donatille, during a courtesy visit with her Liberian counterpart, speaker James Emmanuel Nuquay, stressed the need for women participation in government and politics as well as their representation in parliament. Speaking to legislative reporters after a brief meeting with Liberian counterpart, speaker Donatille said she is in Liberia to attend the International Women Colloquium taking place from March 7 to 9^th, 2017. She told journalists that they both discussed bilateral issues with regards to the political practices and challenges both countries, the INPROFILE DAILY newspaper states.

Related Caption:Nuquay Holds Bilateral Talks with Rwanda Speaker(Heritage)

Ex-Police Director, Several Admitted to Supreme Court Bar

The INQUIRER newspapers states that the Supreme Court of Liberia at its closing exercise held in its Chamber on Friday, March 3, 2017, admitted several Attorneys-at-Law including former Director of Police, Colonel C. Clarence Massaquoi into the Supreme Court Bar to practice before said court as Counsellors-at-Law. The Attorneys-at-Law in 2016 filed petitions to the Supreme Court praying to said court for admission to its bar as Counsellors-at-Law and in their petition, each petitioner was present and represented in court by a Counsellor-at-Law of the Supreme Court Bar.

Related Caption: 37 Lawyers Admitted to National Bar Association (FOCUS)

OTHER STORIES  

Sable Mining Case: Senator Sherman Says Mail Was Illegally Hacked 

According to the Frontpage Africa newspaper, Cllr. Varney Sherman and seven other indictees in the ongoing Sable Mining bribery case at Criminal Court “C” has filed a bill of information citing that the Global Witness hacked his email accounts to get information for prosecution.The bill information which is in possession of FrontPage Africa revealed that the documents obtained by Global Witness, the whistle blower, were illegal obtained and should therefore not be admitted into evidence by the court. “Informants says that the informants intend to object to all the spreadsheets and emails for reason that both Global Witness and Respondents obtained the spreadsheets and emails by hacking the email accounts of both Sherman & Sherman and Sable Mining Africa Limited. They defined hack, referencing the Black Law Dictionary, as “To surreptitiously break into the computer, network, servers, or database of another person or organization.”

“Women Must Fight for Their Places”

The New Dawn daily states that Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister Madam Julia Duncan Cassell says if women are to get on par with their male counterparts, they must continue to fight for their places. Minister Cassell told Coffee Break on UNMIL Radio via mobile phone on Monday, 6 March that for too long women here have been left out of decision - making process that has left a negative impact on them. “The significance of this conference is to look at documents because last year we did similar conference; but this conference, we are looking at women leadership, girls education including inter-generational dialogue with ... organizations, inter- religious council, among others”, she said.  

Liberia's Elections Chief on Code of Conduct Ruling: 'Whatever Supreme Court Says, Will be Followed' 

Cllr. Jerome Korkoya, chairman of the National Elections Commission has vowed to uphold the recent Supreme Court’s ruling on the code of conduct to the letter. His statement comes two days after the decision by the country’s final Arbiter of justice to declare the contested Code of Conduct constitutional. The court last Friday, March 3rd 2017 dismissed a petition seeking to allow officials of government from participating in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections. Appearing on a local talk radio show, The Truth Breakfast morning magazine, on Truth FM, the NEC boss said, under the constitution of Liberia that supports three branches of government, the legislature makes the laws and the court interprets the laws, reports the Frontpage Africa newspaper.  

Science Key to Nation Building 

The New Dawnnewspaper reports that Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organizations, Mr. Terry Genesis has stressed a need for government to prioritize sciences in various high schools to enable students, who are desirous of becoming future scientists, achieve their dreams.He said everywhere around the world science plays major role in nation building, emphasizing that if Liberia is to get back on the right trajectory, science education must be taken seriously. Assistant Minister Genesis made the call over the weekend, when he proxy for his Boss, Marjon V. Kamara at program marking the 7th Annual Science Fair of the Turkish Light International School in Airfield, Sinkor.

'Madam President' - Helene Cooper Captures EJS Extraordinary Journey in New Book

Pulitzer Prize winner Helene Cooper has made her mark well as a reporter for the New York Times. She covered the White House during the reigns of the last two Presidents of the United States of America – George W. Bush and most recently Barack Obama. But even amid her high-profile status as one of America’s leading journalists, something kept pulling her back to her homeland, a story, deep down, she knew she had to tell. A story, she says is just as ground-breaking as the election of the first black President in America, the election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia and the role market women and ordinary women played in cementing Sirleaf in the history books. The end result is Madame President: The Extraordinary of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, writes the Frontpage Africa.  

FeJAL Targets Women on Voters Registration Awareness 

According to the INPROFILE DAILY, the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) has begun voters registration awareness exercise to encourage more women turnout to participate in the ongoing voters registration. FeJAL started the campaign last week in Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties, targeting places such market, schools and motorcyclists centers, among others. According to the Coordinator of FeJAL, Madam Siata Scott-Johnson, the awareness is part of FeJAL Community outreach program to ensure women’s participation.  

Magistrates, City Solicitors Trained in Harbel 

A training of magistrates and city solicitors has ended in Harbel, Margibi County, with a call to extend the exercise to all parts of the country. The Stipendiary Magistrate of Harbel Magisterial Court, Othello Dennis, said this would help enhance the performances of judicial actions and the dispensation of justice in all parts across Liberia, reports the Heritage newspaper.  

Disabled Union Commends NEC for Promising to Introduce Tactile Ballots 

The leadership of the Alliance on Disabilities has commended the National Elections Commission (NEC) for its commitment to ensure that person with disabilities fully participate in the ongoing electoral processes. The NEC, in its recent statement on the progress of the voters registration process, said it is committed to ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities during the electoral processes, the Daily Observer states.

Climate Change Experts Concludes Workshop on Enhancing Liberia's Development

The Frontpage Africa newspaper is reporting that climate change experts and stakeholders have concluded a two day workshop on how to enhance Liberia’s development through the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Held in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, the workshop brought together experts from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and presented a unique opportunity for the support of Liberia’s development programs. Jeremiah Sokan, focal person and national coordinator of the National Climate Change Secretariat said Liberia currently stands a chance of benefiting from US$50 million which could go towards building defenses against creeping sea erosion that is gradually washing away buildings across the country.

Baptist Inducts New President

According to the Daily Observer, authorities of the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS) on Sunday, March 5, inducted Dr. Terry Leonard Henry as the seventh president of the seminary replacing Dr. Rick Wilson. The ceremony held at the seminary along the ELWA/Monrovia Highway in Paynesville, brought together several clergies mainly from the Baptist denomination.