The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, May 5, 2017

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights stories concerning the transfer of the three injured AFL soldiers who sustained injury following rocket  attacks on their base in Mali for advanced medical treatment and the observance of the International Fire fighters’ Day by the Liberia National Fire Service.  

DOMINANT STORIES

3 Critically Wounded AFL Soldiers Flown to Dakar

Three of the nine soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) platoon assigned on a peace mission in Mali and wounded in a rocket attack Wednesday have been flown to Level 1 Hospital in Dakar, Senegal for advanced medical treatment, Defense authorities in Monrovia have said. Although, the Ministry of National Defense (MoD) is yet to release the names of the wounded soldiers, Assistant Defense Minister of Public Affairs David K. Dahn said the three flown to Senegal were in critical condition, while the rest are being treated in Mali. The Daily Observer quotes Minister Dahn as saying that the remains of Corporal Sheriff Ousma will be flown to Liberia, “but this will be done under United Nations arrangement, because our soldiers are assigned by the UN mandate to that troubled West African country,” Dahn said.  He could not say when the UN will bring the corpse to Liberia.

Related Caption: MOD Speaks On Troops’ Casualties (The New Dawn), AFL Soldier Killed In Mali Identified (The INQUIRER), Liberia Mourns Over Death Of AFL Soldier In Mali (Heritage)

Vice President Boakai Wants More Support to Liberia National Fire Service

The FrontPage Africa newspaper says Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has called for the acceleration on awareness of fire prevention measures and stressed the compelling need for training to boost the effectiveness of fire fighting and increased support to the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS). Vice President Boakai made these remarks Thursday in Monrovia when he delivered the Keynote Address to mark International Firefighters’ Day celebration in Liberia and across the globe. The Vice President underscored that a well trained and equipped firefighting department will prevent fire, save lives and protects property. International Firefighters Day was birthed out of tragic fire incident in Australia two decades ago with celebrations in Liberia under the theme “Safety First, Safety Last.” 

Related Captions: Fire Service Honors Veep Boakai (The New Dawn), VP Boakai Calls For Acceleration On Awareness Of Fire Prevent Measures, Increased Support To LNFS (Heritage), VP Boakai Support To LNFS (In Profile Daily). Also speaking at the program, the Managing Director of the Liberia National Fire Service, G. Warsuwah Barvoul says firefighters are not appreciated for the work they do in Liberia. Director Barvoul said salaries, insurance and other fighters need to be taken into consideration for the weekend, week days or Christmas season; an official of government, businessman or a Liberian can stop by at the services they render because these workers risk their lives to save and protect lives and properties”, he lamented, the INQUIRER newspaper reads under the caption “Firefighters Are not Appreciated in Liberia says Director”

OTHER STORIES

Govt. Sends For Pathologist-As Death Toll Reaches 12 

The Chief Medical Officer of Liberia and Deputy Ministry of Health, Dr. Francis Kateh says arrangements are being made to bring in pathology to identify the actual cause of two recent deaths in Monrovia as the result of several mysterious deaths in Sinoe County, southeast Liberia following a burial ceremony. Briefing reporters on Thursday, 4 May at the Ministry of Information in Monrovia, he said a total of 28 probable cases have been recorded and of this number, 12 persons have died - 10 in Sinoe and two in Montserrado. Health authorities here have ruled out re-emergence of Ebola Virus Disease, but are to give the cause of the recent deaths after some citizens attended a burial ceremony in Sinoe County. He says the cause of the death has not been established, but the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute are working along with partners to inform the general public about issues relating the deaths in Sinoe. The Deputy Health boss says the government has sent specimen to the United States, France, Centers for Disease Control, W.H.O., MSF and other partners to help in dealing with the situation, according to the Chief Medical Officer, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Caption: 28 Cases In Strange Illness Pathologist To Help Identify Cause Of Deaths (FrontPage Africa)

Ellen Submits US$29.3m Loan Agreement

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has submitted a US$29.3 million loan agreement to the Liberian Legislature for possible enactment into law. The President’s loan communication dated April 5, was read in the chambers of the Senate on Thursday, 4 May at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, disclosing that the agreement is between Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the African Development Fund. The communication says if ratified by members of the Liberian Legislature, the loan is to generate financing for the Liberia Energy Efficiency and Access Project (LEFAP).  “This project is an integral component of the larger multi-donor program, which aims to improve access to electricity in Liberia. This project involves the construction of 46.1 kilometers of transmission lines and 280 kilometers of distribution lines from Paynesville to Roberts International Airport, and from Pleebo, Maryland County to Fish town, River-gee County. The program aims to improve access to electricity in Liberia,” the president’s letter reads. President Johnson Sirleaf notes that in line with Section 3.05 of the agreement, the Government of Liberia shall repay the principal of the loan over a period of 30 years, after a 10- year grace period, commencing from the date of the agreement, at the rate of two percent of the principal per annum from the 11th to the 20 year inclusive and at the rate of four percent of principal per annum thereafter. According to the New Dawn newspaper, the communication has been sent to the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Planning and Development, Judiciary and Public Utilities to report to plenary within two weeks.

6 Arrested For FDA’s Workers Death

The Liberia National Police have arrested six individuals in connection with the death of one Forestry Development Authority (FDA) Ranger in Camp Congo, one of the gold mining camps in Chebioh Town, Juazon District, in Sinoe County. Police authorities in Monrovia informed the INQUIRER newspaper that the alleged murder suspects were arrested on April 29, 2017. According to the police, those arrested include: Gbeah Weah Kan, age 54, Sylvester Freeman, age 38, John Nyen, age 47, Junior Toe, age 30, Moses Nyemah and Moses Taryee, ages 59. Police authorities said investigation conducted revealed that the FDA’s Rangers and the Liberia Immigration Service formerly the Bureau of Immigration Service formerly the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) border patrol officers went into the Sarpo National Park where illicit hunting activities are reportedly taking place by some Liberians and foreigners.

LICFO Commends China for ongoing Infrastructure Developments in Liberia

A backpage story of the Heritage newspaper reads that Liberia-China Friendship Organization (LICFO) has commended the People’s Republic of China for the on-going infrastructure developments in Liberia. LICFO commendation comes in the wake of the ground-breaking ceremony of the ministerial complex and the two annexes to the Capitol Building in Monrovia under the China Aid. According to LICFO, the Ministerial Complex and the Capitol Building to enable them render efficient and effective services to the Liberian people. According to LICFA’s press release, these projects are convincing and realistic evidence of the People’s Republic of China’s, LICFO mentioned, is doing everything possible to make the relations between Liberia and China tangible and concrete by providing the needed and meaningful infrastructure developments for the country.

“Notorious” Drug Dealer Arrested With Huge Quantity Of Narcotic…LNP Chief Of CSD Discloses

The Commissioner of the Crime Services Division (CSD) at the Liberia National Police (LNP), Charles B. Blake, has disclosed that the police have arrested a woman he described as a “notorious” drug dealer with huge quantity of narcotic drugs. According to Commissioner Blake, the female drug dealer he identified as Hawa Massaquoi was on May 3, 2017 arrested by agents of the Anti-Narcotic Unit in the collaboration with sheriffs and constables of the Monrovia City Court as a result of a search and seizure warrant obtained from the court. “That, May 3, 3017 at about 11:45, agents of the Anti-Narcotic Unit headed by its commanders, Supt. Larry S. Brown, in collaboration with the sheriffs and constables of the Monrovia City Court, served a search and seizure warrant on a notorious drug dealer identified as Patrick Zawolo (alias Medicine) and his fiancée Hawa Massaquoi was arrested with 22 grams of Heroin valued L$22, 000,” said the LNP Chief of CSD, the Heritage newspaper says.

Pitfall And Challenges Of Liberian Midwives As Liberia Celebrates World Midwife Day

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, on today, Friday, May 5, Liberian Midwives join the rest of the world in celebrating International Day of the Midwife, a day set aside by the International Confederation of Midwives. Since it was launched 14 years ago, 5 May has been the internationally recognized day for highlighting the work of midwives. This year’: celebration focuses on the theme: Midwives, Mothers and Families: Partners for Life!  The Liberia Midwife Association is supported by the United Nations Population Fund and has decided to hold the 2017 celebration in Grand Bassa County. The President of the Liberia Midwives Association, Wilhelmina Flomo said the need to provide opportunities in raising awareness about normal healthy birth and the midwifery model of care are highly essential, which is what the 2017 World Midwives Day speaks about. She revealed that the association is partnering with government and other health organizations to enforce regulation already docketed for the practice of midwives in hard-to-reach hinterland areas.

GC Somersaults On Code Of Conduct

The Daily Observer says the Governance Commission (GC) has withdrawn recommendations to the Supreme Court and the National Elections Commission (NEC) regarding the suspension of some provisions of the Code of Conduct, stating that GC will not subvert any law in the country. It may be recalled that the head of the Governance Commission, Dr. Amos Sawyer, recommended that Part V Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of the Code of Conduct “be considered inapplicable” to the 2017 Presidential and Legislative Elections. Cllr. Bornor Varmah, Program Manager of the Governance Commission (GC), said “Prior to the court’s decision on the Code of Conduct, and because we were approaching the electoral process and given the mandate to lead the reform process by law, we had to recommend in the absence of the clear position of the law. We decided that these provisions be inapplicable because of the doubts and no defined position on this matter. With the court’s position on March 3, we now stand by the law on the Code of Conduct. “The GC remains respectful to the role of the Supreme Court, which is very much cardinal, because if there are constitutional matters arising in the process, it is only the Supreme Court that Liberians will run to for solution,” Cllr. Varmah explained. The GC’s recommendation was part of several made to the Supreme Court of Liberia and the NEC in its 2016 Annual Report released recently on the pending October 2017 elections.

Related Caption: G.C. U-turns on Code of Conduct (The New Dawn)

Ananaba Takes Over Chamber Of Commerce Today– Promises Robust Agriculture Reform

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Omega Insurance Company, Mr. Charles Ananaba, will today officially take over as the new president of the Liberia Chamber of Commerce (LCC) in Monrovia. The president-elect will replace Mr. Francis A. Dennis, outgoing president and former president/CEO of the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI). Mr. Ananaba defeated Henry Brunson, general manager of Safeway Cargo/FedEx, by 63 to 22 votes. The Chamber also elected officials to the executive council, including Assad Barbar, Tony Hage, George Nehme, C. Nelson Oniyama, Tarek Razzouk, Jasper Sigh, Georgio Haddad, Charles Collins, and former Finance Minister Lusine Kamara, reads the Daily Observer.