The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

News of the National Elections Commission’s certification of four new political parties and President Sirleaf’s Message of Congratulations to the President of the Republic of Djibouti, His Excellency Mr. Ismail Omar Guellah on that country’s 40th Independence Anniversary on June 27 are stories highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

26 Political Parties For 2017

The Daily Observer reports that with less than 105 days to the holding of the presidential and legislative elections on October 10, the National Elections Commission (NEC) Monday certificated four new political parties, bringing the total number of recognized and registered political parties in the country to 26. The four new political parties are the Redemption Democratic Congress (RDC), Liberia Restoration Party (LRP), the Liberia for Prosperity Party (LPP), and the Democratic Justice Party (DJP).

Related Caption: 26 Political Parties…So far 2017 Elections (FrontPage Africa), 21 Parties, 89 Independent Aspirants get Packages (The INQUIRER)

Djibouti Applauded On 40th Independence Anniversary

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a Congratulatory Message to her colleague, the President of the Republic of Djibouti, His Excellency Mr. Ismail Omar Guellah on that country’s 40th Independence Anniversary on June 27. The INSIGHT newspaper quoting a Foreign Ministry release reads that President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia in her own name, stressed that as they commemorate this occasion, she looked forward to further strengthen the excellent bilateral ties between both countries, for the mutual benefit of the two peoples.

Related Caption: President Sirleaf Congratulates Djibouti (The INQUIRER)

OTHER STORIES

In The Middle East: Liberia Supports Kuwait’s Peace Initiatives

The INSIGHT newspaper says the Government of the Republic of Liberia has welcomed the efforts of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah aimed at resolving the ongoing diplomatic dispute between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, as a bloc, and the State of Qatar which, could potentially pose grave threat to the peace and stability in the Middle Eastern region. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Government of the Republic of Liberia applauds the positive mediation of His Highness the Amir to ease tension among the Gulf Cooperation Countries, on his own volition, with a view to appeasing the situation and finding a definite solution to the underlying causes of the conflict.

Ethiopia Ready To Host 29th African Union Heads Of States Summit

The Ethiopian government says it is ready to host the 29th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the African Union (AU). According to the INSIGHT newspaper, a joint press conference by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Addis Ababa city authorities disclosed that all the necessary facilities needed for the summit and also security preparations have been completed. The daily reads that the Summit is expected to take place between 3^rd - 4th July, 2017 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, under the theme: “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through investments in Youth”.

Land Authority Gets First Executive Director

In line with Section 37.2 of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) Act, the Board of Commissioners of the newly established Land Authority, following a vetting process, has announced the appointment of Mr. Stanley N. Toe, as the first Executive Director of the Land Authority effective June 26, 2017. According to a press release, as Executive Director, Mr. Toe’s duties and responsibilities will encompass, among others, assisting the Chairman in the day-to-day operation of the Authority and ensuring the effective implementation of programs of the Authority in coordination with other Commissioners of the Board, the INQUIRER newspaper reads.

President Sirleaf Actualizes Donations

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Saturday, June 24, 2017 fulfilled several donations to institutions and individuals as a result of promise made during her recent nationwide county tour. The donations included three TSV Motorbikes, one 5.5 KVA generator and one rice processing machine for female farmers of Rivercess County. According to an Executive Mansion release, the donations were made on behalf of President Sirleaf by Mr. Toe K. Wesseh, Coordinator of Special Presidential Services in the Office of the President. Recipients of Saturday’s donations included LBS Lofa County correspondent, Tokpa Tarnue, Madam Marie Zoego, President, Liberia Marketing Association, Rivercess both of whom received one motorbike each, the In Profile Daily reads.

Senate To Invite Banks, Central Bank of Liberia

According to the Daily Observer, the Senate chairman of the Committee on Post and Telecommunications has requested the plenary of the Liberian Senate to invite commercial banks and the Central Bank of Liberia to publicly provide answers to the many questions Liberians are asking regarding “their economy, especially the exchange rate.” In her letter to the Senate plenary recently, Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence asserted that the strength of the United States dollar against the Liberian dollar is causing small Liberian businesses to go out of business, while some in the medium-size category are “being strained to the point where they are no more profiting.” The letter, which was voted upon and sent to the relevant financial and monetary Senate committees to report by Thursday, also noted that local banks and the Central Bank of Liberia may be able to inform the Senate to take appropriate actions “in order to curb these unprecedented circumstances.”

11 Suspects Nabbed For Attempting to Rob A Bank in Buchanan

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the Liberia National Police is investigating eleven men who were arrested early Sunday morning in Grand Bassa County, while attempting to arm rob a branch of   Global Bank in Buchanan City. The men who are currently in police custody where caught with various instruments that were intended to be used in their operations to rob the bank. Guns and rounds of ammunition were also arrested from the robbers. The operation which was intelligence led came as a result of a tip-off altering police of a planned attacked on the bank facility. According to the Police the robbers also hit the of Ecobank window at the port damaging the bank CCTV equipment. An attempt to open the vault of the bank failed.

INCHR Conducts Project Review of Palava Hut Program Pilot Phase

The Independent National Commission on Human rights (INCHR) is conducting a three day review of the pilot phase of the Community-based Truth Telling, Atonement and Psychosocial Recovery Project or Palava Hut Project in Gbarnga, Bong County. The three-day event is aimed at reviewing and matching the achievements of the project against its objectives and generating recommendations for future intervention and improvement. A cross section of stakeholders drawn from implementing partners, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Peacebuilding Office, National Traditional Council of Liberia, Civil Society Council of Liberia, National Commission on Disabilities and the Office of the Liberian Peace Ambassador, are assembled to participate in the review, the INQUIRER news daily reads.

‘Get Ready For Change!...YAPE Boss Urges Civil Servants, Youths

The INSIGHT newspaper reads that the Executive Director of Youth in Action for Peace and Empowerment (YAPE), Ms. Satta F. Sheriff has challenged young people in the country to take the lead, learn from the old to prepare for the future. Speaking in Paynesville, on June 23rd at programs marking the celebration of 2017 World Public Service Day, Ms. Sheriff said the future starts with children, develops with youth and rest with elders. The In Profile Daily also reads under the caption “CSA Honors Two For Diligent” that the Civil Service Agency (CSA) of Liberia has honored Mr. Roland D. Kallon of the Civil Service Agency and Mr. John T. Davies of the Ministry of Justice for excellent and exceptional performance for the year 2017. This year’s event saw the nominations of eight civil servants from the General Services Agency, Liberia Institute of Public Administration, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and Civil Service Agency. The nominees who qualified for recognition as the Civil Servants of the Year 2017 were judged based on the demonstration of exceptional work ethics, performance, and efficiency beyond their normal work duties.

Related Caption: CSA Honors Two for Diligent Performance (The INQUIRER)

Red-Cross Volunteers Role Highlighted in New Study

Courageous volunteers may have prevented more than 10,000 Ebola cases during the 2013-2016 West Africa outbreaks, according to estimates in a study published today. The study, published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, uses statistical modeling to measure the impact of Red Cross safe and dignified burial terms during the Ebola outbreak. It found that the practice of safe and dignified burials potentially averted as many as 10,450 Ebola cases, decreasing the scale of the outbreak by over a third (36.5 percent), In Profile Daily reports.

LBDI Identifies With Muslims

The management of the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) Monday identified with Muslims in Liberia through the donation of 200 bags of rice to several mosques in Monrovia and its environs. Mr. Lawrence George, LBDI’s corporate social responsibility coordinator, said the donation was the bank’s way of identifying with the Muslims after they successfully ended their holy month of Ramadan. The mosques that benefitted from the donation included Benson Street, Newport Street, Jacob Town, and Fiamah (50 bags each), reports the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: Liberia Bank For Development and Investment Identifies With Muslims in Liberia (FrontPage Africa)

Sports Ministry Releases 2017/2018 County Meet Draw

The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) has released the draw for the 2017/2018 National County Sports Meet. According to the chairman of this year’s steering committee, Murvee Gray, Group ‘A’ will feature Sinoe, Maryland, Grand Kru and River Gee to be based in Greenville. Group ‘B’, which will be based in Gbarnga, consists of Bong, Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Lofa. Group ‘C’ consists of Grand Bassa, River Cess, Montserrado and Margibi and will be based in Buchanan. And Group ‘D’ will feature Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu and Bomi to be based Robertsport. According to Assistant Minister Gray, the tournament will kick-off on December 2 with two teams qualifying from each zone respectively. The sports meets are organized by the sports ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, writes the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: 2011/2018 County Meet Draw Announced (FrontPage Africa)