The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

Today’s news summary highlights among other stories news of the reduction in electricity tariff for customers connected to the Liberia Electricity Cooperation energy grid by the GOL; thevisit by Liberia’s Charge d’Affaire to the headquarters of the Liberian Students Association in Buduburam, Ghana; as well as the news of the final ruling handed down by the Supreme Court of Liberia in favor of Bomi County Representative aspirant, Edwin Snowe to contest the Legislative seat in that county in the upcoming October election.

DOMINANT STORIES  

President Sirleaf Announces Ten Percent Reduction In Electricity Tariff  

President Ellen Johnson has announced a 10% reduction in electricity tariff for customers connected to the Liberia Electricity Cooperation (LEC) energy grid. The tariff has been reduced from 39 cents to 35 cents per kilowatt/hour. Since August, 2016, the tariff has seen reduction from 54 cents to 35 cents per Kw/hr. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the pronouncement when Liberia and Germany signed a KfW €15m grant at the Foreign Ministry in Monrovia. She thanked the President’s Delivery Unit (PDU), the German Ambassador to Liberia, Hubert Jager and KfW for the great job and for bringing the agreement to reality. The project was initiated in June, 2017 when the President’s Delivery Unit (PDU) met with KfW for bilateral talks in Frankfurt, Germany and that the signing ceremony of Tuesday, this week - will see the release of funds in October, 2017 with the first connections in the second quarter of 2018.  The Agreement is expected to deliver 16,000 new connections that will fill the gaps between the larger projects in areas such as Clay Ashland - Bentol- Fendell; Double Bridge-Pipeline-Police Academy; and Duport Road - Rehab Communities. the FrontPage Africanewspaper.

Related Captions: Big Boost For Energy Sector…As GoL & Germany Sign US$15m Grant (The INQUIRER), Ellen Announces 10 Percent Reduction In Electricity Tariff(Daily Observer), As Liberia, Germany Sign KfW €15m Grant For 15,000 Connections In Power Supply: Ellen Announces 10% Reduction In Electricity Tariff(Heritage)

Head Of The Liberian Mission In Ghana Visits Liberian Students In Ghana

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that the Charge d’Affaires and Head of the Liberian Mission in Ghana, newly appointed ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone, Musu Ruhle and her entourage paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Liberian Students Association Ghana (LISA-GH) in Buduburam with the intent of taking a pictorial view of their mini-library.The Liberia Head of Mission was traditionally honored by the student body through a brief gowning ceremony during which she was dressed in blue and white attire and a beautifully designed cake was cut to appreciate her selfless service for Liberia.

In addressing the student body and community leaders, Madam Ruhle expressed profound thanks to everyone for her unexpected farewell celebration. She further encouraged female students to dream high and to dream big because any of them could be the next Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia.

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Related Captions:  Amb. Ruhle Donates To Student Project In Ghana(Daily Observer), Liberian Ambassador To Sierra Leone Visits Liberian Students In Ghana(INSIGHT)

To Contest Representative Race In Bomi: Snowe Wins Legal Battle

The front page story of the Heritage newspaper reads that at long last, Montserrado County District #6 Representative, Edwin Melvin Snowe, has being given the green light to contest the Representative Seat of Bomi County District #1 following legal tussles over his domicile status in new district. Rep. Snowe was given the green light on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 by the Supreme Court, which is regarded as the final arbiter of justice in the country, when the high court affirmed the decision of the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) regarding the registration, nomination, qualification and certification of Rep Snowe, the Heritage newspaper asserts.

Related Captions: To Contest In Bomi County: Supreme Court Clears Snowe’s Way…Says NEC’s Ruling IS “Valid”(INSIGHT), Snowe Now Set For 2017 Bomi Polls(The INQUIRER), Snowe Can Run In Senji, Supreme Court Rules(Daily Observer), No Viokation Supreme Court Clears Rep. Edwin Snowe To Contest In Bomi County(FrontPage Africa)

LACC Launches Internal Corruption Risk Assessment Review

The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has formally launched a Comprehensive Corruption Internal Risk Review of its Divisions and Units. The LACC internal corruption risk assessment which commences with the Asset Declaration and Verification Unit of the Education & Prevention Division is intended to identify and address specific institutional structures, systems and processes which may be more vulnerable or prone to corruption. Speaking at the launching ceremony today, LACC’s Executive Chairperson, Cllr. James N. Verdier, Jr. said the aim of the risk assessment is not to determine whether there is corruption or not in a certain Division or Unit, but to identify potential for corruption and taking the necessary steps to address it, the Heritage newspaper writes.

Related Captions: LACC Launches Corruption Risk Assessment(The INQUIRER), LACC Begins Internal Corruption Risk Assessment Review(Daily Observer)

GoL Increasing Payment Ratio In LRD For Employees, Vendors

The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Finance and Development (MFDP), has issued a new fiscal decision that will be implemented as part of a prudent budget execution by all ministries and agencies in the country. According to the Daily Observer, the statement which was signed on August 25 by the Acting Comptroller and Accountant General of Liberia and approved by Adolhus D. Forkpa, Deputy Minister for Fiscal Affairs said all government expenses will be paid on a split between Liberian dollars and United States Dollars. Under the regulation, the Ministry circular said government employees and other expenses will be implemented in 100 percent Liberian dollars: those include: allowances, Stipends, honorariums, bonus4s local consultancies operations special operations domestic travel rentals intelligence. The Daily Observer reports that foreign travel and transfer will be implemented at 100 percent United States Dollars. The Ministry said other expenses will be implemented at different ratios of Liberian Dollars to United States dollars.

Paynesville City Mayor Cyvette Gibson Chosen To Address World Conference Of Mayors Investment And Trade Conference In Detroit

The World Conference of Mayors Trade and Investment Conference to be hosted by Detroit Mayor Michael Edward Duggan has chosen Paynesville City Mayor, Ms. Cyvette Gibson to address the landmark conference in America’s Motor City.  According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the Paynesville City Mayor was chosen for her relentless efforts in bringing sustainable development to the people of Liberia’s largest geographic city.  Ms. Gibson will speak under the theme “Sustaining Growth and Development in 21st Century Cities: Detroit, the City that never surrendered. Mayor Gibson’s presentation will highlight the important role city administrators from small cities in developing nations play in sustaining growth and development.  

AU Deploys Observers In Liberia, Assures NEC Of Support

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the African Union (AU), a body with far bigger interest in the peaceful existence of Liberia is amongst the array of institutions and nations showing concern in the Liberia’s October presidential and representative elections. The AU is bringing in a permanent observer mission to follow through the process leading to October. During a call on the chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Monday September 4, AU Ambassador to Liberia Ibrahim Karama thanked the NEC for the many good works leading to the elections. Amb. Kamara assured NEC Chairman Jerome Korkoya of the AU’s support to the process. Receiving the AU Ambassador, Chairman Korkoya said he was happy to have a friend in AU and lauded the Union for the high level of interest in seeing Liberia transition peacefully.

Liberia To Benefit From India’s $2 Billion Solar Projects For Africa As Senate Concurs With 11 Engrossed Bills Of The House

The Daily Observer says President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has submitted to the House of Representatives for ratification into Law “The International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement.” The President’s letter states that the objective of the agreement is to create a collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies to enhance security and sustainable development in member countries and will improve access to energy and opportunities for better living in rural as well as remote areas. She added that the Government of Liberia stands to benefit because jobs will be created, “revenue will be generated, development will take place, security will be enhanced, the high cost of living will reduce and favorable living conditions will be availed.” Meanwhile, the House’s Plenary has unanimously accepted three separate letters from the Senate on the concurrence of the eleven engrossed bills of the House.

UNDP Donates Vehicle, 6 Motorbikes To Commerce Ministry

The United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) has donated six motorbikes and a vehicle to the Ministry of Commerce to enhance the ministry’s operations. The turnover ceremony was held Tuesday at the Ministry in Monrovia, when UNDP Deputy Country Director for Programmes, Dorsia Facarthy, said his organization is committed to supporting the government and people of Liberia. He added that the UNDP will remain committed to contribute to the Small, Medium and Enterprises (SME) of Liberia. Frantz C. Sawyer, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Commerce said the ministry was delighted to receive the support, reports the Daily Observer.

ECOWAS Chiefs Of Staff Begin Meeting Today

All is set for the hosting of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Conference of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defense Staff today at the Boulevard Palace in Monrovia with discussions focused basically on security in the region. The three-day event will bring together all 16 Chiefs of Defense staff in West Africa and high on the agenda is the operationalization of the West African Stand-by Force as well as the contest Boko Haram insurgences in the Lake Chad Basin. The discussion will also focus on concerns raised about the marine security along the gulf of Guinea. The conference will be climaxed by the turning over of the Chairpersonship of the Chief of Defense Staff from Liberia’s Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Daniel Zian kian to Brigadier General T.A. Mohammed of Togo whose President now serves as Chairperson of ECOWAS, the INQUIRER newspaper reads.

LBS Increases Listenership opens Facility in Sinoe

The Management of the Liberia Broadcasting System announces the establishment of a new Radio Rebroadcast Facility of the System in Greenville, Sinoe County South-Eastern Liberia. the setup of this new rebroadcast facility is a direct result of continuing efforts by the Liberian Government to ensure that all of Liberia have access to the broadcast signal of ELBC RADIO- The National Broadcasting Station. The Liberian Government in the 2016/2017 National Fiscal Budget provided funding to LBS for the establishment of this new rebroadcast facility in light of concerns by some citizens of south-eastern Liberia that their county, theINQUIRER newspaper reads.