The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights among other stories news of Liberia’s decision to send five corrections officers to South Sudan under a United Nations operation in that country, the Government of the People’s Republic of China through its Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Zhang Yue, warning to political parties and Independent candidates contesting the ensuing 2017 to stick to policy, the European Union’s deployment of an Election Observation Mission to Liberia to observe the presidential and representatives elections scheduled for this October.  

Liberia Deploys Correction Officers To South Sudan 

According to the New Dawn newspaper, Liberia is sending five corrections officers to South Sudan under a United Nations operation in that country, in an effort to expose the law enforcement personnel to outside environment. Meeting with the officers Thursday, 14 September ahead of their departure this weekend, President Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf said what Liberia can only hope for is for the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR) officers to make the country even more proud by the manner in which they would conduct themselves in South Sudan. While cautioning the officers in the Cabinet Room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia about the Sudanese environment, Mrs. Sirleaf notes that Liberia is equally a challenging environment, thus concluding that if they can meet the challenges here, they could meet them in South Sudan as well.  

Stick to the One-China Policy: Chinese Gov’t Warns Political Parties, Others 

The Government of the People’s Republic of China through its Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Zhang Yue, has warned political parties and Independent candidates contesting the ensuing 2017 at reception in commemoration of the 68th Anniversary of the Founding of the PRC, the Chinese Ambassador said sticking to the One-China is important for the overall interests of the Liberian people and the China-Liberian relationship. The reception dinner in celebration of the 68th anniversary of the Founding of the PRC was held at the Chinese Embassy near Monrovia, the Heritage newspaper reads.  

Ellen Reaffirms Commitment To One-China Policy Commends PRC For Support To Liberia 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reaffirmed government’s commitment to the One-China Policy. The Liberian leader on Wednesday, September 12, 2017, joined Chinese Ambassador, Zhang Yue, officials of government, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Embassy staff and the Chinese community in Liberia to celebrate the 68th independence Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). She said Liberia remains firm on the One China Policy, which has been endorsed and ratified by our National Legislature and expressed the conviction that any successive government  will realize that this is the proper international position to take and respect and will encourage the quality of cooperation that exists between China and Liberia, the Heritage newspaper reads.

Related Caption: Sirleaf Reaffirms One China Policy(The New Dawn)

EU Deploys 20 Observers

The European Union (EU) has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Liberia to observe the presidential and representatives elections scheduled for this October. The EU announced the deployment of a 20 long-term observer team here on Thursday, 14 September, adding that these elections are a historical moment for Liberia. The EU EOM will monitor the process without interfering or supervising, according to the EU. EU EOM Deputy Chief Observer Alessandro Parziale told a press conference in Monrovia Thursday that he hopes that team of analysts and observers will contribute with impartial and objective assessments to a democratic transition in Liberia. The New Dawn newspaper says the group of experts consists of election, political, legal, human rights and gender, finance, media and data analysts.

AU Diplomat Lauds Gov’t’s Effort Urges Citizens to Keep the Peace

A Diplomat of the African Union (AU), Abdoulaye Bathily, has lauded the Government of Liberia for the level of peace it has maintained over the past decades. Mr. Bathily who is a guest of the Liberian leader, her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf also wants Liberians to jointly maintain the peace they now enjoy. Speaking further on the long standing relationship between Liberia and the African Union-AU, Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily told the media that Liberia has contributed largely to the peace and development of the Sub-Region, including Africa as a whole, and it was important for AU to reciprocate, the INQUIRER newspaper reads.

Five Liberian Kids Go To Nigeria For Studies

Five Liberian kids are due to be flown to Lagos, Nigeria this weekend to be schooled on Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s scholarship scheme that is expected to take them through their current academic status up to college level. Receiving the kids prior to their departure this weekend, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf encouraged them on Thursday, 14 September to keep it better by studying hard when they go to Nigeria. President Sirleaf recalls that Governor Okorocha came here couple of days ago for the purpose of meeting the kids and to tell her about his Rochas Foundation and what he would do for the beneficiaries. The New Dawn newspaper quotes President Sirleaf as saying that Gov. Okorocha is awarding five scholarship slots each to all the African countries, of which Liberia is a beneficiary.  

Liberia To Achieve 35% of Rural Electrification By 2030 

Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) Executive Director Augustus V. Goanue says a comprehensive rural energy master plan has been developed in consultation with stakeholders and partners, aimed at achieving 35 percent rural electrification in Liberia by 2030. Speaking at the Ministry of Information on Thursday, 14 September, Mr. Goanue said in line with the global, regional and sub-regional initiatives and Liberia’s Agenda for Transformation and Vision 2030, the RREA aims to achieve electricity access in the rural areas. According to the RREA chief, electrification rate for the population outside of Monrovia is set at 10 percent in 2020; 20 percent in 2025 and 35 percent in 2030. By 2025, he says RREA’s aim is for all counties capitals to be electrified, including all health facilities and secondary schools.  To make the target achievable, he notes that RREA seeks to establish a credit or subsidy mechanism for connection of poor and “woman - led households” through Rural Energy Fund, and promote active participation of women in the jobs that will be created by electrifying the country, reports the New Dawn newspaper. 

GC Holds Education, Health Forum

The New Dawnnewspaper says the Governance Commission (GC) on Thursday, 14 September began a three - day civic education forum on electoral environment at the Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia. The education forum seeks to provide an opportunity where politicians, citizens, and experts on electoral matters can give information that ensures political education of citizens. Addressing the audience at the formal opening of the forum Thursday, Governance Commission (GC) Executive Director Mr. Stephen Manley said a healthy and educated Liberia must be taken into consideration as the participants gathered at the forum, saying their efforts to put on the table Liberia’s quest, for a healthy and educated society is focused where Liberia belongs.

To Contest Miss World Pageant:  Miss Liberia Appeals To Government For Financial Support

Miss Liberia Wokie Dolo has made a passionate to the Government of Liberia to kindly empower her financially to ably represent Liberia at the 2017 Miss World Beauty Pageant. Miss World Pageant, will be held on November 18, 2017 at the Crown of Beauty Theatre, Sonya in the People’s Republic of China. At the pageant, Miss Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico will crown her successor at the end of the event. Speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing held on Thursday, September 14, 2017, Miss Dolo said there has not been any allotment coming from the government since winning the crown as Miss Liberia, stressing that it has been difficult to do it alone, the Heritage newspaper reads.

Related Caption: Miss Liberia Cries For Support(The New Dawn)

For Victims of Sierra Leone Mudslide Disaster: Ecobank Liberia Joins The Cue To Garner Support

Ecobank Liberia Managing Director, Mr. George Mensah-Asante, has called on immediate stakeholders of the bank and the public to make cash donations to support the efforts of the Sierra Leonean government as well as philanthropic institutions/organizations to save lives in that country. Following the news of severe floods and mudslide disaster in neighboring Sierra Leone that claimed hundreds of lives, with hundreds also missing and many more rendered homeless, corporate entities and governments have organized relief items and offered financial assistance to the country with Ecobank Transnational Incorporated parent company of Ecobank Liberia being inclusive. He disclosed that the Ecobank Group has made a donation of one hundred and fifty thousand United Stated Dollars (USD$150,000) to the government and people of Sierra Leone, during a meeting with Executives of the bank, the Heritage newspaper writes.

Lebanese Community Donates to BWI

The World Lebanese Cultural Union has donated 75 pieces of Prima mattresses to the Booker Washington Institute (BWI) in Kakata, Margibi County. Program marking the donation ceremony of 36x75x6, mattresses from LIFOCO Mattress Company with the cost of US$19,500.00 to the institution was held on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 on the main campus in Kakata, the INQUIRER newspaper reads.

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