The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR Tuesday, FEBRARY 13, 2018

President Weah Promises to Build First Military Hospital in Liberia

President George Manneh Weah has promised to build Liberia’ first Military Teaching Hospital exclusively for use by the Army and other security forces. The Liberian leader made the promise today when he spoke at the 61st anniversary of the Armed Forces Day (AFL), which is celebrated February 11 each year. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Weah made the promise on Monday, February 12, 2018 at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia during activities marking the celebration of Armed Forces Day. The Liberian leader said when built, the facility “will be the first ever Military Hospital built in Liberia.” He added that the hospital will “be equipped with modern facilities, and will be staffed by highly trained medical personnel,” reports the Frontpage Africa newspaper.

Related Captions: Weah makes big promises to AFL (New Dawn), Military Hospital In Sight – President Weah (Daily Observer), Pres. Weah Promises To Build The First Military Hospital In Liberia (In Profile Daily), and Weah Promises To Build First Military Hospital In Liberia (Heritage)

Liberia Congratulated Vatican City State On 89^th Anniversary

President George Manneh Weah has sent a message of congratulations and sincere best wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis on the occasion marking the commemoration of the 89^th Anniversary of the founding of the Vatican City State. The Vatican City State was founded following the signing of the Lateran Pacts between the Holy See and Italy on February 11^th, 1929. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Weah reflected fervently on the excellent relations that subsist between Liberia and the Vatican spanning at least 81 years. “It is also satisfying to note that since 1927, Liberia and the Vatican have strived to sustain cordial relations exploring partnership in significant areas including education, health, freedom of speech and human rights, especially the rights of the oppressed,” the Liberian Leader said. President Weah further told His Holiness that the Catholic Ecclesiastical has always been a dependable partner to his nation’s development agenda, and significantly contribute to the peace and stability Liberians now enjoy. The President, who extended best wishes to Pope Francis and through him to the Government and people of the Vatican City, stated that celebrating the day with them, enables his government to reflect on the excellent relationship between both nations, reports Heritage newspaper.

Ex-Liberian President Wins 2017 Mo Ibrahim Prize For Achievement in African Leadership

The 2017 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership has been awarded to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation announced today following a meeting of its independent Prize Committee. Former President of Liberia praised for her extraordinary efforts to lead country’s recovery following civil war. Ellen Johson-Sirleaf, who served terms as President of Liberia from 2006 to 2017, is the fifth recipient of the Ibrahim Prize, which recognizes and celebrates excellence in African leadership. The Ibrahim Prize aims to distinguish leaders who, during their time in office, have developed their countries, strengthened democracy and human rights for the shared benefit of their people, and advanced sustainable development, reports the Frontpage Africa newspaper.

Related Captions: Ellen wins US$5m Ibrahim prize (New Dawn)

Swiss-based NGO Helps Forge Police, Motorcyclists Collaboration

According to Frontpage Africa newspaper, Bowier Trust Foundation Switzerland (BTFS) has expressed keen interest in ensuring that Liberian motorcyclists are aware about traffic safety and rules, by conducting training for over 50 motorcyclists in Paynesville City. The Swizz based Liberian NGO collaborated with Liberia National Police to hold the one-day training for the commercial motorcyclists about preventing road accidents. The session also highlighted possible ways motorcyclist can help in providing community policing.  During the training session held on Thursday February 8, BTFS President Felix Walz called on motorcyclists in the SD Cooper Road community and other surrounding communities to work with the Police in minimizing crime. 

Doctors, Teachers’ Salaries to Be Reviewed

Presidential Press Secretary Sam Mannah says President George Manneh Weah is committed to reviewing the entire civil service pay structure here, expressing his unhappiness over teachers’ salaries. “But the president is committed to reviewing the entire salary structure of our civil service for all sectors, the doctors, the nurses, teachers, all those other various groups. He is committed to reviewing them to see how best we can enhance it,” Mr. Mannah said Friday, 9 February during a press briefing in Monrovia.  During a closed - door meeting with the National Teachers Association and the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) in the Cabinet Room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mannah said President Weah was very shocked on hearing the salaries of teachers. But he said such intervention which is not only for teachers will go across the board eventually, clarifying that it does not mean that people should expect immediate increase in salaries. According to Mr. Mannah, President Weah said he will speak with the Finance Minister and other authorities in charge to see how they can improve the welfare of teachers because he doesn’t believe that their salaries represent the sacrifices that they are making. During the meeting, Mr. Mannah said the teachers requested Mr. Weah to look into reinstating their colleagues who were allegedly dismissed illegally for disagreeing with authorities. Based on the request, he said Mr. Weah has informed the Deputy Education Minister for Administration to form a team to investigate the issue and see if the dismissed teachers can be reinstated based on their findings. The head of the group Madam Mary Molubah said they were happy for meeting the president, saying they informed him of how teachers were dismissed illegally. She says they complained against giving the school system here to Bridge Academy, adding that were dismissed for kicking against the idea, pens New Dawn newspaper.  

 Alfalit L-GM Awards 60 Scholarships 

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the Liberia-Ghana Missions is today expected to award 60 scholarships to sixty (60) Ebola orphans and vulnerable children in 16 schools for this academic year 2017/2018 under its scholarship and Educational Assistance Program. At the ceremony, L-GM will disburse the tuition of all the 60 beneficiaries directly to the schools administrations in the presence of Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection which has already been processed by the financial department of Alfalit L-GM. The gesture by Alfalit L-GM to the children comes following request made by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to the organization seeking support for the children’s education. At the same time, a formal memorandum of understanding will also be signed between the two entities at the awarding of the scholarships to the pupils. The launch and submission of the sponsorship is expected to take place at Alfalit L-GM head office in Congo Town at 11:00 Am and expected to bring together Alfalit L-GM’s Executive Director, Rev. Emmanuel J. Giddings and his staff, heads of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the schools administrators. According to L-GM National Program Supervisor, George Stewart, the organization is responding to the Ministry of Gender’s request for support to the affected children is in line with the organizations’ goals and mission of providing educations assistance to poor, vulnerable and promising Liberian students as a means of securing their futures. Ebola a human killer disease broke out in Liberia in 2014 killing over 4000 people leaving behind over 3 thousand orphans and vulnerable children who loss either both or single parent to the outbreak Since the end of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, the hopes of these Ebola orphans and affected children getting enrolled in school and access to basic life essentials has been a nightmare.  

Pro Temp Chie: ’35 of 83 Nominees Confirmed’ 

The President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate yesterday disclosed that President George Weah has submitted 83 nominees for various posts in his government and that the Senate has so far confirmed 35. Senator Albert Chie, during his first briefing at his Capitol Building office yesterday, also disclosed that the Senate is receiving reports that some of the nominees are already ‘conducting the business of government’ without the approval of the Senate. “All those officials that were not confirmed are advised not to conduct the business of government either in their offices or outside of their offices,” he admonished. Speaking for the first time on the recent fracas involving some accredited journalists at the Legislature and the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Grand Kru County lawmaker said a team has been set up by the Press Union of Liberia and the Senate to find out what really happened, “and once we have received their report we will come back to you with the findings.”Meanwhile, several nominees yesterday received recommendations from separate committees for their confirmations, among them were Commerce Minister-designate Wilson Tarpeh; Lands, Mines, & Energy Minister-designate Gessler Elbert Murry; and D. Zeogar Wilson, Minister of Youth and Sports-designate. The Senate also completed the election of the Senate Secretariat and the Sergeant-at-Arms, reports the Daily Observer.  

NPA Negotiates 100% Waiver On Storage, Demurrage, Abandoned Containers at Freeport 

The Management of the National Port Authority (NPA) has negotiated 100 percent waiver for storage and demurrage on abandoned containers at the Freeport of Monrovia. APM Terminals and shipping agencies official announced their fullest support to President George Weah’s pro-poor governance policy and consented to waive the storage and demurrage charges at the close of two separate meetings with the management of the NPA. NPA acting Managing Director Cecelia Cuffy-Brown described the move as a gesture from President Weah to consign whose containers have overstayed at the Freeport of Monrovia beyond 90 days, reports theDaily Observer.

Firestone, CSI Offer Free Surgeries For Children

According to the Daily Observer Firestone Natural Rubber Company’s Liberian operation, Firestone Liberia, recently welcomed a team of medical professionals from Children’s Surgery International (CSI) to perform surgeries at no cost on some of West Africa’s most needy children. This is the seventh CSI Mission hosted by Firestone Liberia. “This mission has become a significant source of help and comfort for the Liberians and greater West Africa ,” said Dr. Lyndon G. Mabande, the medical directors of Firestone Health Services. The joint, five-day mission underscores Bridgestone Americas, the parent company of Firestone Liberia, newly unveiled commitment to corporate social responsibility, Our Way to serve, through the company’s global commitment to people and healthy communities.

Related Caption: Firestone, CSI Continue Free Surgeries – For West African Children (In Profile Daily)

Liberian-made Cargo Ship to Sail to 5 Counties

Liberia’s post-war, built by 10 Liberians and three Chinese nationals, has been finally commissioned. The ship is ready for business, and to deliver diesel (D2) and other commodities to five counties. The proxy for Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, George T. Nimely, applauded the Chinese and Liberians for the construction of the Bessel, which he said is capable of transporting fuel and other goods to southeastern Liberia in 10 hours. The Vice President’s Chief of Office Staff said the initiative supports the pro-poor agenda of President George M. Weah, reports the Daily Observer.