The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2018

Stories on the issuance of President George Manneh Weah 2 week’s ultimatum to ex- government official to turn over government properties in their possession, VP Jewel Howard-Taylor’s donation to Cuttington University and the dispatching of ECOWAS observer missions to Sierra Leone are among selected stories for today’s summary.

Ex-GOL Officials Risk Weah’s Wrath President Issues 2 Weeks Ultimatum To Turn Government Properties In Or Else

President George Manneh Weah has warned some former officials of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf-led administration who are still in possession of vehicles assigned to them while serving in government to turn over those vehicles or could face his wrath after his two weeks’ ultimatum expires. Speaking at an intercessory service held for his safe return home at the Dominion Church in Congo Town, Monrovia, President Weah said, “Our government is having a problem and these are just simple problems. “All of you who took government properties, you have two weeks to bring them back. If not, we will come for them. You have two weeks.” according to the Daily Observer, the ultimatum comes amid efforts by the Director General of the General Services Agency (GSA), Mary Broh and her team to retrieve GOL vehicles and other properties from past officials.  

VP Jewel Howard-Taylor Donates to Cuttington UniversityAmid Financial Challenges Facing The University

In the wake of inadequate electricity on the main campus of the Cuttington University in Suakoko, Bong County, the Vice President of Liberia Hon. Jewel Howard Taylor has provided eight thousand gallons of fuel oil to the University. According to a Press Release from the office of the Vice President, VP Howard-Taylor also presented two thousand five hundred United States dollars to the University and promised to engage Orange-Liberia to provide internet service on the main campus. The FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that this intervention by the Vice president   to the University followed an appeal from the students and the administration of the University amid limited electricity to effectively run the institution. The Cuttington University according to the students is currently facing constraints including the lack of electricity, water, internet facility, obsolete test books and the lack of scholarships among others. Speaking February 23, 2018 at ceremony marking the Homecoming program on the main Campus of the Cuttington University in Suakoko Bong County, Vice President Howard-Taylor disclosed that the fuel was jointly provided by her office, West Oil, and MMG Gold operating in Kokoya Bong County.

Sawyer Leads ECOWAS Observer Mission for Sierra Leone March 7 Presidential Polls

An ECOWAS Mission of 15 Long-Term Observers (LTOs) is in Sierra Leone for the country’s March 7 presidential, parliamentary and local council elections. The team is part of a larger 55-member ECOWAS Observation Mission led by Liberia’s former Interim President, Prof. Amos Sawyer, who will be arriving along with the Short-term observers. Quoting a press release, the Daily Observer reads that the regional observers will be deployed across Sierra Leone’s 16 administrative districts for the elections being contested by 16 presidential candidates, including two women, and more than 700 contenders for the 144-seat unicameral parliament. One hundred and thirty-two of the lawmakers will be elected directly complemented by 12 slots for Paramount Chief Members of Parliament. The ECOWAS Mission, which includes legal, elections, constitutional, gender, civil society and media experts, and secretariat staff of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) are deployed by the ECOWAS Commission in line with the regional protocol on democracy and good governance, which mandates ECOWAS to support member States holding elections. The Mission is supported by a Technical team from the ECOWAS Commission.

Power theft, Candlelight, Generator Causes of Fire Disasters-LNFS Pleads For Adequate Supplies To Fight Fire Outbreaks

The Human Resource officer at the Liberia National Fire Service, Col. Patricia S.D. Darblo says the improper connection of electrical power and the usage of candle light, generators, mosquito coils, among others are the major sources of fire outbreaks in the city and elsewhere. She said though in 2017 the LNFS was able to fight several fire outbreaks successfully, more could be achieved if the LNFS increases its night patrols around the city in order to minimize what she referred to as power theft and illegal connections of electrical power. She meanwhile called the Liberian government to empower the Liberia National Fire Service with the necessary equipment to enable the bureau to fight fire outbreaks, saying items needed include adequate fuels, vehicles, and additional fire trucks. She said LNFS will need adequate and effective materials to make their job easy more effective to be able to save lives and properties in case of fire disasters, reads the Daily Observer.

Government Vows To Support Adult Education Amid Budgetary Constraints

Deputy Education Minister, Madam Felecia Doe Sormah, says government stands prepared to support the adult education program in the country despite budgetary challenges. Madam Sormah said though the new government inherited a broke government, it will try its possible best to support education whether “there’s money or not”. "Money is not all to it, we should continue to be committed to the program," she said, while making remarks at a program marking the official launch of the National Adult Education Association of Liberia (NAEAL) level two curriculums. Her assurance to work boom adult education in the country serves as a commitment from President George Weah’s “Pro-poor policy”. NAEAL level two programs is expected to last for nine months where beneficiaries, mainly adults and the underprivileged, will be absorbed into the program and learn how to read and write. The program is also targeting vulnerable and economically challenged women, men, youth and children including people living with disabilities, according to the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Female Lawyers Launches Program to Protect Women, Children Rights

The Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia or AFELL on Friday, February 23 launched a project “promoting and protecting the rights of women, children and indigent person” through its legal aid clinics. The launching was held at AFELL sub office in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, with sponsorship from UNDP/UMIL.  Atty. Philomena Tugbe Williams, Chairperson for the launching committee, said the project is targeting Montserrado and Grand Bassa counties at the cost of US$100,000.  "Under our implementation arrangement, it is expected that two legal aid clinics are functional in Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties with an objective of at least 250 mediation cases documented and resolved, at least 15 cases resolved at the court level and at least 10 project staff trained", She noted, reads the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Public Health Institute Ends Retreat – Upon Meeting To Set Priorities for 2018

According to the Focus newspaper, in an effort to strengthen the health system of Liberia, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia has conducted a three-day annual review of its activities in Buchanan, Grand Bassa. The review, which began on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at a local hotel, was supported by the World Health Organization, aims at providing a comprehensive review of NPHIL’s achievement in 2017 and to set priorities for 2018.  The National Public Health Institute was created to coordinate and strengthen disease detection, outbreak investigation, develop and build the public health workforce and other public health functions.