The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018

President George Manneh Weah’s meeting with the Ambassador of Ireland to Liberia, Madam Catherine Campbell, the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo in Gold award bestowed on former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf by the South African Government and the launch of a campaign to clean up the Executive Mansion are among other stories highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

President Weah Receives Irish Ambassador

The Daily Observer reports that President George Manneh Weah has received in audience Catherine Campbell, Ambassador of Ireland to Liberia, an Executive Mansion release has said. According to the release, the Irish Envoy was accompanied by Ms. Fionnuala Gilsenan, Director of Africa Development of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The President received Amb. Campbell on Wednesday, May 2, when she paid a courtesy visit at his Foreign Ministry’s Office in Monrovia where they discussed major development issues between Liberia and the Ireland. The meeting was characterized by mutual exchange of ideas and cooperation between both countries and peoples.

Related Caption: Liberian President Receives Irish Ambassador(Heritage)

SA Honors EJS Bestows On Her Order Of The Companions Of OR Tambo In Gold Award

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, South Africa has recognized and appreciated former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s for her exceptional contribution to women’s leadership in the African continent by tenaciously containing conflicts in a volatile region while ensuring recovery and development of newly founded democracies in Africa. As former President Sirleaf was receiving the Mo Ibrahim Peace Prize in Kigali, Rwanda, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marjon Kamara, was simultaneously receiving on behalf of Madam Sirleaf the Order Of The Companions of OR Tambo In Gold bestowed on her by the South African government. The award was given in Pretoria, South Africa on April 28, 2018. The daily says the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo is awarded in three categories to eminent foreign nationals for friendship shown to South Africa. It is therefore concerned primarily with matters of peace, cooperation, international solidarity and support and is integral to the execution of South Africa’s international and multilateral relations.

Related Caption: Ellen Gets Another Int’l Award(The INQUIRER)

VP, First Lady To Launch Massive Clean-up At Executive Mansion May 4

According to the Daily Observer, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor and First Lady Clar Weah are scheduled to lead a massive clean-up campaign on the grounds of the Executive Mansion on Friday, May 4, 2018 beginning at 7am. The chief launcher will be First Lady Clar Weah while President George Manneh Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor will also be in attendance, along with an array of other government officials. Quoting a press release from the National Housing Authority, the daily reads that the campaign is being organized under the umbrella of the Executive Mansion Ground Collaborating Entities, and will bring together 11 government entities, including the ministries of State for Presidential Affairs and Internal Affairs, to carry out a major clean-up of the grounds of the Executive Mansion and its surrounding areas.  

Found Liable For Undermining Development Of River Gee County By Legislative Caucus Conmany Wesseh Suspended 

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that members of the River Gee County Legislative Caucus have suspended for time indefinite the membership of Senator Conmany Wesseh. River Gee’s Caucus’ decision, according to the suspension letter, is a result of Senator Wesseh’s attitude of undermining the county development. In the letter of suspension signed by Alexander Poure, secretary of the caucus and Francis Young, Co-chair, the caucus amongst many things accused Senator Wesseh of undermining, and vilifying the caucus and constantly exhibits disrepute to the Office of the President. The daily reads that in response to his suspension, Wesseh said he owes no apologies to the caucus.  

Judge Dixon Back From Niger Presents GIABA Corruption Report To Chief Justice 

The INQUIRERnewspaper reports that after returning from a recent workshop in Niger, the Resident Circuit Judge of Criminal Court “C”, A. Blamo Dixon has presented recommendations of GIABA to tackle corruption in court. Making his report to the Chief Justice of Liberia, Francis S. Korkpor Sr. on Monday, April 30, 2018, he said the workshop is a Pilot Project sponsored by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).  According to the daily, the major goal of GIABA is to fight against Money Laundering, corruption, financing of terrorism, predicate offences, tax crimes, counterfeiting, forgery, crimes committed against financial institutions, organized economic and transnational crimes in the West African Sub Region.

FIN Launches Pilot Project Today

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the Faith & Justice Network (FIN) Liberia will launch its inaugural pilot project today at the S. Trowon Nagbe United Methodist Church in Monrovia. The two-day event titled: “Putting Justice at the Heart of Faith,” will discuss six thematic areas in panel discussions. The topics include: the Core Ethical Values of Faith in the Public Square, The Meaning of a Pro-Poor Government in Liberia, Implementation of Liberia’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission Recommendations, a Critical Look at the Liberian Rape Law and Gender-Based Violence among others. The Regional Executive Director of FIN, Rev. Dr. Tolbert Thomas Jallah, Jr. says the two-day event is expected to bring together about seventy-five senior church leaders and heads of Para-church organizations. The daily asserts that the Faith & Justice Network is an  advocacy initiative of Churches in the Moa River Basin Countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast with Liberia Hosting its regional offices.

Desist Or Face The Full Weight Of The Law…LEC Management Warns ‘Impersonators

The Management of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) says it has come to its attention that unscrupulous individuals masquerading as LEC employees are engaged in acts not sanctioned by the Corporation. In a press release issued in Monrovia Wednesday, the management of LEC asserted that these criminals have been stealing customers’ meters and demanding payments to repair faulty lines. “These criminals are also engaged in the illegal sales of stolen meters, light poles, transformers and other electrical accessories which are not meant to be sold,” the LEC Management pointed out. The Heritage newspaper reads that the Management of the LEC is encouraging public to report any occurrence of such criminal act in their communities to the nearest police station.