The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018

Highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies are news of President George Weah’s Proclamation declaring Friday, April 13th Fast and Prayer Day, including the Liberian leader separate congratulatory messages to His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and His Excellency Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, former President, following the recent March 31st run-off Presidential election, which President Maada Bio emerged victorious.

Weah Declares Friday, Fast And Prayer Day

President George Manneh Weah has by Proclamation declared the second Friday in April as a “Fast and Prayer Day” to be observed throughout Liberia as a National Holiday. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Proclamation is in consonance with an Act of the National Legislature passed into law in 1883 declaring the second Friday in April of each year as “National Fast and Prayer Day” for the safety and welfare of the Nation and its people with penitent reverence to God. The New Dawn newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that the Day is observed as a Day of Supplication, Prayer, Fasting and Meditation so that our efforts as a people may be crowned with great achievements to the common cause of the Nation, the State and our common humanity. It therefore, calls on all Prelates, Priests, Elders, Deacons, Evangelists, Imams and all residents, regardless of religious creed, to gather with one accord in their respective places of worship within the territorial confines of Liberia in simple and non-costly apparel to fast, pray and meditate commencing at 8:00 a.m. It further orders all public offices, business houses and market places to remain closed on this day, while citizens and foreign residents, will cease from their daily occupations and avocations in further recognition of God’s love and guidance for the nation.

Weah Congratulates Mr. Maada Bio on Election as President of Sierra Leone

The Heritage newspaper reports that His Excellency President George Manneh Weah has sent two separate congratulatory messages to His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and His Excellency Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma, former President respectively, following the recent March 31st run-off Presidential election, which President Maada Bio emerged victorious. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Weah, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, extended his warmest congratulations to his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Mr. Maada Bio, following his election as President of that sisterly republic. While expressing optimism over Liberia-Sierra Leone relations, President Weah stated, “As you assume the Herculean task of shaping the future of your great country, I entertain the hope that the cordial ties of friendship and cooperation subsisting between our two countries and people will be further strengthened in the spirit of friendship and cooperation.” And to former President Ernest Bai Koroma, President Weah extended heartfelt congratulations and thanked him for the successful conduct of the recent Presidential and General Elections under his stewardship. The Liberian leader said the Sierra Leonean elections marked a critical victory for democracy in Sierra Leone and Africa as a whole. The President also noted that the holding of free, fair and democratic election in Sierra Leone set a standard for other African countries to emulate.

VP Howard-Taylor Promised Close Partnership With Gender Ministry

Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has expressed her recommitment to gender equality and other emerging gender issues in the country. Vice President Howard Taylor made the promise when she paid an early morning working visit to congratulate Minister Willianetta Saydee Tarr on her preferment and confirmation as Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection. Madam Taylor stated that there are still more challenges to be addressed including girl retention in schools, teen age pregnancy, prostitution, among others that continue to impede woman’s activity participation as well as security in society, reads the Heritage newspaper.

ECONEC President Urges Appropriate, Cost-Effective Use Of Technology In Elections

The President of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commission (ECONEC) governing board, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has called for “appropriate and cost-effective” use of technology to boost public confidence in the electoral process and for the protection of the sanctity and integrity of the ballot.  In his welcome  address to the opening of a  three-day international conference on “opportunities and challenges in the use of technology in elections” in Abuja on Monday, Prof. Yabubu, who is also Chair of Nigeria’s Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), noted that while “technology has come to stay and its benefits are immense, its development has numerous challenges”.  He explained that the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from more than thirty countries participating at the conference had deployed technology in one form or another to improve on their electoral processes the outcome varied from one country to another, according to the Heritage newspaper.

Related Caption: ECONEC President Urges Appropriate, Cost-Effective Use Of Technology In Elections(In Profile Daily)

World Bank Gives US$5M To Build LISGIS Capacity

The World Bank has provided US$5 million to the Government of Liberia to support and improve the country’s national statistical capacity through the Liberia Institute for Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS).  World Bank Operational Officer, Esther Rojas-Garcia said the fund would enable LISGIS carry out its statutory function by regularly conducting surveys every four years.  Madam Garcia made the remarks at the national lunch of House Hold Income and Expenditure Survey 2016 dissemination on Monday at the Monrovia City Hall. She indicated that these surveys will be able to capture data on national accounts, prices, poverty and key sustainable development goals, reads the Heritage newspaper.

Orange, LEC Seal Major Partnership

The Management of the Orange Liberia and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) have announced that Orange customers can now purchase LEC credits/tokens using Orange Mobile Money. According to the In Profile Daily, the announcement was made during a major press conference held at the headquarters of Orange Liberia on capital Bypass on April 6.

DEA Arrests Man With 12 Kg Marijuana

The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has arrested a 22 - year - old man with LD$115,000.00 worth of marijuana in Bong County. The New Dawn says suspect Augustine Smith was arrested at the Salala Check Point over the weekend. DEA Bong County Commander James K. Borbor says suspect Smith left from Foyah, Lofa County with an intention of travelling to Monrovia to market the 12 Kilogram of Marijuana. Mr. Borbor says they were later hinted by an unidentified individual about the transport of the drugs, which led to their timely intervention. According to Commander Borbor, suspect Smith will be charged this week for drug trafficking and sent to court. He says Smith has been involved in drug trafficking for a very long time, evidenced by a display of photos that illustrated the defendant caring huge quantity of marijuana.

EU/NTA launches National Award For Best Public School Teachers And WASSCE Students

The European Union in partnership with the National Teachers Association of Liberia (NTAL) has launched a national award for the best public school teachers and students in Liberia. All public schools in the country are encouraged to nominate the best performing teachers in Liberia for the academic year 2017/2018 in the following categories: 1) Early childhood; 2) Primary school; 3) Junior high school; 4) Secondary school; 5) Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); 6) Rural Teacher Training Institute trainer/Teachers' College teacher. According to the New Dawn newspaper, the top public school teachers' nation-wide in each of the above categories, together with the best performing male and female students in the West Africa Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), will receive a special recognition and award.