The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2018

Today’s summary highlights stories on additional appointments made by President George Manneh Weah, his congratulatory message to the government and people of Zimbabwe, Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor’s visit to Ghana, Liberia’s participation in African Land Forces Summit, as well as the death of former Press Union of Liberia, Kamara Abdullai Kamara.  

Vice President Howard-Taylor Holds Talks with Ghana's Vice President 

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, Liberia’s Vice President Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, on April 17, paid an official courtesy visit to the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Mahamudu Bawumia. The visit was aimed at strengthening partnership between the two nations, by identifying ways in which Liberia can tap into the current Ghanaian Government’s experience of building the capacity of its youth population and addressing youth unemployment. Vice President Howard-Taylor according to a dispatch, appealed to her counterpart for Ghana’s assistance, in building the capacities of thousands of unemployed Liberian youth, particularly in the areas of Human Capacity Development; Agriculture and Small Business Development.  In the dispatch, VP Howard-Taylor believes that Liberia can benefit from the ideas and innovation of the current Ghanaian administration, in dealing with issues of capacity building in Ghana. The visit marks Vice President Howard-Taylor’s first official meeting with a vice president of another nation.

Related Captions:VP Taylor Holds Talks With Her Ghanaian Counterpart In Accra(New Dawn), VP Taylor Holds Talks With Ghanaian Counterpart(In Profile Daily), and VP Howard-Taylor Holds Talks With Her Ghanaian Counterpart In Accra(Heritage)  

Liberia Participates In African Land Forces Summit 

According to the Daily Observer, high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are currently participating in the 2018 edition of the African Land Forces Summit taking place at a transcontinental hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. A release from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja said the Chief of Army Staff of the AFL Major General Prince C. Johnson, II heads the Liberian delegation. Other members of the delegation are Lieutenant Colonel Nyankun Williams and Command Sergeant Major Cooper Manqueh. In its sixth edition, the 2018 Africa Land Forces Summit is being co-hosted by the Nigerian and United States armies.

Related Caption:Liberia Participates In African Land Forces Summit(In Profile and Heritage)

President Weah Makes Additional Nominations, Appointments in Government

President George Manneh Weah has made additional nominations and appointments constituting the Boards of several Agencies of Government affecting the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, National Port Authority, Liberia Electricity Corporation, and the Central Bank of Liberia. The President also made additional appointments at the Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation and the Township of Clara Town. Meanwhile, these appointments and nominations are subject to confirmation by the Honorable Liberian Senate where applicable, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Caption:Weah’s Latest Nominations, Appointments In Gov’t Affect JFK, NPA, CBL, Others(Heritage)

Weah Constitutes Committee – To Probe Sale of Oil Block 13

President George Manneh Weah has constituted a five-member Special Presidential Committee to examine the allegations made by Global Witness in its most recent reports on Liberia, involving the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL).  Those appointed to the Special Presidential Committee are: Cllr. Ndubuisi Nwabudike, Chairperson, Cllr. Pearl Brown Bull   -Member, Cllr. C. Alexander Zoe - Member, Rev. Joseph Gardea Johnson, III - Member, and Mrs. Frances Greaves – Member. The Special Presidential   Committee has two weeks to submit initial reports of its findings and make recommendations, accordingly. All those directly or indirectly named in the Global Witness report are strongly advised to make themselves available and to cooperate with the Committee. All public and private institutions, organizations and individuals who may have information relevant to these investigations are encouraged to promptly make such information available to the committee, according to the New Dawn newspaper.

The New Dawn newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry: His Excellency Mr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, has sent a Congratulatory Message to His Excellency Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, on the occasion marking that country’s 38^th Independence Anniversary. On April 18, 1980, Southern-Rhodesia gained independence from the British, taking the name Zimbabwe. The day marked the end of racial segregation after a protracted war of liberation that claimed many lives. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Weah told his Zimbabwean counterpart, Mr. Mnangagwa, that on the occasion marking the 38^th independence anniversary of the Republic of Zimbabwe, it gives him immense pleasure to extend on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia and in his own name, warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Government and people of that nation. “As you celebrate this historic event, we are hopeful that you will sustain the peace and stability enjoyed by the people of Zimbabwe for so many year;” the Liberian leader added.

Related Caption:Weah Congratulates Zimbabwe On 38^th Independence Anniversary(Heritage)

House Inducts Final Two Representatives

According to the Daily Observer, the membership of the House of Representatives has been fully completed, totaling 73 members. This followed the formal affirmation of oath to the remaining two Representatives on Tuesday, April 17, during the 20^th day sitting of the Legislature. Nimba and Bong counties District 4 Representatives, Gonpue L. Kargon and Robert Flomo Womba respectively, were installed by Speaker Bhofal Chambers yesterday. Reps. Kargon and Womba replaced Messrs Garrison Yealue and Lester Paye respectively. The investiture of the two newly-certificated lawmakers was in accordance with Chapter 5 of the House’s Rules and Procedures, which says: “each member of the House of Representatives before taking seat, shall take an oath or affirmation to uphold and defend the Constitution and the Laws of the country as well as faithfully discharging the duties and functions of the office as a member of the House of Representatives.” The lawmakers were formally inducted, following a communication from authorities of the National Election Commission (NEC).  

Liberia’s FIU Tightens Screws on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing 

Liberia’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) began a money laundering and terrorist financing (ML&TF) national risk assessment (NRA) workshop at the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) on April 17. The first phase of the three-day event, which will roll over a year, is to identify, assess and understand ML&TF risks; apply risk-based approach (RBA) to prevent or mitigate ML&TF; apply resources commensurate with the risks, efficient allocation of resources across the anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). The NRA is a process where a country identifies the risk to its AML/CFT regime and develops a framework to prevent it. Speaking at the opening ceremonies, FIU director-general Alex Cuffy said the banking, insurance and security sectors will also be assessed to gauge their readiness to combat AML/CFT. The NRA will receive technical and financial assistance from the Liberian government, GIABA, AfDB, World Bank and UNODC, pens the FrontPage Africa newspaper.  

Feasibility study Underway For Research Support Office for the National Public Health Institute 

The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) will have Nana Oye Akuffo from the Noguchi Medical Research Institute (NMIMR) at the University of Ghana as her guest on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 to conduct a workshop and feasibility study for developing an office of research support (ORS) as a critical aspect of generating grants for the institute. Nana Oyo Akuffo is the Coordinator for Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) at NMIMR, Ghana. The NMIMR conducts both laboratory and field-based research into communicable and non-communicable diseases of public health importance; led by researchers in the nine departments of the institute. They include, Animal Experimentation, Bacteriology, Clinical Pathology, Electron Microscopy and Histopathology, Epidemiology, Immunology, Nutrition Parasitology, and Virology. According to a press release, the NMIMR was establishment in 1979 and named in honor of the renowned Japanese scientist, Dr. Hideyo Noguchi. Since its establishment, NMIMR has gained global recognition as a leading biomedical research institute in Africa, building capacity for prevention and control of endemic diseases, as well as emerging and re-emerging diseases, in Ghana and the West African sub-region. Nana Oye is willing to support the ideal in establishing an ORS at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia which will launch us into a different phase of research in Liberia, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.  

Justice Minister Addresses Several Mysterious Deaths 

The Minister of Justice has been addressing several issues surrounding the deaths of some citizens in recent time. Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, at a joint press conference with authority of the top security agencies which include the Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) said criminals will live in fear during his administration because the government is doing everything possible to bring them to justice. The Justice Minister who is also Attorney General outlined a number of incidents reported to the LNP between March 24^th and April 16, 2018. The Justice Minister called on the public to remain focus because the government is doing everything possible to ensure that criminals will not have any rest in the country, according to the INQUIRER newspaper.  

WFP Conducts Training For Liberian Journalists…On Food, Nutrition Security Reporting 

The United Nations World Food Program Tuesday began a two day intensive training for Liberia journalists in food and nutrition security reporting methodologies. The INQUIRER newspaper reads that  the two-day training  which focuses on  interventions with emphasis on resilience and livelihoods  creations, school meals management, , nutrition and logistics operations within the framework of WFP’s global communication modules and approaches brings together journalists from  the print, electronics and online media outlets.

GOL, Sweden Commerce Trade Barrier Seminar

The INQUIRER newspaper reports that the reports that the Governments of Liberia and Sweden are scheduled to hold an two-day trade barrier seminar in Monrovia from April 18-19. The daily reads that a Sweden delegation is in the country to assist Liberia implement its post accession commitments in the area or technical Barriers to trade (IBT), the two days’ seminar is in continuation of National Board of Trade support to Liberia. The deputy Minister for Commerce and Trade Services Hon. A. E. Nyema Wisner on Tuesday receives Mr. Anders Karisson and delegation from Sweden ahead of the two day event.

Launch of Shuttle Service Enhances Liberia’s Airport Transport Service

Amid the huge challenges confronting Liberia’s transport system, the Infinity Shuttle Service has launched a shared ride and point-point airport shuttle service in the country.  The formal launched of business was held on Tuesday April 17, at the head office of the firm’s office in Monrovia. Serving as Chief launcher of the project, former Liberia’s Vice President Joseph N. Boakai admonished Liberians from all walks of life to promote and support one another to move forward. Joseph F. Johnson, Manager of Infinity Shuttle Service, said his firm’s investment is intended to provide safe and comfortable transport system in the country. Johnson said it will reduce the vast number of vehicles plying the street. Johnson noted that the shuttle service will help alleviate the challenges in the transport service system, noting that company vehicles are fully air-conditioned with internet service surf or access the information online while you ride. Tickets to board the Infinity Shuttle Service are purchase at the head office of the company on 12^th Street or at the RIA Terminal or by using the QR code online system, he said. For his part, the Minister of Transport, Samuel A. Wlue welcomed the investment and pledged to support the initiative, terming it as an innovative and new project, pens the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption:Liberia Gets New Airport Shuttle Service(Daily Observer)

Former PUL President Abdullai Kamara Is Dead

The former President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) Kamara Abdullai Kamara commonly called by his initials, “KAK” is dead.  He was 46. Kamara died on Tuesday, April 17, at the Phebe Hospital in Gbarnga, Bong County. KAK arrived in Gbarnga on Monday evening to implement a project for Solidaridad West Africa, serving as its communications consultant. Solidaridad West Africa focuses on stimulating sustainable supply chains through innovations in productions, landscape management and policy enabling. Kamara Abdullai Kamara hailed from Bandor, Grand Cape Mount County. He was born on August 24, 1972, writes the Daily Observer.

Related Captions:Journalists Mourn (INQUIRER),Another Pen Dries(In Profile Daily),and Another Big Loss To Liberian Media…Say Journalists Of Ex-PUL Boss’s Death(Heritage)