The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2018

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies among other stories highlights news of President George Manneh Weah’s Proclamation declaring Saturday, June 9, 2018 as “International Archives Day, the Liberian Government’s commendation  on the friendship, generosity, and courtesies from the great people of the Kingdom of Sweden toward the people of Liberia, the Belgium Regent, His Majesty King Philippe’sassurance of his country support to Liberia’s development agenda with emphasis on Health, Education and Agriculture, and the ministry of education pronouncement on the release of the 2018 WASSCE result on July 5, 2018, among others.

President Weah Issues Proclamation Declaring Saturday, June 9, 2018 “International Archives Day As A Working Holiday In Liberia

The Heritage newspaper reports the President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency George Manneh Weah, has by Proclamation declared Saturday, June 9, 2018 as “International Archives Day” to be observed throughout the Republic as a Working Holiday. A Foreign Ministry release says the Day will be observed under the Global Theme: Achieves Governance, Memory and Heritage. The International Council  of Archives (ICA), created on June 9, 1948, under the aegis of the UNESCO mission, to promote the preservation and use for archives around the world   and for the protection and enhancement of the memory of the world as well as  to  improve communication while respecting cultural diversity. The Proclamation further calls on the Center for National Documents and Records Agency which is also member of the International Council on archives to join other Members worldwide in the seventy (70th) Anniversary celebrations. The release added that the observance of the event is necessary in order to reflect on our immediate past and create Public awareness on the importance of good record keeping, focusing on the national theme for this year’s celebration: The Proclamation also stressed that Good Record Keeping enhances and promotes Good Governance, Transparency, and Accountability.

Gov’t Extols Kingdom Of Sweden On Occasion Of Its National Day…VP Howard-Taylor Recounts The Scandinavian Nation’s Contributions To Liberia

The Heritage newspaper reports that on the occasion marking the Swedish National Day, the Liberian Government has extolled the friendship, generosity, and courtesies from the great people of the Kingdom of Sweden toward the people of Liberia. The Government says Liberia and Sweden share common concerns, values, and aspirations as the country remains firmly standing with Sweden in the quest for global peace and cordiality, the rule of law, accountability, peace and the respect for human dignity. Speaking at the Swedish National Day celebration last Wednesday evening, Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor noted that the role of the Kingdom of Sweden has not only lifted high the physical, political, economic, and social conditions of Swedes, but also profoundly impacted peace and friendship of the peoples of the world. According to her, the Government of President George Manneh Weah is deeply excited over prospects for greater vistas of cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

King Philippe Assures Pres. Weah Of Support In Health, Education, Agriculture

The Belgium Regent, His Majesty King Philippe has assured President George Manneh Weah that his country will support Liberia’s development agenda with emphasison Health, Education and Agriculture. The King gave the assurance when he received President Weah in audience Thursday, June 7, 2018 at the Royal Palace in Brussels. King Philippe said Belgium will do more in supporting the aspirations of the Liberian people. He said Belgium private sector will also be nudged into investing in several sectors of the Liberian economy. Responding, President Weah thanked King Philippe for the warm reception accorded the Liberian delegation throughout the visit to Brussels. He reiterated his government’s focus on infrastructure development, education, health, agriculture and youth development. The President urged King Phillipe to lend his influence in promoting Liberia’s Pro-poor Development agenda, reports the Heritage newspaper.

WASSCE Results Due July 5; MoE Warns Against Graduation Before Exams’ Results

The Daily Observer reads that Deputy Education Minister for Instruction, Mr.  Alexander N. Duopu, has said that results for this year’s West African Examinations Council Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) will be released on July 5. Henceforth, Mr. Duopu said, all graduation-related exercises should be held after that date, and noted that the Ministry will impose heavy fines on schools having thanksgiving services and graduation ahead of the July 5 date. Mr. Duopu made the disclosure Thursday at a news conference the ministry hosted in Monrovia. Minister Duopu warned that any violator/s that would graduate students in the absence of WASSCE’s result would be fined, and that the fine would hurt such schools to the extent that those falling in such category by defying the regulation would no longer function as schools.

Liberia To Observe World Day-Against Child Labour

According to the In Profile Daily, for the first time, Liberia will be joining other countries in the world to celebrate World Day Against Child Labour, slated for June 12, 2018. Speaking at the regular. Speaking at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, the Deputy Minister for Manpower Planning and Development at the Ministry of Labour, Phil Tarpeh Dixon, noted that this will be the first time in the history of Liberia to observe such day in the country. He said, the day will be celebrated under the theme: ‘‘Liberians should not be exploited in search of opportunity.’’

IOM Repatriates 130 Stranded Liberian Migrants from North Africa

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the International Organization for Migration (IMO) has repatriated 130 Liberian migrants to the country. The Liberian migrants where picked up from Abadez. Abadez is in Niger and was used by the International Organization for Migration as a pickup point for Liberian migrants to bring them home. The daily says many of them became stranded while traveling from North Africa to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. The returnees were reportedly taken from Algeria, Mali, Libya, and Tunisia amongst other countries. When they touched down at RIA on Thursday, 130 were presented packages, which the IOM said, was intended to help support their repatriation process. Mr. Kabla Amihere, Chief of Mission of the IOM, assured that the returnees will be supported by the IOM to enhance their reintegration back into the Liberian society. The IOM confirmed Thursday that several Liberians are still stranded in exile and need assistance to return home.

Buchanan To Host PUL Award

The President of the Press Union of Liberia, Charles B. Coffey, has announced Buchana, Grand Bassa County, as the host for this year’s Excellent Award and Dinner Program. Speaking at the regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism on Thursday, June 7, 2018, he noted that for decentralization of the union in every corner of the country, Buchanan was named host of this year’s award program. He said he event will begin at 7pm the Fair Ground in Buchanan and will bring together journalists, media executive, former leaders of the PUL, supporting partners and government officials. Coffey indicated that before there were 15 awards presented during the award’s night but noted that this year, there will be 41 awards presented to media institutions and individuals, including best community radio station of the year in the 15 counties, reports the In Profile Daily.

NaFAA Boss Rallies Actions For Safer, Cleaner Ocean

Amidst the numerous problems confronting Liberia’s waters, the Director General of the National fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has called for concerted efforts aimed at ensuring a healthier, safer and Cleaner Ocean. Madam Emma Metieh-Glassco said intimated that the ocean is the engine of national growth and revenue generation; as such, Liberia must begin to concentrate on the health of the ocean. Madam Glassco said coastal erosion, as a result of sea level rise, has also compounded the problems confronting the ocean. For the first time in a century, she said, there are more people being displaced from the effects of the ‘Rising Ocean’ and climate change, pens the Heritage newspaper.

Finance Minister Stresses Need To Invest In Agriculture, Electricity

The Heritage newspaper reports that the Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah has emphasized the need for Liberia to undertake huge investment in the Agriculture sector as generate more electricity in order to boost government’s development agenda. He said, Liberia will need to generate about 300 to 400 megawatts of power in order to achieve significant transformation in the private sector. Tweah, who spoke recently in Monrovia at the World Bank Liberia Country Partnership Framework for Media Institutions, noted that the Government of Liberia is currently struggling to transmit the 88 megawatts of Power Plant due to some challenges.

About 30 Muslims To Attend This Year’s Hadj In Mecca

According to the Heritage newspaper, 30Muslims from across the country are expected to attend this year’s Hadj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, which is a religious duty of all Muslims across the world. Making the disclosure to the Liberia News Agency (LINA) in Monrovia, the Grand Mufti of Liberia, Sheikh Abubakar Soumaworo, said the trip is being; made possible through the kind gesture of President George Manneh Weah. ‘‘We appealed to President George Weah to send 10 Muslims for this year’s Hadj, but the President promised to increase the number to 30, Mufti Soumaworo disclosed. Mufti Abubakar Soumaro noted that this is the first of its kind in Liberia for a sitting President to identify with the Islamic community in such a way, noting that the Muslim community will forever be grateful to the President.

Plastic Pollution Affects Liberia’s Marine Ecosystem – EPA Boss

The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, Nathaniel T. Blama Sr., has disclosed that the country’s marine ecosystem is being affected by plastic pollution. Hon. Blama said the inability of people to reused plastic bags is causing serious pollution, because used plastic bags end-up in waterways causing flooding and environmental degradation in Liberia. Making a special statement at the celebration of the 2018 World Environment Day in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, EPA Boss disclosed that plastic pollution is now a global threat that must be stopped. He emphasized the need for Liberians to put-up a new attitude of reusing plastic bags and desist from dropping water plastics in the street.  According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, June 5, is celebrated globally as World Environment Day to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and public action. The national theme for this year’s celebration is: ‘Say No to Plastic Pollution’, while the global theme is “Beat Plastic Pollution if you can reuse it, refuse it”.