Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JULY 2, 2018

News of the awarding of a doctorate degree to President George Manneh Weah by the Cuttington University, the official turning over of UNMIL’s Star-base facilities to the government of Liberia and the visit of World Bank Group Executive Director for Liberia, Mr. Andrew N. Bvumbe are stories dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Weah Challenges Graduates To Take Risk 

The New Dawnnewspaper says President George Manneh Weah has challenged Cuttington University (CU) graduates to take risks that are necessary to bring about positive changes, after CU awarded him a doctorate degree at its 57th commencement convocation, the second of such awards in a month by two private universities here. “Take risk, and do not be afraid to fail because failure is part of the process,” Mr. Weah says and suggests further that failure is merely an opportunity to learn a personal lesson from life. The Board and Faculty of CU on Friday, 29 June awarded President Weah a honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D. Honoris Causa) at the Suakoko Campus in Bong County in recognition of his service to humanity and achievement in his career. Accepting the accolade, President Weah used his keynote address titled: “The Path Will Not Always Be Clear” to tell the CU graduates that they cannot expect to get extraordinary results from ordinary efforts. “I challenge each of you that wherever you go next, to always think about ways to innovate in your chosen profession, ways to get over obstacles that have stopped others, ways to create new things, solve problems and serve others,” Weah told the graduates.

Related Captions: Weah Admonishes Cittington Graduates…Receives Honorary Degree(The INQUIRER), ‘Persistency Brings Success’-Says Weah, Charges CU Graduates To Think Big(Daily Observer), Weah Gets Doctorate Degree In Spires CU Graduates(The NEWS), The Path Will Not Always Be Clear…Pres. Dr. \Dr.  Weah Cautions Cuttington Graduates(Hot Pepper)

First Lady Applauds UN Role In Liberia...As UNMIL Turns Over Facilities

First Lady Clar Marie Weah says the United Nations through its Mission to Liberia, UNMIL, has played a significant role in the peace, stability and progress the country now enjoys. Mrs. Weah said the Mission’s fifteen-year stay in Liberia witnessed a huge investment not only in sustaining the peace but also in improving various sectors of the Liberian society. She particularly pointed out that the benefits of UNMIL’s presence in Liberia since the end of the civil war were visible in the security and health sectors, human resource and infrastructural development as well as the economy. The NEWS newspaper reads that the Liberian First Lady made the statement when she represented President George Manneh Weah at the official turning over of UNMIL’s Star-base facilities to the Government of Liberia Thursday, June 28, 2018 on the Bushrod Island in Monrovia.

Related Captions: First Lady Applauds UN’s Role In Liberia’s Peace-As UNMIL Finally Turns Over Facilities At Star-Base(Hot Pepper), First Lady Applauds UN’s Role Here(The New Dawn)

World Bank Executive Director For Liberia Here To Visit Projects, Discuss Growth Opportunities

The World Bank Group Executive Director (ED) for Liberia, Andrew N. Bvumbe, has arrived in the country for a five-day official mission to visit several project sites as well as discuss opportunities to promote growth, value addition and economic diversification. Executive Director Bvumbe, who arrived on Saturday, June 30, is accompanied by one of his advisors, Mr. Lamin Bojang, a Gambian, national. While in Liberia, Mr. Bvumbe, a national of Zimbabwe, will meet and hold discussions with President George M. Weah; Finance minister Samuel Tweah and other senior officials of Government. He will also meet and hold discussions with the World Bank Group family in the country, asserts the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: World Bank Group Executive Director Arrives In Liberia(The INQUIRER), World Bank Group Executive Director...Arrives In Liberia(The NEWS), WB Chief Visits Liberia(The New Dawn)

OTHER STORIES  

Weah Extols Canada On 151st Independence Day 

The New Dawnnewspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that President George Manneh Weah has congratulated the Government and people of Canada on the occasion commemorating that country’s 151st Independence anniversary. In the message to the Governor-General of Canada, the Right Honorable Julie Payette, President Weah expressed deep appreciation to the Government and people of Canada for the historic bonds of cooperation and friendship subsisting between the two countries and peoples. He recounted that the longstanding ties between both nations led to the historic visit of the two Canadian ships to Liberia in February 2018, to seek activities in sailing with Liberian sailors. He said it presented the opportunity for exchanges on efforts to further deepen future bilateral ties in many spheres. 

FAO, UNDP Pledge More Support...To Promote Food Security In Liberia

The NEWSnewspaper quotes a release as saying that two UN agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have joined forces with the Government of Liberia to strengthen conflict prevention and improved alternative livelihoods for communities within concession affected areas in Bomi and Nimba Counties. The project tilted: “Strengthen Conflict Prevention through the Establishment of Multi-stakeholder Platforms and Improved Alternative Livelihood within Concession Affected Areas”, will improve alternative livelihoods for concession affected communities for human security in those concession-affected areas. According to the daily, the joint initiative funded by the UN Peace Building fund is designed to provide alternative livelihood source for women and youth living in concession affected communities. The joint effort will also strengthen the emerging multi-stakeholder platforms for the non-judicial mitigation of land concession disputes and development alternative livelihoods for affected communities to prevent land conflict escalation.

EU Pledges To Help ‘Take BWI To The Next Level’

The Head of Delegation of the European Union to Liberia, Ms. Helene Cavé, has affirmed the European Union’s support to the Booker Washington Institute (BWI). The EU official envisions supporting Liberia’s oldest vocational and technical institute in the areas of heavy vehicle equipment repair, machining and mechatronics, refrigeration and AC repair, as well as health, safety and environment. In her remarks at the BWI 89^th Founders Day program, Mrs. Cavé acknowledged that with Liberia’s youth accounting for more than half the nation’s populace, coupled with the government’s strong commitment to expanding access to relevant, high quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), there exists the need for significant investment to make this a reality and the European Union remains committed to partnering with Government to support TVET programs across the nation, reads the Daily Observer.

WLCU Awards US$6K Scholarships To 10 Law School Students

The World Lebanese Cultural Union in Liberia (WLCUL) yesterday awarded 10 academic scholarships to the tune of US$6,750 to best students from the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia (UL). Ahmed S. Wazni, President of the Union, who presented the check to authorities of the law school, said the initiative was WLCUL’s way of identifying with every sector of the country, including the law school. “The community’s intent is to promote the legal profession by easing the financial burden of brilliant students in the legal field,” Wazni said. He said that the Union was now concentrating on building human capacities, instead of its usual contribution to educational institutions, which sometimes does not benefit individual students, asserts the Daily Observer.

Related Caption: WLCU Awards Scholarships...To 10 Law School Students(The NEWS)

More Local Appointments Made

The INQUIRERnewspaper reports that President George Manneh Weah has made more nominations in government affecting the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Those nominated include Mr. Abraham Kroma, Mandingo Governor, Central Administration, River Gee County, Mr. Daniel Wreh - Township Commissioner/Saykliwreh Township, Tienpo Statutory District, Mr. Samuel Gbaquie - City Major/ Tuobo Sweaken City, Tuobo Administrative District and Mr. Fredrick Saibo - Superintendent/Sarbo Statutory District, Sarbo Statutory District, among others.

‘Vehicle Owners Can Obtain ECOWAS Brown Card For US$10’

Sahr A. Kaba, Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Brown Card Insurance Scheme in Liberia, has announced a massive reduction of the cost of liability insurance for motor vehicles from US$75 to US$10. Mr. Kaba said the reduction of the ECOWAS Brown Card price is intended to make insurance affordable and to support the government’s pro-poor agenda for its citizens. He made the statement on Saturday, June 30, at a press conference held in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. Mr. Kaba said the ECOWAS Brown Card is a third-party liability insurance cover issued to vehicles traveling between ECOWAS member countries, according to the Daily Observer.

Director General Tolbert Nyenswah Calls On Pharmacists To Join Campaign On Antimacrobial Resistance

The Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia – NPHIL, Tolbert Nyenswah has called on pharmacists in the country to join the campaign on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). According to a release issued in Monrovia, the NPHIL boss disclosed that the growing wave of AMR in Liberia should claim the attention of every Liberian; especially pharmacists who he believes can play a more meaningful role in this campaign. Serving as Guest Speaker at the launch of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists-Monrovia study Center held on Friday, June 29, 2018, Director General Nyenswah asserted that AMR is a growing concern not only to the health care system but to public health globally. He continues, the release further pointed out that the misuse, overuse, wrong-prescription and over-prescription of drugs to patients is some factors that are contributing to the health problems of the country and called on the Pharmacist Board of Liberia to act and act quickly, writes the Front Page Africa newspaper.

LRA Launches 2nd e-filing For Tax Payment

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), with support from USAID RG3 Project has launched the second phase of electronic filing (e-filing) platform for tax filing and payment. The exercise was carried out on Friday, 29 June. LRA says the overall purpose of e-filing application is to provide convenience to all concerned citizens in filing and paying for all of their taxes that would reduce their cost of compliance and improve tax administration efficiency. According to LRA press release, the first phase of the platform was launched March this year, only for filing of annual corporate income taxes. Following Friday’s launch the electronic platform will now support the filing and payment of domestic tax categories, including annual business income tax, quarterly turnover tax, goods and services tax, excise tax, property tax as well as all withholding taxes, reports the New Dawn newspaper.