The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, JULY 19, 2018

President Weah dedication of the New Capitol Building Annexes, Nigerian humanitarian among Liberia’s Golden Image Award Recipients, and the arrival of Ballot Papers for the Senatorial By-Election of Bong and Montserrado counties amongst others are dominant stories in today’ s headlines.

Pres. Weah to Dedicate New Capitol Building Annexes Today

 A story on the back page of the In Profile daily reads that President George M. Weah will on Thursday, July 19, 2018, dedicate the two newly constructed annexes of the Capitol Building. According to a release from the Senate Press and Public Affairs Department, the dedication ceremony will be graced by several dignitaries and foreign partners. Chinese Ambassador accredited near Monrovia Fu Jijun is expected to hand over the keys of the Buildings to Liberia’s Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar M. Findley, for onward transfer to  President Weah for the official dedication, the paper reads.

Related Captioned: Weah Dedicates Capitol Building New Annexes Today (Insight)

Nigerian Humanitarian Among Liberia’s Golden Image Award  Recipients

A Nigerian philanthropist, Chief Clifford Obioma Nzeruem is among about 12 International personalities that will be honored at the Golden Image Award in Monrovia, Liberia. A Former Honorary Consul General of Liberia to the State of Lagos, he is being honored for his unending humanitarian assistance, particularly to Liberians in Nigeria and adjoining countries, a release from the Liberian Embassy in Nigeria quotes the vetting committee of the Golden Image Award, the Frontpage Africa newspaper reports. Chief Cliff, as he is well known in the Liberian Community in Nigeria, especially among Liberians residing in Lagos and adjoining states, is described as “a selfless and altruistic humanitarian”, who has been using his own resources to assist Liberians in difficult situations, ranging from refugee welfare to those involved with domestic problems, the paper recounted.

Related Captioned: Nigerian Chief among Liberia’s Golden Image Award Recipients (In Profile)

Ballot Papers Arrived

The National Elections Commission, NEC has announced the arrival of 1,278,750 ballot papers for the conduct of by-elections in Montserrado and Bong Counties to fill vacant senatorial seats left last December when President George Manneh Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor won a run-off poll. Mr. Weah was serving as Montserrado County Senator while Madam Taylor was also serving as Bong County Senator when they won a presidential run-off last year, the New Dawn newspaper asserts.

Related Captioned: Ballot Papers Arrive for Montserrado and Bong Counties’ Senatorial By-Elections (Frontpage)

Liberian Student Wins Prestigious Int’l Agri Investment Fellowship

Ambulah Mamey, a Liberian student concentrating in Agricultural Development and Environment in the Development Management Program at American University, Washington D.C., has won the 2018/2019 Kirchner Food Fellowship; the world’s most prestigious and innovative capital investment training program in the food and agriculture sector. The program is led by renowned individuals including the President and CEO of the Noble Research Institute, the immediate past president of Mexico, Vincente Foxx, and former secretary for the Department under President Obama, the New Dawn writes.

EPA Flexes Muscle

Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, EPA has with immediate effect fined Bea Mountain Mining Corporation the amount of US$99,999.99 to be paid into the Government of Liberia Revenue through the Liberia Revenue Authority, LRA. The EPA mandate dated 13^th July says Bea Mountain Mining Corporation should pay the fine with an official receipt of the notice of fine. The EPA through Executive Director Nathaniel Blama mandates the mining company to remediate the illegal effluence discharge within 15 days and provide drinking water for the affected communities in the meantime. EPA further mandates the company to commission a Resettlement Action Plan by an Independent Environmental Evaluator to determine compensation for the affected community, the New Dawn reads

CBL Issues Ultimatum as Government Mops Up L$239M

The headline story of the New Dawn newspaper reports that amid the excess liquidity problem in the economy exacerbated by rapid depreciation of the Liberian dollar with rising prices, the Central Bank of Liberia has announced effective today, Thursday, July 19, 2018 for foreign exchange bureau operators and vendors to halt exchanging money in the streets. Making the pronouncement on Wednesday, 18^th July, in a meeting with hundreds of operators and street vendors, the new Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia Nathaniel Patray instructs licensed and non-license money exchangers to leave the streets immediately and move into foreign exchange bureau to serve the public, the paper reads. The meeting with vendors government economic management team, comprised of the Ministers of State for Presidential Affairs, Finance and Development Planning, and the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, among others.

Agr. Minister Delighted Over Seafarers Training

A back page story of the In Profile Newspaper reads that the Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA( , Dr. Mogana S. Flomo, Jr. has termed the training of 50 Liberian seafarers by the Regional Maritime University based in Accra, Ghana as a commendable venture which will help to upgrade and strengthen the capacity of Liberian seafarers to meet international standards. Speaking at the official opening ceremony of NaFAA’s week-long International Seaman Training held Monday, July 16, 2018 at the Mesurado Pier on the Bushrod Island, Min. Flomo disclosed that the training is a great opportunity for Liberia because according to him, it could have cost government lots of money to send all of the seafarers abroad for training, the paper reads.

MFDP’s LIMPAC Donates L$2M Financial Aid ULSU

The Liberia Macroeconomic Policy Analysis Center, LIMPAC, at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has contributed more than LD$2M to support financial aid scheme of the University of Liberia Student Union, ULSU, and other campus based organizations at the University of Liberia for the ensuing semester of academic year 2018/2019. The donation was made recently in checks payable to the University of Liberia in favor of the scholarship and financial aid listings of ULSU and two other campus-based organizations. Making the presentation, LIMPAC’s Executive Director Mr. Del-Francis Wreh thanked Samuel Tweah, Minister of Finance and Development Planning and Chairman of the Board of Management of LIMPAC, for approving increment in the support to ULSU from L$500,000 in the past semester to L$1,350, ooo, demonstrating his true desire toward the pro-poor agenda of the Government of Liberia, the In Profile news daily reports.

New Lebanese Ambassador Pays Courtesy Call on Postal Affairs Minister

The newly accredited Lebanese Ambassador to Liberia paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, and expressed his willingness to work along with the ministry. Over the weekend, His Excellency, Ambassador Henri Kostoun made the visit at the Office of the Minister, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr. to discuss wide range of issues relating to the implementation of the ministry’s five year development plan. During his visit, the ambassador highlighted the willingness of his country to help the ministry with the execution of its programs over the next six years, the In Profile Newspaper writes.

National Association of University Women Monrovia Branch Chaptered

The National Association of University Women, NAUW Monrovia Branch has officially been chaptered, thus becoming a full-fledged member of NAUM. The Monrovia, Branch was chaptered following the visitation of the President of the United States Branch of the organization, Madam Evelyn L. Wright to Liberia. According to an NAUW release, the Monrovia, Branch was chaptered July 13, 2018 at the University of Liberia Fendall Administrative Building Reception Hall, Louisiana, Montserrado County, with Madam Marthaline Wilson Williams inducted as the Branch’s President, the In Profile newspaper reads.

Government Accountants, Comptrollers Undergo Capacity-Building Workshop

The Government of Liberia, through the Office of the Comptroller and Accountant General of Liberia, with support from the African Development Bank, AFDB, has conducted a three-day workshop aimed at improving the preparation of International Public Sector Accounting Standard Complaint Financial Reporting for all spending entities of Government. The workshop which took place Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, brought together 67 participants including Comptrollers and Accountants from across spending entities with the opportunity to learn and have hands-on training in the preparation of IPSAS financial reports from July 13-15 under the theme: “Enhancing Transparency Through financial reporting”, In Profile newspaper reads.

Liberia Albino Society Breaks Ground for 10-Bed Room Clinic in Buchanan

Pregnant women, baby mothers and kids over the weekend benefited from free medical services in Buchanan City Grand Bassa County. The one-day health outreach was conducted by the Liberia Albino Society as part of their annual international Albinism day celebrations. Beneficiaries walking away with multi-vitamin, parameter care, paracetamol, among others, showered praises on the Albino Society for such a timely and meaningful gesture, the In Profile newspaper reports.

Senate Holds Close-Door Session with Monetary Authorities

The Deputy Governor for Operations and Acting Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, Charles Sirleaf, along with key stakeholders of the Country’s economic sector Tuesday held a close-door discussion with members of the Senate. The discussion was intended to hear from the financial stakeholders on the way forward in addressing the current economic situation in the country. Following the Close-door session, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Grand Kru County Senator, Albert Chie, indicated to reporters that the discussion was gear towards finding lasting solutions to the current hash economic situation that the country faces, the Insight newspaper reads.

PCC Plans Two-week Training Seminar for Teachers outlines challenges in garbage collection and disposal

An inside story of the insight newspaper reads that Paynesville City Corporation, PCC has announced plan to conduct workshop for Liberian teachers beginning next week. Speaking on the Truth Breakfast Show yesterday, the Communication Officer of the City Government disclosed that as of 23^rd July, PCC will train teachers and school administrators in Paynesville, the paper reads.

MNG Gold Apologizes, Global Health and Safety Director Says ‘Public Health is of Utmost Importance’

Ms. Meryem Tokol Pelenk Global Health, Safety and Environmental Director of Mehmet Nazif Guna, MNG Gold has admitted to a team of journalists that the accident that happened last year a the Tailing Storage Facility of the MNG Gold mine in Kokoyah, contaminated some surface water bodies of surrounding villages, Sayewheh Town in particular. On September 28, during the routine morning inspection, our teams observed a discharge from an under drain pipe. It was firstly thought that the discharge was coming from the drainage system after a very heavy overnight rain, she stated. According to her, thery noticed in few hours the appearance of the water changed and it was realized that the discharge was coming from the TSF, the FrontPage Africa newspaper says.