Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JULY 30, 2018

News of the ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion and rehabilitation of the ELWA-Coca-Cola factory road as well as the laying of the first brick for the construction of the new Redemption Hospital in Caldwell, including President George Weah to Lome, Togo, to attend the 53rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States are among stories highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORY  

President Weah Orders Pavement Of All Feeder Roads In Monrovia 

President George Manneh Weah has availed himself to the infrastructural transformation of Liberia and the progress of the Liberian people and declared that he would be the bridge that will connect the country and its people. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the President’s statement is an attestation of his government’s full obligation to the pavement of the roads network of the entire country, to alleviate agonizing traveling difficulties Liberians are enduring, while at the same time enhance trade and commerce. “When I came to you, I stated that I will be the bridge that will connect Liberia and Liberians; and I still stand on the promise that I am the bridge between Liberia and Liberians,” President Weah pointed out. He spoke Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Redlight, Paynesville during the ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion and rehabilitation of the stretch of road between ELWA and Coca-Cola factory.

Related Captions: ‘I’ll Be The Bridge That Connects Liberi’…Weah Declares(The NEWS), Weah Boasts Of Int’l Backing(The New Dawn), “I Will Be the Bridge That Will Connect Liberia and Liberians…Says Weah, Orders Pavement of All Feeder Roads In Monrovia(Heritage)

OTHER STORIES  

Govt. Releases New Transport Fares 

The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Transport has released new transportation fares across Monrovia. Releasing the fares over the weekend, Deputy Transport Minister for Road and Rails, Darious Kollie said all drivers are to respect the new transportation fare. He warned that any one who violates the new fare will be dealt with. Minister Kollie explained that if a taxi driver violates for the first time, he or she will be fined US$100.00 and second US$200.00 for second violation, while bus driver will pay US$200.00 for first time and US$400.00 for second violation, reports the NEWS newspaper.

Related Caption: Gov’t Drops Transportation Fares(Heritage)

Weah Off to Attend 53rd ECOWAS Summit Togo

The Heritage newspaper, quotes an Executive Mansion release, “President George Weah has departed the country today for Lome, Togo, to attend the 53rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).   While away, Hon. Nathaniel Farlo McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Chief of Staff to the President, will Chair the affairs of the Cabinet in close consultation with the Vice President, Madame Jewel Howard Taylor. President Weah is expected to return on Tuesday July 31, 2018”.

Weah Declares Assets

According to the NEWS newspaper, President Dr. George Manneh Weah has finally declared his assets. According to a statement released by the General Auditing Commission (GAC), the President declared his personal interests, income, assets and liabilities on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. GAC in the statement said the submission of the personal interests, income, assets and liabilities from the commission by the president is in fulfillment of Section 10.2 of the Code of Conduct which calls on public officials of the Executive Branch of Government to declared same to the Commission.

“Liberians Deserve Better Health Sector…Weah Lays First Brick For New Redemption Hospital

The President George Manneh Weah has said improving the country’s healthcare delivery system is at the top of the administration’s infrastructural development agenda as evidenced by the series of prompt interventions he has started to make relative to the construction of medical facilities  to give Liberians unhindered and easy access to healthcare services. President Weah on Friday, July 27, 2018 laid the first brick for the construction of the new Redemption Hospital in Caldwell, becoming the First Liberia President to break ground for the construction of two state-of –the- art hospitals to add to exiting medical centers with just six months in office; the first being the 14 Military Hospital in Schiefllin, reports the NEWS newspaper.,

Liberia Observes World Against Human Trafficking

The Ministry of Labour in collaboration with the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce is on today, Monday, July 30 joining other countries around world to celebrate “World Day Against Human Trafficking”. The New Dawnnewspaper reads that the theme for this year’s celebrations is “Responding to the Trafficking of children and young people.” According to an official release from the Ministry of Labour, the celebration is cardinal as the country improves on the fight against Human Trafficking. It may be recalled that Liberia has not previously celebrated the Day Against Human Trafficking despite committed efforts by the Government of Liberia and partners in combating trafficking of persons.

Cuba Celebrates National Rebellion Day

The Cuban Embassy in Monrovia recently celebrated its National Rebellion Day, while at the same time congratulating Liberia on its 171^st Independence. TheNational Rebellion Day is commemorated as Cuba’s second most significant day in the country’s history marking the 65th anniversary of the Assault on the Barracks Guillermón Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes. According to the New Dawn newspaper, on July 26, 1953, a group of brave Cuban revolutionaries who would be remembered in Cuban history as the Centennial Generation, led by then young lawyer Fidel Castro Ruz, assaulted two of the main military fortress of Batista´s soldiers. The assault was intended to obtain arms and go to the mountains of the east of the country, to start the guerrilla war for the total and definitive liberation of Cuba.

UNDP, Partners End Cross-Border Security Meeting In Maryland

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and partners have ended a one-day meeting on cross-border activities in Maryland County with border community members and security actors from Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire. With funding from the United Nations Peace building Support Office (UNPBSO), the one-day joint activities was aimed at promoting peace and social cohesion within counties in Liberia, and between Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire, reducing tension and violent conflicts along and among border communities and help communities understand the use of peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms among others. The New Dawn newspaper says the project; ‘Cross-Border Cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia for Sustainable Peace and Social Cohesion’ is aimed at increasing cooperation and trust between Ivorian and Liberian border communities through strengthening social cohesion and border security.

Related Caption: UNDP, Partners End Cross-Border Security Meeting In Maryland(In Profile Daily)

Liberia Revenue Authority Awards Abi Jaoudi Supermarket

The Liberia Revenue Authority has awarded the Abi Jaoudi & Azar Trade Corporation operators of the Abi Jaoudi Supermarket a certificate of appreciation after the supermarket chain recorded the “First Highest Value Importer General Merchandise for 2016/2017. The revenue generator agency has over the past few years observed a Taxpayer Appreciation program aimed at recognizing taxpayers for their level of tax compliance and contributions to national development by paying their taxes regularly and on time. This year, the Abi Jaoudi supermarket chain clinched the coveted Domestic Tax Category earning it as the Highest Contributors Award and Most Compliant Taxpayers awards, according to the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Restoring Hope In JFK Hospital

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that the Chief Administrator of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Dr. Jerry Browne has disclosed the Hospital is prepared to deliver state-of-art medical care to patients. Dr. Browne spoke Friday, July 27, when the hospital celebrated its 47^th anniversary and displayed its ultra-modern equipment and other facilities taking the hospital back to its prewar status, when it was the envy of the sub-region in healthcare delivery. He believes the modernization of the JFK would restore its confidence and trust in citizens.

Ronaldinho Is Expected In Liberia

A non-governmental international sports organization, Football For Peace (FFP), which intends to focus on community integration, reducing tensions between different groups and creating dialogue between nations to bring peace in all parts of the world will be officially launched in Liberia at the end of 2018.Football for Peace is a diplomatic sports movement considers football diplomacy to have a unique and irreplaceable capacity to unite hearts and minds, going far beyond ethnic, religious or social differences. Youth and Sports Minister D. Zoegar Wilson said the program which seeks to bring young people together and create understanding through football, was endorsed by President George  Weah as part of the July 26 Independence Day celebration. According to Minister Wilson, the program will be officially launched in November with President Weah serving at the face of FFP in Africa, reads the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

FAO Empowers MOA Epi Unit

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under its Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) funding the food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through its Emergency Center for Trans-boundary Animals Disease (ECTAD) Programme to address emerging and remerging high impact zoonoses has donated a consignment of office equipment to the Central Veterinary Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). A release said the items donated include six (6) brand new HP Probook 840 Laptop, two (2) HP LaserJet pro M277DW and two (2) Canon I-Sensys MF231 printers as well as seven (7) Samsung Galaxy tablet A6 and projector, pens the New newspaper.