Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2018

News concerning  the commencement of the coastal-highway construction by next year; President George Manneh Weah’s additional nominations in government and the expected visit of three beauty queens from Nigeria, Uganda and Namibia as well as the donation of two separate digital television units to the Bureau of Passport & Visa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are among stories highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

Coastal H’Way To Begin Next Year…As World Bank Offers US$500m

The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT) Lenn Eugene Nagbe has disclosed that the coastal highway will begin next year after series of meetings with partners. Minister Nagbe made the disclosure yesterday at the regular press briefing at MICAT. According to him the construction of the coastal highway was determined on scientific basis and lots of assessments and feasibility studies. Minister Nagbe said the World Bank have offer them 500 million to construct the coastal high way and will later on follow another 500 million but have not concluded yet signed and ratify it, reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

Related Caption: Back To Status Quo (FrontPage Africa)

MCC, MGCSP To Host Three Beauty Queens from Nigeria, Uganda And Namibia

The Monrovia City Corporation, MCC in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGSCSP) is expected to host three Beauty Queens from Nigeria, Uganda and Namibia. A delegation comprising of the Face of Africa and the first two Runners-up of TREK Africa Face of Africa Beauty Pageant and the ECOWAS Youth Envoy are expected in Liberia beginning Friday, August 3, 2018. Whilst in the country, they are expected to embark on series of nationwide initiatives including discussion surrounding hosting Face of Africa Beauty Pageant scheduled to be hosted soon, theHeritage newspaper reads.

Related Captions: ECOWAS Queens Visit Liberia (The New Dawn), MCC, Gender Ministry To Host Three Queens (In Profile Daily)

Weah Further Appoints Local Officials

President George Manneh Weah has made the following nominations in government affecting the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the City Governments of Monrovia and Paynesville, the National Disaster Management Agency, and the Liberia Institute of Public Administration.  According to the New Dawn newspaper, the nominations are subject to confirmation by the Honorable Liberian Senate where applicable.

Related Caption: Pres. Weah Appoints Jon Bricks As Liberian Music Culture Attaché In Asia (In Profile Daily)

Humanitarian Gesture Embraced On Account Of VP Taylor

The In Profile Daily reads that Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has presented two separate digital (SATCOM) television units to the Bureau of Passport & Visa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the VP Howard Taylor, an arrangement has been made with the service provider for the provision of a one year free service, following their installation of the equipment. Receiving the donation, Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar M. Findley who described the Bureau of Passport as one of the most outstanding departments at the Ministry, assured Vice President Howard Taylor that the gesture will be used for the intended purpose.

Agriculture Ministry Commences Industrial Rice Milling Machines’ Installation In Grand Gedeh

The Ministry of Agriculture has begun installing modern industrial rice milling machines in the Southeast, starting with Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County. The process will continue I Maryland, Grand Kru and River Gee Counties, according to Gedeh County Ministry of Agriculture Coordinator, Amos Kai. Making the disclosure on Wednesday during a site visit by the LINA correspondent, Mr. Kai explained that the installation of the machines is intended to bring relief to farmers who face extreme difficulties in the processing of their farm produce. Kai noted that the project will also motivate farmers to engage in large-scale rice production to ensure food sufficiency and economic viability in their respective counties and in the country as a whole, the In Profile Daily reads.

Firestone Liberia Wins Golden Image Award For Education

According to the New Dawn newspaper, Firestone-Liberia was selected as winner in the international category of education at the Golden Image Award (GIA). Firestone-Liberia operates 27 schools with an enrollment of 13,000. Quoting a release, the daily reads that the company also provides scholarships for higher education to qualified Liberian students and spends about US$150,000 a year for this program. Founded in 2011, the GIA is a national Liberian meritorious award bestowed upon individuals, organizations and countries that have made selfless contributions to human development initiatives nationally or internationally.

Related Caption: Firestone Receives Golden Image Award for Education (The INQUIRER)

IBLL Announces LRD$285,000 For Students’ Vacation Programs

The International Bank Liberia Limited (IBLL) has announced LRD$285,000 in support of students’ vacation programs. According to a press statement issued in Monrovia, the International Bank (Liberia) Limited is proud to sponsor two vacation programs that cater to students with a combined total of LRD$285,000.00 in support of training and feeding of the students. The programs being supported are administered by St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Camp Johnson Road which received LRD$125,000.00 and Calvary Empowerment Team in Chugbor, Old Road which received LRD$160,000.00.  The New Dawn newspaper reads that IBLL believes in community centered programs that enhance citizenry and promote principles in line with the company’s values of trust, reliability, integrity, teamwork and excellence.

CNDRA Closes Chapter On Land Matters

The Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA) has finally turned over all land related instruments to the Liberia Land Authority (LLA).The official turning over ceremony took place on Thursday, 2 August at the central office of the National Archives located on 12th Street, Sinkor. Key among the materials turned over to LLA were two recording ledgers containing records from 2016 – July 30, 2018 while the stamp of registrar for deeds and titles was destroyed by both Directors.It was agreed by both parties that the official CNDRA Seal and files for adoption previously used by the Deeds and Titles Section remains in the custody of the Agency, according to the New Dawn newspaper.

MOE Issues Moratorium On Opening Of New Schools

An inside story of the Heritage newspaper reads that The Ministry of Education through the Deputy Minister for Instruction, Mr. Alexander Duopu, has announced the issuance of a moratorium on granting operational permits to new schools in the upcoming academic year. Speaking Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at the induction of the County Education Officers and District Education Officers, Deputy Minister Duopu said the move is one of the many steps aimed at cleaning up the mess in the educational sector of the country. According to him, the moratorium would continue until all necessary checks on existing schools are concluded by the Ministry. “I want to inform you here, both DEOs and CEOs in this room that, do not grant any permit to any new school. We are now placing a moratorium on the opening of all new schools and we continue with the cleaning process in the education sector” said Deputy Education Minister for Instruction.

Liberia To Launch ATSWA Study Packs…As LICPA Seeks Gov’t Attention

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the Liberia Institute of Certified Public Accountants (LICPA) as a member of the Accountancy Body of West Africa (ABWA) is expected to launch the Accounting Technical Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) Study Packs in Monrovia from August 6 -10, 2018. ATSWA is a middle level professional program while ABWA is the organization and harmonization committee responsible to manage the ATSWA program and because this year’s exams come up in September, the committee members meet to vet the questions ensure that they are acceptable and in line with its curriculum.

Tokpa Wins Bong…Cole Concedes In Bong County As Joseph Maintains Lead In Montserrado Race

Cllr. Jerome George Korkoya, Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), has declared Dr. Henrique Tokpa winner of the July 31st by-election in Bong County. Tokpa, according to the NEC Chairman, will be certificated in keeping with the Constitutional time. Tokpa, who ran as an independent candidate and was endorsed by three opposition political parties, Alternative National Congress (ANC), Unity Party (UP) and Liberty Party (LP), will replace and complete the remaining six years of Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor. Madam Taylor’s ascendance to the Vice President post made the Bong County Senate seat she had occupied vacant. “In keeping with Section 2.9(g) of the New Elections Law of Liberia, I, on behalf of the Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission, do hereby declare Dr. Henrique Tokpa as the winner of the July 31, 2018 Senatorial by-election in Bong County,” Korkoya said. Dr. Tokpa contested in the 2014 Special Senatorial Election and came as first runner-up to Madam Taylor (now Vice President). He claimed there was a foul play to deny him the Senate seat. He ran to the Supreme Court to contest the result. The case was later withdrawn and settled out of court between the two Bong statespersons, according to the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: Dr. Henrique Tokpa Not Set For Senate (The INQUIRER)