The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013

Today, Thursday, December 12, 2013 dominant stories in our selected local dailies captures President Johnson Sirleaf’s meeting with US President Barack Obama and the graduation of 213 trainees from the Monrovia Vocational Training Center.

Dominant Stories

Pres. Sirleaf, Dr. Sawyer Among First To View Mandela’s Body

A front page sub lead story of the INSIGHT newspaper reveals that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the aura of the State Memorial Service and the viewing of the mortal remains of global icon and campaigner of world peace and human rights, Nelson Mandela, should inspire world leaders and peoples of all nations to follow his exemplary deeds in the legacy he now leaves. The Liberian leader said she was honored to have been a part of the official events leading to the final burial of Mr. Mandela. According to a dispatch from South Africa, President Johnson Sirleaf and eminent Liberian statesman, Dr. Amos Sawyer, were among leaders from around the world invited to view the body of the former President of South Africa, who passed away on December 5^th, in his 95^thyear.

Related Caption: Ellen, Obama Meet…At Mandela’s Memorial Service (The NEWS)

MVTC Graduates 213 Technocrats For The Job Market

The Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) situated in Jacob Town, Paynesville on Wednesday graduated about 213 people in various technical disciplines for the Job market. The graduates received certificates in masonry, electricity, computer education, plumbing, heavy duty, and auto mechanics among others. Serving as Keynote Speaker Mr. Zhang Ranjien, technical leader of the Shan Xi Construction Engineering Group described vocational education as a fundamental part of National Development.  The Chinese Engineer noted that vocational education plays a positive role in the economic growth and social development of any nation, theINSIGHT newspaper reports.

Other stories

‘Be Vigorous As Diplomats’…Foreign Minister Ngafuan Urges Graduates

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has urged graduates of the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be energetic in their operations as Liberian Diplomats in Foreign Countries. Speaking Wednesday, December 11, at the graduation ceremony of 38 persons from the Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute, Minister Ngafuan told the graduates that the Foreign Service is a place of competition, and as such they should get ready for the struggle. Giving an overview of the institution, Dr. Augustine Konneh, Director General of the Foreign Service Institute at the MFA, said that the institution was established to train young men and women who are interested in the field of diplomacy. The Valedictorian of the class, Sondah Geepea-Wilson, lauded the Ministry for the level of cooperation given to the graduates over the past nine months. She promised that they would use the knowledge wisely in performing their duties as diplomats, the Daily Observer newspaper reports.

UL Clears 1,316 For Graduation, 985 Dropped – UL President, Dr. Emmet E. Dennis

The Daily Observer newspaper says, of the 2,301 candidates that applied for graduation at the University of Liberia’s (UL) 95^thCommencement Convocation, only 1,316 were qualified, while 985 applicants were disqualified. According to statistics obtained by the Daily Observer from the office of UL Enrollment Management Wednesday, December 11, 553 candidates applied for graduation from the Accounting Department. Of that number, 312 were cleared for graduation. In the case of majors in Sociology, and Biology, 385, and 202 applied respectively, but only 292 and 74 were declared competent to graduate, while the rest were dropped due primarily to academic deficits.

Liberian Co-Authored Book On Climate Change

A new book entitled, ‘West Africa Agriculture and Climate Change,’ which was launched in Warsaw, Poland, at the 19^th Conference of the Parties (COP 19) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) examines how climate change will affect food security threats and explores increased efforts needed to achieve sustainable food security in 11 of the 16 countries that make up West Africa. The eleven countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The book was published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) based in Washington, D.C., the United States of America. It describes the climate and non climate stressors influencing economic growth in the agriculture sector, considering expected population and income growth, the NEWS newspaper reports.

Government Extols S/Army Efforts – As It Ends 25^th Silver Jubilee Celebration

Liberia’s Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has pledged the government of Liberia’s support to the Salvation Army Liberia Command in all positive directions. Vice President Boakai said the government of Liberia is aware of the many positive contributions that the Salvation Army Liberia Command is making in post conflict Liberia in many sectors. According to the INSIGHT newspaper, the Liberian Vice President speaking at the 25^th Silver Jubilee Celebration at the William Both High School Compound in Paynesville further noted that Salvation Army is one of the fastest growing churches in Liberia.

300 Homes To Get Electricity Before Christmas

Over 300 homes are expected to get electricity from the West African Power Pool before this Christmas the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has said. LEC’s Ganta office on Tuesday, December 10, began pole to house connections six months after the electricity was tested upon crossing over to Liberia from neighboring Cote d’Ivoire. According to the LEC Chief Engineer in Nimba, Mr. Joseph Leay, before Christmas and New Year’s Day, more than 300 houses in Ganta and its environs will be connected to electricity, the Daily Observer newspaper says.

Relative Linked To Politician’s Death

A front page sub lead story  of the New Democrat newspaper reveals that police says a Guinean relative of the late Fayiah Gbolie who was murdered at his home in Congo Town is wanted for investigation into the shocking killing of the former presidential candidate of the opposition Free Democratic Party of Liberia (FDP). Police spokesman Sam Collins, yesterday announced that the suspect identified as Tamba Tengbeh, was wanted after clues linked him to the murder of the former presidential candidate. Police also hinted that the suspect who was recently seen in Liberia is a foster son of the deceased’s sister (name unknown) who “jumped probation in neighboring Guinea while serving a murder sentence.” Kollie said all boarder points across the country have been alerted to remain watchful of the wanted relative of the murdered politician. He is said to be in his 30s.  Additionally, Mr. Collins also disclosed that the Toyota 4Runner Vehicle marked PC7183, is also wanted by the police.

Civil Society Wants Single Currency

Liberia’s Civil Society Groups have called for the restoration of a single currency regime that will allow all financial transactions to be carried out in the Liberian currency. In a document submitted to the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) at the end of a review process of the Constitution in Kakata, Margibi County, the groups recommended the scrapping of the prevailing dual currency regime that allows financial transaction to be carried out in US and Liberian dollars in the country. LBA president, John B.S. Davis, speaking at a news conference marking this year’s annual banker’s week welcomed the government’s decision to migrate to the single currency in three years, but said such a decision should not be implemented in a hurry, the New Democrat newspaper writes.

Ellen Corkrum’s Pre-trial Begins

The long-awaited trial involving defendant Ellen Corkrum, Musa Bility and others indicted for Economic Sabotage and Theft of Property began Wednesday at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia. Defendant Corkrum who currently resides in the USA, served as Managing Director of the Roberts International Airport (RIA). According to the News newspaper, Madam Corkrum has filed a US$25 million Action of Damages for Defamation of Character against the Government of Liberia. Other defendants are the Presidents of the First International Bank (FIB), Liberia Bank for Investment & Development (LBDI) John Davis and Melvin Johnson of the United States of America. At the call of the case for the pre-trail conference on Wednesday, one of the counsels for the state, Cllr. J. Daku Mulbah brought to the attention of the court that the  full disclosure  of evidence requested  for by the defendants were in the court’s file.