Daily Media Summary, Nov. 20, 2013
The Bureau of Public Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Monrovia, Liberia
News Summary For Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Today’s most top stories in our News Summary include Liberian Foreign Minister Commendation to the Qatari and Kuwaiti Governments for their Supports towards Liberia’s reconstruction efforts, news of President Johnson Sirleaf joining African, Arab leaders at the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit in Kuwait; Dr. Sawyer’s leadership role in the ECOWAS Observer Mission to Mali amongst other stories.
Dominant Stories
Liberian Foreign Minister Hails Qatari, Kuwaiti Support To Liberia
The leading story in today’s newspapers is Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan’s expression of gratitude on behalf of the Liberian Government to the Governments of the state of Qatar and Kuwait for their exemplary supports to Liberia’s reconstruction efforts. The Liberia’s Foreign Minister, who is currently in the Middle East to attend the 3rd Africa- Arab summit taking place in Kuwait, in separate meetings on the margins of the 3rd Africa –Arab summit with his Qatari and Kuwaiti counterparts conveyed President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s profound greetings , while thanking them for their respective supports to Liberia. According to the Heritage newspaper, Minister Ngafaun, in his discussion with Qatar’s Foreign Minister Dr hale Al – Attiyah, hailed the opening of the Qatar’s Embassy and the appointment of its first Qatari Residence Ambassador to Liberia. The Liberian Foreign Minister acknowledged receipt of the proposed Mining Agreement from Qatar and informed his Qatari counterpart that the Liberian Government has reacted to the proposal with the remaining Agreement being reviewed by sector Ministries, the Heritage newspaper reports.
Related Captions:
Liberian Foreign Minister hails Qatari, Kuwaiti Supports to Liberia (The Analyst)
Ellen Joins African, Arab Leaders At 3rd Africa-Arab Summit in Kuwait
The Heritage reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Tuesday joined fellow Heads of State and Governments for the 3rd Africa-Arab Summit, at the Beyan Palace in Kuwait City, the theme of which is “Partners in Development and Investment.” According to a dispatch from Kuwait, the focus of the two-day Summit is trade and investment issues that would impact positively on the peoples of the two regions. At its conclusion, on November 20, the Summit will adopt a Declaration and Resolutions to advance the achievements of the aims of the partnership, the Heritage says.
Related Captions: Pres. Sirleaf Joins African, Arab Leaders at 3rd Africa-Arab Summit (Analyst
Dr. Sawyer leads ECOWAS Observer Mission to Mali
Prof. Amos Sawyer, former Interim President of the Republic of Liberia and Chairman of the Governance Commission is leading a 100 person strong Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mission to the Legislative Elections in Mali says the Insight newspaper. The Legislative Elections follow the successful and peaceful completion of the Presidential elections in Mali and are scheduled for 24 November 2013. They are part of the election roadmap for Mali in consolidating democracy, the ECOWAS Observer Mission in Mali is expected to be deployed in that Country from 19 to 26 November 2013 and consists of ECOWAS member states, Electoral Commissions, the ECOWAS Parliament, ECOWAS members of the Council of the Wise, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS Ambassadors, the Media, Civil Society, Organizations and Electoral experts from the West African region, the Insight writes.
Related Captioned: Dr. Sawyer Leads ECOWAS Observer Mission to Mali (the Analyst)
Other Stories
NEC inspects Headquarters Of Registered Political Parties in Liberia
The National Election Commission (NEC) has begun the inspection of Headquarters of all registered political parties in the country. The exercise started on Monday and due to end on Wednesday. The inspection of the Headquarters of registers political parties in Liberia is in line with Article 79 (c) sub section (i) of the Liberian Constitution which requires all registered political parties in the country to operate functioning headquarters in Monrovia, the capital city of Liberia, the Heritage newspaper asserts on Wednesday.
Gov’t Secures $1.2 Billion for Hydro, Others
The Government of Liberia has reportedly secured an amount of US$1.2 billion for the rehabilitation of the Mt. Coffee Hydro Power Plant and other infrastructural development projects in the country reports the Inquirer. Addressing regular press briefing of the Ministry of Information in Monrovia, Finance Minister Amara Konneh disclosed that the Government of Liberia has secured US$1.2 billion for priority infrastructural projects that include the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant which will increase power supply for Liberia. “We are seeking another $1.15 billion from development partners to invest in other projects. The focus is on these key sectors that include electricity, roads, ports, and agriculture”, Minister Konneh stated, according to the Inquirer newspaper.
AFDB Decries Contract Implementation
The Field Officer of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Liberia has identified various issues affecting project implementation in the country. The AfDB Country Representative, Dr. Margaret Kilo, is quoted as saying, “Since our field office opened in August 2011, we have identified various issues affecting project implementation and tried our best to learn from them.” Dr. Kolo speaking yesterday at the launch of the Smallholder Agricultural Productivity Enhancement and Commercialization (SAPEC) Project as well as the Fishtown-Harper Road Project (phase one) said, “I would like to focus my remarks on the importance of delivering good quality results through our joint efforts, Government of Liberia officials identified to work with us, and Bank staff alike.” The Inquirer writes.
Redemption Hospital Administrator Clarifies Media Report
Mr. Tobias A. Bowen, General Administrator of the Redemption Hospital, has clarified recent story published in the Women Voices Newspaper, Volume 2 no. 279, on Monday 18, 2013 Caption: Redemption Hospital Turns Death Trap for Pregnant Women. Mr. Bowen said there are trained Doctors, Midwives and health workers at the Redemption Hospital who are catering to patients’ on a daily basis without any discrimination or nonchalant attitude exhibited. He disclosed further that 10-15 pregnant women deliver daily and not 300 pregnant women as reported in the Women Voices Newspaper, ”This is indeed to expose our hospital to public ridicule so that pregnant women will avoid using our professional services,” Mr. Bowen noted, the Inquirer reports.
Prison Health Becomes Priority as ICRC Pledges More Support For Quality Services
Health care delivery in prison has been a priority on the agenda of some key international institutions that are helping the government to meet the need of its citizens. The International Committee of the Red Cross is one of the key partners that have over the years provided drugs, medical equipment, sanitation items and support to the various prison in order to meet the needs of those in detention. The ICRC is also working in the area of water and sanitation at the various prisons in order to improve the access to clean drinking water and upgrade sanitation facilities for the inmates. The ICRC, in its latest efforts, has collaborated with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Justice, in the holding of a 3-day training seminar for 40 health workers and correction officers in charge of prison health at the various prisons throughout the country, the Insight reports
Dr. Sawyer leads ECOWAS Observer Mission to Mali
The Insight like others dailies also says Prof. Amos Sawyer, former Interim President of the Liberia and Chairman of the Governance Commission is leading a 100 person strong Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Mission to the Legislative Elections in Mali. the Legislative elections follow the successful and peaceful completion of the Presidential elections in Mali and are scheduled for 24 November 2013. They are part of the election roadmap for Mali in consolidating democracy, the Insight writes.
Liberian Youth Leader Addresses Clean Water Summit in Florida
An experienced and passionate youth leader, Stephen B. Lavalah has spoken at the Citizen’s Clean Water Summit rally in Orlando, Florida. The event took place at the University of Central Florida which is the second largest university in the United States of America. It brought together a little over 250 participants from across Florida. Lavalah is a native of Liberia, a small but great nation on the West Coast of Africa with vast natural resources yet tremendous challenges as a result of 14 years of intermittent conflict that affected every sector of the country, the Insight writes.
Chris Toe Absolves FrontPage Waives US1.5m the court awarded him
The Civil law Court in Monrovia has granted Dr. Christopher Toe’s wishes to waive the US $1.5m that the grand jury of a lower court had awarded him in the historic libel case, “Dr. Christopher Toe Vs FrontPage Africa et al”. As of the handing down of the ruling yesterday by Judge J. Boima Kontoe, according to reports, the paper and its Editors, who were correspondents in the Libel Suit, are no longer indebted to Dr. Toe or anyone acting on his behalf, the Analyst pens.
Government Stabilizing Exchange Rate Finance Ministry Boss Discloses
The Minister of Finance, Amara M. Konneh has disclosed that the Government is working very Hard to stabilize the high exchange rate between the Liberian currency and the United States dollars. Speaking Tuesday at a Special News Conference held at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Konneh said the Liberian dollar has depreciated in recent months by dropping 8.2 percent against the US dollar from August 2012 to October 2013 according to the daily newspaper. Min. Konneh said that this depreciation of the Liberian dollar has increased prices of basic commodities in Liberia. He said in the short term the Ministry of Finance will increase its sale of US Dollars to the Central Bank of Liberia in order to stabilize the foreign exchange rate and resolve the high inflation faced by Liberians in the country, quotes the Analyst newspaper.
