The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014

The donation of US4M worth of equipment to Ministry of Defense by China, Foreign Minister Ngafuan call for tolerance and harmony in the upcoming Special Senatorial Election, the opening of Nursing School at the University of Liberia and the impounding of marijuana by the Liberian National Police, are the dominant stories in today’s dailies.

The paving of the road from Redlight to Gbarnga, the Legislative appearance at the Supreme Court, the uplifting of Senator Prince Johnson ban at the Liberian Senate, the unveiling of BWI 5 year’s plans, and the return of health workers to work as well as the low turnout in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations, are among other stories selected for our daily news summary.

China Provides US$4M Equipment

The Government of the People’s Republic of China has donated several pieces of assorted engineering equipment valued over US$4 million to the 1^st Engineering Company of the Armed Forces of Liberia.  The Engineering equipment including trucks and other assorted earth moving machines were presented to the Commander-In-Chief (CIC) of the Armed Forces of Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at a ceremony held Wednesday at the Barclay TraINING Center in Monrovia. Internal Affairs Minister Morris Dukuly proxied for CIC Johnson Sirleaf at the program, which attracted several government officials. Turning the equipment over, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yue said he was happy to present the equipment to the engineering company of the AFL, the NEWS Newspaper reports.

Related stories: China Equips AFL Engineers (New Democrat), China Gives AFL Modern Equipment (New Democrat)

Ngafuan Calls For Calm Ahead Of Mid-Term Election

 Foreign Minister Augustus Kpehe Ngafuan has called for political tolerance and harmony within the country’s 15 political subdivisions or counties ahead of the midterm senatorial elections later this year. Mr. Ngafuan who served as the Keynote Speaker at the pre-induction ceremony of the Nimba County Community College (NCCC)  stated that as the political temperature rise as sons and daughters of each of the 15 counties jockey for influence and power, “My advice to our citizens across the fifteen political sub-divisions of our country, especially to the great people of Nimba, is that these senatorial races are contests among brothers and sisters and ultimately one member of the family will emerge as winner.  It will be tragic if the family, or the respective counties, were to split asunder as a result of these elections”, Minister Ngafuan advised.
He noted that the senatorial races will test the level and depth of unity, reconciliation, and tolerance in the various counties and that all Liberians need to pre-commit to keeping these races mature and civil, respecting the rights and the divergent views and perspectives of others as the country advances. Calling for a post-electoral united Liberia, Minister Ngafuan added: “In the final analysis when the elections are over, we would want to see a united and strong Nimba, a united and stronger Bong, Lofa, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe County; a united and strong Liberia”
The Liberian Foreign Minister then thanked the President, administrators, faculty and community college for transforming ordinary young men and women at the community college into extra-ordinary contributors to the forward march of the county and the country.
The NCCC, resulting from a 2010 national legislation, has increased its student enrollment to over 1,200 and was officially dedicated by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during the country’s official observance of its 163rd Independence Anniversary held in Nimba County, the New Dawn Newspaper reports.

Related stories: Minister Ngafuan Preaches Tolerance and Harmony Amidst Senatorial Elections Fever(InProfile Daily and The Monitor), Ngafuan Calls for Call Ahead Of The Mid-Term Election (New Dawn)

Police Uncover Huge Marijuan

The New Democrat Newspaper reports that the Police on Wednesday uncovered 11 bags of marijuana valued at LD14 million from an abandoned residence in the Copper Town Community on Kakata highway. Police Senior Inspector Col. Gregory Coleman, who led a team of officers and journalists at the scene said police discovered the drugs following a tip-off from residents of the Cooper Town Community. The consignment of drugs was immediately turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency (while police and DEA officers are investigating circumstances surrounding the marijuana find estimated at LD1.4M.

Related Stories: Police Impounds bags of marijuana (Insight Newspaper)

Other Stories

Nursing School Opens In September

The first admittance of students into the School of Nursing at the University of Liberia is expected to begin this September, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has been informed. JFK Medical Center Chief Administrator Dr. Wvanni Mae Scott-McDonald, speaking with an 11-member delegation from the United State compromising the IU Schools of Nursing and Business, told President Sirleaf that the curriculum of the School of Nursing, although taking time to complete, is nearly concluded and will be ready for the September 2014 entry of students, writes the New Democrat Newspaper.

ECOWAS On Arms Treaty Ratification

According to the New Democrat Newspaper, a civil society activism to encourage ECOWAS member states to ratify the United Nations Arms Trade Treat (ATT) regulating international trade in conventional arms from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships begins. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the landmark ATT to foster peace and security by putting a stop to destabilizing arms flows to conflict regions and help keep warlords, pirates, and gangs from acquiring these deadly tools.

Low Turn Out For May/June West African Exams

The head of Public Affairs at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Aboidon Adulojo says there is a low turnout of candidate for the May and June 2014 West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). According to a report from the Liberian Examination Committee, Adulojo has called on education administrators to carry out public awareness about the numerous advantages of participating in the international exams. Speaking in an interview with reports on Friday, Aduloju said his committee expressed gratitude to WAEC for their assistance to the Liberia national Office and the successful conduct of the WASSCE, reports the National Chronicle Newspaper.

Assistant Public Works Minister Appeals for Budgetary Support

Assistant Public Works Minister for Feeder Roads, Mr. Jackson Paye, has called on authorities of counties where interventions have been made on feeder roads under the Liberian –Swedish Feeder Roads Project (LSFRP), to mount pressure on the irrespective lawmakers, to support every line item in future budgetary appropriation or allotment for his ministry for rehabilitation and maintenance of feeder roads. A Public Works Ministry Press Release issued here Monday quotes Assistant Minister Paye as saying that the approval and subsequent release of appropriation for rehabilitation and maintenance or roads is extremely vital for economic growth and recovery, asserts the Heritage Newspaper.

Health Workers Return to Work in Bong

According to the Heritage Newspaper, Health Workers in Bong County Tuesday joined their colleagues across the country to return to work. The action follows the intervention of the Liberian Senate, Inter-Religious and Traditional Councils, as well as civil society organizations. The leadership of the Bong Chapter of the National Health Workers Association of Liberia, Tuesday announced a halt of their strike action, and attributed the action to promises made to them by interveners to address their concerns.

Liberian Refs Off To Ghana

Four Liberian FIFA badge referees are leaving the country today for the Ghanaian Capital, Accra to officiate in this weekend’s CAF Confederation cup first round first leg match. The game in Accra will take place between Cape Coast Dwarf of Ghana and Pedro Atletico of Angola. CAF has designated Emmanuel Neewon to officiate that match as center referee, whole Elisha Johnson and Joseph Hoff will serve as Assistant Referees number one and two respectively. Jerry Yekeh will serve as fourth official in that game. Yekeh and a team of Liberian referees were in Gabon recently to officiate in a CAF Champion League return leg, the FOCUS Newspaperreports.

Pavement Begins On Redlight-Gbarnga Road – Citizens Applaud Govt.

Rehabilitation works on the Redlight-Gbarnga road is progressing. Our reporter who visited the road is progressing. Our reporter who visited the road recently said engineers and hired workers of the Chinese company, China International Construction Company (CICO) were seen carrying out major work on the road.  Old bridges on the road are being replaced with concrete ones. The Chinese company has divided the road into segments as different workers were seen working on the Redlight-Kakata-Gbarnga road. The NEWS newspaper confirms that the company has already paved the road from Konala to Weala and from Totota to Gbatalah. Pavement work is also ongoing in the Fendell belt.

Legislature Appears In Supreme Court – in CBL’s Saga

Due to a complaint filed by the National Citizens solidarity council (NCS) before the Supreme Court, the National Legislature through its Committees on Judiciary, on Wednesday appeared before Chamber-In-Justice of the Supreme Court to give reasons on the bill passed recently amending the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) laws. The committees were led by River Gee County Senior, Clr. Frederick Cherue. Speaking with reporters at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, following the hearing, senator Cherue said they were cited by the Supreme Court to ague the legal issues; the merits and demerits of the case, the IN PROFILE DAILY Newspaperasserts.

A Captivating Liberian Book Showcased On World Market

Published in the United States of America in 2013, “Where Charles Taylor Went Wrong” has been launched at the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding, CEMESP in Monrovia. Authored by Veteran Liberian Journalist Max Willie, the book fits into the genre of a journalist war memoire. The author says the book aspires to uncovering intrigues that had characterized the presidency of the former warlord turned president, the FOCUS Newspaper writes.

CNDRA Generates US1.5M-Report

An  inside sub lead story of the NEWS Newspaper reports that the Registrar of Deeds and Records of the Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA) Margibi branch, says his office generated over L$1.5 million in 2013. In a report submitted to the Economic Transformation Pillar meeting Wednesday, Registrar Gabriel Miller said the amount was collected through the 2% tax on the cost of land paid by buyers from various private land owners in Margibi County.

Prince Johnson’s Ban Lifted

The Nimba County Legislative Caucus has lifted the suspension on its former Chairman, Senator Prince Yormie Johnson (PYJ), who is seeking re-election in the 2014 Special Senatorial Elections, the FOCUS Newspaper reports.

NEC Spends US$1.9M On Car Rental

 A New Dawn’s investigation has established that the National Elections Commission or NEC has awarded a US$1. 9 Million Contract to a local car rental company to provide transportation to its various centers for the ongoing Voters Roll Update exercise. The NEC Wednesday confirmed to this paper that it has awarded the contract to the Efficient Logistics Services to provide 200 vehicles for the Voters Roll Update, which is supposed to last for forty-five (45) days. The Commission has defended such huge spending on car rentals, saying that elections are expensive. The National Elections Commission recently announced January 29 to March 21 as the new schedule for the start of the Voter Roll Update Exercise after initially suspending the process due to budgetary delay. NEC Chairman Cllr. Jerome George Korkoya said the decision followed negotiations with relevant government institutions, including the Public Procurement Concession Commission, which granted waiver to the Commission to allow it awards a contract for the hiring of vehicles needed for the deployment of materials and personnel to conduct the Voters Roll Update Exercise. The US$1.9Million for car rental has sparked serious public debate here with some saying spending such huge among only on car rental for just forty-five days is not a wise decision. Critics say instead, the Commission should have bought some vehicles that it could use in the pending Special Senatorial Election in October and in future elections than renting commercial vehicles which is not sustainable.  But four senior officials of the NEC, including Chairman Korkoya, Co-Chair Sarah Toe, Commissioner Jonathan K. Weedor, and Commissioner Jeanette A. Ebba Dividson have justified the action. “If we need to spend US$3 million on car rental, we will spend it, because elections are expensive and we have no regret for doing anything of such,” Commissioner Jonathan K. Weedor told this paper. “We are independent Commission here and we are not answerable to anybody, so you shouldn’t come here and question us about how we spend money here,” Commissioner Jeanette A. Ebba Dividson retorted. For her part, Co-Chair Cllr. Sarah Doe said the NEC will not follow any pattern of other governmental entity, saying “We cannot do what every Tom, Dick and Harris is doing around here; we are about to have a very important election, so we will not joke about our functions here.”   Chairman Korkoya defended: “This is the company that we dealt with before, that is why we gave them the contract; in fact, they were the ones that won the bid and the PPCC process was followed.” Efficient Logistics Services is a major partner of UNDP, UNICEF, and the Government of Liberia.

Senator Yallah Elected Chairman – Of Bong Legislative Caucus

The Bong County Legislative Caucus has elected Senator Henry Yallah as Chairman of the caucus, replacing Representative George Mulbah. Also elected were Representative Korpu Barclay, Co-Chair and Bill Conneh, Secretary General. Bong County Superintendent Selena Polson-Mappy has welcomed the election of Senator Yallah as the new Chairman of the Bong County Legislative Caucus, pledging to collaborate with the new legislative caucus leadership. She hoped that the new leadership will fast track the county sitting that was delayed due the absence of a chairperson to lead the proceedings, a role reserved for the Caucus’ chairman, the NEWS Newspaper writes.

BWI Unveils 5-yr Plan

“The 5-year strategic plan is to restore BWI to its prewar status, elevating the Institute to technical college and fossils of the institution especially in the area of instruction-define what to teach, to after necessary equipments and teaching materials, increase the number of programs like oil and gas technology, and heavy duty mechanism, among others,” Alexander Massey, Interim administrator of the Institution, assures. In an interview with the In Profile Daily recently on the school campus, Massey further made mention of a biomass program, through which generators will be used to generate electric powers from agricultural waste, wood chips, kernel and coconut shells geared towards rural electrification and that.

Legislature To Face LACC

The Governance Commission (GC) says it is in the process of requesting the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to investigate startling revelation by the former Board Chair of the National Oil Company (NOCAL) that some members of the 52^ndLegislature demanded unjust fees before the passage of certain bills. The INSIGHT newspaper reveals that Mr. Benenoi Urey last week told the House Public Account Committee (PAC) certain members of the Legislature demanded thousands of United States Dollars as incentives for the passage of certain bills having to do with the business of NOCAL.