THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia.

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015

News of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s meeting with bilateral partners in New York, United States of America, the United Nations Population Fund’s call  for the international community to redouble efforts to protect the health and rights of women and girls globally and the death of two persons in a fire incident in New Kru Town, Monrovia are stories dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Ellen Holds ‘Necessary Consultations’ With Partners

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has held necessary meetings with several development partners in New York, the United States of America, intended to help establish the foundation for international understanding of the challenges Liberia is confronted with. It would also inform partners of the Liberian government's strategies towards the recovery process, and more importantly, to rally meaningful support and assistance for the implementation of the country's Economic Stabilization and Recovery Plan (ESRP). Some of those the President met included Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kazuyuki Najane, Hedge Fund Manager and Philanthropist James Harris Simon and Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS, Mr. Michel Sidibe. The Liberian President also paid a courtesy call on Under-Secretary for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Herve Ladsou, reports the Daily Observer.

Related Captions: Pres. Sirleaf Holds Several Bilateral Meetings (Hot Pepper), Pres. Sirleaf Hold Series Of Bilateral Meetings (INSIGHT), EJS Holds Bilateral Talks With Liberia’s Development Partners  (FrontPage Africa), Ellen Wants Long-Term Recovery Plan…For Ebola Affected Countries (The News), Ellen Calls For Long-Term Recovery Plans for Ebola-Affected Countries (Heritage),

UNFPA Wants Increased Global Support For Women And Girls

The Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, has called on the international community to redouble efforts to protect the health and rights of women and girls globally. “By prioritizing health, rights and the full participation of women, adolescent girls and young people in public life, we increase our prospects for a more just, stable and peaceful world”, Dr. Osotimehin urged. In a statement delivered in New York Saturday, July 11th, to mark World Population Day, he said, women and girls face particular threats as a result of the absence of health and other essential services they need. This year’s World Population Day was celebrated on the theme, “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies”, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: UNFPA Calls For Protection Of Women And Girls During Crisis (Heritage), UNFPA Wants Women, Girls’ Rights ‘Protected’ (Daily Observer), UNFPA Seeks Increased Global Protection… For Females (The News)

Kru Town Fire Leaves 2 Dead

The New Dawn newspaper says a fire incident in the Borough of New Town on Bushrod Island has left two men dead and one seriously injured. According to the nephew of the decreased, Mr. Richard Flomo, the incident occurred early Sunday morning at about 1 a.m. Mr. Flomo said while asleep, he heard people screaming for help as a result of the fire. He stated that when he woke up, he noticed that it was a tailor shop that had been gutted by the fire. He said there were three men in the shop - Alphonse Wowo and Joseph Forkpah both of whom died and another with disability only identified as Topah, who got seriously injured. Topah was rushed to the John F. Kennedy Medical Hospital by Montserrado County Representative Hon. Edward S. Ford, who also arrived at the scene. According to eye-witness Flomo, the cause of the fire was unknown.  

Related Captions:  Three Burn To Death In New Kru Town-Witnesses Blame Fire On Smoking (INSIGHT), Fire Kills Two In Kru Town (The Inquirer), In The Borough Of New Kru Town 2 Burn To Death …One On Critical Condition (Heritage), Fire Kills 3 In New Kru Town (Daily Observer),

OTHER STORIES

Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Cape Verde At 40 Years

The New Dawn reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and People of the Republic of Cape Verde on the auspicious occasion commemorating the 40th Independence Anniversary of that country on July 12, 2015. In the message to her Cape Verdean counterpart, His Excellency Mr. Jorge Carlos Fonseca, President Johnson Sirleaf extended warmest congratulations to the Government and People of Cape Verde on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia and in her own name as that country celebrates yet another milestone in its national history. "It is our hope that the bond of friendship so happily subsisting between our two countries and peoples will continue to grow stronger in the years to come", President Sirleaf stressed. The Liberian President indicated that as the People of Cape Verde observe this historic event, Liberia looks forward to working closely with Cape Verde for the actualization of the ideas and aspirations of their two Government and peoples."

Ellen Pleads For US$3b Debt Cancellation

According to the Daily Observer, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has renewed requests to the international community for the cancellation of Liberia’s debt of US$3.16 billion. She further appealed for direct budget support to the three-worst Ebola-affected countries----Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. "We also re-echo our call on the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations System to support the establishment of a Special Delivery Unit within the Mano River Union (MRU) Secretariat backed by a project preparation facility for the preparation of bankable projects for effective implementation of the program," she urged.  The President pointed out that in terms of the combined costs, the financing gap is estimated at US$7.2 billion, of which US$4 billion will finance the sub-regional plan. She observed that while the resources required are significant, a strong MRU can be a “formidable force” for recovery and resilience in the sub-region, which will attract private sector investment and capital in natural resources for sustainability and positive impact on regional stability and world trade. The world as a whole has a great stake in how to respond together in this global threat, she noted, adding that the world is more connected together than before, and that viruses and diseases, just like terrorism, know no boundaries. A dispatch from New York and posted by the Executive Mansion, quoted President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as further emphasizing that an effective long-term response to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) will rest in plans and strategies for economic recovery and support for the transformation goals of the three countries worst-affected by the epidemic.

Related Caption: Ebola Nations Hustling US$4bn…Want Debt Waiver Too (The Independent)

Ellen Addresses Annual Review Of Economic & Social Council

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says that due to the lack of consultations during the early years of implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), most Least Developed Countries (LDCs) did not take ownership of the global objectives nor did they believe it to be solutions to their problems. According to a dispatch from New York, the Liberian President made the observation when she delivered the Keynote Address at the High Level Segment of the Annual Ministerial Review of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday, July 9, 2015. She spoke on “Implementing a Post-2015 Development Agenda That Works for the Least Developed Countries”. The Liberian leader pointed to the lack of capacities and accurate measurements for progress as serious issues in assessing the real impacts of the MDGs in Least Developed Countries such as Liberia, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Addresses Annual Ministerial Review Of the Economic And Social Council-High Level Segment (INSIGHT)

Ngafuan Upbeat with India’s planed role In Energy Sector

Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan has applauded the Indian government for planning to intervene in the energy sector to help address “power deficit in Liberia”. Ngafuan made the statement on Monday, July 6, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia, when the Indian Ambassador to Liberia, Mr. Dinesh Bhatia, donated 300 pieces of thermometers and six bilateral scholarships to the Government and people of Liberia. Meanwhile, Minister Ngafuan has disclosed that Liberia is considering reopening its mission in India, but did not mention when, The SPIRIT OF TRUTH reports.

Related Caption: Ngafuan Upbeat With India’s Planed Role In Energy Sector (Heritage)

Donors Pledge To End Ebola Outbreak In MRU States

Donor countries and development partners have pledged to remain engaged with three worst-affected Mano River Union (MRU) countries -----Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in ending the Ebola outbreak and help them recover. The International Conference on Ebola recovery was convened at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York based on the initiative of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, the Inquirer newspaper writes.

Related Caption: Donors Pledges To End Ebola Outbreak In MRU States (The Inquirer)

BAO-CHICO Turns Over US$64K Health Center To Gomgbeya Chiefdom

A US$64 health center built by the BAO-Chinese Iron Ore Exploration Company, (BAO-CHICO) was turned over to Gomgbeya Chiefdom last Tuesday in Gbarpolu County. The facility, located in Gokala, capital of Gomgbeya Chiefdom, contains offices, a maternal healthcare center, Out Patient Department and a dispensary. BAO-Chico Country Representative John Zhang, known in the community as John Jallah, recalled the difficulties at the beginning of the company’s exploration process in the chiefdom, and stated that with the support of traditional leaders and other stakeholders, the company achieved its objective. He paid special tribute to the Elders and Zoes and particularly to the memory of the late paramount chief of Gomgbeya Chiefdom, Jallah Lone, for supporting the company’s presence in the chiefdom. Zhang disclosed that the late paramount chief received BAO-Chico in Gomgbeya with open arms and stood by the company until it gained ground in the chiefdom. The construction of the center came as a result of an agreement reached between Gomgbeya Citizens Committee and BAO-Chico to use a portion of its Social Development Fund to build a healthcare center for the chiefdom. For his part Gbarpolu County Senator, Pro Tempore Armah Jallah, who spoke through a proxy, described BAO-Chico as a partner in his county’s reconstruction. He said BAO-Chico’s funding of the health center has demonstrated the company’s willingness to give back to the community in which it operates. He lauded the company for its continued support to the development of Gomgbeya Chiefdom through the construction of roads, bridges and the provision of social services to the people, writes the Daily Observer.

Liberia Hosts Joint WASH Sector Review

The National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene secretariat of Liberia will this Wednesday, July 15, 2015 hold the third Joint Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Review Forum in Gbarnga, Bong County. Addressing a news conference over the weekend ahead of the discussion, Assistant Public Works Minister for Community Services, George W. K. Yarngo described the WASH sector of Liberia as dynamic, the News newspaper asserts.