THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, JULY 20, 2015

News of Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan’sdecision not to be inactive in 2017 butstep out and play the rightful role history and providence have assigned to him, the honoring of 42 distinguished individuals, humanitarians, institutions, organizations, most of whom associated with the fight against the Ebola virus disease in Liberia, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai request for Liberians to promote theircultural values and practices and the dedication of  a 49 kilometer road in Bong Countyby the United States Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Deborah Malac are stories highlighted in today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Ngafuan Rallies For 2017-Says he will ‘not be inactive in 2017’

According to the Daily Observer, Foreign Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has said he will not be inactive in the 2017 General and Presidential Election but will play the rightful role that history and providence require of him. Serving as the keynote speaker at the induction ceremony of the University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU) government Friday, in the main auditorium of the university, an organization he served in as president for two consecutive years 1998-2000, the former Finance Minister said he has made a conscious decision to step out and play the rightful role that will see his country moving to higher heights. “I have made a conscious decision not to be inactive in 2017 and to step out and play the rightful role history and providence have assigned to me,” he said, urging the students, whom he referred to as members of the ‘Intelligentsia,’ not to sit idly and allow the wrong people elected in 2017. Minister Ngafuan indicated that he would not indulge himself in preaching sectorial or divisive politics; that he does not believe that the leadership of Liberia should be given to a particular class, craft, cult, tribe, county, or religion. “What I will tell you is that leadership should be given to the positive forces of Liberia - the honest, the dedicated, the selfless, the competent, the nationalistic, and the visionary Liberians,” he said. The minister noted that positive forces, no matter where they are, must align or re-align so that progress can be assured for Liberians, noting that if they do not do so, even urgently, the space may be taken up by the undeserving or negative forces.

Related Captions: Ngafuan Opens Up On 2017 Race-Want ‘Liberian Intelligentsias’ Unite Or Else…(Heritage), Ngafuan ‘Intelligentsia’ Collaboration… For 2017 Elections(The News), Ngafuan Want ‘Liberian Intelligentsias’ Unite For 2017(INSIGHT), Critical Examination Minister Ngafuan Calls For X-ray Of Candidates Before 2017(FrontPage Africa)

42 Honored

The Liberian Government has conferred honors on 42 distinguished individuals, humanitarians, institutions, organizations, most of them associated with the fight against the Ebola virus disease in Liberia, including all health care workers- eight of them posthumously together with all health care workers who lost their lives during the period of Ebola. The ceremony kicked-off the official celebrations marking Liberia’s 168th Independence Anniversary to be official celebrated in Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties in the southeast of the country. An Executive Mansion release said the Investiture Ceremony took place in the theater of the Monrovia City Hall in the presence of high-ranking government officials, diplomats, well-wishers and family members of the honorees. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf- Grand Master of the Orders of Distinction, recognized the honorees for their devotion, sacrifices, and altruism, noting that several, in the discharge of their duties, as well as response to service, paid the ultimate price of life. She indicated that though they cannot be brought back to life, Liberians will forever cherish their memories. The Liberian leader paid tribute to those, who despite the risks, put country before self, taking on the challenges to reach out and administer to those befallen by an unknown enemy, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Ellen Confers Honor On Several Personalities(PARROT The Truth), Independence Anniversary Begins With Investiture Ceremony(FOCUS), July 26 Begins With Investiture(New Democrat), 48 Honored At 168^th Independence Investiture Ceremony(INSIGHT)

'Culture Defines a Nation' says VP Boakai at Golden Image Award

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai wants Liberians to promote their cultural values and practices. Culture is a way of life of a group of people, the behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them. Those values are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next. VP Boakai said it was important to celebrate the way of life laid down by the founding fathers of the land even in this modern era. He said culture defines people and how the live and as such it was necessary for Liberians to preserve their culture, something he said promotes national unity. Vice President Boakai was speaking when he served as keynote speaker at the 5th edition of the annual golden image awards held at the Monrovia City Hall. The Golden Image Awards organized, by the Liberia Crusaders for  Peace is part of the 168th Independence Day celebrations due to be co-hosted by Sinoe and Grand Kru Counties, the Inquirer newspapers writes.

Related Captions: ‘Culture Defines A Nation’-VP Boakai On GIA(In Profile Daily), ‘Liberia Still A Great Nation’-VP Boakai Declares(PARROT The Truth), “Liberia Is Still A Great Nation”-VP Boakai(The Informer), VP Boakai: “Liberia Is Still A Great Nation”(Heritage), “Liberia Is Still A Great Nation” Say VP Boakai(INSIGHT)

U.S. Envoy Dedicates 49 Kilometers Road…..

United States Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Deborah Malac, has dedicated a 49 kilometer road in central Liberia, Bong County Liberia. Speaking during the dedication of the rehabilitated road in Bong County on Thursday through her proxy, Madam Barbara Dickerson, USAID Deputy Mission Director, the United States Ambassador said that access to markets and basic social services is a key ingredient in the fight against poverty. She commended General Manager Mr. Samuel B. Cooper III and Westwood Corporation, a Liberian-owned company, and other implementing partners for the rehabilitation of the 49 kilometers of farm-to-market roads in Palala, Bong County which was being dedicated, and also 36 kilometers in Lofa and Nimba which represents 85 kilometers of roads completed as part of the United States government-funded, USAID implemented farm-to-market roads rehabilitation project, reports the Inquirer newspaper.

Related Captions: U.S. Envoy Dedicates 49-KM Road(In Profile Daily), U.S. Envoy Dedicates 49-Kilometers Road In Bong(INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES

Four Remaining Ebola Patients Recover

The New Democrat newspaper, the four remaining patients infected during Liberia's recent string of Ebola cases have recovered, meaning there are currently no confirmed cases in the country though more than 100 people are still under surveillance, a health official said on Friday. "There are no Ebola cases anywhere in Liberia as we speak", Deputy Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah told The Associated Press.

Related Caption: No New Ebola Case In Liberia(The News)

Amidst Resurgence Of Ebola - Nimba Reactivates Ebola Task Force Orders Vigorous Screening At Check Points

The Informernewspaper says authorities in Nimba County have reactivated all Ebola checkpoints and protocols amidst the re-emergence of the deadly Ebola virus in the country. The decision to reactivate the relaxed checkpoints and protocols is to keep the county alerted and encourage vigilance amongst citizens. The media Coordinator in the office of Nimba County Superintendent, Fong G. Zuagele told this paper that authorities in Nimba are not taking the recurrence of Ebola lightly because the county suffered severe casualty during the first occurrence. “We have gathered credible information that the herbalist who treated the 17 year old boy whose remains was later diagnosed of the virus is reported to have come from Nimba County. The herbalist invaded quarantine and is on the run; this is a reason we are getting everybody on the alert”, Paul Karnue asserted.

Ellen Dedicates Several Projects In Sinoe, Grand Kru

As part of the celebration of Liberia’s 168^th Independence Anniversary being jointly hosted by Grand Kru and Sinoe Counties, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will dedicate several development projects. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, en route to Greenville in Sinoe County, President Sirleaf will dedicate the newly constructed Tarjuwon Public School in Tarjuwon District on Tuesday, July 21. The Ministry said, the dedication of the building, along with other development projects in Greenville, will form part of the calendar of events for Liberia’s 168^th Independence Day Celebration, FOCUS writes.

Related Caption: Ellen To Dedicate ‘July 26’ Projects In Sinoe, Grand Kru(Heritage)

Liberia’s President Shares With Patients, Others

The FOCUS newspaper reports that Liberia’s President on Friday donated 20 bags of locally produced rice, four cartons of apples and several cartons of fish to the administration of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Memorial Hospital in Monrovia. Presenting the items on behalf of the President, the Coordinator in the office of President Sirleaf, Toe Wesseh, said the donation is in keeping with the President’s usual gesture of identifying with some Liberians and institutions during the country’s Independence Day celebration. Receiving the items, the Deputy Administrator at JFK, Munah Tarpeh, lauded President Sirleaf for identifying with the patients, adding: “This donation is a regular gesture she shows every independence celebration and we will always remain grateful”, the state-owned Liberia News Agency said.

Related Caption: Ellen Donates To JFK, Others Ahead Of Nat’l Day(The Informer)

Muslims Celebrate End Of Fast Month -As President Sirleaf Urges Them to Pray for Peace

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has commended Muslims for successfully ending this year’s Month of Ramadan and praying for continued peace, stability and prosperity for the country and its people. She also implored them to remain mutually and sacredly engaged as “we work together for the greater good of Liberia in spite of our differences as a people”. Applauding Muslims for successfully concluding the fast month, the Liberian leader said, it is with great humility and sacred joy that she congratulates them for the strength to successfully conclude the Eid al-Fitr”. She thanked all Muslims for keeping the nation in their prayers during those challenging moments of the last 30 days of fast, isolation and intimate supplications to Allah. On behalf of the nation, the President noted that all Liberians are grateful for the Muslims’ commitment to relentlessly put forth to Allah the country’s numerous challenges, thus asking for His wisdom and guidance to lead and protect Liberia. According to the Daily Observer, the Liberian leader spoke at the end of Ramadan prayer on last Friday.

BIN Starts Construction Of Lofa Training Facility

The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) says it has commenced construction work on its training academy in Lofa County. According to BIN’s Commissioner, Lemuel E.A. Reeves, work on the facility began upon the government’s provision of over US$500,000, as initial funding for the project. Commissioner Reeves made the disclosure at the weekend in an interview with the Liberia News Agency (LINA) in Monrovia. He put the initial cost of the facility at over US$1.3 million, nearly half of which the government has made available to the construction firm implementing the project, Hot Pepper newspaper reports.

Efforts To End Poverty Must Be Practical – Pres. Sirleaf

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reminded participants at the just ended International Financing For Development Conference that after many years of consultations worldwide, with all stakeholders, efforts to end poverty must become practical. “we must now take on the daunting task of putting in motion the ideals that are at the core of this exercise: that our destiny as humanity is one; that we want to end poverty”, the Liberia leader sad. Addressing the occasion on July 13 in Addis Ababa, she emphasized that “we want to preserve the planet for future generations and we want a global order that cares for everyone”, pens the Informer newspaper.