THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2015

News ofForeign Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan’s acclamation to the International Committee of the Red Cross for their humanitarian contributions to Liberia, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai’s assertion of rising levels of economic cooperation between Liberia and China, the United Nations Development Program’s donation of 167 sets of uniforms and accessories to the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization for use by the Border Patrol Unit and the death at least six people in a tragic motor accident in Zeansu, Bong County, are stories dominating today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

Foreign Minister Ngafuan Commends ICRC…As New Head Of Delegation Pays Courtesy Call On Him

The Heritage newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has commended the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for all their humanitarian contributions toward the country and people. Minister Ngafuan made the commendation Wednesday, August 05, when the ICRC Liberia office Head of Delegation, Mr. Julien Lerisson, paid a courtesy call on him at his Foreign Affairs offices. Speaking further, Minister Ngafuan, who is the Dean of the Liberian Cabinet, thanked the humanitarian organization for its many contributions to Liberia. Minister Ngafuan was especially grateful to them for support during the deadly Ebola virus disease crisis in 2014. The Minister said the Red Cross Movement has always stood with Liberia and its people during difficult moments, including the years of civil conflict throughout the 1990s.  In welcoming Mr. Lerisson to Liberia, Foreign Minister Ngafuan assured him of his Ministry’s support and better coordination with the ICRC and urged him not to hesitate to call on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for any help that may be needed. For his part, Mr. Lerisson presented a letter from the ICRC President, Mr. Peter Maurer, in which he (Mr. Maurer) commends the Liberian Government for defeating Ebola.  Mr. Lerisson spoke of the support that the ICRC continues to provide the Liberian National Red Cross Society (LNRCS). He stated they also include the prison in their support to the Liberian Government.  He also spoke of the need to pass the Fire Arms Act into law. According to him, as UNMIL draws downs, it was expedient that the law on small arms be enacted. He also asked that the International Humanitarian Law or the Geneva Act be ratified by the National Legislature. International Humanitarian Law is a set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare.

Related Captions: Foreign Minister Ngafuan Commends ICRC-As New Head Of Delegation Pays Courtesy Call On Him(FOCUS), Ngafuan Commends ICRC(The New Dawn)

Vice President Boakai Receives A Delegation Of Top Chinese Companies – Says Economic Cooperation Between Liberia And China Is On The Rise

Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has hailed the relationship between Liberia and the People’s Republic of China and spoke of the rising levels of economic cooperation that could bring the two peoples closer together and boost economic prosperity between the two nations. Vice president Boakai said in recent times he has seen a lot of cooperation between the two countries including the role of China in the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus. He was speaking Wednesday when a thirteen man Chinese Business Delegation, accompanied by Liberia’s Ambassador to China McKinley Thomas and Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Zhang Yue paid a courtesy call on him at his Capitol Building office, FrontPage Africa newspaper reports.

Related Captions: VP Boakai Receives Chinese Trade Delegation(The Inquirer), Economic Cooperation Between Liberia And China Is On The Rise(Heritage), VP Boakai Receives Chinese Trade Delegation(FOCUS)

UNDP Enhances Border Management In Liberia…Donates Uniforms, Accessories To BIN/BPU Officers

In order to support the decentralization of key security services in Liberia in the wake of the drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), two specific interventions were identified. A refresher training for the Liberia National Police – Police Support Unit (LNP/PSU) and the procurement of full sets of uniforms for the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization – Border patrol Unit (BIN/BPU) required funding. In fulfillment of one of the two areas of interventions for security services decentralization and the enhancement of border management in Liberia, the United Nations Development Programmed (UNDP) with funding from the Peace Building Fund (PBF), Tuesday, turned over 167 sets of uniforms and accessories to the BIN for use by the Border Patrol Unit (BPU). The items include pants, shirts, boots, berets, inner and outer belts, socks, shoulder cords, shoulder patches, whistles, handcuffs, handcuffs cases, expandable batons, whistle chains, whistle hooks, rain gear ponchos, classic crewneck T-Shirts, immigration badges and private badges. They were officially handed over by Nessie Golakai Gould, UNDP Assistant Country Director and Governance Pillar Team Leader, the Inquirer newspaper reports.

Related Captions: UNDP Enhances Border Management In Liberia…Donates Uniforms, Accessories To BIN/BPU Officers(FrontPage Africa), UNDP Enhances Border Management In Liberia…Donates Uniforms, Accessories To BIN/BPU Officers(Heritage), UNDP Turns Over 167 Sets Of Uniforms, Accessories To BIN(FOCUS), UNDP Enhances Border Management(In Profile Daily)

On Gbarnga H/Way: Tragic Accident Kills 6

According to theNew Dawn newspaper, at least six people have died instantly and several others wounded in a tragic motor accident in Zeansu, Bong County in Central Liberia. Eyewitnesses said upon arrival at the accident scene, the National Transit Authority (NTA) bus, with plate number 5138, lost control at an excessive speed, escaping the main road and somersaulting into a dish at about 12 noon on Wednesday. The vehicle reportedly somersaulted several feet away from the main road before landing into the dish, with the tires shown to the sky. The daily reports that the NTA Management on Wednesday reportedly dispatched a team to the scene of the accident in Zeinsue, Bong County. NTA Public Relations Manager Robert Wilson said the Operation Manager headed the team. “We are also in contact with the Bong County authorities and Phebe Hospital”, he told a local radio station in Monrovia Wednesday afternoon following the accident. Mr. Wilson, who described the accident as “tragic”, said the National Transit Authority has stern regulatory policy and guidelines, stressing that anyone (employee) violating such would be penalized.

Related Captions: Many Die In NTA Bus Ganta Highway Accident(Hot Pepper), On Monrovia-Gbarnga Highway Several ‘Killed’, Others Seriously Wounded(Heritage), Dozens Killed In NTA Accident-On Ganta Highway(The New Republic), Many Feared Dead In Transport Bus Accident(The Inquirer), Highway To Death(FrontPage Africa), Tragic Accident: 5 Dead, Several On Critical List(FOCUS), Tragedy…Several Killed In Road Traffic Accident(The News), Tragic Accident Kills 6 Liberian Musician Levi Zanaway, Several Others On Critical List (Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES

Liberia, EU Sign Deal On WTO Accession

The European Union and Liberia have signed a deal concluding their bilateral negotiations on Liberia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Accession to the WTO is expected to make a lasting contribution to the process of economic reform and sustainable development in Liberia. “Yesterday signature is a milestone in Liberia's WTO accession process and an important step towards fostering our economic relations”, said Angelos Pangratis, EU Ambassador to the WTO.  “Against the background of the devastating public health challenge of Ebola, Liberia has made remarkable progress in preparing for WTO entry and we are looking forward to rewarding Liberia's efforts and welcoming the country into the WTO family very soon”, Angelos said. According to a press release, the bilateral deal – signed by EU Ambassador to the WTO Angelos Pangratis and Liberia's Minister for Commerce and Industry, Axel M. Addy – defines the level of market access that Liberia will grant to EU goods and services in the WTO. These commitments will be then embodied in the future Protocol of Accession of Liberia to the WTO. The Republic of Liberia applied for WTO membership in mid-2007. The accession talks started half a year later with the establishment of a dedicated Working Party made of interested WTO members. In order to join the WTO, Liberia must complete bilateral negotiations with each of them and obtain the endorsement of the entire Working Party, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Stakeholders Hold 1st Conference On Urban Agriculture

The Monrovia City Cooperation in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture has hosted the 1st Joint Multi-stakeholder’s Forum Conference on Urban Agriculture under the theme, “Ensuring an Integrated National Urban Agriculture Strategy”. The forum reflected on outcomes of the 1st National Urban Conference of October 2010 and the recent 1st National Urban Forum of June 2015. Speaking Wednesday, August 5, at the Monrovia City Hall, the Country Director for Welthungerhilfe (WHH) AsjaHanano, said the organization will continue to work with the Government and people of Liberia in improving urban agriculture. Addressing food security and livelihoods issues for the urban poor in the midst of increasing urban poverty levels coupled with urban agriculture, which is the practice of cultivating, processing and distributing food in and around towns and cities has taken center stage for large amount of urban residents, according to the New Dawn newspaper.

Chinese Chambers Donates To Orphans

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, August 4, donated a consignment of rice and stationery materials to the Caldwell Orphanage Home as part of its humanitarian assistance to the township. Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Caldwell, the Chairman of the Chinese Chambers of Commerce in Liberia, Mr. He Ming Hua said the consignment was worth over Four Thousand United States Dollars and is a way of identifying with orphans, especially children who became victims as a result of the Ebola outbreak. Taking delivery of the consignment the Commissioner of the township of Caldwell, Madam Alexine M. Howard said the effort by the group is highly appreciated because Caldwell is a township in dire need of such assistance, the Inquirer newspaper asserts.

EU Pledges Support For Urban Agriculture

The Head of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, Tiina Intelman, has pledged the EU’s support in improving urban agriculture to strengthen food security in the country. The EU Head of Delegation made the pledge Wednesday at a Joint Multi-stakeholders Forum on urban agriculture held under the theme “Ensuring An Integrated National urban Agriculture Strategy” organized by the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) with funding from the EU. Meanwhile, Monrovia Mayor Clara Doe Mvogo says Liberians should not be depending on imported food all the time, but should instead engage the soil to produce food for the country, the Inquirer newspaper writes.

Pres. Sirleaf Gets Diabetes Education At UMC

The Hot Pepper newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf last Saturday benefited from diabetes education when the Liberia Diabetes and Testing Center visited the United Methodist Church (UMC) to provide awareness on diabetes symptoms, management and prevention. According to a press release, at the UMC’s Sunday worship service, Mr. James Momoh, head of the Center for Diabetes Testing and Awareness, urged the congregation to take advantage of the opportunity provided at the center. He said diabetes has become a global medical condition that affects the world population, but its severity is mostly felt in developing countries, due to the lack of health centers.

Caldwell Bridge Nears Completion

A tour of the construction site of the new Caldwell Bridge conducted yesterday on the Bushrod Island indicates that the China Hena International Cooperation (CHICO), has almost completed the bridge. Some of the contractors who spoke to our reporter said China Henan International Cooperation (CHICO) is working furtively to make sure that the bridge be completed on time for its dedication. “My brother, as you can see right now, we are working hard because we want the Caldwell Bridge to be completed before the end of this month”, one of the contractors stated, the Inquirer newspaper writes.

UN Wants Improved Electoral System 2017

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has called for an improved electoral management system in the country. Speaking yesterday at a two-day Conference of Political Parties and Civil society Organizations on Lesson Learned from the 2014 Special Senatorial Election, the UNDP Representative said NEC must improve its electoral management system. Earlier, NEC Chairman Jerome George Korkoya said the two day workshop is intended to evaluate the 2017 Special Senatorial Election and for the commission to take stock of the last conference conducted with civil society organizations and political parties, pens by the Inquirer newspaper.