THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 2016

Today’s edition of the summary highlights stories includingnews of outgoing Information Minister Lewis Brown’s call for the Liberian media to go beyond being watchdogs of society and the Flomo Theater Production pronouncement of the launch of a one-year anti-corruption campaign.

Brown Wants Media Transcend “Watchdog” Role

The INQUIRERnewspaper reports that outgoing Information Minister Lewis Brown has encouraged the Liberian media to go beyond just being watchdogs of society and become development partners to ensure the transformation of the country. Addressing the Ministry’s regular press briefing, Minster Brown noted that if Liberia must be transformed, there must be a cordial relationship between the government and the media stressing that the media has a critical role to play in the country’s development process.

Related Caption: Ambassador Brown Vows To Continue To Serve Liberia(Heritage)

Flomo Theater, OSIWA On Anti-Corruption Awareness

As the fight to end corruption in Liberia takes the center stage, Flomo Theater Production has announced a one-year anti-corruption campaign with specific objectives to increase citizen information, education as well as shaping citizens’ understanding and involvement through the use of art base outreach.  The New Democrat quotes a release from the Flomo Theatre Production as saying that the program will be launched on the 9^th of January in Sinje Town, Grand Cape Mount County.

Ngafuan Praises New Foreign Minister Designate

Former Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has congratulated Madam Marjon Kamara on her appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs Designate. Madam Kamara, currently Liberian Ambassador to the United Nations, was appointed Wednesday, by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Ambassador Kamara replaces Mr. Ngafuan who resigned in October 2015 to prepare for general and legislative elections next year. In a statement on his Facebook page, Min. Ngafuan said having worked with Amb. Kamara in his former capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs, he was of the opinion that Amb. Kamara has the required competence to do a good job in her new portfolio, the News newspaper writes.

FAO Supports MOA, World Bank’s Efforts

According to the News newspaper, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has participated in the Mid-term Review of the Liberia /smallholder Tree Crop Revitalization Support Project (STCRSP) implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Funded by the World Bank. FAO has been heavily involved in supporting the Government of Liberia and the World Bank in designing this project first in 2010-2012 and then its start-up and implementation in 2013-2014. The main objectives of the Mid-Term Review were to assess implementation progress since the project inception and to identify issues and agree on potential adjustments to project implementation.

Related Caption: FAO Empowers Crop Farmers(New Democrat)

WASCAL Holds Workshop on Climate Change

The West African Science Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) has held a one-day workshop on the context and challenges of Climate Change in West Africa with a stronger call for awareness among p0olicy holde5s at national and international levels. At the session yesterday which discussed WASCAL’s overview and achievements to date, international facilitator, Jesse Naab, it is no secret that the climate change situation will be worst for West Africa in the coming years and there is an immediate need to solidify efforts to develop effective climate risk management strategies, the INQUIRER newspaper reports.