THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia  

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2016 

News of the Justice Ministry reassigning the prosecuting powers of persons indicted under the Global Witness Report to the Special Presidential Task Force of Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa is the lone story dominating today’s edition of the summary of the selected local dailies.

DOMINANT STORY  

Justice Ministry Reassigns GW Case To Task Force 

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the Justice Ministry has reassigned prosecution of persons indicted under the Global Witness Report to the Special Presidential Task Force chaired by Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa. Cllr. Koffa last week announced that he was transferring prosecution of the case to the Justice Ministry, and was now focusing on corruption allegations contained in reports of the General Auditing Commission. However, Justice Minister Fredrick Cherue, in a letter to Cllr. Koffa on June 6, advised him to “proceed to investigate and prosecute those found to be criminally responsible for the allegations contained in the Global Witness Report.”

Related Captions: “Investigate And Prosecute” Justice Ministry reassigns GW Case To Task Force (The ANALYST), Koffa Task Force Begins Prosecution Power (Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES

“Israel, A Nation Built By Dynamic Entrepreneurs” – President Sirleaf Tells Israeli Business Community

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed delight in Israeli entrepreneurs whose commitment to innovation has transformed the nation and improved the lives of its people. According to dispatch from Israel, President Sirleaf made the remarks at the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center where she spoke at an important “Entrepreneurship Conference for Developing Countries”. Liberia, she said falls in a category of Least Developed Countries, totaling 48 countries of which 34 are in Africa. She said SMEs are proving to be the missing link to inclusive growth accounting for approximately 60-90% of the total global employment, 95% of all firms and accounting for approximately 50% of GDP. The Liberian leader stressed that the rehabilitation of the country’s Mount Coffee Hydro plant, which when completed by the end of 2016, will further expand power generation and distribution capacity to 88 megawatts – backed by additional power grid being constructed throughout the country, a large part through regional access.  President Sirleaf told Israeli entrepreneurs that Liberia continues to solidify investments by improving its seaports of entry and is aggressively pursuing new investment opportunities that will modernize the various port infrastructures.  President Johnson Sirleaf termed Liberia as a transforming nation whose young entrepreneurs and innovators are critical to national transformation, reports the ANALYST newspaper.

UK To Support GOL Corruption Investigation

British Ambassador to Liberia, David Belgrove, has disclosed his country preparedness to assist Liberia in the corruption investigation surrounding Sable Mining Company and some Liberian officials including House Speaker, Alex Tyler and Grand Cape Mount County Senator Varney Sherman.  Ambassador Belgrove pledged the United Kingdom’s support to the investigation at a program that marked the 90th birth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II on June 7, at a resort in Monrovia. Recounting the many years of mutual relation that has existed between Liberia and the UK, Ambassador Belgrove emphasized that tackling corruption at all levels will help to shape Liberia’s future, “because UK stands ready to support the initiative.” He also pledged his country’s support to the National Investment Commission (NIC) to attract investors, because the private sector is the main driver of Liberia’s economy. In response to the pledge, Deputy Minister for Public Affairs at the Information Ministry, Isaac Jackson said the pledge represents UK’s determination to fight corruption having recently had a forum on corruption. For his part, Vice President Joseph N. Boakai acknowledged the role of the UK in Liberia’s growth and development and said the two countries share some common purposes, reports the Daily Observer.

SGBV Anti-Crime Unit Opens In M’land

A sexual Gender-Based Violence Anti-Crime Unit has opened in the Justice Security Hub-2 Region with offices in Maryland. The Unit intends to work with other relevant stakeholders against rape in Grand Kru, River Gee and Maryland Counties making up Hub-2 Region. The Unit in collaboration with other partners will provide free legal services, psychosocial counseling, and educational support for victims, cases, investigation and witness mobilization, among others, reports the Inquirer newspaper.

UNFPA Dedicates Rehab Center

UNFPA Liberia has dedicated a newly constructed Females and Adolescents Vocational Training Center at the Monrovia Central Prison in South Beach, Central Monrovia. According tothe New Dawn newspaper, the facility was constructed by Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness (THINK), under the auspices of UNFPA Liberia. Presenting the Center Wednesday, 8 June to the Government of Liberia during a formal ceremony at the Monrovia Central Prison, UNFPA Liberia Country Representative Dr. Oluremi Sogunro said if inmates leave prison without rehabilitation, they may become worse off than when they went there. He disclosed that UNFPA was providing four computers, 10 sewing machines for the Center besides two computers and a printer for the correction office.

22 Parties Brainstorm In Bassa

The New Dawn newspaper writes that Liberia’s 22 registered political parties are conferring on the decentralization policy of the state in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The conference which commenced Wednesday, 8 June is organized by the Governance Commission with support from the United Nations Development Programme. The daily says the Governance Commission has asked heads of political parties to ensure the issue of decentralization is included in their respective platforms for the 2017 Presidential and Representatives elections.