Daily Media Summary,2016-06-10
THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Monrovia, Liberia.
NEWS SUMMARY FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 2016
News of the indictment of the former chairman of Liberia’s National Investment Commission, Dr. Richard Tolbert and two foreign nationals by the Special Presidential Task Force and the burning of the 2014 elections material by the National Elections Commission are among stories dominating today’s edition of our daily news summary.
Other stories include President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf congratulatory message to the Government and People of Portugal on the occasion of their National Day and the World Health Organization’s 4th Ebola free declaration on Liberia
DOMINANT STORIES
Gov’t Indicts Richard Tolbert, 2 Foreigners In Ongoing GW Bribery Probe
The Daily Observer reports that the Liberian government, through its Special Presidential Task Force (SPTF), has disclosed that it has issued indictment for the former chairman of Liberia’s National Investment Commission (NIC), Dr. Richard Tolbert, as well as a British and a South African national. The other two-Andrew S. Groves and Klaus Piprek, who are presently out of Liberia’s legal jurisdiction, are associates of Sable Mining, a British firm at the center of the GW allegations. Also making remarks, Cllr. James N. Verdier, Jr., Executive Chairman of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), said his LACC along with other members of the SPTF has assumed “full jurisdiction to prosecute” the case in court.
Related Captions: Richard Tolbert Indicted: Sirleaf, Saytumah, Kupee Fate Undecided(FrontPage Africa), Richard Tolbert, Others Indicted(The NEWS), Taskforce Indicts Tolbert, Two British Citizens(Women VOICES), In Connection With ‘Bribery’ Scandal: Ex-NIC Boss, 2 Foreigners Face Arrest(Heritage), Richard Tolbert, Two Others Indicted(The INQUIRER)
NEC Burns Ballot Papers, Other Materials Today
The National Elections Commission (NEC) says it will today, Friday, 10 June commence the burning of ballot papers and other materials used during the 2014 Special Senatorial Elections, which marks the beginning of burning of elections materials throughout the country.The New Dawn newspaper quotes the Commission as saying that the burning of the used electoral materials will take place at the Upper Montserrado County Elections Magisterial Office in Bensonville, where used elections materials from Upper Montserrado County and the NEC Central warehouse will be burnt.
Related Captions: NEC Begins Burning 2014 Elections’ Materials Today(In Profile Daily), NEC Begins Burning Of Used Ballot Papers & Materials Today(Heritage), NEC To Burn 2014 Elections Materials(The INQUIRER)
V.P. Boakai Salutes Queen Elizabeth
Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has emphasized that reconciliation, the reconstruction of the nation, eliminating corruption, the encouragement of inclusive growth and development remains pivotal on the national agenda. Vice President Boakai said the nation has embarked on the path of economic recovery, nation building and reconciliation and the building of a vibrant society in which our resources can be efficiently managed to derive maximum benefits for our people. His remarks were contained in speech delivered on the occasion of the celebrations of the 90th Birth Anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, II of Great Britain and North Ireland at a local hotel Tuesday in the Diplomatic enclave of Mamba Point, where he on behalf of her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Government and people of Liberia for her Majesty’s personal good health the New Democrat newspaper reports.
Related Captions: VP Boakai Salutes Queen Elizabeth II On Her 90th Birth Vice President Joseph N. Boakai Salutes Queen Elizabeth II(The INQUIRER)
OTHER STORIES
Ellen Congratulates Portugal on National Day
The Heritage newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and People of Portugal on the occasion marking their National Day. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her message to His Excellency Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, President Sirleaf assured her counterpart, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Liberia’s renewed and unwavering commitment to their shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous world.
Liberia Declared Ebola Free For 4th Time
The Daily Observer quotes the Voice of America (VOA) as saying that the World Health Organization (WHO) announced Thursday, June 9, 2016 that Liberia is officially free of the Ebola virus after the country successfully passed 42 days without a confirmed case of this often-fatal disease. According to the daily, WHO Representative in Liberia Dr. Alex Gasasira commended Liberia’s Government and People on their effective response to this recent re-emergence of Ebola. “WHO will continue to support Liberia in its efforts to prevent, detect and respond to suspected cases,” he assured.
Related Captions: Liberia Ebola Free For 4th Time(New DEMOCRAT)
Cllr. Koffa Briefs Traditional Leaders On GW Bribery Scandal Investigation MIA Wants Them to be Ambassadors in the Process
The head of the Special Presidential Task Force (SPTF) Cllr. Fonati Koffa yesterday briefed traditional leaders at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Monrovia on the Global Witness report that accuses several current and past government officials of taking bribes from a UK mining company. Cllr. Koffa told the traditional leaders that he was mandated by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to investigate the case and bring to justice those that will be found guilty. He said the investigation is to ensure that any of those officials accused and eventually found guilty will face justice, because the name Liberia has been tarnished to the outside world. For their part, the traditional leaders asked Cllr. Koffa why President Sirleaf should prosecute people for corruption now when there have been many corrupt cases before. And they suggested to Cllr. Koffa to take time to investigate the case and urged the government not to stop and ensure that other corrupt cases are also investigated, reports the Daily Observer.
GN Bank Injects $18M in Economy
A back page story of the New Democrat newspaper reports that the Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia Thursday announced that GN Bank Liberia Limited has infused US$18.5 million into the domestic economy. Mr. Milton Weeks indicated the amount is more than the Central Bank’s reserves requirement. He pointed out that the size of the investment demonstrates investors’ confidence in the national economy. The Bank Governor urged individuals and businesses who acquired loan from GN Bank’s predecessor to make good on their obligation.
CBL Lauds GN Bank
The Daily Observer writes that the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has lauded the newly licensed GN Bank Liberia Limited (a subsidiary of Ghanaian conglomerate Groupe Nduom) for taking over the First International Bank Liberia Limited (FIBank). In remarks Thursday in Monrovia at the official launch of GN Bank Liberia Limited, the Executive Governor of the CBL, Milton Weeks, said the presence of GN Bank in the country marked another milestone in Liberia’s banking sector. Governor Weeks said that milestone was made possible through collaborative efforts between the Central Bank of Liberia and the Ghana Growth Fund Company (GGFC), which is part of the Groupe Nduom family. The FrontPage Africa newspaper also writes under the caption “Liberian Vice President Lauds GN Bank for Confidence in Liberia”that Vice President Joseph N. Boakai said, Liberia is grateful for the confidence reposed in her through financial investment. Speaking Thursday at the launch of GN Bank Liberia Limited, Ambassador Boakai pledged Liberia’s continuous commitment to GN adding “gone are the days when we used to take about three, four to five banks to finance some projects, but today probably two or one banks can do it”.
The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) has disrobed five of its officers for allegedly diverting to an unknown destination some of the equipment that were recently donated to the Bureau by the Chinese Government through the Ministry of Defense. The NEWS says the officers include Col. Sam Mulbah, Chief of Fleet Management; Col. Musa Konneh, Chief of Motor Pool; Major Charles E. Greene, Deputy Chief of Motor Pool; Captain Everson Glemeyan, officer assigned at Fleet and Junior Locus, officer assigned at the Maintenance Sector,as well as four hired drivers to be identified. It is alleged that while taking the items to the Bureau offices in Sinkor, the five officers diverted some of the items, including 37 new truck tires, paints for car, fire extinguishers, among others, to an unknown destination. However, the Bureau through a tipoff from a state security officer on Thursday retrieved all of the stolen items.
Related Caption: BIN Suspends 5 Officers For “Stealing”(The INQUIRER)
Political Declaration On Ending AIDS
A progressive, new and actionable political declaration on ending AIDS was Tuesday adopted by member states at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS, taking place in New York, United States of America. The political declaration includes a set of specific, time-bound targets that must be reached by 2020 to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030 within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. Heads of state and governments, ministers, people living with HIV, representatives of civil society, international organizations, private sector, scientists and researchers have gathered at the high-level meeting to build on the commitments made in the political declaration and to set the world on course to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030. Four persons including Health Minister Dr. Bernice Dahn, Dr. Ivan F. Camanor, Chairman of the National AIDS Commission and Dr. Julia Toomey Garbo, Program Manager of the National AIDS Control Program are representing Liberia at the high level meeting. A dispatch from the meeting quotes the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, as saying the global community is united in its resolve to end the AIDS epidemic within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, according to the NEWS newspaper.
Ellen Arrives With Flying Colors
The Inquirer newspaper reports that after making yet another history for herself and the country as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Present Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is expected to return to the country today with flying colors following official visits to the United States, Senegal and the State of Israel. The Liberian leader has been away since May 26 June 10, 2016. The first legs of her official visit took her to the United States and later proceeded to Dakar, Senegal to attend the ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government where she was elected Chairperson of the sub regional body (ECOWAS) on white ballot.
MYS Gives County Coordinators Equipment, Assorted Materials
Youth and Sports under the UNFPA- sponsored Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) program, has presented several consignments of equipment and assorted office materials to five counties coordinator to facilitate their work efficiently. The coordinator, who were recently deployed in the Southeastern counties of Grand Gedeh, RiverGee, Maryland, Grand Kru, as Montserrado and Western Liberia, receive five laptops with printers, internet modems, stationery and scratch cards to be used for effective communication and coordination, pens the In Profile Daily.
MTVC Resumes Classes Monday
According to the In Profile Daily, the authorities at the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) have disclosed that all is set for the reopening of the Monrovia Vocational Training Center (MVTC) on Monday, June 13, 2016/2017 training cycle. A total of 2,759 students, including those who registered during and after the Ebola crisis are expected to enroll at the institution during the 12-month training cycle. Making the disclosure in Monrovia yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister, Saah Charles N’Tow, said the opening of the center will commence with a general orientation of students, which will include “an indoor program, student’s-meet-and greet teachers session, signing of behavior bond and team building activities among others.
Related Caption:MYS: MVTC To Open Monday(Heritage)
US Envoy Wants Liberia Joins WTO-Outlines Benefits
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield has voiced that to secure a peaceful and prosperous future for its youngest citizens, Liberia must ensure that they will have ample opportunity to succeed as the country enters its second decade of post-conflict stability. In an article, Amb. Greenfield said Liberia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) will provide a foundation for establishing the rules-based system for growing the economy, attracting foreign investment, and securing that future for the country’s youth, the WOMEN VOICES newspaper writes.
FAO, MOA Hold Governance Dialogue on Governance Tenure, Land, Fisheries and Forests
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Partners are expected to hold a two day conference on the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the context of National Food Security in Liberia, beginning Monday, 13 June 2016. According to a dispatch for the FAO, the planned governance meeting is the third Conference on the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests, otherwise known as the (VGGT), the New Democrat newspaper writes.
