THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016

News of the exchange of notes between the Government of Liberia and the People’s Republic of China for the provision of a batch of China-aided Police Supplies valued at US$2 million; President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Congratulatory Message to the Government and People of the Kingdom of Lesotho on the occasion of the 50^th Independence Anniversary of that country; and Liberia’s ranking in the Mo Ibrahim Index are among stories topping today’s Summary.

Dominant Stories  

China Aids LNP With US$2M Worth of Supplies 

The FOCUS newspaper reports that Liberia’s Acting Foreign Minister, B. Elias Shoniyin and Chinese Ambassador accredited to Liberia, His Excellency Zhang Yue, on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 exchange notes for the provision of a batch of China-aided police supplies by the People’s Republic of China to the Government of the Republic of Liberia. The aid, which is in the amount of 13 million RMB, an equivalent of US$2 million, is expected to come in services and goods, including training and pieces of vital law enforcement equipment. Signing on behalf of his government Ambassador Zhang disclosed that his country’s donation to the Liberia National Police (LNP) will enhance the effectiveness of the Police. He added that the donation will boost the nation’s security sector, especially at a time when the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), has turned over all security activities to the Liberian Government’s security sector. Assistant Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Emmanuel Munyeneh said the historic moment represented another milestone achievement in the friendly relations and south-south cooperation subsisting between the PRC and Liberia. Police Inspector General, Col. Gregory B. Coleman lauded the PRC for the gesture and added that the Chinese have proven to be dependable and strong partners who stand with Liberia in sustaining its fragile peace. Acting Foreign Minister Shoniyin used the occasion to thank the Chinese for the Loan agreement that will be used to construct the airport terminal at the RIA,

Related Captions: LNP Gets US$2M from PR China-IG Coleman Praises China for Donation and UNDP for US$800K to Police(Daily Observer), China-Liberia Exchange Notes On US$2 Million Worth Of Supplies To LNP(The INQUIRER)

Mo Ibrahim Index Acknowledges Liberia’s Progress

Liberia has since 2011 recorded tremendous progress in governance, safety and rule of law, participation and human rights, according to the 2015 report; the Mo Ibrahim of African Governance in Africa is freely available and accessible to all citizens of the continent and interested stakeholders. On Mo Ibrahim’s Index for 2015, Liberia scorecard stands at 50.7 (reflecting a positive change since 2011 of 0.9) and rating out of a total of 54 countries place at 26^th well ahead of several countries in our region in terms of the ‘overall governance,’ the INSIGHT newspaper reads.

Related Captions: Slow, ‘Balanced’ Progress-Mo Ibrahim Governance Index Ranks Liberia 28^th In Africa(Daily Observer), Mo Ibrahim Index Of African Governance Acknowledges Liberia’s Progress Amid Governance, Safety & Rule OF Law, Participation & Human Rights(FOCUS), Mo Ibrahim Index Acknowledges Liberia’s Progress(In Profile Daily), Amid Governance, Safety & Rule Of Law, Participation & Human Rights: Mo Ibrahim Index Of African Governance Acknowledges Liberia’s Progress(Heritage)

Liberia Applauds Lesotho on Independence Anniversary

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and People of the Kingdom of Lesotho on the occasion commemorating the 50^th Independence Anniversary of that country. October 4^th is observed as the Independence Day of Lesotho every year. Lesotho previously called Basutoland, emerged as a single polity under King Moshoeshoe in 1822. Basutoland gained its independence from Britain and became the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1966, the INSIGHT newspaper reads.

Related Captions: President Sirleaf Salutes Lesotho… On 50^th Independence Day(In Profile Daily), and Liberia Applauds Lesotho On 50^th Independence Day(Heritage)

GVL to Get Investment Opportunity in Rivercess

Authorities of Rivercess County are expected to invite Golden Veroleum Liberia (GVL) to invest in the county’s agriculture sector. GVL is an agriculture company involved in oil palm production. The company is currently operating in Sinoe and Grand Kru counties. In an interview recently, Rivercess County Superintendent Matthew Zoegar Daniels said the decision was reached following a three-day consultative meeting, which brought together the county Legislative Caucus and Executives of Golden Veroleum. Daniels said the local leadership has identified three administrative districts in the county-Zarflahn, Central Rivercess and Fen-River where Golden Veroleum is expected to engage in agricultural investment, the INSIGHT newspaper reads.

“Get them off the Streets,” Gender Ministry Launches Campaign

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGSP) in collaboration with the Child Protection Network and the Liberia Children Representative Forum, will today, October 5, 2016, launch an intensive sensitization and awareness project aimed at the removal of children, who sell on the streets in urban cities, particularly Monrovia. According to a press release from the Ministry, the two-week rigorous sensitization and  awareness project under the banner: “GET THEM OFF THE STREETS CAMPAIGN” is also intended to conduct a baseline survey observed a dramatic increase in the number of children engaged in street selling particularly in urban cities, the INSIGHT writes.

Related Caption: “Get Them Off The Streets Campaign” INSIGHT(The INQUIRER)

Pres. Sirleaf Commissions New Police Chiefs

Col. Gregory Coleman replaces Col. Chris Massaquoi as Liberia Police Chief, while Abraham Kromah returns to reassume the position he once occupied, Deputy Police Chief for Operations. Col. Coleman and Kromah, who were confirmed by the Liberian Senate on September 21, 2016 thanked President Sirleaf for their preferment and promised to work in the interest of the state. The ceremony took place at the Foreign Affairs Ministry office of the Liberian leader on Capitol Hill. The two men appointment, which is most likely to be the last of such under the Sirleaf’s administration, comes just three months after the United Nations Mission in Liberia turned over security responsibilities to the Liberian Government the INSIGHT daily reads.

Chamber Justice Hears Tyler’s Petition Today

Justice in Chambers, Her Honor, Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, is today expected to hear the petition filed by embattled Speaker Alex Tyler relative to reports about his removal as head of the national Legislature. Recently it was reported that the Speaker in the wake of reports that he has been removed filed to the Supreme Court challenging the removal action by his colleagues. It was based on the petition filed by Montserrado County District #15 Representative Adolph A. Lawrence that the Justice in Chambers issued a writ of prohibition, thereby halting the planned election of a new Speaker, which was scheduled yesterday, the INQUIRER says.

MOL Adjudicates Over 100 Cases in Bassa

A back-page story of the INQUIRER newspaper reads that a team of reporters and media professionals, who visited the Grand Bassa County Service Center, said they were informed that the center was currently providing 24-specialised services to the people of the county and nearby counties. The media professionals gathered in Grand Bassa County to attend a weeklong workshop organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on de-concentration on community engagement at the local governance level. Outlining some of the achievements at the County Service Center in Buchanan City, the Ministry of Labor Commissioner assigned in the county Mr. Augustine Gbosah said since the official opening of the County Service Center in June of 2015.

Germany Reaffirms Support to Liberia

The Federal Republic of Germany’s Ambassador accredited to Liberia, H.E Hubert J. Jaeger, has assured Liberia of his country’s continued support to solidify the bilateral relations between the two countries. Amb. Jaeger said Germany will continue to support Liberia’s development agenda in areas of infrastructure, agro development and energy. According to the Daily Observer, Ambassador Jaeger gave the assurance on Monday at a program marking the observance of Germany National Day in Monrovia.

Help Maintain Peace - Deputy Foreign Minister Elias Shoniyin Admonishes Liberians and Other National

The Daily Observer reports that Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Elias Shoniyin is appealing to Liberians and other nationals residing in the country to maintain peace in other to rebuild the nation.  According to the Daily Observer, Mr. Shoniyin made the call when he served as Keynote Speaker at the ‘Maintaining National Peace and Security Awareness’ program held at the Immanuel Christian Academy in Paynesville over the weekend. Speaking on the theme “The Importance of Community Policing”, the Deputy Foreign Minister admonished the police and community dwellers to be familiar with each other’s plans and to be constructive when dealing with matters affecting the community.

Konola Residents Embrace Ebola Research – LCP’s Community Engagement to Last-Mile Areas Advances

Residents of Konola in Margibi County have lauded PREVAIL and the Liberia Crusaders for Peace for their sustained awareness and outreach on the ongoing Ebola Natural History Study. PREVAIL is a joint Liberia-US Clinical Research partnership that is investigating the variety of medical survivors after they recovered from Ebola about two years ago. The residents, speaking at a day – long community engagement held at the Saving Grace Temple Church in Konola, said the information they acquired from the meeting will be valuable in reaching out to others. Peter Singbe, Clerk of the Kakata Chiefdom said at the weekend gathering: “I would like to express my appreciation on PREVAIL for bring us this very important information about our survivors and also our community, reports the In Profile Daily.

Related Caption: Konola Residents Embrace Ebola Research(Heritage)

NCCC Ends 5^th Anniversary Celebration

According to the In Profile Daily, the Nimba County Community College (NCCC) over the weekend ended its fifth anniversary celebration held in Sanniquille City. NCCC is among several community colleges in Liberia providing quality and guaranteed education to young people, not only in the county, but to other neighboring countries including Ivory Coast, Guinea and Sierra Leone among others. Since its establishment in 2011, the college has contributed immensely to the country’s educational sector as it relates to the impact on the lives of the youths. Speaking during the celebration in Sanniquille City, the Chief Executive Office of Jungle Group of Investment, Floyd Sieh Tomah, said the core mission of the college is to provide higher education to young people through systematic learning and values that involves the collective efforts of every citizen in the area.

Related Caption: Over One Hundred Labour Cases Adjudicated In G/Bassa(In Profile Daily)

Sen. Jallah Gives LD$100,000 to Gbarpolu Students

The In Profile Daily reports that the President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate and Chairman of Gbarpolu County Legislative Caucus, Armah Zolu Jallah on Monday, October 3^rd presented, through his Chief of Staff J. Alphanso D. Perkins, a check for L$100,000 (one hundred thousand Liberian dollars) to students of Gbarpolu County attending the Monrovia Vocational Training Center – MVTC to help defray the costs of training items. Over the years Senator Jallah has not only made huge contributions to students hailing from Gbarpolu and other counties and the educational sector, but also to market and other business groups individual persons both in Gbarpolu and other counties.