THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights news of the General Auditing Commission’s receipt of an award for being the first in the region to conduct the IT Audit Self-Assessment.

The summary also includesPresident Sirleaf’s separate messages of congratulations to the Governments and peoples of the Republic of Finland and the United Arab Emirates on the occasions commemorating the 99^th and 45^th Independence Anniversaries on December 6 and 2 respectively.

General Auditing Commission Receives International Award

The Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions of English-Speaking Africa (AFROSAI-E), has awarded the General Auditing Commission - Liberia’s Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) for being the first in the region to conduct the IT Audit Self-Assessment. According to the FrontPage Africa, AFROSAI-E also awarded the GAC for consistently prioritizing IT Audit development. The ‘Award of Recognition’ to Liberia was received by the Auditor General of Liberia, Yusador Gaye in South Africa at a ceremony under the auspices AFROSAI-E. In remarks during the ceremony, Auditor General Yusador S. Gaye, on behalf of the GAC family, expressed gratitude to the Organization for Liberia’s recognition as the first SAI in the region to conduct the IT Audit alongside Regularity Audit. According to the daily, IT Audit is the examination and evaluation of an organization's information technology infrastructure, policies and operations to determine whether IT controls protect corporate assets, ensure data integrity and are aligned with the business’ overall goals.

Related Caption: GAC Receives International Award(The New Dawn), GAC Receives International Award(Heritage)  

Ellen Congratulates Finland on its 99th Independence Anniversary 

The In Profile Daily reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of Finland on the occasion making their 99th Independence Anniversary on December 6, 2016. According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her congratulatory message to the President of the Republic of Finland, His Excellency Mr. Sauli Väinämö Niinistö, President Sirleaf said Finland’s excellence in education and equal opportunity for all, innovation, good regulatory framework and efficient public service enhancing honesty, well managed economic policy, among significant others, have projected Finland as one of the world’s most promising nations. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf entertained the hope that the cordial ties of friendship and cooperation subsisting between the two countries and peoples will continue to thrive and expand in other key areas, particularly in education and public service management for mutually rewarding benefits as Liberia joins in to celebrate this happy occasion.  

Ellen Applauds United Arab Emirates On 45^th Independence Anniversary 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has congratulated the Government and people of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the occasion commemorating the 45^th Independence Anniversary of that country on December 2, 2016. Quoting a Foreign Ministry release, the Daily Observer reports that in her message to the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President Sirleaf said it is her fervent prayer that the bonds of friendship and cooperation so happily subsisting between their two countries in the spirit of Afro-Arab bilateral ties and cooperation will continue to expand for the mutual benefit of their two countries and peoples.  

Ellen Briefed On ECOWAS Activites 

The INQUIRERnewspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has received presentations from the various departments of the ECOWAS Commission, highlighting reforms, ongoing progress and challenges that beset the Commission. According to a dispatch from Abuja, President Sirleaf said the thrust of her visit was to aptly familiarize herself with the activities of the Commission with a view to become fully abreast with the day-to-day functions and programs of the Commission and prepare for the next Summit scheduled for December 17, 2017 in Abuja. President Sirleaf praised the team for its dedication and commitment in giving their best to the sub-region, which has recorded more progress and called for stronger efforts that will ensure ECOWAS countries are competitive. She emphasized the need for the effective utilization of scarce resources and urged the Commission to take primary responsibility and assert every effort geared towards addressing the core issues. 

Related Caption: Ellen Receives Briefings On Her Working Visit To ECOWAS Commission(Heritage)

President Sirleaf Describes British Continued Partnership as Strategic

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has described the continued partnership of the British Government in helping Liberia's development as strategic while making the critical push for the UK to absorb the 20 million funding gap in the proposed Ganta to Saclepae stretch of the country’s ongoing road connectivity aimed at linking Liberia's growth corridors. According to a dispatch from London, the Liberian leader spoke Friday in London when she led a government of Liberia delegation to the British Parliament. She informed British Government officials that a concentrated pool fund of donor partner has been mobilized and that focuses on roads and other infrastructural projects, which are pivotal to unlocking Liberia's growth potential. Speaking earlier, the British Minister for Africa at the Department for International Development (DFID), James Wharton, reaffirmed his government's commitment to Liberia’s sustained developmental drive under a healthy climate of open and democratic governance. Mr. Wharton re-committed the British Government’s support for Liberia post-Ebola economic reordering with a central focus on value-addition, reads the INQUIRER newspaper.

Related Caption: Ellen Rallies For $20M In UK(The New Dawn)  

‘Be Responsible For Your Success’ - UL Graduates Admonished 

The Head of Development Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy in Liberia, Ms. Elisabeth Harleman, has encouraged graduates of Liberia College to take steps to distinguish themselves rather than waiting for opportunities to come by. “Do not wait for the opportunity to come to you. Take steps to distinguish yourselves,” she urged. Ms. Harleman delivered the keynote address at the start of the 97^thCommencement Convocation of the University of Liberia on Monday, December 5, 2016, where 405 students in eight academic disciplines in the college graduated. Liberia College is the oldest College at the University of Liberia established in 1862. Ms. Harleman spoke on the theme “Stand up and Stand Out for the Values that will Serve You Better and Your Communities.” She urged the graduates to play an important role as positive agents for change to preserve Liberia’s peace. “My simple message to you is to reject violence and hate speeches in the exercise of the democratic process,” she said.  She said Sweden stands with Liberia both morally and financially for the successful conduct of elections, but warned that no amount of outside help can replace the commitment, desire and motivation of each Liberian toward a peaceful outcome of the elections, writes the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: Lofa Tops Liberia College Graduation…Guest Speaker Urges Graduates To “Reject Violence”(The INQUIRER)  

Ellen Pays Two-Day Working Visit In Abuja 

Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is also the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has arrived in Abuja, the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory on a two-day official working visit to familiarize herself with the activities and functions of the ECOWAS Commission. According to a dispatch from Abuja, the Liberian leader is expected to hold a tete-a-tete with the President of the ECOWAS Commission Mr. Marcel Alain de Souza, sign the Golden Book, meet with ECOWAS Commissioners, Financial Comptroller and Commission President’s Cabinet as well as get familiarized departmental programmes. Also, as part of the activities for day one, President Sirleaf will meet with ECOWAS Ambassadors in Abuja, grant audience to the Ambassador of the State of Israel and hold audience with the Ambassador of the European Union, according to the In Profile Daily

Former Foreign Minister King-Akerele Releases New Book

The Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Madam Olubanke King-Akerele, recently released her fourth book entitled, “The Liberian Way: Breaking the Cycle.” The foreword of the book is written by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, while the book is a publication of the Liberian Institute for “Grow” Patriotism and the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) for Women’s Empowerment, Leadership Development, International Peace and Security, reports the Daily Observer.

Agriculture Minister Pledges Support To LIFAAS

The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Moses Zinnah, has pledged his Ministry’s willingness to support the Liberia Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (LIFAAS). The Minister said as a true manifestation of his commitment, he would ensure that a temporary office space is provided to LIFAAS at the Agriculture Ministry until the organization can resettled. Dr. Zinnah, who installed LIFAAS elected officials into office, lauded the group for its efforts in buttressing activities of the Agriculture Ministry aimed at making Liberia self-sufficient in food production, reports the New Dawnnewspaper.  

Action Aid Liberia 3-Year Access To Justice Project Gains Momentum In Grand Gedeh 

Action Aid Liberia with support from the Big Lottery Fund is implementing a three-year Access to Justice project for women and girls in Grand Gedeh County. The project, which began in March 2015 and ends in February 2018, is currently being implemented in three major communities of Zwedru, Duogee and Gaye Town. Among the subjects discussed are Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV), ending early marriage and teenage pregnancies. Giving an overview of the activities last weekend, the Local Rights Program Manager of Action Aid Liberia, James Pewee, explained that the organization’s motive is to create more awareness on combating all violence against women and girls in the county. He stressed that the training for the 60 participants is in fulfillment of their mission statement to combat all SGBV and related cases against women. Mr. Pewee said his organization, through funding from the Big Lottery Fund (UK), has been responsive in their support to Action Aid Liberia on the project. The Local Rights Program Manager mentioned that the three communities have been synchronized into various women’s forums to give them access to information on their basic rights. The three segment forum has been separated into categories that include six in Zwedru, four in Duogee and two in Gaye Town, reads the Daily Observer.  

NEC, Partners Discuss Inclusion Of Older And Disabled People In 2017 Elections 

According to the Daily Observer, the Coalition of Caregivers and Advocates for the Elderly in Liberia (COCAEL), along with its collaborating partners, will on Thursday, December 8, hold a Consultative Forum to discuss with the National Elections Commission (NEC) and stakeholders the challenges facing older people and persons with disabilities in the country’s electoral process. They will also devise strategies to address these challenges to ensure an inclusive election in 2017. The daily quotes a release from COCAEL as saying that the forum is the beginning of a series of activities to be undertaken by the partners as part of their voter’s education project to promote the participation of older people and persons with disabilities in the electoral politics of Liberia, most especially in the upcoming presidential and general elections. The primary objective of the forum is for the various stakeholders and civil society actors to share with older people and persons with disabilities the preparation being made by stakeholders, especially the National Elections Commission and its international partners to ensure that older people and persons with disabilities exercise their franchise in the upcoming elections consistent with the UN Convention for Persons with Disabilities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as Vision 2030 within the context of “Leave No One Behind.”

Related Caption: NEC, Others Discuss Inclusion Of Older, Disabled People In 2017 Elections(The INQUIRER)

Carter Center, EU Launch Freedom of Information Certificate Program For Liberian Officials

The Carter Center, with financial support from the European Union and other donors, has launched a certificate program to build the capacity of 2010 Freedom of Information Act. In the first training session, held in Monrovia, November 15 – 16, participants represented more than eight government entities, including the Ministry of Justice, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, the Liberia National Police, and the Ministries of Education, Gender, Information, and Internal Affairs, reports the Heritage newspaper.  

UN Volunteer Celebrates International Volunteer Day with National Volunteers 

Several National Volunteers of Liberia on Monday, December 5, 2016 joined other volunteers across the world to celebrate International Volunteer Day. International Volunteer Day (IVD) originally known as International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development is a day designated by the United Nations since December 5, 1985 to recognize the contributions of volunteer organizations and individual volunteers at local, national, and international levels, reports the Heritage newspaper.  

28 African Journalists Complete 10-Month Media Fellowship in China 

According to Daily Observer, the twenty-eight journalists from 27 African countries have completed a 10-month media and cultural exchange fellowship at the China Africa Press Center (CAPC) in Beijing, the People’s Republic china. The Fellowship is an annual event that allows for African journalist to learn and acquire a deep knowledge about Chinese media, economic, political and cultural development. It also allows for Chinese journalists to learn more about Africa. It aims to strengthen China Africa friendship.