BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016

Dominating today’s newsstand are stories on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s ECOWAS delegation to Gambia, and dedication of the Bell Tower.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Ellen Leads High-Level ECOWAS Delegation To The Gambia Today  
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), leads a High-level delegation of the sub-regional body to The Gambia today.  According to an Executive Mansion release, the ECOWAS delegation will include President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, the Special Representative for West Africa of the United Nations Secretary General, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, among others.
Recently President Sirleaf as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority on Sunday issued a statement on the current political situation in The Gambia, urging President Jammeh to respect the election results, which reflect the freely expressed will of the Gambian people. The statement also expressed support for the joint statement issued by the African Union Commission, the ECOWAS Commission and the United Nations, and further called on the Gambian people to remain peaceful and calm, Daily Observer reports.

Related Caption: Ellen Leads Mediation Delegation To Gambia(FOCUS),President Sirleaf Due in Gambia To Hold Talks With Jammeh(FrontPage Africa)  

Bell Tower Made of ‘Guns’ Used During Liberian Civil War Dedicated 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf over the weekend dedicated a bell tower at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Caldwell outside Monrovia that has a cross forged from AK 47 guns that were used by combatants during the civil war to destroy lives and properties in Liberia. “We have to thank all of you, particularly the peace that has come to this part of the country because we all know what it was known for,” President Sirleaf told a brief ceremony marking the dedication of the bell tower, FrontPage Africa reports.

Related Caption:President Sirleaf Dedicates Tower Of Peace Bell (FOCUS),In Memory of the Dead: Catholic Church Constructs Peace Tower On PYJ Base (Inquirer)

OTHER STORIES  

Health Ministry to Absorb over 3,000 Workers on Payroll 

3,115 health workers and support staff nationwide are to be placed on the payroll of the Ministry of Health, a MOH annual report has said. The report, which was released recently, indicated that the ministry is doing this in collaboration with the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. The report also said the World Bank supported the operational cost and noted that this has been a high priority for the Ministry of Health in the course of the year. The report also said the payroll percentage has progressed significantly I the past year from 58 percent to 68 percent, noting that almost all clinical cadets are on payroll, the Heritage newspaper reads.

Related Caption: Health Ministry To Absorb Over 3,000 Workers On Payroll(FOCUS)

Mental Health Group Donates Treatment Guide to Liberia’s Health Ministry

The Project Director of the Mental Health Leadership Advocacy Program (mhLAP) in English-speaking West Africa and based in Nigeria, has donated at least 500 copies of a mental health treatment guide to authorities of the Ministry of Health.  Donating one copy of the Mental Health Gap Action Program (mhGAP) booklets to the Ministry, through Dr. Samson K. Arzoaquoi, Assistant Health Minister for Preventive Services, Professor Oye Gureje, said the material is a clinical support tool that the World Health Organization (WHO) developed to be used by non-mental health specialists. According to Prof. Gureje, who is also Director of World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Mental and Sustenance Use Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Ibandan, Nigeria, the idea is that in many countries, including Liberia, mental health specialists are not enough to meet the challenges of mental health burdens, FrontPage Africa reports.

Related Caption: Mental Health Group Donates ‘Treatment Guide’ To Health Ministry
 (Daily Observer)

Amb. Elder On 2017: ‘Smooth Transition Part Of Mature Democracy’

U.S Ambassador Christine Elder says the US will support a smooth transition in Liberia’s 2017 elections, and called on Liberians to be prepared for transparent elections. “The peaceful transition in my country despite people’s feeling is an enduring tradition. This is something we all wish for Liberia and we are confident it will happen because this is part of the process of a mature democracy,” Ambassador Elder said.  She made the statement Monday at a program marking the official opening of the Young Political Leadership School (YPLS) in Monrovia. The school operates under the guidance of NAYMOTE, a partner for democratic development that promotes citizens’ understanding of democratic processes and the long-term benefits of their participation in these processes, Daily Observer says.  

New Hearts’ For Christmas-3 Children Diagnosed With ‘Heart Disease’ To Get Corrective Surgeries Abroad 

Three Liberian children have received the best Christmas gift ever: an opportunity for a new lease on life through the collaboration of Dr. Endele Tefera (Pediatric Cardiologist, Liberian College of Physician and Surgeon - LCPS) and Dr. Edwin Francis (Pediatric Cardiologist of the Lisie Hospital located in Cochin, India), who are happy for these children to receive free corrective surgeries for their conditions.  Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, a pediatric consultant at the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Monrovia, had earlier diagnosed the children with the conditions for which she sought the assistance of the Lisie Hospital. The children, she observed, were suffering from a congenital heart disease commonly known as a “hole in the heart,” a condition that can cause a child to experience a variety of symptoms including weakness, poor growth and shortness of breath. Congenital heart disease leads to a reduced quality of life and often a shorter life span if lifesaving surgery is not done, DailyObserverwrites.

ECOWAS Launches Crossborder Meeting on Epidemic Disease

Delegates from the ECOWAS States are going through a three day cross-border meeting on Epidemic-Prone Disease which includes malaria and tropical neglected diseases. Over the past five years, countries in the West Africa region have faced various epidemic outbreaks and health emergencies crisis. The meeting is however intended to strengthen the epidemiological surveillance and adequately response to many epidemics through the implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) in accordance with the memorandum of cooperation for epidemics control in West African countries. Speaking at the launch of the meeting at the Golden Gate hotel Monday, the head of prevention and control at the Ministry of Health, Catherine Cooper said the Ministry of Health is pleased to have such meeting after the Ebola virus has recently devastated the three Mino River Union countries and extended to other countries in the ECOWAS region, FrontPage Africareports.  

Driver’s License Inspection Begins 

A joint general motor vehicle driver’s license inspection exercise is expected to begin immediately as it was officially launched by the Ministry of Transport, the Liberia revenue Authority and the Liberia National Police in Monrovia yesterday at the Ministry of Transport. Deputy Transport Minister for Land and Rail, Juanita Bropleh, said the exercise is in line with the Ministry’s functions in ensuring that vehicles of all categories plying the streets and highways of Liberia meet their annual tax obligations to the government by regularizing their registrations, Inquirer writes.  

ECOWAS Reviews Gender, Elections, Frameworks 

The review and validate of ECOWAS Gender and Elections Strategic Framework (GESF) and Action Plan has began in Abuja, Nigeria yesterday, December 12, 2016. The ECOWAS Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender, Dr. Fatimata Dia Sow disclosed that the meeting is expected to enhance the role of national electoral stakeholders and to support and integrate gender dimension through their activities in the electoral process, Inquirer reports.  

Red Cross Gets New Leadership 

The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) has a new leadership to steer its affairs for the next four years. According to a release issued on Monday, the elections were conducted for the first time by the National Election Commission (NEC) at the just-end General Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the LNRCs. Those elected are Mr. Jerome J.N. Clarke, National President; Mrs. Florence Napay, first Vice President; Joseph T. Nagbe, 3^rd Vice President; Arthur Glikay, Treasurer and Zoway Zubah, Youth Representative, reports the FOCUS newspaper.  

Minister Addy Joins Zimbabwe's VP at ARIPO Opening 

The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Axel M. Addy, and current Vice Chair of the Africa Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) joined the Vice President of Zimbabwe, the guest of Honor, His Excellency, Mr. Emmerson Mnangagwa, in the commemoration of ARIPO 40th Anniversary and Dedication of its new state of the art headquarters.  The Commerce Minister, as the Current Vice Chair of ARIPO Council of Ministers also served as the guest of honor and opened ARIPO’s Conference on Innovation. The Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) is the flagship organization for the promotion of IP on the continent. It is comprised of 19 member states and oversees the domestication of critical IP protocols for the promotion and protection intellectual property rights on the continent. The events marked its 40th anniversary as an organization.  It is supported by member states, the World Intellectual Property Organization, Government of Japan, China, and EU among others. Through its academy program, it continues to train lawyers and other professionals to build capacity in member states, FrontPage Africa reports.

Related: Minister Addy Joins Zimbabwe's VP at ARIPO Opening (The Inquirer)

Female Journalists Association Inducts New Corps of Officers

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) has inducted its leadership with a call to get prepare for the next Press Union leadership. Madam Vivian Bhatti said it is time that female journalists strive on taking the mantle of authority so as to stir the affairs of the union. Those inducted were Siatta Scot-Johnson, Coordinator; Winnie Saywah Jimmy, Vice Coordinator and Antoinette Sendolo, Secretary General. The Guest Speaker Bhatti challenged FeJAL that in terms of changing women's roles in the society, female journalists are to gain confidence around their strength and recognize their weaknesses adding, “You have major issues all around us and you can't keep silent. The new coordinator of FeJAL, Madam Scott describing the shape in the association as historic stressed the need for female journalists to turn their opportunities to educational challenges. She said the leadership is ready to move forward with sincerity. Meanwhile, several veteran female journalists were honored including Weade Kobbah Wureh, Maureen Sieh, Victoria Raffell, Elizabeth Hoff, Mildred Dean and Davidetta Brown Lassana and others,FrontPage Africa reports.  

Liberian Police Institutes New Corrective Measures 

The Liberia National Police says it is preparing to implement new measures amid growing concerns of issues affecting the country.  Some of the new measures, the police say would affect drinking spots, the use of sirens and the removal of children from selling on the streets of Monrovia.  Speaking at a press conference Monday, Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman said it is time that the misuse of sirens is attached with consequences such that users will adhere to the rules and guidelines on operating the use of emergency vehicles.  The Liberia National Police says it cannot rule out that consistent misused of sirens. The Inspector General of the LNP said that the Police authority take the blame of the death of the two children that were hit by the Presidential vehicle. “We sent our sincere apology to the family, since investigation of the police has been concluded and the suspect is charged and forwarded to court and we take the blame because the suspect is a Police officer and we at the LNP regret the incident and promised to put in measure to stop the re-occurrence”,FrontPage Africa reports.

Drinking Spot, Mosque And Church To Reduce Loud Sound

The FrontPage Africasays LNP Inspector General said the arbitrarily opening of drinking spots and night clubs all over is an issue to be addressed by the Ministry of Public Works and regulatory bodies.  He said although the owners of night clubs and bars are tax payers, the playing of loud music is annoying and disturbs other tax payers who are resting.  Inspector Coleman believed that although churches, mosques and entertainment centers wouldn’t be shut down, he urged them to obey the laws of the state. “Playing music and sitting on the side walk disturb pedestrians and commuters as the sitting on the sidewalk get the traffic congested mainly the bye-pass Facebook, also no need of putting in loud PA system when the congregation in churches and mosque are already attentive,” he said.  

N.P.A., Georgia Port Hold Roundtable 

The National Port Authority of Liberia in partnership with the Georgia Port Authority has held a one-day roundtable in Monrovia. Speaking on Monday, 12 December in Monrovia, the Managing Director of the N.P.A, Mr. David Williams said the goal is to increase trade between Liberia and the United State of America. He said based on deliberation, the N.P.A. is contemplating on building an inland port, and Georgia Port Authority has an inland port, which provides a unique opportunity to learn from them, New Dawn writes.

Prevail Gives Ebola Survivors Hope

The Principal Investigator of the Ebola Natural History Study program in Liberia, Dr. Masuka Fallah, has given hope to survivors across the country, saying though the study last for five years, but that does not mean Ebola survivors will die within this period.  He said this is the fear most survivors have that they are going to die. “And let me make this clear that no one is going to die”, he assured. He said PREVAIL has concluded data analysis on about 174 survivors, and 1,700 close contacts, adding “from our analysis, we were able to identify some of the close contacts, but our main focus was the baseline analysis since they enroll into the Ebola Natural History Study to be able to provide the data that was generated from these survivors after the six months period”, New Dawn reports.

U.N. Predicts Unrest, Mob Violence In Liberia

A report by the United Nations Security Council on Liberia has disclosed that the country faces risks posed by civil unrest and mob violence, which ignite quickly and could escalate beyond the response capability of national security institutions if there were simultaneous incidents.According to the report, violent crime, unregulated small arms and cross -border trafficking in drugs, persons and weapons also present risks to the country. It stressed that the assessment by the Liberia National Police (LNP) of a low-to-medium risk of election-related violence, several interlocutors expressed concern about the large population of unemployed and unskilled youth who have nothing to lose by displaying antisocial behavior and are vulnerable to manipulation by potential spoilers during the electoral period, New Dawn reports.

Troubling Budgetary Year

House Speaker Emmanuel James Nuquay has signaled that the current 2016/17 National Budget is seriously facing troubling times that need quick intervention to repair financial crisis being faced by the nation. Addressing a news conference in Monrovia over the weekend, Speaker Nuquay said from July to November 30, this year, the government was only able to generate US$159 million, which represents 27 percent of the US$600 million projected for the entire fiscal year.  According to the Speaker, the government is yet to raise the remaining US$1441 million that constitutes 73 percent of the national budget. The 2016/17 budget of US$623 million was passed by the Liberian Legislature in September, following delay due to leadership crisis in the House of Representatives, NewDawn writes.

Red Cross Gets New Leadership

The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRC) has a new leadership to steer its affairs for the next four years. According to a release issued on Monday, the elections were conducted for the first time by the National Elections Commission (NEC) at the just-end General Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the LNRCs. Those elected are Mr. Jerome J.N. Clarke, National President; Mrs. Florence Napay, first Vice President; Joseph T. Nagbe, 3^rd Vice President; Arthur Glikay, Treasurer and Zoway Zubah, Youth Representative, reports the FOCUS newspaper.  

Brainstorms to Enhance Resilient Health 

Top health officials from various West African States under banner of West African Health Organization (WAHO) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners have begun a three-day cross-border meeting aimed at enhancing a resilient health system through partnership. The three-day forum, which is being held at the Golden Gate Hotel in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, is basically centered on epidemic-prone diseases, including Malarial and Neglected Tropical Diseases. Speaking at the start of the forum, the Professional in Charge of Epidemic and Emergencies of WAHO, Dr. Felicite Chokki, said the Ebola virus disease reveals the urgent need of reviewing various national health priorities, the Heritage newspaper reports.

Crematorium Team Rewarded

Owing to their selfless efforts in the fight against the Ebola virus Disease (EVD), members of the Crematorium Team was on Sunday, December 11, 2016 certificated. Program marking certification of the “Ebola Heroes” was held at the ELWA Youth Camp in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. The Crematorium Team was certificated by local health group under the banner Community Based-Initiative for Disease Surveillances and Sustainable Development. Speaking at the certification program Madam Nancy Whitebol, a Missionary and Trauma Counselor of CBIDSSD, said the Crematorium Team worked as heroes during the disease outbreak and as such, it was important to have them remembered, reports the Heritage newspaper.