The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017

Today’s edition of the summary of the local dailies highlights news of the Liberia’s takeover of the chairmanship post of the Group of African States at the United Nations and the selection  of the Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority Elfrieda Stewart Tamba as one of the co-chairpersons of the Addis Tax Initiative  Steering Committee.

DOMINANT STORIES

At The United Nations: Liberia Assumes Chairmanship Of The Group Of African States, ECOWAS

The INSIGHT newspaper reads that the Republic of Liberia has assumed the chairmanship of the Group of African States at the United Nations for the month of February, 2017.  Liberia now chairs ECOWAS and the African Group at the United Nations. According to a dispatch from New York, this implies that Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Lewis Garseedah Brown, II, assumes that role for the month. The turning over from the Republic of Burundi was conducted February 17, at the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations in New York.

Related Captions: Liberia Assumes Chairmanship of the Group of African States Also Chairs ECOWAS Group (The INQUIRER), Liberia Chairs Group of African States At U.N. (Heritage)

LRA Boss Selected Co-Chairperson At ATI

According to the Daily Observer, Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General Elfrieda Stewart Tamba has been selected as one of the co-chairpersons of the Addis Tax Initiative (ATI) Steering Committee. Madam Tamba is also a member of the Governing Council of the African Tax Administrative Forum (ATAF) and Chair of West African Tax Administration Forum (WATAF). The ATI which aims to catalyze significant increases in domestic revenue and to improve the transparency, fairness, effectiveness and efficiency of tax systems in partner countries, is a body of 45 countries across the world. The Steering Committee oversees the work of the ATI Secretariat and provides strategic direction, in consultation with members.

Related Captions:  LRA Boss Gets Another Int’l Post (INSIGHT), LRA Boss Gets Another Int’l Post-Selected Co-Chairperson At ATI (In Profile Daily), LRA Boss Gets Another Int’l Post (Heritage)

OTHER STORIES

UMC Launches EJS Scholarship

The United Methodist Church (UMC) has launched a scholarship drive in honor of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the commercial city of Ganta, Nimba County. The intent of the scholarship drive is in recognition of President Sirleaf’s many contributions to the church, the health sectors and the improvement of the educational sectors most especially girls in rural Liberia. the Scholarship Drive which was organized and hosted by the United Methodist Church of Liberia was attended by other members of the of the UMC based in the United States, the Republic of Guinea and the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire during the Annual Conference. President Sirleaf’s Scholarship Drive is intended to cater to the educational needs of Liberian girls to encourage parents in every county to send their girls to school which is a primary goal to their empowerment and success in life, the INQUIRER newspaper reads.

ECOWAS Vice President Sensitizes On Community Levy

An inside story of the INQUIRER newspaper reads that the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Edward Singhatey has signed a memorandum of understanding with Guinea Bissau’s minister of Economy and Finance following a two-day visit to the country, aimed to discuss and sensitize stakeholders on the Community Levy mechanism. Mr. Singhatey, who is also the Chair of the Community Levy Committee, took advantage of visit to Bissau to pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic, José Mario Vaz, the Speaker of the National Parliament, Cipriano Cassamá, the Prime Minister, Umaro Sissoco Embalo and other top government officials.

National Peace Meeting with Presidential Contestant Underway

In a bid to maintain and sustain the peace and stability of the country, the Chairman of the Governance Commission (GC), Dr. Amos Sawyer, has disclosed that plans are underway for leaders of political parties to declare commitment to upholding to the peace process during campaign and after the much publicized Presidential and Legislative Elections. The Elections are scheduled for October of this year. According to him, the forum, which is headed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, will enable presidential contestants to come together to agree to a declaration of commitment aimed at avoiding electoral violence in order for Liberia to remain a peaceful nation no matter wins, the Heritage newspaper reads.

Youth Coordinator Stresses need for Capacity Building

An inside story of the Heritage newspaper asserts that the Coordination of the local NGO, Community Youth in Action Network (CYAN), James Mambu, has underscored the need for youth capacity building through regular training. Mambu said youths are essential to the development and growth of Liberia and as such there is an urgent need to build their capacity by giving them the technical skills and knowledge their deserve. Mambu made the statement over the weekend at the close of a one-day training program for over 50 youths at the Banjor Community Church in the Monrovia suburb of lower Virginia.

MOA Warns Against Using Harmful Substances In Liberian Waters

The Ministry of Agriculture says it has observed the use of harmful and dangerous substances by some unscrupulous individuals to catch fish within Liberia’s territorial waters. In a release issued Monday, the Agriculture Ministry named some of the harmful and dangerous substances as dynamite and firearms. The Ministry informed the general public that no one is allowed to use any chemicals like dynamite, firearms, leaves or any other explosives to catch fish in Liberian waters. According to the release, anyone caught in this unlawful act will be arrested and turned over to the authorities for prosecution, the Heritage news daily reads.

Ganta Mayor Urges Journalists To Uphold Ethics

Ganta City Mayor Benjamin Dokpah is urging Liberian journalists to uphold ethical standard, professional competence and good moral standing in the performance of their duties. Speaking to journalists in Ganta at the weekend on the sideline of the close of the three-day community radio conference, he reminded Liberian journalists that the future of the country depends on collective roles of every citizen, including journalists, the Heritage newspaper reads.

5 Southeastern Counties’ Road Works Underway

The Daily Observer reads that the Bridge Rural Communities for Trade (BRCT), non-profit organization with both local and international support has announced a US$500,000 phase one road project to connect five southeastern counties. The counties are Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, River Gee, Grand Kru and Maryland. BRCT is a non-profit organization with both local and international support. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President of BRCT, Mr. Gbenimah B. Slopadoe said Phase One is a two-year short term activity. He said the phase is carried out under the slogan, “Keep Liberia’s Inter-county Roads Open during the Rainy Season 2017 to 2018.”

APRM Reaches Southeast

The Daily Observer says the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) national sensitization and outreach campaign has been launched in southeastern Liberia. Chief launcher, Assistant Minister of Finance for Administration Stanley Barh, serving as proxy for Minister Boima Kamara, told citizens that county and social development funds are intended for local projects in their various communities and therefore residents must hold authorities accountable in on how they expend the funds. The APRM national sensitization campaign is nationwide, according to communications outreach officer A. Trokon Tarr, to prepare citizens to evaluate the government’s performance.

President Sirleaf Arrives; Gets Honor from United Methodist Church in Ganta

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Sunday, February 19, 2017 arrived in Ganta, Nimba County in continuation of her County Tour to rural Liberia. The County Tour among other things is meant to thank and appreciate citizens for keeping the peace over the past 11 years and for electing her twice as Liberia’s President. The visit is also meant to bring the Presidency closer to the people and get to know the issues they are faced with. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf while in Nimba County will also dedicate several developmental projects, and hold Interactive Town Hall Meetings with citizens. While in Ganta, President Sirleaf attended the Closing Session of the 184th Session of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and was honored for her exemplary leadership in Liberia and beyond, particularly in the United Methodist Church where she has variously shown that Jesus is Lord through her humanitarian services, according to the In Profile Daily.

Related Caption: Ellen in Nimba on County Tour (Heritage)