The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

The honor bestowed on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Grand Kru County, the launch of the Digital Liberia and E-Government Project to improve performance by the Government of Liberia and the upcoming dialogue between the  Liberia National Policeand partners on the holding of peaceful elections in October 2017 are stories dominating today’s media summary.

DOMINANT STORIES  

EJS Praises South Easterners For Supporting Peace And Development 

Citizens of Grand Kru County have honored and presented a crown, mantle and wrapper engraved with the colors of the county to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, at a ceremony which took place in Buah Geeken, Grand Kru. County citizens referred to President Sirleaf as the Presidential Queen of Africa and named her “Bonyonoh”, which translate as the Iron Lady who brought transformation to the county, an Executive Mansion release said. At the same time, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has extolled citizens of Grand Kru County for the support and patriotism demonstrated in keeping the peace for 11 years stressing: “We are proud of you citizens of Grand Kru and your support; the peace we enjoy today could not have been possible if each of you did not play your part well, thank you Grand Kru County,” she told jubilant citizens and residents of county, the INSIGHT reads.

Related Captions: Ellen Extols Grand Kru Citizens(Heritage), and Ellen Crowned Presidential Queen of Africa in Grand Kru; Citizens Her “Bonyonah”(FOCUS)

E-Government Project Introduced-USAID, Government Of Liberia Launch New ICT Support Project

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the Government of Liberia (GoL), Wednesday launched the USAID Digital Liberia and e-Government Project in Monrovia. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the Digital Liberia and e-Government Project will improve the GoL’s performance and bring it closer to the people through the development of internet and computer technology capability. This USAID funded project will improve the GoL connectivity and institutional capacity that is necessary for the provision of effective services, progressing Liberia towards the creation of a sound national ICT platform now and for future generations.

Related Captions: GoL, USAID Launch ICT Project(In Profile Daily),USAID/GoL Launch New ICT Support Project(The New Dawn), USAID, GOL Launch New ICT Support Project(Heritage),and GOL, USAID Officially Launched Digital Liberia E-Government Capacity Building Project To Enhance Communications, Service Delivery To Liberians(Focus)

Vice President Boakai, Swiss Vice President Highlight Job Creation in Agro Sector

The FrontPage Africanewspaper says Vice President Joseph N. Boakai has met with the Vice President of Switzerland, Alain Berset on the first leg of his working visit to three European capitals, Geneva, Paris and London, in a bid to solidify the already cordial ties between Liberia and these nations and to make a case for more European investment in Liberia. During a meeting at the Federal Building in Geneva, Vice President Boakai and His Swiss Counterpart highlighted the issues of youth and job creation and the advancement of Swiss support to the agricultural sector and value addition. Vice President Boakai and Alain recounted the bilateral and cordial relations that subsist between the two nations since the fifties and promised to accelerate the relations for the benefit of the two nations and peoples, the dispatch said.

Related Caption: Liberia, Swiss Relations Gain New Heights(Heritage)

Mitigating Conflict LNP Ends One Day Dialogue With Civil Society Organizations And Youth Groups

The Liberia National Police on Wednesday conducted a one-day dialogue with civil societies with the aim of mitigating potential conflict during the upcoming October elections. The dialogue was held at Paynesville City Hall. The Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Gregory Coleman informed members of the civil society organizations present that the dialogue was intended to bring CSOs and youth groups together for the promotion of peace and unity ahead of the crucial elections. Col. Coleman assured his audience that the LNP is prepared to provide a safe and secured environment for the conduct of the 2017 Presidential and general elections. The dialogue which was held under the theme: “Peace has no substitute”, was organized by the LNP to reach out to major stakeholders in the Liberian electoral sector and to strengthen the Police relationship with public, reports the FrontPage Africanewspaper.

Related Captions:Police Dialogue With Civil Society(The New Dawn), LNP Dialogues With CSO & Youth Groups To Hold Peaceful Elections(Heritage), and Police, Civil Society< Youth groups Pledge Commitment To Peaceful Election(In Profile Daily)

Ellen Consoles Ghana

The Heritage newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a condolence message to the Government and people of Ghana following the death of at least 20 persons and injury of 22 others. Twenty people, mainly high school students, died after a large tree fell on them at the popular Kintampo waterfalls, in the Brong-Ahafo region, one of the highest in the country. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday, March 19, 2017. The students were swimming when the freak accident happened. Twenty-two others were reported injured and treated at local hospitals. A Foreign Ministry release states that in the message to her Ghanaian counterpart, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, expressed the hope that the resilience and strength that the people of Ghana have always demonstrated during moments of challenge will be a bulwark or consolation during this difficult period.   

Related Caption: For Tragic Accident At Kintampo Waterfalls: Liberia Consoles Ghana(INSIGHT)

NEC Certificates Nyumalin

The National Elections Commission (NEC) on Wednesday March 22, 2017 certificated Mr. Francis Sakila Nyumalin of the Union of Liberian Democrat (ULD) as winner of the February 28, 2017 By-election in District # 1, Lofa county. The ceremony was held at the Commission headquarters on the 9th Street Sinkor. Presiding over the ceremony, the Co-chair of the NEC, Cllr. Sarah Toe thanked the people of Lofa county District #1 for their peaceful participation in the February 28 By-election. The winner of the election, Mr. Nyumalin of the ULD obtained 3,149 votes representing 32.0% followed by Mr. William Tamba Kamba of Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) who obtained 2,996 votes representing 30.5%. The total number of valid votes cast stood at 9,832 with invalid votes totaling 771 bringing to the total of 10,603 voters turnout in District # 1 By-election in Lofa County. Earlier, the runner-up, Mr. Kamba of (MOVEE) had protested the outcome of the By-election on grounds that the 771 invalid votes were alarming. According to theNew Dawnnewspaper, the MOVEE candidate later withdrew his protest which prompted the certification of the winner, Mr. Francis Nyumalin.

Related Caption:NEC Certificates Lofa By-election Winner(Daily Observer)

Modern Agric Project In Sight For BWI

The Booker Washington Institute Alumni Association in North America (BWIAANA) has promised to construct a large modern agriculture project on the campus of the institution in Kakata, Margibi County. The establishment of the project, which could be used as a demonstration site for the school, will commence very soon, BWIAANA President, Eric Harris said the project is modeled after the Muirkirk Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), a highly innovative farming program that researches sustainable and organic agriculture techniques and applies them to an urban agricultural setting through modernized farming methods, writes the Daily Observer.

Veteran Liberian Nurse Wins Prestigious George-Williams Award

The Liberia Board of Nursing & Midwifery, working with the Carter Center’s Mental Health Program on Friday, March 17 awarded Tarnue Gbelee, RN, MHC with the 2017 Ellen George Williams Award for Mental Health Nursing at the Kataka City Hall, Margibi County. The award named in honor of veteran nurse Ellen George William is awarded annually to the mental health clinician deemed most to embody the spirit and passion for mental health nursing exhibited by Mrs. George Williams. Mr. Tarnue Gblelee, RN, MHC is a registered nurse and mental health clinician who graduated from Smythe Institute.  Mr. Gbelee, a nurse and mental health clinician is the third recipient of the award, which comes with a plaque and a cash prize. 

Flover Honored: National Council of Chief And Eiders Confers Title Of Chief Zanzan Of Grand Bassa On Nigerian Musician

The National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia (NCCEL) has honored popular Nigerian musical star Chinedu Izuchukwu Okoli, alias Flavor Nabania for his promotion of African culture and tradition through music. The chiefs said the honore was in recognition of Flavor’s immense contributions to Africa through music and for the promotion and respect for African culture and tradition. The FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that the program was held at the head office of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace in Monrovia on March 21.

Liberia: WHO Country Rep. Lauds MOH for Mental Health Policy

World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative Alex Gasasira has lauded the Ministry of Health for the launch of a five-year mental health policy and strategic plan. Speaking at the launch of the policy and plan at the E.S. Grant Mental Hospital on Duport Road, outside Monrovia, recently, Gasasira said the issue of mental health cannot be overemphasized, adding that the launch of the policy is a great achievement for the Ministry of Health. Gasasira said the policy will help partners of the Government to coordinate support for mental health. “We need to commend everybody who worked hard for what is being achieved because with limited resources a lot has been achieved by the Ministry of Health,” he said, noting, “Sometimes we get so much overwhelmed by the challenges that we don’t give sufficient commendation for what is being achieved in challenging circumstances, the INSIGHT newspaper reads.

Liberia will Partner with Canada in Maritime Security- Samukai

Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai says the Ministry of National Defense will continue to seek partnership opportunities with Canada to advance Liberia’s maritime security. He noted that from the security perspective, the Liberian Coast Guard is prepared to cooperate with all partner nations in ensuring the safety of the broader West African Coastal region to thwart ‘tragedy of the commons’. The Liberian Defense boss acknowledged the historical role the Canadian Government and People have played over the years in impacting the development of the Liberian Defense Sector, the INSIGHT news daily says.

Minister Cassel Speaks On Major Issues

The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Julia Duncan Cassel, has assured that donor funding can only reach targeted projects and trickle down when partners allow national ownership of grants. She said Liberia continues to show that development cooperation can play very supportive role in achieving gender equality; asserting that with national ownership, great amount of the funds could reach projects – with the National Agenda of Government as the case of Liberia citing the Agenda for Transformation (AFT). However, her remarks at one of the side events of the CSW61 under the topic, ‘Women’s Economic Empowerment and WASH joint Initiative; Liberia and Sierra Leon Stepping it up”, held in New York, was stemmed from what she termed as ‘unquestionable lessons learned and recommendations provided for way forward’, reports the Heritage  newspaper.

Several Journalists Trained In Election Reporting

According to the Heritage newspaper, several practicing journalists have completed two-day specialized election reporting training organized by the Center for Media Studies and Peace building (CEMESP) with support from Internews. The two-day training, which brought together reporters from the print and electronic media, was further aimed at sharpening the skills of Liberian journalists in reporting elections related stories ahead of the much-publicized 2017 Presidential and Legislative Elections. The training was held at the offices of CEMESP in Monrovia and was facilitated by some veteran Liberian journalists including the former President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Mr. Kamara A. Kamara, Mr. Frank Sainwula and Madam Maureen Sieh among others.