The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2017

News of President Sirleaf’s Congratulatory Message to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on the occasion commemorating her 91st birth anniversary on Friday, April 21^st and World Bank Africa’s Pulse 2017 report on a rebounding economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa after registering the worst decline in more than two decades are the major highlights in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Queen Elizabeth at 91 

TheNew Dawn reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a message of congratulations to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on the occasion commemorating her 91st birth anniversary on Friday, April 21, 2017. Queen Elizabeth II was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926, in London, to Prince Albert, Duke of York (later known as King George VI, and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon). She is the mother of Prince Charles, heir to the throne, as well as the grandmother of princes William and Harry. A Foreign Ministry release said, in her message to Queen Elizabeth II, President Sirleaf personally extended warmest felicitations and best wishes of well-being and prosperity on this special and happy occasion. President Sirleaf indicated that it is satisfying to note that relations between Liberia and Great Britain have attained new and elevated heights, bolstered by the visit of the British Foreign Secretary to Liberia in February this year. She emphasized that the Liberian Government has been invigorated by renewed commitments by the British Government aimed at improving the country’s infrastructure, especially roads and energy, which are very critical to the fulfillment of Liberia’s development goals.

Related Caption: Ellen Congratulates Queen Elizabeth II On 91^st Birth Anniversary(Heritage), Queen Elizabeth II Turns 91(Daily Observer)  

Economic Growth In Africa Is On The Upswing 

According to the Daily Observer, World Bank Africa’s Pulse 2017 report, which was released Wednesday, revealed that economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is rebounding, after registering the worst decline in more than two decades. Mr. Albert G. Zeufack, World Bank Chief Economist for the African region, who spoke from Washington, D.C., said the region is showing significant signs of recovery, and regional growth is projected to reach 2.6 percent in this year. Though the World Bank Africa’s Pulse did not narrow its report to specific countries in the region, Nigeria, South Africa, and Angola, the continent’s largest economies are seeing a rebound from the sharp slowdown in 2016, but the recovery has been slow due to insufficient adjustment to low commodity prices and policy uncertainty. According to him, the environment of weak economic growth comes at a time when the continent is in dire need of necessary reforms to boost investment and tackle poverty.

Related Captions: Growth In Sub-Saharan Africa Rebounds-World Bank(The New Dawn),Economic Growth In Africa Is On The Upswing Founding A Sharp Slowdown  (The New Dawn)   

OTHER STORIES  

Veep Boakai Pitches Liberian Economy to US Investors–Outlines Challenges in Education Sector 

The Daily Observer quotes Vice President Joseph N. Boakai as saying that the Liberian Government is focused on strategic investment, both domestic and foreign in value chain, plus downstream processed goods and in manufacturing, seeks to expand electricity distribution; as well as link creative financing for Major Small Medium Enterprises and commercially viable businesses. VP Boakai said Liberia being such an investment friendly country, has aggressively created an atmosphere conducive to investment, and pointed out that Liberia’s Profit Tax Rate is 25% or 2% on turnover, with very limited capital controls and 100% of profit available for repatriation. He made the remarks Friday when he delivered the keynote address at the Liberian Business Forum at Greenberg Traurig in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He noted that the Liberian government sees limitless possibilities in the expansion and deepening of relationship, covering the areas of trade, economics, security, governance, health and education.

WFP Director Seeks Partnership To End Hunger

The World Food Program (WFP) Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Abdou Dieng, says there is a need for continuous teamwork between the Government of Liberia and development partners to end hunger in the country by 2030 as mandated by the United Nations. Mr. Dieng made the statement on Wednesday, when he visited a peri-urban agriculture project in Johnsonville, outside Monrovia. He called for the collective effort of Liberians to achieve the “Zero Hunger Goal.” According to the Daily Observer, the Orphan Grain Farmers’ Cooperative Agriculture Project is one of many farm projects supported by the WFP to address food insecurity in Liberia. He noted that Liberia needs to invest more in education and agriculture to sustain the country’s peace.  

National Museum To Reopen In A Month 

The Assistant Minister for Culture at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Joyce Kenkpen, says the ongoing renovation work at the nation’s only museum which started four months ago, at a cost of US$400,000, is nearing completion. The Minister added that although the renovation work on the museum is long overdue, it is ‘a dream come true’ for the government and a fulfillment of a promise to promote and maintain Liberia’s culture, according to the Daily Observer.

‘African Vaccination Week, World Malaria Day’ Underway-WHO Regional Director Stresses Commitment

The World Health Organization African Region is poised to join the rest of the world in celebrating World Immunization Week starting 24-30 April 2017, with the theme: “Vaccines Protect Everyone, Get Vaccinated!”. The week will also witness the commemoration of World Malaria Day, scheduled for April 25^th under the theme: “End Malaria for Good.”  The primary intent of the celebrations is to promote the critical importance of full immunization throughout each person’s life as well as ensure that malaria is eradicated. Immunization saves millions of lives and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective public health interventions, African Region Director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti has indicated. Dr. Moeti said vaccines provide benefits beyond health outcomes and that these benefits include averted medical costs and reduced time spent caring for sick children, while these savings accrue to improvements in Education, the In Profile Daily reads.