The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, MAY 8, 2017

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf inspected ongoing projects and dedicated several completed development projects in Lofa County and Liberia National Police assurance to citizens of Southeastern Liberia of its fullest protection during and after the pending 2017

The summary also includes Liberia’s outgoing ambassador accredited to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim K. Nyei, has received the Wajba Medal, one of Qatar’s prestigious medals, from the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani and the Governments of the Republic of Liberia and the Union of Myanmar have established diplomatic relations between their two countries.

DOMINANT STORIES

Ellen’s Last Count Tour – Dedicates Several Development Projects In Foya
According to New Democrat newspaper, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on Tuesday, 1st May 2017 arrived in Foya, Lofa County in continuation of the Fourth Leg of County Tour, which took her to several towns and districts including: Sorlumba, Yaladu, Sardu, Passia, Kolahum, Kolbah City, Voinjama, Samodu, Quadu-Gboni, Vezela, Kornia and Zorzor Districts. She held interactive town hall meetings, inspected ongoing projects and dedicated several completed development projects. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf was welcomed by traditional chiefs, elders, rural women, youth, students, motorcyclists as well as the local county leaders led by Superintendent George Dunor and members of the County Legislative Caucus. The County Tour is among other things intended to acknowledge and appreciate citizens for keeping 11 years of continued peace and for electing her twice as President. Prior to attending the Town Hall Meeting, the Liberian leader dedicated the Sorlumba Market, a Commissioner Compound in Foya, Kaiha Bridge that connects Kolahum to Lukabeh and Wahasam in Kolahun District, a Police depot in Samodu, an Administrative Building, Chief Musa Gboni Kamara Compound, and Chief Compound in Samodu, Quadu-Gboni District. She also toured the Voinjama City Water Project and dedicated Vezela Bridge and Town Hall in Vezela Town, among others.

Related Captions: Ellen Dedicates Several Development Projects In Lofa (The INQUIRER), Lofa Honors President Sirleaf (New Democrat), Appreciating Foya President Sirleaf Visits To Lofa (FrontPage Africa)

Police Rally Southeastern Citizens’ Support For Peaceful 2017 Elections

The Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Mr. Gregory Coleman, has assured citizens of the Southeastern region of Liberia of police fullest protection during and after the pending 2017 Presidential and Representatives elections scheduled for October, but urged them to approach the elections with a spirit of peace and unity. IGP Coleman informed the citizens that the transition process if managed well, and void of violence will signify that Liberians were indeed prepared to manage their own affairs, and would further attract the international community to invest in the country, something he believed will provide more opportunities for vulnerable youths, who are usually victimized in crisis situations, asserts the INQUIRER newspaper.

Related Captions: Police Rallies Southeastern Citizens for Peaceful Elections (In Profile Daily), Police Rally Southeastern Citizens Support for Peaceful 2017 Elections (The Analyst)

OTHER STORIES

Liberia’s Outgoing Ambassador To The State Of Qatar Receives The Wajba Medal

The FrontPage Africa newspaper says Liberia’s outgoing ambassador accredited to the State of Qatar, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim K. Nyei, has received the Wajba Medal, one of Qatar’s prestigious medals, from the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani. According to a Dispatch from Doha, Ambassador Nyei was awarded the prestigious Wajba Medal in recognition of his invaluable and distinguished service in fostering bilateral friendship between the Government and peoples of the Liberia and the State of Qatar. The ceremony took place recently, when the outgoing Liberian diplomat paid a courtesy call and took leave of the Emir, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani as Liberia’s ambassador to that country. Ambassador Nyei, who is one of Liberia’s outstanding diplomats, was commissioned Liberia’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar on March 11, 2011.

Related Caption: Liberia’s Outgoing Ambassador To Qatar Receives Medal (Inquirer)

Liberia Establishes Diplomatic Relations With Union of Myanmar

The Governments of the Republic of Liberia and the Union of Myanmar have established diplomatic relations between their two countries. According to a dispatch from Beijing, People’s Republic of China (PRC), His Excellency Mr. Dudley McKinley Thomas, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Liberia to the People’s Republic of China and His Excellency Mr. Thit Linn Ohn, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar to the People’s Republic of China signed the Joint Communiqué on behalf of their respective Governments at an impressive ceremony held at the Embassy of the Union of Myanmar in downtown Beijing, reports the FrontPage Africa newspaper.

Related Caption: Liberia Establishes Diplomatic Relations with Myanmar (New Democrat)

European Union Celebrates Europe Day 2017 in Liberia

According to the New Democrat newspaper, Europe Day, held on 9 May every year, celebrates peace and unity in Europe. This year the European Union delegation in Liberia has decided that the annual diplomatic reception to celebrate Europe Day will be organized in tune with the “eat what you grow, grow what you eat” promoted by the Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce. In practice this means that almost all of the ingredients that will be used for the preparation of the food served at the reception have been sourced directly from Liberia farmers. The chicken for example has been purchased from Ms Anatta of Margibi county, the pork from Ms. Martha Gbanekan of Montserrado County, the cassava from Ms. Grace N. Philip of Grand Bass County and the vegetables from Mr. Abraham Gaye of Grand Bassa County and Ms Sam G. Hill of Montserrado County. There will also be innovative products, such as moringa tea and soup prepared by Mama Morris from FTI Community, Bomi County.

Related Caption: EU Celebrates Europe Day 2017 In Liberia In Tune With The “Eat What You Grow, Grow What You Eat”  Campaign (FrontPage Africa)

INHCR, UNDP Complete A Two-Day Atonement and Psychosocial Recovery Project Workshop

The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 ended a two-day workshop on community-based and truth telling, atonement and psychosocial recovery project (National Palava Hut program) in Montserrado County.  Speaking at the workshop, Wilfred N. Gray-Johnson, Oversight Commissioner of the Department of Planning, Internal Monitoring and Evaluation at the INCHR said the workshop was intended to bring perpetrators and victims together as a means of reconciling their difference, something he said will help promote peace in the country. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, Mr. Gray-Johnson added that the workshop was also aimed at providing psychosocial recovery training for both perpetrators and victims to reconcile and live together in harmony, adding that the dark days are over and there is a need for Liberians to settle their difference for the forward march of the country. 

Africa Bible College Graduates Several

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has commended the African Bible College University (ABCU) for the level of quality education it is impacting to students. The Liberian Leader who was speaking at a recent graduation exercise of the ABCU administration for the level of contributions that the school is providing in the nation building process. The president especially praised the institution of the level of quality education it is providing to the youth of the nation especially in the field of Theology, Mass Communication and other disciplines which is significantly leading to the rebuilding of Liberia, reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

U.S Embassy Official To Meet With Presidential Aspirants

“We congratulate the Government and people of Liberia for their vibrant democracy and their successful voter registration process. We are initiating a series of private discussions with presidential aspirants of political parties who wish to engage with the U.S. Embassy. “The first dialogue took place with Cllr. Dr. Jallah Barbu of the New Liberia Party. The U.S. Embassy will continue these dialogues in the weeks that follow in order to better understand the platforms, priorities, and philosophies of the aspirants. U.S. Embassy meetings with political aspirants will be closed to the press, reports the INQUIRER newspaper.

Related Caption: U.S. Embassy Officials To Meet With Presidential Aspirants (Analyst)

MFS, Redemption & C.B. Dunbar Awarded For Best Hand Hygiene Practices

Three referral hospitals in Liberia, two in Montserrado County and one in Bong County, have been awarded gold- designed trophies for exhibiting best hand hygiene practices in the country. Staffers and employees of Medecin Sin Frontier Pediatric Hospital in Gerdnerville, Redemption Hospital in New Kru Town, Bushrod Island, and C.B. Dunbar Hospital in Gbarnga, beamed with smiles on Friday, May 5, 2017which marked Word Hand Hygiene Day Globally. Presentations of awards to the three referral hospitals, out of 27 referral hospitals across the country that took part in the exercise leading to the awards, were in observance of the day, the In Profile newspaper reports.

IMP Donate US$150,000 Worth Of Equipment To NSEC

A Medical charity in California, the United States of America, International Medical Project (IMP), through Firestone-Liberia Hospital, Duside in Margibi County, has donated three modern state of the art medical eye machines to the New Sight Eye Center (NSEC) in Paynesville, Montserrado County, the In Profile Daily reads.

Women’s Progress Irreversible Pres. Sirleaf Says, Wants Peace Sustained

A back-page story of the Analyst daily news reads that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has described the rise of women in the Liberian society as irreversible progress whose dynamism has vastly echoed the fundamental rights of women and their participation in the country’s governance structure across various sectors of the Liberian nation. The Liberian leader made the special recognition of women’s assertiveness in the Liberian society at a town hall meeting in Ganglota, Salayea District, Lofa County, during her just concluded fifth round nationwide tour in that part of the country.

PROSPECTS Project Launched MercyCorps To Give Youth More Opportunities

MercyCorps-Liberia has officially launched a career training project named and styled PROSPECTS, otherwise referred to as Partnership for Transformation in Liberia. Prospects Project is youth livelihoods program launched under the theme: “Pathway to a Successful Career” and it is to empowers young Liberians to find meaningful, market-driven employment or self-employment through increased skills, self-confidence, and economic opportunities. Penny Anderson, MercyCorps’ country director said the program works to address constraints in the labor demand and labor supply sector, the Analyst newspaper reads.