The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

News of Liberia’s Ambassador  to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H. E. Professor Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh’s  presentation on the presidential emergence pattern in Liberia from war to peace; the dedication of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Complex in Sanniquellie, Nimba County by  President Sirleaf as well as President Sirleaf’s  condolence and solidarity messages to the  Republic of Niger and the Federal  Republic of Nigeria  following heavy torrential rain resulting in the death of at least 44 persons in Niger and the displacement of over 100,000 people in Nigeria are among stories dominating today’s  summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Ambassador Conteh Raps On Liberia’s Presidential Emergence Pattern 

The Heritage newspaper reports that the Ambassador of the Republic of Liberia accredited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Professor Al-Hassan Conteh, has made a brief presentation on the Presidential Emergence Pattern in Liberia from war to peace. The Liberian Envoy, according to a dispatch from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja, made the presentation during the 2017 Annual Nelson Mandela International Roundtable on Political Development in Africa held recently in Abuja, Nigeria. The event, organized by the Save Democracy Group Africa and The Nelson Mandela Foundation, focused on “Presidential Emergence Pattern, Political Conflicts and Peace Building Options” as this year’s theme. Ambassador Conteh remarked that Liberia’s emergence from conflict to peace building, leading to a Presidential re-emergence system, lasted for more than a decade after five different interim governments from 1990 to 2006. The Liberian Envoy concluded that besides the legacy of peace and stability, the success of the Sirleaf Administration will be measured in the success of the third post conflict election this October that will see the emergence of her successor as President of Liberia.

Related Captions: Ambassador Conteh Raps On Liberia’s Presidential Emergency Pattern(Heritage), Amb. Conteh Documents Liberia’s Presidential Emergency Pattern(Daily Observer), Ambassador Conteh Raps On Liberia’s Presidential Emergency Pattern(The INQUIRER)

Ellen Dedicates Government-Funded Judicial Complex In Sanniquellie

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dedicated the Eighth Judicial Circuit Complex in Sanniquellie, Nimba County. The Liberian leader commended the Judiciary for the level of reform over the years by the administration of the deceased and current Chief Justices of the Honorable Supreme Court of Liberia. She commended the transformation of the Judiciary and noted that when we embarked upon the journey of political governance of the nation, we recognized a lot of things to be done to enhance the quality of justice, and to improve the delivery of justice through the incentives that are required. The Heritagenewspaper says President Sirleaf spoke on Saturday, September 2, 2017 when she dedicated the newly constructed Eight Judicial Circuit Court Complex in Sanniquellie City, Nimba County. The Judicial Complex houses the Eight Judicial Circuit Court, Debt Court, Traffic Court, Tax Court, Revenue Court and the Magisterial Court - including offices for the County Attorney, Public Defender, and the City Solicitors. There is accommodation for the Petty Jury and Grand Jury; which including separate sections for male and female jurors.  

Related Captions: President Sirleaf Dedicates Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Complex; Commends Judiciary for Reform(The New Dawn), ‘No Protest to Remove Kenya’s Supreme Court Judges for Disagreement’-Says Chief Justice Francis Korkpor(Daily Observer)

President Sirleaf Consoles Niger & Nigeria

The INSIGHT newspaper, quoted a Foreign Ministry release: “President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a condolence and solidarity message to the President of the Republic of Niger, His Excellency Mr. Mahamadou Issoufou, following heavy torrential rain resulting in the death of at least 44 persons and injury to an additional 11,000 persons as well as the destruction to homes, other infrastructure and livestock. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Liberian leader said, “It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the unfortunate destruction and suffering inflicted upon the friendly people of Niger by torrential rain, which occurred on Tuesday, August 29, 2017.” In a related development, President Sirleaf also sent a Solidarity Message to her Nigerian counterpart, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, following the sad news of severe flooding which occurred in the southeastern State of Benue, resulting to the displacement of more than 100,000 persons on Thursday, August 31, 2017. Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari revealed the devastating figures on Twitter last Thursday. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, and in her own name, expressed solidarity with President Buhari, and through him, to the Government and people of Nigeria, especially those victimized by the tragic natural disaster”.

Related Captions: Pres. Sirleaf Consoles Niger(The New Dawn), Ellen Consoles Niger(Heritage)

NDI Assesses Campaign Process In Liberia

According to the New Dawn newspaper, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) is fielding a delegation to assess preparations for Liberia’s October 10th presidential and legislative elections. The assessment, which started on 4th September, will end on the 8th of September. The purpose of the mission is to assess the ongoing campaign period, and to evaluate the overall political environment and other aspects of preparations aimed at enhancing prospect for peaceful and credible polls on October 10th. The daily says members of the delegation are all regional and election experts from Africa and North America.

Related Captions: NDI Deploys Elections Observers(The INQUIRER),NDI Delegation To Assess Liberia’s Pre-election Environment(Daily Observer) 

OTHER STORIES  

Liberia, MSF - France Sign Host Country Agreement  

The Daily Observer reads that the Government of Liberia and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF-France) have signed a host country agreement which formalizes and solidifies the organization’s operation in Liberia. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Foreign Minister Marjon V. Kamara signed on behalf of the Liberian Government while the Country Representative (Head of Mission) of MFS-France, Renée Madrolle signed on behalf of her organization. The signing ceremony took place at the ministry’s conference room on Thursday, August 31, 2017. MSF, an international medical and humanitarian organization providing independent, impartial and neutral humanitarian assistance since 1971 through its operational sections, have agreed to act jointly under a common MSF Liberia Office to run their humanitarian and medical activities in a more effective, efficient and sustainable way that will better meet the needs of the population.

ABIC Gets US$467K To Support Peaceful Elections

The Government of Norway in collaboration with the Embassy in Accra and the United Nations Development Program has signed a contributor agreement of US$467,000 in support of the Angie Brooks International Center (ABIC). The joint contributor agreement is in support of women’s empowerment, leadership development, international peace and security towards the Women Situation Room-Liberia, in the pending general and presidential elections. The Norwegian Government is no stranger in providing support to the Women’s Situation Room across the continent and ABIC’s Establishment, the Heritage newspaper reads.

Related Caption: ABIC Gets US$467K To Support Peaceful Elections(The INQUIRER)

SRSG Sees More Potential In Female Candidates

 The INQUIRER newspaper reports that the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations (SRSG) Mr.  Farid Zarif said Liberian female candidates can do more than the men because they are up for the challenges and they have the potential. He spoke over the weekend at the Familiarization and Interaction with female candidates at the Bella Casa Hotel in Sinkor. The UNMIL Boss said, he sees so much energy and challenges from the Women and that they should go out and prove themselves.

‘Passage Of Act Will Prevent Land Crisis’ USAID-LGSA Chief Of Party

As the Senate is yet to concur with the House of Representatives on the passage of the Land Rights Act, a USAID-Land Governance Support Activity (LGSA) executive says the act provides the best legal option to impartially and transparently settle land disputes in the country. Amy Bruins, USAID-LGSA Chief of Party, said the act has reached a very critical point for the media to intensify their campaign for lawmakers to pass the act. Bruins’ assertion comes about 36 days to the presidential and legislative elections. During a two-day media training organized by her entity and the Liberian Land Authority (LLA). The workshop, under the theme “Second Media Training Reporting Liberia’s Land Sector for Sustainable Development,” brought over 100 journalists together in Gbarnga, Bong County to empower them with the requisite skills that will enable them to reach out to the community, through radio outreach programs, on their coverage of the land sector, the Daily Observer newspaper reads.  

Indian Dentist Dies In Fire At Ganta Hospital 

The Daily Observer reads that an Indian dentist working at the Ganta United Methodist Hospital (GUMH) in Nimba County died on Sunday, September 3, when fire gutted his apartment at about 11pm, “while he was deep in sleep,” neighbors suspect. The daily quotes hospital sources as saying that the late Dr. Shan Sam Matthew, 22 earlier this year signed a contract with the hospital that would expired in December.

NSEC To Train Nurses In Eye Care

An inside story of the Daily Observer newspaper reads that the New Sight Eye Center (NSEC) located in Paynesville has concluded a one-day curriculum validation session for its ophthalmic (eye) training program, the session, held at the New Sight Eye Center in the 72nd Community, brought together individuals from the Ministry of Health and some of the nursing institutions in the country as well as international health partners. When the curriculum is validated, the center will be the first institution to offer an advanced diploma in Ophthalmic nursing (ADON) in the country. NSEC Executive Director, Robert F. Dolo said participants were selected from the health sector to review what the program intends to do and to also learn about the mission and objectives of the practice, the paper reads.

Muslims Commemorate Eid-Al Ahda Challenged to Emulate Allah

Muslims in Liberia and the world over have successfully commemorated the Eid Al-Adha, an Islamic Holy Day. Eid Al-Adha is celebrated every year on the last day of the Haji with animals sacrifice as it was initiated by Allah centuries ago. They performed the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca for the Haji to pay homage to Ibrahim, the Heritage newspaper reads.