The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2017

News of the special recognition given to President Sirleaf by leaders of the Economic Community of West African States at the 52nd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and the dedication of the Freeport Internal Road Modernization, APM Terminals Refurbishment projects by President Sirleaf are the stories dominating today’s summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES

ECOWAS Pays Final Tribute To President Sirleaf At Her Last Summit

According to the Heritage newspaper, amidst a sustained applaud and standing ovation, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) paid homage to Her Excellency, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the Liberian Leader attended her last summit of the regional body as President of Liberia. A release from the Liberian Embassy in Abuja says the Liberian Leader’s special recognition took place during the 52nd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held on Saturday, December 16, 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria. The Chairperson of ECOWAS and President of the Republic of Togo, His Excellency Faure Essonzimna Gnassingbe, devoted a significant portion of his opening remarks to the honor of President Sirleaf.  President Gnassingbe, in his opening remarks, said “Your Excellency Madam President, at the moment when you are about to pass the witness in your capacity as President of the Republic of Liberia, allow me to address you our warm felicitations and to pay you a deserving homage for your determination to the cause of the economic integration and peace, and for the leadership you have shown during your tenure as the first woman President of Africa, the first female Chair of ECOWAS and the Nobel Peace Prize winner. According to the release, the Togolese Leader said his Liberian counterpart has guided the West African Region and that her influence has spread across their space, through social, political and economic challenges, including the end of the Ebola virus epidemic, recognized as a world threat.

Related Captions: ECOWAS Pays Final Tribute To President Sirleaf At Her Last Summit (In Profile Daily), ECOWAS Pays Final Tribute To President Sirleaf (The INQUIRER) 

Ellen Dedicates Projects At Freeport

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dedicated the Freeport Internal Road Modernization, APM Terminals Refurbishment projects and urged all Liberians to take advantage of development efforts in the country. She noted Liberia has come a long way in meeting developmental initiatives despite challenges in achieving them. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf was speaking on Friday, December 15, 2017 at Programs making the dedication of the Freeport of Monrovia Internal Road Modernization Project and the second phase of the APM Terminals Project. The Liberian said the facility will add value to the country’s infrastructure development and help government to keep promises made over the years. She lauded NPA, APM Terminals and Conex for their swift intervention in giving the port a facelift and as well contributing to the nation's economy, reports the In Profile Daily.

Related Captions: Freeport Internal Road Modernization, APM Terminals Refurbishment Projects Dedicated (Heritage), “Talk Less Do More” NPA Boss Boost Of Speedy Transformation At The Freeport Of Monrovia; Unveils Refurbishment Project (INSIGHT)  

OTHER STORIES

EU Redeploys 20 Long-Term Observers For President Run-Off

The European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) has re-deployed 20 long-term observers to monitor the run-of election schedule for December 26. The Heritage newspaper quoting an EU release said the observer-teams, who are expected to observe the run-off Presidential Election, will be deployed to all regions in Liberia. According to the daily, the EU Election Observation Mission is independent from any EU institution, member state or government institution and is committed to remain neutral and abide by the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and the Code of Conduct, as well as the laws of Liberia.

President Sirleaf Praises Level of Transformation At University of Liberia

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has praised the level of transformation at the State-run University of Liberia. She said she remains proud of the institution even after her administration particularly the general stability, remarkable improvement and the overall quality services provided at the University of Liberia. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the statement on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at the University of Liberia 98th Commencement Convocation at UL Fendell Campus in Louisiana –Montserrado County. The Liberian leader who is also the Visitor to the University recalled in 2006 when the University of Liberia was in an appalling condition with persistent students’ demonstration something she said caused major setbacks to the University calendar of events among others. She lauded the collective efforts of past and present leaderships, members of the University of Liberia including students for their noteworthy efforts over the years in transforming the University at different levels. She congratulated the graduates and recognized their many sponsors, parents, and guidance and family members for the support given them and the high studies among others. Some 3,448 students graduated in various disciplines.

Boost For Liberia’s Forestry Sector…As USAID Gives Over 3M

The United States Agency for International Development USAID through the West Africa Biodiversity and Climate change program WA BiCC has awarded two separate conservation grants to enhance conservation activates in Liberia. According to the INSIGHT newspaper, the grants which worth 1.8 and 2.7 million United States dollars each will facilitate the implementation of a three-year project in the Gola trans boundary forest landscape between Liberia and Sierra Leone and Tai-Grebo-Krahn-Sapo Trans boundary Forest Landscape between Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire. The daily says the two projects will be carried out by the society for the Conservation of Nature SCNL, Royal Society to Protect Bird, Wilds Chimpanzee Foundation, Fauna and Flora International.

President Sirleaf Expresses Gratitude To Partners

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed gratitude to partners for their support to Liberia's post-war recovery that has impacted the lives of the Liberian people through the restoration of electricity to Liberia. The rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant was initiated by the Liberian government through partnership with friendly governments and institutions including the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the United States of America, the European Investment Bank, the Germen and Norwegian governments. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf was speaking on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Funders Meeting of Mount Coffee Hydropower rehabilitation project held at the Mamba Point Hotel in Monrovia. The FrontPage Africa newspaper quotes President Sirleaf as saying that successive governments will build upon development programs initiated by her administration adding, “We believe in the continuity of government; some of these things will be passed on to the next administration” The Liberian leader lauded the international partners for the implementation of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Project pointing out some challenges, which according to her being viewed by the government aimed  at arriving at amicable solutions. 

National Lottery Authority Donates To Disabled Community

The Heritage newspaper reads that the National Lottery Authority NLA recently donated several assorted items to over nine disabled organizations across Liberia. Making the donations on behalf of the NTA, the Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Madam Agnes M. Effiong, said the donations is a way of identifying with the disabled organizations during this festive season. Madam Effiong said over nine disabled organizations were identified for the special Christmas offer as gifts of the NLA. She named some of the organizations that benefited as the Group of 77, National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), Christian Association of the Blind CAB and the Antoinette Tubman Cheshire home among others. She disclosed that seventy-five begs of rice, three begs of onions, six gallons of agro oil and three cartons of salt and other assorted food items were given to each of the centers as Christmas gifts.

KRTTI Graduate Over 90 In B-Certificate

The Kakata Rural Teacher Training Institute KRTTI in Kakata, Margibi County has graduated about 91 teachers from its first postwar B-Certificate Pilot Program. Mr. Nuwoe Kellen, Coordinator of the B-Certificate program at the KRTTI giving overview of the program at the graduation ceremony on Saturday, December 16, 2017, recounted that the program was basically established to professionally train Junior Secondary School teachers for the duration of two academic years and subsequently place them in school across the country, reads the In Profile Daily. 

CBL Holds Seminar For Rural Financial Bodies In Nimba

According to the Heritage newspaper, the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has held a four-day National Seminar and Capacity Building Training for rural community financial bodies. The training which is part of efforts to strengthen rural financial institutions was held in Ganta, Nimba County. CBL’s Executive Director Milton Weeks said the initiative by the CBL is meant to keep heads of rural financial institutions informed about the rules and regulations set up by the Central Bank of Liberia to govern all financial institutions in the country. He noted that the four-day event is very important because “it is at these occasions that rural financial institutions leaders get the opportunity to learn new ideas to properly manage their institutions for the good of everyone.”