The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018

News of President Weah’s assertion that he holds nothing against the media; the Alert by health authorities on the outbreak of what it calls “monkeypox” in the country and the pronouncement by the Liberia Immigration Service to carry on its planned surveillance patrol at border points across Liberia are among stories highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

There Is No Fight With The Press…Pres. Weah Assures

President George Manneh Weah has reiterated that his government would uphold press freedom and freedom of expression in the country. Speaking Wednesday during an interaction with media executives and the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), President Weah said he has nothing against the media as being perceived, adding, “I am a friend of the press.” The INQUIRER newspaper quotes the Liberian leader as saying that he holds nothing against BBC Correspondent Jonathan Paye-layLeh and FrontPage Africa Managing Editor Rodney Sieh.

Related Caption: ‘Critical Question, Critical Answer” Pres. Weah On Paye-Layleh’s Concern(In Profile Daily)

Liberia Issues Alert On Monkeypox Outbreak

Liberian health authorities on Tuesday issued an alert on the possible outbreak of monkeypox, an infectious disease which is found mostly in central and western Africa. Liberia’s Chief Medical Officer, Francis Kateh said the disease, caused by the monkeypox virus, has already been discovered in the southern county of Rivercess. Dr. Kateh said there are currently four confirmed cases of the disease. According to the New Democrat newspaper, fever, itchy toes, headache, muscle pain and swollen lymph nodes, among others, have been identified as the symptoms of the disease. The daily reads that the disease is not deadly and can be cured through the smallpox vaccine.

Liberia Immigration Service To Intensify Border Patrol In Grand Kru County to Curb Foreigners Influx

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) says it would intensify border patrol across the county. Lt. Prince Tobee, commander responsible for border patrols in Grand Kru County, announced that they would begin surveillance patrol on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. Lt. Tobee said their border patrol intensification followed a warning from the Commissioner General of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Col. Lemuel E. Reeves. Col. Reeves in a letter to his commander, instructed officers to stop illegal foreigners entering the country and cautioned aliens, already in country to comply with the Alien and Nationality Law of Liberia.

Related Caption: To Curb Foreigners Influx: LIS Intensifies Border Patrol In Grand Kru County(In Profile Daily)

NEC, UNDP And Partners Collaborate To Strengthen Logistics And Operations For Future Elections

The National Election omission (NEC) and  the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported by international partners from the European Union, Sweden, Ireland and Canada are working to strengthen the logistics and operational capacity of staff during training being held between 10-12 of April, 2018. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the training was part of the support of the partnership between the National Elections Commission, United Nations Development Programme, European Union, Sweden, Ireland and Canada through the election support project with a fund of USD16.6 million. In the daily says the partners are planning to support the rehabilitation of warehousing space across Liberia in 2018 including revising the asset management system as part of this project’s wider goals of strengthening the overall capacity of the National Elections Commission.

LEC Hires Eight TU Graduates-As Engineers-In-Training

The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has hired eight graduates from the William V. S, Tubman University in Harper, Maryland County. The In Profile Daily says the graduates were hired under the LEC Internship program, which provides employment opportunity to deserving students and graduates. The daily reads that the newly hired interns will serve as engineers-in-training for a period of three years before integration into the LEC system.

LRA And Partners To Launch Mobile Tax Payment Service

The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) in collaboration with Orange Liberia and United Bank for Africa (UBA) officially launches Liberia’s first Mobile Tax Payment Service today, Thursday, April 12. According to the In Profile Daily, the mobile tax payment platform will be operated by Orange Liberia, while the United Bank for Africa will manage payment deposits. The daily says USAID Revenue Generation for Governance and Growth (RG3) Project worked closely with LRA to design payment, reporting & reconciliation architecture and automate the LRA part of the solution. As a result, a Proof of Concept Agreement (PoC) was signed in 2017 between the collaborating partners LRA, Orange Liberia and the United Bank for Africa Liberia. The daily reads that the official launch of the platform which will be performed by President George M. Weah today at the Monrovia City Hall, is expected to facilitate easy payment of all taxes and fees and reduce the burden on taxpayers who cover long distances to pay taxes with an easily accessible service in 24 hours or seven days a week.

100 Officers To Benefit From Data Entry Training Program

Authorities of the Liberia National Police (LNP) have disclosed that one hundred LNP officers are to benefit from an officer Data Entry Training program in Monrovia. According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the disclosure was made Monday, 9 April at the official dedication of the newly renovated Charge of Quarters at LNP Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Monrovia. The project named and styled “Patrick Sudue Initiative (PSI)” seeks to train Police Officers in Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Computer operations and also ensure provision of computers to be used by police Charge of Quarters across the country. In his dedicatory speech, Inspector General Sudue said he was moved to embark on the project due to his vision to enhance effective record keeping which will help in tracking criminals and guide the issuance of Police Clearance.