The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018

News of the National Elections Commission’s announcement on its receipt of additional  funding for the holding Senatorial By-Elections in Bong and Montserrado counties and the US$500M lawsuit against the government of Liberia at the ECOWAS Court are stories highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

The summary also includes President George Manneh Weah’s proclamation declaring Friday, May 25, 2018 as “Africa Day”.

DOMINANT STORIES   

NEC Receives Over US$2 Million 

The National Elections Commission (NEC) says it has received over US$2 million for the holding of the delayed senatorial by-elections in Bong and Montserrado counties, respectively. The Commission had earlier complained of financial constraints after its initial budget of US$3.9 Million for the two by-elections was sliced by the Ministry of Finance to US$2.7 Million with only $500,000 initially provided. But Chairman Jerome George Korkoya said that he has received additional money that could help jumpstart the exercise. Chairman Korkoya says the commission has been meeting with relevant stakeholders to resolve the funding issue. “I am pleased to inform you that the Liberian government has provided additional US$1,009,938 for the by-elections. Earlier, the government had provided US$500,000; this brings the total amount provided by the government to US$1, 009, 938,” the NEC boss explains. He says partners, including the United Nations Development Program, the European Union, Sweden, Irish Aid and Canada have committed US$565,835, adding that the United States Agency for International Development or USAID through the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) committed US$11,450 to the electoral process. The two by-elections are intended to fill seats left vacant as the result of the election of former senators George Manneh Weah and Jewel Howard Taylor to the Presidency in 2017, reads the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: NEC Omits Several Activities Leading To By-election Due To Limited Resources(FrontPage Africa), As NEC Gets Over US$2M: Senatorial By-Elections On Course(Heritage), By-Elections On Track…As NEC Gets US$2M(INSIGHT), Date For By-Elections Remains Uncertain…As NEC Receives More Funding(The INQUIRER)

‘Mandingos’ Sue Liberian Government For US$500 Million At ECOWAS Court

The case was brought before the ECOWAS Court by the Ganta Support Group and Sekou A. Sanoe who claimed to be suing on behalf of 823 displaced and victimized families’ family heads of the Mandingo people. The FrontPage Africa asserts that the suit emanates from a long-standing land dispute, which was offset by the illegal occupation of land and properties of residents of Ganta (mainly the Mandingo people) who fled the country during the war, only to return and find their properties occupied. In 2006, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf set up an ad-hoc committee headed by former Internal Affairs Minister, Ambulai B. Johnson, to resolve the Nimba land disputes that had the potential to plunge Liberia into crisis. Another commission was constituted comprising only Nimbaians and presided over by Mr. Musa H. Bility. The two commissions established that that to achieve peace and foster reconciliation, there was the need to compensate all the squatters to enable them to vacate the properties. The complainants, however, lamented that since the payments were done, the ‘illegal squatters’ are yet to turn over their properties of the Mandingo people. The daily reads that to this end, the Mandingos in Ganta claimed their rights have been grossly violated by the government has, therefore, called on the EOCWAS Court to ask the government of Liberia to pay the sum of US$500,000,00.00 as compensation for the violations of their human rights to life, dignity, housing, property, development and peace.

Related Captions: Over Nimba Land Dispute: GOL Dragged To ECOWAS Court(Heritage), At ECOWAS Court: Mandingos Sue Gov’t….For Land In Nimba…Claim US$500m For ‘Damages’(INSIGHT)

OTHER STORIES  

President Weah Declares May 25, As ‘Africa Day’ 

The FrontPage Africa newspaper reports that President George Manneh Weah has by proclamation declared Friday, May 25, 2018 as “Africa Day”, to be observed throughout the country as a “Working Holiday”. According to a Foreign Ministry release, Africa Day, formerly known as Africa Liberation Day, has been celebrated annually on May 25, to mark the determination of the people of Africa to liberate the continent from foreign domination and exploitation as well as the signing of the Charter establishing the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 1963. The Proclamation notes that in the creation of the OAU and its subsequent transformation into the AU, Liberia has remained conscious, as a pioneer leader, of her African vocation and consistently projected a spirit of collaboration with fellow African States to ensure the consolidation of independence and peace on the Continent. Meanwhile, as part of activities marking the observance of the day on May 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the African Union Liaison Office in Liberia and the African Diplomatic and Consular Corps will hoist the flag of the African Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs early on Friday, May 25, morning. Other activities are planned for later in the day.

Lebanese Community Gives US$50,000 To Charity…Unveils Program

The World Lebanese Culture Union of Liberia (WLCU) has presented a check in the amount of US$50,000 to the Mayor of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) in fulfillment of a recent pledge to the Special Presidential Charity Program in Monrovia. The INQUIRER newspaper reads that the program marked the launched of the official photo of President George M. Weah. Presenting the check to Mayor Jefferson Koijee WLCU President Ahmed S. Wazni conveyed the Union’s kind sentiments to the President and reaffirmed the WLCU commitment to supporting the government initiative in helping charity organizations to provide valuable and necessary social services to the needy in society.

To Expedite Reconstruction Of Raw Water Pipeline: MCAL, LWSC Agree To Coordinate Efforts

The Millennium Challenge Account Liberia (MCAL) and the Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation (LWSC) have agreed to coordinate efforts to expedite the reconstruction of the raw water pipeline from the dam at the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant (MCHPP) to the White Plains Water Treatment Plant (WTP). Prior to the civil war, the 36-inch diameter gravity pipeline was installed to replace the water intake at the WTP due to saltwater intrusion at the river intake. According to the Heritage newspaper, the 5 km-long pipeline was damaged during the civil war; and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is providing funding for its reconstruction. Once constructed, the pipeline will be owned and operated by the LWSC.

Related Caption: MCAL, LWSC To Reconstruct Hydro-White Plains Pipeline(The INQUIRER)

Liberian Government, EU-Liberia Draft Action Plan To Mitigate Chemical And Biological Risks

A National Action Plan for the reduction of risks related to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) materials and agents is being drafted by the government of Liberia with support from the European Union. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the head of the EU Delegation to Liberia Emma Sundbald said the world is interconnected with economic and technological development adding as such there is a significant increase in the use, manipulation and transport of CBRN agents and materials. Madam Sundbald said this initiative is not stir up paranoia but for the prevention and reduction of CBRN-related risks. She said that she’s confident that the new government will give the required political will to endorse the CBRN policy reform base on proper evaluation of needs and risks. The EU-Liberia Delegation Head promised the European Commission’s support to the needs identified and prioritized.

U.S. Ambassador Visits A.M. Dogliotti College Of Medicine

According to the New Dawn newspaper, United States Ambassador to Liberia Christine Elder on Wednesday, May 23 visited the A.M. Dogliotti College of Medicine (AMD) as part of a high-level visit to observe a new eLearning- platform implemented by the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) through support from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Ambassador Elder was welcomed by Dr. Bernice T. Dahn, Vice President, University of Liberia College of Health Sciences, and Dr. Z’Sherman Adams Jr., Dean, A.M. Dogliotti School of Medicine. The eLearning platform used at the college is intended to improve teaching and learning at AMD, boost the number of qualified doctors, reduce the workload on lecturers, and be scalable in the future. The program is part of HRSA’s Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (RRHS) Initiative, a five-year US$9.5 million grant. It is a component of Liberia’s national Health Workforce Program, a seven-year inter-ministerial initiative designed to achieve targeted improvements in the quality, quantity, and skill diversity of the national health workforce. During the visit, the delegation received an eLearning demonstration and spoke with faculty and students about the impact that the intervention has had. Ambassador Elder said, “A key priority of the U.S. government’s work in Liberia is to improve the general health status of Liberians and to strengthen its health care delivery system. 

Related Caption: U.S. Ambassador Visits A.M. Dogliotti College Of Medicine(Heritage)

FAO Helps Capacitate Community Forestry Development Committee

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have signed a US$80,000 agreement with the National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees (NUCFDC) to strengthen the capacity of communities to effectively monitor the benefits of commercial logging in Liberia. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the agreement falls under the framework of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), signed by the Government of Liberia and the European Union (EU) in 2009. The VPA is a legally binding bilateral trade agreement between the European Union and timber-producing countries outside the EU, such as Liberia. A document from the FAO is quoted as saying, “with funding from the European Union, Swedish Cooperation (SIDA), UK government (UKAid) and through the FAO EU-FLEGT Program, the agreement seeks to equip affected communities with skills and tools to be able to monitor the benefits they receive through logging to communicate and share information on progress and robustly defend their right under the VPA Legality Assurance System (LAS).” The National Facilitator for the National Union of Community Forestry Development Committees, Mr. Andrew Y. Y. Zelemen and FAO Representative in Liberia, Ms. Mariatou Njie signed the agreement on behalf of their respective institutions.