The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR MONDAY, MAY 28, 2018

Today’s stories include the dedication of the first public library in New Kru Town  by President George Manneh Weah, the celebration of African Union Day, and the creation of two new districts in Lofa Counties among other stories.

Weah Dedicates First Public Library In New Kru Town

President George Manneh Weah has dedicated the first Public Library in the Borough of New Kru Town on Bushrod outside Monrovia. Speaking during the dedicatory ceremony on Friday May 24, Weah said his name is the best example to be used in raising the potential of young people and encourage them to seek quality education in the country. “Someone asked me to define education and I looked for the definition by checking some encyclopedias but I could not find one. I then checked the English encyclopedia which says,“ Education is to enhance and to gain knowledge”, but I say my definition for education is; “If you want for education to be taken seriously, then you can say education is George Weah”. Mr Weah said he is a practical example for Liberian children in gaining quality education. “If I can develop the courage to educate myself which has prepared me for national leadership in Liberia, then you can do the same”, he was quoted as saying. President Weah said based on the Liberian government’s commitment to create access for quality education in the country, the government through the Ministry of Education has concluded an Education Summit in Kakata City, Margibi County recently. He said education remains the key on the Pro-poor Agenda of his government. The Liberian leader then praised the citizens of New Kru Town residing in the United States under the banner “New Kru Town Associations in the Americas” for giving back to their community through education, reports New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Weah Dedicates First Public Library In New Kru Town(Heritage) and President Weah Dedicates First Public Library In New Kru Town (FrontPage Africa)

Africa Remains United Amid Challenges

Liberia, on Friday, May 25, 2018, joined other African countries in observance of the 55^th anniversary of the Africa Day Celebration, with a call to remain united and fight to eradicate corruption from the face of the continent. The day, which was celebrated under the theme: Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”, was intended to retrospect on the past and future Africa, and as well display the uniqueness of the continent through various culture performances in commemorating the day. Speaking to reporters on grounds of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shortly after hoisting the African Union (AU) and Liberian flags Foreign Minister, Gbehzongar M. Findley, said the significance of the day is all about uniting Africa, sustaining growth and development on the continent and ensuring that African lives are made better, according to the In Profile Daily.

Related Caption:Liberia, African Union Hoist Flags in Observance of “Africa Day”(FrontPage Africa)

GoL Creates 2 Administrative Districts, Township in Lofa

According to the Heritage newspaper, the Government of Liberia (GOL) has created two administrative districts and a township in Foya Statutory District, Lofa County. The two are the Wuam and Tengia Administrative Districts and the Solumba Township. Making the disclosure recently, Lofa County Senator George Tengbeh, said the districts and township were created in accordance with Article 35 of the Constitution. The article, among others, provides that “Each bill or resolution which shall have passed both houses of the legislature shall before it becomes law be laid before the President for his or her approval.

Former Prez Sirleaf, Gov. Weeks, K.Y. Best, Others Honored for Contributions to Tailors Union

The Liberia National Tailors, Textiles, Garments and Allied Workers’ Union Incorporated (LNTTGAWU) over the weekend honored several prominent Liberians for their valuable contributions to the union’s operations. Those honored included former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Central Bank of Liberia Executive Governor Milton A. Weeks, District #9 Representative Munah E. Pelham Youngblood, Deputy Foreign Minister D. Maxwell S. Kemayah, Chief Tamba Younda, former Board Chairman and founding member, ULAA president Vamba S. Fofana and Daily Observer Publisher Kenneth Y. Best. LNTTGAWU vice president for operations, Ezekiel S. Kamara, lauded the honorees for their   support to the Tailor Union which, he said, has been very helpful to the organization. He noted in particularly “wear your proud” philosophy and habit introduced by former President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, FrontPage Africa newspaper reports.  

Police Given Accessories to Aid Road Safety Education 

According to New Dawn newspaper, ACTIVA Insurance Company has donated electronic appliances to the Liberia National Police (LNP) in support of the police force’s road safety and driver education program. ACTIVA Insurance Company CEO Saye D. Gbalazeh and his entourage presented to the LNP computer, projector, desktop, printers and speakers, among others to help the police force in conducting workshop for public safety. Making the donation at the police headquarters, Mr. Gbalazeh says the company has established a working relationship with the LNP because it believes that public safety is a shared responsibility. He says his insurance company also believes in corporate social responsibility and public - private cooperation. According to Mr. Gbalazeh, road traffic safety and accidents are a national health concern and should be a public health concern. He suggests that if they are not part of national health program, road traffic safety and road traffic education must be incorporated into national public health program.  

French NGO to provide support to health sector 

The New Dawn newspaper reports that a French Non-Governmental Organization, LA CHAINE DE L’ESPOIR, has expressed interest in providing support to the health sector. LA CHAINE DE L’ESPOIR, was among French organizations and companies that met with President Weah during his visit to France. On Thursday, May 24, 2018, Mr. Weah met with a delegation from the NGO which the desire to build a specialized hospital to transfer knowledge to Liberian health workers and particularly cater to the healthcare needs of the Liberian people. A CHAINE DE L’ESPOIR is presently operating in a few Francophone countries including Ivory Coast, Mali and Senegal. Liberia will be the first Anglophone – English speaking country- to benefit from the hospitality. Earlier, President Weah commended the NGO for living up to its promise by coming to Liberia.He assured them of his government’s fullest cooperation and vowed to ensure that the requisite authorities in the health sector liaise with them to accomplish their goals.  

GoL Constructs 2 Baily Bridges in Grand Kru 

The Ministry of Public Works in collaboration with local authorities embarks on construction of two baily bridges along Big Shwen-Grandcess road in Grand Kru County, southeast Liberia. Assistant Superintendent for Development Joe Sekpeh, says the seventy feet (70ft) baily bridge is currently under construction over Gbatue River before entering Grandcess city where a referral hospital Rally Town, is situated. He says the ongoing projects were initiated by Senate President Pro-Tempore Albert Chie, and is expected to be completed in two weeks. The appalling condition of the Grandcess road due to woody bridges has over the period created serious embarrassment for citizens and impeded economic growth, posing difficulty particularly for pregnant women and baby mothers who wish to seek medical treatment at the Rally Town hospital. Superintendent Sekpeh reassures citizens and residents of the county that upon completion, the baily bridges will bring relief not only to them, but bordering counties. A resident of Barclayville city, Nyanti Williams, in an interview with this paper lauds the Government of Liberia and the county administration for the initiative, which he describes as a great relief, particularly creating access to health care at the Rally Town hospital, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

MVTC Graduates Over 2,700…Guest Speaker Urges For Innovative Spirit

According to the Heritage newspaper, the Deputy Minister for Manpower Plannin and Human Resource Development at the Ministry of Labour, Atty. Phil Tarpeh Dixon, has cautioned graduates of the Monrovia training Center (MVTC) to have innovative spirit so that their acquired skills are not wasted. Located in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, MVTC was jointly funded by the World Bank Educational Development Loan and the Government of Liberia (GoL) in 1978, before being refurbished by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 2015. The school, which is the biggest government-run technical and vocational institution, has facilities for training in 12 different trades and can accommodate more than 2,000 pre-service trainees and several groups of in-service personnel for short-term training. Accordingly, 2,709 students graduated during the just ended 11^th graduation exercises of MVTC. Out of this number, 2,391 were males and 318 were females.  

SEGAL Gives LNP Community Watch Team L$150,000 

The Security Expert Guard Agency of Liberia (SEGAL) has donated L$150,000 to the Liberia National Police (LNP) Community Watch Forum (CWFL). Speaking at the donation ceremony, the General Manager and CEO of SEGAL, Mr. Cyrus T. Momo, said the donation is intended to reduce the LNP response time. Cyrus stated that the donation is his agency’s own way of helping to strengthen the capacity of the police community watch team.  Receiving the amount on behalf of the police and watch team, LNP Deputy Inspector General for Operations, Col. Robert W. Budy, thanked SEGAL for the kind gesture and further promised that the money will be used for its intended purpose, reports the Heritage newspaper.  

LEDRA College Delegation In Town 

A delegation from LEDRA College, based in Nicosia, the Republic of Cyrus, is visiting Liberia to explore investment opportunities. The College paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Vice President and was received by Mr. George T. Nimely Chief of Office Staff of the Vice President. The delegation was led by Dr. George Kakouris, Principal of the College. The Office of the Vice President facilitated meetings with the National Investment Commission, the University of Liberia and the Ministry of Education. According to the release from the office of the Vice President, the delegation expressed willingness to providing scholarships for Liberian students to study in Cyprus, especially in the science and technology areas, pens the Heritage newspaper.

Storage Facility For Artisanal Fish Farmers Dedicated

A huge storage facility aimed at improving the lives of artisanal fish farmers and fish mongers has been officially dedicated in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The storage facility, which has several compartments for the cold storing of fishery products, was constructed by the National Fish Farmers Union of Liberia (NAFUL) in collaboration with Young Women Organization for Improvement (WOFIM), with support from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Speaking at ceremony marking the official opening of facility recently, the Founder  and Executive Director of WOFIM and Chairperson of  NAFUL, Madam Kona Kollie, disclosed the newly dedicated facility is one of three UNMIL supported storage facilities constructed by  NAFUL, reports the Heritage newspaper.

Related Caption: Storage Facility For Artisanal Fish Farmers Dedicated In Bassa(In Profile Daily)