Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2018

Today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies highlights news of the plenary of the Liberian Senate decision to ratified the pre-financing agreement with EBOMAF S.A., President George Manneh Weah tour to Bong and Nimba Counties, Liberia’s Vice President Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor’s meeting with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba Carmen Maury Toledo and the placement of 45 Mentors in County Service Centers across Liberia.

DOMINANT STORIES

Senate Ratifies Hummingbird, EBOMAF Agreements

The plenary of the Liberian Senate in a special sitting Monday, June 11, ratified the pre-financing agreement between EBOMAF S.A. for construction and pavement of additional trunk of roads in the northern part of Southeastern Liberia and in other parts of the country. The Senate also ratified the Mineral Development Agreement between Hummingbird Resources-Liberia and the government for the development of gold resources in Sinoe, Grand Kru, River Gee and Maryland Counties, respectively. Addressing a news conference in Monrovia after both the concurrence and ratification of the two bills, Senate President Pro-Tempore Albert Chie says the Executive branch of government through the Ministries of Public Works, Finance and Development Planning, Justice and the Central Bank of Liberia, convincingly illustrated to the Senate the crucial need and importance of paving roads, economic soundness, ability of the lenders to provide the funds, and preparedness of the government to provide acceptable guarantees as well as the country’s capability to pay back the loans in time, reports the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Senate Ratifies Over US$426m EBOMAF Loan Contract(INSIGHT),Liberian Senate Ratifies EBOMAF, Hummingbird Agreements(FrontPage Africa)

Weah Tours Central Liberia…Reiterates Government’s Commitment to Construct Roads

The Heritage newspaper reports that President George Manneh Weah has reemphasized that his government’s priority is about the construction of roads. He said as President of Liberia, he will ensure that the roads connecting major cities, including farm to market roads are built to ease the living condition of citizens. The Liberia leader spoke Sunday, June 10, 2018, in Gbarnga, Bong County at a welcoming ceremony in his honor by citizens of the county. During the ceremony, President George Manneh Weah also expressed disappointment in the manner Liberians are reacting to his efforts to develop the country, particularly in terms of efforts being made for the construction of roads.  “I don’t know what Liberians want. I told them that if you elect me, I will build your roads. I am trying to build the roads, they are criticizing me. From 1847 to 2018, we Liberians still don’t know what we want; if you don’t want road and good health system, let me know”, he added. President Weah is on a two-day tour of central Liberia including Bong and Nimba Counties to access major rural roads in these counties.

Related Captions: President Weah Labels Loan Critics As ‘Enemies’ Of State(FrontPage Africa), Pres. Weah Tours Central Liberia…Reiterates Government’s Commitment To Construction Roads(The INQUIRER)

Cuba Chargéd’Affaires Meets With VP Howard-Taylor…Expresses His Government’s Willingness To Support Liberia’s Literacy Program

The Heritage newspaper asserts that Liberia’s Vice President Chief /Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor has received in audience the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba Carmen Maury Toledo. The meeting which was held Monday, June 11, 2018 at the Office of the Vice President, centered on strengthening bilateral relations between Liberia and Cuba in the areas of Education and Health. The Chargé d’Affaires recounted that Liberia and Cuba has established bilateral relations since 1974, and  indicated that Cuba has provided annual scholarships to five (5) Liberians in the Medical field, which is being reduced to two (2) due to financial difficulties experienced by the Cuban government. The Chargé d’Affaires further revealed that the Cuban government has a draft agreement with the previous government to provide employment for 16 Cuban doctors at the JFK Medical Center and other medical facilities across the country including the rural areas. The Agreement has been forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pending discussions and signing. ‘On the Educational front, Mr. Toledo also expressed the Cuban government’s willingness to support Liberia’s literacy program. This initiative has been implemented in 26 Countries and has impacted more than 9 million people, the Chargé d’Affaires averred. Speaking earlier, the Vice President expressed delight about the role Cuba has played and continues to play in the Health and Educational sectors of Liberia. Madam Howard-Taylor explained the Government of Liberia’s Pro-Poor Agenda and how Cuba can be a major partner in the actualization of the Agenda.

Related Captions: Cuba To Support Liberia’s Literacy Program(In Profile Daily), VP Taylor Meets With Cuban Chargé d’Affaires(The New Dawn)

Mentees Take over Mentorship Role in County Service Centers

At least forty-five (39 males & 6 females) mentees under the Liberia Decentralization Support Program (LDSP) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) have assumed responsibilities as Mentors in County Service Centers across Liberia. With support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Government of Sweden, USAID and other partners, five (5) International United Nations Volunteers (IUNVs) have been serving as mentors on a 5-year decentralization project. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, the 45 mentees, three persons per county, were mentored in different aspects of local government administration and management. Speaking recently at the follow-up training for mentees and government liaison officers in Grand Bassa County, UNDP Deputy Country Director for Programs, Cleophas Torori said the event was also intended to witness the handover and takeover process of the program by the mentees through the government of Liberia. He pledged UNDP continued support to the government and people of Liberia.

Related Captions: Mentees Take Over Mentorship Role(Heritage), Trained Mentors Take Over Responsibility Role(In Profile Daily), Mentees Take Over Mentorship Role In Service Centers(The INQUIRER)

OTHER STORIES

Govt. Discuss With Liberians In Ghana

According to the New Dawnnewspaper, the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, with support from the Liberia Embassy in Ghana through Ambassador Genevieve A. Kennedy ends two-day Diaspora Consultative Meeting with 271 Liberians at the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Accra, Ghana, including 42 Liberian business entrepreneurs at the Liberia Embassy in Accra. The consultations were held under the theme: “Promoting a Participatory Development Planning Process.” According to a press release, the Diaspora Consultations are aimed at promoting citizens’ participation in the crafting of the next five-year medium-term National Development Plan to succeed the former Agenda for Transformation, which expired in 2017.Speaking during the consultations, Ambassador Genevieve A. Kennedy said President George Weah’s number one priority is the poor people and to eradicate poverty here, adding: “now we have agenda that looks at poverty in our nation, we are going to be members of the defending group that will look at the problem and find solution to those problems that give rise to poverty in Liberia.”Ambassador Kennedy indicates that the consultations were intended to obtain views of Liberians in Accra on the development agenda, as well as their concerns and thoughts on how to move the pro-poor agenda by addressing the four pillars of the President’s.

Namibian President Lauds Former Pres. Sirleaf

Namibian President Hage Geingob has rained praises on former president Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf when she paid him a courtesy visit at that country’s State House over the weekend. Mr. geingob says he was honored to host the former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mrs. Sirleaf. According to a Namibian website, President Geingob expressed great respect for Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf particularly for being the first female African president and for peacefully vacating office after her term lapsed earlier this year."It is a great honor for me to welcome you to Namibia... the first democratically elected female president, after successfully completing your two six year terms,” Mr. Geingob is quoted as saying. He also recalls how Mrs. Sirleaf left office and was recognized by the Mo Ibrahim Prize, further lauding her for the role she played when the Ebola epidemic rocked her country. "You never left the country during that time," said Geingob, adding that Liberia and Ethiopia were the first countries that took Namibia's case for independence to the International Court of Justice."I am just trying to connect the relationship and long support we were getting during those days from the people of Liberia," he said. For her part, Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf expressed honor to be in Namibia, with the visit being her second to the country following the first, two years ago, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Transport Ministry To Raise US$1.5m From Vehicle Inspection

An official of the Ministry of Transport (MoT) says the Ministry is targeting US$1.5 million from the ongoing vehicle inspection across the country. Disclosing this Friday to the Liberia News Agency at Ministry of Transport in Monrovia, the Assistant Director of Public Affairs, Lemuel O. Kleeme, said the inspection team which comprises of the Liberia National Police (LNP), the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), and the MOT) will inspect auto parts stores, used and new cars garages, dealership eligibility clearance, insurance tickets, mechanic garages and all transport related services. He said these transport service are required by law to register with the Liberian Government; and as such any of these entities that fail to do so will be fined or face other disciplinary actions. Mr. Kleeme indicated that the inspection team will also be inspecting the new license plate that was unveiled in January this year reads the Heritage newspaper.

Related Caption: Transport Ministry To Raise US$1.5M From Vehicle Inspection(The INQUIRER)

MOL Celebrates World Day Against Child

The Ministry of Labor in collaboration with WINRock International CLEAR II Liberia Project will today, June 12, 2018 celebrate the World Day Against Child Labour. According to a Labour Ministry release, the Global Theme for this year is “Generation Safe & Healthy” while the National Theme is “Young Workers Safety is Paramount.” The release said, the celebration will begin with a parade from the Sport Commission on Broad Streets at 9:00A.M. to the Monrovia City Hall for a Indoor Program. The Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Madam Jewel Howard Taylor, First Lady Clar M. Weah, Stakeholder of the Labour Sector, child Advocacy Groups, Local and international partners in the fight against child Labour are expected to grace the occasion, report the INQUIRER newspaper.

Gender Ministry Begins 2nd All Men’s Confab in Bong

A three-day ‘All Men’s Conference’ under the theme: ‘Gender equality: A call for men’s action NOW—Repair the past and push women forward' has kicked off in Gbarnga, Bong County. According to the Heritage newspaper, the national conference is being convened under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection with support from the Government of Sweden through the United Nations in Liberia. This year’s conference which is the 2^nd All Men conference will further address issues affecting women and girls with male participants as champions to ending violence against women and girls in the country. The Heritage newspaper says this year’s conference is targeted at increasing men’s involvement in this advocacy and other activities to address key issues affecting women and girls as well as increasing their access to information about women issues among other things.

Related Caption: Gender Ministry Begins 2^nd All Men’s Confab In Bong(The INQUIRER)

AMEU Honors Deserving Students, Faculty Members

According to the INQUIRER, ahead of its 8^th Commencement Convocation, the African Methodist Episcopal University on Camp Johnson Road has honored several employees and students for their dedicated services to the institution and scholastic achievements over the years. The Administration of AMEU yesterday honored some students, faculty and staff for their dedicated services and commitment to the work of the institution. AMEU administration also honored several students for their scholastic achievements and retired some hardworking staff of the institution.

Church Aid Inc. To Donate 40, 000 Assorted Textbooks To Improve Learning Outcome

The General Overseer of the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Brewerville, Bishop Kortu K. Brown has disclosed plans to distribute 40,000 assorted textbooks to schools across Liberia. Bishop Brown, also head of the Concerned Christian Community (CCC) Liberia and Church Aid Incorporated (CAI) asserted that the assorted textbooks which worth thousands of United States Dollars, will help complement secondary education and will cover all subjects as prescribed in the national curriculum by the Ministry of Education. Bishop Brown stated that it is the organization’s contribution toward improving the education system especially in the areas of reading, writing and comprehension. Bishop Brown stated that textbooks were made available to Church Aid Incorporated through “Books for Africa”, an International organization with a mission to end the book famine in Africa and creating a culture of literacy and providing the tools of empowerment to the next generation of parents, teachers, and leaders in Africa, asserts the Heritage newspaper.

LIPO Educates Students On IP Activities

The Liberia Intellectual Property Office or LIPO, has held a one-day seminar for over 100 students in Monrovia to enhance their understanding of intellectual property and foster creativity among them. The seminar was held at the Paynesville Community Public School over the weekend, bringing together 11 schools. LIPO Acting Director General, Theresa S. Thomas explains that such seminar is critical to the agency’s goal of making Liberia a knowledge-based country. Thomas stresses that educating students about intellectual property is significant because it enables them to understand how ideas are recognized and protected which motivate them to explore their creativity. “Students understanding of IP-related issue is key to the development of Liberia in this fast-growing knowledge base. Research has shown that the better the students’ understanding of IP, the greater the chances for them to participate in a global economy that is increasingly driven by intellectual property”, she says. She notes that in today’s digitized world, which depends on inventiveness and creativity, it is important that Liberian students are equipped with the knowledge they need to make Liberia a knowledge-based country to bring about huge economic growth to take the country out of poverty, pens the New Dawn newspaper.

Rural Women Farmers In Bong to Benefit From Food Project

According to the Heritage newspaper, rural women farmers in Kpai District, upper Bong County are to benefit from a new food production project in the district. The one-year project, which is aimed at strengthening the innovative capacity of rural women farmers to sustain themselves and help increase food production, is being implemented by the Association of Bong Citizens Farmers Union (ABCFU) with funding from the Liberia Diaspora Bong Citizens Union (LDBCU). The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Patrick O. Kollie, said the one-year farming project which was launched recently in Palala Town, Kpai District in upper Bong County is a multi-stakeholders approach that would help sustain it after external funding dries up. Heritage