The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018

News of President George Manneh Weah’s congratulatory messages to the Governments and peoples of the Republic of Mozambique, Madagascar and Djibouti is among stories highlighted in today’s media summary.

Pres. Weah Congratulates Djibouti

The New Dawnnewspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release as saying that President George Manneh Weah has sent a message of congratulatory to Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guellah, on that country’s 41th Independence Anniversary on June 27. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Weah, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia in his own name, stressed that as the people of Djibouti celebrate this historic event, Liberia is hopeful that both countries will work together to strengthen their bilateral ties for the mutual benefits of their peoples. He prayed that the Almighty Allah will inspire His Excellency with abundant wisdom and strength as he leads his compatriots to greater prosperity.

Related Caption:  President Weah Congratulates Djibouti on 41st Independence Anniversary(INSIGHT)

Pres. Weah Congratulates Madagascar On Independent Day

The New Dawnnewspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release: President George MannehWeah, has sent a message of congratulations to President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, of Madagascar on the occasion marking that country’s 58th Independence Anniversary. Madagascar gained full independence from colonial rule on June 26, 1960. President George MannehWeah on behalf of the Government and People of Liberia and in his own name extended to President Rajaonarimampianina and through him to the Government and People of Madagascar sincere felicitations as they celebrate their Independence. The Liberian leader hoped that the cordial ties of friendship and cooperation existing between the two countries and peoples will be strengthened in the spirit of African solidarity as they work together in furtherance of a deeper cooperation at the African Union, United Nations, and other international organizations aimed at promoting international peace and security among all nations.

President Weah Congratulates Mozambique On 43rd Independence Anniversary

President George MannehWeah has sent a Congratulatory Message to his colleague, the President of the Republic of Mozambique, His Excellency Mr. Filipe Nyusi on that country’s 43rd Independence Anniversary, which falls on Monday, June 25, 2018. Quoting a Foreign Ministry release, the Heritage newspaper reads that President Weah, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in his own name said, “As you celebrate this milestone, I entertain the hope that the cordial ties of friendship and cooperation subsisting between our two countries will be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.”

‘Passenger 57’ Busted After Attempting to Rob Woman Just From Bank

According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, a group of robbers were on Monday, June 25, nabbed by ordinary citizens around the Ministry of Education on 2nd Street in Sinkor. “Passengers 57,” as they are notoriously known, fell into the web of citizens when they attempted robbing a lady, who had gone to one of the local banks in Monrovia. According to eyewitnesses, the robbers followed the lady, whose name the daily was unable to get, when she was leaving the bank after doing her banking transactions. The robbers, who usually use a vehicle to commit their illegal act, posted as a transport vehicle and waited for the lady to leave the bank. In search of a vehicle to return to her destination, she entered the vehicle, which already had four passengers on board, including the driver and a young lady. According to the narration by eyewitnesses, midway in their movement, the robbers attempted throwing the lady out of the moving vehicle after they had been successful in taking away her bag containing a wallet of valuables (money) and her passport. “We saw the lady fighting them; we saw the car moving with its doors open so we got concerned and decided to follow because these things have been happening,” one of the eyewitnesses said. “When they noticed we were following them, and trying to escape, the driver ramped into the back of a moving Nissan 4 Runner Toyota SUV.

SUNU Assurance To Take Over Equity Soon

The Management of Equity Assurance Limited discloses that the company will shortly be renamed SUNU Assurances following final paper works here. Speaking in a news conference over the weekend, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Equity Assurance Company, Steve Kolubah, says the decision is the result of a large share bought by SUNU Group. SUNU Assurance Group early this year secured 63 percent ownership of Equity Assurance, which accounts for US$566,540 worth of shares bought by the French-based insurance giant. “With the approval of the Central Bank of Liberia, Equity will be called SUNU-Liberia Limited at the end of July. SUNU is a big brand in Africa,” the Equity Board Chair discloses. Besides the takeover by SUNU, Kolubah also reveals that a new management team headed by Mr. Mathieu N’Katta as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has taken over following the reign of an interim management team. Also speaking at the news conference, CEO N’Katta says SUNU Group was founded in 1998, and is currently in 14 African counties, writes the New Dawn newspaper.

Related Captions: Equity To Become SUNU Assurance Liberia(The INQUIRER), Equity Insurance To Become SUNU Soon(FrontPage Africa)

LNBA Opens Legal Aid Clinic In Bong

The Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) has opened a Legal Aid Clinic in Gbarnga, Bong County as part of efforts to ensure speedy dispensation of justice in the County.  The Legal Clinic is an establishment of the LNBA aimed at providing free legal services for party litigants who cannot afford legal fees. Bong is the third county to benefit from this pilot project initiated by the LNBA with help from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Legal Professional Development and Anti-Corruption Program in Liberia (LPACE). The second of such program is being opened in Margibi County. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the clinic, the Chairperson of the LNBA’s Legal Committee Cllr. Joyce Reeves Woods and the Executive Director of the Bar Edward Bonwinkor stated that the LNBA wants to ensure speedy justice system in Liberia, reports the New Dawn newspaper.  

Ellen Johnson SirleafTo Head New Africa Panel 

The INSIGHT newspaper reports that Former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will chair a new panel to drive the transformation of Africa’s economies; it was announced at a major financial summit in Accra this week. The African Transformation Leadership Panel will focus particularly on opportunities for women and young people in its efforts to reform Africa’s economies, said Dr K.Y. Amoako of the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), who will also join the board. The announcement came during the African Transformation Forum (ATF), where many of the continent’s leading thinkers gathered to discuss the policies and partnerships needed to drive sustainable growth and regional integration. Key attendees included founder and head of the Dangote Group, AlikoDangote, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, Cote d'Ivoire's Vice President Daniel Kablan Duncan, and executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (Uneca) Dr Vera Songwe.

UNHCR Commends Government ForSupport To Refugees In Liberia

The UNHCR Field officer in Grand Gedeh County, Mrs. FartunataNgonyani, says the level of support provided refugees and the Liberia Refugee Resettlement Commission,  LRRRC by the government of Liberia is worth commendation. Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the UNHCR High Commission during the commemoration of World Refugee Day in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County on Wednesday, she said the celebration reminds Liberians of the plight of refugees around the world. According to Mrs. Ngonyani, there are about three million refugees the world and that, according to statistics,  most of them are from Africa, a situation she describes as pathetic,  the Heritage news daily reads.

ECOWAS Commission Holds 3-Day Peace Building Workshop For Journalist

The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS is organizing a 3-day Workshop  for journalists drawn from the 15 Member States of the Community. The Workshop holding from the 25th to the 27th of June, 2018 at the Commissions Headquarter building in Abuja, Nigeria, is meant to examine the role of media in promoting peace and security in the ECOWAS region. The Workshop aims to help disseminate information about ECOWAS peace and security mandate, as well as actions and programs in Member States through national public and private media, the Heritage newspaper writes.

VP Howard-Taylor Pledges Support To Women, Youth Empowerment Initiatives

 Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has reemphasized the need to invest in the private sector.VP Howard-Taylor speaking following a meeting with executives of the Design, IT and Training Institute (DITTI) and QUINTESSENTIAL Business Women Association-Liberia (QBWA) lauded the tremendous effort of the institutions and pledged her support them.Vice President-Taylor thanked the women for their ‘amazing work’ and pledged her unflinching support, beginning with scholarships to 25 women and girls at DITTI. According to the FrontPage Africa newspaper, DITTI is a Liberia-owned vocational institution that is involved with training Liberians in basic skills including graphic design, cosmetology, masonry and carpentry among others.

Mass Failure In Law School Entrance Exams

To the dismay of thousand s of academicians, only 15.6 percent of candidates, who sat the recent aptitude test administered by the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the University of Liberia made a successful pass. Administered on Saturday, April 21, only 37 of the 237 candidates met the minimum 50 percent or above requirement set by the examination committee to make a pass. According to authorities of the School of Law, the 37 successful candidates are expected to sit an interview after which successful candidates will be admitted to the only higher institution that prepares lawyers in Liberia. As part of the requirements, those who sat the recent aptitude test were to pay $150 and must have met a minimum GPA of, the He 2.7 and above, the Heritage newspaper reads.

Disaster Hits New Matadi…As Storm Destroys Several Houses

Several homes in New Matadi Estate, a densely populated slum community, and its environs were early Friday severely destroyed by heavy storm during a rainfall. Hundreds of residents of the affected houses have also had a sleepless night as they struggle to take care of their properties most of which were also damaged. The reporter who visited the community said many of houses in the community are currently without roofs as some of the personal belongings of the affected residents were seen scattered around. Besides the damages caused to the housing units, scores of electrical poles and wires were damaged by the heavy storm in the community and its nearby areas, thus severely affecting the provision of electricity services in the areas, reports the INSIGHT newspaper.

Disabled Community Wants Sign Language Taught In Schools

According to the INQUIRER newspaper, the Disabled Community in Liberia in urging the Government of Liberia to start teaching sign languages in all schools. In a resolution signed recently, members of the Disabled Community said the teaching of Sign Language in various schools will enable the physically challenged to have the learning environment like those without disabilities. The Alliance for Disabilities comprising of twenty-four Disabled communities along with five government line Ministries signed a five year action plan aimed at promoting the teaching of Sign Language in all schools. According to them, they have equal rights like those without disabilities.

Liberian Students Return In Grand Style From Us Robotic Competition; Ranked 62 Out Of 1,000

Eight students from Grand Bassa County under the Nyonblee Cares Foundation returned to Liberia from the United States of America where they participated in a robotic competition. The FrontPage Africa newspaper says their trip was the second batch of students from Liberia to have participated in the competition. Eight students from selected schools in Grand Bassa participated in the competition.The students ranked 62 among 1,000 teams from around the world and Liberia was the only African team to have participated in the competition. The robotic competition brought together students from USA, China, Korea, Canada and other developed and developing countries.