The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018

News of President George Manneh Weah nomination of Mr. Thomas Doe-Nah, an anti-corruption and integrity advocate, as the new Commissioner and the commencement of talks between the National Housing Authority and a Burkinabe investment company aimed at constructing about 50,000 affordable, durable and modern housing units in the country are stories highlighted in today’s edition of our summary of the local dailies.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Ex-CENTAL Chief, Thomas Doe Nah, Heads LRA 

Quoting an Executive Mansion release, the Daily Observer reads that President George Manneh Weah has appointed anti-corruption and integrity advocate, Mr. Thomas Doe-Nah as the new Commissioner-General of the Liberia Revenue Authority. The daily says the appointments of Mr. Doe-Nah and his Deputy for Technical services, Mrs. Decontee King-Sackie, are subject to confirmation by the Senate. Mr. Doe-Nah, co-founder of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), replaces Madam Elfrieda Stewart Tamba whose tenure ended on June 30 this year. Madam Decontee King-Sackie is retained as Deputy Commissioner General for Technical Services at the entity.

Related Captions: Thomas Doe Nah Appointed as New LRA Boss(In Profile Daily), Weah Appoints New LRA Commissioner General(Heritage)

NHA In Talks With Burkinabe Investment Company Here

According to an inside story of the Heritage newspaper, the National Housing Authority is currently holding talks with a seven man delegation of a Burkinabe investment company aimed at constructing about 50,000 affordable, durable and modern housing units in the country. The Company, GELPAZ, an Investment Company based in Burkina Faso, is involved with construction of housing units in several countries in West Africa. Speaking at the start of day one discussion, NHA Managing Director Mr. Duannah Siryon, stated that the government wants to build about 80,000 housing units in line with the Government of Liberia (GOL) “ Pro-Poor” agenda and that the company has expressed interest in constructing 50,000 units. Siryon said that talks are on-going between NHA and the partners and the construction process will start as soon as the both parties reach an agreement. Asked as to whether or not the investment is a loan, grant or needs legislative approval, Siryon asserted “it is not a loan or grant it is a private investment and as such, it is free from legislative scrutiny. We have not signed agreement and have not signed any document.

Related Captions: Govt., Burkina Faso Firm to Sign Contract for the Construction of over 55,000 Housing Units(FrontPage Africa), Burkinabe Company Eyes Liberia’s Housing Sector(In Profile Daily), NHA, Burkinable Investors Discuss 50,000 Housing Units Investment(Daily Observer)

OTHER STORIES  

Gov’t Gets US$11M To Build Feeder Roads In Monrovia 

The Heritage newspaper reads that Finance Minister Samuel Tweah has disclosed that the Ministry of Public Works is to commence the construction of feeder roads in Monrovia and it suburbs following the approval of US$11 million by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). Afreximbank, headquarter in Cairo, Egypt, is an international financial institution whose primary objective is to promote and finance trade within the African continent and trade between Africa and other continents. “just approved a guarantee through Afreximbank of   11 million United States dollars for the construction of community roads, which will soon be starting” said Minister Tweah. Minister Tweah reiterated at a press conference the unflinching resolve of President Weah and the government to build 1000 kilometer of asphalt paved roads in six years.

IFMIS, MTEF To Aid Correction Fight

The New Dawnnewspaper says the coordination for the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) and Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has expressed optimism that the inclusion of 50 government ministries, agencies and commissions into the system would help reduce allegations of corruption in the public sector. Addressing the close of a four-day IFMIS and MTEF training workshop in Monrovia, Mr Gus B. Freemen says the two systems are key instruments for the country’s public financial management reform process. IFMIS is an automated system that is used for public financial management. It Interlinks planning, budgeting, expenditure management and control, accounting, audit and reporting. He notes that the exercise was also based on reports by anti-graft institutions, which often allege corruption, a situation that points to human interaction that can be prevented by use of the automated interlink where people do their budgeting, planning, implementation and report”. Held under the auspice of the Africa Development Bank, the training brought together 22 financial managers from heavily spending ministries, agencies and commissions of the Government of Liberia.

EPA Calls On Water Producers To Comply With Regulations

An inside story of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA has embarked on a two-day workshop for packaged water producers. It is aimed at creating awareness on the EPA’s regulations on safe drinking water. Speaking at the start of the training in Paynesville on Monday, August 13, the Deputy Executive Director of the EPA, Randall Dobayou called on water producers to operate in the confines of the regulations. According to Mr. Dobayou, most of the water producers are following the laws, but there are few who are in the constant habit of not only contamination the image of the industry and putting the lives of 90 percent of the population that consumes their products at risk, the FrontPage Africa news daily reads.

Related Caption:Gov’t To Shutdown ‘Bad’ Water Companies (Daily Observer)

INCHR Craves Robust Awareness On Human Rights Issues

The acting Chairperson of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) Bartholomew B. Colley has called for an aggressive awareness on human rights issues in the country. According to Mr. Colley, there is a huge gap in the understanding of many people on human rights issues in the country. The Daily Observer reads that Mr. Colley spoke Tuesday, August 14 at the start of a two-day technical engagement that would ensure the Commission’s strengthening of its capacity in engaging with and providing technical guidance  to the legislature  on law reforms and bills on human rights advocacy and accountability.

LIPA Certificates Over 20 Gov’t Financial Officers

The Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA) on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 certificated 22 financial officers of government Ministries, agencies and commissions (MACs) following intensive four day training. A back page story of the Heritage newspaper says the financial officers were trained in medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) and Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS) with emphasis in budget planning, implementation and reporting. The four-day (MTEF)-(IFMIS) which targeted financial officers from 22 government entities out 50, was a project funded by the African development Bank (AFDB) and implemented by the Reform Coordination Unit at the Ministry of Finance and development Planning (MFDP). Speaking during the certification program, LIPA’s Deputy Director General for Research and Consultancy, Mr. D Wah Hne, pledged LIPA’s commitment to continue working with donor partners for additional training of financial officers assigned at (MACs) because according to him, the government’s “Pro-Poor” agenda needs to be supported by a secured financial Management System for accountability.

UL Launches PEEP To Improve Staff Outputs

The Administration of the University of Liberia (UL) on Monday August 3, launched the Performance Evaluation and Enhancement Program (PEEP) to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of faculty members. According to the Daily Observer, the PEEP will include written performance review for all staffs on a regular baisis with every three months as a minimum. Managers or supervisors in various departments within the university will forward complete performance reviews to UL Human Resource for incusion in the personal file. The aim of this exercise is to support employees succeed through a cycle of goal and development planning, coaching and support periodic (Four times a year progress review and regular performance review. While officially launching the program on Monday at the fendell Campus, the Daily Observer newspaper quotes the UL President Dr.  Weeks as saying the PEEP are being introduced because the lack of performance from some staffers is undermining the works of the University. “We need to do more to make this university a better place for all of us” she said.

MOP-Liberia Conducts Third Annual Peace Camp

As part of activities commemorating this year International Youth Day which was celebrated under the theme ‘Creating Safe Spaces for Young People,’ Messenger of Peace-Liberia has commenced the third edition of its annual famous ‘Peace Summer Camp’ in Monrovia which is intended to build the minds and skills of young people in various leadership techniques throughout the country. This year MOP-Liberia Peace Summer Camp, which saw three top officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports visiting the camp, got on the way on July 30, 2018 and climaxes on August 30, 2018, is being celebrated under the theme: “The Beat of the Peace Drum,” the In Profile Daily reads.

BRAC Liberia Incepts US$3Million Food Security Project

Amid Liberia’s strive for sustained food needs; BRAC Liberia has launched a US$3million agriculture inception project aimed at increasing food security while reducing poverty and malnutrition in Liberia. The three years programs will be implemented in six of country’s 15 counties Project through the incensement of the income of household by 50%, improve the production of household by 30% and improve the food consumption score of household by 10% before it ends. As part of the project, a daylong workshop was conducted last week in an effort to focus of breaking the cycle of Poverty and Malnutrition by investing in Small holders Value Chains, the FrontPage Africa newspaper reads.

Related Caption: BRAC’s US$3M Project Targets Agriculture, Food Security, Others(Daily Observer)

Liberia Reaches Underprivileged World Cup Finals, Beats Morocco 5-1

The back page story of the FrontPage Africa newspaper reads that Team Liberia has qualified to the grand Final of the SATUC 2018 World Cup in Bulgaria after a convincing 5-1 victory over their North African brother Morocco in the semifinal of the tournament. The SATUC World Cup is an U17 tournament aimed at giving disadvantaged children and orphans space to excel, making them the center of attention and, through encouragement and mentoring, encouraging and mentoring, encouraging their successful self-realization and putting a smile on their faces it played seven aside, the paper reports.