05 January 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Liberia’s Election Commission Certificates Officials Ahead of Historic Inauguration, Source: FrontPage Africa

The National Elections Commission (NEC) Thursday certificated the President-elect, Vice President-elect, and 66 of the 73 elected lawmakers ahead of the January 22 inaugural ceremony. At the ceremony held in the Monrovia suburb of Sinkor at the NEC headquarters, several international partners also renewed their commitment to support the new Liberian government. The NEC could not certificate seven lawmakers because their respective victories in the October 10 elections are being challenged by opposing candidates.

Speaking at the program, President-elect George Weah promised to live up to his campaign promises of improving the lives of Liberians as he paid homage to outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Senator Jewel Howard Taylor for being the first female President and Vice President-elect of Liberia. President-elect Weah called on members of the legislature to put aside politics and work in the interest of the country.

“I went to Boakai not to make news but because the campaign is over and it is time to do the Liberian people’s work. Our quest is for all Liberians to work together to move our country forward; in the interest of the people let’s work,” Weah said. Reiterating his assurance of freedom of speech and even greater freedoms, the incoming Liberian leader said his government would not interfere with the tenants of democracy, especially political discourses. “I am your friend but my interest is the Liberian people,” President-elect Weah said. Read more

Weah: ‘We Will Not Fail You’, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, The New Dawn, and The NEWS

President-elect George Weah has assured Liberians that the days to worry whether the country will move forward or not are over, noting that he and his team will work in unity to fulfill the promises they made to the nation. Weah spoke Thursday at the program marking the certification of those who won the October 10 presidential and legislative elections as well as his winning of the December 26 runoff election. “We will not fail you, because you have given me the opportunity to serve; and therefore, I can assure you that with Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, the 54th Legislature, and all other friends coming aboard in my government, we will do your job that calls for change,” President-elect Weah said to rousing applause in the James Fromayan Conference Hall. “Your decision to elect me as your President is not for us, but for the forward march of our country,” he said. Read more

“Today, The Lone Star Is The Shining Star Of Africa”-Says US Ambassador, Source: News Public Trust

As President-elect George Weah, Vice President-elect Jewel Howard Taylor, and 66 newly elected Representatives were certificated on Thursday, there was an outpouring of praises from foreign diplomats for the level at which Liberian democracy has matured. Speaking at the certification ceremony at the headquarters of the National Elections Commission (NEC), the envoys from the United States, Europe, ECOWAS, and the United Nations all restated that the just-ended Liberian election has set a positive example for the development of democracy in Africa with its peaceful, free, fair, transparent, and orderly nature. “Today, the Lone Star is the shining star of Africa,” said US Ambassador Christine Elder as she assured the newly elected President and his incoming government of the United States of America’s continued support and cooperation in moving the country forward. Read more

European Union Happy With Successful Elections, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The EU has described as “professional” the level of maturity Liberians exhibited during the conduct of the October 10 presidential and legislative elections as well as the December 26 presidential runoff. Even though authorities of the National Elections Commission (NEC) faced legal challenges for fraud and irregularities, and were ordered to clean up the Final Registration Roll (FRR), the EU in its congratulatory message to President-elect George Weah noted that “the professionalism of Liberian institutions, including the NEC and the Liberia National Police, was key.”

Unlike past elections in 2005 and 2011 that were characterized by disenchantment and violence in some instances, the EU said in the 2017 elections, “all political leaders showed responsibility in accepting swiftly the outcome of the elections.” Also contrary to the 2005 and 2011 elections, the 2017 presidential election result was challenged by Liberty Party (LP) candidate Cllr. Charles Brumskine in the Supreme Court; the first civil approach ever in Liberia’s election history. Read more

INCHR Caution President-elect Weah Against Human Rights Violation, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has cautioned President-elect George Weah against human rights violation during his tenure as Liberia's President. The INCHR, in a statement issued Thursday, said Mr. Weah and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) should not use the popular voices of Liberians to mete gross human rights violation against citizens. According to the INCHR, Weah as President-elect should see the need to ensure that the rights and basic freedom of every Liberians are protected. "The Commission wants Amb. Weah and the CDC to use the popular will and mandate of the people to the full enjoyment and protection of their human rights and basic freedom," the statement said.  Read more

As Liberia Awaits George Weah’s Inauguration, Coffer Bleeds With Only USD500,000.00 –Senator Dargoseh Discloses, Source: GNN Liberia

GNN Liberia reports that Liberians were overly astonished and weary when the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee publicly announced that the coffer of the Liberian government has been emptied with only USD500,000.00. Senator Edward Dargoseh told OK FM that the country’s coffer was been depleted in the face of the inauguration of President-elect George Weah on 22 January. Senator Dargoseh speaking further expressed fear that if nothing is done to tackle this situation, the incoming government may find it difficult in the growth and development of the country’s economy. Read more

Representative Fallah ‘Critically Ill’, Missed Certification Ceremony, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that Montserrado County Representative Thomas Fallah who is contesting for the House Speaker’s position on the ticket of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has fallen ill. Family sources said Representative Fallah’s illness is so critical to the extent that he could no longer walk because he suffered a stroke. Sadly, his wife is reported to have suffered a stroke as well. Read more

Commercial Court Order Arrest of Gender Minister Julia Duncan Cassell, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Commercial Court has ordered the arrest of gender minister Julia Duncan Cassell for her alleged failure to settle over USD90,000 debt owed a local IT firm based on the court’s order. Presiding Judge Chan Chan Paegar, one of the three judges of the court, on Thursday ordered the arrest of Mrs. Cassell after finding her guilty of contempt of court for her failure to comply with the court’s ruling requesting her to pay Smar Tech Incorporated USD90,800 allegedly owed the company for the supply and setting up of computer lab at the Gender Ministry. The gender minister has also been fined USD150 to be paid into government’s coffers within 24 hours for disrespecting the court. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

George Weah certified as Liberia’s new president, Sources: APA and Anadolu Agency

Liberia’s Electoral Commission on Thursday officially certified George Weah as the newly-elected president of the country, APA reports quoting AA. In a ceremony held in Liberia’s capital Monrovia, Jewel Howard Taylor, wife of former convicted president Charles Taylor, was also certified as the vice president of Liberia, along with the Members of the House of Representatives.

“The certificate we are presenting to you does not only represent conferrer of legitimacy, to pronounce you to the world as duly elected officials, but also an embodiment of the power, trust, and aspirations reposed in you by the people of Liberia,” Jerome Korkoya, chairman of the Election Commission said at the ceremony. The ceremony was witnessed by the representatives of the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union, political parties, local and international organizations.

Farid Zarif, the Special Representative of the United Nations in Liberia, called on Weah and his team to lead the country in such a way that each Liberian would be proud of it. “To you Mr. President-elect, it doesn’t make any sense that Liberia is so rich, yet its people are so poor. Let’s build a Liberia so that every Liberian will be proud of it,” Zarif said. Read more

Liberia's president-elect vows to deliver on election promises, Sources: Journal du Cameron and Xinhua

Liberia's president-elect George Weah on Thursday vowed to deliver on all his election promises to the people of Liberia, reassuring them that he will not fail them. Weah will take office later this month as the 25th president of the West African country. He received his Certificate of Return from the National Elections Commission Thursday as the winner of the 2017 presidential election. "We will not fail you. You have given me an opportunity to serve...I want to assure you, Liberians, that the trust you have reposed in me is not for me but for the Liberian people," the president-in-waiting said during a colorful ceremony at the National Elections Commission headquarters in the Monrovia suburb town of Sinkor. Weah called for a national rebirth, which included unity, mutual trust, and understanding among the people. Read more

Liberia's new First Lady is Jamaican, Sources: Jamaica Observer and Nation News

A Jamaican has become the First Lady of Liberia following the election of her husband as the new president of this West African nation. Clar Weah's husband, George Weah, a former FIFA World Player of the Year, won the presidency in the Liberian electoral run-off on December 26. Clar Weah, who was born in Jamaica to Jamaican parents, migrated to Fort Lauderdale in the United States where she runs a thriving Caribbean restaurant and grocery store. According to reports, the couple met in a bank in the US where Clar worked as a customer service officer. “Clar, who unlike most women of Caribbean descent, dresses simply, is regarded not only as a brilliant strategist but great canvasser as well, whose bright smile even in difficult moments is able to break barriers,” said the Punch newspaper in a recent article. “Close allies describe her as intelligent and possessing a special type of aura. Read more

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This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIL on the understanding that the choice of articles included is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not imply endorsement by UNMIL.

 

 

 

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