05 January 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Certificated to serve, Source: FrontPage Africa

Making remarks Thursday at a certification ceremony at the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to Liberia (SRSG), Farid Zarif has told President-elect George Weah and the incoming lawmakers to build a Liberia that the international community will be proud of. “Let’s build on the shining legacy of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who brought us all the way from the end of the war to today and gave to the nation something that it has always aspired to,” SRSG Zarif said. He reminded the officials that Liberia is rich in natural resources but yet the people are still poor. The UN diplomat said the country is beginning with a new vision under the new government. Also making a remark, US Ambassador to Liberia, Christine Elder commended Liberians for choosing their leaders at the polls and urged the incoming government to reach out and bring onboard those who lost their election. Read more

US Embassy applauds BFF for promoting youth participation in Liberian elections, Source: FrontPage Africa

The acting public affairs officer of the US Embassy in Liberian, Rebecca Archer-Kneper has lauded Better Future Foundation (BFF) for promoting youth participation in the elections. She made the comment at a month-long lecture on the importance of youth participation in election and other key aspects of promoting human rights and sustaining democracy. The program was sponsored by the US Embassy and held in communities in Monrovia. Read more

Local Youths Complete Training in Promoting Human Rights, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Better Future Foundation (BFF), a proponent of the Liberia Democracy Sustainability Platform in collaboration with Youth Beyond Barriers (YBB) has completed a month-long series of lectures on the importance of youth participation in elections and other key aspects of promoting human rights and sustaining democracy. Held on the theme, “Power of Your Vote,” the ceremony marked the final phase of the lecture series, which coincided with the final certification of 65 youth community peer mediators at the United States Embassy in Monrovia. The training, which was held in five communities in Monrovia and its environs from July to August 2017, was aimed at educating first-time voters between the ages (18-23) from over 20 communities in Montserrado County on how to use their civic rights and duties to ensure peaceful and credible presidential and legislative elections. Read more

‘An Uneducated Society Is A Threat to Peace’ -Alex Devine, Youth for Change, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The executive director of the local NGO Youth for Change has said the incoming government should invest in education if it is to maintain the country’s peace. Alex Devine, speaking at the close of the national youth camp in Salala, Bong County said, “Peace is important for the socio-economic development of any nation, but when illiteracy rate becomes high, the people resort to violence through which they express their dissatisfaction on issues affecting their welfare. Politicians often lie to illiterate people to satisfy their selfish interest.”  Devine noted that the 12 years of relative peace the country has enjoyed could come under threat if the citizens remained uneducated.

He said that in a society where the citizens are highly educated, the fight to preserve peace is not so difficult, adding, “this is why it so important that the government should invest in education to develop the minds of its citizens, because when the citizens are highly educated, they possess knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes, which are important tools for any country’s peace, and Liberia is not exempted. Education can help promote peace and provide safe environments.” He continued: “The main purpose of education is to enlighten people’s minds so that they can have a proper understanding of the prevailing issues.”  Read more

Pastor Ben Karbah Commends Pres. Sirleaf –Advises President-elect Weah to Strengthen Ties with US & Israel, Source: The INQUIRER

The pastor of the Eagles Chapel Glorious Land International Church (ECGLIC) has commended President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for serving Liberia and maintaining peace for the past 12 years. Pastor Ben Zion Karbah said it takes nothing from anyone to appreciate somebody for doing something good for the general benefit of the society. Pastor Karbah has also congratulated President-elect George Weah and Vice President-elect Jewel Howard Taylor for their victory and asked them to strengthen Liberia’s relationship with the United States and Israel.

DJP Leader Congratulates President-elect Weah, Source: The INQUIRER

The political leader of Democratic Justice Party (DJP), Dr. Isaac Wiles has congratulated and sent a message of support to President-elect, George Weah for his preferment by the Liberian people. Dr. Wiles in his message to President-elect Weah says he is ready to lend a willing hand to Mr. Weah for the great task ahead of reconciling the people, healing the nation, and developing the country among others.

Where is the USD4 Million? Senate Seeks Explanation, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The Senate Plenary Thursday questioned the whereabouts of USD4 million allotted in the past fiscal year for the rehabilitation of roads across the country, as deplorable rural road conditions persist throughout with only focus being set on community roads leading to the homes of government officials in the Executive. The debate was raised following a communication from Senator Marshall Dennis. Several Senators expressed grave concern about the lack of interest by the government into the embarrassment the deplorable roads were causing the people of Liberia. The Joint Legislative Committee on Budget allotted and approved the money for the reconditioning of major deplorable roads across Liberia but to the lawmakers’ disappointment, the Public Works Ministry only concentrated its focus in communities that host homes of members of the executive branch of the government.

New health menace, Health Ministry yet to discover origin and cure, Source: FrontPage Africa

Reports say a rare skin disease has surfaced in the country causing panic among many Liberians after over 600 people were reportedly diagnosed with the disease. The disease appears like heat-bumps on the skin and causes itching of the skin, according to the report. The National Public Health Institution of Liberia said it has been almost a month since the disease was first diagnosed. Surveillance officers are investigating the disease which has been reported in River Cess, Margibi, Bong and Montserrado counties. Read more

Defeated and Winning Representative Candidates Dialogue for Peace, Nonviolence, Source: News Public Trust

The News Public Trust reports that both winners and losers in the 10 October 2017 Legislative elections are coming together in Town Hall fora to dialogue for sustained peace and nonviolence. The latest of such dialogues was in Montserrado County Electoral District #1 in Todee where Lawrence Morris, the winner of the Representative seat, some of his former rivals, and the locals agreed to prioritize peace. At the forum in Nyhen Town, they also spoke of the need to prioritize education and agriculture over political bickering that took center stage during the campaign for leadership in the district. The forum was organized by the local media group Liberia Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI). Read More

Liberia: State Broadcaster Workers Put Incoming CDC Gov’t on Notice - Want entity transformed into public service broadcaster, Source: News Public Trust

Workers of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) in Paynesville outside Monrovia are calling on the incoming government of President-elect George Weah of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) to give much-needed attention to the state broadcaster.  Prior to the 2017 elections, President-elect Weah has been operating his private broadcast outlets—Kings FM and Clar TV in Monrovia.

The LBS Workers Union in a statement on Thursday appealed to the incoming Executive and Legislative Branches to support the state broadcaster so that it can be more effective and efficient in the dissemination of information to the Liberian people. ‘’Currently, employees at the National Broadcaster (LBS) are the slightest paid in the Sub-region as compared to their professional colleagues a situation that needs to be addressed,” the statement said. The Workers Union further called on the incoming 54th National Legislature to fast-track the passage of a bill to make the LBS a Public Broadcaster. Read More

Motorcycle Crashes on the Rise in Liberia with 8 Deaths - Prompting Liberian police to re-enforce restrictions, Source: News Public Trust

The News Public Trust has quoted authorities of the Liberia National Police (LNP) the deaths in motorcycle crashes have gone up sharply in a short period. Deputy Police IG for Operations, Abraham Kromah disclosed Thursday that eight people were killed as a result of motorcycle accidents during the relaxation on the restriction of the movements of motorcyclists, locally referred to as “Pehm-pehm riders”. Deputy IG Kromah, who did not disclose the specific areas where the accidents occurred, said with the heated political activities over, the LNP is now re-enforcing the no-go zones for motorcyclists. It was because of the high incidents of fatal motorcycle accidents that their movements were in recent years banned from main streets in and around the Liberian capital, Monrovia but only restricted to feeder roads. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

George Weah invites Arsene Wenger to inauguration as president of Liberia, Sources: BBC News and Express

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told the BBC that he has been invited by the new Liberia president George Weah to his inauguration later this month. Wenger was Weah's manager at French side Monaco between 1988 and 1992 but he is not sure he will able to attend.

"I have been invited by George to come to the day where he will be the President," he said. "I believe I will be busy but if I am suspended (for his comments on referees) I will have time to go." Wenger is facing a Football Association disciplinary hearing for various comments he made about referees in recent weeks.

The Arsenal boss admits he still finds it hard to believe what Weah has achieved. "The life of this guy is a real film. It is unbelievable. It can make a fantastic film," said an excited Wenger. "I remember when I saw him the first time at Monaco, coming in a bit lost, not knowing anybody, not being rated by anybody as a player and becoming the best player in the world in 1995 and today becoming the president of his country. Read more

Disclaimer
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.

 

 

Print Headlines