06 February 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Senate Clears New Finance Ministry Officials, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The Senate Committee on Ways, Means, Finance, and Development Planning has told plenary that all presidential nominees of the Finance Ministry are duly qualified to serve the various positions within the entity. The committee made the report Monday during a special session convened. The appointees are Samora Wolokollie, deputy finance minister-designate for fiscal affairs; Tanneh Bruson, deputy finance minister-designate for budget; and the comptroller general-designate, Janga Kowo.

VP Taylor Says CDC-Led Government Committed To Protecting Disabled People, Source: News Public Trust

The News Public Trust reports that in a meeting with people with disabilities, Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor assured that the government remains committed to addressing the challenges facing the physically challenged people in the country. A press release from the vice president’s office said she made the statement Monday when she named Florence Wayfa Siafa as the new executive director of the Group of 77. She replaced Mrs. Katumu Boakai, the wife of former Vice President Joseph Boakai, who headed the institution for 12 years. Vice President Taylor said the government’s pro-poor agenda takes seriously the plight of physically challenged persons in the country. Read more

Justice Minister-designate Confirmation Hangs in the Balance, Source: FrontPage Africa

Sources say justice minister-designate, Cllr. Charles Gibson’s confirmation has hit rock bottom as the Liberian Senate failed to discuss his confirmation report from the Senate Judiciary Committee. According to sources, the committee had earlier recommended that the controversial justice minister-designate, Cllr. Charles Gibson, be confirmed. But after careful scrutiny of the report, it was withdrawn from the Senate floors due to speculations about the possible withdrawal of the nominee and the public outcry, the source said. Read more

The UL Dilemma, Source: FrontPage Africa

The University of Liberia (UL) is said to be embroiled in multiple challenges, which is now being compounded by a wave of protests by students who are demanding the resignation of the institution’s president, Dr. Ophelia Weeks. The angry protest sparked fear late last week after the students prevented the free flow of traffic through the Capitol Hill in Monrovia. But it is the concern of the students that have overshadowed the magnitude of their actions, which now appears to be the first protest President George Weah has to deal with. “This particular action was provoked by the consistent refusal of Dr. Weeks to allow 8,000 of our comrades to remain in school. Never in our lifetime will we sit there to allow that happen when we know that Dr. Weeks has none of her children in this university,” says Martin Kollie, secretary-general of the Student Unification Party (SUP), a student group at the university. Read more

‘Am Dying Slowly: Rape Suspect Varney Jarsey Speaks From Prison, Source: FrontPage Africa

Alleged rape suspect Varney Jarsey, who has been in pre-trial detention at the Monrovia Central Prison since November 2016, is said to be suffering from multiple illnesses while awaiting justice to be served. He said it is disheartening that he is behind bars for over a year and nothing is being done by state prosecutors to begin the trial. Jarsey continued: “The damage on my life has been done. I have no problem with the family, who accused me; I expect for us to meet in court. What I am disappointed in is the police investigations that directly relied on hear-say and didn’t allow me to explain, but was carried away by public sentiment.” He was indicted by the Grand Jurors of Montserrado County for reportedly raping a 15-year-old.

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Ganta-Tappita Road Pavement Begins Soon, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The country director for the World Bank Group for Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Henry Kerali, has disclosed that the bank is in an advanced effort to source funds to commence the pavement of the Ganta-Tappita road shortly. Mr. Kerali who met with President George Weah at his Paynesville residence said there are plans for the pavement of the Ganta-Tappita highway, which is Phase I of that project, and to subsequently pave the Tappita-Fish Town highway, which is Phase II. Presidential press secretary Sam Mannah told newsmen on Friday that the bank’s delegation informed the president that the bank fully embraces his vision for road connectivity, particularly the building of a coastal highway. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

China News Agency seeks Liberian media, investment collaborations, Sources: APA News and Journal du Cameroun

The China News Agency, Xinhua, is seeking ties of collaboration with the Liberian media and facilitate economic information with the National Investment Commission (NIC) of Liberia. According to a statement released in Monrovia on Monday, Xinhua, the official news agency of the People’s Republic of China, made the disclosure when two of its African executives paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Al-Hassan Conteh earlier this week in Abuja.

Mr. Wang Jida, the General Manager of the Africa Regional Bureau and Mr. Baoping Zhang, Abuja Bureau Chief of Xinhua News Agency, will be in Liberia from February 8-10, 2018 to discuss the facilitation of a fruitful cooperation with the local media. They also hope to hold discussions with the NIC with the plan to facilitate the exchange of economic information. Mr. Wang says Xinhua can be the bridge between Liberia and China in helping to deepen the already strong bilateral ties between both countries, according to the dispatch. 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.

 

 

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