13 February 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

President Weah Celebrates Armed Forces Day -Makes Promises to Security Sector, Sources: FrontPage Africa, News Public Trust, and The New Dawn

President George Weah has pledged his administration’s commitment to improving the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and para-military organizations by providing basic social services and skills that have been lacking for years. Addressing the AFL and the paramilitary for the first time as Commander-In-Chief on the occasion marking the 61st AFL Day celebration on Monday, President Weah said he is convinced that the military and para-military have a major role in uniting and building a more peaceful and prosper Liberia and as well as making significant contributions to regional peace and stability.

He, however, said for this to be done the present constraints including lack of funding, training, equipment and logistics and basic social services such as education, housing, and medical facilities must be addressed. “My administration will be committed to building an army of professionally trained soldiers who are well paid, highly educated, professionally trained, comfortably housed and care medically to the highest standard…,” the Liberian leader said. Read more

President Weah Promises to Build First Military Hospital in Liberia, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, Executive Mansion News, FrontPage Africa, News Public Trust, and The New Dawn

President George Weah has promised to build Liberia’ first Military Teaching Hospital exclusively for use by the Army and other security forces. President Weah made the promise Monday when he spoke at the 61st anniversary of Armed Forces Day (AFL), which is celebrated February 11 each year. He said when built, the facility “will be the first ever Military Hospital built in Liberia.” The president added that the hospital will “be equipped with modern facilities, and will be staffed by highly trained medical personnel.” According to Weah, the facility will also be a Teaching Hospital, to train the men and women in arms in all medical disciplines. Read more

Weah Congratulates Sirleaf For Winning Mo Ibrahim Prize -Says Liberians are proud of her, Source: News Public Trust

President George Weah Monday congratulated former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for winning the 5th Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. “Madam Sirleaf wherever you are, I say we are proud of you, congratulations,” President Weah said at the start of his address marking the celebrations of Armed Forces Day at the Barclay Military Training Center in Monrovia on Monday. Read more

Nigeria Defense Chief Urges AFL to Join Regional Security Efforts, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, has called on officers and the leadership of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) to consider getting more involved in regional security efforts. General Olonisakin making the assertion Monday when he served as keynote speaker at the 61st celebrations of the AFL in Monrovia said the time has come for the AFL to look more outward to support regional efforts to deal with some of the security challenges in the sub-region, including terrorism and conflicts, arising from resource scarcity due to the impact of climate change and migration challenges arising from unemployment and other socioeconomic problems. The Nigerian army general said the AFL should first see itself as part of the people in order to provide the needed services and support for security and the national development of Liberia. Read more

Top Official of Liberia’s Anti-Graft Body Accuses Head of Heartlessness, Financial Improprieties, Source: FrontPage Africa

A commissioner at the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has accused the executive chairperson of the anti-graft body of “disrespecting his peers and taking them for fools” while insinuating and raising questions over the withdrawal of operational funds for the Commission. In an email exchange obtained by FrontPage Africa, Cllr. J. Augustine Toe said a growing number of issues at the anti-graft body are “playing on his conscience” and he felt it necessary to bring those issues to the attention of the LACC boss.

Astounding in Cllr. Toe’s communication to Cllr. James Verdier was his discovery of the “suspicious secret clandestine” management of the LACC’s finances by Verdier in cohort with the entity’s comptroller. The anti-graft commissioner noted that it was high time he spoke truth to power and that he and other commissioners’ silence over the series of missteps at the LACC do not equate them to fools. Cllr. Toe expressed concerns in his communication over Cllr. Verdier’s and the comptroller’s denials of the Finance Ministry releasing operational funds to the entity during a Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting.

But in response to the litany of accusation levied by his commissioner Toe, the LACC executive chairperson refuted the accusations and characterization of him, noting that he was equally concerned if the comptroller was misleading the BOC. “My information about the government funding for the LACC is basically obtained from the comptroller or his office. Why would I want to conceal information about available funding to the LACC? To what end and benefit? As I am informed, the processing of a request and granting of a request can be time-consuming depending on the Finance Ministry cash projection. Approval, the release of a voucher, returning to the agency for final signature, depositing with a financial institution and the agency’s account being credited are not the activities I am conversant with,” Cllr. Verdier replied Cllr. Toe. Read more

New Liberian Police Administrator Vows To Tackle Misconduct, Source: FrontPage Africa

Inspector-General of Police-designate for administration, Sadatu Reeves has vowed to tackle public misconduct of Police officers and at the same time work collaboratively with the Inspector-General of Police-designate, Patrick Sudue to strengthen discipline in the ranks and files of the Police force. Reeves speaking Tuesday at the Capitol Building stressed that it would be “extremely difficult” for the LNP to execute its national mandate which includes the protection of citizens, property and public order in the absence of a “well-disciplined force”. Read more

Liberian Man Faces Legal Charges For St. Peters Lutheran Massacre, Source: FrontPage Africa

Four victims of the 1990 Lutheran Church Massacre have filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Moses Thomas, a Liberian restauranteur living in South West Philadelphia. The case alleges that Mr. Thomas, then colonel and commander of the elite Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SATU) within the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) under President Samuel Doe, directed an attack on the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church compound in Monrovia. The church compound was being used as a Red Cross aid shelter for 2,000 unarmed men, women, and children seeking refuge from fighting in Monrovia. “Over the course of several hours, 600 people, primarily from the Mano and Gio tribes, were shot and hacked to death,” according to the suit filed by the four victims – all Liberian citizens, living in Liberia. Read more

Health Minister-designate Requests Change of Venue in USD6M Lawsuit, Source: FrontPage Africa

The legal counsel of health minister-designate Dr. Wilhemina Jallah has filed a motion for change of venue in the action of damage for wrongful death filed against her by the family of a woman who reportedly died during childbirth her hospital. Dr. Jallah, her institution Hope for Women International Incorporated, Lorraine Cooper, and S. Neal are facing a USD6 million lawsuit for the “wrongful death” of Pastor Desiree Fahnbulleh. Pastor Fahnbulleh was undergoing a caesarian section and died as a result of shock, according to an autopsy report.

In the motion requesting a change of venue, Dr. Jallah’s lawyer said the action is still pending before the court, but there are publications of the case in the media. The legal counsel said the publication has the propensity to influence the prospective jurors and that it will be very difficult for the trial to be free, fair and transparent. Read more

Lassa Fever Outbreak in Nigeria Sparks Local Health Concerns, Source: Daily OBSERVER

In the wake of the reported outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria, health authorities in Liberia say they are prepared and capable of defeating any outbreak, adding that: “As part of our prepared measures, we have assigned disease surveillance officers at each of our entry points.” Sorbor George, the communications director of the Health Ministry the Daily Observer last evening that although the ministry was not aware of the alert Nigeria had issued to that effect, nonetheless health authorities here have learned enough lessons from Ebola, and are, therefore, prepared to deal with any eventuality in the sector. “We will speak to the issue as soon as we can get the details from our Nigerian or Ghanaian counterparts, though we are clinically and laboratory-wise prepared,” George assured. Read more

‘Gap between Males-Females in Politics and Media Undemocratic’ -Tecee Bolay, NN executive director, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Pro-female advocacy group New Narratives (NN) has described as undemocratic the gender gap between men and women in Liberian politics and the media. NN executive director Tecee Bolay Speaking in Monrovia over the weekend during a roundtable said: “Women are really underrepresented in politics and there are real socio-cultural, economic, and political barriers to women’s equal political participation,” she said. “This gender gap is undemocratic; it means women are not able to fully exercise their rights, and women’s voices are largely absent, making gender-sensitive laws unlikely.” Ms. Bolay said women are also underrepresented in Liberia’s media landscape. “Our survey shows that only 20 percent of journalists in this country are women; and of that percentage, 5 percent are part of the editorial staff,” the NN chief executive noted. Read more

‘Remove Culture and Tourism from Ministry of Information’ – Suggests pro-democracy advocate, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Pro-democracy advocate Josiah Jokai has called on the government to consider removing the culture and tourism sections of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism by repealing the law that established the ministry. Appearing on a local radio talk show in Paynesville, Mr. Jokai said he thinks that his suggestion to the George Weah-led government is vital for the forward march of the country. “Interestingly, that part that should have been viable is conspicuously silent and as such the question of whom we are in terms of our way of life and our identity remains a myth,” he noted. The pro-democracy advocate recommends that the government establishes the Liberia Culture and Tourism Authority (LCTA) as an agency with the mandate to ensure that all historical sites are culturally reorganized to reflect the meaning and way of life of all Liberians. Read more

Liberian-made Cargo Ship to Sail to 5 Counties, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Liberia’s first postwar ship, built by 10 Liberians and three Chinese nationals, has been finally commissioned. The ship is ready for business, and to deliver diesel (D2) and other commodities to five counties. The proxy for Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, George Nimely, applauded the Liberians and Chinese for the construction of the vessel, which he said is capable of transporting fuel and other goods to southeastern Liberia in 10 hours. The Vice President’s Chief of Office Staff said the initiative supports the pro-poor agenda of the government. “This is a recognizable and motivational tool for employment to boost the economy,” Mr. Nimely said. He made the statement Saturday before the tour of the ship. 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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