14 December 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

“ECOWAS Cannot Afford Another Crisis in Liberia” -Ghanaian President says it’s time to move forward, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says ECOWAS is not prepared to intervene in another crisis in Liberia should there be one, urging Liberians to stay true to the tenets of democracy.

Ghana is one of the well-respected members of the regional body and this strong warning comes at a time when Liberia is yet to reach a conclusion of its electoral process, which was allegedly marred by gross irregularities and probable fraud. Liberia has the unwanted tag of problem-child in the region as neighbors had to intervene on two separate occasions in the civil crises that gripped the nation for nearly 15 years. In these instances, Nigeria and Ghana have always led the intervention processes.

But President Akufo-Addo indicated that “West Africa is not prepared to contemplate the scenario of Liberia sliding back into instability and conflict.” As the key speaker at the 98th Commencement Convocation exercises of the University of Liberia, the Ghanaian leader said ECOWAS has over the years made a huge investment in promoting peace in Liberia, and “we will do all we can to ensure that democracy is entrenched in the country, but we will not accept any other outcome.”

President Akufo-Addo indicated that the December 7 ruling of the Supreme Court is to ensure that the country will have its first peaceful handover of power from one democratically elected leader to another in 73 years. He said Liberians have done a lot to stabilize the country, and there should be no turning back. Read more

Protesters Demand Korkoya’s Resignation, Source: Daily OBSERVER

National Elections Commission (NEC) chairman Jerome Korkoya’s recent pronouncement setting December 26 as the date for the runoff election without having first cleaned up the Final Registration Roll (FRR) has provoked strong reactions from the public with calls from several quarters for his resignation or immediate dismissal.

According to the Daily Observer, members of the public have become seized of the matter and have gone a step further by mounting public protests before the NEC headquarters demanding the dismissal or immediate resignation of Cllr. Korkoya.

On Wednesday, a group of protesters led by businessman George Kailondo expressing disenchantment with Korkoya’s actions blocked the main entrance of the electoral commission’s headquarters calling on him to step down as head of the NEC. The group in a statement cited Korkoya’s lack of independence and his unwillingness to abide by the recommendations of the Supreme Court, among others. Read more

TWP Endorsement of CDC Backfires, Source: Daily OBSERVER

A decision Tuesday by the national chairman of the opposition True Wing Party (TWP) to endorse the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) for the December 26 runoff election has been challenged by the party’s Montserrado County chairman, C.T.O King, who vehemently disagreed with the decision and described the action as “unilateral.”

Mr. King argued in a Daily Observer interview that the party’s executive committee did not sanction chairman Reginald Goodridge’s decision, thereby making it unofficial. “I have the endorsement of the executive committee to speak on behalf of the party against the fake one Goodridge announced to the CDC,” the TWP Montserrado County chairman declared.

“Our constitution provides that any decision of the party must be firstly approved by the executive committee and not a single person like Mr. Goodridge,” King said and clarified that the TWP executive committee has not made any decision as to which party to support during the pending runoff presidential election. Read more

CDC Calls on Members to Rather Celebrate Christmas on December 29, Source: FrontPage Africa

The youth wing chairman of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has called on all supporters, especially the youth within the party not to celebrate Christmas on December 25 as the runoff is slated for December 26. Jefferson Koijee at a press conference Wednesday in Monrovia announced that the CDC has agreed to hold a mass Christmas party on the 29th of December. According to him, the hierarchy has planned a bigger celebration to mark the victory of the party in the ensuing runoff election.

The date set for the runoff election appears to be a tricky one as Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in Liberia. Already, some citizens have registered their discontent with the National Elections Commission’s decision to schedule the runoff just a day after the Christmas. Read more

Africa Needs New Breed of Leaders …Ghanaian President, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The NEWS

Visiting Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Africa needs a new breed of leaders who are willing to transform Liberia. President Akufo-Addo indicated that Africa needs leaders who are committed to govern their people in accordance with the rule of law, respect for individual liberty, human rights, the principle of democratic accountability, and social justice.

The Ghanaian leader who spoke Wednesday at the 98th commencement convocation of the University of Liberia graduate program further said that Africa needs leaders who are prepared and willing to provide a better living condition for their people.

According to Akufo-Addo, Africans have suffered too much from bad governance, as such, it is time for a new breed of leaders who have the desire and commitment to provide a quality life for the people. He said gone are the days when raw materials were shipped from Africa to other parts of the world, thus denying the continent of  better dividend. Read more

Liberia Chairs 72nd Plenary Meeting At United Nations General Assembly, Sources: FrontPage Africa, News Public Trust, and The NEWS

Under the chairmanship of Liberia's deputy permanent representative to the UN, Israel Davies, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted two draft resolutions in support of improving universal health coverage. On Tuesday, Liberia co-sponsored the two resolutions – “Global health and foreign policy, addressing the health of the most vulnerable for an inclusive society” and “International Universal Health Coverage Day”.

Liberia recognizes that despite progress in the health sector, challenges in global health including major inequities and vulnerabilities still remain and require urgent attention.

According to a dispatch from Liberia's Permanent Mission to the UN, the UNGA noted that global health is not just an end but a pre-condition to making progress in the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and urged all Member States to respect, protect and promote the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Read more

‘Healthcare for All Liberians A Necessity’  -Joyce K. Jarwolo, Executive Director, PHIL, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Public Health Initiative Liberia (PHIL) executive director, Joyce Jarwolo, has indicated that the government needs to craft health policies that will enable every Liberian to have access to affordable healthcare services in the country. Speaking Wednesday at a program marking the observance of Universal Health Coverage Day held at a resort in Monrovia, Ms. Jarwolo urged the Liberian government not to focus on reforms that provide an advantage for those in the formal employment sector. She said quite often health policies, budgets and programs do not prioritize the impact of health benefits for the most vulnerable and marginalized.

The United Nations on 12 December 2012 unanimously endorsed a historic resolution urging all countries to accelerate progress towards universal access to affordable and quality health care services for all.  Read more

‘AWA Presence Indicates Confidence in Liberian Economy’ –LAA MD, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The decision of the Africa World Airlines (AWA) to expand its activities to Liberia is an indication of confidence in the Liberian economy, according to Wil Bako Freeman, managing director of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA). Speaking at the official activities marking AWA’s maiden flight on Tuesday at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County, Mr. Freeman said the government has completed several projects at the airport that provide opportunities for the sector.

 “We will be dedicating the new terminal on December 18; we have completed a new runway and we will soon begin the construction of a new cargo terminal,” the LAA managing director said. According to him,  these developments complement the government’s efforts to ensure a good business climate in the country for investors. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

We won’t allow Liberia back to instability and conflict – Nana Addo, Source: Citi FM Online

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says West Africa is not prepared to contemplate the scenario of Liberia sliding back into instability and conflict. According to President Akufo-Addo, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), over the years, has made a huge investment in promoting peace in Liberia, and “we will do all we can to ensure that democracy is entrenched in Liberia, and we will not accept any other outcome.”

The President said the 7th December 2017 recent ruling made by Liberia’s Supreme Court on their presidential election, must ensure that Liberia will have its first peaceful handover of power from one democratically elected leader to another in 73 years.

“The work undertaken by that truly historic figure, the first elected female leader of an African nation, Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in stabilizing the country, after a bitter and protracted civil war, has been very solid and commendable,” he said. The President continued that, “I am anticipating that, at the end of the day, Liberia’s institutions, particularly the Supreme Court and the Electoral Commission, will be up to the task, and shepherd the country through a successful transition.”

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Wednesday, 13th December, 2017, when he delivered the Commencement Address at the 98th Commencement Exercises of the University of Liberia, in Monrovia. 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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