30 January 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

President Weah Wants All Race To Own Liberian Citizenship, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, FrontPage Africa, GNN Liberia, News Public Trust, and The New Dawn

President George Weah has called for the repealing of the part of the Constitution that restricts Liberian citizenship to people of color. He also called for the consideration of dual citizenship in Liberia. In his first Annual Message on Monday, President Weah described Article 12 of the Constitution as racist and discriminatory as said provision has hampered the development of the country over the years.

“I believe that we should have nothing to fear from people of other race becoming citizens,” he said.  President Weah described the issue of citizenship in Liberia as his most urgent and imperative agenda. The Liberian leader continued:  “Since the founding of this country in 1847, more than 170 years ago, there have been certain restrictions on citizenship and property ownership. That, in my view, has become serious impediment and progress of the country.” Read more

Weah Cuts His Salaries …Says Struggle Must End, Sources: Executive Mansion News and The NEWS

President George Weah has with immediate effect reduced his salary by 25 percent. Addressing the joint session of the Legislature Monday during his first State of the Nation address, President Weah said the amount that will be cut from his salary will be deposited in a consolidated account and allocated to other areas that need support, adding that the lawmakers should follow suit.

The president said though his salary is legislated, however, he thinks it is necessary to reduce it considering the current economic situation facing Liberia. The Liberian leader said it is important for public servants to serve the people rather than being served. He said his government pro-poor agenda will be adhered to the letter by improving the lives of the people.  Weah said it is time that the struggle for the people to end because they cannot continue to struggle unabated. Read more

“Our Economy is Broken, Our Government is Broke”, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, News Public Trust, and The NEWS

President George Weah, delivering his first Legislative agenda to the 54th Legislature in the Joint Chambers of the Capitol Building Monday, disclosed that the country’s economy is broken and by extension the government. President Weah informed the legislators that the state of the economy as inherited by his administration leaves a lot to be done and to be desired. “This is plain to see for we are all affected by it: our economy is broken, our government is broke. Our currency is in free fall, inflation is rising and unemployment is at unprecedented high, and our foreign reserve is at an all-time low.”

The Liberian leader also informed the joint session that during the transition period certain information was provided to his team with respect to both income and expenditure containing balances it said his government has now inherited and will carry forward; that the total revenue collected in the calendar year 2017 amounted to USD489.1 million, which he said is about a 13 percent decline over revenue collected in 2016, which was USD565.1 million. Read more

Three of President Weah’s Recent Nominees Booked For Misapplying Public Funds, Source: FrontPage Africa

FrontPage Africa says its investigation has revealed that at least three of President George Weah’s second batch of appointees were accused by the Special Presidential Task Force (SPTF) of misappropriating public fund and were asked to restitute said amounts. The appointees are Parleh Harris, deputy gender minister-designate for administration; Jesse Korboi, assistant finance minister-designate for budget; and Yvette Freeman, deputy finance minister-designate for administration. Read more

Liberian Children Representative Forum Speaker Craves For Justice, Source: FrontPage Africa

The speaker of the Liberia National Children’s Representative Forum has expressed dismay over the delay of the investigation over the death of a five-year-old boy in Logan Town, Bushrod Island. At a news conference on Monday, Jutomue Doetein alleged that since the lifeless body of little Oliver Brown was discovered in a vehicle belonging to a Nigerian national, the Police are yet to report on findings that led to his death. But Police spokesman Sam Collins said the investigation has been completed and the Police have charged the child’s parent and the owner of the vehicle in which he was found dead with negligent and have been forwarded to court for prosecution. Read more

Monrovia City Mayor-designate Jefferson Koijee Visits City Hall, Source: FrontPage Africa

The mayor-designate of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) says he will ensure that Monrovia is transformed and promised to work with the staff to improve the city. Jefferson Koijee made the statement Monday when he paid a visit at the MCC where he interacted with city council officials and staff.  Mr. Koijee said while he is thrilled by his preferment by President George Weah, he is aware of the challenges as a mayor. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberia's Weah vows to change 'racist' constitution, reduce own salary, Sources: Anadolu Agency,  Bloomberg News, CNN, Daily Mail, eNCA, FrontPage Africa, Guardian, IOL, Journal du Cameroun, Reuters, The Citizen, US News & World Report, Weny News, and Yahoo News

Liberian President George Weah said Monday he would seek to remove a "racist" clause in the country's constitution that restricts citizenship to black people and pledged to take a pay cut in a dire economy. Liberia was founded by freed slaves from the United States in 1847, who inserted the requirement into the constitution to create "a refuge and a haven for freedmen of color".

Weah said in his first state of the nation address that he believed this restriction was "unnecessary, racist, and inappropriate for the place that Liberia occupies today in the comity of nations," as well as holding back business. Calling for that provision to be removed, Weah also called for the ban on foreign ownership on property to also be struck from the constitution via referendum. "No foreign investor... will be willing to make significant direct investments in our country if they cannot own property," he noted. 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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