31 January 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Senators Protest Dangote’s USD41M Deal, Source: New DEMOCRAT

The New Democrat reports that the chairman of the Senate Committee on Concession and Investment, Sando Johnson Tuesday protested the Senate agenda item on the Investment Incentive Agreement between Liberia and billionaire Nigerian businessman, Aliko Dangote. The agenda item surfaced on the agenda in the form of a report from the committee without prior discussion with Senator Johnson. “I’m the chairperson on concession and investment and my committee is the lead committee. I have no knowledge on how this item surfaced on the agenda,” Johnson said.

On 5 December 2017, the concession deal was tabled in the House of Representatives for review. The Nigerian businessman reached an agreement with former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to operate a USD41 million cement factory in the country.  The investment incentive has 15 years duration as of its effective date, between Liberia and the Nigerian billionaire for the financing, constructing, development, and operation of a clinker grinding unit with cement packing and dispatching plant of 1,000 tons per day. The agreement could expand its production capacity to 2,000 tons per day within the Freeport of Monrovia, the deal said.

Weah ‘slaps’ judiciary in first state of nation address, Source: Daily OBSERVER

A lawyer, Jonathan Massaquoi says President George Weah’s State of the Nation address Monday did not set any meaningful agenda for the country’s justice system. Even though the president said the government would examine ways to improve the judiciary system Mr. Massaquoi said he failed to elaborate further what he meant by that. The Liberian lawyer added that President Weah needed to speak on the rule of law as it was cardinal to sustaining the peace and moving the development of the country forward. Read more

Weah’s Proposal to Remove Citizenship Restrictions Draws Heated Debate, Source: Daily OBSERVER

A constitutional amendment that could eventually allow people of non-Negro descent to become citizens and allow them to own land in the country, as proposed by President George Weah in his State of the Nation address on Monday, has not been favorably received by many Liberians interviewed Tuesday by the Daily Observer in Monrovia.

“I don’t agree,” a young man who would not identify himself said. “Many non-Negroes or white people are rich and the chance that they will take advantage of our poor people to buy their lands cannot be ruled out,” he continued. He agreed that while the situation that caused the founding fathers in 1847 to put in a clause denying citizenship to non-negroes does not exist, the huge numbers of people who are poor make the proposed amendment unwelcome. But in an opposing view, Anthony Jones said he supports President Weah’s announcement that restrictions and citizenship for non-Negroes have outlived their usefulness. “Many Liberians have large tracts of lands that they don’t develop,” Jones said. “So if the laws are changed and White people become citizens and own lands, it will mean development for the country,” he continued, adding that the main problem may not be the non-Negroes, but Liberian policies that may not be implemented to benefit Liberians. Read more

Mixed Reactions over Weah’s Citizenship, Land Issues, Source: The INQUIRER

According to The Inquirer, President George Weah’s proposal for non-blacks to acquire Liberian citizenship and own land as well as make Liberia a dual-citizen country has generated a huge debate with mixed reactions coming from several quarters. While some quarters of the society are in favor nothing it is the only way out of Liberia’s backwardness in terms of infrastructural development others are of the view that it will be a recipe for future crisis taking into account the fact that the Liberian economy is not in the hands of Liberians.

Lawmaker gives conditions for 25% salary reduction, Source: The New Dawn

Representative Francis Dopoh has given conditions that must be met before reducing officials' salaries by 25 percent, saying the reduction is encouraging, but it needs to be harmonized and many things looked at. Though Representative Dopoh claims he does not have a problem with the 25 percent salary deduction, he, however, argues that there are many people in government who are paid by other entities and at the same time being paid by the government. The River Gee lawmaker’s comment was in reaction to President George Weah's call for officials to follow his lead upon announcing Monday that he was reducing his own salary and benefits by 25 percent. Read more

Citizens unhappy over Weah’s appointment, Source: The New Dawn

Some residents of Bong County have expressed serious disenchantment over the appointment of Ms. Esther Walker as superintendent of the county. Some of the residents are disillusioned over Walker’s appointment on grounds that she does not have the pedigree to hold the county’s top position. According to them, Ms. Walker will only serve the post in her interest and her will to seek development in the county will be very narrow. Read more

Dr. Kateh Decries Conflict of Interest in Health Center, Source: The INQUIRER

The deputy health minister and chief medical officer-designate has decried what he calls a conflict of interest in the health sector of Liberia. Dr. Francis Kateh said if the country’s health system is to be transformed the key issue that needs to be addressed is conflict of interest. According to Dr. Kateh, conflict of interest is one of the major factors affecting the transformation and the progress of the country’s resilient health system. The deputy health minister-designate wants the government to address the issue of conflict of interest within the health sector. He said doing this will mean that the government will begin to set a path that will cause the development of the country’s health sector. The chief medical officer-designate further challenged doctors who will be opportune to serve in key positions at the Health Ministry to do away with running their own private hospitals and at the same time serving the Ministry at the expense of the government. Kateh indicated that the George Weah government is a pro-poor government with a vision to improve the living condition of ordinary Liberians.

Liberia Ranked High for Global Peace, Source: The INQUIRER

The 2017 Global Peace Index (GPI) has ranked Liberia 82 out of 163 countries in the world in the areas of peace, society and security, and with domestic and internal conflict. The report also finds that the world has become more peaceful in the last year, but over the last decade, it has become significantly less peaceful this paper reports. The 2017 GPI report also provides a comprehensive analysis on the state of peace in the world; it shows that amidst continuing social and political turmoil, the world continues to spend enormous resources on creating and containing violence but very little on peace.

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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