Monday, 5 March 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

President Weah Restates Liberia’s Adherence to the One China Policy, Sources: Executive Mansion News and News Public Trust

President George Weah at the weekend reiterated Liberia’s commitment to the One China Policy when he received the Letters of Credence of the new Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, Fu Jijun. An Executive Mansion press release says President Weah commended the Government of the People’s Republic of China for its continued support to Liberia over the years, especially their contributions during the Ebola outbreak. He thanked Ambassador Fu Jijun and the Chinese people for the longstanding partnership and stressed the need to further strengthen bilateral relationship and cooperation. Read more

Executive, Legislature ‘Tightly’ Review Recast Budget, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The pro-poor government of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), through the Finance Ministry, has formally submitted the recast budget of the last quarter of the 2017/2018 recast budget to the Legislature. House Speaker Bhofal Chambers told journalists in an interview over the weekend that both branches are “tightly coordinating to ensure that it (recast budget) is done.” Speaker Chambers continued: “I think you know the challenges we are faced with, so with the challenges, we are carrying on some methods to ensure those unusual challenges are addressed, and we will do reconciliation in many ways… meaning, we will take proper inventory of the state of the country’s economy; we want to know where we are and how we will start…” Though he did not say how much the projected amount for the recast budget is for the last quarter, unconfirmed reports say the recast budget is about USD145 million, and the priorities have been shifted to economic development, civil servants payment, and empowerment. Read more

India to Revive USD144M Credit Line to Liberia, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The NEWS

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has joined President George Weah to ensure that the Liberian government’s ‘pro-poor agenda’ trickles down to the downtrodden who are in dire need of economic revival and has announced India’s willingness to revive allocation of a line of credit worth USD144 million. The announcement was made by India’s state minister for external affairs, M. J. Akbar, who led a four-member delegation to Liberia from 1-2 March in the first bilateral visit from the Indian side in the last two years. Minister Akbar told President Weah that India is committed to Liberia’s overall socioeconomic development and pointed out that India’s approach would be to respond to Liberia’s needs and will participate in the efforts and projects which are priorities of the Liberian people. He also said India will donate 50 vehicles (passenger buses and fire engine vehicles) to augment the facilities of the National Transit Authority (NTA) and the Liberia National Fire Service. Read more

Cracks Appearing In CDC? -Staunch partisan says Agenda was not about experiencing with kids, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that since the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led government took over the mantle of authority just a little over a month ago, it appears to be experiencing cracks as some staunch supporters are now growing very wary about the manner in which the state of affairs is being conducted. A progenitor and one of the intellectual backbones of the ruling establishment, Dr. Lester Tenny, in a social media rant that went viral last Wednesday, said the CDC is diverting from its initial agenda as the issues of nepotism, recruitment of inexperienced and unqualified “kids” and recruiting of individuals with questionable characters. Dr. Tenny, an economics professor at the University of Liberia said the CDC’s pro-poor agenda was “never about experimenting with kids who have no experience, including others whose records in this country are sordid and filthy with the odor of corruption.” He also noted that the CDC was never an agenda to recruit family members and friends who share no vision nor possess the slightest inclination of running a “bedroom before given serious responsibilities to manage the state.” Read more

Jewel Admonishes Women Groups to Combat Teenage Prostitution, Early Marriage, Source: FrontPage Africa

Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has encouraged women advocacy groups to fight against teenage prostitution, early child marriage, and domestic violence to protect women dignity in the Liberian society. “I know we still have much more to do and so every time you have the opportunity to impact young lives, we talk about why it’s important to continue this fight because is indeed a fight. President Sirleaf was a little disappointed that we did not pass the domestic violence bill or the land right bill and a few other bills that really provide an opportunity for girls. There is still much more work that needs to be done,” Vice President Taylor said Saturday at the Girls Alliance for Future Leadership Executive Dinner and Excellent Award held in Monrovia under the theme: “Say No To Early Marriage”. Read more

Hiring President's Family Members ‘No Way A Crime’, NPA Says, Source: FrontPage Africa

Barely 24 hours after a FrontPage Africa investigative report uncovered a major payroll padding, nepotism, and corruption at the National Port Authority (NPA), the management has issued a statement defending its decision to hire three family members of President George Weah as consultants.

Mrs. Celia Cuffy Brown, the current acting managing director recently hired several individuals – all last named Weah as consultants to positions inside the scope of existing jobs already occupied with salaries four-times more than the heads of those areas. Three of those posts include an evaluation officer, a local liaison officer, and a public relations strategist, which according to sources were non-existent until now and created by Mrs. Brown. NPA public relations manager, Malcolm Scott in a statement posted on his Facebook page and shared with Mrs. Brown Saturday said the NPA management has committed absolutely no crime against the state by hiring what he described as qualified Liberians whose services are required to help rebuild the country and its people. Read more

Payroll Padding or Nepotism: Massive Scheme Uncovered in Liberia, Source: FrontPage Africa

A FrontPage Africa (FPA) investigation has uncovered what appears to be a major case of payroll padding and corruption in the wake of increased poverty and inflation in Liberia coupled with mounting allegations of mismanagement at the gateway to the cash-strapped nation’s economy, the National Port Authority (NPA), still without a managing director appointed. FPA says it has obtained several pay-roll checks dated March 1, 2018, which appears to be duplicating functions of existing positions with salaries nearly five times more than what the heads of key departments at the NPA.

The NPA acting managing director, Celia Cuffy Brown, recently hired several individuals – all last named Weah as consultants to positions inside the scope of existing jobs already occupied with salaries four-times more than the heads of those areas. But efforts to reach aides around the presidency came up empty with one official telling FrontPage Africa that President George Weah may not have been aware of the hires. Read more

Foreigners Obtaining Liberian National ID Cards For USD5, Source: FrontPage Africa

FrontPage Africa reports that foreigners from other African countries, mainly West Africa, have found a new shortcut to becoming a ‘Liberian citizen’ – obtaining the National ID card for only USD5.00. Constitutionally, people of negro-descent wanting Liberian citizenship must reside in Liberia for at least two years and meet other requirements of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS).

According to LIS commissioner, Moses Yebleh, there is a need for the government to revisit the model being used by the National Identification Registry (NIR) for the issuance of citizen ID cards. Yebleh said there should be stringent measures put in place to prevent foreigners from illegally obtaining the National ID Cards. “The National Identification needs to be review and we need to put in place stringent measures because most of our neighbors are taking a shortcut to get citizenship for only USD5.00 and not the constitutional two years. We have documents to prove, honorable Senators, that in the first week of operation of the National Registry, more than 150 people beat the system to obtain our National ID and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) has been able to retrieve 150 IDs through court process,” the LIS official told the Senate Committee on Defense and National Security recently. Read more

NEC ends weeklong lessons learned conf. in Buchanan, Source: The New Dawn

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has ended five-day internal lessons learned conference to reflect on the 2017 elections in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County that was graced by NEC chairman and Commissioners as well as partners including USAID, IFES, UNDP, UNMIL, AU, and EU. Earlier on the opening day on Tuesday, NEC chairman Cllr. Jerome Korkoya praised employees and partners for the successful conduct of the 2017 elections, and also commended the government for the commitment and support. In separate statements, EU, USAID, and AU representatives lauded the NEC for the conduct of the 2017 elections in the midst of controversies and limited resources. They also pledged their respective institutions’ support to the electoral commission’s activities. UNMIL and UNDP also commended the NEC commissioners and staff for the successful election. Read more

Konneh faces Ngafuan?, Source: The New Dawn

Reports gathered in Monrovia suggest that two former finance ministers Augustine Ngafuan and Amara Konneh are gearing up to battle against each other in the forthcoming Montserrado County Senatorial by-election. The National Elections Commission (NEC) is expected to announce the timetable for the conduct of the by-election, and aspirants are said to be preparing for the race with Ngafuan and Konneh being rumored to be the biggest two contenders so far. Read more

Education Ministry Partners With UNICEF …To Support Early Childhood Development, Sources: News Public Trust and The NEWS

The Education Ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with UNICEF to support Early Childhood Development and WASH in schools across the country. In signing the MOU, UNICEF expressed its continued support for the Education Ministry to improve the quality of learning in Liberia. Education minister, Prof. D. Ansu Sonii expressed gratitude to UNICEF for its support.

Liberia Civil War Triggered Culture Of Impunity, Criminality-Says CSO Platform, Sources: News Public Trust and The NEWS

The Civil Society Platform for Peace and State Building says it has observed that the culture of violence and lawlessness that characterized years of civil war in Liberia have created several sub-sectors, perpetuating criminality, and impunity in Liberia even up till today. The coordinator if the platform, Lance-dell Mathews said based on this backdrop, there is a need for consultation between CSOs and key government ministries and agencies because it holds the key for Liberia’s future. Mathews spoke over the weekend when he delivered the keynote speech at the opening of a one-day national consultation on promoting sustainable peace and an inclusive society in Monrovia. Read more

Police adjust motorcyclists’ restrictions, Sources: The New Dawn and The NEWS

The Liberia National Police (LNP) has made some adjustments to years of restrictions imposed on commercial motorcyclists, specifically allowing them to ply some routes previously observed as no-go zones except the 10:00pm ban. Inspector General Police (IGP) Patrick Sudue told a jubilant crowd of commercial motorcyclists outside the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville Saturday that they can now ply the routes Red-light to ELWA Junction, and Red-light to Freeport on the Somalia Drive. Read more

Israel to Boost Aquaculture Production in Liberia, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Aquaculture experts from Israel have arrived in Liberia to carry out an assessment and conduct training for selected fish farmers and technicians from Bomi, Bong, Montserrado, and Nimba counties. The training which targets a total of 60 fish farmers and technicians is intended to introduce new techniques and methods in fish farming and aquaculture to the selected fish farmers and technicians. Read more

President Weah Dedicates 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Bomi, Source: Executive Mansion News

President George Weah Friday officially dedicated the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. Joined by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during the dedicatory ceremony, President Weah in remarks called on judicial actors to ensure justice is dispensed fairly irrespective of gender, creed, or status. He commended Chief Justice Francis Korkpor for his leadership and promised his government’s continued support to the judiciary.  Read more

First Lady Wants Drastic Measures …To Protect Children, Sources: News Public Trust and The NEWS

Liberia’s First Lady, Mrs. Clar Weah, Thursday expressed deep regrets over the cruel treatment meted out against five-year-old Ama Geeplay in Maryland County when she visited her at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital where she is currently receiving medical treatment. Mrs. Weah said “Honestly, it saddens me to see what happened to this child. I cannot look at the pictures because it totally breaks my heart.” The First Lady has meanwhile called for drastic measures to protect children against such acts. Read more

CBL Warns Insurance Companies, Source: The NEWS

The Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) has warned insurance companies that have not complied with the new capital requirements for insurance companies with a deadline set for 31 March 2018 to do so or risk having their licenses revoked. “It can be recalled that CBL Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs Dr. Mounir Siaplay, during a two-day Insurance Sector Consolidation Workshop held at the CBL on December 11-12, 2017, reminded participants of the March 31, 2018 deadline; giving them enough time to either comply with the new requirement, merge with other insurance companies or be purchased by viable insurance companies,” the release said. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

China’s 14-year of peacekeeping in Liberia ends, Sources: News Ghana and People’s Daily

The fifth Chinese peacekeeping police team to Liberia withdrew from the peacekeeping area on Wednesday 28 February this year after finishing their missions, marking the end of China’s 14-year peacekeeping operations in Liberia. The Chinese police force was presented with the National Award certificate of Liberia by the country’s President George Weah, who also expressed gratitude to the Chinese peacekeepers. According to United Nations (UN) resolutions, the team shall withdraw from the area as the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) will end its term before March 30, 2018. China has contributed the most peacekeepers among all permanent members of the UN Security Council. It has sent over 36,000 peacekeepers for 24 UN operations after it was first involved in such missions in 1990. As of now, 2,500 Chinese soldiers are still on peacekeeping fronts. 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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