16 January 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Bhofal Chambers Elected House Speaker, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, FrontPage Africa, News Public Trust, The Bush Chicken, and The NEWS

Maryland County Representative, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, was Monday elected Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 54th Legislature and proceeded to say that the institution he now leads must be “rebranded” and that friendship will not be his priority. Dr. Chambers bragged that as speaker he would do what is required of the House of Representatives based on the terms of reference and that he expects cooperation from all of his colleagues in their operations of lawmaking, oversight, and representation.

Speaker Chambers promised to reform the House and declared, “I will like to let you know that you will not be disappointed. This House will be rebranded. Your hopes will not be withered. We will build your prospects.”

The new House Speaker holds a master’s and doctorate degrees in Law Enforcement from the Columbus University in the United States.

Meanwhile, in keeping with Article 49, Bong County Representative Prince K. Moye was also elected Deputy Speaker of the 54th Legislature. He defeated the former Deputy Speaker of the 53rd Legislature, Hans Barchue (Grand Bassa County), by 41 to 25 votes.

The new Deputy Speaker holds a master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on Public Sector Management, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration both from Cuttington University. Read more

Senate Elects President Pro-Tempore, Leadership Members by Resolution, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Liberian Senate at the first sitting of the First Session of the 54th Legislature Monday elected Grand Kru County Senator Albert Tugbe Chie as President Pro-Tempore and the 10 Statutory Committee members through a resolution signed by over 27 Senators. According to the Secretariat of the Senate, the resolution became necessary following an announcement by Lofa County Senator Stephen Zargo late Sunday evening of his withdrawal from the race to keep the Senate united.

The motion of the resolution proffered by Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence also called for the elevation and upgrading of the Committees on Public Works and Education to leadership status. This followed after the passage of another resolution electing reshuffled members of the eight-member leadership committee. Read more

Boakai Bids Farewell To Senate, Source: The NEWS

Outgoing Vice President and President of the Senate, Joseph Boakai has bided farewell to members of the Senate he presided over for the last 12 years. In his farewell speech Monday at the opening of the 54th Legislature, Vice President Boakai told the senators that he did not absolutely have the intention of fading away into the sunset. “I intend to embrace my new role as an elder citizen with all the vigor and exuberance of a seasoned politician. This country, as I have said on numerous occasions, is all that we have,” he said.

The outgoing President of the Senate reminded the senators that they have the responsibility to make Liberia safe, comfortable, prosperous, with all the trimmings of a peaceful modern society. Boakai cautioned the senators to pay special tribute to the Liberian people for their resolved and determination to remain firmly on the course of peace and democracy. Read more

‘Weah, Chambers Shouldn’t Fall Out’ –Dr. Kettehkumehn Murray, Source: FrontPage Africa

Former Montserrado County Representative Dr. Kettehkumehn Murray has called on the new Speaker of the 54th House of Representatives, Dr. Bhofal Chambers, to create an amicable working relationship between the three branches of government. Dr. Murray said there has not been a cordial working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature for many years. He asserted that the George Weah leadership would face the “normal challenges between the House and the Executive” because of the strength of the Executive.

"We expect a leadership different from the former House’s leadership - Dr. Chambers and his team, Liberia needs to be strong and deliver the good for the Liberian people," the former Montserrado County lawmaker said. In an interview with FrontPage Africa Monday, Dr. Murray said Speaker Chambers would be a good leader if he sticks to addressing core issues of national concern. Read more

Former Lawmaker Wants Economy Strengthened to Manage High Expectation, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The NEWS

Former Montserrado County Representative Richmond Anderson, says Liberians should “give chance” for the country’s economy to be strengthened before raising expectations. Mr. Anderson comments come amid growing expectations for jobs by many young Liberians as President-elect George Weah prepares to be inducted as President. “It is safe to call on Liberians to give the new government time to settle down and straighten the economy before expecting too much too soon,” Anderson told reporters at a presser on Monday.

The former lawmaker continued: “I wish to call on the millions of CDCians who might believe that President Weah has the magic wand to respond to each of them demands for job, change in their current conditions overnight, and solving all Liberia’s problems at once to understand that government is an intricate process and problems solving cannot be instant. They need to manage their expectations if they indeed love our President.” Read more

‘We Need Government of Inclusion’ – says Dr. Monwell of AEL, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The president of the Board of Governance of the Association of Evangelicals of Liberia (AEL) has urged President-elect George Weah to create an inclusive government by recruiting qualified Liberians from all walks of life, regardless of their gender, political, religious, or tribal background to be part of the new government.

Dr. Samuel Monwell said doing so will help Liberians reconcile their tribal, political, and economic differences. Dr. Monwell noted that job creation, technical and vocational training, equal opportunity, social justice and political accountability, the end to nepotism, sectionalism, corruption, and impunity serve as the hallmarks of a good government. The AEL official then admonished President-elect Weah to also prioritize basic social services such as electricity, water, quality roads, good and quality healthcare, and improvement in the learning conditions at schools and universities. Read more

Bowier: Barclay-Tubman Transition Parallels Sirleaf-Weah, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Former Information Minister, J. Emmanuel Bowier says the current transition from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to George Weah, bears close parallels to that of President Edwin James Barclay’s transition to William V.S. Tubman in 1944. Bowier who is widely known for his riveting orations of Liberian history and who worked in the administration of Samuel Doe, told journalists recently that there are unfolding events that parallel the two transitions, and that more will unfold as the new government moves on.

Pointing out similarities between the two transitions, the former government minister noted that as President Sirleaf stated on the fringes of the United Nations summit last year that it was about time to turn power over to the younger generation, so did Barclay with Tubman who was younger than he.

Bowier said at that time, Tubman was not considered presidential material because he lacked a college education, had only completed the 8th grade but who studied law, succeeded in becoming a Senator for Maryland County, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and a “practicing lawyer in his own right.” Similarly, he noted that President-elect Weah has over the time been heavily criticized for not being presidential material but a mere footballer. Read more

AfDB President Receives Liberia’s Highest National Award, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and World Stage

The media reports that in recognition of the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina’s efforts to improve the lives of the people of Africa through the bank’s High 5s development priorities, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has conferred Liberia’s highest national award on him.

The bank’s ‘High 5s’ are ‘Light up and power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialize Africa; Integrate Africa, and Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.’ The bank is also credited with transforming the lives of Liberians through financing road and infrastructure projects, providing electricity, and the improvement of water and sanitation services.

An AfDB statement said the Bank’s Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Liberia focuses on roads and energy infrastructure, as well as governance and the business environment, which are necessary to diversify the economy, improve agricultural production, and increase public service delivery. Read more

AFL Report Reveals: “USD1.1M Withdrawn and Expended Outside Intended Purpose”, Source: News Public Trust

A probe into the Compulsory Contribution Fund of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has revealed that “USD1,147, 656.35 was withdrawn and expended outside the intended purpose for which the scheme was created.” According to the report dated 12 January 2018, findings from the investigation show “inconsistency in payment”. The deductions of USD20 and USD25 from each AFL enlisted man and officer respectively has been going on since July 2009. And the soldiers themselves recently threatened to protest, claiming the Defense Ministry authorities had promised to pay back their money at the end of the current regime of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The Investigation Committee was convened by AFL Chief of Staff, Major-General Danial Ziankahn with 14 other officers and enlisted men to reconcile funds in the account of the AFL Personnel Compulsory Contribution Fund. Read more

Police Boss Wants PUL, LNP Relationship Strengthened, Source: The NEWS

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gregory Coleman has lauded the strengthening of the relationship between the Liberian National Police (LNP) and the Press Union of Liberia (PUL). IGP Coleman said the recent interactions between the two professional groups are a clear manifestation of maintaining the peace. He said he has never seen any closed interaction of the two groups compared to the recent extravaganza. The IGP spoke Saturday at the LNP’s year-end award ceremony and pool party in Monrovia at which time members of the LNP and the PUL were honored for their services to the society. Read more

OXFAM-Liberia Breaks Ground For Modern Water Facility in Mboo, Source: FrontPage Africa

OXFAM-Liberia over the weekend broke ground for the construction of a modern water station facility for residents of Unification City in Mboo Statutory District, Margibi County. OXFAM WASH program manager, Kenneth Otieno Awuor said the construction of a modern water station in Unification City is an extension of his organization ongoing implementation of a two year USD500,000 WASH promotion project intended to buttress the government’s agenda in providing safe water and sanitation to the people of Liberia. Read more

President Sirleaf Commends JFK Doctors, Nurses For Hard Work, Source: FrontPage Africa

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has commended doctors, nurses including the management and staff of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center for demonstrating commitment, hard work, and confidence in serving the country. She referred to them as ‘Awesome Heroes’ who have worked to restore the medical center, adding, "All of you who have worked so hard, You have restored JFK to what it is right now; We say thank you; You are indeed the ‘Awesome heroes." According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf made the commendation Saturday at the medical center in celebration of JFK@50 - the Rebirth. The Administration Building, Maternity Hospital, Eye Center, Fountain and Main Entrance were restored. Read more

CDCians Attempt Clean-up of Cities Ahead of Inauguration, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Several hundred supporters and partisans, comprising mainly the youth of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Monday stormed the major streets of Monrovia and Paynesville to begin a four-day clean-up exercise to make the two cities presentable for the inauguration on January 22 of President-elect George Weah and his Vice President-elect, Jewel Howard Taylor. The CDC clean-up crews are reportedly working free of charge and are expected to be seen in action up to Thursday, 18 January. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberia’s president-elect has ties to Springfield, Source: The State Journal-Register 

When Clarence Weah says that seeing his older brother, George Weah, get elected president of Liberia is like a dream come true, he’s hearkening back to an old family story. It was years ago, recalled Clarence, a former Springfield College in Illinois student and soccer player when his mother, Anna, who died in 2012, told him and some of his siblings about her earlier dream of George becoming president someday. “When she told us, we all laughed,” remembered Clarence, 36. “We were little kids at the time. We were naive and didn’t know the importance of dreams.” 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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