25 January 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Executive Mansion in Transition Mandate Mix-up, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that barely three days following the inauguration of President George Weah, the Executive Mansion appears to be in a mix-up over its own appointments and the dismissal of non-tenured officials appointed by the former administration. Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf issued Executive Order #91 establishing the Joint Presidential Transitional Team (JPTT) on 25 December 2017, which stated that non-tenured presidential appointees shall be presumed to have resigned as of the date of the inauguration on 22 January. Notwithstanding, the Executive Order stated that such officials shall continue to function until their successors have been nominated, confirmed, appointed and commissioned.

Executive orders in Liberia have the full force of a law until the Legislature through an Act on said subject cancels such order or a subsequent executive order that would override the one in question.

On January 22, the Executive Mansion under the watch of President Weah issued a release appointing some ministers, and at the same time relieving the heads of ministries and agencies, thereby ordering the Human Resource Directors to run the affairs of such entities until new heads are appointed. This action by President Weah, according to political analysts, technically undid the former president’s Executive Order #91, which also cannot be undone simply by a press release.

The purpose of the Executive Order is to establish mechanisms for the proper management and orderly transfer of executive power from the administration of former President Sirleaf to that of President Weah. Read more

President Weah, Vice President Taylor yet to declare assets, Source: The New Dawn

According to The New Dawn, President George Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor are yet to officially declare their assets as required by the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). The Act establishing the anti-graft institution requires each individual entering government to make a formal public disclosure of his or her assets prior to assuming office. It also states that declaring assets would adequately inform the public what said official had before taking office or exiting the government.

However, President Weah and Vice President Taylor, who supposed to take the lead clearly ignored the law and were on 22 January inaugurated into office. This violation of the LACC Act leaves the public to wonder whether the president means business to fight corruption as he has pronounced. Liberians are yet to know how much monies, houses, lands, vehicles, and businesses, among others that Weah and Taylor had prior to their ascendency to the nation’s highest offices. Read more

“We Should Have No Accommodation for Distractions” –Senate President Taylor, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The President of the 54th Senate, Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor Tuesday presided over her first plenary sitting and hit the ground running by reminding her former colleagues that their job as senators is as sacred as it is demanding, adding, “We should thus have no accommodation for distractions in pursuit of parochial interests.” Vice President Taylor challenged members of the 54th Senate to recommit their energies to working for the fulfillment and aspirations of Liberians and play well “our respective parts in ensuring the smooth operations and realization of our government’s pro-poor agenda. This may require the reassessment of existing laws and statutes, and or the formulation of new legislation which reflects the current realities.” Read more

Senator Sando Johnson Wants Forensic Audit of NOCAL, Source: FrontPage Africa

Senator Sando Johnson has called for a forensic audit of the entire transactions of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) since its inception in 2000. In a communication addressed to the Senate plenary Tuesday, Senator Johnson reminded his colleagues that on 17 August 2015, the Senate Joint Committees on Lands, Mines, Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment, Public Corporations, and Ways, Means, Finance, and Budget submitted a report recommending measures for then President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to implement to ensure that those responsible for the collapse of NOCAL be brought to justice; something he said did not happen.

“It can be recalled that the then President Johnson Sirleaf told the Liberian people that she took full responsibility for the unscrupulous management of NOCAL by her son Robert Sirleaf and Dr. McClain, but she did not spare justice when she ordered prosecution for Albert Bropleh, Matilda Parker, Senator Varney Sherman, former Speaker Alex Tyler and others for alleged transgression,” the Bomi County lawmaker noted. Read more

‘No Quick Fix Solutions for Economy’ –Finance Minister-designate Tells Senate, Source: FrontPage Africa

Finance Minister-designate Samuel Tweah has told members of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance that there are no quick fixed solutions to Liberia’s economic challenges at the moment. However, he stated that anything that will be done in order to revive the economy will be to ensure an equilibrium that is manageable. “The economy today is not good; the numbers we are seeing are not good. Our challenges began with the Ebola crisis and to where we are now. The fall in the prices of our major commodities, including rubber and iron ore, took a big hit,” Mr. Tweah said.

The finance minister-designate told the Senate Ways, Means, and Finance Committee Wednesday that Liberia, being an import-based economy, there is high demand for foreign exchange and people are willing to pay any amount just to get the US dollars. Tweah also told the committee that rush to de-dollarize the Liberian economy caused an increase in the exchange rate between the US and the Liberian dollars. He continued: “Reversal of some de-dollarization policy ongoing now would help the real sustainable solution. There is no quick short-term fix. The economy has to generate foreign exchange so we have to domesticate sources of production in Liberia and increase our import base on food especially rice.” Read more

Gbezohngar Findley Confirmed as Foreign Minister –Joins President Weah for AU Summit January 30, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The New Dawn

Newly nominated foreign minister Gbehzohngar Findley has been confirmed by the Senate and would form part of President George Weah’s delegation to the African Union (AU) Summit on January 30. Mr. Findley, a former President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate and  one of the last groups of individuals to join the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), having crossed over from the former ruling Unity Party (UP) was among the first cabinet nominees released few hours by President Weah after taking his oath of office on Monday, 22 January.

Findley’s confirmation Wednesday was rather speedy as confirmation hearing was done earlier by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and by nightfall, news filtered in that he had been confirmed replacing Marjon Kamara. He conceded during the hearing that the foreign sector is a strange terrain for him, but promises to adapt to the system at the soonest possible time. Read more

“US Will Support Job Creation in Weah Government”, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The US Government has pledged to support “job and greater wealth creation” to the new Liberian government under the leadership of President George Weah whose inauguration on Monday, 22 January drew more than 35,000 people to the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. The US under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Thomas Shannon, who led a high-level delegation to Mr. Weah’s inauguration, spoke with confidence in an exclusive interview before his meeting with the new Liberian leader on Tuesday. “This is a great man,” Shannon said of President Weah. He continued: “He’s someone who has distinguished himself in many fields, sport being just one of them, but somebody who obviously has an understanding and feels for the Liberian people. So it’s our intent to do everything we can to help him be as successful as possible, as early as possible.”

Since the end of the country’s 14-year civil wars in 2003, youth unemployment has remained at an all-time high. “Probably most important will be looking for ways to help the president generate more economic growth, more job creation and greater wealth and stabilizing the economy that has suffered terribly through conflict and disease and pandemic,” the US government official said. Read more

Liberia’s Outgoing Justice Minister Hands over Authority to Human Resource Director, Source: FrontPage Africa

Outgoing justice minister Frederick Cherue flanked by his deputies – Wheatonia Dixon Barnes and Harriette Badio Wednesday officially turned over keys of the Justice Ministry to the human resource director.  Cherue and his deputies’ decision to leave the ministry comes after President George Weah announced that all human resource directors should supervise all ministries and public corporations as he forms his new government. The outgoing justice minister said he and his deputies were stepping aside based on the request of President Weah and told the staff that the human resource director is no stranger asking the staff members to work with her in improving the ministry. Read more

Assistant Sports Minister bids farewell, Source: The New Dawn

Outgoing assistant sports minister Murvee Gray Tuesday turned over sports director Navarro Saykie at a farewell ceremony at the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) in line with President George Weah's mandate that the heads of human resource at various ministries and agencies take charge until further notice. Mr. Gray was one of the longest-serving officials in the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government. He served for 12 years. Read more

Road Connectivity Absent in Weah’s Inaugural Address, Source: Daily OBSERVER

According to the Daily Observer, several rural Liberian farmers and business people have lamented the fact that President George Weah did not mention anything about road connectivity in his inaugural address on Monday in Paynesville, outside Monrovia. But political commentators said that perhaps President Weah might give details on his infrastructure development plans in his legislative agenda. The lack of good road connectivity is an old problem that has confronted rural dwellers including farming communities virtually forever. Entire sections of the country are cut off during the annual rainy season as most roads degenerate into muddy troughs that make vehicular traffic extremely challenging. Read more

Weah’s speech downplays health, education, Source: The New Dawn

President George Weah’s failure to clearly state his vision or plan for the nation’s education and health sectors including unemployment and sports has angered many citizens with critics expressing disappointment. Speaking with reporters on Monday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville outside Monrovia during the inaugural ceremony of President Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, a social worker, Maxwell Samuel Bruce said the new president’s failure to talk about these national challenges leaves citizens to wonder whether he would ever consider improving the sectors. Mr. Bruce, coordinator of the Action for Peoples Participation and Good Governance also stressed that people in Gbarpolu County are dying due to lack of improved health facility.  He said Liberians there go to give birth in neighboring Sierra Leone due to the shortage of drugs and essential supply to address the needs of the people. Read more

Commercial Motorcyclist to Contest Bong County Senatorial Seat, Source: Daily OBSERVER

A 31-year old commercial motorcyclist, Allen Bornor has declared his intention to contest the senatorial seat vacated by Senator Jewel Howard Taylor, now Liberia’s Vice President. Bornor, a 12th-grade student is now one of nine persons whose names have popped up to contest the seat. He told the Daily Observer Tuesday that he threw his hat into the race because motorcyclists need representation in the Bong County Legislative Caucus, adding, “I believe that I can ably represent the interest of my colleagues and motorcyclists across the country.”  Bornor, who hopes to run on the ticket of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), said the Bong Motorcycle Union has over 10,000 registered members, which means the union has a massive membership base. Read more

Cpt. Jerry Kollie frowns at Ziankahn, Samukai, Source: The New Dawn

The spokesman for the disbanded soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), Captain Jerry Kollie says the recent mismanagement of USD2 million from the compulsory savings account of enlisted AFL soldiers was executed by the hierarchy of the army, especially former defense minister Brownie Samukai and ex-chief of staff Daniel Ziankahn. “The Chief of Staff and Minister Brownie Samukai connived for the misuse of the soldiers’ money, how could you be Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces of Liberia and allowed Minister Samukai to carry on such an act? I think they both connived and they must be investigated”, says Cpt. Kollie, himself an ex-soldier. Appearing on Power FM in Monrovia Wednesday, the ex-soldier said that it is about time the George Weah government puts on its thinking cap to pursue corrupt individuals. Read more

Legislature Hurries Preparations for Weah’s First Annual Address on Monday

House Speaker Bhofal Chambers has announced the unveiling of President George Weah’s first Legislative Agenda or Annual Message to the legislature in the William R. Tolbert Joint Chambers on Monday, 29 January. On Tuesday, Speaker Chambers mandated the House Committees on Executive; Ways, Means, Finance, and Developmental Planning; and the Rules, Order, and Administration to begin robust preparations. Read more

Alexander Cummings Congratulates President Weah, Vice President Taylor, Source: FrontPage Africa

The political leader of the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) has emphasized the importance that Liberians remain steadfast in their collective effort to uphold peace and democracy. In a communication congratulating President George Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, Mr. Alexander Cummings said their ascendancy to the nation’s highest seats should be in the good interest of Liberians. “As they work for the good of Liberia and its people, let us all remain steadfast in our collective pursuit of peace and prosperity for our country. May God grant them wisdom and courage in the days ahead as they lead our nation. God bless President George Manneh Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, and may God bless The Republic of Liberia,” the ANC leader said. 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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