BUREAU OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA

NEWS SUMMARY, Friday, December 11, 2020

Dominating today’s newsstand of our regular media summary are stories on President Weah’s  congratulatory message sent to President Akufo-Addo of Ghana  on his re-election as President of that sisterly republic; President Weah’c congratulatory message extoling Kenya on its 57^th independence observance; Liberia’s Health Minister’s message addressing a high-level United Nations event on response to covid-19.

Other Stories we followed include the NEC releasing First Results after mid- term senatorial election in Liberia; ‘McGill is running and kicking’ Minister Rennie dispels sickness rumors; AFL host workshop on draft court martial regulation are among other stories.

DOMINANT STORIES  

Liberia’s Health Minister Addresses High - level United Nations Event On Response To COVID - 19 

Liberia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, says the latest development of several vaccines with capacities to combat the coronavirus is a critical step to winning the unprecedented fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Jallah said Liberia, like many nations, is still combating the coronavirus pandemic; but noted that the country has averted the worst of the pandemic and recorded an extremely high rate of recovery. “At present, Liberia has recorded 1637 cases. Of that number, 1354 individuals have recovered with 83 deaths, of which only 13 occurred in our treatment facilities,” Dr. Jallah expanded. The Health Minister attributed Liberia’s success in containing the spread of the virus to lessons learned during the Ebola pandemic six (6) years ago, and working in solidarity with the United Nations and international partners, The Heritage newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release.

Related Caption:Liberia Hails News of Vaccine Development As Minister Jallah Raps on COVID-19 victory (The Independent) and Health Minister Addresses High-level UN Event on Response to COVID-19 (The News)

OTHER STORIES  

President Weah Extols Kenya On 57th Independence Anniversary 

President George Manneh Weah has sent congratulatory message to His Excellency Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, on the occasion marking the 57th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Kenya. According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Weah extended warmest and best wishes to the Government and People of the Republic of Kenya on behalf of the Government and People of the Republic of Liberia and in his own name. “As we join you in celebrating this great day, we entertain the hope that the cordial ties already subsisting between our two countries will be further strengthened for the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples,” the Liberian Leader stated. He then prayed that the Almighty God will continue to inspire President Kenyatta with his manifold blessings as he leads his compatriots to nobler heights and prosperity, The Heritage newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release.

Related caption:Weah Extols Kenya on 57^th Independence Anniversary(The News)

President Weah Congratulates President Akufo-Addo on His Re-Election

President George Manneh Weah has, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Liberia and in his own name, extended warmest congratulations to H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo - Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana on the occasion of his re-election. President Weah entertained the hope that the cordial ties of friendship and cooperation subsisting between both countries and peoples will be further strengthened in the spirit of African solidarity, as President Akufo -Addo once more assumed this herculean task of shaping the future of Ghana. The Liberian leader stressed that the re-election of his counterparts as President of Ghana is not a surprise, noting that it shows the level of confidence his people and the rest of the Continent repose in his ability to steer the affairs of his country. The Liberian leader asserted that this re-election behooves both leaders to deepen cooperation in trade and commerce and other forms of partnership that spur developments in both countries and the African Continent as a whole. He then prayed that the Almighty God will continue to endow His Excellency Akufo-Addo with increased wisdom and resilience to lead the people of Ghana to prosperity and continued happiness as he begins this arduous but ennoble journey, The Heritage newspaper quotes a Foreign Ministry release.

NEC Releases First Results                                                                                                              

The National Elections Commissions (NEC) has released its first progressive provisional results from the December 8, 2020, special senatorial elections with several candidates taking early lead. On Tuesday of this week, Liberian exercised their political franchise by turing out in mass to elect 15 senators. Speaking Thursday, December 10, 2020 at the commission headquarters in Sinkor, Monrovia, Madam Davidetta Brown-Lansanah, NEC’s Chairperson said the commission will provide daily updates regarding the just ended elections. She provided provisional results from eight counties, including Montserrado, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Maryland, Nimba and Gbarpolu, The New newspaper writes.

McGill is Running, Kicking’ Minister Rennie Dispels Sickness Rumors

Information Minister Ledgerhood Julius Rennie has dispelled rumors that the Minister of the States for Presidential Affairs, Nathaniel McGill is sick. It has been widely speculated in some quarters especially on the social media that Minister McGill has fallen sick as a result of the outcome of the December 8, 2020, special senatorial and by-elections. But addressing the Ministry of Information regular press briefing Thursday, December 10, 2020, in Monrovia, Minister Rennie said Minister McGill is running and kicking. He said the Minister is very healthy and continues to perform his assigned duty contrary to rumors. Minister Rennie said “as we speak, he is in good health and carrying out his duty at his residence”. He said the minister is very busy with the street lights and transformers project under the presidential project to ensure that it is successfully implemented and further disclosed that some transformer have arrived and massive work will begin in the next few days across Monrovia, The News newspaper asserts.

 AFL Host W’shop On Draft Court Martial Regulation

The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has hosted a one day workshop on the draft court martial regulation for soldiers within the army. Held at the Barclay training center (BTC) in Monrovia on Thursday, December 10, 2020, the one day event brought together several dignitaries from the United States embassy in Monrovia, Ministry of Justice, Human right Commission, Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) and ECOWAS Abossory Training Team. Speaking at the opening of the occasion, Deputy Defense Minister for Administration Olandorus T. Dickson said the ministry is committed to ensuring that the necessary legal framework under which the AFL will operate has been put in place, saying that he army will be regulated properly. Minister Dickson indicated that if the army is regulated, it will help put to on par with other with local and international human right requirements. According to The News newspaper, he said the draft court martial regulation is a milestone achievement for the Armed Forces of Liberia for ensuring that everything is done in accordance to the laws.