Monday, June 22, 2009

More Market Women Acquire Writing Skills

United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
International Clips on Liberia

Jun 22, 2009 (All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has formally launched a grassroots literacy movement, Literate Liberia, in Monrovia, with an assurance that Government will continue to support efforts to provide educational opportunities for Liberians who wish to learn, particularly market women. The President commended the organizers of the campaign for providing an opportunity for market women to learn how to read and write. She also lauded women who have volunteered their time to attend the literacy classes. An Executive Mansion release says the Liberian leader urged all women to take advantage of the program. She encouraged those who can read and write to provide whatever little time they can to teach others.
International Clips on West Africa
The American dream: Widowed African father honors wife's wish for children
Source: McClatchy-Tribune Information Services Date
Ganieyou Salamy never wanted a new life. In Abidjan, the Ivory Coast capital, he taught high school physics and chemistry. Nothing suited him better. But his wife, Lysette, had died without realizing a dream. A computer operator, she envisioned her son and three daughters coming to the United States some day. There, she believed, they could have a richer education, a brighter future. Into her wish Salamy leaped. He sold his belongings and came alone to State College in spring 2001, starting over in a foreign land of falling leaves and snow with little English and useless teaching credentials. At one point, he juggled three jobs as he worked to save enough money for his children to join him. He served late-night hamburgers so his oldest daughter, Ade- Jelila, 24, could be a nurse in Philadelphia. Slicing meat and washing dishes paved the way for Anissat, 20, now a Penn State senior, to study counseling and become an award-winning African dance choreographer. Because he worked behind a supermarket deli counter, Seymira, 18, can play rugby on the USA Under-20 National Team as she goes into her sophomore year at Penn State. And Aziz, 10, can thrive at Radio Park Elementary School and enjoy his Nintendo Wii at home.
Local Media – Newspaper
President Sirleaf Instructs Ministers to Sack Corrupt Official without Hesitation
(New Democrat, Liberian Express)

· In a confidential memo to Cabinet Ministers, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has mandated them to fire corrupt officials without hesitation.
· The President’s memo comes just days after the U.N. Under Secretary for Peacekeeping, Mr. Alain Le Roy underlined the importance of transparency in the management of public funding saying that corruption deters donors.
· The President said continuing international and national reports on corruption were beginning to hurt the government.

Delegates at TRC National Reconciliation Conference Want Prosecution for Perpetrators of Conflict
(The Inquirer, Heritage, The News, Liberian Express, New Democrat, The Monitor, Liberia Journal, Public Agenda, Daily Observer)

· Delegates at the just-ended National Reconciliation Conference have recommended prosecution for perpetrators of the civil conflict.
· The delegates in a 38-count resolution also called for the banning of perpetrators to elected or appointed positions among other things.
· The over 400 participants recommended a review of the constitution and the rewriting of Liberia’s history.
· Receiving the participants’ resolution, TRC Chairman Jerome Verdier thanked the delegates and promised to place the recommendations in the Commission’s final report.

Finance Minister Suspends Two Officials over Budget Error
(Liberian Express, Heritage, New Democrat, Plain Truth, Liberian Journal)

· Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan says two versions of the 2009/2010 draft national budget are in circulation.
· In an interview, Minister Ngafuan said one of the budgets contains inconsistencies in figures while the other is without error.
· Addressing a news conference in Monrovia at the weekend, he said the budget with no error had limited copies and during the re-printing of the budget for distribution to members of the legislature and public the error came about.
· Meanwhile, two officials of the budget bureau who have oversight responsibility for printing of the budget have been suspended.

KRTTI Holds First Graduates in 20 Years, Graduates over 170 Teachers
(The Informer, The News, The Inquirer)

· The Kakata Rural Teachers Training Institute (KRTTI) in Kakata, Margibi County, has held its first graduation in 20 years, with 178 teachers awarded certificates.
· Speaking at the occasion, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the graduation was a manifestation of Government’s commitment to addressing the country’s weak school system.
· The President commended the country’s partners, particularly the United States of America, the Ministry of Education and the faculty and staff of KRTTI for their contribution to the success of the programme.
· Earlier, in a keynote address, United States Ambassador to Liberia, Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged teachers in the country to demonstrate commitment to the recovery of Liberia through their contributions to the education.

US$4M Microfinance Programme Launched
(Daily Observer)

· A Bangladeshi non-governmental development organization, BRAC Liberia, has officially launched an over US$4 million microfinance programme in the country.
· Speaking at the launch of the program over the weekend, BRAC Country Manager, Mohammad Salam said the programme was aimed as their contributing to the poverty reduction and the creation of employment opportunities.
· Mr. Salam said the program seeks to enhance the income of the poor with emphasis on women in the country.

President Sirleaf Launches Literate Liberia Movement
(The Informer)

· President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has formally launched a grassroots literacy movement, Literate Liberia, in Monrovia, with an assurance that Government will continue to support efforts to provide educational opportunities for Liberians who wish to learn, particularly market women.

Liberian University Graduates Face Enrollment Problems Abroad
(Daily Observer)

· The National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) has expressed serious concern over the non-enforcement by universities and colleges in the country of basic requirements for meeting international standards of universities.
· Dr. Michael Slawon named the requirements as 'preparation of accreditation standard of higher education, mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation, synchronizing curricula, data collection and research surveys'.
· He said as a result of this problem Universality graduates face enrollment problems abroad.

Local Media – Star Radio (culled from website today at 09:00 am)
President Sirleaf in Abuja, Nigeria for ECOWAS Summit
· President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is in Abuja, Nigeria to take part in the 36th Summit of Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
· The two day mid-year summit of ECOWAS is expected to bring together leaders of the 15-nation regional grouping.

Finance Minister Suspends Two Officials over Budget Error
(Also reported on Sky F.M., and ELBC)

Delegates at TRC National Reconciliation Conference Want Prosecution for Perpetrators of Conflict

Maryland Authorities Welcome ERU Police Officers
· Authorities of Maryland County have officially received ten newly deployed officers of the Emergency Response Unit of the Liberia National Police.
· In an interview, the Mayor of Harper, Regina Sampson said the deployment of the ERU in Harper would help improve of security in the county.
· At present, there is dusk to dawn curfew which was imposed in the city following a violent demonstration there.
· The Harper City Mayor called on residents of Harper to cooperate with the ERU and other police forces in their endeavour to restore total calm to Harper.

E.L.B.C. (News monitored today at 9:00 am)
KRTTI Holds First Graduates in 20 Years, Graduates over 170 Teachers

President Sirleaf Launches Literate Liberia Movement

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