… Some key points of reminder
By: Leila B. Gbati
President George Manneh Weah will today deliver his 5th State of the Nation Address at the Capitol Building where officials of government, members of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries will be in attendance.
Liberians will be keen on hearing about key deliverables of promises their President made during the last State of the Nation Address. Among others, during President Weah’s last Address, the Liberian Leader promised to establish Gender and Social Inclusion Units in all government ministries, agencies and commissions.
He also said his government had attracted US$27 million for a public financial management project to strengthen public procurement and revenue collection, and reported the hiring of expertise of a world-renowned Asset Recovery firm to assist local teams to carry out a professional exercise to recover Liberia’s wealth stolen over many decades.
“As Liberia’s Feminist-in-Chief, I remain committed to making gender main-streaming a matter of priority in the formulation of policies and programs that will drive the development of Liberia in the future. To that end, we intend to establish Gender and Social Inclusion Units in all government ministries, agencies and commissions. We are grateful to have received initial funding for this initiative from the Millennium Challenge Account – Liberia President said, noting that the period would be used to conduct an inventory of traditional groves and map-out traditional practitioners as an agreeable action in ending harmful traditional practices in Liberia.
“Our Government is committed to improving governance and improving the business climate to spur investment. Last year we launched a Twenty-seven Million United States dollar (US$27 million) Public Financial Management Project supported by the World Bank, the European Union and the Government of Sweden. This project supports better procurement through e-procurement, stronger revenue collection, and better delivery of public goods through higher governance standards”, the President said.
“I believe that we will succeed in our fight against corruption and will bring to justice relevant individuals and corporations who have and continue to defraud Liberia. To this end, we have hired the expertise of a world-renowned Asset Recovery firm to assist our local team to carry out a professional exercise to recover Liberia’s wealth stolen over many decades”, President promised.
Meanwhile, the Liberia National Police (LNP) has disclosed that due to the event, the following measures are hereby put in place aimed at regulating vehicular and human movement.
Mr. Carter indicated that absolutely, no one will be allowed on the grounds of the Capitol without invitation and will not be allowed to enter the premises of the Capitol Building after the President /VVIP shall have arrived.
He added that traffic would be diverted from 12th and 9th Streets to Jallah Town, for those coming from the Congo Town and Sinkor areas, Buzzy Quarter to Jallah Town and from Capitol Bye-pass to Jallah Town.
He also emphasized that no unauthorized vehicle or person will be allowed within the vicinity of the Capitol Building and the traffic will be reopened as soon as the President is done addressing the Nation.
The LNP Spokesman urges the public and vehicle operators to adhere to these regulations and govern themselves accordingly so as to avoid embarrassment.
In a related development the Liberian National Legislature has expressed readiness to receive the President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. Dr. George M. Weah on Monday January 24 2022.
As Guest of the Legislature, President Weah will present his 5th annual report to the Honorable members of the National Legislature in the first joint assembly of the 5th session of the 54th Legislature.
The Chief Executive address to the August Body is in consonance with Article 58 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, which mandates the Head of State on the Fourth Working Monday of January each year to report on the state of affairs and present his legislative agenda to members of the Legislature
“The President shall on the fourth working Monday of each year present the administration’s legislative program for the ensuing session, and once a year report to the Legislature on the state of the Republic; the report shall cover expenditure as well as income” Article 58 states.
According to a Joint Press Release from the Press and Public Affairs Departments of the House of Representatives and Senate, the Lawmakers will assemble in the William R. Tolbert Jr. Joint Assembly Hall at the Capitol Building to convene a special session prior to the Chief Executive arrival.
The release also indicates, that the Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives, Speaker Bhofal Chambers will thereafter mandate the joint Executive Committee of both Houses to go at the entrance of the Capitol Building to receive and escort the President to the joint chamber where the Sergeant-at-arms will announce the arrival of the President.
Based on Legislative proceedings, upon arrival at 4:00 pm, the President will immediately proceed to present his report.
The joint release concluded that the necessary health protocols, released by the Director General of the Cabinet Jordan Solunteh and the Ministry of Health will see a display of COVID-19 vaccine cards, compulsory wearing of Mask at all times, Hand sanitising and temperature check will be fully adhered to.
