President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf May Begin Cabinet Shuffle

President Sirleaf

On October 29th, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf declared that she will be taking actions to enhance efficiency and productivity within the cabinet. Her actions may range from “transfers and reshuffles to dismissals.” The public does not know who will be dismissed and what exactly will happen, but government officials who are not executing the constitution properly or who are taking advantage of their positions will likely be disciplined or dismissed. The pending decisions come “amid huge public outcry about hardship and the slow pace of development.” However, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has said, “It is our hope that we will continue to work together to sustain the peace and foster the developmental efforts of the country.”

President Johnson-Sirleaf also recognizes that it is her duty to improve the living standard of the bulk of Liberian people not only because she is the President of this post-conflict Republic, but also because she’s on record for criticizing past leaders and for advocating for better governmental service for Liberians.

To read more, follow this link to the article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201211020596.html & http://allafrica.com/stories/201210301452.html

Liberia: President Johnson-Sirleaf Proposes Further Cooperation with the Peace Corps

On August 3rd, 44 new Peace Corps volunteers were sworn into service in Liberia. This was the largest group of volunteers since the beginning of the program in 1962 according to the Peace Corps-Liberia Country Director, Mr. Vincent Groh. President Johnson-Sirleaf was present at the ceremony for these volunteers and thanked them for their commitment to helping Liberia prosper. She also further voiced her hopes to create an initiative that will increase cooperation between the Peace Corps volunteers and recent college graduates in Liberia.

The President ideally would like to create a national service program in Liberia for those who have graduated from university, but remain unemployed. This would allow them to be placed with Peace Corps volunteers in high schools and work together the improve the education system across the country. This concept was initially mentioned by President Johnson-Sirleaf in 2011 at the Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. while delivering a lecture there.

The Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Liberia, Michael Arrietti, has welcomed the initiative presented by the President. He hopes to have the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) work closely with both the Peace Corps and the Ministry of Education in Liberia to make her vision a reality. The goal is to have this program begin its implementation by the summer of 2013.

Another goal of the Peace Corps in Liberia to to have reached all 15 counties by the start of the 2013 academic year. Right now there are volunteers serving in 9 out of the 15 counties. They teach English, Math and Science in 39 government run high schools. With an expansion to all 15 counties the Peace Corps will be able to reach all 55 public high schools outside of Montserrado.

Link to the article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201208070996.html

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