President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has made more appointments in government, subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate.

Those appointed are: Mr. Beyan Kessely, Commissioner, Bureau of Maritime Affairs; Mr. Josephus Gray, Assistant Minister for Public Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Alphonso Nimene, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. John Morlu, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary.

An Executive Mansion release Wednesday said, the President has also re-constituted the Common Council of the Monrovia City Corporation.  Its members include Mr. Daniel Johnson, Chairman; Cllr. Henry Reed Cooper, Member; Mr. Brima Gaiyei, member; Mr. Matthias Corpu, member and Mrs. Nyenekon Beauty Snoh-Barcon, member.

Other members named to the reconstituted Common Council of the Monrovia City Corporation are Mrs. Elaine Bright; Mr. William Findley; Mrs. Elizabeth Mulbah; Mrs. Massa Cousli; Mr. Abel Voker and Mr. Philip N. Wesseh.

The President has also reconstituted the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority, headed by the Minister of Transport as Chairman.

Its members include Mr. Raynold A. Mitchell; Mr. Isaac Mannah; Mr. Clyde Campbell; Mr. Michael Jupiter; Mrs. Magdalene Dargoseth; and Mr. Richelieu Williams, who will also serve as secretary to the reconstituted Liberia Civil Aviation Board.

In a related development, a Branch of the Liberia Agency for Community Development has also been reconstituted.  It is headed by Mr. David Farhart as Chairman and Minister of Planning & Economic Affairs Dr. Toga McIntosh Gayewhea as Co-chairman.

Members to the Liberia Agency for Community Development are, Gender Minister Varbah Gayflor; Minister of Internal Affairs, Ambulai B. Johnson and a representative of the Civil Society Movement of Liberia (CSM-L); as well as Mr. Peter Karmei of the New African Research Development Agency (NARDA), an NGO, and a representative of the Concern Christian Community (CCC), Representing Women NGO, including the Executive Director of LACE Mr. Ramses T. Kumbuyah, who will serve as secretary and member of the Group.

The reconstitution is in keeping with the relevant statute of the Branch of the Liberian Agency for Community Development.

President Sirleaf Marks Decoration Day with tours of Palm Grove cemetery and Ancestral Village of Kormah

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Wednesday observed Decoration Day with a warning that anyone found loitering around the Palm Grove Cemetery after dusk will be arrested a prosecuted.

President Sirleaf lays a wreath on the grave of a family member in Kormah.
PhotoExecutive Mansion

The President has, accordingly, directed authorities of the National Police Force to step up security around the premises to enforce the President’s warning.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader issued the warning when she toured the Palm Grove Cemetery, in commemoration of Decoration Day.  The President expressed dismay over reports that criminal gangs were breaking into graves in search of valuables and other possessions.

The President warned streets peddlers and others concerned to leave the cemetery premises before 6:00 in the evening or risk arrest.  The Liberian leader’s warning follows reports of increased criminal activities at the cemetery, with criminal gangs slashing and forcibly opening graves at night, in search of valuables believed to be buried with the dead.

Over a year ago, the cemetery was officially decommissioned by government due congestion and a fence erected, to curtailed illegal intrusion into the facilities by criminals.

Meanwhile, the President has visited the burial site of her ancestral parents in Kormah, Montserrado County.  The President, accompanied by members of the Johnson family deposited wreaths on the graves bearing the remains of her loved ones, including the late Chief Jah Marley (Grand father), and James Carney Johnson (father), among the first indigenous Liberian to be elected a member of the National Legislature.

The President reiterated her call on residents of the area to engage in agricultural activities to improve their livelihood.  She urged inhabitants of Kormah to advance concrete proposals to government that would make the area self-sufficient.

"Job creation, the President noted, “begins here, when you engage in productive activities. I am willing to work with you, but you need to demonstrate that you can also help yourselves,” the President urged the people Kormah.

Responding to an appeal for volunteer teachers in the area to be placed a government payroll, the President informed the residents that the Ministry of Education is conducting an evaluation exercise, following which qualified instructors would be placed on government payroll.

She informed the residents that visiting Merci Ship management has agreed to renovate a clinic in Tenegah, to serve the health needs of the people in the area. The President disclosed that plans are also in the making to construct a secondary school in the area, with support from family members in the United States and abroad.

The President was responding to statements of appreciation from citizens of Kormah including students, elders, youths and women of the area. Kormah, located about 45-miles from Monrovia is the ancestral home of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.