Radio Returns

China Boosts Liberian Radio
12.04.2008
Radio World, VA

The Liberian government announced last month that the government of China has completed a renovation and expansion of Liberia Broadcasting System’s facilities.

Under the China–LBS Radio Project, the Chinese government has provided a new FM transmitter to boost the reach of LBS throughout the country. A second transmitter was also provided to relay English-language programming from China Radio International throughout Liberia.

China is assisting Liberia with several development and antipoverty initiatives, and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said the LBS improvements would help “inform Liberians of the progress taking place in the country.”

The cost of the radio project is estimated to be US$4 million.

LBS now has relay stations in six counties — Lofa, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, Bomi and Maryland — which are fed from the capitol, Monrovia, via microwave and satellite links.

Under terms of an understanding between China and Liberia, the government of China will provide maintenance for the new LBS facilities for one year, after which China Radio International will contract a Chinese firm to provide maintenance for an additional four years.

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Rural Tour

President Sirleaf begins county tour  
Written by Vivian Gartyn    
Thursday, 13 November 2008 
STAR RADIO

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has begun her much talked about dry season county tour across the country.

On Tuesday, the President visited two districts in Grand Bassa County, touring development activities and farming projects.

Madam Sirleaf dedicated two Administrative Buildings in Districts Number 1 and 2 and a held a town hall meeting.

During the meeting, the president explained the Poverty Reduction Strategy and address concerns of the citizens.

She encouraged the citizens to demand meetings with their officials to hold them accountable as part of the development process.

While in Grand Bassa County, President Sileaf assured that volunteer teachers in the Country would be compensated before Christmas.

President Sirleaf said the compensation is in appreciation of services rendered the educational system over the years.

She however said, a process is ongoing to absorb qualified volunteer teachers in the school system and train unqualified ones.

The President encouraged the volunteer teachers to register with their District education officers to go through the process.

Madam Sirleaf’s statements were in response to concerns by people of Districts Number 1 and 2 in Grand Bassa.

The people said their school system is being controlled by volunteer teachers and appealed for them to be included on government payroll.

Series of meetings have been going on between the teachers and the Education Ministry to address the issue of volunteer teachers.

Already, government has identified over seven thousand volunteer teachers across the country.

The President has left for Zorzor, Lofa County in continuation of her dry season tour.   

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