Ellen delivers 2nd to last Annual Message

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will today, January 25, 2016 deliver her Annual Message to the joint sessions of the Liberian Legislature at the Capitol Building, highlighting her agenda for 2016 and the state of affairs in the last 12 months in accordance with the Constitution.

The President may present her legislative agenda, challenges, achievements, prospects and programs for the nation. The speech is expected to be dominated by the economic meltdown facing the country and the impending Presidential and Representative elections in 2017.

This is the second to the last Annual Message from the nation’s first female President, and will be delivered in the Richard R. Tolbert Joint Chambers at the Capitol at 16:00 hours. Article 58 of the Constitution of Liberia reads: The President shall, on the fourth working Monday in January of each year, present the administration’s legislative program for the ensuing session, and shall once a year report to the Legislature on the state of the Republic. In presenting the economic condition of the Republic the report shall cover expenditures as well as income.

It is also expected the President will comment on UNMIL’s drawdown and its impact on the security sector as well as Liberian security preparedness to take over. Commenting on the economy, a representative aspirant for Margibi County, Iver Jones, said he anticipates that President Sirleaf will place emphasis on enforcing the Liberianalization policy and giving Liberians the edge over foreigners for businesses specifically earmarked for locals only.

However, he stressed the need to compete with foreigners, adding Liberians should not only wait to be protected by the government. 

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor