Liberia’s Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, challenges ECOWAS parliamentary delegates attending the delocalized meeting of the joint committee on communications and information technology, education, science and technology, labour, employment, youth, sports and culture in Monrovia to come out with key decisions that would keep the region competitive.
Vice President Taylor says this is imperative if they must play their roles in securing for current generation and posterity, benefits of knowledge and understanding needed to succeed in their challenging environment.
Regrettably however, the media in Liberia, including media-oriented organizations such as the Press Union of Liberia, Female Journalists Association and Publishers Association of Liberia are not partaking at the conference being spearheaded by a media NGO.
The delocalized meeting is being held under the theme, “Contribution of ICTs to the regional integration process – status of implementation, challenges and prospects of an ECOWAS community radio and television station.’’ Liberia is being chosen to host the regional facilities with the transition months ago of UNMIL Radio to ECOWAS Radio.
Madam Taylor notes ICT has become as vital to every aspect of human life, even including its use as a tool for reduction of poverty, increased opportunities at all levels, sustained development and also for peace and security, monitoring and evaluation.
She assures the administration of President George M. Weah is committed to fulfilling its obligations in the Signed Headquarters Agreement on the Establishment of the ECOWAS Radio signed between it and the ECOWAS Commission.
Vice President Taylor herself a former senator, at the same time calls on the ECOWAS parliament to devote greater attention to issues of women empowerment and more participation in politics.
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Also speaking, the Head of the Liberian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament Rep. Edwin M. Snowe says the Speaker of the Parliament after finding out that UNMIL Radio has fully turned to an ECOWAS Radio, decided that the meeting comes to Liberia.
He recalls that it was during the regime of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the first agreement was signed to turn over the station to ECOWAS.
The Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission to Liberia Ambassador Tunde O. Ajisomo describes the delocalized meeting as a welcoming development and thanks the Government of Liberia for giving its suppoInvest in research programs.
By Bridgett Milton
