Liberia: President Sirleaf to Receive FAO Award

From All Africa.com December 4, 2008 Monrovia — President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is to receive this year's Food and Agricultural Organization's (FAO) Ceres Medal Award Making the disclosure recently, the Country Representative of the Food and Agricultural Organization in Liberia, Mr. Winfred Hammond, said the award will be presented to the Liberian leader by F.A.O. Director General Jacques Diouf at this year's National Agricultural Fair to be held in Voinjama, Lofa County on Saturday, December 6, according to the Executive Mansion release. Mr. Hammond added that the presentation of the Ceres Medal Award to President Johnson Sirleaf is in recognition of her commitment to international partnership to promote peace, food security, health and education, as a means of achieving a Liberia free of hunger and poverty, as enshrined in the Poverty Reduction Strategy of Liberia. The Ceres Medal, which is named after the Roman goddess of agriculture, is awarded to distinguished women who have made an outstanding contribution to social and humanitarian affairs or to agricultural development and food security. Previous recipients of the award include Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Prime Minister Indira Ghandi of India, Queen Sofia of Spain, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, amongst others. During his two-day visit to Liberia, FAO Director General Jacques Diouf is also scheduled to hold talks with Foreign Minister Olubanke King Akerele and Agricultural Minister Dr. J. Chris Toe. The discussions are geared toward exchanging views on major issues related to food security and agricultural development. The talks will also focus on the FAO's initiatives as well as national and regional efforts aimed at realizing the initiatives. (Copyright the Liberian Government)