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Liberian Government to Name Acting Cabint Ministers Friday

   Presidential press secretary Cyrus Badio says the acting ministers are
   deputy ministers from the various government ministries

   James Butty | Washington, D.C. 05 November 2010

   Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

   The  Liberian government is set to announce Friday the names of acting
   ministers to replace President Ellen Johnson-Sirleafâs cabinet.

   The  president  Wednesday  dismissed  most  of  her Cabinet saying she
   wanted "a fresh slate.â

   The  Minister  of  State for Presidential Affairs, Edward McClain, was
   the only Cabinet member allowed to keep his job.

   Presidential press secretary Cyrus Badio told VOA the acting ministers
   to   be  announced  Friday  are  deputy  ministers  from  the  various
   ministries.

   âThey  are  deputy  ministers  coming from within the same ministries,
   individuals who are equally competent to administer the affairs of the
   ministries where they come from,â he said.

   Badio  confirmed  a  number  of  the cabinet ministers who were put on
   administrative  leave  have  already begun submitting their letters of
   intent to leave.

   âFrom  the  information  Iâve  gathered from the Minister of State for
   Presidential  Affairs,  some  of  the  cabinet  ministers have already
   started  sending  their  letters  of  intent  in  compliance  with the
   presidentâs directives,â Badio said.

   But,  Badio  could not confirm or deny whether one of those submitting
   their letters of intent to leave was the foreign minister.

   âI  do not have that information readily but, if she did, it will just
   be in compliance with the presidentâs directives for cabinet ministers
   to  take  an  administrative  leave.  As  you know, when the president
   issued  the  directives,  she  said  cabinet  ministers would have the
   option to seek other career opportunities. So, if the foreign minister
   did,  it would just be in line with what the president has requested,â
   he said.

   Meanwhile,  President  Sirleaf  is  scheduled  to arrive in Washington
   Friday  on what Badio described as a semi-official visit to the United
   States.

   âThe  president  will be in the United States for a few days. She will
   be  meeting  with  United  States  government  officials  and business
   partners. She will also be addressing Liberian communities, especially
   that  in  Staten  Island (New York) as well as (receive) a recognition
   from  Glamour Magazine, and then she will travel to Accra, Ghana for a
   conference on women empowerment,â Badio said.

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