EDITORIAL: Memorable Presidential Media Night – We’re poised to See GoL Delivers on Commitments

Both critics and supporters of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai would agree that Thursday’s ‘inaugural presidential media dinner’ was a great deal. In terms of coordination, planning, organization and everything else, it proved to be one in a while. In the words of one attendee, ‘this is a wow!’ And, certainly, it was. Thanks to President Boakai and media team, we say, “kudos!”

And the orations to apparently sharpen the grandeur of the event were as poignant as they were electrifying, even though we strongly believe that strong and laudable foundation upon which the speeches were contextualized and made can in no way be credited to them. The Liberian freedom struggle of which media liberation is an integral part  that evolved tortuously at the expense of the fortitude, tears and blood of citizens and government that predate the Boakai era. But we take delight in the fact that government spokesmen, including the President of the Republic, expressed brunt commitment to uphold those virtues of freedom and liberty for which those who came before them, and journalists living and dead, paid so dearly.

The President’s Tribute & Commitment Reality

President Boakai began with exaltation of the courage and pedigree of the Liberian media, when he said: “Tonight, I stand before you not just as President of our beloved country but as a fellow citizen who profoundly values the sacred role you [media people] play in our democracy. This inaugural Presidential Media Dinner of my administration is more than a courtesy—it is a gesture of appreciation, of partnership, and of the tremendous responsibilities that we share. I want to commend you, the Liberian media community, for all that you have done to nurture the growth of our democracy and the advancement of our cause. We also extol your resilience, vigilance, and commitment to truth. Yours is not an easy calling. It demands courage, sacrifice, and, above all, integrity. Our country has a valued historic role as a champion of liberty and a beacon of freedom on our continent and around the world. However, freedom, especially the freedom of the press, is not a gift that sustains itself. It must be defended, expanded, cherished, and institutionalized.” Hope he keeps to those commitments in the coming years.

Information Minister’s Oration Vs. Commitment Reality

There also was a thrilling oration by the chief government spokesman, Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, which might have clearly kept listeners at the edge of their seats. Favorable lines from his speech could be these: “To the members of the media: while this Government will continue to uphold the principles of free speech and press freedom, the responsibility for ethical self-regulation rests squarely with you—and with the Press Union of Liberia. As partners in nation-building, Government and the media must strengthen our dialogue, preserve our mutual respect, and navigate disagreements with professionalism and purpose. This is the commitment of the Government. This is the spirit in which we gather tonight.”

But Here are the misgivings from his critics–the Ministry of Information under Boakai has done little or nothing to depart from MICAT’s known characteristics of the past: the abhorrence, outright disrespect for, bellicosity to dissent and to opposition. Times without number, the nation and the world play host to MICAT’s sheer vituperations, arrogance and hostilities against critical journalists and opposition figures, including important national stakeholders; and this regime is apparently stepping into the same shoe. This is why some members of the public who listened to Piah’s captivating oration at the presidential media dinner on government’s commitment to freedom of speech and free press in the country are thinking otherwise and asking for the fulfillment of commitments expressed.

PUL Kanubah’s Call for Action

Before President Boakai and his media team begin thinking that journalists in attendance and the public were amused merely by the color and euphoria of the media dinner event, we call on them to listen to the president of the Press Union of Liberia, Mr. Julius Kanubah who put it to them squarely: “Mr. President, if there is anything your government must not compromise is the issue of the rule of law. Respect for and adherence to the rule of law is essentially critical to keeping the peace and enhancing the development of our country. Let’s respect the rule of law and let’s use the rule of law to fight corruption.”

Kanubah also respectfully spread out the challenges Liberia’s media people face under the watch of Boakai and his government. He said: “Existing advertisers such as the government, in addition to reducing the level of advertising, remain hugely in debt to media entities, thereby undermining the operational capability and viability of the media to sustain the costs of production…Mr. President, Community Radio Stations—vital sources of information in our counties—are increasingly facing interference from some County Superintendents. This undermines their independence and jeopardizes their ability to serve our communities effectively. We urge your administration to protect these broadcasters and uphold their right to operate free from political interference or influence…Transforming the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) into a true public service broadcaster is essential. LBS should epitomize accountability, serving not just the government’s interests but also the diverse voices of all Liberians. This shift is crucial for fostering an informed citizenry and enhancing democratic participation.”

Our Take from the Event

We applaud the government for time and resources put in organization the ‘inaugural presidential media dinner. It is a good start. We wish government keeps its promises to make it an annual event. And more importantly, we want to see in the future a more structured event, where various media groupings, if not individual journalists, will be provided the opportunity to make remarks, to evaluate the relationship between the media and the government and hear speeches like the one delivered by journalist Julius Kanubah – exchanging notes with government on what matters, and what needs to be fixed to make Liberia a true champion of media freedom and civil liberties.