Gov’t Vows Not to Jail Journalists – Pres. Weah Assures Media Protection

Liberia’s President Dr. George Manneh Weah has re-emphasized his desire to protecting free speech and freedom of the press; assuring that his government will neither arrest nor jail a single Liberian journalist for expressing what they believe.

President George Manneh Weah gave the assurance during his second media interactive engagement in Monrovia recently.

The Liberian leader, addressing media executives and journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Weah promised to accept every form of criticism including personal attacks on his character by some media practitioners and that will not cause him to authorize state security to chase after journalists in the country.

‘My government will not arrest or jail a single journalist for expressing what they believe”.

The Liberian leader said though he continues to hear negative criticism that are accompanied by profanity on various radio talk shows, but that will not distract his administration to go ahead with its programs and projects targeted for developments throughout Liberia.

“Many times I hear lot of insults against me, my family, which will not move me because I am now your president and leader of the country and this profanity will come to me because I am the president”.

President Weah said his government will remain opened to working with the media beyond limit and would ensure that the Liberian media community enjoys the support of his government through partnership that will come through business and other forms of media support to help empower the Liberian media become more independent in serving the people of Liberia.

He said the Liberian government is fully prepared to doing fair business practice with the Liberian media and that could come to realization through the demonstration of placing Liberia’s first both on the part of the government and that of the Liberian media.

President Weah used the occasion to admonish the media and journalists to be more professional in their duties and that professionalism can be demonstrated when media practitioners can place Liberia first in line of their duties by presenting the truth to the public.

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