Remarks by Julius Kanubah, President, Press Union of Liberia, on Occasion of Celebrations of 62nd Anniversary of the Press Union of Liberia, held at Clar Marie Weah Events Hall, 12th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia, September 30, 2026.

By The Analyst News On Oct 1, 2026 0

Protocols:

Ms Georgia Wallen, Country Manager, World Bank Group Liberia

Mr. Lahoucine Rahmouni, Minister Plenipotentiary and Charge’ d’Affaires, Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco to Liberia

Ambassador and Counsellor Medina Wesseh, Senior Counsel, International Law Group

Mr. Armah Johnson, Acting Head of Compliant Unit, Independent Information Commission

Professor Weade Kobbah-Boley, Vice President for Institutional Development, University of Liberia

Mr. Charles Coffey, Former President, Press Union of Liberia

All other protocols observed.

Congratulations – Happy Anniversary

Three hundred and sixty-five days ago, we convened in Monrovia to observe our 61^st anniversary. Today, we have again gathered to celebrate yet another anniversary. As President of our Union and with the power in me vested, I wish to officially congratulate all of you – journalists, media and communication practitioners, our invited guests and members of the public for joining us to celebrate.

Deaths and book of condolences

Today’s celebrations come at an important moment for our Union. Being 62 is no small feat. Yet in the struggles to champion the rights of journalists and media, some of colleagues have unfortunately departed this world. I ask your indulgence to please join me as we observe a moment of silence in honor of their memories. While that moment is on, I would like to reflect on some of them:

Jonathan Browne
Seibo Daniels
D. Ignatius Roberts
Frank Loboe
Samukai Dukuly
Joel N’Gado Bou Jacobs
Amos Mulbah Kornomugie
Daniel Zayzay
James Paykoo
Molley Passawe
Babason Harris
Peter Kieh Doe
Charles Johnson
Ernest Kiazolu

May their souls and the souls of all faithful departed rest in peace and may light perpetual continue to shine on them. Please have your respective seats.

Threats, intimidation, harassment, assaults, & detention

The formation of the Press Union of Liberia 62 years ago came out of a struggle. Journalist Stanton Peabody who wrote a critical article referring to members of the legislature as “radicals” was ordered jailed for exercising one of the most sacred rights: the write to express and publish as a journalist and as a media. He was held in contempt, arrested, and hailed. 62 years on, journalists, media institutions, and ordinary citizens still face a similar fate in Liberia. Over the course of the last twelve months, we have documented many instances of threat, intimidation, harassment, assaults, and detention of journalists, media and communication practitioners. For examples:

Arrest and detention of journalists Eric Opa Doue and Methesulah Gaye in Rivercess county for contempt of court and for publishing false information. Journalist Eric Doue was sentenced to 30 days in prison on the baseless charge of criminal coercion by the Cestos city magisterial court in Rivercess. After sustained advocacies and interventions by PUL, the journalists were set free.
Case of infringement of press freedom by Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah in a case with Journalist Franklin Doloqueen – who was found in violation ethical standards
Threats by House Speaker Richard Koon to grab and jail journalists covering sessions of the House of Representatives. Speaker Koon later withdrew the threats and apologized after PUL intervened.
Attempts to amend Kamara Abdullah Kamara (KAK) Act of Press Freedom to create “Gender-Based Online Abuse and Harassment Act” which represents a grave threat to freedom of speech and expression in Liberia.
Issuance ofwrit of summons by the Guthrie Magisterial Court in Gbah Jarkel, Bomi County, targeting two broadcast journalists from Trust FM – Mr. Varney Williams and Mr. William Kromah. The journalists were summoned to appear before the court on to answer to allegations of “Criminal Libel” and “Violation of Privacy.” The charge of criminal libel is no longer in the law books of Liberia.
Letter by Ministry of Information mandating Pubic Agenda Newspaper to cease what it refers to as “illegal operation” or publication because of debts owed the Ministry. The PUL denounced the MOI letter, warning the MOI to proceed cautiously as it does not have authority to shut down a newspaper outside due process before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Arrests of four journalists in Margibi County by traditional “Country Devil.” The journalists were released after apparent initiation into the poro society. The PUL intervened but could not visit the Country Devil.
The PUL also issued a statement – No Rescue Without Freedom – on erosion of democratic freedom and freedom of expression in Liberia.
Indictment of Media by Police Inspector General, Col. Gregory Coleman, who accused the media of receiving money from the drug cartel. The Police IG has so far failed to produce evidence. We have concluded consultations with legal counsels on the way forward and at the appropriate time, we will convene the membership.The PUL considers the allegation, announced by Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman on official government communication platform at the Ministry of Information, as a reckless, risky, and blanket indictment of journalism and media in Liberia.
There is also an active case between the publisher’s association of Liberia and the Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation, Mr. Mo Ali.

Cybercrime Act – a threat to exercise of press freedom, free speech and expression

Colleagues, as celebrate our anniversary today, we should be ware of a new law in Liberia called the cybercrime act. This act, while containing some good points and with good intentions, is seemingly a threat to the exercise of press freedom, freedom of speech and expression. The PUL is deeply concerned about the circumstances and manner this legislation got enacted. It appears to us not much public consultations were done from civil society, the media, and the larger public. We call on the government to exercise restraint and calm in enforcing this act until sufficient understanding is made, and where necessary amendments must be made. We are also concerned in the use of judicial powers in the form of contempt to stifle freedom of speech and expression, and press freedom.

Partnership and Capacity-building

Colleagues, over the course of the last twelve months, the PUL forged partnerships for capacity-building. Some of these partnerships are still to come.

Partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco to strengthen cooperation to enhance capacity building efforts and establishment of center of media excellence.
Empowerment of journalists in Sinoe
Advancing specialized reporting on agriculture at workshop organized by Liberian Environmental Journalist Network
Liberia data governance workshop
Media security conference on elections in Zwedru, Buchanan, Ganta.
High-Level Stakeholder Dialogue on Access to Public Information in Liberia, organized by the Center for Media Studies & Peacebuilding (CEMESP) in collaboration with the Independent Information Commission (IIC) as part of the Liberia Media Empowerment Project (LMEP) Funded by the European Union and implemented by Internews
One-Day Seminar on Strategic Media Management, organized by the Department of Communication and Media Studies at the Amos C. Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanity, University of Liberia
Office of Ombudsman Stakeholders’ Conference and Technical Workshop
9^th anniversary celebrations of Pumah FM, Tubmanburg
Explored partnership with UNDP
Rule of Law Coordinating Meeting at Ministry of Justice, UN Drive, Newport Street, Monrovia. April 2026
Training of journalists in Nigeria through Office of President Pro-Tempore of Senate

Membership and Registration

The membership registration is ongoing. We encourage you to come and register. We are introducing a new digital platform for registration and dues payment. This will be launched shortly.

Elections in auxiliaries

Colleagues, our different auxiliaries have been moving on. There were tensions in the Reporters Association (RAL) and the Association of Judicial Reporters. We have witnessed elections in the RAL, Ministry of Information Reporters Network, and recently the Executive Mansion Press Corps. AJURL will have its elections very soon.

Ethical journalism – reactivation of national media council

Colleagues, with respect to ethical journalism, we are pleased to announce that the media council was reactivated. This council is a multi-sectoral stakeholders’ body responsible to look into grievances and alleged ethical bridges. The council has conducted about nine investigations and has submitted a report to the leadership of the PUL for actions. These cases range from:

Mr. William S. Hines, Deputy Minister for Operations, Ministry of Lands & Mines vs. Journalist Charles Yates. In this investigation, journalist Yates was held to be in violation of the ethical code of journalism;
Mr. William S. Hines, Deputy Minister for Operations, Ministry of Lands & Mines vs. DTV. In this investigation, DTV Online was held to be in violation of the ethical code of journalism.
Independent Newspaper vs. the Gambian Consulate. In this investigation, the Independent Newspaper was held to be in violation of the ethical code of journalism
Mr. Charles Karpeh, CEO / General Manager of El Logistik Inc. vs. Rescue TV,
Mr. Mo Ali vs. Empire TV (Grand Bassa County). In this investigation, Empire TV was held to be in violation of the ethical code of journalism
The Daylight News Outlet vs. Hon. Thomas Romeo Quiah, Representative, Electoral District #1, Sinoe County. The news outlet was requested to further seek an interview with the Representative, who was initially contacted but he did not provide response because he was in session before the first publication by the outlet.
The New Republic Newspaper vs. Journalist Mark Mengofia. This case was referred to the PUL leadership for further investigations as it has three layers bordering on administrative issues and labor matters. We will indeed look into that case.
Winners Pharmaceutical vs. Afrique Daily Newspaper. In this investigation, Afric Daily was held to be in violation of the ethical code of journalism
Haywood Mission Institute vs. Verity Newspaper. In this investigation, verity newspaper was held to be in violation of the ethical code of journalism

The council in their report said: “The Council has established that media entities and journalists cited, were largely found guilty of omissions and one-sided reportage, in clear violation of the PUL code of ethics.”

Colleagues, we would like to remind our colleagues within the media, journlists – who are using both the traditional and social media platforms to adhere to the highest ethical code of journalism. The council is active because one of the criticisms of journalism is that the PUL has not been able to hold itself accountable. We hope the work of the council will restore that confidence.

Headquarters Construction

Before I take my seat, we would like to commend on the issue of the headquarters construction. Many of you are aware that we have embarked on efforts to construct our own national headquarters. This required some initial steps. We have gotten our architectural design. And as we speak, we have received some forms of support from different individuals and institutions in our country to help us to construct our headquarters. We are confident that between now – October and November 2026, the headquarters construction would construct. Just to repeat, we have given official notice to the squatters on our property to vacate. We have notified them since October 2025.

International Membership

We have been engaged with other international groupings on our membership, especially the International Federation of Journalists. Colleagues, we should say, we inherited a debt of about 10 thousand euros. Through negotiations the IFJ reduced the amount to about five thousand euros. Our leadership commenced a process of payment. However, because the membership of the PUL has not done our registration with our Union that process is on hold. The IFJ has kept reminding us to settle our debts. If not, we will face some form of sanction. We hope that each member will register with the Union so that we can meet our obligations and improve our membership status.

Empowerment of independent media

Colleagues, as we celebrate 62 years of persistence and resilience, the empowerment of the media remains a subject under discussion. From reporters to publishers, media owners and workers, there is a general concern about the welfare of journalists and the financial capacity of the media. That is why we have invited some of the leading experts in international finance, media, law, diplomacy and development, to help us think through as to how the independent media can be empowered. We are happy to have our keynote motivational speaker and the panelists to inform us with their insights on this particular topic.

Colleagues, long live the PUL. And May the PUL exist for the longest.

Happy 62^nd anniversary!

Thank you.