Published: April 14, 2025
MONROVIA — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering support for press freedom and open criticism as pillars of good governance and national accountability.
Speaking during the first annual Presidential Media Dinner on Thursday, April 10, 2025, Boakai declared that his government will uphold a free and independent press and protect the rights of all media practitioners.
The event, held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, brought together scores of media professionals, including publishers, editors, reporters, talk-show hosts and bloggers.
Delivering the keynote address, Boakai emphasized that under his leadership, Liberia will have no political prisoners and no suppression of the press.
“Criticism is not a threat to democracy; it is its essence,” he said. “We will not shy away from your questions; instead, we will listen. We will not stifle dissenting voices; we will engage with them.”
He praised the vibrant and growing Liberian media landscape as a sign of democratic progress, noting that more media outlets have been registered since he assumed office in early 2024 than at any other time in recent history.
“This growth is not accidental. It reflects a political climate that honors freedom of expression, the right to publish and the liberty to critique,” Boakai said.
He further lauded Liberia’s role as a continental leader in press freedom and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Table Mountain Declaration, describing it as more than a written promise — but a living pledge to defend journalists’ rights and promote the free flow of information.
“With the support of our partners, we are advancing the work of the newly established Commission on Information, a vital body aimed at enhancing transparency and ensuring public access to information,” Boakai said.
He also reiterated his administration’s efforts to fully enforce the Freedom of Information Act, ensuring that government institutions provide access to information rather than restrict it.
“Access to information is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right,” Boakai said. “This dinner is more than a courtesy. It is a gesture of appreciation, partnership and shared responsibility between the government and the media.”
Commending the Liberian media community, he said:
“We admire your resilience, vigilance and commitment to truth. Yours is not an easy calling — it demands courage, sacrifice and above all, integrity.”
Boakai concluded by calling on both government and media to build a society rooted in truth, facts and traditional values, working together for the greater good of the Liberian people.
PUL President Calls for Greater Government Support
Speaking earlier, Julius K. Kanubah, president of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), highlighted ongoing challenges confronting the Liberian media, including severe shortages in both human and financial resources.
“Despite the progress made in upholding press freedom, media institutions are struggling due to dwindling advertising revenues and delayed payments, particularly from the government,” Kanubah said.
He noted that the decline in funding has adversely affected journalism quality and the welfare of media workers.
“In many cases, journalists’ take-home pay can barely take them home,” he said.
Kanubah also pointed to the departure of USAID and its media development support as a major setback, urging the government to help fill the gap in capacity building and institutional support.
He shared the PUL’s vision to restore the credibility and integrity of the Liberian media, calling for closer collaboration with the Boakai-Koung administration.
“This vision can only be realized through a joint commitment to defending press freedom and free speech,” he said.
Kanubah also emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law, describing it as fundamental to peace, governance and development.
“If there’s one thing your government must never compromise on, it is the rule of law,” he told the president.
In closing, he creatively rephrased the president’s message:
“It is time: We Think the Media. Love the Media. And Build the Media.”
Senator Dillon Urges Accountability and Balanced Reporting
Also speaking at the event was Sen. Abraham Darius Dillon, chair of the Senate committees on Information and Broadcasting, and Foreign Affairs. He echoed calls for government accountability and urged authorities to honor their financial obligations to media outlets.
“We will do everything possible to find funds and settle payments for services legally rendered by the media — including advertisements, jingles, announcements and publications,” Dillon said.
He also called on media houses to adhere to professional ethics and best practices, encouraging more educational and transformative content on talk shows.
“Sometimes, even when there are positive developments, some talk-show hosts focus on outdated negative stories and merge them with current events just to present a bad narrative,” he said.
Dillon encouraged all stakeholders — government, media and the public — to reshape national dialogue and contribute to building a Liberia that serves all its citizens.
Discussion about this post