What is Eugene Fahngon still doing at LBS?

Published: January 17, 2025

The Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) is a national treasure, an institution entrusted with the sacred duty of serving as the voice of the Liberian people. Yet today, that voice is being stifled, not by external forces but by internal chaos. The accusations leveled against Director General Eugene Fahngon by the Workers Union of LBS are both damning and deeply troubling. This is a crisis of leadership that demands immediate attention from President Joseph Boakai.

The Workers Union has accused Fahngon of creating a workplace defined by intimidation, harassment, and fear. They allege arbitrary dismissals, the suspension of worker benefits, and unwarranted interference in union activities. These are not trifling matters; they are serious charges that, if true, point to a leadership style that is unfit for a public institution. The Union’s demand for the reinstatement of wrongfully terminated employees, the restoration of benefits, and a return to basic fairness should not fall on deaf ears.

Under Fahngon’s stewardship, the institution appears to have strayed far from its mandate. Long-standing traditions like the annual Christmas party for children have been scrapped, and even the basic management of canteen operations has reportedly descended into disarray. These issues might seem minor in isolation, but together they paint a picture of an organization in decline. Morale is low, stress levels are high, and the people who work tirelessly to keep LBS running feel abandoned and betrayed by their leadership.

This is not the first time Eugene Fahngon’s name has been associated with controversy. His tenure as Deputy Information Minister for Press and Public Affairs ended in disgrace after he was accused of spreading false information during the COVID-19 pandemic. That he was allowed to assume a position of such importance at LBS, given his history, raises serious questions about the decision-making process that led to his appointment.

President Joseph Boakai campaigned on a promise of good governance, transparency, and accountability. Allowing Fahngon to continue in his role at LBS undermines those very principles. The Workers Union has made an urgent appeal to the President and the Liberian public to intervene, and it is an appeal that must be heeded. Silence in the face of these allegations would not only be an endorsement of Fahngon’s alleged behavior but also a betrayal of the values this administration claims to uphold.

LBS is not a private fiefdom to be ruled with an iron fist; it is a public institution that belongs to the Liberian people. Its mission is to inform, educate, and unite—not to divide and intimidate. If the allegations against Fahngon are found to be true, he must be removed immediately. An independent investigation is needed to uncover the truth, but the evidence already in the public domain is enough to warrant swift action.

President Boakai, the ball is in your court. The Liberian people are watching, and they deserve answers. What is Eugene Fahngon still doing at LBS?