By By: Contributing Writer
Pic: Peter MassaquoiChairman, External Relations Committee, ALJA.
Kakata, Margibi Co. — A plan in the House of Representatives to amend Liberia’s landmark free speech law drew sharp rebuke on World Press Freedom Day, with the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas warning it could send the country “back to an era of fear.”
Delivering ALJA’s statement at the Press Union of Liberia’s commemoration in Kakata, Peter Massaquoi, Chairman of ALJA’s External Relations Committee, said the group is in “profound concern and strong opposition” to efforts to change the Kamara A. Kamara Free Speech Law.
“Any attempt to weaken or roll back these protections undermines the significant gains made in advancing press freedom, transparency, and accountability in Liberia,” Massaquoi said. “ALJA views the proposed amendment as a troubling step backward — one that risks eroding public trust, stifling dissent, and creating an environment in which journalists and media practitioners may once again operate under fear.”
The Law Under Threat
The Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act of Press Freedom, signed in 2019, is credited with decriminalizing speech in Liberia. It repealed colonial-era offenses including criminal libel against the President, sedition, and criminal malevolence. Press advocates call it a cornerstone of Liberia’s democratic progress.
But a new bill before the House — the “Protection from Gender-Based Online Abuse and Harassment Act of 2026,” introduced by Nimba County District 2 Representative Nyahn Flomo — has alarmed media groups. The draft proposes jail terms of up to two years and fines of L$50,000 to L$500,000 for anyone guilty of using “insulting, obscene, or harassing language” on social media or other electronic platforms.
ALJA: “Do Not Dilute the KAK Act”
Massaquoi urged the House to “reconsider any legislative action that would dilute the intent and effectiveness” of the KAK Act and instead “strengthen protections for journalists, promote open dialogue, and uphold the democratic values embodied in this important legislation.”
He noted that ALJA views the proposed amendment as inconsistent with Liberia’s constitutional guarantees and its international commitments to uphold freedom of expression and democratic governance.
Legal scholar Kwame Clement and Ralph Nyuma of the Independent National Commission on Human Rights have also cautioned against the amendment. Not all lawmakers support the bill. Representative Sumo Mulbah, a member of the House Joint Committee, has voiced opposition to any measure that would erode press freedom or violate Liberia’s commitments under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
A Day to Reflect, and Resist
ALJA’s statement came as journalists marked World Press Freedom Day under the global theme “Shaping a World at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Security, and Development.”
“We take this moment to reflect on the immense sacrifices made by journalists in the course of their duties — both in Liberia and across the world,” Massaquoi said. He called on the Government to foster an environment where journalists “operate freely, safely, and without fear of intimidation or reprisal.”
For ALJA, the proposed amendment tests that commitment. The group said it remains “steadfast in its commitment to advocating for a free, independent, and vibrant press in Liberia, and stands in solidarity with all stakeholders working to preserve and protect these fundamental freedoms.”
