By Monrovia, Liberia – Leading Media executives, including leading publishers, staged a walkout during a meeting with President Joseph Boakai’s Press Secretary Kula Fofana, whistling a bitter relations for Government and Media.
On June 20, 2024, Media managers, including Philipbert S. Browne, Alfred Goah Togba Sr. and veteran journalists, walked out after Miss Fofana’s insistence on advertising on the official presidential website, ‘E-mansion’, was viewed as disrespectful and insensitive to traditional media in Liberia. They argued that this advertisement undermined the economic growth of newspapers, which generate the majority of their income.
Philipbert S. Browne, on behalf of aggrieved publishers, criticized Madam Fofana for promoting NGOs’ advertisements on the presidency’s official website and not allowing traditional media to run ads that could generate media revenue. He argued that media executives should be allowed to advertise in newspapers, following the Public Procurement Concession Commission.
Presidential press secretary Madam Kula V. Fofana argued that the Joseph Nyumah Boakai government inherited advertisement conditions and could not undo them. She urged newspaper owners to build online readership, leading to a media executive’s walkout.
Minister Piah urged calm and resolution of impasse, promising to meet after media executives. The Presidential Press secretary’s insensitivity towards local media concerns was criticized at an inception meeting. Political pundits feared increased tension between media, particularly leading newspaper owners and publishers, could undermine government information dissemination on national priorities and President’s activities.
By: Alphanso G. Kalama
