PHOTO: ALICOR President Hector Mulbah
Monrovia, Liberia— The Association of Liberia Community Radio (ALICOR) welcomes the United States Government’s 2024 Human Rights Report highlighting aggression against the media, particularly community radio stations, with specific reference to the recent case involving Radio Kakata.
In that case, then Margibi County Superintendent Victoria Duncan — now Circuit Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court — forcibly removed Mr. Jerry Quoi, citing alleged financial malpractice. This action, for which she had no legal authority, represents a troubling misuse of power to silence the media and a clear violation of press freedom.
ALICOR hopes this acknowledgment will serve as a warning to public officials who may attempt to use their positions to suppress the media. Community radio stations, though often under-resourced, play a vital role in advancing national priorities by promoting peace, reconciliation, and development.
The association also recalls numerous attacks on community radio stations over the years, often carried out by government officials seeking to evade accountability for their actions. ALICOR reaffirms its commitment to defending the independence of Liberia’s community radio network and ensuring that journalists can work without fear of censorship or political interference.
ALICOR envisions an environment where community radio stations can serve freely as the voice of the voiceless — free from censorship, intimidation, or harassment, say a press release signed by ALICOR’s Secretary General, Emmanuel Tophic Degleh.