A report from the southeastern Grand Gedeh County says a politician has allegedly attacked Journalist and media workers of a local community Radio station
This is contained in a press statement issued earlier this week by the Grand Gedeh Journalists Association, as seen below.
PRESS STATEMENT
GGJAL CONDEMS ATTACK AND CAUTION PREPERTRATOR T O STOP OR RISK MEDIA BLACK OUT
Date: Sept. 22, 2021
For and behalf of GGJA we want to categorically condemn the attack on media workers and institution in Grand Gedeh County.
The Grand Gedeh Journalist Association is concerned of continue attack on media entities and individual journalist, the recent attack on voice of Gedeh and Journalist John Goah is undemocratic, unacceptable, unlawful and barbaric.
On September 18, 2021 Supporters to believe to be friends of Sokan attacked the Voice of Gedeh radio station and declared a social media war on said entity in relation to VOG 88.5MHz continue reportage on aspirant Erol Madison Gwion, the FOS action undermines independent press freedom and against article 15 of the constitution of Liberia, Steven S. Saywon an employee of the Zwedru city cooperation and an executive member of the friends of Sokan allegedly beat the news director of VOG 88.5MHz Journalist John Goah September 20,2021 at the station premises which resulted to the damaged of his iPhone 6, missing iPhone 8 and other electronic devices.
On September 22, 2021 an encrypted Facebook post a caption as’’ if a police station can be burned than what about VOG 88.5MHz
These attacks are counterproductive to the progress of Press Freedom and independent media broadcast. GGJAL condemned this in the strongest term and call for robust investigation and legal proceeding in this matter.
GGJAL attention has also been drawn to the political intrusion at Smile FM by Hon. Zoe Pennue and others, it is established in a purported leaked audio claiming to be the voice of Sen. Pennue to remove the manager and block public funding to the institution , in August 2021 a leaked audio purporting to be Sen. Pennue Voice, Supt. Kai Farley, Mark Doerue and Station manager Solo Lewis was heard of plans to remove the station manager and block public funds to the station, Hon Pennue claim in said audio tape alleged that the current management at the community radio SMILE FM didn’t supported his senatorial bid and critical on the operation of local government .
GGJAL see this unethical, and slapped in the faces of the media operation.
GGJAL therefore call on political actors and others to desist from such act as its threating local voices being heard as provide under the media policies and the 1986 constitution of Liberia.
The continue attack on the media and individual journalist is becoming a tradition and needs to stop, Therefore GGJAL caution would be perpetrator’s and organizations to desist or risk media blockage .
Signed________________________________________
Kai Gee
Acting Secretary General
Grand Gedeh Journalist Association.
Contact: 0777707839/0888614802
Email: kaigee181225@gmail.com