Weeks After Margibi County Superintendent Arbitrarily Removed The Station’s Manager
By Alfred Kollie alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia – The ongoing dispute at Radio Kakata, the community radio in Margibi County seems to have taken a positive turn, with the appointment of a three-member interim management team by Internal Affairs Minister, Francis Sakila Nyumalin, Sr, after the County’s Superintendent’s arbitrary removal of the station’s Managers.
Owned by the community and run by a Board, county superintendents have no authority to fire or hire station managers of community radio stations operating in their counties.
The team has been tasked with resolving the conflict that arose after the suspension of the station’s manager, Jerry Quoi by Margibi County Superintendent Victoria Wolobah Duncan.
the dispute, which has been brewing for some time, revolves around allegations of financial mismanagement and strained working relationships at the station, raised by an employee of the Telecom Community in Kakata, where Radio Kakata is located.
Concerns raised by community members and current, former and suspended workers of the station led to a call for action.
To find a resolution to the dispute, Minister Nyumalin convened a mitigation dialogue including the Press Union, Internews, Association of Community Radio, Community leaders, and other stakeholders on Tuesday in Kakata where he named the Association of Community Radio as the head of the interim team after listening to both parties.
The head of the Civil Society Organization in Margibi and the Margibi City Council were also appointed as members of the interim team.
Meanwhile, James Arku has been appointed as the acting station manager of Radio Kakata until new board members and a station manager can be recruited by the interim management.
The new interim management team of Radio Kakata has been given the responsibility of conducting the recruitment process, ensuring that it is done by the station’s bylaws and constitution.
Minister Nyumalin has set a timeframe of thirty days for the interim team to complete their tasks.
They will also provide training for both the newly recruited board members and managers to ensure the smooth operation of the station.
To facilitate the resolution, the Internal Affairs Minister has dissolved the two separate boards that were established due to the conflict and also relieved suspended Manager Jerry Quoi and acting manager Abraham Kollie of their duties, allowing them to apply for said positions through the interim team.
In remarks, Internews Media Lawyer Advisor Atty. Al Varney Rogers thanked the Minister, the superintendent, and the community for the level of leadership in resolving the crisis.
According to Rogers, Internews is opened to providing technical support in ensuring the independence of free media, especially Community Radios.
The dialogue, which brought together representatives from the Press Union of Liberia, Internews, Association of Community Radio, community leaders, and other stakeholders from Margibi, saw some suggestions that Radio Kakata should become fully owned and operated by the community to avoid government interference.
As the interim team begins its work, the community eagerly awaits a fair and just outcome that considers the interests of all citizens.
Some say the appointment of the interim management team brings hope for a resolution to the conflict at Radio Kakata and the restoration of smooth operations at the station. But others have raised concern about the level of community ownership of community radio and the power and independence of the board vis-à-vis local authorities’ power to suspend, remove and replace people administering the affairs of the community radios around the country.