PHOTO: Information Min Ledgerhood Rennie and the logo of the PUL
STORY SOURCE: Liberian News Agency (LINA)
By Michlyne N. Williams
MONROVIA, March 1 (LINA) – The Ministry of Information has expressed concern over the “wanton misuse” of the airwaves of the country under the guise of press freedom.
The Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), Ledgerhood J. Rennie, has urged media institutions to refrain from ethical transgressions and the abuse of free speech.
He made the comments on Tuesday in a communication to the Press Union of Liberia in which he drew the union’s attention to what the Ministry described as “a sustained pattern of the many ethical transgressions on the part of Spoon Network Inc.”
In the past weeks, Minister Rennie informed the PUL, that the network has allowed the use of its platforms (online and radio) by well-known “rabble-rousers” who mainly reside outside of the country, to spew lies, disinformation, misinformation, with the sole intent to cause chaos in the society through the campaign of fake news and deliberate false information, while broadcasting from a foreign jurisdiction.
He stated that while the Weah-led administration is not in the business of stifling free expression and information of the press and has shown demonstrable commitments over time as a government to this principle, everyone must be reminded that the exercise of this freedom comes with responsibility, and that one is held accountable under the laws of the country for the breach of such.
According to him, those in the habit of misusing the media are outside of the country, making it difficult for those who feel injured by these deliberate lies, insults and fake news to have any meaningful redress.
“Furthermore, as a government, it is our fiduciary responsibility to ensure decent and responsible use of our airwaves and we cannot falter on this responsibility, especially during this time in which the political discourse is becoming feisty,” Minister Rennie emphasized.
Against this backdrop, the Minister has requested an urgent meeting on March 2, 2023 with the leadership of PUL to examine these situations with the view of forming a common approach to curtailing the wanton misuse of the airwaves under the guise of free speech.
The meeting is expected to take place at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism on Capitol Hill.
LINA MNW/IAS/WSG/PTK