-But FeJAL’s President says the group will remain independent
President George Weah was on Saturday April 20, recorded in history as the first sitting President who has made the biggest donation to the Liberian media by donating a well-furnished two-storey building on a 2.5 lot of land to an auxiliary of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).
The donation, which came as a total surprise to the entire media including the leadership and members of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL), was as a result from a three-year discussion with the leadership and the project committee headed by now Deputy Director General for Administration at the Liberia Broadcasting System, Estelle Liberty Kermue.
FeJAL’s leadership headed by Siatta Scott-Johnson who envisioned the project
and made a pronouncement upon taking office almost three years ago sought
avenues of support to get its own headquarters, as the Association was operating
from an office space at the PUL headquarters in central Monrovia. Now, this auxiliary
gets a space of its own after receiving a parcel of land from President Weah
then Senator of Montserrado County in the ABC Community in vicinity of the Baptist
Seminary outside Monrovia.
The FeJAL leadership along with the project committee members knocked on doors
of prominent people in government, as well as other business people to aid them
in this venture which at the time seemed only but a normal campaign promise in
spite of all the efforts exerted to kick it rolling.
The project was embraced by several persons who graced the induction ceremony
with almost all making pledges while some donated physical cash as a result of
a mini rally which was proffered by the then Minister of Gender, Children and
Social Protection, Julia Duncan Cassell.
The leadership of the group along with the project committee had to do
follow-ups to make the project a reality but again the entire process was not
working and the members were tasked to bring five bags of cement as their
initial contributions to start their own project as a motivation for others to
assist.
Again, that too did not materialize as most of the members fell short of this
commitment and the project was stalled.
Even though FeJAL by then had moved to an office space out of the PUL, it did not despair and kept the land secured that someday the headquarters would have been erected.
Following discussions with the project committee, the leadership again decided
to ignite the spirit of having a headquarters for the organization, this time,
the committee came in and worked assiduously sending out letters, finding dates
and venue for a fund raising program; this time with much anticipation that the
project would have begun.
To their surprise, the guests at the program were even more than the owners
(FeJAL members) of the project as apparently, many anticipated that it would
have been another hall-full of show but that was not the case when President
Weah presented to the leadership the key of a 10-seater mini bus, a copy of an
original mother deed and the organization’s personal deed along with a Liberian
dollar coin with a date of 1966 which he said was his date of birth signifying
history.
President Weah informed the gathering that he is a leader of history and not
politics. He is a man of actions therefore he expressed how delighted he was to
again make a huge history. Many did not understand from the onset until he
requested the project committee chairperson Madam Kermue to unveil the items one
at a time.
Following that, he unveiled a blueprint of the headquarters which he had
single-handedly financed the project. It was not only constructed but furnished
by President Weah and then officially turned it over to the leadership of FeJAL,
amidst much emotions from the handful of female journalists and some male
journalists who had gone to grace the occasion, the Liberian leader led the
entire room to the site where the gigantic building stands.
Even though
the building is at the back of his politicized projects, FeJAL has acquired
that property long before he became President and it is now situated in a 2.5
parcel lot of land which according to the President can be used any way FeJAL
deems necessary.
Madam Scott-Johnson thanked the President for the gesture and promised that it will in no way stand in the way of the independence of female journalists in their reportage and at the same time appreciated it as a promise fulfilled as a friend to female journalists. Report by Winnie Saywah Jimmy
‘FeJAL Remains Independent’…Says Prexy After Pres. Weah’s Gift
The President of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL), Madam Siatta Scott-Johnson has made it emphatically clear that the gift (Headquarters) given by President George Weah will not affect the independence of the Association.
Speaking yesterday on the 50-50 morning show on Sky FM, Madam Johnson said FeJAL is not a News outlet and the Association does not have direct control over what comes out in newspapers or aired on radio stations, so accepting the President’s gift will not affect the work of female journalists in any way.
According to her, FeJAL is a membership-based Association and its members are attached to different media institutions where they all are governed by different editorial policies adding that most news rooms are being headed by male editors and not female journalists.
“Let me make it clear to those who think that the Association is being compromised by accepting the President’s gift. We will remain tough by criticizing the government when necessary and commend when they do the right thing. FeJAL as an Association cannot and will not dictate to any of its members to report in the interest of the government,” Madam Johnson added.
Since the President’s donation of a National Headquarters made to the Female Journalists Association of Liberia, there have been lots of different reactions among the public especially on social media and radio talk shows as well.
Many people perceive that the Association will now work at the will and pleasure of the President because of the gift he has given them.
Below are some facebook comments from some people expressing their different opinions on the issue:
“Accepting politicians’ gifts as a journalist in line with your duties is unacceptable, unprofessional and repulsive. FeJAL has been compromised,” Stephen Binda said.
“How can female journalists take an office complex in the President’s private controversial building? Watching the Watchdog,” Alexander Bealded remarked.
“Many thanks to FeJAL for accepting the building as a gift from the President. We are grateful Mr. President,”Musa M. B. Kenneh, president of the Legislative Reporters Association Liberia (LEGISPOOL) stated.
The donation made to the Female Journalists Association of Liberia Headquarters came as a surprise when the President attended a fundraising program intended to kick-start FeJAL Headquarters construction project.
Back in 2016, after several engagements, the President gave one lot of land to the Association as his contribution to the empowerment of female journalists but did not mention that he will build the headquarters for the Association.