MONROVIA – Government’s renewed promises to protect journalists arrived with a material concession: payment of debts that previous administrations left with local media institutions. The declarations at the second Presidential Media Dinner linked press freedom to financial fairness, official accessibility and stronger professional discipline. Jerolinmek Piah promised no censorship, arbitrary closures or unlawful detention, but challenged journalists to verify information before publishing. Eugene Fahngon described the moment as an era of democratic tolerance, while Samuel Stevquoah accepted the media’s right to question officials. Those assurances now create a public standard against which the Boakai administration’s conduct will be measured going forward. The dinner also preserved Sylvester Grigsby’s legacy as an architect of state-press dialogue. The Analyst reports.
MONROVIA: The Government of Liberia has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting press freedom and journalists from state repression while announcing that it has begun settling longstanding debts owed to local media institutions for services rendered under previous administrations.
Government officials made the declarations on Saturday evening, September 12, 2026, during the Second Annual Presidential Media Dinner at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. initiated the annual event to honor the Liberian press, strengthen democratic cooperation and promote dialogue between public officials and media practitioners.
President Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, senior cabinet ministers, publishers, editors and other media executives attended the gathering. The second dinner was held 520 days after the administration launched the inaugural edition as a platform for state-press engagement.
Piah Announces Debt Payments
Delivering the keynote remarks, Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism Jerolinmek Matthew Piah announced that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning had begun paying legitimate debts owed to media institutions by previous governments.
“Worthy of noting, the Government, through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, has started settling legitimate debts which past administrations owed some media houses for services rendered,” Piah declared. “Be assured that government remains committed to meeting its obligations to the media all of the time.”
Piah also outlined the administration’s position on press freedom and democratic liberties. He presented assurances against censorship, arbitrary closure of media institutions and unlawful detention of journalists.
“As head of the Government of Liberia information machinery and the main state institution that interlinks with the media, we can reassure the Press Union of Liberia and the media community that the Government remains resolute in upholding the principles of free speech,” Piah stated. “No journalist will be censored. No media institution will be arbitrarily shut down for its editorial stance. No journalist will be unlawfully detained. The dark days of Government crackdowns on the media are behind us.”
Piah Warns Against Misinformation
While assuring journalists of government protection, Piah raised concerns about unverified reports circulating through online news outlets, Facebook and WhatsApp groups. He urged the Press Union of Liberia and media institutions to strengthen professional self-regulation and address ethical transgressions.
The information minister explained that some journalists receive unconfirmed information from sources and publish it before completing the necessary verification. He noted that correcting inaccurate information becomes difficult once it enters the public domain because some readers continue believing the original report after a correction or retraction.
“Unverified information is not merely a mistake in journalism; it can have real consequences for individuals, communities, institutions, and the peace of our country,” Piah warned. “Every journalist should therefore ask before publishing: Is this information true? Have I verified it? Is it fair? And what could happen if I am wrong?”
Piah said the government would encourage and protect journalism that informs the public and conducts investigations. He also called for reporting that supports peace and avoids dividing the country.
“The Government will encourage, support, and protect a free press that informs rather than misleads, the media that investigates rather than assumes, and the journalism that promotes peace rather than divide Liberia,” Piah stated. His remarks combined the administration’s press-freedom assurances with a call for accuracy and professional responsibility.
Fahngon Welcomes Media Executives
Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System Eugene L. Fahngon welcomed publishers, editors and other senior media executives to the dinner. He described the occasion as part of an era of democratic tolerance under the Boakai administration.
Fahngon linked effective governance to the work of the media. He also cited the absence of imprisoned journalists and the commencement of payments toward inherited media debts among the developments recognized at the event.
“To provide the right governance, you need the media,” Fahngon remarked. “We are not only welcoming the media executives, the publishers, the editors, and other senior executives to this presidential dinner, but also to an era under your administration where the media is not suppressed.”
Fahngon said the administration had created room for disagreement and diverse opinions. He maintained that differences between the government and journalists should not prevent continued engagement.
“We welcome you to the media where no journalist is in prison or in jail,” Fahngon stated. “We are saying welcome to the era where we can say thank you for settling the legacy debts of all media institutions before you, and welcome to an era where we disagree to agree, where opinions are diverse.”
Stevquoah Promises Official Accessibility
Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Samuel A. Stevquoah reaffirmed the administration’s open-door policy and its commitment to making public officials accessible to journalists. He acknowledged that government officials and media practitioners would not agree on every public issue.
Stevquoah referred to calls from media leaders for budgetary support and gender parity as examples of matters on which different positions could arise. He nevertheless recognized the media’s responsibility to question officials, demand accountability and report to Liberians.
“We will not always agree on everything, but you have the right to ask difficult questions, and to hold public officials like myself accountable, and you have the right to tell the story to the Liberian people,” Stevquoah asserted. He said the government must respect the media’s professional responsibilities.
“The government, in return, must respect the responsibility that you have, and we have to continue to engage with one another,” Stevquoah stated. “You have our assurances that we will continue to make ourselves available.”
The minister’s remarks placed official accessibility alongside the administration’s broader promises on press freedom. He committed public officials to continued engagement despite disagreements with journalists and media institutions.
Officials Honor Grigsby’s Legacy
Piah also paid tribute to the late Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Ambassador Sylvester M. Grigsby, who helped guide the inaugural Presidential Media Dinner before his death. He described Grigsby as a distinguished public servant and veteran media manager.
The minister recalled Grigsby’s work with the Suntimes newspaper alongside journalists Rufus M. Darpoh and Westmore Dahn. According to Piah, the newspaper faced state repression during the mid-1980s while advocating press freedom.
Piah linked the administration’s press-freedom assurances to the historical struggle of journalists and media institutions that operated under state pressure. He said the government wanted contemporary newsrooms to perform their work without fear of official interference.
The dinner ended with a moment of silence for Grigsby and recently deceased Liberia Broadcasting System journalist Charles Johnson. Government officials and media executives also renewed their stated commitment to maintaining a productive relationship in support of governance and national development.
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