In light of the high-level summit involving African leaders and American leadership, the President of the Press Union of Liberia is calling on the government not to engage in business as usual in the exploration and development of Liberia’s natural resources.
Mr. Julius Kanubah emphasized that too often the exploration and development of Liberia’s natural resources have been underpinned by a lack of transparency, accountability, and impartiality in relation to advancing the public interest.
In a speech at the 12th Anniversary celebrations of Radio Centennial – Voice of Hope, Kanubah underscored the need for the national leadership of Liberia to transcend the narrative and reality that Liberia’s natural resources are a curse rather than a blessing for Liberians and to the nation.
“As President Joseph Boakai has advanced the case of Liberia to the United States for a comprehensive survey of our mineral resources, we must stress that this process must not be business as usual, where the exploration and development of our natural resources have remained a curse rather than a blessing to our nation,” Kanubah warned.
In acknowledging President Boakai for making the case of Liberia to the United States a survey of Liberia’s natural resources, the PUL President noted that such an assessment would be critical to assessing the types, amounts, and locations of the valuable resources within the territorial boundaries of Liberia, for the overall development of the country.
Kanubah stated that Liberia’s natural resources such as diamonds, gold, uranium, forests, and iron ore are a gift from God, and in so doing, it was time the resources be maximized for the benefit of all Liberians, a bulk of whom remain trapped in poverty, inequality, and insecurity.
Moreover, the PUL President admonished Liberian journalists and media institutions to engage in responsible journalism by elevating accurate and impartial messages and voices of hope, spiritual upliftment, civic responsibilities, national unity, peace and development.
“As a media community, we must continue to report on issues and processes that impinge upon impoverishment, inequalities, and human insecurity.”
Established in 2013, Radio Centennial – Voice of Hope 100.7 FM is owned and operated by the Assemblies of God Church of Liberia and is located at the Bethesda AG Church at 72nd Community.
The PUL President has meanwhile criticized pastors and spiritual leaders who live a far much richer and better life than their poor members who are seeking spiritual guidance in order to become better.
“So, the church must share its resources to and with its membership. It is not good for members of the church to be poor while our own spiritual leaders are richer and live in wealth. That is not good. Because resources are a blessing from God, let’s use them for the upliftment of our country and citizens. And this also applies to the national resources.”
The church must preach and demonstrate integrity from within while being vocal on national issues rather than silent, Kanubah stressed, while speaking on the anniversary’s theme, “Let Our Voices be Heard”, during the program on Saturday, 12 July 2025.
