Published: August 29, 2026
MONROVIA — The leadership of the Reporters Association of Liberia (RAL) on Friday, Aug. 28, released its Consolidated Transition, Status and Early Progress Report, highlighting early institutional reforms and announcing the appointment of five permanent committees with representation aimed at decentralizing the association and strengthening members’ participation across Liberia.
The report was released during the leadership’s first major press conference at the RAL office, housed at the Press Union of Liberia headquarters on 9th Street in Sinkor, Monrovia.
RAL President J. H. Webster Clayeh said the exercise reflects the leadership’s commitment to keeping reporters informed about the state of their association, the progress being made and the direction of the administration since it officially assumed office July 10.
“We committed ourselves from the beginning to an open leadership, and that commitment requires us to regularly account to our members and the public,” Clayeh said. “We want our members to know where RAL stands, what we have done, the challenges we inherited and where we intend to take the association.”
The report said that nearly two months into office, the leadership has concentrated on rebuilding and strengthening RAL’s institutional, administrative and financial systems while establishing more effective channels for communication and engagement with members nationwide.
“Nearly two months into office, much remains to be done. However, the steps taken so far demonstrate the current leadership’s determination to strengthen RAL and build a more vibrant, accountable, inclusive and responsive association for reporters across Liberia,” the report stated.
Clayeh said strengthening communication with members is particularly important to the administration because RAL is a national association whose membership extends beyond Monrovia.
“Our members must have access to their leadership and institutional information regardless of where they are assigned,” Clayeh said. “Our objective is to build a RAL where information flows, members participate and the leadership remains accountable.”
On financial administration, the report highlighted the successful reactivation of RAL’s existing U.S. dollar and Liberian dollar savings accounts with the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment, restoring an active institutional banking structure for the association.
The leadership also presented its seventh Inaugural Financial Report, with the detailed breakdown subsequently made available to members through RAL’s internal communication channel for review and reference.
Clayeh said the administration intends to maintain stronger financial controls and documentation as part of its transparency commitment.
“We believe institutional resources must be properly documented and accounted for,” he said. “Transparency cannot only be something we promise; it must be demonstrated by the systems we establish and the information we make available to our members.”
A major highlight of Friday’s report was the appointment of RAL’s five permanent committees by the president in consultation with the leadership. The report said the appointments are intended to decentralize responsibilities, broaden participation and make the association more functional and responsive nationwide.
The appointments were made pursuant to Article 15, Section 1 of the RAL Constitution, which provides for the Grievance and Ethic Committee, Membership Committee, Intellectual and Technical Discourse Committee, Welfare Committee, and Sports and Entertainment Committee.
The Membership Committee is headed by Joshua Freeman as chair, Kongoi Gborkorquellie as co-chair and Stephanie Duncan as secretary.
The Grievance and Ethic Committee is chaired by Trokon G. Flahnma, with Annie Mae Gonny as co-chair and Emmanuel Gorwu Jr. as secretary.
The Welfare Committee is headed by Grace Bryant-Mollay as chair, Joetta Kulah-Yeahgar as co-chair and Elton Tiah as secretary.
The Sports and Entertainment Committee is chaired by Elijah Pyne, with Mariama Jalloh as co-chair and Benson Matic Mokko as secretary.
The Intellectual and Technical Discourse Committee is headed by Joseph Sallie as chair, Jenneh Kemokai as co-chair and Joseph Sirleaf as secretary.
Clayeh said the committees are expected to move beyond titles and develop practical initiatives that directly benefit reporters.
“We are decentralizing responsibilities because RAL cannot be run effectively by a few elected officials in Monrovia,” Clayeh said. “We want our members across the country involved in the work and direction of their association.”
The report similarly states that the committees will work with the leadership and membership to develop and implement programs within their respective mandates.
RAL said its broader agenda remains anchored in protecting reporters and defending their rights, promoting members’ welfare and press freedom, upholding professionalism, building reporters’ capacity and strengthening relationships with journalists, civil society and public and private institutions.
Clayeh reaffirmed that the early progress represents only the beginning of the administration’s agenda.
“We still have significant work ahead of us,” he said. “Our commitment is to build a stronger, more vibrant and inclusive RAL that protects reporters, promotes professionalism and creates opportunities for our members across Liberia”.
