Africa-Press – Liberia. A commitment by the Government of Liberia (GoL), led by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, to uphold press freedom and free speech has been severely undermined by a local government official.
During a Presidential Dinner on April 11, 2025, President Boakai, alongside Minister Piah, publicly committed the government to the Table Mountain Declaration and several other international protocols aimed at promoting press freedom. These principles are also enshrined under Article 15 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution.
President Boakai specifically reaffirmed his government’s dedication to supporting freedom of the press, highlighting its importance as a core tenet of democracy and good governance. “Press freedom and open criticism are pillars of good governance and national accountability,” President Boakai declared, vowing to protect the rights and practices of all media practitioners.
“Criticism is not a threat to democracy; it is its essence,” he emphasized. “We will not shy away from your questions; instead, we will listen. We will not stifle dissenting voices; we will engage with them,” he added.
Minister Piah further assured journalists in attendance that under the Unity Party (UP)-led government, no journalist would be censored, no media institution would be shut down for its editorial stance, and no journalist would face unlawful detention. “Those dark days of government crackdowns on the media are behind us,” he stated.
However, less than a month after these assurances, President Boakai’s commitment has been undermined by one of his subordinates, Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Alex Grant. Grant reportedly ordered the closure of Smile FM, the only community radio station in the county.
According to reports, Smile FM was forcibly shut down by a group acting on the orders of Superintendent Grant. During the closure, Broadcast Technician Cyrus Gbeway was allegedly assaulted, his phone destroyed, and he was dragged off the premises. Police later sealed the building and barred all staff from returning.
The shutdown of Smile FM reportedly stemmed from a leadership dispute at the station, where two rival boards emerged, each claiming the right to oversee the station’s operations. Station Manager Solo Uriah Lewis was replaced by Randolp Yonkpao Saydee under a newly constituted board, allegedly backed by Superintendent Grant. The original board, led by Madam Jesadeh G. Barzon, rejected the changes, calling them illegal and politically motivated.
Superintendent Grant, in an interview with the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), confirmed that he ordered the temporary closure due to concerns over a potential confrontation between the rival factions.
Following the incident, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), under President Julius Kanubah, condemned the closure as a direct attack on press freedom. Kanubah demanded that the station be reopened immediately and without conditions. “Local authorities must end their interference and allow Smile FM journalists to operate without fear,” Kanubah stated. “This is a clear case of political overreach that must be addressed immediately.”
The Association of Liberia Community Radio (ALICOR) also expressed deep concern over the harassment and intimidation directed at Smile FM by Superintendent Grant. In a statement released on May 6, 2025, ALICOR condemned the actions, calling them an attempt to silence independent media through the abuse of political power.
ALICOR President Hector Mulbah expressed disappointment, stating that the closure of Smile FM contradicts the commitment made by President Boakai during the Presidential Media Dinner. “This action is a direct attack on press freedom. We call for the immediate reopening of the station and for the protection of the journalists involved,” he said.
ALICOR also called on journalists across Liberia to stand in solidarity with Smile FM.
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