By Kruah Thomson
MONROVIA: Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah has instructed Deputy Minister Daniel Sanoe to notify President Joseph Boakai about the decision by Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) Director General Eugene Fahngon to suspend LBS’s live coverage of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism’s (MICAT) regular press briefings.
On Wednesday, August 6, Fahngon announced that, due to financial constraints and lack of funding, LBS would halt coverage of major government functions, including MICAT’s weekly press briefings. He, however, noted that there was room for negotiation with the MICAT administration.
Responding to the announcement during Thursday’s regular press briefing, Deputy Minister Sanoe criticized the decision, describing it as unilateral and not reflective of the views of the LBS Board or the Government of Liberia.
He expressed surprise that LBS, as part of the government’s communication structure and with the information minister serving as chair of its board, would take such an action without consultation.
According to Sanoe, Minister Piah has directed him to formally inform the president about the matter.
“We are not in a war of words with Mr. Fago because he is a member of the government’s communication team, and maybe there’s some correction that needs to be made somewhere. But ELBC is a government entity, and communicating with the Liberian people begins from MICAT,” Sanoe emphasized.
He assured the public that the matter would be resolved with the president’s intervention. He added that when the chairperson of the LBS Board returns to the country over the weekend, the issue would be addressed.
