Liberia: Boakai - We Won't Muzzle the Press

What the report says

Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai used the second annual Presidential Media Dinner in Congo Town, held Saturday, September 12, to restate his administration’s support for press freedom and open government, according to The New Dawn via AllAfrica. The event brought together media owners, journalists and officials of the Press Union of Liberia at the Ministerial Complex in Monrovia’s suburb of Congo Town.

Boakai said his government would not seek to control or silence the press and emphasized that free expression, access to information and an independent media are central to democratic life in Liberia. He also pointed to the Table Mountain Declaration as a commitment his administration still supports. In his remarks, he described the relationship between government and media as one that should be professional and respectful, even when disagreements arise.

The president urged journalists to continue questioning public officials and scrutinizing his administration, while also calling on reporters to uphold accuracy, fairness and professionalism. He said government should remain accessible and responsive, and the media should continue to inform and hold officials accountable.

The gathering also gave media practitioners a chance to raise concerns about journalism and government-media relations. The broader significance of Boakai’s remarks is that they signal an effort to reassure journalists and reinforce norms around press freedom at a time when relations between governments and the media can often become strained.