Monrovia, Liberia - President George Manneh Weah has assured Liberians of his administration’s continued support to press freedom. The Liberian leader spoke on Friday, March 23, 2018 when he served as keynote speaker during the turnover ceremony of UNMIL Radio to ECOWAS Radio Station held at the Pan African Plaza in Monrovia.

President Weah recounted the numerous efforts by the UN and the collective will of the sub-region to support freedom of the press, human rights, as well as sustain the consolidated gains that have been made in Liberia on its path todevelopment, progress and democracy after years of turmoil.

Heexpressed profound gratitude for the invaluable services rendered by speaker at the official commissioning and turnover ceremony of UNMIL Radio to ECOWAS Regional Broadcasting UNMIL Radio and its dedicated staff to the people of Liberia in educating, informing, and entertaining them as far back as 2003, when the nation was torn apart by war. 

The Liberian leader noted that theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights remains a milestone document in the history of human rights and assured the UN that he will work with the National Legislature to ensure that those laws that criminalize free speech be repealed, as they serve as a form of media censorship and muscling of the press.

President Weah added that the Liberian government supports the Table Mountain Declaration; a key instrument for press freedom and free speech, which was signed by his predecessor, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2012. “We believe, no person should be arrested, intimidated or harassed for freely expressing their opinions on any subject”, he said.

President Weah further expressed gratitude to the United Nations family for establishing a radio station that stretches across all of the 15 political subdivisions and to ECOWAS for taking over UNMIL Radio in an effort to keep the Liberian people informed about the many development projects that the government has embarked upon to put the country back on track.

Commissioning the turnover of UNMIL Radio to ECOWAS, H.E. Dr. Jean-Claude Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said the commissioning of the radio station was in fulfillment of the decision made by the Authority of Heads of State and Government during ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit in 2000, which took place in Bamako, Mali where the establishment of a Regional Radio and Television Station for the sub-region was authorized.

“What we are witnessing here today, exemplified the dreams of our founding fathers to strengthen the bond of unity and promote peaceful co-existence amongst the Member States of our community. He added that the turnover ceremony was equally matched by the depth of collaboration and bonds maximized by the Liberian government, the United Nations and ECOWAS Commission.

Also speaking during the ceremony, Mr. Tunde Ajisomo, ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia asked Member States to maintain the radio station as it is very cost intensive.

In attendance were Madame Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nation, Mr. Olof Skoog, Chairman of the Peace Building Commission at the UN, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, Members of the Cabinet, international partners, among others.