Monrovia-The Liberian Government has suspended with immediate effect the licenses of at least seven media entities as part of its regulation.
By Wholquoi Yeahgar-www.ywholquoi@gmail.com
Government on Monday, June 18, 2018 announced a month long review of the media entities.
The government said it was reviewing the regulatory regime of media operating licenses and authorization due to “technical and administrative irregularities,” including duplications of frequencies to radio and television operators, and incorrect designations and submissions.
When the press release was issued, the government did not name institutions that would be affected. It said the review process, which kicked off Wednesday, would not affect media entities that were in existence prior to January 2018.
Since the pronouncement, the owner of Punch FM Patrick Honnah expressed fear that the regulation targeted him.
But, appearing Wednesday on OK FM Afternoon Conversation, Deputy Minister Eugene Fahngon named Punch FM, Spoon FM, Magic, 231 Group of Companies, Emmanuel TV among others.
Fahngon declined to name the remaining three institutions but he said speculations that the government made the decision to target Patrick Honnah, owner of Punch FM, is “baseless, unfounded, untrue, and speaks to the limitation of certain people.”
“I do not think he has what it takes to be a target that government officials should be afraid of,” Fahngon said.
Deputy Minister Fahngon added that their licenses are suspended while the remaining media outlets will be screened for compliance.
The deputy information minister noted that this exercise reviewed that 27 media institutions have not been in compliance with the requirements for operating for the past three years.
Before any media institution begins operation in the country, it must present to the Ministry of Information, a complete set of documents proving that it is a legal business entity. This includes the articles of incorporation, business registration, a complete list of essential staff, career profile of managing editor and editor in chief, the exact location of propose media facility, presentation of revenue tax receipt and license for frequency allocation from the Liberia Telecommunication Authority, Fahngon said.
“Only 25 radio stations are registered in the ministry’s database,” he said.
In 2017, Fahngon said of the 75 newspapers operating in the country, only 14 complied with requirements. In 2018, Fahngon said this number of newspapers in compliance with government regulations dropped from 14 to 5.
He further said that the exercise will go on and “media institutions, whether new or old, that do not meet the guidelines for issuing media permit will be dealt with.”
The annual registration fee for newspapers is US$200, US$200 for community radio stations, US$350 for religious radio stations, US$500 for commercial radio stations, US$1,000 for television stations, US$1,500 for cable television.
