Doloquee
Liberia’s Information Minister, Ledgerhood Rennie, is facing criticism from some quarters for his alleged inconsistency on freedom of expression.
The criticism comes after a letter was sent to the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) by the Minister’s office, which reportedly called for action against the popular radio show #Spoon_Talk for featuring guests who express their views from abroad.
The letter has been widely shared on social media, with many expressing surprise that Minister Rennie, who was once a station manager at Radio Veritas and had himself been targeted by the former Charles Taylor regime for interviewing guests from abroad, would take such a stance.
“The same Ledgerhood who frowned on former Pres. Charles Taylor’s regime for citing him (Ledgerhood) for interviewing the late Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine from abroad on Radio Veritas?” asked Abraham Darius Dillon, a Liberian senator and vocal critic of the government, on his Facebook page.
Dillon went on to suggest that the apparent change of stance by Minister Rennie was at odds with the principles of Radio Veritas, which is owned by the Catholic Church and known for its commitment to freedom of expression.
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Some have also pointed out that Minister Rennie’s letter to the PUL appears to contradict his previous statements on the need for a free press.
In a 2019 interview with Front Page Africa, for example, he was quoted as saying, “I believe that the media should be allowed to operate freely and independently. I believe in freedom of speech and expression.”
The controversy has sparked debate among Liberians about the government’s commitment to free expression and the role of the media in holding those in power accountable.
As of now, there has been no response from Minister Rennie or his office regarding the controversy. However, the issue is likely to continue to be a topic of discussion in Liberia’s public sphere, with many calling for greater clarity and consistency on the government’s stance on freedom of expression.
