IPNEWS: The word “Fourth Estate” refers to the press and media, emphasizing its role in monitoring and influencing the other branches of government and society.
For ages, all presidents of the government of Liberia, have sought to level relationship with the “Fourth Estate”, with incumbent president Joseph N. Boakai being no exception.
In time past, all branches of the Liberian government at the closed of each year hosted parties and gatherings for a time with the media in cementing the relationship for the acceleration of ‘Democracy’.
For the Boakai government, little is heard about activities in partial fulfilment of the aged-old tradition.
However, ahead of President Boakai’s traveled to Lofa County for celebration of the Christmas holidays, rumors spread across the Media landscape that Journalist assigned at the Executive Masion under the Executive Mansion Press Corps had refused a USD $40 presented each Journalist by President Joseph Boakai as Christmas gift.
Across Monrovia, the news spread with mixed reactions leaving many wonderings as to the authenticity of this rumors.
Some Media personnel spoken to the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper alleged that they were given USD $40.00 each by Presidential Press Secretary, Kula Fofana to get on board a mini-bus to Lofa county as President Joseph Boakai was traveling for the Christmas holidays.
The report details that upon realizing that it was USD $40.00, many of the Media colleagues disembarked the mini-bus in protest of the USD $40.00 to traveled to Lofa county to accompany President Boakai for the Christmas Holidays.
Efforts to reach Presidential Press Secretary has not materialized, however, the leadership of the Executive Mansion Press Corps has denied ever receiving USD $40.00 as Christmas Gift from President Boakai and described the report as false and malicious.
The Executive Mansion Press Corps (EMPC), through its Leadership categorically states that since January of 2024, Journalists assigned at the Executive Mansion are yet to meet President Joseph Boakai and at no time have they receive any package as circulated in the media.
“Let this be clear that we have a cordial and professional relationship with the Presidential Press Secretary office but at no time did we receive anything as a package or appreciation from the office of President Boakai”,
“This statement is in reaction to information in the public that members of the Executive Mansion Press Corps have received a Christmas package of US$40.00 each from the office of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.” EMPC’s Leadership re-emphasized.
According to EMPC’S leadership, the clarification by the EMPC is key because the body is composed of professional people who have built their reputation over time and will not allow any petty and falsehood to damage it.
EMPC is a body of professional journalists from various media institutions assigned at the Executive Mansion to provide coverage for the presidency.
The revelation by the Executive Mansion Press Corps (EMPC), that its umbrella Association has not met President Boakai since his inception as president of Liberia, is unprecedented and shocking.
Over the last four decades and beyond, ever President and head of state, (whether transitional time) has always sought to meet the Liberian Media in its first 100 days in office on leveraging their platform to propagate its agenda for the country and cultivate relationship with the Liberian media in strengthening democracy.
In July 2024, the Publishers Association of Liberia, placed a ‘media blackout’ on the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning on its failure to pay outstanding debts by current and previous government to the Liberian Media, particularly the ‘Newspaper Publishers’.
The ‘blackout’ also threatened to extend to other government institutions and Agencies until the government of Liberia could settled its outstanding debts with the Media.
The authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper understands that negotiations are currently been held on the final settlement of outstanding debts even though there remains some unresolve issues.
