IPNEWS: Following an alarm by the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), that it was denied airtime on the state-run Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) for promotional jingles related to its “Militant Day” celebration, LBS Director General Eugene Fahngon after more than a year has confirmed he denied the jingles, stating that LBS is a public broadcaster and would not air content promoting “militancy”.
He claimed he asked the CDC to edit the jingles to remove the term, but the party refused.
The CDC had described the denial as unconstitutional and a violation of press freedom, citing Article 15(d) of the Liberian Constitution which ensures access to state-owned media is not denied due to disagreement with expressed ideas.
The incident sparked a political debate, with District 10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah formally requesting the House of Representatives to summon Fahngon to explain the decision.
This denial of access to state media has been a point of ongoing contention regarding political bias and the role of the LBS as a public versus state broadcaster.
The refusal by Eugene Faghon, Director General of Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), to grant the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) airtime on state radio raises serious questions about freedom of speech and media rights in Liberia.
The opposition accuses Faghon of blocking their space on LBS, citing concerns over “militant” messages, but this move reveals deeper contradictions between constitutional guarantees and political realities.
Liberia’s constitution explicitly upholds freedom of speech and press as fundamental rights. It guarantees that all political parties, including opposition groups like the CDC led by former president George Weah, have the right to express their views publicly, including on state-owned media platforms.
This constitutional protection aims to foster an open democratic environment where diverse voices can be heard and debated.
However, in practice, these rights face constraints, especially when state media is under government control.
The denial of airtime to opposition parties because their views are deemed “militant” is a common way authorities justify restricting dissenting opinions.
This justification, while framed around maintaining public order, often veers into suppressing legitimate political expression.
The situation at LBS, under Eugene Faghon’s leadership—a figure once known for his outspoken stance—ironically illustrates this dynamic: someone formerly vocal now enforcing restrictions that curtail opposition voices.
Faghon admitted he takes responsibility for that. “I will not allow militant program on ELBC”, he said.
He in fact said he would not allow Abraham Godsent Wheon, who should have produced the program ever appear at the station.
This contradiction highlights a troubling aspect of Liberia’s media environment.
Despite legal protections, the political polarization of the media landscape results in indirect censorship.
Self-censorship, governmental influence, and editorial control limit opposition access to platforms like state radio, undermining the very democratic principles the constitution promises.
The refusal to air the CDC’s programs not only stifles their political communication but also reflects a broader pattern of control over public discourse.
Eugene Faghon’s actions might be seen as a deliberate test of opposition tolerance or as capitulation to political pressures — either way, they reveal the fragile state of media freedom in Liberia.
True freedom of speech means accommodating even “militant” or critical views, provided they do not incite violence, instead of silencing them under vague security concerns.
In essence, while the Liberian constitution protects opposition parties’ rights to use platforms like state radio, the reality is that political sensitivities and government control severely narrow these rights in practice.
He claimed he asked the CDC to edit the jingles to remove the term, but the party refused.
The LBS incident is not just about denying airtime—it is about the ongoing struggle to uphold constitutional freedoms amid deep political and media polarization in Liberia.Following an alarm by the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), that it was denied airtime on the state-run Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) for promotional jingles related to its “Militant Day” celebration, LBS Director General Eugene Fahngon after more than a year has confirmed he denied the jingles, stating that LBS is a public broadcaster and would not air content promoting “militancy”.
The CDC had described the denial as unconstitutional and a violation of press freedom, citing Article 15(d) of the Liberian Constitution which ensures access to state-owned media is not denied due to disagreement with expressed ideas.
The incident sparked a political debate, with District 10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah formally requesting the House of Representatives to summon Fahngon to explain the decision.
This denial of access to state media has been a point of ongoing contention regarding political bias and the role of the LBS as a public versus state broadcaster.
The refusal by Eugene Faghon, Director General of Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), to grant the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) airtime on state radio raises serious questions about freedom of speech and media rights in Liberia.
The opposition accuses Faghon of blocking their space on LBS, citing concerns over “militant” messages, but this move reveals deeper contradictions between constitutional guarantees and political realities.
Liberia’s constitution explicitly upholds freedom of speech and press as fundamental rights. It guarantees that all political parties, including opposition groups like the CDC led by former president George Weah, have the right to express their views publicly, including on state-owned media platforms.
This constitutional protection aims to foster an open democratic environment where diverse voices can be heard and debated.
However, in practice, these rights face constraints, especially when state media is under government control.
The denial of airtime to opposition parties because their views are deemed “militant” is a common way authorities justify restricting dissenting opinions.
This justification, while framed around maintaining public order, often veers into suppressing legitimate political expression.
The situation at LBS, under Eugene Faghon’s leadership—a figure once known for his outspoken stance—ironically illustrates this dynamic: someone formerly vocal now enforcing restrictions that curtail opposition voices.
Faghon admitted he takes responsibility for that. “I will not allow militant program on ELBC”, he said.
He in fact said he would not allow Abraham Godsent Wheon, who should have produced the program ever appear at the station.
This contradiction highlights a troubling aspect of Liberia’s media environment.
Despite legal protections, the political polarization of the media landscape results in indirect censorship.
Self-censorship, governmental influence, and editorial control limit opposition access to platforms like state radio, undermining the very democratic principles the constitution promises.
The refusal to air the CDC’s programs not only stifles their political communication but also reflects a broader pattern of control over public discourse.
Eugene Faghon’s actions might be seen as a deliberate test of opposition tolerance or as capitulation to political pressures — either way, they reveal the fragile state of media freedom in Liberia.
True freedom of speech means accommodating even “militant” or critical views, provided they do not incite violence, instead of silencing them under vague security concerns.
In essence, while the Liberian constitution protects opposition parties’ rights to use platforms like state radio, the reality is that political sensitivities and government control severely narrow these rights in practice.
The LBS incident is not just about denying airtime—it is about the ongoing struggle to uphold constitutional freedoms amid deep political and media polarization in Liberia.
