By Andrew B. Weah
Monrovia, Liberia — February 5, 2026 — The Director General of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO), Madam Garmai Koboi, has urged Liberian journalists to prioritize accuracy and fact-checking in the discharge of their professional duties, warning that the spread of unverified information undermines public trust and the credibility of the media.
Madam Koboi made the call on Thursday during an engagement with a team of journalists at her office in Monrovia. She emphasized that information disseminated to the public must be thoroughly verified before publication.
“You are putting information out there; it should be something that you have fact-checked,” she said. “So that when you put it out, people following will say, ‘Yes, this information is true.’”
Championing the cause for accurate and reliable information, the LIPO Director General highlighted some of the challenges journalists face as a result of inaccurate reporting, including public backlash and loss of credibility.
“Sometimes I see posts on Facebook or hear things on other platforms, even on radio stations, and at the end of the day, some people have to come back and say, ‘Oh, I’m sorry,’” Koboi noted, stressing that such situations can be avoided through proper verification.
Madam Koboi’s career at LIPO spans several years, during which she served in multiple capacities—from database clerk to procurement officer—before rising to senior leadership. This progression, she said, has given her deep institutional knowledge of intellectual property administration in Liberia.
As Director General, she has spearheaded efforts to modernize Liberia’s intellectual property system, promote nationwide IP awareness, strengthen engagement with international partners such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), and align IP policy with national development goals under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s ARREST Agenda.
She has also championed public education campaigns, training programs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), student IP clubs, and enhanced collaboration with law enforcement agencies to curb piracy and protect the rights of creators.
In recognition of her leadership, Madam Koboi was recently honored as Best Outstanding Director General of the Year by Excellent Media Incorporated.
Delivering her acceptance speech, the LIPO boss expressed gratitude to the institution for the award, describing it as a motivation to continue working diligently with her team.
“I will not take this award lightly because it is something that will motivate me to continue my work with my team,” she said. “This is not a single person’s achievement; it is teamwork. My team and I are working to make sure that we serve the Liberian people.”
She also praised the media for following and promoting LIPO’s activities, noting that media engagement plays a vital role in making the institution’s work visible to the public.
“If you are not connected to the office, the office will not be visible out there. People will not be able to see or hear what we are doing,” Koboi stated. “It is good that you are following our activities.”
However, she encouraged journalists to go beyond coverage and provide constructive feedback to help the institution improve its operations.
“Give us feedback—tell us some of the things we need to do better,” she urged. “We are doing our best, but we expect feedback from the media.”
