PUL Report Exposes Ethical Breaches, Misuse Of Authority

By Amos Harris

Monrovia, Liberia — The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has released a damning report on the September 13, 2025, standoff in Sanniquellie between Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah and journalist D. Franklin Doloquee of OK FM and FrontPage Africa. The PUL report sharply criticizes both parties for misconduct that undermined both press freedom and journalistic integrity.

The findings, presented on September 29, 2025, by the Union’s Specialized Committee of Enquiry (SCE), led by veteran journalist Torwon Sulonteh-Brown, detail a volatile dispute rooted in a breach of trust.

The Incident: Misconduct on Both Sides

The report confirms the confrontation erupted after Doloquee, who had explicitly agreed to an audio-only interview, began secretly recording video on his phone.

Minister Piah reacted by forcibly seizing the journalist’s device, deleting footage himself, and instructing his aides to permanently erase the files. Doloquee departed the scene without directly reclaiming his phone, contributing to the confusion and mistrust following the incident.

Minister Piah Cited for Abuse of Authority

While the Committee found no physical assault, it ruled that Minister Piah’s tone and conduct amounted to coercion and misuse of public office. The report cited clear violations of the Constitution’s Article 15 (freedom of the press) and the Penal Law’s Title 26, Chapter 12.70 (abuse of authority).

Journalist and Media Outlets Breached Ethics

The SCE did not spare the journalist, describing Doloquee’s decision to record video without consent as a serious ethical breach. This action, the report stressed, directly violated Article 27 of the PUL Code of Ethics, which forbids journalists from gathering information by deceptive means.

The Committee’s criticism also extended to OK FM and FrontPage Africa. Both outlets were faulted for issuing public condemnations against Minister Piah without first granting him a right of reply or consulting the Union before escalating the dispute—a violation of Article 19 of the PUL Code of Conduct on fairness and balance.

PUL Calls for Clear Protocols and Accountability

The SCE, comprising Sulonteh-Brown, Atty. Bruce S. B. Boweh, and human rights advocate Adama Kiatamba Dempster, concluded that the Sanniquellie incident “exposed deep fractures between state power and press responsibility.”

In its recommendations, the PUL called for concrete steps to restore trust and adherence to professional standards:

• Journalists must strictly adhere to the Union’s Code of Ethics, particularly during interviews.
• Media institutions should consult the PUL before issuing condemnations against public officials.
• Government officials must respect due process and avoid unilateral, heavy-handed actions against journalists.
• The government and media should establish clear protocols to govern their interactions.
• The PUL should enforce disciplinary measures for journalists and outlets that disregard ethical standards.

The Union urged stronger collaboration between the media and government, warning that repeated ethical and legal violations on both sides could “erode public trust in Liberia’s fragile democracy.”