By Amos Harris
The President of the Press Union of Liberia, Julius Kanubah, has cautioned government officials against using public institutions as platforms for political confrontation and personal attacks, urging a more professional approach to public information dissemination. Speaking Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the launch of the Open Media House by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) at its headquarters on Bushrod Island, the PUL boss said government institutions should focus on transparency and accountability rather than engaging in hostile exchanges with critics and the media.
Addressing Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah, NaFAA officials, media executives, and other guests, Kanubah praised the authority for creating a platform aimed at providing regular updates on its activities, achievements, and challenges in Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector. He described the Open Media House as a significant step toward improving access to public information and strengthening transparency in government operations. According to Kanubah, initiatives that encourage open communication help build public confidence in state institutions and demonstrate a clear commitment to accountability. He noted that the strong turnout of journalists and media organizations at the launch reflects the growing interest in credible and timely information from government agencies.
The PUL President commended NaFAA for taking a proactive approach to engaging the media instead of resorting to confrontational tactics when faced with public scrutiny. Kanubah stressed that other government institutions should emulate such openness and avoid what he described as the politics of confrontation and insults in communicating with the public. He warned that public agencies risk undermining their credibility if they become attack dogs whose primary role is to defend political interests rather than inform citizens. Referring to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s often-repeated position that he does not pay attention to “barking dogs,” Kanubah argued that government officials should similarly refrain from engaging in unnecessary public quarrels. He maintained that effective public communication should be based on facts, openness, and professionalism rather than personal attacks against critics or perceived opponents.
Kanubah also reminded journalists that while government institutions have a responsibility to provide information, the media has an equally important duty to hold public officials accountable for the exercise of public power, including the leadership of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority. He encouraged reporters to produce more in-depth and factual coverage of Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector, noting that quality journalism can help improve public understanding of national development issues. The PUL President emphasized that fairness, accuracy, impartiality, and responsibility remain the core values of journalism and should guide all reporting and analysis. In closing, Kanubah thanked NaFAA and its partners for establishing the Open Media House and called for stronger collaboration between government institutions and the media to promote transparency, accountability, and the public interest.
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