By Amos Harris
In a sharp escalation of tensions between the government and the media, Deputy Information Minister Daniel O. Sando has publicly rejected concerns raised by the President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), dismissing allegations of threats to press freedom as “misleading” and “outdated.”
Speaking at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT) weekly press briefing on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Sando firmly asserted that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration has a clean record on media relations.
“There has never been a day under this administration that the government has shut down any radio station or newspaper in Liberia,” Sando declared, before issuing a direct warning that the PUL president “needs to be careful with his statements.”
Sando didn’t stop there. He went on to accuse the PUL of ignoring what he termed “reckless practices” within the Liberian media and failing to enforce proper ethical standards among its members.
The Deputy Minister’s combative remarks were a direct response to comments made by PUL president Julius Kanubah during the Union’s 61st anniversary program in Sinkor. Kanubah had used the occasion to caution the Boakai government against adopting the repressive tactics of previous administrations.
Kanubah specifically cited past crackdowns under the regimes of Tubman, Doe, Taylor, Sirleaf, and Weah, urging the public and the government to remain vigilant to prevent a recurrence of such history.
As part of its anniversary efforts to strengthen media accountability, the Press Union announced the reactivation of the National Media Council. This multi-stakeholder body is tasked with investigating complaints, mediating disputes, and promoting ethical reporting. The Council, which is expected to be inaugurated later this month, will comprise journalists, civil society representatives, lawyers, women’s groups, and religious organizations.
While Minister Sando attempted to temper his message by describing himself and Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah as “friends of the media,” his blunt rejection of the PUL’s concerns has already created unease. Some journalists have interpreted his words as an attempt to silence legitimate criticism of the government.
Critics point out that even without forced closures, the government can still exert significant influence through selective advertising, restricted access to official information, and the precarious financial and working conditions faced by many independent journalists.
Analysts suggest that this heated public exchange marks a critical test for the Boakai administration. The administration must now decide whether it will work to strengthen Liberia’s fragile democratic space and protect independent journalism, or risk undermining the very freedoms it claims to uphold.
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