Liberia UPDATE: Media Policy Reform Group presents draft laws to legislators
Published 04/18/2008 - 4:04 p.m. GMT
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia
Three bills to improve the Liberian media landscape have been submitted to
the National Assembly at a ceremony in Monrovia on April 17, 2008, a press
statement from the Accra based Media Foundation for West Africa (MWFA) says.
The bills, according to MFWA, are drafts for the Freedom of Information Act,
an Independent Broadcasting Regulatory Body, as well as an another one to
transform Liberia's Broadcasting System into the Liberia Public Broadcasting
Service.
It took nearly four years for working group, Media Law and Policy Reform
Working Group, under the auspices of the Liberia Press Union (PUL) to prepare
the drafts bills.
Before the presentation ceremony, the group had earlier marched through some
of the major streets in Monrovia, the capital. The demonstrators – mainly
media practitioners, civil society organizations, students, women’s groups, and
officials of the Liberian Ministry of Information – carried placards to
create awareness among the general public, the statement adds.
Some of the placards read “Information Is Power: Support the Freedom of
Information Act” and “Let’s Strengthen Our Democracy: Create A Non-partisan
Public Broadcaster.”
Receiving the three draft Acts separately, the Information Committees of the
Lower and Upper Houses of the Liberian Legislature assured the PUL and the
civil society representatives that they will look into the draft acts for
passage into laws.
PUL Secretary General Peter Quaqua said the draft acts would help strengthen
democracy in Liberia.
Presidential Press Secretary Cyrus Wleh-Badio, who also marched with the
group, assured the presenters that the “government of President Ellen
Johnson-Sirleaf fully supports a Freedom of Information Act for Liberia.”
For more information on this new development, contact the MFWA at: Tel: 233
21 242470, Fax: 233 21 221084 or email at [log in to unmask]
(mailto:[log in to unmask])
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