Draft media reform laws presented to the Liberian National Legislature

The Liberia media law and policy working group in collaboration with the Press Union of Liberia and the Ministry of Information recently completed the drafting of three laws aimed at strengthening the media laws in the country. The draft laws include, the Freedom of Information Act 2008, an Act to establish an independent Broadcasting regulator for Liberia and an Act to establish the Liberia Public Broadcasting Service to replace the Liberia Broadcasting Corporation.

Presenting the draft Act to the National Legislature on 17 April 2008 at the Capitol Building on Capitol Hill, the Secretary-general of the Press Union of Liberia Peter Quaqua pleaded with the Legislators on behalf of media practitioners for the speedy deliberation of the draft laws. He said the draft media reform law will enhance democracy and further protect the rule of law as it relates media operations in the country.

Deliberating on the specific of the three Acts on a separate note, Quaqua said the freedom of information Act 2008 seek to grant the public the right of access to information in the possession of public institutions in accordance with the procedures laid in the Act. Commenting on the Act to establish an independent Broadcasting regulator to Liberia, Quaqua said if passed into law, the act will make provision for the regulation of Broadcasting in the interest of the public void any outside or Government interference.

On the issue of an Act establishing the Liberia Public Broadcasting Service, Quaqua said the Act is intended to provide a truly independent, non partisan, credible, professionally efficient service that will cater to the needs of Liberians and open a vibrant and stable society.

Receiving the draft media reform Act on behalf of the both Houses of the National Legislature, Senator Gbenzongar Findley and Representative Venicious Hodges thanked Journalists and Media practitioners for the draft acts and promised to forward it to plenary for deliberation. Representative Venicious Hodges being a journalist further promised to lobby with his colleagues in the parliament for speedy deliberation of the draft acts. He however promised to invite some key media executives to part-take in the deliberation.

The presentation of the draft Act was accompany by over hundred and fifty journalists, media practitioners, civil society groupings and students through a parade from the PUL head office on Clay street to the Capitol Building.

Article published courtesy of The Liberian Times