A national radio assessment conducted by Internews Liberia between 2021 and 2022 revealed that there were 63 community radio stations spread across the country. Since then, Liberia’s community radio sector has made significant strides in the media landscape. However, the challenge of political interference and sustainability persists. These issues substantially threaten the independence and viability of community radio stations, which are vital for fostering an informed citizenry and democratic participation.
Political interference particularly, has remained a pervasive issue, with community radio stations often facing pressure from political actors seeking to control or influence their content. Community radio broadcasters sometimes encounter intimidation, and censorship, especially when covering sensitive political topics or exposing corruption. This stifles free expression and undermines the role of the media as a watchdog.
To help address these challenges, Internews in Liberia supported the Association of Liberia Community Radio (ALICOR) along with other civil society organizations to introduce a bill seeking to guarantee the long-term sustainability and proper governance of the community radio sector at the Liberian Legislature. The bill which has already gone through the first reading in the plenary of the Liberian House of Representatives has been forwarded to the Joint Committee on Information, Broadcast, Culture, and Tourism, and the Judiciary for review.
The Liberia Community Radio Sustainability Bill which aims to provide a stable financial framework and policy support for community radio stations, ensuring their viability, is an outcome of an exhaustive two years of engagements with key stakeholders in the media, civil and government. There were three nationwide consultations which culminated in two validation events in Ganta and Monrovia before the final draft bill was submitted to the Liberian Legislature
“We consider this latest development a major milestone in our quest for a more vibrant community ecosystem. The decision of the Liberian Legislature to deliberate this crucial bill is the outcome of two years of exhaustive engagements with media stakeholders and community representatives to draw their inputs into a policy that serves as a beacon of hope for dozens of rural community radio stations spread across Liberia.’’ Lien Bach, Country Director, Internews Liberia.
At a legislative dialogue organized by ALICOR and Internews, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Thomas Fallah, assured media stakeholders of his commitment to push for passage of the bill seeking to give exclusive ownership and management to Community Radio stations. “The intent of the Bill is acceptable and on the right path to safeguard and strengthen the media capacity to provide authentic and creditable information. Over the years, politicians have used their influence over these stations to manipulate and distort information for their selfish political gains, and this is something we need to seriously address during the discussion on the bill’’, the deputy speaker averred.
The bill is seeking an annual budgetary allocation of funds to support community radio stations across the country. This fund will be managed transparently, and with strict oversight to ensure accountability.
The bill also introduces a regulatory framework to safeguard the independence of community radio stations, protecting them from political and commercial pressures. This framework will also streamline the licensing process, making it more accessible and fairer.
The submission of the community radio sustainability bill has been widely celebrated across Liberia, particularly among those who rely on community radio as their primary source of information. The increased funding and support will enable these stations to produce more comprehensive and engaging content, further strengthening their role as pillars of the community.
Hector Mulbah, President of the Association of Liberia Community Radio (ALICOR), expressed his excitement: “This bill is a lifeline for us. It means we can continue to serve our listeners with better resources and greater independence. It’s a new dawn for community radio in Liberia.” The ALICOR President underscored.
Jefferson Massah is the Senior Advisor of USAID Liberia Media Activity Project Implemented by Internews in Liberia.