Days after president George Weah presented a newly built headquarters to the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FEJAL), critics say the president donation was an inducement to the press.
In a rather astonished move, Liberian president George Weah on Saturday April 20, 2019, presented a newly built office building to the female journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) at a program intended to raise fund to start the construction of the organization headquarters.
Many in attendance at the program were shocked to see the already built office for the association and cheered praises on the president.
President Weah earlier, during the occasion presented One dollar as his donation and instructed FEJAL’s president Siatta Scott-Johnson and the head of the project Estelle Liberty Kemoh to opened several boxes.
The boxes included 2.5 lot deeds, the key to a ten seated bus, and a photograph of the already built headquarters.
A film was shown as from the date the discussion between President Weah for the construction in 2016 when the President was Montserrado Senator. The video captured start of the project to its end.
“I’m giving you press freedom but you must be professional and we all can save the state from violence,” he said.
FEJAL president added that the dedication will not compromise the reportage of female journalists.
In response to the president gesture, FeJAL president Siata Johnson said the presentation of the newly constructed headquarters was a dream come through for the association and called on female journalists to remain professional and ethical.
“I am out of words, our dreams have been achieved, we’ve been crafting how we could start but with this dedication all we can say is that we are grateful,” she said.
She told the gathering that it was essential that FeJAL be strengthened as an institution to create a space of female journalists.
For her part, FeJAL project committee head Estelle Liberty Kemoh, said although the construction was not a surprise to her, she was grateful.
She recalled that the discussion was held in 2016 when the land was given, but the president promised to build the headquarters till few months ago, when the construction was completed, she narrated.
Ms. Kemoh urged FeJAL leadership to continue building the capacity of female reporters as women stories will be highlighted.
President gift criticized
Since the president surprise donation to the female journalists organization on Saturday April 20, 2019, there have been several criticisms over the location of the building.
According to some Liberians although the president intend may not be wrong but the manner and form the project was done and also the location of the property near the president private home. The newly donated FeJAL headquarters is located near the home of President George Weah in Paynesville outside Monrovia.
Jefferson B. Mawolo, a Liberian on twitter said: “Female journalists are now to operate from the president’s compound….Hahahaha… sounds sexual to me…Kekeke! #Liberia #Journalism #journalists
Martin K. N. Kollie, student leader and strong critic of the Weah led government posted on face book that the president has amassed the country’s Wealth onto himself and so giving portion of it to anyone is no problem.
Mr. Kollie added that in a year the president has built over 40 personal housing units and several other personal properties around Liberia at the detriment of the country.
He posted: “Pro-poor Exam: If I stole your money and built 47 units in 1-year and then loan one unit to female Journalists, then who am I? “ No independent media organization HQ is housed in the private compound of any President worldwide. I challenge you to show me one”, Martin Kollie wrote on face book.
Some Liberian journalists have also criticized the location of the female journalist headquarters.
Contrary to criticisms coming from some individuals about the president gift to FeJAL, a female journalist said the president gesture was not an agreement to silence female journalists.
“No MOU was signed to silence Female Journalists, it was just a Gift,
So u guys should stop the Misinterpretation”, a member of FeJAL Rose Stubberfield posted face book.
Another facebooker, Daniel Kerkulah agreed with Rose Stubblefield: “FeJAL is too big to be silenced a three bedroom house….let’s recognizing the president’s magnanimity”.
FeJAL is an auxiliary of the Press Union of Liberia Founded in 1998 to protect the rights of female journalists, promote press freedom, and strive to bring women in the media.
