mediation by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) and the Association of Liberia Community Radio Stations (ALICOR).
The mediation, which took place from May 18 to 19, 2025, successfully resolved disputes regarding the Board of Advisors and the position of Station Manager at Smile FM, a community radio station.
The station had been shut down on May 5, 2025, following violent confrontations between groups of Grand Gedeh citizens who were divided over two competing Boards and two Station Managers, each claiming authority based on separate constitutions and by-laws.
Through the mediation efforts, the PUL and ALICOR negotiated the dissolution of all existing Boards, resulting in the transparent reconstitution of a new Board of Advisors made up of the nine recognized institutions involved.
An Acting Station Manager, Anthony Flahn, has been appointed to manage Smile FM for three months. After this period, a permanent Station Manager will be selected through a transparent and credible recruitment process conducted by the newly reconstituted Board.
Additionally, the new Board of Advisors has been tasked with reviewing and reconciling the two constitutions and by-laws of Smile FM to ensure a unified and credible constitution is adopted, incorporating best practices.
The mediation team from PUL and ALICOR included Mr. Julius Kanubah, President of PUL; Mr. Teah Doegmah, Chair of the Board of Advisors for ALICOR; Mr. Lawrence Tokpah, Vice President for Operations at ALICOR; and Ms. Christina Sonpon, Station Manager of Radio Kakata in Margibi County.
The mediation was conducted jointly with Representative Jeremiah Sokan, who serves District Number One, where Smile FM is located.
The PUL and ALICOR expressed their gratitude to Representative Sokan, Superintendent Alex Grant, and all current and former officials and citizens of Grand Gedeh County who sought the intervention of PUL and ALICOR for their independence and credibility.
During the mediation, PUL President Julius Kanubah and ALICOR Board Chair Teah Doegmah emphasized that Smile FM is a community radio station and that there should be no political interference in its operations and management.
Furthermore, PUL and ALICOR commended journalist Solo Uriah Lewis and Madam Jesadeh Barzon for their years of service as Station Manager and Board Chair of Smile FM, respectively, praising them for their cooperation and support during the mediation process.
With these changes, Smile FM can now resume broadcasting content that serves the interests of the community.
