MONROVIA, October 6 (LINA) -The Government of Liberia says it is taken aback by the politicization by some media institutions of the New Executive Law issued to regulate the registration of individual journalists and media institutions in Liberia.
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Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs, Atty. Isaac Jackson, said the law is in no way undermining press freedom in Liberia as reported by some media outlets.
According to the Liberia News Agency, Minister Jackson made the statement Monday at the Ministry of Information daily press briefing held in the Charles Gbenyon Press Hall at the ministry in Monrovia.
The new Executive Law Chapter 31.8b empowers the Information Ministry to oversee all matters pertaining to information dissemination in the country.
Minister Jackson noted that considering the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-led government’s democratic credentials, it has no intention to abuse press freedom as was done by past governments.
He said chapter 31.8d of the New Executive Law also requires all journalists and media houses to annually register in January every year, noting that it is the right of government to introduce new standards meant to uphold the ongoing peace process and the democracy that Liberians are now enjoying.
Meanwhile, the Deputy MICAT boss has disclosed that the Government of Liberia has decided to decriminalize speech offenses, saying that from now on any government official having differences with the media and wanting to take legal action must do so in his or her individual capacity.
LINA RS/PTK