A female envoy of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has called on media practitioners to play a more proactive role in holding government accountable.
ECOWAS Resident Representative to Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah, underscored the importance of press freedom in nation-building.
Madam Nkrumah spoke on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at the 61st anniversary celebration of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) in Sinkor, outside Monrovia.
She said a free and independent press is vital for democracy.
“Press freedom remains a cornerstone of nation-building,” Madam Nkrumah said.
She cautioned against partisans’ journalism, which she said, divides and unprofessional practices threaten the credibility of the profession in the country.
“Some newspapers operate openly as pro-government outlets, while others function as opposition mouthpieces. This polarization weakens journalism credibility, and undermines its duty to the public.”
Madam Nkrumah’s remarks come amid growing criticisms of both the media and government, with journalists often accused of sensationalism, and officials charged with manipulating narratives through selective engagement with the press.
She endorsed the PUL proposed Media Council as a mechanism to monitor unethical reporting and promote professional standards.
She spoke of journalistic excellence as measured not by the infrastructure in which journalists work, but by their commitment to truth, accuracy and service to society.
“Every journalist has a responsibility to society. Excellence is not in the building where you work, but in the commitment, you bring to your profession,” she said.
Madam Nkrumah also called on journalists to scrutinize government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
The media, she said, must hold leaders accountable at every level to ensure genuine progress.
Her intervention highlights the delicate balance between media independence, and government oversight.
While officials often accuse journalists of reckless reporting, media practitioners maintain that public officeholders frequently exploit their positions to avoid accountability.
As Liberia celebrates over six decades of organized journalism, Madam Nkrumah call serves as a reminder that a free press is not just a watchdog, but a pillar of democratic governance.
She meanwhile, lauded the Union legacy, and reaffirmed the importance of continued vigilance, and professional integrity in guiding Liberia’s media landscape into the future.
Founded on September 30, 1964, PUL has been a guardian of press freedom, advocating for journalists’ rights and resisting censorship.
Over its 61-year history, PUL has stood as a bastion of democracy, championing free expression and the free flow of information.