A renewed rift between government and the media has emerged with each side
claiming “right to speak an correct the wrongs.”
The latest outburst follows a sharp public rebuke by Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando against Julius Kanubah, president of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).
The situation intensified on Tuesday, April 28, with concerns over growing friction between state authorities and the press.
Sando, who spoke on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing dismissed recent remarks by Kanubah as “malicious, misleading and lacking factual basis.”
He accused the PUL leadership of “distorting national realities, and fueling unnecessary tension between the government and the media.”
Sando’s response comes amid increasing criticism from the PUL, which has warned of a “steady decline in freedom of expression under the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.”
The Union has pointed to incidents of intimidation, suppression of dissent and actions it believes undermine democratic norms.
But Sando pushed back strongly, arguing that the PUL’s assertions are not only exaggerated, but potentially damaging to public trust.
“The very same PUL President who cannot unite the Union’s leadership since the election, is the one speaking about democratic governance,” Sando said, in a remark that underscored the increasingly personal tone of the dispute.
He further accused the PUL leadership of “weak internal governance, suggesting that internal divisions within the Union are contributing to “inaccurate and harmful narratives being projected into the public space.”
At the center of the disagreement is not only the broader issue of press freedom, but also specific grievances raised by the PUL.
The Union recently cited several incidents it believes reflect democratic backsliding, including the removal of House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, the detention of Justin Oldpa Yeazehn (Prophet Key), police actions against protesting students at the University of Liberia and the expulsion of lawmaker Yekeh Y. Kolubah from the legislature.
The PUL has argued that such developments create a climate of fear and threaten democratic progress, warning that “there can be no rescue without freedom.”
Sando, however, rejected these claims, maintaining that the government remains committed to democratic principles and the rule of law.
He cautioned that sweeping allegations from influential institutions like the PUL, if not grounded in verifiable facts, could erode confidence in the media and public institutions.
In a further swipe at Kanubah, Sando criticized the PUL president’s reported dismissal of the National Organized Media Awards, suggesting the criticism stemmed from the Union not being directly involved in organizing the event.
He described such actions as indicative of “institutional rivalry rather than a genuine effort to promote professionalism within the media sector.”
Sando: “This kind of posture risks deepening divisions within the already fragile media landscape. The role of the PUL is to uphold ethical journalism, promote accuracy, and ensure accountability within the profession.”
He urged the Union to refocus on strengthening journalistic standards and institutional reform.