Nairobi, July 7, 2016 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the decision by Liberian authorities to shut down the privately owned station Voice FM and called on the government today to allow the station to resume broadcasting immediately.
The Liberia Telecommunication Authority, a regulatory body that issues frequencies in the country, ordered Voice FM, a local political station, to cease broadcasting on July 4, and locked its Monrovia offices, according to news reports. The authority said that the station, which has been broadcasting for two years, failed to register properly as a commercial station and did not pay the required fees and taxes associated with registration, according to reports.
The station, owned by Henry Costa, who also hosts the station’s morning show “The Henry Costa Show,” is known for its critical coverage of the government, according to reports. Costa denied that his station was not properly registered and provided CPJ with receipts that he said showed outstanding fees had been paid.
“The government is using the telecommunication authority to silence political criticism,” said CPJ Senior Africa Associate Kerry Paterson. “This is not acceptable in a democracy like Liberia. The authorities must allow Voice FM back on air immediately.”
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Link: https://www.cpj.org/2016/07/liberia-forces-critical-radio-station-voice-fm-to-.php
CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.
Contact:
Kerry Paterson
Africa Research Associate
+1 212-300-9031
Email: kpaterson@cpj.org
Peter Nkanga
West Africa Representative
Email: pnkanga@cpj.org
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