Liberia: State Radio Crave for Support in COVID-19 Fight

MONROVIA – Mr. Ledgerhood J. Rennie Director General of the Liberian Broadcasting system has expressed disappointment in the manner and form the State Broadcaster has been left out in the fight against the COVIDD-19 by those in charge.

According to him, if nothing is done to support the media, especially state radio with the largest coverage, the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 virus will yield no result. He explained how he, as head of the institution, has made several calls on government and private institutions and individuals telling them of the need to support LBS in the fight against the spread of the virus, but to no avail.

 “I as director General of the State Broadcaster have made many calls in and outside of government, nobody is taking interest except for the FUTA Corporation which gave us 10 bags of rice that has been used to cook for staff on duty.

“This fight is not about health. It is about informing Liberians about how we can prevent this virus from killing all of us and if people don’t see the need to support the local media, especially the state broadcaster that has nationwide coverage then I am afraid we are losing this battle,” he said.

He explained that the management team of LBS make sacrifices to keep the institution up and running on a daily basis but they get very little or no recognition from the Ministry of Health and NPHIL. “We sit here every day as heads of the national broadcasters trying to keep this station on the air but we get very little recognition from those we are helping whether it is the Ministry of Health or NPHIL none of these institutions have tried to identify with LBS.

“We send our services there every day when they call. It takes men and resources that we used to drive equipment to cover all of their programs but they haven’t seen the need to take money from their communication budget to assist the national broadcaster.

“This fight, unless we collectively do it using the Media and communication as a vital tool to inform all of us as we did against the fight against Ebola our efforts will be meaningless.”

He made the statement when he received cash and food donation from Mr. Sam Howard, a former BBC Journalist. Mr. Howard recognized the efforts of the PUL, FrontPageAfrica and the State Radio LBS by making cash donation of L$50K each to support their work.

“We send our services there every day when they call. It takes men and resources that we used to drive equipment to cover all of their programs but they haven’t seen the need to take money from their communication budget to assist the national broadcaster.”

Mr. Ledgerhood Rennie, Director General, Liberia Broadcasting Corporation

According to him, as a former Journalist and a Liberian he realized that the media is working as much as the health workers and without the information they provide he is unsure that lives would be saved in the fight against COVID-19.

“I have decided to make a minimum donation wish could be considered as a drop in the bucket by contributing LD$ 50k each to three media institution to include FrontPageAfrica (FPA), State Radio LBS, and the Press Union of Liberia (PUL).

“It is just to identify with these institutions that have done exceptionally well in information dissemination against COVID-19. And for the PUL, we believe that it is the best time to support journalists who are in need and want journalist in the USA to assist Liberian journalists in these difficult moments.”

Sam currently work for the United Nations  in Mali as head of a unit on disarmament.  Prior to   him working as a UN staff, he worked as a correspondent for the BBC and an employee of Talking Drum studio in Liberia.

His individual donation, according to him, is to encourage others in and out of the country to help the media. He said, being a journalist he see the need to identify with colleagues and institutions in Liberia.

 For his part Mr. Charles Coffey, President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) expressed satisfaction about the donation as it has come in time when the PUL is soliciting support for journalists in Nimba County who are affected by the COVID-19.

“We are very satisfied with this donation as we have already started a fund drive to help journalist in Nimba specifically those who have been affected by the COVID-19. We have been mobilizing resources to buy sanitizers and nose mask for more than fifteen journalist.”

FPA represented by its Legislative Reporter Henry Karmo thanked Sam for the gesture and the thoughtfulness and called on other Liberians to emulate the good will of a private Liberian.