Liberia: MCC Refutes Viral Video, Says Theater Renovation on Track

Monrovia – The Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) has dismissed as misleading a viral Facebook video suggesting that the theater at City Hall has been abandoned and poses imminent danger. In a statement issued over the weekend, the MCC described the video as “biased and sensational journalism,” insisting that renovation plans for the facility are already underway.

“Contrary to the deliberate misrepresentation of the facts, the MCC under the leadership of Mayor John-Charuk Siafa has taken practical steps toward the renovation of the theater, which was inherited in ruins,” the statement noted.

According to the MCC, an Expression of Interest (EOI) was publicly advertised in three local newspapers — In Profile Daily, The Inquirer, and The News — inviting proposals from private sector partners to upgrade and modernize the theater through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The project, it says, aims to transform the facility into a state-of-the-art venue capable of hosting corporate, cultural, and entertainment events.

The MCC further disclosed that Mayor Siafa has personally led development partners and foreign dignitaries on guided tours of the theater to solicit support, stressing that the process “is ongoing but not an event.”

Highlighting broader reforms, the MCC pointed to the modernization of waste transfer stations at Fiamah and Stockton Creek, renovations at City Hall, and the establishment of a one-stop shop service center as part of Mayor Siafa’s “transformational roadmap” for Monrovia.

Expressing disappointment over what it termed “unbalanced and one-sided reporting,” the MCC urged journalists to prioritize accuracy and fairness in their coverage.

“The MCC is deeply appalled that some media practitioners ignore facts and development progress, choosing instead to sensationalize issues. We call on the media to report truthfully and avoid slanting stories to negatively sway public opinion,” the statement concluded.