Bong County- Ahead of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) elections scheduled for August 2024, Team Unity has secured a significant endorsement from over forty journalists in Bong County.
On Sunday, August 18, 2024, in Gbarnga City, these journalists endorsed the entire Team Unity slate, including candidates for all positions, from the presidency to the Assistant Secretary-General role.
“We believe that by electing Madam Mae Azango as president, Aloysius Makor as vice president, Akoi M. Baysah, Jr. as Secretary General, and Julius Konton as Assistant Secretary General of the Press Union of Liberia, we are making a strong statement of our commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all members of the journalism profession, regardless of gender,” the statement noted.
The Bong County journalists further stated, “As conscientious journalists, we firmly believe it is time for female leadership to take the helm of the Press Union of Liberia. Historically, women have made significant contributions to journalism, yet they remain underrepresented in leadership roles.”
The endorsement statement emphasized that electing a leadership team led by an experienced and dedicated female journalist would be a bold and progressive step toward achieving true gender equality in Liberia’s media sector.
“Female journalists bring unique perspectives and experiences. They have faced and overcome numerous challenges, consistently demonstrating resilience, persistence, and dedication to reporting the truth,” the statement continued.
The Bong journalists believe that electing a leadership team that includes women will not only provide role models for aspiring female journalists but also ensure that the union is governed by individuals who understand the challenges faced by everyone in the journalism field, particularly in Liberia.
In response to the endorsement, presidential candidate Mae Azango, an award-winning journalist both locally and internationally, expressed her gratitude to the Bong journalists for their unwavering support for Team Unity.
Azongo promised to prioritize unifying members of the Union immediately upon being elected president. She noted, “The Union is currently divided due to the nearly two-year court case caused by Team Julius Kanubah.”
She further remarked, “Those who liberate do not govern. Julius Kanubah is responsible for much of the division within the Union and should either withdraw his candidacy or be decisively rejected by voters in the upcoming PUL elections.”
Azango, the sole female presidential candidate, emphasized that the Union is at a critical juncture and needs a unifier like herself to lead it. She pledged that her leadership would focus on constructing the Press Union’s headquarters, creating equal opportunities for all, advocating for press freedom, freedom of speech, human rights, journalists’ welfare, accountability, and restoring the national and international dignity of the Press Union of Liberia.
In conclusion, Mae Azango urged all journalists across the country to ensure that every member of Team Unity is elected for the sake of a vibrant and responsible Union.
