04/12/2025
๐๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ข๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ, ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐, ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ผ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ
The Plenary of the House of Representatives has passed into law An Act for the Ownership, Management, Licensing and Operation of Community Radio Stations in Liberia. The decision was reached on Thursday during the 14th Day Sitting of the 3rd Quarter Session.
The passage of this landmark legislation follows a comprehensive review by the Joint Committee on Information, Broadcasting, and Judiciary. The bill, originally submitted by Hon. Nyahn G. Flomo on June 4, 2024, aims to establish a sustainable and transparent regulatory framework for the community radio sector recognizing its critical role in Liberiaโs peacebuilding efforts, national development, and dissemination of public information.
In adherence to Rule 31.4 of the Houseโs Rules and Procedures, the bill was subjected to due diligence, including public hearings and extended stakeholder consultations. On June 28, 2024, the Joint Committee, in partnership with Internews/USAID, convened a well-attended one-day public hearing at the Creed Lodge in Marshall, Margibi County. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and community radio practitioners across the country.
A detailed report from the Joint Committee outlines the participatory process and provides a matrix of key stakeholder concerns along with the Committeeโs corresponding recommendations. Among the major amendments incorporated into the revised draft are:
A clear and concise definition of a โCommunityโ within the context of community radio.
Provisions ensuring authentic community ownership and management of stations.
A structured mechanism to consolidate multiple stations within a community into a single entity after a five-year period.
Strengthened licensing procedures to curb fraud, including a requirement for a notarized Board Resolution.
Clarification of the regulatory roles of MICAT and the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) in the licensing framework.
Establishment of a Community Radio National Budgetary Allocation Management Committee to administer an annual 0.25% allocation from the National Budget for the sectorโs sustainability.
Enhanced transparency and accountability measures governing political and personal donations to community radio stations.
Upon presenting its findings, the Joint Committee recommended that the proposed adjustments be formally incorporated into the bill and circulated to all Members of the House. Following its third reading, Plenary voted overwhelmingly to pass the Act and forward it to the Honorable Liberian Senate for concurrence.
The House of Representatives reaffirms its commitment to strengthening Liberiaโs media landscape, promoting community empowerment, and safeguarding access to accurate and timely public information.
