Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar
Monrovia – President George Manneh Weah has booted out members of the media, who since early morning hours have converged at a venue in the capital, Monrovia for a meeting called by the Liberian leader between his administration and opposition political parties.
The president, giving the reason for his action said he intends the meeting with the opposition bloc to be interactive, hence, he wanted the media out of the forum to which they were officially invited to give coverage.
Many media personnel present at the venue of the meeting when President Weah gave the order to have them booted out, expressed dissatisfaction over the decision, with some making that known by the frowns visibly written on their faces, while others murmured, as they were seen in pocket-groups discussing the decision that came as a shock to several Liberians.
Meanwhile, mixed reactions have ensued regarding the president’s decision to have chased the media out, with many, including some journalists who had begun giving live coverage to the occasion via radio and TV broadcasts, describing the Liberian leader’s action as “uncalled-for.”
Journalists Zenu Miller wonders why the decision from the president, while his colleague and longtime journalist, Smith Toby describes the action on the part of president Weah as being surprising.
The pair whose OK FM network via radio and online TV, was giving live coverage to the forum for which many have hailed the president as the step in the right direction to charting a new course of Liberia’s forward march, mainly for what they believe would lay the basis for among others unraveling the current economic puzzle causing untold hardship in the country, were stunned why President Weah would want to boot the media out, thereby depriving Liberians and members of the public of the opportunity to learn firsthand, of happenings in the hall.
At the time of this report, President Weah, his vice president, Jewel Howard-Taylor, party chair, Mulbah Morlu and a long slit of his officials were locked behind closed -door, discussing with opposition political parties leaders and representatives, who turned out massively.
