IPNEWS: The Consortium of Civil Organizations in Paynesville has voiced strong support for the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) following its decision to dismiss nine employees accused of using social media to insult President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and other government officials.
The MCC’s action, which has sparked national debate, was taken after the Director of the Civil Service Agency (CSA), Josiah Joekai, urged the corporation to terminate the employee’s service due to what he described as a “deadly social media campaign” targeting senior public officials, particularly President Boakai.
Josiah Joekai’s call to action highlighted the severity of the employees’ behavior, which he claimed had tarnished the MCC’s reputation and undermined the government’s credibility.
Following this directive, the MCC moved to issue dismissal letters to the nine individuals.
In his response, the Chairman of the group Samuel Johnson emphasized that while free speech is a constitutional right, it does not extend to cyberbullying or hate speech, particularly when such actions are directed at individuals in a harmful and malicious manner.
He argued that the MCC’s decision was justified and necessary to maintain the integrity and reputation of the institution and to set a clear precedent against the misuse of social media by public servants.
“Free speech is a fundamental right that we must all cherish and protect,” Johnson stated.
“However, there is a stark difference between expressing one’s views constructively and engaging in behavior that amounts to cyberbullying or spreading hate.
The actions of these employees crossed the line, and the MCC was right to take such a stand.”
Samuel Johnson further highlighted the importance of responsible social media use, particularly among public servants who represent governmental institutions.
He warned that failure to address such behavior could lead to a breakdown in respect for public office and harm the broader societal fabric.
“Public servants have a responsibility to uphold the values of their office and to engage in discourse that is respectful and constructive,” Johnson added. ”
When individuals use their positions to engage in toxic behavior on social media, it not only reflects poorly on them but also on the institutions they represent.
The MCC’s action, prompted by the CSA, sends a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated.”
The CSA Director’s intervention indicates the gravity of the situation, as Joekai’s description of the employees’ actions as a “deadly social media campaign” indicates the potential impact such behavior could have on the stability and reputation of public institutions.
Activist Samuel Johnson’s support for the MCC’s decision aligns with a broader concern about the potential for social media to be misused in ways that can harm individuals and institutions alike.
Last Tuesday, August 14, the CSA in a usual style requested the Monrovia City Corporation to immediately relieve nine employees for consistently engaged in dangerous and destructive social media campaigns against public officials, particularly targeting the President of Liberia, Joseph N. Boakai.
CSA Boss Joekai speaking at the MICAT regular press briefing stated that the actions of the nine employees have cause significant harm to the image and reputation of the Monrovia City Corporation
“The native portrayal of government officials by these auspicious employees has far reaching effects on them, on the individuals concerns, meaning the targeted public officials and the government as a hole.” Hon. Josiah Joekai, CSA Director General told the Media.
Immediately following the request by the CSA, authorities at the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) moved and terminated the employment of the nine employees.
In a leaked communication to one of the dismissed employees, identified as Boye Koikoi, Revenue Agent/Distribution, dated August 13, 2024, under the subject: ‘Letter of Termination’, stated that said termination emulates from your consistent and deliberate action portrayed on social media by engaging insults at the Excellency , Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, and Government officials including the Government of Liberia relentlessly without any regards to your official position as Revenue Agent/Distribution of the Monrovia City Corporation’
The communication of termination further states that ‘moreover, this clearly demonstrates your gross disregard for your statutory duties and responsibilities and amounts to ethical violations and gross breaches of your duty as contained in the Monrovia City Corporation’s Human Resources Policy and the Labor Law of Liberia.’
Furthermore, the communication to terminate Mr. Koikoi employment with the MCC states that ‘ the administrative action is in consonance with Chapter six (6) ; Section 6.2. code of conduct subsection 6.2.1.32’ Neutrality and participation in strike and protest’ of the Human Resource Policy Manu of the Monrovia City Corporation and the Labor Law of Liberia Section 1508: dismissal of an employee, subsection 6 (c).”
“Management wishes to extend appreciation to you for your services and request that you turn over properties of the City Government of Monrovia within your possession to the Human Resource Department including identification Card of the Corporation.” MCC Mayor, John-Charuk Siafa stated.
Observers see the termination of the nine employees as counterproductive and contravenes the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act of Press Freedom which was passed in September 2021.
Liberia’s 1986 constitution provides for freedoms of speech and the press, but these rights are often restricted in actual practice.
In July 2012, former Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the second African head of state to endorse the Declaration of Table Mountain which calls on African governments to abolish criminal defamation laws.
The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) had pressured the Sirleaf Administration in submitting a draft bill to the Legislature later that year that would move forward with the proposed decriminalization. A similar draft was submitted by the PUL and other media groups in December 2014.
However, no action was taken on the bill as of the end of 2014, partly because Liberia’s libel laws allow for large financial awards in civil suits, which can cause severe economic difficulties for journalists and media outlets, thus increasing the temptation to foster self-censorship.
Although no major lawsuits were filed in 2014, suits filed against media houses in 2012 and 2013 sought more than $20 million in total damages, according to the PUL.
President George Manneh Weah on May 31, 2018 resubmitted the bill to the National Legislature with modifications, to repeal some sections of the Penal Law of Liberia in an effort to decriminalize free speech in order to create an “unfettered media environment.”
What the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act of Press Freedom says?
Upon seizing power in a bloody coup on April 12, 1980, the People Redemption Council’s Military junta of Samuel K. Doe issued a decree that made speech offenses criminal in Chapter 11 of the Penal Law of 1978.
So, the KAK Act of Press Freedom repeals Chapter 11 of Penal Law of 1978, specifically, Sections 11.11 which border on criminal libel against the President; 11.12 on Sedition and 11.14 on criminal malevolence.
This means that with the passage of this new law, criminal libel against the President, sedition, and criminal malevolence are outlawed if they were committed against public officials.
With the law, media offenses will now be treated as civil offenses throughout the courts of Liberia.
Why was the law named ‘Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act of Press Freedom?’
The law is named after the deceased President of the Press Union of Liberia, Kamara Abdullah Kamara, due to his efforts in “strengthening and actualizing Liberia’s commitment to several legal instruments signed onto, such as Freedom of Information Act, the Table Mountain Declaration, and many others,” according to President George Weah.
Kamara was one of Liberia’s most experienced media executives with a demonstrated history of working in the information services industry.
He was skilled in nonprofit organizations, conflict, politics, policy analysis, and program evaluation and strong professional business. He had a bachelor of arts degree in Mass Communication from the University of Liberia.
Affectionately called ‘KAK’ by many of his peers, Kamara died in the central Liberian city of Gbarnga, on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 hours after he was found “unconscious” in his hotel room.
