-Gives Green Light for His Station to Operate
By Jacqueline Dinnes
The Supreme Court of Liberia has given green light to One Media Incorporated, owner of Punch FM to operate, after being barred by the government from operating since June 2018.
The nation’s highest court’s mandate to allow the institution to operate was contained in a judgment on Monday, September 26.
In January of 2018, One Media Incorporated met all requirements under the laws of Liberia to operate as a media institution. The Government of Liberia issued the entity broadcast license and permit to operate, but five months later, the George Weah-led Administration prevented the station from coming on air, citing a review of the country’s media sector as the basis for its action.
However, the Management of Punch FM took a legal stance against the government through a Petition for Declaratory Judgment. Furthermore, in January 2020, Civil Law Court ‘A’ Judge Peter W. Gbeneweleh restored the right of One Media Incorporated to operate a radio station, Punch FM 106.3 in the country, but the government, through the Ministry of Information Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), on the other hand, took an appeal to the Supreme Court. Following a review process of court records, the Supreme Court in its judgment noted that whilst the Executive Law Rev. Code 13.31 grants MICAT the authority to regulate the Fourth Estate, however, in the present case, the appellant violated One Media Incorporated’s constitutional rights to due process when it suspended the appellee’s license without conducting a hearing.
According to the court, the continued closure of Punch FM premises without any justifiable reason violates the entity’s rights in many aspects. Therefore, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled, affirming the ruling of the Civil Law Court to restore the right of Patrick Honnah’s One Media Incorporated to operate a radio station, Punch FM 106.3 in Liberia, thus denying government appeal.
The Supreme Court has mandated the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court to resume jurisdiction over the case and give effect to its judgment. Hours following the Supreme Court’s Monday’s judgment, One Media Incorporated Chief Executive Officer, Journalist Honnah told a local daily that the Supreme Court’s judgment clearly shows a violation of freedom of speech by the George Weah Administration.
He termed it a “witch-hunt” for government to stop the operations of his institution when he had satisfied all requirements. He assures the public that the institution will begin operation soon, as setup has already been done.
While Journalist Honnah, who has clearly aligned himself with the former ruling party, Unity Party, sees the ruling as a victory for freedom of speech, he has equally threatened to take a lawsuit against the government for damages caused his institution.
According to him, he had invested a huge sum of money for the operations of Punch FM, only to note that government has a selfish plan to deny him.
He indicated that contracts signed with partners, before he could begin operations, did not materialize as a result of being denied from operating for four years.
This, he said, has caused him serious losses and as a result, he will drag the government to court for damages incurred.
