By Taisiah K. Merfee
IPNEWS-Monrovia: A non-for-profit organization Journalists Initiative for Peaceful Election (JIPEL) has been launched. JIPEL was launched on Friday, December 2, 2022 at the St. Peters Lutheran Church and with a rally to support the works of the Organization.
The launching program was graced by Media Workers, Civic Society Groups, Students groups, Church leaders, Educators and the general public.
Giving the overview of the organization, the Founder and Executive Director of JIPEL said this dream started in 2019 and it was later birthed in 2020.
Journalist Oscar F. Mulbah said the purpose of the organization is to help train journalists and state security as the country goes toward election and even beyond and as well to advocate for the rights of Journalists, create awareness especially on the Elections.
He said for the past time Journalists and State security have had serious disagreements on their respective roles when covering a program involving the President and other government officials but the coming of this organization the will make the different in the coming months.
He said the people depend on the Media for information and especially during Election period because citizens need to know what the state actors are doing and to also know the various election result that is why they are going to engage in the training of Reporters, Talk show hosts in Nine of Liberia’s County.
Journalist Mulbah said Talk Show Hosts have the power to turn the country into crisis if they say something that may not be right that might lead the people to do something different.
According to Journalist Mulbah, they will begin training for Talk Show Hosts in Montserrado, Bong, Margibi, Nimba, Lofa, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Bomi Cape Mount and Gbarpolu Counties in the coming Months.
Serving as keynote speaker at the launching ceremony Rev. Philip Nushan said the inauguration of a new institution seeks to engage the Liberian society and the world to stimulate collaboration by engaging stakeholders such as the media and the security sector to promote peace and sustainable development in Liberia.
He said the vision to establish JIPEL noted this initiative does not only demonstrate their love and concern for the peace and development of Liberia but is also a classic manifestation of the excellent leadership skills and innovation and the love for Country and their admirable leadership ability.
He said Democracy, the free and equal representation of people, is fundamental to the peace, stability and sustainable development of any Nation.
Democracy: “Democracy is like the experience of life itself always changing, infinite in its variety, sometimes turbulent and all the more valuable for having be entered for adversity.”
Also speaking the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) said the program launched will go a long way in the Country History most especially talking about peace.
Maj/Gen. Prince C. Johnson, III said as head of the AFL he will do all it takes in protecting the peace of the Nation stating what the disbanded AFL did back then will not be repeated now.
Maj/Gen. Johnson said the AFL is fully ready to respond to any attack by any group in the Country and the people of Liberia should be assured that they will do all it takes to protect the peace.
He noted Media in Liberia media should get away with fake news that can carry a negative picture about the Country and said it is always good to do proper fact-checking whenever they get information on people as that will help the country move ahead.
The AFL boss than promised I. Work with the group I’m making sure that the message of peace is cut across in the rest of the other counties.
