Researched by Emmanuel M. Weedee-Conway
A post by a Liberian journalist, James Goodday Flomo, claimed that the former Director General of the Liberia News Agency (LINA), Kwame Oldpa Weeks, has personalised the Facebook page of the government-owned agency.
In the post, the journalist indicated the action was a complete abuse of resources and demanded that Weeks return the page to the agency.
The claim has drawn the attention of the sector ministry, the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), which supervises the operations of the Liberia News Agency.
Fact-Check
The Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Jerelimek Piah, confirmed that the former Director General personalised the Facebook page of LINA.
The Minister at a press briefing hinted that the case would be referred to the Ministry of Justice for investigation.
“LINA has an official Facebook page that belongs to the Ministry of Information. The head of it (LINA), traditionally, has been appointed by the Minister of Information because that is what the law says it should be. In the last six years, the Weah government elevated the position to a presidential level position.
“So, contrary to what the law says, the president appointed somebody he called…Director General. As of January 22 (2024) his assignment ceased to exist. He no longer works for the Ministry of Information. In fact, he does not reflect on the payroll of the ministry but he has unlawfully, very disrespectfully continued to run the Facebook page that belongs to the Ministry of Information.
“Before, we have been positive and engaging. We had minutes of (meeting with) him… he has still refused to cooperate and turn over that platform that belongs to the ministry. so we have elevated the matter to the Ministry of Justice, and we will use the law to resolve the issue,” Jerelimek Piah partly said. (6:27 to 8:06)
However, Kwame Oldpa Weeks responded on March 21, 2024, that the Facebook page belonged to him and shared the following on the page.
“The Facebook Page bearing the assumed name “Liberia News Agency – which didn’t exist prior to my appointment – will be changed to: Miepo MediaCon, effective upon the completion of all verifications from ‘META’ between 30 to 60 days from today’s date due to accumulation of more “likes.””
Verdict
With the confirmation of the Ministry of Information and admission by Kwame Oldpa Weeks, the claim by journalist Flomo is True.
