The Managing editor for Inquirer Newspaper, Philip Wesseh, is encouraging worship centers not to be silent on political issues in the country.
Speaking at the thanksgiving service held to jumpstart the Inquirer Newspaper’s 30th anniversary activities at the Eliza Turner Memorial A. M. E Church on Camp Johnson Road on yesterday, Mr. Wesseh disagreed with people who have said that politics should not be spoken in the church.
According to him, worship centers and their memberships are part of the society, so everything that affects the society also affects the church and therefore the church should be able to expose issues that are affecting the country.
The Managing Editor added that the government of Liberia should review its website because the government is not an advertising agent and therefore it should not encourage the usage of its website for profit as by doing so strangulates the media.
He said the government must be the creator of jobs wherein its responsibility is to provide the enabling environment instead of being a competing agency thereby depriving the media from generating income knowing fully well that the media thrives on advertisements.
Meanwhile, the Mr. Wesseh for the first time publicly blamed some unscrupulous individuals (though not named) whom according to him were bent on sabotaging this paper’s operations by creating a vacuum for distraction when several employees left the institution but God being God and knowing the intent of the vision bearers, he praised God that the paper is still on the market today and even stronger than before.
The INQUIRER Newspaper known as Liberia’s only surviving post war independent paper as a tradition in observance of its anniversary in giving thanks and praises to God for his many blessings over the years, the employees begin the activates by congregating at a place designated for worship by an anniversary committee and that propels the institution to roll out the rest of the activities.
This year’s celebration will later be followed by an appreciation day at which time some employees will be honored by the management of the institution as well as the recognition of its personalities of the year under review.
The paper was founded on January 15, 1991 by group of young Liberian journalist to fill the communication gap created as the result of the civil conflict with the Mr. Gabriel Williams as its first Managing Editor. Its first Chairman of the Board of Directors was the late T-Max Teah.
Some of the original staffers were the present managing editor Atty Philip N. Wesseh, Mr. S Tobga Slewion, the late Sam Kesselly, J. Grody Dorbor, Amos Bryant, Stanley George, Mr. Doe S.K. Davis who now runs a printing press, Mr. Roger Seton, Gregory Stemn, the late Emmanuel Nah and Mr. Bana Sackey, Mr. J Burgess Carter.
Others who later joined the editorial staff were Yadeh Chea, Prof K. Moses Nagbe and the late Stanton B. Peabody.
Meanwhile, Atty Wesseh in commending the staff of the newspaper for their continuous commitment, dedication and hard work pointed out, “We renew our commitment as we celebrate our 30 years of professional journalism.”
This year’s anniversary committee is headed by Madam Winnie Saywah-Jimmy who runs the newsroom of the newspaper.