By Grace Q. Bryant
The former Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), Estelle Liberty Kemoh, has alarmed over the severity of accusations levied against she and her team by Eugene Fahngon.
Fahngon, who is now recorded in history as one who ascended to the helm of leadership at the state-owned broadcaster without having any journalistic knowledge, is said to be bent on a sustained smear campaign against Madam Kemoh and her team aimed at ruining their unmatched gains.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Information Cultural Affairs & Tourism, Kemoh highlighted a series of public statements made by Fahngon, including a live press conference attended by multiple media outlets on national radio, television and social media on May 15.
During this conference, Fahngon purportedly accused Kemoh’s administration of financial mismanagement and perpetuating a system of what he termed “modern-day slavery” at the LBS.
Madam Kemoh, in her communication addressed to Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah, vehemently refuted these accusations, asserting that her team left the LBS in a stable financial position, with a balance of US$100,978.37 in its operating accounts at the time of their departure on January 22.
“Any drawdown on that amount going forward from the date of our departure, for whatever purposes, including the sustained operations of LBS Monrovia and its seven out stations, can only be accounted for by those left in charge at the time, including the current management at LBS,” she noted.
She explained that the LBS, like any operating entity, has Business and Accounts Offices that carry out various activities and transactions which are recorded in different financial statements, classified under broad headings; assets, liabilities/debts, equity, revenue, expenses, etc.
She called for a thorough audit by government agencies such as the General Auditing Commission (GAC) or the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to verify the allegations.
Expressing concern over the potential damage to their reputations, Kemoh warned that legal action would be pursued if the matter was not addressed transparently and fairly.
See full letter below:
Mr. Jerolinmek M. Piah
Minister
Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs & Tourism
Capitol Hill
Monrovia, Liberia
Dear Minister Piah:
I present my compliments and wish to commend you and your team for the stewardship you continue to demonstrate in the management and operation of the national government communication and information sector. Accordingly, I wish to draw your attention to a continued unabated smear campaign to publicly malign, demean and discredit me and members of my erstwhile Management Team by Mr. Eugene Fahngon, Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System, including his repeated public rants that we left the LBS in a “bad shape.”
On Wednesday May 15th, 2024, a day after the celebration of national Unification Day, Mr. Fahngon called a one hour live press conference (attended by multiple media outlets) on national radio, television and social media (Public/State platform & medium), alleging that our administration had squandered/misappropriated financial resources, leaving the entity in filthy condition and pursued a system of what he called “modern day slavery at the LBS.”
These are grave allegations that do not only border on our reputation and integrity, but are intended to cast aspersions and damage our high earned reputation and standing in the eyes of the public both nationally and internationally.
It would interest you to note, Mr. Minister that the status of US$100, 978.37 .(One hundred thousand, nine hundred and seventy eight dollars and thirty seven cents United States dollars) left in the system’s operating accounts as of our departure on 22nd January 2024 that was the prime focus of Mr. Fahngon’s live press conference and other related matters, is opened for review and scrutiny. Any drawdown on that amount going forward from the date of our departure, for whatever purposes, including the sustained operations of LBS Monrovia and Seven (7) Outside or otherwise, can only be accounted for by those left in charge at the time, including the current management at LBS. The LBS, like any operating entity, has Business and Accounts offices that carry out various activities and transactions which are recorded in different financial statements, classified under broad headings, – assets, liabilities/debts, equity, revenue, expenses, etc.
Mr. Minister & Chairman of the Board of Directors of LBS, please note that these are grave allegations against our erstwhile management team and my person as well as on the financial integrity of the entity that should not be taken lightly. They can only be verified, corroborated and/or authenticated through a commissioned audit via the authorized agency of government, – the General Auditing Commission (GAC) or the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), in line with transparency and accountability and not a mere live press conference, solely intended to destroy our standing in society.
I wish to state that anything short of this process that hinges on our reputation and integrity, we will be left with no alternative but to pursue the appropriate legal recourse against Mr. Fahngon and the LBS management. For the record, me and my erstwhile team take just pride in our stewardship and the remarkable transformation we left at LBS to be expanded upon by successive administrastions.
While we await your kind intervention as Chairman of the Board of Directors of LBS, please accept the sentiments of our highest esteem and consideration.
Sincerely,
Estelle Liberty Kemoh
Former Director General, LBS, for and on behalf of the erstwhile Management team
Cc: Hon. J. Fonati Koffa, Speaker, House of Representatives
The Chairman, House Committee on Information & Broadcasting
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Information & Broadcasting
