We were Not Operating Illegally …Henry Costa Reacts As Religious Council Expresses Concern

The Manager and owner of Roots FM, Henry Pedro Costa, has refuted claims from government that the station with the frequency 102.7 has been operating “illegally’ in the country. The Government of Liberia after obtaining a Search and Seizure Warrant from the court last week closed down the radio station on grounds that the station has failed to obtain the requisite documents to operate as a legal entity under the law of Liberia.
The action was carried out through the deployment of heavily armed Police officers from the Liberia National Police (LNP) who accompanied sheriffs from the court to enforce the closure on Thursday, October 10, 2019.
But in has reaction on the INTERNET, Mr. Costa, who hosts the popular “Henry Costa Show” refuted the government’s claim and said the station got its legal status under this government and expressed surprise that this very government that gave the license would make such claim.
He added that the station has been paying its legitimate taxes as required law and believes that the reasons given by the government is only an alibi to keep the station off and non-functional because it is critical of the Weah’s Government.
“We have documents to show that we are a legally registered entity in this country,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the interreligious Council of Liberia (IRCI) said it is deeply concerned about the closure of three radio stations including the publicized Roots FM on reports of failure to renew their operational permits with the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT).
The IRCL which comprises the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) and the National Muslim Council of Liberia (NMCL) called on the Government through the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and the affected radio stations as well as their supporters to exercise a high degree of restraints as efforts abound to find a resolution to the current crisis, their press release issued stated.
The IRCL reminds all Liberians that the upholding of the rule of law and the strengthening of the country’s democracy includes freedom of speech and of the media to freely operate without fear of intimidation and/or molestation.
The IRCL also said the arrests of journalists and/or the inciting of public violence, seizure of private properties, political intolerance, etc. are inimical to democratic tenets and must be abhorred by all Liberians including the government and the media
The IRCL therefore called on all political parties and/or actors to prioritize the democratization of the State and focus on achieving political transition through democratic means to avoid putting the country that is already economically stressed through unnecessary political tension, mayhem and/or uncertainties.
Meanwhile, the IRCL urged the affected radio stations to seek a peaceful resolution of the closure and crisis and find a redress through the courts of law.
“The IRCL called on the administration of President George M. Weah, as holder of the people’s trust to consider that it bears the greatest responsibility for the maintenance of peace and stability in the country,” the release concluded.