On 13 August 2016, fully geared Police Support Unit officers and the National Security Agency of Liberia were seen barricading the premises of Radio LIB24. The event occurred barely 24 hours after The Costa Show analyzed a Global Witness corruption report on Liberia.
This statement was originally published by CEMESP on 14 August 2016.
The government of Liberia has, with immediate effect, shut down privately-owned Radio LIB24 (105.1F M).
Radio LIB 24 is owned by opposition politician Benio Urey.
On Saturday, August 13, 2016, fully geared Police Support Unit officers and the National Security Agency of Liberia were seen barricading the premises of the station. They were accompanying court officers, barely 24 hours after the relay of the popular “Costa Show” on LIB 24 radio station.
In its August 12, 2016 edition, the show gave an analysis on the Global Witness corruption report on Liberia, thereby accusing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of receiving USD $250,000 from an indicted senator (Cllr. Varney Sherman).
The original host radio station of “The Costa Show,” Voice FM, was closed a month ago by the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA). Many believed it was because the station was critical of the government, but the LTA claimed the station has been operating without a permit.
