MONROVIA – Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), Eugene L. Fahngon, has announced that veteran broadcaster Abraham Godsent Wheon has been banned from appearing on ELBC, accusing him of repeatedly insulting President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. and other senior government officials. Fahngon made the statement during a live Facebook podcast on Monday, November 17, 2025, insisting that the state broadcaster will not tolerate what he called “demeaning and irresponsible commentary.”
According to Fahngon, Wheon, who manages former President George Weah’s King’s FM, has been using his platform to “sling insults” at the Boakai administration, crossing a line between criticism and abuse. “LBS is not for idiots,” Fahngon declared, stressing that while the government respects freedom of expression, it will not permit “verbal recklessness” on a national platform funded by taxpayers. Wheon has yet to comment publicly on the accusations or on Fahngon’s decision.
The move adds to an already controversial tenure for Fahngon, whose leadership at LBS has been marred by disputes, internal unrest, and accusations of authoritarian control. Earlier this year, LBS workers publicly accused him of harassment, intimidation, benefit cuts, and fostering a toxic work environment. Union leaders said staff morale had reached its lowest point in years, prompting public appeals to President Boakai to intervene and avert a deeper institutional crisis.
Fahngon, however, dismissed those allegations as “malicious propaganda,” arguing that entrenched interests are resisting his attempts to restore discipline and professional standards at the national broadcaster. Media organizations, including the Press Union of Liberia and the Reporters Association of Liberia, have expressed concern over the escalating tensions, describing the leadership dispute as a threat to press freedom and institutional integrity.
Compounding these controversies is Fahngon’s long history of incendiary public remarks. As a former deputy information minister under President Weah, he was repeatedly criticized for making inflammatory statements on national issues, remarks that drew condemnation from civil society groups and diplomats. In 2019, he was suspended for comments that inflamed ethnic tensions during the citizenship debate, and in 2020 he sparked public outrage after accusing political opponents of plotting violence without presenting evidence. These past incidents continue to shape public perceptions of his leadership style today.
Splits within LBS management have also surfaced. A highly publicized feud last year between Fahngon and his deputy for public affairs, Alexandra Bainda-Amnon, exposed internal fractures. She accused him of authoritarian behavior, while he claimed she engaged in insubordination and undermined managerial authority. Analysts say the row underscored chronic governance problems at the state broadcaster.
Even more damaging were media reports earlier this year alleging that Fahngon accepted a US$500,000 bribe from a Chinese businessman to push a targeted narrative against a rival investor on LBS platforms. Although Fahngon denied the allegations, critics argued that such claims, regardless of their accuracy, further erode public trust in the station’s independence.
Fahngon’s confrontational approach extends beyond LBS’ internal politics. In 2024, he drew criticism after declaring that LBS would not air what he labeled “militant jingles” from the CDC, arguing that the institution must rise above partisan agitation. His remarks were widely interpreted as a direct jab at the opposition, sparking debates over whether state media should have the authority to determine the political tone of content it receives.
Despite growing public concern, Fahngon insists that his leadership is driven by a desire to reform the state broadcaster into a more disciplined, credible institution free from what he calls “the bad habits of the past.” According to him, the ban on Wheon is an extension of that reform agenda, a move he views as necessary to prevent LBS from becoming a platform for political insults and unprofessional behavior.
With Wheon now barred from ELBC, the controversy surrounding LBS appears far from over. Critics argue that Fahngon’s actions reflect a tightening grip on state media, while supporters claim he is restoring long-neglected standards.
