CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – The Legislative Press Pool (LEGISPOOL) has formally informed its members and the general public that the printing and issuance of access passes for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), scheduled for tomorrow, are being handled exclusively by the Executive Protection Service (EPS).
In a statement issued on Sunday, January 25, 2026, and signed by LEGISPOOL Secretary General Gibson Gee, the organization disclosed that the EPS is working in close collaboration with the Press Bureaus of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), to ensure security and orderly conduct during the event.
LEGISPOOL clarified that although its members are duly accredited to cover legislative activities at the Capitol Building, coverage of the State of the Nation Address is subject to specific security and protocol requirements. As a result, special access passes are mandatory for entry into the SONA venue.
According to the statement, LEGISPOOL has been reliably informed that the number of access passes available is limited and may not accommodate all accredited reporters. In keeping with established procedures, members have been advised to liaise with their respective Press Bureaus. The organization noted that once the Directors of the Press Bureaus receive the official access passes, they will directly contact journalists selected to collect their passes.
The Legislative Press Pool further emphasized that the allocation of passes should not be interpreted as discriminatory or disrespectful to any journalist or media institution. Rather, it stressed that the process is strictly guided by security considerations and protocol compliance.
In the interest of professionalism and to avoid unnecessary confrontation, LEGISPOOL has called on members who do not receive access passes to remain at their offices or homes and follow the President’s address through radio, television, and approved online platforms that will be granted access.
LEGISPOOL concluded by appealing for the cooperation and understanding of its members, underscoring the need to uphold journalistic ethics, institutional respect, and national security protocols during the President’s annual address to the nation.
