MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Publishers Association of Liberia (PAL) commends the government of Liberia for its ongoing effort to settle legacy debts owed to media institutions across the country, while cautioning that the process remains incomplete despite claims to the contrary that it has cleared all media debt.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, and signed by PAL President Alphonso T. Oweh, the Publishers Association of Liberia (PAL) acknowledged the government’s initiative as a positive step toward addressing longstanding financial obligations to the media sector. The association said the move reflects a welcome recognition of the media’s role in the country’s democratic development.
However, PAL disputed recent assertions by government actors suggesting that all debts owed to media houses have been fully settled.
The association said a number of its member institutions are yet to receive payment, and it called on the Ministry ofFinance to accelerate the process to ensure every outstanding obligation is met.
“While we commend this effort by the government, we must clarify that contrary to assertions by the Ministry of Finance that all debts owed the media have been settled, some media houses are yet to receive payment,” PAL said. “We therefore
encourage the government to speed up the process to ensure that all of our members are fully paid,” Mr. Alphonso Toweh, president of PAL said.
PAL emphasized that the media remains a key pillar of Liberia’s democratic governance and a critical partner in national development, underscoring the importance of timely and full payment to sustain a viable press.
The association said it will continue to engage government authorities, especially the Ministry of Finance on behalf of its members until the matter is fully resolved.
