PPF condemns law suit against radio talk show host

Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), in a letter to George Weah, President of Liberia has expressed concern over the law suit against radio talk show host, Henry Costa.

PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali, has condemned the action taken against the journalist and Roots FM and urged the concerned authorities to immediately look into this matter and drop all charges against Costa. PPF also called on the government of Liberia to stop targeting journalists and media houses.

According to Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP), Nathaniel McGill, Liberia’s Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and one of the closest associates of President George Weah has filed the “Action of Damages for Slander” against Costa and the entire Roots FM, trying to recover US$500,000.

The minister has also asked the Civil law court to immediately shut down the radio station.

On April 15, Minister McGill issued the Writ along with an attachment to the ministerial officer. The writ commands the Sheriff to inform Costa that he and his colleagues must file a “former appearance and/or answer” to the official of court till April 25.

In the attachment, Minister McGill’s lawyers has requested Judge Yusif D. Kaba to charge Costa and his co-defendants accountable for an amount of US$500,000 and also ordered shut down of his radio station.

Costa, a morning talk show host has always been critical of President Weah and often accused his officials of being involve in massive corruption, incompetence and bad governance.

Moreover, Costa has also alleged that government was delicately disrupting his transmission because of his critical views about President and the government.

Costa also wrote to the US Embassy in Monrovia and said, “On Friday April 12, 2019, while we were on the Costa Show at about 9:10 am, many of our listeners began to complain that they were suddenly hearing old clips from past editions, instead of our live broadcast on our frequency, Roots FM 102.7.”