By Patrick Teah, Jr.
Barclayville, Grand Kru County — The Grand Kru Journalists’ Association (GKJA) has announced an immediate and total withdrawal from all coverage of the ongoing National County Sports Meet, citing persistent neglect and disregard by the County Sports Steering Committee and county authorities.
The decision, which takes effect immediately, is binding on all members of the Association, including reporters, presenters, producers, commentators, and other media practitioners operating across radio stations and media institutions in Grand Kru County.
As a result of the directive, no member of the GKJA is permitted to cover, report on, promote, or associate any media content with the National County Sports Meet for the duration of the withdrawal.
In a statement issued by its leadership on Saturday , January 3, 2025, the Association instructed all radio station managers, proprietors, and media supervisors in the county to strictly comply with the mandate. The GKJA warned that any journalist or media institution found violating the directive will face disciplinary measures, including public reprimand, suspension, or other sanctions deemed appropriate by the Association’s leadership.
According to the GKJA, the decision stems from what it describes as continued neglect of journalists by the County Sports Steering Committee and county authorities, particularly after Grand Kru County qualified for the finals of the competition at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia.
The Association noted that journalists in Grand Kru provided extensive live radio coverage of the County Meet throughout the preliminary stages of the tournament. However, it lamented that when the county delegation departed the Southeast for the finals, no local journalists were included or formally engaged to continue coverage.
The GKJA also expressed concern over the lack of local live game relay for audiences in Grand Kru, despite the Liberia Broadcasting System (ELBC) being expected to provide national commentary. The Association described this as a disregard for the vital role local journalists play in informing and uniting citizens, particularly residents who are unable to access national broadcasts.
The leadership further stressed that this is not the first time journalists in the county have experienced such treatment, describing the situation as a recurring pattern of exclusion that must come to an end.
The Grand Kru Journalists’ Association reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, unity, and the protection of its institutional integrity, emphasizing that the withdrawal will remain in effect until further notice from its leadership.
