Veteran Journalist Sieh Urges Gov't Tolerance for Public Criticisms

MONROVIA, LIBERIA: Veteran Liberian Journalist and Publisher of the FrontPage Africa newspaper, Rodney Sieh, has cautioned the Unity Party-led government to embrace criticisms as a tool to correct its lapses and ensure good governance.

Sieh said if the government must achieve its national development goals, criticisms should be approached with solution-driven actions, instead of descending on critics and opposition voices.

The veteran journalist believes that dissenting voices have been met with resistance under the current political climate of the Unity Party government.

Sieh's assertions have awakened fresh memories about the harsh responses made by the Government's Deputy spokesperson, Daniel Sando, against a fierce critic in recent months.

It can be recalled that Deputy Information Minister, Sando strongly descended on former President George Weah's Chief of Office Staff, Lenn Eugene Nagbe for sharply criticizing the government's strides.

Sando hit at Nagbe as a "diarrhea mouth", after the opposition figure accused the Boakia-leg government of neglecting the ordinary citizens and failing to improve their livelihoods.

Sharing his insight on the political space during a recent interview, Rodney Sieh emphasized the need for the ruling Unity Party to see criticisms in good faith, and as a driving motivation to address the demands of the Liberian people.

He warned that the Unity Party government under President Joseph Boakai, firing back at critics will only distract its development agenda and create unnecessary political tensions.

“A government that fears criticism behaves like it is still in opposition,” Sieh said. “When those in power see every opposing voice as an enemy, democratic space begins to shrink", Sieh noted.

According to him, there are existing economic challenges that the government needs to tackle and improve the livelihoods of citizens. Rodney noted that the government is the chief administration of the state, and must not be engaged with issues as the one in opposition.

“Instead of fixing the economy and strengthening institutions, some officials are busy fighting journalists and citizens on Facebook,” Sieh added. “That is dangerous for a fragile democracy like ours", journalist Rodney Sieh warned.