By: Stephen G. Fellajuah
Email fellajuahstepheng@gmail.com
As members of the Press Union of Liberia gear up for the 2022 Congress which will also include a leadership election, the formidable team Daniel – Bettie has announced its ticket comprising of dedicated and astute media professionals who have committed a massive portion of their career to promote and protect media freedom, mentoring young journalists, and fostering the spirit of camaraderie in the media community of Liberia.
The Team comprises of Mr. Daniel Nyakonah who is the current Vice President of the PUL, contesting for the Presidency, Madam Bettie Johnson-Mbayo, Vice Presidency, Mr. Akoi M. Baysah Secretary-General and Mr. Julius Konton, Assistant Secretary-General.
Team Daniel – Bettie on October 25, 2022 held an impressive unveiling program at the offices of Prime Communication Network Inc., Benson Street, Monrovia to introduce and announce what they termed dedicated team.
According to Mr. James P. Kwabo Jr., who read the statement on behalf of the committee, noted that the decision to form this team is aimed at ensuring a birth of a united leadership that has a mixture of freshness, experience, integrity, and commitment to the media community.
Mr. Nyakonah as lead, has served the PUL for more than a decade – committing a significant portion of his career to keep the Union strong and vibrant despite the odds. He and his is bringing a renewed vigor to the Presidency with a clear understanding of the problems and solutions. The team will work tirelessly to transform the union from within.
It is no secret that like of Mr. Nyakonah, Madam Johnson-Mbayo, Mr Akoi and Mr. Konton bring to the PUL’s leadership, commitment to press freedom, integrity, and transparency. The Team have proven to be trusted media professionals who are dedicated to serving the Union.
“We implore your support and ask you to vote for this team of committed leaders and make the relevant transformations we all want”, Mr. Kwabo Jr. told the gathering.
In his special statement, Mr. Daniel Nyakonah expressed excitement by the naming of campaign team and said it will be supervise by a team of dedicated people. He made it know that it is about continuing the work of current President of the PUL, Mr. Charles Coffey Jr.
“We are not trying to remake the PUL. We are continuing from Mr. Coffey stopped as we celebrate his success today, tomorrow we are working to improve the challenges thereof”, he assured, adding that his team is running on commitment to the Union and build on the already acquired rexperience to transform the PUL.
Delighted by the massive turnout of journalists at the occasion, Mr. Nyakonah emphasized that his first 100 days will commit to consultation across the country on the construction of the Union’s headquarters from a public private partnership with government.
Speaking further, he said his time with the PUL has attending impact and that impact comes with experience to accomplish the education he has, saying no one can challenge him when it comes to media development in the country. He urged his supporters to go out and campaign clean.
Also making a brief statement, Madam Johnson-Mbayo, further assured the audience that their team is for transformation. She pleaded with all journalists across the country to vote team Daniel-Bettie looking at the institutional worth of commitment.
Earlier, in separate remarks, several speakers described Daniel as someone who has been in the vanguard of the Union, and he is the man best suited for the post. They said the Union is a place of sacrifice and Daniel is always willing to serve. Lennart Dodoo of Front-page Africa, Maxwell Johnson of State Broadcaster (ELBC), and Ida Reeves of Women’s TV encouraged their fellow colleagues to work seriously so that they will move to Gbarnga to elect team Daniel-Bettie.
