Monrovia, Liberia – The Reporters Association of Liberia has begun restructuring its internal operations, expanding digital communication and decentralizing responsibilities through five new permanent committees as the association’s new leadership seeks to build a more active and participatory national body for journalists.
The changes were announced in RAL’s consolidated transition, status and early progress report covering the first weeks of President J. H. Webster Clayeh’s administration.
Clayeh took office on July 10, following the association’s seventh inauguration, with a pledge to make RAL more transparent, inclusive and responsive to the needs of reporters.
Within weeks, the new administration began creating communication channels intended to improve how information moves between the leadership and its membership.
On July 13, three days after the inauguration, RAL established a new official Facebook page following recommendations from the previous administration and concerns surrounding technical and security problems with the former account.
The association subsequently created a WhatsApp platform, RAL REBRANDED 2026, which the leadership says has already attracted 311 members from across Liberia.
The platform is intended to provide members with direct access to official information while creating space for feedback, engagement and stronger interaction among reporters.
An official RAL email account was also established on August 7 as part of an effort to strengthen formal communication and institutional record keeping.
The digital expansion is being accompanied by an internal restructuring designed to give members greater responsibility in the association’s day-to-day work.
Five permanent committees have been constituted to focus on membership, ethics, welfare, sports and intellectual development.
The Membership Committee is headed by Joshua Freeman, with Kongoi Gborkorquellie serving as co-chair and Stephanie Duncan as secretary.
The Ethics and Grievance Committee is chaired by Trokon G. Flahnma, with Annie Mae Gonny as co-chair and Emmanuel Gorwu Jr. as secretary.
Grace Bryant-Mollay heads the Welfare Committee, alongside co-chair Joetta Kulah-Yeahgar and secretary Elton Tiah.
The Sports Committee is led by Elijah Pyne, with Mariama Jalloh as co-chair and Benson Matic Mokko as secretary.
Joseph Sallie heads the Intellectual Committee, with Jenneh Kemokai as co-chair and Joseph Sirleaf as secretary.
The new structure is intended to move RAL away from an administration-centered model by distributing responsibilities among members and creating specialized mechanisms for addressing professional and welfare concerns.
The association says the committees will work with the leadership and membership to develop practical programs in their respective areas.
The restructuring is part of a larger agenda that includes strengthening county-level structures, expanding professional training, improving reporter welfare and protection, promoting press freedom and developing strategic partnerships.
RAL says these priorities are grounded in Article 2 of its Constitution, which mandates the association to protect reporters and defend their rights, promote media freedom, uphold professional standards and strengthen journalists’ capacity.
The association also intends to broaden relationships with journalists’ organizations, civil society groups and public and private institutions within Liberia and internationally.
The new administration’s early moves come as RAL reviews the institutional condition it inherited from the previous leadership.
Former President Willie N. Tokpah submitted an administrative turnover report on July 22 covering his tenure from November 2022 through July 2026. The report identified approximately 550 members and noted that the association has no land, office building or other fixed property.
RAL currently operates from office space provided at the headquarters of the Press Union of Liberia.
The new leadership says its objective is to transform the association into a more vibrant national organization capable of delivering practical benefits to reporters.
That includes stronger member engagement, professional development, welfare interventions and opportunities for journalists beyond Monrovia.
While acknowledging that much remains to be accomplished, the administration argues that its first weeks have established the foundation for a more organized and participatory RAL.
