AS A NEWSPAPER committed to truth, accountability, and the public interest, FrontPage Africa acknowledges receipt of the letter issued by legal counsel representing Mr. Alpha Gongolee, suspended Deputy Director for Operations of the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority (LACRA), demanding the retraction of our previous publications.
WE TAKE SUCH communications seriously. However, we also recognize our responsibility to respond clearly, factually, and without intimidation.
FRONTPAGE AFRICA CATEGORICALLY stands by its reporting.
OUR COVERAGE OF the allegations involving Mr. Gongolee was not driven by malice, speculation, or reckless disregard for the truth. It was the product of careful journalistic work, supported by documents, sources, and developments that were, and remain, matters of significant public concern.
THE ISSUES REPORTED, including alleged cocoa smuggling, financial impropriety, and abuse of office, are not private matters. They relate directly to the integrity of a national regulatory institution and the management of Liberia’s agricultural resources.
IT IS IMPORTANT to address a central claim made in the letter from Mr. Gongolee’s legal counsel, namely, that he was not afforded an opportunity to respond prior to publication.
THIS ASSERTION IS inaccurate. FrontPage Africa made repeated and documented efforts to contact Mr. Gongolee before publishing its stories.
OUR EDITOR, SELMA Lomax, placed calls, sent text messages, and extended multiple opportunities for him to provide his account. These efforts were met with silence. Mr. Gongolee declined to respond. His decision not to engage cannot now be used to suggest that he was denied a fair hearing.
JOURNALISM DOES NOT require the consent of its subjects to report. It requires diligence, fairness, and a commitment to truth. We fulfilled those obligations.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS HAVE further validated the seriousness of our reporting. The Board of Directors of the Liberia Agriculture Commodity Regulatory Authority convened a meeting to examine the same allegations that were brought to public attention.
DURING THAT PROCESS, evidence was reportedly presented, including documentation alleging financial transactions between Mr. Gongolee and a private company linked to cocoa exports. Following its deliberations, the Board took decisive action. Mr. Gongolee was suspended with immediate effect, and the matter was referred to the Liberia National Police for investigation.
THESE ARE NOT actions taken lightly by any institution. They underscore the gravity of the situation and reinforce that the issues raised were neither fabricated nor trivial.
IN ADDITION, THE leadership of LACRA issued a directive to all stakeholders, making it clear that Mr. Gongolee no longer holds authority to act on behalf of the institution. Stakeholders were instructed to cease all official dealings with him, and any such engagements were declared null and void. This level of response reflects institutional concern and a commitment to safeguarding the credibility of the Authority.
AGAINST THIS BACKDROP, the demand for retraction raises fundamental questions. A retraction is warranted when a publication is false, misleading, or unsupported by facts.
THAT IS NOT the case here. The developments that followed our reporting, including an internal inquiry, a suspension, and a referral for investigation, demonstrate that the matters reported were, at minimum, credible and worthy of public attention.
FRONTPAGE AFRICA RESPECTS the right of any individual to seek legal redress. However, legal threats must not be used as instruments to suppress legitimate journalism. The press plays a vital role in any democracy. It informs the public, holds power to account, and ensures that issues of national importance are not hidden from scrutiny.
WE ALSO NOTE that Mr. Gongolee had the opportunity to address the allegations during the Board’s inquiry. Reports indicate that he did not exonerate himself in that forum. This is a critical point. It suggests that the matter extends beyond media reporting and into the realm of institutional accountability.
OUR ROLE IS not to determine guilt or innocence. That responsibility rests with investigative authorities and, if necessary, the courts. Our role is to report, accurately and responsibly, on issues that affect the public interest. We have done so, and we will continue to do so.
FRONTPAGE AFRICA WILL not retract its stories in the absence of credible evidence demonstrating that they are false. We remain open to publishing Mr. Gongolee’s response, should he choose to provide one. That opportunity has always existed, and it remains available.
THIS IS NOT simply about one individual or one newspaper. It is about the principle that the truth must not be silenced. It is about ensuring that public institutions remain accountable, and that the press remains free to perform its duty without fear.
WE STAND BY our work. We stand by our responsibility. And we stand, firmly, on the side of the Liberian people, who deserve transparency, accountability, and the truth.
