ADMA Engages with Media Partners and Advocates in Grand Bassa County

Ambassador B. Elias Shoniyin, Managing Director of Africa Development Management Associates, has reminded Liberians that while poverty remains a pressing challenge — especially in rural communities like Grand Bassa County — silence is no longer an option.

He emphasized that decades of neglect and governance failures have deepened hardship, but the future can be different if voices are raised and truth is spoken. Addressing journalists in Grand Bassa, Ambassador Shoniyin urged them to break the silence: “A county without a functioning press is a county without a mirror. Without you, Grand Bassa will never see itself clearly to know that there is an urgent need for change.”

Liberia’s progress on the World Press Freedom Index — moving from 75th in 2022 to 58th in 2026 — shows that conditions for journalism are improving. But Ambassador Shoniyin reminded that rankings are only the stage; what matters is the courage and responsibility of those who stand on it. “The press is democracy’s immune system. When strong, it protects against corruption, injustice, and incompetence.”

At Africa Development Management Associates, we believe that sustainable development begins with empowered communities and informed citizens. Our mission is to support initiatives that strengthen governance, amplify local voices, and create opportunities for growth. As Ambassador Shoniyin noted, journalists are not serving governors but the children, farmers, market women, students, and mothers who walk miles to reach a clinic. These are the people we serve, and their security depends on a free, active, and responsible press.

Together, with courage and commitment, we can build a Liberia where every community sees itself clearly — and chooses hope, progress, and transformation.