MONROVIA, Liberia — In a meeting anchored on gratitude and partnership, Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), Eugene Lamine Fahngon, on Monday led a high-powered delegation to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), where he thanked Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan for the Ministry’s continuous support to the state broadcaster.
The courtesy visit, according to Fahngon, was a deliberate effort to “show appreciation for what has already been done,” noting that recognizing support is the surest way to encourage greater collaboration.
“If someone does good for you and you appreciate it, there is a high likelihood they will continue to do good,” Fahngon said, outlining how MFDP’s backing has enabled LBS to expand its national presence, improve infrastructure, and enhance public service broadcasting across Liberia.
LBS Showcases Achievements Powered by MFDP Support
During the engagement, Fahngon highlighted major strides made under his leadership since March 2024, including:
- Expansion of television access to counties such as Bomi, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, and Grand Bassa, with Bong County expected to receive television service for the first time in over 40 years.
- Activation and improved functionality of seven regional substations, now operating on modern 10,000-watt transmitters.
- Construction of two new substations—in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County, and Saclepea, Nimba County—now nearing completion.
- Growth of LBS’ operational fleet from two vehicles to eleven, including newly acquired pickups the DG presented to the Minister.
- Near completion of the New LBS Broadcast Complex in Paynesville, a state-of-the-art radio, TV, and digital media center built through support from the Government of China.
Fahngon said these achievements were possible because LBS used its “meager resources responsibly” while maximizing the government’s 60-percent subsidy.
Despite operating under the same budget inherited from the previous administration, he emphasized that LBS has “performed miracles,” but warned that sustaining progress will require increased budgetary allocation.
Finance Minister Ngafuan Responds With Praise and Assurance
Minister Ngafuan, visibly moved, returned the appreciation with heartfelt endorsement of LBS’ direction.
He described himself as a longtime admirer of LBS, recalling how the broadcaster helped shape his upbringing through programs like Action News.
“I am one of your fans,” he told the broadcaster DG, further commending Fahngon and his team for transforming LBS into a truly national broadcaster, no longer limited to Monrovia.
The Minister praised LBS for expanding television to places like Zwedru, where residents’ joyful reactions were widely shared online.
“Great things don’t require perfection—just people with the heart to dedicate their time and energy to the country,” Ngafuan said.
He assured the delegation that the MFDP would continue working with the Legislature to responsibly increase LBS’ budget, adding that the institution had “proven its worth” through visible results.
“When we gave you little, we watched to see how you used it. You used it well,” he noted, calling LBS’ achievements its best “budget hearing.”
A Message of Development and National Unity
Ngafuan emphasized that Liberia’s development should never be tied to politics, asserting that the benefits of infrastructure, communication, and public services cut across party lines.
“One of the best ways to reconcile a country is to develop it—because everybody benefits,” he said.
The Minister added that the President remains deeply supportive of LBS’ expansion, praising the broadcaster at recent cabinet meetings for its national cohesion role.
LBS Extends Facility to Finance Ministry
In closing, Fahngon offered MFDP free use of LBS’ newly renovated 125-seat digital theater, equipped with Liberia’s largest public screen.
The Minister welcomed the gesture, saying the partnership between MFDP and LBS symbolized the kind of inter-agency cooperation needed for national progress.
A Visit Rooted in Gratitude
The exchange reinforced a core theme: acknowledging support strengthens collaboration.
For Fahngon, gratitude to the Finance Minister—and to the President—was the central purpose of the visit.
For Ngafuan, appreciation for LBS’ work affirmed the government’s resolve to invest more in public communication and national development.
As both sides look toward 2026 and beyond, the meeting underscored a shared belief: progress grows where gratitude is expressed, partnership is honored, and national service remains the priority.
