MONROVIA — The National Communications Bureau (NCB), acting under the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), has announced the start of its annual regulatory registration for media and media-related institutions, warning that outlets that fail to comply by the deadline will face sanctions.
The announcement was read Thursday at MICAT’s third regular press briefing for 2026 at the Charles Gbayee Press Hall. The notice—delivered to journalists and audiences following the briefing on radio, television and the ministry’s official Facebook page—was presented as part of the government’s effort to strengthen oversight of the country’s media space in line with existing law.
According to the NCB, the registration process for 2026 began on Monday, January 12, 2026, and will continue until Friday, March 16, 2026.
The bureau said the registration applies broadly across the sector, including publishers of newspapers and magazines, managers of radio and television stations, printing presses, advertising firms, cable television companies, graphics-related entities, and online media institutions operating in Liberia.
The notice said the annual registration requirement is consistent with “the statutory provision” establishing the National Communications Bureau and the Ministry of Information, giving the ministry authority to regulate, monitor and enforce relevant functions as passed into law by the National Legislature.
In the announcement, the bureau urged all media and media-related entities that are not in compliance to contact the ministry and begin the registration process immediately. “After the March 16 deadline, media institutions that fail to register or comply to the regulation…will face sanctions,” the NCB warned.
The statement was signed by Ms. Agatha Thompson, Director of the National Communications Bureau.
Sando Urges Compliance, Cites Need for Stronger Government Communication
Following the announcement, Deputy Information Minister for Press and Public Affairs Daniel O. Sando said the ministry will publish the notice on MICAT’s social media platforms and website to broaden public awareness and ensure that all institutions receive the message.
Sando also used the occasion to stress the ministry’s institutional challenges and ongoing efforts to strengthen government communication capacity. He said the Ministry of Information will “continue to plead with the national government to increase budgetary allocations” to enable it to be more effective and proactive in managing public information and government messaging.
At the same time, Sando noted that government expects the ministry to emphasize the collection of regulatory fees tied to the registration process. While acknowledging that the ministry is “not a revenue-generating entity,” he said fee collection remains part of its mandate and supports national fiscal goals.
“We have to buttress the efforts of the LRA and the Ministry of Finance in realizing the projected revenue in the national budget,” Sando said, calling on media owners and operators to take the NCB notice seriously and “act accordingly.”
The deputy minister’s remarks came as the ministry hosted a full slate of speakers for the briefing and signaled that additional government updates will follow in subsequent sessions as Liberia advances domestic policy priorities and engages international partners.
