Written by MHM Admin

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL), which is the biggest journalist umbrella organization in Liberia, recently voted Radio Gbarnga the best community radio station in the country for 2008/2009. During the award presentation, PUL said Radio Gbarnga merited the honor because the institution has over the years proven to be guided by high ethical standards in the dissemination of news and information to the rural population despite enormous challenges.

The PUL stressed that the selection process was carefully carried out, employing the expertise of experienced individuals from diverse backgrounds in order to achieve its objectives to reach and represent the whole audience.

Radio Gbarnga was selected from a pool of 54 community radio stations currently operating nationwide in Liberia.

As part of the award winning by Radio Gbarnga, the United states Embassy in the Liberian Capital Monrovia pledged to provide US$350 worth of equipment to the community station as a gift for its exceptional performance over the years.

Other media organizations in the capital Monrovia also received honors to mark the end of World Press Freedom Day observance in the west African state of Liberia.

Radio Gbarnga was established July 2004 with the assistance of an American non-governmental organization Mercy Crops in the provincial city of Gbarnga located in central Liberia a few months after the disarmament of fighting forces in  the area.

The sole intent was to provide news and information to the rural population that have limited access to information.

The station has over the years worked with various groups within its locality and beyond to promote peace and developmental activities in post conflict Liberia.

Radio Gbanrnga training programme

In 2005, the communities the station serves worked with management to construct a building to house the station with four functioning departments which include, News, Programmes, Administration and the Training unit that provides training for beginner  journalists in central Liberia.

In 2007 the training unit of Radio Gbarnga assisted in the establishment of three smaller community radio stations in central Liberia through the provision of training for one week each that covered all aspects of community radio management.

The dream of this station is to reform its training unit to a regional training center in north central Liberia to provide more training opportunities for rural journalists in Liberia.