PAYNESVILLE, Liberia — Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) Director-General Eugene L. Fahngon has appealed to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for US$35,000 to help establish radio services for residents of Gbarpolu County, telling Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan that limited local broadcasting leaves many residents without regular access to radio information.
Fahngon made the appeal during a conversation with Ngafuan at the LBS compound in Paynesville on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, shortly after the minister’s appearance on the state broadcaster’s Super Morning Show. The exchange was recorded in footage supplied to HeartTalk Network.
US$35,000 request for Gbarpolu radio service
Fahngon said the county’s existing radio service operates for only a limited period in the morning because of damaged batteries at the station, which relies on solar power. He said the proposed US$35,000 would be used to equip an existing building near the ongoing LBS construction site with a transmitter, broadcasting tower and generator.
The director-general told the minister that the equipment could be installed quickly if the funding became available. His two-week timeline was an estimate presented during the appeal; it was not confirmed as an approved implementation schedule.
Fahngon also reported progress on LBS substation projects in Grand Cape Mount County and Saclepea, Nimba County, saying the structures had been completed but still required equipment. He described the Gbarpolu facility as being at roof level.
Ngafuan says LBS support will increase in 2027
Responding, Ngafuan commended LBS management and staff for their work and said government support for the broadcaster would increase in the 2027 budget. He did not specify the amount of any increase.
The minister also said he would review the communication LBS had submitted to the Finance Ministry and consider what assistance might be possible under the current budget. He acknowledged the broadcaster’s requests while cautioning that available resources and competing priorities would affect what could be provided.
Ngafuan’s remarks did not amount to approval of the specific US$35,000 request for Gbarpolu. No disbursement date, approved allocation or final decision on that request was announced during the recorded conversation.
Director-General raises staff welfare and transport needs
During the same exchange, Fahngon asked the minister to consider a year-end bonus for LBS employees, citing their work across the country. He also appealed for support to replace an ageing staff bus, estimating the cost of the existing vehicle at about US$40,000. The recording contains no specific approval of either request.
Ngafuan said he was impressed by the broadcaster’s reporting and its presence in counties and abroad. He encouraged management to keep its team focused on results and said the government would continue working with LBS within available resources.
What the appeal means for access to information
The request highlights the difference between constructing broadcasting facilities and making them operational. New substations require transmitters, power systems, technical staff and ongoing operating funds before they can provide reliable services to surrounding communities.
For Gbarpolu residents, the immediate question is whether the proposed equipment and funding can be secured to provide more consistent radio coverage. The broader test for the government and LBS will be whether investments in county infrastructure translate into dependable access to public information.
Editorial clarification: The US$35,000 figure and the description of limited local radio hours are attributed to LBS Director-General Eugene Fahngon in the supplied recording and LBS’s report of the November 11 engagement. The Finance Minister’s comments indicate a willingness to review LBS’s requests and an expectation of increased support in the 2027 budget; they do not confirm approval of the Gbarpolu request.
Sources: HeartTalk Network review of the video supplied for publication; Liberia Broadcasting System, “Liberia Broadcasting System Appeals for Funding to Establish Radio Services in Gbarpolu County,” November 11, 2026.
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