Kwaku Asante, Author at Media Foundation For West Africa

Wanton Attacks on Journalists, Civilians Dominate FOE Violations in September 2018

Free Expression ViolationsOct 11, 2018465Views 0Likes 0Comments

September 2018 recorded nine freedom of expression violations in four countries, an otherwise relatively quiet month that was disturbed by two killings in separate incidents in Guinea and incidents of wanton physical assault on journalists. On September 5, 2018, two people aged 17 and 25 were killed when security forces used live bullets to disperse…

The Second Edition of West Africa’s Biggest Journalism Event Opens in Accra

Media and Good Governance, Media DevelopmentOct 11, 20181KViews 0Likes 0Comments

The 2018 edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) opens at the Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel in Accra, Ghana on October 12. The two-day (October 12-13) event brings together journalists, media experts, academics, freedom of expression advocates and high-profile personalities from across West Africa and beyond. Also present will be representatives…

MFWA to Host Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas at 2018 West Africa Media Excellence Awards

Media and Good GovernanceOct 6, 2018824Views 0Likes 0Comments

The 2018 edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Awards will be held on October 13 at the Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel in Accra, Ghana. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) will host distinguished diplomat and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of UN office for West Africa and the Sahel,…

West Africa Media Excellence Awards 2018: List of Finalists

Media and Good GovernanceOct 6, 20181KViews 0Likes 0Comments

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) will hold this year’s prestigious West Africa Media Excellence Awards on October 13, 2018. The event will be graced by distinguished diplomat and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of UN office for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas. This year…

MFWA, DW to hold West Africa Conference on Investigative Journalism `

Investigative Journalism, Media DevelopmentOct 5, 2018970Views 0Likes 0Comments

The MFWA will on Wednesday-Thursday, 10th –11th October, 2018 host about 70 seasoned investigative journalists from across West Africa in a conference on investigative journalism. The two-day conference, which is being organized in collaboration with DW Akademie, will deliberate on the state of investigative journalism, discuss the challenges and explore ways of improving the practice…

International Day for Universal Access to Information: Ghana’s Failure to Pass RTI Bill Drawback for Anti-Corruption Efforts

Access To InformationSep 28, 2018965Views 0Likes 0Comments

On the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information which is being marked across the world today (September 28), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) wishes to express its deepest disappointment at the continued failure of Ghana’s government to pass the Right to Information (RTI) Bill into law. It is quite…

West Africa Media Excellence Awards 2018: Profile of Judges

Media and Good GovernanceSep 19, 20181KViews 0Likes 0Comments

The 2018 edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Awards will be held on 13th October at the Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel in Accra Ghana. The Awards seek to promote and uphold high standards of journalism in West Africa by recognising and rewarding journalists who have distinguished themselves through quality works that are impacting society.…

MFWA Granted UN Special Consultative Status

Media and Good Governance, Media DevelopmentSep 17, 2018661Views 0Likes 0Comments

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has been formally granted Special Consultative Status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The granting of the Consultative Status to the MFWA followed ECOSOC’s adoption of the recommendation of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) at its Coordination and management meeting of April 2018. “Your…

Fighting Impunity: Detained for Two Years, Journalist Jones Abiri Awarded Damages

Impunity, Safety of JournalistsSep 14, 20181KViews 0Likes 0Comments

A Federal High Court in Abuja has awarded 10 million Naira (about US$27,500) in damages to Jones Abiri, describing the journalist’s two-year detention without trial as an “outright conviction.” Giving his ruling, the judge, Nnamdi Dimgba, rejected as baseless the government’s submission that Abiri was detained in the interest of national security. He also questioned…

Gendarme Attacks Journalist for taking Pictures of his Act of Aggression

Safety of JournalistsSep 11, 20181KViews 0Likes 0Comments

A gendarme has physically attacked a reporter of the Le Quotidien newspaper who was on duty at a court premises in Dakar, Senegal. Mamadou Sakine, the reporter, was taking pictures of an act of violence by the gendarme against a woman outside of the Court of Appeal on September 3, 2018. The gendarme spotted the journalist…

Journalist Brutalised on Alleged Orders of Politician

Safety of JournalistsAug 29, 2018805Views 0Likes 0Comments

Thugs believed to have been hired by a politican, Hassan Ayariga, have attacked a senior reporter with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bawku, in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Having invited the reporter, Jerry Azanduna, to a supposed press conference to be addressed by Mr. Ayariga on August 27, 2018, the thugs, numbering five,…

Civil Society Leaders Attacked for Initiating Public Awareness Campaign

Free Expression ViolationsAug 29, 2018927Views 0Likes 0Comments

Thugs allegedly hired by a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Garba, have attacked the leaders of a civil society movement for mobilising residents of a community in the lawmaker’s constituency to question how funds allocated for projects in the community have been spent. Known as Tracka, the movement mobilises a community of active citizens…

Author page: Kwaku Asante

Kwaku Asante