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Guinea ALERT: Journalists detained for covering demonstration

Vivian Affoah
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Goulou Touré (head of production) and Oumar Kouroumah (technician) of Sabou FM, a community radio station were on March 27, 2013, detained at the Faranah Departmental Gendarmerie Prison, about 460km from the capital, Conakry.

The MFWA’s correspondent in the country reported that the journalists had gone to Hermakonon a district within the city of Faranah, to cover a protest by residents of the village who were demonstrating against the Prefect of the town who they accused of attempting to divert some money paid to the community by a mining company.

“The Prefect wanted the District Chief Executive, Messe Kouroumah, to give him part of the amount. He refused and the Prefect sacked him. Residents demonstrated against this dismissal, and my technician and I covered the event. There and then, the Prefect sent gendarmes after us’’, the journalists told our correspondent.

According to the correspondent, the Prefect then threw the journalists into prison till their release on March 30.

For more information please contact:
Sulemana Braimah
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra
Tel: 233-0302-24 24 70
Fax: 233-0302-22 10 84

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70 Media Houses Join MFWA to Demand Whereabouts of Media Dev’t Fund

Vivian Affoah
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Dozens of media organisations across the country have joined the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), to demand information on the whereabouts of the Gh¢1million that was allocated in the 2012 budget as Media Development Fund (MDF).

The media organisations, majority of whom are based in districts where advertising and other sources of media revenue are literally absent, are calling on the government to honour its transparency and accountability obligations by letting Ghanaians, and the media community in particular, know the status of the fund.

 On September 9, 2011, then Vice President (and now President) John Mahama announced government’s plans to set up a Media Development Fund (MDF). The President made the announcement while addressing the 16th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards as the guest of honour.

Following the announcement, the then Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, in his presentation of the 2012 budget to parliament, announced that Gh¢1million has been allocated to the Fund.

Subsequently, in March 2012, Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, then a Deputy Minister of Information, announced that the Gh¢1million MDF was ready and would be operational in the second quarter of 2012.  In his State of the Nation on February 21, 2013, President Mahama told the nation that: “The newly established Media Development Fund aimed at improving capacity within the media will be operationalised this year.”  It was evident from the president’s statement that the MDF was not operationalised in 2012.

Nine months after President Mahama’s promise and with just a month to the end of 2013, there is no evidence of the operationalisation of the Fund. Following a media release by the MFWA on October 24, raising questions about the whereabouts of the  Gh¢1million MDF, it emerged that all the key media stakeholders in the country including the national Media Commission, Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association are all unaware of what has happened to the Fund.

While there are pieces of information suggesting disagreements among stakeholders on how the fund should be managed, there has been silence on the fate of the Fund and whether or not there have been any disbursements.

Below are media organisations that have joined the crusade to demand information and accountability on the fund. The MFWA is calling on other media organisations to indicate their support for this campaign by indicating their endorsement through an email to [email protected]


Greater Accra Region

  1. The Enquirer
  2. Asempa FM
  3. Adom FM
  4. The Lens
  5. Net 2
  6. Oman FM
  7. Hot FM
  8. The Statesman
  9. TV Africa
  10. Daily Guide
  11. Guide Young Blazers
  12. News One
  13. New Crusading Guide
  14. Ghanaian Observer
  15. The New Independent
  16. The Chronicle
  17. Spy Ghana.com
  18. com

Volta Region

  1. Radio Jubilee
  2. Faafa FM
  3. Holy FM

Eastern Region

  1. Eastern FM
  2. Rite FM
  3. Life FM

Western Region

  1. De Beat FM
  2. Space FM
  3. Kasapreko FM
  4. Radio Rainbow
  5. Golden Pod FM

Central Region

  1. Ankobra FM
  2. Yes FM
  3. Radio ATL
  4. Spark FM
  5. Radio Peace
  6. Hope FM

Ashanti region

  1. Radio Xtacy
  2. Freedom FM
  3. Kessben FM
  4. Spirit FM
  5. Shaft FM
  6. Metro FM
  7. Sunsum FM
  8. Fox FM

Brong Ahafo

  1. Success FM
  2. Adars FM
  3. Dormaa Community Radio
  4. Vizen FM
  5. Chris FM
  6. Sky FM
  7. Trickie FM
  8. Adepa FM
  9. Royals FM
  10. Asta FM
  11. Omega Radio
  12. Yankee FM
  13. Max FM
  14. Shalom Radio

Northern Region

  1. Diamond FM
  2. Justice FM
  3. Bishara Radio
  4. Kesmi FM
  5. North Star Radio
  6. Filla FM

Upper East Region

  1. Word FM
  2. Radio Builsa
  3. Tanga Radio
  4. Nabiina Community Radio
  5. A1 Radio
  6. Quality FM

Upper West Region

  1. Radford FM

 

Issued by the MFWA in Accra on December 11, 2013 

Ghana ALERT: Opposition party supporters charge against journalists, destroy equipment

Vivian Affoah
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Large groups of aggrieved supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the main opposition party, days after the country’s general elections violently assaulted journalists and destroyed valuable properties belonging to them. The first of the attacks happened on December 9, 2012 when a mob of NPP sympathisers chased and vandalized the vehicle conveying a crew from privately-owned television station, Metro TV, at the NPP’s office in Osu, a suburb of Accra.

In an interview with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Shirley Kwarley Quartey, a reporter of the television station narrated that they had gone to the party’s office to cover a press briefing organised by the leadership of the party. But upon arrival, the visibly angry supporters rushed on them and ordered them to leave immediately, and in the process smashed their vehicle’s windscreen. In a separate incident, a different group of the NPP supporters who had gathered in front of the Nima-based residence of Nana Akufo Addo, flag bearer of the party, on December 10, 2012 attacked and assaulted a group of journalists from privately-owned Joy FM.

The journalists, who were travelling in Joy FM’s branded vehicle, were following the convoy of the AU Chairman, President of the Republic of Benin, Yayi Boni, that was heading to the flag bearer’s house for a meeting. Manasseh Azuri, a member of the crew told the MFWA that immediately the angry supporters who were also wielding sticks saw their vehicle, they pounced on it, hit it several times and ordered the journalists to step out regardless of high security presence.

“They smashed the head lights and but for the timely intervention of the security officers, we would have been lynched,” Azuri said. In a related development two journalists Emmanuel Anteh and Stephen Boadi from privately-owned Joy FM and TV3, respectively were physically assaulted while covering a rally organised by the NPP on December 11, 2012 at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, the capital.

The two reportedly met their ordeal while trying to get information about an incident of an alleged stabbing of a supporter of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), when they (journalists) were reportedly ambushed by a group of NPP supporters, who molested and slapped them.

The MFWA condemns these attacks and calls on the leadership of the party to instruct their supporters to desist from any harassment of media personnel conducting their normal functions. We call on the security agencies to provide security to media persons covering political activities, and bring to book anyone who attacks the media.

For more information please contact :

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org

Gambia ALERT: Police arrest brother of exiled journalist

Vivian Affoah
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Security officers drawn from the Gambian Police Service on December 8, 2012, stormed the Banjul-based residence of exiled-freelance journalist, Abubacarr Saidykhan, arrested and detained his younger brother, Ousman Saidykhan at the Kairaba police station, 12 kilometres from the capital, Banjul. According to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s sources, Ousman Saidykhan was later released without any charge on December 11 under a bail bond of 50,000 Dalasis (approximately US$ 1,600).

The sources indicated that Saidykhan’s arrest was due to his inability to determine the whereabouts of his elder brother, after the police officers demanded to know from him Abubacarr’s hideout. It will be recalled that Abubacarr Saidykhan together with the vice president of the Gambian Press Union (GPU), Baboucarr Ceesay, were exonerated of criminal charges of “conspiracy to commit felony, inciting violence and seditious publications” after their arrest and detention on September 10, 2012. The arrest of the two followed their request to peacefully demonstrate against the execution of nine death row inmates in the Gambia.

Subsequently, Abubacarr had to flee the country due to continual threats on his life by unknown persons alleged to be working with the police.The MFWA remains very concerned about the safety of Abubacarr and his family, and is indeed outraged by the general environment of repression in the Gambia under President Yahya Jammeh.

The Executive Director of the MFWA, Prof. Kwame Karikari, has described the frequent attacks on journalists, the dire human rights environment and culture of impunity in the Gambia as extremely disturbing. He called on rights groups, governments, and the regional governmental group, ECOWAS, to take immediate steps to end the culture of impunity and repression in The Gambia.

For more information please contact :

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org/

Gambia ALERT: Renowned religious leader held incommunicado for days

Vivian Affoah
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Imam Baba Leigh, an Islamic cleric of Kanifing South Mosque was on December 3, 2012 picked up from his home by plain-cloth officers from the notorious National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in Banjul, the capital. Leigh, a fierce critic of President Jammeh’s government and an outspoken religious leader has since been in detention at the Mile II State Central Prison and has been refused access to his lawyer and family members.

According to the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s sources, Leigh has constantly condemned and criticized the dire human rights situation and culture of impunity that has engulfed the country. According to the sources, though no reason has been given, the arrest is widely linked to comments he made in August condemning the execution of nine death row inmates by the Yayha Jammeh-led government, describing the act as inimical to Islamic teachings and precepts.

The MFWA condemns emphatically the unlawful arrest and detention of Leigh which adds to the growing list of acts and violations against freedom of expression in the Gambia. Realizing that he has been detained beyond the constitutionally mandated duration, the MFWA demands his unconditional release and cautions the security officials to refrain from committing further unlawful acts against Leigh.

For more information please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org

Benin ALERT: President Yayi Boni causes suspension of two television programmes

Vivian Affoah
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The High Authority for Broadcasting and Communication (HAAC), the media regulatory body, on November 22, 2012 announced the suspension of two interactive programmes, Actu matin and Arbre à Palabre, both on privately-owned television station, Canal 3 Benin, upon the request of Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni, President of the Republic of Benin.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that, the suspension comes in the wake of a complaint made by President Yayi Boni to the Chairman of the HAAC on September 19, 2012, insisting that action be taken against Canal 3 and some other media houses for “disturbing public order and presenting all the risks of weakening national cohesion …”

According to the correspondent, the President was also against the presence of Lawyer Lionel Agbo, former Advisor to the Head of State, on the airwaves of Canal 3 on September 18, 2012, stating that it violates the HAAC’s statement of September 5, 2012 which cautions media organizations from acting in any manner that will endanger social peace and national cohesion.

Lawyer Agbo, who resigned a few months ago, is currently facing defamation charges over alleged statements he made against members of government and an entourage of the Head of State, during a press conference broadcast by media houses including Canal 3. After considering this request and finding both programmes guilty of violating aspects of the media professional code of conduct, the HAAC decided to ban Actu Matin for two weeks (November 26 – December 9, 2012) and Arbre à palabrefor three months (November 26 – February 25, 2013.)

For more information please contact

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org

Togo ALERT: Attempted attack on two journalists

Vivian Affoah
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A bodyguard of the Chairman of the Togo Football Federation whose name is yet unknown allegedly attempted to harm Abel Zindjodji and Manu Adjiwanou, of privately-owned Radio X-Solaire and Radio Victoire respectively, on November 21, 2012, after the two journalists participated in a radio discussion programme.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent reported that the attempt on the lives of the two journalists is linked to comments they made about Gabriel Ameyi, Chairman of the Togo Football Federation, during the discussion. According to the correspondent, a press release issued by the Togo Sports Journalists Association (AJST) reported that “a man identified as one of the bodyguards of Gabriel Ameyi, attempted to attack the two journalists for criticizing his boss during a live radio programme.

“We denounce and condemn in no uncertain terms this type of primitive behaviour and demand sanctions against this bodyguard” the AJSTsaid, adding that they would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion. The AJST, however, did not disclose the name of this bodyguard. The MFWA condemns the attack and calls on the security authorities to safeguard the lives and rights of journalists in the country since journalists have often been victims of attacks by people whose actions or behaviours they (journalists) criticized.

For more information please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org

Ghana Alert: Police detains radio journalist overnight

Vivian Affoah
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Kofi Assan, a reporter with privately-owned Accra-based radio station, Adom FM, was on November 19, 2012 arrested and detained by police officers drawn from the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service.

Assan was, however, released after spending a night in detention at the Accra Central Police Station. In an interview with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Kojo Preko, station manager of Adom FM, said that the journalist was arrested while trying to cover a police arrest of a commercial vehicle driver for an alleged traffic offence at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.

Assan, who was in the company of other colleague journalists had rushed to the scene of arrest which had attracted a large crowd, to see if he could obtain any information. But a police officer who saw his recorder drew the attention of the other officers, who bundled him into their vehicle and drove off,” the station manager said. According to Preko despite the presence of colleague-journalists at the police station and immediate telephone calls to Angwutogbe Awuni, Police MTTU Commander, the police refused to release the reporter the same day.

The MFWA questions how by going to the scene of an arrest with a recorder, a journalist must be arrested and detained and calls on the police authorities to acknowledge that the journalist had no intention of interfering in their work but to perform his journalistic duties.

For more information please contact :

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org

Sierra Leone UPDATE: Suspected killer of journalist arrested by Police

Vivian Affoah
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Tunde Williams, a suspected murderer of Ibrahim Foday, a reporter of privately-owned Freetown-based Exclusive newspaper, was on November 3, 2012 arrested at Kamakwei, a town north of the country by officials of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sierra Leonean Police Service. Williams, is alleged to have stabbed Foday to death on June 12, 2011 during a land dispute between two towns, Grafton and Kossoh, both 15 miles south east of the capital, Freetown.

According to the correspondent’s report earlier this year, Foday, prior to his death had published a series of critical articles about the land dispute which apparently displeased the Kossoh town folks. While Foday was covering a confrontation between members of the two communities, Williams, a driver of the head of Kossoh town allegedly stabbed him.Williams’ act is alleged to have been aided by a serving member of the Police Service, Constable Musa Samura, who was initially arrested but later released by the police without any charge or explanation. This situation was condemned by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), at the time.

Samura is believed to have aided the stabbing of the journalist by holding him as he tried to flee the melee, the correspondent reported.“We welcome this development, however long it has taken, and hope justice will be done as speedily as possible” says SLAJ President, Umaru Fofana. After more than a year since this gruesome act was committed, the MFWA is relieved that the police have eventually acted on this case.

We protest this killing and call on the police to act swiftly on the case and ensure justice is meted out, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights to which Sierra Leone is a signatory, and which the constitution of Sierra Leone guarantees.

For more information please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org

Burkina Faso ALERT: Court sentences two journalists to 12 months imprisonment

Vivian Affoah
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A Magistrates’ Court in Ouagadougou, the capital, on October 29, 2012 sentenced Roland Ouédraogo and Issa Lohé Konaté, both editors of privately-owned L’Ouragan newspaper to 12 months in prison on charges of defaming Placide Nikieme, the State Prosecutor.The two journalists who were taken straight to prison to begin their sentence were also fined an amount of CFA 4 million (about US$ 7,800) in damages to Nikiema while the newspaper was suspended for a period of six months.

According to the Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent the sentence followed a complaint lodged by Nikiema at the Court accusing the newspaper and its editors of defaming him in a published article, which cited corrupt practices in the State Prosecutor’s office.The Court found them guilty and pronounced judgement on charges of “defamation, insults and contempt of court through the press.”

According to the correspondent, a delegation of media professional groups and associations had on October 25, 2012 met with the State Prosecutor to request him to withdraw his complaint, but their efforts proved futile.The situation has attracted a lot of concern among media professional groups in the country, who have expressed surprise at the verdict, describing it as very harsh since such a verdict has never been handed down to the press before.

For more information please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org

Gambia UPDATE: MFWA welcomes decision to drop charges against two journalists

Vivian Affoah
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The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has welcomed the move by the Gambian authorities to drop charges against two journalists, who were arrested on September 6, 2012 for seeking permission to peacefully protest the execution of nine death row in-mates on the orders of President Yayha Jammeh.The two Journalists, Baboucarr Ceesay, the first vice president of the Gambian Press Union and Abubacarr Saidykhan, a freelance journalist were charged for “conspiracy to commit felony, seditious publication and incitement to violence” following their request to peacefully demonstrate.

The decision to drop the charges was announced on October 23, 2012 by Lamin Jobarteh, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, during a meeting with some senior legal and security officials and the two journalists at the Attorney General’s Chambers in Banjul, the capital. “Both of you must understand that this Country belongs to all of us and we must uphold the peace and security of this country. I cannot just understand why you prefer to demonstrate peacefully after knowing the repercussions of a peaceful demonstration,” Jobarteh cautioned. While we welcome the decision to drop the charges and the attention given to earlier protest statements, we call on the Gambian Police Service to swiftly investigate a death threat against the two journalists.

Barely a day after their charges were dropped, the two journalists received a death threat from an unknown assailant via their email addresses. “You are stubborn guys who want to destroy the image of the APRC Government and our affectionate President Yahya Jammeh. You think that you can apply for permit to bring the Tunisian, Egypt, Algeria, Syria and Libya situation here. I will come with my team of patriotic killers who kill you for the love of our country and our president … I have stepped in voluntarily to kill all of you and if you deny this just ignore my warning,” a part of the note read.

For more information please contact :

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org

Togo ALERT: Security forces manhandle journalist

Vivian Affoah
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Justin Anani, a journalist of the Crocodile weekly was on October 5, 2012 physically assaulted by police officers while covering their (police) clamp down on demonstrators belonging to opposition and human rights groups in Lome, the capital. The assault on the journalist left him unconscious following a knock he received from one of the police officers, and was rushed to a hospital where he was revived.

According to the Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent, Anani and other journalists were covering a demonstration held by members of “Let’s Save Togo Association” (CST) and the “Arc-en-Ciel” (Rainbow) Coalition to commemorate the 22nd Anniversary of the October 5, 1990 uprising. According to the correspondent, Anani was attacked while he and other colleagues had gone to the aid of a journalist who was being harassed by one of the security officers.

“A gendarme approached me without me noticing him and he elbowed me in my side (abdomen). I was not able to breathe well, and I fell down. I did not know what happened next, except that I woke up in the hospital later,” Anani told the correspondent. “At the moment, I feel pains in my knees and I also have difficulty breathing. When I walk, I get tired easily,” said Anani who is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The MFWA adds its voice in condemning this attack by calling on the Togolese authorities, especially the police hierarchy, to investigate this incident and take the necessary steps to ensure that their security officers act according to the laws of the country.

For more information please contact:

Kwame Karikari (Prof)

Executive Director

MFWA

Accra

Tel: 233-30-22 4 24 70

Fax: 233-302-22 10 84

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Website: www.mediafound.org

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