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Ghana ALERT: Members of a Muslim sect storm North Star FM

Vivian Affoah
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North Star FM, a privately-owned radio station based in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital was on August 19, 2012 besieged by members of Al-Sunna, a Muslim sect, to register their displeasure over alleged misinterpretations of some verses of the Holy Qur’an. A confrontation occurred when the members of the Al-Sunna sect thronged the radio station to react to interpretations of some Qur’an verses that the Tijaniya, another Muslim group had earlier interpreted on the station.

Though the Tijaniya group had already left the radio station, the angry members of Al-Sunna chose to vent their spleen on the radio station. In an interview with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Adam Cockra, general manager of the radio station explained that members of the Tijaniya were at the station earlier to preach and educate the public on some aspects of the Qur’an.This angered the Al-Sunna group who accused the Tijaniya group of misinterpreting the Holy Book, and thus stormed the station’s premises. “No casualties or damages occurred albeit some furniture were destroyed” the manager said.

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: Authorities shut down radio station for no reason

Vivian Affoah
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Officers of the dreaded National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on the night of August 14, 2012 stormed the premises of Taranga FM, a community radio station based in south-west district of Banjul, the capital, and forced the station to close down. No explanation was given for this disruptive act.

According to the Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) sources, Pick-Up trucks carrying officers of the NIA were seen on the premises of the radio station few hours to mid-night. According to the sources, Ismaila Ceesay, managing editor of the station, confirmed the incident stating that the only reason the officers gave for the closure was that it was “a directive from above. ”However, it is reported that the closure could be linked to comments made by members of some opposition parties during a weekly talk show, aired on the station.

In 2011, the Gambian authorities on two separate occasions forced Taranga FM to halt the transmission of its newspaper review programmes which were broadcast in the two popular Gambian languages, Wolof and Mandinka, to the majority of Gambians.

The MFWA calls on the government of President Jammeh to as a matter of urgency, ensure that Taranga FM resumes broadcasting, drawing attention to the fact that most citizens, especially, the uneducated in society, rely on the station for their news.

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

Cote d’Ivoire ALERT: Newspaper banned for eight publications

Vivian Affoah
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Bôl’ Kotch, a privately-owned satirical newspaper which published a cartoon story of President Alassane Outarra, was on August 8, 2012 banned for eight publications by the National Press Council (CNP), the statutory regulatory body. The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that though the newspaper publishes mainly to create humour, the CNP found some of its publications offensive.

The CNP in a communiqué issued on August 12, sought to suggest that the newspaper in a July 27 publication carried series of articles that flouts media laws and ethical codes.According to the CNP, the newspaper in one such article cartooned Alassane Outarra, the President, speaking with General Soumaïla Bakayoko, Chief of Defence Staff, and Dozo, a traditional hunter.

“The contents of these articles as well as the cartoons illustrating them and the message they seek to convey are insulting, defamatory, offensive and promote tribalism and hatred of state institutions and persons who represent them”, the communiqué read. The regulatory body, however, explained that the duration of the ban was also informed by the numerous warnings and reprimands issued previously to the Bôl’ Kotch newspaper.

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

Cote d’Ivoire ALERT: Newspaper, journalist suspended

Vivian Affoah
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The National Press Council (CNP), the statutory regulatory body, on August 3, 2012 suspended Simplice Allard, editor-in-chief of privately-owned pro-Gbagbo newspaper Le Temps from writing for a one month period. The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that the CNP in a communiqué issued and aired on RTI 1 television news, accused the editor of libel and defamation.

The editor in a July 24, 2012 publication which he authored incited people to revolt against, insult and wrongfully accuse the Head of State, Alassane Ouattara, as “a ghoulish vampire who delighted in sucking the blood of his compatriots. ”According to the correspondent, the editor’s action has also led to the newspaper being banned for 20 editions.

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 ALERT: Journalists Manhandled by Soldiers

Vivian Affoah
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Poindexter Sama and Alie Turay, reporter and graphic designer respectively, of privately-owned Awoko newspaper were in the morning of August 2, 2012 violently attacked by a group of soldiers drawn from the Sierra Leone Army. The attack which left Sama with a swollen face and blistered lips also resulted in the loss of their mobile phones and seizure of cameras.

The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that the attack on the journalists occurred when they (journalists) merely attempted to take snap shots of the soldiers as they were passing in front of the newspaper’s office. According to the correspondent, the journalists explained that they thought the soldiers were rushing to the scene of riot at the Defence Ministry supposedly to put the situation under control.

Though the journalists tried to identify themselves, the angry soldiers pounced on them, heckled them and seized their cameras. Their cameras were, however, returned to them hours later but in a bad state. The MFWA is aggrieved at the harassment of journalists and calls upon the authorities to ensure their protection especially with the approach of the general elections in November.

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

Cote d’Ivoire ALERT: Lawyer causes arrest of journalist, released without charge

Vivian Affoah
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Koné Souleymane, a journalist of privately-owned koaci.com, an online newspaper was on July 19, 2012 arrested by gendarmes and detained for many hours at the security squad offices in Plateau, a district in Abidjan. His arrest was after Coulibaly Soungalo, a lawyer for the ruling Republican People’s Rally (RDR), had accused him of slander.

The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that Soungalo in the company of four gendarmes stormed the office of the newspaper at Plateau and without an arrest warrant forcibly seized the journalist, handcuffed him into a vehicle and drove off. It was reported that Souleymane who was arrested and interrogated at about 4:30pm was released around 11:00pm without any charge(s).

According to the correspondent, the lawyer apart from accusing the journalist of defaming him in a July 19 publication headlined “Racket in businesses: OLAM sues a RDR lawyer”, also harassed him (journalist) to disclose the name of his source. As he refused to name his source, he was humiliated by the gendarmes who took him away “like a thief”, the correspondent reported. Upon Souleyman’s release, the lawyer refused to press charges against him.

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 ALERT: Radio station, journalists violently attacked

Vivian Affoah
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John Raka Conteh, a panelist on Radio Gbath, an independent community radio station in Tonkolili district, north of Sierra Leone, attacked the station after refusing orders from the moderator. Conteh, an aspirant for the position of District Youth Chairman of Yoni Chiefdom, together with two of his supporters, vandalized the station on the night of July 19, 2012 after his behaviour forced the station to suspend an interview he was granting them.

The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that the attack resulted in the destruction of equipment including laptop computers, digital recorders and external hard drives. “Conteh who had been invited to discuss the postponement of the elections persistently refused to answer questions put to him but instead digressed, causing the moderator to put him off air”, Hasan Koroma, station manager told the correspondent.

As a result of the moderator’s action, Conteh pounced on and manhandled him while his two accomplices forcefully entered the studio with broken bottles and attempted to stab him. The MFWA calls on the police as well as authorities of Tonkolili District to investigate the incident and ensure that the attackers are brought to book.

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: Newspaper banned over registration irregularities

Vivian Affoah
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The High Authority for Broadcasting and Communication (HAAC), the statutory media regulatory body on July 16, 2012 banned privately-owned monthly newspaper, La Nouvelle, from appearing due to an irregularity. The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that the newspaper which remains banned was questioned about its legitimacy to operate, by the regulatory body. The HAAC in a communiqué issued on July 16 explained that they had on three occasions invited the newspaper for a meeting but to no avail.

According to the correspondent, La Nouvelle which is managed by Bonero Lawson-Bentum, an opposition sympathizer has also been accused of flouting provisions of Article 25 of the Press and Communication code. The regulatory body accused the newspaper of a July 15 publication which “contained false information, calls for ethnic and religious hatred, invasion of privacy, slander and insults.” The correspondent said owing to these accusations and in particular the issue of the authenticity of its registration, the newspaper has been banned.

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: Mining Company causes reporter’s arrest

Vivian Affoah
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Pascal KelvinKudiabor, an online reporter for privately-owned www.Ghanabusinessnews.com, was arrested by the police on July 16, 2012. His arrest was after Emmaland Cadero Resources, a Canadian-Ghanaian Mining Firm based in Ghana, accused him of spying on them. Kudiabor, an investigative reporter was detained for about three hours before being released on bail without charge.

Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported thatofficials of the Criminal InvestigationsDepartment (CID) picked-up the reporter at the company’s premises while he was waiting to get Emmaland Cadero Resources’ side of a story that he was investigating. The reporter had earlier visited a mining site belonging to the firm in the northern part of Ghana. This was his second visit to the office.

“He has had prior conversations with the company’s two public relationsofficials and the meetingwith the Managing Director today was scheduled. But while he was in the MD’s office waiting, officials from the CID headquarters in Accra came in and told him their boss has asked for him to come with them to the CID headquarters,” Emmanuel Dogbevi, Managing Editor of the online newspaper told MFWA. MFWA condemns Kudiabor’s arrest and demands full investigations into the matter without further delay.

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

Mali ALERT: Journalists accuse military authorities of tapping their telephones

Vivian Affoah
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Journalists in Mali are accusing the military authorities of illegally tapping their telephones as a means of silencing critical opinion in the country.

The accusation followed the arrest and subsequent detention of Birama Fall, managing editor of Le Prétoire, a privately-owned Bamako-based bi-weekly newspaper on May 12, 2012. The authorities had illegally listened to Fall’s phone conversation with a former government minister over civilian deaths during the recent counter coup attempt. Fall was, however, released after two hours without charge.

The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that the authorities accused the managing editor of conspiring with the former minister to exaggerate the death toll.

According to the authorities, twenty-seven persons died during the unsuccessful counter-coup on April 30. The official figures were disputed by Malians who claimed the figure does not represent the number of persons buried at the alleged existing “mass grave.”

Fall after his release said “I actually had wind of an unconfirmed figure of more than two hundred deaths, information I did not intend to publish because I had not confirmed it.”

In a widespread condemnation, Malian press organisations and associations have said the editor’s arrest has brought to light a new form of attack against the media in the country.

The MFWA adds its voice to the condemnation of the military authorities and demands an end to hostilities against the media in Mali, which until the illegal takeover was one of the freest countries in Africa.

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: Newspaper reporter released

Vivian Affoah
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Sidiq Asemota, a judicial reporter of privately-owned Daily Observernewspaper, was on July 11, 2012 released from prison custody after being detained for a day at the Mile II State Central prison for contempt of court. On July 10, Asemota was arrested at the premises of the Banjul High Court on the orders of Justice Emmanuel Nkea, the presiding judge.

The Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) sources reported that the journalist before his release appeared before the Court to answer questions about his July 9 publication captioned ‘Two sentenced for forgery”in which he misreported the facts of the case. The sources said, Asemota, apologized to the court and explained that he got the story from the charge sheet given him by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Court. “It has never been my intention to misinform the public, I have been doing this job for 20 years now,” he told the court.

Pa Malick Faye, managing editor of the Daily Observer who was present at the court was also quizzed, cautioned and discharged by Justice Nkea over an article he published in connection with the arrest. Faye, in reaction to Asemota’s arrest published an article labeling the court’s arrest and subsequent contempt charge as “shocking”.

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: Reporter arrested, remanded for contempt

Vivian Affoah
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Sidiq Asemota, a judicial reporter of privately-owned Daily Observer newspaper was on July 10, 2012 remanded at the Mile II State Central Prison by the Banjul High Court for contempt of court. According to Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) sources, Asemota who was arrested at the court’s premises on the orders of Justice Emmanuel Nkea remains in prison custody till July 13, when he re-appears before the court.

It was reported that Justice Nkea ordered the High Court bailiff to bring Asemota before him or he, the bailiff, be detained, and immediately the reporter was arraigned before him. MFWA’s sources reported that the reason(s) for the arrest and charge of contempt remains unknown, however, reporters later gathered that the arrest was in relation to a July 9 publication that Asemota authored and headlined “Two sentenced for forgery.”

This is the latest of a contempt charge brought against a journalist by Justice Nkea. Lamin Njie, deputy editor of privately-owned Daily newspaper was on June 22, 2012 detained on the orders of Justice Nkea and charged for contempt of court for erroneously reporting a court proceeding. He was later released on June 25.

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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