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Massive crackdown on Ghana’s Radio Industry: 34 Stations Shut down, 97 Others Face Heavy Fines

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Massive crackdown on Ghana’s Radio Industry: 34 Stations Shut down, 97 Others Face Heavy Fines

Thirty-four FM broadcasting stations have been shut down by the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Communications regulator and radio frequency licensing body in Ghana.

A statement released by the NCA on September 28, 2017 said the authorisations of the stations involved had expired over several years, but they had failed to apply for renewal 3 months before expiry of existing Authorisation as required by law. Moreover, some of them failed to respond to a notice the NCA sent to them earlier this year to regularise their operations.

The statement said while others responded to the regulator’s notice to regularise their operations, their request for an extension was declined.

A total of 131 FM Authorisation Holders have been affected by the NCA clampdown which is being carried out in enforcement of Section 13 of the Electronics Communications Act (2009), Act 775.

These include very popular stations like Montie FM, a station aligned to the main opposition party, the National democratic Congress (NDC), Hello FM and Kapital Radio.

The regulator has also imposed fines on a number of stations ranging from GHC50,000 (US$11,000) to GHC61,000,000 (US$13.8 million) depending on the infraction and the duration the infraction persisted.

Eleven radio stations have been requested to pay application fees for renewal of Authorisation and to pay a fine in accordance with the NCA’s gazetted Schedule of Penalties for failure to apply 3 months before expiry of Authorisation within 30 days. 16 radio stations have been asked to submit renewal application, pay application fees and pay a fine within 30 days.

It would be recalled that the Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful on July 6, 2017 hinted that the government was considering taking action against radio stations that are in breach of their licensing obligations.

“Much as the NCA recognises the key role the radio stations play in the socio‐economic life of the country, dissemination of information, employment and investment opportunities it creates, it is important that players within that space adhere to the regulatory requirements and conditions of their Authorisations,” the statement said.

The MFWA is concerned about this development, as it denies a section of the population their source of information. We find it a sad irony for radio stations to suffer such a fate on 28 September, a day set aside to highlight the importance of universal access to information. We therefore urge the NCA and the Management of the stations involved to dialogue in order to find an amicable settlement to the issue.

Three Months Remaining to Redeem Your RTI Pledge – MFWA Reminds Ghana Government on International Day for the Universal Access to Information

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Three Months Remaining to Redeem Your RTI Pledge – MFWA Reminds Ghana Government on International Day for the Universal Access to Information

As the world marks International Day for Universal Access to Information, the MFWA takes the opportunity to remind Ghana’s president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of his sacred pledge to deliver the long-awaited RTI law by the close of 2017.

UNESCO set aside September 28 of every year is as International Day for Universal Access to Information through resolution (38 C/70) adopted on February 17, 2015. The decision was in recognition of access to information as indispensable to building informed, progressive and inclusive societies.

Consequently, no government has an excuse to deny its citizens the right to public information. And for the Ghana government in particular, the need to pass an RTI law is even more urgent after the firm promises by both President Akufo-Addo and his Vice, Mahamudu Bawumia early this year.

Delivering the keynote address at the Africa Open Data Conference held in Accra on July 20, 2017, Nana Akufo-Addo affirmed that his government would work closely with Parliament to ensure the passage of the bill to “encourage citizens to hold the government accountable and ensure greater transparency.”

Earlier on February 2, 2017, vice president, Mahamudu Bawumia made a similar commitment regarding the RTI Bill which has been before Parliament since 2010.

“Our government has already made it clear that we will be passing the Right to Information Act. …..These are just some of the actions we intend to implement this year,” Dr Bawumia said at a Transparency International Regional Meeting in Accra.

If they are to be taken by their words, the president and his vice have barely three months to redeem their pledge to give Ghanaians the legal basis to demand accountability in the management of the country’s resources and transparency in the distribution of opportunities and privileges.

It is gratifying to note that all the West African countries which have recently emerged from violent conflicts and political upheavals have adopted RTI laws as part of the broader reform process aimed at making a fresh start. Among these transitional countries are Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo. Benin, which has enjoyed nearly three decades of peaceful and democratic governance, confirmed its democratic credentials with an RTI law in 2015.

Alongside Benin, Ghana and Senegal are considered as models of democracy. But the two giants are yet to pass RTI laws to consolidate their reputation.

The MFWA therefore calls on Ghana and Senegal in particular, and all countries in the sub-region which are yet to adopt RTI laws, to do so without further delay.

We wish to commend the countries in West Africa with Right to Information Laws and to encourage them to translate the pieces of legislation into real opportunities for citizens to access public information to promote public trust and confidence in the governance process.

 

Show of Power: State Governor Bans Two Reporters from Covering his Administration

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Show of Power: State Governor Bans Two Reporters from Covering his Administration

The Governor of Imo State in Nigeria, Chief Rochas Okorocha, has banned two journalists from covering activities at the seat of government, for allegedly publishing uncomplimentary reports about his administration.

In a chat with journalists at the seat of government on September 16, 2017, Governor Okorocha announced that Amby Uneze of THISDAY and Vanguard’s Chidi Nkwopara have been banned from covering government house activities with immediate effect.

The governor had on an earlier occasion vowed to deal ruthlessly with the reporters if they stepped inside government house to cover any of his activities. He had also threatened to get them transferred from the state.

The governor did not give any reason for the ban except to declare that the two correspondents “did not like him”.

Describing Amby Uneze and Chidi Nkwopara “as enemies of government”, Chief Okorocha said the two were fond of writing unfavourable reports about his administration. He however could not cite any breach of ethics by the correspondents.

The governor’s action has been strongly criticised by the media fraternity in Nigeria. The Imo State branch of the Independent Newspapers Publishers Association (INPA), urged the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Press Council (NPC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Civil Society Organisations to call the governor to order.

The MFWA joins the media in Nigeria to condemn the action of the Imo State Governor. Journalists are not public relations officers of state institutions and public office holders. Their duty is to demand accountability and efficient public service delivery from public officials on behalf of the citizens. Governor Okorocha should appreciate this unique role of the media and lift the ban on the two journalists.

MFWA, Partners Promote Media Safety Ahead of Liberia’s 2017 Election

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MFWA, Partners Promote Media Safety Ahead of Liberia’s 2017 Election

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with the Liberia-based Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) is implementing a rapid response intervention aimed at addressing media safety issues before, during and after the 2017 elections in Liberia.

The intervention, which is being supported by the Denmark-based International Media Support (IMS), seeks to ensure safety of media workers so they are able to produce reliable and professional reporting that contributes to credible and peaceful elections.

It will also provide an opportunity for experience sharing between the Ghana police and the Liberian police on promoting the safety and security of journalists during electioneering period; capacity support to journalists in Liberia with regards to ensuring their safety while covering the elections as well as a space for dialogues between Liberia security forces especially the police and media workers.

25 senior journalists and editors today began a two-day hands-on training on how to provide credible, efficient and professional coverage of the elections while staying safe. The training features both local and international trainers who will build the capacity of journalists to report effectively on election-related issues and how to work effectively with police and security forces.

An experience-sharing forum between the Ghana Police and the Liberian police will be held on September 20. Senior Police Officers from Ghana who were part of the leadership of the Election Security Taskforce during Ghana’s elections will discuss and share experiences on how they worked with and supported the media on safety during Ghana’s elections last year.

This will be followed by a Police-Media forum on September 21 where senior editors and journalists, Liberian Police, ECOWAS and other key actors will discuss modalities for police-media co-operation and safety of journalists during the coverage of the elections.

Ahead of Ghana’s elections in 2016, the MFWA and IMS implemented a similar intervention that contributed immensely to ensuring that the police included the safety and security of journalists in their operational plan.

 

Persecuted Journalists Receive Moral Support

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Persecuted Journalists Receive Moral Support

A group of Mauritanian journalists have organised a sit-in on September 11, 2017, to denounce the placement under judicial supervision of their colleagues.

Ahmed Ould Cheikh, director of publication of Calame,  Moussa Ould Samba Sy, director of publication of Le Quotidien de Nouakchott, et de Rella Ba, director general of Cridem.org received the boost of solidarity from their colleague journalists as they arrived to report to the General Administration of National Security.

The four were placed under judicial supervision, meaning that their movements are legally monitored on September 1, 2017, two weeks after being detained and subjected to intense interrogation by the financial crimes division of the police in what has been termed the “Ould Ghadda Affaire.”

The picketing journalists carried placards condemning the strangling and musseling of the press as well as the repression of liberties.

“We are here to support our colleagues who are under siege because of their journalism profession, a sector which has been targeted by the regime of Ould Abdel Aziz”, said one of the protesting journalists and director of publication of La Nouvelle Expression newspaper, Camara Seydi Moussa.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the opposition Union of Progressive Forces UFP have paid a visit to the offices of the major media houses whose directors are being harassed by the authorities. Led by party vice-president, Kadiata Malick Diallo and General Secretary, Moustapaha Ould Bedreddine, the delegation first met with Ould Samba Sy at Le Quotidien de Nouakchott, before meeting with Jedna Deida of Mauriweb.com. The UFP was also due to visit the offices of Calame and cridem.org.

The team urged the beleaguered journalists and their media houses to show fortitude in the face of the offensive from government. On their part, the editorial leadership of Le Quotidien de Nouakchott and Mauriweb.com assured the UFP executives that they would not waver in their effort to help establish true democracy and the rule of law in Mauritania.

The MFWA applauds Senator Malouma Mint Meidah, the few journalists and the UFP for their moral support for the media professionals who are being persecuted for their editorial positions. We join them in urging Moussa Ould Samba Sy and his colleagues to remain steadfast and devoted to their duty of informing the public, protecting human rights and demanding accountability from the authorities.

 

Effective Legislation – the Missing Piece in the Internet Jigsaw of West Africa

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Effective Legislation – the Missing Piece in the Internet Jigsaw of West Africa

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has identified lack of effective internet-specific legal frameworks, inadequate infrastructure and high cost of data as major challenges in the internet sector in West Africa.

The above challenges were part of the findings of the MFWA’s maiden state of the internet report. Titled the West Africa Internet Rights Monitor, this edition covers the period April-June, 2017 and targeted eight countries – Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, The Gambia and Togo.

A total of 10 internet-related incidents were recorded in the eight countries during the monitoring period. Mali experienced a nation-wide internet shutdown and a cyber-attack on an individual. In other incidents, some individuals had their rights abused for expressing themselves on social media. These abuses were identified as major threats to freedom of expression online. The authorities in Cote d’Ivoire attempted to introduce a repressive media law which could have stifled online expression. In a positive development, Benin adopted a new code to regulate its internet environment, thus joining Nigeria as the only two countries with internet-specific laws. There were no recorded incidents in The Gambia, Ghana, Togo and Niger.

To improve internet landscape, the MFWA urges governments and stakeholders to work towards adopting progressive and comprehensive internet-related policies. Internet users are also encouraged to seek redress whenever their rights are violated.

Finally, state and non-state actors are advised to recognise that the right people have offline must also be protected online, as stipulated in the UN Resolution 68/167.

Read full report here.

 

Gagging of the Media: Journalists Barred from covering Demonstration

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Gagging of the Media: Journalists Barred from covering Demonstration

Two senior journalists were prevented from covering the recent demonstrations in Togo by the authorities in the country, with the camera of one of them seized.

The two were Emmanuelle Sodji a correspondent of TV5 and France 24 both French-based media organizations and Sylvio Combey, Director of a local news website, Afrique Rendez-vous.

The MFWA correspondent in Togo says in the morning of September 6, 2017, the authorities summoned Emmanuelle Sodji and informed her that her accreditation has been withdrawn with immediate effect. She was consequently barred from covering events in the country, beginning with that morning’s demonstration by the opposition. No reason was given.

Sylvio Combey suffered a worse fate on the second day of the demonstrations when his camera was seized together with his accreditation badge in the course of covering the demonstration,Combey was said to be filming the demonstration when a police officer approached him and asked him what authorization he had to cover the event.

“I do not need any special authorisation to cover the event”, he responded.

According to the MFWA correspondent, the journalist had hardly finished his sentence when the police officer seized his accreditation badge and ordered him to surrender his camera. Combey reportedly resisted initially, but eventually gave in as the officer became increasingly aggressive and threatening.

“Where will I get my camera back?’’, he asked wistfully as he handed his tool.

“Come to the Central Police Station’’, came the curt reply from the police officer who was not identified.

Sylvio reportedly went to the Central Police Station in Lomé as well as many other police and Gendarmerie stations in the capital before finally retrieving his camera from the national Intelligence agency after being interrogated about his coverage of the demonstration.

The Togolese authorities have demonstrated a strong determination to restrict publicity on the recent political agitations in the country. They shut down the internet for five days, beginning from September 5, a day before the second wave of protests by the opposition supporters was due to hit the streets of the major towns and cities across the country.

The Media Foundation for West Africa welcomes the restoration of Sylvio Combey’s camera. Meanwhile , we condemn the muzzling of the media by the authorities in Togo and call for the reinstatement of the accreditation of Emmanuelle Sodji to enable her to resume her work.

 

Update: Journalist Gets Provisional Freedom after Two Months in Custody

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Update: Journalist Gets Provisional Freedom after Two Months in Custody

A High Court in Niger on September 11, 2017 granted provisional release to Ali Soumana, director of publication of a private weekly newspaper, Le Courrier, after more than two months in detention.

The release follows a petition from the lawyer of the journalist who was first detained on June 29, 2017, on charges of violating judicial confidentiality. Soumana had published an article backed by a prosecution document revealing that an arrest had been issued against an individual in dispute with the state. The first charge was later dropped and replaced with a new charge of “fraudulently obtaining documents related to a court trial.

While still in custody, the police raided Soumana’s home on July 1, 2017, and later, his office, in search of clues about the newspaper’s source of information on the case.

On July 3, 2017, Soumana was arraigned before a Niamey High Court where a committal order was granted to the state authorising his detention in prison custody pending the conclusion of his trial. Soumana was consequently transferred from police custody to prison until his release on September 11.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), together with other human rights groups had condemned Soumana’s arbitrary arrest and detention as a violation of the journalist’s human rights and contrary to Niger’s media law of 2010 which prohibits criminal prosecution for press offenses.

MFWA welcomes the release of Soumana as a positive step. We believe, however, that his arrest and later incarceration was improper. We therefore call for his definitive release and the dropping of all charges against him.

Update: Internet Restored in Togo after Five Days’ Shutdown

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Update: Internet Restored in Togo after Five Days’ Shutdown

The Togolese authorities have restored the Internet in the country after five days of disruption amidst agitations from the opposition coalition for political reforms.

WhatsApp, Facebook and other internet services were restored on September 10, 2017 after being disrupted on September 5, a day before the mass opposition demonstrations. The disruption lasted five days.

The disruption was greeted with widespread condemnation and calls from press freedom, freedom of expression and internet rights organisations in Togo and across the world,including the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).

Togo has been in the grip of political tension as the opposition coalition and its supporters mount pressure on the government to introduce political reforms including term limits for the presidency.

In an attempt to suppress the voices of its opponents, the authorities imposed the social media blackout and prevented certain critical media organisations from covering the demonstrations.

Noticeable Decline in FOE Violations in Second Quarter; But Challenges Persist

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Noticeable Decline in FOE Violations in Second Quarter; But Challenges Persist

The second quarter report of the MFWA’s Free Expression Monitor for 2017 (April-June) recorded 33 violations, down from the 47 recorded during the first quarter (January-March). However, the freedom of expression environment in the sub-region still faces formidable challenges with perpetrators of violations enjoying absolute impunity.

The violations were recorded in nine countries. Nigeria recorded 9 (down from 16 during the first quarter), followed by Togo with five. Mali and Mauritania followed with four violations each, with Ghana and Guinea recording three each. Burkina Faso recorded two, same as Niger, while Senegal witnessed a single violation.

Security agents (14) and state officials (8) were the leading perpetrators, accounting for 66 percent of the violations in the quarter under review.

There were two killings; one of a journalist in Nigeria and the other a student demonstrator in Niger. In Mali, social media was disrupted for three days, ahead of a big opposition demonstration.

Despite the decline in the number of violations, it is obvious that some key actors are still resisting change. Security agents continue to have a field day with peaceful demonstrators, and individuals continue to target critical journalists for assassination, the unaccounted killing in Nigeria being a classic case that has the potential to induce self-censorship and encourage impunity.

Senegal’s adoption of a repressive media law and a similar attempt in Cote d’Ivoire constitute a serious setback for freedom of expression. The report therefore calls for urgent action to protect recent gains from being eroded.

Read full report here.

 

Funding Opportunity and Awards on SDGs Reporting in Ghana, Best Story Gets GHC 10,000

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Funding Opportunity and Awards on SDGs Reporting in Ghana, Best Story Gets GHC 10,000

As part of efforts to mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in development reporting in Ghana, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ghana, is offering funding opportunity to Ghanaian journalists to support quality and thorough reporting that focus on the SDGs.

This initiative forms part of activities under MFWA’s project ‘Mainstreaming the SDGs in Development Reporting.’ The project seeks to advance public knowledge on the SDGs to ensure inclusive and participatory delivery of the Goals in Ghana.

The funding opportunity is opened to journalists from print, electronic and online media. Applicants must be journalists currently working with and for a recognised Ghanaian media organisation. Stories to be supported under this call must be produced and published/broadcast between September 1 and October 9, 2017.

Also under the project will be an Awards ceremony to reward four (4) best SDGs stories in Ghana whether such stories were financially supported by the MFWA or not.

An entry for the SDGs Reporting Awards must have been published or broadcast between January 1, and October 9, 2017. Deadline for submission of entries is October 10, 2017.

The entry should be an original work published through a media outlet in Ghana and must show date of publication/broadcast and the medium in which the work was published.

On how to apply for funding for the story production, click here. 

On how to submit entries for the SDGs Reporting Awards, click here.

write to [email protected] or [email protected].

SDGs Reporting Awards: Call for entries

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Who is eligible to submit entry?

Open to all journalists currently working with and for a recognised Ghanaian media organization.

How to apply

Applicants are to submit a one-page document with the following:

  • Full name
  • Email
  • Phone number
  • Media organisation
  • Title of story
  • Brief description of story (one paragraph)
  • Type of media
  • Date of publication or broadcast
  • URL link to SoundCloud or YouTube

Other audios and videos with no url links should be attached in the mail.

Applicants should send information to MFWA at: [email protected] with subject: ‘SDGs Reporting Awards.’

The entry should be an original work published through a media outlet in Ghana and must show date of publication/broadcast and the medium in which the work was published.

Applicants may submit a maximum of three entries.

The MFWA will confirm receipt of submitted proposals by email.

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