Donate
Donate
Search
Home Blog Page 62

Promoting Inclusive Governance: MFWA Holds Forum in Northern Ghana

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Promoting Inclusive Governance: MFWA Holds Forum in Northern Ghana

On May 9, 2017, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with funding support from Ford Foundation convened a special Stakeholder forum on the theme: Ensuring Inclusive Governance in Ghana.

The meeting was attended by officials from state agencies, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), women’s groups, youth groups etc.

The MFWA recognises that inclusive, accountable, and democratic governance is critical for building peaceful, just and inclusive societies that respond to the needs of all people by securing their equal participation and engagement in national processes.

Ms. Esther Amoako

Participants therefore discussed the importance of inclusive governance in building strong institutions and how the government can demonstrate its commitment to creating an enabling governance environment that is responsive to the needs and interests of the most disadvantaged and marginalised in society.

Ms. Esther Amoako, a lecturer at University of Development Studies called for more efforts in ensuring  gender Inclusivity in governance towards the attainment of the Sustainable development goals.

Hajia Hafsa Sey Sumani

Hajia Hafsa Sey Sumani, of NORSAAC, a local non-governmental organisation,  highlighted the significant role the youth play in society and called on government to give more space to the youth to explore their talents and actively take part in the governance process.

Mr Mohammed Gadaffi

Mr Mohammed Gadaffi, Northern Regional Chairman of Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations appealed to government to consider women with disability in decision-making processes of the country.  He also called for the inclusion of PWDs in District development plans.

The forum was chaired by Professor Agnes Apusigah, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Development Studies.

Below are more pictures from the forum. Kindly click on the  left or right arrows to view the pictures.

[unitegallery stakeholderforumoninclusivegovernance]

MFWA Joins Gambia Press Union to Mark WPFD 2017

Vivian Affoah
-
0
MFWA Joins Gambia Press Union to Mark WPFD 2017

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has joined its national partner in The Gambia, the Gambia Press Union to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day (WPFD 2017).

This year, the global event to mark the day is being observed in Jakarta, Indonesia, under the theme – Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

The MFWA believes the theme for this year’s celebration is significant for journalists who have worked tirelessly and have contributed immensely towards ensuring that peace and justice prevail in their societies.

The day is particularly significant for journalists and the media community in The Gambia who for the first time in 22 years, will be observing what is a true press freedom day after 22 years of repression and human rights abuses under the brutal regime of Yahya Jammeh. The Jammeh regime saw many journalists arrested, imprisoned, tortured, disappeared and killed.

The MFWA team in The Gambia

Reflecting on the theme for this year’s celebration and its importance in the context of The Gambia, the Executive Director of the MFWA, Sulemana Braimah said: “The Gambia is currently in critical times and the country requires critical minds of journalists who must play a critical role in the country’s quest to build a peaceful, just and inclusive society in the post Jammeh period.

As part of the activities to mark the day, our Executive Director and the Programme Manager for Freedom of Expression, Dora B. Mawutor, joined a procession by the GPU through the principal streets of the Gambian capital, Banjul.

The procession ended with the presentation of a position paper to the Minister for Information and Communications Infrastructure, Hon. Demba Ali Jawo. The MFWA team was also part of a symposium at the University of The Gambia.

While we are in The Gambia celebrating WPFD 2017, the MFWA takes the opportunity to salute journalists and the media community across West Africa who are driving change and advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

Demystify Perceptions of Girls about ICT – MFWA Urges Governments and Stakeholders in West Africa

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Demystify Perceptions of Girls about ICT – MFWA Urges Governments and Stakeholders in West Africa

As the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) joins the world to mark the International Girls’ in ICT Day, the organisation calls on governments, national education secretariats, teachers, parents and all stakeholders across the sub-region to help encourage girls’ enrollment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and ICTs.

Despite the important role the internet plays in today’s technologically inclined world, women and girls continue to be underrepresented in ICTS and STEM programmes across the West Africa region. This unfortunate trend is largely attributable to perceptions that these programmes are too technical and male-oriented.

The MFWA is therefore calling on all relevant stakeholders, particularly governments, teachers and parents to help demystify girls’ fears and apprehensions about STEM and ICTs through policies and user-friendly teaching approaches and strategies.

“In this age digital revolution, we cannot afford to leave anyone behind. Unfortunately, research shows that females are about 50 percent less likely than men to be online. We therefore need to reconstruct girls’ and women’s perceptions about ICT and STEMs in general. STEM courses are like any other subjects so we have to encourage girls and women to veer into these areas so they can take advantage of the opportunities the ICTs field offer,’’ Dora Mawutor, Programme Manager for Freedom of Expression at the MFWA said.

The MFWA also takes the opportunity on this year’s International Girls in ICT Day, to congratulate all the women trailblazers in ICTs and STEM fields across West Africa. We encourage them to make conscious efforts to mentor girls in their respective countries as a way of encouraging them in the field.

International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in April every year in order to create a global environment that empowers and motivates girls and young women to take up careers in the growing field of ICTs.

African Free Expression Groups Petition AU Special Rapporteur

Vivian Affoah
-
0
African Free Expression Groups Petition AU Special Rapporteur

The Media Foundation for West Africa and other Free Expression organisations in Africa have through their joint network, the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX), on April 13, 2017 petitioned the African Union (AU) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, Ms. Faith Pansy Tlakula, to intervene in the deteriorating freedom of expression and human rights situation in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

Since January 17, 2017, the people of North-west and South-west regions of Cameroon have been denied internet access by the Cameroonian government. On the same day, the government also banned activities of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC), a group of eminent citizens from the Anglophone regions set up to dialogue with the government on the ongoing protests in the country. Additionally, police arrested two leaders of the CACSC, Dr. Nkongho Felix Agbor-Balla, president of CACSC and Dr. Fontem A. Neba, Secretary General of CACSC.

Over the past six months, relations between the Cameroonian government and residents of the two Anglophone regions have deteriorated following the decision of the government to impose the use of French language in schools and courts of North-west and South-west Cameroon.

Despite several calls from the local and international community, the Paul Biya government has repeatedly refused to restore internet access and release all those arrested in connection with the protests.

The AFEX network has therefore called on the AU Special Rapporteur to put pressure on President Paul Biya to heed the numerous calls by the international community and ensure that the fundamental rights to freedom of expression, access to information and freedom of assembly of citizens are respected and protected.

The preamble of Cameroon’s National Constitution explicitly commits the government to respect regional and international frameworks which provide for the enjoyment of freedom of expression and human rights. The constitution specifically subscribes to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter, all of which guarantee the right to freedom of expression and access to information.

You can access the Full Petition addressed to the AU Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information here.

Journalist Killed by Gunmen

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Journalist Killed by Gunmen

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has received with shock reports that Famous Giobaro, a desk editor with the state-owned Glory FM 97.1 in Bayelsa State of Nigeria, has been shot dead by unknown gunmen at his residence on April 16, 2017.

The MFWA’s national partner in Nigeria, International Press Centre (IPC), in a statement said around 5:00 am on April 17, the unknown gunmen broke into Giaboro’s apartment located at Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, and shot him many times in the stomach at close range. The attackers did not steal anything, raising suspicion that it was not a robbery mission. It is  also not as yet clear if the attack was linked to his work as a journalist.

The Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said the killing of Giobaro raises serious concerns about the safety of journalists in Nigeria called for immediate investigations into incident.

“We are calling on the Bayelsa State Government to show commitments and investigate the alleged assassination of Journalist Giobaro who is a staff of the state government. This is one incident that should not be allowed to lie low and we also call on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the matter with a sense of urgency,” Arogundade stated.

Arogundade said the killing adds to a catalogue of unresolved violations and highlights the threats faced by journalists in Nigeria.

“We have had many unresolved issues with journalists in recent past and it will be a rape on democracy under this dispensation if a journalist can just be gunned down in such a manner.”

The MFWA joins the IPC, and other  freedom of expression and human rights organisations across Nigeria in condemning the gruesome killing of Giobaro. We urge the Nigerian authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and that the bereaved family receives justice.

West Africa: Security Forces Kill 9 in Demonstrations

Vivian Affoah
-
0
West Africa: Security Forces Kill 9 in Demonstrations

In six weeks, security forces in Guinea, Togo and Sierra Leone have killed nine people while dispersing demonstrators.

The nine, mostly students, met their untimely deaths during demonstrations they embarked on to express their grievances. In the case of Guinea and Sierra Leone, students were demonstrating to express their frustrations about prolonged strikes by teachers which was having effect on their studies.

In the case of Togo, however, the demonstrators were commercial drivers who were protesting against fuel price increment.

On February 21, 2017, in Guinea, seven people were killed after police clashed with protesters who were demanding the reopening of schools that have been shut down after seven weeks of teachers’ strike. Five of the dead were male students. The other two were by-standers; a male shopkeeper and a housewife.

During the protest, the demonstrators, mostly students, set up road blocks while others set fire to tyres and threw them into the streets. Police stationed at vantage points to protect lives and property, fired tear gas and warning shots to disperse the crowd. The protesters responded by throwing stones at the police. This resulted in a clash leading to the death of the seven people with several others injured.

On February 28, 2017, attempts by gendarmes in Togo to disperse thousands of taxi and commercial motorcycle drivers who were demonstrating against fuel price increases in Lomé left one person dead and several others injured. The demonstration took place in the afternoon, a day after the government announced increases in the prices of petroleum products by 10 percent. It was the second time in one month that fuel prices had been increased in the country.

During the demonstration drivers erected barricades and blocked the streets which resulted in traffic jam. Security forces who were deployed to clear the traffic and maintain order, threw tear gas and fired warning shots to disperse the protestors. One demonstrator, Alabi Nadjinoudine, died on the spot when he was hit by a bullet. Several others got injured in the stampede that ensued.

In Sierra Leone, a police officer killed one person, injured several others and arrested dozens in an attempt to quell protests by students of the University of Njala, located in the city of Bo in South-Eastern part of the country.

On March 24, 2017 students of the University of Njala poured onto the streets of Bo to denounce what they called “government’s lack of interest” in solving a strike action by lecturers which had held up their studies since November, 2016.

While demonstrating, the student protesters mounted barricades on the streets.  In an attempt to disperse them, the police threw tear gas into the crowd of protesting students, many of whom fell and got trampled while trying to flee from the acrid fumes. One student however died after being hit by a live bullet.

The MFWA is concerned about the increasing use of excessive force by security forces in dispersing demonstrators. The use of live bullets to control peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable, condemnable and must be taken completely out of protest control measures. The increasing use of tear gas also leads to stampedes which results in lots of injuries.

The MFWA is urging security forces to restrategise on how to manage demonstrators so that lives can be protected at all times, especially as protestors have the right to express their grievances as guaranteed by the constitution of the three countries and many West African countries. We also urge the authorities in Guinea, Togo and Sierra Leone to investigate the deaths of the nine people and bring the perpetrators to book.

While calling on security forces in the region to revise their strategies for managing demonstrators, the MFWA also calls on protestors to exercise high levels of responsibility when demonstrating to make their grievances known to ensure that the core message of their demonstrations do not get drowned by violent clashes and related-incidents.

Gender Minister, MFWA Confer On Women’s Rights Online

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Gender Minister, MFWA Confer On Women’s Rights Online

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on April 7, 2017 met with Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms. Otiko Afisa Djaba at her office to discuss ways of promoting women’s rights online.

In his submission, Executive Director of MFWA, Sulemana Braimah said the organisation is keen on empowering women and girls offline and online. He warned that if men were allowed to crowd out women in cyber space, the latter risked lagging further behind.

“Although there have been many interventions in the area of women’s empowerment, much of the effort has been in physical space. The MFWA has realised that the gender gap in opportunities offline is being replicated online as well. Given the indispensable role of the internet in our lives today, the social and economic marginalisation of women could worsen if men are allowed to dominate the online space as well,” Sulemana Braimah said.

In line with that, the Executive Director indicated that the MFWA, in partnership with the Web Foundation, has produced a Report Card on Ghana’s progress in bridging the gender gap online which provides useful findings and recommendations to inform policy intervention.

He, therefore, used the opportunity to invite the minister to a Stakeholders’ Forum on Promoting and Protecting Women’s Rights Online in Ghana, slated for May 24, 2017.

The MFWA team presented the Minister copies of the Report Card on Ghana’s progress in bridging the digital gender gap as well as copies of two Policy Briefs produced by the MFWA- Policy Brief on Child Online Protection and Gender Dimensions of Internet Rights in Ghana.

In response, Ms. Otiko Djaba affirmed her commitment to empowering women through ICT and internet literacy.

“The Internet and ICT generally are powerful tools that can empower women and help solve many of the social challenges which hold back progress for women and girls– child trafficking, child marriage, the kayaye problem, prejudice and discrimination against women in education, in employment and so on. I will therefore give premium to helping bridge the digital gender gap,” the minister said.

The minister said her Ministry is carrying out an intervention that will seek to link successful women in industry, in Science, Technology and Engineering with girls and young women so they could mentor them. She added that the project would be complemented with entrepreneurial skills to encourage more women start-ups, especially in IT.

Ms. Otiko Djaba thanked the MFWA for its women’s rights interventions and pledged her personal support. She also encouraged the organization to continue to support the media in Ghana through capacity building so they can contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development.

Student Demonstrator Killed

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Student Demonstrator Killed

Police officers in Sierra Leone have killed one student, injured several others and arrested dozens in an attempt to quell protests by students of the University of Njala, located in the city of Bo in South-Eastern part of the country.

The students poured on to the streets of Bo on March 24, 2017 to denounce what they called “government’s lack of interest” in solving a strike action by lecturers which has held up their studies since November, 2016.

As part of the demonstration, the student protesters mounted barricades on the streets.  In an attempt to disperse them, the police threw tear gas into the crowd of protesting students, many of whom fell and got trampled while trying to flee from the acrid fumes. One student however died after being hit by a live bullet.

The Inspector General of Police, Francis Munu confirmed the death but insisted that he had given strict instructions to his men to make use of only tear gas.  Munu added that “thorough investigations will be conducted into the incident.”

Many civil society organisations have deplored the police brutality and have called for investigations into the incident.

The MFWA equally condemns the police use of excessive force against the peaceful student demonstrators.  We welcome the probe promised by Sierra Leone’s IGP into the latest incident in that country, and believe he will keep his word to ensure that the victims receive justice.

Fans, Police, Attack Sports Journalists

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Fans, Police, Attack Sports Journalists

On March 18, 2017, Algerian journalists who had travelled to Burkina Faso to cover a CAF Champions League match between Racing Club Kadiogo (RCK) of Burkina Faso and Union Sportive Medinat d’Alger (USMA) of Algeria, were subjected to intimidation and physical assault before and after the match.

The police had a tough time battling supporters of the home team who had converged at the main entrance of the 4th August Stadium in Ouagadougou to prevent the Algerian press corps from entering. The supporters said their action was in retaliation for the refusal of the Algerian Embassy to grant visas to all eight Burkinabe journalists who wanted to travel to Algiers to cover the first leg match the week before.

The troubles of the Algerian press continued inside the stadium as they were denied access to the press box by some angry fans of RCK.

The ordeal of the Algerians worsened at the end of the match when angry fans of RCK, alleging biased officiating, descended on the pitch to attack the Nigerien referees, together with officials and players of USMA as well as the Algerian journalists who had by then entered the pitch to conduct post-match interviews.

Meanwhile, some Burkinabe journalists who had also entered the arena to report on the riots were also assaulted by security officers who had intervened to end the chaos. The security officers were reportedly indiscriminate in beating back the locals and some journalists fell victim. A Police officer even threw tears gas into the press box, forcing the journalists there to run to safety. Some of the media professionals were injured in the ensuing melee.

In a statement issued on March 21, 2017, the sports journalists union in Burkina Faso, Association des Journalistes Sportifs du Burkina (AJSB), condemned what they termed “the brutal aggression inflicted by the police on sports journalists performing their duty and the throwing of tear gas into the press box.”

The MFWA finds the attacks on journalists by the police regrettable and also condemns the assault and molestation of the Algerian press corps by RCK supporters. We call on the football authorities and the law enforcement agencies to investigate the assault and bring the perpetrators to book. We also urge them to take measures to forestall its recurrence.

Journalist Fined for Contempt

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Journalist Fined for Contempt

A journalist with the Daily Graphic, Ghana’s leading newspaper with nationwide circulation, has been sentenced to a fine of Ghc5,000 (about US$1,200) for publishing an interview judged to be contemptuous of a High Court in Accra.

The judge, who delivered the judgment on March 21, 2017, also convicted the former Chairman of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB),  Akrasi Sarpong, who granted the interview, to two months’ suspended sentence.

In the said interview, Sarpong expressed concern about the High Court’s earlier decision to grant bail to two drug suspects. Sarpong described the court’s decision as unfortunate, given that the suspects, Chief Sunny Ikechukwu Benjy Eke and Eleke Chukwu, have allegedly jumped bail before in Brazil.

Eke and Chukwu were arrested and remanded in 2013 for allegedly attempting to smuggle from Bolivia to Ghana 281,604 grammes of liquid cocaine with a street value of over US$12.5 million.

Lawyers for the suspects filed a contempt suit against Sarpong and the reporter (whose name was not given), arguing that the publication was prejudicial to the case and contemptuous of the High Court.

The presiding judge, Justice Charles Edward Ekow Baiden, delivering his ruling, said Sarpong’s comments were meant to derogate the authority of the Court that granted bail to the suspects. The ex-NACOB boss was consequently sentenced to a suspended two months’ jail term with a bond to be of good behaviour, while the reporter was slapped with a fine of Ghc 5,000 or in default, serve a two months imprisonment.

While calling on journalists to exercise discretion in reporting on matters before the courts, the MFWA believes the fine imposed on the Graphic reporter is excessive. The MFWA therefore calls on the Court to be measured in their sentence so that it does not lead to self-censorship on the part of journalists and the media at large.

MFWA Holds Discussions with Gambian President Adama Barrow

Vivian Affoah
-
0
MFWA Holds Discussions with Gambian President Adama Barrow

The president of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, has indicated his commitment to promote and protect press freedom as well as dealing with past issues of impunity for crimes against journalists in the country.

“A country cannot develop without strong media and that is why my government is committed to taking steps such as reforming media laws and working with partners to ensure a freer environment for the operations of the media,” President Barrow said during a meeting with a delegation from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in his office at the capital Banjul.

The President expressed gratitude to the MFWA saying “I thank you for all the great support to The Gambian people over the years and I assure you that I will be media-friendly.”

The MFWA as part of its effort to strengthen the media to support the transition and democratic consolidation processes in The Gambia has deployed a four-member media-assessment mission to The Gambia.

The MFWA delegation in a group photograph with President Barrow

The delegation which shall be in The Gambia for one-week is holding discussions with government officials, media community and other key actors on the ground. The mission will produce a report that will highlight the media context in The Gambia, the challenges facing the industry and make recommendations on processes to strengthen the media.

High on the agenda of the MFWA mission will also be discussions on outstanding issues of impunity for crimes perpetrated against journalists by the Yahya Jammeh regime. The discussions on the issue of impunity will be mainly focused on the non-compliance by the Jammeh regime of three judgements of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice delivered in favour of three journalists, Chief Ebrima Manneh (in 2008); Musa Saidykhan (in 2010); and Deyda Hydara (in 2014).

The MFWA Mission delegation with Manneh’s family

To this end the MFWA delegation met the family of Chief Ebrima Manneh, a victim of enforced disappearance in 2006.

“I want to know who murdered my son,” said 94 year old Mr Sarjo Manneh, father of the disappeared journalist as he sobbed while talking to the delegation.

Mr Sarjo Manneh, father of Ebrima Manneh

Mr Manneh said all he wanted was justice and has been having sleepless nights since his son disappeared.

The MFWA delegation assured Manneh’s family of the commitment of the organisation and its partners such as IFEX to ensure that justice is done and impunity for crimes against journalists brought to an end in The Gambia.

The MFWA and its national partner the Gambia Press Union have been working collaboratively over the years to promote press freedom under the repressive Jammeh regime. The two organisations are therefore committed to working together to strengthen the Gambian media sector

Candidates for GJA Elections to Debate on March 28

mesh
-
0
Candidates for GJA Elections to Debate on March 28

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in partnership with the Elections Committee of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) will on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 host candidates contesting the various positions in the Association at a public forum in Accra.

The forum will feature a debate among candidates contesting the presidential slot. Candidates contesting the other positions will also be presented an opportunity to speak to the electorate.

The presidential debate which will be chaired by Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, Chairman of the National Media Commission will offer a platform for the aspirants to share with the electorate their policies, plans and vision for promoting professional journalism and the welfare of media professionals in Ghana.

The event will also offer the opportunity to the electorate to quiz aspirants on their proposed plans for the Association and other pertinent issues confronting the media in Ghana.

The forum will bring together media experts/practitioners, the diplomatic community, academia and civil society organisations and will be held at the International Press Centre in Accra at 2.30 p.m. prompt.

The MFWA is supporting this event because it is important for the competing candidates to clearly articulate their visions and plans and be interrogated on them. ‘‘We see this presidential debate as a crucial moment where the electorate would have the opportunity to scrutinise the policies of all the contestants in order to make informed choices come the Election Day,’’ said Abigail Larbi, Programme Manager, MFWA.

Meanwhile, the GJA elections will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at designated polling stations.

1...616263...131Page 62 of 131

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Latest insightful articles delivered straight to your inbox

The Media Foundation for West Africa works to promote freedom of expression, press freedom, access to information, internet freedom and media development throughout the 16 countries in the West Africa region–that is the 15 member states of ECOWAS and Mauritania.

Quick Links

Contact Us

Address

Aar-Bakor Street, Ogbojo, Accra, Ghana, West Africa

Telephone

+233 302 555327 | +233 302 955213

Email

info [@] mfwa.org

© 2025 | The Media Foundation for West Africa