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Nigeria: Journalist Beaten for Filming Police Brutality

Vivian Affoah
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Sampson Unamka, a reporter with The Nation newspaper in Nigeria was on May 12, 2016 assaulted and arrested by Nigerian police officers.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent in Nigeria reported that Unamka was on his way from an assignment when he saw the officers beating up a commercial motor rider and a passenger.

Seeing police brutality of citizens, Unamka started filming the scene but was spotted by one of the officers who attempted to seize his phone. While Unamka was preventing the officer from seizing his phone, another officer charged at the journalist, slapped him and threatened to “show him.” The police officers then bundled Unamka into their vehicle and drove the journalist to their station in Mushin, a local government area in Lagos.

“I brought out my phone to take pictures of the scene and the next thing I was slapped severally,” Unamka said while narrating his ordeal to thenationonlineng.net.  “They collected my phone and identity card and bundled me into the police van for trying to perform my duty as a reporter. They didn’t even let me explain myself.”

At the station, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) threatened to charge Unamka with “attempting to take pictures of officers”. He ordered Unamka to delete the video and write a statement. He later instructed the officers who arrested Unamka to release him.

Meanwhile MFWA’s national partner organisation in The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria has condemned the assault on Unamka described the attack and arrest of the journalist as unacceptable.  “The duty of the police is to protect citizens and not batter them in the course of their legitimate duty,” the IPC said.

The MFWA equally condemns the attack and arrest of Unamka who was merely doing his duty as a journalist and also a citizen by filming unwarranted police brutality on citizens. The police, as part of their mandate are to respect and uphold the fundamental rights of citizens and ensure the respect of rule of law hence cannot be seen to taking the law into their own hands. The MFWA calls on the Inspector General of Police to conduct an investigation into the matter and sanction the police officers involved.

The Gambia: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Police

Vivian Affoah
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Momodou Torp, judicial reporter of The Voice newspaper attached at High Court and Lower Court in Banjul was briefly arrested and handcuff by the Police Intervention Unit (PIU).

MFWA’s sources reported that on May 5, 2016, Torp was on his way to Banjul to cover the case of arrested opposition members when he was stopped at a security check-point near the capital Banjul.

A PIU officer who refused to identify himself asked Torp for his identity card. Torp inquired why it was PIU officers who were checking his identity card instead of immigration officers who are mandated to check identity cards and other documents at such check-points.

Following his question, PIU officers surrounded Torp’s car, insulted him and asked him to get down of the car. When he got out of his car, an officer however handcuffed him, while another said: “you think you can tell us the law, you think we are ordinary people who would asked you an identity card, we have the right to ask for your identity card and if you don’t have it you will be dealt with.”

Torp told the officers he was a journalist going to cover court proceedings and asked for the handcuffs to be removed to enable him show them proof of his identity.

The officers however kept Torp handcuffed until a senior PIU officer arrived on the scene and ordered his men to release the journalist.

President Mahama Acknowledges MFWA’s Works in WPFD Message in Finland

Vivian Affoah
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President Mahama Acknowledges MFWA’s Works in WPFD Message in Finland

Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has highlighted the strong link between press freedom and development, and the important role of the media in ensuring the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In his message delivered at Helsinki, Finland, where the global event to mark 2016 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) was held, President Mahama who is also the Co-Chair of the UN Advocacy Group on SDGs, acknowledged the role of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and other organisations in championing the inclusion of Goal 16 in the SDGs.

Goal 16 of the SDGs enjoins all member states to ensure public access to information and protection of fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

On the role of the media in promoting the successful implementation of the SDGs, President Mahama observed that: “the media is central to raising awareness and providing a better understanding of the SDGs and the future we want for ourselves and our children’s children.”

The President’s message to the global gathering also made the following references to MFWA’s recent reports on internet freedom and press freedom violations across West Africa:

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) recently put out a statement in which it “is urging stakeholders in all 16 West African countries to resist all attempts by governments and regulators to limit freedom of expression online or control internet use.” In its own words, “The MFWA’s call follows findings from an internet rights monitoring exercise conducted by the Foundation from October – December 2015.”

The findings, according to the Foundation, revealed that in the last quarter of 2015, two major countries in the sub-region “passed and introduced bills that have potential for curtailing free expression online.” In an even more recent statement, the Foundation said: “A total of 142 incidents of free expression violations were recorded across West Africa in 2015. Almost 90 percent of the incidents were violations against journalists and media organisations, a development that further highlights the important issue of safety of journalists in the region.    The press freedom violations were predominantly in the form of arrests, attacks, threats, suspensions and censorships among others.” It is within these kinds of environments that Goal 16 has to dribble and score.

The MFWA welcomes the positive message from the President on freedom of expression and urges him to champion the passage of Ghana’s Right to Information law to further consolidate free expression and participatory democracy in Ghana.

The Full text of the President’s Message which was delivered in Helsinki, Finland by Ghana’s High Commissioner to Botswana and Namibia, Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Harruna Attah is available here.

Time for Media to Focus on Transparency and Accountability in Governance

Vivian Affoah
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Time for Media to Focus on Transparency and Accountability in Governance

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) which is being observed today (May 3) around the world, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is challenging the media in West Africa to focus on promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

One of the biggest challenges confronting development and governance in West Africa remains corruption, lack of transparency and accountability in nearly all sectors of society. The spate of corruption, lack of transparency and accountability can also be said to be linked to the challenge of bad governance which then gives rise to the other numerous challenges facing the region, including challenges to press freedom.

A major requirement for ensuring transparency and accountability in governance in society as a whole, is the empowerment of the citizenry to be able to seek and receive information on how their national resources are being managed by the people they elect to manage such resources.

In a transparent and accountable governance environment, citizens ought to have the legal right to access information on how their tax monies are spent, how their natural resources are being utilised, who is benefiting from state contracts and under what terms, among other conditions.

As the fourth estate of the realm and as the agenda-setters, the media have the power to help improve transparency and accountability in governance by advocating for citizens’ right to access information.  This also means that the media must be strong advocates for the passage of laws that guarantee citizens’ right to information and the effective implementation of such laws.

The MFWA thus, finds the theme for this year’s WPFD celebrations, “Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms: This Is Your Right!” as the right theme, dealing with the most important issue and at the right time.

We are gladdened by the fact that so far a number of West African countries including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea have all passed a law that guarantees their citizenry the right to seek and receive information of their choice and not just information that government is willing to give out.

At the same time, we are saddened by the fact that countries like Ghana, Senegal and others continue to deny their citizenry the most basic democratic right – the right to information. In the case of Ghana for example, the current government and previous ones have for the last 13 years failed to heed to the cry of the citizenry to grant them their right to information by passing a law guaranteeing such right.

As Ghana goes into elections in November, we call on the media in Ghana to help make transparency and accountability the focus of the election and demanding of the government and the opposition to demonstrate their commitment to transparent and accountable governance by passing the right to information legislation that will empower the citizenry to hold their elected official accountable.

The MFWA and its national partners across West Africa celebrate all the media and journalists.

Policy Briefs: Child Online Protection, Gender Dimensions of Internet Rights in Ghana

Vivian Affoah
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Policy Briefs: Child Online Protection, Gender Dimensions of Internet Rights in Ghana

Access to the internet is fast growing across Africa. In the case of Ghana, the high levels of mobile internet penetration is increasingly accelerating internet access and empowering many Ghanaians, including marginalised groups such as women and children. Through the internet, many Ghanaians now have access to information which they previously did not have, and are able to contribute to national discourse and exercise their freedom of expression rights and other rights online.

While the internet presents enormous benefits and opportunities to many Ghanaians, it also comes with a number of challenges, especially for women and children. Even though the internet landscape in Ghana is relatively free, many Ghanaian women are unable to access the internet, speak freely and exercise other rights online due to a number of socio-cultural, political and financial factors. In the case of children, while the internet offers opportunities for research and studies and serves other social interests, it also poses threats and risks many of the children are unaware of.

To help create a favourable online environment for these two groups in particular, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) with support from UK-based Global Partners Digital, has developed Policy Briefs to contribute to policy interventions in the country. The two Briefs – Gender Dimensions of Internet Rights in Ghana, and Child Online Protection in Ghana – were developed with the expertise of ABANTU for Development and JInitiative respectively.

The briefs were discussed and endorsed by stakeholders at a forum in Accra, where recommendations for industry, government and civil society were made for implementation.

Ghana: Thugs Attack Radio Presenter, Panellist on Live Programme

Vivian Affoah
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Ghana: Thugs Attack Radio Presenter, Panellist on Live Programme

A radio presenter of a prominent private station, Fox FM in Ghana’s second largest city, Kumasi, was attacked together with a panellist by thugs reported to be supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) during a live political programme on Monday, April 25, 2016,

According to media reports on the incident, the mobsters numbering about six, violently broke into the studios of the radio station during a live programme and attacked the presenter and a panellist on the programme.

The incident is said to have happened during an afternoon political programme on the station on Monday afternoon. According to the host of the programme, Kwaku Kyere, who spoke to Accra-based Citi FM, one of the panellists on the programme, Mr. Baah Acheamfuor, had made a comment about the NPP on the programme even though the NPP was not the subject for discussion on the programme.

The attackers, who were apparently angered by comments made by Mr. Acheamfour, stormed the station on motorbikes, overpowered security men at the station and violently stormed the studios. According to various media reports corroborated by Nana Anokye, a producer of the programme, upon entering the studios, the well-built attackers pounced on Mr. Acheamfuor. The Presenter of the show, Kwaku Kyere, was also hit by the attackers. The police were called to save the situation but they arrived after the attackers had sped off on their motorbikes.

Mr. Acheamfuor is said to be a known supporter of the opposition NPP but a fierce critic of the party’s leader Nana Akufo-Addo. In September 2015, there were reports in the media indicating that Mr. Acheamfuor was to face disciplinary actions by the NPP for making certain allegations against some leaders of the party.  Earlier in May, Mr. Acheamfuor had accused the party’s leader of failing to unite factions within the party.

The MFWA finds the attack on the radio station, the programme host and panellist extremely worrying and distasteful. The incident epitomises intolerance for dissenting political views and criticism and a belief that violence can be a solution for muting critical voices in political discourse.

The attack on the radio station also highlights the need for media organisations to prioritise safety of their workers and deploy mechanisms for ensuring same.

The MFWA commends the police for their timely intervention that saved the situation and urges the regional police command to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

We also call on the NPP to condemn the incident in the strongest possible terms and pronounce its intolerance for such violent acts by any groups or individuals in the name of the party. Such condemnation and pronouncement will help discourage any groups or persons from resorting to such condemnable acts.

Stakeholders to Discuss Internet Rights for Women and Children in Ghana

Vivian Affoah
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Stakeholders to Discuss Internet Rights for Women and Children in Ghana

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) will on Tuesday, 26th April convene a Stakeholders’ Forum under the theme “Internet Rights for Women and Children in Ghana.” The forum will discuss issues raised in two Policy Briefs on Safety of Children Online and Internet Rights of Women in Ghana by the MFWA, and propose ways to implement recommendations. Representatives from government, telecoms industry, academia, civil society and the media will participate in this Forum.

The MFWA with support from UK-based Global Partners Digital, developed two Policy Briefs to contribute to a favorable online environment in Ghana through policy interventions. The two Briefs – Gender Dimensions of Internet Rights in Ghana, and Child Online Protection in Ghana – were developed with the expertise of ABANTU for Development and J Initiative respectively.

The Briefs present succinct situational analyses which highlight the legal/ policy frameworks and practices in the country with regard to women’s rights and freedoms online and children’s safety online. The Briefs also make a number of recommendations for stakeholders which when adopted/implemented, will help create a safe internet environment where women can exercise their rights and children can study and play safely.

For more information, contact our Programme Manager, Dora B. Mawutor at: dora (@) mfwa.org.

Detained Gambian Journalist Disappears

Vivian Affoah
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Detained Gambian Journalist Disappears

Information reaching the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) indicates that detained journalist Alhagie Abdoulie Ceesay has disappeared.

According to MFWA’s sources, Ceesay was reportedly taken to hospital on April 12, 2016 and was reported missing from the hospital on April 20.

While newspaper and official reports claim Ceesay has escaped from the hospital, many believe he has been killed.

“Prison authorities claim he escaped but that’s illogical as he is being watched 24 hours. The family also confirm that they are not in contact with him,” a source said.

Ceesay, who has been in detention for over nine months was first arrested on July 2, 2015, briefly released and re-arrested. After a two-week detention in which Ceesay was held incommunicado with no access to a lawyer or his family, he was brought before a Magistrates Court on August 4, 2015 and charged with a single count of sedition. The prosecution accused him of distributing photos of Gambian President Yahya Jammeh with a gun pointed at him. On November 18, 2015, while the case was still ongoing at the Magistrates Court, the state pressed a fresh seven-count charge against the journalist. The case before the Magistrates Court was later withdrawn.

newspaperHis reported disappearance comes barely a week after opposition figure, Solo Sandeng died in custody for leading a pro-democracy protest on April 14, 2016 in Banjul. Sandeng together with more than 20 others were reportedly arrested by paramilitary personnel and taken to the infamous Mile II Prison. They were reportedly transferred to the headquarters of the notorious National Intelligent Agency where they were allegedly tortured. Sandeng reportedly went into coma and died on April 16.

The MFWA is worried that Ceesay’s case is sadly taking the course of journalist Ebrima Manneh who disappeared while in detention in 2007. Manneh, a reporter with the Daily Observer, was arrested by plainclothed officers from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) at his newspaper’s office on July 7, 2006. After his arrest, Manneh was spotted on several occasions being moved in and out of various police stations and detention centres. One year after his arrest, the MFWA received reports that Manneh was hospitalised for high blood pressure at The Gambia’s main hospital and was being watched by paramilitary officers. Despite overwhelming eyewitness evidence that the government arrested and detained Manneh incommunicado, the government has repeatedly denied taking him into custody. Manneh has since not been seen.

The MFWA calls on ECOWAS and AU to independently investigate Ceesay’s alleged escape to ensure the journalist’s safety and also prevent a recurrence of the Ebrima Manneh case.

MFWA Director Appointed Secretary General of ECOWAS CSO Platform for Good Governance

Vivian Affoah
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MFWA Director Appointed Secretary General of ECOWAS CSO Platform for Good Governance

The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Braimah, has been appointed the Secretary General of a newly-established ECOWAS civil society platform on transparency and accountability in governance.

The new platform, known as the ECOWAS Civil Society Organisations Platform on Transparency and Accountability in Governance (ECSOPTAG) was formally launched at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, on April 20 after a two-day meeting of civil society organisations from 11 ECOWAS member states.

The meeting was opened by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Halima Ahmed. In her opening address, the Commissioner said the ECOWAS recognises the important role Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) can play in governance processes in member states particularly in the area of what she termed “integrity governance.”

The President of the National Anti-Corruption Institutions in West Africa (NACIWA), Mr. Issoufou Boureima, who chaired the plenary sessions emphasised the critical role of Civil Society Organisations in supporting anti- corruption institutions in the fight against corruption and ensuring good governance.

The Principal Programme Officer for Gender, Youth and Civil Society Organisations at the ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Violet Ukpayan in her remarks urged civil society organisations to support national and regional efforts to promote good governance within the ECOWAS region.

The meeting featured presentations by experts on several topics including regional, continental and international frameworks on anti-corruption; the roles and responsibilities of CSOs in promoting transparency and accountability in governance; a mapping of transparency and accountability in the ECOWAS region; as well as the governance framework and rules of procedure of the ECSOPTAG.

The Principal Programme Officer for Democracy and Good Governance at the ECOWAS Commission,  Mr. Eyesan Okorodudu, highlighted efforts being made by the Commission to strengthen good governance and democracy in the region. He therefore called on CSOs in member states to support these efforts by ECOWAS.

At the end of the two day meeting, participants appointed a three-member Executive that will steer the affairs of the platform. Mr. Sulemana Braimah was appointed the Secretary General of the platform with Mr. Assah Gustave, Director of Social Watch in Benin as Advocacy and Communications Sectretary and Mrs. Ana Museuta Ture, Director of Guinean Organisation for Development based in Guinea Bissau as the Financial Controller.

Cote d’Ivoire: Journalist Receives Death Threats for Critical Stories

Vivian Affoah
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Cote d’Ivoire: Journalist Receives Death Threats for Critical Stories

An Ivorian journalist and blogger Fofana Baba Idriss popularly known as “FBI” has reported receiving death threats from unknown persons.

Idriss who is also a member and deputy general treasurer of the national association of bloggers of Côte d’Ivoire (Union National des Bloggers de Côte d’Ivoire –UNBCI), reported receiving death threat messages via sms, phone calls and comments on his blog. According to Idriss, he started receiving the threats from March 2016.

Idriss is known to write critical articles on the social and political issues in Cote d’Ivoire. He writes on a regular basis on cyber-crime which many Ivorian youth are alleged to be involved in. His political articles have most often been a comparison of the governance style of President Allassane Ouattara and former President Laurent Gbagbo. According to MFWA’s correspondent, such stories have often resulted in threats.

The Ivorian news site lInfodrome.ci published one of such threatening messages sent to Idriss: “Mr. Fofana Baba Idriss, the journalist who used the fake name Dakoury, you have written about President Laurent Gabgbo. OK, I am coming from Liberia now and I am in Duekoué where your parents live, but you are my target, so expect me soon because all your deeds and gestures are under scrutiny and I warned you yesterday. You will never escape; I will make you soup (an Ivorian saying that connotes killing). Words of General Gbôke, who never fails; you will understand that shedding blood is my pleasure.”

In the night of April 20-21, 2016, some unidentified individuals broke into his home while he was out and left a message saying he was “lucky to be out.”

Meanwhile the UNBCI has since issued a communiqué condemning the death threats on Idriss’ life and have called on the Ivorian authorities, security officials and human right organisations to protect the journalist.

The MFWA equally condemns the threats on Idriss’ life and also calls on Ivorian authorities especially President Allassane Ouattara who has continuously pledged his support for press freedom and freedom of expression to ensure the safety of the journalist.

Massive Crackdown on Protestors in Gambia: One Killed, Dozens Injured and Detained

Vivian Affoah
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Massive Crackdown on Protestors in Gambia: One Killed, Dozens Injured and Detained

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has learnt with utter dismay, the death in custody of Gambian opposition figure, Solo Sandeng, and the continuing repression of dissenting voices in the country.

Solo Sandeng was leading a demonstration against President Jammeh’s dictatorship and demanding electoral reforms on April 14, 2016 in the outskirts of Gambian capital, Banjul. Sandeng together with more than 20 others were reportedly arrested by paramilitary personnel and taken to the infamous Mile II Prison. They were reportedly transferred to the headquarters of the notorious National Intelligent Agency where they were allegedly tortured. Sandeng reportedly went into coma and died on April 16.

The arrest of Sandeng and the others for a pro-democracy march was a violation of their right to freedom of assembly and expression which The Gambian constitution guarantees.

It is worrying to note that in spite of the mysterious death of Sandeng while in custody, the authorities have continued their ruthless crackdown on demonstrators. Senior members of the United Democratic Party (UDP), including the party’s leader, Ousainou Darboe, have been arrested for organising a press conference to denounce the brutal crackdown by the security forces and demand the body of their colleague.

Since April 14, dozens have been arrested and severely beaten for exercising their right to assembly. This violent reaction to a simple demand for more civil liberties and electoral reforms is in breach of the Gambia’s own constitutional guarantees as well as the regional and international human rights charters and conventions that The Gambia has ratified.  The repeated violations are also ample evidence that President Jammeh, who has been in power for almost 22 years, is resolved to hang on at all cost.

It is highly unacceptable that all the condemnations and appeals by the international community including the calls by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, and the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights on The Gambian authorities to investigate the death of Sandeng and to release citizens who are currently being held in detention with serious injuries, have so far yielded nothing. Instead, the government’s response has been to warn the international community to “desist from interfering in the internal domestic affairs of the country.”

We are saddened by this stance by the Gambian government and wish to call on the ECOWAS to put pressure on The Gambia to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Sandeng and inhuman treatment meted out to citizens who were calling for electoral reforms. We are also calling on the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights which is headquartered in Banjul to independently investigate this matter and ensure that perpetrators of this crime are brought to book.

Under President Jammeh’s rule, there have been several cases of systematic and gross human rights abuses with practically no sanctions from the ECOWAS and the AU; even though such violations breach many protocols and charters of the sub-regional and regional bodies. However, to ensure regional peace and the protection of the rights of citizens, ECOWAS and AU must enforce regional mechanisms and protocols on good governance, human rights and democracy. The two continental and sub-regional bodies must be seen to be acting in defence of citizens rather than of Heads of State. It is the only way the two bodies can gain the confidence of citizens and promote regional peace and stability. The MFWA therefore calls on the ECOWAS and AU to once and for all call President Jammeh to order.

Mauritania: President’s Son Causes Arrest of Two Journalists

Vivian Affoah
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Bedr Ould Abdel Aziz, son of Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on April 7, 2016, caused the arrest and detention of  Jedna Deida, manager of the mauriweb.info website and Baye N’diaye, webmaster of cridem.org.

The arrest of the two journalists was as a result of a publication authored by Deida titled “Urgent: Bedr Ould Abdel Aziz allegedly shoots Live Bullet at a Herdsman in the Ranch of the Head of State at Inchiri?” The story was later republished by N’diaye on cridem.org.

The journalists passed the night of April 7, 2016 in prison, before a protest march by media professionals in the country forced the authorities to grant them provisional release on April 9.

The prosecution says the two were “caught in the act of committing a crime” and charged them for “defaming the son of the president”, adding that “they acted with an intent to cause prejudice.” The charges, all criminal in nature, can lead to a jail term of up to five years.

The journalists appeared in court on April 15, 2016, but the prosecution said the case has been withdrawn. It did not declare that the journalists have been definitively discharged.

The withdrawal of the case followed an outcry by media and civil society organisations in and outside of Mauritania. The MFWA equally condemns the arrest and detention of the Deida and N’diaye and as well as the criminal charges pressed against them in violation of Mauritania’s laws which have decriminalised press offenses. We urge the Mauritanian authorities to abide by their country’s constitution.

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