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MFWA Board of Directors Deplores Lack of Progress on Digital Migration

Vivian Affoah
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MFWA Board of Directors Deplores Lack of Progress on Digital Migration

The Board of Directors of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has expressed serious concern about the apparent lack of progress in the Digital Migration process in West Africa, especially in view of the internationally mandated June 17 deadline for all countries to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The Board noted that given the pervasiveness of television as a source of information for a large proportion of the population in West Africa and prevalence of analogue television sets in the region, the obvious inability of countries to meet the agreed deadline has potentially serious implications for access to information and freedom of expression in the region.

The concerns of the MFWA’s Board are contained in an 11-point Resolution adopted at the end of its two-day meeting in Porto Novo, Benin, on May 29, 2015.

“The Board also expresses deep concern about the low level of public awareness of the digital migration process and calls on the media and civil society groups in West Africa to support public education efforts to prepare citizens in their respective countries for the digital migration,” the Resolution noted.

The Resolution urged governments in West Africa to prioritise safety of journalists in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Safety of Journalists and the issue of Impunity, and the recent UN Security Council Resolution on the Safety of Journalists.

The Security Council Resolution (Resolution 2222) adopted on May 27, 2015, urges Member States of the United Nations to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for journalists, media professionals and associated personnel to perform their work independently and without undue interference.

The Board Resolution also touches on other critical issues relating to freedom of expression and press freedom in the West Africa region including concerns about lowering professional standards among the media in the region; the need for states to decriminalise defamation; and the need for governments and regional bodies in West Africa to make significant investments in ICTs and work collaboratively to promote internet rights and freedoms.

The full resolution is below.

Resolution

By the Board of Directors of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) at its Meeting held in Porto Novo, Benin, on May 28 & 29, 2015.

On May 28 and 29, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) met in Porto Novo, Benin, to discuss and review a number of strategic issues relating to the operations of the organisation as well as the broader issues of freedom of expression in West Africa.

The meeting was presided over by the Chairman, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, who is also the Executive Director of the Nigeria-based Media Rights Agenda.  At the end of the two-day meeting, the Board unanimously adopted and issued this resolution:

1. The Board notes with serious concern the apparent lack of progress in the Digital Migration process in West Africa, especially in view of the internationally mandated deadline of June 17, 2015, for all countries to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting.

2.Given the pervasiveness of television as a source of information and entertainment for a considerably large proportion of the population in the various countries of West Africa, and given the current prevalence of analogue television sets in the region, the Board is extremely concerned about the obvious inability of countries in the region to meet the agreed deadline and potentially dire implications for access to information and freedom of expression in the region.

3. Mindful of the fact that the digital migration process requires policy, legal and regulatory reforms, the Board reiterates its call on governments to adopt a multi-stakeholder and consultative approach in all policy, legal and regulatory reform processes associated with the proposed digital migration so that all critical stakeholders can be effectively engaged.

4. The Board also expresses deep concern about the low level of public awareness of the digital migration process and calls on the media and civil society groups in West Africa to support public education efforts to prepare citizens in their respective countries for the digital migration. It also urges governments to protect citizens’ right to freedom of expression and access to information in the digital migration process, including providing them with adequate information about its potential impact on them, cost implications and important timelines.

5. The Board notes that attacks on journalists and impunity over crimes committed against journalists remain major obstacles to press freedom, freedom of expression, access to information as well as the capacity of the media to contribute effectively towards development. The Board, therefore, welcomes the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2222 by the UN Security Council, which urges Member States of the United Nations to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for journalists, media professionals and associated personnel to perform their work independently and without undue interference. The Board also calls on governments and all other stakeholders to continue to prioritise the protection of journalists and the fight against impunity for crimes committed against journalists.

6. In the spirit of the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Safety of Journalists and the issue of Impunity, and the recent Security Council Resolution referenced above, the Board reiterates its call on ECOWAS leaders and relevant organs of ECOWAS to ensure compliance with and the enforcement of the decisions of the Regional Court of Justice in order to discourage acts of impunity within the region.

7. The Board also calls on governments in West Africa to take urgent steps to decriminalise defamation to promote media freedom and freedom of expression as espoused in the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Good Governance and Democracy as well as the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework.

8. In recognition of the great importance of non-restrictive legal environment for press freedom and media development, the Board highly commends the government and Parliament of Benin for recently passing a harmonised media law that decrimilises defamation, guarantees access to information for journalists, streamlines advertising in the media as well as other progressive provisions that promote press freedom.

9. The Board also expresses concern about the lowering professional standards among the media in the region. It therefore calls on media owners, managers, editors and journalists in the region to pay urgent attention to the issue by taking steps to improve professional standards.  Given the important role of the media in governance and democratic processes in West Africa, the Board urges the media in the region to continue to play a critical role in promoting peaceful elections particularly in the upcoming elections in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire, which are all transitional countries.

10. The Board recognises and highlights the importance of internet penetration, affordability and access, for the promotion of accountable, transparent governance and access to information, and for the overall development of West Africa. It therefore calls on national governments in West Africa and regional bodies to endorse the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms. The Board also calls on national governments and regional bodies in West Africa to make significant investments in ICTs and work collaboratively to promote internet rights and freedoms in the region.

11. The Board resolves to work with partners and other stakeholders in the region and beyond to organise a regional Conference on Freedom of Expression in Lusophone Africa to address the peculiar challenges confronting the media in Lusophone countries on the continent. The Conference is planned to take place in Praia, Cape Verde, later in 2015.

Adopted in Porto Novo, Benin, this Friday, the 29th day of May, 2015

Nigeria ALERT: Police brutalize journalist

Vivian Affoah
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Nigeria ALERT: Police brutalize journalist

On June 2, 2015, policemen attached to Yaba Police Area Command in Ondo State, in Nigeria, physically attacked Victor Akinkuolie, a correspondent with The Hope, a state-owned newspaper.

According to the Daily Post website which reported the incident, Akinkuolie was brutalized for criticising the policemen. Akinkuolie was on his way to cover an event when he saw a police vehicle blocking a major route. He reportedly challenged the policemen in the vehicle and subsequently took an alternative road.

The police, however, trailed him to an area known as Idi-ishin where they ordered him out of his car.

“I immediately came down, and I saw policemen numbering five; they descended heavily on me beating me to comatose,” Akinkuolie reportedly told the Daily Post. “It took the intervention of some newspaper vendors in the area who rescued me from being brutalised.”

According to the Daily Post, Akinkuolie was treated at the hospital for his wounds.

“The Ondo Area Commander, Mr Nosa Osakwe, was not around during the attack”, the Daily Post reported. “But a senior police officer attached to the station promised to investigate the matter and ensure that appropriate action was taken on those officers found liable”.

The MFWA condemns this attack against Akinkuolie. We are increasingly worried about several instances of attacks against journalists in Nigeria this year, as no perpetrators have been punished yet. We call on Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police to ensure that the policemen who attacked Akinkuolie are punished in order to deter further acts of crimes against journalists and prevent impunity for such acts.

Grants Available for Environmental Reporting

Vivian Affoah
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Independent journalists or those working on the staff of either a for-profit or non-profit news organization worldwide are eligible to apply for a grant from the Fund for Environmental Journalism.

Membership of the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is not required, but to qualify for the fund, applicants must meet eligibility requirements for SEJ membership. Membership disqualifiers include paid employment in public relations, media relations, or lobbying on environment-related issues.

The Fund is available to reporters interested in environmental reporting. The SEJ Fund aims to underwrite the best in investigative or explanatory public service journalism. The jury will look at news value, undiscovered or under-reported news, a fresh take on a familiar story and potential for community impact in deciding applications to support.

The SEJ’s Fund for Environmental Journalism will give grants of up to $5,000 to underwrite selected story projects. Applicants are limited to one grant per 2-year period and two grants per 5-year period but there is no lifetime cap on the number of grants a journalist may receive.

All application materials must be in English language; submitted using the forms and links provided; and applicants based outside of North America must give consideration to how they will pay the application fee and receive grant funds. The application fee is $40.

In addition to the application form, applicants should upload four vital documents for their applications to be considered, including:

  • Proposal narrative – double-spaced type, maximum approximately 1200 words including timeline and dissemination plan
  • Budget – maximum two pages. Applicants are encouraged to apply for the minimum budget required for success of the project rather than ask for the maximum grant amount. Partial funding may be offered. Provide detail, such as airfare based on search date, lab-test price quote, etc. In addition, each personnel line item, including journalist stipends and professional services, must include each professional’s name, projected number of hours worked, and a rate of pay.
  • Resume/CV – maximum two pages
  • At least one letter of commitment, or at least interest, from a publisher, broadcast organization or news site manager. Failure to include this or to explain its absence will compromise the competitiveness of the proposal.

Applicants may provide additional documents and links that they feel will strengthen their case for funding.

Applications, which are online, can be accessed at http://www.sej.org/fund-environmental-journalism-member-application for SEJ members and http://www.sej.org/fund-environmental-journalism-nonmember-application for non-SEJ members.

The deadlines for the submission of applications are July 15, and November 15 but applications are accepted starting 60 days before the respective deadline.

Credit: MRA

Connecting Continents: Working Grants for African-European Teams of Investigative Journalists

Vivian Affoah
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Connecting Continents is a pilot project offering working grants for mixed teams of African and European journalists to investigate financial governance in Africa. The project is launched by Journalismfund.eu in cooperation with Oxfam Novib, which provides the money for the grants.

To find out more about Connecting Continents and how to apply for the funding, kindly click here.

Opportunity for Journalists: Fellowship in Global Journalism

Vivian Affoah
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The Munk School of Global Affairs of the University of Toronto is giving journalists across the globe the opportunity to be part of its 2015/2016 Fellowship in Global Journalism.

To find out more about the fellowship programme, kindly visit their website.

Sierra Leone ALERT: Regulatory body fines media institutions for unprofessional conduct

Vivian Affoah
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The media regulatory body in Sierra Leone, the Independent Media Commission (IMC), has once again fined media organisations in Sierra Leone for unprofessionalism.

The media organisations include We Yone newspaper owned by the ruling party-All Peoples Congress (APC) as well as New Storm, Africa Youth Voices (AYV) and Weekly Express newspapers.

A press release issued by the IMC on May 27, 2015 said the media institutions breached sections of the IMC Code of Practice of 2007 and IMC Act of 2000, as amended in 2006 & 2007.

We Yone was fined two million Leones (about US$400), for breach of Section 32(2) of the IMC Act. This provision states that “Any Proprietor and any person who publishes or distributes any newspaper or magazine on which the name and business or residential address of the proprietor or publisher is not printed, contrary to the requirement of sub section (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding Le 5,000,000.’’

The Weekly Express was fined a total of six million Leones (about US$ 1,200): three million Leones (about US$ 600) in accordance with principle 3 of the IMC Code, two million Leones for breaking the principle on defamation and one million Leones (about US$200) for the breach of the accuracy provision.

The IMC fined AYV a total of two million Leones: one million in accordance with principle 3 of the IMC Media Code of Practice and Section 36(3) of the IMC Act 2000 and one million Leones for breach of the accuracy provision.

The New Storm was also fined one million Leones for breaching Section 36(3) of the IMC Act of 2000.

The four newspapers were also required to publish a retraction “with due prominence (front page) and write a letter of apology” to the complainants of their newspaper articles.

Apart from these four newspapers that were fined, the IMC also warned News Watch and Metro newspapers, to desist from unprofessional misconduct.

The MFWA continues to appeal to the Sierra Leonean media to be guided by the IMC Code of Practice and the IMC Act. We also urge the IMC to find other means of recourse, such as lower fines, as the fines it issues have the tendency to cripple the country’s already under-financed media.

Ghana ALERT: Journalist attacked by political party supporters

Vivian Affoah
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On May 26, 2015, supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ghana’s biggest opposition party, attacked Edward Adeti a journalist of the privately-owned radio station Starr FM.

According to MFWA’s sources, Adeti went to cover a meeting at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region by some party members when the incident happened. The meeting reportedly turned into a violent scene as some supporters assaulted NPP executives.

Adeti tried to interview some of the supporters who then turned their anger on him and slapped him.The management of Starr FM later lodged a complaint with the leadership of the NPP to punish its supporters who attacked Adeti.

Following the complaint, the deputy communications director of the NPP, Anthony Karbo, reportedly apologised to Adeti.

“I’m very sorry and completely not an issue the NPP will endorse,” Karbo is reported to have said. “I will get the national youth organiser and the regional youth organiser to bring all those who assaulted you to book.”

This is not the first time that supporters of the NPP have attacked a journalist. Following the presidential elections in Ghana in 2012, supporters of the NPP attacked several journalists. The MFWA is urging the leadership of the NPP as well as all other political parties in Ghana to sensitise their supporters on the important role journalists play in promoting democracy to afford journalists the respect they deserve.

The Gambia ALERT: Journalist threatened for Facebook post

Vivian Affoah
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On May 24, 2015, Saikou Ceesay, the managing editor of Gambia Affairs, an online newspaper in The Gambia, was threatened with death by an unknown person.

 The MFWA’s sources reported that Ceesay received a phone call from an unknown person who allegedly threatened to send thugs to kill him for a post he made criticising a recent attempt by ECOWAS to introduce presidential term limits in the countries in the sub-region.

The aforementioned Facebook post made on May 21 read: “To Ecowas: The sovereignty of nations must be respected. The term “term limits” is sovereign. It cannot be imposed on any nation regardless of size or wealth. Let Ecowas work on meeting the economic needs of people on the bloc. Economic and re-education emancipation are key in the struggle for a prosperous Africa. Poverty and ignorance has emasculated the continent in all spheres. Let us work together as a bloc and stop undermining sovereignty of other nations.”

According to the MFWA’s sources, Ceesay received a phone call from an anonymous person after making this post, who said, “just continue derailing our efforts for the institution of term limits, we will send thug to eliminate you. You gotta shut-up.”

Following the 21-yearlong rule of fear of West Africa’s King of Impunity, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, many journalists and politicians are in hiding in countries like the United States. Some of these Gambians abroad have formed political parties and are fighting for changes in their native country. The MFWA’s sources believe that the caller might be a diaspora Gambian who believes that Ceesay is thwarting their efforts by criticising ECOWAS’s efforts at imposing term limits in member countries.

Following the threat, Ceesay reported the matter to the Yundum Police Station and was later escorted to the Office of Inspector General in Banjul. A police officer was later assigned to offer Ceesay protection.

Senegal ALERT: Mayor threatens journalist with gun

Vivian Affoah
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Senegal ALERT: Mayor threatens journalist with gun

On May 30, 2015, Abdoulaye Wilane, Mayor of Kaffrine (central part of the country) and spokesperson for the Parti Socialiste, a political party in Senegal, allegedly threatened journalist Oumar Diao with a gun.

The MFWA’s correspondent in Senegal reported that on that day, Diao, a journalist with Radio Futurs Média (RFM), arrived late at the Parti Socialiste’s Congress. On arrival, he met Bounama Sall, a party official whom Diao had planned to interview.

Sall, however directed him to Wilane, who is the spokesman for the party.

“I moved towards him and signaled to him,” Diao told MFWA’s correspondent. “He answered in a contentious tone and asked whether I was more important than the people he was speaking with. He then asked whether I was from the town, taking me for a militant. I answered that I was from the press and that it was Bounama Sall who directed me to him.”

Diao added that Wilane “lost his temper and angrily” asked him to go back to Sall.

“I told him that it was his business,” Diao continued narrating to our correspondent. “He then went to his car in search of something. A few minutes later, as I was leaving, he came towards me and pointed a pistol at me. I then insulted him back.”

According to our correspondent, Wilane later told another journalist that Diao “harassed and insulted him,” which is why he threatened Diao with the gun. He said he later apologised to Diao and that he intended no harm.

Diao, however, denied receiving any apology from Wilane and indicated he would report the matter.

Photo credit: pressafrik.com

Ghana ALERT: Presidential guards beat journalist

Vivian Affoah
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On May 25, 2015, military men believed to be presidential guards assaulted Michael Creg Afful, a journalist with privately-owned Oman FM, in Ghana’s capital, Accra.

Reporting the incident in their May 26 edition, the Daily Guide newspaper said Afful went to Ashaiman to report on a dual carriage road being constructed by Engineers and Planners (E&P), a construction firm owned by Ibrahim Mahama, brother of Ghana’s President, John Mahama.

According to the newspaper, two military men reported to be presidential guards at the Flagstaff House, the official seat of Ghana’s president, were on site to guard Ibrahim Mahama.

Afful allegedly told Daily Guide that when he got to the site, he was taking pictures of the men working when he was approached by a military man who inquired why he was taking photographs of the workers and Ibrahim Mahama, who was also present. Before Afful could answer the question, however, another military man seized his phone and took it to Mahama.

The military man reportedly went through Afful’s phone and deleted the pictures he took at the scene. According to the Daily Guide, “the military man started slapping him there and then, whiles the other used a cane he was wielding to lash him severally”.

“It is alleged that the military officers carried out the assault on the orders of the president’s brother, who was said to have scrolled through the pictures on the mobile phone before returning it to the military officers– with the ranks of corporal and private– who were said to have been detailed to the Ashaiman road from the presidency”, the Daily Guide said.

According to the Daily Guide, Afful later reported the incident to the Ashaiman District police and was issued a police medical report form for a check-up at the Ashaiman Polyclinic.

“Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Hebert Sosu, Crime Officer of the Ashaiman District Police Headquarters, told Daily Guide that investigations had commenced into the case, and that the military personnel had confirmed seizing the cell phone of the journalist”, the newspaper said.

Niger ALERT: Civil society activist arrested and detained

Vivian Affoah
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Nouhou Arzika, a civil society activist and the president of Mouvement Populaire pour une Citoyenneté Responsible (MPCR- Popular Movement for Responsible Citizenship), was arrested in Niger on May 24, 2015.

The MFWA’s correspondent in Niger reported that Arzika was arrested at about 8pm and detained at the Criminal Investigation Department for allegedly breaching national security.

According to the correspondent, it is believed that Arzika’s arrest and detention is as a result of an interview he granted to the privately-owned television station, Liptako.

In the said interview, Arzika reportedly condemned the “poor conditions” of Nigerien soldiers in the combat zones of the Diffa region (in the east of Chad and Nigeria) against Islamic militant group, Boko Haram.

Niger Alert: Presidential guard whips female Journalist

Vivian Affoah
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0

On May 21, 2015, a presidential guard whipped Samira Sabo, a journalist with the state-owned publishing corporation, l’Office National des Editions de Presse.

The MFWA’s correspondent in Niger reported that Sabo was parking her car so she could go to a shop when the guard, whose name is unknown, ordered her not to park her vehicle where she was parking.

According to the guard, it was an area used by the President of Niger. Sabo reportedly parked the vehicle at her office about 50 metres away from the shop.

However, after making her purchase and leaving the shop, the presidential guard allegedly whipped her with his belt.

According to MFWA’s correspondent, Sabo consequently lodged a complaint with the State Prosecutor’s Department, where several other complaints have been lodged by citizens against members of the security forces or ministers.

The MFWA condemns the attack on the journalist. We note with the concern the increasing number of violations by security forces against journalists in West Africa as well as the recent spate of freedom of expression violations in Niger.

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