Donate
Donate
Search
Home Blog Page 86

Guinea: 11 Persons Jailed for Murder of Three Journalists

Vivian Affoah
-
0

A criminal court in Kankan, Guinea, has sentenced 11 people to life imprisonment for killing three journalists and five others.The journalists, Facely Camara, Molou Chérif and Sidiki Sidibé, and the five others –who included local authorities, two medical doctors and a religious leader– were killed on September 16, 2014, by some inhabitants of the village of Womey, who misunderstood a sensitisation exercise on Ebola.

The ruling, which was delivered on April 21, 2015, also asked the convicts to pay 1.5 billion Guinean francs in damages and interest.

The trial began in the court of first instance at N’Zérékoré on March 23, 2015, with 25 accused persons appearing. According to MFWA’s correspondent Guinea, 83 persons were charged but only  25 of were present for the hearing, adding that an arrest warrant had been issued against the 58 who were on the run. The accused were charged with “murder, conspiracy to commit murder, criminal association, looting, willfully causing harm and stealing.”

 Out of the 25 persons, 11 were sentenced while the rest were acquitted for lack of evidence.

The MFWA welcomes the convictions of the killers of the doctors and journalists who were only rendering voluntary service to humanity. We also commend the authorities in Guinea for their strong commitment to ensuring justice for the victims.

MFWA Boss to Speak at Global Media Conference

Vivian Affoah
-
0
MFWA Boss to Speak at Global Media Conference

The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemana Braimah, has been invited by the Danish Foreign Ministry as a speaker at a global conference on Media Freedom being hosted by the Ministry and the World Association of Newspapers.

The Conference, which will be held on April 29 and 30, in the Danish Capital, Copenhagen, will bring together more than 100 international media professionals and experts. The conference will feature discussions and debates on the importance of press freedom in the development of societies. Participants will also discuss the role of the media in the development of democratic societies, in promoting accountable governance, and in fostering political cohesion.

“A free and critical press contributes not only to maintaining a public debate in society – it is a prerequisite for that debate,” said Mogens Jensen, Danish Minister of Trade and Development, in a release by the Foreign Ministry announcing the conference. “The media’s critical eyes on those in power are important for change and development in any society.”

“In many developing countries and fragile states, large parts of the population are completely excluded from the public debate. It is our duty to help strengthen voices that have a crucial role in shaping the future. I hope this conference will point out new ways of defending and protecting the working conditions of journalists and media by giving editors and journalists a global forum for sharing their experiences,” the Minister said.

Other speakers at the conference will include Eric Chinje (Cameroon), Chief Executive Officer of the African Media Initiative; Shirazuddin Siddiqi, BBC Media Action Country Director for Afghanistan; Jodie Ginsberg, Chief Executive of Index On Censorship (UK); journalist and safety expert, Javier Garza (Mexico); film-maker, Safa Al Ahmad (Saudi Arabia); Soe Myint, founder and editor-in-chief of Mizzima Media (Myanmar/Burma); Gordana Igrić (Serbia), founder and regional network director of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network.

From Denmark, Mr. Braimah will be in Latvia from May 2 to 8, where he will be participating in this year’s World Press Freedom Day celebration being hosted by the Government of Latvia. He will also be taking part in the meeting of the governing Council of IFEX, the world’s biggest network of freedom of expression organisations with over 80 member organisations from around the world, including the MFWA.

Issued by the MFWA in Accra on April 22, 2015. 

Sierra Leone Alert: More media organisations fined for unprofessionalism

Vivian Affoah
-
0

Following complaints by individuals, Sierra Leone’s media regulatory body, the Independent Media Commission (IMC) has sanctioned eight newspapers—Torchlight, Democrat, Africa Youth Voices (AYV), Arigbo, Owl, News Watch, Champion and Nation Business and Finance—and Radio New Song, for unprofessionalism.

The MFWA’s correspondent in Sierra Leone reported that the Torchlight, Democrat, Arigbo and AYV newspapers were each fined three million Leones (about US$675) for breaching the defamation principle and one million  Leones (about US$225) for the breach of the accuracy principle of the IMC Code of Practice.

The commission also fined the New Watch newspaper two million Leones (about US$450)  for breaching the defamation principle while the Owl and Champion newspapers, were each fined one million Leones for breaching the accuracy principle.

The Nation Business and Finance newspaper  was also fined five hundred thousand Leones (about US$112)  for an article published on March 2, 2015. The article, headlined “Big Fool”, was against a former Minister of Information and Communications, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo. The IMC said the newspaper failed to “make all reasonable efforts to check and cross-check the accuracy of the issues in the story before publication”.

In the case of Radio New Song, it was fined a total of three million Leones for breaching the inaccuracy and defamation principles of the IMC Code of Conduct.

In addition to the fines, the editors of the  newspapers are to publish a retraction with the same prominence given the offending articles. They are also to each write a letter of apology to the complainants.

The MFWA is concerned about the unprofessional conduct by some sections of the Sierra Leonean media. As many as 15 media organisations have been sanctioned by the IMC in the last three months to remedy unprofessionalism. The Torchlight and Independent newspapers have been fined twice.

The MFWA continues to urge the media in Sierra Leone to be guided by the IMC Code of Practice and uphold the highest standards of the profession.

Nigeria ALERT: Journalists attacked while covering protest

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Nigeria ALERT: Journalists attacked while covering protest

On April 15, 2015, unknown persons attacked about a dozen journalists who were covering a disagreement between factions of the Nigerian Trade Union Congress (TUC) over a three-day strike in Osogbo in south-western Nigeria.

According to the MFWA’s sources, the unknown persons arrived in a TUC bus and threw bottles at the journalists who had gathered at the Osun State Government Secretariat before targeting Oloyede Oyegbenle, a cameraman at Channels TV. They beat Oyegbenle before seizing his camera.

Oyegbenle was later rescued by his colleagues and treated at the hospital for his injuries.

The MFWA’s sources also said policemen at the scene failed to intervene when the journalists were attacked.

Efforts by journalists to report the incident proved futile as they were tossed from one police station to another. While the Divisional Police Officer of the Ataoja Police Station, directed them to the police station on the secretariat premises, the policemen at the Secretariat police station directed journalists back to Ataoja Police Station to report the incident.

The police later arrested two persons involved in the attacks and returned Oyegbenle’s camera to him without the recording.

The MFWA condemns this attack on journalists. We are equally shocked by the posture of the Osun State Secretariat police who looked on while the alleged TUC members attacked journalists. We note with concern that this is not the first time members of the Nigerian police have failed to protect journalists from danger.

In March 2015, Gabriel Achong, the Commissioner of Police of Akwa Ibom State, told Etim Ekpimah, a journalist with privately-owned PUNCH newspaper, that the police would not offer him protection despite the threatening text messages sent to Ekpimah.

In light of recent and past incidents, we urge the Nigeria Police Force to recognise the media’s important roles, particularly as a watchdog, and see them as partners in democracy and peace-building.

National Stakeholder Dialogue on post 2015-Sustainable Development Goals in Ghana

Vivian Affoah
-
0

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in collaboration with SEND-GHANA is organising a National high-level stakeholders’ dialogue to establish Ghana’s position and national priorities on the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they will be financially implemented.

Date: Tuesday April 21

Time: 9 am

Venue: Alisa Hotel.

The dialogue will be chaired by Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, the Director General of the National Development Planning Commission. Participants will be high-level representatives from key ministries and government institutions involved in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and other non-governmental key stakeholders.

For further information contact Project Coordinator (MFWA) Rikke Sig Hansen on telephone: 0545 705 454 or email: [email protected].

Ghana Update: Kidnapped journalists story was a hoax – Ghana police

Vivian Affoah
-
0

In a Ghana alert issued on April 14, 2015, the MFWA reported that a journalist with a radio station in Ghana’s Western regional capital, Takoradi, had allegedly been kidnapped by unknown persons with her naked photos allegedly posted on her Facebook page.

The said radio station (YFM) had earlier in a statement reported the kidnapping as “YFM wishes to announce that the presenter of the Y Lounge show in Takoradi, Ms Ada, also known as Adaeze Onyinyechie Ayoka has been abducted. At this point we have not been contacted by any persons. We have reported this matter to the Regional Command of the Ghana police. We want to assure the public that we are working with the Ghana Police Service to find Ms Ada. We invite anybody with information to contact YFM, Takoradi, on 0273448888 and the Ghana Police Service.”

The radio station later reported that the journalist had been found.

According to MFWA’s correspondent in Ghana, following reports by the radio station and the media about the kidnapping and what appeared to be a sexual abuse of the journalist, the Ghana Police Service instituted an investigation into the matter.

In a latest development, the Ghana Police Service on April 16, 2015, organised a press briefing and reported that findings of the investigations conducted so far indicate that the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault were untrue. According to the police, the alleged kidnapping and sexual attack were staged by the journalist and her friends in a bit to court sympathy from her ex-boyfriend.

Côte d’Ivoire ALERT: Journalists brutalized by presidential guards

Vivian Affoah
-
0

Members of the Presidential Security Group of Ivorian President Alassane Ouatarra attacked Bamba Mafoumgbé, a journalist with the daily Le Temps, and journalist Emmanuel Akani of Le Nouveau Courrier newspaper on April 3, 2015.

Recounting the incident to MFWA’s correspondent in Cote d’Ivoire, Mafoumgbé said when he and Akani arrived at the venue, they were denied entry because although they had been accredited to attend the event, they did not have an invitation letter.

Since they were unable to gain access, Mafoumgbé, together with Akani and Gooré Bi Hué from Fraternité Matin (a public newspaper) and another reporter from the news portal bidjan.net, stood aside while other guests with invitation letters were allowed inside.

While standing there, Akani noticed a presidential guard and inquired if he and his colleagues could enter. The bodyguard, identified as Koné, told him “If you continue, you will be sent out.” Mafoumgbé told Koné they were journalists and had been accredited and consequently must be allowed to attend the event.

Angered by Mafoumgbé insistence, Koné called other presidential guards who started abusing the journalists.

“One tried to handcuff me while another wielding a kalashnikov (a type of assault rifle) held me by my belt and pushed me down violently,” Mafoumgbé told the correspondent. “My left knee and laptop hit the ground very hard. What then ensued was absolute chaos.”

The guards also beat up Akani, tearing up his clothes in the process. A police detachment at the venue eventually rescued the two and took them to the Emergency Medical Assistance Unit for treatment.

According to the MFWA’s correspondent, M’mah Camara, a female assistant of Apa news, a Pan-African news agency, was also brutalized by Koné and his colleagues in an earlier separate incident.

The MFWA condemns this attack on the journalists who were merely doing their work. We note with concern that on many occasions, event organisers fail to properly provide protection to invited journalists. We recall the incident involving Fabrice Tété, a reporter of the Le Temps, who was brutalized by the bodyguard of Pascal Affi N’guessan, Chairman of the opposition Ivorian Popular Front party, when he was invited to attend a World Press Day event in 2014. In light of these incidents, we urge state actors to respect journalists’ press freedom rights and allow them to cover events which they were invited to attend.

Nigeria ALERT: Al Jazeera journalists released from detention

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Nigeria ALERT: Al Jazeera journalists released from detention

Ahmed Idris and Ali Mustafa, journalists with Al Jazeera, were released on April 5, 2015, by members of Nigeria Military after 12 days in detention, nearly all of which was spent in hotel rooms.

The two journalists were detained on March 24, 2015, by military personnel in their hotel room at Maiduguru.

The MFWA’s correspondent in Nigeria reported that the two were detained after their return from covering a story on the Nigerian forces fighting Boko Haram in Borno State. The military men questioned them and seized their cameras and mobile phones before consequently detaining them.

A military statement said Idris and Mustafa were questioned and detained for operating without “protection, accreditation or due clearance,” even though they had completed filming with the cooperation of the military.

However, the two journalists were accredited by the Independent Electoral Commission to report from anywhere in Nigeria during the entire electioneering period.

The military statement also accused both men of “loitering” in various locations, however, they were actually detained in their hotel rooms at those times.

The statement provided a reminder about warnings to foreign journalists regarding their coverage of Nigeria’s recent elections. However, both Idris and Mustafa are Nigerians—not foreigners—and have reported for several years in Nigeria.

Following their 12-day detention, Al Jazeera instituted a legal action against the Nigerian military. A statement released by Al Jazeera on April 2, said the legal action against the military is aimed at “securing [the two journalists’] fundamental rights to personal liberty and human dignity under the Nigerian constitution”.

Niger ALERT: Journalist detained and questioned over article

Vivian Affoah
-
0

On March 31, 2015, the Public Prosecutor at the Niamey County Court in Niger questioned Oumarou Aliou Modibo, managing editor of the Canard Déchainé, a private weekly satirical publication.

The MFWA’s correspondent in Niger reported that Modibo was initially arrested the night before, prior to being questioned by the prosecutor. He was finally released after a four-hour hearing.

According to our correspondent, Modibo’s detention and questioning follows a complaint filed by former Minister of Justice Garba Lompo, who accused him of libel.

The said article was published in the March 16 edition of the Canard Déchainé and accused Lompo of illegally acquiring a piece of land.

The acting President of the Press Centre, Baba Alpha, condemned Modibo’s detention and questioning, describing it as a witch hunt the current regime has been pursuing for some months now.

The MFWA joins the Press Centre in Niger in condemning the detention and questioning of Modibo. We wish to remind authorities in Niger that press offences have been decriminalised, so it is unlawful to detain journalists for writing offensive articles. We also wish to remind authorities of the country’s signing of the Declaration of Table Mountain, which calls for the prioritization of press freedom in addition to the repeal of criminal defamation laws.

Statement on the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda: The MFWA Urges Journalists to Avoid Using Inflammatory Hate Speech

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Statement on the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda: The MFWA Urges Journalists to Avoid Using Inflammatory Hate Speech

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) joins the world in remembering the victims of the Rwandan genocide, one of the darkest times in recent history, and the 100 days of deliberate and systematic killings of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 1994.

Today, the MFWA reflects on the deadly role played by the media in inciting the genocide and other violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Specifically, the MFWA urges journalists in West Africa to recall the Rwandan genocide and recognize the dangers of hate speech and avoid disseminating incendiary words to the public.

So egregious was the Rwandan media’s behaviour in 1994 that the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) convicted three media executives of genocide, incitement to genocide, and crimes against humanity, among other crimes. These perpetrators held positions at the infamous hate media outlet Radio Télévision des Mille Coulines (RTLM) that broadcast the names and locations of people targeted for killing and Kangura newspaper, known for targeting Tutsis through racist stereotypes. On account of the actions of high-ranking media figures such as these three, the dehumanization of Tutsis—a recognized stage of genocide—became a daily occurrence.

“The media has an obligation to act responsibly and should accordingly facilitate peace and the promotion of human rights,” said Anjali Manivannan, the MFWA Programme Officer for Free Expression Rights Monitoring and Campaigns. “Civil society should also contribute to reducing hate speech by capacity-building and educating the media on the need for eliminating dangerous, inflammatory speech.”

As several countries in West Africa enter election periods this year—times which are typically rife with hate speech and violence—professional reporting may be critical to maintaining peace and stability. Conversely, unprofessional and irresponsible reporting may facilitate political and ethnic violence, among other abuses.

No one wants to see a repeat of the grave human rights violations and genocide in Rwandain 1994. On the 21st anniversary of the start of the Rwandan genocide, the MFWA calls on the West African media to refrain from spreading hate, especially during election periods, due to its potential to incite mass violence. Media programming must responsibly guard against the use of the media as a platform for incendiary, hateful diatribes by politicians or even citizens. In order to curb the probability of election violence, we plan to implement projects to capacity-build the media in countries with upcoming elections and advocate against rising media unprofessionalism in the region. The MFWA ultimately hopes to end the West African media’s utilization of words as weapons and increase the usefulness of words as tools of peace-building and understanding.

Guinea UPDATE: Start of justice for murdered journalists and health workers

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Guinea UPDATE: Start of justice for murdered journalists and health workers

The MFWA’s correspondent in Guinea has reported that 85 people have been accused of participating in the September 2014, killing of three journalists and five health professionals in Womey, a village in Guinea.

According to the correspondent, a specialized court has been created in Nzérékoré, the region in which the crime was committed.

On September 16, 2014, a mob of villagers killed three journalists and five others who were raising awareness about Ebola in Womey, a village about 900km from Guinea’s capital, Conakry. Facely Camara, journalist with Radio Liberté FM, and Molou Chérif and Sidiki Sidibé, a journalist and a technician at a community radio station in Nzérékoré, respectively, were killed while covering a sensitisation campaign on preventing Ebola.

Guinea’s judicial authorities have promised that the punishment meted out to the perpetrators will be commensurate to the nature of their offence and that they will be held accountable for their actions.

According to the correspondent, Guinea’s press associations expect that this crime against journalists will be fully exposed and also hope for the punishment of the perpetrators.

The MFWA welcomes this news and looks forward to justice for this crime.

Mauritania ALERT: President intimidates journalist and orders shutdown of live broadcast

Vivian Affoah
-
0
Mauritania ALERT: President intimidates journalist and orders shutdown of live broadcast

On March 27, 2015, Mauritanian president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, intimidated Ahmed Wadiaa, editor of the privately-owned Essiraj newspaper.

The MFWA’s correspondent in the Mauritania reported that President Aziz’s action is a result of Wadiaa’s attempt to ask more than one question at one of the president’s press conference.

President Aziz reportedly told Widaa, “Behave like the others or leave. … You are not asking three questions this evening”.

The journalist, however, told the president he would not leave and was going to ask his questions. This angered the president, who then asked all the journalists to leave and ordered the cessation of the live broadcast of the meeting. The moderator of the event subsequently ordered the production department to stop broadcasting.

According to the MFWA’s correspondent, a small number of journalists were selected to attend the meeting, so most of them wondered why they were only able to ask one question.

1...858687...131Page 86 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