Banjul June 05, 2017: The Gambia Press Union (GPU) and Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure (MoICI) have begun a process for a comprehensive media sector reforms in The Gambia.
As an initial step for the process, a group of local and international media experts that includes media managers, editors, regulators, academics and policymakers has been constituted.
The expert group, which is co-chaired by the GPU and MoICI, will hold a number of workshops and come up with a comprehensive strategic framework that will guide the entire media reform process in The Gambia.
The group will today kick-off with a 3-day workshop at the Djembe Hotel. The group will have further workshops and consultations in the coming weeks and present the framework to stakeholders at a forum to be organised later in the month.
The strategic framework will look into capacity building, institutional development, and legal and policy reforms.
The comprehensive media sector reform process is a joint initiative by the GPU, MoICI, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), the International Media Support (IMS) and the Gambia Media Support (GAMES).
Local Members of the experts group are:
Isha Davies, director, Gambia Information Services
Ebrima Njie, deputy director, Gambia Information Department
A Representative from the Ministry of Justice
Secretary General, Natcom UNESCO
Director General, Public Utilities Regulatory Authority
Media
Emil Touray, President, GPU
Saikou Jammeh, SG, GPU
Ebrima Sillah, Director General, GRTS
Sam Sarr, Editor, Foroyaa Newspaper
Serign Faye, former director, Radio Gambia
Legal
Hawa Sisay Sabally, Legal practitioner
GPU Secretariat
Vivian Affoah
Fatoumatta Sisay
Absa Samba
The external members are Prof Kwame Karikari and renowned media expert and academic, and Mr. George Sarpong and legal expert who is also the Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission of Ghana.