News Banjul The Gambia (MB)- For the celebration of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, the UNESCO Office in Quito has launched a new website dedicated to press freedom and the right to information in the Andean region. In addition to providing information about all activities organized by the UNESCO Quito Office, the website serves as a clearinghouse for educators and media professionals throughout the region.
Within the framework of worldwide actions to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO’s Office in Quito is focusing its regional activities and publications on the right to access information. Right to information laws have been adopted in eleven Latin American countries, with Brazil currently in the process of passing such law. This underscores the growing recognition in the region of this important corollary to freedom of expression.
The news website provides relevant and easily accessible information on the right to information, including background references, analysis papers, international standards and national laws, as well as recommended readings and links to related sites.
Journalists will find on the website a press kit that includes readily applicable media materials such as press releases, statistical summaries and resources on the state of right to information. Teachers will be able to use an educational packet that comprises classroom exercises, activities and materials designed to raise awareness among young people about the importance of freedom of expression and press freedom. These materials are also being circulated in the region through the National Commissions, civil society networks and UNESCO Associated Schools.
Information about the series of conferences and workshops that UNESCO’s Quito Office is organizing throughout the Andean region is also available on the website. The World Press Freedom Day 2010 website will be continually updated throughout the year to serve as an ongoing, regionally-specific clearinghouse about the right to information in Latin America.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Director-General condemns murder of Honduran journalist Jorge Alberto Orellana
News Banjul The Gambia (MB)- The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today condemned the murder of Honduran TV producer and presenter Jorge Alberto Orellana. Ms Bokova also voiced alarm at the high toll paid by journalists in the country.
“I condemn the murder of Jorge Alberto Orellana,” the Director-General declared. “I am alarmed by the high toll the media of Honduras have been paying in recent weeks and trust that the authorities will spare no effort in investigating each and every one of these cases. This is essential to enable the media to play their role, which is indispensible for democracy and rule of law.”
Jorge Alberto Orellana of commercial local TV channel Televisiòn de Honduras was shot dead on 20 April in the northern city of San Pedro Sula. Press freedom organizations report that he is the seventh Honduran journalist to be killed over just six weeks.
UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this the Organization is requested to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”
“I condemn the murder of Jorge Alberto Orellana,” the Director-General declared. “I am alarmed by the high toll the media of Honduras have been paying in recent weeks and trust that the authorities will spare no effort in investigating each and every one of these cases. This is essential to enable the media to play their role, which is indispensible for democracy and rule of law.”
Jorge Alberto Orellana of commercial local TV channel Televisiòn de Honduras was shot dead on 20 April in the northern city of San Pedro Sula. Press freedom organizations report that he is the seventh Honduran journalist to be killed over just six weeks.
UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this the Organization is requested to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tortured Journalist to appear at ECOWAS Court
Press Release: Tortured Journalist to appear at ECOWAS Court
April 26, 2010
Musa Saidykhan, former editor-in-chief of banned Banjul-based ‘The Independent’ Newspaper, allegedly tortured by Gambian state agents in 2006, will on April 27th 2010, appear before the ECOWAS Court of Justice , Abuja , Nigeria .
Musa Saidykhan was on March 28, 2006, arrested and detained by the Gambia Police Intervention Unit and the Criminal Investigations Department of the Gambia Police Force, for publishing the names of alleged coup plotters thereby allegedly implicating the former Gambian Interior Minister - Samba Bah. During his detention, he was repeatedly tortured until he became unconscious. The continuous torture left scars on his back, legs, arms, and right hand, which was broken in three places. He fled the country to neighbouring Senegal , where he received treatment.
Saidykhan was among several victims who were illegally detained and suffered all manner of cruelty at the hands of the Gambian security agents in the aftermath of an alleged coup attempt in March 2006.
In order to seek justice for him and relief for many other Gambian journalists who had suffered a similar fate and have escaped into exile for fear of repression, the Media Foundation for West Africa in 2007, lodged a complaint against the government of Gambia on behalf of Musa Saidykhan before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, seeking a declaration that his arrest, detention and torture by the Gambian security officials was illegal, unconstitutional and contravenes the provisions of the African charter on Human and peoples’ Rights; and in addition the sum of US$2,000,000.00 (Two Million United States Dollars) being compensation for the violation of the Applicant’s right to dignity, personal liberty and fair hearing.
This is the second time that the Media Foundation has lodged a complaint against The Government of Gambia. In the case of Chief Ebrima Manneh and The Government of Gambia, Suit no. ECW/CCJ/APP/04/07, The Gambian government refused to carry out the Community Court ’s order to release Chief Ebrima Manneh, another Gambian journalist who was detained by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in 2006. The Court repeatedly served the government with writs in that case but it gleefully refused to make an appearance, which compelled the Court to give judgment in default. Till date, Chief Manneh’s whereabouts still remain unknown.
For the past three years, MFWA has been at the forefront advocating Manneh’s release; giving it global awareness through consistent dissemination of alerts and press statements; holding public fora and networking with other civil society organizations to pressurize the Gambian government to respect the Community Court ruling.
Issued by the MFWA, Abuja , Nigeria , April 26th, 2010.
For further information, please contact:
Ugonna Ikechukwu Duru
Programme Officer: Media Law Reform & Legal Defence
Media Foundation For West Africa (MFWA)
30 Duade Street, Kokomlemle
Accra , Ghana
Tel : 233-21-242470
Fax : 233-21-221084
Email : ugonnaduru@mediafound.org or emerem_j@yahoo.com or mfwa@africaonline.com.gh
April 26, 2010
Musa Saidykhan, former editor-in-chief of banned Banjul-based ‘The Independent’ Newspaper, allegedly tortured by Gambian state agents in 2006, will on April 27th 2010, appear before the ECOWAS Court of Justice , Abuja , Nigeria .
Musa Saidykhan was on March 28, 2006, arrested and detained by the Gambia Police Intervention Unit and the Criminal Investigations Department of the Gambia Police Force, for publishing the names of alleged coup plotters thereby allegedly implicating the former Gambian Interior Minister - Samba Bah. During his detention, he was repeatedly tortured until he became unconscious. The continuous torture left scars on his back, legs, arms, and right hand, which was broken in three places. He fled the country to neighbouring Senegal , where he received treatment.
Saidykhan was among several victims who were illegally detained and suffered all manner of cruelty at the hands of the Gambian security agents in the aftermath of an alleged coup attempt in March 2006.
In order to seek justice for him and relief for many other Gambian journalists who had suffered a similar fate and have escaped into exile for fear of repression, the Media Foundation for West Africa in 2007, lodged a complaint against the government of Gambia on behalf of Musa Saidykhan before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, seeking a declaration that his arrest, detention and torture by the Gambian security officials was illegal, unconstitutional and contravenes the provisions of the African charter on Human and peoples’ Rights; and in addition the sum of US$2,000,000.00 (Two Million United States Dollars) being compensation for the violation of the Applicant’s right to dignity, personal liberty and fair hearing.
This is the second time that the Media Foundation has lodged a complaint against The Government of Gambia. In the case of Chief Ebrima Manneh and The Government of Gambia, Suit no. ECW/CCJ/APP/04/07, The Gambian government refused to carry out the Community Court ’s order to release Chief Ebrima Manneh, another Gambian journalist who was detained by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in 2006. The Court repeatedly served the government with writs in that case but it gleefully refused to make an appearance, which compelled the Court to give judgment in default. Till date, Chief Manneh’s whereabouts still remain unknown.
For the past three years, MFWA has been at the forefront advocating Manneh’s release; giving it global awareness through consistent dissemination of alerts and press statements; holding public fora and networking with other civil society organizations to pressurize the Gambian government to respect the Community Court ruling.
Issued by the MFWA, Abuja , Nigeria , April 26th, 2010.
For further information, please contact:
Ugonna Ikechukwu Duru
Programme Officer: Media Law Reform & Legal Defence
Media Foundation For West Africa (MFWA)
30 Duade Street, Kokomlemle
Accra , Ghana
Tel : 233-21-242470
Fax : 233-21-221084
Email : ugonnaduru@mediafound.org or emerem_j@yahoo.com or mfwa@africaonline.com.gh
Friday, April 23, 2010
Read Protocols, Treaties, and Resolutions like Holy Books
ECOMOG Co-Founder Advised Journalist
News Banjul The Gambia “As journalists you need to be reading and making research and be well up date with ECOWAS protocols, treaties and resolutions” these were the words of the Co-Founder of ECOWAS Cease Fire and Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) retired Brigadier General Francis Agyemfra while presenting a paper at the ongoing two weeks training for fourteen West African journalists at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra on the 22 April, 2010.
Retired Brigadier General Agyemfa was presenting a paper on “the role of ECOMOG in West African security strategies: How can public option and the media contribute to peace in the region”.
According to him, journalist needs to read lot of protocols, treaties, and resolutions to keep them in their memories, so as to be well familiar with issues surrounding them. He added that all the agreements that are signed, by our leaders, journalists should keep to toes by domesticating and implementing it into our local laws.
“Your role is very crusade in promoting peace in any country but in the other way around you can also escalate conflict by not reporting the truth and supporting the other side”. He went on in any conflict position in the region, “please use the pages of your paper to be neutral”, adding that neutrality accounts a lot as a journalist in the maintenance of peace and to resort democracy.
He caution West African journalist to be the watch dog of the society and keep government officials at their toes. Government officials need to be accountable to their citizens, in doing so, you need to report on issues that are in the intrest of the public.
He continued, “you also need to know laws that govern your work, be well that you operates, Always be reading your constitution, let all these be your holly book”.
He put to journalist to be covering variety of events and to be going around searching for news but not to be sitting in air condition offices waiting for “ready made” news to be on their desk.
Retired Brigadier General giving an example said that he is always impressed with the Cable News Network (CNN), journalists revealing that CNN journalists are everywhere looking for news and tasked West African journalists to emulate”.
He also expressed disappointment that some journalists are turning to be “brown envelope” journalists while not focusing on their primary roles .i.e educate, inform and entertain the masses.
He advised journalists to be independent not to be supporting ruling government noting that journalists need to speaks for the voiceless at all times. He stressed that journalists need to keep citizens up date with first hand information stating that it is the responsibility of journalists to spread message but should be accurate, balance and fair.
Giving an account of ECOMOG, he said that ECOMOG has done a lot of work for the sub-region in restoring peace and democracy in West Africa. He mentioned that it was the ECOMOG contingent that rescued the people of Liberia during the civil war.
According to him, at the time of their first operations in Liberia, ECOMOG did not receive any financial assistance from any government nor donor agency.
He revealed that ECOMOG only received support when the international community realized that embassies, United Nations properties were burnt into ashes by rebel groups, he said it was then that they received support from international donors.
In a related development, journalist s also had has the opportunity to visit the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), and were received by Colonel Dieter Schneider, Head of Training Development , in which he used the meeting to expressed his profound gratitude and happiness to the journalists for their visit to the centre as part of the course.
He said that KAIPTC is a centre which is Ghanian led but has a sub-regional (ECOWAS) focus adding that the centre is supported by international donors and stakeholders, has a high caliber staff with regional and international representation.
On vision of the centre, he said is to develop a regional (ECOWAS) centre of excellence with high standard while developing it into a world class education, training, and research facility for Africa, embracing all aspects of peace operations.
Still on visions, he stated to examine specific peace operations issues at the operational level and to enhance in “best practices” noting that also to train and to study an increasingly wide range of subjects involving participants from the full spectrum of military, security sector, diplomatic, and non- governmental agencies likely to be involved in peace support operations.
According to Colonel Schneider their objectives is to deliver internationally accredited and certified training for regional military, police and civilian personnel and to promote capacity building to consistently improve the organizational and institutional capacity in the region for dealing with peace.
He spoke at length on the objectives about the centre saying that the centre also collaborate with ECOWAS , African Union (AU), United Nations(UN), and other international organizations, stakeholders, and governments to enhance capacity of pursuance of conflict transformation.
He spelled out that the centre is tasked to improve awareness and understanding of peace operations issues, to prepare units for successful deployment on peace operations, to improve multinational interoperability, to conduct research and to maintain liaison with the National Defence College of Abuja, Nigeria and Bamako, Mali.
The centre addresses a broad spectrum of peace related issues across the security sector citing conflict prevention, crises management, conflict management, conflict resolution, opst conflict reconstruction and focuses activities at the operational level of peace support operations ion in a multi-faceted environment all as part of the nature of the centre, he explained.
Outlining the challenges, he told journalists that , their principal challenges facing the centre is to secure long term donor support and commitment, conducting training at operational level for ECOWAS Standby Force(ESF) and enhance regional (ECOWAS) direction and focus amongst others.
He also shared experiences with journalists during his mission in Kosovo war, and caution journalists to always portray positive reporting. He said that journalists should be responsible and independent.
News Banjul The Gambia “As journalists you need to be reading and making research and be well up date with ECOWAS protocols, treaties and resolutions” these were the words of the Co-Founder of ECOWAS Cease Fire and Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) retired Brigadier General Francis Agyemfra while presenting a paper at the ongoing two weeks training for fourteen West African journalists at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra on the 22 April, 2010.
Retired Brigadier General Agyemfa was presenting a paper on “the role of ECOMOG in West African security strategies: How can public option and the media contribute to peace in the region”.
According to him, journalist needs to read lot of protocols, treaties, and resolutions to keep them in their memories, so as to be well familiar with issues surrounding them. He added that all the agreements that are signed, by our leaders, journalists should keep to toes by domesticating and implementing it into our local laws.
“Your role is very crusade in promoting peace in any country but in the other way around you can also escalate conflict by not reporting the truth and supporting the other side”. He went on in any conflict position in the region, “please use the pages of your paper to be neutral”, adding that neutrality accounts a lot as a journalist in the maintenance of peace and to resort democracy.
He caution West African journalist to be the watch dog of the society and keep government officials at their toes. Government officials need to be accountable to their citizens, in doing so, you need to report on issues that are in the intrest of the public.
He continued, “you also need to know laws that govern your work, be well that you operates, Always be reading your constitution, let all these be your holly book”.
He put to journalist to be covering variety of events and to be going around searching for news but not to be sitting in air condition offices waiting for “ready made” news to be on their desk.
Retired Brigadier General giving an example said that he is always impressed with the Cable News Network (CNN), journalists revealing that CNN journalists are everywhere looking for news and tasked West African journalists to emulate”.
He also expressed disappointment that some journalists are turning to be “brown envelope” journalists while not focusing on their primary roles .i.e educate, inform and entertain the masses.
He advised journalists to be independent not to be supporting ruling government noting that journalists need to speaks for the voiceless at all times. He stressed that journalists need to keep citizens up date with first hand information stating that it is the responsibility of journalists to spread message but should be accurate, balance and fair.
Giving an account of ECOMOG, he said that ECOMOG has done a lot of work for the sub-region in restoring peace and democracy in West Africa. He mentioned that it was the ECOMOG contingent that rescued the people of Liberia during the civil war.
According to him, at the time of their first operations in Liberia, ECOMOG did not receive any financial assistance from any government nor donor agency.
He revealed that ECOMOG only received support when the international community realized that embassies, United Nations properties were burnt into ashes by rebel groups, he said it was then that they received support from international donors.
In a related development, journalist s also had has the opportunity to visit the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), and were received by Colonel Dieter Schneider, Head of Training Development , in which he used the meeting to expressed his profound gratitude and happiness to the journalists for their visit to the centre as part of the course.
He said that KAIPTC is a centre which is Ghanian led but has a sub-regional (ECOWAS) focus adding that the centre is supported by international donors and stakeholders, has a high caliber staff with regional and international representation.
On vision of the centre, he said is to develop a regional (ECOWAS) centre of excellence with high standard while developing it into a world class education, training, and research facility for Africa, embracing all aspects of peace operations.
Still on visions, he stated to examine specific peace operations issues at the operational level and to enhance in “best practices” noting that also to train and to study an increasingly wide range of subjects involving participants from the full spectrum of military, security sector, diplomatic, and non- governmental agencies likely to be involved in peace support operations.
According to Colonel Schneider their objectives is to deliver internationally accredited and certified training for regional military, police and civilian personnel and to promote capacity building to consistently improve the organizational and institutional capacity in the region for dealing with peace.
He spoke at length on the objectives about the centre saying that the centre also collaborate with ECOWAS , African Union (AU), United Nations(UN), and other international organizations, stakeholders, and governments to enhance capacity of pursuance of conflict transformation.
He spelled out that the centre is tasked to improve awareness and understanding of peace operations issues, to prepare units for successful deployment on peace operations, to improve multinational interoperability, to conduct research and to maintain liaison with the National Defence College of Abuja, Nigeria and Bamako, Mali.
The centre addresses a broad spectrum of peace related issues across the security sector citing conflict prevention, crises management, conflict management, conflict resolution, opst conflict reconstruction and focuses activities at the operational level of peace support operations ion in a multi-faceted environment all as part of the nature of the centre, he explained.
Outlining the challenges, he told journalists that , their principal challenges facing the centre is to secure long term donor support and commitment, conducting training at operational level for ECOWAS Standby Force(ESF) and enhance regional (ECOWAS) direction and focus amongst others.
He also shared experiences with journalists during his mission in Kosovo war, and caution journalists to always portray positive reporting. He said that journalists should be responsible and independent.
West African Journalists Takes Stroll at Graphic Company
News Banjul The Gambia(IMB)- It was a day that many West African journalists will not forget in their life time, was the day they set their eyes and step in the entrance of Graphic Communication Group Limited (GCGL) and to have first hand information about the company in Accra, Ghana dated 20th April 2010.
The group was lead to Graphic Company, by Mr. Bright Kwame Blewe Secretary General Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and Mr. Walter Kudzodzi of International Institute of Journalism (IIJ). The following countries are present namely; Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Ghana and The Gambia, Guinea Conakry was absent at the time of writing the piece. The two weeks training that gets started on the 19 April will winds up 30 April 2010, with certificates of attendance to be presented all participants.
The subjected on the two weeks training “The Media’s Role in Conflict Transformation and Peace Building West Africa and is currently taking place at the Ghana International Press Centre. The training itself was organized by The International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of InWent Capacity Building International
After a warmly welcomed, shaking hands, West African journalists were shown a short documentary about the company.
Addressing journalists, Mr. Albert Sam, Public Affairs Manager Graphic GCGL said “dealing with objectively and professionally with conflicts is all about language” while putting to journalists to use simple language to communicate easily with the audience.”
According to Sam, media practitioners need to demonstrate some caution in the use of language when reporting on conflict situations.
Recounting his experiences, Sam the Public Affairs Manager said “ as a journalists myself , I have rich experiences from reporting on peacekeeping operations: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFLI), The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East, and the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia.”
In all these, he continued “what I learnt and experienced, which imprinted on my mind, is indeed to indeed exercise caution and desist from inflaming passion”.
He stated that the company mission “is to empower their readers and consumers with reliable and credible information, communication and entertainment that create the best possible customer experience.”
He went on such a good reputation is not by a lucky accident for the company but it is the result of the deliberate steps by the company to achieve leadership in disseminating high quality information and knowledge that improves people’s lives.
Sam mentioned that the company operates with high calibers of journalists that are well trained to catch up with the job and a lot of incentives have been given to staff.
“We encourage our journalists to do courses at different institutions both in Ghana and abroad “
During the question and answer session, a participant from Sierra Leone Ms. Femi Coker, Senior Reporter with the Examiner Newspaper, asked what can be some of the qualifications that can give one the opportunity to be reporting with the Graphic, in respond Sam stated that “anyone with diploma from any recognized institute but specified Ghana Institute of Journalism can be qualify to be A reporter for the Graphic.
While questions were pouring like a heavy rain, The Gambia News and Reporter Magazine, Mamadou Edrisa Njie, Senior Staff Writer asked in any success there must be challenges, so what are some of your challenges, in reply, Sam said that in any media house in the world the main constraints is finance adding that the global recessions has also affected many media houses in his country. Raising funds, technology changing times, training and the newspaper review done by the radio stations in the country. “The newspaper review every morning makes many people not to but newspapers because the already know what is content in the papers.” He further disclosed that Graphic as at now is suffering from advertisement but was quick to relate it globally.
Gambian Journalist, Mr. Modou S. Joof News Editor and Head of Sports Desk of the Voice Newspaper, posed question asking , what are the media regulations or do you have any media regulations, in his positive respond, Sam stated that during the military period there was newspaper liencesing regulations but now we don’t have it. The only thing to do now is to do formality with
Mrs. Amie Sanneh also Gambian participant from the Foroyaa Newspaper asked, do you have harsh media laws in your constitution?, In positive respond answer, Sam told ECOWAS journalists that there is no harsh laws that govern media operations in the country noting that “ their newspapers laws has been repealed since after the military rule, we are different from you (The Gambia), where the media is struggling daily for the repeal of some of the draconian laws in The Gambian how Sir are the staff of your company well paid and motivated? Question posed by Ms. Celine Oyewole correspondent with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), responding to the question, Public Affairs Manager Sam noted that their staff are well paid and motivated by the group citing the Graphic Needy Trust Fund stating that the fund helps genuinely needy Ghanians who require medical treatment whose cost is beyond their reach adding that this fund has been alive since 1989 and the company and its collaborators have assisted more that hundred (100) partients with various ailments to receive medical care.
On Free Medical Care, he explained that every year, the company organiseds free health care for the Adabraka community, where the company is located. This programme, he buttressed was introduced in 2005 and is meant for the people of Adabrka in which the programme gives residents to have consultation and drugs come free to partients. The company has extended the free medical exercise to Asafo, a suburd of Kumasi the company’s largest centre of operations outside the head office.
Scholarship Scheme, this he pointed out, the company runs a schpolarship scheme for the children of employeres who are in second cycle institutions. Still answering a question posed by Nigerian Reporter, cited Daily Graphic Governance Dialogue and the Ephraim Amu Award of Excellence for Arts and Culture all gears towards the development of the company.
Mr. Silas Gbandi Deputy Director Sirrea Leone News Company incorporating , The Punch Newspaper and Citizen Radio asked Mr. Sam how independent is the editorial of the Graphic?, in reply Sam said that their editorial is independent despite the government of Ghana acquire the company by an act of parliament.
Mr. Nruddenn M. Abdallah Head, Cover and Investigation Sunday Trust Nigeria, asked Mr. Sam how many copies and the number of pages, in reply, Sam revealed that the company published about two hundred to two hundred and fifty copies daily with thirty two pages adding that the Daily Graphic is the biggest and the leading newspaper in Ghana with about one hundred and ten journalists.
All the ECOWAS journalists were present and asked different questions, after the team was taken on a conducted tour.
News Banjul The Gambia(IMB)- It was a day that many West African journalists will not forget in their life time, was the day they set their eyes and step in the entrance of Graphic Communication Group Limited (GCGL) and to have first hand information about the company in Accra, Ghana dated 20th April 2010.
The group was lead to Graphic Company, by Mr. Bright Kwame Blewe Secretary General Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and Mr. Walter Kudzodzi of International Institute of Journalism (IIJ). The following countries are present namely; Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Ghana and The Gambia, Guinea Conakry was absent at the time of writing the piece. The two weeks training that gets started on the 19 April will winds up 30 April 2010, with certificates of attendance to be presented all participants.
The subjected on the two weeks training “The Media’s Role in Conflict Transformation and Peace Building West Africa and is currently taking place at the Ghana International Press Centre. The training itself was organized by The International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of InWent Capacity Building International
After a warmly welcomed, shaking hands, West African journalists were shown a short documentary about the company.
Addressing journalists, Mr. Albert Sam, Public Affairs Manager Graphic GCGL said “dealing with objectively and professionally with conflicts is all about language” while putting to journalists to use simple language to communicate easily with the audience.”
According to Sam, media practitioners need to demonstrate some caution in the use of language when reporting on conflict situations.
Recounting his experiences, Sam the Public Affairs Manager said “ as a journalists myself , I have rich experiences from reporting on peacekeeping operations: United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFLI), The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East, and the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia.”
In all these, he continued “what I learnt and experienced, which imprinted on my mind, is indeed to indeed exercise caution and desist from inflaming passion”.
He stated that the company mission “is to empower their readers and consumers with reliable and credible information, communication and entertainment that create the best possible customer experience.”
He went on such a good reputation is not by a lucky accident for the company but it is the result of the deliberate steps by the company to achieve leadership in disseminating high quality information and knowledge that improves people’s lives.
Sam mentioned that the company operates with high calibers of journalists that are well trained to catch up with the job and a lot of incentives have been given to staff.
“We encourage our journalists to do courses at different institutions both in Ghana and abroad “
During the question and answer session, a participant from Sierra Leone Ms. Femi Coker, Senior Reporter with the Examiner Newspaper, asked what can be some of the qualifications that can give one the opportunity to be reporting with the Graphic, in respond Sam stated that “anyone with diploma from any recognized institute but specified Ghana Institute of Journalism can be qualify to be A reporter for the Graphic.
While questions were pouring like a heavy rain, The Gambia News and Reporter Magazine, Mamadou Edrisa Njie, Senior Staff Writer asked in any success there must be challenges, so what are some of your challenges, in reply, Sam said that in any media house in the world the main constraints is finance adding that the global recessions has also affected many media houses in his country. Raising funds, technology changing times, training and the newspaper review done by the radio stations in the country. “The newspaper review every morning makes many people not to but newspapers because the already know what is content in the papers.” He further disclosed that Graphic as at now is suffering from advertisement but was quick to relate it globally.
Gambian Journalist, Mr. Modou S. Joof News Editor and Head of Sports Desk of the Voice Newspaper, posed question asking , what are the media regulations or do you have any media regulations, in his positive respond, Sam stated that during the military period there was newspaper liencesing regulations but now we don’t have it. The only thing to do now is to do formality with
Mrs. Amie Sanneh also Gambian participant from the Foroyaa Newspaper asked, do you have harsh media laws in your constitution?, In positive respond answer, Sam told ECOWAS journalists that there is no harsh laws that govern media operations in the country noting that “ their newspapers laws has been repealed since after the military rule, we are different from you (The Gambia), where the media is struggling daily for the repeal of some of the draconian laws in The Gambian how Sir are the staff of your company well paid and motivated? Question posed by Ms. Celine Oyewole correspondent with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), responding to the question, Public Affairs Manager Sam noted that their staff are well paid and motivated by the group citing the Graphic Needy Trust Fund stating that the fund helps genuinely needy Ghanians who require medical treatment whose cost is beyond their reach adding that this fund has been alive since 1989 and the company and its collaborators have assisted more that hundred (100) partients with various ailments to receive medical care.
On Free Medical Care, he explained that every year, the company organiseds free health care for the Adabraka community, where the company is located. This programme, he buttressed was introduced in 2005 and is meant for the people of Adabrka in which the programme gives residents to have consultation and drugs come free to partients. The company has extended the free medical exercise to Asafo, a suburd of Kumasi the company’s largest centre of operations outside the head office.
Scholarship Scheme, this he pointed out, the company runs a schpolarship scheme for the children of employeres who are in second cycle institutions. Still answering a question posed by Nigerian Reporter, cited Daily Graphic Governance Dialogue and the Ephraim Amu Award of Excellence for Arts and Culture all gears towards the development of the company.
Mr. Silas Gbandi Deputy Director Sirrea Leone News Company incorporating , The Punch Newspaper and Citizen Radio asked Mr. Sam how independent is the editorial of the Graphic?, in reply Sam said that their editorial is independent despite the government of Ghana acquire the company by an act of parliament.
Mr. Nruddenn M. Abdallah Head, Cover and Investigation Sunday Trust Nigeria, asked Mr. Sam how many copies and the number of pages, in reply, Sam revealed that the company published about two hundred to two hundred and fifty copies daily with thirty two pages adding that the Daily Graphic is the biggest and the leading newspaper in Ghana with about one hundred and ten journalists.
All the ECOWAS journalists were present and asked different questions, after the team was taken on a conducted tour.
Volcanic Ash "Misbehaved" Strands INWENT Lecturer and Counsultant
- But Training In Progress with Help of Others
News Banjul The Gambia(MB)- Fourteen West African journalists that are currently undergiong for two weeks intensive training at the Ghana International Press Centre from the 19th -30 April 2010, could not get proper due to the misbehaved volcanic ash that strands the course trainer and counsultant in German.
The International Institute for JournaLISM (IIJ) of InWent Capacity Building International, Germany organised the training for fourteen journalists drawn from Ghana, Nigeria,Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
The theme for the two weeks training " The Media's Role in Conflict Transformation and Peace Building West Africa" with the objectives to seeks to strengthen accurate and responsible journalism and to increase the awareness for the media's contribution to the escalation of violence as much as to rewconciliation and under standing among journalists in West Africa.
Conflict itself is natural in any society. Disagreement and resolution is the essence of constructive change. However, a dash of intrest, values, actions or directions often sparks a conflict which becomes violent, at cost and losses for the society.
Wolf Zunzer, a trainer, facilator and conflict transformation specialist for a diversity of European development coopearation organisation including InWent and for respective ministeries, who is stranded in German but send presentation via email to all the participants, this was contained in the presentation on Basic Conflict Threory that conflict is a (perceived) incompatibility of intrests between two parties.
Non- Violent conflict a is "fact of life", yet can be addressed constructively or destructively and understanding differences in perceptions and differences in position/intrests// values of parties to a conflict are key influencing conflicts constructively.
Conflict transformation , he defines as actions and processes which seek to alter the various characteristics and manifestations of conflict by addressing the root causes of a particular conflict over the long term. He continued, it aims to trasnsform negative, destructive conflict into positive constructive conflict and deals with structural, behavioural and attitudinal aspects of conflict.
As the lecturer and the course counsultant are both stranded in German, possiblitities were put in place to keep the participants busy, in making them busy Mr. Kent Mensah the participants lectures on Monday 19th April at the said centre focusing his presentation on "blogging and mobile communication", Web Editor of Africa News.
Accoording to Mr. Mensah, blogs are use to expresse views been it individual, networks or groups sharing information adding that as journalists " we need to have our own blogs to express our veiws, comments, ideas etc by blogging".
He said that one can aosl be blogging, if one is maginalised in the society, " you can use your blog to critised what is wrong and adovacate for the good", use it as a platform.
To him, blogs for the past years three to four years blogs are not famous but today , he diosclosed that many people are blogging today and making a lot of money and securing jobs through their blogs advertisments.
He told West African journalist to be blogging as their are lots of opportinities but puts to them to stick to the ethics of the noble profession when blogging.
" As journalists today we need to have our individual blogs, community, office, and even departments blogs to expresse views."
He also puts to journalists to make best use of twitter and facebook for giving ionformation to each but not only lodging on for charts. According to him with twitter one can many messages with 140 chracters to many people like breaking news.
Mr. Mensah stated that it is high time that journalists to use moiblie phone that are connected to the internet with many features like camera, video, recording ect for using it to send stories.
"But using mobile phones does not means you but expensive mobiles but simple nokia with N70, N73, N93 marks".
He further advised journalists to be internet wizard saying that there a lots of information avaiable in the internet. He also encourage journalist to venture in online journalism adding that sooner or later all those who are not practising online journalism will be found wantind.
On 20th April, second day, participants have the opportunity to visit Graphic Communication Group Limited headquarters in Accra.
At the Graphic, participants were welcome by Public Affairs Manager Albert Sam, who told journalists that their vision is to be the biggest, most infuential and reliable multi-media organisation in West African sub region, which generated general laughter.
Going into history, Sam stated that Graphic Comminication Groups Limited(GCGL) was formed in 2nd October 1950 as the West African Graphic Comppany limited by the Daily Mirror Group of newspapers in the United Kingdom, headed by Ceci; King Jr.
Accordin g to him it was in 1962, the government of Ghana acquired the company by an act of parliament and turned it into a statutory corporation in 1971 by the Graphic Corporation Instrument, 1971, LI 709, in accordance with the Staturoty Corporations Act, 1964 (Act 232).
Sam explained that since its inception, built and maintained a reputation for credible in quality news presentation to the extend that in Ghana, newspaper is simply refered to as the "Graphic", the name he went on readers affectionately call Daily Graphic, the company's flagship newspaper.
He disclosed the Daily Graphic published two hundred thousand to two hundred fifty thousan daily copies (200,000-250,000) saying that it is the largest newspaper in Ghana.
Public Affairs Manager pointed out that the company currently publishes seven newspapers and an advertising newspaper, which are all market leaders in the industry adding that it has the largest circulation and readership.
On the subject of conflict tansformation and peace building, Sam advised media practitioners need to demonstrate some caution in the use of language when reprting on conflict situation.
News Banjul The Gambia(MB)- Fourteen West African journalists that are currently undergiong for two weeks intensive training at the Ghana International Press Centre from the 19th -30 April 2010, could not get proper due to the misbehaved volcanic ash that strands the course trainer and counsultant in German.
The International Institute for JournaLISM (IIJ) of InWent Capacity Building International, Germany organised the training for fourteen journalists drawn from Ghana, Nigeria,Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
The theme for the two weeks training " The Media's Role in Conflict Transformation and Peace Building West Africa" with the objectives to seeks to strengthen accurate and responsible journalism and to increase the awareness for the media's contribution to the escalation of violence as much as to rewconciliation and under standing among journalists in West Africa.
Conflict itself is natural in any society. Disagreement and resolution is the essence of constructive change. However, a dash of intrest, values, actions or directions often sparks a conflict which becomes violent, at cost and losses for the society.
Wolf Zunzer, a trainer, facilator and conflict transformation specialist for a diversity of European development coopearation organisation including InWent and for respective ministeries, who is stranded in German but send presentation via email to all the participants, this was contained in the presentation on Basic Conflict Threory that conflict is a (perceived) incompatibility of intrests between two parties.
Non- Violent conflict a is "fact of life", yet can be addressed constructively or destructively and understanding differences in perceptions and differences in position/intrests// values of parties to a conflict are key influencing conflicts constructively.
Conflict transformation , he defines as actions and processes which seek to alter the various characteristics and manifestations of conflict by addressing the root causes of a particular conflict over the long term. He continued, it aims to trasnsform negative, destructive conflict into positive constructive conflict and deals with structural, behavioural and attitudinal aspects of conflict.
As the lecturer and the course counsultant are both stranded in German, possiblitities were put in place to keep the participants busy, in making them busy Mr. Kent Mensah the participants lectures on Monday 19th April at the said centre focusing his presentation on "blogging and mobile communication", Web Editor of Africa News.
Accoording to Mr. Mensah, blogs are use to expresse views been it individual, networks or groups sharing information adding that as journalists " we need to have our own blogs to express our veiws, comments, ideas etc by blogging".
He said that one can aosl be blogging, if one is maginalised in the society, " you can use your blog to critised what is wrong and adovacate for the good", use it as a platform.
To him, blogs for the past years three to four years blogs are not famous but today , he diosclosed that many people are blogging today and making a lot of money and securing jobs through their blogs advertisments.
He told West African journalist to be blogging as their are lots of opportinities but puts to them to stick to the ethics of the noble profession when blogging.
" As journalists today we need to have our individual blogs, community, office, and even departments blogs to expresse views."
He also puts to journalists to make best use of twitter and facebook for giving ionformation to each but not only lodging on for charts. According to him with twitter one can many messages with 140 chracters to many people like breaking news.
Mr. Mensah stated that it is high time that journalists to use moiblie phone that are connected to the internet with many features like camera, video, recording ect for using it to send stories.
"But using mobile phones does not means you but expensive mobiles but simple nokia with N70, N73, N93 marks".
He further advised journalists to be internet wizard saying that there a lots of information avaiable in the internet. He also encourage journalist to venture in online journalism adding that sooner or later all those who are not practising online journalism will be found wantind.
On 20th April, second day, participants have the opportunity to visit Graphic Communication Group Limited headquarters in Accra.
At the Graphic, participants were welcome by Public Affairs Manager Albert Sam, who told journalists that their vision is to be the biggest, most infuential and reliable multi-media organisation in West African sub region, which generated general laughter.
Going into history, Sam stated that Graphic Comminication Groups Limited(GCGL) was formed in 2nd October 1950 as the West African Graphic Comppany limited by the Daily Mirror Group of newspapers in the United Kingdom, headed by Ceci; King Jr.
Accordin g to him it was in 1962, the government of Ghana acquired the company by an act of parliament and turned it into a statutory corporation in 1971 by the Graphic Corporation Instrument, 1971, LI 709, in accordance with the Staturoty Corporations Act, 1964 (Act 232).
Sam explained that since its inception, built and maintained a reputation for credible in quality news presentation to the extend that in Ghana, newspaper is simply refered to as the "Graphic", the name he went on readers affectionately call Daily Graphic, the company's flagship newspaper.
He disclosed the Daily Graphic published two hundred thousand to two hundred fifty thousan daily copies (200,000-250,000) saying that it is the largest newspaper in Ghana.
Public Affairs Manager pointed out that the company currently publishes seven newspapers and an advertising newspaper, which are all market leaders in the industry adding that it has the largest circulation and readership.
On the subject of conflict tansformation and peace building, Sam advised media practitioners need to demonstrate some caution in the use of language when reprting on conflict situation.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Money Laundering in The Gambia Difficult to Determine
According to the Inter-Governmental Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)in its annual Report 2008.The laundering of illicit money is increasingly a major problem in The Gambia, but its magnitude or severity remains relatively difficult to determine,
The Report cited many cases such as porous borders, weak controls, prevailing poverty, dominance of cash transactions, poor know your customer (KYC) compliance culture, massive inflows of tourists and anecdotal evidence of increasing drug-related and other criminal activities are all factors contributing to an increase in the money laundering risk in The Gambia.
Within its limited resources and capacity, the Report said The Gambia has passed various laws and regulations that are directly or indirectly relevant to anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing (AML/CFT) in the country. “These include the Money Laundering Act 2003; the Anti-Terrorism Act 2002; Economic Crimes (Specified Offences) Decree 1994; the Drug Control Act 2003; and the Revised Regulations for the Operation of Foreign Exchange Bureaux 2005.”
However the 2008 Report argued that all these laws need to be updated and mordanised. Efforts to amend these laws have unfortunately not been successful until now, despite ongoing official collaboration with the West African inter-governmental group against money laundering (GIABA) to this end.
“Although an inter-agency committee has been set up and may have played an important role in the drafting of the 2003 Money Laundering Act and related legislations, it has remained an ad hoc, tentative body,” the West African group said.
In terms of implementing the provisions of the law, the committee has not truly played an effective coordinating and enforcement role, given the reported frequent movement of staff, lack off commitment by some members and the low priority accorded to money laundering control measures in an environment of severe constraints on capacity and resources.
However, it is pertinent to note the relevant agencies and their respective roles in the AML/CFT implementation in The Gambia. These include the Department of for Finance and Economic Affairs, the Central Bank, the Department of State for Interior and Justice and the National Drug Enforcement Agency.
According to the Report, the Department of State for the Interior has statutory coordinating and oversight responsibilities in the implementation of the AML/CFT laws, as the supervisory ministry for the police, immigration service and the national drug enforcement agency.
In April 2008, the Report said GIABA undertook a short assessment mission to Banjul in order to evaluate The Gambia’s readiness to establish its financial intelligence unit (FIU) and anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing (AML/CFT) Committee.
“It was found that much of the work had been accomplished and that several concerns were several concerned authorities were ready to push forward with the task,” it stated.
As a result of this mission, written guidelines for the establishments of FIU’s and of AML/CFT Committees were formulated and published by the West African body (GIABA), and were distributed to all countries in the region, for their information.
Notwithstanding, the report indicated that despite some progress with the designation of promises and appointment of members, the FIU and AML/CFT Committee are yet to be fully operational. “There has been little progress, despite official assurances that things would moving along. This is hard to comprehend and seems to be linked to a question of fundamental will,” the GIABA mission to The Gambia reports.
Perhaps the results of the Mutual Evaluation, in addition to some pressure being exerted by GIABA and by sister countries which are establishing their FIUs, will compel the country to finally comply with international standards and move forward in they called a critical area.
It stressed that, laws need to be revised, the FIU needs to become operational and the National Strategy needs to be formulated. “This remains a challenge for the coming year,” the Report concluded.
The Report cited many cases such as porous borders, weak controls, prevailing poverty, dominance of cash transactions, poor know your customer (KYC) compliance culture, massive inflows of tourists and anecdotal evidence of increasing drug-related and other criminal activities are all factors contributing to an increase in the money laundering risk in The Gambia.
Within its limited resources and capacity, the Report said The Gambia has passed various laws and regulations that are directly or indirectly relevant to anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing (AML/CFT) in the country. “These include the Money Laundering Act 2003; the Anti-Terrorism Act 2002; Economic Crimes (Specified Offences) Decree 1994; the Drug Control Act 2003; and the Revised Regulations for the Operation of Foreign Exchange Bureaux 2005.”
However the 2008 Report argued that all these laws need to be updated and mordanised. Efforts to amend these laws have unfortunately not been successful until now, despite ongoing official collaboration with the West African inter-governmental group against money laundering (GIABA) to this end.
“Although an inter-agency committee has been set up and may have played an important role in the drafting of the 2003 Money Laundering Act and related legislations, it has remained an ad hoc, tentative body,” the West African group said.
In terms of implementing the provisions of the law, the committee has not truly played an effective coordinating and enforcement role, given the reported frequent movement of staff, lack off commitment by some members and the low priority accorded to money laundering control measures in an environment of severe constraints on capacity and resources.
However, it is pertinent to note the relevant agencies and their respective roles in the AML/CFT implementation in The Gambia. These include the Department of for Finance and Economic Affairs, the Central Bank, the Department of State for Interior and Justice and the National Drug Enforcement Agency.
According to the Report, the Department of State for the Interior has statutory coordinating and oversight responsibilities in the implementation of the AML/CFT laws, as the supervisory ministry for the police, immigration service and the national drug enforcement agency.
In April 2008, the Report said GIABA undertook a short assessment mission to Banjul in order to evaluate The Gambia’s readiness to establish its financial intelligence unit (FIU) and anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing (AML/CFT) Committee.
“It was found that much of the work had been accomplished and that several concerns were several concerned authorities were ready to push forward with the task,” it stated.
As a result of this mission, written guidelines for the establishments of FIU’s and of AML/CFT Committees were formulated and published by the West African body (GIABA), and were distributed to all countries in the region, for their information.
Notwithstanding, the report indicated that despite some progress with the designation of promises and appointment of members, the FIU and AML/CFT Committee are yet to be fully operational. “There has been little progress, despite official assurances that things would moving along. This is hard to comprehend and seems to be linked to a question of fundamental will,” the GIABA mission to The Gambia reports.
Perhaps the results of the Mutual Evaluation, in addition to some pressure being exerted by GIABA and by sister countries which are establishing their FIUs, will compel the country to finally comply with international standards and move forward in they called a critical area.
It stressed that, laws need to be revised, the FIU needs to become operational and the National Strategy needs to be formulated. “This remains a challenge for the coming year,” the Report concluded.
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