Articles by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
Minister censors all private radio stations
(MFWA/IFEX) – The Minister of Information of Guinea, Boubacar Yacine Diallo, on 15 January 2007 ordered all private and community radio stations not to broadcast any material on the ongoing general strike by the country’s workers protesting against the high cost of living and other national concerns. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) correspondent […]
Violations against journalists and media rights rise in 2006, reports MFWA
(MFWA/IFEX) – The following is a 17 January 2007 MFWA press release: Press freedom violations increased in 2006 The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is alarmed by the increasing number of violations against journalists and media rights in West Africa. In 2006 alone, the MFWA recorded 168 cases of violations in fifteen of the […]
Journalist located after 188 days in secret detention
(MFWA/IFEX) – Chief Ebrima B. Manneh, a journalist working with the “Daily Observer”, a pro- government daily newspaper, was located on 12 January 2007 for the first time since his arrest by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), more than six months ago. Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources say he is being held in […]
Radio station suspended for 15 days for alleged misconduct
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 9 January 2007, Radio Victoire, a privately-owned FM radio station in Lome, was suspended for 15 days by the media regulator Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel de la Communication (HAAC) for alleged unprofessional conduct. The radio station is scheduled to resume broadcasting on 23 January. According to HAAC, the station “chose not to […]
Newspaper editor attacked
(MFWA/IFEX) – Baron Eloagu, a Nigerian news editor of the Banjul-based privately-owned “Daily Express” newspaper, was violently attacked on 10 December 2006 by four unknown assailants for allegedly writing “stupid things about the Gambia.” Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) sources say that on the night of the incident, while Eloagu was on his way […]
Prosecutor seeks three-year prison sentences for three journalists
(MFWA/IFEX) – Three radio journalists in Burundi face prison sentences if found guilty on charges resulting from material they broadcast a few months ago. On 14 December 2006, a prosecutor asked a Bujumbura court to sentence each of the three journalists from privately-owned radio stations to three years’ imprisonment. Mathias Manirakiza, director of Radio Isanganiro, […]
Newspaper accused of “damaging state’s reputation”, suspended for two months
(MFWA/IFEX) – “Kalum Express”, a privately-owned Conakry-based newspaper, was suspended for two months by the media regulator, the National Council for Communication (CNC), on 27 November 2006, for allegedly damaging the reputation of the state of Guinea. The newspaper will be out of circulation until 27 January 2007. MFWA’s correspondent says Top Sylla, the managing […]
Two journalists barred from press conference
(MFWA/IFEX) – Alfred Ogbamey, managing editor of the “Gye Nyame Concord”, and Samuel Asamoah, a reporter for the newspaper, were prevented from covering a press conference by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) on 4 December 2006. The press conference had been called by the GPHA in response to a teaser carried in the […]