Articles by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
US journalist arrested, released, warned not to report on disgruntled young labourers
(MFWA/IFEX) – Elligh Mothershed, a visiting American journalist, was arrested at 6B Jannet Lane Kingtom in Freetown on 15 November 2006, on the orders of Alpha Timbo, minister in charge of labour and industrial relations. The journalist was cautioned, released and asked to report to the minister later that day. The MFWA-Sierra Leone source said […]
“False information” case against journalist repeatedly adjourned
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 7 November 2006, a magistrate’s court adjourned to 20 November the trial of Lamin Fatty, a reporter with the banned Banjul-based bi-weekly “The Independent”, who is charged with publishing false information. This is the fifth time the case has been adjourned since it began in June. MFWA sources say the trial was […]
Journalists threatened while working
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 2 November 2006, a group of journalists covering the trial of suspected drug criminals in an Accra regional court were threatened and insulted by sympathisers for taking photographs of the suspects. Florence Gbolu, of the Accra-based independent daily newspaper “The Chronicle”, told MFWA’s correspondent that the sympathisers attacked reporters when some of […]
Supporters of ruling party bar journalist from press conference; radio reporter summoned and questioned over story
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 19 October 2006, Emmanuel Opoku, a reporter with the “Daily Guide”, a privately-owned daily, was prevented by a group of ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters from covering a press conference in the Western Region. He was accused of biased reporting. The journalist alleged that he was manhandled and insulted by the […]
Newspaper journalist remains arbitrarily detained, 3 months after arrest
(MFWA/IFEX) – Chief Ebrima Manneh, a reporter of the “Daily Observer”, a pro-government newspaper, is still languishing in the cells of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), four months after his arrest. Manneh has been held incommunicado since his arrest and subsequent incarceration on 11 July 2006. The NIA has not given any reason for its […]
Journalist released after 139 days in illegal detention
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 9 October 2006, a High Court in Banjul unconditionally released Malick Mboob, a journalist and former staff member of the “Daily Observer”, a pro-government newspaper, after he was kept for 139 days in illegal detention for allegedly sending damaging information to an online US-based newspaper. According to a MFWA-Gambia source, the Court’s […]
Two journalists suspended indefinitely for neglecting to publish photograph of the president
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 4 October 2006, Ibrahima Sory Dieng, managing director, and Alhassane Souare, editor-in-chief of the state-owned newspaper “Horoya”, were suspended indefinitely by the minister of information Aboubacar Sylla, for not publishing a photograph of President Lassana Conte of Guinea alongside his speech. According to a Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA-Guinea) source, at […]
Policemen assault, briefly detain radio journalist
(MFWA/IFEX) – Lawrence Addo Kyeremeh, a reporter for independent local radio station Happy FM, was violently attacked and detained on 26 September 2006 by five police officers at the police station in Kaneshie, a suburb of the capital, Accra. According to Kyeremeh, while two of the officers slapped him several times, two others insulted him. […]