Articles by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
Journalists attacked by angry youths
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 29 October 2004, rampaging youths in the capital, Monrovia, attacked a vehicle carrying a team of journalists from the independent newspaper “The Analyst”. The journalists had gone to verify news of hostilities that were alleged to have broken out in a Monrovia suburb between Christian and Muslim youths. According to MFWA sources, […]
Editor appeals two-year prison sentence
(MFWA/IFEX) – Paul Kamara, the jailed editor of the independent newspaper “For Di People”, has appealed the two-year prison sentence imposed on him by the High Court. In a 12-point statement filed with the Appeal Court in the capital, Freetown, on 22 October 2004, Kamara stated that the “judgement is against the weight of evidence” […]
MFWA deeply concerned about attacks on newspapers seen to be “pro-rebel”
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 25 October 2004, youth supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo called the Young Patriots seized, tore up and prevented the sale of pro-opposition newspapers in the commercial capital of Abidjan. The Young Patriots warned newspaper vendors in different parts of Abidjan, including Yopugon, Port Bouet, Marcory and Cocody, not to sell newspapers considered […]
Radio programmes banned in Northern Region
(MFWA/IFEX) – Less than two months before presidential and general elections in Ghana, radio stations operating in the Northern Region of the country have been banned from broadcasting “political” discussions, interviews and phone-in programmes. Deputy Minister for the Region Charles Bintim, who is also chairman of the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC), imposed the ban […]
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation interdicts Ghana Television journalists and television director
(MFWA/IFEX) – The following is a 7 September 2004 MFWA press release: The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), a press freedom advocacy organisation, is seriously dismayed by the decision of the management of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to interdict the Director of Ghana Television (GTV) and four journalists over a news item concerning […]
MFWA condemns arson attack on BBC correspondent’s home, anonymous threats to journalists
(MFWA/IFEX) – During the early morning hours of 15 August 2004, BBC Banjul correspondent Ebrima Sillah’s house was set ablaze by suspected arsonists. Sillah, who was alone in the house, was sleeping when the arsonists attacked. According to MFWA sources in The Gambia, the incident occurred in Sillah’s home village of Jamburu, 30 km southwest […]
Radio station director arrested
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 12 August 2004, Moussa Kaka, director of the independent radio station Saraounia FM and correspondent of Radio France International, was arrested by agents of the Gendarmerie in the capital, Niamey. Kaka was picked up at about 12:00 p.m. GMT at the station and is being held incommunicado. The security officers also searched […]
Two Citizen FM radio journalists attacked
(MFWA/IFEX) – On 26 July 2004, Alex James, station manager of Citizen FM, a privately-owned community radio station located in the east of the capital, Freetown, was attacked by a group of armed youth in the community. James was returning home from work when he was attacked by the youth, who robbed him of his […]