Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Fingering a French businessman for alleged tax evasion has resulted in Beninese journalist Ignace Sossou receiving a suspended one-month prison sentence and a fine of 550,000 CFA francs (US$850).

Compelling, in-depth investigative features are being produced by West African journalists through an MFWA programme support for critical, independent and high-quality reports on issues of governance, accountability and transparency.

Findings in the latest MFWA Media and Governance Series policy brief reveal that unreliable internet service, high cost of data services and sexual harassment serve as barriers that prevent women from exploiting the huge potential the internet offers for self-empowerment and overall development.

Disturbed by the detention and arrests of journalists over the past few weeks, MFWA joins media and free expression rights groups in calling on Nigerian authorities to uphold their commitment to freedom of expression rights as enshrined in the country’s constitution.

Diallo Soulemane, the owner of Conakry based private radio station Lynx FM, and Aboubacar Algassimou Diallo, presenter of the Oeil de Lynx show, are facing prosecution following a phone interview with an outspoken critic of the government based in the United States.

The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has adopted a new framework aimed at fostering a better relationship between the Service and the media, following a year-long series of multi-stakeholder processes facilitated by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).

Freelance journalist Adama Gaye was arrested for his Facebook post alleging Senegalese President Macky Sall had an extra marital affair during an official trip abroad.

Twenty journalists including a pregnant reporter were attacked by cronies of a member of Ebonyi State Assembly in Nigeria.