Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

In recognition of his documentary that prompted action on the devastating maternal and child mortality situation in Ghana’s second largest medical facility, the MFWA has named Seth Kwame Boateng as the first winner of its Journalist of the Month series.

AFEX deplores the increasing incidents of killings, physical attacks, arbitrary arrests and detentions, threats and harassment of journalists, media professionals and activists in Africa as a threat towards the enjoyment of free expression and the ultimate development of the continent.

Silenced politicians in Kenya and Rwanda, Tanzanian taboos and Nigerian “threats to the state”. This and much more from South Sudan, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire in our June round-up of free expression news.

NGOs around the world ask authorities to stop campaigns of repression against HRDs and civil society organisations in the Middle East and North Africa region

Gendarmes in Lomé attacked members of students’ rights group Ligue Togolaise des Droits des Etudiants (LTDE) with batons and tear gas before proceeding to arrest their leader, Satchivi Foly, and several other members.

Between January-March 2017, a total of 47 freedom of expression violations were recorded in West Africa. Violations ranged from arrests,attacks and the shutdown of media houses.

The MFWA and its national partner organisations in West Africa have welcomed the decision of the Ivorian government to withdraw the controversial press bill, sections of which sought to criminalise speech.

Through a series of workshops and consultations, an expert group led by the MFWA and the Gambia Press Union (GPU) will come up with a comprehensive strategic framework that will guide the entire media sector reform process in The Gambia.