MFWA Salutes the Media on World Press Freedom Day
As journalists in the West African sub-region continue to face intimidation and harassment, in the discharge of their lawful and constitutional duties, the Media Foundation for West Africa, uses the opportunity of this World Press Freedom Day to salute their courage and fearlessness.
We note especially, the harrowing experience of journalists and free speech advocates in countries like Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Sudan and the Republic of Benin who have had to perform their duties in the past one year under very harsh conditions imposed as a result to their governments’ distaste for free speech and press freedom.
We also salute journalists and free speech advocates in countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia for standing up to dictators and helping in steering their countries towards the progressive paths of democracy and press freedom.
With democratization sweeping across the globe, and free speech and press freedom being vital ingredients of this movement, MFWA notes that West Africa cannot afford to isolate itself from what has become acceptable practice and way of life in other parts of the world.
It is in realization of this that the efforts of the resilient men and women who have dedicated themselves to this fight should be commended.
To opponents of free speech and press freedom, MFWA encourages them to embrace the concepts especially as according to the theme of this year’s celebration, Press Freedom (is) every body’s Freedom and a country cannot be said to be free when its press are gagged and citizens jailed or detained for daring to speak out against injustice, official corruption and government oppression.
Signed:
Professor Kwame Karikari
Media Foundation For West Africa
P.O.Box 730, Accra, Ghana
Tel: 233 21 242470
Fax: 233 21 221084
E-mail: [email protected]