A group of Media and Civil Society Organisations is urging ECOWAS to prioritize issues of press freedom and media development.
According to the group, the Economic Community of West African States in drafting the Vision 2050 policy framework must make laws that serve the interest of the media and enhance its development.
The group which aims at promoting media development, anti-corruption and democratic governance in West Africa intimated that ECOWAS must prioritise and "...support the formulation, enactment, and implementation of the right to information law in countries that have not done so and uphold freedom of expression."
"[We] call on ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments to collaborate, adopt and implement well-defined protocols for the protection of journalists especially those in areas afflicted by insurgency and terrorism and repeal repressive cyber laws that criminalise online press offense," the statement read.
Disturbed by the increased violations of freedom of expression, the group stated that press freedom and media development was necessary because the irresponsible act of "...imposing extreme penalties including imprisonment and crippling fines on journalists and the media" was on the rise in most countries where democracy was not allowed to flourish.
Thus, a need for it to be prioritised.
This demand by the group follows a 'Freedom in the world 2021' report conducted by Freedom House which shows that the global decline in democracy has accelerated.
The communique also bemoaned the shrinking civic space and called for practical, specific, and coherent regional frameworks, policies, and strategies to ensure the protection and security of journalists and other critical voices to promote transparency, accountability and ultimately deepen democratic governance in the region.
Despite these concerns, the group commended the ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments for their efforts so far in sustaining democratic governance in West Africa.
With the support of its partners, the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commenced the process of developing Vision 2050 and its implementation frameworks.
The vision document once in place will firm up the aspirations and developmental priorities of West African citizens over the next 30 years while consolidating the gains made by ECOWAS in the implementation of programmes and projects identified under the receding ECOWAS Vision 2020.
The group of Media and Civil Society Organisations in their communique said they were committed "to engaging, collaborating, and supporting ECOWAS to mainstream issues of press freedom in its democratic governance interventions as well as significantly contributing towards the realisation of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 being developed".
They further entreated ECOWAS' "Heads of States and Government to comply with the provisions spelt out in the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, as well as international frameworks they are signatories to, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the African Charter on Human Rights" as the 2050 policy draft commences.
Read the full communique below:
Read full report of Freedom in the World Below:
.
Latest Stories
-
Video: EC lied that the cost per voter in 2020 was $7.7; it was $12.5 – Bright Simons
45 seconds -
Former IGP passes on
10 mins -
Ejisu by-election: Kwadaso MP gave money to EC officials out of goodwill – Ahiagbah
26 mins -
Millennium City: Land owner breaks silence on fatal shooting of soldier
26 mins -
Photos of 2024 Aboakyer Festival
1 hour -
#JustTurned18: I now have an opportunity to use my thumb to bring someone into power – Excited prospective voters
2 hours -
OSP acted as a whistleblower transferring Cecilia Dapaah’s case to EOCO – Sammy Darko
2 hours -
IMF calls for tariff adjustment for energy sector cost recovery
2 hours -
Samson’s Take: Journalists, block the pretentious idiots
3 hours -
Real Madrid crowned LaLiga champions after Barcelona’s defeat at Girona
4 hours -
Daniel Otting Awuah elected SRC President of Ghana School of Law
5 hours -
Lawrence Ati-Zigi signs St. Gallen contract extension
5 hours -
We should be careful not to destroy our institutions without just cause – Serebour Quaicoe
5 hours -
Cecilia Dapaah’s case: EOCO hasn’t requested FBI report – Office of the Special Prosecutor
7 hours -
Andre Ayew scores 5th league goal as Le Havre beat Strasbourg
7 hours