ACCRA: The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has expressed concerns about the receding freedom of the media in the West African sub-region. This was stated by Sulemana Barimah, the Executive Director of MFWA, at the opening of the 7th edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards held in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the relationship between media freedom and democracy is inherently reciprocal. He highlighted that a thriving democracy fosters a better environment for media operation, whereas challenges in democratic governance negatively impact media freedom. The conference, themed 'Media and Democracy in Africa', drew government officials, media professionals, experts, and activists to discuss the ongoing democratic recession in Africa. Key topics included corruption, illicit financial flows, democratic governance, and threats to democracy in the region.
Media Expert and Academic, Prof. Kwame Karikari, underscored the media's critical role in promoting democratic governance and how it is increasingly becoming a target for suppression. He pointed out the growing censorship and self-censorship within the media landscape, emphasizing the decline of investigative journalism due to threats, intimidation, and attacks by both non-state and state actors. Karikari lamented the fact that many investigative journalists have either abandoned the profession, shifted to less controversial topics, or sought refuge outside their countries due to these pressures.
Prof. Karikari stressed that the media need a democratic environment to function effectively and realize their relevance. He noted that press law and freedom of expression are often the first casualties when democracy suffers. He urged the media and civil society to continue their efforts in safeguarding democracy, stating that despite the current threats, the struggle must not be abandoned until democracy is completely usurped by dictatorship or other forms of tyranny.
Dr. Sylvia Blyden, CEO and Publisher of Awareness Times in Sierra Leone, during a panel discussion, emphasized the crucial role of opposition parties in sustaining democracy in Africa. She highlighted the importance of their voices in influencing public policy and called on the media to provide space for these parties to express their concerns.
The conference will conclude with an awards night on Saturday, November 11, where journalists from the sub-region who have produced impactful work will be recognized and awarded.