Sierra Leone News: Journalists Trained On ECOWAS Protocols

Journalists from print and electronics media were on Tuesday trained on ECOWAS, the protocol on Good Governance and Democracy and the Framework on pro-poor policies and economic redistribution.

The seminar was organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in collaboration with the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG).
In his statement, the Coordinator of MRCG Ransford Wright said with funding from the UNDP, the MRCG was established as an independent corporate entity to strengthen democratic dialogue and accountability and ensure development through professional independent and sustainable media based on the right to freedom of speech.

The Coordinator maintained that the aim of MRCG is to improve on the media ethics, sustainability around public services.
Ransford Wright said the MRCG focuses on four strategies, which are to improve media ethics through regulation or self- regulation, transparent and independent allocation of licenses, handling of media complaints and enabling media environment, sustainable and independent public service broadcasting serving the people.

Adding that the ECOWAS seminar for the senior journalists is based on the fourth strategy which is strengthen professionalism and sustainability of media organisation and improve people’s participation in media development and content.
Wright maintained that the seminar is a follow up to a study undertaken to test people’s knowledge about their ECOWAS.

He added that “it is important to stimulate discussion on ECOWAS framework” Wright said.
Giving an overview of the seminar the representative from MFWA Abigail Larbi said the project is piloted in four countries, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia and Burkina Faso and after the seminar a network will be formed on ECOWAS reporting.

She maintained that there is a gap in the countries so the poor are becoming poorer and the rich becomes richer so the journalists needs to report to close this gap
Adding that because of these gaps there are lot of violence, armed robbery and protest but if poverty is alleviated people will engage in development programmes.
Larbi said most people are of the view that protocol on good governance and democracy is all about election so they are silent about poverty alleviation.

Presentations on baseline assessment of citizens, civil society and media awareness about ECOWAS, the ECOWAS as an institution, and ECOWAS protocols and its framework on pro-poor policies were made by Madam Olufela Adeyemi and Francis Sowa respectively.