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CONCERN WAJA

There is a trend toward increased media censorship in West Africa, a region not known for its media freedoms, reports the West African Journalists Association (WAJA). In a 26 February press release, the association highlights censorship measures in The Gambia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Among WAJA's concerns are the lack of independence of media monitoring commissions, requirements for media outlets to register with governments, and a lack of protection for the confidentiality of sources.

In The Gambia, WAJA fears that a new National Media Commission Bill will threaten press freedom. The Bill is an "attempt to place the practice of journalism in The Gambia under the thumb of the Secretary of State in charge of information," says WAJA. Among the association’s concerns is the fact that the president will appoint the Commission’s chairperson, threatening the new body’s independence. Media organisations or practitioners would also be required to register with the Commission before they could disseminate information. WAJA fears that registration could be "used as a weapon to prevent undesirable and critical opinions from seeing the light of day."

The Commission would be able to "request particulars and information from any media practitioner in relation to an inquiry," a provision that WAJA believes would negatively affect the media’s ability to protect its sources. In addition to other sanctions, the Commission could impose fines of 10,000 dalasis (approximately US$ 650) for misconduct. WAJA maintains that the imposition of such fines is "heavy handed and could lead to the collapse of many a media organisation in The Gambia." Furthermore, no appeal of the Commission’s decisions will be possible.

WAJA expresses similar concerns about Nigeria. The 1999 Constitution grants citizens the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without hindrance, but other provisions restrict these freedoms. The constitution gives the president the power to decide who is allowed to engage in the broadcasting business. WAJA is also concerned by the discriminatory situation whereby stations owned by the federal and local governments do not need authorisation to operate, while private stations must be authorised by the chief executive of the state and fulfill conditions set by the National Assembly. WAJA says that the responsibility for overseeing the industry should rest with an independent body. Furthermore, laws and regulations governing the media are silent on the protection of source confidentiality.

In Sierra Leone, WAJA notes that all members of the Independent Media Commission are appointed by the president, upon the advice of the Sierra Leone Journalists Association. The president can also dismiss the whole body under certain circumstances, such as "misconduct." Such provisions give the executive branch of government a dominant presence in media affairs. The commission also has the power to register all newspapers and magazines published in the country. "This power can easily be abused by the authorities to silence dissent, especially with the overbearing presence of the executive arm of government in the commission," says WAJA.

One positive development reported by WAJA is that criminal libel as a form of punishment for journalists will soon be removed from the statute books in Ghana. WAJA notes that criminal libel laws were introduced during the colonial era by the British to silence the increasingly vocal nationalists who were using newspapers to spread their message. The laws remained in effect after independence and were used in recent years by the previous government in its dealings with journalists. For more information, visit WAJA’s website at http://www.ujao.org.