The Board of Directors of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has expressed serious concern about the apparent lack of progress in the Digital Migration process in West Africa, especially in view of the internationally mandated June 17 deadline for all countries to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The Board noted that given the pervasiveness of television as a source of information for a large proportion of the population in West Africa and prevalence of analogue television sets in the region, the obvious inability of countries to meet the agreed deadline has potentially serious implications for access to information and freedom of expression in the region.

The concerns of the MFWA’s Board are contained in an 11-point Resolution adopted at the end of its two-day meeting in Porto Novo, Benin, on May 29, 2015.

“The Board also expresses deep concern about the low level of public awareness of the digital migration process and calls on the media and civil society groups in West Africa to support public education efforts to prepare citizens in their respective countries for the digital migration,” the Resolution noted.

The Resolution urged governments in West Africa to prioritise safety of journalists in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Safety of Journalists and the issue of Impunity, and the recent UN Security Council Resolution on the Safety of Journalists.

The Security Council Resolution (Resolution 2222) adopted on May 27, 2015, urges Member States of the United Nations to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for journalists, media professionals and associated personnel to perform their work independently and without undue interference.

The Board Resolution also touches on other critical issues relating to freedom of expression and press freedom in the West Africa region including concerns about lowering professional standards among the media in the region; the need for states to decriminalise defamation; and the need for governments and regional bodies in West Africa to make significant investments in ICTs and work collaboratively to promote internet rights and freedoms.

The full resolution is below.

Resolution

By the Board of Directors of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) at its Meeting held in Porto Novo, Benin, on May 28 & 29, 2015.

On May 28 and 29, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) met in Porto Novo, Benin, to discuss and review a number of strategic issues relating to the operations of the organisation as well as the broader issues of freedom of expression in West Africa.

The meeting was presided over by the Chairman, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, who is also the Executive Director of the Nigeria-based Media Rights Agenda.  At the end of the two-day meeting, the Board unanimously adopted and issued this resolution:

1. The Board notes with serious concern the apparent lack of progress in the Digital Migration process in West Africa, especially in view of the internationally mandated deadline of June 17, 2015, for all countries to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting.

2.Given the pervasiveness of television as a source of information and entertainment for a considerably large proportion of the population in the various countries of West Africa, and given the current prevalence of analogue television sets in the region, the Board is extremely concerned about the obvious inability of countries in the region to meet the agreed deadline and potentially dire implications for access to information and freedom of expression in the region.

3. Mindful of the fact that the digital migration process requires policy, legal and regulatory reforms, the Board reiterates its call on governments to adopt a multi-stakeholder and consultative approach in all policy, legal and regulatory reform processes associated with the proposed digital migration so that all critical stakeholders can be effectively engaged.

4. The Board also expresses deep concern about the low level of public awareness of the digital migration process and calls on the media and civil society groups in West Africa to support public education efforts to prepare citizens in their respective countries for the digital migration. It also urges governments to protect citizens’ right to freedom of expression and access to information in the digital migration process, including providing them with adequate information about its potential impact on them, cost implications and important timelines.

5. The Board notes that attacks on journalists and impunity over crimes committed against journalists remain major obstacles to press freedom, freedom of expression, access to information as well as the capacity of the media to contribute effectively towards development. The Board, therefore, welcomes the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2222 by the UN Security Council, which urges Member States of the United Nations to create and maintain, in law and in practice, a safe and enabling environment for journalists, media professionals and associated personnel to perform their work independently and without undue interference. The Board also calls on governments and all other stakeholders to continue to prioritise the protection of journalists and the fight against impunity for crimes committed against journalists.

6. In the spirit of the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Safety of Journalists and the issue of Impunity, and the recent Security Council Resolution referenced above, the Board reiterates its call on ECOWAS leaders and relevant organs of ECOWAS to ensure compliance with and the enforcement of the decisions of the Regional Court of Justice in order to discourage acts of impunity within the region.

7. The Board also calls on governments in West Africa to take urgent steps to decriminalise defamation to promote media freedom and freedom of expression as espoused in the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Good Governance and Democracy as well as the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework.

8. In recognition of the great importance of non-restrictive legal environment for press freedom and media development, the Board highly commends the government and Parliament of Benin for recently passing a harmonised media law that decrimilises defamation, guarantees access to information for journalists, streamlines advertising in the media as well as other progressive provisions that promote press freedom.

9. The Board also expresses concern about the lowering professional standards among the media in the region. It therefore calls on media owners, managers, editors and journalists in the region to pay urgent attention to the issue by taking steps to improve professional standards.  Given the important role of the media in governance and democratic processes in West Africa, the Board urges the media in the region to continue to play a critical role in promoting peaceful elections particularly in the upcoming elections in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire, which are all transitional countries.

10. The Board recognises and highlights the importance of internet penetration, affordability and access, for the promotion of accountable, transparent governance and access to information, and for the overall development of West Africa. It therefore calls on national governments in West Africa and regional bodies to endorse the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms. The Board also calls on national governments and regional bodies in West Africa to make significant investments in ICTs and work collaboratively to promote internet rights and freedoms in the region.

11. The Board resolves to work with partners and other stakeholders in the region and beyond to organise a regional Conference on Freedom of Expression in Lusophone Africa to address the peculiar challenges confronting the media in Lusophone countries on the continent. The Conference is planned to take place in Praia, Cape Verde, later in 2015.

Adopted in Porto Novo, Benin, this Friday, the 29th day of May, 2015