SIAKON MEDIA

ECOWAS, media devise media standards for peace and security

Public Agenda

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is collaborating with the media in West Africa to establish minimum standards for media practice in conflict prevention, deepening democracy and good governance, and promoting interaction and cooperation among journalists and media practitioners in the sub-region.

To this end the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the ECOWAS Commission last Thursday organized a regional meeting on Media, Conflict and Democracy for captains in the media industry in West Africa.

As part of the learning process the media was apprised on the provisions of Sections 65 and 66 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty and Article 37 of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which place on the media the onerous task of promoting the attainment of the objectives of the community and facilitate exchange of information in order to strengthen cooperation between national press agencies and developing linkages between them.

Specifically, the meeting was to formulate regional norms and standards for the purposes of promoting a hate-free media practice and deepening of accountable governance the region.

In addition the gathering, according to Dr. Musah Fataw, Director, Political Affairs, ECOWAS, was to take stock of the role of the media in nation building and in the establishment of a regional identity.

He described the media as a strategic institution and critical tool for the sensitization, mobilization and monitoring democratic developments. Thus, the media, he said, has to remain vigilant to guard against insensitive journalism, propaganda and hate speech.
He cited instances where the media have exacerbated conflicts in some countries in the sub-region rather than becoming a partner in creating an ECOWAS of peace and stability.

According to Dr. Fataw, the objectives to transform ECOWAS to that of the 'ECOWAS of People' would be difficult to achieve in the year 2020 if the media is not sufficiently involved in the process.

"When there is peace and stability one can achieve the objectives of ECOWAS. The media which is often referred to as the fourth estate of the realm has an important role in shaping democracy."

He added, however, that ECOWAS has been able to sustain and consolidate its achievements in the areas of peace and security due to the unflinching support of the media and that this support has to be maintained as the sub-region enters a more critical stage in its peacemaking processes.

In few cases the media has been accused of unethical and unprofessional conducts in the ways conflicts are reported in member states, so much so that some governments have put in place measures to gag media practitioners.

The Minister for Communication, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, observed that although zero tolerance for unconstitutional rule has become the norm, the media themselves can endanger conflict if they practice in an irresponsible manner rather than avoiding and preventing conflict through accurate reportage while exercising circumspection. He challenged media practitioners to join in demonstrating to the rest of the world that democracy can work in the region.

"I want to admonish the media to be circumspect in reporting sensitive issues. Unfair and unreasonable democratic concept can itself produce conflict. We must all commit to the establishment of a free and democratic society."

Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister for Information, said there was need for member states to jointly share the responsibility with both the ECOWAS Commission and media practitioners for the ownership of the norms and practices for the media that would emanate from the meeting.

He hoped the document would complement existing laws which would empower the media and provide the frameworks for other stakeholders to check media excesses in their respective countries where such frameworks.

"The process of evolving a responsible media sector in the region will not be successful without the support of member states. Therefore, on behalf of the president of the republic, I promise the support of the government of the republic of Ghana for the implementation of whatever outcomes that may emanate from the meeting."

Author: Ama Achiaa A. Baafi

  Monday, July 12, 2010

Accra, July 12, GNA - A two-week training session for Tax Officers from Anglophone ECOWAS countries began in Accra on Monday.

The first training session on Value Added Tax (VAT) being jointly undertaken by ECOWAS Commission and VAT Secretariat in Ghana is being attended by participants from Liberia, Gambia and Sierra Leone.

It would focus on Ghana VAT Legislation and offer an opportunity to the participants for interactive discussion with Ghanaian VAT officials.

Mr George Vincent Blankson, Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) said it was to train trainers for the various countries.

He said the first training required Ghanaians to broaden their minds to exchange and share ideas towards development.

"There is no need for Ghanaians to seek for expert information anywhere, since the experts abound in West Africa; nobody can understand this environment more than us," he said.

Mr Salifou Tiemtore, Programme Officer for Public Finance and Taxation of ECOWAS Commission, said to strengthen the customs union there was the need for countries to adopt Common External Tariff (CET).

He said CET should be accompanied by harmonisation of the indirect domestic tax legislation, to ensure consistency between external and domestic taxation.

Mr Tiemtore pointed out that the implementation and harmonisation of VAT, within the region would facilitate and make national systems compatible and consistent, to avoid discrimination to trade and competition among Member States.

He explained that harmonisation of internal indirect taxation would contribute to the development of trade among Member States and in addition,  promote transparency and coherence of the sub-region's fiscal system as well as enhancing greater visibility of businessmen.

Mr Tiemtore said compatibility and coherence of tax legislations would enhance the confidence of economic operators who were the main actors for the economic integration among Member States.

He noted that one of the commitments made by ECOWAS Commission was the study tour to three different jurisdictions to learn the best practices in VAT implementation.

Mr Anthony Minlah, Commissioner, Domestic Tax in Ghana, said since the countries were determined to implement VAT, there was the need for technical know-how to move forward.

He urged the participants to take advantage of the opportunity to impart the knowledge acquired to their colleagues.

GNA

Ghana-Nigeria to renew talks on trade stand-off

Accra, May 24, GNA - Ghana and Nigeria are to renew talks in August, this year to find lasting solution to the stand-off in trade and commerce between them.

Nigeria, for some time now, has banned trade in certain products with Ghana despite her ratification of the West African Protocol on trade liberation, which ensures free movement of goods and services among Member States. 

Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, who announced this, said the current economic realities demanded that both countries worked together in furtherance of integration to reap economies of scale to enable them to face the challenges of globalisation.

He was speaking when Mr Henry Odein Ajumogobia, Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs paid a courtesy call on him in Accra on Monday.

Mr Ajumogobia is leading top-level Nigerian Government delegation to the African Union (AU) Day celebration in Accra as part of activities marking the centenary celebration of the birth of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, a foremost Pan-Africanist.

Alhaji Mumuni noted that Ghana and Nigeria shared historic bonds in terms of trade and language and there was therefore the need to sustain such bonds for their mutual benefits.

He said the presence of the Nigerian delegation at the AU Day was a demonstration of the cordiality of relations between both countries.

Alhaji Mumuni recalled pre-independence era in Africa when Ghana and Nigeria spearheaded the Continent's liberation agenda.

"Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Namdzi Azikiwe were some of Dr Nkrumah's colleagues who championed the liberation agenda on the Continent," he said.

Alhaji Mumuni noted that both countries had continued to play leading roles in championing continental peace during the post-independence era.

He congratulated Mr Ajumogobia on his appointment as Nigerian Foreign Minister and pledged to work with him to promote the common interests of both countries.

Mr Ajumogobia said "he was elated to be in Ghana to celebrate the birth of a Great Son on the Continent".

He said Dr Nkrumah's contributions benefited many people on the Continent and his ideology was still relevant now as it was over five decades ago.

Mr Ajumogobia called on Ministers of Foreign Affairs on the Continent to work together to prosecute a post-liberation agenda.

He expressed the Nigerian Government's appreciation to President John Evans Atta Mills for being one of the first leaders on the Continent to visit Nigeria to mourn with them on the death of President Musah Umar Yar'dua.

GNA