The
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Gambia Press Union (GPU), in
collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communications
Infrastructure (MoICI) of The Gambia, have commenced a comprehensive media sector
reform initiative in The Gambia.
The
initiative, which forms part of efforts to support and strengthen the Gambian
media sector to contribute effectively to the democratic transition processes
in the country also involves Denmark-based International Media Support (IMS)
and Gambia Media Support (GAMES), which is also based in Denmark.
As
an initial step for the process, a 12-member group of local and international
media experts that includes media managers, editors, regulators, academics,
lawyers and policymakers has been constituted. The group is co-chaired by Ms.
Isha Davies, Director of the Gambia Information Service (GIS) representing the
MoICI and Bai Emil Touray, President of the GPU.
Through
a series of workshops and consultations, the expert group will come up with a
comprehensive strategic framework that will guide the entire media sector
reform process in The Gambia. As part of the process, the MFWA has seconded a
Senior Programme Officer, Vivian Affoah, to the Gambia to work with the GPU.
To
kick-off the process, the expert group is holding a three-day workshop at the
Djembe Hotel from June 6 to 8, 2017. This will be followed by other workshops
and consultations by the group in the coming weeks.
The
framework that will be produced by the group will be presented to stakeholders
during a major forum at the end of June. The forum will bring together other
local and international stakeholders including the ECOWAS and the UN Office for
West Africa.
Commissioning
the expert group at the beginning of its initial three-day workshop, the
Minister for Information and Communication Infrastructure, Hon. Demba Ali Jawo
commended the initiative and indicated the full support of his Ministry and the
government of The Gambia.
“A media sector reform process has to be
comprehensive and this is why the Ministry of Information and Communication
Infrastructure is very supportive of this initiative,” said the Minister.
The
strategic framework that is being worked on by the expert group will look into
key issues such as legal and policy reforms, media capacity building,
institutional development of local actors and media, transformation of the
state broadcaster into a public service broadcaster, among others.
Commenting
on the initiative, Secretary General of the GPU, Saikou Jammeh, said: “The GPU
is delighted about this joint initiative with the MoICI, MFWA, IMS, and GAMES.
The process has been very inclusive and as GPU, we feel we have been empowered
to lead a process that is ultimately about the development of our country.”
The
commencement of the comprehensive media sector reform process in The Gambia
follows an initial post-election assessment mission by the partners from March
18 to 25, 2017 during which a meeting was held with the Gambian President, Mr.
Adama Barrow and other senior government officials.
During
the initial mission and subsequent to that a series of meetings have been held
with the Minister for Information and Communication Infrastructure, Hon. Demba
Ali Jawo, the leadership of the GPU, the Director General of the Gambia Radio
and Television Services, editors and affiliate groups of the GPU.
“We
are working on a process that will be locally-owned from conception and
locally-driven in implementation. It is therefore great to have the GPU and the
Ministry of Information leading the process while we offer the needed support,”
said Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the MFWA.
