The
Ecowas Commission has recently sensitised radio journalists from different West
African countries to embrace conflict prevention and peace building programmes
as prescribed in the Ecowas Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF).
The daylong sensitisation workshop was held at
the Ecowas Parliament in Abuja, Nigeria, on 24 November 2016.
Speaking
at the forum, ECOWAS Director of Political Affairs, Dr Aderemi Ajibewa, told
the participants to be collaborators in the renewed efforts at creating a more
peaceful environment in West Africa.
The
programme officer, conflict prevention, Constant Gnacadja, urged the
journalists to create more awareness of the ECPF among community citizens and
be partners in actualising the objectives of the media component of the ECPF in
the face of emerging trends in conflict transformation.
The
Gambian participant at the forum, Yusupha Bojang, manager of Kaira Nyining
Community Radio, told The Point newspaper that the forum had enhanced their
capacities to understand and inform the public about Ecowas policies and
activities in regional integration, democracy, peace and security.
Mr
Bojang, who is also the national coordinator of the Network of Community Radios
of The Gambia, said they were introduced to the ECPF which serves as a guide
for enhancing cohesion and synergy on conflict prevention and peace building
initiatives in Ecowas member states.
At
the end of the workshop, the participants expressed a strong desire to improve
their collaboration with the Ecowas Commission in the areas of peace building
and conflict prevention.
Mr
Bojang said they had also suggested for increased visibility and advocacy for
the ECPF in member states and the creation of a network of journalists on peace
building and conflict prevention.
