The event was organised by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) alongside Centre for Democratic Development in Ghana.
The two-day forum, commencing 18th – 19th October, 2022 at Alisa Hotel Accra, Ghana, attracted media personalities, governance and human rights actors. The participants are expected to discuss trending issues around media, freedom of expression and the recent democratic recession in West Africa.
The forum forms part of activities under the MFWA Regional Coalition to get ECOWAS streamline media in its interventions.
While in Ghana, Bah is also expected to attend the West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) slated for 20 – 22 October. This year’s awards has a Gambian entry, who is among the finalists at the West Africa Migration Reporting Category in the person of Yero S. Bah, a reporter for Mansa Banko Online.
In an interview with The Point, Bah said it’s a great forum for the development of media in West Africa, acknowledging that media freedom is vital in the fight against the current democratic recession in West Africa.
“We have a role to play and it is important to have better media laws that will enhance the work of the media. The media should use a knowledge-based approach and the ECOWAS officials present in the forum have given their assurance to streamline the various recommendations coming from the forum."
The forum, he added, would avail him the opportunity to look into the problems the media faces in various countries within the sub-region and how the media can be proactive towards ensuring a strong democratic society.
