Day: May 5, 2023

An Afrobarometer survey findings report released as part of activities marking this year’s World Press Freedom Day shows an increase in support for media freedom in Africa.

The report indicated that a majority of Africans endorse the media’s ‘right to publish any views and ideas without government control,’ rejecting the idea that a government should be able to prevent the media from publishing ‘things that it disapproves of.’

It revealed that support for media freedom was the majority view in 31 of 36 surveyed countries and had increased by 12 percentage points across 30 countries tracked since 2014/2015.

The report shows that majorities in 36 surveyed countries endorse the media’s watchdog role in investigating and reporting on government mistakes and corruption.

The data also shows that a majority of Africans assess their country’s media as ‘somewhat’ or ‘completely’ free.

But Gabon, Eswatini, the Ivory Coast, and Cameroon register large majorities who describe their country’s media as ‘not very free’ or ‘not at all free.’

Key findings of the survey revealed that on average across 36 African countries, two-thirds (65 per cent) of citizens ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that the media should have the right to publish any views and ideas without government control.

This includes more than three-fourths of citizens in Mauritius (84 per cent), Seychelles (84 per cent), Gabon (79 per cent), and Botswana (77 per cent).

On average across 30 countries surveyed in both 2014/2015 and 2021/2022, support for media freedom has increased by 12 percentage points.

The report said support for free media had more than doubled during this period in Senegal (from 27 per cent to 73 per cent), while 17 other countries also record double-digit increases.

It said almost three quarters (73 per cent) of citizens ‘agree’ or ‘strongly agree’ that the media while 25 per cent say, ‘too much reporting on negative events, like government mistakes and should constantly investigate and report on government mistakes and corruption, corruption, only harms the country’.

It said close to six in 10 (58 per cent) say the media in their country was ‘completely’ or ‘somewhat’ free.

It noted that perceived media freedom was highest in Tanzania (81 per cent), The Gambia (79 per cent), Tunisia (76 per cent), and Mauritania (75 per cent).

The 36 countries covered in the report include Mauritius, Sudan, Eswatini, Guinea, Morocco, Niger, the Ivory Coast, South Africa, Malawi, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Seychelles and Mauritania.

Others are Zambia, Liberia, Madagascar, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Lesotho, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso and Benin.

The rest are Cabo Verde, Nigeria, Gabon, The Gambia, Senegal, Angola, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, Namibia, Uganda and Mali.

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable research findings.

Afrobarometers national partners conduct face-to-face data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life.

Eight survey rounds in up to 39 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 9 surveys of 1,2002,400 adult citizens.

Samples of this size yield country level results with margins of error interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples of +/-2 to +/-3 percentage points at a 95 per cent confidence level.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Anthony Appiah, the Dormaa Divisional Police Commander, has stated the need , to maintain security in Dormaa, as the area continued to spread fast with new sites.

‘Maintaining security in such places is thus crucial,’ ACP Appiah said, and courted the support of the public for efficient service delivery to ensure the best protection of lives and property in the country.

ACP Appiah was speaking to the media after a durbar organised by the Dormaa Central Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the local leadership of Organised Labour to commemorate the ‘May Day’ at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Bono Region.

The police officer underscored the need for public support such as volunteering information about miscreants and strangers of suspicious characters in the communities to the Police.

This is very vital, he said, for swift action to prevent criminals from operating.

ACP Appiah assured residents of the municipality and its environs the Divisional Police Command was working hard for the prevalence of peace and tranquillity so that socio-economic activities would accordingly progress.

In that regard, he said the local Formed Police Unit (FPU) had been working to strengthen security by patrolling highways and border communities not only in the Dormaa Central area but Dormaa East and West Districts as well to check criminal activities to protect lives and properties of residents.

‘This Unit is linked up with colleagues at Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West and Wamfie in the Dormaa East and the Berekum enclave to fight robbery,’ he emphasised.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ministry of Roads and Highways have consulted traditional authorities and other relevant agencies and organisations in the Western Region on the proposed Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project.

The highway project, envisioned by the ECOWAS Commission would link five countries: Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire to promote economic integration, growth while, enhancing free movement among the member countries of the ECOWAS.

The highway, spanning a length of about 1028 kilometres would run through the major economic centres of the five countries and would make way for bypasses, overpasses and interchanges to ensure the maximum safety of communities along such significant international project.

Mrs. Rita Ohene Safo, the Project Director and Head of the Policy, Planning and Budget of the Ministry of Roads and Highways told participants that the engagement was to enlighten key stakeholders on the proposed project, solicit their support for the smooth implementation and particularly request the traditional authorities to release lands for the Right of Way from each affected community.

She said, already, the African Development Bank with support from the European Union had set aside a seed capital while, all five countries are expected to contribute some one million dollars, ‘we are still seeking investor support to enable some work to start probably the latter part of 2024.’

She said the highway, with a three -lane and dual carriageway had components such as feasibility and detailed engineering, road safety Audit, PPP Structuring and Transaction Advisory Audit and a Management Authority to aid in the realization of the tenets of the proposed project.

In the meantime, participants expressed concern for rail development as against road network where heavy trucks had always shortened it lifespan, they also called on assemblies to work with their laws on spatial development to avoid uncontrolled development.

Nana Kobena Nketiah V, the Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, noted the need for the project implementing unit to consult with the National Development Planning Commission.

He said the country was in need of a focused and detailed plan to shape the future development aspirations and fortunes of generations to come.

Obrempong Himaa Dekyi, the Omanhene of Lower Dixcove, prayed that much attention would be given to the revival of the Rail systems in the country.

Other concerns were the need for the assemblies to revert to the name: Town and Country Planning as against Physical Planning Unit to remind officers to uphold proper development in communities and towns.

Awulae Attibrukusu, the Omanhene of Axim was not happy with the unauthorized erection of rumps on many Highways in the country by Community members which was rather increasing the spate of crashes on the road.

Currently, Ghana has over 11,000 speed rumps with many being unauthorized and Community initiated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Angolan ambassador to Namibia Jovelina Imperial highlighted Friday in Windhoek the importance of promoting and internationalising the Portuguese Language in the world, ahead of the 5th of May, World Day of the Portuguese Language.

The diplomat was speaking during an interview on the Breakfast and Desert Programme, on The Namibian Radio, also attended by the ambassadors of Brazil and Portugal.

Jovelina Imperial said that Angola, as President “Pro Tempore” of the CPLP, has been developing activities, aimed at making Portuguese better known and spoken in different spheres of work, mainly in international organisations.

She pointed out, as an example, that more than 100,000 people in Namibia speak Portuguese, and it is one of the preferred languages in Namibian schools.

May 5 was established by UNESCO in 2019, as World Portuguese Language Day.

Portuguese Language is the fourth most spoken in the world.

This year the date is being celebrated under the motto: “Realities, challenges and opportunities in the space of the Portuguese language”.

The Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) is an organisation made up of nine countries.

They are Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)