By Alex Adi
The first high level meeting of Director-Generals of state-owned broadcast media of ECOWAS member states has ended in Abuja, Nigeria.
Participants have resolved to create permanent ECOWAS desks in all ECOWAS state media. This is to help to disseminate ECOWAS and its activities on all available news platforms. ECOWAS is preparing to celebrate its Golden Jubilee in May 2025, and the regional bloc is seeking a strong media partnership to contribute to the 2050 vision of “ECOWAS of the Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All.” And this is inclusive governance and citizens’ participation in governance and the development process.
It was in the year 2000 that the decision came up to adopt a new ECOWAS information and communication policy. The 14-article paper has, among many others, to establish an ECOWAS Radio and Television station with an agenda to enlighten campaigns on ECOWAS achievements through the approved medium. But that agenda has not materialised after 24 years.
For this reason, interest by citizens in the activities of the member states of ECOWAS has waned and has generated acts of misinformation and disinformation on ECOWAS activities. As part of the overall efforts to achieve the ECOWAS “Vision 2050- ECOWAS of the Peoples: Peace and Prosperity for All”, the ECOWAS commission, through its communication Directorate and with the Media Foundation for West Africa, is reviving this agenda through the establishment of a sustainable regional media network.
And for two days, Director-Generals of TV and Radio stations from ECOWAS member states had in-depth discussions, spelling out their challenges in broadcasting ECOWAS activities. They also deliberated on how to achieve a sustained approach in delivering on their mandates.
The Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof. Amin Alhassan, believes that ECOWAS can do more to enhance the media’s role in contributing to inclusive governance and citizen participation.
A renowned media practitioner and the facilitator for the high-level meeting, Professor Kwame Karikari, said ECOWAS must adopt all the new initiatives discussed and bring them to reality.
At the end of the first high-level meeting, participants resolved to establish a regional network through the creation of permanent ECOWAS desks in the various newsrooms for proper dissemination of ECOWAS news reports.
The Directors-General will also consider setting up a West African Broadcasting Union (WABU), for the purpose of one voice to strengthen communication with ECOWAS, capacity building for ECOWAS journalists, and developing materials for the Golden Jubilee celebrations of ECOWAS.
