To stimulate debate on the emerging issues on development and democracy as well as professional journalism locally and in the West African region, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Sierra Leone yesterday started a three- day conference on the way forward at the Miattia Conference Hall, Youyi Building.
The Commonwealth Acting Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Manoah Esipisu said they are here to discuss media in development, which in other words, is to discuss politics and growth which is of importance to the African Continent and the Commonwealth at large.
Mr. Esipisu said expect the forum to stimulate candid dialogue and debate on the issues surrounding the media and development, noting his cognizance of a number of challenges facing communication and development.
He noted, “We live in a globalized world and the fact is that whatever our circumstances globalization and change have not stopped in their tracks to wait for anyone, and that is a challenge we have to deal with.”
He mentioned the issue of bread and butter in the maintenance of the credibility and support of the media to development, and went on to make an analogy of the Sierra Leone scenario, when said, “I thought of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC) which has being created as an independent broadcasting cooperation but the Minister has to find cash to pay for them. So I ask how you balance that he has to find the money to finance what is supposed to be a private entity”.
He noted that such is among things that have to be focused on in a globalized village, pointing out that modernization cannot be fast tracked where there are appropriate and adequate preparedness for its implementation.
“One will not get into fast track if you don’t have a track of some sort to track on the first place.”
The Commonwealth Acting Director of Communications and Public Affairs stated that his organization is at the fore front of promoting the values of democracy, equality human rights and freedom of expressions in all the 54 countries in which they operate, nineteen of which are in Africa including Sierra Leone.
“We play a role in fostering good governance and development which is part of why we talk about media because it is a very essential part of good governance,” he said.
Speaking about the importance of the conference, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Momodu Kargbo said the purpose of the forum is to robustly discuss views on media and to chart the way forward in encouraging the media to actively contribute to national development agenda.
Over the period, he went on; the media has not done sufficiently well in reporting developmental issues noting that the Commonwealth cannot in that vein tell whether it is due to lack of capacity and knowledge on some of the development issues affecting the country, or they have just decided to dodge them to become more political in their reporting. He said these challenges influence coverage of everyday issues that impact on the lives of the people. He expressed hope that during the deliberations participants will be able to provide answers to these concerns in the context of key development issues sinking the country’s progress.
He implored the participants “to look at the strength and weakness of the media by exploring the concept of development journalism, by not forgetting to address the contemporary issues of what can be done to assess the challenges faced by the media and how they can be overcome.”
The Deputy Minister disclosed, “The legal and institutional environment for media freedom is quite in place in Sierra Leone and the government is committed to promoting high standards of media ethics so that we can ensure balance reporting and professional journalism.” He highlighted the role of the media in post conflict reconstruction and peace building in the country in both the social and political front.
In launching the forum, the Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo said efforts have been made by past and present governments to address issues of the media as they relate to good governance.
The Minister said that the government is attempting to open up in terms of governance issues relating to the media and said, “instead of carrying sticks and stones, we have decided to open up which is why as a government, we are giving strength to the Independent Media Commission.”
I.B. Kargbo maintained that since the end of the war, the different governments have regarded the media as an important tool of governance, and noted that even the TRC report placed premium on the importance of freedom of expression. He said the media should be seen as a vehicle for the promotion of human rights.
The forum brought together politicians, parliamentarians, media owners and practitioners- broadcast and print, and civil society in Sierra Leone and around a number of Commonwealth countries to discuss and share views and experiences.
By Betty Milton and Abibatu Kamara
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