By Millicent Yaro
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has descended heavily and vehemently registered its displeasure against the Gambian Government for its lack of respect and disregard for press freedom.
At a press conference in Accra, Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) called on the government of Ghana to intervene in Gambians’ situation so that the freedom of expression that has been curtailed by President Yahya Jammeh can be restored.
He stated that six journalists including a seven (7) month baby nursing mother were convicted on six counts of crime in the name of “defamation and sedition.”
According to him, the conviction was just because a media house in the country had published a press statement that criticized President Yahya Jammeh over a comment he made relating to the slander of Deyda Hydara, a co-proprietor and editor of a newspaper in The Gambia, who was brutally murdered.
Lamenting more on the situation, Mr Karikari was of the view that Deyda Hydara was shot in the head by an unknown gunmen which according to him seems to be unusual to many Gambian citizens.
He said considering the manner in which President Jammeh reacted to the death of this gentleman, it has registered some suspicion in the minds of many in that country that the President may have a hand in the murder of the journalist.
Mr Karikari explained that even though The Gambian Government has done nothing to look for the perpetrators, it has also held the country’s money for the past fourteen years (14) and this, according to him, has undermined the independence of many institutions in the country including the judiciary.
He indicated that many judges have been dismissed from their professions due to the fact that they have refused to compromise with some unscrupulous orders from the Yahya Jammeh’s Government.
This, he stressed, has rendered many judges in The Gambia jobless.
Mr Akoto Ampadu, a Legal Officer for Media Foundation for West Africa, also called for the need for the government of Ghana to intervene.
He said if other countries take the matter on and really do something about the situation President Jammeh will refrain from these unconstitutional practices.
It is in this vein that MFWA charged the Mills-led government to take stringent steps to combat this corrupt President from further committing human rights abuses in The Gambia.
He also warned that if measures are not taken to restore peace in Gambia, the country will go astray owing to the bad governance under Yahya Jammeh.
“So the association is therefore appealing to President Mills and the NDC government to help in any way to get President Jammeh to release the journalists and also to restore freedom of speech in the country,” Mr Akoto Ampadu.
