By Iddi
Yire, GNA
Accra, Oct. 16, GNA – Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas,
the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West
Africa and the Sahel, has extolled the media’s role in sustainable development
in Africa.
He said the media wielded considerable influence,
which had been harnessed to empower communities within the West African
Sub-region.
Dr Chambas noted that as a result, the voices
of the most vulnerable were being amplified while people were increasingly
making informed decisions, which were driving much needed changes in their
communities.
He said the media continued to act as
accountability mechanism in strengthening good governance, democracy, peace and
stability within the region.
Dr Chambas made these remarks at the 2018
Edition of West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA),
organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa.
The event, on the theme: “Impacting Lives
Through Media Excellence” sought to honour distinguished journalists from the
Sub-region who were contributing positively to development in diverse ways
through excellence in journalism.
Dr Chambas noted that there had been an
acknowledgement of investigative journalism in the region, which had exposed
patterns of corrupt practices with public and private institutions.
He said furthermore, by constantly inquiring
and informing on progress in implementing political programmes and promises,
the media acted as the crucial link between the people and those in government
and served as a platform for a constructive dialogue.
Dr Chambas said overtime, the media had played
a crucial role in conflict prevention by exposing grievances.
He said those included gross human rights
violations, social injustices, exclusion, discrimination and marginalisation of
communities, which normally constituted the not case of conflict.
He said in underscoring the invaluable
contribution of the media to peace and stability, there was the need to also
remind media professionals of the responsibilities that accrued from the
enviable profession.
Dr Chambas pointed out that while the media
was often a tool for development, it could also easily be instrumentalised to
become a weapon for repression and hate.
“In exercising your freedom of expression, you
must respect the ethics of the profession in line with national and
international standards, while upholding the tenets of responsible journalism,”
he added.
He said responsible journalism should be and
must be encouraged, especially during key political processes in the life of a
nation; adding that within the next two years, some countries in West Africa
would be organising high-staked elections.
He said that the media would be at the centre
of those processes and were expected to play a constructive role; “your
independence and professionalism will be key to their successful outcome,” he
added.
Dr Chambas, therefore, tasked the media to
develop positive narratives that would address threats such as violent
extremism, spur development, and promote peace and stability and pledged the
support of the UN in these endeavours.
GNA