The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing its partnership with government-owned media outlets across the region.
The move seeks to promote accurate reporting of ECOWAS activities and counter the growing menace of disinformation.
The initiative, themed “Strategic Engagement with Public Media Actors in Our Member States to Strengthen Collaboration and Positive Coverage of ECOWAS Programmes and to Combat Disinformation in West Africa,” coincides with ECOWAS’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.
At the inaugural high-level consultative meeting in Abuja on Thursday, Hon. Abdou Kolley, Chief of Staff in the Office of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, addressed media leaders from across West Africa. The two-day event, organized in partnership with the Media Foundation for West Africa, marks a significant step towards fostering a stronger alliance between ECOWAS and the media.
In his address, delivered on behalf of ECOWAS President Dr. Omar Touray, Kolley emphasized the vital role of the media in shaping public opinion and influencing the socio-political landscape. He acknowledged the challenges posed by misinformation, particularly on social media, and stressed the importance of accurate media coverage.
“The ECOWAS Commission recognises the media as one of our indispensable and critical stakeholders,” Kolley noted. “As gatekeepers and purveyors of information, we are fully aware of the important role of the media in creating and maintaining goodwill and mutual understanding between the Commission and its people.”
Kolley added, “This explains why the Commission has convened this important stakeholders’ meeting with the heads of government-owned broadcast stations as part of our ongoing efforts to proactively broaden our engagement and strengthen our collaboration with the media towards achieving our common and shared vision as encapsulated by our Vision 2050, on the eve of the celebration of 50 years of our institution.”
The initiative underscores ECOWAS’s commitment to promoting regional integration, peace, and development through effective collaboration with the media. By working together, ECOWAS and government-owned media outlets can combat disinformation and ensure accurate reporting of the organization’s activities, ultimately contributing to a more informed and engaged West African community.
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