By Joseph Edegbo
The Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF, has enjoined journalists to consider as paramount importance, the need to create a clean and green society for the future.
The challenge is in line with the theme of this year’s Press Freedom Day which is ” A Press For the Planet: Journalists in the Face of Environmental Crisis”.
In a statement issued by the AMDF’s Manager Press Freedom, Zhiroh Jatau, emphasized on the onerous task for journalists to promote safe environment.
Doing so, the statement observes, entails intensive investigation and exposure of companies and entities that are involved in negative and exploitation of resources and polluting the earth.
The statement which reminds the public that freedom of the press is imperative for the society to thrive, frowned at the negativity in some countries including Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria and Cape Verde.
According to the statement, from the beginning of this year, about 70 journalists were incarcerated in various African countries arising from investigative stories on corruption, while attacks on the Press in Eritrea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, and Mali, where journalists are detained, and media houses invaded, are increasing.
While frowning at this ugly situation, the statement contends that as the fourth estate of the realm, the Press should be provided a conducive atmosphere to play its role in governance and development.
HEREUNDER IS THE FULL STATEMENT
Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) felicitates with African Journalists on the 2024 Press Freedom Day. It’s a day set aside to uphold the importance of the Press by ensuring freedom, respect, and accountability.
The 2024 Press Freedom theme, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of Environmental Crisis” seeks to draw attention to the importance of the planet earth and the need for journalists to promote safe environment. As such, the need to create a clean and green society for the future should be paramount. This begs for intensive investigation and exposure of companies and entities that are involved in negative exploitation of resources and polluting the earth.
Mindful of the Tripple planetary crisis that impacts human lives, i.e., Climate change, Pollution, and Biodiversity loss, there is an urgent need for the media to stand on its agenda-setting role and push for the protection of the environment.
It is noteworthy, freedom of the Press is imperative for the society to thrive. The press is the voice of the people to their leaders, whether in a democracy or otherwise (knowing our peculiarity in Africa).
Countries like Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria and Cape Verde have provisions in their constitutions that reflect role, or protection for the press, but these legal safeguards do not always translate to full press freedom in practice.
Reports show that at the beginning of 2024 there were about 70 journalists incarcerated in various countries of Africa. Most of them in cases related to investigative stories on corruption. This shows how vulnerable the African journalists are.
It is sad that we continue to witness increasing attack on the press in countries like Eritrea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, and Mali, where journalists are detained, and media houses invaded because of their work.
As the fourth estate of the realm, the Press should be provided a conducive atmosphere to play its role in governance and development.
AMDF therefore calls on African authorities to take more steps towards protecting journalists and provide them the needed space to operate.
Have a great 2024 Press Freedom celebration!”.