Festus Akanbi
The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) have commended The Gambia’s National Assembly for passing the country’s Access to Information Bill 2021 into law yesterday.
They, however, called on President Adama Barrow to speedily sign the Bill into law to consolidate the restoration of participatory democracy in the country which began with his ascension to power in 2017, following the historic elections of December 2016.
In a joint statement by Executive Director of the GJF, Ms. Ann Iyonu, and MRA’s Executive Director, Mr. Edetaen Ojo, the two organisations noted that “the signing of the Bill into Law by President Barrow will enable the Government of The Gambia to achieve a significant milestone in advancing the right of access to information for Gambians as a fundamental human right guaranteed under several international human rights instruments to which The Gambia is a party, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the I
(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) and Media Rights Agenda (MRA) have called on President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow to speedily sign the Access to Information Bill 2021 into law.
In a joint statement by Ms. Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the GJF, and Mr. Edetaen Ojo, MRA’s Executive Director, the two organizations said the President should promptly assent to the Bill to consolidate the restoration of participatory democracy in the country which began with his ascension to power in 2017, following the historic elections of December 2016.
“The signing of the Bill into Law by President Barrow will enable the Government of The Gambia to achieve a significant milestone in advancing the right of access to information for Gambians as a fundamental human right guaranteed under several international human rights instruments to which The Gambia is a party, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Politic
Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Media Rights Agenda Commend Gambia s National Assembly for Passing Access to Information Bill into Law thenigerianvoice.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenigerianvoice.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ortom
President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration’s commitment to free press, urging the professionals to wield freedom responsibly and without licentiousness.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at an event to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day holding today, the Nigerian leader pointed out that freedom of the press was “an irreducible minimum in a democracy that would flourish, but must be used responsibly.”
He went on: “That everything is permitted does not mean that there are no rules of correctness, particularly in a polity seriously challenged as ours now.
“The media must be sensitive to what we are going through as a country, and anything that would exacerbate the situation should be avoided. The media need to ensure that while informing, educating, entertaining and setting agenda for public discourse, they do not encourage incendiary words and actions that could further hurt our unity in diversity.”
[FILES] Goodluck Jonathan. Photo: ASKTEEKAYFormer President Goodluck Jonathan has enlisted the support of other ex-presidents and Prime Ministers in West Africa to mitigate elections-related conflicts to promote peace in the region.
Mrs Ann Iyonu, Executive Director, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) announced this at a news conference in Yenagoa on Friday. x
Iyonu said that the former leaders’ group christened West African Elders Forum (WAEF) was inaugurated by Jonathan at a virtual meeting held on Thursday.
She said that WAEF was an initiative of the GJF aimed at harnessing the goodwill, expertise and experiences of former leaders to promote peaceful elections and deepen democracy in West Africa.