Ghana ALERT: Radio station attacked for defying censorship orders

Angry youth numbering about 30 on February 17, 2014, stormed the premises of Gift FM a privately owned radio station at Dormaa Ahenkro - a town in the Brong Ahafo region.

The action of the youth followed a news item aired on an alleged banishment of one Fred Yeboah, by the Dormaa traditional council.

Kwabena Boahene, station manager of Gift FM told the MFWA, the chief of Dormaa, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Nana Agyeman Badu (II) at a gathering on February 17, announced the banishment of Yeboah who is the general manager of the Presbyterian Hospital in the town. The chief then cautioned media men present at the gathering not to carry any news item on the banishment.

Reasons for the action of the chief were not disclosed and remain unknown.

“Because we defied the chief’s orders, the youth attacked us and caused extensive damage to our property and even wanted to set fire to the station with a gallon of petrol they came along with.”, Boahene said.

Gambians Rise for Justice

Amie Bojan-Sissoho leading the procession 

 One Billion Rising For Justice, an event being held around world turned out a moment filled with emotions and joy under the unnoticed hot and typical African burning sun in The Gambia, demanding justice in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation and domestic violence.

Done in a style, The Gambia commemorated the event with  a procession and symposium at TANGO offices where hundreds of people women, men, youth groups, institutions and school children rose up to dance, singing very emotional songs.

One Billion Rising for Justice is a global call to women survivors of violence and those who love them to gather safely outside places where they are entitled to justice. Places like courthouses, police stations, government offices, school administration buildings, work places, sites of environmental injustice, military courts, embassies, places of worship, homes, or simply public gathering places.

In The Gambia, GAMCOTRAP, a woman’s right NGO, who have over the years been very active and effective in the promotion of women and children’s rights lead the activity. The organisation is well known for its stance against harmful cultural practices particularly those that relates to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and other discriminatory early practices. They joined the global energy to strike, dance and rise against Violence against women calling for an end to FGM, marriage and other gender discriminatory practices affecting women and men.

One Billion Rising for Justice: An Invitation to Break Pain

Dr Touray flanked on the Left  by Amie Bojang

 14 February globally, is valentine day; a day when lovers renew their love, commitment but this year women and men in The Gambia will rise together in the largest day of mass action ever to rise for justice.

Children, youth, women and men from all walks of life including people with disabilities, are joining the global determination to end the multiple violence’s, a globally coordinated campaign aimed to call to an end of violence against women and girls, according to GAMCOTRAP, a leading women’s rights organization in country.

Thousands of One Billion Rising for Justice Events will take place throughout the world. These events are organized and produced by local activists. It’s the day of synchronized action when one billion people in 207 countries will rise for justice.

BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE is a global call to women survivors of violence and those who love them to gather safely in community outside places where they are entitled to justice – courthouses, police stations, government offices, school administration buildings, work places, sites of environmental injustice, military courts, embassies, places of worship, homes, or simply public gathering places where women deserve to feel safe but too often do not.