Journalist detained for article on Ivorian president’s wealth

 Joseph Gnahoua Titi, managing editor of the Aujourd'hui newspaper, appeared before an examining magistrate in Cote d’Ivoire for “disseminating false information" and “libel against the head of state.”

 Before being arrested and detained at the Abidjan Remand Home and Prison on July 29, Titi was summoned together with his editor-in-chief, Séverine Blé, on July 28. The two were summoned to explain a publication in Aujourd'hui. Titi was questioned for nearly five hours.

 The said article, published on July 21 and titled "President Ouattara is extremely rich. His wealth is estimated at 17 billion US dollars,” allegedly “impugned the integrity” of Ivorian President Alassanne Ouattara.

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.

Detained journalists refused bail again

          

                                               
The Managing Editor and Editor of the privately-owned Independent Observer newspaper Jonathan Leigh and Bai Bai Sesay were on October 29, 2013, again refused bail by a Freetown-based Magistrate Court.

The two journalists who have been charged with 26 counts of seditious and defamatory libel, have spent 13 days in detention since they were arrested on October 18, for publishing an article deemed defamatory to Sierra Leonean President, Ernest Bai Koroma. The case has been adjourned to November 4.

Meanwhile the Sierra Leone Journalists Association (SLAJ) on October 29, embarked on a media blackout to protest the continuous detention of Leigh and Sesay.
According to SLAJ president, Kelvin Lewis, out of the over 40 newspapers published daily, only two were published on that day. The two were the Awareness Times published by the Special Executive Assistant to President Koroma, Dr. Sylvia Blyden and the Standard Times published by one Philip Neville.