By Yunus S Saliu
As preparation for the Gambia presidential election gradually taking the center stage in The Gambia, Mai Media in collaboration with Friedrich Eberto Stiftung – a Peace and Security Centre of Competence, Sub-Saharan Africa office have trained over scores of journalists in the country on the role of media in peaceful elections coverage.
The 3-day training seminar funded by the Peace and Security Centre of Competence, Sub-Saharan Africa office brought together some gate keeping and political affairs reporters to participate in the seminar. And trainers included Lamin Sam Jaiteh of UK Metropolitan University; who presented election violence around Africa (Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal) and also hate speech and elections – UK experience. Other presenters were Pa Makan Khan, Communication Director IEC who discussed the IEC elections code of conduct and Dr Adekunle of University of The Gambia presentation centered on the concept of elections in Africa’s development, respectively.
More so, the erudite historian, Hassoum Ceesay, director general of the Gambia National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) took the participants round the history of elections in The Gambia (from 1947 to date) while Saikou Jammeh of Open Media Centre presentation was on code of conduct for elections reporting.
Addressing participants at the training seminar, Justice Haddy Roche described the media as “all times a peace builder,” which primary function is to inform, educate, and raise awareness “so that better decisions and actions can be taken for peaceful co-existence.”
She noted that people who are ill-informed and unaware will feel negated and insecure, and might resort to aggressive ways to be heard, which will cause tension and conflict. “The information and education provided by the media is a catalyst for political participation and free expression, which if absent, prevented, or restricted can cause conflict,” she emphasized.
Justice Roche disclosed that the right to vote is best exercised by the well informed voter. Saying John F. Kennedy, former US president emphasized that the ignorance of one voter impairs the security or all. “Thus, at election times, the media guard against the misinformation and brainwashing of voters by educating voters about the candidates and their manifestos, and about the electoral process in general, which helps voters develop the necessary political awareness to make informed choices,” she explained.
Among other media functions, she said the media also scrutinizes candidates, the electoral management process, and all disputes and human rights abuses pertaining to the elections. And the media in its peace building role therefore ensures transparent and credible elections, which makes it an indispensable part of the electoral process.
The Justice stated that reports about past elections in Kenya for example, remind of everyone that the media can abdicate is important duty as peace builder, leading to tragic loss of valuable lives and displacements, as it was reported that media organizations amplified hate speech that triggered the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya.
“Also, the media in Ivory Coast was accused of inciting hatred and conflict during the 2010 presidential elections, and is blamed for the bloody conflict that followed the elections, resulting in thousands of casualties,” she added.
In her presentation, she as well deliberated on the independence of the independent electoral commission (IEC) as guaranteed by section 43 assists the media in its peace building role and another important thing also is passing of the Access To Information Bill 2021saying it “will allow the media access to vital information to help voters make informed decisions.”
She however lamented that sometimes media fail in its peace building duty, and hence the reason why the organization search for common ground following its activities in Burundi, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Democractic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda identified five key principles/guidelines for responsible coverage of elections in Africa.
She continued that the five principle/guidelines will strengthen the peace building role of the Gambian media in times of elections, and it include to be well informed about the electoral process, laws, rules and regulations; report the facts, and report them in a timely manner; verifying of all information received; presentation of platforms of all candidates equally and give voice to all parties and voters.
However, the vice president of the Gambia Press Union, Muhammed MS Bah enjoined colleagues to let the training have impact in their work especially now that all activities in the country gear towards the 4th December election.
He applauded the organizer Mai Media for the training opportunity accorded Gambia journalists in this crucial time while thanking the Peace and Security Centre of Competence, Sub-Saharan Africa office funding the seminar.
Adji Khady Ndiaye, program Manager of Friedrich Eberto Stiftung office of Security Competence, Sub-Saharan Africa made a special remarks through online.