The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a groundbreaking initiative to strengthen its collaboration with government-owned media outlets across the region. This strategic move aims to promote accurate reporting of ECOWAS activities and combat the rising threat of disinformation.
The initiative, titled “Strategic Engagement with Public Media Actors in Our Member States to Strengthen Collaboration and Positive Coverage of ECOWAS Programmes and to Combat Disinformation in West Africa,” aligns with the organization’s 50th-anniversary celebrations. It represents a significant effort to enhance media partnerships and ensure that the public receives trustworthy information about ECOWAS’s work.
The inaugural high-level consultative meeting, held in Abuja on Thursday, brought together media leaders from across West Africa. Hon. Abdou Kolley, Chief of Staff in the Office of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, addressed the participants at the two-day event, which was organized in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa. The meeting is seen as a key step in building a stronger alliance between ECOWAS and the media.
In his speech, delivered on behalf of ECOWAS President Dr. Omar Touray, Kolley highlighted the critical role that media plays in shaping public opinion and influencing the socio-political landscape of the region. He acknowledged the growing challenges posed by misinformation, particularly on social media platforms, and underscored the necessity of accurate and responsible media coverage.
Kolley’s address emphasized the importance of this new initiative in ensuring that ECOWAS’s programs are positively and accurately represented. He urged media outlets to work closely with the organization to help foster greater understanding and support for its efforts to promote peace, stability, and development across West Africa.
As ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary, this initiative represents a renewed commitment to strengthening the role of the media as a partner in combating disinformation and enhancing public awareness of the organization’s mission and achievements.
“The ECOWAS Commission recognises the media as one of our indispensable and critical stakeholders,” Kolley noted. “As gatekeepers and purveyors of information, we are fully aware of the important role of the media in creating and maintaining goodwill and mutual understanding between the Commission and its people.”
Kolley added, “This explains why the Commission has convened this important stakeholders’ meeting with the heads of government-owned broadcast stations as part of our ongoing efforts to proactively broaden our engagement and strengthen our collaboration with the media towards achieving our common and shared vision as encapsulated by our Vision 2050, on the eve of the celebration of 50 years of our institution.”
The initiative underscores ECOWAS’s commitment to promoting regional integration, peace, and development through effective collaboration with the media. By working together, ECOWAS and government-owned media outlets can combat disinformation and ensure accurate reporting of the organization’s activities, ultimately contributing to a more informed and engaged West African community.
