JAR Applauds Ghana and Ethiopia’s efforts to Maximize Media

Written by Solomon
Tuesday, 15 March 2011 

Journalists of African Renaissance (JAR) applauded Ethiopian‘s and Ghana’s efforts to work closely with medias concerning the developmental and democratization issues being undertaken in Africa.  The two African nations are better in their efforts to use media for enhancing democracy and good governance and respecting the freedom of media, they said. “Ethiopia is doing its level best to promote its developmental and democratization efforts by understanding the role Media play in informing people on what is going on around, President of JAR Moha Dahir Farah stressed.

In her exclusive interview with us, she said that some emerging democratic nations in Africa like Ghana and Ethiopia are doing better to make amendments in media through giving due respect so that the medias can participate in promoting peace and development within the continent. The Journalists of African Renaissance who actively participated on Africa’s historic movements trainings held in Accra Ghana recently have observed the amendments of Ghana constitution on media context, she said.

According to the organization’s President, it was such historic moment for her to witness Land of Kwame Nkrumah which she calls an African Freedom Fighter from the colonial period. Moha says what really impressed her was the fact that the media is recognized in this country by some of the officials like what I could observe the freedom of media in Ethiopia. She said, Ghanaian President H.E Rawlings admitted to me that the media has the capacity to influence the mass positively and can close its door to dictators in which he said is the bridge between mass and government.

Ms. Moha Dahir Farah also says she was keen to meet the former head of state and other history carriers of Ghana and that of Ethiopian government like Minister Bereket Simon  of Communication Affairs who are committed to promote the African media understanding the role that media plays in building democracy and good governance. She said, the media are trying hard in the continent to have capacity to cover the events bit by bit but still lacks the experience, knowledge and advantage unlike the Western Media, who has opportunities all time available for them. She then call on some African governments to have adequate budget their media’s yearly so the countries and Africa as a whole can develop.

Moha D. Farah said Africa is developing but there is no much investment on African media so far. She therefore for collaboration between the government and the media which can lead to peaceful, stable and developed Africa. She also thanked Ethiopian Minister of Information Mr. Bereket Simon and underlined that he is a person proving his readiness to develop Ethiopian Media and welcomes all African Media to Ethiopia with open hands of hospitality. She likewise praises the government of Ghana for their commitment towards media freedom. “Africa is making rapid political, social and economic advances,” she said, “we, African journalists, must work to promote these values by informing the public”.  JAR was founded two years ago in Addis Ababa under African Union referendum of 12 extra ordinarily section.