The Gambia Press Union,
with support from the British Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office, over the weekend held a two-day sensitisation on access to information
and media self-regulation for community radio broadcasters.
Held from the 12th to 13th February, 2021 in Yundum, the awareness raising event seeks to broaden the knowledge and understanding of community broadcasters on access of information (ATI) and the working of the Media Council of The Gambia (MCG).
It is also meant to enhance local communities’ knowledge and understanding of ATI and media self-regulation and why they are important in Gambia's democratic processes.
The ATI Bill, which is currently in parliament, is an opportunity for the public to utilize their right to know, the President of the Gambia Press Union, Sheriff Bojang Jr., said at the opening on Friday.
“What the ATI bill seeks to do is to open a window of opportunity for people to have access to information, to further the processes of transparency, accountability, and to strengthen the democratic gains,” Bojang said.
The sensitisation for community broadcasters is a part
of a series of activities aimed at strengthening ongoing efforts at building a national
consensus on ATI and media self-regulation.
Yusupha Bojang, the President of the Network of
Community Radio Broadcasters, said community radio stations have a central role
to play in the Gambia’s development process.
“Our objective at the Council is to have a vibrant and
independent media in The Gambia,” its Executive Secretary Junkung Jobarteh
said. “…and that cannot happen if there is not some form of oversight on the
excesses of the media in the country.”