Journalists
pledge to support regional integration efforts
By Hanah Asomaning, a GNA Correspondent in
Saly, Senegal
Saly, Senegal, June 30, GNA - Selected journalists from the
West African sub-region at a meeting in Saly, Senegal, have
underscored the need for African media practitioners to rise
up and support regional integration efforts.
The journalists discussed the obstacles, failures,
potentials and success of regional integration, especially
in the West African sub-region.
The Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) organised the regional
workshop which was on the Economic Partnership Agreements
negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
It was on the theme: “Negotiations between the EU and ECOWAS;
where does the West African Press Stand”.
Participants were drawn from Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Nigeria
and Benin.
The group identified lack of understanding about regional
integration issues as one of the major obstacles.
They also mentioned harassment from customs officials at the
airports and on the borders as part of the reason for the
failure of regional integration in West Africa.
Participants called for more education on regional
integration for instance transport infrastructure so as to
ensure quality roads and rail systems for free movement of
goods and people.
The workshop gave birth to a network named: “West African
Network of Economic Journalists (WANEJ) to ensure the
effective sharing of information among economic journalists
in the sub-region.
GNA
