Access To Information...
Point News <mailto:[log in to unmask]> (Banjul)
July 17, 2000
Banjul - Access to Government information is elusive to the private press.
Government is known to favour the state-owned media (and not government media as
wrongly believed in certain quarters). The private media is left unattended in
its right to seek for information.
And terribly so, if one considers its marginalisation and exclusion in "national
events". It is not welcomed at State House nor Kanilai except for the publicity
associated with a visiting Head of State. In a normal government set up, all
events of the year are programmed and media organisations are given info-sheets
containing the proposed events so that coverage needs and assignments are
planned and implemented. Impromptu events such as visits, press conferences and
the like are regularly added to the info sheets.
The above allows for preparedness and allocation of both human and material
resources by various media houses.
It is incumbent on the Government to open its doors to the media, and to be
prepared to respond to queries from the media as can be verified in the
Constitution. The Constitution under which this Government is governing has no
ambiguity as far as the role of the media is concerned. Section 207 of the
Constitution provides that the media should uphold the responsibility and
accountability of the Government to the People of The Gambia. So, our role is
well defined and very clear.
The Government has recently made public its decision to have a media committee
with spokespersons with the Information Secretary leading the way. This implies
that Government was now ready to address any queries from the media. We are
forced to note that since its inception only two encounters, on the students'
riots, were organised.
If confronted with urgent matters for clarification, no one makes an attempt to
clear the air, and when the "bombshell" is brought out in the open, complaints
come from all quarters.
We have seen Government officials choosing organs to voice out some information,
reaction etc. after controversies erupt.
The Constitution that this very Government conceived has given an important task
to the media, that is, to make Government accountable to the people with regards
to what it says, does, fails to do etc...
Access to information is, as can be seen, an important factor in this regard,
and the Government must understand this.
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