Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Representatives of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), The German Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Esteemed Trainers and Facilitators, Distinguished Journalists and Media Professionals, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you to this important Media Training Workshop on Information Integrity for Journalists in ECOWAS Member States, holding here in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
On behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, and the entire ECOWAS family, I extend warm greetings and reaffirm our collective commitment to fostering peace, stability, and democratic governance in our region. Allow me to also express our sincere appreciation first to H.E The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Brigadier (Rtd) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, and the government and people of Sierra Leone for the warm reception we have received since our arrival at Lungi and Freetown, and the excellent facilities made available for this training. May I take this opportunity to also extend our immense gratitude to the GIZ and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) for their unwavering support to this program; Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), for its technical expertise and dedication to strengthening media capacity; our facilitators and trainers, who bring rich experience to this workshop, and finally, to you, the journalists, for your courage, commitment, and readiness to stand for the truth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we are all aware, the media is a powerful institution — shaping perceptions, amplifying voices, and safeguarding democratic space. Yet, today, the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation poses serious threats to our societies. These challenges erode public trust, exacerbate conflicts, and undermine the democratic gains we have worked so hard to achieve.
Research and our own experience at the ECOWAS Commission clearly show the link between information disorder and instability. This is why ECOWAS Vision 2050 commits us to five pillars: Peace and Security; Enhanced Economic Integration; Strengthened Democratic Governance; Social Inclusion; and a Sustainable Environment and Climate Action — all of which depend on a well-informed and ethically grounded media sector.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This workshop exemplifies the power of partnership. ECOWAS, in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and with support from the GIZ Organizational Development Programme funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is implementing a series of trainings across our Member States. Following the success of similar sessions in Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia this week, we are now proud to extend this initiative to Sierra Leone. Together, we are taking proactive steps to empower journalists with knowledge, skills, and tools to counter misinformation, promote responsible journalism, and uphold information integrity.
Over the next two days, this training will:
- Equip journalists to identify mis- and disinformation actors, understand their influence, and counter anti-democratic narratives.
- Build proficiency in fact-checking, open-source intelligence (OSINT), and digital security.
- Explore the innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) in tracking and analyzing harmful narratives.
- Strengthen conflict-sensitive reporting and peace journalism practices.
- Foster Media and Information Literacy (MIL) strategies to empower audiences.
- Build lasting networks of collaboration between ECOWAS, national media institutions, and journalists across the region.
By the end of this workshop, we expect participants to emerge better equipped to:
- Analyze and debunk disinformation and anti-democratic narratives.
- Conduct ethical investigations into human rights abuses and hold perpetrators accountable.
- Ensure their own digital security and uphold the highest ethical standards in their reporting.
- Serve as champions of peace, democracy, and inclusive development in their communities.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In an era of rapidly evolving technologies and information ecosystems, journalists remain our first line of defence for truth and democracy. With your pens, microphones, and cameras, you influence how citizens understand the issues that shape their lives. This is both a privilege and a profound responsibility.
This training is not merely about building skills; it is about forging a culture of integrity, accountability, and collaboration. I urge you to embrace the sessions with openness and curiosity, to exchange best practices with your peers, and to take the lessons back to your newsrooms and communities.
In conclusion, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, I wish you a productive and transformative workshop. Together, let us strengthen the pillars of peace, democracy, and sustainable development in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and beyond.
With these brief remarks, I declare this two-day training duly opened.
“KABO” Merci Beaucoup, Muito Obrigado and I thank you for your kind attention.