June 29
West Africa: Applications Reopened - Investigative Journalism Mentorship Programme for Women
Are you a young female journalism graduate or an early-career journalist passionate about investigative and accountability journalism? Read more »
West Africa: MFWA Mourns Pelumi Onifade As DNA Confirms His Death Nearly Six Years After #EndSARS Protest
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has received with profound sadness the confirmation of death of Pelumi Onifade, the young journalist who disappeared while covering the… Read more »
June 26
West Africa: Herald Editor Bailed a Day After Contempt Jailing Over Publications
The Accra High Court on 26 June 2026 granted bail to Larry Alan Dogbey, an editor of The Herald Newspaper, a day after sentencing him to seven days in prison for contempt of court. Read more »
West Africa: Media Urged to Strengthen Corruption Reporting to Rebuild Public Trust in Accountability Efforts
Journalists in Ghana have been urged to adopt a more issues-oriented framing in reporting on corruption, to prevent partisan narratives from overshadowing substantive… Read more »
June 03
West Africa: Police Enter Newsroom Seeking Editor Over Alleged Cocaine Report
On 1 June 2026, Police in Freetown went to the offices of the newspaper Voice of Salone and demanded that its editor, David Johnson, report to the Criminal Investigation Department… Read more »
Niger: Three Journalists Still Detained Seven Months After Arrest Over Shared Press Invitation
On 30 October 2025, six journalists were arrested in Niamey and and on 3rd November, charged with "disseminating data likely to disturb public order", an offence under Niger's… Read more »
May 31
Burkina Faso: Imam Arrested After Criticising Draft Law On Religious Freedoms
Burkinabè security forces arrested Imam Dr Mohamed Ishaq Kindo, one of the country's most influential Sunni scholars and vice-president of the Sunni Movement of Burkina… Read more »
May 29
West Africa: Junta Suspends Largest Student Union Over Criticism of Security Failures
Burkina Faso's military government has suspended the General Union of Burkinabè Students (UGEB), the country's largest and oldest student organisation, for a renewable… Read more »
May 26
Guinea: Media Regulator Suspends Journalist, Radio Station
On 8 December, 2025, the media regulator for Guinea, the High Authority for Communication (HAC), announced the suspension until further notice of Boubacar Koyla Diallo, host of the… Read more »
May 25
Ghana: Constituency Official of Ruling Party Bars Journalist From Public Event, Issues Threats
Ibrahim Abode, a reporter with Metro TV, was prevented from covering a government project launch in Ghana's Upper East Region on May 19, 2026, after a party official ordered him to… Read more »
West Africa: Regulator Suspends Saudi-Owned TV Station Over Critical Security Reportage
Mali's media regulator has ordered the immediate suspension of the Saudi-owned television channel Al Arabiya, pulling it from all licensed broadcast packages in the country over a… Read more »
West Africa: Opposition Organiser Released Following Arrest Over Facebook Post About Power Cuts
Ghana's Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) on May 12, 2026, released David Essendoh, the Agona West constituency organiser of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), a day… Read more »
May 22
West Africa: Opposition Party Executive Granted Bail After Remand Over Speech Charges
On May 21, 2026, an Accra High Court granted bail to opposition figure Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, ending nine days of detention over criminal charges arising from… Read more »
West Africa: Content Creator Accused of Threatening President in Viral Video Granted Bail
The Accra Circuit Court 2 on Friday, 22 May 2026, granted TikTok content creator Mahama Aminat, also known as Akosua Serwaa Aminat, bail of GH₵1 million (about US$86,000) with… Read more »
May 21
West Africa: Activist Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for 'Inciting Insurrection'
Digital activist Ibrahim Zigui, a member of the PPA-CI, the main opposition party, was sentenced on 18 May 2026 to five years' imprisonment and a fine of 20 million CFA francs… Read more »
West Africa: MFWA Decries Wanton and Discriminatory Use of False News Laws
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) condemns the increasing spate of what appears to be the weaponisation of Section 76 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act… Read more »
May 19
West Africa: Two Journalists, Activist Win Case Against Police in 2023 Protest Brutality
After two years, Ghanaian journalists Bridget Otoo, Vanessa Edotom Boateng, and activist George Gyening Anyang, have won a court case against the Inspector General of Police and… Read more »
May 18
West Africa: Wanamdel Raises Concerns Over Delayed Investigation Into Assault On Member
The West Africa Network of Activists and Media Defence Lawyers (WANAMDEL) is deeply concerned over the apparent lack of progress in investigations into the assault on its member,… Read more »
Cote d'Ivoire: Mayor Placed Under Judicial Supervision After Election Loss Allegations
Assalé Tiémoko Antoine, mayor of Tiassalé and president of the political party Aujourd'hui et Demain la Côte d'Ivoire (ADCI), has been charged by Ivorian… Read more »
May 15
Benin: Prosecutor Seeks Two-Year Prison Term for Journalist Over Facebook Posts
Beninese journalist and women's rights advocate Angela Kpeïdja faces a possible two-year prison sentence, including one year non-suspended, and a fine of one million CFA… Read more »
May 11
Gambia: Police Arrest 15 Activists At Anti-Corruption Group's Anniversary Celebration
The Gambia Police Force has arrested 15 anti-corruption activists from the group Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) on Friday, May 8, 2026, after they gathered inside the Youth… Read more »
West Africa: Media Regulator Suspends Nine French Outlets
Just one week after World Press Freedom Day 2026, Niger's authorities have intensified restrictions on the media landscape with the suspension of nine French international media… Read more »
May 07
Mauritania: Two MPs Jailed for Four Years Over Social Media Posts Criticising President
A court in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott sentenced two members of parliament to four years in prison without parole on May 4, 2026, following charges arising from content they… Read more »
West Africa: Wpfd 2026 - MFWA Founder Calls for Passage of Ghana's Stalled Broadcast Bill
The founder of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Prof. Kwame Karikari, has renewed calls for the imperative of a broadcasting law in Ghana, warning that the continued… Read more »
May 05
Nigeria: Nigeria - Police Arrest 13 Suspects in Relation to Attack On Journalist
Investigative journalist Allwell Ene of Megaletrics Media Group was attacked by a group of men in the Garrison Junction area of Port Harcourt, on April 13, 2026, while… Read more »
