TOGO: Media protests closure of radio stations

Most privately-owned radio stations and newspapers in Lome, capital of West African nation of Togo on March 10, 2011 suspended their normal activities in protest against the continuous closure of three radio stations since December 2010. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)’s correspondent in Togo reported that while the radio stations played music throughout the day, the newspapers, with the exception of state-owned daily Togo Presse and the privately-owned Forum de la Semaine, were not on the newsstands. The correspondent said the decision of the journalists to suspend their programmes followed a declaration of “No Press Day” by the media group, SOS Journalistes en danger, to pressurise the Posts and Telecommunications’ Regulatory Authority (ART&P) to allow the stations to operate. The radio stations, namely X-Solaire, Metropolys and Providence, were closed down on December 29, 2010 by the ART& P following accusations of operating illegally since they did not have the required registration documents and standard broadcasting equipment. Since the closure of the stations, there has been a series of press conferences and demonstrations for them to be reopened but have all fallen on deaf ears. Source: Madi Njie, AfricaNews reporter in Serekunda, Gambia < Prev   Next >