THE MEDIA HAS A MAJOR ROLE TO PLAY ON PEACE & SECURITY- WACSI director

By Elizabeth Owusu-Kissi, AIF News Reporter

The Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Mrs. Nana Asantewa Afadzinu in her response to a question asked by the host of the “Africa In Focus” Show, Emmanuel K Bensah Jr, said, the media – as part of the civil society – has a major role to play in setting the agenda on the issue of ‘Peace and Security’ in Africa in relation to the subject ‘Responsibility to Protect’.

The interview session, which was held at Eastgate Hotel – a platinum sponsor of the Africa In Focus show --, solicited the facts and realities on ground on issues affecting Africa.

Mrs. Afadzinu said, the primary responsibility to protect the citizens of a country lies with the State. However, the media, including other parts of civil society groups, play salient roles in communicating and creating awareness on ordinary people’s right of protection. She added that it is important the media exerts pressure on the government to protect their rights and the public.

Addressing the issue of Boko Haram, Nana said Boko Haram is a threat not only to Nigeria but also to Africa as a whole because the term ‘Boko Haram’ can not only be found in Nigeria alone but its roots can be traced in most communities in Africa; hence the need to fight the canker as a general problem facing Africa and not Nigeria alone.

She explains ‘ it’s a regional problem and must be dealt with at all levels including the communities’. She added we must involve the community and address the economic, social and political issues emulating into this canker we face as Boko Haram.

Pressed on what to do to prevent people’s right from being violated, she explained “We need more than NGOs to help; we need political bodies, religious bodies along with the media in the civil society to help set the agenda to protect.”

ENDs