In a stirring address that reverberated through the halls of Mensvic Grand Hotel in Accra, Ghana, human rights lawyer Gloria Mabeiam Ballason delivered a powerful message on the pressing need for media freedom and civic expression across Africa.
The event, held on October 9, 2024, brought together activists and media defense lawyers from across West Africa, setting the stage for a crucial dialogue on countering obstacles to press freedom and combating impunity on the continent.
Ballason, the Chief Executive Officer of House of Justice, Nigeria, began her speech by invoking the spirit of Ghana’s independence and the pan-African dream:
“Our feet have touched Ghana. It is sacred ground. It is the soil upon which our beloved Osagyefo Kwame Nkurumah pumped his fist in the air as he drew the first whiff of breath of freedom. Yet as triumphant as that moment was, he was dissatisfied because the Independence of Ghana was, in his view, meaningless until it linked up with the total liberation of the African continent.”
She went on to paint a vivid picture of the continent’s struggle for emancipation, highlighting the roles of both male and female activists who fought for a united and prosperous Africa. However, Ballason quickly reflected on the stark reality of present-day challenges:
“Decades after, we are steeped in a critical discourse on how to counter legal obstacles to rights violations and impunity in not just West Africa but the entire continent.”
The seasoned lawyer with track record of defending human rights emphasized the crucial role of media freedom in democratic societies, describing it as a “sine qua non for democracy” and a “basic human right.” She elaborated on its importance:
“No nation, region or continent can hope to develop democratically without free expression, free publication and free distribution and exchange of ideas and opinions. Democratic societies can only function sustainably when people are well informed, able to access and share information and can debate ideas devoid of fear.”
Ballason didn’t shy away from addressing the myriad challenges faced by media practitioners in West Africa. She listed obstacles such as excessive registration requirements, harassment of journalists, and attempts to over-regulate traditional media and the internet. The lawyer also highlighted positive developments, citing landmark court cases that have upheld media freedom:
“In the Amnesty International, Togo and Others V. The Togolese Republic case, the ECOWAS Court found that ‘access to the internet is a ‘derivative right’ as it ‘enhances the exercise of freedom of expression; hence, internet access is a ‘right that requires protection of the Law’ and any interference with it ‘must be provided for by the law specifying the grounds for such interference’.”
Turning to the broader issue of civic expression, Ballason underscored its significance in empowering citizens and ensuring accountability:
“Civic expression encompasses the right to voice opinions on social, political and economic issues. It is central to a functioning democracy and important for many reasons including empowering citizens to influence public policy, governance participation and reforms advocacy.”
The lawyer didn’t mince words when addressing the elephant in the room – impunity. She described it as a cancer eating away the fabric of African societies
“The failure to hold violators of human rights accountable is a regional and continental concern. The absence of legal consequences for individuals, groups or institutions responsible for acts such as corruption, torture, extrajudicial killings or abuse of power not only undermines the rule of law but impinges on the effectiveness of justice systems.”
Ballason’s speech took on a more personal and impassioned tone as she reflected on the current state of leadership in Africa:
“Today our leaders have been paralytically hit by individualism, avarice and corruption. They take more pride in living above the Law and putting others beneath it. Even our regional Court suffers from the impunity of our leaders whose compliance with judgments are in breach than in compliance.”
Despite the grim picture, the lawyer offered hope and a call to action. She proposed several “organic remedies” to address the challenges facing media freedom and civic expression in Africa:
- Ethical media reporting that transcends national boundaries and sets an agenda for deepening democracy.
- Making corruption and misuse of public funds obsolete through collective resistance and higher leadership standards.
- Ensuring state compliance with regional court decisions in good faith.
- Fostering regional unity and solidarity that translates into tangible development.
Ballason concluded her speech with a rallying cry for action and optimism:
“We must organize more than agonize. We must, in the words of Patrice Lumumba, never doubt for a moment the triumph that can result from the sacred cause of history’s trust. We must grease our atrophied hope with action and positivity. A region of our dreams is possible.”
As the applause died down in the Mensvic Grand Hotel, the gravity of Ballason’s words hung in the air. Her speech not only highlighted the challenges facing media freedom and civic expression in Africa but also charted a course for a brighter, more democratic future. The gathered activists and lawyers left the event with renewed determination to turn her words into action, carrying the torch of freedom and accountability across the continent.
