Burkina Faso urged to lift media ban on political activities

On May 23, 2015

Dr Frankie Asare Donkoh, Executive Director, PEN Africa Network, has called on the authorities of Burkina Faso to immediately lift the three months suspension of live political broadcast.

Burkina Faso goes to the polls in October after former President Blaise Campaore was forced out of office in a popular uprising in October 2014.

The head of the umbrella body of PEN International Centre in Africa said in a message copied to the Ghana News Agency that the ban automatically renders the preparation towards the impending elections and the election suspicious.

The statement said the ban could affect the results and the peaceful transition the people of Burkina Faso are craving for.

“PAN therefore calls on the interim government and the High Council for Communication (which is the country’s media regulatory body) to immediately remove the ban.

“It infringes on the rights of the people of Burkina Faso to access information on political events,” the statement said.

Source: GNA