ACAF builds capacity of journalists to highlight issues on academic freedom
Report by Ben LARYEA
The Africa Coalition for Academic Freedom (ACAF) has organized a day training workshop for media practitioners to build capacities to enable journalist spearhead academic freedom in Universities across African.
Presentations at the program include “What is academic freedom and why it matters, The Intersection of academic freedom, freedom of expression and Press Freedom. The rest are legal frameworks, protecting academic freedom, strategies for effective Advocacy and partnership building.
The workshop is aimed at building collaborations between media and academia to enhance understanding of academic freedom to enable the media play effective and efficient role in the relation to freedom of expression.
Speaking at the workshop, the Regional Director of African Coalition for Academic Freedom, Prof. Appiagyei – Atua said the media have a pivotal role in promoting academic freedom across African, saying ACAF follows cases that affect academic freedom.
He however advocate for partnership between academic and press freedom and explained that both are found in freedom of expression and challenge the media to work close with academic institutions.
According to him, knowledge is produced in classrooms hence it must be protected and allowed to thrive to enable society to address challenges for economic and democratic growth and development.
Prof. Appiagyei – Atua said the 1990 Kampela declaration on intellectual freedom and social responsibility is an important document for academic right in Africa, adding that it create a platform for update and review emerging challenges.
For his part, Mr. Zachariah Musah Tonko, Lecturer and Media Practitioner / Legal Counsel (UniMAC) called for the need to promote academic freedom in the country, adding that government must be provided the needed resources to enable Universities across the country to operate effectively.
He however called for deeper collaboration between the media and academia adding that both must work together to leverage freedom of expression in the society.
The General Secretary of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) Mr. Kofi Yeboah said the media must be adequate resourced to enable in them deliver on real and pressing issues affecting society.
