By Edwin Nwachukwu
The Benin media regulatory body, la Haute Autorité de l’Audiovisuel et de la Communication (HAAC) or the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC), has called for ECOWAS financial and technical support to facilitate its work.
The HAAC performs critical functions in Benin’s media sector, especially the registration and issuing of Press Cards to journalists and media workers. It also monitors compliance with the media Codes/Laws, particularly the 2018 Digital Code, which the Union of Journalists considers as “a censorship tool and prosecution of online publishers.”
Last week, ECOWAS donated US$260,000 to some civil society organizations in Benin as part of electoral support to Member States holding elections under the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Madam Kalia Kerekou-Laourou, a senior HAAC official speaking at a meeting in Cotonou, on Thursday, 2nd April, with the ECOWAS Long-Term Election Observation Mission (LTEOM), in continuation of its consultation with stakeholders, said that support from partners, such as ECOWAS, would assist HAAC in media training and sensitisation, as well as tackling fake news or disinformation.
In response to complaints from media organisations about legal restrictions and difficulties impeding their work, such as having to submit their daily publications to the authorities, the HAAC official insisted that “there is press freedom in the country,” adding that freedom also entailed responsibilities.
“No Benin journalist is in prison for his/her work, only some activists who use online platforms illegally have issues with the law,” Madam Kerekou-Laourou said.
She explained that during election periods, HAAC ensures equal access for all candidates to public media to communicate their messages to citizens.
Regarding the “partnership contracts/support” between the government and selected media outlets, she said that, instead of the annual subventions granted to all media houses before 2016, the contracts were at the government’s discretion and based on certain requirements.
The official said, “There are journalists on the HAAC governing Council and the Authority is in constant dialogue with media organisations for improved relationships.”
Madam Kerekou-Laourou and her colleagues further explained that HAAC’s role was limited to media regulation, while the Ministry of Digital Economy and Communication (Ministère du Numérique et de la Digitalisation) is responsible for the design, implementation, monitoring and development of general state policy in the digital economy, communication and postal services in Benin.
Apart from Cotonou, members of the ECOWAS LTOEM deployed to Benin’s 10 other Departments continued consultations with various stakeholders, including security agencies, the local electoral commission, and administrative officials.
They are also observing the training of election agents and the campaigns of the two presidential candidates and their running mates for the 12th April election.
The 15 Long-Term Observers will be joined next week by their Short-Term colleagues, along with the Head of the entire Mission, former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, supported by an ECOWAS Technical Team led by Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
Meanwhile, the two candidates for the 12th April presidential contest – Kossi Romuald Wadagni, the Finance Minister, of the ruling Coalition, and the opposition flag-bearer Paul Hounkpè have stepped up their campaigns ahead of the Election Day.
Some eight million registered voters at home and abroad will cast their ballots to choose Benin’s new leader in place of outgoing President Patrice Talon.
