Ghanaian Journalist Chairs ECOWAS Media Network

Accra, Feb 27, GNA - Mr Francis Asamoah Tuffour, Chief Reporter with the Ghanaian Times, has been elected the interim Chairman of Network of journalists of the ECOWAS Community Development Programme (ECOWAS-CDP) at a meeting in Accra.

The Network of Economic Journalists consists of 15 Journalists from 15 countries in the ECOWAS sub-region whose interest is to support the programmes of the ECOWAS Community Development Programme.

The ECOWAS CDP is preparing for a High Level Meeting in Abuja where among other things funds will be mobilized to implement development programmes within the sub-region.

Mr Tuffour was elected at the weekend when the Media Network met to prepare towards the High Level meeting among other things.

Mr. Tuffour holds a Master of Arts Degree in Gender, Peace and Security from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies, Public Relations option from the University of Ghana/Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Diploma in Journalism from GIJ, and Certificate in Environmental Management Development Planning from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

He also holds certificate in Writing Skills, Public Relations. Marketing and Advertising from GIJ and Alumnus of the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Institute in Haifa-Israel, where he pursued a course in 'Media Strategy for Social Change' in 2013.

Mr. Tuffour has won several awards in line with journalistic practice including that of the United Nations Population Fund, the Ghana Journalists Association and participated in several international assignment and programmes including that of African Union, the ECOWAS, the 17th Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Durban, South Africa among others.

He twice served on a committee in 2011 and 2013 respectively to develop Media Barometer, to assess the performance of the Ghanaian media.

Other executives of the group are Mr Aziz Bamogo, of Burkina Faso, Secretary General, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed of the Pilot Newspaper, Nigeria, Communication Officer, Mr Soares Ricardo of Radio Nationale, Guinea Bissau, Organizing Secretary and Ms. Bidzoge A. Tatiana of the Nayro Magazine, Benin, was elected the Financial Officer.

The ECOWAS CDP programme was formulated in 2008 to help with the vision of transforming the ECOWAS from an organization where heads of states meet to an organization where people or citizens play a vital role.

The programme has so far identified over 200 regional   development projects in the sectors     including,   transport infrastructure, energy, agriculture, health, education development and capacity building to enhance development in the sub-region.

The establishment of the network is to support the formulation process of the CDP and consistently monitor and report on the activities being undertaken by the ECOWAS-CDP with objectives for the Journalists to educate citizens within the ECOWAS sub-region to own the Community Development Programme

GNA