There has been a clamour to tighten up oversight and regulation of Ghana’s broadcasters from unusual bedfellows - the state-sponsored National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Journalists" Association (GJA). The bodies have, in separate initiatives, slammed attempts to "privatise" the state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and have railed against the practices of commercial radio stations. The trigger for this rare convergence was "unsubstantiated" news reports by two commercial stations, Radio Gold and Oman FM, that publicly backed rival political parties in the run up to the Dec. 7, 2008 national elections.

Civil society organisations and human rights activists in Morocco continue to demand the release of human rights activist and journalist Chekib El-Khiari, detained since February 17th on charges of "collaborating with foreign entities" and smearing Morocco's reputation. On Thursday (February 26th), political figures, human rights activists, unionists and journalists met at the Charif Idrissi Cultural Centre in Al Hoceima to discuss the latest developments in the case.

Eritrea has arrested up to 54 journalists in a crackdown on media in the Red Sea state, the press watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Friday. The Paris-based body also asked the European Union not to hand over 122 million euros worth of aid due to worsening conditions for political prisoners. "The authorities on 22 February 2009 ordered a raid on the premises of Radio Bana, a small station in the heart of the capital that puts out educational programmes under the sponsorship of the Education Ministry. Its entire staff of around 50 journalists were arrested," RSF said.

The International Criminal Court’s indictment of Sudanese President Omar Bashir for atrocity crimes in Darfur provides an opportunity for Sudan and the international community to both fight impunity and bring peace to the country. In an extended statement, The ICC Indictment of Bashir: A Turning Point for Sudan?, Crisis Group examines the consequences of his indictment for crimes against humanity and war crimes, both for Sudan and for the international community.

Mango provides practical financial management training for NGO staff and board members working in development and humanitarian aid. Mango’s courses are carefully designed to meet the real needs of staff working in the field and behind the scenes at head office. This March we’re coming to Nairobi, Kenya. Our courses have been professionally developed over years, using interactive, lively and highly effective techniques. They are based on real experience of NGO work.

As one amongst millions of Kenyans that support your business, I am rather disappointed in you. Actually, I am disgusted. I know that in the past you have often submitted to eating a piece of the stolen pie but I was under the impression that it was all over after you realised that those strange feelings of guilt and sleepless nights caused by your willingness to give money precedence of morality were just not worth it.

This course aims to develop the skills of conducting and reporting impartial and accurate research into human rights abuses.
Course Length – 5 weeks face to face /Distance learning – 20 weeks
Deadline for application: 9th March 2009/29th June 2009

This short introductory course provides grounding in the basic principles of human rights and human rights based approaches to development. It also introduces participants to the international and regional conventions and instruments, which encode human rights.
Course Length: Residential - 1 week/Distance – 5 weeks
Dates: Ongoing throughout the year – available on request

Zanu-PF leader Robert Mugabe has dismissed as "nonsense" Western demands that he free up Zimbabwe's media in order to get sanctions lifted. In an interview with Zimbabwe television aired late on Thursday, Mugabe also denied foreign media reports that his family recently bought a luxury home in Hong Kong, and criticised Britain for plans to help some of its nationals leave Zimbabwe.

On 25 February 2009, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has temporarily closed Mzimba Community Radio Station, based in the northern part of the country, on grounds that the station did not comply with the regulatory body's rules and regulations as stipulated in the Communications Act.

A Bandundu court has declared the charges pending against Bwamputu Akienzin Zéphyrin unfounded, acquitting him on all counts at his fifth court appearance. Zéphyrin was originally summoned to court in December 2008 on a defamation charge brought by Marie Théodore Kipulu Samba, a former RTNC director, after he broadcast the news of Kipulu's sacking as director of RTNC-Bandundu. Kipulu asked the court for US$50,000 in damages, in addition to the sentence provided for by law. His request was denied.

This research paper, written by Mr. Ebenezer Malcolm and Dr. Francis Godwyll from Ohio University, USA, explores the state of ICT integration in the educational system in Ghana. The emphasis is on how ICTs are currently being used in the education sector in Ghana, what is actually happening on the ground, what are the strategies and policies related to the use of ICTs? What are the common challenges or constraints faced by Ghana schools in the area of ICT integration in schools?

The ICT Regulation Toolkit is a joint knowledge product of infoDev and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The Toolkit is intended to assist regulators with the design of effective and enabling regulatory frameworks to harness the latest technological and market advances. The toolkit has become a trusted resource for policy-makers, regulators and the telecom industry, providing practical advice on issues that range from the role of competition to next generation networks.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its regional body the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) has condemned the persistent intimidation of the editor and co- proprietor of the Point Newspaper, Pap Saine by the Gambian authorities.

The free, online book - ICT and changing mindsets in Education - edited by Kathryn Toure, Therese Mungah Shalo Tchombe and Thierry Karsenti, draws on research in 36 schools and surveys of 66000 students and 3000 teachers. It has chapters in both English and French by 19 researchers from Africa, Europe, and North America

The Sudanese government is censoring the media and cracking down on human rights activists and journalists who speak out on human rights and justice, Human Rights Watch said in a report today. Harassment, repression and censorship has worsened in the last year, particularly since the International Criminal Court's (ICC) request for an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir in July 2008.

Harare High Court judge Justice Yunus Omerjee on 19 February 2009 dismissed a bail application by detained freelance photojournalist Anderson Shadreck Manyere accused of acts of banditry saying he was facing a serious offence. Justice Omerjee ruled that the photojournalist had been found in possession of rounds of ammunition and faced a serious charge making him an ineligible candidate for bail.

The prosecution was on Thursday allowed to withdraw a case against seven journalists accused of taking part in an unlawful assembly. Prosecutor Capis Otieno, told Nairobi's Kibera senior resident magistrate Cosmas Maundu that he had been instructed by the director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Keriako Tobiko, to withdraw the case.

The case against the Co-Publisher and Managing Editor of the Gambia's Point newspaper, Mr. Pap Saine, standing trial for alleged false publication and broadcasting was Thursday adjourned by Magistrate Sagarr Jahateh of the Kanifing Magistrate's Court to 25 February 2009 for hearing.

The 2009 RVI Sudan Field Course will be held from 24 to 30 May 2009, in Rumbek, Southern Sudan; the Horn of Africa Course from 20 to 26 June in Lamu, Kenya. RVI courses are intensive, graduate-level immersion programmes, covering history, politics, culture, environment, livelihoods and human rights.