IFJ Journalism Prize for Tolerance: The finalists for central and West Africa

The jury for the IFJ Journalism for Tolerance Prize for West and Central Africa met in Dakar, Senegal from 1 to 2 April, 2003 to identify winners for the year 2003.

A total of 36 entries were received and examined in the categories of print / on-line, radio and television.

After deliberation, the jury comprising journalists of the region identified the following finalists for the print/ on-line category:

  • Cherif Moumina SY ( Burkina Faso ) for "The Ivority syndrome: Ivorian article 35, Burkinabe article 38" published in "Brendré"on 14th October, 2002;

  • Godefroid Ngambata ( DRC ) for " Zimbabwe: More calls for a negotiated solution to the Zimbabwean crisis" published in : " Le Potentiel" on the 19th September 2002;

  • Serge Alain Godong ( Cameroon) for "The fight against poverty is a Heavenly affair" published in "Mutation" of 18th December 2002;


For the radio and television categories, no entry was retained for the finals because, the jury concluded that the required criteria were not met. However, the jury recommended that two productions should receive "Special Mention" of encouragement.

The names of the laureates will be disclosed at a prize giving ceremony in a country within the central and west Africa region at a date to be announced. The ceremony will coincide with the organization of a regional forum focusing on the objectives of the Prize.

The IFJ Journalism for Tolerance Prize is worth 1000 Euros and is meant to promote tolerance and to combat racism and discrimination. It is open to journalists in each of the five regions of the world.

The jury was composed of:
  1. Amie Joof-Cole ( The Gambia)
    Journalist, Director, African Women's Media Center (AWMC), Dakar


  2. Hawa Camille Camara Barry (Guinea Conakry)
    Journalist, Radio Télévision de Guinée (RTG), Media consultant


  3. Kader Diop (Senegal)
    Journalist, Former deputy director of Agence France Presse (AFP) Regional office in Dakar, president of Senegalese Journalists' Ethics committee(CRED) ;


  4. Célestin Lingo (Cameroon)
    Journalist, Le Messager Newspaper, President of Cameroon Journalists' Association


  5. Aloysius Ebokem Fomenky (Cameroon)
    Journalist, Deputy Editor in Chief, Pan African News Agency (PANA)


  6. Jeannette Quarcoopome (Ghana)
    Media Foundation For West Africa (MFWA), Accra


For further information contact the General Co-ordinator of the IFJ Africa Office:

Gabriel Ayite BAGLO
IFJ Africa Office
17, Boulevard de la République
BP 21722, Dakar, Sénégal
Tél: (221) 842 01 42 / 41
Fax(221) 842 02 69
Email: [email protected]
Siteweb: www.ifjafrique.org

WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD OF DEVELOPMENT