Media watchdog welcomes lifting of suspension against Ivorian journalists - The Accra-based sub-regional press freedom watchdog, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), on Thursday welcomed lifting of the sanction against Jean Marie Ahoussou, the editor of “L’Inter,” a privately-owned Abidjan-based daily newspaper, by Ivorian authorities. According to a MFWA communique, the Ivorian National Press Council (CNP), the print media regulatory body, on 5 September announced the lifting of the ban slapped on  Ahoussou together with his reporter, Tra Bi Charles.

They were suspended for a month each over a false article that they published accusing Ally Coulibaly, the Ivorian Ambassador to France, of an extra-marital relationship.

“MFWA is happy about the lifting of the sanction and the responsible manner in which the newspaper has handled the issue,” the press freedom body stated.

“We urge the media in Cote d’Ivoire to display a high sense of professional responsibility in the course of discharging their legitimate duties.”

It was established that the article written by Tra emanated from allegations on a social network site, Facebook, in which a loyalist of former President Laurent Gbagbo falsely accused Ambassador Coulibaly of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

The article also alleged that the French police have interrogated the ambassador over the issue and he would soon be recalled by President Alassane Ouattara.

The newspaper failed to crosscheck the allegations before publishing it on its front-page resulting into the suspension.

The paper and its publisher later rendered an apology to Ivoirians including Mr Coulibaly in addition to the suspension which ended on 2 September.

Pana 09/09/2011