Regulation C/REG.6/11/96 Instituting ECOWAS Press Card

Jurisdiction
African Regional Bodies · Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Date
22 November 1996
Language
English
Type
Legislation
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Economic Community of West African States

Regulation C/REG.6/11/96 Instituting ECOWAS Press Card

The Council of Ministers,MINDFUL of Articles 10, 11 and 12 of the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) establishing the Council of Ministers and defining its composition and functions:MINDFUL of Articles 65 and 66 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty relating to cooperation in the area of information;MINDFUL of Decision C/DEC. 9/12/94 of the Council of Ministers adopting an ECOWAS Priority Programme of Action and Information which provides for the institution of an ECOWAS Press Card;DESIRING to facilitate frequent interaction of West African media practitioners and to enable them obtain better access to information about Member States and Community activities;ON THE RECOMMENDATION of the Seventh Meeting of the Social and Cultural Affairs Commission held in Lagos from 31st January to 2nd February, 1996;ENACTS

Article 1 – Establishment

An ECOWAS Press Card is hereby established

Article 2 – Objectives

The primary objectives of the Press Card is to facilitates frequent interaction between West African media practitioners in order to:
(a)enable them obtain better access to information about Member States and Community activities; and
b)enhance their output in the promotion of Community objectives.

Article 3 – Privileges to be accorded to the holders of the Press Card

The holder of the Press Card shall be accorded the following privileges:
(a)he/she shall have priority and better access to all information on integration at both national or community levels;
(b)he/she shall be automatically accredited to cover all meetings and other events dealing with integration matters within the ECOWAS region;
(c)he/she shall, while on official assignment, be entitled to rebate on air fares, hotel bills and telecommunications charges.
These concessions shall be negotiated by the Executive Secretariat with the national authorities and agencies concerned and shall be communicated to all card holders.

Article 4 – Issuance, renewal and withdrawal

1.The press Card shall only be issued to a Community citizen.
2.The Press Card shall be issued to a recognised practising journalist who specialises in reporting regional integration matters upon;
(a)his written application; or
(b)his nomination by a media organ or association in the Member State.
3.The application or nomination shall be considered by a Select Committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of Information, National Press Association, West African Journalists’ Association, the media organ for which the applicant works or the sponsoring media organ and ECOWAS National Unit in the Member State concerned.
4.The Select Committee shall determine the criteria for eligibility for all applicants. Emphasis should, however, be made on the applicants commitment to contribute to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the Community.
5.The Select Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure.
6.The Press Card shall be valid for two years and renewable every two years.
7.All applications for renewal shall be supported with the evidence of activities carried out in promoting and reporting of West African integration issues.
8.The Select Committee shall have the right, after due investigation, to withdraw the Press Card on the following grounds:
(a)the holder has been found guilty of professional misconduct the nature of which is likely to bring the Community into disrepute;
(b)the holder has ceased to practise as a journalist;
(c)any other reasons that may be deemed acceptable by the Select Committee.

Article 5 – Design of the Press Card

The Executive Secretariat shall design the Press Card and shall make it available to the Select Committee through the ECOWAS National Unit of each Member State.

Article 6

This Regulation shall be published by the Executive Secretariat in the Official Journal of the Community within thirty (30) days of its signature by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers.It shall also be published within the same time-­frame by each Member State in its National Gazette.
Done at Lome, this 22nd day of November, 1996Hon. Ayo OgunladeChairman, for Council
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