Regulation C/REG.7/11/96 Establishing an ECOWAS Regional Media Trust Fund


Economic Community of West African States

Regulation C/REG.7/11/96 Establishing an ECOWAS Regional Media Trust Fund

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 Treaty relating to cooperation in the area of information;MINDFUL of the provisions of the ECOWAS Priority Programme of Action on Information adopted by Decision C/DEC. 9/12/94 dated 17th December, 1994 of the Council of Ministers which, inter alia, mandates the Executive Secretariat to establish a Regional Media Trust Fund to encourage reporting and broadcasting of regional integration matters within the Community;CONSIDERING the need to keep Community citizens constantly informed of the major decisions taken on their rights and obligations within the Community;CONSIDERING also the fact that a Regional Media Trust Fund will strengthen the role of press organs and media practitioners in the promotion of ECOWAS ideals and objectives;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

1.The Regional Media Trust Fund is hereby established at the Executive Secretariat.
2.The Trust Fund shall be placed in a special account to be operated by the Executive Secretariat in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Manual of Accounting Procedure of the Community Institutions.

Article 2

The Trust Fund shall be financed through voluntary contributions by Member States and from:
(a)interests from bank deposits;
(b)external donor agencies and organisations;
(c)private individuals within the sub-­region; and
(d)any other source as may be determined by Council.

Article 3

The Fund shall be used to finance the following activities:
(a)conduct seminars, workshops and study tours;
(b)attachment of media practitioners to commensurate media outfits in order to broaden their experience and sharpen their professional skills;
(c)co-production and programme exchange schemes;
(d)exchange of information on technical matters;
(e)media awards for journalists who have distinguished themselves in reporting regional integration activities;
(f)any other activity as may be determined by Council.

Article 4

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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