Hundreds Pay Last Respect to Legendary Broadcaster, George Christensen

Mr. Christensen was known to be an ardent advocate for press freedom and freedom of expression and had endured burns and questioning in attacks including arson on his radio. Photo Credit: M.S.Joof/FPI/TNBES

Hundreds of mourners gathered at the late George Christensen‘s house and attended a church service in Fajara on Friday to pay their last respect to the legendary broadcast journalist.

Mr. Christensen, 64, died on June 3, 2016 when he returned to Banjul after attending the second ‘International Civil Society Forum on The Gambia’ in Dakar, Senegal ahead of the ECOWAS Summit.

Local journalists in Banjul say his death is a “big loss” and has brought “sad times” for the Gambian media.

His coffin was covered with a white piece of cloth that carried his name, age, a logo of The Gambia Press Union and the inscription: “Defender of Freedom of Expression.”

Ecowas Says Using Social Media to Attain Regional Integration

The sub-regional economic bloc, Ecowas, says it is now using social media platforms to reach a wider audience, increase awareness among Ecowas citizens and to attain regional integration.

For the first time since the Ecowas Commission was established in 1975, in April 2015 it opened accounts on Facebook (Ecowas_Cedeao), Twitter (@ecowas_cedeao), and YouTube (ECOWAS_CEDEAO).

The Commission also uses parallel media – print media, broadcast and online media simultaneously – to work towards achieving an “Ecowas of the People” and Vision 2020, the director of the Communication’s Directorate, Sandra Oulate F. Elleingand said.

Gambian Media Mourns Death of Legendary Broadcaster, George Christensen

George at Civil Society Forum (Photo credit: Sainey MK Marenah)

Local journalists in Banjul have described the death of Mr. George Christensen, the founder and proprietor of Radio 1 FM as “a big loss and a sad day for The Gambian media.”

Mr. Christensen, 64, died on June 3, 2016 when he returned to Banjul after attending the second ‘International Civil Society Forum on The Gambia’ in Dakar, Senegal ahead of the ECOWAS Summit. 

The veteran radio journalist, commonly referred to as Uncle George by young journalists, trained some of the finest journalists, and bloggers in The Gambia – some of whom owned radio stations and online multimedia news outlets.  

Ecowas Encourages Gambia to Initiate Reform for Free, Credible Elections

Photo Credit: Ecowas/Facebook

Ecowas Heads of State and Government on Saturday encourage the Gambian Government and Parliament to initiate the “requisite reforms” for the conduct of inclusive, free and credible elections.

They also commend Gambia’s political stakeholders for the signing, on 20 April 2016, of an agreement to hold free elections.

In a final communiqué at the end of the 49^th ordinary session on 4 June 2016 in Dakar, Senegal, Ecowas leaders urge the security forces in Gambia to refrain from the use of excessive force against the citizens and adopt a responsible approach.