The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission’s Communication Directorate has completed the first phase of a training program for journalists from 12 member states. The initiative, held in Dakar, Senegal from January 29 to 30, 2026, focused on promoting information integrity and addressing misinformation and disinformation in West Africa.
The training was designed to provide Senegalese media professionals with practical knowledge and tools to identify, counter, and report on disinformation while upholding ethical standards in journalism. ECOWAS aims for this effort to contribute to democratic governance and foster informed public discourse across the region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, Mamadou Moustapha Seck, Deputy Coordinator of the ECOWAS National Office in Senegal, highlighted the significance of the program. “The first step in getting back to basics, in my view, is to ensure the integrity of information, wherever it may come from and whatever interest it may hold for different parties. This means that everyone must exercise self-restraint, rise above partisan contingencies and clamour, and uphold the principles of ethics and professional conduct in order to analyse, verify, corroborate and even experiment before disseminating information,” he said.
Seck also expressed appreciation to Joël Ahofodji, Acting Director of Communications at ECOWAS Commission; Jonas Tylewski, Director of Communications at the Embassy of Germany in Senegal; and Dr. Impraim Kojo from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) for their involvement and support.
Joël Ahofodji stated that “the media training workshop aims to strengthen the capacity of journalists and media professionals to excel in responsible, investigative and fact-based journalism that promotes peace and democracy in the region.”
Dr. Impraim Kojo thanked ECOWAS for its collaboration with MFWA: “the ultimate goal of which is to strengthen democracy, counter the spread of fake news and safeguard peace in West Africa.”
Representing Germany’s embassy in Senegal during his remarks, Jonas Tylewski underscored the importance of addressing false information collectively. “The dissemination of unverified information is dangerous. Society trusts you because you are journalists. So check for yourselves! Be critical of everyone,” he said.
Tylewski reaffirmed Germany’s commitment—alongside GIZ—to work with ECOWAS and Senegal “to disseminate accurate and verified information as a fundamental pillar of peace and democracy in west Africa.”