Honoré Adontui: PPT Re-election in Togo for Final Mandate

• Honoré Kokou Adontui was re-elected for his second and final mandate as president of the Patronat de la Presse Togolaise (PPT) on October 2 in Lomé.
• Adontui highlighted challenges facing the Togolese press, including digital competition and declining sales, urging adaptation through content quality and new formats.
• He called for government support, specifically advocating for an advertising agency and increased subsidies for the media sector.
• The PPT is actively working with other organizations to defend press freedom and remove liberty-depriving provisions from the Press and Communication Code.
• The re-election signifies a continued commitment to strengthening the Togolese press and its role in building a democratic nation.

Their advocacy specifically targets the removal of provisions that restrict the liberty of journalists, aiming to ensure a more open and unhindered media environment.

The Patronat de la Presse Togolaise (PPT) recently concluded its ordinary elective general assembly, an event held on Friday, October 2, at the Marguo City hotel in Lomé. During this assembly, Honoré Kokou Adontui, who previously served as president, was re-elected to lead the organization for what will be his second and final mandate. This Honoré Adontui PPT re-election Togo signifies a continued direction for the body representing media professionals.

Mr. Adontui, who also holds the position of general director for the newspaper Le Correcteur, expressed his gratitude for the renewed confidence placed in his leadership. He acknowledged the inherent difficulties of steering a professional press organization, particularly within the Togolese context. Despite these challenges, he conveyed a sense of pride in the work accomplished, noting that the current assessment of their efforts indicates significant potential for further improvement and development within the sector.

In his remarks following the re-election, Honoré Kokou Adontui outlined several critical challenges facing the Togolese press. A primary concern is the intense competition from digital platforms, particularly social networks, which has contributed to a crisis of declining sales for traditional media outlets. To counteract this, he emphasized the necessity for media organizations to adapt by enhancing the quality of their content and innovating new formats to engage both audiences and advertisers effectively.

Beyond internal adaptation, Adontui issued a direct call for governmental support, highlighting that a free and independent press is indispensable for Togo's socio-political landscape and serves as a crucial guide for government decisions. He specifically advocated for the creation of an advertising agency dedicated to supporting the press and urged a substantial increase in government subsidies for the media. This Togo media subsidies call aims to provide essential financial mechanisms to bolster the struggling industry.

A central pillar of the Patronat de la Presse Togolaise's mission under Adontui's continued leadership is the robust defense of press freedom and the interests of media professionals. The organization remains actively engaged in addressing issues such as sanctions imposed on journalists and press auxiliaries. Adontui stressed the PPT's commitment to working collaboratively with other professional media organizations to achieve these goals.

Crucially, the PPT is spearheading efforts to reform the existing Press and Communication Code. Their advocacy specifically targets the removal of provisions that restrict the liberty of journalists, aiming to ensure a more open and unhindered media environment. This Togo press code reform is seen as vital for fostering a truly free and independent press, a task Adontui acknowledged the PPT cannot accomplish in isolation, necessitating broad cooperation.

The ongoing efforts of the Patronat de la Presse Togolaise, particularly its persistent Togo press freedom advocacy, underscore the profound importance of a vibrant and unconstrained media for the nation's democratic development. Adontui's re-election signals a continued focus on these critical issues, with the PPT positioned as one of the most proactive professional organizations in terms of its responsiveness, policy proposals, and direct support for media colleagues facing difficulties.

The ultimate objective, as articulated by Adontui, is to cultivate an environment where the press can fully realize its potential as a cornerstone of a democratic society. The strategic initiatives, from seeking increased government support to pushing for significant legal reforms, are all geared towards strengthening the Togolese press and enabling it to fulfill its essential role in national edification.

Lawyers advising media organizations or individual journalists in Togo should closely monitor the Patronat de la Presse Togolaise's ongoing advocacy efforts, particularly their push to amend the press code to remove provisions that restrict journalists' liberty, as this could directly impact legal defense strategies and compliance requirements for media entities.

Source: Original reporting via the interview with Honoré Adontui