ACCRA – On 18th July 2008, the UN Millennium Campaign launched a book written by Richard Kavuma, the 2007 CNN Multichoice Africa Journalist of the year.

The book, entitled, “Good policies, poor policing” is a collection of award winning feature stories written by the Ugandan journalist to review progress on Millennium Development Goals in Uganda. The launch was held during a media cocktail held prior to the CNN 2008 CNN Multichoice Africa Journalist of the Year Awards in Accra. Award finalists, judges and civil society representatives, attended the launch, which was held at the Holiday Inn in Accra.

Speaking during the event, UN Millennium Campaign Deputy Director, Dr Tajudeen Abdul-raheem congratulated Mr. Kavuma for going out of his way to tell a story that was often ignored by journalists in the quest for headline-grabbing topics such as politics. He urged media practitioners to emulate Kavuma’s diligence by publishing stories that highlight the plight of the poor in Africa and suggest practical ideas for overcoming development challenges in the continent.

“I believe that Africa has adequate resources to reduce the crippling burden of poverty and meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. What is lacking is focused leadership, development of appropriate policies and proper prioritization,” he said.

He invited the journalists join the growing global movement against poverty noting that governments will only prioritize the issue of poverty if there was sustained citizen involvement and action.

He added: “This is not an easy task in the wake of Afro-pessimism, a mental state that often afflicts many media practitioners to the extent that they forget that one of their responsibilities is to be active merchants of hope through highlighting some of the positive things Africa has and how these attributes can be used to put the continent back on track especially in the context of Millennium Development Goals.”

Deputy Director for Communications Mandy Kibel informed the guests about two critical upcoming events namely the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Event on the MDGS and the Stand Up. Take Action Mobilisation taking place on )ct0ber 17th-19th, 2008. She urged them to get involved in national preparatory processes for the two events.

Congratulating Richard Kavuma for work well done, Mandy said: “The articles are insightful, well researched and have a human face that brings the message nearer home, and to the hearts of many.”

“The book is a good example of what good journalism can achieve and contribute towards the achievement of the MDGs, not only in Africa but worldwide and will be distributed to journalism schools across Africa, journalists in various media houses and our partners,” she added.

“Good policies, poor policing” was written over a period of three months. The articles, which were first published in a leading Ugandan newspaper “The Weekly Observer” highlight progress on several MDGs and suggests what needs to be done to ensure that that the MDGs are fulfilled by 2015 in Uganda.

The Managing Director of the Weekly Observer, Mr. James Tumusiime said the articles have added valuable points to the national discourse on poverty as they clearly reflect a national balance sheet showing the people’s needs, defining what Uganda had got right and what needs to be done to score on the goals.

Mr. Tumusiime described the articles as the ‘Most prestigious piece of journalism that I have edited in my relatively short career.’

2007, was the half way mark towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and many countries in Africa are making significant progress towards the achievement of MDGs. However progress in some countries is hampered by, amongst other things, lack of political will, weak public policies, retrogressive governance practices, poor project prioritization, crippling debt and unfair trade and aid policies.

In September 2008, the UN will be hosting a High Level Summit that will bring together heads of states to report on their countries’ progress on MDGs. UNMC Africa Regional office would like to take this historic opportunity to push African leaders to re-dedicate themselves to the achievement of the MDGs by 2015.