SECTOR 2 2.4 Transparency of ownership of media houses in print/broadcasting is guaranteed by law and enforced. Transparency in regard to the ownership of print media and audio-visual companies is not always guaranteed. It is often difficult to know the name of the owner(s) of print media outlets as they may be front men. This means that the director of publications is not necessarily the owner. The truth often comes out when there is a crisis. The public only discovered the real name of the Focus Info newspaper owner who was based in Belgium and had refused to appear in public on the occasion of a dispute with the director of publications. The arbitration committee finally decided to attribute ownership of the newspaper to the director of publications. According to the panel, the HAAC does not enquire into the sources of funding. But there is provision enabling it to withdraw the formal confirmation or authorisation in case of misconduct. Article 58 of the HAAC’s founding Act quoted by the panel states: “the authorisation or formal confirmation may be withdrawn following a decision given after due hearing of the parties and rendered by the presiding judge of the court having territorial jurisdiction, in accordance with the emergency procedure requested by the president of the HAAC in the following cases: • • Substantial modification of the information submitted in order to obtain the authorisation or formal confirmation, particularly changes in the share capital, funding arrangements, typology of the radio, television or other audio-visual means of communication; If the judiciary authority ascertains that there has been forgery or the use of forged documents in the application for authorisation or the declaration of publication or in the case of a deliberate refusal to respect moral or professional ethics.” Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.3 (2012 = 1.8; 2009 = n/a) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TOGO 2017 83