Bless Zoshe
Buea, Cameroon
Members of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, Buea chapter, have selected a five-man provisionary bureau to pilot the affairs of the chapter for the next three months.
The team headed by former Vice President, Ernest Sumelong of The Post Newspaper, was chosen during an extraordinary assembly to revamp activities of the association, which took place at the Head Office of The Post Newspaper, in Buea, recently.
CAMASEJ Buea members during deliberations
Helen Ngoh, (CRTV Mount Cameroon FM), Roland Mbonteh, (Cameroon Tribune), Teke Julius, (CRTV Buea), and Jesse Konang, (Regional Delegation of Communication, Southwest) were also chosen as members of the committee.
Opening the deliberations, Sumelong, stated that the Buea chapter had been dormant for too long, thus the need to overhaul their activities. This, he said, could best be achieved by creating a forum through which they, as journalists, could meet to discuss issues affecting their practice in Buea.
“There are many practitioners in Buea, yet we only meet on the field. Thus it was important that we came together under the banner of CAMASEJ, dissect what has not been going well in the association, map out, and realize feasible projects in order to get this chapter going again,” Sumelong said.
Charly Ndi Chia; NCC will sanction 'press passes' of erring journalists
However, one of the boiling points of the meeting was the legitimacy of the decision to put in place a new team to pilot the affairs of CAMASEJ Buea, given that the former bureau had not been officially replaced.
On that concern, Sumelong explained that the former president, Ako Kingsley “had not only resigned as president via an online forum, but he (Ako), had also withdrawn his membership from the association.”
According to Sumelong, Ako was aware of the meeting, but chose not to attend. Ako, however, promised to voluntarily render his accounts, and hand over whenever a new bureau is elected.
Addressing the gathering, erstwhile national president of CAMASEJ, and Executive Editor of The Post Newspaper, Francis Wache, advised that the association is above individual interests, thus, decisions taken in the meeting should not be regarded as attempts to topple the previous executive.
Ernest Sumelong, CAMASEJ Buea Acting President
“Considering the unavailability and eventual resignation of Mr Ako Kingsley, and the need for the association to move forward, the Vice President has the legal locus to summon meetings. One person should not be allowed to let the association die.” Wache said.
On that score, the close to 30 participants gave the five-man caretaker committee a three-month deadline to organize elections for a new executive.
Amongst their tasks and priorities, the caretaker committee was accorded mandate to carryout in-depth investigation on issues affecting the chapter such as apathy and grievances, as well as carve a way forward for the branch.
The committee was also asked to liaise with the former bureau, to ensure a smooth transition, encourage new membership, and coordinate activities to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3.
Among the ideas that were floated around to constitute the agenda for World Press Freedom Day were; an essay competition for High School students, a solidarity walk, a visit to an orphanage, and a press night.
The reorganization meeting was also graced by the presence of Charles Ndi Chia, member of the National Communication Council, NCC, National president of the Cameroon Union of Journalists, and Editor-in-Chief of The Post Newspaper. Ndi Chia called on the media men and women to use their consciences as their first judge, respecting ethical values in journalism practice.
While acknowledging that there is a gap in the question of who is a journalist in Cameroon, Uncle Charly as he is fondly called, said that the National Communications Council will clamp down heavily on erring journalists as well as check the activities of so called publishers who exploit journalists and circulate ‘candy wraps’ in the name of newspapers.
“It is intolerable that someone who passes for a journalist would spend an entire afternoon spreading falsehood and parading naked people on TV. Yet gullible people take it for gospel,” he grieved.
However, “the Council will also protect those who are meticulous in their work, and respect the ethical values of the profession,” he went on.
Ndi Chia further said the NCC will hit hard on newspapers and other organs that continue to advertise drugs, as this is illegal, and strictly forbidden by the laws in force.
Closing the deliberations, the acting president, Ernest Sumelong described the massive attendance as heartwarming and thanked participants for their ‘purposeful contributions towards the growth of CAMASEJ Buea chapter”.
To keep the chapter active, participants agreed to meet every third Saturday of the month. Consequently, the next meeting would hold on April 20, 2013.
