Wilfred Enow Agbor
Yaounde, Cameroon
The importance of the media to disseminate to the public minute by minute information for the upcoming Twin Legislative and Municipal Elections of September 30, 2013 was the purpose of a press briefing organized by the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakari.
The Minister has authorized the provision of special air time for both the Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) and the private audio visual media to serve as a debate platform for all competing political parties.
Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakari
The electoral law has fixed the electoral campaign for September 15-29, 2013 which ends at midnight. The media will therefore have a very vital role to play to inform the public on the running of the elections until the proclamation of the results.
During election, each political party will have a regular air time in the state owned radio and TV stations for its electoral program in pursuant with law number 92/030 of February 13,1992 which gives political parties access to state owned radio and TV stations.
During the electoral campaign, programs for the political parties to go on air will be organized as follows: The first program, which is a radio program, will last two hours between 9 pm to 11 pm. The second, being the TV program, will run for one hour from 9 pm to 10 pm.
To further ease coverage, accreditation as well as special pass will be made available to local, national and international journalists. Press centers equipped with computers and internet services will equally be made available to accredited journalists, in Yaoundé, Douala and other parts of the country.
The Minister advised the media to be professional and meticulous in their reporting without going against rules of laws.
