BY DOH JAMES SONKEY
Members of the national commission for the scrutiny of applications for State institutional support to privately owned press organs in Cameroon met last February 25, 2022 at their 3rd session for the 2021 financial year in Yaoundé.
Officially opening the session, the National Commission Chair, Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi of Communication disclosed that the commission received a total of 95 application files (84 for print media and 11 for online media.)
Though the amount of the global envelope was not revealed, Minister Rene Sadi reassured the media family that the ministry of Communication is lobbying for a greater mobilisation of financial resources in order to support privately owned media organs to enable them conveniently carryout their education and the promotion of culture missions.
The minister urged members of the Commission to show proof of equity, impartiality and objectivity in order to make sure that only quality media enterprises are selected.
The Communication boss explained that the session could not be held earlier for several reasons; the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the crisis in the North-West and South-West regions with considerable repercussions on Cameroon’s economy and the organisation of the 33rd edition of the African Cup of Nations.
He said almost two years since the reorganisation of modalities to benefit from the state subsidy to privately owned press organs by arrête N°031/MINCOM of April 13, 2020; government is bent at promoting viable press enterprises capable of creating decent jobs.
Closing the session on behalf of the minister, the Secretary General of the ministry of Communication, Prof Felix Zogo urged owners of private media organs to continue to carry out their duties with professionalism so as to help Cameroon overcome multiple challenges faced by the country.
The minutes of the session were taken down by the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Kisito Ngankak who doubles as the Director of private media development and publicity at the ministry.