By Noela EBOB BISONG
About 50 professionals of the English Language media landscape in Cameroon have been empowered on the media’s vital role in maintaining peace and stability in Cameroon. Meeting in Ebolowa, South Region from April 9-11, the English Language Newspapers publishers, alongside editors and other journalists, engaged training and exchanges on best practices to improve on their work. The three-day workshop organised by the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers’ Association – CENPA was themed, ‘Consolidating national unity: The role of the media’.
In a welcome note, the representative of the Mayor of Ebolowa City Council, the first deputy mayor, Mvondo Eya Jean Richard said they are honoured to host the press workshop in their municipality. Holding that the city of Ebolowa is proud of its cultural heritage and linguistic diversity, he urged that discussions at the workshop should focus on improving and enhancing skills of journalists in promoting national peace and stability. “We are confident that the debates will contribute in promoting press freedom and peace in our country.”
Addressing participants and all those present, CENPA president, Ngah Christian, Publisher of The Guardian Post Newspaper said it is an established fact that the media has a key role in maintaining peace and stability in Cameroon. “We are all witnesses of the pre and post election tensions in the 2025 presidential election… Irresponsible journalism played a role in the tensions, reason why we are here to examine our selves to avoid such scenarios in the future”, Ngah said.
While commending English Language Newspaper publishers for responsible coverage and reporting of the ongoing 10-year tensions in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, which he maintained is a principal reason why the crisis has not escalated as predicted by pundits, he said CENPA has been engaging journalists on best practices since its creation.
Ngah said the workshop is organised against the backdrop of the upcoming municipal/legislative elections, which it is vital to professionally cover and report the local elections to avoid conflict escalation which could be detrimental to the wellbeing of the nation in no small way.
The representative of the Minister of Communication, South Regional Delegate of Communication, Beko’o B’Evina Marguerite Solange said it is the second time she is receiving CENPA in Ebolowa. She said the theme of the workshop cannot be over-emphasised, as Cameroon has faced challenges to its national unity especially in recent times. While emphasising the major role played by the media in consolidating peace and national unity, the delegate cautioned against the use of terms such as ‘anglophone’ and ‘francophone’, which she said go to promote hate and division. “Responsible journalism calls for journalists to flee from hate speech and other divisive vices”, she held, urging that the workshop participants return having in mind the need to promote unity in diversity.
Presentations during the workshop centered on critical aspects including: The media can make or mar by Bouddih Adams; Mainstreaming national integration in news reporting presentation by Yerima Kini Nsom; The duty of Investment Promotion Agency API in Cameroon by Ondo’Oto Freddy Pierre, Chief of Service – Protocol/Public Relations at API; and Managing the media in crisis period by Ngah Christian. The presentations were coloured by question and answer, discussion sessions, which enabled participants to aptly grasp the dos and don’ts in promoting peace and unity in Cameroon.
The workshop also witnessed a review of CENPA’s Constitution, amendment and adoption, as well as election and installation of a new CENPA bureau.