By Doh James Sonkey
Elections Cameroon, ELECAM has started media cafes that will run till October 12, 2025, in line with the upcoming presidential election in Cameroon. Inaugurating the cafes last September 2, 2025 with a roundtable discussion on the right to information, media responsibility during electoral process, stakes and challenges, the Deputy Director General of Elections at ELECAM, Abdoulkarimou, speaking on behalf of the Director General of Elections, Dr Erik Essousse, said ELECAM remains the main source of information.
Moderated by Prudence Chetah Bile of CRTV, the maiden café was animated by the Publisher of French daily, Mutations, George Alain Boyomo, Head of the Political Department at CRTV, Albert Njie Mbonde, Kini Nsom of The Post, Civil Society Activist, Desmond Ngala, the Director of Communication and Public Relations at ELECAM, Mairamou Bawa Ousseni etc.
Mairamou Bawa Ousseni explained that ‘‘ELECAM-Media café is an initiative aimed at ensuring informed and responsible coverage of the electoral process leading up to the presidential election of October 12, 2025. It is based on the periodic organisation of roundtable discussions with media professionals to foster an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual trust, help them better understand and take ownership of the Electoral Code and above all, raise awareness about the fight against disinformation and hate speech, with a view to uphold credible, transparent and peaceful elections in Cameroon.’’
Alain Boyomo said for a journalist to give out good information to the public, he or she must be well informed.
Abdoulkarimou underlined that ‘‘ELECAM is the sure source of election in Cameroon. People should come to ELECAM for the sure source. We are very cautious in dealing with politicians so that they don’t manipulate us”, the Deputy Director General of Election, at ELECAM said.
The Deputy Director detailed that, “The Electoral Code in its Section 87, first paragraph says campaigns for the presidential election starts 15 days to election day and closes at midnight on the eve of election day. We see that it shall be the 27 of September 2025 for it to end at midnight of October 11, 2025. You must get in contact with the communication officer of each campaign team so that you can collect information from them, then treat and publish it. If they have social media platforms that is fine”, he pointed out.
After voting, the Electoral Code specifies in Section 137, paragraph 1 that, the Constitutional Council shall adopt and proclaim the results of the Presidential election within no more than 15 days of the close of the poll. “As you have seen, the law gives power to the Constitutional Council to proclaim the results. There is nothing as trends that should be published by media organs”, he said.