By Doh James Sonkey
The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary has called on media professionals in the country to shun calls for violence and the disrespect for state institutions from unscrupulous individuals and to remain patriotic in the discharge of their communication activities at this challenging moment in national life.
He made the call last October 26, 2018 at the Ministry of Communication in Yaounde during the 17th session of the National Commission for the Examination of Application Files for Government Subsidy to Private Communication in Cameroon for the 2018 fiscal year.
Describing the press as republican and patriotic, Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary challenged it during this post-election period in the country to “block all those who advocate violence, division and questioning the institutions of the Republic.”
Congratulating the media for taking a neutral stance at the last presidential election that witnessed the re-election of incumbent President, Paul Biya, the Minister underlined that their committee’s mission is to scrutinize the application files of media organs contributing in their own way in the promotion of peace and development in Cameroon through communication activities.
As chair of the 16 years old commission, Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Baklary, urged his members to work in serenity and objectivity in the examination of a total of 135 files from media organs, professional associations and printing press.
Issa Tchiroma Bakary
The Minister disclosed that despite challenging moments in the state treasury due to the fight against terrorism in the country and preparations ahead of the African Nations Cup in Cameroon, the government still coughed out this year a total of FCFA 240 million as subsidy to support private communication in Cameroon.
He equally called on media professionals in the country to contribute their own quota in the mobilization of all stakeholders for a smooth organization of TOTAL Cameroon AFCON in 2019.