Members of Cameroon’s media regulatory body, the National Communication Council, NCC, have disagreed over complaints lodged by Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary against newspapers that relayed a story that President Biya was in poor health.

Following the disagreement amongst members of the media watchdog, the council decided to shelve its deliberation on the complaints, NCC’s vice president, Peter Essoka stated in a communiqué on June 4.

According to the Council which held its 10th ordinary session on April 30, Mutations, Emergence and Le Messager – French language newspapers had been dragged to the NCC by Tchiroma for republishing an article about the poor health condition of the presidential couple originally published on the website of Le Monde newspaper.

Also, the newspapers are accused of demoralizing troops in the war against Boko Haram by publishing a photograph of the head of state bowing before the remains of soldiers who died in the war front. The photomontage had been posted on the website of the presidency on March 9, 2015.

Though the recent NCC communiqué indicates that the cases between Tchiroma and the three newspapers were postponed because of conflicting opinions, some media analysts have, however, stated it is a move to permanently lay the cases against the “powerful” newspapers to rest.

“In the first place, Tchiroma’s claims are baseless…Moreover, was Tchiroma assigned to petition on behalf of the head of state?” An analyst who elected anonymity questioned.

Media Organs, Journalists Suspended

After examining ten cases, the NCC resolved to dish out a series of suspensions on erring media organs and journalists. The media organs and journalists, by the sanctions are barred from practicing the journalism profession in Cameroon during the period of their suspensions.

Cameroon Herald newspaper and its publisher, Ako Kingsly Tanyi, were separately suspended for 6 months for not respecting the requirements of verification and balance. The newspaper in its 90th edition had published “Unfounded accusations of mismanagement and embezzlement against the interim manager of Pamol.”

Also, Bamenda based newspaper, Vanguard and its publisher, Chifu Edward, were separately suspended for 6 months following a story he wrote accusing the government delegate of the Bamenda city council of mismanagement.

In addition, the NCC separately slammed Awilo and his Town Crier programme on LTM television a 3 months suspension for baseless accusations and gross professional misconduct.

The Pan African news organ, Afrique Media television got 1 month suspension. Two of the organ’s journalists, Magne Tada Juliana and Mohammed Bachir Ladan each got 6 months suspension for permitting guests to make unjustified accusations likely to impair the image and honour of personalities, institutions and foreign countries.

Meanwhile, Le Renard newspaper and its publisher as well as Climat Social newspaper and its publisher, each separately received 6 months suspension.

Another media organ that was axed by NCC is Royal FM. The Yaounde-based radio station was suspended for 1 month while one of its journalists, Martin Marcelin Ateba got suspended for 3 months.

Going by the NCC communiqué, the media organs and journalists were all sanctioned for misconduct which constitutes violations of professional ethics in mass communication.

Bitter Reactions

Though none of the sanctioned journalists and media organs had been officially served their suspensions by the time we went to press, some of them have bitterly reacted.

Ako Kingsly of Cameroon Herald newspaper told The Journal on phone that he was not even heard at the council before the decision was taken.

“How can any right-thinking person suspend a legal corporate entity like mine for six months?” Ako questioned before stating that he was just getting the sanction like a rumour. The suspended publisher said he is going to take action as soon as he receives the suspension letter, which may not exclude going to court.

By press time, Afrique Media television was still broadcasting in Cameroon.