African Media Regulation: Stakeholders Appreciate President Biya’s Support

#Politique

The Minister, Secretary-General of the Presidency on December 14, 2018 received in audience, on behalf of the Head of State, the newly-elected executive of the continental body.

The newly-elected executive committee of African Communication Regulation Authorities Network (ACRAN) has expressed gratitude to President Paul Biya for patronizing the just-ended 9th Conference of the African Communication Regulation Authorities (CACRA) and the festivities marking the 20th anniversary of the continental network of media regulators which ended with the election of Cameroon to the Presidency for two years.

The freshly-elected executive of ACRAN, led by Cameroonian-born Peter Essoka, President of the National Communication Council, was received in audience Friday December 14, 2018 at Unity Palace, on behalf of the Head of State, by the Minister, SecretaryGeneral of the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh. Talking to the press after the audience, Mr. Essoka said they went to Unity Palace, “to say thank you to the President of the Republic for having accepted to patronise the conference of African regulatory network.” After the elections, he said, Cameroon was raised to the Presidency and Morocco Vice President.

“We came to present our gratitude because it is thanks to the authorisation of the President of the Republic that this conference held in Cameroon for the first time in 20 years,” Essoka said.

On what Cameroon stands to gain leading such a network, Peter Essoka opined that, “It is dignifying and recognition by our peers that Cameroon is capable of organising a conference of this nature and leading the continent as President for two years.” On how the new executive intends to work to surmount the daunting challenge of media regulation, the now President of ACRAN disclosed that, “As we told the Minister, Secretary-General, we shall want to work hand in hand with the government of Cameroon so that us being the President has to show by example.

If it is well in Cameroon, Africa in miniature, I want to believe it will be well everywhere.” He added that the network needs support so that it can conveniently advise their colleagues; journalists, to show proof of responsibility in their day-to-day tasks and to work with abnegation and heightened professionalism.

The Yaounde conference held under the theme, “20 years of ACRAN: Challenges and Prospects.”

Read also : Peter Essoka, président du Conseil national de la communication