Cameroon :English Newspaper Publishers to Form Association

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The existence of Anglophone Publishers and Editors Association (APEA) based in Bamenda and Cameron English Newspaper Publishers Association (CENPA) based in Buea, has not in any way stopped publishers of English Newspapers from creating another one.

That is why during the last general assembly of the Cameroon Association Of English Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) that held in Buea on July 18 -19, 2008, members expressed the strong need for another publishers’ association that “ could help find solutions to the numerous problems facing the journalism profession, in general and the Newspaper industry in particular.”

Consequently on January 23,publishers of English Newspapers from Yaounde, Bamenda, Limbe and Buea met at the Star Media Group Office in Limbe and brainstormed on on their difficulties and decided to form another association that would have a national character and attract broader membership. It was believed that, if the yet -to -be formed association would be strong enough it would cause the other associations to join its fold. Francis Wache, National President of CAMASEJ, chaired the Limbe publishers’ meeting

Before the publishers, who deliberated for several hours rose they resolved: to create an association that will look for solutions to their common problems. A steering committee was set up, chaired by Nhon Zachee Nzoh Ngandembou, Publisher of Eden Newspaper and The Sunday Eden, to come up with a draft constitution and by-laws within six weeks.

Other members of the committee include: Norbert Wasso Binde of The Sun as Secretary, Francis Wache of The Post, Charles Endeley of CAMASEJ Echo, Christian Ngah of The Guardian Post, Paul Nkemanyang Foanyi of The Star and Lucas Teneng of The Reporter.

The Committee was charged with convening a general assembly by April 2009 during which members would deliberate and adopt the name and constitution of the association.
Other publishers in attendance were Christopher Ambe Shu of The RECORDER, Ako Kingsly of Cameroon Express, Eric Motomu of The Chronicle, Eugine Nforgwa of The Quail, Gerald Ndikum of The Horizon, Fon Yembe of ……and Henry Njalla Quan, General Manager of CDC and Publisher of the CDC News.
Njalla Quan used the meeting to stress the need for professionalism by the media practitioners.

NB: first Published in The RECORDER newspaper, Cameroon, of 29 January, 2009