World Press Freedom Day - Preparations Afoot in Yaounde

The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma yesterday, April 9 presided at a meeting in this light.

The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary has announced government's decision to allow media practitioners as from 2015, start organising events marking World Press Freedom Day. Issa Tchiroma was speaking yesterday April 9, in the presence of heads of media organs and media practitioners as he presided at the first preparatory meeting ahead of the 2014 World Press Freedom Day commemorated under UNESCO's theme: "Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the Post-2015 Development Agenda".

The Minister of Communication noted that on May 3rd each year, the world celebrates press freedom and not the freedom of communication. He explained that over the years, the government was fully involved in activities marking World Press Freedom Day due to lack of commitment amongst media professionals. "But the time has come for media professionals to take into account their role and to exercise their responsibility each May 3rd," Issa Tchiroma underlined.

While celebrating this year's World Press Freedom Day, the MINCOM Boss stressed that government will accompany professionals by giving them the necessary support conditioned by the entire participation of the media professionals themselves. In Cameroon, the theme set aside to commemorate the 2014 World Press Freedom Day is: "As we Strive Towards New Objectives, the Free Press Supports the Post 2015 Development Agenda". During yesterday's meeting, the Director of Private Media Development and Advertising at the Ministry of Communication presented a programme on how the ministry intends to commemorate May 3rd.

Weeklong activities will be launched on April 29 and end on May 3rd with the main event featuring a message from the government and UNESCO. During the commemorative week, MINCOM also intends to organise roundtable conferences on topical issues, exhibition for events which many Cameroonians could not attend such as the 50th anniversary of Cameroon's reunification, amongst other things.

The meeting was an occasion for personnel of media associations to give their suggestions on what they intend to do on that day. While noting that events will be taking place in all the ten regions of the country, it was reiterated that each media practitioner should come up with ideas geared towards ensuring a great event marking World Press Freedom Day.