Skip to main content
ADISI LINKS MEDIA, CIVIL SOCEITY AND GOVERNMENT FOR IMPROVED SERVICE

BY MILDRED NDUM WUNG KUM

The three can function well with profound collaboration; to ensure a connect between the news media, the government and civil society organisations for better services to the public, the NGO known as Integrated Development and Interactive Association  with French  acronym ADISI, organised a workshop to establish mechanisms on access to information and public data. 

Media, CSO and Government Commune
It was a two day session at Blue Pearl Hotel Bamenda with seasoned resource persons enlightening participants, engaging them to action. The Executive Secretary of ADISI Paul- Joel Kamtchang was on his feet throughout to ensure that take home message meets needs of attendees, meanwhile Mr Mukun Njouny Nelson acted as facilitator and coordinator ensuring that participants have a full grasp of input. 
 Mr Kamtchang, Mr Njouny Coordinating Workshop

A presentation done by Gideon Taka, guru in journalism informed those at the seminar of the situation of freedom of the press and access to information in times of crisis. He pointed out the difficulty faced by journalists in the midst of the Anglophone crisis, the general problem of unprofessionalism in journalism and the fact that existing regulatory bodies in Cameroon to handle issues affecting journalists are dormant. 

In a presentation by Mr Fon Nsoh Coordinator of COMINSUD, workshop participants were informed on the civil society’s view on freedom of the press and access to information. They were made to understand where and how to get trusted information especially in a crisis situation. Primary and secondary sources were pointed as areas where data can be gotten.

Madam Victory Ayafor Marshal, the Chief of Service for Public Communication at the Northwest Regional Delegation of Communication then had an interactive expose with participants on government’s view of the situation of freedom of the press in times of crisis. This lap of the seminar brought to the understanding of participants the reasons why government is very strict on making available information. “Government is institutionalised and hierarchical. Government communication strategy translate the will of public authority”

This statement by the official from the Regional delegation of Communication as the reason for government’s strictness was however confronted with reactions; the appeal that government should be considerate and also that government communication should not only be a top to bottom approach but should be two way with mutual understanding while also addressing the intrinsic needs of the people being governed. 

To buttress the take home message, workshop participants split into three groups and then brainstormed and came out with the choice of tools for a journalist, the topics that should be addressed for better information about the crisis and the collaboration needed between and among stakeholders for freedom of information. This exercise noted three main points; tools chosen for communication must be valid, there is still much to be done as concerns information about the crisis and there is a need for a symbiotic relationship between and among journalists, civil society actors and the government.  

“There are many things on the ground that people of the national and international community need to know about the Anglophone crisis. Together, let journalists, civil society organisations and the local administration work to see how we can handle this issue. I want to assure you that the outcome of your work would always be supported” Mr Kamtchang gave the assurance while giving a closing remark during the occasion.

After the workshop, the three levels of participants are looking forward to contribute to peace and better serve humanity through their various priorities: journalists as informers, civil societies as humanitarians and government as an angent of civil service.

Comments

Post a Comment

Editor's Picks

UBa opens doors for a Hate free Institution   By Mbuh Stella Hate Speech is a potential source of conflict, contributing to thousands of lives lost around the globe, experts have warned. In Cameroon, Hate speech is practiced both online and offline. The phenomenon is a call for concern. It is against this back drop that Defyhatenow  a Non Governmental Organization is working towards raising awareness and combating Hate speech. Recently, a team from the organization led by Laure Nganlay Nadege, Communication Associate at Defyhatenow visited the University of Bamenda, UBa to initiate a program which will in the days ahead engage students  in the fight against Hate speech and other forms of information manipulation. During the discussion, delegation member, Derick Kinnang, who is also Research and Administrative Officer at Defyhatenow said 'hate speech is a can of worms that should not be allowed to take roots in the communities" Defyhatenow Delegation presented their missio...
1 comment
Read more
PLAN INTERNATIONAL CAMEROON SPEAK UP ON GIRL EDUCATION By MILDRED NDUM WUNG KUM Sad but true, the image of the 21st century girl child is still faint in the world of education. Girls in both  rural areas and and urban communities either have no chance to go to school or are subjected to chores that block their access to education. A sadly large number of girls in most communities in the third world do not attain their desired dreams in life. They are deterred by the pressure to get married and the thought that females do not require much "book" among others. The misthought has rendered many girls both under utilised and under proficient setting the girl in a disadvantage position when offset with the male child.  Plan International Cameroon advocates for equal opportunity to both sexes. exhibition of artistic displays portray girls' worth The NGO marked celebration of the international day of the girl child in various localities of different regions...
Post a Comment
Read more
A pontifical Holy Mass would be celebrated on Thursday 30th January at the St Joseph's Metropolitan Cathedral Mankon to officially open the process of beatification for late Archbishop Emeritus Paul Verdzekov. The Mass would be presided by the Apostolic Administrator of Bamenda Cornelius Fontem Esua. In line with the upcoming event, our reporter Mildred Ndum Wung Kum in the following paper analyses the relevance. The entire Archdiocese of Bamenda and beyond is with all eyes fixed on the official opening of the process of beatification of the late Paul Verdzekov, pioneer Bishop and Archbishop of Bamenda. It shall be a landmark event in the spiritual  calendar of the Archdiocese given that many shall behold what it means by the process of beatification  for the very first time. As Archbishop emeritus Cornelius Fontem Esua mounts the podium to officially announce that Paul Verdzekov is en route to sainthood , the contemporary Christian must be conscious of the significance. ...
Post a Comment
Read more