What About Chebonkeng’s Era?

Appointed on June 4, 2021 by Presidential Decree, the new President of the National Communication Council (NCC), Joseph Chebonkeng Kalabubse, was commissioned on June 29 by the Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute who enjoined him to ensure the creation of favourable conditions for professionalism in the media sector. He began office with a strong signal to regulate the sector.
Joseph Chebonkeng Kalabubse began his reign by sanctioning three media practitioners for unprofessional conduct. Sismondi Barkev Bidjoka, Head of Ris Radio, Emmanuel Nynansi Nkouya, Publisher of Confidence Magazine and Stive Jocelyn Ngos, journalist of DBS TV, were suspended from the journalism practice for unprofessional conduct. This was one of the resolutions of the NCC’s 28th extraordinary session chaired by its President, Joseph Chebonkeng on July 5, 2021 in Yaounde. It was the first session held by the new council members. During the session, Joseph Chebonkeng told council members to “work with open hearts, honesty, integrity, and conviviality.” The job requires that we serve our people, and make the press a real fourth estate. And in all we do, we should know that we are serving the Cameroonian people”, he added. He further insisted that the Cameroonian press must toe the line, otherwise sanctions will follow. “We are not here to mutter the press or sanction individuals, but that does not mean those who violate press laws will not be sanctioned,” Joseph Chebonkeng indicated. Some months later, NCC went on to sanction another set of media practitioners for not respecting professional ethics. Besides, NCC keeps working towards the emergence of a free and re...