NCC slams fresh sanctions on media organs, journalists.

The sanctions were slammed at the end of the 40^th Ordinary Session of the media watchdog, on December 6.

According to NCC President, Joseph Chebongkeng Kalabubse, the publishers, journalists and media organs, were sanctioned for violating ethics. Five complaints were examined during the session.

The first complaint examined was that from the CONGELCAM and its owner, Sylvestre Ngouchinge, against the Publisher of the print media organ, L’independent, its publisher, Max Mpandjo and journalist, Mota Bila.

According to the NCC, the plaintiff lodged a complaint with the Council following a publication of “allegedly unsubstantial information accusing him of importing rotten fish and for custom fraud”.

After examination, both the publisher and the journalist of L’independent, were suspended from publishing and practising journalism for one month each.

The second case was that between the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Wilfred Nyongbet Gabsa, against the print media organ Le Zenith, its publisher, Ndiomo Flash Zacharie and a journalist of the media organ, Suzanne Penda.

Prof Gabsa is said to have lodged a complaint following the publication of “unfounded information depicting him as the mastermind of fraudulent mischief at the Ministry of Higher Education, with regards to the award of public contracts”.

The NCC faulted Le Zenith for “failure to comply with the professional requirements of balance and cross-checking”. 

The publisher and reporter of Le Zenith were suspended for one month each.

The NCC also handed a two-month suspension to Le Point Bihebdo journalist, Etienne Owona, for “failing to comply with professional requirements of investigation, cross-checking and balance”.

The NCC said the decision followed a complaint from the Interim Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry. 

Minister Fuh Calistus had complained about a publication about him, that damaged his reputation and that of the institution under his responsibility.

With regards to the case opposing the General Manager of the National Social Insurance Fund, NSIF, Alain Olivier Mekulu Akame, against the print media organ, Climat Social New look, the Council ruled in favour of the former.

The Council revealed that the plaintiff lodged a complaint following a publication in the newspaper’s edition No: 502 of “alleged unfounded and insinuating statements on embezzlement at the NSIF”. 

After examination, the NCC suspended Mbombog Mbog Matip, from his duties of Publisher and from practicing journalism and the print media organ for a period of two months each.

The case concerning the Board Chair of the Cameroon National Musical Art Corporation, SONACAM, Ateh Francis Ngong, against Equinox TV journalist, Meffowe Esther Mael, was dismissed.

The SONACAM Board Chair had complained of “unfounded accusations likely to damage his reputation”. 

This was during the programme Dimanche Avec Vous in July this year. The NCC, in its release, said it “found no fault with the media organ, given its compliance with the professional requirements of cross-checking and balance in handling the information that the media organ aired”.