Communication minister at visit to head office: The Guardian Post pride of journalism, catalyst of democracy in Cameroon.

 This was during a historic visit to the head office of the newspaper at the Efoulan-Lac neighbourhood in Yaounde III Subdivision. 

The visit was part of the Communication Minister’s tour of some media organs in the nation’s capital, ahead of the 31^st edition of World Press Freedom Day, to be celebrated tomorrow May 3.

During a working session with staff, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Post, alongside members of his delegation, Minister Rene Sadi repeatedly saluted the media organ for standing the test of time.

The member of government said The Guardian Post has hatched its name in gold, when it comes to journalism acumen, responsible journalism and contribution to strengthening Cameroon’s democracy.

He declared that the first-ever English language daily newspaper gives pride to all and sundry in Cameroon. 

“I have a lot of consideration for The Guardian Post. I was at the 22^nd anniversary celebration of the newspaper. Your newspaper is among the media organs that give us pride in this country,” Minister Rene Sadi declared, adding that: “As you know, Cameroon has the ambition to be a real democracy with the rule of law. I think that those who give to that ambition give sense. The Guardian Post is translating into reality all these ambitions”.

Deserves congratulations

The Government Spokesperson restated that: “You deserve our congratulations…I am not flattering you. That is the truth. We consider your newspaper, as one of the institutions that contribute to reinforcing our democracy and to confirm that there is freedom of press in Cameroon”.

Minister Sadi said he was happy to hear that for more than 22 years of it existence, staff of The Guardian Post have never had even a single month of unpaid salary.

“ I am even the more pleased to hear that staff of The Guardian Post are paid on or before the 25^th of every month,” the minister said.   

A great newspaper 

Going by Minister Rene Sadi, his visit to the Head Office of The Guardian Post was an inevitable item on his agenda, given the weight, influence and respect the media house commands. 

“So, within the context of the celebration of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, I decided to visit some of you. I could not do this without visiting The Guardian Post, which I consider as I said earlier, one of the best that we have in our country. The Guardian Post is a great newspaper. That is why I decided to visit the media organ today,” Minister Rene Sadi stated. 

He also saluted The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Post and staff, for holding the forth even in the face of a myriad of challenges the private media in Cameroon is going through. 

“We see what you do, we see what you publish…you started very small and today, you are what you are. One of the press organs that functions in its own infrastructure. I am quite impressed. I congratulate you for that,” the minister declared.

Hails work environment, workers’ conditions

Beyond issues of democracy and press freedom, Minister Rene Sadi, during his visit, was particular about the working conditions and environment of The Guardian Post staff. 

“My second purpose of coming here was to see for myself, the conditions in which your journalists are working, because I know you have problems; but of course, I thought it was important for me to come and see,” he explained. 

After touring the institution and addressing staff, the minister said: “I am quite impressed because The Guardian Post has strived to be what it is, others are not like you”.

Surviving amid persecution in crisis-hit NW, SW

In the course of the visit, Minister Rene Sadi, also saluted the resilience and ingenuity of the management of The Guardian Post in staying strong, despite challenges in its fief of the North West and South West Regions.

The member of government admitted to be in the know that separatists and their foot agents have attacked The Guardian Post across the English-speaking Regions, forcing it to focus operations in other parts of the country.

“I am aware that one of the problems you face is that in the North West and South West Regions, where your newspaper is widely-read, the crisis has crippled your business in these Regions. The crisis is still there. You are bound to focus on the Eastern parts of the country. But well, although there is that situation, your newspaper is doing quite well,” the August guest underscored.

Promises to channel challenges to hierarchy 

Revisiting other challenges raised, the minister said, those that can be solved at his level will be done while others would be sent to his hierarchy for appropriate actions. 

“You have pointed out some problems that you are still facing. I think I know most of these problems, and as know, we are trying to do our best at the Ministry of Communication, to get solutions to those problems to improve the working conditions of media organs,” the minister declared.

For others, he sounded positive that engaging with his hierarchy would produce good tidings for the media sector in future.

Keep the good work

The Minister of Communication left The Guardian Post, challenging its staff and management to sustain the rare heights attained amid obstacles. 

He said he was particularly impressed that The Guardian Post is housed in its own constructed ultramodern infrastructure and runs an ultramodern printing press.

“I encourage you to continue doing what you are doing. Be sure that we appreciate what you are doing. That is why I could not embark on this tour without stopping at The Guardian Post. You have a marvelous infrastructure and you also have an autonomous printing equipment,” Rene Sadi sized up, assuring that: “We are always open to continue to work together to improve your working conditions”.

Minister tours services at The Guardian Post 

After being treated to a distinguished welcome befitting of his standing, the Minister of Communication, toured the different departments of The Guardian Post. 

He visited the newspaper’s ultramodern printing press, where technicians gave detailed explanations on its functioning. 

The minister was also taken to the Layout, Finance and Administration Departments and later the newsroom of the towering media house. 

Minister Rene Sadi left The Guardian Post, reiterating his highest regards for its management.

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief revisits thorny issues 

Meanwhile, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Post, Ngah Christian Mbipgo, used Tuesday’s visit to raise some issues affecting not only The Guardian Post but the media industry in the country.

For The Guardian Post, Ngah touched on the heavy price the media organ has been paying for over seven years, since the eruption of the crisis in the North West and South West Regions. He told Minister Rene Sadi that separatists have attacked and banned the newspaper from circulating in the two Englis-speaking Regions, because it has refused to give in to secessionist demands.

Ngah said the newspaper is a victim of its middle-of-the-road editorial policy. In this sense, he said even some government services and institutions deny giving adverts to the newspaper. When the adverts scarcely come, Ngah said, it takes two to three years for such bills to be paid.

On aspects of security, Ngah decried his arbitrary arrest in November 2023, over a fake front page of the newspaper that circulated on the social media. 

He said competent state services had been notified but nothing has been done about the issue till date. 

It should be recalled that in November of last year, plain cloth officers from the State Secretariat for Defense, SED, stormed The Guardian Post Head Office and whisked away Ngah. He was held incommunicado for hours.

On the other issues, he reminded the minister on the general spike in the cost of production. The cost of ink, newsprints, calques, chemicals and other materials used in producing the newspaper, he said, have sharply increased in the last couple of years. The situation, Ngah said, puts the media, especially the newspaper industry in the country in a difficult corner.