To implement Access to Information Act in Cameroon: Journalists, civil society actors urged to adopt creative strategies, redouble advocacy efforts.

The call was made by Ateki Seta Caxton, Executive Director of not-for-profit organisation, Network for Solidarity, Empowerment and Transformation for All, NewSETA.

He was speaking at a validation workshop in the nation’s capital city, Yaounde, on June 6. The one-day gathering was attended by the representative from the Ministry of Communication, representatives of civil society activists, journalists and the academia.

The workshop was to present a comprehensive report compiled by NewSETA after carrying out extensive nationwide research which focused on the right of access to information in Cameroon in partnership with the Commonwealth Foundation. 

The study was to assess respondent’s knowledge of the national legal provisions with regards to the right of access to information, what is attainable in practice and recommendations on the way forward. 

The validation workshop was meant to gather diverse perspectives, experiences and recommendations of participants to enrich the work so as to better provide evidence to support discussions and advocacy efforts for implementing a Freedom of Information Act in Cameroon.

Call to intensify advocacy 

Addressing participants at the workshop, Executive Director of NewSETA, Ateki Seta Caxton, called on media practitioners and civil society actors to redouble efforts, go beyond advocacy campaigns by adopting new and creative strategies that will help policymakers adopt a law that guarantees access to information. 

“Cameroon does not have a uniform legal and regulatory framework on the rights to access information and there is no law which forces them to do so. So, we are working to develop this law so we are not left behind,” Ateki said. 

Lack of a law compelling officials to grant access to information, which

is a fundamental human right essential for the advancement of democracy and development, Ateki regretted, makes journalism and research works difficult. 

Without access to information, he added, the pursuit of facts and insights is hindered, leaving critical stories untold and knowledge gaps unfilled. 

The situation, he explained, motivated the organisation to embark on the project so as to better understand what is happening in the field, make recommendations and to build evidence base that can help in developing proposals which can ameliorate the framework of access to information.

Snippet of recommendations 

The validation workshop also featured an engaging panel discussion on perspectives around access to information. It was moderated by journalist of Vision 4 TV, Prince Mundi. 

Panelists included the Director of Media Observation and Public Opinion at the Ministry of Communication, Denis Omgba Bomba; the Executive Director of BONET, Dr Sakah Bernard; the Founder/Coordinator of SisterSpeak237, Comfort Mussa and the Country Director of Média et Démocratie, Sah Terrence.

The panelists shared their perspectives on the report and proposed recommendations. 

Comfort Mussa said the freedom for access to information is not only for journalists but involves everyone even those in rural areas who don’t have access to electricity, android phones but need to know certain information about important activities happening in the country.

Mussa said lack of access to information leaves so many people behind.  “Access to information is way stronger than just news is all about life,” she said. 

The multimedia journalist cum society actor, called on journalists to do a good report on the problem of access to information and tell more stories about it in order to create awareness and improve in their methods of advocacy.

On his part, civil society actor, Dr Nsaka Bernard, highlighted that information should be made public to everyone including those with disabilities.

He stated that journalists should bridge the gap between the government and the population providing information in a way everyone is able to understand.

“Newsrooms should provide an archive to information making their organs a place for others to access information and journalists should be able to build trust in the society and handle information with care,” Dr Nsaka said. 

The NewSETA research, it should be said, targeted 382 respondents, 96 being public and para public institutions and 286 being journalists, researchers, civil society actors and other stakeholders.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No 3139 of Wednesday June 12, 2024