NCC dishes out fresh sanctions on journalists, media organs.

NCC President, Joseph Chebongkeng, chaired the session. NCC members deliberated on a number of complaints filed against media organs and their journalists for what complainants deemed unprofessional.

French daily newspaper, Le jour, was hit by the NCC sledgehammer, as two staff members received suspensions from separate complaints filed at the regulatory body. 

In the first case, the Secretary of State for Defence in charge of the National Gendarmerie, Galax Etoga, petitioned the Council over what he claimed as unfounded and misleading information likely to discredit the National Gendarmerie in relation to an operation they carried out to free up National Road N°1.   

In Le Jour’s second case, over the publication of a front page story titled: “La preuve par les chiffres officiels: Voici comment la "Victoire" de Paul Biya a été fabriquée…”, the Council established that there was a gross violation and an erroneous interpretation of statistics relating to the official figures published by the competent authorities in last year’s presidential election.

By virtue of these, the Editor-in-Chief, Nkonlak Jules Romuald, and reporter, Adolarc Lamissia, were slammed one-month suspension each from practising journalism in Cameroon. Meanwhile, NCC also issued stern warning to Publisher of Le Jour newspaper, Haman Mana.

In two other cases pitting the Minister of Public Works, Nganou Djoumessi, and two media organs, L'Emissaire and LE REPORTER Hebdo newspapers, NCC ruled in favour of the complainant. 

The Council slammed both publishers; Jeffrey Bossoh (L'Emissaire) and Mekamba Mekamba Raymond (LE REPORTER Hebdo), two-month and one-month suspension, respectively. 

According to the Council, the publishers made failed to comply with the professional standards of investigating and cross-checking information made public in their different publications laying accusation at the minister for several illegal acts related to financial malpractices, in connivance with collaborators.

Following “unfounded and offensive” publications by Le point Bihebdo newspaper, depicting the Interim General Manager of the Investment Promotion Agency, IPA, Boma Donatus, NCC issued two-month suspension on the publisher, Ntsama Ondoua Thierry Patrick. 

The newspaper had published reports accusing the IPA boss of being tribalistic and poorly managed the institution he oversees.

NCC members dismissed three complaints against the Publishers of L’EQUATION, Génération LIBRE and SANS Détour filed by the General Manager of the Urban and Rural Land Development and Equipment Authority, MAETUR, Louis Roger Manga. 

This was after the Council noted the objective analysis of facts backed by conclusive documents provided by the respective publishers. The publications had accused the General Manager of the public entity of embezzling funds of a public contract awarded to a jointly managed company. 

However, in a third case by the MAETUR boss, the NCC members addressed a warning to the Publisher of SANS Détour for using inappropriate terms while handling information made public.

The heaviest sanction, a six-month suspension, fell on l'Ouragan Indépendant newspaper and its publisher, Emmanuel Yimga, following complaint made by the First Vice-President of the South Regional Council, Cathy Meba, over what she believes are unfounded and offensive information likely to denigrate her reputation.

She sought redress at NCC following the publication of accusation of insubordination towards the Head of State and his political party, CPDM.

Broadcasters suspended 

Audiovisual broadcasters were not left out as three practitioners judged. Bony Menyene Philipe, journalist and presenter of the debate programme known as 'Club d'Elites' on Vision 4 TV, was handed a one-month suspension

The NCC judged that the presenter failed to adequately moderate the programme during the broadcast of February 8 and 15, which contained offensive and insinuating remarks likely to damage the good reputation of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, amongst others. 

Meanwhile, Douala-based television, Equinoxe TV, received a stern warning due to a lack of balance in the information brought to the public's attention.

According to NCC, the warning follows the airing of a report by Kamga Domche Achille regarding an official communication from Presidential candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary calling for the Cameroonian public to stay at home and observe Friday, the 21st of November 2025, as a day of national mourning. 

It was broadcast during its 8p.m. newscast of last November 20, presented by Julienne Berthe Bissaï. Also, a formal warning was issued Station Manager of Jambo FM, Singo Sidoine épouse Lemogo and journalist, Lemogo Antoine Landry. 

It was issued to them for airing a controversial statement during its talk show programme called 'Big morning'. The complainant, Minister Manaouda Malachie of Public Health, had petitioned the Council over what he said is encouraging behaviour detrimental to health. 

The article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3728 of Wednesday March 11, 2026