English language newspaper publishers in Cameroon have unanimously renewed their confidence in Ngah Christian, publisher of The Guardian Post daily newspaper, as their leader.
Ngah, pioneer president of the six-year-old Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers’ Association (CENPA), was re-elected by acclamation during the association’s Elective General Assembly held in Ebolowa, South Region, on Friday, April 10.
Founded in 2019, CENPA seeks to promote professional and ethical journalism while fostering cooperation among its members. The Ebolowa assembly—the first elective session since the association’s creation—was preceded by a workshop on the media’s role in strengthening national unity and also featured a constitutional review.
During the session, members adopted a new constitution extending the executive’s term of office from two to four years, renewable once. The revised text also introduces new positions, including First and Second Vice Presidents, Organising Secretary, Chief Disputes Officer, and Auditors.
The new legal framework further tightens membership conditions, restricting eligibility to publishers “who publish and print,” and increases the registration fee by 400 percent—from FCFA 5,000 to FCFA 25,000.
There was no opposition to the 14-member executive bureau list presented by Ngah, which was overwhelmingly endorsed.
“CENPA’s key objective at creation—that is, the promotion of ethical journalism and peaceful reporting—has not changed,” Ngah said following his re-election. “My team and I will continue in that direction, especially given the current context of the crisis in the North West and South West regions.”
The new bureau
Among those elected into the new executive are Norbert Wasso, publisher of the Limbe-based biweekly The Sun, who becomes First Vice President, and Gerald Ndikum, publisher of the Yaounde-based biweekly The Herald, who moves from adviser in the pioneer bureau to Second Vice President.
Dr Olive Ejang, publisher of the Bangem-based The Ultimate, takes over as Secretary General from pioneer SG Tarhyang Tabe, publisher of The Advocate. She will be assisted by Teneng Lucas, publisher of the Yaounde-based The Reporter, who replaces Theodore Ndze of The Voice.
The position of Exchequer goes to Theodore Ndze, replacing Ojong Stephen of The Median. Financial records of the association will now be handled by Elias Ngalame, publisher of Eco-Outlook, who succeeds pioneer Financial Secretary Fawoh Nancy of LeGideon.
Richard Nde, publisher of The Herald Tribune, assumes the role of Press and Public Relations Officer, replacing pioneer PRO Ndi Eugene Ndi of NewsWatch.
The newly created positions of Organising Secretary and Disputes Officer will be occupied by Ndiba William, publisher of Cameroon Echoes and Solomon Agborem of The Dawn, respectively.
In the meantime, Choves Loh of The News and Cletus Abong of Eden will serve as Auditors, while senior journalists Martin Nkemngu and Bouddih Adams were elected as advisers.
