National Communication Council, NCC

Peter Essoka Commissioned

PM Yang (M) poses for a snap shot with NCC president,

Peter Essoka (L) and Vice President Janvier Rene Mvoto (R)

Veteran Journalist Peter Essoka has officially taken up command as president of the Cameroon National Communication Council. The sexagenarian was commissioned into office on Thursday, 10 December 2015, by Prime Minister Philemon Yang.

                In his brief installation address in the conference room of his office here, Philemon Yang lauded Peter Essoka and the other members of the NCC for the “commendable job” they have been doing so far to bring sanity and ensure that ethics and professionalism are respected in the practice of journalism in the country. He enjoined the members of the NCC to ensure team spirit in the exercise of their arduous but exalting task.

                The PM described the installation ceremony as marvelous, noting that the NCC is not only one of the most important and powerful institutions in Cameroon today but one whose importance will become more evident in the future.

                Philemon Yang used the occasion to remind media practitioners that though freedom of the press is a legal right for all citizens, it is not a licence for irresponsible journalism.

                For his part, Peter Essoka described his brilliant appointment as a consecration of the over 45 laborious years he has invested in the practice of journalism. He promised to do much more to cleanse the media landscape of the garbage heap that it presently harbours.

                Both Peter Essoka and the vice president Joseph Janvier Rene MvotoObounou were appointed by presidential decree on 25 November 2015. Before his appointment Essoka was the Vice President of the structure. 

                Essoka replaces Bishop BefeAteba who died on 4 July 2014. PM Yang used the occasion of the installation to also pay homage to Mgr. Ateba for his “remarkable stewardship” at the NCC.

                The brief but emotional ceremony was witnessed by Senator Nfon V.E. Mukete, Senator MbellaMoki Charles, Hon. Mvondo Assam, Ministers Fame Ndongo and IssaTchiroma, Chief General James Tataw, senior staffers of the PM’s Office, friends and colleagues of Essoka and Mvoto among many others.

                It should be mentioned that even though Essoka and his team are getting accolades from the government for doing a “marvelous job”, some media practitioners have not stopped cursing them for being too “uncompromising”. Many have criticized the NCC boss for waging a war on the press, instead of being an adviser and friend.