By Bakah Derick
The Cameroon Journalists' Trade Union (CJTU) Northwest Chapter has handed award of ezcellence to six of her members for promoting journalism and trade unionism. The awards of excellence were handed on Wednesday 3 May 2023 during celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day in Bamenda.
According to CJTU chapter President, the six awarded have shown uncommon attachment to the Canons of Journalism and trade unionism. Nji Ignatius has challenged the recipients to continue in the same light despite the challenges they face especially working in a conflict zone.
Choves Loh, Bakah Derick, Roseline Obah, Ngong Song Jean Marie, Pierre Anoufack and Ambe Macmillian received the six awards.
Featuring prominently dueing the celebration was a poem by Shey Lashegang Godbless titled 'Let the Ink Flow' and a presentation by Senior Journalis Choves Loh on media organizatios and their relevance. ' Both presentations targeted those who try to suppress press freedom with a call for a more.decent consideration for the work Journalists do.
In a message from the National President of CJTU, Marion Obam delivered by the Chapter President, the government has been challenged to provide a code for journalists, more protection and more
" Freedom of expression cannot be obtained or decreed during debates in sitting rooms. The freedom of the press is not proclaimed during the chorus of pure form. Freedom of the press is and will be the fruit of the balance of power established and balanced thanks to the daily battles that CJTU leads and will always lead. On this day, CJTU humbly request the State of Cameroon to engage in frank discussions with a view to providing our country with a single media code. We also call for better social protection for journalists as well as concrete actions to ensure the physical protection and safety of media men and women in Cameroon. These demands are even more pressing at a time when we are still demanding that full light be shed on the kidnapping followed by the assassination of Martinez Zogo, Managing Director of Amplitude FM.' Marion Obam said
The armed conflict and the heavy presence of the administration around the press has literally made the North West Region a large prison court yard for media professionals
From the challenges faced with non state armed groups and the regular unfriendly watch of the administration, celebrating world press freedom is no doubt a complicated development worst still when even the event day is 'blue-penciled.'