Hilltopvoices Communications Group Ltd has been honoured with the 2025 Michael Ndi Award for Best Foreign News Story with Local Impact, a recognition that underscores the company’s growing reputation for impactful journalism in Cameroon and beyond. The award was conferred in recognition of the article titled “US President’s USAID Suspension Leaves Many Jobless, Patients Uncertain in Bamenda, Cameroon”, authored by the Group’s Administrator and Lead Strategist, Bakah Derick.
The announcement was made during this year’s World Press Freedom Day commemorative activity CJTU NW 2025 Awards Café held in Bamenda on Tuesday 6 May 2025, where journalists gathered under the banner of the Cameroon Journalists’ Trade Union (CJTU) to reflect on the state of the profession amidst crisis. The prestigious award celebrates reporting that not only brings international issues into local focus, but also sheds light on the lives affected in silence.
In his award winning article, Bakah Derick expertly explored the ripple effects of the suspension of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) support by President Donald Trump’s administration, drawing a direct line between geopolitics in Washington and the harsh social and economic consequences in Bamenda. From unemployed health workers to patients in dire need of treatment, the article captured the sense of abandonment felt by many and sparked renewed debate about the vulnerability of development aid beneficiaries in Cameroon’s conflict-hit regions.
The award is named in honour of the late Michael Ndi, a senior journalist widely regarded as a pioneer in Cameroon’s English-language media. Ndi played a significant role in establishing many English newspapers in the country, and before his passing in 2023, he served with distinction at The Guardian Post, Cameroon’s first English-language daily.
It is particularly fitting that this year’s recipient, Bakah Derick, once succeeded Ndi as Bureau Chief for the North West and West Regions of The Guardian Post, continuing a legacy of principled, people-centred reporting.
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Bakah Derick expressed gratitude to the judging panel and dedicated the award to journalists working in difficult circumstances.
“This recognition is not just for me or for Hilltopvoices Communications Group Ltd. It is for every journalist who continues to tell the truth in the face of fear, silence, or fatigue. We hope this story reignites concern over the lives it represents and encourages responsible policymaking,” he said.
Hilltopvoices Communications Group Ltd, headquartered in Bamenda, has in recent years emerged as a platform for solutions journalism, elevating community voices and human rights reporting in Cameroon. The company’s body of work continues to reflect a deep commitment to inclusive development, accountability, and social transformation, with a focus on marginalised communities.
The award cements Hilltopvoices’ position as a leading force in the country’s independent media landscape and a voice that continues to tell Cameroon’s most urgent stories both to the world and to the communities that need to hear them most.
By Hilltopvoices Desk
Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com
Tel: 6 94 71 85 77