The year 2025 will see the birth of Cameroon’s Virtual News Agency which is expected to start producing content on the life of the nation, for national and international audiences, including those in the enclaved areas.
The country’s Communication Minister, Rene Emmanuel Sadi made the announcement during the traditional new year ceremony in Yaoundé on 31st January 2025.
It was massively attended by a cream of communication experts from across the country, who joined the staff of the Ministry of Communication to extend new year wishes to Minister Sadi.
Among the attendees was a team of Crtv staff, headed by the Director General, Charles Ndongo. The CRTV representatives once again honored a new rendez-vous to wish the corporation’s Board Chair a prosperous new year.
The Virtual News Agency
The creation of the Virtual News Agency comes to revive the news agency mission in Cameroon which has not been functional since the Cameroon News and Publishing Corporation (SOPECAM) was last restructured.
“The Virtual News Agency will enable national and international audiences to have a more diversified knowledge of national news that is more in line with reality, thus contributing significantly to improving Cameroon’s brand image both within and outside our borders,” minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi said.
In the regions, the construction of the West Regional Delegation of Communication in Bafoussam will be completed in 2025, while that of Centre and the South will be thoroughly refurbished. Minister Sadi also disclosed plans for the acquisition of four-wheel drive vehicles for some regional delegations.
“Zero Telerance”
Absenteeism and abandonment of duty posts is rife amongst public servants in Cameroon, but minister Sadi said his ministry will henceforth adopt a zero-tolerance policy for those who are found wanting.
He strongly condemned the “serious breaches of administrative ethics and disciplinary rigour which some employees have tended to disregard in recent times.”
Minister Sadi called on all staff of the ministry to respect the ethics and deontology of their profession, stating that disciplinary measures will be meted out to those who do not comply with the ministry’s work ethics.
Ensuring Successful Elections
Cameroon will organize legislative and presidential elections in the last quarter of the year. While speaking at the new year ceremony, minister Sadi called on all communication experts to work hand in glove to ensure the electoral process is successful.
“Communication experts stand as a bulwark against abuses that incite irredentism and violence, hate speech and partisan positions, and lay particular emphasis on the respect for the rules of balance in the treatment of information and coverage of the campaign activities of candidates and political parties,” Minister Sadi said.
Regarding the role of the state broadcaster in the successful elections, the corporation’s Board chair told the corporation’s management to “ensure the production and broadcasting of campaign programmes by all the candidates in competition, in all fairness and in application of the legislative and regulatory provisions in force.”
ASMAC’s Television Channel
The launch of the Advanced School of Mass Communication’s (ASMAC ) television channel in 2025 was another major announcements made during the new year ceremony.
The channel will primarily serve as a training tool for students in Television Journalism, and open to the public. Minister Sadi urged the Director of the institution to start preparations for its effective launch.
The launch of the TV channel will be followed by the renovation of ASMAC’s radio station, Radio CAMPUS. According to minister Sadi, the Ministry of Communication has made available the second instalment of the subsidy of FCFA169 million for its renovation.
Completion of SOPECAM’s Head Office Building
The construction of theCameroon News and Publishing Corporation, SOPECAM has been ongoing, but its completion is earmarked for 2025.
Minister Sadi said the project “should make tremendous progress this year, with the identification of a major partner to help it complete this ambitious project.”
As for the current stumbling blocks in the structure’s technical facilities, the minister told SOPECAM management to “finalise discussions with the German supplier.”
The Ministry of Communication will function on a budget of CFAF7 billion 584 million budget in 2025, with a total of 1billion to be set aside for investment.The budget will be dedicated to the implementation of projects to be carried out at the central, devolved and external services of the ministry.
Kathy Neba Sina
