Communication Minister and a high-geared delegation paid a working visit to Buea on April 9.
The Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has instructed stakeholders and State-owned communication houses to intensify activities to ensure that projects currently executed in Buea and the rest of the South West Region be more visible and known to Cameroonians.
Issa Tchiroma Bakary was speaking during two meetings of the "Communication and New Information Technologies" commission that he presides within the National Committee in charge of organising the 50th anniversary of Cameroon's Reunification that held yesterday, April 9, 2013 in Buea. In the first meeting, the Governor of the South West Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai echoed the population's worry about the low level of sensitization by the public media on the progress made so far on the field. The Governor said the over 17 projects were going on in Buea included road projects, water supply, electrification and public lighting were nearing completion while the construction of a new ceremonial grandstand and open air amphitheatre were going on smoothly. He also revealed that work on the rehabilitation of the Mountain Hotel and the Parliamentarian flat had been completed at 95 per cent and just waiting to be equipped. He also cited the completion of road projects in Kumba and the recent signing of a loan agreement between government and the African Development Bank to tar the Kumba-Mamfe road. CRTV radio and television signals, he regretted, were also not received in some areas of the Region while Cameroon Tribune newspapers often arrived 24 hours late.
Minister Issa Tchiroma and his entourage were accompanied by the Governor and authorities of the region to assess the various projects around the town. In the second evaluation meeting that followed in the Governor's office, Minister Tchiroma expressed satisfaction with work progress and reiterated the need for preparatory activities to be relayed to the population. He said his ministry will deploy two giant screens in the town. The General Manager of the Cameroon News and Publishing Corporation (SOPECAM), Marie Claire Nnana said Messapresse was in charge of distributing the newspapers but promised to ferry issues of Cameroon Tribune as early as 1:00 am to Buea during the ceremony. She also promised the distribution of 5,000 more copies of SOPECAM's special publication on Reunification, the rehabilitation and equipment of SOPECAM's Regional Bureau.
The General Manager of the Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), Ahmadou Vamoulke assured that radio transmission kits as well as TV transmitters will be installed to ensure reception of signals. He also gave activities that will be carried out by CRTV before, during and after the event. Other planned activities listed during the meeting included the outdoor advertising through billboards, guided visits to the Buea agency of the National Printing Press, the creation of a special website for the 50th Reunification Anniversary, amongst others.