Joe Dinga Pefok (Uncle Joe)
NICO HALLE, the Crusader for Justice, and an Advocate for a Free Press, asserts that access to credible information is cardinal in the execution of the daunting but vital mission of journalists.
However, NICO Halle, the International Legal Consultant cautions media practitioners that: “Access to information should not be seen as access to all information given that classified, secret, top secret, confidential information exists as per the law”
2025, being an electoral year in Cameroon, NICO HALLE, the Peace and Anti –Corruption Crusader, and an Election Expert, calls on journalists to avoid compromising their integrity for thirty pieces of silver, and to report responsibly. “Report the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”.
On the occasion of this year’s World Press Freedom Day which to be precise was on Saturday, May 3, 2025, Sir Dr Ntumfor Barrister Nico HALLE, in a good will message addressed to all media practitioners in Cameroon, congratulated them for the milestone covered so far. “Permit me sincerely record my congratulations to the entire press family for the path they have trod so far. It is an indisputable truth that you have faced challenges over time, but have remained resilient. Nothing good comes easy, it is said”, Nico Halle stated. He asserted the fact that the press, “be it public or private, is surely an indispensable stakeholder for the sociocultural, economic, and political evolution of any nation”.
Nico Halle, who has been one of the advocates, that the State should annually allocate adequate subvention to assist the media to be able to effectively carryout its mission, said: “We have over the years been pressing for adequate subvention for the press. This is because without resources, the press would not be able to educate, inform, creates, debate and entertain properly and thoroughly”.
Free Press – Access To Credible Information
Talking about access to credible information which is the principal focus of the World Press Freedom Day, Nico Halle also asserted in the good will message addressed to all media practitioners in the country, that access to credible information is cardinal in the execution of their daunting but vital mission. It should be noted that Nico Halle who is an advocate for free press, is the proponent of Thomas Jefferson’s idea of a free press. Jefferson who was United States’ First Secretary of State (1789 – 1794), Second Vice President (1794 – 1801), and the country’s third President (1801 – 09), wrote a great piece on the importance of a free press to keep government in check. He said if he was asked to choose between “a Government without Newspapers or Newspapers without a Government, I will not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter”.
However what Thomas Jefferson, just like Nico Halle who is proponent of this idea really means, is not to downplay the importance of a government in a country, or to say that he believes there can be a country with newspapers without a government. Rather just like Thomas Jefferson did then, Nico Halle today sees the idea in the sense of it being intended to actually highlight the importance of the press or media in any modern society. Nico Halle also does not only advocate for a free press, but rather for a free and responsible press.
Free Press – Classified And Unclassified Information
Meanwhile talking about the necessity of access by journalists to credible information, Nico Hlalle who is an international legal consultant, did so well to explain to media practitioners that: ”Access to information should not be seen as access to all information, given that classified, secret, top secret , confidential information exists as per the law”.
Quite a number of media practitioners and politicians in Cameroon wrongly understand what press freedom, just like freedom of expression means. They think press freedom means free access to all types of information, which is not so. There is no country in this world where journalists can be allowed to have access to all types of information, in the free of press freedom.
Corroborating what Nico Halle cautioned about classified information, secret , top secret or confidential information, it should be noted that just two or three days before this year’s celebration of the World Press Freedom Day, the National Security Adviser to the US President (WALTZ) was fired from the post by President Donald Trump, because he erroneously leaked to a journalist, a top secret about a plan by the US military to launch an attack on the Houthi rebel group in Yemen.
Though Waltz is said to have a close relationship with President Trump, there was strong call across the United States, for him to be fired, though the leak not a deliberate act. This is a clear evidence that the world order is that journalists are not supposed to have access to classified or top secret information, in the name of freedom of press or free access to information. As the man –of – Law (Barrister Nico Halle) advised media practitioners in Cameroon in his good will message on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, what they should always do is to “press on their rights to unclassified information”..
Misinformation And Disinformation
Sir Dr Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle in his message to media practitioners on the World Press Freedom Day equally did well to caution them to guard against misinformation and disinformation. The man- of -law explained that misinformation has to do with recklessly publishing news without thoroughly investigating its veracity, while disinformation is deliberately concocting and fabricating news for propaganda, or to please or hurt someone. Quite a number of media practitioners in Cameroon do often find themselves in trouble over charges or accusation of misinformation and disinformation like defamation and so on. “For the purpose of self –caution, we can edify ourselves with Sections 310, 311, and 103 of the penal code”, Barrister Halle advised media practitioners.
2025 Presidential And Regional Elections
It should be noted that 2025 is an electoral year in Cameroon, with a crucial election (presidential election) expected to hold in the month of October, and the regional election expected to hold in the month of December. It should be noted also that as concerns elections, Sir Dr Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle is as well a reputed International Peace Crusader, a Crusader for Justice, an Anti – Corruption Crusader, as well a reputed Election Expert and an International Election Observer.
In the goodwill message to media practitioners in Cameroon on the occasion of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, Nico Halle cautioned journalists especially in this year, which is an electoral year, against corruption. He called on them to be prudent, and avoid playing into the hands of unscrupulous people who would exploit and dump them. “This year being an electoral moment, watch out not to play into the net of some unscrupulous stakeholders, whose game plan might be to want to mislead you with false promises. Your integrity should never for any reason compromised with thirty pieces of silver”, he strongly advised. “Report the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”, the Peace and Justice Crusader urged media practitioners. Halle reminded journalists that: “Remember that the Rwanda conflict in 1994 erupted from reckless reporting by a journalist”. Nico Halle whose father was a man –of- God, and who is also a highly spiritual person, prayed that media practitioners in Cameroon be all “covered with the blood of our master and savior, Jesus Christ”. He called on media practitioners to pray with Psalm 23.
Standing By The Media
It should be noted as concerns the media, that Sir Dr Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle has been a close and honest friend of the media for decades. Worthy of note that Nico Halle is the National Patron of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, and also the Patron of the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers Association, CENPA. Worth adding that the Douala based Nico Halle was the force behind the creation of the Douala branch of CAMASEJ known as CAMASEJ D, which under the current and abled leadership of Madam NDIH Maureen of Canal 2 International, is indisputably one of the most vibrant chapters of CAMASEJ.
MEANWHILE, BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY, IS THE GOOD WILL MESSAGE THAT SIR DR.NTUMFOR BARRISTER NICO HALLE, ADDRESSED TO ALL MEDIA PRACTITIONERS IN CAMEROON, ON THE OCCASION OF THIS YEAR’S CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY, ON SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025:
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY – 3RD MAY, 2025
GOOD WILL MESSAGE TO MEDIA PRACTITIONES IN CAMEROON BY SIR DR NTUMFOR BARRISTER NICO HALLE:
The celebration of an anniversary affords us the opportunity to express gratitude to our awesome father for bringing us thus far. It gives us the platform to congratulate members of the public and private press for the milestone covered so far. The press, be it public or private, is surely an indispensable stakeholder for the sociocultural, economic, and political evolution of any nation.
Permit me sincerely record my congratulations to the entire press family for the path they have trod so far. It is an indisputable truth that you have faced challenges overtime, but have remained resilient. Nothing good comes easy, it is said. Yet, it is time for each member of the press family to take stock of their performances in consolidating and righting the wrong.
Access to credible information is cardinal in the execution of your daunting but vital mission. Access to information should not be seen as access to all information given that classified, secret, top secret, confidential information exists as per the law. Media practitioners should always press on their rights to unclassified information.
As you celebrate your anniversary, guard against misinformation and disinformation. The former constitutes recklessly publishing news without thoroughly investigating its veracity, whereas the latter consist in deliberately concocting and fabricating news for propaganda, or to please or hurt someone. For the purpose of self –caution, we can edify ourselves with Sections 310, 311, and 103 of the penal code. Avoid playing into the hands of unscrupulous people who would exploit you and dump you sooner.
This year being an electoral moment, watch out not to play into the net of some unscrupulous stakeholders whose game plan might be to want to mislead you with false promises. Your integrity should never for any reason compromised with thirty pieces of silver. Report the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Remember that the Rwanda conflict in April 1994 erupted from reckless reporting by a journalist. You all will be covered with the blood of our master and savior Jesus Christ. Pray with Psalm 23.
We have over the years been pressing for adequate subvention for the press. This is because without resources the press would not be able to educate, inform, creates, debate and entertain properly and thoroughly.
It is time for me to sincerely congratulate the press for standing up to the canons of the profession for the most part. Kudos to you all as I invoke the Holy Spirit to continue to lead, direct, guide, accompany and protect you all, as you navigate God’s vineyard in service to your nation and God’s glory and honour.
HAPPY WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY TO ALL MEDIA PRACTITIONERS IN CAMEROON
BY SR DR BARRISTER NICO HALLE
DOUALA
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