Bamenda: Journalists from audiovisual, print, and online media outlets in the North West Region have been sensitized about the mission and mandate of the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) for the Region. The training took place during a one-day information and education seminar held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, in Bamenda.

According to Cameroon News Agency, the seminar was chaired by the PIC for the North West, Tamfu Simon Fai, and aimed to enhance journalists’ understanding of the role of the Public Independent Conciliator’s office, focusing on its mission, mandate, and the involvement of the population in local development and governance. The seminar provided an opportunity to identify areas for collaboration between journalists and the PIC.

Tamfu Simon Fai emphasized, ‘We cannot succeed without your continued efforts in providing reliable, verifiable, and credible information to the public. The population is looking to you for guidance on the work of the PIC. Please serve them with integrity, and
reach out to us whenever you need clarification,’ urging the journalists to support the mission of the PIC actively.

During the seminar, Dr. Alfred Wuku provided an in-depth explanation of the mission, functioning, and mandate of the PIC. Dr. Atia Tilarious presented on how the population can better engage with the PIC’s office, emphasizing the importance of strategic journalism in conveying the PIC’s message to the public in a constructive manner.

The journalists were encouraged to collaborate closely with the PIC to promote decentralization, expose corruption, and enhance citizen participation in local development. The Public Independent Conciliator’s office for the North West, established by presidential decree in 2019, works to improve local governance, protect citizens’ rights, combat discrimination, and resolve conflicts amicably between citizens and councils, under the leadership of Tamfu Simon Fai, appointed as the PIC in 2021.