Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – President Paul Biya of Cameroon on July 8, 2011 appointed the Roman Catholic Bishop, Joseph Befe Ateba, Bishop of the Diocese of Kribi, Chairman of the National Communication Council.

The Communication Council is a consultative body placed under the authority of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, with the mission to assist the authorities in the elaboration, implementation and follow up of the national policy on communication.

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Bishop Joseph Befe Ateba born on April 25, 1962 replaces, late Felix Sabel Lecco. He is a professional journalist who graduated from the Yaounde Advanced School of Mass Communication (ASMAC) in 1994 after having been ordained priest on June 20, 1987.

The new chair of the National Communication Council since graduation has handled key functions in the communication sector.

He was Regional Secretary of Social Communication of the Association of Central African Episcopal Conferences, Executive Secretary of the Pan African Episcopal Committee on Social Communication and press officer of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar.

Bishop Joseph Befe Ateba comes to the National Communication Council in a crucial moment, “2011 is a crucial year in Cameroon because of the upcoming presidential election”, the Coordinator of the Communication Council, Professor Laurent Charles Boyomo Assala said in Yaounde on April 19, 2011 as he chaired the first ordinary session of the Council for 2011.

“It is also crucial with regard to the role of the media in covering all stages of the election”, he added. The media must be regulated to enable all competing political parties have equal access to the media and also ensure that unethical practices are avoided , Professor Boyomo stated.

The new Chairman of the National Communication Council will join the other members in the election media coverage proposals they made to government in April 2011 and also work to improve the media landscape in the country.

The mandate and attributions of the National Communication Council were defined in the presidential decree of 21 June 1991.