Tchiroma Warns CRTV is Collapsing, Presidential Aides Sabotaging Revamp

Former Communication, Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has accused close aides to President Paul Biya and the Prime Minister of sabotaging a long-overdue revamp of Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV), the state-owned broadcaster.

Speaking on Mimi Mefo Info’s (MMI) flagship program Road to Etoudi, the presidential candidate lamented the broadcaster’s decline, claiming internal obstructions have left it in ruins despite a contract signed a decade ago.

“I had the responsibility to revamp CRTV. An operator was selected by the Head of State. The contract has been attributed. But unfortunately, the closest collaborators of the Head of State and some of them in the Prime Ministry, they put obstacles on our road of rehabilitating, revamping CRTV,” he said.

“They put pitfalls here and there, and which prevent this from taking place. I was not wrong. But I am suffering. You cannot imagine CRTV today is collapsing. Money was there; the contract was signed in 2015. We are in 2025 and nothing has moved and the house is dying. Everything is falling apart. Just because you have so few people who have the privilege to be near the Head of State, they can influence decisions. They gathered, they decided this will never take place. The background of this was a huge amount of money, which was the stake of the game,” Tchiroma added.

His remarks come after his recent resignation from the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, a move that paved the way for his presidential bid for the October 12 election.

As FSNC candidate, he has positioned himself as a critic of the Biya administration, despite serving in various ministerial roles for over two decades, including as Minister of Communication from 2009 to 2018.

CRTV’s Historical Role and Ongoing Challenges

Created in 1987 through the merger of Cameroon Television (CTV) and Radio Cameroon, CRTV has long been the dominant voice in Cameroon’s media landscape.

As the sole official television channel until the liberalization of the sector in the 1990s, it operates under the Ministry of Communication and serves as the government’s official channel for information, news, and propaganda.

With national coverage via radio and television, CRTV has been instrumental in shaping public opinion, but the station often aligns closely with the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).

The broadcaster has faced criticism for its perceived bias, outdated infrastructure, and financial woes.

Critics, including former employees, have described its news programming as a “show” marred by immaturity and excess.

This reflect existing concerns about state control over media in a country ranked low on press freedom indices.

CRTV’s reliance on government funding has also led to inefficiencies, with reports of aging equipment and limited digital innovation hindering its competitiveness against private outlets and online platforms.

During Tchiroma’s tenure as Minister of Communication, CRTV saw a drive towards modernization, including a 2014 allocation of 110 billion FCFA (approximately $200 million USD at the time) for technical renovation.

In January 2015, Tchiroma installed a committee to supervise the rehabilitation of CRTV’s infrastructure, and by September 2016, ultra-modern equipment was received from Chinese providers as part of the analog-to-digital switchover.

The minister also addressed parliament in April 2015, assuring MPs of progress toward the state broadcaster’s digital transition.

Despite these moves, Tchiroma now alleges that vested interests blocked implementation, driven by the “huge amount of money” at stake.