Thank you Cameroon Tribune!.

Neither the screams from passers-by nor the insults from the truck driver, could get me to weigh the enormity of the narrow escape from death. 

I only found time to take-in the significance of that dramatic event when I got home. The dramatic events of that day marked the end of an era of total dependency on Cameroon's ailing job market and the debut of an epoch of self-dependence.

Within barely weeks of that experience, l summoned the courage to garner resources to get the first edition of The Guardian Post on the newsstands. That was on August 30, 2001; August 30, also being my birthday. 

Twenty-five years after that difficult beginning, The Guardian Post has matured into a media product that occupies a comfortable place in many news-hungry Cameroonian households.

In 2001, it was about me and me alone. Today, it is no longer about me. We are a team. The alluring project has trudged valiantly on the path to journalism excellence, with unbending reputation in consistency in both regularity and quality. 

However, just like any other human enterprise, we have had our share of problems. But heaven knows we tried. With a streak of good luck lingering in the horizon, we are pushing the frontiers further into this 25th anniversary.

Pushing our dreams beyond the confines of The Guardian Post is certainly a tall order. But like we have done for the last 25 years, we are eager to march on boldly. 

We venture into this project not because we think we made it in newspapering. Far from it! We are simply driven by knowledge of the fact that publishing a newspaper in Cameroon is next to a miracle. No doubt, we have endorsed the maxim that it takes tough people to get tough times going.

Make no mistake about it. The times have indeed been tough during the past 25 years. A few regular adverts have kept us in the stands while our legion of readers has not relented in keeping the sales high. 

But we cannot forget the gloomy moments. Threats came from some who felt violated by our frank stance on issues. In addition, our middle-of-the-road editorial policy has not gone down well with those who think they are The Guardian Post's sacred cows.

They may have caused us nightmares but their threats are vital to make us strong. We cannot forget the remarkable contributions, both formal and informal, from illustrious social pundits and intellectuals, who often ran to the rescue with the kiss of life when oxygen ran out of supply.

Others may have willed for us to run out of steam when we refused to play fiddle to their covert interests. But their vacillations taught us to survive. We can never sufficiently thank all our supporters in this venture.

On a broader dimension, we feel obliged to mention the political dispensation in Cameroon that has provided fodder for our pages all these years.

Indeed, the socio-political topography in Cameroon is inhabited by a myriad of tendencies and actors whose deeds and misdeeds have helped shape the news culture in which we operate. Such is the rich experience that has taught us to hope fora better Cameroon.

The Guardian Post’s 25th anniversary, coming on the eve of crucial local elections in Cameroon, will amount to sacrilege if we drift from the current debate on power. The not so comfortable lessons learned from history must take a holiday.

As we blow the candle on 25 years of consistent journalistic excellence, it is our desire The Guardian Post 25th anniversary coincides with a brighter political future for our country. We hope you share that dream too!

One more promise, we will continue to serve as the people's newspaper; and in the process, not only intensifying advocacy journalism but holding government to account.

There is no gainsaying the fact that we remain the newspaper that is cherished by many, haunted by some, but read by them all.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3894 of Sunday August 30, 2026