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Continental distinction:

AlamineMey voted African finance minister of the year!

He was awarded the honorific distinction on Wednesday, 25 May 2016 in Lusaka – Zambia, during a gala occasion that spiced the 10th edition of the annual assembly of the ADB which held from 23 to 27 May, and which he attended in his capacity as Cameroon’s minister of finance.

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Y’de with agency reports

Minister of Finance, 

AlamineOusmaneMey

Not the least was known about AlamineOusmaneMey within public service circles in Cameroon before December 2011 when President Paul Biya appointed him minister of Finance in his 32nd government. Prior to his appointment, the illustrious son of Logone and Chari division of the Far North region was the general manager of Afriland First Bank. However, no sooner did he occupy the driver’s seat of MINFI than he began performing marvels to salvage the ministry and Cameroon’s economy as a whole. His extraordinary performances have been quick to catch the eyes of not only his fellow countrymen but also foreigners.

                Reason why barely four and a half years later, the African Banker Magazine, under the patronage of the African Development Bank, ADB, honoured him with the African Banker of the Year Award.

                The Award was conferred on AlamineMey on Wednesday, 25 May 2016 in Lusaka – Zambia during a gala occasion that spiced the 10th edition of the annual assembly of the ADB which held from 23 to 27 May. At the 9th edition of the event, the Rwandan minister of Finance, ClaverGatete, won the prize.

                According to the ADB, these Awards, which compensate deserving bankers and banks, “distinguish decision makers and institutions that make the most contribution in reforming and modernizing the banking and financial sector in Africa, and in developing the African economy.” The prizes are open to all African financial institutions including banks, microfinance institutions, investment banks, financial development institutions, and other financial service institutions.

                The Median has been informed that Cameroon’s Finance minister was going to take part in the annual assembly without any prior knowledge of the horrific distinction he was to return to Yaounde with. He is thus reaping the fruit of the country’s resilience in 2015 which he piloted. In spite of the war against the Nigerian Islamist sect, Boko Haram, and the fall in the prices of oil in the world market, the country has been able to maintain a progressive macroeconomic situation. The growth rate is estimated at 5.9% in an Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) zone whose Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth has plummeted to 2.8%.

2018 presidential election:

What has become of “the people’s call”?

President Paul Biya

To this day, President Paul Biya has maintained stony silence in the face of an avalanche of infamous calls made since the start of the year by misguided supporters of his party for him to either be candidate in the 2018 presidential election or call an early election.

By Tanyi Kenneth Musa in Yaounde

What misguided supporters of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, referred to as “the people’s call” was motions of support they made to President Paul Biya, either calling on him to be candidate in the 2018 presidential election or hold the election earlier than that year. In March this year, members of the CPDM went haywire with such calls in different parts of the country as though they were competing with one another.

                The only resistance to the call within CPDM circles came from the sultan of Bamoun, Ibrahim MbomboNjoya, a polit bureau member of the party, who took his comrades by surprise, saying such a call was not necessary. In fact, he warned the party president that he alone had the keys to the misfortune or happiness of Cameroonians.

Harmonization of university programs:

Anglophone professors, lawyers, parents unite in protest

Teachers of UB are totally against harmonization

 of academic programs in state universities

In what can be seen as a joint and determined protest action the Union of Teachers of Higher Education (SYNES) UB Chapter, the Cameroon Teachers Trade Union CATTU, the Union of Parent-Teacher Associations (UPTA) and the All Anglophone Common Law Lawyers Conference AACLLC met in Bamenda on 27 May, under what they called “The Quartet”, and issued a strongly-worded statement against on-going moves by the MINESUP to harmonize academic programs in all State Universities in Cameroon. The Quartet is protesting against any such harmonization and/or francophonization. They argue that the Universities of Buea and Bamenda are Anglo-Saxon Universities and should remain as such. See full text of the Joint Press Statement issued by ‘The Quartet’ on page 3.

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde with reporting

It was our own ‘Genuine Intellectual’, Dr. Bernard NsokikaFonlon (RIP) who in his Academic Testament: <To Every African Freshman or The Nature, End and Purpose of University Studies>, posited that: “Any university worthy of the name shall guard its freedom with jealous tenaciousness, for it is the permanent guardian of immutable truth- while the dynasties come and go.”

                Fonlon espoused further that: “If this independence of the university is not sanctioned by a charter; if the university is left at the mercy of people in power, if politicians usurp the right to dictate what should be taught, if the Ministry of (Higher) Education has the right to confer state doctorates and aggregations, as is the case in France, then the temptation to impose what pleases them and those who please them, on the academy, to serve their own ends, will be too strong for human frailty, too strong for human ambition, and too strong for mortal fear.”

                It was in utter frustration and bitterness, and perhaps in acknowledgement of these sterling thoughts of the venerable and venerated Dr. Bernard NsokikaFonlon that Anglophone teachers, lawyers and parents converged on the history-making city of Bamenda to wage a war against what they described as “plans by the government to assimilate Anglophones as a cultural entity by tampering with their educational system, and by gradually but consistently francophonizing the Anglophone higher education system, under the guise of harmonizing academic programs.”

                ‘The Quartet’ noted that after reviewing earlier and persistent attempts made by government to assimilate Anglophones, by trying to dismantle the Common Law sub-system, adulterating teaching standards in Anglophone secondary and tertiary institutions of learning, and by deliberately mismanaging the concept of regional balance to satisfy essentially the francophones, they have come to the unshakable conclusion that the government is hell bent and ever poised to humiliate, marginalize, disenfranchise and annihilate Anglophones in Cameroon.

                In their press statement ‘The Quartet’ noted further that any attempt at harmonizing university studies in Cameroon not only undermines but also subverts the decrees creating the Universities of Buea and Bamenda as English-Speaking Universities.

                They lamented that the violation of recruitment procedure and the disrespect for laid down texts regulating recruitment of teachers in the two English-speaking Universities of Buea and Bamenda, and the premeditated exclusion and sidelining of Anglophone students in admissions into professional schools attached to these universities only betray the intentions of the government.

At 26th anniversary of party:

SDF congress billed for Feb. 2017 – FruNdi

FruNdi also seized the opportunity of the anniversary celebration to make certain pertinent requests to the government as well as to deplore some of the ills of the Biya regime that continues to retard the development of Cameroon.

By EssanEkoninyam on special assignment in Bamenda

FruNdi

Cameroon’s leading opposition party, the Social Democratic Front, SDF, will hold its 9th national congress in February next year. This decision, made by the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party, was made public by party chairman, John FruNdi, on the occasion of the celebration of the 26th anniversary of the SDF that held in its Ntarikon headquarters on Thursday 26 May 2016.

                Speaking on the occasion, FruNdi said the party was launching a vast reorganization process that would culminate in the holding of the said national congress. He said that decision was a strategic one that came about as a result of the current sociopolitical climate in the country. Said he:

                “After a detailed review and analysis of the socioeconomic situation in our country, the National Executive Committee has adopted a vast reorganization programme of all the structures of the party all over the national territory to prepare for any eventuality. This reorganization will end before the end of the month of July so that regional conferences could be held.”

                The chairman added that at the end of this vast and tedious exercise, they would move straight on to the activities and processes that would lead to the national congress. Pundits believe that it is in the congress that the candidate of the party in the 2018 presidential election would be chosen. Observers are also expecting to see what has been described as the aging NEC rejuvenated during the congress.

CPDM Divisional Delegates:

Who wants to foment discord in KupeMuanenguba&Ngoketunjia?

- Militants also voicing protest remarks in Donga-Mantung, Sanaga Maritime, Kadey, Nkam etc.

By Tanyi Kenneth Musa in Yaounde with field reports

CPDM Scribe, Jean Nkuete

A decision signed on 19 May by the CPDM National President, Paul Biya, appoints Leaders and Members of Permanent Divisional Delegations of the party. The decision followed an earlier one in December 2015 that appointed Leaders and Members of Regional Delegations.

                Following the publication of the list of divisional delegates last week many CPDM militants said they are now more perplexed and disappointed than ever before. The supporters of the ruling party said the decision signed on 19 May by their national president and published on 24 May has created more problems than it has solved.

                Coming at a time, and in a context where ministers are believed to be the automatic political leaders of their respective divisions, the decision has contradicted this belief as erroneous; it shows that CPDM ministers in government are only agents of the party, who can be assigned by the party hierarchy to play certain roles and/or take certain responsibilities in their political bases, without necessarily being political leaders.

                This is true when one observes that in the Kadey Division for example Mr. Ernest Gwaboubou who was appointed on 2 October 2015 as Minister of Mines and Industry, will have to play second fiddle to his predecessor, Emmanuel Bonde, who has been maintained as political leader of that division.

                This is idem for the Sanaga Maritime Division, where the former minister of national education (1989 - 1992) Joseph Mboui was chosen in preference to the sitting minister of education Ernest NgaleBibehe. It is also same for the Nkam division where former minister delegate at the MINFI in charge of the Budget, Titti Pierre was chosen as delegation leader in preference to the sitting minister of Culture, NarcisseMouelle Kombi.

                Also, in the Kupe-Muanenguba division, former Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Prof. Elvis NgolleNgolle was chosen in preference to his successor at that Ministry, Ngole Philip Ngwese, who ever since his appointment in 2011 and until now was considered as the leader of Kupe-Muanenguba CPDM.

                There is also the case of Donga-Mantung where the secretary of state at the MINMIDT, DrFuhCalistus will have to take instructions from his billionaire brother, the former secretary of state at the MINTP, Shey Jones Yembe.

                CPDM militants say their anger and curiosity in the appointment of permanent delegates is provoked all the more because it is not immediately clear to them what criteria was used in chosen heads of some delegations. This is because while some sitting ministers are floor members of some delegations, others are leaders of their delegations. This is the case in the Moungo Division for example, where newly appointed minister of External Relations, Lejeune MbellaMbella is the new political leader, and not the former minister, Siegfried David EtameMassoma.

                Also, in the Benoue Division it is the new minister YoussoufHadidjaAlim and not Haman Adama or YaouAissatou who is the divisional leader. Idem for the Diamare division in the Far North where YaoubaAbdoulaye was picked in preference to former minister of public service, SaliDahirou.

CPDM divisional delegates in NW & SW

North West Region

Boyo

Head of delegation

WaingehNdim Albert Nid

Members

Wango Francis

Wanlo John

Chia Emmanuel

Yonghabemary

Charges the Mission

Ngong Christopher

Eaidim Timothy Ntam

Bui Division

Head of delegation Bui

Lantum Daniel

Members

EmaEnolafon

Shey Peter Mabu

Fai Yengo Francis

Henry Kibum

Charges the Mission

Tan Paul

SwaiDubila Valentine

Donga Mangung

SheyYembe Jones

Members

FuhCalixtus Gentry

Ngafesson Emmanuel Bantar

Ntoi Joseph Nka

Tamfu Simon

Charges the Mission

NdiKimbi Augustine

Adamou Musa

Menchum

Nji Fidelis Muh-Ziah

Members

Wallang Richard

AkwoAlimaFabiola

Dighambong Anthony Mvo

Chief Onko Moses

Charges the Mission

Akwa Patrick

Mendi Stephen Duno

Mezam

AtangaNji Paul

Members

NongwaTenning

NdiFontahNyandiBuma

Angwafor III Fru

ChumboBeban Daniel

Charges de Mission

AmbaheDieudonneEdang

Edwin Fongod

Momo Division

AwangaZacharie

Members

Ama Tutu Muna

MbahAcha Rose

NchoAdu Joseph

Chick Marcus

Charges de Mission

Mbaku Jerry

Gabche Vincent

Ngoketunjia

Head of delegation

UphieChinjeMelo

Members

Ghogomo Paul Mingo

SamaGalabe Margaret

FonChafah Isaac

Mbafung Carl

Charges de Mission

Kometa Solomon

GabsaSixtusNyogha

Real Estate transactions:

Electronic filing of tax returns begins on 1st June

The Director General of Taxation made the announcement at a press briefing in Yaounde on 23 May 2016.

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

Director General of Taxation,

 MopaModesteFatoing

Electronic filing of tax returns of real estate transactions will go operational in Yaounde and Douala as from Wednesday the 1st of June 2016. This was the take home message from a press briefing granted by the Director General of Taxation, at the taxation headquarters in Yaounde, on Monday last week.

                Addressing a battery of journalists drawn from the national and international press, MopaModesteFatoing said the new electronic filing procedure is part of vast reforms presently implemented at the Taxation department.

                The reforms seek among other things to boost the capacity of the tax administration in mobilizing resources, simplify and modernize procedures to enable tax payers to avoid wasting valuable time, create a user-friendly and convivial atmosphere for tax payers to accomplish their obligations towards the tax administration and also avoid unnecessary contacts between tax payers and tax agents.

                To accomplish this task therefore, businessmen operating in the real estate sector are called upon to create their e-filing accounts on the website of the DGI-www.impots.cm or contact the special registration and stamp duty unit so as to be schooled on the new E-filing procedure.

                It should be mentioned that the new procedure replaces the old and obsoleted manual filling of tax returns at the specialized tax centres in Yaounde and Douala. The new procedure was a recommendation of the Cameroon Business Forum that ended recently in Douala, where the tax department took an active part in the deliberations.

Humanitarian gesture:

Chantal Biya showers Tombel population with gifts

The materials donated by Chantal Biya
were many and varied

Women of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon, CERAC, the charity association founded by the wife of President Paul Biya, Mrs Chantal VigourouxPulcherieBiya, took Tombel by storm on Saturday 14 May 2016 and made landmark donations to the populations.

By DarelNgwa in Tombel

It will take a very long time for the populations of Tombel to forget what the First Lady, Mrs. Chantal Biya has done for them. Under the auspices of the First Lady, CERAC women led by their general coordinator, Mrs Linda Yang, wife of the Prime Minister and head of government, on Saturday 14 May 2016 visited Tombel where they donated a wide range of items to the populations.

                Among the landmark donations was a completely renovated and fully renovated Government Primary School GS Tombel that was handed over to the Tombel populations. Created in 1961, the school had become dilapidated and virtually abandoned, with broken walls, no windows or benches, and fallen-off roofs.

                But the school handed over by CERAC was completely transformed. Three new classrooms had been built; 4 classrooms completely renovated with modern roofs, metal doors, protected windows, brightly painted walls and ceilings and a completely electrified campus, with dust bins.

                Apart from these, CERAC also made donations of 450 new desks, a computer and printer, school bags, books, chalk and a variety of other didactic materials to the 350 pupils that populate group I and group II of GS Tombel.

                After cutting the symbolic ribbon, Mrs. Linda Yang proceeded to unveil the commemorative plague, on which was inscribed in bold: “On May 14, 2016, the Circle of Friends of Cameroon, (CERAC) on behalf of its Founding President, Mrs. Chantal Biya, First Lady, UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion, officially handed over the Government School of Tombel, renovated and equipped by CERAC.” Linda Yang also made a guided tour round the school, alongside the dignitaries present and the bevy of CERAC women.

Cameroon's Cardiopad inventor wins continental award

MrZang, right, received the prize at a ceremony

in Dares Salaam, Tanzania

Cameroonian inventor Arthur Zang has won a cash prize of £25,000 ($37,000) for his device that does heart examinations.

The Cardiopad is a tablet computer that takes a reading and sends it to a heart specialist.

                It allows health workers to give heart examinations and send the results to heart specialists far away.

                BBC Africa's MamadouMoussa Ba says there are just 50 cardiologists in Cameroon, which has a population of over 20 million people.

                MrZang's invention was awarded the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the UK's Royal Academy of Engineering at a ceremony in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam.

                The results from his Cardiopad are sent to a cardiologist via a mobile network and can be interpreted within 20 minutes.

Road infrastructure in the SW Region:

33 years of unfulfilled promises

By A. NgomeKome

  NgomeKome

The adage that where a road passes, development follows can never be over laboured. It is true today as it was yesterday. The inadequacy of a good road infrastructure in Cameroon and, especially in the South West Region is one of the root causes of the rampant poverty which has pervaded the nooks and comers of our villages/country. The near neglect of provincial roads which in most cases connects the villages and towns to their divisional headquarters and the lack of proper maintenance of National roads which in most cases connect divisional headquarters to regional headquarters is a contributory factor to the economic backwardness of our country. Roads leading to zones of production of coffee, cocoa, plantains, cocoyams and other economic and food crops are in most cases pliable for three to four months of the year. This makes the evacuation of these products difficult and sometimes impossible. This brings to light the problem of the farm-to-market roads.

                This situation renders the farmers poor because they cannot sell what they produce. Also, the traders who dare to ply these roads during those periods pay almost nothing for the products and sell them at exorbitant prices in the cities. In the local markets on the road from Tombel to Bangem, these opportunist traders buy huge bunches of plantains for 300F CFA or less. The same goes for cocoyams and other food crops. As a result, the farmer does not therefore enjoy the fruit of his labour.

                As stated above, an example of this type of dramatic situation is found on the provincial road number seventeen (P.17) which connects Tombel – Bangem – Melong – Dschang – Balessing – Bansoa – Bamengoum. If you dare pass through this road during the rainy season, you see heaps and heaps of rotting plantains, cocoyams, bananasetc, packed in the village markets waiting for evacuation. There are cases on this same road where cocoa crops for a whole season cannot get to the market because of the roads. This example is applicable to other areas of Cameroon, and especially in the South West Region.

Camtel is also concerned with agro-pastoral activity

- David NkotoEmane, Director General, Camtel

He made this revelation in an interview he granted the press on Wednesday 19 May 2016 on the sidelines of the Yaounde International Economic Conference, and after participating at a workshop on ICTs, during which he made two proposals to foreign investors present.

                What was the objective of your meeting with investors?

            

Camtel DG, David NkotoEmane

    The objective of my meeting with investors was to show them what Camtel has been doing in recent years. I can assure you that we have not communicated sufficiently. We had nothing to say because we were working. But today, we are capable of presenting to the public…the work that Camtel does, even though investors do not constitute our only targets. It is already something. These investors can help us in a number of subjects.

                Concretely, what are these projects?

                I presented two projects to them pertaining essentially to telecommunication. The first was that of optic fibre, given that we continue to talk of access to the fibre. The fluidity of the internet network must not suffer anymore. We have this project and are simply in search of financing so as to continue with the installations. It will enable Cameroonians to surf at a low cost and to use services such as video, television, and free road. It also has to do with The Fibre-To-The-X, FTTX, project which will facilitate the connection of one million households in Yaounde and Douala, 300 SMEs. In short, the objective of the FTTX project is to take tele-density of 45% to 2020, modify and make dense the network by introducing the optic fibre. The second project is an application which we wrote. Camtel does not have the vocation to write applications, but it is an example that we are showing to our young engineers.

AgborTabi to get burial of a king

Prof. AgborTabi

Sons and daughters of Manyu have resolved that no matter the context of AgborTabi’s death, and given the legacy he has left behind, he must be given the burial of the king that he was. (Prof. AgborTabi was also the ‘Ntufam’ or better still, the ‘Nfor’ of Ndekwai village, in Eyumojock sub-division of the South West region).

                Manyu elements have unanimously agreed that given the multi-dimensional roles, and especially the many caps that he wore, Prof. NforAgborTabi’s funeral must reflect his status as political leader and chief.

                “We are lamenting the fall of a general on the field of battle. So we must stand like one man and talk with one voice. We must all put hands on deck and give our departed brother a burial befitting of the people that he incarnated,” said Dr. Agbor-AmbangAntem, who reiterated that “no matter the context of AgborTabi’s death, it is the identity of Manyu that is at stake.”

                He added that “AgborTabi epitomized the Manyu image and character; and that identity has to be protected and preserved at all times and at all cost, no matter what it takes.”

                Manyu sons and daughters are also determined that irrespective of what the state will allocate for AgborTabi’s funeral, especially given that he died in active service, they will put together all it takes to make his burial colourful and historic.

                They took the firm commitment at the  meetings they have been holding at AgborTabi’s sumptuous and expansive palace at Biteng, Yaounde and in the Manyu hall here.

                United under the canopy of the Manyu Elements Cultural Association, MECA, the meetings were presided over by the Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency, H.E. Victor MengotArrey, who is assisted by Prof. Ako Edward, Rector of Maroua University, who is also head of AgborTabi’s maternal siblings.

Bird flu in Yaounde: Hoax or reality?

Many Yaounde inhabitants who talked to The Median express doubt over the allegation of the presence of bird flu in Cameroon, asking why all the fowls in the Mvog-betsi poultry complex did not die in accordance with information given by the WHO on the danger that the disease poses. Some say it may just be a ploy by the government to receive aid from Cameroon’s foreign partners.

By Tanyi Kenneth Musa in Yaounde

A communiqué issued by the ministry of livestock, fisheries and animal husbandry last week made public the sudden death of 15 000 out of 33 000 fowls at the Mvogbetsi poultry complex in Yaounde. The massive death of the birds has immediately been linked to bird flu which was present in Cameroon in 2016. To this effect, the SDO for Mfoundi released a circular banning the sale of fowls in the entire division. But the question that remains on many a critical lip is, is the announcement of bird flu in Yaounde a hoax or reality?

                Information gleaned from the website of the World Health Organization, WHO, indicates that the disease, which is caused by a highly pathogenic virus, has a high mortality rate amongst some species of poultry. The WHO further states that there is usually 100% death of affected poultry within 48 hours! 

                With this information published by the international health governing body, critics have since been questioning if the cause of the recent death of fowls at Mvogbetsi is truly bird flu. “Why did all the fowls in the poultry complex not die within 48 hours?” some of them whom we met in the streets of Yaounde asked. “Yes, 15 000 deaths are quite massive, but the number of fowls that survived is greater than that which died. Why is it so? Does bird flu choose some fowls and spare others in the same poultry?” another respondent queried.

Online publication of GCE results prohibited

-Retailers of GCE results jump for joy

Humphrey Ekema Momono

The Registrar of the GCE Board has confirmed the start of the written part of the ‘O’ and ‘A’ level exams for Monday, 30 May, throughout the country. Sir Humphrey Ekema Momono used a press conference in Buea Thursday, to reassure candidates and parents of a hitch-free examination

By Ajongakou Santos & Boris Esono

The registrar of the Cameroon GCE Board, HumpheryEkemaMonono has said that results of this year’s GCE examination will not be published online. The registrar affirmed this last Thursday, 26 May 2016 at a press conference he convened at the headquarters of the Board in Buea.

                According to the Sir MononoHumpheryEkema, publishing candidates’ results online is not and will never be the ideal way to release the results given that it serves as a platform for fraud, manipulations and damage of both the image of the Cameroon GCE Board and the various institutions of learning.

                “Publishing the results online only gives the opportunity for fraudsters to adulterate the results,” Sir Humphrey Monono said, noting that whatever results that is found on the internet should not be trusted as the authentic GCE results.

                The registrar advised students and their parents to go to the various centers where they took the exams and verify their results or rely on the channels which traditionally carry the results ie CRTV Radio and some local Newspapers.

Meet Bala 2 K:

Buea-based music star, poised to better Cameroonian music

Bala Emmanuel Kimbi

For a while Cameroonians have lost interest in home based music. Most music lovers complain that Cameroonian artistes and song writers are either not inspired at all, or find pleasure in copying from foreign musicians; notably from Nigeria. The fact that Nigerian music is much more listened to, and her artistes more celebrated in Cameroon at the expense of Cameroonian music is a problem that has for long begged for solutions. Lately, Cameroonian musicians have taken the challenge to address this setback. They have agreed on making Cameroonians love and give attention to Cameroon music at the expense of foreign artistes. Their fight seems positive and is paying off. In just a short while, Cameroon music has gone viral; it has won awards, got several nominations in the Afrcan continent and across the world. Buea is so far on the record for producing Cameroons finest musicians and music producers; likewise recording labels. One of such fast rising music stars based in Buea is Bala Emmanuel Kimbi; popularly known as “Bala 2 K”. The Median learned that in just one week, Bala’s video and track is gone viral across the globe getting every single attention. Its just one week Bala’s released single has got over 3.000 views and is about now being nomitated for an award in Nigeria. Such quick prominence and stardom begs answers. The Median’s Ajongakou Santos spoke to Bala 2 K and sought to know the secret behind his stardom. Read on:

                Who is Bala 2 K?

                I am Bala Emmanuel Kimbi; an Afro-pop artist. I am the second son in a family of three boys. Bala 2 K is a final year Journalism and Mass Communication student in the University of Buea. Bala 2 K is that young artist that has the strong conviction and passion of making Cameroonian music better, greater, and nicer. I have started already and have a long way to create that great impact.

                Why the Name Bala 2 K?

                Am called Bala Emmanuel Kimbi. The “2” in my artistic name represents the fact that I am the second Bala in the family. The “K” stands for Kimbi; which is my last name.

                Tell me, why Afro pop?

                Hahahaha….. Ehhhhhhh, I chosed Afro pop because its trending and taking the lead in Cameroon and across the world. I am very comforatble with Afro pop and believe I will use it drive Cameroon to its dreamland of popularity.

                What does Bala sing about?

                Bala 2 K: hahahaha. That’s really interesting. I sing about societal ills such as protitution. I also sing about love and gospel as well.

                Where is your inspiration from?

                I grew up in a music environment. My father loves music, so do I. In short, my family is my inspiration.

                How long has Bala been in music?

                For 6 years now. I had to slow and concentrate on my studies. I believe upon graduation I will have ample time for my music.

                Your first track; “Kiss U”. What does that mean?

                Its outstanding, its surprising. I want to get the attention of audience. In the track “Kiss U”, I am expressing love in a way that has not been expressed before. Its different from other love songs.

Diego Simeone:

Atletico Madrid manager questions future

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone says he will "start thinking" about his future with the club after Saturday's Champions League final defeat.

Atletico lost 5-3 on penalties to Real Madrid after the match at Milan's San Siro finished 1-1 after extra time.

It is the second time in three seasons Simeone's side have lost to their La Liga rivals in the final, following the 4-1 extra-time defeat in 2014.

"Losing two finals is a failure," said the Argentine, in charge since 2011.

Simeone - who guided Atletico to their first La Liga title since 1996 in 2014 - was linked with Chelsea before Italy boss Antonio Conte was appointed first-team head coach at Stamford Bridge.

Zidane: the biggest winner of Real Madrid's Champions League triumph

The 2016 Champions League final had been built up as a story of redemption, as Atletico Madrid attempted to reverse the outcome of a painful 2014 Champions League final defeat to rival Real Madrid. Though Atleticofell short and mighty Real eventually won in a penalty shootout, the result still served as a tale of redemption for Real Madrid manager ZinedineZidane.

While Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated with his shirt off and paraded about like his winning spot kick had been the sole reason Real Madrid won the final, Zidane coolly collected his first trophy as a manager in his first season on the sidelines.

Zidane did not even manage Madrid for a full season. He took the reins in early January of 2016, after Rafa Benitez had promptly received his walking papers to make way for the Frenchman following a 2-2 draw at Valencia. Zidane had been coaching the club's youth team, so the former Real Madrid midfielder’s promotion paralleled Pep Guardiola’s rise at rival FC Barcelona a few years earlier. Though the fans warmly welcomed their new manager, the press harshly pointed to his lack of managerial experience.

In his first eight matches in charge, Zidane managed six wins and two draws, but he had not been wholly tested against any of Europe or Spain’s elite clubs.

In his ninth match, Zidane suffered a home defeat against Atletico Madrid that made him question his own future at the club in the aftermath. In that moment, one could not avoid seeing and hearing that losing meant more to Zidane, or maybe it was that losing clearly hurt Zidane.

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Faculty of medicine, UNI-YAO 1:

Fame Ndongo expels four orthopedic surgeons for indiscipline

The four student doctors on specialization have not only petitioned the Prime Minister, they have also dragged Prof. Fame Ndongo to the administrative court for abuse of authority and wrongful dismissal.

By Mercy Neba in Yaounde

Prof. Fame Ndongo

Four medical doctors specializing in orthopedic surgery and traumatic medicine at the University of Yaounde I have been dismissed from the school and barred from studying in any medical school in Cameroon for a period of two years. The students in their third and fourth years of specialization were charged with indiscipline and refusal to respect the texts regulating medical studies in Cameroon.

                The four victims of Prof. Fame Ndongo’s uncompromising pen include Doctors Nyekel Raphaela, Nana Theophile, Tsanga Bessala Cyprien and Bengono Obi Jean Luc.

                Two of the dismissed doctors on specialization - Nyekel Raphaela and Nana Theophile are senior officers (Majors) in the Cameroon army. The two soldiers were in their third year of specialization and were expected to graduate next academic year.

                Two other orthopedic surgery and traumatology residents were also slammed serious warnings for the same reasons, The Median can confirm.

                Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo signed the decision dismissing the four students on 10 May 2016. In the release announcing the sanctions Fame Ndongo said the students were expelled upon the proposal of the Rector of the University of Yaounde I, Prof. Maurice Sosso.

                The four dismissed students and the two that recieved warnings, were sanctioned after they faced the discipline committee of the University to answer charges of indiscipline and disrespect for instructions of the school hierarchy.

                However, all the students have denied the charges brought against them. They told The Median that the cause of their dismissal is far-fetched and more complex than what the MINESUP pointed out in his decision.

                “We are collateral victims of an on-going war of ego among senior lecturers of the Faculty of Medicine of the UNI-YAO I,” said one of the dismissed students whose identity we cannot reveal here.

                The Median gathered for instance that the head of the department of orthopedic surgery and traumatic medicine, Prof. Bayebeck and the Rector of the UNI-Yao 1, Prof. Maurice Sosso, (a prof. of surgery), have not been in talking terms, ever since the former dragged the latter to court for allegedly misappropriating his academic work. Prof. Bayebeck is a former student and protégé of Prof. Maurice Sosso, we learnt.

Cameroon Bar Association:

Lawyers lament disastrous management by erstwhile Batonniers

An audit report presented at an Ordinary General Assembly of the Bar on Saturday in Douala revealed huge embezzlements by successive former presidents of the club of learned men and women

By Mercy Neba with reports from Douala

Lawyers are disappointed with the wasteful

management of successive Bar Presidents

The President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle has exhorted members of the Bar to maintain their calm and be peaceful despite the problems plaguing the smooth functioning of the otherwise prestigious association.

                Barrister Nico Halle made the call in his remarks at an Ordinary General Assembly of the Bar that held in Douala on Saturday, 21 May 2016.

                “No matter the context of our problems, we should remain peaceful and show love for one another,” Nico Halle said.

                He was speaking amid revelations of unbridled embezzlements and misappropriation of funds by some former presidents of the Bar Council.

                The over 500 lawyers that attended the General Assembly could not come to terms with the revelations of an audit report which showed that the management of former Batonnier Sama Francis was wasteful at best, and catastrophic at worse.

                Many lawyers could not digest for instance how and why Barrister Sama had to spend over Fcfa 230 millions just to acquire a piece of land which until now the Bar cannot take total possession of. It emerged that the Bar would still need to spend about Fcfa 25 millions in taxes if she must take possession of the piece of land in Yaounde.

Humanitarian action:

Chantal Biya touches the hearts of Tombel people

Women of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon, CERAC, the charity association founded by the wife of President Paul Biya, Mrs Chantal Vigouroux Pulcherie Biya, took Tombel by storm on Saturday 14 May 2016 and made landmark donations to the populations.

By Darel Ngwa in Tombel

Mrs. Linda Yang cuts symbolic ribbon 

to hand over GS Tombel

It will take a very long time for the populations of Tombel to forget what the First Lady, Mrs. Chantal Biya has done for them. Under the auspices of the First Lady, CERAC women led by their general coordinator, Mrs Linda Yang, wife of the Prime Minister and head of government, on Saturday 14 May 2016 visited Tombel where they donated a wide range of items to the populations.

                Among the landmark donations was a completely renovated and fully renovated Government Primary School GS Tombel that was handed over to the Tombel populations. Created in 1961, the school had become dilapidated and virtually abandoned, with broken walls, no windows or benches, and fallen-off roofs.

                But the school handed over by CERAC was completely transformed. Three new classrooms had been built; 4 classrooms completely renovated with modern roofs, metal doors, protected windows, brightly painted walls and ceilings and a completely electrified campus, with dust bins.

                Apart from these, CERAC also made donations of 450 new desks, a computer and printer, school bags, books, chalk and a variety of other didactic materials to the 350 pupils that populate group I and group II of GS Tombel.

                After cutting the symbolic ribbon, Mrs. Linda Yang proceeded to unveil the commemorative plague, on which was inscribed in bold: “On May 14, 2016, the Circle of Friends of Cameroon, (CERAC) on behalf of its Founding President, Mrs. Chantal Biya, First Lady, UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion, officially handed over the Government School of Tombel, renovated and equipped by CERAC.” Linda Yang also made a guided tour round the school, alongside the dignitaries present and the bevy of CERAC women.

                Receiving the school and the other gifts on behalf of the rest of the pupils, Esso Rodrigue thanked Mrs. Chantal Biya for the wonderful donation which he said would help them to improve on their performance at school. The young and seemingly intelligent pupil asked Mrs. Linda Yang to extend to the First Lady the joy of the pupils and teachers of GS Tombel. He asked Linda Yang to also let the First Lady to know that the youths of Tombel were happy and proud of her especially because of all the good work she is doing for the needy in Cameroon.

                Worthy to mention that the renovated school and the didactic materials were not all that the First Lady had in store for the populations of Tombel; there were also donations in the domains of health and agriculture.

                Thus before she proceeded to handing over the school and didactic materials, Mrs. Linda Yang also on behalf of the First Lady, donated farm tools and agriculture inputs to some 20 women’s groups drawn from across Tombel sub-division. The farm tools comprised grinding machines for cassava, pressing machines for palm oil, cutlasses, hoes, wheel barrows, rain boots, fertilizers etc.

Reconciliation at Nso Palace:

 Sehm Mbinglo forgives banished ‘nwerong’ and ‘ngiri’ notables

-But some notables who still challenge the fon’s authority have snubbed the reconciliation gesture

By Nsaibirni Roland Wirsiy in Kumbo

Nso Palace: Fon re-admits formerly

banished ‘nwerong’ notables

In what can be described as a historic moment in the chequered history of the Nso Fondom, the Paramount Fon of Nso, HRH Sehm Mbinglo I on 13 May 2016 extended an olive branch to some formerly banished notables of the palace and has re-admitted them into the Royal realm.

                The notables, who were members of the ‘nwerong’ and ‘ngiri’ societies, were banished from the Palace by the fon, on alleged charges of disrespect and subversion of his authority.

                But on that historic day the notables had their right to enter the palace reinstated once again.                                               However, some of the banished notables, for yet unknown reasons, snubbed the fon’s reconciliation move and refused to come back to the palace.

                In acknowledgement of the authority of the fon, the notables who accepted to rejoin the palace, paid symbolic fines levied them. The fines included goats, fowls and jars of palm wine.

                After paying their fines the notables were officially reinstated in their former duties in the palace.

                The historic ceremony was attended among others by the Special Adviser at the Prime Minister Office, Francis Fonye, representatives of the Bui Administration and a cross section of the elite and populations of Nso.

                The Fon through one of his close aides, Shufai Yuwar said the decision to reconcile was not taken out of cowardice but intended to foster peace and concord in the fondom. The fon’s decision were also motivated by the need to preserve the Nso culture and promote peace and fraternity in the fondom, Shufai Yuwar underscored.

                The Fon lauded the Prime Minister for always standing by him and the Nso People, and the Bui Administration for their role during the turbulent period.

                The fon invited those still dragging their feet to eschew personal pride and join the reconciliation train, saying the doors of the palace are wide open.

                Sehm Mbinglo I enjoined his subjects to protect their culture and tradition. He encouraged those in the diaspora to always seek to understand issues back home before drawing conclusions. The fon asked his subjects to watch out what they do in public especially in matters relating to tradition.

Boko Haram, Bakassi handover:

 Paul Biya wholeheartedly embraces Nigeria now!

After long years of uncertain relations between Cameroon and Nigeria, the new understanding between Yaounde and Abuja over the Boko Haram menace, and the acknowledgement by the Buhari regime of Bakassi as Cameroonian territory, now seem to have convinced Paul Biya of the sincerity and goodwill of Abuja

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

President Biya and Buhari are the best of friends now

For a man who is understood to be usually cold and taciturn towards his neighbours, it surprised many that Paul Biya made two successive visits to Abuja, Nigeria in less than two weeks.

                Paul Biya first flew to Abuja for a state visit on 3-4 May 2016. Then 10 days later on 13 May 2016 he travelled again to the Nigerian capital for a security summit on Boko Haram.

                Biya’s remarks both scripted and unscripted, during the two outings, lend credence to speculation that he is now less suspicious of Abuja and very ready to do business with the western neighbour.

                During his first visit to Abuja, state television CRTV reported that Paul Biya and his Nigerian counterpart held several one-on-one discussions on a wide range of bilateral, regional and multi-lateral issues.

                The reports said Paul Biya was unusually warm and brotherly towards Muhamadou Buhari. His warmth betrayed a new dawn in the relations with Nigeria; relations which had been barely cordial at best, in the past several decades.

                Paul Biya and Muhamadou Buhari commended the collective efforts of the Cameroonian and Nigerian military, under the multi-national Task Force, in checking the Boko Haram menace in the Northern extremes of both countries.

                But most reassuring to Paul Biya was Buhari’s endorsement of the Green Tree Accord and the Hand over of Bakassi to Cameroon. The acknowledgement of Bakassi as Cameroonian territory was certainly the last gesture that convinced Biya about Buhari’s goodwill and sincerity in dealing with Yaounde.

                It should be recalled that following the successful hand-over of Bakassi to Cameroon in August 2008, President Biya, in a 10-minute televised address to the nation, announced a new era of intimate ties with Nigeria. He said it was time for both countries to seize the opportunity and develop their relations in all fields.

                President Biya announced that Cameroon will honour all the commitments of the Green Tree Accord – notably that Nigerians living in Bakassi will be allowed a five-year period of grace, during which Cameroon will not oblige them to acquire residence permits or pay any taxes.

                Paul Biya referred to Nigerians in Cameroon as brothers and sisters and promised that government will guarantee their security and protect their rights, so long as they respected the laws.

                “I want to reaffirm that Cameroon will honour all commitments made concerning our Nigerian brothers and sisters who have chosen to reside in Cameroon, that is, those living in Bakassi as well as those who, in large numbers, have been in Cameroon for many years. I want to reassure them that their security and their rights will always be guaranteed,” Biya pledged.

                But the euphoria of the Bakassi handover was not to last for long. In 2009 the phenomenon of Boko Haram started rearing its ugly head in North Eastern Nigeria. Unable to contain the insurgency, Nigerian authorities started suspecting Cameroon of providing a hide-out for the Islamist criminals. Yaounde did not take the accusation kindly and so decided to allow Nigeria to fight its enemy alone.

                Even when it became evident that Boko Haram had infiltrated into Cameroon and was actually recruiting young Cameroonians, Yaounde and Abuja refused to concert and profess a consensus solution for the menace. Instead they continued trading accusations against each other. The terrorists took advantage of the phoney war between Abuja and Yaounde and consolidated their activities in both countries.

                However, with the coming of Muhamadou Buhari to power in Nigeria and following the successful creation of a Joint Multi-national Task Force to tackle Boko Haram, there has been a remarkable thaw in the icy relations between Abuja and Yaounde.

Curbing growing insecurity:

CAMYOSOP advocates control of small arms and light weapons

- The NGO of international renown is presently mobilizing the Cameroon government to set up a national commission charged with implementing the Arms Trade Treaty ATT, and the Kinshasa convention on control of small arms and light weapons

By Medjane Sone in Yaounde

Executive Director of CAMYOSFOP

Ngalim Eugene Nyuydine

The government of Cameroon has been urged to create a National Commission on Small arms and light weapons as a bid towards ensuring strict monitoring and control of circulation of these weapons within and across national borders.

                The Cameroon Youths Forum for Peace, CAMYOSFOP, launched the advocacy during a two-day consultation workshop on 12 and 13 May 2016, in Yaounde.

                Organized in partnership with other stakeholder NGOs and institutions involved in the control of small arms and light weapons (SALW), notably the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), the EU and Arms Free Africa, the consultation holding under the theme: Sensitization, Mobilization and Control of  Small Arms and Light Weapons in Cameroon,  sought to school civil society actors and government departments on the importance of the Arms Trade Treaty, ATT, notably the Kinshassa convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, and the urgent need for Cameroon to fully implement the treaty as a way of joining the EU/AU project on the fight against the proliferation, accumulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons in Africa.

                The workshop brought together representatives of international institutions and NGOs, officials of stakeholder government ministries notably from MINREX and MINDEF, parliamentarians, civil society actors and journalists.

                Day-one of the workshop targeted essentially officials from government institutions and representatives from international organizations, while day-two witnessed a more broad-based participation, as it brought together civil society actors as well as members of the wider public, apart from experts in matters relating to small arms and light weapons.

                In his scripted remarks during the two days, the Executive Director of CAMYOSFOP, Ngalim Eugene, who doubles as Chair of the Peace and Security Cluster of the African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council, AU-ECOSOCC, hailed the Cameroon government for ratifying the Kinshasa Convention on SALW. But he at once underscored the urgent need for Cameroon to also ensure the implementation of the convention, as a means towards curbing growing insecurity in the country and the Central African sub-region.

Five months to delivery deadline:

B’da stadium stillwaiting for caterpillars  

By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda

On Wednesday April 20, 2016, North West Governor Adolph Lele L’afrique Tchoffo Deben in the presence of the president of FECAFOOT, Tombi A Roko Sidiki laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 2500 sitter Olympic stadium in the city of Bamenda.

                The contractor of the project Prime Potomac Global was given a deadline of six months to execute the project. The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the company Ben Modo, agreed to these terms and promised in the presences of NW Governor and FECAFOOT officials likewise the people of the North West Region, that his company had the competence to execute the project within the stipulated time.

                No sooner did the lay the foundation stone did some conspiracy theorists cast doubts on the veracity of the promise of the long awaited stadium and more importantly the time frame that was given for the execution of the project.

                One month after the foundation stone was laid, there is ample reason to believe in the conspiracy theorists as work is yet to begin in the project site that is expected to gallop some FCFA 780 million.

                When The Median visited the project site to appraise the level of work done so far, it was realized that not only was the place deserted but the machinery and personnel that were deployed to colour the laying of the foundation stone were no longer there.

Muyuka council area:

Electricity comes to Mpundu-Balong at last

By Eta Chris in Muyuka

Muyuka mayor Nkeng and Mpundu populations

celebrate coming of electricit

For close to a century the Mpundu Balong community in Muyuka Sub-division, Fako division of the South West Region has been in darkness. They had often felt rejected and abandoned.

                It took the entire Mpundu Balong population to be eye witnesses when they converged on a nearby street light pool alongside Mayor Nkeng Michael to watch the first ever electricity light in the village’s history.

                History has been made and villagers jubilated Mpundu Balong has been brought to fame as they can now see well at nightfall and live life like a civilized community. The dexterity manifested by the villagers through dance and songs during the provisionary handing over ceremony was eloquent testimony of a visibly transformed community.

Tears of joy shed during the provisionary handing over ceremony was more than just enough to rate the action as what thought was never of to be fruited in any future being. They went on their knees, clapped, shouted and cried out loud.

                The villagers say they have known little or no bit of modernism. For nearly 100 desperate years in darkness the Mpundu Balong village at long last can now boost of sufficient electricity power supply in the community of over 1000 inhabitants.