Publisher/Editor: OJONG Steven AYUKOGEM. Tel: (+237) 77 07 27 79. E-mail: themedianpaper@yahoo.com
Monday 17 December 2018
Scratch My Back I Scratch Your Own:
G20 Hails Biya’s Anglophonization Project
Led by their spokesperson, Dr. Enow Benz Bate, the G20
leaders Friday expressed total support for President Biya’s pardon of 289
Anglophone detainees and his creation of the Disarmament Commission
By Tanyi Kenneth Musa in Yaounde
 |
| G20 Hails Biya’s Anglophonization Project |
Leaders of the 20 political parties in support of President
Paul Biya reelection during the October 7 presidential election otherwise
referred to as the G20, have applauded the president for authorizing the
release of 289 Anglophone youths that were arrested and imprisoned in
connection with the ongoing crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions.
The G20
leaders expressed their appreciation at a press conference they called on
Friday 14 December, in Yaounde.
In his
opening remarks at the Press briefing, the President of the G20, Dr. Enow Benz
Bate, who doubles as the President of the Cameroon Democratic Party, CDP, said
the gesture of the head of state is a clear indication that the war in NW and
SW is over.
“I am
happy because President Paul Biya has done it again. He started with his
humanitarian plan of action in which more than 300,000 IDPs have benefited
government’s assistance. Yesterday, I
could not go to my village for fear that I risked being killed or kidnapped.
But today, President Biya has saved my life by declaring 289 detained activists
free. We want to see these people get back into society and restart personal
lives, contribute in nation building and make Cameroon stronger. Cameroon is
one and indivisible. I stand for a United Cameroon,” said Electrical Engineer
Enow Benz, who is also a successful businessman.
Justifying
the reason for the Press Conference, the G20 leaders said, it was aimed to
review some issues that preoccupy the country at the moment such as the thorny
problem of the withdrawal of the 2019 AFCON from Cameroon; the Presidential
decree No 2018/799 of 30 November 2018 establishing the national committee for
disarmament, demobilization and re-integration; the decision of the head of
state on December 13 ordering a stop to proceedings in military courts against
289 detainees arrested within the context of the crisis in the English-speaking
regions of the country among others.
Making of a Seaside Resort City:
Gov’t Endorses Limbe’s Down-Beach Project
The Minister Delegate to the MINEPAT, Paul Njukang Tasong
last week travelled to Limbe and launched the start of feasibility studies for
the Limbe Left Bank Development Project. The project had been lying fallow in
the drawers for almost a decade.
By Ticha Melanis in Limbe
 |
| H.E Paul Tasong & L’be beach project stakeholders |
The minister delegate at the ministry of Economy, Planning
and Regional Development Paul Tasong has assured the people of Limbe that the
“Limbe Left Bank Maritime Development project” which is at its concession and
pre-feasibility level will enable the seaside resort city to move a huge mile
in terms of its growth and improvement of the livelihood of the Limbe people.
The project which has been lying fallow in the drawers of the City Council
since eight years is estimated to cost 60 billion CFA and it is to be executed
within 10 years. And MINDEL MINEPAT promised to assist in all it facets to
realize the project.
He made
the assurance during a workshop to present and appropriate the project to the
different actors and stakeholders. The workshop took place on Tuesday December
11 at the Limbe city council conference hall.
Minister
Paul Tasong said that as part of the vision 2035, the government is committed
to strengthening local councils and to promote local development for the
wellbeing of the population.
The
project which will be one of the first of its kind to be realized in a maritime
zone in Cameroon will spread over an area of about 40 hectares of which 10 is
habitable. It will constitute a conference center with a 4000 seat capacity, a
history museum, a hotel complex consisting of 200 rooms and suits, a restaurant
that can hoist 400 persons, multipurpose buildings amongst other facilities.
Blackouts in K-Town:
Kumba to Celebrate Christmas in Darkness?
By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba
 |
| Gov’t packages Relief Aid for IDPs in Kumba |
Recurrent gun battles along the Kumba-Buea highway axis
pitting pro-independence fighters and elements of the Cameroon military have
been blamed for the constant destruction of electricity poles and other
electric equipment that renders the town of Kumba and other neighbouring
localities in darkness for days.
The
constant power outage according to the Meme administration and some ENEO
sources in Kumba is consequence of the frequent gun battles along the highway.
For close to a week, the town of Kumba, the economic hub of the Southwest
Region was left in complete darkness.
Though
the administration blames the destruction of the ENEO equipment on Ambazonia
fighters, some Kumba city dwellers and users of the said road axis have blamed
it on the security forces. These Kumba inhabitants revealed the type of guns
used by the separatists fighters along the road cannot destroy giant ENEO
transformers. To them, the equipment might have be destroyed by the military
during their sporadic shootings while confronting separatists fighters.
Keeping His Promise:
Biya Hands Strategic Jobs to Women & Youths
The President of the republic Friday appointed new General
Managers of Camtel, SCDP, ENAM and MIDENO. Unlike in the past, the new
appointees are mostly women and young men.
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde
 |
| New GM of ENAM, Soumbou Angoula Bertrand |
In what many have described as redeeming his pledge to the
women and youths, President Paul Biya Friday signed several decrees appointing
more women and youths to big and strategic posts of responsibility in the state
machinery.
Several
Presidential decrees read on state radio, CRTV, on Friday, appoints Mr.
Mohamadou Saoudou as Board Chairman of Cameroon Telecoms Company, Camtel; Mrs.
Yah Judith Sonday epse Achidi as the new General Manager of Camtel; Mr. Ole
Daniel Desire as deputy GM of Camtel; Mr. Soumbou Angoula Bertrand Pierre as
the new GM of ENAM, Mr Arouna as deputy GM of ENAM and Mr. Matoya Clement Anye
as the new GM of the NW Development Authority, MIDENO.
Earlier
on Thursday, the board of directors of the Petroleum Depot Company, SCDP,
meeting in Douala, elected a new General Manager of the company in the person
of Mrs Mompea Veronique. Before her new appointment Mrs Mompea was the
assistant DG of CSPH.
Two of
the new GMs notably Yah Judith epse Achidi of Camtel and Mompea Veronique of
SCDP are women, while the new GM and AGM of ENAM as well as the new GM of
MIDENO, are young men. The new GM of ENAM, Soumbou Angoula, a category one
Magistrate, is in his early thirties, while the AGM Arouna is in his forties.
For his part, the new GM of MIDENO is also in his forties.
By
these appointments therefore, President Paul Biya has honored his promise to
the women and the youths. Recall that in his inaugural address shortly after
taken the oath of office on 6 November 2018, the president said “I understand
the desire of the youths to also participate in decisions that affect them. I
will make sure the youths participate in making the history of our country.”
“Mafor” Yah Judith Epse Achidi Achu:
No-Nonsense Anglophone Woman Is New GM of Camtel
 |
| Yah Judith Sonde epse Achidi Achu |
So an Anglophone too could be GM of the giant national
telecoms corporation, Camtel! President Paul Biya Friday stunned political
bookmakers when he dropped David Nkotto Emane as GM of Camtel and replaced him
with the powerful and self-asserting Anglophone lady, Mrs. Yah Judith Sonde
epse Achidi Achu.
As the
name depicts, Mrs Yah Judith epse Achidi Achu is the wife of the once
emblematic, charismatic but now ailing former PM of Cameroon, the Rt. Hon.
Simon Achidi Achu. But apart from being the wife of the veteran statesman, Mrs
Yah Judith Achidi is a cut, steeped and dried professional in the domains of
public management and internal auditing.
Before
and until her appointment to the exalted position of GM of Camtel, ‘Mafor’ Yah
Judith Achidi was since 2006 the Commercial Director of Camtel.
She had also been the regional delegate of Camtel
successively in the SW, NW, Littoral and Centre regions, apart from serving in
several other important capacities at the Camtel head office in Yaounde.
A holder
of a Professional Master’s Degree in Money, Banking and International Finance
from IRIC of the University of Yaounde II, Mafor Judith Achidi had earlier in
1991, bagged a B SC in Economic Sciences from the University of Quebec in
Montreal Canada. She is presently a doctoral candidate in IRIC, researching on
the topic: “Audit Committees and the Efficacy of Administrative Boards of
Public Companies in Africa.”
Apart
from her brilliant career in Camtel, Judith Achidi Achu is also the President
of the Association of Internal Auditors of Cameroon and the Vice President for
Central Africa of the Federation of African Institutes of Internal Auditors,
AFIA, with headquarters in Tanzania.
MIDENO Gets New GM
By Njodzefe Nestor in B’da
Cletus Anye Matoya has been appointed as the new General
Manager of the North West Development Authority with its French acronym MIDENO.
He replaces John Begheni Ndeh who has been GM of the structure for over 20
years.
Cletus
Anye Matoya was appointed by presidential decree No. 2018/971 of December 14,
2018. The shrewd administrator, pedagogue and politician before his
appointment, was the regional Delegate of Commerce for the North West region, a post he has held
since 2009.
During his tenure as Regional Delegate, he fought tooth and
nail against the sale of contraband and fake goods, ensured that goods were
sold at reasonable prices amongst others. Before
he was appointed as regional Delegate, he had served as teacher in several
secondary and high schools in Cameroon.
As a
politician he is the section president of Mezam I B CPDM and has served in
various capacities within the party in Mezam.
Cletus
Anye Matoya is expected amongst others to make the entire region feel the
impact of MIDENO projects. And the trade economist says he is not oblivious of
this challenge.
Speaking
to the press shortly after his appointment, Matoya said he is not unaware of
the enormous challenges attendant with his new responsibilities. He said the
boosting economic activities among the rural masses of the NW region will be
his priority task.
UK to Provide Support to Children Affected by Crisis in NW, SW
 |
| UK’s Minister of State for Africa: Harriett Baldwin |
The United Kingdom, UK has said it will provide emergency
aid to several children affected by the escalating armed conflict in the
Anglophone regions of Cameroon.
This is
the main content of a statement made public by the UK department for
International Development.
“The UK
is to supply new emergency aid to help tackle a humanitarian crisis in
Cameroon, as the Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin calls for full
humanitarian access to save thousands of children’s lives” said the statement.
The
department said fighting between Anglophone separatists and security forces has
displaced almost half a million people since tensions flared more than a year
ago in the North-West and South-West regions of the country.
“The
humanitarian situation on the ground is deteriorating, food supplies are
critical and thousands of children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition”
they said.
In the
meantime, the much-needed new UK aid funding, delivered through UNICEF, it has
been announced will treat 1,300 children who are most at risk of dying from
severe acute malnutrition
They
will also provide essential drugs to treat 5,700 children for deadly diseases
such as malaria, diarrhoea, and acute respiratory infections as well as deliver
water and sanitation kits, non-food items and dignity kits to 10,000 people.
Within
the same context, 2,000 mosquito-nets will be provided to prevent malaria while
3,500 children will be vaccinated against measles.
Anglophone Conflict:
Amba Groups Clash in Muyuka over Cocoa Tax Collection
 |
| Ambazonia Fighters from Marumba |
At least 25 gunmen suspected to be Ambazonia fighters
belonging to two different camps have been killed in a deadly clash in the
locality of Munyenge, near Muyuka in Fako Division of the SW Region. Eyewitness
reports said the violent clash on Wednesday, 12 December, was the result of a
disagreement over which of the groups should collect taxes from cocoa buyers in
the Munyenge area.
The
Median gathered that early Wednesday, a group of fighters claiming to be
Ambazonia Fighters from Marumba, a village in Mbonge subdivision, crossed into
Munyenge in Muyuka suddivision and asked cocoa producers in the village to hand
to them the tax imposed on all licensed cocoa buying agents (LBA) in the area.
The tax is levied at FCFA 500.000 per licensed buyer.
We
gathered that when the news of the incursion by the Marumba Amba fighters got
to another separatist group in Munyenge, they immediately wadded in and
challenged the tax collection. The Munyenge boys said it was their territory
and no trespassing is tolerated.
The
brawl that ensued resulted to a violent battle daylong battle that left heavy
casualties on both sides, reported a source that asked not to be named.
Release of 289 Detainees:
Two B’da-Based Journalists Benefit Biya’s Pardon
By Njodzefe Nestor in B’da
 |
| Akumbom Elvis McCarthy |
President Paul Biya on Thursday December 14, 2018 ordered
the discontinuance of proceedings before the military tribunals against some
289 Anglophones arrested in the course of the on-going conflict in the North
West and South West Regions so as to undergo the Disarmament, Demobilisation
and Reintegration (DDR) process.
A
communiqué from the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence,
Joseph Beti Assomo indicated that 46 of the 289 would be from the North West
region.
Of this
46 who were effectively released on Friday December 25, were two journalists,
Akumbom Elvis McCarthy who before his arrest was working with Abakwa FM and
Moki Hanson, publisher of Cameroon Report Tabloid.
Akumbom
Elvis McCarthy who was arrested in March 20th, 2018 in Bamenda and was charged
for attempted secession and disseminating secessionist propaganda on air.
Speaking
to reporters after his release expressed gratitude to President Paul Biya but
hoped that it could be extended to other separatist fighters.
Stemming the Tides:
Meme SDO Dismantles Ambazonia Tax Counters Along K’ba-Buea
Road
The entire artillery of Cameroon’s security forces and
compartments alongside administrative authorities in Meme Division, South West
Region of Cameroon stormed a notorious spot on the Kumba-Buea road corridor at
Ediki Village, Thursday, December 13, filling potholes that made it easy for
Ambazonia fighters to stop vehicles and
collect money from passengers and drivers.
The
spot had become a natural speed brake which the gunmen used to easily stop
vehicles and collect money before vanishing into thin air.
The
area of the road had developed potholes even before the Anglophone Crisis
sparked-off in late 2016.
The
potholes have now developed into gullies making the passage of vehicles
difficult. Drivers were forced to reduce their speed each time they got to the
spot.
In a
bid to frustrate the fighters, the Prefect for Meme, Chamberlin Ntou’ou Ndong,
mobilised all sectors of state security, caterpillars, tippers and some workers
of the Kumba City council to fill laterite on the potholes along the road.
Talking
to reporters the prefect said “as you know I am just from Ediki…. Talking about
Ediki, all of us can remember what used to happen there. It was a place where
those Amba boys used to kidnap innocent people, seize their property, kill some
and so on and so forth. That is why I thought that it was time for me to stop
it even if there is no money. I cannot continue to wait forever. That is why I
decided to go there myself and put laterite there to be sure that thes place is
completely done so that my population can travel freely particularly accross
Ediki”.
Quizzed
on how really secured the area could become after the repair works, the SDO
retorted: “I can testify today that vehicles can now move hitch free; there is
no problem there again.”
At the
moment, the fear of the population is that the gunmen may not recline from
digging the road again after the temporary rehabilitation work that has been
done.
It is
unlikely that the repair works will stop the amba boys from battling to collect
money from travelers and drivers on the said road.
Besides
Ediki, the separatists fighters had dug another ditch around Mabonji still on
the Kumba-Buea highway thus frustrating traffic for weeks. The military
engineering corps has been battling for weeks to restore traffic along the
stretch.
Pic
Council cartepillars refilling gullies along the Kumba-Buea
Highway
SONARA Rewards 115 Meritorious Workers with Labour Medals
By Ticha Melanis in Limbe
 |
| SONARA Rewards 115 Workers with Labour Medals |
Some 115 meritorious workers of the national oil refinery
company Ltd, SONARA were on Thursday 13 December, decorated with labour medals
of honour. 29 of them received gold medals, 38 got silver gild, while 48 got
silver.
The
workers were decorated at the SONARA club house in Bota, Limbe, by the Minister
of labour and social security, Gregoire Owona, who presided over the event. The
Minister was flanked by the Southwest Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai.
This 13th medals award ceremony for SONARA workers coincided
with the solemn signing of the company’s agreement following their exit from
the National Collective Agreement of companies involved in exploration,
production and the refining of hydrocarbons.
The
criteria for selection of laureates included notably longevity of service, hard
work, duty consciousness, competence and contribution to the growth of the
company.
The
General Manager of SONARA, Ibrahim Talba Malla, congratulated the laureates for
excellent performance. He listed the company’s achievements since the last
medals award ceremony in December 2017 as including notably: the safe and
progressive commissioning of the first phase of the modernization project of
SONARA with some operations carried out such as electric power supply facility
for the co-generation unit; the use of the unit of nitrogen and manufacturing
as well as the production unit for catalytic reforming; the treatment of liquid
gas amongst others.
But the GM at once noted that all has not been a bed of
roses for Sonara. He said the refinery was faced with challenges attendant with
the re-start of the new unit apart from the over-bearing security challenges in
the host region.
“In
view of the technical shutdown to enable the connection of the new unit to the
existing facilities, SONARA has taken all measures in consultation with public
authorities to ensure the uninterrupted supply of petroleum products throughout
the national territory,” Talba Malla reassured.
Success Story:
Cameroon’s NGALIM Eugine Re-Elected At AU-ECOSSOC
 |
| Ngalim Eugine, Executive Director of the Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP |
The elections of the members of the 3rd Permanent General
Assembly of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council took place
in Nairobi Kenya from 8 - 9 December 2018 where Ngalim Eugine Nyuydine,
Executive Director of the Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace
(CAMYOSFOP) and Chongsi Ayeah Joseph, Executive Director of the Centre for
Human Rights and Peace Advocacy (CHRAPA) were elected as Cameroon’s
representatives for a mandate of four years.
Ngalim
Eugine was re-elected for a second mandate while Chongsi Joseph replaced Alain
Blaise Batongue, Executive Secretary of GICAM.
ECOSOCC
is the people-centered organ of the African Union. It was created by Articles 5
and 22 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union as an advisory organ of the
Union with members coming from different socio-professional groups drawn from
the 55 member states of the AU. It’s Secretariat hosted by the Citizens and
Diaspora Department in the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa is now being
relocated to Lusaka, Zambia with a dedicated staff.
Ngalim
Eugene Nyuydine is one of Cameroon’s brightest young leaders. He holds a
Master’s Degree in the History of International Relations from the University
of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
In
1999, he founded the Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP)
to promote the role of youths as peace-builders. Since then, he is the
Executive Director and Board member of CAMYOSFOP.
In
2004, he extended this initiative to the creation of the African Youth Forum
for Peace (AYFP), with the involvement of youth leaders in war torn and post
conflict countries in Africa. In 2004 he was appointed by UNDP as the UN Youth
Spokesperson for Africa 2015 MDGs campaign. In the same year he was also
appointed as the Focal Point of the International Action Network on Small Arms
(IANSA) for Cameroon.
In
August 2005 he was a laureate of King Mohammed VI and UN Continental Award on
Youth led MDGs related projects. In September 2006, he was appointed by the
Head of State as the youngest member of the National Commission on Human Rights
and Freedoms (NCHRF) of Cameroon, where he also served as the Rapporteur of the
Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and as the Deputy
Editor-in-Chief of the Born Free Magazine.
In 2007
he was invited by the US State Department to participate in the prestigious
International Visitors Program on youth leadership, where he visited 5 American
states during the program. In 2008 he was offered a fellowship by the African
Leadership Institute to participate in another prestigious leadership program
known as the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Award covering a period of six
months in Cape Town, South Africa and the SAID Business School in Oxford
University in England.
Father Christmas:
L’be City Council Donates to Orphans and the Needy
 |
| L’be City Council Donates to Orphans and the Needy |
197 children from six orphanages have benefited from
Christmas gifts offered them by the Government Delegate to the Limbe city
council Andrew Motanga Monjimba. These children fall under the category of
children with disabilities, displaced and vulnerable kids. This was on the
occasion of the first ever lighting of the Christmas tree and the distribution
of gifts to orphans and the less-privileged schemes on Friday December 14
2018nat the Limbe Botanic Gardens.
The GD
reassured the children and parents that the city council’s commitment to build
an all-inclusive community where no member , no matter his or her status,
tribe, religion, level of education and physical abilities is left out within
the global vision of the council towards a holistic and inclusive development
of its youth. To him no one should feel abandoned or rejected. He added that
that these children should brim with hope and encouragement for them to
overcome whatever negative situation they may find themselves in.
He said
the council intends to make it a yearly ceremony and assured the population to
sustained the scheme and made broader to touch more lives in the years to
come. He was therefore happy with the
social outreach of the city council and the senior councilors of the social and
education committee and collaborators for coming up with such an initiative.
Elephant Ivory, Gun Seized as Two Are Arrested
 |
| Two Arrested with Elephant Ivory |
Two traffickers have been sentenced to a one-year
imprisonment term by the Ambam Court of First Instance. Nkomo Joseph and Awouka
Basile were arrested in March this year
with 4 ivory tusks and a rifle which was used in killing elephants. They were
ordered to pay fines and damages of over 10 million CFA Francs. A third suspect
in the matter was found guilty of complicity in committing the offences and
given a suspended sentence of 6 months.
The
twoconvicted traffickersweretransporting ivory tusks and agun along the Campo -
Ebolowa road when they were arrested by officials of the South Regional
Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife. The lady who was given a suspended
sentence was later arrested for providing a hunting rifle that was found in
their possession alongside the ivory and a military uniform.
The
two, aged 41-year-old each, were travelling on board a car with the products
loaded in the boot when the car was checked at the Meyo Centre carrefour by
wildlife officials who had prior information of the nature of the products the
car was transporting. The operation was carried out with the collaboration of
the judicial police in Ebolowa and with the technical assistance of a non governmental
organization called LAGA (EAGLE Cameroon).
Wildlife
officials and plain clothes policemen had been monitoring the movement of the
car and when it stopped in Meyo, they were immediatelyapproached andthe car
blocked at both ends. Two men who were at the back seats were ordered to step
out. After the arrest, Senior Police SuperintendentHenrick Walter Elouna who is
the Head of the South Regional Judicial Police declared: “I was approached by
the South Regional Delegate ofForestry and Wildlife, to give a hand to his
collaborators and the NGO called LAGA”. When the team arrived the ground, they
found the car and Elouna declared: “we arrested two poachers who had killed two
elephants”.
Five Arrested for Trafficking in Pangolin Scales
 |
| Seized pangolin scales in Abong Mbang, divisional delegation office |
Five people have been arrested in connection with the
trafficking and sale of pangolin scales in Abong Mbang in the East Region. They
were arrested by wildlife officials of the Upper Nyojng Divisional Delegation
of Forestry and Wildlife during attempts by the suspects at selling 45kg of
pangolin scales. The operation was carried out in collaboration with the
police, the state counsel’s chambers and with the technical assistance of The
Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA).
Five
people were found by police and wildlife officials, weighing and negotiating
the sale of the pangolin scales when they were quickly rounded up and arrested.
The scales that were contained in rice bags and knack sacks were equally
seized. One of the traffickers attempted to escape when he saw policemen but
was quickly stopped They were taken to the Abong Mbang wildlife office despite
attempting despite some resistance.
When
they arrived the wildlife office, news of their arrest got to family members
who came agitating and piling pressure on wildfire officials to force their
release and in the midst of the chaos that ensued, one of the traffickers was
assisted to escape under the pretext of going to the toilets. The
person who provided assistance to the escapee was immediately arrested and all
suspects moved to the police station where calmed returned. The next day, the
family members returned to the police station to either force or bribe their
way to getting the suspects released but their attempts failed. Search is
underway to arrest the escapee and all five are held in pretrial detention.
UBa Holds Graduation Despite Amba Threats
 |
| UBa Holds Graduation Despite Amba Threats |
Authorities of Cameroon’s youngest State university of
Bamenda(UBa) in the North West Region of the country have ignored threats from
separatists to cancel the institution’s 8th convocation ceremony.
The
event which went underway this Saturday December 8, 2018, amid pockets of
gunfire and reports of deaths. Security forces are ensuring the event sails
through unperturbed.
At
least 3000 people comprising students, lecturers, parents and guardians have
defied the restive atmosphere to attend the event at the Bambili campus of the
state institution.
Security
elements were placed in strategic neighbourhoods of the municipality to
suppress any threats from suspected separatist fighters.
At least
three suspected separatists are feared to have died already following
confrontations early this morning.
One of
our sources in Bambili confirmed to The National Times that “true the corpses
are lying by the roadside. Security is tightened. Cars and people are few. But
the event must hold”.
Budget Execution:
Limbe II to Prioritize Income Generating Projects in
2019
By Ticha Melanis in Limbe
 |
| Fako SDO flanked by Limbe II Mayor during council session |
“I wish to remind ourselves as councilors of the same
political party, for us to succeed in our endeavors next year which is an
election year, we are forced to come together, plan together and stay united.
We should be in order to face the enormous challenges that lies ahead especially
the socio-political atmosphere prevailing in the country so as to have a brake
through over the opposition next year”.
These
were the words of the Limbe 11 mayor Duncan A. Molindo during the second
ordinary session dedicated for the examination and adoption of the 2019 draft
budget. The deliberation took place on Friday December 14 2018 at the Limbe 11
council hall. The mayor said the year 2018 was not smooth due to some obvious
challenges hence the limited or insufficient financial resources to permit the
council accomplished their plan of action to the fullest. “Despite the
difficulties faced within the year we were able to carry out and achieve some
projects such as constructions of classroom in the municipality, rehabilitation
of the Mile 6 beach-house and the Mbasse road and more” said Mayor Duncan.
After
deliberations and proposed resolution by the councilors, a draft budget of FCFA
700,000,000 balanced in revenue and expenditure with an increase of FCFA
100,000,000 was adopted. Mayor Duncan told the councilors that 2018 registered
an excess of revenue over expenditure of FCFA 1,571,461 which was brought
forward to the 2019 financial year as reserve earmarked for operations. The
council estimated recurrent revenue stands at FCFA 413,000,000 which to the
Mayor will be realized from the collection of fiscal, council taxes and through
other means. Investment revenue stands at FCFA 287,000,000 and Investment
expenditure at FCFA 280,000,000.He added that they are counting on state
services like taxation and treasury department.
2019 Financial Year:
Limbe City Council Adopts Ambitious FCFA 10bn Budget
-West Bank Project, AFCON Hosting Prioritized
 |
| Limbe City Grand Councilors meeting in budgetary session |
The Limbe Left Bank Maritime Development Project is
gradually but surely taking shape as the Minister Delegate of MINEPAT is
expected in days ahead for the project's take-off and realization. A whooping
sum of 150 Million Francs CFA shall be used to study projects especially to
improve on the data bank of projects, finalise the Environmental Impact
Assessment and technical Feasibility studies for the Down Beach project"
This
was disclosed by the Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Andrew
Motanga Monjimba, on Friday December 7 during the second ordinary session of
the city council for the year 2018 dedicated to the examination and adoption of
the budget for the 2019 financial year.
Addressing
grand councillors at the LCC conference hall, the GD said the realisation of
the 60 billion worth Limbe West Bank Project which will comprise the building
of a 2000-seat multi-purpose conference hall, a shopping centre, a museum,
sporting facilities amongst others will create many jobs and business
opportunities.
Presenting
the council’s budget for 2019, the GD said the draft budget of LCC for 2019
financial year is balanced in revenue and expenditure at the sum of Nine
Billion Seven Hundred and Fifty Million Francs CFA (9,750,000,000FCFA). Out of
this, the recurrent expenditure is estimated at FCFA 4.621.000.0000
representing 47.40% while FCFA 5.128.000.000 representing 52.60% is earmarked
for investment.
Priority
investment projects will include land acquisition for the Down Beach project,
construction of an ultra modern market, works and development, continuation of
partnership with HYSACAM amongst other projects contained in the LCC 2019
Action Plan.
Konye Councilors Adopts FCFA 700 For 2019
-Mayor blames slow execution of projects on the worsening
Anglophone crisis
By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba
 |
| Konye Mayor donates to physically challenged persons |
Councilors of CPDM run Konye council in Meme Division have
hailed the developments steps of their Mayor, Dr. Barrister Musima George Lobe
and his team for not relenting their efforts in project realization in the
municipality despite the trying moments the municipality is witnessing as a
result of the worsening socio-political unrest in the two English speaking
regions of the country.
The
councilors who form the deliberative arm of the council saluted Mayor Musima’s
development efforts and promised to continue working in closed collaboration
with him for the realization of projects earmarked for 2019. The councilors’
resolve was during a session devoted for the deliberation and adoption of the
2019 budget of the council, Thursday 13 December, 2018 at the Kumba city
council hall.
The
draft budget drawn to balance in revenue and expenditure at the tune of FCFA
700 million according to Mayor respects all the budgetary principles especially
that of budgetary equilibrium. Mayor Musima explained that, the Konye council
draft budget for 2019 which has witnessed 100 million drop (14.29%) is
fundamentally investment oriented with peculiarity
toprojectinvestmentexpenditure forecast at 50.1% up from the 40% required by
law.
Mbonge Council Adopt 893m as Budget for 2019
-Councilors demand end to Anglophone crisis
By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba
Councilors of Mbonge council, Meme Division in the Southwest
Region have urged government to immediately provide a lasting solution to end
the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. They
were speaking Wednesday 12 December, 2018 at the Kumba city council hall while
replying the request of the Second Assistant SDO for Meme, Hermia Njonje, for them
to return to their villages and preach peace to the population. This was during
deliberations to adopt the 2019 draft budget of the council.
Councilor
Tortoh Adison told the SDO that her plea for them to return to their villages
and preach peace to their kid and kindred couldn’t work because the conditions
on the ground weren’tfavourable. He added that, it was time for the Head of
State to face the realities on the ground and restore peace beginning with a
general amnesty because the opinion shared by the people couldn’t be changed no
matter the hardship.
On his
part, councilor Abua Rigis Bao noted that, without peace, the upcoming
municipal and parliamentaryelections won’t be able to hold in Mbonge if they
councilors, now living as internally displaced persons couldn’t be able to
leave their hideouts and return to their villages to campaign.
While
addressing the councilors, the Mayor, Chief Daniel Matta Mokambe, praised the
courage of councilors to have braved the challenges and road blocks to come and
attend the session in Kumba. The Mayor noted that, without peace they won’t be
any meaningful development and called on separatists fighters to lay down their
arms since the President has promised to accelerate the decentralization
process as well as reintegrate them into the society. He also urged all and
sundry in the municipality to send their children to school.
Employment & Professional Training:
Limbe Nursing School Graduates 116
By Ticha Melanis in Limbe
 |
| Limbe Nursing School Graduates 116 |
Some 116 graduates from the Limbe Nursing Schools have been
called upon to respond to duty, be able to access patient’s needs and be
accountable to patients, the health institution and the society. The call was
made by the representative of the regional delegate of public health, Njie
Essasa Ernest, Chief of bureau for the Regional Training Office for Health
Personnel South West, on the occasion of the graduation ceremony of 43
Assistant Laboratory Technicians (SAIT), 39 Assistant Nurses (NAS) and 34 State
Registered Nurses (SRN) at the campus hall on Friday November 30 2018.
He
urged the graduates to be honest and be committed saying that they are the
chosen generation that will change the health profession and withstand
challenges as far as health care is concerned. He said Nursing is a calling
which means a nurse must have love for mankind. He urged the laureates to be
humble, ready to learn and to eschew illegal practices like smuggling of drugs.
He reminded them that the medical profession is not all about money but the joy
to see a patient regain his health.
Charifa Republic Launches Beauty Salon and Spa, Skin Care line
By Njodzefe Nestor in B’da
 |
| Charifa Republic launches beauty Salon |
Charifa Republic, one of Cameroon’s leading beauty and
wellness start ups has launched its beauty salon and spa likewise its skin care
line called flawless with over 10 products.
This
was during a highly attended ceremony at the enterprise’s head quarters in
Bamenda on November 28, 2018 attended amongst others by the Secretary General
to the North West Governors, Ngwang Harry.
As part
of its corporate social responsibility, Charifa Republic started the launch by
visiting the Bamenda Central Prison where they donated sanitary pads to female
prisoners and other necessities.
The
launch was also an opportunity for the start-up to fete three years of
existence and to celebrate the birthday of its illustrious CEO, Alima Aliyu
Charifa.
Speaking
during the event, the Secretary General to the North West Governors, Ngwang
Harry congratulated the Charifa Republic enterprise for such an initiative
which he said will greatly reduce unemployment in Cameroon.
Worthy
of note is the fact that Charifa Republic employs more than 30 male and female
Cameroonians from different backgrounds.
Mr. Ngwang Harry expressed gratitude to the attendees and
saluted their sense of patriotism emp
that
by attending such entrepreneurial events, they are also learning to become
future entrepreneurs which is what Cameroon wants.
The
Beauty and Spa Salon with a range of high quality beauty services brings the
most cutting edge beauty innovations to Cameroonians who are interested in
bringing out their most attractive selves.
Amongst others their services include cosmetics, skin
consultation, barbing, wig making, hair dressing salon, acrylic and gel nail
do, facials, body massage, manicure and pedicure, body waxing, body scrubbing,
Moroccan hamman, casual and bridal make up, beauty accessories, etc.
Towards a Better Realization:
Limbe III Council Budget Drops by 25%
By Ticha Melanis in Limbe
 |
| Towards a Better Realization |
The first ASDO for Fako, Bejidi Otto 11 Richard Williams has
called on the councilors of Limbe 111 to be more united so as to achieve their
developmental plans in 2019 and succeed in the upcoming municipal election. He
spoke to the councilors during the examination of the 2019 draft budget on
Friday 14 December 2018 at the council chambers.
Bejidi
Otto urged the councilors to present a realistic budget so as to be able to
realize their targets.
As for the council staffers, be
exhorted them to be effectively mobilized to meet the set goals of the council.
He urged the mayor to work closely with the administration and competent
services.
As for
the inhabitants of the municipality, the ASDO called on them to pay their taxes
and shun all forms of violence and unlawful behaviour.
On his
part, the Mayor of Limbe 111council Nzeke Didotti Luma thanked the councilors
for their collaborative spirit towards development.
Presenting
his development roadmap for 2019, the mayor mentioned the effective
materialization of the Limbe 111 council housing scheme through the surrender
of land by CDC, the completion and equipping of the Limbe 111 council chambers,
the installation of an electric pump, construction of a water tank and street
taps among other vital projects.
While
presenting the 2019 draft budget, the mayor noted that the draft budget
witnessed a decrease from FCFA 1, 135,724,790 in 2018 to FCFA 831, 000,000. He
said the drop is base on the fact that the housing scheme did not take off in
2018 as expected due to the problem of non-surrender of land by CDC. He
explained that the non-realization of such a high budget projects had a
negative reflection on the execution rate of the budget.
Female Journalists Sharpen Skills on Reporting in Hostile Environments
 |
| Female Journalists Sharpen Skills |
A work on hostile environment reporting for female
journalists in Cameroon has wrapped up in Yaounde. Organised by SisterSpeak 237
with the support of the Urgent Action Fund+Africa, the three-day training which
began Thursday brought together some 25 female journalists drawn from across
the troubled North West and South West regions.
For
three days, the women have actively been involved in reporting on the
Anglophone crisis were trained on how to do their job in hostile environments.
The
Coordinator of Sisterspeak 237, Comfort
Mussa said at the start of the training that
the get-together aimed at training female journalists on conflict
reporting mindful of the socio-political crisis rocking the two
English-speaking regions of the country.
“We
want to empower women on the skills of reporting in times of conflicts,” Commy
Mussa told newsmen Thursday.
“We took special interest in organising the
workshop so as to empower women and prove to them that they can do the same
work that men do without fear or favour,” said Cynthia Wanchia, the project
lead of Sister Speak 23.
Joshua Osih Enters FECAFOOT EXCO as VP
 |
| Joshua Osih |
After the disgraceful defeat suffered during the race to
Cameroon’s Presidency at the October 7 election, the flag bearer of the
opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) party, Joshua Nambangi Osih, has
contented himself with an election victory to the Executive Committee of the
Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).
The
election to the FECAFOOT Executive Committee took place on Wednesday, December
12, 2018, during the General Assembly of the body which also saw Seydou Mbombo
Njoya emerging as the President of the Cameroon Football Federation.
Is Fecafoot Succession from Father to SON?
 |
| Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya with his father |
The dust is yet to settle following the victory of Seidou
Mbombo Njoya as President of the Cameroon Football Federation, better known by
its French acronym as FECAFOOT, as many Cameroonians have raised concerns over
the conduct of the election.
Many Cameroonians have stated that the FECAFOOT presidency
was simple handed down to Seidou Mbombo Njoya, whose father, Ibrahim Mbombo
Njoya, had once been FECAFOOT President from 1960-1964.
Proponents
of this view think that the victory of Seidou Mbombo Njoya was a well
calculated and planned victory by FECAFOOT Normalisation Committee, who had
been managing the affairs of FECAFOOT before the elections.
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