Bamenda varsity student dies

 By a correspondent in Bamenda

It was an atmosphere of regret and sorrow in the Bamenda University community Wednesday March 23th 2016 when news of the death of Armel Brice, 20, a level 100 student of the school of transport and logistics, Bamenda University, broke out in the early hours of the morning.

                The Median gathered that the late Armel Brice had complained of nothing on the eve of his death. Our sources narrated that he and his friend slept on the same bed and towards the early hours of Wednesday morning he suddenly developed acute respiratory difficulty.

                Immediately, he was rushed to the Tubah District hospital. According to the hospital Director DrTeno Divine, by the time the boy was rushed to the hospital he was already dead.

Nkemanyang Versus Ndi $ Bayen case:

Nkemanyang ups civil claim to FCFA 30 million

News courtesy The Standard Tribune

Ndi and SoneBayen appeared in court in white gowns

Paul Nkemanyang has asked for 30 million francs in damages, as civil claim in the libel case involving fellow journalists Franklin SoneBayen and Eugene Ndi at the Limbe Magistrates’ Court.

                The Star publisher upped his claim, which started at CFA5 million in 2014 and climbed to CFA10 million in 2015, on Wednesday during the 33rd hearing on a matter that has dragged since July 2014.

                Nkemanyang, who is also president of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, is building his case on alleged injury to his reputation as a result of reports claiming he misappropriated funds raised to mark World Press Freedom day in Buea in 2014. He has denied the accusations.

Belo, NW region:

Climate change ambassadors groomed

By Jean Marie Ngong Song

A Belo-based NGO dubbed Synergy of Actions for Development and Education for All, SADEA-Cameroon has trained some 82 climate change ambassadors on the necessity to plant trees to curb climate change in Belo and the world over. The training took place at the Belo council hall on 12 March 2016. Jointly sponsored by Plant-For-The-Planet, SEDEA-Cameroon and PLAN International-Cameroon it witnessed the participation of delegates from 12 schools within the Belo council area.

                According to the main facilitator at the one day workshop, ClaranceAlem-MbomSongbi, the objective of the workshop was to train participants to become ambassadors of climate justice. He said upon return to their respective schools the trainees are expected to replicate the knowledge gained and share it with their colleagues.

                Organized by plan Cameron and the Belo council, the initiative also seeks to source funds to plant trees with a view to curbing the effects of climate change.

Monique Koumate and CPDM Politics of Numbers

By TazoachaAsonganyi in Yaounde

Another March 24 has come and gone, and added a year to the age of the CPDM. And once again, the party spent the day in the folly of talking about one man, and counting “his” achievements. It continued to indulge in a simplification of politics that offers no real measuring rod of success and failure. Indeed, it continued to indulge in a type of mob action that betrays intellectual weakness, and a feeble mindedness that touts around uncertain means of achieving equally uncertain objective.

                The party again indulged in the counting of their “greater achievements,” one by one, in the certainty that even if the rest of us can argue about a lot of things, we cannot argue about arithmetic. In this, they forget that quality is much more difficult to handle than quantity; that the exercise of judgment is a higher function than the ability to count and calculate.

                Quantitative differences can be more easily grasped and certainly more easily defined than qualitative differences. The materialist philosophy on which CPDM arithmetic is based makes it liable to overlook the most important pre-condition that make all the difference between quantity and quality.

                The fate of Monique Koumate in Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, and more recently the quintuplets in the Central Hospital in Yaounde tell us that what we see as a modern hospital, a factory, a seaport – a “greater achievement”! – are just the tips (the hardware) of complex infrastructures that perform the duties they are meant to perform. What we cannot see is the software – the discipline, the intellectual achievements behind the planning, the organization and the functioning of the structures; the great inputs that are the pre-condition for making what we see either an empty shell or a vibrant structure.

CBC Gets New Leadership

Rev Ncham Godwill, CBC Executive President

New blood has been pumped into the Cameroon Baptist Convention following an election that took place on 2 April 2016 within the framework of the Convention’s 28 General Assembly in Bamenda, under the theme “A church for the Community”.

                After the elections, Rev. GodwillNcham was re-elected the Executive President after securing 912 of the votes cast, as against 549 for Rev Dr. Ndichafah Donald and 116 for Rev. Dr. ItoeMotombi respectively his two challengers.

                Mr. Mkong John who was the lone candidate was voted as the Chairperson while Mr. Job Nyanganji was voted as the Vice Chair winning Ekema Diane by 812 as against 766. Former Chairman Joseph Chebongcheng left office after coming to the end of his two terms.

                The elections were a culmination of five days of activities that started on 28 March 2016 with the official opening on 31 March.

Speaking at the official opening, the outgoing Chairperson of the CBC, Joseph Chebongkeng regretted that the struggle for ranks and privileges has infested the church.

                Joseph Chebongkeng who had come to the end of his second mandate recommended that the CBC should be a Christ-Centered Church where everyone is useful.

Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo's late goal gave 10-man Real Madrid victory in El Clasico and ended La Liga leaders Barcelona's 39-match unbeaten run.

Gerard Pique's powerful downward header from a corner had given Barca a 56th-minute lead after a tense first half.

                KarimBenzema's brilliant scissor kick made it 1-1, before Gareth Bale had a goal harshly ruled out for a push.

After Real captain Sergio Ramos was dismissed for receiving two bookings, Ronaldo's superb finish won the game.

                Ronaldo's winner will undoubtedly grab the headlines, particularly as it has helped third-placed Real salvage some pride from a poor season to date, but the balance of the side was crucial to the victory.

                Under Rafa Benitez, Real were overwhelmed 4-0 by Barcelona at the Bernabeu in November, but they showed far more steely edge at the Nou Camp.

                Benitez was punished heavily for not picking Casemiro in midfield that night, an error that his successor ZinedineZidane avoided repeating in his first El Clasico as a manager.

PLAYER RATINGS: 'Bale had possibly his best game for the club'

                Casemiro's influence in breaking up Barcelona's attacks - and ensuring that Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were frustrated - was crucial.

                Real's front trio of Benzema, Gareth Bale and Ronaldo, nicknamed the BBC, played their part in the win, though.

Mark Ojong begins pro career with seattle sounders FC

The 18-year-old Cameroonian midfielder, Mark Ojong begins professional career with US Major League Soccer (MLS) side, Seattle Sounders FC. Born on April 25, 1997, Mark Ojong, who played for Rainbow FC and Yong Sports Academy of Bamenda, YOSA, has signed a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.   Reacting after penning down the contract with the USA based club, Ojong said he was determined to face his challenges.

                “I feel so happy to have joined one of the best clubs in MLS. There are many challenges ahead and am ready to tackle them. My mind is now focused on reaching the top.” Ojong said.