Top African Policymakers Address Agricultural Policies Needed to End Hunger and Achieve Food Security

Meeting Convened by AGRA Focuses on Policies for an African Green Revolution

Nairobi, Kenya, 27 June, 2008 -- As the world grapples with the food crisis, senior policy makers in Africa are developing appropriate policies to achieve a Green Revolution that will rapidly raise agricultural productivity for small-scale farmers in Africa. More than 90 senior policy makers and leaders from the private sector, academia, civil society and farmers organizations convened early this week to identify priority policies and institutions needed to achieve a uniquely African Green Revolution.

Representatives from 15 African countries, as well as others from Europe, the United States and Asia, participated in the two-day meeting convened by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), a partnership-based organization dedicated to improving the lives and livelihoods of Africa's small-scale farmers.

"Our goal is to end Africa's perpetual food crisis and to do so by mobilizing the political will and assisting countries in the development of policies that will enable Africa's smallholder farmers to grow exponentially more food and end hunger," said AGRA President Dr. Namanga A. Ngongi. "The vision, passion, and strategic directions shared here will help guide the development of these essential policies."

Underscoring the need for a policy action agenda for Africa, Hon. William Ruto, Kenya's Minister for Agriculture and Chairman of the African Council of Ministers of Agriculture, said, "The current world-wide food crisis has provided a wake up call for the policy makers to reorient their planning process to provide viable and sustainable solutions… [for] a green revolution which will dramatically increase Agricultural Productivity and lift the bulk of our population out of poverty."

The meeting addressed policies in four critical areas: seed and fertilizer markets; finance and risk management; product markets, strategic grain reserves and regional trade; and land tenure and other social issues. It also discussed how to build the capacity of African policy analysts and institutions that will support evidence-based policy development.

"The center of debate on policies for African agriculture needs to shift from Washington to Africa; and African countries, policy makers and stakeholders must lead the way," said Dr. Akin Adesina, AGRA's Vice President of Policy and Partnerships. "By building African policy development capacity, and working with the New Partnership for Africa's Development, we are laying the basis for sound evidence-based policies that will rapidly transform incentives for smallholder farmers, the great majority of whom are women working less than a hectare of land."

"Capacity building to develop appropriate policies for the Green Revolution must be holistic, consider the entire value chain, and take a long-term view," said Dr. Harris Mule, Chancellor of Kenyatta University, Kenya, who also co-chaired the meeting.

Participants recommended a range of possible policy responses needed to achieve an African Green Revolution, noting that no one-size-fits-all policies will work, and emphasizing the need to recognize the diversity of African countries and agricultural systems.

Among the policies recommended were:

· Policies that specifically and intentionally benefit small-scale farmers;
· Policies that support market development, including through the rapid scaling-up of networks of rural input shops known as "agro-dealers," who are able to get seeds, fertilizers and other farm inputs to remote rural areas;
· Policies that increase farmers' and agro-dealers' access to affordable credit and loans;
· Policies which, when appropriate, promote "smart" subsidies that enable poor smallholder farmers to access high quality seeds and fertilizers and other farm inputs;
· Policies that ensure that governments invest in public goods such as rural roads, irrigation, electricity, agricultural research and improved extension services;
· Land tenure policies that secure the rights of small-holder farmers, especially women who generally have more limited rights to land ownership;
· Policies that stabilize food prices for farmers and consumers;
· Risk-mitigation policies, such as weather-indexed crop insurance -- particularly important given projected negative impacts of climate change on African agriculture.

Participants also recommended that African countries and regions establish policy centers of excellence that would develop increased capacity in data collection, statistics and analysis, in close collaboration with African governments. Such centers would provide African countries with sound policy frameworks and build trust in policy formulation.

Dr. Praghu Pingali, Head of Agricultural Policy and Statistics, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said, "African governments will need better data and statistics to improve policy decision making. Ensuring that appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems are in place is critical for assessing the impacts of policies on agricultural productivity, food security, rural employment and rural income."

Throughout the two days, participants expressed the need to strengthen partnerships.

Prof. Richard Mkandawire, Agriculture Adviser for NEPAD, said, “Partnership with all stakeholders is the way forward. NEPAD will work with AGRA more intensely in addressing policy bottlenecks… this gathering was an important first step in charting an agenda for action and greater focus on home-grown solutions to the continent’s food situation in coming years.”

AGRA’s Dr. Ngongi emphasized that "many things need to be done, but cannot be done by one institution. We need to work in partnership, and have governments take the lead in putting together the policies for a Green Revolution. We at AGRA will continue to seek out the views of our partners, from farmers in the field to Presidents and Ministers of Agriculture, as we work together to boost the yield, sustainability and income of smallholder farmers."

As Mr. Peniel Lyimo, the Permanent Secretary of Agriculture and Food Security, Tanzania, said, "The future could be bright for African farmers if the recommendations from the convening are implemented. Policy is everything.”

NB:(The above text is an ALLIANCE FOR A GREEN REVOLUTION IN AFRICA,
,AGRA,Press Release of June 27,2008)

Cameroon:For Whom Are State Burials?

By Tazoacha Asonganyi in Yaounde

Divisional Officer(DO), Fonya Felix Morfaw and other fallen heroes of the Bakassi peninsula were buried in their various villages of origin last weekend.

I have always had a mixture of conflicting emotions following the repeated carnage in Bakassi. A feeling of pride at the thought that there are citizens who serve the country with everything, including their lives; a feeling of frustration at the thought that our military is a helpless lot that submits to repeated, murderous attacks from "unidentified" gunmen to which they respond with terse communiqués to inform a bewildered citizenry; a feeling of suspicion that what we are witnessing in Bakassi may turn out to be more about intrigue and self interest than military business and national interest...!

It is usually said that war is politics by other means.

Therefore, it is when politics fails that war ensues. Politics is an art which when well practiced, provides an alternative for violence and bloodshed. It is to the credit of politics that Bakassi was won back to Cameroon not through war but through politics.

Politicians are usually not aware of the weight of the political responsibility they carry. Most have refused to heed the wisdom of a US Supreme Court judge that in politics, the most important office is the office of the citizen.

The citizen is most important because they hold the key to the fate of the country, which depends on their achievements, their talents, their services to the country... their patriotism! Patriotism is an obligation of citizenship, a sense of duty and sacrifice on behalf of the country.

You can attack patriotism frontally like those who are perpetrating massive embezzlement of public funds are doing, or you can attack it subtly by celebrating the wrong people as heroes, thus draining patriotism of its true meaning.

Legitimacy of government is advanced by the degree to which it nurtures and rewards patriotism... how much it keeps its own side of the patriotism deal.

There is symbolism in state burial because it honours and celebrates heroism and patriotism. Such symbolism is vividly caught by the manner in which other countries recognise and celebrate those they consider their fallen heroes through state burials.

A few examples will suffice.When the popular gospel musician Sonny Okosuns died some time ago, Nigeria gave him a state burial because he was considered "an epitome of celebration, freedom fighter, patriot and great Nigerian... with a thousand and one Okosuns waiting to be discovered and celebrated, in Nigeria..."When three urologists perished in a road accident in Ghana, the incident was described as "a national disaster" and they were given a state burial because of their achievements among "a handful of urologists in Ghana..."When fifteen soldiers died in a helicopter clash in Mongolia during their effort to put out a bush fire, the minister of Emergency immediately resigned stating that "I have no moral right to continue to hold the post of Minister of Emergency. I decided on resigning soon after the crash, but could submit my request to the Prime Minister only after the national state of mourning ... We failed to live up to our responsibility as we did not have any emergency preparedness plan..."
The government declared that "...the people of Mongolia have not faced any greater period of mourning, have not seen any greater loss of brave sons than this. These 15 died protecting their native land from wild fires. The State of Mongolia, on behalf of its people, salutes our fallen heroes..."

A free apartment was offered by the state to each of the 22 families whose men suffered the crash and a bank account was opened to help the families of the victims and survivors; ordinary people donated whatever they could; big business houses came forward generously...Barring Marc Vivien Foe, all those who have had state burials in Cameroon have been close associates of Paul Biya – ministers, former ministers, ambassadors, "states men"...

Our fallen heroes in Bakassi, whether they are those of 21 November 2007 or the recent ones of 9 June 2008 which included the DO of Kumbo Abedimo, have not received the attention from Cameroon that they truly deserve. It was not proper for the Head of State to spend up to ten days abroad following the 9 June incident before returning to the country. He should always remember that there are national calamities like these that can cause him to shorten his holidays to add to the symbolism that surrounds recognition of patriotism.

Someone may say that the dead were decorated with medals. Decoration with medals in Cameroon are more about the medallist deciding to fill candidature forms and knowing the right people, than about achievement, talent and service to the country.

The attribution of medals to our Bakassi fallen heroes instead of giving them state burials is a mockery of the concept of patriotism, and betrays not only government’s real intentions in Bakassi but also their concept of service and sacrifice for the country.

EU Parliament Adopts Bloc-Wide Immigration Policy

Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty has not stopped the European Parliament from passing laws that reach across the borders of the nations of Europe.

The European Union is facing a conundrum over what to do about Ireland rejecting the Lisbon Treaty. Some analysts have said that the Lisbon debacle as a whole could spell the end of the EU as a federal superstate. Despite the Lisbon setback, however, the European Union is not dialing down its political reach. On the contrary, the European Parliament is still passing laws on a federal superstate level.

On June 18, only six days after the Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty, the European Parliament met in Strasbourg, France, to vote on a controversial new law that would establish a common EU policy for expelling illegal immigrants from the continent-wide bloc. This law was approved 369 to 197 with 106 abstentions. EU member states will have two years to implement the new rules. These reforms will not automatically apply in Britain and Ireland, which never joined the EU’s borderless Schengen Zone, or in Denmark, because it has negotiated an opt-out.

There are an estimated 8 million illegal immigrants within the 27 EU member states, but there has been no common EU policy on how to deal with this problem—until now. The new immigration policy, in part, stipulates:

EU member states may detain illegal immigrants for up to 18 months in specialized detention centers while deportation procedures are processed. EU member states may impose a reentry ban of up to five years on expelled immigrants who do not cooperate or are deemed a threat. EU member states must place illegal immigrants in specialized detention centers, not in prisons with convicted criminals. This new law has come under forceful criticism from the United Nations, human rights advocates, and developing countries. The UN high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, said the new policy does not provide near enough protection for the vulnerable, while Bolivian President Evo Morales issued a statement comparing the EU’s detention centers to “concentration camps” for detainees.

Despite the criticism, however, the European Parliament remains firm in its resolve to implement these new rules across Europe. Lisbon or no Lisbon, the European Union will continue on its path toward federal superstate status—and eventually use even more drastic measures to crack down on problems like illegal immigration. For more information on where this path will lead, read “Europe’s Solution to Illegal Immigration” and “The EU and the Irish
Courtesy: http://www.thetrumpet.com/

Cameroon: Disturbing Absence of Public Toilets

By Mofor Samuel
The notion of hygiene and sanitation is much more of an illusion than a reality in most of our communities. In spite of all the noises made here and there on the improvement of personal and public hygiene, the situation is gradually but steadily moving from bad to worse.

The situation is such that that talking of a solution is a far- fetched dream. A high degree of orderly disorderliness is being manifested by individuals, families, socio- professional groups, the administration and companies at all levels and the community as a whole.

How does one explain the fact there is the persistence of environment – related diseases among the population despite the fact that most of these diseases can be easily prevented or are easily preventable? How can explain the fact that there is this acute shortage of health personnel particularly sanitary inspectors among others but emphasis is being laid on the training of medical and paramedical personnel? Worst still in the heat of the personnel crisis, government deploys people to work where they have little or no understanding of the assignment.

Sometimes, helpless in front of the situation, some of these persons openly say that they were not trained for that purpose. This shows that there is a lack of communication and understanding between policy makers, planners and the people. Or that those who take decisions are not square pegs in square holes.


Cameroon is a developing country and like every developing African country is not spared by the brunt of poverty. With the population not being able to afford for medical care, there is every reason to look for another alternative. This alternative must be one that would not make them to be dependent on medical care or curative medicine.

A much more holistic approach will be to inculcate the notion of preventive and promotional medicine among the Cameroonian population and communities. The training of technicians in this domain will be the first step that will go a long way to facilitate the task of improving the health status of the population particularly matters or issues related to environmental sanitation. Whether in houses, schools, offices, beaches, parks, traveling agencies, motor parks, markets etc, the state of hygiene and sanitation is far from being perfect. But then who is behind this imperfection? What accounts for this imperfection?

In a bid to attempt an answer to these questions, can we take a look at the way human waste is being disposed of in some public facilities? Most of our markets, offices, motor parks, traveling agencies, hospitals, beaches etc, do not have toilet facilities or if they have, it is much more of an eyesore . Either it is not being maintained or users do not use them properly thus forcing numerous others to devise not so very decent means to empty their bowels.

Drainage patterns, behind buildings, nearby bushes, behind stationary vehicles or just anywhere that one can relieve oneself of the body’s waste becomes fertile ground for urine and faeces. Woe betides anyone who unknowingly passes by as one is greeted by this pungent smell and ugly sight of urine or faeces. The truth is that most people rather than complain, would prefer “to discipline” their bowels until they get to their houses or a more convenient place.

Even those concerned, are often very indifferent to this state of affairs. Why are those concerned in the different establishments find it difficult to provide toilet to customers? Before issuing permit to function does the authorities take into consideration the comfort of the passengers?, looking at the specific case of traveling agencies. Why is it so difficult for councils to build toilets in markets and motor parks?

Above all, what makes it so difficult for councils to carry out routine checks of toilet facilities in private and public facilities-bars, traveling agencies, offices, beaches, markets and motor parks? For example it will help them to see how clean are the surroundings, do they have toilets at all, who clean them and how often?

Apparently one only needs to be hard pressed by the urge to empty one’s bowels in order to better appreciate the whole show- that is if one happens to find oneself in the market, motor park, traveling agency , office or any public facility.

Share this personal experience with this narrator. Having left Kribi very early in the morning for Douala, this commentator suddenly developed stomach upset along the way. In fact his bowels were rumbling and by the time he got to Douala the urge to empty his bowels became unbearable. Hard-pressed, he had to succumb to the pressure. Immediately he alighted from the bus, he headed to the office of the traveling agency and told the officer in charge about his problem. Luck was on his side as a nearby bar offered a payable toilet facility.

Once at the entrance, he paid a hundred francs only to be told that there was no toilet tissue, first inadequacy. The floor of the toilet was clean, there was no odour and one had to stoop to empty one’s bowels. The ceramic product of the toilet was kept clean but the tiles on the wall left much to be desired. Before I forget, the issue of no toilet tissue was ignored because the narrator had a pack of disposable handkerchief. Back to the tiles, they were brown with age of not being cleaned. A look at them at first sight will scare anyone.

The truth behind it all was that the soapy water used to clean the toilet’s floor often splashed and landed on the wall tiles with the cleaner failing to clean them as well. There were two full buckets of water at the disposal of the customer. One bucket was used to wash away all that could be washed away before using the toilet. The second bucket was used to flush the toilet proper.

Just imagine what could have happened to this commentator if there was no public toilet around? Therefore public toilets should be considered as a necessity and not as a far-fetched dream that is often very difficult if not impossible to realize.
As this commentator left the toilet, he called on the person in charge and reminded him on the need to clean the wall tiles as well. He went further to give the impression that he was a sanitary inspector which scared the young to the marrow. He told the young man that he did not come to scare him but to advise him on what needed to be done because any other sanitary or health officer would have brought him to book.
He concluded by telling the young man that he was rendering a commendable service to the public and that all he needed to do was to make the necessary adjustments to satisfy and meet up with the expectations of his customers but above all public hygiene.

Cameroon Job Seekers Told IVTC Buea Is Gateway To Employment

By Christopher Ambe Shu

It is high time Cameroonian youth and even holders of academic certificates who find it hard to secure jobs got enrolled in to Buea Intensive Vocational Training Centre (IVTC) for Office Employees, so to better prepare themselves for the job market, Becky Effoe(pictured), director of Buea IVTC, has said.

“Vocational training is not meant only for school drop outs as some people wrongly believe. It is for all of us! In fact, everybody stands a better chance of making the most with the marketable skills IVTC offers”

Becky Effoe, in an interview with The Recorder, said Buea IVTC is one of six public vocational training centers in the country and the only one catering for Cameroonians of English expression.

“IVTC is here to provide quality training to all who desire it, be they public or private sector workers or simply to individuals who feel the need to acquire or upgrade skills in office techniques, basic accounting and computer literacy and maintenance”, she noted.

She said IVTC offers diploma courses with duration of nine months, adding that its courses as at now have three specializations: Bilingual Secretary ship, Accounting Assistants and Computer Maintenance and Repairs. Some programs in the pipeline include: Dessigning and Organizing Computer Programs; Infography, and General Computer and Programming Language

The Director boasted, ‘Thousands have graduated from this center, many of whom are found in offices and financial institutions nationwide. The number involved in business ventures too is increasing”

Admission into IVTC, she noted, is either through an entrance examination or through direct negotiations with the centre.
Short/tailored certificate courses too are offered such as: office administration, secretarial procedures, stress and time management, meeting and minutes taking. Also, other courses are offered according to the clients’ needs.

Becky Effoe noted that, through government efforts, IVTC has evolved over the years and taking cognizance of the average Cameroonian budget twist, courses at IVTC are offered at much reduced cost. “And in some destitute cases, tuition has been free”
She appealed to parents, sponsors, and employers to take advantage of the training opportunities at IVTC.

“Go for the option of vocational training for your children, for yourself, for your employees or simply, encourage your friends. This is the sure route to self-employment. It is sure route to self-reliance. This is the shortest route out of idleness and its accompanying ills”, the director specially appealed to the public.

“Youth unemployment is a big issue for government and one of the ways it is rolling back this canker worm is through vocational training,” Becky Effoe remarked
According to the director, IVTC is connected to the National Employment Fund and the Integrated Support Project for Actors of the Informal Sector (PIASSI). These bodies provide advice and funds for people with the right ideas and skills, to set up self-employment ventures.

Cameroon: Ndian Division- Rich Yet In Abyss of Underdevelopment

Ndian is one of richest regions in terms of natural resources. Yet the area and its indigenes are too backwards in terms of development

By Mofor Samuel

This writer, a health educator, has rightly or wrongly been nicknamed by friends as a professional nomad because he would hardly let go an opportunity to travel round the country. During some such travels, he uses some of the most dangerous stretches of roads, thus he experiences a great deal of what Cameroon has as bad roads and sees its poor rural facilities. His travels within the country have had to do with community education and development.
And this is how recently he found himself going to Mundemba, the headquarters of Ndian Division, of Cameroon.Ndian is arguably one of the richest regions in Cameroon in terms of natural resources. Yet the area and its indigenes are too backwards in terms of development.
Having left Kumba town one fateful afternoon en route to Mundemba, this commentator was marveled by the beautiful vegetation and landscape starting with the palm plantations of Pamol, the ever -green forest, the never- ending water courses, the singing of birds, the mild temperature and the fresh air which overshadowed the poor state of the road and the overloaded Toyota Corolla transporting us from Kumba to Mundemba.
My trip to Mundemba was in June. Right in Mundemba, one could feel the presence of the Korup Park in the greenness, freshness and stillness of the environment. Korup is located some 8.8 km from Mundemba. From the SDO’s Office, which is located on top of one of several hills in town, one can have a panoramic view of the town as well the vegetation cover. In fact, anyone who admires nature will never ever regret it once in Mundemba or Ndian Division as a whole.
To quote from Cameroon Panorama of May 2007: “Ikassa centenary reminds us of Africa being the cradle of humanity and civilization, although the latter somehow eluded our continent and went elsewhere in the world bearing more fruits leaving Africa to suffer the predicament of un-enforced marginalization. We have been told of the richness of the Garden of Eden, and the splendour of the Holy City (not the city of Jerusalem). These two have a common characteristic of being a dwelling place of God Almighty. However a journey to Ikassa leaves one and many with the impression that Ndian Division as a whole remains a land of discovery, a land of promise, a land of glory with abundant natural resources; all attributes which liken this division to the Garden of Eden. Ndian Division could be a dwelling place for our God the omnipotent, the omnipresent, the omniscient, as it harbours the rich oil and fish Bakassi Peninsular and the World class Korup biodiversity reserve. We do believe, it is just a matter of time for this potential to be developed to transform Ndian Division into a paradise regained and not Milton’s Paradise lost.”
Going by the near standstill in infrastructure development in the division, there is every reason to raise eyebrows or even wonder aloud when one takes into consideration that this division possesses the wealth that can take care of its development and even extend a hand to others. Ndian Division lacks a good road network linking it to the rest of the country; most of the sub divisional headquarters are linked to the divisional headquarters by water, schools, hospitals, telecommunications facilities, security posts, electricity and offices are either lacking in personnel or in infrastructure or do not exist at all in some parts of the division. Coupled with that, the situation was compounded by the Bakassi crisis pitting Cameroon and Nigeria over the ownership of the peninsular. Part of the reason for the annexation of this peninsular by Nigeria could be linked or attributed to the almost complete abandonment of this peninsular and by extension the whole of Ndian Division by the powers that be.
The prevailing events in the area during the occupation of parts of the peninsular by Nigeria, gave the impression that the powers that be had one over- riding objective: to explore and exploit the natural , mineral and human resources of the division. During the crisis, residents were constantly subjected to wholesale savagery and brutality- the economy was devastated, their villages and towns were sacked and destroyed, their family and community life was broken, their environment polluted with filth and sorrow, with the stench of unburied corpses and the wailing of the bereaved and the maimed; their will to resist evil and personal and national humiliation had been effectively paralyzed; and greed, selfishness, callousness and hate reigned supreme. The result being that they became morally debased, mentally befogged, psychologically benighted, timid and docile, were lacking in initiative, devoid of self -confidence and of elevating aspirations.
Recently some elites as well as sons and daughters of this division began to raise their voices in an unequivocal protest against the prevailing deprivation, exploitation, oppression and humiliation of the people of Ndian Division. With awakened minds and growing intellectuals, they are able to discern the decades-old injustices done to Ndian Division. So far, one can say that they have achieved for their efforts, the concession for Ndian people to participate in the discussion of their own affairs. That not withstanding organizations and development associations have been formed in Ndian Division with the aim of winning for themselves the right to participate not merely in the discussion of their own affairs, but actually in the running of their own affairs.
Time has come for Ndian to prove to the world that it has a new breed of leaders who are alert, agile and sound, both in body and mind, a breed of leaders who are extremely clever, resourceful, fearless and positively aggressive; indeed,a breed of leaders who are ambitious, self- confident, justifiable proud and who rightly believe that they have a glorious destiny and can hold their own encounter whatsoever and wheresoever.
At the same time, it has a peculiar mass of people who are frantically loyal to their division and who though downtrodden, are conscious of their politico-economic rights, and when pushed to the wall, are prepared to fight for these rights at the risk of their lives.
This paper is coming up after a fact-finding mission from the United Nations in charge of the over seeing of the handing over of the peninsular to Cameroon, has just visited the area to assess the level of infrastructure development being carried out by the Cameroon government. Cameroon’s effective presence is felt administratively but in the area of social amenities, just very much still have to be done judging from press reports.
Some diplomatic missions have also been to the Ndian area to see how they can help to improve the lot of the population in Bakassi and Ndian division as a whole.
It is now left for the sons and daughters of this division to take the bull by the horns and strike the iron now that it is still very hot. Better still, stand up and fight for their own share of the cake now that the plight of Ndian Division has been brought to the limelight both nationally and internationally.

Wetland Pollution: The Douala – Edea Basin case

Authorities must ,as a matter of priority ,get the population to ensure that Douala is rid of pollution.

By Mofor Samuel in Kribi

It has been observed yearly that, bio- chemical agents in the environment cause the premature death of millions of people world wide and ill- health or disablement of hundreds of millions more. Development strategies in some sectors of communities can have or not have adverse consequences for health and the environment.

Surprisingly, in spite of the fact that concerns for health usually underlies discussions about the environment, health itself is not specifically considered and is seldom given a high priority in development plans. A dramatic change is affecting Cameroonians from the Sahel scrubland through the savanna extending to the forest heartland of the Great South; the mangrove swamps along the coastline are not left out.

Our environment is greatly threatened by climatic change, influenced by pollution, global warming, drying out streams and rivers, deteriorating air quality in urban settlements, deforestation, bush fires, poor waste disposal, floods, carbon emission from factories and mostly second- hand vehicles and drought in some areas. This makes the land to become a baked, powder –dry desert. It is difficult to imagine how multicellular life can survive in such condition. This is because on the environmental front pollution, deforestation, extinction and global warming threaten future life on our planet.


With prices rising and earth resources being taxed more and more, will future generations be able to afford health care, quality food and sufficient fuel? In order to reduce their dependence on fossil fuel, some countries are investing heavily in bio- fuel, such as ethanol, derived from vegetation. Thus, for the first time in history, the human stomach is competing with automotive gas tank for the produce of available land. The resulting inflation in food prices is already being felt in Cameroon as well. Equally the disparity between the rich and the poor is growing, adding to social tensions.


Throw into this mix the spectre of global warming which may cause increased desertification [the Sahara desert is advancing with a great speed towards the south] and more extreme weather; many informed people are jittery about tomorrow. Even scientists too continue to observe the cascading effects of global warming on the planet’s complex ecosystems.

In an attempt to give health its rightful place at the centre of the discussion about the environment and development, WHO Director- General appointed an independent commission whose work and report focused particularly on food and agriculture, water, energy, industry, and urbanization. The report looked at the adverse effects on health and environment, in each case examining the negative outcomes of various sectorial policies and recommending approaches and action aimed at mitigating or preventing them. The discussion is underpinned by concern for the principles of a more equitable access to resources both within and without countries, and participation of the public in formulating, implementing and evaluating plans and projects.

Application of these principles is considered essential for the attainment of three global objectives set by the commission- achievement of a sustainable basis for health for all, attainment of an environment that promotes health and awareness by all individuals and organizations of their responsibility for health and its environmental basis.

As one enters Douala-Cameroon, from either the Bekoko or Ndogpassi end of the city, one is greeted by offensive odor and stuffed hot air emanating from the swampy area below the weighing station in Bekoko (Yapaki); and the grayish black water of the small river in Ndogpassi. If the colour and stench from the swamps in Yapaki reminds one of the mismanagement of industrial waste in the Bonaberi Industrial Zone, that of Ndogpassi brings to mind how industrial waste is being handled and treated in the Bassa Industrial Zone.

In fact, whether on the atmosphere, land or water and water sources, it is very difficult or impossible to imagine that there is a single source of water on this basin that can be declared completely free from pollution or pollutants. Going by the importance of wetlands to man, there is every reason to try to measure the degree of pollution of this basin considering the number of rivers, small streams and the vegetation. Giving that animal and plant life , agriculture, energy supply, fish, cool temperature and fresh air are some of the benefits that man derives from wetlands, condemning the pollution of these wetlands, by whosever need not be over emphasized.

When one looks at this basin, food and agriculture, water courses, energy supply, industries and urbanization are the main characteristics of the basin. But then, is there a healthy collaboration among them? Is one not struggling to eliminate or has completely eliminated if not made it impossible for the others to thrive or survive? Can it be said that the powers that be are consciously or unconsciously encouraging the state of affairs by not checking the excesses of the industries in particular as far as the pollution of this basin is concerned? The end result: diseases, social and economic chaos.

Whatever measures are taken by municipal authorities such as flower- planting around major roundabouts and drive ways, without fighting to put an end to this high degree of pollution by mostly industrial installations in the basin, large-scale pollution in the city will still be noticed from the stuffed air. Douala city dwellers equally need fresh air. The municipal authorities must as a matter of priority get the population to actively participate to ensure that Douala is rid of pollution. There should be no discrimination between the rich and the poor in the quest for the fresh air needed in the city. Individuals, families, communities, industries, administrative authorities must now understand they got themselves into this mess and they have got to get themselves out.

Only then can one begin to think that the damage done to this basin can be checked. On the whole, solutions to pollution on the Douala- Edea Basin will not require measures for which, almost certainly, no support will be found by counting votes or measuring consumer preferences.

Cameroon:Buea Motor Park and Poor Sanitation

The Council stands to gain a lot if its Motor Park is given a facelift.
By Mofor Samuel
Most visitors coming to Buea town, of Cameroon, for the first time are shocked by what goes around its motor park- dubbed Mile 17 Motor Park.Buea plays host to Cameroon’s lone Anglo-Saxon University. The motor park is an eyesore and its activities beg for good hygienic conditions and facilities
Buea council’s inability to provide basic sanitation facilities to the public is the first embarrassment to those who are pressed by their bowels. Infact, one easily sees men just urinating anywhere in the park area. For their part, women sneak in to backyards or bushes around the park area for same purpose. One realizes that the urge can be very strong for those coming to town for the first time. The sudden change in temperature in Buea, determines the necessary adjustment that the various systems of the human body particularly the excretory system have to make. Woe betides anyone who had been drinking some moments before take off to Buea.
The situation is even worse for those who wish to defecate. Do not have the ill- luck of having a sudden attack of diarrhea and expecting to relieve yourself upon arriving at Buea Motor Park. There is this young man who went to purchase plastic items in Kumba to be sold in Buea. While in Kumba, he ate fufu and eru. Before he got to Muea, his bowels started rumbling and he was pressed by so much so that he could hardly maintain himself on the seat. Infact he was so pressed that upon arrival at Mile 17 Motor Park, he abandoned his wares and rushed across the road without even looking out for if any vehicle was coming. He punched his way through the Texaco Filling Station, then tore his way into the sugar cane farms and barely had time to lower his underpants…you can guess the rest of the story. Strange enough, the owner of the farm stood by and watched the drama unfold. At first he almost took the intruder for a thief on the run, only to realize that the young man had a message from his bowels to deliver to Mother Nature. What an embarrassment to all and sundry! Man is being sent back to the primitive era when his animalistic instinct had an edge over his intellectual ability.
The recent construction of the CNPS edifice has compounded matters in showing the grim and ugly face of the motor park. Matters further worsened by the tarring of the Mutengene- Muea Highway. What is the essence of dividing the park into two-a small area covered with tar and a large area left uncovered exposing the population to the whims and caprices of dust and mud? Apartheid’s rebirth or just the real face of discrimination a la Camerounaise in the manner in which public facilities are being handled and treated? Even the Driver’s Union and Council staff have been forced to abandon their offices for the open air because they too cannot cope with the situation as at now. Couldn’t the council make arrangement for the tarring of the whole park given that it generates a lot of income from the park?
Another disgusting picture is that of dirt everywhere- sugar cane peelings, waterproof papers, very bushy roundabout, haphazard display of articles, foodstuff sold in not so good hygienic conditions, empty containers everywhere, no pipe borne water, and a near complete disorder as to who does what, when and how that might result to keep the entire park dirty or unclean.


Garbage collection services are inadequate or non-existent around the park area. One cannot be over-estimating to say close to between 30-50% of solid waste generated within the confines of the park area are left uncollected. It accumulates on the park and the open spaces around the Mile17 area causing serious health problems.
Garbage left uncollected invites flies; these flies promote the transmission of infections. It also attracts rats; it can be a serious fire hazard; and also blocks drainage channels increasing health problems related to flooding.
Keeping the entire park clean should not only be when there is an event of national or international magnitude. Also the poor image of this park and its sanitation picture in particular, bring two things to mind: the indifference and the incompetence of the authorities in charge of the hygiene and sanitation situation of the town, given that the park is the gateway into the town.
Even the projectors at the Mile 17 Roundabout are still to shine; this also applies to the other street lamps which reckless drivers keep knocking down one by one. At the end of the day the whole issue looks so ridiculous for a town like Buea.
The council has all it takes to reverse and change the face and shape of things. With the huge sums generated from the park, it just needs to set up and organize a hygiene and sanitation team for the park in collaboration with the Driver’s Union, Buea Health District and other interested parties to cater for the hygiene and sanitation situation of the park. This team whose workers must rotate monthly to guarantee equal participation and fairness will have amongst other as task: to organize the activities of the park- loading and of-loading , selling of items, entering and leaving the park, guarantee the security of passengers and their belongings, take care of the cleanliness of the park, ensure the proper use of toilets to be constructed by the council, make sure there is proper lighting at night, make sure people do not litter the place, take care of the waiting hall(s) to be constructed by the council, supervise any other activity around the park and submit daily reports to the council which will have the responsibility to share with other collaborators. At first the council can vote a budget to kick start the project(s), then when everything is in full gear, funds generated from the different activities to pay workers and those involved in the other activities that guarantee the cleanliness and orderliness in the park. The council will just be in charge of general supervision-income, expenditure and balance on a monthly basis. Income generated at the park should be used first for the upkeep of the park and the surplus is channeled to other areas of development. The council should try to make the park to function round the clock and workers to rotate from one shift to the other.
To ensure sustainability, public opinion must be sought and their concern taken into consideration before implementing whatever project that hinges on the hygiene and sanitation in the motor park. Buea Council stands to gain a lot if the Mile 17 Motor Park is given the befitting look it deserves.

Cameroon:How To Fight Corruption.

By A. S. Ngwana, Chairman, Cardinal Democratic Party.

After the shameful and disgraceful unconstitutional and illegal amendment of the Constitution in April this year, Cameroon is now going through a dangerous period of uncertainty and apprehension which calls for prayers to avoid catastrophe, calamity and complete chaos.
However we must tackle some urgent matters which affect our standards of living, growth and economic development. The economy is terribly affected, our standards of living are falling, and Cameroon is regressing instead of progressing

Corruption and Embezzlement Of Funds.
In 1987, the President of the Cameroon Democratic Party, (now Cardinal Democratic Party) CDP, in his address to the Cameroon community in London sounded the alarm that the economy was getting into serious trouble. In that address, he highlighted the following reasons for the economic malaise:
“Institutionalized corruption and embezzlement of public funds,
gross mismanagement of the economy and global fall in prices of raw material”. (Note that crude oil was then $14 per barrel, now it is more than $200 per barrel)
In 1999, The Prime Minister, Mr. Peter Mafany Musonge on National Television said “the government is corrupt from top to bottom”
Again on March 12, 2000 The Herald News paper reported that the Chief Justice of the North West Province, Justice Tengen Pius admitted that some magistrates in the region are so corrupt that their professional malpractice not only marred the image of the judiciary but was also responsible for the increasing loss of confidence in the courts. “We are aware of the situation where some magistrates have transformed their chambers into business premises where justice is sold for money instead of applying the law as it should be” he said

We are appalled that for more than 20 years today since the alarm was raised in London, President Biya has made no concrete move to stop corruption. The excuse he gave was that there was NO EVIDENCE.
Thank God, today America and other foreign countries have provided EVIDENCE of the accounts of some Cameroonians with huge balances of laundry money.
According to reliable information, there are nearly 50 Cameroonians, civil servants and Directors of public corporations who have the equivalent of more than 3 billion francs in their accounts and assets.
These figures are staggering and frightening, because none of these people could have this money if they did not steal it.

Since last year only a few people have been arrested and only a few of the arrested ones have been tried and convicted and none of the embezzled money or properties have been recovered.

The pace at which the investigations are taking place, is too slow. Most of these criminals will cover up their loot before they are caught.

1. We suggest that a special Task Force should be set up immediately to investigate all suspected cases of corruption, bribery, embezzlement and stealing of government, corporations and parastatals, funds.

2. This Task Force should be made up of security personal, government auditors, and accountants and external auditors from reputable private firms or companies.

3. It shall be the duty and responsibility of every Cameroonian to report to this Task Force in writing or by word of mouth any suspected cases of bribery and corruption, fraud, stealing or embezzlement. All cases so reported must be investigated immediately by the Task Force and suspected culprits brought to court. Any persons reporting to the Task Force shall be protected by immunity from liability of defamation or libel.

4.
Special Tribunals headed by Judges of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal are to be set up to try with dispatch all cases forwarded to them by the Task Force.

5. Only in very special cases should appeals be granted and bail only granted if twice the amount involved has been deposited in cash to the Court. We are fighting a war against hardened and merciless criminals.
6. If found guilty, the accused is to be given a maximum penalty ranging from 30 years to life imprisonment, all the monies recovered, and all properties acquired before and after the crime most be confiscated and forfeited to the State.

7. In this exercise, there shall be no “regional balancing” because the criminals never thought of “regional balancing” when they where stealing.

8. The President, Prime Minister, Parliamentarians, Judges, Heads of Government Departments, Army and Police Chiefs, Directors and Chief executives of corporations and parastatals, must declare their assets on joining and leaving the service. Any unaccounted assets or money must be forfeited to the State.

9. Cameroon is going through the worst period of its history.
We must declare war on corruption and prosecute it seriously.
The thieves are occupying very high positions in Cameroon, but our collective effort will bring all of them down.

If these monies were not stolen, we would have moved from the World Bank’s ranking of “middle income” category of developing countries, in 1987, to the “rich” category of developed countries today. In 1987 our GDP per capita was $1,262 but by 2000 it had dropped to $580 per capita. We have fallen to be among the poorest countries of the world and are happy to have our loans and debts written off. We should bury our heads in shame. We most stop this downward slide into chaos. Every year billions of francs CFA, are voted for roads, schools, hospitals etc, but the situation gets worse. Our standards of living keep falling, our country keeps growing poorer every year. The government is selling all government corporations and parastalals, liquidating some and creating unprecedented joblessness in the country. These thieves are killing us and they should be treated as “ armed robbers”.
Cameroon is now a high risk investment country and is not attracting any more foreign investors.
If we do not fight corruption seriously we shall remain poor for ever.
The window-dressing exercise going on now to impress the International Community that we are fighting corruption is not enough, we have to show that we mean business to fight corruption. If we don’t, the International Community should bring pressure to bear on the government as it did to force the CPDM government in 1990 to allow multi-party politics in Cameroon. We again appeal to lovers of democracy, to the International Community, and friends of Cameroon, to come to our assistance. Economic and diplomatic pressure should be brought to bear on President Paul Biya and his government to relent in their negative ways, to practice democratic principles and good governance. As in 1990, all aid, grants and loans to the Biya Government should be linked or tied to the observance of human rights, democratic principles and accountability, to ensure that the monies do not end up in foreign private bank accounts.

The Common Wealth should be ashamed that it is now a “toothless bull dog”, unable to enforce even minimum standards of good governance, among its members, impotent to intervene in the gross violation of its principles, and blind to the cronyism that have robbed it of any political or moral weight. The Common Wealth has become a caricature of its own powerlessness; hence the Cameroon Government can treat it with scorn and contempt, ignoring all its pleas.

The Advent of Barack Obama!

By Tazoacha Asonganyi

The euphoria that has greeted the victory of Barack Obama in Africa can only be compared to that which greeted the election of Kofi Annan as the Secretary General of the United Nations some years ago.

To some, Obama’s feat is a signal that the hour of the black race to dominate the world as predicted by Colonel Ghadafi has come!

Such wishful thinking is indicative of the fact that even if we have refused to organize and prepare ourselves for such a possibility, we would be happy if it came our way!

It is the regular changes imposed by presidential term limits in the USA that allow people like Barack Obama to emerge from relative obscurity. Indeed, Barack Obama may never have emerged if the first president that took up office in the USA in 1789 and subsequent ones each served for 20 years or more!

To qualify to dominate the world, there must be appropriate processes that allow us to regularly identify the best among us to lead the way in all domains. This is why it is appropriate to revisit the recent debate on Presidential term limits in Cameroon which featured the usual classical arguments on the issue, except that it was taking place in a poor, underdeveloped country that needs innovative and strategic thinking to turn the country around.Those who were against term limits were mainly barons of the regime in place.

They argued that a "good" president could be lost through term limits; that the two-term limit is undemocratic because it limits voter choice; that in some western democracies there are no term limits for the heads of executive branches; that some policies require long term leadership to ensure their success...Those who were for term limits were mainly those who think that our society has to constantly renew itself to meet the various challenges of bringing prosperity to the country.

They argued that the role of President of the Republic is so important that unlimited terms may breed elective dictatorship; that unlimited terms allow the use of the advantages of incumbency to win election after election; that the longer a specific individual is in place and has the potential to continue to be in place in the future, the greater the chance that council, legislative and regional elections would be fixed to ensure personal support for him nationally; that the longer the tenure, the greater the chance for corruption; that no one man is greater than the office of President, the more reason why Ahidjo "the father of the nation" went and the presidency continued to function; that in our multi-ethnic, bi-national country, the best option for just and equitable rule is to have term limits that allow regular changes in the Presidency to manage our diversity; that the checks and balances that allow the legislative and judicial branches to control the executive in western democracies are absent in Cameroon where the president of the republic is the "head" not only of the executive but also of the legislative and judicial branches; that if the people really support the policies of the incumbent, the party the President belongs to can continue them when his term is up...The term-limit debate was therefore about the best form of an executive branch that should lead governance processes in Cameroon.

Unfortunately, it was turned around to become a debate for or against Paul Biya. Having decided to put personal interest over national interest, we can surely not seek to eat our cake and have it! The processes that familiarized us with Barack Obama do not resemble those that allowed us to conduct and decide on the outcome of the term limit debate...The people in every society that seeks to dominate the world are inherently plural with different opinions, different points of view, different passions... They are always debating issues, in permanent struggle, in permanent self-reflection and permanently engaged in self-criticism.

These activities open the society to challenge, innovation and change. Since 1982, we have zigzagged from no-term-limits to term-limits and back to no-term-limits to satisfy a single individual! Such zigzagging cannot be said to be characteristic of people who are even imagining that they can one day rule the world... or produce a welcome surprise for the world, like Barack Obama!

The manner in which the term-limits debate was conducted and resolved is symbolic of the personalized and haughty manner in which governance business is conducted in Cameroon. This gags our society and constitutes a major impediment for those who pretend to be preparing to dominate the world. A second impediment is our lack of both a framework of governance and a form of state laid down in a constitution of Cameroon that is accepted by all stakeholders.

The present constitution, cherished by the party in power is contested by political parties in the country, since each has its own "constitution" for Cameroon that they would "adopt" if they got to power. It is also contested by civil society groups like the All Anglophone Conference that proposed its own constitution for Cameroon in 1993.

Further, there is presently a call from within some political parties like the feminist Coordination of alternative forces that is clamouring for the holding of a "Peoples’ Assembly" to debate and adopt a framework of governance in Cameroon.

The country that has thrust Barack Obama to the fore has a framework for the organization of government laid out in their Constitution that is unanimously accepted by all stakeholders in the USA. Their constitution provides a solid foundation on which politics and political processes are conducted, to the benefit of all. Unfortunately, we lack such a solid, firm and unshakeable foundation for our country.

One of the principal failures of the regime in Cameroon is its refusal to heal this rift on constitutionalism by facilitating the provision of a framework for governance that is acceptable to all of us, without discrimination of political party, ethnic group, factional interest or other considerations. Without such a solid foundation, we are unable to stand up in the world, not to talk of aspiring to dominate it!We need a framework of governance that depersonalizes the conduct of issues of national interest, and gives citizens equal opportunity to pursue their happiness and wellbeing.

The absence of agreement on the supreme law of the land alienates stakeholders and leaves them quarrelling over trivialities, instead of freeing citizens to engage in individual, reasoned actions and productive efforts to bring prosperity to our society.

This is why the time to dominate the world still has to wait. But we should not fail to learn the "lesson from America": that in an appropriate environment, Africans can be just as good, sometimes better than other peoples!

Cameroon :State Authority and The Rule of Law

By Tazoacha Asonganyi in Yaounde

All politics and the democratic processes that govern politics take place in society.
Carved out from society is a referee usually referred to as the state.Indeed, the state is the level at which all factionsin society meet. The state plays the noble role ofreferee and facilitator of political and democraticprocesses.

To play these roles well, the state should be non-partisan.Early thinkers who created the concept of the state knew that humans are not angels; that they can be both good and evil. They can usually be blinded by theirpassions and self-interests. This is why it is the duty of the state to produce laws, rules and regulations to guide the actions of both rulers andthe ruled in society.Many of such laws, rules and regulations exist inCameroon.

On paper, most of them are reasonable, but in practice they are usually ignored to the benefit of individuals or partisan groups like political parties,especially the ruling party! Most agents of the state are known to treat laws as if they are informal rules that they can obey or disobey at their discretion!
Therefore one of the main problems with the rule oflaw in Cameroon lies with people who implement laws.

In fact, it is the generalised disregard for the lawby state officials that has bred the culture of corruption that is the main challenge to governance inCameroon today.Since 20th May 2008, a drama has been played out in Menji Local Council in Lebialem Division, South WestProvince, out of the knowledge of the press thatusually highlights such events! On 20 May just beforethe start of the march past at the Menji Municipal Stadium, the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) of Lebialem moved to the front of the grandstand and solemnly announced that he had suspended the Mayor indefinitely on the frivolous charge of "unpatrioticattitude"!

By this he meant that the Mayor refused togive out the council vehicle at his behest, even ifthe mayor had explained that the vehicle was not ingood mechanical condition. Then the SDO proceeded tofloat the usual information peddled by over-zealous administrators to gain support for their wrong decisions, or by political misfits to put down theirpolitical rivals - that the mayor is a closet SCNC militant!

Although law no.2004/17 of 22 July 2004 on orientationof decentralisation, and law no. 2004/18 of 22 July2004 to lay down rules applicable to councils, both ofwhich are in force today, do not give such powers tothe "the representatives of the state" who is the SDO,he actually proceeded to seal the office of the Majoras a sign of the effectiveness of the suspension!

For those who may not be aware of the provisions of the new laws, section 94 of law no. 2004/18 of 22 July2004 to lay down rules applicable to councils states unequivocally that "In case of infringement of the law and regulations in force, or of serious misconduct,mayors and deputy mayors may be suspended by order ofthe Minister in charge of regional and local authorities for a maximum period of three months after hearing them or requesting them to furnish written explanations on acts for which they are accused. After such period, they shall either be rehabilitated or dismissed… by decree of the President of theRepublic;...the suspension orders and dismissal shall give reasons thereof..."

The law is therefore clear on the duties of the"representative of the state" (the SDO) and on that ofthe minister in charge of local and regional authorities. Representatives of the state wherever they may be are supposed to be symbols of facilitationand leadership, not vessels of power. In a council,power has been devolved to the mayors; they are theones supposed to get things done. It is not the dutyof the state to remove the sense of pride and personal responsibility from mayors in councils. There is no use deceiving ourselves by producing documents and making official pronouncements that assure outsiders that there is the rule of law on decentralization inCameroon, as was the case last week during the African Ministerial Conference on Decentralisation (AMCOD),while the reality is different.

For the good of society, laws are supposed to bedecisive moral arbiters. Obedience of a law should be non negotiable. The law is not secure if representatives of the state behave as if they are the law, and infringe it as they see fit.

The act of the SDO of Lebialem is nothing short of sabotage of thelaw, especially as his action was a deliberate,skilfully executed plot to stir up protest during the20 May celebrations so as to impute the disturbances on a supposed lack of patriotism of the people! His assault on the law was not for the good of society but for his personal good.It is the insecurity dictated by human nature that propelled human societies to allow their lives to be governed by the state. The state provides laws, rules and regulations to govern activities in society.

A law is therefore not something that a representative ofthe state should feel that he is doing somebody afavour by obeying it. It is unfair, unjust and disruptive of council activities if the new laws on decentralisation are not obeyed by all stakeholders. A decision to disobey the law should be considered personal and should not engage the state, at the riskof discrediting the authority of the state.

It isincumbent on the state to build trust, confidence and respect for the role of the state by regularly disciplining its representatives who show disrespect for the rule of law.