Cameroon:Mayor Moki to Rehabilitate Buea Town Green Stadium

Mayor Moki (wearing hat) greets match officials before kick-off

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The Mayor of Buea, Sunday 29 August, used the occasion of the finals of the maiden edition of Buea Council Inter-quarter Football Cup Competition (BUCUFOCC) to announce his plan to rehabilitate the long-time abandoned Buea Town   stadium, which is today called Buea Town Green. Currently, the abandoned stadium in the night serves as a hide-out for criminals

“I want to use this occasion to announce here that after the on-going Buea Town market project (estimated to cost several hundreds of millions of FCFA), the next project the Council will engage will be the restoration of this abandoned stadium-called Buea Town Green”, said Mayor Charles Mbella Moki, admitting that the pitch on which the finals was played was really in bad shape. “We must restore the lost glory of Buea”

 Buea is the chief town of the Southwest Region, but it has no befitting stadium. Even the functional Molyko Omni sport Stadium has but a sandy pitch and insufficient infrastructure. The rehabilitation of the Buea Town stadium will certainly cost hundreds of millions of FCFA.He did not precise when the renovation of the stadium will start

Mayor Mbella Moki’s announcement was saluted by the over 3000 people who turned out to watch the finals between Mokunda FC and Gulf FC, with a thunderous applause.

The football cup, which carried a cash trophy of FCFA 1.5 million, was won by Mokunda FC, which beat its opponents by 4 goals to zero

Sixteen teams had participated in the tournament, which was intended to keep students and other youth relaxed during the long vacation and to expose young football talents.

While lauding the participating teams and partners of the tournament, Mayor Moki announced that, the cash prize for the cup will double next year.

The acting Divisional Officer for Buea, Thiery Meboga, who presided at the finals, hailed the Mayor for the initiative, and expressed happiness at the announcement that the abandoned stadium would be rehabilitated soon.

Cultural dances and musical displays added color to the finals

Cameroon: Dr.Ngongi’s Inter-quarter Football Tournament Keeps Buea Lively during Long Vacation

By Christopher ambe Shu

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Fan Club Eto'o Fils

The finals of the second edition of Dr. Namanga Ngongi’s Inter-Quarter Football Tournament, which has kept residents especially youth and students usefully occupied during this long vacation, will be played tomorrow, Sunday August 22 at the Molyko Omni sport Stadium-Buea.

Fan Club Eto'o will battle it out with Molyko FC,for the Cup Winner to emerge.

The tournament has a cash trophy of FCFA 1.5 million. Cultural dances and other side activities are expected to add pomp to the finals, to be watched by hundreds of soccer lovers.

Edwin Ngwana(pictured greeting match officials), socio-cultural adviser at Buea Governor’s Office presided at the launching ceremony of this year’s tournament, which took place last July 4, attended by hundreds of people.Mr. Ngwana personally did the kick-off in the opening match between Eto’o Fans Club of Molyko (current cup holders) and Veteran FC of Muea, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Ngwana was sitting in for the Southwest Regional Governor, Koumpa Isa.

Dr. Namanga Ngongi is President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) with residence in Kenya and frontline elite of Fako Division.

This year’s tournament has been competed for by 14 teams. And it is worth-noting that each of the participating teams gladly received a new set of jerseys as gift from the cup donor.

Massive turn out  of soccer lovers

Cup donor Dr Ngongi, in his opening remarks at the launching said he was impressed by the high participation of the youth in the tournament. He sad the competition is intended to develop football talents, as well as keep residents of Buea especially students and other young people usefully busy during this long vacation.

Cultural dancers displaying

“We need to build the spirit of dedication, hard work and discipline,” he said, hoping that one or more of the players participating in his tournament would be playing the World Cup in 2014.

The launching was witnessed by a host of dignitaries such as retired Ambassador Tabong Kima,Dr. Mrs. Dorothy Limunga Njeuma(ELECAM Board Member);Charles Mbella Moki,Buea Mayor; Professor Victor Julius Ngoh,UB Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Ngale kinge Jacob, retired SDO and Buea Traditional rulers.

Effoe Max, president of the tournament’s organizing committee told The Recorder that, even though the trophy carries a cash prize of FCFA 1.5 million, Dr. Ngongi will have spent about six million francs to sustain the competition and its other aspects by the time it comes to an end.

Mayor Charles Mbella Moki,Dr Ngongi and Chief Kima Tabong

“This tournament is a good initiative. I heard the radio announcement about the tournament and decided to come and relax here”, remarked Professor Lydia Luma in a chat with reporters after the launching ceremony. “I feel really relaxed now. Many people appreciate it”

Observers said the tournament is in line with Dr. Ngongi’s growing philanthropic spirit.

They recalled that last February Dr.Ngongi came to the assistance of two Buea health centers, by making material donation to one and supplying electric energy to the other.

He had donated to Muea Health Center 30 cupboards, 20 mattassses, 30 bed sheets and 30 pillow cases.

And he got Bonakanda Integrated Health Center electrified, for the first time since the center was built several years ago.

His assistance to both health centers was estimated to cost over two million FCFA.

Cameroon OIC to Celebrate Silver Jubilee Next Year in Grand Style.

By Christopher Ambe Shu

COIC graduates:ready for job market

Cameroon Opportunities Industrialization Center, (COIC)-Buea will turn 25 years next year and plans are underway to celebrate the Silver Jubilee in grand style, Barrister Sam Ekontang Elad, COIC Board Chairman has hinted.

Barrister Elad dropped the hint last month during the graduation ceremony of the 20th batch of trainees from COIC, which was presided at by Edwin Ngwana, Social & Cultural Adviser at Southwest Governor’s Office.

“Cameroon OIC would by next year be 25 year old and we are going to celebrate our 25th anniversary in a very grand style-God willing”, Barrister Elad said in his address to the audience at the graduation.

COIC was graduating 301 trainees who undertook a two-year vocational /technical training in different fields that include: Auto Mechanics/Motor Electricity, Information & Communication Technology, Building Construction, Hotel Catering & Management, Metal Fabrication Welding and Spraying, & Wood Work.

The Board Chair said COIC Buea, an affiliate of OIC International with headquarters in Philadelphia, USA, was established in 1986 as a non –profit, community-based skills training program.

Adolf  Ngundu Lyonga:COIC Director

He expressed gratitude to those who worked hard to ensure that COIC came into being such as Late Rev Leon Sullivan, Dr Mrs. Theresia Elad and Late Athanasius E.Kome. He recalled that when COIC started with 60 trainees, it was USAID that funded it and when it stopped funding, Bread –for- the -World came in and also ended its support in 2002.

From 2002 to date the Cameroon Government is the main financier of COIC.

Since 2004 Government’s annual subvention to COIC increased from 75 million to 150 million FCFA, Barrister Elad said. The Board Chair added that“COIC is the only NGO in the Southwest Region to have benefited from the HIPC funds, which funds at their first phase, are expected to empower the Centre with about 107,500,000 FCFA”

He disclosed that about 48 million FCFA of the HIPC funds would be set aside “to provide graduating trainees with seed capital for them to borrow to set up on their own”. He lauded the Government and the various funding agencies for their support to COIC.

 Board Chairman Elad handing Prize to deserving graduate

While congratulating the graduates, Barrister Elad warned advised them, “You don’t have to be great to start but you have to start to be great.” He called for collective support to keep COIC afloat despite the problems it faces. “I encourage parents to join us in sustaining a bright hope of the future for our Centre”

Barrister Elad strongly called on Buea Council to relocate the Great Soppo market, which is on COIC land, so that COIC can use the land “for the benefit of the young Cameroonians we are training”

But COIC is at crossroad. “We are working hard to align the present vision our Government has for COIC with the vision OIC International expects us to follow. The next several weeks may redefine what COIC will stand for. Whatever the case, we are determined that the winners will be our young people”, remarked Barrister Elad, COIC Board chair

Presiding at the graduation, Edwin Ngwana, who sat in for the South west Governor Koumpa Issa, explored the graduates to put the skills acquired into proper use. He assured COIC management that the Government would continue supporting the Centre, noting that COIC is on the right course as concerned human resource development.

Earlier in his welcome speech, Adolf Ngundu Lyonga, Program Director of COIC-Buea, had this remark about the graduates: “These young men and women have been adequately trained and we are proud of the hard work and dedication they exercised through out their training here. They have not only received training in their various vocational fields but also on needed life skills training on managing a business.”


Lyonga noted with joy that, when trainees of COIC’s department of ICT last December sat for the Government Exam, they came out overall first in the Southwest region, scoring 86%


He assured employers that COIC graduates would be an asset to them rather than liability.


He reminded graduates who would want to be self-employed that the HIPC/COIC Revolving Loan Scheme is open to them.


The Program Director disclosed that since inception in 1986, COIC has trained 25,000 Cameroonian youth in its regular programs and over 3000 in its outreach programs. Over 15000 COIC Trainees are gainfully employed, he said


He lauded Fako Elements Cultural association (FECA0 Minnesota in the US for their decision to henceforth sponsor six Bakweri youth yearly in COIC.


It emerged that new vocations such as Textile and Fashion Design (dress-making), Agriculture, Weaving and Handicraft will soon go operational at COIC-Buea


.Highlights of the graduation included an discourse by university don, Madam Ngeve Rebecca Eposi on the theme “Vocational Training ,Youth Employment & Moral Responsibilities of Youth in Economic Development” ,and award of prizes to meritorious graduates.

Cameroon:"PNDP to Support SW Councils with FCFA 600 Million This Year"

-Dr. Nkem David Atenchong, PNDP Regional Coordinator for Southwest.


Six councils in the Southwest Region have been identified for technical and financial assistance this year by the National Community-Driven Development Program (PNDP).


According to Dr. Nkem David Atenchong, PNDP Regional Coordinator for Southwest, the six identified councils will collectively receive a huge financial package of FCFA 600 million this year. He adds that PNDP will assist up to 25 councils in the Southwest Region amounting to several billions of FCFA by 2013


Nkem Atenchong, who holds a PhD in Development Studies from the Commonwealth Open University, UK and an MA in Development Policy from the University of Bremen, Germany, is quite convinced that PNDP would greatly help in alleviating poverty in the southwest region.


Dr.Nkem(pictured) sat down for an interview with Recorder Editor Christopher Ambe Shu in his office in Buea

You are the pioneer Southwest Regional Coordinator of PNDP.What is PNDP all about?

PNDP stands for the National Community-Driven Development Program. It was conceived in 2005 as a tool whose objective is to assist the Government of Cameroon in poverty-alleviation and in enhancing opportunities for growth and employment.

PNDP is in its second phase –that is from 2010 -2013.It has a phase of four years. In the first phase the project was in six regions of the country excluding Northwest, Southwest, Littoral and East regions. But in the second phase these regions just named are included. So PNDP is now in all the ten regions of the country.

Why were some regions excluded from the first phase?

It is a matter of programming. You cannot do everything at once. You have to start somewhere. Certain criteria were used to identify the regions for the first phase.

Are the regions that benefited from the first phase are still benefiting from the second phase?

Yes, they are still benefiting. It is an on-going process. They could still be involved in the third phase.

In the first phase over 1.2 million households benefited from the project either directly or indirectly-in terms of rural infrastructure-roads, markets, equipment of classrooms and capacity-building in one way or the other.

Let us come back to the overall objective of PNDP.Can you throw more light on it?

In the first and second phases the funding mechanism has been put in place to assist councils. That is PNDP gives allowances to councils to elaborate their communal development plans, to follow-up development activities in rural development areas and again to assist capacity-building. The PNDP will work with councils, recruit and train technical and financial assistants who will serve as focal point in every council on behalf of PNDP.

We have to draw up legal and regulatory mechanisms for decentralization and rural development. It is a program that is also out to accompany the government in the on-going decentralization process.

When you give allowances to councils, do you actually follow-up how these funds are used?

Yes! First of all before we give money to councils we open a joint bank account in a credible financial institution. The signatories to this account are the mayor, the municipal treasurer and the PNDP coordinator. At the level of the PNDP there is a follow-up committee; there is a monitoring and evaluation unit that tracks how this money is being used. At the level of the council there is a follow –up committee that is put in place to follow-up micro-projects financed by PNDP.

In addition, you have external auditors coming from either the side of the donors or the National Coordination Unit of PNDP which is in Yaoundé.

How do you identify councils for assistance? Do they have to apply?

Councils are state institutions. The PNDP is a government program and with the implementation of decentralization, the councils are seen as the main focus of PNDP –because they are out there to reach the grassroots and to reach the grass roots, the interlocutor has to be the councils and the mayors are heads of councils.

In the Southwest, by 2013 we are going to cover 25 councils. In 2010, we are starting with six councils. In Fako, it is the Tiko council; in Meme ,you have Mbonge council; in Ndian Division, you have Bamusso Council; in Lebialem ,you have Menji council ;In Manyu ,it is the Eyumojock council and in Kupe Manenguba ,you have the Tombel council. We will work with nine councils in 2011 and 10 councils in 2012.And of course .follow-up will extend up to 2013.Let me note here that these councils have their financial allowances ready. It just like having your credits and be able to use. It is just for us to open up a joint bank account and follow-up certain procedures that have been put in place by PNDP for councils to meet up to benefit from these allowances.

How financially viable is the PNDP regional office you are heading? How much money is there for the councils to take home?

This gives me the opportunity to tell you about the PNDP financing plan. .The program is financed by both the government of Cameroon and international donors. You have the World Bank, through the IDA funds; you also have the German Development Bank and the French Development Assistance. The councils have to make some contribution as well. In all, the package that PNDP has for councils this year is close to Fcfa 600 million. Take note that the least given to each council is about Fcfa 90 million. You also have some amount for the functioning of the PNDP office and to follow-up field activities.

As pioneer regional coordinator, what have you achieved so far?

Things have been happening so fast. In PNDP action speaks louder than words. I effectively took office as pioneer coordinator in April this year. PNDP is under MINEPAT-the titular ministry. And when we came here the regional delegate of MINEPAT was so receptive and gave us two offices .But we have just transferred to our new building here in the CPNS complex, Mile 17 -Buea

When we came in we immediately organized an initiation workshop in Tombel for the mayors, secretaries-general and municipal treasurers and other sector based-ministries from the six councils that are benefiting this year. The workshop was to brief them on the PNDP, its principles and how we are to partner in the field. During that workshop we also announced another phase-that of carrying out a diagnostic study -so to get basic data about councils and local development economy, social and environmental indicators as baseline for us to start working. And it is from this baseline information that we will either actualize the communual development plan or elaborate a new communual development plan for the council .It is from these communual development plans that we will finance projects.

Now we are at the phase of signing conventions. We signed the first convention on July 16, 2010 with the Tiko council. In the convention we gave them a package of over Fcfa 28 million for Tiko to actualize their communual development plan. They have a plan but it doesn’t suit the standards of PNDP. The plan they showed did not show a village- by- village approach in the elaboration of the development plan. And with PNDP the approach must be village- by-village one. What we realized from the development plan that was elaborated in 2008 is that they concentrated on Mutengene, Likumba, Tiko, Misselle and another village. But we said for them to benefit we need a village- by-village approach…

In addition to the over Fcfa 28 million given to Tiko, there is money to take charge of the tenders’ board committee and the functioning of another committee extended to other sectors and also the award of contracts. We have also just financial conventions with the Menji, Mbonge and Bamusso Councils.

So far, have you come across any challenges?

As a new office, the challenges are enormous; we don’t yet have means of transportation on our own; we are still hiring vehicles but we are sure to have ours soon. In the field, we have the problem of communication during the rainy season-to move to areas such as Menji,Mamfe or Ndian is not easy. And you know our activities also cover the Bakassi area so moving by sea at times is a big challenge; there is this fear of insecurity around.

You are a development expert and now coordinating PNDP here. Are you convinced that this project will succeed here?

I think it is going to be a huge success. It will be a land mark success because the approach is very participatory. Right form the elaboration of the communual development plan you see the grassroots people being involved. And we are there to guide them on how to go about the micro-projects. We are telling them that, it is not just building a school or markets but also looking at social and environmental aspects- because from experience there are some projects such as markets that are built without toilets or proper drainage system. But the approach of PNDP takes care of environmental issues.

I am very convinced that we will make .The project has come to stay and the impact will be felt.

Can you tell us about the institutional set of PNDP?


The set up is as follows: The Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development(MINEPAT) is at the top and there you have the National Orientation Committee that is chaired by the Secretary-General of MINEPAT.At the regional level, you know we work with the councils, so the SDO’s are the main supervisory authorities. Then at the council level, you have the municipal council board extended to sector-based ministries. Of course, you have the grassroots population.


You also have the National Coordination Unit with head office in Yaoundé. Mme Marie Magdalene Nga is the National Coordinator of PNDP. There are regional units-for the case of Southwest it is Buea .Of course; I am the Southwest regional coordinator. And under my supervision are four units: unit in charge of capacity-building; unit in charge of infrastructure, unit in charge of social and economic aspects and unit for Accounts. There are other support staffs.
There are service providers who go between the regional coordination units and the councils.


There are three major components: the first component is Support to Local Development, which makes sure that allowances meant for development are disbursed to the councils. The second component is Support to Decentralization-mainly for technical and financial capacity-building. The third is the Coordination, Management and Communication, Monitoring and Evaluation component.
So that is how PNDP is set up to ensure the effective implementation of the projects in the field.


NB:First Published in The Recorder Newspaper(Cameroon),of August 19,2010

Cameroon:Rumpi Project to End on Satisfactory Note Next Year

By Christopher Ambe Shu
As the Rumpi Area Participatory Development Project (fondly called Rumpi Project) draws to its end in June 2011- after one year extension, its coordinator, Besong Ntui Ogork, has said efforts are being intensified to ensure the project ends on a happy note.

“We have resolved to go an extra mile to make all sacrifices needed so that by June 2011 we should not be looking for another extension, but rather we should be closing the project, that is-writing its completion report on a satisfactory note,” Besong Ntui Ogork told reporters recently at Chariot Hotel –Buea as the 10th Project Steering Committee (PSC) wrapped –up its meeting.

The PSC is responsible for the overall supervision of Rumpi, which is a FCFA 17 billion project, launched in 2004 to reduce poverty in rural areas of the Southwest region by increasing their incomes in a sustainable manner, through improving agricultural output as well as their socio-economic environment.

Rumpi is placed under the Southwest Development Authority, SOWEDA-Buea, and co- funded by African Development Bank (ADB75%), Technical Assistance Fund (TAF 8 %), Government of Cameroon (GOC15%) and the beneficiaries (2%).

The 10th PSC meeting, which was chaired by Southwest Governor Koumpa Issa, discussed the project’s progress report for the first semester of 2010, examined and adopted the 2009 audit report, as well as planned the speeding- up of activity implementation.

Rumpi’s 2010 budget in income and expenditure stands at the sum of eight billion eight hundred and sixty seven million five hundred and forty thousand (8,867,540,000) FCFA.

.In his welcome speech at the 10th PSC, Dr. Eneme Andrew Ngome, general manager of SOWEDA, called for greater commitment as the project comes to an end next year.
He said Government attaches much importance to the project with regards to poverty-alleviation. He congratulated Koumpa Issa, for his appointment as Southwest Governor, a position which automatically makes him the PSC chair. Dr Eneme was upbeat that Koumpa Issa‘s chairmanship would boost the PSC mechanism

He said the project, which was supposed to end last June, has been extended for another one year by the ADB upon the request of Cameroon government.

The 10th PSC made among others the following recommendations:

“That the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) should ensure that contractors whose contracts are likely to be completed and delivered after the last disbursement date provide cautions to the project instead of 5% retention provided for in the contracts, in order that the project does not face difficulties to pay the concerned contractors upon expiration of the retention period

“That the PIU, RDARD and IRAD should prepare and deliver the training on the production and multiplication of planting materials within the second semester of 2010

“That the PIU, SOWEDA and MIFED should put a mechanism in place to ensure the sustainability of village banks when the project ends

“ That the RDARD should reinforce the existing mechanism for the collection of proceeds from the sale of panting materials from farmers to seed Fund account ASAP and report to the PSC in the Next sitting

“That The PIU should make sure that the 2011 budget takes care of staff pay off package at the end of the project”

Speaking to the press after the meeting, PSC chair Governor Koumpa Issa said, “We discussed the progress report of the first semester 2010 and were staifisfied at activities carried despite some difficulties. The rate of execution stands at 58%.We adopted the audit report for 2009.We discussed what PSC can offer to the project, so that activities can be carried out smoothly since the project is ending on June 30,2011”
For his part, Project Coordinator Besong Ntui Ogork explained to reporters that, extending the project for another one year did not mean that funds too would be increased. “The extension of the project is to provide us enough time to complete its activites.It does not mean increase in money... Since 2004 when the Project was approved till toady, I think the Project has lost quite a significant amount of money”

“The project’s physical execution is 58 %. Financial execution of the project at the moment stands at about 35% for the ADB loan-not including the Technical Assistance Fund and the Government of Cameroon funding,” he told The Recorder, adding, “Physical execution is higher than financial because most of the contractors who have already done their work have not yet been paid. But on the ground we count what they have done as realized”

Work to be done
According to the Project Coordinator, “We have constructed 19 out of 20 markets. We are just starting with the roads; so we still have roads to do. We still have to finish the water schemes-these are the key areas. For the agricultural component we still have some materials to be distributed during the next planting season.

“There are 55 village banks and 28 are already functional. We have 14 of them under construction and another 14 yet to start. But all the 55 village banks already have members of the Management Committee-and all have been provided with safe deposit boxes for the security of funds. I think before the end of this year we will be able to boast of 55 operational village banks through out the region”

Cameroon:Fako CPDM Begins Fund-Raising for 2011 Presidential Election!

By Christopher Ambe Shu
The ruling CPDM party in Fako Division is reviewing its electoral strategies, and has started raising funds in serious preparation for next year’s presidential election, which the party has since been calling on its militant President Paul Biya to put up his candidature for re-election.

Meeting (in conclave) in the conference hall of NASPW Buea last July 29 and at the behest of Hon.Emlila Monjowa Lifaka(pictured) Vice President at the National Assembly (Parliament) of Cameroon, senior Fako CPDM officials and some special invitees raised about five million francs.

The fund-raising, said to be the initiative of Hon Lifaka, shall henceforth be a monthly exercise, The Recorder gathered from reliable sources.

The idea of fund-raising has been hailed by many militants, who think that it will keep the party in Fako more financially viable as it prepares for the coming presidential polls.

“The proposal by Hon. Lifaka for us to start raising funds in preparation for the coming polls is a welcome initiative. That is a wise political proposal. And we immediately subscribed to it”, said a local party official who attended the conclave but preferred not to be named. “Hon. Lifaka is proving to us that she is a great political leader”

Fako CPDM sources told The Recorder that the conclave held under the theme “Presidential Election 2010 -The Way Forward: Strategic Planning Meeting”.

The real purpose of the meeting, whose attendance was restricted, a participant disclosed, was to strategize on how to “strengthen and increase the ranks of the party in Fako, how to ensure massive registration on the electoral lists, and how to win over undecided voters for the CPDM”

Although it was Hon. Lifaka who convened the meeting, she was one of many senior party officials reportedly sent by Rene Sadi., Secretary-General of the CPDM Central Committee, to the various divisions to strategize for the coming polls.

The Buea conclave had in attendance Fako CPDM bigwigs such as Hon. Paul Njie Meoto, former Director of Cabinet at the PM‘s Office and Charles Mbella Moki,Buea Mayor.

There are several political parties based in Fako and many others represented there but in the last several years, according to official records, the CPDM has won majority votes in the different elections-municipal, parliamentary and presidential

The Recorder also learned that Hon.Lifaka took advantage of the political trip to Buea to commune with some women’s groups in Fako.She met with Bonjongo women, gave them foodstuff and financial assistance (150,000 Frs.). She also provided foodstuff and financial assistance (100,000 Frs.) to FAWODA women