Cameroon:CAMTEL Optical Fiber Project Goes Operational in Southwest Region

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The National Fiber Optical Backbone (NFOB) Project, being executed by Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL), is now operational in the Southwest Region

Allthough for now it is limited to Fako Division in the towns of Tiko, Limbe and Buea, The RECORDER was reliably informed that, there are plans to cover the entire region in the near future.

The optical fiber project is a booster that enables the transmission of electrical signals at the speed of light with little or no interference, to effect swift communication

Speaking at the launching of the segment of the Douala-Buea network of the project at the Independence square in Buea on March 18, the General manager of CAMTE L, David Nkoto Emane,noted that the project is intended to ensure rapid electronic transmission/Communication. According to the GM, the optical fiber project, which was launched in kye-Ossi in December 2009, would see the construction of about 3200 km of optical fiber as well as the installation of transmission equipment.

The project, he added, will cover Cameroon’s ten regional headquarters and divisional capitals as well as some rural localities.

Nkoto Emane said a little over a year ago that the national project was launched the optical fiber has successfully reached the foot of Mt .Cameroon-Buea.

He said the launching of the Douala-Buea segment of the optical fiber project, came after its installation in Bertoua, Ebolowa, Bamenda and Bafoussam

The CAMTEL GM said the project was part of President Paul Biya’s Greater achievements program.

Nkoto Emane expressed regrets that CANTEL’s cables were being cut and destroyed by unknown people; that image distributors were invading CAMTEL wire line cable network and that some CAMTEL relay stations were not secure.

In this light, Nkoto Emane pleaded with the Southwest Administration to “ ensure the security of our installations and staff in view of the consolidation of these achievements and to help maintain CAMTEL as the leading national telecommunications operator that has opted for innovations, especially in the era of production because these innovations have come to stay .”

The Secretary-General at Buea Governor’s Office, Handerson Quetong kongeh, sitting in for Governor Koumpa Issa, noted that the Southwest region is moving with the times in terms of ICT.

He extended the gratitude of the Southwest people to the government. An elated SG kongeh noted, “Where the optical fiber passes development will follow”.He assured the GM that the people would capitalize on the advantages of the realized project, so to contribute their quota to development.

Earlier in his welcome address, Buea Mayor, Charles Mbella Moki, hailed CAMTEL GM for giving consideration for Buea, noted for its legendary hospitality and to a greater the Southwest region.

Later in the evening at a reception in the residence of CAMTEL Southwest Representative, Mrs. Achidi Achu Yah Judith, former Prime Minister Chief Ephraim Inoni, acknowledged that the Southwest region has enriched with the optical fiber network, which would, no doubt, enhance development in different ways.

Another Ex-Premier, Simon Achidi Achu, commended David Nkoto Emane for ensuring that CAMTEL remains the leader in the telecommunications sector in Cameroon despite still competitions by other telecommunication operators.

For her part, CAMTEL Southwest Regional Representative, Mrs.Achidi Achu Yah Judith, who ensured that the launching went on hitch-free, said the project was a true dream come true.

The CAMTEL GM was accompanied to the launching ceremony in Buea by members of the inter-ministerial Follow-up Committee the optical fiber project.

The well-attended ceremony was grace by Cultural dances.

Cameroon 's new Camair-Co begins operations

Camair-Co, Cameroon’s rebranded and relaunched Cameroon Airlines began operations yesterday on operations with an inaugural flight from Cameroon to Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Cameroon Airlines Corporation’s (Camair-Co’s) Boeing 767-300ER flew from its base in Douala via Cameroon’s capital Yaounde to France at 10:30 am local time after a brief ceremony at the airport, which was presided over by the Governor of the Littoral Region Fai Yengo Francis, CRTV reports.

The Minister of State Minister of Transport, Bello Bouba Maigari, representing the Prime Minister of Cameroon, presided over the official launching ceremony yesterday.

The airline succeeds the defunct Cameroon Airlines and has a fleet of one Boeing 767 and one 737-700, but its fleet will soon expand to four aircraft.

In 2009 the government of Cameroon commissioned Lufthansa Consulting to advise the country on setting up a new airline. Lufthansa Technik provides maintenance for Camair-Co’s fleet for an initial contract period of two years.

The airline plans to serve international and domestic destinations, including Douala to Maroua and Garoua in Cameroon. Internationally it will serve Paris and N’Djamena in Chad. It will also expand to Bangui in the Central African Republic, Brazzaville in Congo and Dakar in Senegal.

Camair-Co’s preceding entity was banned from European skies in 2005 due to maintenance and technical problems, but van Elk has said that it has been declared fit to fly.

Camair-Co’s general manager Alex Van Elk said yesterday that the airline would also target the Chinese markets in an effort to get more business. Van Elk said by the end of June, "We shall be flying regularly between Cameroon and Paris. We're beginning with local flights tomorrow [Tuesday], expanding to the west and central African sub-regions, then to Dubai. By the end of this year, we'll extend to Johannesburg and later to China."

Van Elk left Nigeria’s Arik Air to take the charge of CamairCo last year.

Cameroon is benefiting from strong ties with China and the launch of the airline coincided with a five day visit by Chinese Minister of State Administration for Industry and Trade, Zhou Bohua.

Camair-Co was created in 2006 from the defunct national carrier Camair, which went bankrupt due to poor management and government interference, Dow Jones newswire reports. It had more than 70 billion central African francs (US$151 million) of debt. Several top executives are facing court trials as part of Cameroon’s national ‘Sparrow Hawk’ anti-corruption drive. They are being accused of embezzling more than XAF118 billion (US$248 132 million) of the company’s funds and assets.

Camair-Co employs 220 people, including 24 pilots, but will employ around 450 in the future

Courtesy:Defenceweb

Crackdown on SCNC activists still cause for concern.

By James Mukoh 

The struggle to restore the independence of Southern Cameroons appears not to be dying down even as its advocates are molested, harassed, arrested, tortured, prosecuted and jailed. Members of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), which is championing the cause, have sworn to stay the course until their goal is claimed. Families of SCNC supporters sometimes report not only about the molestation, arrest, torture or detention of loved ones militating in the SCNC movement but also of the disappearance of some. 

The Cameroon Government, which insists the SCNC is an illegal and secessionist group, has vowed to disband it at all cost, putting security forces on red alert to crack down on them particularly during their public or private meetings.

It would be recalled that on December30, 1999, the SCNC seized a local government radio station (CRTV Buea) and for three hours proclaimed the Independence of Southern Cameroons. Since the secessionist broadcast, the Government has intensified its persecution of SCNC, which was created in 1994. 

But the SCNC cause is genuine in history and law, according to its pioneer chairman veteran Barrister Sam Ekontang Elad.It was in protest against the marginalization of Anglophones by the Francophone-dominated Biya regime that the SCNC was formed. Anglophones feel grossly marginalized in development projects and leadership positions, which is against the spirit of their union with Francophones.SCNC adherents argue. 

Many vocal SCNC activists such as Akwanga Ebenezer and Cho Ayamba had since fled the country and now live abroad for safety, considering Cameroon too unsafe for them. Abroad they are keeping the fight for the independence of Southern Cameroons alive, as they mobilize for support. 

Mafani Emmanuel: Activist

Fresh reports have cited the arrest last month in Buea of Mafani Emmanuel Kaisa, an outspoken SCNC activist, who reportedly was one of the leaders of the February 2008 rioting against high-cost of living in Cameroon. The nation-wide rioting resulted in the destruction of public property and the death of over 50 Cameroonians. 

 Mafani Emmanuel kaisa, prior to his arrest in Buea as the SCNC was about to hold a meeting,had been living in hiding for quite sometime, conscious that he was a wanted man.An SCNC official who spoke to this news line on condition of anonymity, said security agents tortured him before whisking him away to an unknown destination. He regretted that the police keep torturing members of the scnc whose motto is “The Force of Argument and not the Argument of Force”

Cameroon: “ASDECA does not fight the government and will never fight it! “

         -Francisca Biaka, Southwest Regional President, ASDECA

Recently, hundreds of youths assembled at the Buea Independence Square

at the request of ASDECA and the National Youth Council under the theme “Active Citizenship: The Way Forward.” After the forum, Mrs.Francisca Biakia,one of the converners,granted an exclusive interview to The Recorder, in which she clears the doubts of critics about ASDECA and its mission. Read on:

Mrs. Biaka Francisca, you are the SW Regional President of ASDECA.What is ASDECA?



Mrs.Francisca Biaka:advocate of democracy and empowerment



ASDECA stands for the Association for the Support of Democracy in Cameroon. Created in 2008 in Yaounde, it is a civil society organization; it’s non-governmental, non-political, non-sectarian and non-profit making.

ASDECA’s mission is to empower and build capacity of citizens; it also has the responsibility to see that society’s interests are given by decision-makers; that policies and decisions made are truly representative of the needs of the people.

The democracy that we talk about in ASDECA is the socio-economic democracy.

How did the creation of the Southwest bureau come about?

When I was in Yaounde one day in an office and I was going through a newsletter, I came across the activities of ASDECA in the South Region. I saw a website and accessed it, which is http://www.asdeca.com./ I then read the objectives of organization which have to do with capacity-building and the empowerment of citizens with the culture of civic engagements necessary to create positive change. Noticing that ASDEC targets mostly youth and women(and since I am advocate for women, active citizenship and the enhancement of the lives of youth and women),I sought the approval of the national president of ASDECA ,to start the Southwest branch.

One of ASDECA’s most recent and conspicuous activities was the assembly of hundreds –some say thousands of Youths at the independence Square to drum support for the government and its policies? What necessitated that youth forum?

The purpose of the youth forum was to press for active citizenship. It held under theme “ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP: THE WAY FORWARD.

 We all know very well what is going on .Many youth aren’t aware of their rights, their citizenship and their responsibilities.

So we convened that forum to create awareness; to let them know what is expected of them and also to encourage them to be peace ambassadors and promoters of social cohesion. If there was no peace I don’t think you and I would sit here, talking. Peace is a precondition for development. You are aware of what is happening in the Arab world now: mass protests and rebellion against governments. Without peace, I don’t think anybody can function well. So we have to start making people especially the Youth develop love for peace promotion.

During the Buea Youth Forum, youth leaders from various localities jointly handed a memo to the Secretary-General of the Southwest Region, Quetong Handerson, who sat in for Governor Koumpa Issa, intended for the Head of State, Paul Biya. As one of the conveners of the forum, do you have an idea about the contents of the document?

As you rightly said, it was addressed to the head of State, not to me. But what I can say is that these young Cameroonians understand the Head of State is trying to take care of their needs -offering 25000 jobs and youth service. I suggest they were thanking the President but like Oliver Twist, saying we still have some concerns for your attention. I think they outlined their concerns in the memo, which was handed to the Governor’s envoy for on-ward transmission.

I should let you know that meetings were held by youth leaders and presidents all over to come up with the memo, which they all signed.

Would you describe that forum you organized as a success? Were your goals attained?

I must say it was a huge success. I was personally baffled by the massive mobilization and turn out. Let me remind you that the rally was organized in partnership with the National Youth Council. In the Southwest, there is a president of the National Youth Council, of which all youth are de facto members. We, as a civil society organization also mobilized youth associations and school leavers to attend it.

But your critics say you kind of used your connections with local authorities, to force students to turn up for the rally .How would you react to this?

My critics got it all wrong. All youth are de facto members of the youth council. So the Youth Council did that wonderful mobilization. I think it’s unfair for critics to point accusing fingers when youth decide to come out for peace, social cohesion and active citizenship.

Some of your critics were angry because it was a working day and students were supposed to be in class learning instead of  demonstrating in public in support of the government. Don’t you see reason in that?

I don’t find anything wrong with day that was programmed for the forum.  If they assembled any day people would still condemn it. If it were a Sartuday, detractors would have said,” Oh this is a day when youths have to help their parents in the market or this is a Sunday when they have to go to church. So that Friday was good enough for the rally. That is why it registered a massive turn out.

Apart from the recent Youth Forum, what are some of your achievements since your assumed leadership of ASDECA in the southwest?

ASDECA southwest has supported the Delegation of Women and the Empowerment of the Family-We have assisted in training women and even on World Women’s day donated some tools; we have supported talented youths and the elderly in one way or the other.

Do you have some activities in the pipeline?

We are looking into projects written by some of our members. If these projects are feasible we will start seeking for funds. We plan to have a large entrepreneurship forum that will bring together the big players in the private and public sectors, in order to enhance the activities of women and youth.

 Would you be comfortable to hear claims that ASDECA is a disguised organ of the CPDM?

 I would not; because ASDECA has its mission clearly defined.ASDECA is open to Cameroonians of all walks of life, all denominations, and all political parties. So, it cannot be described as a disguised organ of   the CPDM.Detractors can call it whichever name, but the ASDEC is out to serve all Cameroonians.

 You are advocating socio-economic democracy. But we know that one important element of democracy is election. Later this year, there will be presidential election. But there is voter apathy, which is a serious problem. How can ASDECA be of help in the direction?

The help that ASDEC can give is that when we organize meetings/rallies ELECAM can take advantage to come there to get people registered. This happened during our last forum at Buea independence Square.ASDECA also sensitizes the public on the rights and duties of a citizen.

 You are leader of an organization that is for democracy. Is Cameroon to you a genuine democracy?

Yes, to an extent. There is no country in the world that is 100% democratic. Cameroon is trying to strengthen its democratic structures and practices. So far, it has recorded some successes. We have a free economy. Those of us in the business sector are free to do whatever business, provided it is legally acceptable. We have a free press- journalists write what they observe and criticize even the head of state, with little or no fear. Citizens democratically elect their leaders such as mayors and MP’s.There is human rights promotion. The judiciary is independent-judges are guided in their decisions by the law and their conscience. The list is long, I can’t name all here. But I think Cameroon is a democratic state.

You are described as a successful business woman. But the country has a growing number of unemployed youth and young graduates. What piece of advice do you have for them?

As a business person and mother I would tell Cameroonian you that, first of all, when your parents send you to school it is a blessing. It is also a contract between parents and children. The parents pay the fees and students have to study. When parents struggle and do their part of the contract, the children must respect their own commitment to study and be successful.

 Once students graduate with certificates, they must believe in themselves that, they have been equipped to perform.

Go first for voluntary service in your field of specialization. While you are in there, perfom well.Once, you are performing there is no way that the employer is going to employ someone from outside other than you. So for a start, graduates should learn to volunteer to gain working experience. It is a springboard to employment.

Many would like to start a business but they lack the seed capital. What do they do?

Youths are a reservoir of talents. To secure funds is, no doubt, difficult. But good business plans can attract finances. Young graduates should learn how to conceive and design good projects and sell the ideas to sponsors. It is difficult but with a lot of efforts success is at the corner.

Before I leave you, is there anything you may want to add about ASDECA?

This is what I would like the public to know about ASDECA: I have not pretended that ASDECA is an association that goes about fighting the government.ASDECA does not fight the government and will never fight the government. ASDECA instead would partner with the government, because the Government has what belongs to the citizens. And ASDECA knows which door to knock, when to knock it. It is like a lobbyist organization. So, we cannot afford to go against the government. But that does not mean we cannot draw the government’s attention to something that is wrong for adjustment. I want the public especially ASDECA members to know that, if they have any problem especially with public offices, they should come to us and ASDECA will

Cameroon’s Special Recruitment of 25000 -Youth told: Jobs or No Jobs, remain loyal to CPDM Government

The President of Buea CPDM section, Charles Mbella Moki, used the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the ruling CPDM to plead with all young Cameroonians militating in the party and who are certificate holders applying to be recruited among the 25000 workers needed in the public service this year, to remain faithful to the CPDM government even if at the end they are not among those employed. He said the CPDM has much in store for all Cameroonians.

Mayor Mbella Moki  telling  people to love CPDM

Mbella Moki, who is also the Mayor of Buea while calling for massive enrollment in voter registers, said the special recruitment of 25000 certificate holders is a trump card for the coming presidential election, which he believed the CPDM must win.

Conscious that thousands of CPDM youths are applying for the recruitment and apparently afraid that, those who will not be employed may reject the CPDM and its presidential candidate Paul Biya, at the polls, Mbella Moki told them:

“As you prepare to be employed, also be prepared if you are not selected.Please, if you lose in the recruitment, exercise sportsmanship”
Briefing MP’s in Parliament last week about the special recruitment of 25000, Prime Minister Philemon Yang, insisted that every applicant, no matter where he or she has submitted an application, would have equal chance to be employed

President Biya last February took the nation by surprise when he announced a special recruitment exercise that will by next June see 25000 certificate holders (from first school leaving certificate to PhD holders) absorbed into the public service, especially as it was not budgeted for in this year’s State budget.

Many were surprised because it is the first time in the history of Cameroon that such a huge number of job seekers will be employed, at once, directly-without a competitive examination, in to the public service.
Some critics of the Biya regime have been quick to describe the special recruitment announced as one of President Biya’s campaign tactics for the forthcoming presidential election, to attract votes -and they even doubt if at the end the exercise will not be a farce.

In the past and when the economy of the country was healthy, former President Amadou Ahidjo used to order such special recruitment s of not more than 1500 people at a time.

Although Cameroon’s academic and professional institutions have yearly been graduating tens of thousands of students, chances of getting a job in the public service have been too slim because of very limited job opportunities advertised.

The scarcity of jobs has raised youth unemployment to as high as 30%, according to unofficial estimates.

With the announcement of the special recruitment of 25000 job seekers, thousands have already submitted their applications and many are still to before the April 14 deadline. It is expected that over 150 thousand people will apply.

The Cameroon government has claimed that those recruited will receive their first salaries by July and many critics have now adopted the wait- and –see attitude.

At the CPDM 26th anniversary celebration in Buea Mbella Moki, said that CPDM would always win elections in Buea.
“As far Fako 3 CPDM is concerned, failure is not in our agenda”, he said, calling for continued collaboration with and support to the CPDM and President Biya.

Hon.Mojowa Emilia Lifaka, vice-president of the National Assembly and leader of the CPDM central Committee to Buea for the anniversary, said the CPDM is synonymous to development, peace and unity.
“The essence now is for all right-thinking Cameroonians in general and CPDM militants in particular to support rigorously and methodically the fundamental ideals of the New Deal for the realization of the Greater Achievements policy -advocated by the President of the Republic Paul Biya, whose optimum realization depends on the reinforcement of unity, peace, promotion of freedom and the consolidation of democracy”, she said.
She reiterated need foe massive voter registration and calls for President Biya to stand for reelection at coming polls. “He has our confidence and our unflagging support”, on Lifaka stated.

The CPDM anniversary was celebrated under the theme “Together, let’s take up the current challenges”

Dignitaries present at the Buea anniversary celebration included Hon. Paul Njie Meoto,former director of cabinet at the PM’s office and Southwest Governor,Koumpa Issa.

Heir flees village in protest against enthronement as chief

By Elvis Tahzanu Tepong

Prince Solomon Forfosap

The Crown Prince of Lekong village, Solomon Forfosap, has escaped to an unknown destination after refusing to be enthroned as chief in respect of the village tradition. Prince Forfosap, being one of the formally educated sons of late Chief Forfosap Nchaleke, ran into problems with custodians of their tradition (Black Group) after he refused to adhere to some obnoxious, inhumane traditions which, according to him, are repugnant to natural justice. He fled the village after realizing that his life was at stake.       

     It would be recalled that Prince Forfosap’s grandfather, Chief Michael Forfosap Nchaleke held tenaciously to the tradition. He had 15 wives and 22 children. When he died, he was succeeded by Prince Forfosap’s father, Chief Forfosap Nchaleke.

      This reporter learned that on the day of Chief Forfosap Nchaleke’s enthronement, he was forced to fulfill the tradition of the village which, inter alia, demands that he must inherit the wives of his late father, including his own biological mother (Prince Forfosap’s grandmother) and perform certain sacrifices.
. But Chief Forfosap Nchaleke repudiated and  later died mysteriously. He was reportedly found dead in his palace with his tongue projecting out of his mouth.

      It was after his father’s death that, in January 2011,the chief custodians decided that Prince Forfosap  succeed him but he declined to be chief , describing the tradition as primitive in a civilized world.  

       This reporter also learned that the traditional cult known as “Black Group” which is in charge of enforcing the custom had warned Prince Forfosap that he and his mother and pregnant wife would face the wrath of the gods of the land if he insisted on turning down the offer to be their chief.

It is alleged that after realising that his life was in the balance, he fled the village leaving behind his mother who later died mysteriously. His wife too later escaped to an unknown destination when she too realised that she was not safe in that village.

      This reporter, through his independent investigation, garnered that the people of Lekong attach a lot of importance to their cultural values, not minding the depth of human debasement it may entail.

      It is an age-old tradition where succession to the throne is hereditary and a Crown Prince, after succeeding his late father automatically inherits everything that belonged to his father and non-compliance attracts disastrous consequences.

Communication: everybody’s trade

By Tazoacha Asonganyi inYaounde.

Before all of us became communicators with the advent of the social networking imposed by new information and communication technologies, democrats and dictators alike had seen the handwriting on thewall.

They had hurried to change their schools of journalism into schools of communication, and their ministries of information into ministries of communication.

Communication, as famously defined by a communicator, “means simply getting any idea across and has no intrinsic relation to the truth ... It can be a peddler’s tool or the weapon of a political knave, or the medium of a new religion...”

Franck Sinatra used his song “My Way,” to tell the world that he did things his way. It is true of communication: everybody is doing it his/her way. No need to have headache about the effort of the present minister of communication to out-communicate even “zero mort.” It is his own way: running his mouth at every opportunity, and saying things that have no intrinsic relation to the truth.

The CPDM regime never ceases to fascinate us with their communication antiques. After the frivolous “motions of support” communicated to Cameroon Tribune and CRTV by self-seeking elite “on behalf of their people,” governors and other administrative authorities have taken the cue.

 They are ordering school children to mass up at different corners of various towns to wear free tee-shirts printed by the regime, and raise banners with messages concocted by the regime, in praise of the one and only Paul Biya for “offering 25.000 jobs to the youths.”

Some are even asking the old man to hang on until 2035 to ensure that Cameroon becomes the “emerging nation” he has promised for that year!

Of course, the messages for his 2011 candidature promise 100% votes for him. Never mind that they know fully well that the people’s votes are usually minted in administrative offices.
In their free-wheeling communication, they have borrowed a leaf from Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, the Malawian dictator who was worshipped like a God. The dictator used to boast at political rallies that “People outside this country call me dictator. But I tell them this: if I am a dictator I am a dictator by the people’s will...” And the people used to clap and ululate in response, satisfying his ego that he was a dictator by the people’s design!

Talk about longevity in power in Cameroon, or a wasted 50 years of independence, and you will get a Kamuzu response: the ballot box is there; it is the people that decide. You will get the same response whether you talk about the leadership of political parties, or of the country. Luckily before Kamuzu’s demise, he had learned the hard way about the people’s power...

When you are inundated with such self-serving “communication” about “the people,” and you fall on an essay titled “Top 10 best elected dictators,” you can only smile at the thought of the boastful Kamuzu, especially when the league has on the n°10 spot none other than Hosni Mubarak who was chased from power by the people on February 10, 2011. Mubarak was 82 years old, had stayed in power for 32 years, and was elected in 1987, 1993, and 1999 with over 95% of the votes, and in 2005 with 88.6% through processes his sycophants said represented the people’s will.  The make-believe was propped up by “communication” which announced at every opportunity that it was all the people’s design!

Communication is always a double-edged sword. Remember when PC Fonso, a “social democrat,” dodged taking up the mantle as “eldest member of the house” to communicate his vision for Cameroon? We said then that he was the “microcosm of a failed opposition.” We also drew his attention to Clara Eissner Zetkin, a German feminist Marxist, who, on August 30, 1932, although she was blind and sick, opened the session of the Reichstag, as the oldest member of the House, and used the occasion to speak on the communist and feminist causes she believed in, and to denounce fascism she spent her life fighting against.  Probably because of the public exposure of his defaults, our own “eldest member of the house” was at his second outing this time around. But see what message he communicated to his peers at the opening of the session on March 7, 2011: praise galore for a regime his party is fighting to change!

 If you can’t beat them, praise them....
Biyiti Bi Essam used tell us that the army is "le grand muet" [the corps that never speaks], therefore nobody should talk about it!  Unfortunately, the proverbial child has shouted to the nation again, this time from Bonaberi, that "le grand muet" has no clothes! And they are going about their communication to refute this in the clumsiest way, forgetting that we are in the era of live-from-everywhere communication, and need audio-visuals to convince us, especially when it involves selling after the market!

Yes, everybody has become a communicator. The transactions of rulers can no longer be concealed from the people for long because democratised communication gets details of every happening out on the public place, in a stack of communicated information.

That is why, although all of us are communicators, we still need our journalists because they are supposed to have more judgement and perspective with which they can help us to make sense out of the cacophony in the stacks.
  After all, it has always been the place of journalists to tell us who has no clothes, not that of “innocent children” bereft of fear.

Bandits storm Cameroon bank; escape by speedboat

DOUALA, Cameroon (AP) — Cameroon's state broadcaster says 15 gunmen stormed a bank with grenades and then took off in a high-speed boat chase that turned into a gunbattle.
The broadcaster said late Sunday that at least seven people were killed, and bank officials say the robbers made off with about $400,000 in cash.
Two of the gunmen were arrested after the attack in the seaside city of Douala on Saturday.
Local official Fai Yengo Francis says one soldier died following the speedboat chase. A robber and five others also were killed.
Army official Sona Mbengue says the incident resembles another one three years ago that officials blamed on pirates from neighboring Nigeria. Pirate attacks have risen around Nigeria in recent years.

Gunmen kill up to 9 in Cameroon bank raid

DOUALA, March 19 (Reuters) - Gunmen killed up to nine people and stole an undisclosed sum of money in an overnight raid on banks in Cameroon's port town of Douala, a security source and local media said on Saturday.

Cameroon is one of a number of oil-producing nations in the Gulf of Guinea region that has been plagued by attacks on ships and seaside towns that are often blamed on pirates.
"We suspect the pirates came on swift boats, parked the boats somewhere in the creeks and walked to Bonaberi (a district in the west of Douala) to carry out the attacks," the security source, who asked not to be named, told Reuters.

"They were about 25 in number and wearing T-shirts on which was written "Delta", he added, saying that security forces were currently combing the nearby Wouri river for the assailants.
Those killed included members of a security firm tasked with protecting the banks as well as passengers of a bus and a man on a motorcycle, the source said.

Independent Douala-based Equinox radio-television station confirmed the deaths during the attack but could not say how much money was stolen from the branches of Ecobank and First Trust Bank, which were attacked.
State radio put the death toll at five.

Eight other people were injured in the attack, the security source said.

The Gulf of Guinea region produces more than three million barrels of oil per day and while piracy is not on the scale seen off Somalia, on the east coast of Africa, there are fears it is on the rise and nations are poorly equipped to handle the threat. (Reporting by Tansa Musa; writing by David Lewis; editing by Andrew Roche)

Mayor Langsi: The Fon of Bafut and I don’t talk politics but focus on development

Award-winning Mayor of Bafut, Langsi Abel Ngwasoh, has said no part of his municipality will be left undeveloped if the council has the funds.

Following the creation of state-owned University of Bamenda, and subsequent public debate as to where the varsity structures be located, Mayor Langsi says Bafut has all it takes to host the University of Bamenda .

The SDF Mayor discloses that he works well with Fon Abumbi II of Bafut, who is a bigwig of the ruling CPDM party, when it concerns the development of the municipality.

He talks on council finances, tourism in Bafut, his development drive, the Bamenda-Bafut-Airport and much more

Mayor Langsi who was in Buea recently to receive his award as The Guardian Post 2010 Mayor of the year, sat down for an exclusive interview with Recorder Editor Christopher Ambe Shu .  Following are excerpts of the interview:

The Recorder: Mr. Mayor, congratulation on your election as The Guardian Post 2010 Mayor of the year.
Mayor: Thank you.



Mayor Langsi Abel



How did you feel when you learned that you were voted 2010 Mayor of the Year?

 It was a pleasant surprise to me. I did not imagine I could be chosen as the best mayor. All along I have been struggling to do my best to enhance development in Bafut municipality. I did not know that people and the media were monitoring my activities. So, learning that I excelled among the many mayors of Cameroon was a pleasant surprise.

Which are some of the projects that you have realized that you think caught the attention of the monitoring public?

I wish to say that for the little time that we have been in office, we have done much. We inherited a council that was indebted –owing salary arrears; social insurance dues were not paid and so the workers could not receive their benefits. So when I took over the office of mayor, I made it as a priority the payment of salary arrears. I am a civil servant and know what it means to go without salary.

So far, I have cleared all the salary arrears to the tune of about seven million francs. Salaries are now regularly paid. I also paid social insurance arrears to the tune of about eleven million francs.

I have constructed speed brakes in Bafut.You know that the Bamenda –Bafut highway is a tarred road and all the trucks that carry sand from lower Bafut ply that road at terrific speed. As a consequence, many deaths have occurred on that road, and I had to construct these speed brakes to check speeding vehicles. Since the speed brakes were constructed, no death has occurred on the road.

We now have street lights in Bafut-something which did not exist before. Almost all the major road junctions in the municipality are lighted. I have improved roads in Bafut.I have organized four editions of agricultural shows in Bafut, amounting to several millions of FCFA.

In collaboration with the Bafut Elite Association, the council has been donating scholarships to the poor and needy. The initiative started three years ago. Last year we spent over one million francs for scholarship in secondary schools in Bafut. We also provide holiday jobs for students.

I have also been able to organize the Bafut Council Unity Cup Competition, which brings the youth of Bafut together for football and handball-so to give them the chance to develop and exhibit their talents. This competition led to the revival of Bafut United Football Club last year, which last existed in 1992.We revived it last year from the players we selected from the Bafut Council competition and they excelled and represented the Northwest region at the INTERPOOLs, even though we did not qualify for Elite Two. We have been giving financial assistance to health centers such as Makwi, Nsoh and Akosia for purchase of essential drugs for needy patients. We have donated cement to Njinteh Integrated Health Center to facilitate rehabilitation. We assist in all mother/child vaccination campaigns-providing vehicles, fuel and some remuneration to those carrying the exercise, in collaboration with the District Medical Officer. We have constructed toilets in some markets. We have water projects; we have this giant Agyiati-Nsoh water Project with the assistance of FEICOM.We also has water projects in Akofunguba and Tingo.

You may be aware of the New Bafut Council Chambers, which have just been realized. We have been using the new structure now for over eight months. Observers say it is a masterpiece.

We also have the electrification project of the Mambu-Mankanikong-Makwi villages. These villages don’t have electricity. We have secured funds from FEICOM to give them electric energy.

There is no doubt that we have improved hygiene and sanitation in the municipality. Everybody is now aware that they must keep their surroundings clean, must have good toilets at home. Our sanitary inspectors go round and bring defaulters to book.

We recently planted 4725 trees in Bafut following a convention we signed with the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife. These trees are going to change the face of Bafut.We planted some ornamental trees along the roadsides, planted water-giving trees in  catchment areas; planted some herbal trees and timber in the Bafut Council forest.

We have signed a convention with Plan Cameroon for the execution of various projects in Bafut.

That convention stipulates that every year Plan Cameroon will assist the council with thirty-one million francs, for projects that are child-centered. We recently signed a convention with the national Community-Driven Development Program (PNDP) worth about FCFA 107 million, whose process starts with the elaboration of the council development plan and after that the execution of some micro-projects.

In April last year, I was in the USA to forge partnership with the Lansing City Council, which they accepted. This March officials of the Lansing City Council will be in Bafut to see the situation on the ground and how we can concretize that partnership.

We have also given assistance to various schools. We have donated zinc to government schools such as GTC Nforya, GTC Mundum.The achievements are so many that I cannot enumerate all here.

You seem to have achieved much for so short a time. One may think Bafut Council is having a huge budget. Is this the situation, Mr. Mayor?

{Laughs}To me what matters is not the money you have, but how you use what is available for the benefit of the community. I want to say our budget for the past three years has ranged from 100 to 120 million francs

What is the council budget for 2011?

The budget for 2011 is FCFA 487 million. This figure includes all the conventions we have signed. We have one with Plan Cameroon which gives us FCFA 31 million; we have another with PNDP to give us 107 million francs. Then you have locally generated revenues. Add all you would have 487 million.

You have cited projects so far realized. Which are those in the pipeline?

We have water projects to be carried in the near future. We have been looking for funding. We have a working cooperation with SNV-a Netherlands organization that encourages judicious management of water resources. And through them we have contacted the African Development Bank (ADB).They have assured us they‘ll approve some of our projects. We hope to execute four water projects in four localities in Bafut. The project of street-lighting Bafut   and electrifying other villages will continue. Improving on the road net work in Bafut remains a priority concern.

You find so many tourist sites in Bafut, but to get there is quite difficult because of poor roads. Farm- to -market roads beg for improvement.

Everywhere now you hear of climate change. When the issue of climate change started, many people doubted it. But now, many have witnessed and seen its effects-change in food production and climate.

My council is determined to fight this climatic monster. And how can we do it?  The best way  is to implement the Green City program-encouraging people to plant more environment-friendly trees .I look forward to any donor or organization that can assist us in this domain-so to change the face of Bafut  so that by 2020 Bafut can be a completely green municipality.

Bafut is generally described as a tourist attraction. What makes it a tourist attraction?

The greatest tourist attraction here is the beautiful Bafut Palace.UNESCO has classified this palace as a world heritage center. It is an open secret that thousands of tourists flock yearly to Bafut to visit this palace. The place is made up of a tradition of about 600 years old. Besides that, there are many other tourist sites here. I don’t even want to mention Menchum fall, which is around the boundary between Bafut and Menchum.

There is the Nta’ayah area, which is beautiful greenery site for tourists; you have caves in Bafut and water falls. The only problem we face is accessibility to these sites. The most accessible is the palace, but for the other sites, we need to improve their roads

You are an SDF mayor. The Fon of Bafut is a CPDM bigwig. There are usually clashes between the SDF and the CPDM.How is your relationship with the Fon of Bafut?

I want to make it abundantly clear here that, in Bafut the Fon and I don’t talk politics but we talk development. Development has no political coloration! I am the mayor of Bafut, elected on the ticket of the SDF.But when it comes to making contacts with people who are resourceful for development purposes, I don’t consider political affiliation as a criterion. I look for development agents or partners. The Fon is a development partner.

Fon Abumbi II is very supportive of my efforts. He does everything to assist me succeed with the development program I have for Bafut.I equally do well to support his cultural activities. In fact, we work hand in gloves to ensure that development comes to Bafut.Hardly, do I sit with the Fon talking SDF/CPDM politics. When we ever do that, it is just to create fun and jokes so to laugh. The two of us always concentrate on development; that is why we are calling on all Bafut people to support our development endeavors.

When the time for politics comes-that is election time, we can now mount the podium to shout CPDM and SDF for the population to judge.

Bafut is a subdivision, a tribe and a language. How would you present Bafut people to the public?

The Bafut municipality covers the surface area of Bafut subdivision.Bafut is about 420 square kilometers and has a population of over 120 thousand people-even though official figures show something less. I don’t understand how a population can instead be reducing without any epidemic or calamity causing deaths.

Principally, the municipality is made up of the Bafut Fondom, which covers about four-fifth of the total surface area. And then you also have the autonomous second-class chiefdoms of Mundum 1 and 2.

Under the Bafut Fondom -which is first class, you have nine second-class chiefdoms. Then you have third-class chiefdom or quarters. In all, there are over 60 villages in Bafut.

The Bafut people hailed from the Tikari Tribe and are very welcoming, peace-loving and hard-working. The main dish is achu and the main drink palm wine. We produce crops such as njinja(greatest crop),maize,beans,Cocoa,coffee,palms,plaintains,rice etc.Indeed,Bafut is one of the bread baskets of the Northwest region and Cameroon.

Almost all the sand supplied to Bamenda comes from lower Bafut.We have quarries.

Elite of other subdivisions of the Northwest have been lobbying to get some faculties or schools of the state-owned University of Bamenda located in their areas. Are the Bafut elites indifferent?

A university is not a secondary school that can be located in one small area. It is an institution with faculties, colleges, and schools .That means a university needs a large surface area of land. Bamenda is already thickly populated. I am not aware of a suitable large land there that can accommodate such an institution.

Looking at near -by villages, you see that Bali already has a university; I don’t think Santa is suitable to host it. Water is a problem there, as they are engaged in grazing; almost all of their land is used for grazing.

You know Bafut is not only very near Bamenda, it has an airport, tarred road, pipe-born water, vast level land. In fact, Bafut has all it takes to host the University of Bamenda.It has feeder schools: 14 secondary and high schools. Bafut is ready to host the University of Bamenda.

Be informed that the Fon of Bafut, some elite and I have addressed a letter to the head of state to that effect.

In whose land is the Bamenda-Bafut located?

The airport called Bamenda-Bafut airport is located in Bafut municipality. It is just like the Yaoundé -Nsimalen airport, situated in the latter locality.

You must have heard claims-during the celebration of the 50^th anniversary of Cameroon Armed Forces, by Mankon people that the airport is located in Mankon. Why were they quiet all this while until when the Head of State was coming before they started putting signboards here and there claiming the airport?

If you see someone fighting over something when there is no dispute, it means such a person wants to claim ownership of what is not his. The airport is in Bafut –even if a very small piece of its land is part of Mankon. It is a very negligible portion of land.

I want to add that this air port has been lying fallow for quite a long time, until the 50th anniversary of the military. I don’t understand it was created when it cannot be put in regular use.

Because the airport was not in use, the Bafut council reaped no benefit from it.

But is there any indication that this airport would now go fully operational?

We were given the assurance that with the take-off of the new airline company-CAMAIRCO it will be functional. Its functioning will ease movement in and out of Bafut-Bamenda and the Northwest region -especially business people.

How far have you gone with twining Bafut council with foreign cities?

As earlier said, while in the USA  I met officials of Lansing City Council in Michigan and presented the vision, projects and problems of the municipality to them and how we this think we can work in partnership. They were pleased, and promised to come to Bafut around this March, so that we can concretize this partnership.

Are you ensuring balanced development in all regions of the municipality?

As mayor I have been struggling to effect balanced development. One of the first projects that I carried out as Mayor was the support the council gave for the construction of a bridge to go over to Buwe-an area in lower Bafut that is cut off from Tingo by the river. There is no bridge. People only swim across. A Christian organization came there to see how to assist the community construct a bridge, and they asked for 10% contribution to start the work. This poor community could not afford and the organization almost abandoned the project. I stepped & donated 1.6 million francs as their 10% contribution .I have also assisted schools down there .For example, the council donated zinc to G.S Osugho.Of recent, we donated 50 benches to two schools there. As of now there is water project going on in Tingo…even though the people are unwilling to contribute even in terms of manual labour.We have been doing our best to develop that area but it seems the people don’t want their development.

I don’t intend to leave any part of Bafut in misery so long as we have a few francs to share.

Your hands are full with projects but little means. Are you thinking of securing a second term?

I must say a second term of office is given to a mayor following the appreciation of his people. I cannot already be talking of a second term. It is my people to judge all what I have been doing. If they find that I have done well and they want to renew their confidence in me, then I will be ready to accept. If they think that I have not met their expectations and they want someone else, it is their decision. But I must add that I am really willing to serve my people and I will happily welcome a second term, especially given the vision that I have for the Bafut municipality.

There are so many Bafut elite living out of the municipality and abroad. Do you have any appeal to them?

Thank you for this opportunity. I have always made this clarion call to Bafut elite to invest back at home. By assisting your own village development association -by contributing to project realization, you are contributing to the development of Bafut in general. As mayor, I contact Bafut elite and persuade them to contribute to development. Please Bafut elite assist your local development association in carrying out projects. If everybody assists in development projects, tomorrow Bafut will become a city.

 As a public figure, are you media-friendly or media-shy?

I am very open to the press. I welcome journalist even at night. Any journalist who wants to know anything in Bafut should feel free to get to me.

Could you tell the public more about yourself?

I was born on August 6, 1968. I am the first child in a family of seven. I took office as mayor of Bafut on August 6^th (coincidentally my birth day) 2007, at the age of 39.I am happily married .We have four children-two boys, two girls.My parents are all living. My father is a carpenter, who sacrificed much to send me to some of best schools .I attended primary school in PS Manji -Bafut, secondary education at PSS Mankon where I had my GCE O’Level in 1986; I proceeded to CCAST Bambili, where I had my GCE A’Level.

In 1989, I passed the entrance exam in ENS Bambili and trained as a physics teacher. I have been teaching from 1992.I taught in GSS Tinto-Manyu Division, from where I was transferred to GSS Bainakuma in 1995.I taught there from 1995-97.I moved to GBHS Mbengwi,where I taught physics up to 2007.I made ten years in GBHS Mbengwi,and I  was elected the Mayor of Bafut council. I have been pioneer Secretary-General of the Manji Youth Association, and later its president. In 2003, I was elected president-General of the Manji Development Association, and I carried out many projects in Manji.I became a councilor for Manji, and then elected Mayor of Bafut.