Cameroon’s Reunification Golden Jubilee In Buea: Biya Could Postpone Event Proper If Projects Are Poorly Executed.

Construction Works Disturbingly slow; Governor to Arrest defaulting contractors

 

By Christopher Ambe

 Although the exact month this year for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Cameroon's reunification is not yet known, it leaves not one in doubt that the golden jubilee will be celebrated this year-everything being equal.

 President Paul Biya, who is expected to chair the anniversary celebrations, hinted about the time frame in his New Year Message to the nation last December 31.

 “…I am pleased to announce that within the next few months, the right conditions should be in place for us to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Reunification with all due solemnity,” President Biya said.

The President‘s announcement immediately re-awakened both the Jubilee’s National Organizing Committee and the Southwest Regional Preparatory Commission. They swung into action and have since then been putting pressure on contractors and other concerned stakeholders to quickly implement projects earmarked for the celebrations. But it has been observed that the rate of execution is disturbingly slow. Could this be the lack of funds or inertia on the part of contractors? The reasons for the slow pace of project realization are unclear. 

But it should be noted that the State has budgeted about six billion Fcfa for projects earmarked for the 50th anniversary celebrations of Cameroon’s reunification in Buea

In fact, an inter-ministerial commission monitoring the execution of the jubilee projects was recently in Buea.Taken round by Southwest Governor Bernard Okala Bilai, the inter-ministerial commission visited the various project sites and gave March 31 as the deadline for all projects to be well executed. Then Governor Okalia Bilai, who is also the head of the regional preparatory commission, has since been threatening to arrest and detain contractors who are not doing their jobs according to prescriptions and expectations. His threats, The Recorder understands, is intended to make the contractors be time-and duty-conscious.

Generally speaking, work is progress but many people including officials in charge of supervision, think that it is at a snail pace. 

New Buea Council Office Near Completion

Should the jobs not be done or done well, political observers argue, it is the Buea Municipality that will be the Great Loser, by missing a golden opportunity to upgrade its infrastructure and social amenities. That justifies why Buea Mayor Mayor, Charles Mbella Moki, is doing his best-in terms of project execution within his competence and connections to ensure the event must become a huge success

When the jubilee ‘s Regional Preparatory Commission met last week to assess the level of project realization, they expressed shock and disbelief at the slow pace of execution of jobs by some contractors.

During that meeting it emerged that many of the earmarked road projects are still to be started, leaving Buea residents who are expecting well-done roads, with the fear that when the jobs will finally and hurriedly be done, they will not meet standards.

Up to the time of the last assessment meeting, no site had been chosen for the erection of the Reunification Monument

The Governor was particularly worried that the contract for the renovation of the Parliamentarian Flats (hotel) looked almost abandoned by the contractor, reportedly “no where to be found.” The Governor then ordered the Southwest Regional Delegate of Tourism and Leisure to hunt for him and bring latest one week. 

Another cause for concern was the Mile 4 (Limbe)-Sasse-Buea road under renovation.  Although the contract had long been awarded there were increasing complaints that the road was not only too narrow but was poorly being done “with a very tiny coat of bituminous concrete”, suggesting that it would not last long when completed, if not improved as suggested. 

The Regional  Supervisory Commission recommended that henceforth clean-up campaigns should become a weekly exercise  in Tiko ,which is the gateway to the South West), in Limbe and notably in Buea 

The irregular supply of portable water remains a serious problem in Buea especially in neighborhoods such as Bokwaongo. But the CDE, the water supply corporation is only making promises to resolve the problem before March 31, while residents travel long distances to fetch water. Buea too is increasingly facing the problem of electric power cuts, a problem that AES/SONEL must look into as a matter of urgency.

But all is not bad. At least, the Mayor of Buea, Charles Mbella Moki was hailed for his sustained campaign to keep the streets of the municipality clean   and his demolition exercise that is doing way with makeshift structures by the road sides from Mile 17 Motor Park to Buea Town.

Many political pundits think that if the stage is not set well-in terms of the realization of the earmarked projects, President Biya may further postpone the 50^th anniversary celebration of Cameroon’s Reunification to next year especially when they recall that the Head of State said “…the right conditions should be in place for us to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Reunification with all due solemnity”

First Published in The Recorder Newspaper, Cameroon, of January 23, 2013

Cameroon Government Reminded to Urgently Realize Limbe Deep Sea Port

By Christopher Ambe 

The Government has once more been reminded of the urgent need to realize the Limbe deep sea port project, in order to, among other reasons, minimize the high cost of transporting Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) agricultural products such as banana via Douala to its over seas markets.

The reminder, which was highly applauded by the Anglophone community, was made by Andrew Ngomba Motanga, Government Delegate to Limbe City Council.

Mr. Motanga’s reminder was made January 12 in Limbe at the installation of the new GM of CDC, Franklin Ngoni Ikome Njie, and it came to add to previous calls by the people of the Southwest Region in particular and the Anglophone Community in general that the Limbe Deep Sea port, considering its strategic location, be significantly developed to facilitate trade between Cameroon and neighboring countries.

Franklin Ngoni Ikome Njie, 49 year-old native of Bokwa-Buea and a German-trained civil engineer, was installed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development ,Lazare Essimi Menye, as the fourth General Manager of Cameroon Development Corporation, the second employer  (with a work force of over 20 thousand people) after the state of Cameroon.

The new GM was challenged to be innovative, increase crop production and ensure that the para-statal remains competitive in the world market.

The Minister threw the challenge to Mr. Ngoni Ikome Njie at the CDC Bota Hall in Limbe as he commissioned him as new GM of CDC, in replacement of Henry Njalla Quan, who died last month after a protracted illness.

Mr. Ngoni Ikome Njie was appointed New GM of CDC by President Biya last December 19 to serve as the fourth GM of the corporation. Past GM’s are: John Neba Ngu (the first but now deceased), Peter Mafany Musonge(the second, who later became Prime Minister and currently is Grand Chancellor of National Orders) and Henry Njalla Quan,the third.

Mr.Ngoni Ikome Njie,who has spent 16 years in the CDC had served as Estate Manger, Director of Technical Services ,acting GM in same corporation before being confirmed as GM following the demise of Mr.Njalla Quan who was credited by the Minister for  doing a lot  to keep corporation  afloat.

Turning to the new GM, the minister admitted that, the CDC was facing some difficulties, but urged Mr .Ngoni Ikome Njie to implement stringent managerial programs that would yield good results. 

Mr Ngoni Ikome Njie was equally implored to improve working conditions, which would, not doubt, act as incentive for better performance.

Minister Essimi Menye hoped that, the CDC would continue to distinguish its self as the leader in the agricultural sector in the country

Earlier in his welcome address, Andrew Ngomba Motanga, Government Delegate to Limbe city Council, regretted the demise of Henry Njalla Quan, but was comforted by the fact that he has been replaced by Mr. Ngoni Ikome Njie, whom, he noted, has already proven to be asset to the CDC.Mr. Motanga cautioned the new GM to be objective and foresighted in his administration

The Government Delegate used the occasion to remind the Government of the urgent need to realize the seemingly abandoned Limbe Deep Sea project, so that the high cost of transporting CDC products to Douala for export would be greatly reduced.

First published in The Recorder Newspaper,Cameroon,of January 23,2013

Cameroon:Those fighting against traditional medicine will be spiritually arrested –Dr. Fru

Dr. Richard Fru /The Recorder Cmr

Dr Richard Fru, winner of multiple awards for his research in traditional medicine and director of Dr.Fru’s Garden of Eden International Healing and Research Foundation, headquartered in Wonya Mavio, Muea road, Buea, has strongly reacted to a recent communiqué by the Minister of Communication warning media organs not to publicize the services and medicinal products of Traditional Health Practitioner-commonly called traditional doctors.

 Dr Fru, who is known nationally and internationally for his research in traditional medicine, in the following interview with  Recorder Editor Christopher Ambe, says the anti- traditional medicine war by the Government is ill-advised. He insists that it is also against the World Health Organization (WHO), which calls on governments to promote traditional medicine

 You are a multiple –award winning traditional doctor and a famous campaigner for the use of traditional medicine. The Government seems to have launched a crackdown on traditional doctors publicizing their services and drugs. What is your reaction to this?

Thank for coming to interview me. I think it is timely. I don’t think the Government of Cameroon has launched a war against traditional health practitioners publicizing their services.

I think, it is some conventional doctors in positions of authority who –for selfish reasons, have influenced the Minister of Communication to issue the communiqué threatening media organs that publicize our activities and medicinal drugs.

 In Cameroon, there has been a battle between conventional doctors and traditional health Practitioners, for long.

Many detractors of traditional medicine who have been using the Ministry of Communication  to fight us have come and gone .Some of such people have suddenly become traditional doctors but while they were still  in the civil service they fought against us.

Some overzealous conventional doctors have seen how traditional medicine is booming, how more and more people are embracing it and are scared. Since they are pro- conventional sector-they have companies, organizations and networks abroad to which they are strongly connected .It seems the connections abroad have paid them to do everything to fight against traditional medicine, which they see as a big threat to conventional medicine.

I think the Minister of Communication, by issuing the communique threatening media organs publicizing the products and services of traditional health practitioners, is doing so under the pressure of some conventional doctors holding influential positions in the administration. They are just trying to prevent us from providing health care to the community; and you know the easiest way to win your competitor is to stop him from talking; you know the media is the mouthpiece of society. 

 Warning the media not to promote our health education campaigns is working  against the World Health Organization(WHO).We consider this a human rights violation; this is against the freedom of traditional health practitioners who pay taxes; who have the right to use  available means  of mass communication to make public their works and discoveries. The Minister’s threat is against the will of the WHO, against the Will of United Ntaions, against the will of African heads of states and the African Union

I even followed an interview of the current Regional Director of World Health Organization who was in Cameroon a few weeks ago and he said WHO was working hard with the Cameroon Government to see how traditional Medicine should be promoted. The WHO has issued many communiqués calling on African heads of states, heads of government and health ministers to make sure that traditional medicine is being promoted. That is why African Traditional Medicine Day was instituted in 2003 and it is being celebrated every year to create awareness of the importance of traditional medicine.

The African Union is bent on promoting traditional medicine. That is why 2011 to 2020 was declared during one of the AU meetings, as the second decade of African Traditional Medicine Day.

I strongly believe it is some self-centered individuals hiding behind the Government to suppress traditional medicine.

How are traditional health practitioners going to fight back?

It is a lost battle for the Government. The Government has already lost the battle before trying to launch it.

There is no way you can fight against the popularity of traditional medicine. It is just like trying to fight the churches. Traditional medicine is a religion; it is a spiritual practice; it is a holistic practice.

We are going to fight in our own way. We know those greedy people who are behind it. How can they be fighting a practice backed by the United Nations? I know that even President Biya supports traditional medicine. It is regrettable that a few greedy people in positions of influence in the administration, team up to fight it. It would not take long for those fighting traditional medicine to go, but traditional medicine will still be there to take care of the health needs of the people.

Let me note here that nature identifies them. The angels and spirits know them .It is a battle that traditional doctors must fight to win, since the majority of Africans depend on traditional medicine.

Do you think those fighting traditional medicine can be spiritually arrested?

That is why I said the battle is not a physical but spiritual battle. Nature identifies people who fight nature, and nature is always against them. You will be surprised that those fighting us secretly rely on the same traditional doctors for various reasons.

 If you search their bags and pockets you may be surprised to find concoctions they got from traditional doctors. Go to their offices, you find concoctions from the very people they pretend to be fighting against. These may be people who spend all their visiting witch doctors.

You can never fight nature. Fighting nature means fighting God. And such people will be spiritually arrested.

The argument put forward by Government is that traditional doctors are publicizing products that have not be certified or approved. Who is supposed to certify your medicinal drugs?

That is the question. Can a car novice certify a car, produced by professional manufacturers? Traditional medicinal drugs are produced by those who have natural, spiritual and mystical insights of traditional medicines. So, who will certify such? A conventional doctor, who is ignorant of how we work?

Our medicines don’t kill germs or bacteria. They work in special ways. Some say our medicines should be brought to the lab, to be proven that they cure, for instance, typhoid. In the lab the medicines may prove unable to kill germs. But in the human body, they will work. The best laboratory to test whether medicines work well is the human body. So, it is traditional healers who certify what they use.

 I challenge anybody-be he a director of health, a conventional doctor, a delegate of health or a medical researcher, who thinks Dr. Fru is a charlatan to face me in a live televised debate. Let such a person come and let us see at the end who will be proven as a charlatan. I am very ready.

From your findings how is traditional medicine received in Cameroon?

Traditional medicine is very highly welcome. Traditional medicines are taken even by people in the highest offices places in Cameroon. There is no doubt about it. Visit the offices and you will see people consuming my products and are appreciative of them. Ministers, Governors, Directors, General Managers, Security chiefs, clergy men, conventional doctors etc take my medicinal drugs. They call me frequently to testify to their effectiveness. Who does not know about Dr. Fru in Cameroon? They follow my educative discussions in the media everywhere.

 

I challenge you to carry a vox pop and see what people would tell you about traditional medicine. Forget about the negative reactions in some government media from some people, interviewed for that purpose.

It is regrettable that they go and select a few people and ask them to talk against traditional medicine. We know the games!!

Who are they to challenge the World Health Organization (WHO) that says more that 80% of Africans depend on traditional medicine?  History will judge them. Where are those who challenged traditional medicine in the past? Many of them are in prisons, some have been sacked and others retired.

Today, even scientists are turning to nature; the whole world is turning to nature, what God asked man to depend on. Those against the will of God will be spiritually arrested.

Do you have any appeal to Cameroon Government?

There are some authorities who are not informed on traditional medicine and so they are misled by opponents of traditional medicine, to take wrong decisions.

I want to think that some conventional doctors and nurses are licensed charlatans. Just as many pastors are licensed quacks. You go to the hospitals and doctors operate patients and they die so often. Who has condemned those doctors who operate upon patients and they die out of the former’s negligence or ignorance? Nobody! Because they say they are licensed.

I am calling on the Government to create a body that will screen and issue licenses to tested traditional health practioners.Can you imagine that seasoned traditional doctors are called charlatans? If the Government can come in, create a body that screens and issue licenses to traditional doctors, I think that will solve the problem of charlatanism.

Cameroon:Inoni Indicted For Embezzling FCFA 1.7bn

But  he is not implicated in Albatross Affair

By Christopher Ambe 

 

Judicial investigations have finally found out that former Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni was not implicated in the embezzlement of FCFA 24 bn meant for the purchase of a presidential aircraft in 2004, the case that led to the sentencing of ex-minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya and Yves Michel Fotso, former director of defunct state air transport company CAMAIR, to 25 years in prison.

But  unfortunately,Ex-PM Inoni, who is also the Chief of Bakingili village in Fako Division, was last Thursday at the Special Criminal Court in Yaoundé,  indicted for embezzling elsewhere some FCFA 1.7 billion.

The Ex-PM, who will sooner or later be prosecuted, is facing a two count charge, down from the initial five-count. Of the three counts dropped, one had implicated him in what is today known in Cameroon as the Albatross Affair. But according the charge sheet, there is no element of proof implicating Chief Inoni in the embezzlement of the funds meant for the purchase of the presidential plane

The examining magistrate at the Special Criminal Court, Justice Jerome Kouabou, accused the Ex-PM, of having embezzled FCFA 287 million while serving as Board Chairman of Assets Portfolio Management (APM), a company that reportedly struck a deal with the Ministry of Transport .APM was contracted and tasked with the renting of planes for the defunct CAMIAR.

According to the Examining magistrate, the contract did not follow contract regulations in force as Chief Inoni, then also Deputy Secretary-General at the Presidency of the Republic, used his position unduly. It emerged that the award of the contract did not pass through a tenders’ board for scrutiny.

Also worrying was the fact that, Johnson Elongue, younger brother to former PM Inoni is said to have been holding a ten per cent stake in the Cameroon branch of APM, a situation which the examining magistrate saw as cover to defraud the state of huge sums of money.

Chief Inoni was also charged with embezzling the sum of FCFA 1,4bn, this amount representing a surplus disbursed by s SNH (National Hydrocarbons Corporation) to CAMAIR as payment of arrears for airplanes leased from Ansett Worldwide, an American company.

Chief Inoni is said to have got hold of this money, in collusion with others, because the sum was paid through the Standard Chartered Bank Cameroon where the ex-PM served as the Board Chairman

Also accused are Jean Marie Atangana Mebara and Otélé Essomba.

Mr Atangana Mebara as Secretary-general at the presidency at the time also served as Board Chairman of SNH and  Mr. Essomba was the deputy general manager of APM in Cameroon where he reportedly  had a 30 per cent share.

It would be recalled that Chief Inoni has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest on April 16 2012.