Legal Battle for Kumba City Mayorship :Nkelle Ngoh Victorious as Court Dismisses Case against His Election as City Mayor

Mr.Victor Nkelle Ngoh; Pioneer City Mayor of Kumba

By Christopher Ambe 

The Administrative Court of the Southwest Region,Buea, presided at by Justice Mbu Edward Osoh (President of the Court), on April 9, passed a judgment validating the election of Victor Nkelle Ngoh,former Government Delegate to Kumba Council, as  pioneer Kumba City Mayor-elect.

The verdict by Justice Mbu Edward Osoh, Justice Christopher Ofon and Justice Lonje Martin Bende dismissed as baseless allegations filed in against the election of the pioneer Kumba City Mayor, one of which claimed he bribed his way to victory.

Nkelle Ngoh had been elected as Kumba City Mayor on March 3, 2020 with 38 votes, against his challengers Ntemoyock Gregory Mewanu, who was runner-up with 31 votes and Ekoko Muelle Stephen who secured 6 votes. 

Disappointed with the election results,Mr.Mewanu,who was the candidate invested by the CPDM hierarchy in Yaounde and least expected other nominations for the post of Kumba City Mayor, initiated legal action against the State of Cameroon, the SDO for Meme and Victor Nkelle Ngoh

Mr.Mewanu’s petition alleged that the election of the City Mayor was marked by “gross irregularities, corrupt practices and non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Code and the General Code of Decentralized and Local Authorities; that there was “massive bribery and corruption by [Victor Nkelle Ngoh] as he camped electors in a local hotel and gave them money to make them not to vote objectively and cast votes in his favor”

 The petitioner pleaded with the court to order for “total cancellation of election of the kumba City Mayor and Deputies that took place on Tuesday 3^rd March 2020.”

In his petition, Mr.Mewanu also pleaded with the court to order “a re-run of the said election as statutorily provided” and for any other order(s) that the court would deem fit and proper.”

 Mr. Mewanu’s case was against 1) The State of Cameroon (repr.by the Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development as 1^strespondent) 2) The SDO for Meme Division as 2^nd respondent and 3)Victor Nkelle Ngoh as 3^rd respondent.

In their verdict, the judges said, “On merits, the petition is not justified and thus dismissed.”

In his reply to the petition, Barrister Asongu Njuzy Charles (retired judge), counsel for Victor Nkelle Ngoh,had said the petition lacked “seriousness and credibility”

Barrister Asongu had described the allegations of the petitioner as “concoctions, dreams,lies ,imaginations and wishes intended to throw dust into the eyes of the court leading to a miscarriage of justice.”

He had justified that the SDO did not conduct the election and proclaim the results as alleged by the petitioner but merely performed his legal duties. The Defense counsel wondered why the state of Cameroon represented by the Ministry of Decentralisation and Local Development was party to the case as 1^st respondent.

”The petitioner and 3^rd respondent are not yet under [that ministry], how come the 1^st respondent is party to a suit for cancellation of elections?” the learned counsel Asongu questioned. 

He had stated that the petitioner and 3^rd respondent ought to have sorted out their party arrangement in their party circle before election. 

 “We strongly submit that the disposition of the fact that the petitioner was the choice of the CPDM is rebuttable. If that was the case there would have been no problem at the election…Voting was carried out and Victor Nkelle Ngoh had 38 votes and Ntemoyock Gregory Mewanu had 31 votes..

“The court is not here to endorse or abide by the rules and regulations of a party”, he had told the court.

Barrister Asongu ,in his defense pointed out that,  Mr.Mewanu portrayed  bad faith by failing “to tell the court that there were three contestants who stood for the election of the City Mayor”namely:Victor Nkelle Ngoh,Ntemoyock Mewanu and Mr. Ekoko Muelle.

“Mr. Ekoko Muelle has accepted the results by not petitioning thereby confirming that the elections were free, fair and transparent. He had six votes,” argued Barrister Asongu.

Dismissing claims by Mr. Mewanu that Nkelle Ngoh had camped councilors and corrupted them, the defense counsel quipped that“the voters were camped for security reasons to secure their presence during election and not for bribery and corruption.”

 Barrister Asongu told the court that Mr.Mewanu also “camped his own supporters at a certain hotel Macloyd in Kumba”

He quipped,” The courts must have taken judicial notice of the mere fact of being  candidates for elections subjected the candidates to death or burning of their houses and this exercise of camping voters is practice during elections at this war period purely for security and not for money changing hands.”

In their judgment the judges said “nowhere in the minutes of the maiden session of the kumba City Council session is there any evidence of the fact that the 2^nd respondent usurped the role of the bureau of the session consisting of the Eldest and Youngest Councilors, namely Messrs Eseme Akwo Moses and Nkemngang Anoh Ndifor who signed the minutes as chairman and Secretary of the Session, respectively.”

On the alleged violation of internal rules and regulations of the CPDM party on investiture advanced by Mr.Mewanu…concerning the election of Kumba City Mayor and Deputies,the judgment stated that”it is common knowledge that the rules of an association bind only its members and would not prevail over national laws.”

The judges in their wisdom, then upheld”the deliberations of the Maiden Session of the Kumba City Council Session of Tuesday 3^rd March,2020,electing 3^rd respondent Mr. Ngoh Nkelle Victor as Mayor of kumba City Council,as well as Mrs. Balike Esuka Epse Ebanja Victorine and Mr.Sako Umana Mcmiland as 1^st Deputy Mayor and 2^nd Deputy Mayor respectively.”

It is unclear whether Mr. Mewanu will appeal the verdict.

(This news report is also published in The Horizon Newspaper of 23rd April, 2020)

Cameroon: NASLA- Buea Now Operational as DG Takes Mantle of Leadership

NASLA-Buea DG ,Tanyitiku Enohachuo Bayee (middle with file) after assuming Office last April 9.

By Christopher Ambe 

Tanyitiku  Enohachuo  Bayee, pioneer Director-General (DG) of the National School for Local Administration (NASLA),Buea, recently created from the ashes of Local Government Training Centre (CEFAM), last April 9  ,assumed office.

 NASLA was created on March 2, 2020 by President Paul Biya as a public administrative and professional establishment, with a distinct legal personality and financial autonomy.

Mr.Bayee, who is an ex-student of University of Buea and senior administrative officer (graduate of ENAM- Yaounde) took the mantle of leadership from Hagbe Mathieu, who served as director of the now defunct CEFAM for sixteen years uninterrupted.

The technical handing over ceremony, on campus, between the out-gone director of defunct CEFAM and the pioneer DG of NASLA was presided over by Fred Ebongue Makolle, secretary-general in the Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development (MINDDEVEL).

The solemn event was witnessed, among other dignitaries, by Dr. Mohamadou,SG at Buea Governor’s Office and  Barrister Mafani David Namange,mayor of Buea.

Both  NASLA Director–General  Mr. Tanyitiku Enohachuo  Bayee and the Deputy Director-General, Mrs. Ongolo Nyanguinda Lidwine, who were appointed  into office  last March 25 by President Paul Biya, will  be formally presented to the public by the Minister of Minister of Decentralization and Local Development(MINDDEVEL),in a date still to be announced, Mr. Makolle revealed.

The institution was renamed NASLA at a time when it was implementing its new curriculum to meet the new challenges and requirements of decentralization and local governance in Cameroon.

Former director of CEFAM, Mr.Hagbe urged the staff of the institution to be supportive of the new leadership, noting that NASLA is bigger than former CEFAM.

“We did our best to make CEFAM a veritable training Institution”, he said, thanking the state for the confidence it had in him to have allowed him serve as director of the institution  for sixteen years.

For his part, the pioneer DG said, “We are here to build, so that the mission assigned to NASLA is fulfilled.”

The young-looking Mr.Bayee later told reporters, “NASLA has taken off from the foundation of CEFAM, and the priority now is to ensure that those already in training finish their course. Our priority here is teaching and training.”

 The DG had these words of advice to the public.“ Firstly, I am telling the population of the Southwest region that, this is their school and they are lucky to have the school in this region. It is not here by accident; it is the choice of the head of state to put it here.And in the present socio-political context it means something to have the school here.

“Secondly, I would also tell the general public that it is a national school- so all Cameroonians should  take advantage of it !”

The two-year duration diploma training offered by NASLA comprises three cycles: Cycle A-for senior executives of local administration; Cycle B,for mid-level staff of local administration and Cycle C,for specialized workers of local administration.

Admission into NASLA is through a competitive entrance examination .Only holders of a Bachelor’s degree (aged at most 35) sit for Cycle A; holders of GCE Advanced level or recognized equivalent (aged at most 35)sit for Cycle B and holders of GCE Ordinary Level or recognized (aged at most 30) sit for Cycle C.

Mr. Bayee read law and political science in the University of Buea before enrolling into ENAM Yaounde to study administration. He is a native of Manyu Division, was born in the Centre region Yaoundé, attended secondary school in the Northwest region.

'Marshall Plan' for NW & SW of Cameroon: Prime Minister Goes for Competence !

Appoints strategist, Paul Tasong, and long-serving Kumbo mayor of SDF stalk, Njong Donatus Fonyuy, as pilots

By Christopher Ambe 

Minister-Delegate  Tasong Paul

Prime Minister Chief Joseph Dion Ngute, is a man of action. Within a week of being given the confidence  by President Paul Biya to follow up the implementation of the resolutions of the Major National Dialogue, he has swungi into action. He chose to begin with the most strategic resolution of providing the strife-torn regions with a Marshall Plan.

And for pilots, he went for competence. Tasong Njukang Paul, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT)   was last Friday appointed as the National Coordinator of the Presidential Plan for  the Reconstruction of the North West and South West regions. 

He will be assisted by long-serving Kumbo mayor of SDF stalk, Njong Donatus Fonyuy , an indication that the PM wants to see performance,even if it has to come from the opposition. 

Njong had served as mayor of Kumbo since 1996, winning the hearts and minds of the grassroots. That popularity will be crucial for the implementation of the reconstruction plan. 

Tasong  told CRTV’s Cameroon Calling [  on Sunday ] that he would swing into action with effect from [yesterday]  because he has already received all the project documents from the PM’s Office. The MINEPAT minister delegate said the work plan would be submitted to the Director of Cabinet at the PM’s Office  for onward transmission to the Prime Minister, Head of Government.

The Marshall Plan for the North West and South West regions has become reality four months after Dion Ngute presented the project to ambassadors and donors.

During the Major National Dialogue, the reconstruction committee had come up with a budget of some 3500 billion FCFA to rebuild the two war-torn regions.

Njong Donatus 

During the presentation of the plan to donors, some already pledged to support it with various sums. France, for example, promised 62 million euros (40.3 billion FCFA) to come from the remnants of the debt reduction and development contract (C2D).Tasong used his interview to call on the people of the battered regions to appropriate the plan for their growth and development.

He said armed with the map of the two regions, the implementers would start from areas where normalcy has returned before proceeding to the “red zones”.

He said they would be operating on the mantra of Build Back Better (BBB).

Phase one will be to rehabilitate destroyed public infrastructure and making usable that which has lain fallow.

Phase two will be economic rehabilitation to enable the two regions catch up with the rest of the country in terms of investment projects. The CDC, PAMOL and small holder schemes that have been the  livewire of the two regions fall under this phase.

The third phase will be rehabilitation of the social actors like the chieftaincies, churches and schools.

[ First published in The Horizon Newspaper,Cameroon,April 6,2020]

Tasong Njukang Paul: The Strategist and Fine Manager

*Appointed  National  Coordinator  for Reconstruction of 

Northwest & Southwest Regions of Cameroon

By Christopher Ambe

The appointment on 3^rd April  2020 of 57-year old Tasong Njukang Paul, a workaholic, patriot and celebrated  development strategist  as the National Coordinator  of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction  and Development of the  Northwest and Southwest Regions  by   Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute  makes assurance double sure , that President Paul Biya is determined  to   boost socio-economic and infrastructural development   in these   parts of the country, which  have witnessed much destruction in the past three  years as a result of the ongoing Anglophone crisis.

Mr.Tasong, who, since March 2018, has been Minister Delegate in charge of Planning at the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, has, observers say, been assigned to do what he likes most: planning and executing projects for common interest. 

One cannot talk about Cameroon government’s strategic development planning, at least, for about two decades, without mentioning the name of Mr. Tasong, also known in other circles as the stringent go-getter with a broad smile.

Before his appointment as Minister Delegate, he was assigned to Bangui as Commissioner in Charge of Economic, Financial & Monetary Policies on the Commission of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) for over five years.

Armed with a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Management from the prestigious Harvard University Kennedy School of Government- University of Antwerp RUCA, Belgium, among other high qualifications, Mr.Tasong  once  served  as Permanent Secretary in the  all-powerful Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development(MINEPAT)  for over two years -and even before that  he had served  as Director of Programming of Public Investments in  Ministry of Economy and Finance, from September 2004 – August 2010.

This Cameroonian multi-tasker and strategist, who hails from Lebialem Division of the Southwest region, has been charged with coordinating the reconstruction of two regions, which have been complaining bitterly of underdevelopment –yet have witnessed the destruction of public and private property, by war mongers, worth billions of FCFA.

The good news is that Mr. Tasong knows the two regions’ development problems and high expectations very well, and is ready to help solve them.

 But he wants denizens of these regions “not only to collaborate but to participate because they are the beneficiaries of this presidential plan. The plan is theirs. Let them stand up and take ownership of this plan,” he said on Cameroon calling, CRTV on Sunday,

 Noted for excelling when entrusted with challenging assignments, Mr. Tasong has been appointed to champion the development cause of Northwest and Southwest regions just when both regions have been granted “special status because of their specificities”, as recommended by the Major National Dialogue of 2019 that was intended to look for lasting solutions to the Anglophone crisis, provoked by corporate demands of common law lawyers and Anglophone teachers.

“Reconstruction and development of conflict-affected areas “was one of the themes of the Major National Dialogue.

Although a native of the Southwest region, Mr. Tasong   got his secondary and high school education in the Northwest region which offered him the opportunity to better understand the likes and dislikes of the “Bamenda man”. From 1975 -81,he attended Sacred Heart College, Mankon where he passed the GCE Ordinary Level  and  then moved on  to Cameroon College of Arts Science and Technology, Bambili  where  in 1983 he obtained  his GCE Advanced Level ( French, History and English Literature) .

Mr. Tasong obtained his First degree in Public Law and Political Science from the then University of Yaounde in 1983 and proceeded three years later to the National School for Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) Yaoundé where he graduated in 1988 with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Taxation.

 Earlier in his career, Mr Tasong had served the state in various capacities: as South West Provincial Delegate for MINEPAT from Sep 1999 – Sep 2004; served as Chief of Centre for Taxes, Tiko (February 1997 -September 1999); Value-added Tax Auditor, Yaoundé (August 1994 – February 1997); Assistant Legal Research Officer, Department of Taxation -Yaoundé (January 1989 – August 1994).

Although Mr, Tasong got his residence in his village burnt down reportedly by separatist fighters, this CPDM apologist has never stopped campaigning for peace and development, as well as a return to normalcy in the crisis-stricken regions.

So patriotic is Mr. Tasong that  when he bagged  a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Management in Belguim ,he turned down several employment offers from foreign employers, insisting  he wanted to come  and  contribute his quota in the development of the country-a commitment he has lived-up to.

 Mr. Tasong was born on March 20, 1963 in M’mockmbie ,Lebialem Division; he is married and a father of several children. He is also described as humble,a social mixer and philanthropist.

Mr. Tasong will be assisted in the coordination of the reconstruction and development of the two regions by Mr. Njong Donatus,for former mayor of Kumbo,also a development agent. 

(This profile was first published in The Horizon Newspaper,Cameroon,of April 6,2020)

Hon. Malomba, MP for Buea Urban,Appointed Chair of SW Public Investment Budget Follow-up Committee.

The Governor of Southwest Region,Bernard Okalia Bilai,has appointed 34-year old, Donald Malomba Esembe, Member of Parliament for Buea Urban as Regional Chairman of  the Public Investment Budget for the Southwest , according to a statement  from the MP's office,dated  April 7,2020.

           ************************************************
      PRESS RELEASE

"On April 1, 2020 H.E the Governor of the South West Region, in keeping with constitutional, legislative and regulatory instruments in force, notably _decree no. 2013/7987/PM of 13.9.2013 on the Creation Organization and Functioning of Monitoring Committees for the Implementation of the Public Investment Budget (PIB), appointed with effect from the date of issuance,

 Hon. Malomba Esembe,Member of National Assembly (NA) for the Buea Urban Constituency  as Chairperson of the Regional Monitoring Committee of the PIB for the 2020 Financial year in the South West Region*.

The Committee, which has as Vice Chair, Mme Magdalene AGBOR (Civil Society) and the Regional Delegate of MINEPAT as Secretary, is composed of: a representative of the Governor’s Office; the VC of UB (or his representative); two  other MPs of the Region; the Mayors of the Buea Council and the Limbe Council; Heads of certain devolved and decentralized public services (MINMAP, Regional Public Contracts Brigade, Finance Control, MINDDEVEL, SOWEDA, NASLA, ARMP, AIVDP; Regional Authorizing Officers of investment credits; Tenders Board Presidents; Control Engineers; and 2 Traditional Rulers.

The committee has among other missions to:
- Sensitize the population on all PIB projects allocated to their communities for the current financial year;
- Ensure that stakeholders comply with the project logbook;
- Ensure effective physical realization of the projects;
- Receive comments and appraise the level of satisfaction of beneficiaries;
- Share information with Civil Society on the level of execution of the PIB.
The Communication Unit,

Office of the MP of Buea Urban"