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

By Christopher ambe Shu

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Fan Club Eto'o Fils

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Massive turn out  of soccer lovers

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

Cultural dancers displaying

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

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

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

Mayor Charles Mbella Moki,Dr Ngongi and Chief Kima Tabong

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Christopher Ambe Shu

COIC graduates:ready for job market

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

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

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

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

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

Adolf  Ngundu Lyonga:COIC Director

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

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

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

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

 Board Chairman Elad handing Prize to deserving graduate

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

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

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

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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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

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


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


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


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


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

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

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

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

Why were some regions excluded from the first phase?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So far, have you come across any challenges?

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

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

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

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

Can you tell us about the institutional set of PNDP?


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


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


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


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

Cameroon:Rumpi Project to End on Satisfactory Note Next Year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The 10th PSC made among others the following recommendations:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cameroon:Letter to Pius Njawe

(And the thousand Njawes to bloom!)
Dear Pius,

I thought I would just keep quiet, and silently mark your passing with my tears flowing inwards. But as the days go by, utterances by politicians, rumour mongers, friends and foes have pushed me to make my weeping visible through this last letter to you.

Needless to say that the news of your demise shook me to my foundation, and left me dumbfounded, asking the stupid question – why? Of course, the One and only who decided that your day had come may retort with a "why not?", but that will not easily erase the haunting question from my grieving mind.

You will remember that this is the second time I am writing a letter to you. The first was when you were released from New Bell prison through a presidential pardon. I wrote then to congratulate you for walking defiantly out of prison – without thanking your supposed pardoner. You knew very well that he did not pardon you because he wanted to, but because of the weight of national and international opinion that protested against the injustice of your imprisonment.

A president the citizens have empowered, and over whom they should retain sovereignty should not set limits beyond which he cannot be talked about or criticized. This is why you fought so hard to ensure that criticism of the president, the government, and public officials was always robust and unlimited. Your defiant attitude was different from that of Yondo Black, Bebbey Eyidi, André Marie Mbida, Charles Okala, and others that suffered the same injustice like you, but chose to give thanks and apologies following their release!

Some people usually say that journalists and politicians should always sit on opposite sides of the table, not on the same side. This is why some naive politicians have been asking what you were doing in Washington, hobnobbing with politicians. I know that if you returned alive and met such people, you would have told them that you left your side of the table to share the same side with politicians because you were interested in politics – which serious journalist is not? Further, like all good journalists, you wanted to be where the action was. More importantly, you were trying to do what many of our so-called politicians have failed woefully to do – furnish the glue to hold people together, and the imagination around which people can mobilize for 2011.

Since you have been using Le Messager Newspaper to diagnose our society’s ills, you had developed a wider curiosity, and wanted to lead in integrative thinking that has escaped the same politicians that were questioning your purpose and intentions.

You know that some of the invited politicians did not make it to Washington, claiming that their past experiences in "coalitions" were a deterrent, or that they have different strategies; others are even saying that the struggle for change should be inside, not outside the country! Again, I know that if you had the opportunity to meet them, you would have reminded them that the past is just prologue, not a forecast. You would have reminded them that change is too complicated, too multifaceted – too human – to be arranged in linear logic from cause to effect.

Such "politicians" may not know that the seed of change is in all of us; and that for the seed to sprout, it needs just a change of attitude by those who have failed us before; just the casting away of their selfish attitudes; just their coming together to make something different, something that has not happened before, happen.

I know that you would have told them that like you, a leader should always maintain a lively intellectual curiosity, and an interest in everything. After all, it is said that everything is related to everything else, including what they call their different strategies, and their past experiences. You would have advised them to always maintain a genuine interest in what other "leaders" think, and why they think the way they think. I know that you would have done all this because the type of future you thought about is neither a straight line projection of the past, nor the present. You knew that there can be a better outcome than would be got by adding up past experiences...

You were always an uncompromising purveyor of the truth. You always stood up to power with rare courage and integrity. Through the daily information you carried in Le Messager, you tried to help us to make sense of the torrent of information released on us by the present communication revolution. In the process, at the detriment of your freedom, your radio project and many others, you exposed wrongdoing in our society, causing our reluctant public officials to avoid certain actions due to the fear that you would hold the actions up to public scrutiny. You were good at whipping up public outrage, and directing it at wrongdoing in the private and public spheres. See where your sudden disappearance has left us!

Well, I know that you were more a teacher than a journalist. Therefore I trust that your passing will cause the thousand Njawes that you trained to bloom. Only then shall we realize that, indeed, every cloud has a silver lining!

Go well, Brother!

Tazoacha Asonganyi
Yaounde.

IMF sees pick-up in Cameroon's economy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cameroon's economy is set to improve as global economic activity picks up and spending on government projects rises, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday,July 22

In an annual review of Cameroon's economy, the IMF forecast that economic growth would gradually climb to above 4.5 percent in 2014 from an expected 2.6 percent this year. It said the rise, in part, reflects recent investments in the West African country's oil sector.

Meanwhile, inflation should remain below 3 percent, the fund added.

The biggest risk to Cameroon's growth outlook is whether the global economic recovery is weaker or slower than anticipated, the IMF said. The country depends on commodity exports and global demand for its products which include oil, wood, rubber, cotton and aluminum.

The IMF welcomed steps to address concerns about the 2010 budget and urged the authorities to adopt measures to close the financing gap.

The fund said it was "important to protect priority capital spending, make vigorous efforts to mobilize revenues, and gradually phase out fuel subsidie"

Cameroon's Ace Journalist ,Pius Njawe ,Dies in Road Accident in USA

 By Christopher Ambe Shu
 Pius Njawe,Cameroonian front line journalist and publisher  of the daily ,Le Messager, is no more.

 He died at the age of 53 in a ghastly road accident in the USA last night at 11 pm. He was known to be one of the most courageous press freedom fighters in Cameroon.He founded Le Messager in 1979.
Njawe(pictured) traveled to the USA  since July 9 to attend a political forum by Cameroonians in the Diaspora billed for July 10 in Washington DC.

A speeding truck reportedly crushed  them as his  driver  stopped by the road side and was trying to replace a punctured tyre of the vehicle in which they were driving in a road in Virginia.

The said driver(a certain Eric) is said to be in a critical condition in hospital while Pius Njawe died.

Noted for his sharp pen and criticism of the Biya regime,Mr Njawe has been arrested and imprisoned more than 100 times in his journalistic practice .

In 1990, he  published an "Open Letter" to  President Biya, which led to his arrest.

In 1998, he was sentenced to two years in prison because his newspaper carried an article about President Paul Biya's health that suggested he had a heart condition. The sentence for publishing  this article was later reduced and, due to pressure from Human Rights groups, he was pardoned after almost a year in prison.

His exemplary practice of journalism and the defense of press freedom earned him several international awards: In 1991 he received CPJ International Press Freedom Awards and  1993 the  World Association of Newspapers' Golden Pen of Freedom Award

Born on March 4,1957 in Babouantou in Haut-Nkam Diviison of the West Region of Cameroon,Pius Njawe joined the journalism profession while a teenager(19)

It should be noted that Njawe's  wife, Jane, had  years back died as a result of a road accident.

Cameroon:Pressure Mounts on Biya to Let Buea Host Reunification Anniversary

Pressure is mounting on the Biya administration to endorse Buea as the official host of 50th anniversary of Reunification of Cameroon as a nation.

The clarion call was first made by Buea Council at a recent session.

“As we join the rest of our compatriots in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Independence and Reunification of Cameroon as a nation, we want to assure the Head of State with perfect guarantee and without the slightest hesitation that Buea is prepared to host the entire nation in the year 2011 in concretizing the full celebration of this epoch making event,” they had Voiced out

Following the Buea council's call, Chief A.S Ngwana,National Chairman of the Cardinal Democratic Party(CDP) headquartered in Douala,has reiterated that need for Buea to host the reunification anniversary celebrations, which he wants too be celebrated in pomp as was the case with the anniversary of Cameroon's Independence.

Chief Ngwana has written to President Biya to that effect.

Buea was the capital and seat of the Government of West Cameroon, former British Southern Cameroons

"What is important is that these celebrations shall involve all Southern Cameroonians. All English Speaking Southern Cameroonians shall celebrate 50 years of liberation from British colonial power." Chief Ngwana noted in his correspondence to President Biya.

"Therefore the celebrations shall be a national affair and not a party political affair”, he noted.
“Therefore all political parties, all religious bodies, all Cameroonians shall take part. We shall make it a great day to be remembered forever”

He suggested in his letter that a national planning committee, if possible comprising of Government and opposition leaders, important personalities and some intellectuals be set up.

“The immediate task of the committee is to cost the celebrations and ask the President for funds. “

“The expenditures shall include the complete transformation of the face of Buea as we knew it in past days. The re-habitation of the presidential rest house, the repairs and refurnishing of the Prime Minister’s s lodge (the former German Governor’s lodge) “

Chief Ngwana advised that since foreign heads of states and other dignitaries shall be invited, it is important that the Tiko Airport be repaired and made ready for aircrafts to land there as before.

“There is a lot of work to be done before 1st October 2011, therefore the Planning Committee should be constituted as soon as possible and for work to start immediately”, he wrote.

Courtesy:The Recorder newspaper,Cameroon,June 11,2010

At MOHWA 10th Anniversary:Agbor Tabi Urges MOHWA to Back Manyu Politicians to Get Investments

Peter Agbor Tabi, Assistant Secretary-General at the Presidency of the Republic has admitted that the Manyu Women’s Association (MOHWA) is a major force to reckon with.
Consequently, he has urged MOHWA to mobilize women behind Manyu politicians who support the ruling CPDM so that the government would invest more in the Division.

Agbor Tabi was speaking recently in Buea during celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of MOHWA.

MOHWA was created in 1999 with the objectives to promote and project Manyu culture, to develop the socio-economic and physical well being of the Manyu woman, to eradicate negative cultural practices and to encourage more Manyu women into leadership positions.

“It does not matter whatever you do, if you don’t do politics, nothing works. I was not minister for 13 years .Today, I am minister. We need a lot of things in Manyu”, he noted.

“I stand here to ask MOHWA to support Manyu politicians-those politicians who support the party in power; this support will give you what you need in Manyu.”

The Assistant Secretary-General promised to help children of Manyu to succeed; but he did not say how he would go about it.

He asked, “MOHWA, do you know why I love you?” And then answered: “Because my policy is to help the children of Manyu women succeed”

The anniversary celebration was chaired by Charles Mbella Moki, Mayor of Buea, who assured MOHWA of his support.Moki had earlier called on the women to rally behind Members of Government from Manyu in order to reap benefits.

In her address, Agbor Meg Tarkang(pictured), MOHWA Initiator and President-General, talked about the objectives, and achievements of the association.

“Ten years after creation MOHWA women have made noticeable and impressive strides in the economic, social, educational and political domains

“Today, a network that started off with five branches has grown to fourteen with two at the international level. Among several achievements, MOHWA has been able to acquire land, provide scholarships to some needy Manyu children, and distribute farming equipment and seedlings”, Agbor Meg said

The highlight of the anniversary was the launching of the association’s magazine, called MOHWA, at the end of which over Fcfa 12 million was raised. The money raised will be used for a Mohwa multi-purpose Hall project in Mamfe.

Nfor Tabe Tando, king of Bachuo-Ntai in Manyu Division, who was chief launcher of the magazine, donated four million francs to MOHWA.

Co-launcher Mrs. Akali Martina donated one million francs; Minister Agbor Tabi, Fcfa 300,000; Mayor Mbella Moki, Fcfa200, 000.There many other donor-launchers

The ceremony, which took place at NASPW-Buea Annex, was graced by Manyu cultural dances and music

Cameroon-Hon. Mary Meboka Speaks Out:My Constituency Has Many Problems Begging for Solutions

“I want in my constituency achievements that I can be proud of”

-Hon. Muyali Boya Mary epse Meboka.

Hon. Muyali Boya Mary epse Meboka, MP for Bakassi-Mundemba Ndian is also the Vice -President of CPDM Parliamentary Group. She is one of four female MP’s from the Southwest region. Trained as an agricultural engineer in University of Dchang-Cameroon, employed as a civil servant, Hon Mary Meboka later bagged a Masters of Science (MSc) degree in Development Training and Education from the University of Wolverhampton, UK.She had worked with IRAD Ekona ,Korup Project and served as Ndian Divisional Delegate for Environment & Protection of Nature before her election as an MP

She sat down for an interview with Recorder Editor Christopher Ambe Shu and Princewill Mukwelle Aduma in Ekona.

Honorable, let us beginning by asking: why is your name so long?
(Laughs) Muyali is name I cherish so much. It means the family should grow.Boya is my father’s name. He did so much in my life and I would not like the name to disappear at any time. Mary is the mother of Jesus and Meboka is my husband’s name.

Hon Mary Meboka, Could you present your constituency to our readers?
My constituency is made up of six subdivisions viz: Mundemba, Toko, Isangelle, Kombo Itindi, Idabato, and Kombo Abedimo.

Don’t you think your constituency is too large for MP to be in charge?
Well, it may be too large. But the Constituencies are carved out based on certain criteria. It is just the challenge I have. Those who carved knew why they carved as such.

What is it that really pushed  you to enter Parliament?
Being a rural constituency, it is not easy to pin down on something. But I told myself that economic empowerment is what is necessary in that whole area. I mean the economic empowerment of youth, and women and farmers. Most men who are in my constituency are farmers. That is how I envisioned it-that if there is economic empowerment it will go a long way to alleviate poverty in the entire community.

It not easy to really pin down on what you do for economic empowerment in such a constituency which has limited accessibility in terms of roads, limited educational capacities and other challenges.

But I said economic empowerment is the way to go and I know it can not really be achieved in five years. My approach is to lay down the foundation for greater development projects to be carried.

As a first -term MP, what are some of the challenges you have actually been facing?
The first challenge is the accessibility problem .With a division like that which I have you always need to have contacts with people, meet people and talk with them, try to share you vision with them so that you can develop common actions and execute them together. But that coverage is not easy because the whole area is almost inaccessible-you have to trek in some areas, and in others you go by water. Even in the hinterland, sometimes with a good vehicle you still find it difficult to circulate. Although a lot is being done to develop the area, but accessibility remains one of my great challenges.

Another one is that being a woman you have to prove that women can do it. As a first female MP in the region-I remember when I was going for elections and I was presented to one elderly man as the candidate for the election and the man said, “Ah, would this woman be able to bring a caterpillar in this area”. And it was very interesting because caterpillars are not carried on head. But he was just expressing his natural doubts whether I would be able to do make things happen.
So you see that I have the challenge to do two or three times more than a man could do.

Do you feel shy when you are in the midst of men?
Not at all. What I am is the representation of the people. And a good representative of the people should be a person of the heart; and if you are the person of the heart then you can be able to feel what the people feel and know how to follow up what they are doing. Instead it makes me stronger to be able to work in this type of challenging atmosphere.

Honorable, before you were elected into office as MP, you certainly promised your constituents a lot. So far, what have you achieved in your constituency as MP?
With the vision that I had-I told you earlier that I was looking at economic empowerment. It was not easy for me to pinpoint that I would do this or that. But as soon as I assumed office, I undertook a parliamentary tour of my constituency so to have frank discussions with my electorate. Although I know some of the problems of the area and people, I still did the tour so that I should build that collaborative relationship with the constituents and get their endorsement of the projects I was thinking to carry out for them.

The first project I carried out was what I called “The One Hectare Program.” I was looking at the empowerment of youth. And we have worked on that. The objective is that each youth who registered with that project should have one hectare of oil palms palnted.And I have a hundred plus. And many more are still interested in the program. With the support of PAMOL, we got nuts which are already in the nursery and are looked after by the youth. So far we have planted thirteen thousand nuts with PAMOL and hopefully in a couple of months we will have them planted in the field.

The next thing I considered was road maintenance. Road is a big issue. A lot I have done on roads is to lobby with the Government. I thank the minister of Public Works for he is taking that road Mundemba-Ndian –Kumba-Ekondo-Titi at heart and he gives me a feedback of the progress of it. Presently, they are doing maintenance work on the roads. It just that we have the rain challenge which sometimes does not allow for proper coverage.
I have also presented projects to Government intended for my constituency such as schools and health centres.Several schools and health centers have constructed in my area

Honorable before you continue enumerating your achievements we hear you have a soft spot for school activities. Can we know why?
For me education is empowerment. It is the core of development. If I had my way I would like to really strengthen the educational aspect of that constituency.
You know in rural area some people don’t even see the value of education and sometimes there are some people who are willing to send their children but they lack the means. For me as MP it is a key area of concern. What people will be tomorrow depends on their education.
Just recently I gave 30 scholarships to deserving students of my constituency-Each received Fcfa 25000.

Tell us more about the one hectare program
The one hectare project is an enterprise development. We are also doing soap-making with women. Could you imagine that, in the Isangelle area, simple was being bought from Nigeria? And I thought I should work with the women on this. We are carrying action-oriented training for profit. We train some women that they in turn carry on with the training. They need a lot of back-up to continue with the traing, and we provide the basic materials for them.
I constructed the shelves in the Toko Health District Centers and paid for, before drugs were supplied there. We had to pay for stones to be cracked on put on portions of Toko road last year to ease the movement of small vehicles.
I have the chemical program, which is very important. The problem of the farmers is access to chemicals. They have licensed buyers who give them chemicals at very high prices and at the end of the season they don’t make much profit from their produce. I decided to take the problem-solving approach. I buy the first grade of the chemicals, take to the farmers and they pay at the same price that the chemicals were bought in Kumba or Douala.When they pay, I don’t collect the money. I leave the money with them, they take it and plough it back, send for more chemicals. I have spent about two million francs on that project…

My people are hard working but they don’t make much profit from their efforts. We need to find out why and support them. That is what I am trying to do
I am also interested in the valorization of culture. Recently I took about 30 members of the Oroko dance Group, and they performed very well within the framework of the Commonwealth Conference in Yaoundé .These dancers were commended by the watchers

Fishing is done in Bakassi area. Have you been of assistance in this sector?
I have not yet done much in this area. But What I have been doing now is discussing with people to know how they view the problem and how we can strengthen Cameroonians to get more involved in the fishing sector. There are just few of them involved in the fishing sector.

With all what you have done, would you say your people appreciate your efforts?
Often I get some positive feedback, which really don’t flatter me because I need coverage in my constituency. I want to make sure that in my Constituency I have had key results –achievemnets that I can be proud of. I get both positive and negative feedback. For now I don’t want to concentrate on the positive feedback because there is still a lot to be done.

Your mandate is half- gone, what is the way forward?
I have a plan of action I work with. But let me give you some highlights. There is the aspect of water which is very important and I have been discussing with the delegate for water and Energy for us to see if we can get a water catch ment.There is no electricity in most of the villages and the people need it. Some people have generators while others don’t. So this is an issue that I am thinking about how to handle. The education program will definitely continue. Some schools need computers which they asked me to buy. I will see about that. The scholarship program will continue; it is an on-going program. The empowerment of farmers will continue. The enterprise development is an on-going program which I see more capacity –building than just an end; it is a process so that the people can be able to handle their problems themselves. I am still following the road issue; it is a priority in my constituency. It is something that we will continue to talk about, to appeal to the quarters that be, to discuss more with others and give our ideas where necessary.

Would you say you are satisfied with what government is doing in terms of development in the Bakassi area?
What I would say is that the government is doing a lot especially with the development projects going on in the Bakassi area. The Government is investing quite a lot of money there now. Even last year, the Minster of Public Works put about one billion francs on road maintenance. I think what is to be looked at is the implementation strategy, so that the impact is commensurate to the efforts that they put. My constituency which is rural has many problems to be solved.
What the government is doing there is on-going. There is still more to be done.

Courtesy:The Recorder newspaper,Cameroon,June 11,2010

EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC IN AFRICA

By Chief A S Ngwana

The HIV/AIDS infection is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse. In fact more than 95% of the disease is transmitted through sexual intercourse. Africa South of the Sahara has about 76% of all the persons infected in the world.

Africans traditionally have an excessive love for many children. Normally if a man marries a woman and she cannot produce children or the number of children he wants, he usually marries another woman or women. That is why Africans are traditionally polygamous. This encouraged fornication and promiscuity. Fornication is not considered an offence or a sin by many African cultures. Instead it is admired as veritable manhood.

The HIV/AIDS virus thrives and spreads mainly in promiscuous societies and has found Africa a fertile ground.

The Catholic Church has been criticized for being too conservative and too strict against sexual matters, but the Church does not bulge and insists on teaching God’s Commandments on all matters concerning faith and morals.

Abortion is a criminal offence in Cameroon and in many African Countries. The law only permits abortion in cases of rape, incest or where the life of the woman is threatened. The Catholic Church however forbids abortion in all cases under penalty of excommunication, as happened of recent in the case of the American nun Margaret McBride. Divorce, Adultery, Prostitution, Fornication, Homosexuality, all types of artificial birth control methods, including Condoms and the Pill, are forbidden by the Catholic Church as sinful.

In particular Catholics are forbidden to use the Pill, or artificial birth control methods or condoms as means of spacing out their children. Instead they are advised to observe abstinence, fidelity, self control and mortification.

These moral teachings of the Catholic Church have helped in the prevention of the spread of the HIV epidemic in those African Countries with a higher Catholic population.

For example:

In Uganda where Catholics are 43% of the population, the HIV rate has fallen from 15% in 1991 to 4% in 2004 using the formula ABSTINENCE and FIDELITY (but only using condoms where fidelity and abstinence are unacceptable or impossible). (ABC formula)

In Swaziland where Catholics are 5% of the population, the HIV rate is 42%

In Botswana where Catholics are 4% of the population, the HIV rate is 37%

In South Africa where Catholics are 6% of the population, the HIV rate is 22%

The most effective way to fight against HIV/AIDS epidemic is prevention since no cure has been found yet. Africa has been flooded with condoms and the more condoms imported the higher the HIV infections rates. Condoms have failed and instead aggravated the situation.

Therefore the only effective way of prevention as proven, is ABSTINENCE before marriage and FIDELITY in marriage.

Sex education in schools, should be restricted to teaching children the values of sex and not the biology and techniques of sex. Youngsters will want to experiment if given the wrong information about sex. There is time for everything.

People should know that sex is a wonderful thing created by God for the continuation of His work of creation. Couples continue this work by procreating other human beings. As such, the main object of sex is procreation, joined to it, the happiness, enjoyment and satisfaction in mind and body of the couples. Therefore the sexual act is a monopoly of married people-a man and a woman.

Until a cure is found for the HIV/AIDS infection, we Africans have to modify our sexual behaviors, and control our excessive love for many children.

ABSTINENCE AND FIDELITY ARE THE SURE ANSWER.