Biya’s Bye-bye Package to Cameroonians

At last, President Paul Biya is preparing the stage to quit the unity palace for good. The recent on-going reforms he is introducing in the country leaves no one indifferent that he is tactfully trying to please Cameroonians before checking out of government.

To begin with, Biya on his own called for the recompilation of voters registration and introduced biometric voter registration to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the country.

After the call for biometric registration, CPDM who resisted change, drafted the electoral laws poorly. The opposition led by the SDF, protested and in this on-going parliamentary session, Biya recalled the bill for electoral code and made amendments without anybody forcing him to do that. Even the very critical SDF parliamentarians like Cyprian Awudu Mbaya, congratulated Biya for a job well done.

If things work as Biya is doing, there is no gain saying that there would be free, fair and transparent elections in Cameroon.

Beside, the Head of State, Paul Biya, has again instituted budgeting programme and the Ministry of Public Works for the first time, has a good chunk of the 2013 budget more than the defense ministry meaning that he intends to transform Cameroon into a vast chantier for road construction and hydro-electricity power (HEP) especially the construction of Menchum hydro-electricity power and another HEP on river Katsina Alas in Furawa Menchum Division of the North West Region including the much talk about double lane express road between Douala and Yaounde.

One of Biya’s bye-bye package is the fight against corruption from all fronts like the Anti Corruption unit (CONAC), supreme state audit and special courts. The only problem is the fact that petit thieves like the police and gendarmes are left out although recently, he has created a special status for the policemen to better their situation apparently to cause them stay clear of the 500frs bribe from motorists along the streets.

Does Biometric Voter Registration Kit Spread Cancer?

Rumours that the BVR kits can cause cancer have scared Mwakirunge slum dwellers from registering as voters, IEBC chairman Isaack Hassan has said.

He told the residents to ignore the rumours saying those spreading it want to sabotage the voters registration in the region.

Residents said the rumour, which surfaced soon after the start of the registration, has caused panic and fear.

"A rumor went round and most of them have refused to heed to the calls to register as voters. They say the machine sucks blood form their fingers and it can cause cancer," said Rose Kazungu, a residents.

Kazungu blamed the low turnout on lack of proper civic education by the IEBC.

"IEBC really failed on this. In slum areas, people are very sensitive and are proactive to such rumors when they occur," Kazungu added.

Kazungu added that similar problem emerged in the same area when ministry of health started distributing free nets to the residents. She said resident burnt the nets in the pretext that the nets had demons that disturbed them overnight.

According to Genesis for Human Rights lobby group programs officer Caleb Ng’wena, registration rate as at Monday, stood at 3 people per day since registration started.

Coast provincial director f medical services Dr. Maurice Siminyu allayed such fears saying that BVR kits could cause cancer.

"That rumor is not true. BVR kits are only used to penetrate and analyze human tissues just like x-ray machines to pick uniqueness of individuals," said Siminyu on phone.

Siminyu said that the possibility of BVR kits causing cancer was negligible since the machine is only used once unlike the x-ray machine that is used regularly on the human body.

"There is no way BVR could cause cancer and people should come out to register," said Siminyu.

South West Coast IEBC Regional coordinator Amina Soud also added that, the kits do no transmit any non communicable disease including cancer.

Amina said, "Our chairman Issack Hassan outlined clearly that the machines are human health friendly. Let them know that such machines can’t be procured without understanding all health implications. That is wrong and I urge people to register."

Muslim for human rights lobby group officials also said that adequate civic education was needed in informal settlement to sensitize potential voters to participate the process.

"Thorough civic education will be very much important. IEBC should also carry along health experts to demystify the issue of BVR causing cancer," said Muhuri, rapid response officer Francis Auma.

This comes at the backdrop of hick ups that continue to mar the ongoing voter registration countrywide with low turnout in some parts with the BVR kits failing to function.

Kumbo Council to undertake two priority projects

Kumbo (Bui) The Mayor of the Kumbo Council Mr. Njong Donatus Fonyuy has told the new Senior Divisional officer for Bui Mr. Nzeki Theophile that the two priority projects the Kumbo Council has at hand for now are the rehabilitation of roads in the municipality and the establishment of the potato factory which according to him should go operational by June 2013. Mr. Njong Donatus made this statement while receiving the Senior Divisional officer and his entourage to the council on the occasion of the continuation of his contact tour of services in Kumbo. He said a FEICOM loan of 500 million francs has been secured for the project. He lamented that the project to tar Kumbo squares to Shisong Cardiac Center the council twinned with San Donatus Council of Milan Italy could not be realized because of malicious newspaper reports.

Mr. Njong Donatus Fonyuy said the greatest problem the Kumbo council is facing is that of population deficiency which is telling greatly on the council finances. He added that the second problem that came up of recent is the need for more personnel in the treasury, the secretariat and the archives. He used the occasion to report that the loan the council secured to purchase heavy road equipment was refunded after 15 months and two trucks bought in addition to complete the heavy road equipment of the council.

The Senior Divisional officer for Bui Mr. Nzeki Theophile in his speech said he had come to acquaint himself with the people and the environment of work. He said he was impressed and satisfied with the internal organization of the council services. He said he had also come to reassure them that he has been sent to Bui to work with them hands in gloves to develop Kumbo council in particular and Bui division as a whole. He told the Secretary General of the council to work in close collaboration with the chief of service for local development to facilitate the visa of council files brought before him.

The Senior Divisional officer and entourage during the tour of services visited the Kumbo mutual health organization that since 2004 to November 2012 has paid 26.627 beneficiaries a sum of 253 million francs. He and his entourage visited the Kumbo main market and the food market at Mbveh as well as the Kumbo Council, Bernard Fonlon information Center at Kumbo Squares.

North West Fons Rally Behind Dr. Ngwanyam’s Bid For Senate

The members of the NORTH West Fon’s Union (NOWEFU) have unanimously endorsed the proprietor cum Director of St. Louis University Institute of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Bamenda, Dr. Nick Ngwanyam’s bid for senate.

The Fons who converged at the explanade of the St. Louis University in their numbers, took the opportunity of that institution’s 9th convocation ceremony to crown Dr. Nick Ngwangyam, "Mbang Fon" (The Fon’s Staff) and equally decorated the wife, Florence Manjong Titu, with the Royal garment.

Harping on the raison d’être of coronating Dr. Ngwanyam and endorsing his bid for senate, the fons through the NOWEFU President General, Fon. Teche Njei of Ngemua, observed that he and his betterhalf are very attached to social work, development and the concern for the community and other people. Fon Teche stressed that the couple believes in the respect of human rights, social justice, the support of youths and sound professional education. Hear him; "The couple has given scholarships to the tune of 85.2million FCFA to students across the nation and has so far trained a lot of youths at the St. Louis University Institute who now occupy professional positions in many hospitals and other health institutions in Cameroon and beyond". He said it’s because of Dr. Ngwanyam’s love and assistance to humanity that the Fons ipso facto decided to honour both of them publicly and resolved to work together with them for the growth of the nation. "We understand Dr. Ngwanyam wants to be a senator. We the Fons, our people and the entire North West Region vote for him as a person because he convinces us as a good leader for our region".

During the 9th Convocation ceremony proper, the personal representative of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea (UB), Professor Julius Ngoh, who is the deputy Vice Chancellor of UB incharge of cooperation, disclosed that U.B. supervises all the programmes of St. Louis University Institute monitoring teaching and assessment of work to ensure that the graduates attain the standard of U.B. which is the first University in Cameroon according to the world classification of universities.

The St. Louis University Institute Director, Dr. Nick Ngwanyam announced that 26 students were graduating in the first batch of Bachelor of Technology (B-Tech) while a total of 248 students were graduating with the Higher Professional Diplomas (HPD) with 499 matriculated. He was proud to announce that St. Louis is working with some German Universities to assist the institution in pharmacy programmes hoping that St. Louis will begin producing drugs in Cameroon soon.

Both the representatives of the Ministers of Higher Education and Public Health hailed St. Louis for not only educating and employing Cameroon youths but equally for assisting government to provide health personnel to the public and private sectors.

The programmes offered at St. Louis are Higher Professional Diplomas, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Pharmcy, Dentistry, Physiotheraphy, Radiology and Ultrasonology and Midwifery.

At the B-Tech programmes, it offers nursing, radiology and ultrasonography, Hospital Health Management, Physiotherapy and Medical Laboratory Sciences. New products in perspective are B-Tech in Midwifery and B-Tech in Pharmacy Dentistr

University of Buea Partners with African Research Council for Food Security

As an extension component of its Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Buea (UB) has entered a partnership with the West African Council for Agriculture Research and Development (WECARD) to engage two integrated fish culture projects such as fish and rice farming with either poultry or piggery. These projects were explained to involve individual and group partnerships of persons intending to invest in the domains.

Launching the project at the UB campus recently, Drs. Pius Mbu Oben and Benedicta Oben, fish culture experts, took the floor to give an overview of the project.

In a first technical presentation, the details, procedures and advantages of the project were analysed. Presenters styled their papers as "Technological Options/Designs and Prospects of Integrating Aquaculture with Rice Cum Piggery or Poultry." The experts highlighted the high income generating and hunger fighting objectives of the endeavour.

They elucidated on the need for various sectors to generalise the fight against hunger in a world that was suffering from dangers of social agitations. Clarifications were equally made about types of technologies to be adopted in order to safeguard the environment.

Prof. Nalova Lyonga, Vice Chancellor, represented the University of Buea and chaired the launching of the projects, Prof. Victor Ngoh; Deputy Vice Chancellor oversaw the first technical session while Prof. Samson Abangma, Registrar, led the first technical session. Expectations are now high to see the announced hunger fighting projects to take roots.

How Ntumfor showcased organizational knowhow at NACDA golden Jubilee

The successful Ground-breaking, colourful and hitch-free Ndong Awing Cultural and Development Association (NACDA) Golden Jubilee of Saturday November 17 2012, was largely attributed to the chairman of the organizing committee cum the occasion’s Master of Ceremony (MC), Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle’s organizational know-how.

The ceremonial ground at the Awing Fon’s Palace Plaza was an attraction in its right. It was decorated by 10 flags of foreign countries that have stood by Awing village to boost its development which were flying by the Cameroon’s tri-colours and the beautifully dressed hostesses and protocol officers.

In his jubilee speech after the ecumenical service, Professor Mbangwana said NACDA was created in 1962 and it is today having structures nation-wide and in the Diaspora. He said the association unites all Awing elite towards the fostering of socio-cultural and economic development of Awing through self-reliance initiatives.

According to Mbangwana, the achievements 50 years after is thanks to the elite and assistance from Cameroon Government, organizations and foreign countries like the Uk, US, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark including organizations like the world Bank, African Development Bank (ADB), French Development Agency, Dutch Embassy, CERAC, GP-DERUDEP and Cameroon Government. He opined that Awing has a lot in common with her neighbours as Geography has made them neighbours and history has made them brothers "and so what God has put together, let no one put asunder". He said Awing Lake is a tourism site par excellence and so the development of the Lake will certainly transform the entire Santa subdivision to a veritable tourism site.

In a bid to immortalize the Jubilee, NACDA launched the Jubilee monument and "Smiling Awing" magazine

Appreciating past and present NACDA President Generals, the present President General, Ntsonkefo’o Peter Akote, hailed Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle who was president between 1998 and 2004 for a job well done. He stressed that under Ntumfor, a multi-purpose Awing Fon’s Palace was constructed and he named it a mirror and pearl of the elite. "As the palace re-construction progressed on, he unshelved the electricity project and told the population that a good palace cannot be left in darkness. He therefore resolved to connect electricity from Matazem-Santa to the Awing Fon’s Palace",

NACDA President General said today, many aspiring leaders look up to Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle as a role model.

The President said within 50 years, NACDA has constructed and maintained roads, built the Fon’s palace, classrooms, and bridges, provided electricity, health care, a community hall and water to the population. Besides, he opined that NACDA is a veritable apparatus of the annual festival, a rendezvous that pulls all and sundry around a common reflection.

Taking the rostrum, the British High commissioner held Awing elite for always taking the first step to develop their village before sourcing for foreign assistance. "This explains why we have always stood by this village to give assistance when need arises" the high commissioner said.

Dorothy Njeuma, an Elecam Board Member, who was in the company of her daughter, a pilot, appreciated the dynamism of the Awing people. She saw them as a peaceful, united and development oriented people worth emulating.

Eking out the sum of 2million to NACDA on behalf of the Minister of Arts and Culture, the Technical Adviser at that Ministry, Minister Ama Tutu Muna led CERAC women to Jakiri Bui Division that same 17 November 2012 to offer some gifts, reason why she was unavoidably absent at the occasion.

Earlier appreciating the high level Nigerian officials present at the occasion like the High Commissioner in Yaounde, the Consul General for Littoral and West regions and the Consul General for South West and North West Regions, Ntumfor said it was indication that the Green Tree Accord President Paul Biya of Cameroon and the then Nigerian President, Olusengun Obasanjo signed before the then UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan was working smoothly. He noted that Ndong Awing pays very high premium in peace, unity, development and hospitality.

Also present at the occasion were the Swiss Ambassador to Cameroon Urs Berner, Cameroon Ambassador to Congo, Chungong Ayafor and Nigerian Vice President in Bamenda Igwe Okafor including over 25 Fons.

CONAC nails Mendo Ze, Meva’a Meboutou, Marafa

Anti corruption commission (CONAC) has found Marafa Amidou Yaya, Gervais Mendo Ze and Meva’a Meboutou, guilty of corruption over the Kribi deep sea port. The trio have been accused of receiving money during the compensation of victims who lost their property in the Kribi deep sea port construction project. They are accused of having acquired wealth in 2009 execution process of the Kribi deep sea port. They forged land titles situated between Kribi and Campo where they were paid huge sums of money by the minister of state property and land tenure.

Today, CONAC has denounced the irregularities that were orchestrated by the accused persons. This was found in the CONAC report published last week. The report equally hailed the boss for denouncing some of his workers.

Out of the 149 land titles that were registered and compensation made, 44 were established after February 6 2009, the date the minister of state property and land tenure issued a declaration that, that area is public utility area. They are accused of having received 4,821,356,625 francs CFA.