GBHS Nkambe Students Say No to Child Trafficking (PhotoNews5)

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Combating Gender Based Voilence: GBHS Nkambe Students Ignite Hope( with US Embassy, HOFNA, PhotoNews4)

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Combating Gender Based Voilence: Greatness Begins Here ( US Embassy at GBHS Nkambe PhotoNews3)

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Combating Gender Based Voilence: Greatness Begins Here ( US Embassy at GBHS Nkambe PhotoNews2)

 GHBS Nkambe student leaders with US Embassy, HOFNA and Mandela Washington Fellows in Nkambe

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Euphoria at GBHS Nkambe with US Embassy, HOFNA, Mandela Washington Fellows (PhotoNews1)

Left to Right: Ken Martin, Ma Yaah Viban, Christelle Bay

Left: Merilyn Shultz US Cultural Attache 

VIPs

Ma Yaah animating

HOFNA Coordinator

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

US Embassy, HOFNA, Mandela Washington Fellows Tackle Gender Based Violence

 By Fai Cassian Ndi

Donga Mantung Division, in the North West Region of Cameroon of late has been considered as hub for cheap labour, child trafficking, forceful marriages and unbearable widowhood rites. To eradicate these obnoxious practices which hinders sustainable development, the US Embassy in partnership with Hope for the Needy Association-HOFNA a not for profit making organization based in Bamenda have taken the bull by the horns to empower student leaders and community leaders (fons, ardos and Ma Yaahs) to act as agents in the fight.  Specific focus was on understanding GBV and engaging men and boys in the fight against child trafficking, Child/early/forced marriage and other forms of Gender Based Violence.

group picture with student leaders

The sensitization programme which started at GBHS Nkambe with over 500 student leaders in attendance was greased by talks from a group of Yali Fellows code named Mandela Washington Fellows told their stories to enthusiastic students. The debate by students on (Education before marriage or marriage before education) also added colour and exposed some of the societal ills that young girls have been going through. Welcoming the august guests, the Principal of GBHS Nkambe, Ken Martin Atanga said he was flattered that his institution was chosen in the region to host such an experience sharing workshop. Moved by the topic, he told a pathetic story of a female Mbororo student who is supposed to be in Upper Sixth who told him just a week ago that the father refused to pay her school fees on grounds that they wanted her to get a husband. According to Ken Martin, many of such cases abound at GBHS Nkambe. Investing in educating in the girl child according to the Principal of GBHS Nkambe is a guarantee to a sustainable future, yet some parents continue to ignore it. He revealed that GBHS has a population of about 1800 girls and out of the lot only few may go above Upper Sixth due to pressure from parents. He thanked the US Embassy, HOFNA and especially the Yali fellows for coming to inspire young boys and girls in sharing their experiences.

 In a 45 minutes debate, GBHS students in a purely intellectual exercise expressed their views on (Education before Marriage or Marriage before Education. The panelists thrilled not only the visitors but their peers as well as teachers. At the end the intellectual exercise the group that was for education before marriage carried the day. The Chief Judge, Ma Yaah Viban of the US Embassy in Yaounde in her concluding statement said that the panelists showed a great mastery of the topic and portrayed some public speaking skills that need just to be sharpened. She however, disclosed that of all the panelists, Nadine Bantar was very fluent in her arguments yet observers held that Kwefi Leonard was very intelligent. The panelists were encouraged with some documentation to improve on their public speaking qualities. Ma Yaah Viban used the opportunity to urge the student leaders that the Mandela Washington fellows just lighted the candle in their hands and a candle does not lose its light by lighting another. "It is therefore imperative for you to share with the other students so that you can be the Change you want to See". She talked elaborately on the Youth Exchange Programme Abroad and the Pan African Fellowship Programme which are all US Embassy sponsored and an opening for students of GBHS to partake.

On her part, Chongwain Christelle Bay, Cameroon President of Mandela Washington Fellows and Chief Executive Officer of HOFNA talked elaborately on the importance of volunteerism and the phenomenon of Nkambe being the hub for child labour. She told the students that “never miss an opportunity to improve on your environment" given that education is the solution. She said both boys and girls should bear in mind that marriage can wait and that education is the key to a successful life. "That is how you can be the change we need", she concluded.

The Cultural Attache

Group pic with administrators and traditional rulers

e at the US Embassy Marilyn Shultz expressed joy and satisfaction in the way the students expressed their minds during the debate, "you inspired me today", she emphasized. She called on the student leaders to share what they have learned with others. Education she noted is very important given that "no one can take it away from you". Before leaving Nkambe, the cultural attaché at the US Embassy promised that after the plan of action agreed on by the students and community leaders, the US Embassy will follow up to make sure that these bad which affect human dignity are eradicated. She also promised that debate clubs will be created in secondary schools around Donga Mantung Division for students to share their views on burning human rights issues.

Talking to this reporter at the end of the exercise, Afanyu Leonnel (senior boys prefect) after quoting Mahamat Ghandi concept on the importance of education to women said that the lessons learned will go a long way to empower them. He thanked the US Embassy, HOFNA and the Mandela Washington Fellows to giving GBHS Nkambe the pride of place in their programme. While Tata Melvis on her part sounded extremely flattered to have had the opportunity to listen to those she considered as her role models. 5 Mandela Washington Fellows from Cameroon namely Gerald K. Afadani, Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo Wondieh Violet Fokum, Hilda Bih and Christelle Bay C thrilled students with their experiences.

Enter Traditional Rulers, Community Leaders (Fons, Ardos, Fais, Mayaahs, Mankfus)

At the Nkambe Community, traditional rulers and community leaders after brainstorming on the phenomenon of gender based violence took committments to act as ambassadors of change. In his welcome speech, the Assistant Divisional Officer for Nkambe Central disclosed that any parent that gives out the daughter for marriage by force will face the rage of law. Besides, Ebesom Benjamin Etoi also warned against undignified widowhood rites and concluded that the administration will make sure that these obnoxious practices are eradicated.

In a presentation on the Wimbum tradition, Fon Budi III of Kungi said that in the past, forceful marriages were practiced in many palaces and nowadays it is rampant amongst the fulanis where children as young as nine years are given out to elderly men. He outlined that the consequences are very huge on humanity such as violation of right to education, right to choice, exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, etc. He frowned at the practice by some parents to give out their children to cities to serve as domestic servants out of poverty. Other speakers included the President of the Donga Mantung Women's Network, the Delegate of Social Affairs and the First Deputy Mayor for Nkambe. At the end of the meeting, participants especially (fons and ardos) and the administration resolved to work hand in glove to end gender based violence in Donga Mantung Division. The traditional rulers as well as community leaders frowned at the notion of sending out children to cities to work as boy-boy or baby sitters and took firm decisions to fight against it.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Scramble for Bar Presidency: Constitutional Council is Prime Suspect

 By Fai Cassian

Barrister Sama Francis

Worries as to whether the ruckus that reigns supreme within the ranks of Common Law Lawyers (Anglophones) ahead of the elective General Assembly could be put to rest before January 31, looms large. This is so because of the huge scramble for the position of the Bar Council Presidency and the dichotomy that has disfranchised the quest for positions. Ahead of the 2012 Bar Council Elections in Bamenda, Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle staged a reconciliation move that reunited the Common Law Lawyers. Ex-Batonnier Akere Muna was in Bamenda at weekend for a similar exercise to ensure that as Common Law lawyers (Anglophones) should have a certain interest to protect that has to do with the nature their practice. The idea was to put in place a common front ahead of the elections billed for January 31 in Yaounde. It has been tradition that the Common Law Lawyers present only one candidate to the position of Bar Council President during elections. Former Batonnier Luke Sendze told journalists that they tried during the meeting to cure some of the misunderstanding and that incumbent Bar President Sama Francis Asanga was advised to try and patch up some of the misunderstandings which are not really major. Barrister Sama Francis, incumbent Bar Council President was endorsed as declared by the ex-Batonniers. Barrister Stanislaus Ajong, President of Fako Lawyers who was also endorsed as candidate for the Vice Presidency of the General Assembly said where there is conflict the opinion of seniors count. Implicitly, the Bamenda conclave must have ensured that there is only one candidate from the common law practice. But since elections are what they are, some candidates have continued to operate in diverse ranks. There is so much politics involved.   

Me Tchakoute

Uncertainty however looms large as members of the caucus known as New Generation continue to campaign for their candidates. With three (3) or so, number of candidates from the Northwest, opinion on who is who for the upcoming elections remains diversified. The New Generation allegedly is working in close collaboration with Me J Ngnie Kamga, who is candidate for the Presidency of the Bar.  

On the other hand, North West lawyers are faced with the dynamics of the North West New Generation of lawyers. The New Generation has been campaigning with La Renaissance plant their ideology in the minds of voters so as to win more votes. The situation is however complicated with independent candidates like Barrister Ben Suh, one of the most popular candidates in North West Region. Ben Suh’s manifesto ties with Maitre Tchakoute Patie Charles’ who is also running for the Bar Council Presidency. With the cacophony and failure for common grounds after the Bamenda primaries, Common Law Lawyers may likely split their votes giving room for someone else to pick the prestigious crown from the gutter. Notwithstanding, others still see the approach of diversity as a common strategy for more Common Law Lawyers to be elected into the Bar Council.

A total of 60 candidates have declared their candidatures into the Bar Council. Of the 60 candidates, the first 15 candidates with the highest number of votes will automatically move into the Bar Council. During the voting proper, each advocate is expected to choose 15 of the 60 ballots. This is the tradition with the Bar Council Elections. But a new strategy has developed whereby candidates vying to enter the Bar Council have also ahead of time declared their candidatures for the Bar Presidency. Analysts say this is abnormal. Many have been wondering why the scramble for the position of Bar Council President given that it is not a paid job. Could it be that those who have declared their candidatures for Bar Council President are 100% sure to be voted into the Bar Council?

Why the Scramble for the Post of Bar President   

Barrister Ngnie Kamga

The Cameroon Bar Council Association has two distinctive positions. The President of the General Assembly oversees the policy of the Bar while the Bar Council President oversees the day to day activities. Traditionally, when a Common Law Lawyer is elected as President of the General Assembly, a Francophone lawyer will automatically be imposed as President of the Bar Council, and vice-versa. But this is not our interest. Our interest is that this year’s elections have proven to be different. Allegedly, over five candidates have declared for the Bar Council President and six candidates from the Northwest Region alone want to enter the Bar Council.

Critics say this scramble is linked to the putting in place of the Constitutional Council, which in fact requires a lot of positioning. It is even alleged that the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Bar will be appointed into as members of the Constitutional Council. This has ignited a mad rush for positioning like never witnessed before. The lesson of the North West Fons Union-NOWEFU continues to inspire others that positioning in high places could lead to appointments into other high places. Allegedly, advocates in Douala have pushed another prominent Anglophone lawyer to table his candidature for the President of the General Assembly. Another outspoken advocate, Barrister Bobga has not made any proclamations but secondary thoughts holds that he is likely one of the best the Common Lawyer Lawyers could vote for the position of President of the General Assembly given his astuteness in handling burning issues. Yet he has been mute. This is however complicated given that candidates for that position only declare their intentions in the hall not like those vying to enter into the Bar. The fear steams from the fact that the position of President of the General Assembly is voted first. Will the common practice be violated if an Anglophone or Francophone is voted? These are some of the so many questions that are currently begging for answers.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)