Saturday, January 31, 2015
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)
Euphoria at GBHS Nkambe with US Embassy, HOFNA, Mandela Washington Fellows (PhotoNews1)
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| Left to Right: Ken Martin, Ma Yaah Viban, Christelle Bay |
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| Left: Merilyn Shultz US Cultural Attache |
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| VIPs |
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| Ma Yaah animating |
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| HOFNA Coordinator |
US Embassy, HOFNA, Mandela Washington Fellows Tackle Gender Based Violence
By Fai Cassian Ndi
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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.
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| 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
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.
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| Group pic with administrators and traditional rulers |
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)
Monday, January 26, 2015
Scramble for Bar Presidency: Constitutional Council is Prime Suspect
By Fai Cassian
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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)