Shey Jones Yembe Honoured for Promoting Peace, National Unity

The former member of government, Shey Jones Yembe, has used this year’s football tournament, organised in Yaounde for boys and girls from the Wimbum extraction, in Donga Mantung division, in the North West region, to promote peace, living together and national unity. The yearly tournament which is an initiative of the Wimbum Cultural and Development Association, WICUDA is one of the highest crowd pulling event in the history of the Mbum people. However, this year's tournament was exceptional due to the fact that it was aimed at promoting peace, national unity and social integration. The organisers say it also seeks to promote local football talents and keep idle youths busy. This year’s edition, dubbed: “Unity and Fair Play” , was: “A Special Dedication To His Excellency Shey Jones Yembe, the unsung Hero of Mbumland.

Enter Shey Jones Yembe, Promoter of Peace and  Unity  

 This year’s tournament that saw the participation of ten football teams and four handball teams, got the huge financial backing of Shey Jones Yembe. This reporter was reliably told that the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the renowned and Cameroon’s best road construction company, Societe Mag Sarl, made available to the tournament’s Organising Committee, several millions to ensure a hitch-free sporting jamboree. All participating teams were given a cash prize of at least 100,000FCFA in the first round of both tournaments. Winners of the football trophy, played yesterday, went home with a cash prize of 700,000FCFA and a trophy, the runners-up pocketed the sum of 500,000FCFA while the team that emerged third was awarded the sum of 400,000FCFA.

In the handball category, the winner of the tournament was given a cash prize of 200,000FCFA and a trophy, runners-up bagged 150,000FCFA and the third team was given a consolation cash prize of 100,000FCFA. Peace, national unity showcased at tournament. This year’s edition of the WICUDA tournament, it must be said, provided a rare opportunity for the people of Donga Mantung, who are resident in the nation’s capital, to showcase their peace-loving nature, patriotism and their firm belief in a one and indivisible Cameroon. In addition, yesterday’s football final, pulled the biggest crowd in the history of recent Anglophone gatherings in Yaounde. Kith and kin from all the five subdivisions that make up Donga Mantung, politicians; irrespective of their political leanings, elite, members of the civil society and the clergy from all the division’s five subdivisions, as well as other Cameroonian sports lovers, were present at yesterday’s Shey Jones Yembe’s-sponsored WICUDA football final. Several dance groups and traditional displays from Donga Mantung, graced yesterday’s football final.

The tournament’s sponsor, Shey Jones Yembe, had said repeatedly his objective was to pull out youth who had been brainwashed to take up arms against the state from the bushes and to prevent others from joining Ambazonia fighters in the bushes. The tournament’s organisers appear to have corroborated Shey Jones Yembe, as they told reporters that most of the youths who actively took part in the sporting activities were ex-fighters of Wimbum origin. Meanwhile, back in Donga Mantung division, life has since returned to normal in areas like Mbot village, Ako, Nwa and Ndu subdivisions where thousands of youth had joined the Amba fighters and were terrorising residents of the localities. The president of WICUDA, Yaounde branch, Ta-Nformi Ngwatu Emmanuel, has hailed Shey Jones Yembe, for accepting to sponsor this year’s tournbament. Going by him, the tournament was more than just timely, as it gainfully occupied idled youth and the popu- lation of Donga Mantung resident in Yaounde, at a time the North West and South West regions are going through a turbulent moment which has forced many youth out of school, with some having picked up arms against the state…In the midst of the current conflict, the people of Donga Mantung and Nkambe in particular have, through their massive participation in this tournament, shown that they can hold tight to values of peace, unity and living together…this tournament has further strengthened the peace- loving nature of the people of Donga Mantung,” he revealed.  He used the opportunity to thank Shey Jones Yembe for what he said was his peace and national unity-driven ini-tiati especially in Donga Mantung division..Added he: “we are so gratified by this elite. We want to thank this peaceful community that has the tradition of being united, for exhibiting the sense of oneness and patriotism by massively answering present throughout this tournament. The population of Donga Mantung has shown and is still showing to the world that to be united is to pull all the strings together…”

Explaining why this year’s tournament was dedicated to Shey Jones Yembe, the WICUDA-Yaounde branch president clarified that: “it was carefully designed to honour Shey Jones Yembe for his unmatched but unsung contribution to the peace that now exists in Donga Mantung division in general and his Nkambe Central subdivision of origin in particular…”

 Force tranquille' of Donga Mantung 

The CPDM permanent delegation leader for Donga Mantung, Shey Jones Yembe, may not belong to the category of politicians who mount rooftops to blow their trumpet, each time they undertake any political activity, but he remains one of the key persons behind why Donga Mantung is today a completely CPDM fief. The strength of the former minister, who doubles as the Board Chairman of the Ports Authority of Douala, PAD, lies in the fact that he believes in action than making noise.

The likes of Hon Ngala Gerard, Hon Mbongyor Naomi Nfor and Mayor Kanfon Borno Abdou of the Ndu CPDM-run council, who have emerged as the new breed of Donga Mantung CPDM bigwigs, have only Shey Jones Yembe to thank for bringing them this far.

It is an undeniable fact that Hon. Ngala Gerard and Hon. Mbongyor Naomi Nfor, especially were little known beyond their villages of origin, prior to the 2013 parlia- mentary election. It was thus Shey Jones Yembe who not only 'dragged' them into the CPDM but empowered both financially, materially and morally. Details are still sketchy but reports have it that at the 2013 legislative election, where Hon Ngala Gerard and Hon Mbongyor Naomi Nfor ran and lost, Shey Jones Yembe alone did not spend less than 100 million FCFA on their campaigns, says The Guardian Post. It was also thanks to Shey Jones Yembe alone, that the CPDM, in 2013, won the Nkambe council, which it retained on February 9, 2020. Sources within the CPDM in Donga Mantung have told this reporter that it is Shey Jones Yembe, more than twenty years after leaving government, who has almost single handedly been bankrolling the ruling party activities in Ndu and Nkambe subdivisions. Analysts are unanimous that Shey Jones Yembe, is the real hidden drummer behind the peace that has been reigning especially in Nkambe subdivision, since the Anglophone crisis erupted in 2016. It should be recalled that Nkambe is the only divisional headquarter in the entire North West and South West regions, that has never witnessed a single day of ghost town since the crisis started. Schools and business activities have since been going on unperturbed while all national days are celebrated there even more than in some Francophone towns. "The fact that Shey Jones Yembe, noted for his being publicity-shy and political maturity, he does not mount rooftops to sing his praises, does not mean that the powers that be is not aware that it is thanks to him that Nkambe subdivision has remained peaceful, schools and business activities going on unperturbed, since the eruption of the Anglophone crisis in 2016. It pains me when, out of sheer excitement, political amateurism and inordinate ambition, someone always rushes either to the traditional media or the social media to masquerade as the reason behind why the people of Donga Mantung have turned their backs against those preaching secession, ” a prominent Beti CPDM elite is quoted to have told The Guardian Post newspaper reporter. Accordingly, the lone English language daily in it's Monday 28th December edition revealed that unlike some power-drunk Donga Mantung CPDM elite who must take along television cameras and mount the soapbox to blow their trumpet each time they visit the division to offer assistance to the needy population, Shey Jones Yembe has been quietly supporting and encouraging parents throughout Donga Mantung division to send their children back to school.

He is also credited for playing an unpublicised role in getting hundreds of youths in Ndu and Nwa subdivisions who had joined the Amba fighters to drop arms and engage in gainful activities which he is sponsoring.

Culled from The Guardian Post

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NW Queen Mothers Join Mafor Achidi Achu Judith to Yean for Peace

The General Manager of Camtel, who doubles the Mafor for the North West Region has mobilized all the queen mothers today to yean for peace. The event that took place at the Bamenda grandstand was described by impressionists as the biggest crowd puller in Bamenda town and entire North West Region in recent times. In a statement, the Queen Mothers called on those in bushes to drop their guns. 

"We the Queen Mothers (Mafors) of the North West Region deplore and condemn in the strongest terms the constant killing of our children since the escalidation of this crisis in our beloved Anglophone regions". The Mafors continued by stating that " last December 13, Chief Ngale Ikome of Dibanda village in Fako Division was gruesomely murdered in captivity, months ago it was Ngarbuh..". Citing numerous instances of tears, the Queen Mothers pleaded that Never again should children be targeted in this violence. "We yearn for peace. Drop the guns and stop the violence". 

Harping on the deploring situation, the Queen Mother continued by appealing that they want normalcy to return to th Anglophone regions. 

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Full List of Pioneer Regional Presidents

North West Regional Elections:

President   Prof Fru Angwafor fobuzshi Mezam

Vice President Fon Yakum Kevin- Bambalang, Ngoketungia

Commissioner for Economic  Development - Mr Ghejung Awunti- Mezam

Commissioner for Education, Sports and Cultural Development  - Dr Mrs Anjoh Fru-Manyi Rose, Momo Division

Health and Social Development-Sakah Fendufe lydia,Bui Division

Secretaries  1-Kalak Flavius Boteh, Donga Mantung

Secretary 2- Fon Mbahmbi III- Menchum

Questor - Waindim Jude -Boyo Division

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Tribute to Mr. Afombo Vincent Fonguh

Not only was Afombo Vincent Fungoh one of the greatest teacher, school administrator and politician of our time, but he was truly a passionate man. He was just as dedicated to his family as his career, and as his party comrade Lon Ernest so beautifully exemplifies in another touching memoriam. From Santa to Nwa, Ako, Misaje and Nkambe, everyone has a touching story to tell about this my friend, Afoumbo Vincent. A man we fondly called ourselves " The Man you are hear of". Though some of you reading my tribute may not know him during his life time, be informed that his passion for youth empowerment and devotion to making the world a more beautiful place where everyone can experience the best in life. He was such remarkable human being and rare teacher who would spare no efforts to pay fees for children. Many are those who have benefited from his largess. Afombo Vincent was known for his wonderful sense of humor, quick smile and laugh, graciousness, and dedication to serving God. 

Among his friends, colleagues, former students, and many others, there was deep shock at his unexpected death. It just did not (and does not) seem right that one who epitomized hopes in many students should be taken from us all at such a relatively young age. Afoumboh was one who truly loved life, cherished all that life had to offer, and lived life to its fullest as a devoted Christian. Some of us who had the great pleasure of being among his friends will continue to miss him. Mr. Afombo was a teaching teacher before he became Principal of GSS Berabe, GBHS Misaje, GBHS Santa etc. He was holder of a First Degree and DIPES II in History before obtaining Masters Degree in Political Sciences. As political Scientist, Mr Fonguh became very vibrant politician when he joined Presby in Nwa. He suddenly became the political strategist for the ruling CPDM in Donga Mantung Division. The story of the group of the CPDM in Donga Mantung can't be told without mentioning his name. When Afombo moved to Ako, he played a very important role for Dr. Fuh Calistus to change the political landscape in the Ako/Misaje Special Constituency. Lon Ernest who was Charger de Mission by term confirms that "as a matter of facts, the story of the growth and Dominion of the CPDM Party in the Donga Mantung IV Section of the CPDM in Misaje since 2007 can never be told in earnest without the mention of the name Afombou Vincent Fonguh. Infact,  Misaje was Mr. Afombou's second home. His demise is not only a great lost to his immediate family but also to the Misaje Section of the CPDM".

Mr. Afombo takes the journey of no return today, December 10, 2020 but his achievements will remain with us for centuries. His story will be read and told by generations. He was a Great man, very humble person, down to earth and rich in expidients. Afombo inspired many, pushed many, supported many and helped many to grow. That growth won't disappear - humanity will live to remember him for trappings. 

Rest in Peace Afombo The Great 

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Dr. Fuh Calistus Media Outing Ignited Massive Participation at Regional Elections-The Colbert Factor

The Colbert Factor

How despite Special Status Shortcomings, Dr. Fuh Calistus Maintains it's Double-portion for Anglophones 

This reflection is inspired by the fact that although when the Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon recently pointed out on the pages of The Guardian Post newspaper, the visible shortcoming of the Special Status granted to two English speaking regions to be residents'  lack of  knowledge about its workability, and instead of government garnering resources to just take the advice and go ahead to do the necessary explanations, it rather summoned him for questioning at the Foreign Affairs Ministry,  one of Cameroon's foremost thinkers and Cpdm frontline militants, H. E, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, has taken the bull by the horns and gone ahead to not only explain in practical terms what Anglophones should expect from the special status but also dared to state that the document, like any other human endeavor, remains perfectable. 

It is the more informed by the fact that although the said special status was simply ramped down on the people as indigenes were never consulted on its content beyond its being referenced by one of the committees as a resolution of the 2019 Major National Dialogue, MND, it seems to have all the ingredients of Special Constitutional Statuses around the world and as recognized in international human rights law in matters of safeguarding both the primary and remedial rights of minorities. 

It is also inspired by the fact that, whether we like it or not, and even as the world watches to see what contributions its coming into existence would make in bringing back peace to the restive Anglophone regions  immersed in a four years long deadly conflict over greater autonomy, Yaounde authorities are settled on their conviction that the special status is all what is required for Anglophones to live freely in the larger Cameroon body polity, and Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, being one of the regime's most convinced and convincing apostles, seems to believe so too. 

In a last December 5, 2020, interview in one of Cameroon's multiple award-winning and community-driven radio programs, Press and Associates, over Ndefcam radio 94.9fm, Bamenda, and streamed live across the world, H.E, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Secretary of state in Cameroon's Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, had stunned many a listening audience by stating that the special status recently granted the North West and South West regions was not only the best thing that ever happened but more importantly, that it was a double portion. 

Explaining in triumphant detail the double-portionness of the special status, this illustrious son of the North and longest serving Delegation leader to Donga Mantung, said Anglophones have since 2016 been clamoring for greater autonomy and thinking that only one structure could be created to jointly manage the North West and South West regions but President Paul Biya, in his infinite wisdom, granted not one but two special statuses, one for the North West and one separately for the South West. As concerns the House of Chiefs, he furthered that unlike in the days of West Cameroon, when there was only one House of Chiefs in Buea, and it meant the people from the North West had to travel to Buea, Biya has made it possible through the special status, for North West fons to have their own House of Chiefs in Bamenda, while those from the South West get theirs in Buea. He opined how it was a blessing and double portion that sons and daughters of the North West would no longer have to be ruled from Buea, and how some of the inherent conflicts and misunderstandings that could have been insuring from a forceful reunion between the North West and South West if only one special status was created for the two regions, has been nipped in the bud. According to Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, the Regional council elections of December 6,2020, was a unique opportunity for the two English speaking regions to begin recreating the future and as well continue to believe in the beauty of their dreams. 

Contrary to widespread discourss that the special status granted the two English speaking regions of Cameroon was a loud-sounding nothing, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry demonstrated in triumphant detail, and in local colour, that beginning January 2021, inhabitants of the two English speaking regions would have the power to contribute as never before in the defining of not only the educational and common law policies of their regions but also in setting standards and value systems.He promoted the special status as the singular constitutional instrument that reintroducs local government as obtained in the 60s to the people of the former British Southern Cameroons. What with the Regional Executive Board's ability to define and determine the development path of the Region to the extent that what would limit how the regions self-determines their development could only be their imagination. 

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry sounded the fact that the same chances government of Cameroon had in negotiating development funding from foreign and multilateral donors is the same opportunity opened to the regions by virtue of their special status. This would mean that the regional executives could canvass for funds from Cameroon's development partners for the restoration of say, WADA, the Menchum Falls, the Ring Road, and more importantly, the Dry Port. 

Specifically on the Dry Port project, and while inviting other well meaningful sons and daughters of the two English speaking regions to make bold in proposing far reaching suggestions to the regional council leaders, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry signaled how ready he and his ministry were, in handing over to the Region, already completed studies on the Dry Port project for the North West. The Dry Port, he said, was going to be a practical way of reversing the aged old idea and brainwashing the white man introduced to Africa, where all goods produced from the hinterlands were routed towards the seaside towns and cities, ready to be shipped to feed the white man. According to H. E,Dr. Fuh Calistus, the Dry Seaport would reverse the center of gravity away from the seaport zones to the hinterlands and to the big neighboring Nigeria market. 

Concerning the sticky issue of the Independent Public Conciliator, minister Fuh Calistus Gentry was rather stunny. He said the very fact that an independent public Conciliator was introduced into the special status with a non renewable six years mandate, was proof positive that Yaounde authorities never wanted to be seen as interfering in any way with the running of the internal affairs of the two English speaking regions. As to what becomes of the Governor, SDOs and D.Os, the government minister was the more emphatic. He made it clear that in every system, be it federal, special status or confederation, issues like defense, national security and foreign policy always lie with central government. Which means that the government representatives in the special status regions of the North West and South West, would be concerned primarily and principally, with the maintenance of law and order, as well as seeing into the strict implementation of state regulations and other central government business. The social, economic, cultural and environmental development of the Special Status regions lies squarely on the shoulders of Regional Government. That's why, the Cpdm official hinted on the fact that Regional Executive Council board members would virtually function like Regional Ministers in their own right, subject to state protocollar arrangements. 

The most revealing part of H. E, Dr. Fuh Calistus' interview was when he almost aligned with the Rawlsian version of political liberalism when he averred that the special status was Yaounde authorities' symbolic recognition that the people of the two English speaking regions of Cameroon were different and should be governed differently from the rest of the eight other regions. More importantly, and in his usual boldness, was optimistic that just like ay human endeavor, the special status in its present state is still pefectable, but that the best thing to do right now, was to first allow it playout. 

Over and above, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry's logic is that by granting a special status to the two English speaking regions, government of Cameroon had granted the people of the former British Southern Cameroons' the right to internal self-determination as opposed to external self determination being clamored for by others. His logic finds expression in the United Nations charter and relevant international documents. Since internal self-determination, according to the UN, is the right of a people to develop itself socially, economically and culturally within the encompassing state, and to determine their political status within that state, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry believes that this is exactly what the newly granted special status has done to the people of the two English speaking regions of Cameroon. 

Given that federation, outright decentralization or even a confederation would have just given equal status to all of the 10 regions of Cameroon without giving any special consideration to the two English speaking regions, Dr. Fuh Calistus is of the opinion that the granting of a special status sets the two English speaking regions apart, as it makes them politically different, not just equal to the eight others. This finds expression in the very definitions of internal self-determination, ranging from simply allowing communities to be able to elect their representatives and those representatives having a chance to serve in central government, as obtains with Quebec in Canada, through giving a people a right to self government, as obtains in Catalonia in Spain, to having an outright special constitutional status, as is today the case with the two English speaking regions of Cameroon. 

Following on Dr. Fuh Calistus' thinking and logic, it goes without saying, that the special status granted the two English speaking regions of Cameroon is in more ways than one, more profound and rooted in the constitution than what obtains with the Quebec arrangement in Canada. 

Be that as it maybe, it remains to be seen how this arrangement is going to be the marker of an end to the ragging conflict and a quick return to peace in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon. Better still, it behooves on government of Cameroon to deliver on the special status, both as a primary and remedial right to the indigenous people of the former British Southern Cameroons, not the other way round. 

The Muteff Boy's Take.

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NW Queen Mothers Make Clarion Call for Peace

The Mafors and mothers of the North West under the aegis of Mafor Yah Sunday Epse Achidi today staged a mourning ceremony at the Grand stand in Bamenda to condemn the killings that have become the order of the day since the crisis escalated in our two anglophone regions. The Mafors who were led by Mafor Yaah Achidi Achu  cried and prayed God in their various local languages for peace to return in the North West and South West regions. 

In a walkaton along Bamenda Commercial Avenue, the women carried with them  placards with very touching messages appealing for return to normalcy in the Anglophone regions.  Among other dignitaries present were the MPs of Ndu Hon. Naomi Ngandong  and Momo East in Mbengwi, Hon John Kum of Menchum as well as the very dynamic D.O of Bamenda II. Mafor Yah Sunday Epse Achidi in her usual maternal style made a stop at the DDR Centre to encourage ex- combatants to lure their friends out of the bushes. In tandem with our tradition, she handed them a consignment of foodstuff, laundry soap, toiletteries and other basic commodities.She equally assured them of her determination to support them in their social reinsertion drive. Visibly very happy, the inmates promised to be ambassadors of peace by aiding government to attract separatists drop their guns.

*Ta Shey Ndinwa Benedict*

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Tubah: Hon. Agho Oliver Creates The Unexpected, Preaches Peace to Market Women

 

The young dynamic Member of Parliament for Bafut/ Tubah has created the unexpected by taking the message of peace to market women in Tubah. Hon. Agho Oliver who is now popularly known as the grassroots man, made an impromptu visit to appeal to women in his constituency to be ambassadors of peace. After celebrating the groundbreaking 38th anniversary of the the assesion to the helm of the Nation by President Paul, the Member of Parliament who was flanked by Tubah Mayor, Tanjong Martin were on the field to encourage and sensitize market women on the need to remain peaceful while denouncing anything that  can jeopardize the return to gradual normalcy in the sub division. The MP and his mayor also used the opportunity to call on all and sundry to give peace a chance. At each stopped, the people's representatives listened keenly to worries raised by the women. While listening to the worries, those that needed immediate solutions were solved on the spot. 

The Member of Parliament made colossal financial gestures to help solve some of the  problems. Mami Margret of Bambui, described the young dynamic MP as a God fearing man and a man of the people. She said young men like Hon. Agho Oliver should enter politics so as to give it a human face. " Since the early 90s that o have been running up and down in the name of politics, I have never met one so humble, down to earth and serviceable like this our young MP". To many women, Hon. Agho Oliver is the most fomidable young man of all the politicians in action. 

Before leaving Tubah, the elated women donated food items which they personally handed to the MP to take home while promising that they will leave no stone unturn in making significant contribution to the growth of the municipality. 

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Breaking News: Joe Biden defeats President Trump

Joe Biden has been elected President of the United States waiting official confirmation. News networks say Joe Biden scored inched the Electoral College with Pennsylvania to emerge victorious in the November 3, elections.

Kamala Harris has made history as the first woman, the first Black person and the first person of Indian descent to be elected vice president. 

While waiting for a judiciary battle at the level of the supreme Court over elections fraud, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are said to have registered record votes in the history of the U.S. 

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On President Biya’s 38th Anniversary: Misaje Prays for Peace

Christians and Muslims on November 6, 2020 devoted the 38th anniversary of the ascension of President Paul Biya to power to pray for peace in what has been described as one of the highest crowd puling event in the entire region. The ecumenical service which was officiated by clergies from five different Christian denominations and the Muslim Imams brought together militants and sympathizers of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement-CPDM, as well as traditional rulers, ardors and Christians. This service which took place in the vicinity of the newly constructed Misaje Community Hall was attended by over 10.000 people. The organizers say the ecumenical service took place in an open esplanade as a way to respect government measures to mitigate the spread of covid 19. 

Holding under the theme: Let us Mobilize Behind President Biya for the Advent of Decentralization”. Shey Afred Nyako, CPDM Section President said the ecumenical service is exceptionally organized on November 6, 2010 to Thank God for the Head of State and praying that God should give him Vision in the current situation in which Cameroon finds itself.

 Harping on the upcoming regional elections, the section President added that another prayer point was to call on God Almighty for successful elections so that the process of decentralization which is the theme of the conference should bring total normalcy to Cameroon.  While the second prayer point was to share in the sorrows of the incident in Kumba and at the same time, make the Misaje Appeal that children should be given the chance to go to school. The prayers also centered around thanking God for the peace that has reigned in Misaje in particular and Donga Mantung Division in general. The population also used the opportunity to thank God for preserving Cameroon from Covid-19 and that His Mercy should be on Cameroon so that many people should not suffer from the pandemic as it has been witnessed in some countries around the globe. The clergies and Imams ended the ecumenical service by praying for normalcy to return to Cameroon especially in the North West and South, in the Extreme North as well as every other thing that is affecting this country so that all should be well. It should be recalled that five denominations took place in the service.

 

The Misaje Appeal

Talking to journalists after the ecumenical service the CPDM Section President Shey Alfred Nyako said the marriage between the people of Misaje and President Paul Biya has been a marriage that will last forever. He used the opportunity to congratulate the people of Misaje and equally send the message of peace from Minister Fuh Calistus, in which he stated that Misaje is happy with all ad sundry for the peace that reigns there. He supported this argument by stating that in Misaje subdivision, all the traditional rulers, fons, local party officials live in their homes. Besides that, he continued that Misaje subdivision is hosting students and pupils from other places who are going to school and its time for peace to be given a chance for children to go to school. The vigilantic group was also applauded for their contribution in peace building. He reiterated the fact that peace will enable the completion of the stretch of the Ring road from Kumbo through Ndu to Nkambe and Misaje. 

Contacted to asses the impact of the New Deal in Misaje, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Secretary of State in Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development on his part enumerated several development projects that have changed the face of the municipality ranging from creation of educational institutions to construction of classrooms, health centers, potable water, community halls, roads and markets. He singled out the construction of the Misaje market worth FCFA 400.000.000 and the construction of a Multipurpose grandstand worth FCFA 200.000.000 that can only be compared to the Nkambe grandstand in the Division.  

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Hon. Agho Oliver Fetes President Biya's 38th Anniversary in Tubah

There was esctascy and fanfare in Bumbui, Tubah Subdivision in Mezam Division where thousands gathered to commemorate 38 years of President Paul Biya to helm of the nation. At about 12noon, drumbeats and songs could be heard echoing into the highlands of Bambili, Babanki and the valleys of Bambui. It was an exceptional 38th anniversary celebration this November 6, 2020 as militants and sympathizers of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM converge at the Bambui ceremonial ground to say "Happy Anniversary" to President Paul Biya. The 38th anniversary was exceptional with the presence of Hon. Agho Oliver, the young dynamic grassroot politician. Excitement filled the air when is arrival was confirmed at about 11:30 am. When Hon. Agho Oliver finally arrived the ceremonial ground, the euphoria was total. When the event proper started, it was all praises to President Paul Biya. 

Speaking at the groundbreaking Hon. Agho Oliver said that the population of Tubah is happy that the last institution in the 1996 law will enter into action with the upcoming regional elections. He said that the law is very clear that the development endeavours in the North West and the South West in the Special Status will be managed by the Regional Council. He continued that in real terms, things that were managed by Yaounde will be handled by the Regional Council. Hon. Agho Oliver said that the population of Tubah are standing with President Biya to fully implement the 1996 law on decentralization. 

Harping on major achievements of the New Deal government, Agho Oliver enumerated creation of educational institutions ranging from Nursery to Primary, Secondary, High School and the University of Bamenda. He cited the creation and construction of Health centers, roads etc. To Hon. Agho Oliver, the people of Tubah are behind President Paul Biya. 

On the other hand Tubah mayor, Martin Tanjong applauded the 38 years of President Biya as head of state. Martin Tanjong expressed gratitude to the population of Tubah for the massive turnout. He outline some of the major achievents of the Tubah council and added that with decentralization, the Tubah municipality will be transformed. 

By promulgating the law on Associations and political parties on 19 December 1990, Mr. Paul Biya restored multiparty in Cameroon (since 1st September 1966, the country had been under a de facto one-party system). Today, close to 300 political parties have been legalized.

The CPDM gained an absolute majority at the last legislative elections in both Upper and Lower House, and its candidate won the presidential election. Despite those victories, the President of the Republic chose to form a cross-party government.

Senator Regina Mundi who is one of the political dynamos in Mezam called on the youths to emulate Hon. Agho Oliver's example. She said it is time for youths to lead 

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President Biya Ends Phone Tax

The Head of State,  President Paul Biya has instructed Prime Minister,  Head of Government to suspend tax on telephones. The decision by the Head of state to end tax on new mobile phones was made public today October 19, 2020 by the Secretary General of the Presidency,  Ferdinand Ngo Ngo. Here below is the communique from the Presidency 

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

Shey Jones Yembe Decorated for Nation Building

  The chairman of Board of Directors of the Port Authority of Douala (PAD) raised to the rank of Officer of the Cameroon National Order of Valour. Shey Jones Yembe was decorated last Tuesday October 13,  202 in Douala for his trappings towards nation building. 

Performing the decoration rite on behalf of the Head of State, the Minister of Transport, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe, placed the medal on Shey Jones’ chest on the sidelines of a ceremony to inaugurate some newly acquired nautical vessels by the PAD in Douala Tuesday October 13. The inauguration ceremony was chaired by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute.

The visibly happy PM told the press after launching the new vessels that the machines are going to help to spur the Douala Port which also serves landlocked Chad and the Central African Republic into a real centre of activity in West and Central Africa. 

The acquisition of the over FCFA 40 billion-worth ‘small ships’ by the maritime company is in line with  President Paul Biya’s  economic blueprint  to  enhance  economic  growth and is part of several reforms taken lately to modernise  the port, generate more income and use more local human resources.

The presidential instructions to the ports are channelled through the Board that is headed by the no-nonsense Shey Jones who is endowed with a rare leadership and managerial prowess. Prior to the acquisition of the vessels, all dredging at the Port of Douala was carried out by private and especially foreign companies. But the board, headed by Shey Jones, has been frantically working on it following government policy of trying to get back their sovereignty by getting some of the things done by Cameroonians. While waiting for Cameroonians to be able to do it, the maritime firm just executed government policy by getting it done by government itself with an objective eventually to pass it over to Cameroonians businessmen, according to Shey Jones.

After a careful and methodical study, the PAD board headed by Shey Jones is said to have approved that the company goes for a commercial loan of FCFA 32 billion to purchase the vessels which are expected to generate about FCFA 15 billion surplus in operating cost annually. PAD had been spending at least FCFA 22 billion on dredging annually.

Other Trappings 

The acquisition of the nautical vessels was just one of several reforms which the Douala Port has witnessed since the appointment of Shey Jones as Board chair.

PAD today has its own container terminal which is run by Cameroonians. No one could have believed that the ‘almighty’ French business giant, Bollore, could be shipped out of PAD until Shey Jones came in with instructions from the Unity Palace.

The board recently, with permission from the government, following remarkable results registered in its first six months of operation, extended the mandate of the local agency managing the container by three years beginning January next year.

In addition to the container management, the company has also built the petroleum Dolphin; a place at sea where ships transporting petroleum products dock for security reasons. Many people, who have been charmed by the board’s execution of the Head of State’s instructions relating to the modernisation of PAD, have described PAD as the driver of the country’s 2035 emergence vision.

No doubt the PM was marvelled and nodded his head at each time he listened to the Board chair, Shey Jones Yembe, and General Manager, Cyrus Ngo’o, during his tour of the maritime facility on Tuesday.

“With all the reforms in terms of security, logistics, transport, and it has been very interesting to see and I am going to report very positively to the President of the Republic that his reforms are being carried out here in Douala,” the PM promised at the end of a tour of the new installations at PAD.

A Role Model as Chairman 

Shey Jones is longest-serving board chair the PAD has ever had. His trappings speak by themself. Many observers say this is because the already wealthy businessman brought in a new management style with reforms that some of his “money-minded” predecessors did not think of the moment they were appointed at the income-generating company. Ever since Shey Jones Yembe was appointed Board chairman,  the Douala Port Authority has become a bee-hive of activities. Accountability and transparency has been the menu.

In other state corporations, board chairs and their managers are usually mostly at daggers drawn — in most cases because of money and overlapping of functions. This is not the case of Shey Jones who knows very well that the board is just “like a post office” through which instructions pass to management.

“The board is just a transmission, it is a passage. We pass the policy of the government, the head of state’s will, which assists government policy. We pass it to the management and the management executes. So we don’t need to meet the Head of State for that. We need to just know that this is what he wants, this is what he is telling us to do and we pass it over to management and supervise that management does it,” Shey Jones told the Press.

The man whose, watch words are transparency and accountability, knows what the text says and what the rights and obligations of a board chair and the General Manager are and thinks if all other board chairs understand, there will be no conflicts between them and their managers.

“What I have noticed in Cameroon is that 80% or 70% of Cameroonians like to do another person’s job not their job or pointing at the other person’s job without doing theirs. What we are doing here is the board members and I do what the board is supposed to do and we make sure that we give management the breathing space to do what they are supposed to do,” he continued.

Shey Jones understands that the role of the board is that of a watchdog and so does not interfere in what the manager is supposed to do. He regret that in some corporations both the chairman and the manager perform same tasks.

“All the board chairmen, I am telling you, please stop going and sitting in the corporation as if you are doing the General Manager. You are not supposed to be there every day,” the selfless Shey Jones said.

“Please also stop talking to workers, talk to your General Manager who will talk to the workers. Stop having the chairman’s people and the General Manager’s people. It is a shame that board chairmen are doing that. It is a shame and I say it with all the courage on earth, it is a shame that they should be doing that. Leave the General Managers too work and you do your work so that you can come back and sanction or put him to order and have authority over him. If you go and sit there as a General Manager then you can’t have authority over him,” he also advised his peers.

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

Hundreds Pay Last Respect to Hon. Bungong Jinka

The former Member of Parliament for Nwa,  Hon. Bungong Jinka Jonathan who died on September 25,  2020 will be buried in Mbem,  Nwa this weekend. The late politician who started the Nwa Development Programme began his journey of no return in Douala as hundreds storm his home to pay him last respect. 

The man who served the nation as custom official before joining politics was the first MP for at the verge of multiparty politics,  a dieheart militant of the Social Democratic Front,  SDF. The team Hon. Awudu,  Hon. Tansa,  Hon. Jinka and Hon. Chemo were elected in the early 90s from Donga Mantung Division. As a politician,  Hon. Jinka would be remembered for his providing the master plan for Nwa,  his rural electricity programme and support to the needy. It was during his term of office that several secondary schools and primary schoola were created in Nwa.

Hon. Awudu says that Hon. Jinka was a great man and his demise is a great lost to the nation,  Donga Mantung and the SDF party. 

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

Cameroon Begins Journey Towards Muzzling New Digital Civil Society

The news fell like a bombshell. Even law makers who supposedly voted the 2019 Finance Bill were taken aback with the detail of the implementation of the bill requiring that end-users pay custom duties and taxes on imported telephones and tablets. Starting from this October 15,2020, the burden of paying custom duties and taxes on imported digital technology products like phones and tablets shall lie with the consumer.  The new phone tax entails that each time an end user introduces his/her Sim card into a new phone, the International Mobile Equipment Identity, IMEI, is recorded at Arintech, a new platform fronted by government, and a message is immediately sent to the user requesting he/she chooses one of the two options of either paying the custom duty or tax in lumpsum or paying in installments each time he/she buys airtime from any of the mobile phone operators. In addition to that, and also beginning October 15,2020, each time users of digital tools download an application, they are expected to pay another Fcfa 200 tax. 

Lingering Concerns

Questions concerning phones with multiple or dual Sim cards that connect simultaneously have not been answered either by Arintech or the government. Will users with such categories of phones and tablets not be taxed doubly? What would be a country's rationale to tax end users at industry price rather than the market price? And when available information from the Cameroon Customs Department already indicate that the phone and tablet taxes range from Fcfa 3000 to 300000, is it not clear that if a person purchased a phone or tablet for Fcfa 250000, he/she would end up paying a tax of Fcfa75000? If government claims that this is not a new tax but that payment has just been transferred from the physical frontier to the digital frontier, why transfer it then, and why only for phones and tablets?  Given that if the new system goes operational successfully, all personal data of end-users in mobile telephone operators' banks would be transferred to Arintech, what guarantees are there that Arintech would not misuse citizens' personal data, especially in a country where no privacy and personal data protection laws exist? How did government arrive at selecting Arintech to host the new platform? Is it not ridiculous for government to claim that by shifting the payment of custom duties and phone taxes from the importers to the customer, phones would rather be cheaper for Cameroonians? Can a government that has for years been taxing people out of business suddenly become a Father Christmas? And what would become of people who because of their vulnerable economic situations default in payments? 

Short-term and Long-term Consequences of the Phone Tax

With the advent of new digital technologies and, of recent, the coronavirus pandemic, many services have gone online including digital financial services, e-commerce and e-learning. The new tax and new obligations for mobile phone operators to oblige users to pay or be denied their services would only go a long way to not only increase the digital divide but also, to push more people offline since owning a good smartphone is a condition sine qua non to fully enjoying online services. Poor and vulnerable citizens' inability to pay such exorbitant taxes and custom duties would only increase the already existing barriers to getting online, thereby limiting citizens access to freedom of expression and access to information as well as access to goods and services that are now online. It is for this reason that the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association online has stated that: 'taxes like this propagate the misconception that internet access and social media use are luxuries'. The short and long term consequences of the introduced phone and eventual social media tax pose a huge threat to internet access and affordability, and financial inclusion for low income and marginalized groups such as women, youths and rural communities, as clearly stated by Clement Voule, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association online. While there may be an economic rationale for the tax, it disproportionately impedes the ability of individuals to have access to new digital technology. The tax in its current state raises concerns of necessity and proportionality, particularly for low income citizens for whom purchasing 1GB of data per month will cost nearly 40% of their average monthly income.

New tax targets freedom of association and peaceful assembly online.

For those not versed with the manner in which authoritarian regimes veil their intentions, they may hail the claims advanced by government for introducing the phone and app's tax as coming to reduce cost of phones and bringing in much-needed revenue for the state. Fat chance. Realizing that even though it has successfully cowed every Cameroonian from ever demonstrating on the streets as it would amount to disturbance of public order and a threat to national security,  and citizens have found new territory on social media where they can assemble and associate peacefully with little intrusion, government now wants to begin Muzzling this new civic space by tightening access to it through taxation. After Cameroonians experienced the longest interruptions to digital communications in a bid to control online assembly and the free flow of information in 2017, and realizing the negative publicity it would attract if it were to shutdown social media, government would rather go softly by directly taxing its use. If one considers the phone in the situation of Cameroon as one of the key equipments of accessing social media, justification for introducing such a tax and at such a moment would only arouse suspicion even given that the ICT market is still relatively small. The cost of such a tax on the nationals' right: political (the exercising of their freedom of expression), social (the Civil freedoms of association and opinion formation), and economic (to access electronic information at an affordable rate),therefore seem to outweigh all the potential benefits.

The introduction of the new tax mirrors the overall shrinking civic space and now virtually closed political space, and where government is getting more hostile to the political opposition as well as activists, critical media reporting and more importantly, to criticism by social media users. After confiscating physical civic and political spaces and, after realizing that a bulk citizens are freely associating and assembling peacefully online, theì government of Cameroon is moving in to begin the shrinking up of online civic space through taxation. By transferring the custom duties and taxes from importers to end users can never make phones affordable as claimed by government. Affordability strategies should be in line with the Alliance for Affordable Internet's Policy recommendations. 

The new tax on digital technology tools as introduced by the government of Cameroon contravenes the UN Special Rapporteur for freedom of peaceful assembly and of association online when he states that: 'States should promote and facilitate access to digital technologies and should not put restrictions on their use for the exercise of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association'. In relation to the new tax, Clement Voule rather recommends that: 'Policies and practices should address equal access to the Internet and digital technologies, the affordability and participation in the digital age for all, so as to bridge the digital divide'. 

The new tax already endangers the new found digital civic space in Cameroon. Worthy of note is the fact that online association and assembly play a particularly important role for the marginalized groups and interference with the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association can have a disproportionate impact on individuals and groups in vulnerable positions. And so, it is recommended that in fulfilling their obligations, states should pay particular attention to the desparate impact that limitations on access to and use of digital technologies can also have on minorities, political opponents and activists, as well as on the overall health of the internet. 

Given that a growing number of Cameroon citizens are using ICTs on a regular basis and which has made digital technologies pivotal to their livelihoods, the introduction of the new tax could undermine internet access and affordability, and therefore weaken the potential for ICTs to catalyze free expression and civic participation. It is therefore incumbent on the Cameroon Digital Rights Coalition and the Cameroon Internet Society to quickly move in to convene stakeholders to deliberate on the economic, social and human rights impact arising from the new taxes, especially as it would mean that the end user would now have to share the little amount he/she had to pay for airtime with the mobile phone operator and the customs department. The proposed dialogue should also deliberate on how policy making processes can advance inclusive and equitable access to the internet, promote innovation and consumer rights protection as aptly recommended by Clement Voule, United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association online. 

Colbert Gwain 

New Digital Civil Society Advocate

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

Donga Mantung: Here is the Untold Success Story of Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund

 How DOMASF Rekindled Back to School and Hard work 

As part of efforts to reawaken back to school in the entire Donga Mantung Division and equally reward excellence and hard work, the Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund-DOMASF is entering into records for outstanding achievements. Launched in August 2019 at the eve of back to school with the sum of FCFA 18 million, DOMASF has reached out to thousands in it's drive to build human resources and encourage education, ignite excellence and hardwork. The success story of DOMASF is one worth emulating. 

During the official launching of DOMASF during the 2019 back to school, its initiator and promoter, Dr, Fuh Calistus Gentry said the scheme was put in place to mobilize communities to send children to school, support Parent Teachers Association to recruit teachers and to honour, encourage and reward excellence. 

Last week, over 200 students and pupils from the Five Sub Divisions that make up Donga Mantung Division received scholarships ranging from FCFA 25.000 to FCFA 150.000. In addition to the awards of excellence, school bags and exercise books were distributed to the needy to instill back to school. The coordinator of the scholarship fund, Tarlishi Oliver Yinyu, says DOMASF has created a huge impact in the entire Donga Mantung since it was launched on August 19, 2019 at the eve of back to school. In a retrospective, Tarlishi Oliver says in 2019 back to school campaign, over 1000 students and pupils (mostly Internal Displaced) benefited from school fees allocations and didactic materials. According to Tarlishi Oliver, each sub division received funds to sensitize parents and guardians to send their children to school. More so, Tarlishi Oliver also revealed that 38 Parent Teachers Associations (PTA) received FCFA 200.000 support from the scheme to recruit teachers in areas where they were lacking. Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, DOMASF also included in its programme, the distribution of covid 19 kits to instill government measures to combat the spread of the virus with schools milieu. Face masks and hand-washing buckets 

On October 7, the coordination embarked on the last phase of the distribution of scholarships to high performance students and pupils at the 2020 official examinations. Three centers were chosen to host the distribution of scholarships, GBHS Misaje hosted students and pupils from Misaje Sub Division, Government School Ako for Ako Sub Division while GS Ntumbaw for students and pupils from Nwa sub Division, Nkambe Central and Ndu Sub Division respectively. The prizes handed over to laureates for their performance in the various official examinations ranged from FCFA 25.000 to FCFA 150.000. The Pupils and students were rewarded following their excellent performance in the First School Leaving Certificate, CAP, General Certificate of Education (Ordinary and Advanced Level). Beside the scores that were awarded, schools bags and didactic materials were also shared to basic and secondary education schools of the subdivision. Considering the new normal to instill government measures to fight the COVID 19 pandemic, anti COVID 19 materials were also shared to schools. 

Education Stakeholders, Pupils and Students Applaud Dr. Fuh Calistus in Misaje 

 Parents, teachers, students, pupils and local administrators of Misaje Sub Division have canonized Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry for his initiative to support education in Donga Mantung Division. H.E. Dr. Fuh Calistus received the applause during the official launching of the third phase of the Donga Mantung scholarship Fund, which is aimed at encouraging meritocracy and back to school in the entire division took place at GBHS Misaje under the patronage of the Divisional Officer for Misaje, Tchayah Thomas. 

Speaking at the official handing over ceremony, the Divisional Officer for expressed gratitude and thanks to the promoter of the Donga Mantung Scholarship for the timely gesture that will go a long way to boost back to school and instill hard-work, excellence and meritocracy.  He said Dr. Fuh Calistus has never failed to extend a hand of fellowship to the needy. Tchayah Thomas reiterated that the scholarship distributed to students and pupils is an additional impetus in Misaje sub Division. 

Sammy Mgbatta Nforkemba exploded that the scholarship distributed to students and pupils is just an iceberg of what Minister Fuh Calistus has been doing for many years. Sammy Mgbatta said the initiative to boost the resource base of the sub Division has enabled many children to enter into professional schools. It is the best in terms of human investments he added. Harping on the 2020/2021, the mayor of Misaje was optimistic that this year is going to be the brightest in the entire sub division as compared to the last four years. 

In Misaje sub Division, students and pupils who performed well in the last official examinations were rewarded. Nine students, and three pupils , who had the best results in the entire sub division received scholarships ranging from FCFA 150.000 to FCFA 25.000. About 200 others were handed school bags and didactic materials. 

Euphoria in Ako

When DOMASF delegation stormed Ako Sub Division on October 8, with goodies to encourage back to school and reward excellence, the euphoria was at its peak. Prospects as to whether schools will resume this year were high. The massive turn out by education stakeholders to witness the distribution of scholarships to distinguished pupils in the 2020 First School Leaving Certificate examination, Common Entrance and didactic materials was described as the highest crowd pulling event in the passed four years. Fuh Calistus was canonized for promoting education and encouraging back to school. The Divisional Officer for Ako, Mbingno Abraham reminded parents to make sure that they send children to school. He applauded DOMASF and its promoter for the timely gesture which will go a long way to boost back to school. 

Before proceeding to the distribution of scholarships to the over 16 pupils and didactic materials to over 100 need students and pupils, the mayor of Ako Council, Nkanya Nkwai Godlove was categorical in reminding the population that education is fundamental to all children and its a human right. He reiterated the call earlier made by the Divisional Officer for parents to send their children to school. The 16 beneficiaries received scholarships ranging from FCFA 50.000 to FCFA 25.000 per pupil. The timely support by DOMASF will boost latest initiatives by the Divisional Officer and mayor who have been to Kuta area and Tumboh to sensitize villagers to send children to school. 

GS Ntumbaw Hosts Scholarships Award Ceremony for Nwa, Ndu and Nkambe Central

There was trumpet blast at Government School Ntumbaw where students, pupils and other stakeholders from Ndu, Nwa and Nkambe Central sub divisions gathered to receive rewards for their outstanding performances. Considering the magnitude of the event, the award to laureates from the three sub Divisions took place under the patronage of the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division, Nkwenti Simon Doh. Addressing stakeholders, the SDO epitomized Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry for constantly extending a hand of fellowship to the needy. He said Minister Calistus Gentrys efforts are worthy of emulation by the elites. While calling on the parents in Ndu and Nwa sub Division to send their children to school, the SDO warned teachers who have been sitting on the fence ever since to resume work. 

In his welcome speech, the mayor of Ndu council, Abdou Borno Kanfom, reechoed the clarion call for parents in Ndu sub Division to send their kids to school. The mayor of Ndu said education is the best thing anyone can ever offer to a child and congratulated Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry for his initiative to build the future of youths. Over 40 students and 100 pupils received scholarship grants ranging from FCFA 150.000 to FCFA 25.000 while didactic materials were also shared as well as covid 19 kits. .

It should be recalled that last year, secondary schools were not functional in Ndu and Nwa sub Division. At least in the primary education section, some schools were functional in Nwa while Ndu was blank. This year, some schools in Ndu sub Division and Nwa have already opened their doors. This is due to the sensitizations done by the administration and the mayors of the two municipalities who equally received DOMASF support last year. 

That Day of the official launching of DOMASF 

The Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung, Nkwenti Simon Doh officially launched the FCFA 15 million scholarship Fund code named Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund.  Funded by Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development to the tune of FCFA 15 million, the scholarship fund seeks to support students, pupils and teachers ahead of September school resumption. Addressing education stakeholders, pupils, students and parents at the official launching ceremony, the SDO for Donga Mantung applauded the benevolent gesture by minister Fuh Calistus Gentry to boost the reopening of schools in the division couple with the fact that many parents who are crippled by the crisis are unable to meet up with the school needs of their children. “We want to say that this is coming at an opportune moment and we want to encourage other elites who have similar ambitions for this fast and important division to also come on board. This scholarship scheme is definitely going to boost the moral of those who are willing to study but the crisis has pulled them down”. He continued that Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry has been offering scholarships desirous pupils and students of Donga Mantung but this year the amount has been raised to FCFA 15 million. “We have seen practically the distribution of the largess to those who merit and I want to use this occasion to also tell the willing pupils and students of this division that the administration will not spare any efforts in helping them where the need arises for effective resumption of schools. The last academic year has shown us that we are up to the task”. He concluded by reminding the population of Donga Mantung that “ there is nothing you can give a child that surpasses education”. Before commissioning into function the members of the coordination charged with overseeing the disbursement of the funds to beneficiaries, the SDO warned that any “mago-mago” wont be tolerated. And as DOMASF ended the 18 million francs scheme, no mago mago acts were recorded.

SDO for Donga Mantung

Madame Ajara, the then 4^th Deputy of Nkambe said that a gesture of such magnitude can only emanates from an intellectual of his caliber. She added that wherever the development of the mind passes, all other forms of development follows, she emphasized. She concluded reiterated that the “seed that was sown in Misaje some years back has gradually covered the whole division and we pray that it has come not to go but to stay until our illiteracy rate heats the highest level in the North West Region and why not Cameroon”. She concluded even before the crisis it has been the general wish of everyone to see such a gesture. 

Tarlishi OliverYinyu, the Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education and Coordinator of the scholarship fund in a presentation disclosed that the programme will be in three phases.  He said the second phase will be disbursed when schools have resumed while phase III will be encourage and reward outstanding teachers, students and pupils. In his statement, he was categorical that education is the key to the world. He said a child without education is like a bird without feathers given that education doesn’t only prepare the youths for a better future but it is life in itself.  He expressed gratitude to the funder, minister Fuh Calistus for his philanthropic gesture and added that those who give never lack.

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

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

Ako Sub Division: DOMASF Sprays Scholarships to Outstanding Pupils

Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund, DOMASF, has confirmed its ability to promote Excellence and Meritocracy in Donga Mantung Division. Today October 8, 2020, education stakeholders witnessed the distribution scholarships to distinguished pupils at the First School Leaving Certificate and other basic needs to the needy to encourage back to school. Today's ceremony which took place under the patronage of the Divisional Officer for Ako Sub Division, Mbingno Abraham was described as the biggest crowd puller since 2016. 

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, promoter of the fund was canonized by the popualtion for his effort to peomote and encourage education. The mayor of Ako, Nkanya Nkwai Godlove couldn't be indifferent to express thank to Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry for the timely gesture. Before proceeding to the distribution of scholarships to the laureates, Nkanya  Nkwai Godlove was categorical in reminding the population that education is the foundation of all human being beings and a fondamental right for children. He reiterated the call earlier made by the Divisional Officer made earlier calling on the population to send their kids to school.

16 Pupils received cash prizes for excellent performance in FSLC  ranging from 25000 to 50000frs and School bags and didactic materials where shared to basic and secondary education schools of the subdivision to boast back to school. This was done in context with government barrier measures to fight against COVID 19 and the  distribution of anti COVID 19 materials grace the ceremony. This is the last part of the 18 million scholarship fund for 2019/2020 Academic year. Worthy to note that no secondary school in Ako Sub Division wrote any official examination due to the ongoing crisis. 

It should be recalled that the Divisional Officer for Ako and Mayor of Ako have been on back to school sensitization campaigns to rekindle parents to send their children to school. The sensitization campaigns took them to Kuta area and Tumboh recently where they called on parents and guardians to send their children to school.

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

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