Hon. Esther Ngala Empowers Women to Combat Water Crisis, Climate Change and Global Warming

 

The SDF Member of Parliament for Ndu, Hon. Esther Ngala has demonstrated that a woman in leadership position is worthwhile. After distributing tons of improved maize seeds to women last March 2012, Hon. Esther Ngala has again introduced another innovative action. In order to curb water crisis in Ndu Sub Division as well as mitigate the phenomenon of Climate change, the SDF lone female Parliamentarian has donated improved seedlings to women to integrate in their family exploitations. While handing over the grafted fruit trees to beneficiaries, she told the population that planting a tree nowadays is the best gift a woman can offer to the unborn children and humanity. She said “operation one woman, one tree” is a programme will help to redress the water crisis in Ndu, mitigate climate change, combat global warming as well as improve on their nutritional standard. The tree to be planted by each family she said is “a family tree” that could easily raise enough income for a household and she hopes that these grafted fruit trees will gradually serve as a replacement for eucalyptus trees that have invaded water catcments in the municipality thus rendering water a scarce commodity.

She also added that in the Cameroon Parliament, there are 32 women Parliamentarians and through the network they created, they (the women MPs) have decided to embark on promoting sustainable agricultural activities in order to effectively combat poverty and hunger. It should be noted that of late, she also distributed fertilizer to women groups, set up a microfinance scheme for women will in the nearest future donate to each household in the municipality improved cocking fireside to reduce the tedious work women usually undergo to prepare food for their families. Before handing over the seedlings to the beneficiary, she also called on the public to register massively in the electoral register giving that this time it shall be done through biometric. “The change we need can only come when you all turn out to register and vote massively so that you could vote more women into the council and other positions of leadership” she concluded.

On her part, the representative of the Divisional Officer for Ndu expressed gratitude to the Member of Parliament for always looking back at the women. She said Ndu is blessed to have a Member of Parliament who is a woman and also knows the problem of women in rural areas. She said Hon. Esther Ngala is the only MP that has kept to all her political promises because many who have past before her disappeared after being voted into office and would only resurface to lobby for votes. On the contrary, Hon. Esther Ngala has proven that she cares even for the unborn because the trees that are being distributed will serve both the present and next generations. She told the beneficiaries that a tree planted doesn’t only produces oxygen it also absorbs carbon thus leading to a clean and more comfortable environment for all. “Support Hon. Esther Ngala because she has the good spirit to work and improve on your standard of living” she concluded.

On the other hand, the Sub Divisional Delegate for Agriculture, Jato Johnson stressed out the importance of a tree and its short and long term benefits. Jato Johnson also observed that it is not long that these groups of women received tons of maize seeds from the Member of Parliament and from all indication Ndu will register an increase in production of more than 50%. According to the sub delegate of agriculture, 90% of the women in Ndu sub division live on agriculture and encouragingly enough, the MP has taken up the task of empowering the women to transform it into an agric business notwithstanding the fact that men pass time drinking local drinks. As such, he called on the women to support Hon. Esther Ngala who has proven that she is capable of bringing more innovative agricultural benefits “ because her innovations will make you sustainable” he concluded.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

SDF Mayor Arrested for Misappropriation

 SDF mayor for Batibo, Tenoh Lawrence is reported in police dragnet for alleged misappropriation of public funds. According to information gathered, Tenoh Lawrence's arrest is linked to management style at the helm of the Batibo Council. It should be recalled that a week ago, Tenoh was listed among mayors who have embezzled money for communal stamps in the North West Region. It is aired that Tenoh's financial crimes are not just stamps and that other charges would be unveiled in the days ahead. Sources say, more than 12 mayors of the North West Region will fall into police dragnet in the weeks to come. The case of the mayor of Mbengwi, Tah George is also pathetic as he is constantly at logger ahead with his Secretary General who has decided to open a can of worms exposing Tah George's obnoxious practices at the helm of the Mbengwi Council. Besides, it is alleged that even some secondary school principals of the Northwest have been placed under strict surveillance. More so, allegations are also rife at that a staff of the Regional delegation of transport for the North West was picked last week for corrupt practices. according to what we gathered, this man has carved a niche where he enriches himself on daily basis. As God would make it, he was trapped with coded banknotes and picked by CONAC. There is panic in North West Councils as the first victim has been trapped. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Korean Gifts to B’da III Council Creates Panic and Sensation

 

There was a free-for-all fight at the Nkwen Palace premise where the maor of Bamenda III Council was distributing some gifts from Suwon City in Korean. In fact those who took the pains to witness the distribution exercise went home more confused than when they were going. However, a school of thought holds that Bamenda III Council area has been transformed into a dumping pit by the Koreans while another school holds that the mayor of Bamenda III Council Fonguh Clestus is actually putting into the mouth of the population the flavour of Korean made article for an imminent invasion of Korean traders in the area.

The most pathetic thing is that news had circulated in njangi groups that the council was going to distribute some items yet, the item remained undisclosed until when they arrived the avenue to uncover that they were dresses, slippers, sport wears, women dresses etc… Some groups stormed out of the ceremonial ground in anger while those who stayed behind suddenly engaged themselves in a fight over the distribution of the items. Fonguh Cletus himself, was almost bundled by some okada riders who could not withstand to see the end without having one item. The invasion was so tense that even the lone police officer spotted at the Nkwen Palace as well as the Gendarme officer were helpless. Beside, these officers had received their gift and abandoned the mayor to the mercy of the crowd. Public opinion is questioning whether the Suwon City is not practicing dumping giving that it is more sustainable to teach someone to catch a fish rather than giving that person fish to eat whenever he/she is hungry. Mayor Fonguh’s detractors snobed the distribution exercise and tag it as a campaign strategy. Others even questioned whether the Korean government is aware that Suwon City is already sponsoring candidates in Cameroon for the upcoming elections.  

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Marafa's 5th Letter Out

The celebrated prisoner and former Minister of Territorial Administration, and Decentralization, Marafa Hamidou Yaya has released his 5th letter. The letter titled fifth declaration outlines some pertinent issues ahead of his trial billed for July 24, 2012. In his 5th letter, Marafa Hamidou Yaya is demanding for a fair trial so that he could express himself. He also reveals what he told the court yesterday, July 16, 2012 during his first appearance in court. 
Here below is the letter in its entirety. 
 

My statement to the Judge

The reasons for my refusal to receive the judge and those of his absence in court July 2, 2012 and promises to deliver all purchase of BJJ. Mr. Chairman and members of collegiality let me first offer you my sincerest apologies for not being able to stand here last Monday, July 2. I thought I had to do in the presence of my lawyers that I was not able to reach on time,... given my conditions of detention.
Compared to my alleged refusal to defer to appear before the judge, I thought his recusal request for reasons that seemed valid. The Court of Appeal rejected my request. I naturally bent to this decision. However, the judge insisted on hearing me without the presence of my lawyers that I could not see nor be reached during the first weeks after my transfer to the Secretary of State for Defence.

On the other hand, my term of detention did not indicate the specific reason of my conviction and my incarceration, and the judge refused me access to the pleadings of the trial record. Parts that I still have not received incidentally. My lawyers have repeatedly referred to this effect, but in vain. June 26, or 70 days after my arrest, the judge made his order of dismissal. Mr. Chairman and members of collegiality, I did not expect to appear before you as held, for several years, I demand a transparent and fair trial to explain myself on all those cases where the amalgam is arguing with the manipulation of public opinion.

The removal order can finally define the facts in relation to what I was criticized at the time of my arrest and I hope the truth will be made on this count also. I reiterate my availability and my commitment to assist and cooperate fully in this task. I believe in the truth which alone can finally do me justice in the case of acquisition of a Boeing BBJ-II nine of which I have known that the start of execution and where I have been guided by the desire to provide our country with an instrument of sovereignty and a working tool enabling the president to make his travel safely, in a particularly difficult environment. Thank you.

Marafa H Yaya

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Marafa's 5th Letter Out,

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Marafa's Appearance in Court Pulls Crowd

 

Former Minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya appeared in court yesterday, July 16, 2012 in what appears to be one of the most spectacular court cases in Cameroon.  Former Minister and former Secretary General at the Presidency, Marafa Hamidou Yaya, imprisoned since April for alleged embezzlement became a celebrated prison when he engaged in fight with the regime he served through “open letters”. Marafa Hamidou Yaya is indeed preceded by his published letters from prison. In his letters, he maintains his innocence and has claimed he is a victim of court intrigues, but also accuses some of his former colleagues of corruption.
Thus, his revelations about the deadly crash of an airliner in 1995 grabbed headlines in the country. He revealed how the money that would have been used to compensate the families of the victims was hijacked by some personalities still in government.

He is accused of embezzlement in connection with the acquisition of a presidential aircraft in 2001. It was when he was all-powerful secretary general to the presidency. Today, from his prison cell, he says he is quite ready to be heard by the courts.

There was a strong mobilization of Cameroonians who stormed the Mfoundi Court to listen to the former MINATD and Fotso closely. The gendarmes were in battle with the crowd as everyone engaged in a push-push to catch a view of the celebrated prisoner On his arrival in the company of Yves Michel Fotso, the crowd cheered and people shouted "President", "President". Journalists also stormed the court despite the veto that no one was allowed in!
Yet, Marafa and Yves were not handed the charges against them. The defense lawyers have challenged the very short time to conduct a thorough study of the case, but were finally terminated at the temporal margin. So everything will resume Tuesday, July 24, next week at 11 pm and the hearings will be held daily. The judge said he wanted to quickly end the case because he said it was too often reproached for Justice she was too "slow". Some people responded by saying: "In any case, the verdict is already known and that Biya is the only true judge of Cameroon", "What if this trial is political and as long as Biya will stay in Etoudi,  Marafa , Fotso never find freedom "as was the case Mebara.
They are accused of planning the siphoning money intended for the purchase of the presidential plane. The hearing lasted about 1 h. When Marafa stormed out of the court, the crowd had increased and the forces of law and order had difficulties controlling. In fact, the exit of the accused created a tense atmosphere. It was hot as the crowd cheered Marafa, called him Excellency, our President; the latter greeted him back with a lot enthusiasms and healthy way! Very unanimous, we have set an appointment next Tuesday to listen to each other in this trial received a great deal of saliva right now! That's roughly what I could say without claiming to have carried the story so well.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Rev. Kisob Bertin Canonized with Traditional Title

 

Rev. "Mbangfor" Kisob Bertin

The outspoken Rev. Kisob Bertin, chairman of Cameroon Party for Social Justice-CPJS has been recognized by the people of Bamali village in Ngoketunjia of the North West Region. In what has been described by many as an outstanding coronation event ever, Rev. Kisob Bertin was canonized with the title of “Mbang for” meaning the walking stick of the fon. Before the rite, the fon of Bamali village, HRH Fon Waika III described Rev. Kisob Bertin an exemplary citizen and a man of trustworthiness. He narrated how Rev. Kisob had rescued the people of Bamali in an embarrassing court case which would have landed the fon in prison. Yet being the only eyewitness, Rev. Kisob snooped all the odds and stood for the truth thus serving the fon as walking stick.

To the villagers, Rev. Kisob is the most pragmatic politician who could be relied upon for being truthful. Before leaving Bamali village for Bamenda, Rev. Kisob told this reporter that he is happy that the people had recognized him. He said when the matter started, some people wanted to buy him over but he stood for the truth. Young Kisob also added that the recognition is a booster to his political career “especially now that I am fight to be a Senator”.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Rio+20 Declaration Recognizes National Implementation and Enforcement Key to Achieving Sustainable Development

The world’s judges, prosecutors and legal experts adopted a powerful call to action to build capacity for implementation and enforcement of national environmental laws at the conclusion of UNEP’s Rio+20 side event on justice, law, and governance. “The Rio+20 Declaration on Justice, Governance and Law for Environmental Sustainability” recognizes the critical importance of national compliance promotion as part of an effective governance strategy to meet green economy and sustainable development objectives.

The Declaration was the outcome of the first ever gathering of more than 200 Chief Justices, Attorneys General, Auditors General, Chief Prosecutors, and other high-ranking representatives of the judicial,
legal and auditing professions during the World Congress on Justice, Governance and Law for Environmental Sustainability held on 17-20 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro.

Following four days of discussions on the role of these communities in achieving environmental sustainability, the participants reached agreement to adopt the Declaration, which stresses the primacy of
strong enforcement institutions and underscores the importance of networking among its main actors.

Read the full article >>
<http://inece.org/2012/06/27/world_congress_declaration/>

Recent Resources

Guidance on Effective Training Programs Series
<http://inece.org/topics/capacity-building/trainers-network/>

This four-part series provides original guidance on designing
effective training programs, including assessing employee
capabilities, measuring the effects of training programs, using a
terms of reference, and interpreting training offers.

The Importance of the Judiciary in Environmental Compliance and
Enforcement <http://inece.org/resource/pelr/>

This article explores the central role that the judiciary plays in
enforcing environmental law and in promoting sustainable development.

Communities of Practice to Support Intelligence-led Enforcement
<http://inece.org/resource/intelligence-led-enforcement/>

This article from the 9th Conference Proceedings looks at the role of
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using a case example from the marine protection context.

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Online Manual on Creating and Sustaining Regional Enforcement
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<http://inece.org/resource/network_manual/>
This new manual presents practical information for organizers and
leaders of regional and topical networks


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

SCAPO Writes to President Biya

 The Southern Cameroons People's Organization-SCAPO has written an open letter to President Paul Biya. The open letter signed by Dr. Gumni and Mr. Ndangam addresses some pertinent issues on the union between Southern Cameroons and La Republique. Here below is the letter in its entirety. 
 

 

His Excellency,

President Paul Biya,

Unity Palace,

Yaounde

Republic of Cameroon

Your Excellency Mr. President,

Subject:      YOUR PLAN TO CELEBRATE 1^ST OCTOBER AS RE-UNIFICATION DAY

          The Southern Cameroons People’s Organization (SCAPO) is a political Party in Southern Cameroons working to end the annexation and foreign occupation of Southern Cameroons since 1961.

          Your plan to celebrate 1^st October 2012 as Re-Unification Day and to do so in Buea capital of Southern Cameroons takes many people in Southern Cameroon by surprise.  Many do not know the reason behind the elaborate plans about this celebration which has not happened in the last fifty years. Your answers to the following questions will clear the air about this new plan for celebration in Buea:

-         Why do you want to celebrate an event that did not take place?

-         Why a celebration when your country voted at the United Nations in 1961 that they did not want Union with Southern Cameroons?

-         Why this celebration after your government (for 50 years) carried out yearly harassment and arrests of Southern Cameroonians on every 1^st October for celebrating their independence day?

-         Why do you call the event Re-Unification?

-         Why a celebration after evading the dialogue proposal made by the African Commission to be held between your country and the State of Southern Cameroons?

Permit us to draw your attention to the following:

1)       That you are planning to celebrate an event that did not take place.  In 1961 the people of Southern Cameroon voted in a UN plebiscite to join with their brothers in the Republic of Cameroon.  After that plebiscite, instead of engaging in negotiation in good faith for that union to succeed in accordance with UN principles and Resolutions, YOUR Country chose the path of annexation and today Southern Cameroon is two provinces of your Country that was supposed to be a partner in a Federation of two States both equal in status.

2)       Mr. President, you will recall that on April 21, 1961 when the UN proposed that Southern Cameroon joins your country (UN Resolution 1608X V paragraph 4b) your country joined the rest of French Speaking Africa to vote “NO” to that UN proposal and Resolution.  Your country has since never apologised to the people of Southern Cameroon for that position on Union with Southern Cameroons.  Your Country’s U-turn after this stand AGAINST Union with Southern Cameroons can only be explained in the light of the subsequent annexation of Southern Cameroon by your country in utter disregard of mutually agreed terms for the union and in defiance of international law.

3)   That for 51 years now your government has harassed arrested and detained Southern Cameroonians each year on 1^st October for celebrating a day which was named by the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations as Independence Day for Southern Cameroon.  Your present U-turn is therefore surprising (as surprising as the dramatic U-turn and ambivalence of the Republic of Cameroon about union with Southern Cameroon in 1961 at the UN).

4)       It will be recalled that your predecessor Amadou Ahidjo told the 13^th session of the U.N.O on 25^th of February 1959, “I should not like the firmness and clarity of our stand to be interpreted as a desire for integration on my part which would sound the death knell to the hopes of our brothers in the zone under British Administration”.

           

“We do not wish to bring the weight of our population to bear on our British brothers.  We are not annexationists”.

           

“In other words, if our brothers of the British zone wish to unite with an independent Cameroun, we are ready to discuss the matter with them, but we will discuss it on a footing of equality”.

         

So what happened afterwards that your country went back on these declarations and used “the weight” of your population in 1972 to reverse the vote of the people of Southern Cameroons people for a Federal Union? What happened afterwards that your country became “annexationists”?

5)    Mr President, you and your predecessor have insisted that in the plebiscite in 1961 Southern Cameroons voted to join what you claim to be the mother-country which historically was German Kamerun. You therefore call the event RE-UNIFICATION. Unless this wrong information is calculated to achieve some hidden agenda, we are sure that your lawyers and historians would tell you that the United Nations plebiscite did not set out to reconstitute German Kamerun in 1961 and that Germany renounced all her overseas colonies at the end of world war I (Treaty of Versailles) . They would tell you that when the former UN Trust Territory of French Cameroun achieved independence on January 1^st 1960 there was no statute at the UN or anywhere in the world appointing your new country as successor to German Kamerun. They would tell you that your country can rightly claim to be successor to the former UN Trust Territory of French Cameroun and not German Kamerun. Your theory of a mother-country and of Re-Unification are both wrong and unacceptable because they are a threat to the stability of the entire sub-region because there are portions of German Kamerun in what is today Chad, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, and Nigeria. It is therefore unacceptable that your country’s pro-consuls are erecting structures within Southern Cameroons called “RE-UNIFICATION MONUMENTS” while you are planning a big Re-Unification celebration on 1^st October.

6)       Mr. President, in this letter we have referred to the people of the Republic of Cameroon as our brothers.  We use these words responsibly and we mean what we say.  The peoples of the Southern Cameroons and those of the Republic of Cameroon shared the same political and economic space for 50 years and the relationship between individual families have become intertwined. 

Unfortunately, the people of Southern Cameroons have lived through situations which convince them that, even two twins from the same womb have to live separate lives.  The people of Southern Cameroons are convinced that the union with la République du Cameroun failed a long time ago, indeed, it failed before it started.  We do not see our future as part of the political system which has governed your country during the last 50 years.

The people of Southern Cameroons did not vote in the Plebiscite to sell out themselves, their territory and their political status to become two Provinces of the Republic of Cameroon. That is the reason why they conducted a signature referendum in 1995.  The response to that referendum was that they overwhelmingly want a peaceful separation.  The plan of SCAPO as a Southern Cameroon Political Party is to ensure that there is a peaceful separation between the two Countries. This is the key reason why the people of Southern Cameroons have just filed a case at the United Nations Security Council.  This case gives the Republic of Cameroon the opportunity of showing the legal basis of their presence in Southern Cameroons, and of justifying their annexation of a State that was supposed to be a partner with them in a Federation of two States (both equal in Stations). But which, they chose to incorporate that state as two of their Provinces.

We can learn from events elsewhere:  When the people of Czechoslovakia realized that their union was not working, they voluntarily decided to separate their two peoples into two separate republics rather than to trigger another war in the middle of Europe.  After 75 years, the leaders of the country agreed to peacefully dissolve their union into a Czech and Slovak Republics on January 1, 1993.  The two countries are now doing very well as separate states. The proposal for dialogue between Southern Cameroon and the Republic of Cameroon has been made by the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights, Banjul and before then by Mr. Kofi Annan the then Secretary General of the United Nations.  Mr. President, we are surprise that you should brush aside these proposals for dialogue with Southern Cameroon and are planning a celebration.

Your Excellency, in working to restore our statehood our purpose is to revive our own form of democracy in which change was possible. Before coming under annexation and the suppression of our Statehood the government of the Southern Cameroons conducted free-and-fair general elections in Southern Cameroons.  Dr E.M.L. Endeley the then Prime Minister of the Southern Cameroons conceded defeat when Mr J.N.Foncha (Leader of the Opposition) was elected by the people.  There was a peaceful change of government which is rare today in Africa where incumbents hang on and on to power claiming popularity but refusing to create credible Independent Electoral Commissions and where frequent electoral and post-electoral strife manifest across the continent. For fifty years under annexation we have become more than convinced that we need to restore our statehood and revive our cherished democratic values.

Finally Mr. President, we think that with our Statehood restored we will develop our country better. We recall that twice under annexation the government of the Republic of Cameroon has opened the Kumba – Mamfe road (once from the Mamfe end by your predecessor and at at another time by a high ranking Minister of Government from the Kumba end of the road) and that these events remain the exceptional cases in Cameroon when un-tarred roads were ceremonially opened and tapes cut. You yourself know how many times you have visited Bamenda and told the people that you will construct the Ring-Road and other times that you will personally supervise the construction of that road. Still, the construction of the Ring Road has never taken off and the last we heard concerning the Ring-Road was from a Minister of your government saying that the Ring-Road was not a priority for your government. So who is fooling who in all these or in the plan for a big celebration in Buea on 1^st October 2012?

FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION

                            

 

                                                                                     

DR. KELVIN NGWANG GUMNE                                                                                     MR.AUGUSTINE NDANGAM  

Copy to:

·        The Secretary General of the United Nations.

·        The  President of the French Republic

·        The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

·        The President of the UN Security Council

·        The Chairman of the African Union

·        The Chairman of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union

·        The President of the Commission of the African Union

·        The Chairperson of the African Commission, Banjul

·        The Executive Secretary, ECOWAS

·        The Ambassador, United States Embassy, Yaoundé

·        The Canadian High Commission Yaounde

·        The Ambassador, French Embassy, Yaoundé

·        The British High Commission, Yaounde

·        The Ambassador, Russian Embassy, Yaounde

·        The Ambassador, Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China, Yaounde

·        The Nigerian High Commission, Yaounde

·        All Political Parties with Headquarters in Southern Cameroons

·        All Political Parties of the Republic of Cameroon

·        All Traditional Rulers of the Southern Cameroons

·        All Deputies of Southern Cameroons Origin in the National Assembly of La République du Cameroun

·        All Mayors of Southern Cameroons Local Government Areas.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Bamenda Gathers Momentum Ahead of Human Rights Film & Arts Festival

 

The Bamenda Human Rights Film and Arts Festival has been announced to run from July 15-21, 2012. According to a Press Release issued by Gwain Colbert Fulai, of A Common Future, the event will take place in selected halls and cafes in the Bamenda Municipality. The festival which is in its second edition seeks to articulate local, national and international issues through films and arts. The festival is also a lineup of the most sorts after box office films in Cameroon and abroad that clearly addresses related issues like governance, trafficking, respect of human dignity, discrimination and above all, the respect of international conventions and protocols.

It is hoped that through arts, the festival shall gather over 100 students to participate in shinning the light on human rights and their drawings shall later be displayed at a gallery on the university campus throughout the festival period. Through this, the students shall be brought to promote, defend, and raise awareness on human rights issues in Cameroon.

According to the Release, some 18 selected films with each addressing human rights issues shall be screened. The communiqué further states that all the films selected were chosen within the context that each address the concern of humanity and violence against women.

According to Gwain Colbert Fulai, the festival is intended to encourage many more Cameroonian film makers and producers to inculcate human rights as a key theme in the development of their films as an efficient and effective communicative vehicle in human rights education and sensitization. Besides, it also seeks to promote the core values of the international community’s human rights principles of a world free of discrimination, conflict and human rights violations.

The 18 films selected for the festival are: Widows at War and Wildlife Palavar produced and directed by Chop Samuel; Vice & Virtue as well as Asoni directed by Keka Sylvester; Tears from an Angel by Ihehon; Perverted Angel and Une Vie, Une Histoire by Alfred Amandy; Elemo by Nchoutu Rami; The Evidence by Ngato Noutosii; Before the Sunrise by Agbor Gilbert; Your Mother, My Wife by Molimo Cletus; The Woman’s World by Itambi Delphine; Atonement Calabash by Akuro Titus; Pension by Nyincho James; The Storm by CHRAC; Thinking Out of the Man Box by Anthony Porter; Rape and Incest produced by Aunties Association and the German Technical Cooperation.

A Common Future it should be noted is a leading national organization that works to transform lives and build common frontiers by proposing alternative models of masculinity that are not in opposition to models of femininity and that allow men and women to share love, decision making and productive health issues. The Festival is organized in collaboration with the Netherlands based Movie That Matter, the International Network of Human Rights Films Festivals, the North West Regional Delegation of Arts and Culture, The Bamenda City Municipality as well as some local organizations.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

CamCCUL/Credit Union Crisis, Finance Minister’s Verdict Out!

 

The Minister of Finance, Ousmane Mey issued a ministerial letter instructing CamCCUL officials to implement some dispositions with a view of ending the crisis and restoring serenity within the credit union movement. Ousmane Mey’s letter instructed CamCCUL officials to initiate the process for the revision of the CamCCUL by-laws by inviting all credit unions to each declare their positions on the by-laws and notably on the following two essential points: the duration and number of mandates of elected officials and the condition of eligibility of the Presidents of each credit union. However, the most interesting thing is that those who were talking of mismanagement were shocked and their ill intentions exposed because the minister’s final verdict did not talk about that. More so, it rather empowers CamCCUL to re-launch the process it started before the crisis.

In view of implementing these instructions from the Minister of Finance, CamCCUL officials on July 7, 2012 organized a Press Briefing with Media Organs based in Bamenda to unveil CamCCUL road map.

During the Press briefing, CamCCUL President Musa Shey Nfor said that when the credit union started, they were subjected to 1992 co-operative laws and with time many innovations took place especially the coming into force recently of the OHADA laws on cooperatives.

He said the governance of the league within that period also sort to see that all was well managed in the setup. That is why “the management, the BOD met on July 1^st to deliberate on the roadmap for CamCCUL, whereby the GM , his team and Board chair were mandated to follow-up and make sure that the process and instructions from the Minister are respected” he told journalists. He said during the 44^th AGM that took place at Azam Hotel in Bamenda, the representative of the minister talked of some directives that will come from the supervisory authority in connection to the issue of February crisis. Musa Shey Nfor used the occasion to express gratitude to the Minister of Finance for his reactions and added that CamCCUL ready and available to integrate these directives into the movement. “You should all understand that the promptness is indicative of the Minister’s understanding of the crisis because money does not like noise, so, where there is money there should be serenity”. He said the letter from the Minister of Finance addresses the crisis situation that prevailed in the network. “It has brought down the matter to two main issues, which are: 

·        The determination of term of office

·        Condition of legibility of BOD

“It therefore means once affiliated credit unions say what they think of the two issues, in an extraordinary General Assembly, it will be printed in five copies and forwarded via CamCCUL to the supervisory authority”.  Musa Shey Nfor said the issue was whether OHADA is applicable and with already a time logical time frame from the Minister that gives them up to May 15, 2013 to comply, there is every indication that CamCCUL was not on the wrong track before the crisis. He said CamCCUL has already put in place a road map for the process. This road map, he reiterated with the instruction of the minister gives CamCCUL the leeway to continue with the process started. CamCCUL he observed has gone through many laws, 1953, 1972, and 1992 cooperative laws respectively. “All what has happened had happened, it not about history but about compliance” he continued.

According to CamCCUL President, the issue was not on mandate and term of office but rather CamCCUL had realized that legal recovery has become more and more complicated because in villages people do not have landed property. “After the Buea meeting, we had a complete debate and discussion after day 3, they were channeled back to the credit union. The idea was that as financial institutions we comply with the financial year. So our practice needed people who have a mandate and considering our network we also need enough time to get to the peculiarity of our affiliates”.

The Minister’s letter according to CamCCUL President re-launches extraordinary GM, for credit unions to decide on the two instruments. “In my capacity as President, we are expected to bring a comprehensive kind of calendar to these extraordinary meetings and we are happy that as indicated by the Minister, all these actions will take place under the supervision of the Ministry of Finance, Agriculture and local administrative authorities. “The only difference is that it will come with some stress, we have now a situation where in one year we will have to complete all, this circular states the latest date for total compliance. Coming at a shorter notice, we will be deploring our maximum effort to succeed. The mandates are not to be determined by another law but by the credit unions” he emphasized. At the end of the briefing, he also told journalist that CamCCUL also received a delegation from IFAD and had also signed a convention with the World Bank (AGRIFIN) to empower farmers. Besides, he also made mentioned of the collaboration between SOWEDA and CamCCUL as well as the loan scheme to fisher men which has also registered great improvement both quantitative and qualitative.

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Of Tchiroma Versions and Nothing about the Truth

Communique published by Cameroon Tribune

Truth, it is widely acknowledged is a concept in philosophy that treats both the meaning of the word true and the criteria by which we judge the truth or falsity in spoken and written statements. Philosophers have attempted to answer the question “What is truth?” for thousands of years. Yet, it they have proposed to answer this question by allying truth to correspondence, pragmatic, coherence and deflationary.

Denying the existence of absolute truth affirms the existence of another truth, and so confirms the possibility of truth.

The recent outings of Issa Tchiroma commenting on the same issue with too many versions leave no one seeking for the desired truth about every sentence he makes. It is therefore affirmative that all along, Issa Tchiroma has always mangle the truth either by misunderstanding events or through deliberate lies. Tchiroma speaks as an idealist; he is shown to be deeply desirous of being a good teacher and expresses passion in addressing burning issues yet Cameroonians see in him a liar. In spite of these qualities, he is, and has finally buried in CPDM regime as he eventually finds himself defending what is said about him and no more playing the role of government spokesman. Yet political analysts see him as political joker who thinks everyone should like him because of his frosty behavior. His flippant remarks quickly wear thin, and although first he seems to fool Cameroonian, he has been caught in his own web as he is referred to as “the next catch of the Sparrow Hawk”. Ever since Marafa fired his fourth letter that exposed the SAA financial deal Issa Tchiroma tells the stories in a different ways as he talks every time he is accosted to talk on the FCFA 32 Billion scandal; we can hear him brag about himself in some passages, and we can hear the reality of his personality as he tells bitter, cruel lies

Tchiroma’s behavior ever since Marafa revealed nothing but the Truth about the Boeing 737 crash in Douala, he (Tchiroma) could easily be likened to the related events that destroy a dedicated political teacher’s career and resulted in a national scandal to raze a regime. The very serious matters of a minister’s rights to express his patriotism and of the destructive power of lying are treated thoughtfully, with no easy answers. Issa Tchiroma was in the Northern Region recently where he exploded that all the write-ups about him were a fabrication of the Press. With this timely theme of how the media is sometimes responsible for distorting the truth, Tchiroma also explored how individuals believe they are justified in perpetrating false claims in order to achieve their own social agenda. The most interesting thing is that he (Tchiroma) refused that MINCOM gave no support to some public media organs from Europe, notably BBC, France Television and others. In doing so, he blatantly defy a communiqué he signed and published in Cameroon Tribune telling “the whole truth, nothing but the truth. It is therefore very clear that his willingness to work at what interests him could develop into a broader understanding of his responsibilities and help him collapse with the Biya regime. Whether he received 32 billion FCFA from South African Airways and deposited the money in the state treasury remains another truth in his own versions.

Instead of growing more mature, Issa Tchiroma has caught himself in a web of deceit. Of late, he has degenerated from a happy, self-confident politician into a defensive, unhappy Minister. Observers have opined that for the past two months or so, Tchiroma has had choices to make, choices between hard roads and easy ones, and he has chosen the easy one each time. Instead of telling Cameroonians about the South African Airway connections, deals and where the money went to, he has chosen to be playing some sort of rap music. Play the ostrich with the Cameroonians people has been the only easy way for him.  His answers have shown that he alone is at fault and would certainly ignite dashed hopes as Biya has shown he has no friend. However, he needs to assert himself much more powerfully than he does in order to correct what has happened; having chosen the weak, easy way out of taking responsibility for his own actions, he is effortlessly squashed by the regime that want to use him for its own purposes. As Pierre Corneille puts it: “a good memory is needed after one has lied”, so Issa Tchiroma should resign.

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Political Gimmicks; After Fru Ndi, Ayah Paul Declares Support for Marafa

There is nothing more intriguing, truly, nothing more preposterous, than when one hears Camerounese (plus Cameroonians and Kamerunians) commend, condemn or dissociate. Camerounese (and nians) many there are who have divided the world into the saved (holy) and the condemned (sinners). Yet are they the very people that are quick to recite that the one thing that is constant is change. And indisputable indeed is that fact. Recall that our lord Jesus took along into paradise the thief that repented at the very point of death. And verily apparent it is that repentance is the central message of Christianity!

Saul-to-Paul was about the last apostle, if apostle he is qualified to be called. But central was he for the survival of the church upon the ascension of the Christ. He repented, as we all know, on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. Nobody looked backwards after his repentance to bastardize Paul’s epistles – the canons of the teachings of the church to date. To put it straight, there is no propitious time for repentance. Things just happen. This then renders the question “why now?” wholly misconceived, inappropriate and nugatory.

Therefore must we think again in our spontaneous condemnation of Mr. Marafa’s turn-around! Revelations by this high-profile insider of the system – call it CPDM – is invaluable for their cogency and. the weight of the personality behind them. Even if at all they are viewed by some as self-serving, their effects on the entire community are devastating and of general benefit.

For instance, the question has been raised time without number about disregard for the law by the Camerounese authorities for three decades now. The impact has been negligible that often, public reaction much more. But several are converted patriots today who are fairly emboldened to query the illegal instructions of the President of the Republic to expend 32 billion francs on the purchase of a presidential jet behind the back of parliament. Common knowledge it is that parliament has exclusive jurisdiction to enact the finance laws of the Republic. Nor is it a lesser impact the impending implosion of CPDM from the implication of several of its barons in the misappropriation of the funds consequent on the revelations. And one need not be a prophet to predict a tsunami-explosion from the implosion behind
efficient management.

A true patriot, therefore, one would opine, should encourage more revelations from Mr. Marafa with the resultant promotion of respect for the law, and the protection of the public treasury. The contrary would smack of vengeance and/or vindictiveness. In case of indecision, call Mr. Marafa Paul for recollection!

To say the least, the legal minds of PAP, in association with others, promise here and now not to hesitate to pass on notes to Mr. Marafa’s defence team whenever the moment is ripe

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Politics of Acrimony, Ayah Paul Fires at Agbor Tabi

PETER AGBOR TABI’S SHAMELESS LIES:

 One of the infamous things Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi told the people of Akwaya on April 28, 2012, was that, if he has not yet been appointed prime minister yet, it is because Manyu gave Mr. Paul Biya only 60% of their votes in the 2011 presidential election. He had therefore come to tell the people to give CPDM 100% vote in the next election for him to be appointed prime minister. He urged them to forget about “demented” and “wretched” Ayah.

continue reading AYAH Paul's THE RIGHT OF REPLY (05) on Peter Agbor Tabi.


Ayah has answered Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi’s vituperations in a previous right of reply. Naturally then does Ayah propose to limit himself here solely to Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi’s shameless lies – the desert of those who arrogate to themselves the position of intellectual in today’s
Cameroun, or Cameroon or even Kamerun.

Mr. Peter agbor Tabi like everyone else knows, in the first place, that neither Mr Peter Mafany Musonge nor Chief Ephraim Inoni was ever appointed prime minister because Fako Division gave CPDM 100% votes. Nor was Mr. Philemon Yang re-appointed prime minister recently because Bui did so. Everybody of course knows that, at the time Mr Achidi Achu was appointed prime minister, SDF won all the seats in the Northwest but for Balikumbat. Only someone as shame-proof as Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi would therefore tell such a colossal lie with intent to deceive, and in the promotion of nude self-interest!

Again, Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi knows very well that CPDM did not get 60% of Manyu votes. Whatever results were proclaimed were forgeries and electoral fraud perpetrated under Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi’s commandments. An honest man would do his utmost to put that behind him in humble repentance. Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi’s audacity to persist in recidivism is corroborative evidence of nervous desperation!

Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi may wish to remember that it has been proclaimed over and over that when the votes of some 62 polling stations selected at random in Manyu Division were tallied, Ayah was close to twelve thousand votes while Mr. Paul Biya was trailing him with less than seven hundred. Even the secret reports of Mr. Paul Biya’s own security agents show that Ayah won in Akwaya Subdivision by over 70%. And Akwaya Subdivision from the last national census is about half the population of Manyu Division. Only Lucifer’s library should be the source of Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi’s 60% votes for Mr. Paul Biya..

Even then, one is tempted to opine that Lucifer’s secretary general himself could depart from his innate devilish ruses in the face of the gargantuan exhibits showing that Ayah did not only win in the locality of Mr. Peter Agbir Tabi’s village, but he did win landslide in Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi’s native village of Ndekwai. And Mr. Peter Agbor Tabi’s boundless crusade in desperation itself eloquently attests to that assertion!

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

AC Risky Arrested?

 

Awah Cletus Fobuzie, a Bamenda based business magnet popularly known as AC Risky is reported to have been picked up by Law Enforcement officials in Bamenda. It is alleged Awah C Fobuzie alias AC Risky was arrested yesterday, June 3, 2012 for masterminding acts of vandalism. Confidential sources have hinted that AC Risky was exposed by the fact that he led the unauthorized protest march staged by some 23 vandals in Bamenda to disrupt the 44^th Annual General Meeting of the Cameroon Co-operative Credit Union League-CamCCUL. It is alleged that AC Risky was leading a group of vandals and consequently the administration after questioning some vandals discovered the act as a threat to peace in the North West Region. Assertions are ubiquitous that if such an act would have gone out of hand, Azam and NFC would have being at risk. However, all attempts to get in touch with AC Risky on phone could not yield any fruits yet confidential sources hinted that a certain Judith Awondo is also under strict surveillance on the same charges. Yet, it is alleged that everything was being staged managed from Ntarinkon for obvious reasons. 

It is feared that if the vandals had invaded the premises of Azam Hotel, where CamCCUL was holding its 44^th Annual General Meeting, it would have generated into chaos and destruction especially of NFC we were hinted. Yet, hearsay comments are rife that the whole scheme was intended catapult a certain Anye Judith presently the President of Azire Co-operative Credit Union LTD to the helm of CamCCUL, yet it flopped woefully. However, rumour is widespread in Bamenda that those who spearheaded the act of vandalism were promised as much as 500 million FCFA as compensations; notwithstanding, another school of thought holds that since there is no smoke without fire, the latter could not be dashed out completely. Yet we also gathered that AC Risky and Co had hired the premises of Azam Hotel to hold a meeting which sources say was also banned by the administration.

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CamCCUL General Assembly Condemns Blackmail & Sabotage, Resolves to Sanction Perpetrators

 

Musa Shey Nfor: Applauded

The Annual General Meeting of CamCCUL Ltd, the leading microfinance network in Cameroon took place in Bamenda on June 30, 2012 and having discussed and deliberated on various issues featuring on the agenda. At the end of the meeting, the AGM adopted the following resolutions:

1)      The Board should meet with the other shareholders of UBC to discuss the fate of our investments in the Bank and seek ways to safeguard this investment in the light of the exit of OCEANIC BANK OG NIGERIA PLC from the capital of the Bank in favour of ECOBANK TRANSACTIONAL INTERNATIONAL

2)      That the network shall abide by the “Redressement Plan/Project de Reponse” represented to COBAC by CamCCUL following the latter’s report of its last control CamCCUL covering the period up to December 2010. The CamCCUL Board/ Management is therefore delegated to follow up with the implementation of these corrective measures.

3)      That in the process of amending the Articles of Association of CamCCUL, Model-Bye-Laws of the Credit Unions and the Alternate Dispute Resolution policy was concluded on the 3^rd December 2011 in Buea during the Extraordinary Meeting of CamCCUL, and the Credit Unions have already started applying these internal laws. The delegates therefore unanimously reiterate that the decision of the AGM of the 03/12/11 remain binding and enforceable to the entire CamCCUL network in a non retrospective manner.

4)      The law is nor retrospective, hence in carrying out new elections within the CamCCUL network, the new reference shall be the decision of the 03/12/12 in Buea adopting the Model Bye-Laws and Articles of Association of CamCCUL; and to this end individual Credit Unions shall freely carry out new elections using their Bye-Laws drawn up from the Model Bye-Laws adopted by the CamCCUL general Assembly on the 03/12/11 in Buea.

5)      The General Assembly vehemently condemns acts of blackmail, sabotage and the divulging to the public of network sensitive information by some Credit Union officials. Due to the disruption of our network activities by certain detractors of the system in Bamenda, certain issues which are of primordial importance to our survival, like the taxation problems, delinquency, the stability of our Bank (UBC PLC) have been neglected by CamCCUL management, whose attention is now diverted to resolving these problems, thus leading to serious setbacks in our operations. Promoters of such unscrupulous acts shall be severely sanctioned.

6)      That the CamCCUL network shall this year celebrate the International Credit Union Day concurrently with the World Co-operative Day. The Board and Management is delegated to make ample preparations towards these events and communicate to the Credit Unions.

7)      That Board and Management shall continue to liaise with other stakeholders of the Microfinance sector to lobby government for a special tax dispensation for the sector.

8)      That Management should compile the ADR policy and transmit to the Credit Unions for implementation.

9)      That Management should implement the ATM project after its pilot stages, in Credit Unions taking into consideration certain technical and logistical considerations.

10)  That the Risk Management premium be reduced by 20% with effect from July 1^st 2012 and the number of beneficiaries be increased to 10.

11)  That League dues be reduced by 30% over a period of three years taking as a basis the 2011 end of year results, on a 10% annual reduction between 2012 and 2014 for modalities thereafter.

12)  That CamCCUL field inspectors should always present a report of their interventions to the Board of Director of any Credit Union in which they have carried out an audit exercise instead of just filling their comments on visitor’s book.

13)  That Credit Unions should as a measure of solidarity assist in reviving Njinikom Credit Union, the pioneer Credit Union of the CamCCUL network, which is under serious difficulties that threatens its very survival.

14)  That the Board/Management should put in place a common security for the network.

15)  That CamCCUL hereby create a think tank committee answerable to the Board of Directors to cater for the reorganization and restructuring of CamCCUL as well as reviewing issues of governance, compliance, operations, supervision, discipline etc and proposals made to CamCCUL Board/Management for consideration.

16)  That CamCCUL should deduct from the fixed deposits of the Credit Unions which are still to pay their shares and or still owing the league dues, the sums still remaining unpaid by the latter.

17)  That Management takes measures to institute a process whereby part contributions from the Credit Unions are injected directly into equity.

18)  That the reports as presented and discussed, including the appropriation of the financial results for the year ended December 2011 are adopted.

19)  That the operational as well as the investment budget with emphasis being the continuation of Bamenda Commercial Avenue building project are adopted. Specifically, the Board should ensure that installation of a lift and water storage facilities on the premises.

Teku Collins Oben  &      Rabe Gaston

Secretariat

Kadjio Victor           & Nzegge Joseph

Scrutineers

Tienchou Jonas

General Manager

Musa Shey Nfor

President

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa