Cocoa/Coffee Sector: New Generation Programme Ignites Hopes

Statistics show that cocoa production in Cameroon will reach 269,495 tons during the 2015-2016 campaign season with expectation that by 2020 production may reach 600 000 tons. However, prospects are high at that Cameroon could reach its target with the contribution from initiatives such as the New Generation programme which was initiated since 2012 by the Interprofessional Council of Cocoa and Coffee (CICC).  This is so because the New Generation Programme is already displays flattering results especially with the involvement of youths. Sources say over 1400 hectares of new cocoa farms and coffee has already been developed with over 1,000 young farmers. Indicators are rife at that the 2015/16 figure surpassed the central African country's previous record of 240,000 tons during the 2010/11 season. Output since then has fluctuated due to pests, crop diseases and prolonged dry seasons.

According to the Minister of Commerce, Luc Magloire Atangana Mbarga "this programme is only a few years yet demonstrates efficiency and effectiveness. He made the flattering statement at the opening of the first International Forum of young New Generation organized by the CICC and the Ministry of Commerce. It should be noted that the forum was the first joint international Cocoa festival that offered an opportunity for young farmers to share ideas, knowledge and experiences. And, this is also an opportunity to discover young people that make cocoa farming a business.

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

BICEC: Four Arrested for Alleged Theft, Forgery, Falsification of Private Documents Estimated at FCFA 50 Billion

Four senior staff members of Banque Internationale du Cameroun pour l’Epargne et le Crédit-BICEC bank in Douala have been arrested and detained for their alleged involvement in a scam estimated at about FCFA 50 billion. They are accused of embezzlement of billions of CFA francs. According to what we gathered one of the scams centered on carrying out undue expenses. Newspaper reports say about three billion CFA francs (4.5 million euros, $5 million) were made from 2008 and 2012 for furniture.

The four staff members are accused of falsification, connivance in forging private documents, abuse of confidence and aggravated scam but they have not been proven guilty. News reports say regional Central African banking commission COBAC had in March estimated the theft at more than 50 billion CFA francs (76 million euros) between 2003 and 2015. However, BICEC is yet to make an official declaration in relation to the alleged scam. Tongues are still waging as to whether the forgery if true was not masterminded by many workers given that the amount is huge and the length of time especially as controls are supposed to be carried out. This alone #DevelopingStory



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Pogba Signs for Manchester United, Becomes Most Expensive Football Player

Paul Pogba has signed for Manchester United to become the most expensive player ever in football history.

Paul Pogba

 Manchester United have completed the signing of Paul Pogba from Juventus in a world record fee. He is now the most expensive transfer ever. 

 The France midfielder left United to join Juve in 2012 and becomes Jose Mourinho's most expensive buy this season. 

 The 23-year-old has now become the most expensive player in football history, overtaking the deal that took Gareth Bale from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013.

 United will pay the Italian champions 105m euros for Pogba, plus 5m euros (£4.5m) in performance-related bonuses and other costs, including 5m euros if Pogba signs a new contract. It surpasses the £85m that Real Madrid paid Tottenham for Wales forward Gareth Bale in 2013, BBC reports.

 "Manchester United is delighted to announce that Paul Pogba has completed his transfer from Italian club Juventus," the club wrote on their official website.

 "Paul joins on a five-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year."

 According to Goal.com, Pogba is reported to earn an astonishing £104m pre-tax salary over five years, a figure that put off Real Madrid, who were also in the running for his signature, with Cristiano Ronaldo the only Los Blancos star to earn more than that amount.

 The Frenchman made just seven appearances for United during his initial stint with the club, and failed to complete 90 minutes in the Premier League under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson.

 But while there was some bitterness on both sides at his departure for Italy, Pogba has made the decision to rejoin the club as they look to vastly improve on the fifth-placed finish secured under Louis van Gaal in 2015-16.

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What You Need to Know about Kenya's Richest Witch-doctor Who Never Misses Church Service

An African witch-doctor (juju woman) who is very popular and rich in Kenya for her voodoo has made shocking revelations about herself.

Annah Mutheu is a wealthy witch-doctor in Kenya

 Annah Mutheu is a very rich witch-doctor living an extravagant lifestyle unlike many in her profession. The woman lives in a lavish home she estimated to be worth Sh40 million (N127m) and has a fleet of cars and often jets in and out of the country like a corporate high-flier.

 According to The Nairobian, the popular  witch-doctor from Kenya does not miss church service as she revealed she inherited the trade from her parents .

 “Most people assume that witch-doctors are poor and lead miserable lives. That is not the case. I am a woman of means and my juju business has made me rich,” the former student at Katwii Primary School confessed to The Nairobian.

 According to her, the Bible helps her a lot in healing her clients and that she never misses church on Sundays.

 The 39-year-old witch doctor who only made it to primary school also revealed that she is religious to the core and attends church without fail. She attributes her success to the fact that she is inspired by God in her work.

 She helps people in business prosperity, finding jobs, cure diseases, break curses etc. She is very popular in Kenya as many attests to the fact that her medicine (juju) works.

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

Here are the 6 Most Expensive Football Transfers In History

There have been several outrageously expensive transfers in the history of football. These are some of them.

French star Paul Pogba has moved from Juventus to Manchester United for a reported 89 million pounds which would be make him the world’s most expensive player if confirmed. Here are the most expensive transfers in football history:

 

1. Paul Pogba (FRA) Juventus to Manchester United – 89 million pounds ($116.4 million, 105 million euros) 

 

 Manchester United had been linked to offers for Pogba even when Louis Van Gaal was still coach. But the machine really started turning when Jose Mourinho took over on his mission to get United back into the Champions League frontrunners. The fact that Pogba had played for United as a teenager and was released for a pittance makes the transfer even more incredible. For a while Real Madrid had been contenders for Pogba’s signature.

 

2. Gareth Bale (WAL) Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid – £85.1m – 2013 

 

 Welsh forward whose performances for an attractive Spurs side persuaded Real to bid for him. The English side could not refuse such advances and let their star man go. He has built on his career at the Santiago Bernabeu with two Champions League titles, scoring in the final of the first of the two against Atletico Madrid. His experience in La Liga helped him lead Wales in their memorable run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals. Bale also scored a stunning winner in the Copa del Rey final against Real’s arch rivals Barcelona in 2014.

 

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) Manchester United to Real Madrid £83.7m – 2009 

 

 Real Madrid came calling for the Portuguese master with what was then a world-record bid. Ronaldo was keen to join, and since arriving in the Spanish capital he has become their all-time top goalscorer and consistently set records in the Champions League, which he has won three times in his career, twice with Real. He has achieved all this despite the hottest of competition from Barcelona’s Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi, who still leads in the overall La Liga scoring charts.

 

4. Gonzalo Higuain (ARG) Napoli to Juventus £75.3m – 2016

 

 Juventus paid the biggest fee for a domestic transfer in history when they matched Higuain’s buy-out clause of 90 million euros to bring the Argentinian to Turin from Napoli last month. The 28-year-old former Real Madrid striker top-scored in Serie A last season with a record-equalling 36 goals as Napoli finished second to Juve. Coach Massimiliano Allegri led Juventus to a record fifth consecutive league title in 2016, but he will be hoping that Higuain can help his side improve in Europe, after following up their 2015 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona with a last-16 exit at the hands of Bayern Munich. 

 

5. Luis Suarez (URU) Liverpool to Barcelona £75m – 2014

 

 Barcelona didn’t hesitate to sign the striker despite his shame at the World Cup finals when — for the third time — he bit an opponent, this time Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. As a result Suarez was unable to play competitively or train with them for four months, but once his ban was over he repaid them in full. No disgraceful incidents have followed and he ended his first season with them by scoring in the Champions League final win over Juventus. His trident attacking partnership with Messi and Neymar yielded a La Liga record for three forwards of 122 goals that campaign. Scored a hat-trick to seal the league title for Barca last term and went on to complete the domestic double in a season in which he grabbed a staggering 58 goals.

 

6. Neymar (BRA) Santos to Barcelona £71.5m – 2013

 

Off the pitch alleged shenanigans over how much went to the player, his family and to the selling club itself have dogged Barcelona over the transfer of Neymar, who on the pitch has shone for them in their brilliant three-pronged attack. The Brazilian shrugged off an injury that ended his 2014 World Cup campaign early to play a pivotal role in Barcelona’s Champions League success. Like Suarez, he scored in that final against Juventus, and collected La Liga and Copa del Rey winners medals. There was no let-up last term either as he scored in the Copa del Rey final against Sevilla. Legal problems still hover over the transfer despite a high court judge ruling that he didn’t believe it could be pursued in the courts — as the prosecutor takes issue with that decision.

 

- Vanguard

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President of Benin Republic Creates the Unexpected, Drives Himself to a Football Match in Cotonou #LessonFromBenin

President Patrice Talon has made a shocking entrance to a football stadium as he drove himself to a football match to the surprise of many.

President of Benin, Patrice Talon riding a grey Porsche

 The newly elected President of Benin, Patrice Talon shocked his people recently as he drove himself to a football match.

 

 The president who came to watch his country play against Ivory Coast in Cotonou was the cynosure of all eyes as many did not believe a president could want to drive himself when he has many security personnel at his disposal.

 

 The president was spotted wearing a red polo shirt with a brown trouser and black shoe as he drove into the stadium in a grey porsche car.

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Lesson from Nigeria: Buhari Relaunches War Against Indiscipline #LessonFromNaija

President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration on Monday, August 8, has relaunched the War Against Indiscipline, (WAI) Brigade in Abuja

The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Garba Abari, has announced today that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, has relaunched the War Against Indiscipline (WAI Brigade), in Abuja. saying in this era of insecurity, violence, kidnapping, the role of the Brigade in civil intelligence gathering cannot be over emphasized.
According to Vanguard, while announcing the development on the occasion of the National and State Commanders meeting of the Community Support Brigade (CSB), also known as WAI, Abari said the President Buhari administration has declared the intention to relaunch the Brigade for better performance, as well as to bring its activities to the fore.
The theme of the meeting was “Repositioning The WAI Brigade for Enhanced Civil Intelligence Gathering.”

 

 

The minister of information, Lai Mohammed, had earlier disclosed that WAI will be rebranded into Change Begins with Me (CBWM).
Recall that during his first tenure as a military Head of State, President Buhari alongside Tunde Idiagbon launched a nationwide campaign called “War Against Indiscipline.”
The program’s intention was to instill public morality, social order, civic responsibilities in Nigerians, and promote Nigerian nationalism.

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Donga Mantung V-Nwa Issues Earnest Call for President Biya's Candidacy in the Upcoming Presidential Elections #PhotoNews

 Militants and sympathizers of the CPDM of Donga Mantung V Section (Nwa) in the North West region have issued a motion of support calling on President Paul Biya’s candidacy in the forthcoming Presidential elections. The call was made during a Joint Section Conference that took place on August 6, 2016 in Ngom (Sabongari). In the motion, Donga Mantung V Nwa (Section of the CPDM) also moved their total and unflinching support to His Excellency President Paul Biya, the National Chairman of the CPDM party, head of state, President of the Republic and the institutions that he incarnates. Militants also reviewed with satisfaction the resounding victory being recorded by the Defense Forces in the on-going war against the devilish terrorist sect Boko Haram. They declared the CPDM as the bedrock of national cohesion at the service of an emerging Cameroon, thus declared their loyalty and indefinable support to President Biya. 

#PhotoNews 

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

Is Goodluck Jonathan Really Sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers?...See What He Has to Say

 Following reports that he is sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers militant group, ex president Goodluck Jonathan has reacted.

Goodluck Jonathan

Goodluck Jonathan, the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan, has come to dismiss the reports that he was one of those funding rampaging militant group, Niger Delta Avengers.
It will be recalled that a splinter group of Avengers, Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, RNDA, had issued a statement claiming that Jonathan was the grand patron of the rampaging group that has claimed responsibility for several attacks on oil installations in the oil rich region
The splinter group in the statement by its spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte had on Saturday released a list of people it alleged where sponsors of militants in the rich oil region.
The list according to Whyte include, “Goodluck Jonathan, the former president (grand patron), Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, Governor Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa state Senator Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), ex-militant turned contractor 6. Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of the African Independent Television 7. Kingsley Kuku, an ex special adviser to Jonathan on Niger Delta.”
Others are “Olisa Metuh, an ex-spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Oyege Nimi Brown, VIP Timothy, Joshua, VIP Timothy Joshua, Joshua Macaiver Paul Bebenimibo, Udengs Eradiri, Kimi Angozi 15. Patrick Akpobolokemi, Edwin K. Clark, Tony Uranta, Daniel Alabrah and Annkio Briggs.”
However, according to Daily Post, Jonathan who is in Zambia as an election observer ahead of the nation’s next week poll, described the list released by Whyte as malicious.
He maintained that the names of those listed as alleged sponsors and supporters of NDA suggested a political agenda informed the composition of the list.
He stressed that he will soon come out with a statement clarifying the allegation, Sahara reporter quoted him as saying.
On if he was approached by President Muhammadu Buhari to broker peace between the Federal Government and agitators in the region, the former President said he had received no formal request from his successor.
He, however, stated that Ijaw leader and elder statesman, Edwin Clark, was working informally to help restore stability in the area.

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

Jonathan, Tompolo, Akpabio, Wike, Dokpesi, Others Named As Sponsors of Niger Delta Avengers?

A split faction of the Niger Delta Avengers has shockingly exposed names and identify of alleged sponsors of the militant group.

Goodluck Jonathan

A group that recently split from Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a militant organization that has claimed responsibility for bombing numerous oil facilities, has claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan was the grand patron of the NDA, Sahara Reporters reports

In a statement issued today by Cynthia Whyte, an alias for a male spokesman, the splinter group also named several former and serving governors as sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers. Those named as “sponsors” included Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa.

Mr. Whyte also identified Senator Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, ex-militant turned contractor, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo), Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of African Independent Television (AIT), the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Kingsley Kuku, Kimi Angozi, and Patrick Akpobolokemi as other sponsors.

The splinter group, which renamed itself Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), had recently declared its opposition to NDA’s destruction of oil infrastructure in the region, warning that it would disclose the names of individuals and groups backing the militant group.

Mr. Whyte’s statement revealed that the NDA’s sympathizers included Edwin K. Clark, Tony Uranta, Daniel Alabrah, Ms. Annkio Briggs, and Olisa Metuh, a former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers named Oyege Nimi Brown, VIP Timothy, Joshua Macaiver, Paul Bebenimibo and others as the main operatives of the NDA, adding that Udengs Eradiri, the president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), also known as Brigadier General Murdoch Agbinibo, serve as the NDA’s chief spokesman.

Following the release of the list, a source close to former President Jonathan told SaharaReporters that there was “no iota of truth to the claim that former President Goodluck Jonathan has a hand in the violence in the Niger Delta.”

The source, who asked not to be identified, said he was in touch with Mr. Jonathan, adding that the former president was considering issuing a formal statement to dismiss the claims made by Mr. Whyte.

“If former President Jonathan wanted chaos in Nigeria and the Niger Delta, he would have refused to concede the election to General Buhari and the APC,” the source said.

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

At Joint Section Conference, CPDM Militants of Nwa Plead for the Creation of Mantung Division

Hon. Mbucksek and Dr. Ngomfe hand in hand

Militants and sympathizers of the CPDM of Donga Mantung V Section (Nwa) in the North West region have issued a motion of support calling on President Paul Biya’s candidacy in the forthcoming Presidential elections. The call was made during a Joint Section Conference that took place on August 6, 2016 in Ngom (Sabongari). In the motion, Donga Mantung V Nwa (Section of the CPDM) also moved their total and unflinching support to His Excellency President Paul Biya, the National Chairman of the CPDM party, head of state, President of the Republic and the institutions that he incarnates. Militants also reviewed with satisfaction the resounding victory being recorded by the Defense Forces in the on-going war against the devilish terrorist sect Boko Haram. They declared the CPDM as the bedrock of national cohesion at the service of an emerging Cameroon, thus declared their loyalty and indefinable support to President Biya.

Matters Arising

Welcoming delegates, militants, sympathizers and invitees to Ngom known as Sabongari town, the Section President of Donga Mantung V, Hon. Genesis Mbucksek said he is overwhelmed by the massive turnout which is indicative of their determined efforts quest for the development of the enclaved subdivision that shares a very long boundary with the Taraba State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (140 km). he said to have braved the steep rocky hills, deep valleys with fast running streams and rivers from Adere to Mbat, from Mbepji to Lus, from Jui to Kwaja, from Sih to Saam, from Yang to Nkot, from Nwa to Lih, from Shie to Wajiri, etc and other distant villages in the Mbaw plain is enough testimony of the loyalty for President Paul Biya. The CPDM, he said is growing from strength to strength and that they are not prepared to mortgage the development of the Nwa in exchange for dreams. The come-together he emphasized, “should offer us the greatest opportunity for stock-taking, planning and for renewed stewardship to the desires, and aspirations of our great party”.  He warned against lip services, fractionalization as witnessed prior to the last re-organization exercise and reccommended reconciliation and harmony within the ranks of the militants. “Because your militancy is not supposed to be conditioned by the amount of money most of you, more often than not, often expect to receive from the party, nor should it be determined by the amount of money you give to the party. Quoting from Chiara Lubich’s idea in Ponder and Live better, Hon. Genesis Mbucksek outlined that “it takes a heart rich with love (for the CPDM) and hands wiling ti serve (the CPDM). You don’t need a large purse vomitting with bank notes to change the world; you need a large heart that can give out love in the epic proportions and can absorb the bullets of hate without reducing the flow of love among Comrades of the CPDM. (Indeed), the greatest kind of poverty that we need to combat (in the party) is poverty of character.

To Hon. Mbucksek, the CPDM in Nwa is sailing on a good ship to glory when judged from the results since 2007 and the achievements “whereas with the SDF and other opposition parties, you are riding a dead horse to underdevelopment”. He called on all the living forces in Nwa to join him in asking on President Paul Biya to accept another seven year mandate. However, the Section President lamented that most of the external elites who claim to be CPDM militants and on whom the Section should have normally relied for moral, material and financial support, rather come home to fan up divisions in the party. Militants also frowned at the fact that even during national celebrations like May 20^th, some of these elites do not give a dime as support in the subdivision. They also observed that even some CPDM councilors do not toe party lines which contribute enormously in hampering party activities. Analyzing future challenges, delegates noted with satisfaction that the 20 Sub Sections that make up Donga Mantung V are very active and functional. They promised to produce a crushing win for the CPDM in the forthcoming elections of at least 70%.

Plea  

Harping on government’s efforts to bring the administration to closer to the people, militants also prayed on government to consider raising Nwa Subdivision to a full Division called “Mantung Division” with headquarters in Nwa and the creation of new subdivisions at Nwa central, Ntong, Ngom and Kom-Mfumte. Created since 1963, Nwa sub Division, deserves and qualifies to be raised full division and should be treated with special attention, they pleaded. Harping on the militants observed that Nwa is ripe for a full divisional status, given its vastness, proximity with Nigeria and its high population estimated at more than 75,000 inhabitants yet decried that though a border subdivision, Nwa has not benefitted from any disenclavement programme. Militants also expressed the need for a mobile health unit in Nwa that can serve the population given the vastness of the area with only one medical district officer resident in Nwa.

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