Mother of Wimbum Tradition Exhibited at Public Presentation of Njap Fon

 Here is the groundbreaking public presentation of the new Fon and Ma Yaah of Njap village which took place on Sunday January 12, 2013 at the Njap Palace. Ceremony in Pics

Newly enthroned fon being moved from the "tiri" by the "Ye-ngwarong"

He goes on his knees to recieve super power

Fon fon gets blessings

Young fon moves for the last time bare footed

 Newly enthron fon disappears into the inner palace after a tour of the court-yard

Sacrifice to the gods of the land

Fon of Mbot(Warr Clan Head) flanked by the newly enthroned Fon and Ma Yaah of Njap

Ni John Fru and Delegation

Fon and Ma Yaah flanked by Fru Ndi and Bunyui Emmanuel 

(mayor of Ndu)

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

Human Rights Organization Accuses US Consulate of Adminsitrative Bottle-necks in Issuance of Visas

Kelly Ngyah: CEO MAHSRA

 By Fai Cassian Ndi

The Chief Executive Officer of the Modern Advocacy Humanitarian Social and Rehabilitation Association-MAHSRA, a Cameroon based Human Rights Organization with consultative status with the United Nations has lamented that on two consecutive occasions, members of his organization who were designated to participate at the Open Working Group for Sustainable Development Goals-(OWG/SDG) have been refused US non-immigrants visas due to administrative procedures. The CEO of MAHSRA, Kelly Ngyah told journalists in a Press Conference on January 11, 2014 in Bamenda that the most recent decision by the Yaounde based US Consulate for not permitting MAHSRA’s representative to travel to the United States of America so as to present their side event on “the Community Health Unit’s Database Networking Systems for Sustainable Technological Growth, Healthcare Delivery Equality an Broader e-governance implicit measures in LDCs". Hear him "I believe there is a strong need to address the US’s visa issuance policy with regards of UN meetings decisions in New York in order to build a concordant tie with their government’s support for the participatory rights of the civil society”. He wondered how the US would grant immigrant visas for tens of thousands of persons of no particular reasons but based on “chance lottery games” yet the Consulate officers stick on procedures and deny non-immigrant visas to designated and UN confirmed participants to meetings who carry a major and greater goal for global objectives that are even glaringly supported by US foreign policy.

He told journalists that on the first occasion, two persons applied for visa appointment but one was granted entry while the other was refused. He said after that happened, MAHSRA addressed a cordial letter of inquiry to the Ambassador with regards to such non-supportive act against the development prospect of LDCs (Cameroon)  but the mail service he added after a careful study collected but refused to discharge it. Kelly Ngyah insisted that his worry and that of MAHSRA is that the visa processing time at the US Consulate including administrative procedures of 30 and 60 days is well too long for certain assessed issues such as has been the exemplary case of the Sixth Session OWG/SDG side events of the United Nations which were selected within three weeks before the session. “Should the decisions of the United Nations follow national policy priorities or should it seek national consent before being taken”, he asked in rhetoric. Quoting Article 50 of ECOSOC resolution 1996/31, Kelly Ngyah said it states that “in recognition of the intergovernmental nature of the UN Conferences and preparatory processes, the participation of accredited non-governmental organizations are non-negotiable”. He also wondered whether there isn’t a peculiar need for a better US visa facilitation processes for the participation of organization from developing countries at UN meetings in New York adding that less developing African nations ought to be taken into consideration and especially youths.

He also lamented that even in Cameroon; there is much neglect of youth potentiality by the leadership of the country. He cited pathetic case of occurred in May 2012, when MAHSRA requested to offer peace studies in the University of Bamenda and it was appreciated but when a similar request was sent to the University of Buea, the source was undermined by the school administration. He also disclosed to journalists that in July 2012, his organization made another request to the Cameroon Government to carryout a voluntary PhD research program against corruption to some four ministries and the request was undermined on grounds that youths cannot handle sensitive issues. 
In his conclusion, the CEO of MAHSRA outlined that " there is need for leadership to understand that, a simple appreciative note or word of encouragement directed to a youthful endeavour is enough to boost three time the efforts of that youth and the better development prospects of the nation". He furthermore more emphasized that " the time for public authorities to be responsible for their duty commitments and obligations is reached". Leaders he added need to understand the reasons why they are where they are. "They are where they are because of the will of the people who put them there and as such should act according to that will. If the will of he who puts you where you are is to respect the greater participation and concern of the Civil Society then you ought to do so; and if such a will is from an electorate requesting representation, then you should do so in full. A public office is neither a private nor an individual freewill job prestige but a dedicated and acknowledged privilege to serve the people before oneself. Those who do not posses wills" he warned "should not aspire for public leadership offices in a country like Cameroon that needs total dedication for general rather than personal development options. In the course to empower the civil society participation in both national and international development processes, MAHSRA will leave no stone unturned and will stand below no unlawful heights towards achieving its purpose". 

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

Bamenda Gov’t Delegate, Vincent Ndumu Nji Rubbishes Vision 2035

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Vincent Ndumu Nji

The Government Delegate to the Bamenda City Council Vincent Ndumu Nji has said that Vision 2035 is more of a talking drum than realism. Much time he said is wasted on talking without rather than working. Vincent Ndumu Nji made that statement on Friday January 10, 2013 at the launching of the 2014 Public Investment Budget-BIP at the Bamenda Congress Hall. The euphoria was total as Vincent Ndumu Nji substantiated his argument to the dismay of the Yaounde cronies who were helpless. Implicitly, the so-called Vision 2035 is an optical illusion and not a miracle given the vision is being propagated by people who will not even live to see it gets to the end of the tunnel. Vision 2035 has been described by many a politician as a white elephant vision and a chopping arrangement by some barons of the Biya regime who are more interested in what enter into their pockets than the concept of Cameroon emerging by 2035.

Harping of the poor execution of the 2013 budget, Hon. Bandzem Lukong, SDF Parliamentary Group leader accused the central administration for awarding contracts to contractors who do not know the field. He said the problem is not the amount allocated for North West Region but fears whether the central administration will not frustrate the region by awarding contracts to dubious contractors.

On his part, Ngala Edward, Tender Board Chairman for the North West Region applauded the early lunching but added that it is not only the launching that matters but how soon the implementation shall start.

The mayor of Nkum Council in Bui Division said he was so disappointed with the allocation of the projects given that his municipality does not have a single classroom. He said Nkum municipality has been neglected. He went as far as questioning the rationality in the distribution of projects in the region. “It is as if we do not exist and it is lamentable”, mayor Suila Aruna hammered.  

Even though the budget for the North West stands at FCFA 3.5 billion, the University of Bamenda takes the biggest share.

However those who took the pains to attend the launching and listen to the presentations in slippery English from the Yaounde cronies went back home appreciating Vincent Nji Vincent Ndumu Nji who acted like late former Government Delegate to the Bamenda City Council Jumel Pefok. Late Pefok it should be recalled collected a speech from the Yaounde cronies when President Biya was visiting Bamenda, rehearsed it but when the moment to read the speech came, dulled out one from his pocket to tell President Biya the truth about the feelings of the Bamenda man. Ndumu was applauded even CPDM bigwigs of the North West Region. Those who could not have the courage to speak the truth could be seen jumping on their seats. While those who have been eyeing his position saw it as his dismissal from office. It should be recalled that the former mayor of Nkambe council, Mangoh Jones Tanko a year ago was categorical that Vision 2035 is a sham. Mangoh Jones Tanko criticized that the time frame was too broad for it to be realistic.

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

Ndansi Elvis Makes Critical Analysis of President Biya’s New Year Speech

Ndansi Elvis: NUDP National Youth President

The National Youth President of the National Union for Democracy and Progress-NUDP has made a critical analysis of President Biya’s New Year Speech. Ndansi Elvis Nukam in his reaction said the speech was full of lamentations but that he admired the emotions that President Biya expressed to show that things have gone out of hand with the generation who cannot change. In his analysis Ndansi Elvis remarked that “President Paul Biya’s speech of December 31, 2013 was like the other past speeches, full of drama and well built up language but in terms of meaning, I haven’t seen much from the speech”.

Harping on the content and the take-home message, he added that “It should be a policy speech with stock-taking and projections for next year with time frame included and not just lamentations for the past year”.

Ndansi Elvis also commented that even though the speech was empty, he observed a mark of difference in the emotions exhibited by the Head of State “The difference is that I saw some other aspects of him in the speech that I have not seen during the past years, that is, the emotional composition of the speech, meaning that it has reach a state where things have gone wrong to the point that the Head of State is so emotional about the state of affairs in this country. That is one remark that I noted of him”.

On President Biya giving a positive note to ELECAM, he said that he was shocked at the shower of praises “he started by praising ELECAM despite all the fraud and I think that they could have done better if they had the political will but as the captain he has to praise them because he is the one who put them in place. He went further to talk of our football team and to me that is good. In fact all of us are praying that the Lions should go ahead. It is good that the Head of State gave them such a motivation in his speech”.

On the take home on President Biya’s rhetorical questions, Ndansi Elvis observed that the Head of State “talked about the economy which is what Cameroonians are concerned about. But instead of playing the role of the leader, he rather was asking questions which are questions that he is suppose to answer. Let me make this simple demonstration. If you are the captain of a ship and the ship is about to shipwreck or loose it direction, you don’t expect to turn as captain of the ship and ask the passengers on board what to do or what do we do? Whereas all the others are looking at you as the captain onboard then it becomes puzzling. I expected the Head of state should be the one to tell us in his speech why regions are not able to execute their budgets up to 50%, that civil servants have self interest etc. These are questions that the Head of State is supposed to call cabinet meetings with his ministers and ask them. How will he come at the end of the year and he is asking Cameroonians these questions? Take for example a farmer in the village who lives every morning to work on his/her farm and is looking for money to send children to school to answer questions on inertia and bottle necks in budget execution. He should have asked the questions to those who are directly concern like the ministers. How many times have the Head of state call cabinet meetings in this country to talk to his ministers about moving forward. So asking that question to Cameroonians to me was embarrassing”.

In a critical look at the new roadmap for the health sector, Ndansi Elvis said the President also talked about “the health sector and especially the resurgent of malaria in the Northern regions. What I was expecting him to tell was the actions that the Ministry of Public health will take this year to make sure that the situation is brought under control. It is pathetic that we continue to depend on international aids on very sensitive health issues like malaria that is responsible for many deaths in our country. I looked through the budget of the Ministry of Public Health for 2014 and I was so embarrassed that the budget is less than FCFA 800 million including the acquisition of treated mosquito bed nets, anti malarias and rapid diagnosis tests. How can a country like Cameroon not allocate at least a billion to combat a devastating and sensitive health issue like malaria? He also said that the health map of Cameroon will change due to the increment in Referral Hospitals. The health situation of this country is indicative of the health map of Cameroon and we cannot be talking of a Referral Hospital in Sangmelima which is just a few kilometers from Yaounde. Or a Gyneco-Obstetric Referral Hospital in Douala and Yaounde when the North West and South West Regions will have take vehicles to travel long distances to get there. We cannot be talking of a change in the health map of the country when we are referring to the locations that are already over-burdened with referral hospitals. I think if we are talking of a health map, we should be talking of a Pediatric hospital in the Northern Regions, and maybe an Auto-Pedic Referral Hospital in the North West due to the high rate of motorbike accidents and so on. There are many other issues that if the department of health was able to carry out evidence based diagnosis of the health situation there would haven’t have being this mixed up”.

He lamented that President Biya avoided talking of the Reunification Celebrations which many Cameroonians expected seemingly because “if he did not talk about the Reunification celebration to me is that the best way since to bring argument is to avoid the argument.

In all, what I admired about the speech is the emotion with which he spoke and I think if he uses that the same emotion to call all the stakeholders to order especially in his next government by putting the right people in the right place. Let him not forget that there is much energy in the youth. He should have the trust in the youths of Cameroon to put them in ministerial position because the older generation is use to the old dance and they cannot change. The youth have the love for the country and the energy that can bring about change. He should start believing in the youths and giving them positions of responsibilities if he wants change”.  

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