Breaking News: Malaysian Plane Crashed in the Golf of Bengal (Sentinel)?

Could the mystery surrounding flight MH 370 of the Malaysia Airlines finally be solved? This is the question many have been asking ever since information started circulating on the net that some satellite images pinpoint an explosion on the Island of Sentinel in the Bay of Bengal.  According to the latest information, the Indian authorities have stopped research while according to satellite images; there would have been a big explosion in the Sentinel Island in the Golf of Bengal, India. Allegedly, a huge fire ensued which indicates it could have been the plane. The question is whether it was a plane crash or something else. What was it?

Sentinel Island, located in the Golf of Bengal, has everything a paradise: turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, lush vegetation ... However, this land is one of the most dangerous in the world, and anyone who has tried to set foot there almost died. For the people who live there, nothing is welcoming and will do anything to keep her unspoiled island. It is alleged those who live there are blacks who still move naked and they are not welcoming to strangers. It (the population) could have been consumed survivors as they are considered a cannibal.

The mysterious disappearance of flight MH370 Malaysia Airlines causes chronic molt. Indeed, four days after the disappearance of flight MH370 patent is approved by the Patent Office. 4 of 5 individuals of the patent holders are employees of Freescale Semiconductor in Austin, Texas. The patent has been divided into 5 parts of 20% for each holder, the broken-down is as follows:

Peidong Wang, Suzhou, China (20%)

Chen Zhijun , Suzhou , China ( 20%)

Zhihong Chen, Suzhou, China (20%)

Li Ying, Suzhou, China (20%)

Freescale Semiconductor, United States (20%)

Between the argument that the aircraft has been hijacked or taken away by a giant UFO seems not to be tenable at all. The world is now left with one option, which is the island of Sentinel. But who has the courage to go there, unless it is an army that will fight fiercely or destroy all its inhabitants, to approach the wreckage of the plane?

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

SOCAM Saga: Supreme Court Vindicates Ama Tutu Muna

Ama Tutu Muna

The tussle as to who is the Board Chair of Cameroon Music Corporation SOCAM has partially been laid to rest. This is so because the lawsuit filed by ace Musician Ndedi Eyango requesting on the Supreme Court to overrule a decision by Arts and Culture Minister rejecting his election as Board Chairman of SOCAM was thrown out of court. The decision which many thought would quench the brouhaha between Arts and Culture Minister Ama Tutu Muna, and ace Cameroonian born musician Ndedi Eyango is seemingly a partial antidote to the crisis. Purportedly, Ndedi Eyango’s lawyers have vowed that they will not take the decision down low. Classified sources hinted at weekend that Ndedi Eyango has also vowed that the matter is yet from over. Allegedly Ndedi Eyango says he will seize the competent jurisdiction that has the competence to hear the matter pertaining to nationality. It should be recalled that Ndedi Eyango was voted Board chair of SOCAM in November but on December 23, 2013, Ama Muna signed a decision in which she declared Ndedi Eyango was not a Cameroonian. Yet, Ndedi Eyango hammered that Ama Tutu Muna did not have the loco standi on his nationality. Minister Ama Muna went ahead to set up a normalization Committee headed by San Fan Thomas. Since then, dark clouds have been hanging over who is the Board chair of SOCAM. 

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

That Landmark Speech by PACJA SG at 2014 Accer Awards Launching

SPEECH DELIVERED BY MITHIKA MWENDA- SECRETARY GENERAL, PAN AFRICAN CLIMATE JUSTICE ALLIANCE (PACJA) DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE 2014 ACCER AWARDS MARCH 9, 2014

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, NAIROBI –KENYA

All protocols observed!

It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you to the 2014 launching of the African Climate Change and Environmental Reporting (ACCER) Awards today in the environmental capital city of the word –Nairobi.

As you may know, the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), a continental coalition of over 500 civil society Organizations in the African continent, brought together by common goal of promoting and advocating for climate-friendly and equity-based development. The Alliance Draws its members from Non-governmental organizations, Foundations, Trusts, Community-based organizations, faith-based networks, national coalitions and regional networks from 45 countries in Africa.

Although Africa contributes negligibly to the phenomenon of Climate Change accounting for less than 3% of the World’s greenhouse gas emissions, her People however continue to suffer the most from the consequences of Climate Change. Food insecurity, scarcity of water, land denudation often resulting to landslides, destruction of wetland ecosystems and human wildlife

conflict amongst others have not only led to overall environmental crisis, but also culminated to starvation and death.

A major environmental and sustainable development problem, climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. But since it is also a local phenomenon, interventions to cope with climate change impacts require that all stakeholders are fully engaged at local, national and regional levels.

Africa is a "vulnerability hot spot" for climate change, with limited adaptive capacity due to high levels of poverty (IPCC, 2013). With two degrees of warming, total crop production could be reduced by 10 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the undernourished population could increase by at least 25 per cent by 2050 (World Bank, 2013). If warming exceeds three degrees, virtually all of the present maize, millet and sorghum cropping areas across Africa could become unviable (Schaeffer et al. 2013b). Sub-Saharan Africa's greatest adaptation needs include water supply, coastal zone protection, infrastructure and agriculture.

With these glaring evidences, the need to involve all stakeholders and especially African journalists in writing, reporting and telling the African narrative of climate change can never be over-emphasised.

Time will fail me to give you the detail background of ACCER Awards but permit me to just give you a brief of the journey of this one out of several PACJA’s great initiatives since inception as the basis for our gathering today.

The ACCER awards in their second year are an initiative of PACJA and partners. ACCER is therefore purposed at rewarding exemplary reporting on Climate Change and Environment in Africa. As a first step in this direction PACJA has demonstrated this commitment by undertaking training workshops for Journalists in Africa on Climate Change.

Effective and sufficient reporting on Climate Change and Environment will have the overall effect of galvanizing voices at the grassroots communities, local Governments, the National, Continental and International levels.

Objectives of ACCER Award

To bring out and propagate “African narrative” on climate change in international climate change and sustainable development debates

2. To motivate Journalists and media houses in Africa to effectively cover and report on Climate Change and environment

3. To illuminate innovative best-practice approaches both in Policy and Practice towards response strategies and programmes.

4. To enhance proactive media participation in African climate change discourses with a view of perspectives and narratives.

5. To sustain and boost coverage of Climate Change issues by Journalists in the mainstream media.

6. To promote and create awareness about opportunities existing green investment both in public and private realm.

Criteria

Identification of recipient of the awards will be through a mass public-driven and interactive process and an independent panel of eminent professionals will carefully review the various nominations to determine deserving winners.

Selection Process

Potential awardees will present direct entries with brief citations demonstrating how their journalism may have practically enhanced access to information delivery in a specified area. An independent panel of judges carefully selected will review the entries and make a decision on the winners and runners up for each award category.

The judges will have the final word on who is to be awarded for each category.

As we launch the 2014 ACCER Awards today as a build up to announcement earlier made in Dakar, Senegal last month, this has officially draw the curtain open for entries into the competition by African journalists. The entry will run until May 15, 2014 when it shall officially

close for the judges to commence their work of screening and selection of the award winning entries.

Distinguished dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen of the press, permit me to leap-frog here and welcome you to the ACCER Awards and Gala Nights expected to recognize outstanding climate change and environmental journalists across Africa who will have scooped various Awards in a vigorous competition sponsored by PACJA and its partners. The event will be graced by over 190 world leaders on the 22nd of June, 2014 on the sideline of the first ever United Nations Environmental Assembly here in Nairobi, Kenya.

Once again, thank you for honoring our invitation and I thank you all for your kind attention.

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For more Info: www.pacja.org
Twitter: @pacja1

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

Hon. Awudu Mbaya Catapulted

By Haruna Mohammadou

Hon. Awudu Mbaya receiving  ancestral blessings

There was euphoria and seventh heaven at the Mbot Palace in the presence of SDF National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi who was flanked by the Lamido of Ngandal (Ngoundere). The moment was reserved to give honourable blessing to a man of honour, Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian for being a development catalyst for the people of Donga Mantung Division. Trumpet blast there was and singing and dancing too.

When HRH Fon Mbunwe II of Mbot, Warr Clan head, took to the rostrum to perform the traditional rite, there was total silence in the courtyard except for the lone bird that was singing an appreciative note from the near by forest. The Fon of Mbot expressed gratitude to the National Chairman of the SDF for the trust that he had given to one of his subjects, Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian. He said that in his capacity as the head of the Warr people in Donga Mantung Division, he (the fon of Mbot) was performing an act of recognition as prescribed by the ancestors stating that the royal blessing that he will give to Hon. Awudu Mbaya is in line with the ancestral belief and command.

“Your forehead will shine and when you hit your toe on a stone, let the stone be destroyed”. After a call the ancestral line, and requesting for the protection, he moved forth to bless Hon. Awudu Mbaya. Touched by the magnitude of the power of the ancestors, the Fon of Mbot also blessed Hon. Esther Ngala Ntala, Mayor Njong Donatus, Bunyui Emmanuel (Mayor of Ndu), Dr. Tandap (NEC Member), The District Chairman for Kumbo, Pa Atekwana, Mangoh Jones Tanko, Nfor Balerie, Hilary Manjong and others.

Speaking on behalf of Warr elite at that grandiose Mangoh Jones Tanko thanked Ni John Fru and the SDF party for raising Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian. Former Mayor of Nkambe also said that in the past Donga Mantung Division has had very noisy politicians yet non them never did what Hon. Awudu has done for the

Awudu Mbaya receiving royal blessing

Division and continues to do for the Division. More so, Mangoh Jones also said that no Parliamentarian in the Division has never ever been raised to the post of Questor at the National Assembly except Hon. Awudu Mbaya. As history teacher, Mangoh Jones Tanko said that the Mbot people were the first that migrated to the Nkambe plateau. Founded around the 16^th century by Manikho who was a healer later extended to be what is today known as the Warr Clan. He said Manikho did not hesitate to give any of young family member’s autonomy as soon as his families grow. More so, the Warr people bloodline extends to Bum village in Bum Sub Division, Nkor in Noni sub Division and Kumbo (Fai Ndzemdzen). He said that historically, the Warr people were the first group to settle in the Nkambe plateau. Politically, Mangoh Jones also revealed the fon of Mbot was the first traditional ruler in Donga Mantung Division to go to the House of Chiefs of the then West Cameroon.  

Ni John Fru Ndi, said he was touched by the fact that the Warr people have kept their traditional values in tact. He said that he would stand against anyone that wants to destroy the grassfeild tradition. “It is part of us, our identity and our culture”. SDF Chieftain lamented if during that occasion he was in his usual traditional regalia, it is because some traditional rulers have been accomplices in destroying our tradition. “We did not make them fons to crown others fon of fons”, SDF chairman concluded. 

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

58 Years Old Man Takes Away His Own Life by Hanging

By Tamngwa Marcel

The population of Mbipgo village in Ndu sub Division is contemplating on what might have happened that a man of 58 years old had to commit a sacrilege in their village. It was on March 9, 2013 that the entire village was grounded as a man whose name we got as Njeba Genesis took away his own life. Njeba Genesis whom many a villager described as calm and lover of children was on that faithful day spotted entering into an abandoned building. Children who spotted him had no idea of his plan. Yet the children had noticed that for once, Njeba Genesis hadn’t responded to their greetings. When the brother was alerted, he rushed to the abandoned building, forced the door and what he saw was an unbelievable scene. The man had committed suicide by hanging. The brother immediately cut the robe with the hope of rescuing the brother who had hanged just few minutes later, but his action was late to bring back the 58 years old man. Those who watched this unfortunate happening are still wondering what might have pushed Njeba Genesis to take away his own life his wife and family in pains and disgrace. A school of thought holds that the old man a result of his early commitments. This is so because family sources say he had no misunderstanding with any of his family members. As to what must have annoyed him to commit such an act remains a mystery. However, at atmosphere of frustration looms large in Mbipgo village as the services of a traditional doctor were needed for the corpse to be buried. It should be noted that in the tradition of the (Wi)Mbum people, such corpses must be buried far off from the residential area and it was not different in this situation. 

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

Thousands Pay Last Homage to Pa Takang Jerome at Babadjou

Pa Takang Jerome

 Family members, friends and well-wishers storm Balepo in Babadjou on March 1, 2014 to pay last homage to the departed family member, friend and father. Born in 1932 at Babadjou in the Bamboutous Division of the West Region of Cameroon, Pa Takang Jerome was the 5^th child in a family of six.

At 17, Pa Takang left his village to the neigbouring Santa where he set up a small business. Few years later, with the help of his elder brother, he moved to Bamenda where he continued in business. By 1957, he was already an international trader who would move to Onitsha in Nigeria to buy goods. He later changed into construction material and was one of the main suppliers of products like soap, rice and sugar. When in 1990 during the construction of the Bamenda Commercial Avenue, his shop was destroyed and he decided to enter into the transport sector. Things didn’t work the way he thought, and he had to enter into a joint venture with one of his daughters to commercialize red oil. With the experience he gathered from the time he started his small business with a sum of “2 shere”, Pa Jerome grabbed the opportunity and suddenly became the biggest distributor in the North West Region and extended his activities to part of the West Region, notably Mbouda, Babadjou and Bangang. When in 1997, he developed sight problems, incapacitate by sight problems, in November 2000, Pa Jerome Takang left his compound in Bamenda for Babadjou. While in the village, he was an encyclopedia to the young as well as the old. On February 5, 2014 Pa Takang passed unto Glory after having accomplished his mission on earth. He was the successor to his father and during his lifetime, he successfully ruled a family of fourteen widows and seventy-five children. He was married to three wives and had 8 children, 16 grand children and few great grand children.    

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

I will Spend my Last Blood to Fight for Anglophones-Fru Ndi

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Fru Ndi addressing the crowd at Mbot Palace

The chairman of the leading opposition in Cameroon has declared that he will spend the last blood of his life to fight for the Anglophones. Ni John Fru Ndi, chairman of the Social Democratic Front-SDF made the declaration on March 10, 2014 while addressing over 5000 Wimbum people at the Mbot Palace. Ni John Fru Ndi who was at Mbot Palace, Donga Mantung to pay homage to the departed Warr Clan head and also welcome to the seated Fon Mbunwe II also used the opportunity to extend a hand of fellowship to the Southern Cameroons National Council-SCNC, arguing that the time to press Biya for Constitutional Review is Now. “We will press from all the angles” he continued. Harping on the need for constitutional review SDF National chairman said that when the SDF requested for a federal system of governance in Cameroon, Biya looked the other way round and flashed the country with decentralization which today has been unable to move a step.  According to Ni John Fru Ndi, the peace that Cameroonians have enjoyed for the past 53 years is thanks to the Anglophones given all French colonies Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Egypt, etc, have recorded chaos. Yet he emphasized that dark clouds hang over Cameroon.

On the fiftieth anniversary celebration of reunification, SDF Chieftain lamented that what he saw in Buea was a disgrace to the dignity of those fought for the reunification of Cameroon. He said he was shocked and flabbergasted that the heroes of reunification like Amadou Ahidjo, JN Foncha, ST Muna, Endeley, JT Ndzi (citing a long list of names) were all ignored and unfortunately “nameless”. ”Not even one effigy of them was displayed during the march-pass”, he continued. Ni John also narrated a scenario how Presidential guards wanted to scan him before he could enter into the grandstand. He revealed that the Biya regime is so panicking to the point that they are even afraid of telephones. “They even asked me whether I was having a phone on me. When I say yes, they requested that I should give them. I gave and they latter gave it back. You see the regime is so shaky that they are even scared of telephones. I am not a security risk in this country”. In actual fact, SDF Chieftain in a way was telling the population that there was nothing in Buea that portrayed that Cameroonians were one nation and indivisible. He said that he even rejected the seat reserved for given that they wanted to bury him behind CERAC women. And more so, they reserved a room that was synonymous to a toilet for him to stay the night and his private secretary rejected. To cut it short, the fiftieth anniversary of reunification to him was a sham that calls for an urgent need for the Anglophone dignity to be recognized constitutionally or else he would spend the last blood of his life to fight for it.

It should be recalled that in 2011, Fru Ndi in an outburst at the Supreme after all petitions on the irregularities of that year’s Presidential elections were rejected reminded Alex Dipanda Mouelle that what was transpiring was not what was agreed in 1961.

On the September 30, 2013 local elections, SDF chairman said he felt very sorry and disappointed that in Donga Mantung some people reduced themselves to selling their consciences for 500 FCFA, 1000 FCFA and 2000 FCFA. “When somebody steals my item, I do not run after him fighting, I only sit and observed to see what he/she will do with the stolen item”. He reiterated that SDF militants should not wept over the stolen Nkambe council rather they should sit and observe at what those who stole it obnoxiously will do with it.

To the Mbot people, Fru Ndi the fon disappeared like a pupa and resurfaced back in the throne like a butterfly and he applauded them for that. He told Fon Mbunwe II that his reign should be that of plenty and prosperity. “I am admired your tradition and that is why every time I go for a cry-die I would fire my gun. It is part of our tradition and I think anyone who wants to destroy this tradition will have to destroy me first”, he hammered.

On his part Hon. Awudu Mbaya thanked the SDF chieftain for the homage paid to the people of Warr. He said that Ni John Fru Ndi has not only raised him but the entire Wimbum people given that he is Questor at the National Assembly. Hon. Awudu also thanked SDF National chairman for the fight he took for part of the ring road to be tarred. “Your Excellency, I was lucky to be present when you told President Biya that he promised tarring this road and he said he will do it. And you even questioned where he was going to get the money given that nothing was mentioned in the tarring of the ring road in the budget”. Hon. Awudu said that even though construction work has not reached Donga Mantung, the fact that the tarring is getting to Kumbo is already a great deal to the people of Donga Mantung Division. Harping on the September 30, Twin elections, he lamented how people stormed Nkambe to buy peoples’ consciences with money and how cards were printed and shared. To Hon. Awudu, the elections were a masquerade of the highest order with the complicity of elections Cameroon. This, he said could easily be detected from the conflicting figures, such as the difference in the total number of registered voters for municipal and legislative election result sheets, in polling stations with out-numbered voters etc.

Mangoh Jones Tanko, former mayor of Nkambe said that the Mbot people had long fallen in love with the SDF but during last year’s election, some people refused registering. Out of the potential 7500 voters, only about 2000 voters registered. “It means that there was something wrong going on” he insisted. He said that politics has made people to be so hopeless that they went as far as buying votes.

HRH Fon Mbunwe was disturbed at the manner at which traditional rulers have entered into partisan politics.

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

Meet Nigeria's First Female Billionaire, Folorunsho Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija

Nigeria's first female billionaire, Folorunsho Alakija built her fortune on fashion and oil. She began her career in the 1970s as a secretary in a Nigerian bank before she quit to study fashion design in England. After returning to Nigeria she founded Supreme Stitches, a fashion label that catered to the country's high society women. Her biggest patron was Maryam Babangida, wife to Nigeria's notorious former military president. She reportedly leveraged that relationship to get a lucrative oil prospecting license, which went onto become OML 127. One of Nigeria's most prolific oil blocks, it produces as much as 200,000 barrels per day. Famfa Oil, which Alakija controls, owns a 60% stake in the asset. At 63, Flolrunsho Alakija is happily married and mother of four. Her fortune is estimate at $2.5. She is a model that all African young girls look up to for inspiration.

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

Women in Action: Meet Money Making Women of 2014

Courtesy Forbe

It was a record-breaking year for women on the FORBES list of the World Billionaires. Out of 1,645 billionaires, a record 172 are women – up from 138 last year. There’s no denying that women are still a tiny minority on the list, representing a little over 10% of the total.

At the top, Christy Walton reclaims her spot as the richest woman with a $36.7 billion fortune. The widow of John Walton has had that title for four out of the last five years. She has boosted her fortune above the rest of the Walton family members through her ownership of First Solar shares. That stock rose nearly 50% in the past year.

Back in second place after a year at the top: Liliane Bettencourt, worth $34.5 billion. The L’Oreal heiress remains France’s richest person. Her fortune increased this year thanks to the company’s stock surging. She is 91, and it’s been years since she’s been involved in running the company.

The third richest woman is another Walton family member – Alice Walton($34.3 billion). The daughter of visionary retailer Sam Walton is Christy’s sister-in-law. She opened her Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas in 2011. It features works from her personal collection.

Notably, of the 268 newcomers to the ranks, 42 are women. However, only five of them built their own fortunes as opposed to inheriting them from their parents or husbands. These five remarkable women include Sheryl Sandberg($1.05 billion), who leaned into a COO position at Facebook and 12 million or so shares in the company. With the social networking firm’s share price up more than 130% in the past 12 months, she is now one of the world’s youngest self-made women billionaires.

The other newcomer self-made billionaire women include Folorunsho Alakija($2.5 billion), Nigeria’s first female billionaire, whose Famfa Oil owns a prolific oil bloc. There’s UK’s Denise Coates ($1.6 billion), the co-CEO and largest shareholder of online gambling site Bet365; Liu Xiaomeng ($1 billion), who holds a stake in the Suning Appliance Group, which in turn owns 14% of Suning Commerce Group, China’s largest appliance retailer; and Wang Laichun ($1 billion) Chairman of Shenzhen Luxshare Precision Industry Co., Ltd.

Newcomers that came to their fortunes through an inheritance include Sandra Mera Ortega, daughter of the late billionaire Rosalia Mera. Mera, along with then husband and now third-richest person in the world, founded clothing giant Inditex (best known for its Zara brand).

Finally, in a case involving a very loyal daughter, this year’s youngest billionaire is a woman. Perenna Kei, at only 24 years old, is the controlling owner of Chinese real estate giant Logan Properties. Kei is the daughter of Logan’s chairman and CEO, Ji Haipeng. Company documents indicate that she is the majority shareholder, the settler of the trust and acts “in accordance with Mr. Ji’s directions.” The company went public in December 2013 and its stock rose 2.4% on the first day of trading, making Kei a billionaire.

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

Women in Action: Meet Colonel Nga Rose Angeline; First Female Military Colonel

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Colonel Nga Rose Angeline

Colonel Nga Rose Angeline is the deputy Director at the military in Younde and the first woman in the military to attain the rank of Colonel in the Cameroon army. It was in January 2001 that Nga Rose Angeline entered the book of honours as a military officer thanks to her hard work and strength of mind. Though trained as a medical Doctor at CUSS, Nga Rose Angeline against all the odd, decided to jump above the masculine artificial barriers to make a jumpstart career in the military. She was one of the two first female candidates who in 1985 passed the entrance into the Military Academy-EMIA. Apparently, she entered EMIA with the mission to make the difference and to stand out when even most people (women) seem to blend in. While at EMIA, she proved to be an all weather woman given that upon graduation she was among the first three. From all indications, Colonel Nga Rose Angeline is the rare breed that if you teach her how to fly a plane today and the next day she will make a round trip around the world. Obviously, it is her multi-talented of always making the difference that makes her a role model in the military.

As pediatric in the military, Colonel Nga Rose Angeline has proven beyond reasonable doubts that her success story, hard work, and attachment to do just what is right is linked to her humble up bringing and her unshakable belief in the Words of God. From Garoua to Yaounde where she served in various capacities, she had always tell her patients, friends and colleagues that come for the treatment of their kids that, man, no matter how rich or poor, big or small is the same in the eyes of God. Based on this physically powerful and entrenched belief of hers, she has been nick named “Iron Lady”. Yet, coming closer to Colonel Nga Rose is to make a new discovery of an army officer who is humble, down to earth and accommodative. In the opinion of a wider public, she is level-headed and a soft spoken God fearing woman. What has made her to emerge from the madding crowd is her ability to resist to enticement and her humanitarian but austere application of chain of command. Conversely, Colonel Nga Rose is the major source of hope to hundreds irrespective of tribe and region of origin. In the Northern Region where she was covering three regions, she left an indelible mark of greatness. It makes sense to indicate that beside offering unmatched selfless service to her dear fatherland, Colonel Nga Rose may not know the high esteem in which the underprivileged and the younger generation hold her. Young girls continue to look at her with a lot of admiration and many have often expressed the desire to be like her in the future.  

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

FBI Begins Probe into Money Laundary, Cameroon Embassy, UN Mission Implicated

 Courtesy cameroonjournal.com

In an investigation that may implicate the Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, and most certainly the Cameroon Mission at the UN in New York, it is aired that the FBI is currently investigating some two bank accounts which until recently, were operated by the Cameroon Diplomatic Mission in New York city.

Our informant said the investigation may not be unconnected to the DC healthcare fraud that was recently uncovered by the FBI. If it is the case, the last may not have been heard yet about the ring of facilitators at the center of the fraud.

On February 24th, the FBI, shutdown two bank accounts used for money laundering in the city of NewYork.

The accounts belonged to the Cameroon UN Diplomatic Mission, and the kingpins behind them are allegedly Francois Ngoudene and Kinge Monono.

Both Ngoudene and Monono happen to be the Finance Comptrollers at the Cameroon Embassy in DC, and the Cameroon UN Mission in NY, respectively.

In a phone interview with an FBI official in NY, he will not deny nor confirm that bank accounts were closed and an investigation going on. “How did you hear about it?” The FBI official asked. Given the answer, we pressed on him as to whether some bank accounts belonging to the Cameroon Mission were shutdown.

He answered; “We’re not commenting on any case that is not yet in the public domain by means of a press release.” He said.  Did your office make such closings? The reporter asked. “I will not say yes or no.” He said.

The accounts were closed, we learned, as the FBI continues investigations into the whereabouts of the looted money that the fraudsters stole from the DC healthcare system. The accounts were being used for money laundering. We gathered equally that a Cameroon Embassy bank account in Washington DC was recently shutdown by the FBI in connection with questionable financial transactions.

Unconfirmed sources say the DC healthcare fraudsters were conniving with the diplomatic mission to use its immunity status to hide their loot. However, the investigating office of the healthcare fraud in DC, told the Cameroon Journal that they’re not aware of any connection between the events in NY with the arrests in DC. Andrew Ames, FBI agent, told the Journal that NY and DC offices carry out separate investigations and would not confirm if the developments in NY had anything to do with the arrests in DC.

It will be recalled that a few years ago in a report published by Ndongo Efemba Carlson, who was former chief of Embassy Security in DC, he implicated former ambassador, Jerome Mendouga, and it earned the ambassador a ten-year jail sentence in Cameroon. Ngoudene was mentioned in the report as a money-laundering  kingpin in the US. However, while the ambassador serves jail, nothing happened to Ngoudene because of his alleged connections in the presidency( for complete story go to : www.cameroonjournal.com )

In an investigation that may implicate the Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, and most certainly the Cameroon Mission at the UN in New York, the Cameroon Journal has reliably gathered that the FBI is currently investigating some two bank accounts which until recently, were operated by the Cameroon Diplomatic Mission in New York city.

Our informant said the investigation may not be unconnected to the DC healthcare fraud that was recently uncovered by the FBI. If it is the case, the last may not have been heard yet about the ring of facilitators at the center of the fraud.

On February 24th, the FBI, the Journal has learned, shutdown two bank accounts used for money laundering in the city of NewYork.

The accounts belonged to the Cameroon UN Diplomatic Mission, and the kingpins behind them are one Francois Ngoudene and Kinge Monono.

Both Ngoudene and Monono happen to be the Finance Comptrollers at the Cameroon Embassy in DC, and the Cameroon UN Mission in NY, respectively.

In a phone interview with an FBI official in NY, he will not deny nor confirm that bank accounts were closed and an investigation going on. “How did you hear about it?” The FBI official asked. Given the answer, we pressed on him as to whether some bank accounts belonging to the Cameroon Mission were shutdown.

He answered; “We’re not commenting on any case that is not yet in the public domain by means of a press release.” He said.  Did your office make such closings? The reporter asked. “I will not say yes or no.” He said.

The accounts were closed, we learned, as the FBI continues investigations into the whereabouts of the looted money that the fraudsters stole from the DC healthcare system. The accounts were being used for money laundering. We gathered equally that a Cameroon Embassy bank account in Washington DC was recently shutdown by the FBI in connection with questionable financial transactions.

Unconfirmed sources say the DC healthcare fraudsters were conniving with the diplomatic mission to use its immunity status to hide their loot. However, the investigating office of the healthcare fraud in DC, told the Cameroon Journal that they’re not aware of any connection between the events in NY with the arrests in DC. Andrew Ames, FBI agent, told the Journal that NY and DC offices carry out separate investigations and would not confirm if the developments in NY had anything to do with the arrests in DC.

It will be recalled that a few years ago in a report published by Ndongo Efemba Carlson, who was former chief of Embassy Security in DC, he implicated former ambassador, Jerome Mendouga, and it earned the ambassador a ten-year jail sentence in Cameroon. Ngoudene was mentioned in the report as a money-laundering  kingpin in the US. However, while the ambassador serves jail, nothing happened to Ngoudene because of his alleged connections in the presidency, particularly to the first lady, Chantal Biya.

Ngoudene is said to own three story buildings in Yaoounde in his wife’s name. His wife lives in the US and doesn’t work, and her sources of income for the buildings remain questionable. Ngoudene is also alleged to have once forgotten a $50,000 Rolex watch in a plane until a hostess had to come from behind to return it to him.

In  a related story, the CJ has also gathered, though unconfirmed, that some Cameroonians in the DC metro area who were not arrested but feel that they’re under investigation are escaping across the borders into Canada. 

This is coming under the hills of a bail refusal last Friday to Kinsley Banyi, indicted for defrauding the DC healthcare system through his employment agency with close to $500,000.00.

The bail hearing came up in the DC district court.  His bail was  set at $50,000,00.

The Journal gathered that his family, both in the US and abroad did raise the amount. However, a female family representative who was in court to bail him was turned down upon discovery of a criminal history in her background.

It was discovered that she had committed a felony after she gave her papers to somebody else to use for employment.

- See more at: http://cameroonjournal.com/page511.html#sthash.m9NECId1.UNExRPkN.dpuf

In an investigation that may implicate the Cameroon Embassy in Washington DC, and most certainly the Cameroon Mission at the UN in New York, the Cameroon Journal has reliably gathered that the FBI is currently investigating some two bank accounts which until recently, were operated by the Cameroon Diplomatic Mission in New York city.

Our informant said the investigation may not be unconnected to the DC healthcare fraud that was recently uncovered by the FBI. If it is the case, the last may not have been heard yet about the ring of facilitators at the center of the fraud.

On February 24th, the FBI, the Journal has learned, shutdown two bank accounts used for money laundering in the city of NewYork.

The accounts belonged to the Cameroon UN Diplomatic Mission, and the kingpins behind them are one Francois Ngoudene and Kinge Monono.

Both Ngoudene and Monono happen to be the Finance Comptrollers at the Cameroon Embassy in DC, and the Cameroon UN Mission in NY, respectively.

In a phone interview with an FBI official in NY, he will not deny nor confirm that bank accounts were closed and an investigation going on. “How did you hear about it?” The FBI official asked. Given the answer, we pressed on him as to whether some bank accounts belonging to the Cameroon Mission were shutdown.

He answered; “We’re not commenting on any case that is not yet in the public domain by means of a press release.” He said.  Did your office make such closings? The reporter asked. “I will not say yes or no.” He said.

The accounts were closed, we learned, as the FBI continues investigations into the whereabouts of the looted money that the fraudsters stole from the DC healthcare system. The accounts were being used for money laundering. We gathered equally that a Cameroon Embassy bank account in Washington DC was recently shutdown by the FBI in connection with questionable financial transactions.

Unconfirmed sources say the DC healthcare fraudsters were conniving with the diplomatic mission to use its immunity status to hide their loot. However, the investigating office of the healthcare fraud in DC, told the Cameroon Journal that they’re not aware of any connection between the events in NY with the arrests in DC. Andrew Ames, FBI agent, told the Journal that NY and DC offices carry out separate investigations and would not confirm if the developments in NY had anything to do with the arrests in DC.

It will be recalled that a few years ago in a report published by Ndongo Efemba Carlson, who was former chief of Embassy Security in DC, he implicated former ambassador, Jerome Mendouga, and it earned the ambassador a ten-year jail sentence in Cameroon. Ngoudene was mentioned in the report as a money-laundering  kingpin in the US. However, while the ambassador serves jail, nothing happened to Ngoudene because of his alleged connections in the presidency, particularly to the first lady, Chantal Biya.

Ngoudene is said to own three story buildings in Yaoounde in his wife’s name. His wife lives in the US and doesn’t work, and her sources of income for the buildings remain questionable. Ngoudene is also alleged to have once forgotten a $50,000 Rolex watch in a plane until a hostess had to come from behind to return it to him.

In  a related story, the CJ has also gathered, though unconfirmed, that some Cameroonians in the DC metro area who were not arrested but feel that they’re under investigation are escaping across the borders into Canada. 

This is coming under the hills of a bail refusal last Friday to Kinsley Banyi, indicted for defrauding the DC healthcare system through his employment agency with close to $500,000.00.

The bail hearing came up in the DC district court.  His bail was  set at $50,000,00.

The Journal gathered that his family, both in the US and abroad did raise the amount. However, a female family representative who was in court to bail him was turned down upon discovery of a criminal history in her background.

It was discovered that she had committed a felony after she gave her papers to somebody else to use for employment.

- See more at: http://cameroonjournal.com/page511.html#sthash.m9NECId1.UNExRPkN.dpuf

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

Women in Action: Meet Florence Njimptoh; The Astute Rural Woman

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Florence Njimptoh

Florence Njimptoh is a farmer based in Binka village in Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region of Cameroon. What makes Florence Njimptoh to stand out of the madding crowd of rural women is her philosophy to life and work. At her young age, she grows up with the notion that stumbling blocks in life are stepping stones to go to higher heights. And when she finally engaged in farming as a fervent profession, her thoughts were govern by the notion that anything that is worth doing should be done well or not done at all. As a crop farmer, suddenly became a perfectionist that set standards even for herself. In fact she is a farmer that has proven her worth in piloting many innovative programmes. Apparently, Florence Njimptoh has the ardor of a bee and the power of a stallion when it comes to accomplishing a job. It is not for nothing that in the year 2000, she was recognized as the Millennium Farmer of Donga Mantung Division. From 2000 to 2013, Madame Florence Njimptoh won 8 different prizes both at the Regional, Divisional and Sub Divisional levels thanks to her farm produce. Part from cultivating 7ha of beans every year, she also does market gardening. In 2011, she was the only farmer in the Division who was chosen to produce new variety of beans. She emerged first in the North West Region in the best farm competition and in 2013 she was voted by readers of The Eye Newspaper as Donga Mantung Best Crop Farmer.

Give some people a tree to plant and it will never grow, but with Florence Njimptoh the story is always different. The truism in her success is first the passion for farming and secondly she of that group that could easily grow maize on sand. “Farming is my only source of income and from my harvest I have been able to send my kids to the best schools” she says. Although not born in misery, Florence Njimptoh was not born in wealth. What she has today is the result of hard work and determination.

To her, farming is a worthwhile business that never fails. “I have gone places because of my farm and I think those who say that farming is a profession for the poor are on the wrong side of history. It is the backbone of our economy and I am happy as a farmer”.  She benefitted a lot of training from Non Governmental Organization and travelled widely too thanks to her farm work. Apart from working on her farm, she is the leader of the largest women group in Donga Mantung Division with about 2000 women. Today she is not just a farm manager but a resource person to extension services. Whatever crop she cultivates, she remains a teacher to other farmers. To know Florence Njimptoh is to have a cue of the acts of those who are propel by the passion to sustainable action. When two are gathered to talk about sustainable development in the Nkambe Central Sub Division, count her the third person.

With over 25 years receiving and attending training workshops on leadership skills, Madame Florence Njimptoh is certified as a dynamic leader with respect and confirmed assiduous in her duties. Ncham George, the Divisional Delegate for Agriculture and Rural Development described her as a “leader of leaders”. While Gregory Muluh, the Coordinator of the Grassfeild Participatory and Decentralized Rural Development Project-GP DERUDEP says Florence Njimptoh is an elite farmers and a model that would spur others to enter farming as a business. If she is a household name today, it is due to the ceaseless gusto she has for hard work, innovation and the fact that she seeks to accomplish any task to the fullest. At this time of the year that much is being said about the woman, Florence Njimptoh is one whose achievements should never be ignore. She is worth a woman to celebrate this week. 

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

Women in Action: Meet Regina Mundi; The Career Politician

By FC Ndi

Regina Mundi

Regina Mundi is the lone female Member of the Politbureau of the ruling CPDM from the North West Region of Cameroon and an alternate senator. The fact that she is a Member of the Polibureau of the CPDM is a clear testimony that determination and devotion are the corner stone to success. As a matter of truth, she is a stanch militant whose continues preaching about the goodies of the CPDM and its chairman Paul Biya has changed the political landscape in the North West Region. While there are CPDM militants who are SDF lackeys at night and CPDM during the day, Ma Mundi as she is commonly known is CPDM for 24 hours on 24, 7 days of the week and 12 months in the year. Her commitment to President Biya’s political ideologies and the CPDM is not sheer fanaticism. It is for this reason that during the 50^th anniversary of the Armed Forces in Bamenda, Regina Mundi was catapulted and recognized. She was decorated by the Head of State President Paul Biya. This graduate of Trinity College-USA has entered history books in varied names, such as the first female to be appointed cultural and social affairs adviser to the then Governor of the North West Province. She was the first woman to occupy the position of secretary in the then CNU party and it was through her efforts that she created the first women group in Mezam. Politically, she has risen from a central committee member to polibureau member.  

While many CPDM militants only pay lip service to the ruling party and its national chairman, Ma Mundi has remained CPDM from the day of its insertion to date. In the early 90s when Bamenda was likened to Bagdad, Ma Mundi was the only female politician who could publicly identify herself as a militant of the CPDM. Even when her house was destroyed against the backdrop of post-electoral violence, she was still committed to the ideals of the CPDM. What is interesting about politics in the North West Region of Cameroon is the fact that there are many people with different political views; yet, Regina Mundi has stood the taste of time as the most convincing female politician. Ever since she entered into active politics, she had never told a lie. In fact she is widely appreciated as a rare specie of politician that is very hard to come-by nowadays. She has always told the population whenever she has the opportunity to make a statement that even though some people may sympathize with the opposition; they know that the opposition has nothing to offer. Being a female politician in the fief of the leading opposition in Cameroon was an uphill task that she gradually transformed into assets. If you have never met a convincing politician, meet her in the field and you will agree with me that she has the God given charm that attracts people

Like someone once said, a single vote for the CPDM in the Northwest Region is worth a thousand votes down the center region, that is why she never gave up until the CPDM was able to win some councils and Parliamentary seats. She once told this reporter that real change is coming and the moment has come for her to celebrate that transformation. Politics is a game of interest, “you scratch my back, I scratch your back, because politics na njangi” says Rt. Hon. Senator Achidi Achu former Prime Minister. This statement of Rt. Hon. Senator Achidi Achu is so realistic that nobody in his/her right senses can discard it. When the SDF was launched in 1990 nobody saw this definition and its relevance. Today, the scales have fallen off the eyes of many Northwesteners. Ma Mundi is one of those realistic individuals and a permanent pillar on which President Paul Biya and the CPDM party has continuously leaned on in the North West Region. Ma Mundi is therefore a career politician

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

Women in Action: Meet Nkenda Margreta; The Award Winning Farmer

Margreta Nkenda in a pic with her husband & the Mayor of Nkambe

From a very humble start, Nkenda Margreta is today a household name when it comes to the cultivation and processing of red palm oil. Her dexterity in the sector has earned her numerous awards and recognition. In 2011, Nkenda Margreta won the first prize palm oil at the Ebolowa National Agro-pastoral show. The fact that she competed and won the prize wasn’t by error but the fruit of her hard work and determination. This distinction at the National Agro Pastoral Show also placed her on the ladder of fame as she was voted Donga Mantung Woman of the Year by readers of The Eye newspaper, Best Farmer by listeners of Savannah Radio Nkambe and again Best All Round Farmer by readers of the Watchdog Tribune. It is thanks to Nkenda Margreta that the CDC Oil Palm Expansion programme developed interest in Donga Mantung Division. By winning the national first prize in palm oil, she created the needed awareness that Donga Mantung Division has suitable climatic conditions for the cultivation of oil palms. Meet her in her plantation and you will be filled by the gulp of having met a professional farmer. To her farming is not just a profession but a calling.

However, what makes her different is that she is a very hard working woman and besides being a house wife, she moved above men established artificial barriers to create an oil palm plantation. In Misaje where she hails, women hardly own plantations but she has not only defeated that notion. She is a practical example of the long established slogan that “what a man can do, a woman can do it better”. With over 10 ha of oil palms, Nkenda Margreta says her dream is to expand her plantation to about 25 hectares. What is however very interesting is that she has a very good knowledge on local processing techniques. Anybody who has had the opportunity to come closer to Madame Nkenda Margreta would agree with me that she is a professional farmer given that she envies nothing from those who work in offices, “my office is my farm”, and she once told this reporter.  

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