k24 Newspaper

[email protected]

The impersonalhand of

government cannever replacethe helpinghand of a

neighbor ……..Hubert

Humphrey

No. 001

Monday Oct. 29 - Nov.15, 2012

The Man Who Pre-dicted Fon Doh’s

Demise

Expressing the Loveof Christ for over50years is the

Mission statement of theCameroon BaptistConvention Health BoardService which wascreated in 1975. This

The Cameroon BaptistConvention Health Board

(Undemocratic and unresponsive)Is they need for reform?

Health Board was bornefrom the ashes of themedical services whichstarted with two gianthospitals- The BansoBaptist Hospital in 1949and the Mbingo BaptistHospital in 1952. The main

aims of these hospitalswhich were run in thosedays by missionaries wereto provide clinical andpublic health assistance tothe challenges facingCameroonians. ...

THE MP SEAT FOR THE OKU /NONIconstituency alternate to the NONI section ofthe CPDM according to 2007 truce. ?NONI community not ready to play secondFidel again.

Upcoming CouncilUpcoming CouncilUpcoming CouncilUpcoming CouncilUpcoming Council

And PAnd PAnd PAnd PAnd Paliamentaraliamentaraliamentaraliamentaraliamentaryyyyy

ElectionElectionElectionElectionElection.

The Bui Administration Lauds the Oku Mayor - NgumJerome for Great Strides in That Municipality

LOUD WHISPERS-from AmericaLOUD WHISPERS-from AmericaLOUD WHISPERS-from AmericaLOUD WHISPERS-from AmericaLOUD WHISPERS-from America

FORWARD, is the 2012campaign slogan ofthe U.S Democratic

Party, and the message thatwill hopefully steer PresidentBarack Obama to a secondmandate as leader of the freeworld? When this sloganwas first introduced Iwondered how vague andsimplistic it soundedespecially after reminiscing

the punch the 2008 slogan‘HOPE”carried.But as theNovember 6 elections nears,it isn’t hard to decipher that‘Forward’ was masterfullycalculated by the Obamacamp to carry far more weightand meaning than ‘Hope’.As you may know, manyAmericans are not satisfiedwith Barack Obama’s firstterm in office. The campaign

of hope and change thatushered him to office almostturned out to be a nightmarefor most. Expectations werehigh, but the new Presidenthad a full plate. He was facingan economic meltdown, twowars and a formidable foe inRepublicans, who will stop atnothing to make him a oneterm president.

Heifer Cameroon Sup-ported Farmers Wel-

come the Bio-gasTechnology in the

N.W. R. [email protected]

AkwAkwAkwAkwAkwaaaaayyyyya Comma Comma Comma Comma CommunityunityunityunityunityEnjoEnjoEnjoEnjoEnjoys Enerys Enerys Enerys Enerys Energggggy Supply Supply Supply Supply Supplyyyyy

FFFFFor the Firor the Firor the Firor the Firor the First st st st st Time in ItsTime in ItsTime in ItsTime in ItsTime in ItsHistorHistorHistorHistorHistoryyyyy

The Bible Society ofCameroon

Inaugurates ItsBamenda Office

Climate Change:

The Predicaments ofFarmers in the LakeChad River Basin

DevelopmentNews

Doh Gah NyamngiIII(Galabe

Pg. 2Pg. 3

Pg. 11

Pg. 9

Pg. 4

Pg. 8Pg. 8

[email protected]

Editorial

“High in the slopes ofSabongari hills, anunexpected and harshprolonged dry season droughthas withered the potato crop,for the thousands of farmers’peopled along the slopes anddepending on the meagerresources for a livelihood.These farmers have lost notonly a stable food crop fromwhich they feed, and sourceincome for emergency needsbut have lost seeds for the nextfarming season, Thesepeasants like their kind

TTTTThe kilum 24 nehe kilum 24 nehe kilum 24 nehe kilum 24 nehe kilum 24 news paws paws paws paws paperperperperper,,,,, tr tr tr tr trailing the deailing the deailing the deailing the deailing the dev’v’v’v’v’t stort stort stort stort storyyyyy……….anywhere around the worldare just hour’s away from badnews, “hunger andmalnutrition”.The challenges of rural peoplelike the illustration abovepresent a classic problem incommunication aboutdevelopment. How best canwe bring these unheard voicesto the public scene is why k24news paper is in your hands.The issue of communicationabout dev’t in very divisivethis century, while there stillremain much debate about the

best ways for societies todevelop, the aim of the k24news paper are universal. Thegoals are to fight poverty bysuppressing those whosuppress development and theestablishment of basic normscovering essential elements oflife. Some Journalist andreporter’s are enthusiasticabout development and therole of government inmanaging these resources.Others feel that developmentis creating new forms ofexploitation, fresh challenges

to democratic governanceand a long gap between therich and the poor.For the K24 news paper, thestakes are very high. We arecraving to create a pool ofknowledge in which thegovernment and citizens ofthis country will act. We havemade a challenging preferenceand how we have chosen tocover the development issueis significant to our mission.We will also celebrate theway development has createdwinners, at the expense of

tracking the uneven effects ofgrowth and reporting how thepoor, the losers and themarginalized must cope withthese inequities. As aninformed citizen of the 21century, you should alreadyknow that a well informedpeople make for a betterworld. You can bet with usbecause if the old Englishadage is true to you that agood journalist is only as goodas its sources then k24 hasfound a fertile ground togerminate get inside!!!

The Man Who Pre-dicted Fon Doh’s De-

mise

H e was described bymany who knew him asa tiger/ warrior, despite

being one of the illustrious sonsof the region. His politicking wasbrute force and intimidation. Heemitted terror to his neighborsand rivals. Informants wereimplanted everywhere in thevillage feeding him with minuteby minute information on visitorsto the village. Though he foughtseveral tribal and political wars,none of those were able to snufflife out of Balikumbat’s Ozymandias .Under him, Balikumbat wasalways in the news for the wrongreasons; two Fons at once, warwith her neighbors etc. Aculmination of these miscreantsmust have angered the gods anda bite from them was inevitable.His demise might have come asa surprise to many but his unclewho predicted the gnawingeffect of the ancestors on the nononsense Fon Doh GahNgwanyin 111 of Balikumbat.

Unable to contain theopprobrium, the kingmakers headed by one Doh Tangsi onOct,8 2006,enthroned Fon Doh’suncle- Galabe dubbed Fon DohGah Nyamgi III,as a defacto Fonin a special compound at the footof the hill. His duty as he toldthis reporter was to “panel beat”the damaged cherished traditionof Balikumbat. As a custodian

Che J Ambe

and guarantorof thetradition, thelate Fon Dohhe saidforfeited thethrone ofBa l i kumbatwhen he gaveJohn Kohtemtwo viciousslaps and akick beforesignaling andtasking histhugs to kill him

described as idiotic for someoneto be claiming legitimacy to thebalikumbat throne. BalikumbatFons he said are enthroned at theHill top not the valley.

Equally acknowledging the factthat Fons are enthroned at the hilltop not the valley, the de factoFon appealed for calm forancestral justice to rein .Peacehe vowed will reign in Balikumbatas the gods of his ancestors willrender justice on fon Doh thuscleansing the clan from hisboundless abominations. It finallycame to pass this 2 month agoas a sturdy. Fon Dohsuddenly disappeared; a rareoccurrence in the Northwest. Ithappened almost six years afterhis uncles’ emphatic words thatFon Doh’s days were numbered.Who says the gods are dead?

on August 20, 2004. Balikumbatradition he emphasized bars aFon from seeing a corpse norbeating somebody with his hand.He described as cadgers adorers of the sacrilegious FonDoh.

To demonstrate his firmgrip on the throne, Fon Doh employed the tactic of divide andconquer. He lured/coerced anew set of Kingmakers headedby one Doh Ghaha’a. He equallylambasted his uncle as an oldilliterate man, deceived by thelosing SDF party .Thoughacknowledging the fact that fonsdon’t see corpses, Doh Ghaha’adismissed Doh Tangsi as havingdefiled tradition in 1999 and thusceased to be the chiefkingmaker in Balikumbat. Heequally described as hearsay/heresy the assertion that FonDoh saw a corpse. He

High wHigh wHigh wHigh wHigh waaaaater wter wter wter wter waaaaavvvvveseseseses,,,,,

mistakmistakmistakmistakmistaken fen fen fen fen fororororor

poisonous Gaspoisonous Gaspoisonous Gaspoisonous Gaspoisonous Gas

eeeeexplosion axplosion axplosion axplosion axplosion at Lakt Lakt Lakt Lakt Lakeeeee

Oku earOku earOku earOku earOku earllllly 2012?y 2012?y 2012?y 2012?y 2012?Murron Edward Jr

The fear factor triggeredby some press organs inthe NW Region was

scaring following publicallegations that poisonousfumes had jetted out and overlake early this year. Theallegation which spread likewild fire in a dry bush, startedfrom a mere picturephotographed by onetraditional herbalist in the closeknot mountain village of Ichim-Oku name Sunwiyen. Thepicture or image whichSunwiy pictures portrayed hadsimilar characteristics with theNyo’s explosion fumes whichoccurred in August 21st 1986.Owing to the fact that LakeOku is a crater lake andanything could happen withinthe lake, the pictures createda nightmare not only withinsome villages very close to thelake but across the north westregion. Rumors of an eminentpoisonous gas explosion wereson to fill the air. To takecaution the forest area of thelake was dreaded by most

peasant farmers in Boyo andBui Division. The Lake Okuconsidered a gift of nature tothe Kilum Mountain and fondlycalled Mawes by the Oku’swas now seen as a plaque.As soon as the news got toYaoundé, a delegation from theMinistry of scientific researchand re-innovation was chargedwith the task of ascertainingthe cause of the muchtrumpeted “fountain likefumes” over the lake.

Almost close to the endof the year, manyCameroonians are still in astate of doubt as to whathappened in the Lake Oku andif there was any explosion aswas fanned in the press andcertain skeptic individuals..While most publicationscarried conditional statements,and analysis pending ascientific investigation in thelake, some free thinkers acrossthe country merely attributedDr Sunwiy’s pictures to acomputer graphics design onlyintended to scareCameroonians.

Cont’d pg.3

Checks and Balances

[email protected]

The Cameroon Baptist ConventionHealth Board(Undemocratic and unresponsive)

Is they need for reform?

When the early CBC Missionaries came toAfrica they provided medical and schoolfacilities as a way of motivating their

followers to Christ Jesus, The CBC health board wasor is no exception. Since 1975, when the CBC healthboard got its autonomy as an independent body underthe Cameroon Baptist Convention the CBC, theservices has witnessed great strides- expanding inleaps and bounds, but this entire success story doesn’tcredit the undemocratic and unresponsivemanagement at the CBC Health Board operations.However it will be useless to say the CBC HealthBoard or CBCHB as it is called is successful whenthe woe’s of its over 9000 workers are beginning toreach a dangerous level of intensity and proportion.Incredulously most CBC Health board worker’s areeveryday carried by their own fury, for punitivetransfers, frequent dismissals and iron fist management, the over centralization of power in the palms of oneman, favoritism and corruption.

DISMISSAL’S

Every year score’s of worker’s within the CBC HealthBoard are terminated from work or from duty as peoplethere prefer to call it under very humiliatingcircumstances by the CBC Health Board DirectorProf Tih Pius. These sackings precipitated by minorcrimes and grievances calls to question the credibilityof the CBCHB as a Christian body. Most senior staffof the institution have being sent parking for minormistakes that would have been talked close doors givingroom for a lot of silly speculations. Though indisciplineand irresponsible behavior is not permitted any wherewithin the CBC working cycles the recent dismissalshave exposed the CBCHB to a lot of criticisms.Critiques think the lack of dialogue and forgivenesswithin the institution is leaving a stern on the services.The health board which for many decades to day hasbeen headed by Prof Tih Pius might have everyjustification for firing workers randomly but it mayseem those who are left behind at the job have nolessons to learn from such administrative measures.With out ignoring the fact that too much discipline leadsworkers to criminal tendencies every day a worker isshown the door for this or that meaning that there is aproblem. The Holy Book recommends us to forgive77x7 as a way to tolerance and love. But they are lotof workers who have being fired at the CBC HealthBoard cycle just by the administration to selfishly stamptheir authority at the top. Some of these dismissalletters speak volumes of hatred and greed. Simply putbaseless. The case of a dismissal letter which weprocured the names of the concern withheld —-havesome of the sentences in the dismissal letter readinglike — this decision is non negotiable…. its final andcannot be reversed —” This just because the concernopted for a study leave. Many have asked how aninstitution which is governed by a professor can bewaging war against workers who want to go for furtherstudies. Is it good for the CBCBH to believe only inits own kind of in service training….many have alsoasked in silence. If the CBCHB big man had genuinereasons from stopping this particular young man fromundertaking his further studies, the content of thedismissal letter would not have been an ultimatum.The strong worded letter made the dismissal lettertook more a fight. But why do workers need a furtherstudy? Isn’t this to meet up their wishes anddemands….yet salaries are never increased and theworkers work on the same peanuts and allowances.War betides any one who tries to apply for a jobelsewhere and is caught. When public examinationsare launched CBCHB spices cum governmentwebsites and notice boards in search of clues as to

which of their worker applied. A hand full of workershas being shown the door on this strength. Many haveargued that all senior staff of the CBCHB are agingbut no one gap between them and the junior workers iswide like a deep ocean….some pundits have said thislooks like a selfish way to consolidate power. Most ofthese aspiring workers are feeling cheated and nodoubt most of them close the door behind them beforethe management ever think s so.The pains and shame these dismissed workers facewith their wives, children and relatives is oftenunbearable. Came to think of the sacrifices that thesesacked workers make either in their houses of worship-came to think of an administrator, who has spent yearson training within the services and has grown throughranks and file and just because of knocking a hospitalcar which he used on for an assignment is fired or asenior staff who is terminated for allege financial scam.As the CBC Health Board workers big and smallcontinue to face the anger of their bosses, it is still notvery clear why all senior staff of a whole formidablehealth board like that of the CBC can be recruited anddismissed by one man. Reliable reports say while theyoung energetic and hand working managers and senior

staff of the board are fired, some old men who aresupposed to have left the institution years back areretained to defend the interest of the patron..One Ngam Joseph who is reigning havoc and instillingfear in the hearts and minds of God.s workers in BBHNso is a gossips issue now in all CBCHB cycles whileThis Mme Ndzenyuy Rose who is known to betranscribing infos for the ears up stir is still joggingaround. R and J as they are now called were supposedto gone on retirement by 2005 but their abilities todefend their boss at board meetings are paying off well.The case of J is worse because he has turned BBH into land to settle scores. R daughter is a sexualconductor…who is quoted to have tested all the joysticks of the senior staff out there. Some have gone onpunitive transfer because of her Eve fruit. It not knownhow she does it but it might seem she has some mysticalpowers. When will she be sacked and no one expecther to go any where as they isn’t any query letter inher file.Does it mean she has guts? Fear of J and R ison gear at BBH. One irate worker of the CBC HealthBoard who spoke to K

24 checks and balance

expressed fear and grief when she alleged that the lastdaughter of the director who trained as an eye specialistin Indian performed a professional misfit when she wasretained for work at Mbingo Baptist Hospital, but tocompensate her for laxity and her professionalwaywardness she was instead sent for further studiesin Kenya “if it were other people son or daughter theywill just fire” the worker cried. The highest pain forany organization is to live under bad leadership. Thepresent CBCHB leadership seems to have deviatedfrom the objectives of the fore fathers and the onlyway for things to change is for the truth to be spokenby those up there and down rather than trying to hideunder smiles when many can’t face their daily woes.No doubt why all CBC general secretaries have oftenbeen very desperate in the face of all these atrocities.However in the words of a French writer Victor Huge“as for how you pray, the words do not matter if theyare sincere is anyone praying sincerely about this”Checks and balances Next Issues…………

- Embezzlement at the CBC Health Boardclearing house at Douala etc…….

- Overview concentration of power inone head……………..

Aniweh J.Neba is a research fellow the international reporter projectin Uganda and cameroon

A k24 news source inthe ministry of scientificresearch and innovation at theministry in Yaoundé, saidstrong winds that resulted tohigh waves in the now almostopen lake basin caused thejetting of the lake waves in tothe air to produce the fountainlike image which raised a stiraccording to the picturesphotographed in February2012 at the foot of the lake.The scientists said that they didnot erase the need forappropriate scientific researchat the Crater Lake and thatafter asking questions andfollowing every clue, thecredible scientific research ledthem to other crater lakes in

Africa with the samekind of high fountainwater waves incertain months of theyear. He quotedLake Tangayika inKenya as a goodexample. Though theofficial statescientific researchreport in Lake Oku isyet to be made public,it is no doubt that thealleged poisonousgas explosion wasjust high waterwaves that formedthe fountain likestructure. The

prompt reaction of thegovernment to the crisisand the silence which hasfollowed sine then givescredence to the abovearguments.

In as much as theissue is now waved withthe finger, good willCameroonians areadvised to report anyunnatural occurrences atour crater lakes to theappropriate authorities, oursource at the ministryadvised. The mayor of theOku council has lofty plansto provide recreational and

High wHigh wHigh wHigh wHigh waaaaater wter wter wter wter waaaaavvvvveseseseses,,,,, mistak mistak mistak mistak mistaken fen fen fen fen fororororor

poisonous Gas epoisonous Gas epoisonous Gas epoisonous Gas epoisonous Gas explosion axplosion axplosion axplosion axplosion at Lakt Lakt Lakt Lakt Lake Okue Okue Okue Okue Oku

earearearearearllllly 2012?y 2012?y 2012?y 2012?y 2012? touristic facilities at thelake Oku site in theupcoming months. Thesefacilities will attracttourist and visitors to Okuand will be an incomeearner for themunicipality. AGovernment sponsoredring road project whichrun through the LakeOku Mountain to Dongamantung Division is onesure catalyst to galvanizethe wish of Mayor NgumJerome who has scoredhuge points in his task indisenclaving the sundivision.

Environment

[email protected]

Climate Change Fact SheetClimate change and impacts

The Chad Lakebasin has asurface area of 1

million square milesaround it, including the farnorth region ofCameroon.

The ChadThe ChadThe ChadThe ChadThe Chad

LakLakLakLakLake basine basine basine basine basin

Since this once mightinland sea shrunk by 90%in the 1970’s this regionhas become one of thepoorest regions of theworld. Yet even as theLake Chad shrunk, the

• livelihoods: by 2020yields from waterfedagriculture in Africacould be down by 50%

• Disaster: Almost250million peoplearound the world areaffected by climate

change relateddisasters in a typicalyear. By 2015 thisnumber could grow by50% to an average ofmore than 375 millionpeople.

• Food Security: Themost optimistica u t h o r i t a t i v epredictions say thatbetween 740 millionand 1.3 million peoplemay be chronicallyhungry by 2080.

CrCrCrCrCrying fying fying fying fying for or or or or WWWWWaaaaater in Chadter in Chadter in Chadter in Chadter in ChadRiRiRiRiRivvvvver Basiner Basiner Basiner Basiner Basin

Congo and CentralAfrican Republic.

The Basic

Resources

In the far north region ofCameroon all the riverbeds have dried up and thefood crops on the farmfields have turned into drysticks in the sand dunes.As families try to make themost of the scantyresources women andchildren trek long distancescrying for water.

agricultural output hasfallen in the Lake Chadriver basin even as theclimate changes put analready fragile situation toa mess.

The story of theLake Chad basin is exactlywhat scientists have beenechoing worldwide. This isa simple eulogy in responseto the climate changes, theunsustainable land usesystems, lack of water andforest destruction.

As one tour the far northregion of Cameroon, theland is fast turning in to adesert as the inhabitancelive in near famineconditions

The Evidence

Change in the Lake Chadbasin is constant and thepeople who made theirhomes are learning tomake the most of this withthe available resourcesaround. They farm andharvest their crops in theextreme conditions,sometimes following therainy season which isalways uncertain.Thisyear the rainy season hasskipped for about sevenmonths from November toJune with a dry and verydusty weather.

According to the farmersin the far north region ofCameroon, Lake Chadbasin flooded regularly inhistory providing fertilesoils for the subsistentfarmers in the area. Butbecause of it extremeshallow nature the Lakefluctuated dramaticallymaking the farmingactivities in the basin andarea uncertain.

Dried up Part of Chad Lake Basin

population of the regiongrew. An estimated 37million people now livehere, many of whommigrated recently from theSahel region just to thenorth where arid land isturning into a desert. Thecombination ofdisappearing resourcesand the increasing demandis making an alreadyfragile poor region evenpoorer. Crop productionhas fallen as waterbecomes very increasinglyscarce. The Lake ChadBasin is occupied byCameroon, Niger, Nigeria,Chad, Sudan, Ivory Coast,

The grazing of livestockand the destruction of theforest for fuel woodadvances theencroachment of thedesert. This year the dryseason has extended toseven months and onlythree bags of grain andmillet can be a family’ssource of primary incomeand three square meals ina year. This bad situationis becoming precarious asthe farmers plant too muchfood crops and too denselyon the same pieces of land.This is killing andexhausting the soils. Thesad story is that

The Global InternationalWaters Assessment, in astudy of the regionpublished by the UnitedNations, says the Lakechanged from short andback again to its originalsize. The fishermen off theshores chased this shiftingpattern.

As time is passing, thisirregular pattern haswitnessed another story.The Sahel region whichcovers the basin right up tothe north of Sahara isdrying up and in the last 30years the UN, in a report,said the Lake Chad basinarea has attracted “themost substantial andsustained decline in rainfallmeasured anywhere in theworld today.” This isblamed on the rising oceantemperatures leading toglobal warming.

Local Peoples’ in

dilemma

As the Sahel dries up,many of the people whoare nomads are chasingthe south of the basin insearch of arid land. But asthe lake shrinks the rainyseason is fading out aswell.

As the population in thebasin grows and its climatechanges, the locals arestriving to make the mostof the limited resourcesavailable in the region andto control the disappearingresources.

The normal life out thereis not ease as the farmersstruggle to adjust with theshifting river beds.

• Water: If suppliesfrom the Himalayansin South-Asia will facewater shortages, thebasin of the Gangesdone is home to half abillion people. (curledfrom ox farm)

Cont’d on pg. 5

I t was at the BB91 beerparlour corridors inKumbo town capital of

Bui division that the sectionpresidents of the Bui 3section of the CPDMrepresented by Soh PatrickKeming and the Bui 5section represented byNform Forgwei Alfredstriked a deal to alternatethe parliamentary seatfrom oku –Noniconstituency in theupcoming council andparliamentary election andwith no council area andtribe playing second Fidel.

According to theminutes of the consultativemeeting which K24 newsservice procured andsigned on the 21st May2007, the meeting had thefollowing top notch cadreswithin the Oku/NOniconstituency of theCPDM.Kwei Andrew Ango-Bui 3 sub section youthpresident [MP-Aspirant atthe time]NFORMI Andrew CHIA-Bui 5 council candidate.

Shey Nfon NdinyunDoris Beri Bui five councilWCPDM sectionpresident.]SHEY NFORMIFLORENCE SAKGHE-Bui WCPDM Sectionpresident.Mngo Emmanuel Nsanen-Bui 3 YCPDM sectionpresident.Shey Dr Nchanji NdiGermanus CPDMresources president Bui 5]Kibuh Nilian Nsanen Bui5 YCPDM sectionpresident.

These CPDMcadres on behalf of theirrespective sections alsoaccording to the truceagreed that the elected MPcandidates would beseating together with someelites and experts to decidethe proportionate use of themicro-projects grants forthe benefits of the Oku/Noni people.It’s on this terms that theNoni community has being

UpcomingUpcomingUpcomingUpcomingUpcomingCouncil AndCouncil AndCouncil AndCouncil AndCouncil And

PPPPParararararliamentarliamentarliamentarliamentarliamentaryyyyyElectionElectionElectionElectionElection.

THE MP SEATHE MP SEATHE MP SEATHE MP SEATHE MP SEAT FOR THE OKUT FOR THE OKUT FOR THE OKUT FOR THE OKUT FOR THE OKU

/NONI/NONI/NONI/NONI/NONI constituency alternate

to the NONI section of the

CPDM according to 2007 truce.

NONI community not ready to

play second Fidel again.

Aaron k YANCHO

bracing up to grap the MPparliamentary seat andswearing not to playsecond fidel at the upcoming election. Going bythe May 21st

2007agreement Noni elitewho spoke to k24 on thebasis of anonymity said thepartnership agreementwas meant to compensatethe Bui 5 section for havingaided Oku severally to picka CPDM parliamentarianseat within a vibrantopposition terrain. As theNonis relay on the supportof their Bui 3 CPDMcomrades to clinch thevictory, the content of thetruce and this now publiccommuniqué is generatingfury and waxing tongueswithin the Oku Bui IIIsection of the CPDM.Some barons within theBui III section of Oku whospoke to the k24 newspaper but asked not to bequoted argue that the trucewas meant to lure the NoniBui V section of theCPDM to giving a yes voteto the Oku CPDM aspirantat the time. Others simplysee this communiquésigned between SohPatrick keming and NformForgwei as a non event, onthe strengths that nolegalized authorities hadcertified the deal and like

one youth averred“anything written on behalfof a political party and noton its letterhead, dulysigned and forwarded tothe right quarters was oris just bull shit of paper”.As the months burn out tothe next elections, its notreally clear what the may21st 2007 “letter like”communiqué was meant toachieve but isn’t it true thatpolitic is a game ofinterest. It will not be amistake to say that no realpolitical agreement s canbe stroke in beerparlors…in a wellconceived democracy thiscan happen only in theballot box. Don’t be fooledSaah.

By John Paul Nkwain

CrCrCrCrCrying fying fying fying fying for or or or or WWWWWaaaaaterterterterterin Chadin Chadin Chadin Chadin Chad

RiRiRiRiRivvvvver Basiner Basiner Basiner Basiner Basin

Small Scale FSmall Scale FSmall Scale FSmall Scale FSmall Scale Farararararmermermermermers s s s s WWWWWho Makho Makho Makho Makho Make ane ane ane ane animpact on Camerimpact on Camerimpact on Camerimpact on Camerimpact on Cameroon Economoon Economoon Economoon Economoon Economyyyyy.....

Ambe Forkwa

The small scale farmers in the Foumbot community of thewestern region of Cameroon had for generations relied onfood crop production mainly for an income. With good

farming practices entirely absent over the years production thinneddown. It was this need to find alternatives to this dependency onthe market for food crops that some two self help groups cametogether in 2005 to form the “Societe Des Eleveur De VacheLaitier De Foumbot “COOVALAIF.Members of this cooperative had seen how Heifer InternationalCameroon donated animals assisted some communities to achievetheir needs for food crop self sufficiency and income A key toCOOVALAIF success was to apply for a Heifer InternationalCameroon dairy farming assistance in 2006. In 2007 HPICameroon shared in the wish of this cooperative and to ensured along term development of the cooperative members, the farmfamilies received hands on training on integrated livestockmanagement where animals and crops complemented one another,group dynamics, sanitation and hygiene, gender equity andcomposting. At the end of the coaching some 34 farm familieswere offered farm input and financial support to construct livestockbarns and to put their skills in to test.The joy and the dreams of the cooperative members werecomplete when Heifer International Cameroon rewarded some 34farm families with 34 heifers and 3 bulls to be catered for by thecooperative. Thanks to HPI Cameroon extension staff that theleadership of the cooperative coordinated the different operationsin the small scale family farms. “With the right assistance Idedicated my best and time in the project” one of the cooperativemembers Fonka yayei said at the time. In the opinion of anothermember Ntainti Renatou the animal waste provided fine fertilizerfor their food crop farm fields. Surely beyond imaginations thecooperative members were premier food crop harvesters in theircommunity. “I harvested 5 bags of beans and 25 bags of maize injust one year” Fokou Mama rejoiced. The production of freshmilk was also over whelming. The 34 farm families feed on themilk and deliver the extra to the cooperative every morning formarketing. By marketing through the cooperative the farm familiesknock out middle buyers who bought fresh milk and food cropsat cheap prices to satisfy their whims and caprices over the pastyears.Thanks to the timely financial contributions of the cooperativemembers that equipment was bought for the process milk in toyogurt, butter and cheese. This added value to the product sourcea lot of income for the cooperative. To advocate the wellbeing ofanimals owned by members the cooperative hired and paidveterinary extension workers to give advice and carry out weeklyroutine checks and vaccination. At the same time, responding tothe needs of the members with financial assistance and hands ontraining. “The cooperative has piloted us to immeasurable success”Abdoulaye Njumavoui said.Sourcing all their cash through the small scale projects this HPICameroon supported cooperative in the foumbot town havemade an impact on Cameroon economy and are model farmers forall striving self help group across the country. Average annualhousehold income for each farm family has increased from aninitial 215,000fcfa in 2008 to 1.5million in 2012. Besides feedingwell, cooperative members are using the available income to pay

for the emergency needs of the children and close ones whileothers have bought landed property and expanded in to poultryand goat farming. Each week each member saves at least 5000fcfain the revolving fund of the cooperative.When the cooperative started in 2007 their initial working budgetstood at 2million fcfa but today it stands at 12million cfa. “Wehave plans to buy a feed and palm kernel processing machine forthe cooperative in the near future which will process and deliverquality feed at almost no cost to our members and community”explained a board member of the cooperative. Thanks to thecollaboration of the Cameroon government that the COOVALAIFcooperative has built an office premise worth 25million Fcfa with30% of this amount coming from the member’s contributions. In20011 during a national organized agro pastoral show in Cameroonthe cooperative emerged the best small scale farmer self help groupin Cameroon in the production, processing and marketing of milkand it’s by products. This was reciprocated by an encouragementletter and envelope from Cameroon president Paul Biya. Successin the COOVALAIF cooperative has proven that livestock canhelp even indigenous people to improve their livelihoods contraryto the notion that it was a thing for the Fulani pastoralist.The membership of the cooperative has increased from 34 in 2007to 48 today and from 34 heifers the cooperative members have 78dairy cattle with over 16 bulls marketed by members for an income.Some 21 farm families have put the POG pledge in action withinthe cooperative to enhance the entrepreneurial abilities within thecommunity. There‘s renewed hope and love in every householdas farm families and their children center around their projects tosource their needs. The cooperative is sensitive to gender issuesreason why three women are on its management bench. Despitethe effects of the climate changes that have affected food cropsproduction negatively in the region brought in by the prolongeddry season members of the cooperative are very hopeful to keepmeeting their production capacities. In remembrance of HPICameroon support this COOVALAIF cooperative members havegiven their dairy animals symbolic names like Joy, Peace, Loveand Dan West to immortalize their self fulfillments. The ability ofthis cooperative to influence markets prices for farm produce inthe entire region has enabled this small scale farmers to have apositive impact on Cameroon’s economy which depends mainlyon food crop production for survival.

When the lake floodedlarge scale of agriculturalproduction took place inthe area but today sanddunes have taken over thefarm fields. Some projectsto irrigate farm landinstead drain away fertilewetlands.

As the streams werediverted, farming along thebasin diminished. Withoutthe plant cover, thetemperatures in the soilsraised and water in soilsevaporated swiftly.

As the mismanagement ofthe land by the desperatepoor is increasing, thevegetation is also lost

As one tours the regionfarm land and roads areburied under sand dunesand as the people strive formore in nothing, the basinis prone to violence.Manyvillagers tussle for waterresources and grazingfields. And for manypeople daily life ischanging as violence isalso encroaching.

In the Nigerian section ofthe Lake, some villagesare buried under sanddunes as the desertextends south wards andmany people arebecoming “environmentalrefugees”.

In the nearby Sudan’sregion of Darfur, thissituation has reached crisisproportions as at least200,000 died since civilwar broke out there in2003. The United Nationssecretary general KoffiAnan called it “noaccident|” that the violentin Darfur erupted duringthe drought in the Sahelwhere precipitation hasdeclined 40% since the1980’s. He also attributedstrife in Burkina Faso,Somalia and the IvoryCoast to a “similar volatilemix of and waterinsecurity”.

A developmentorganization -HeiferInternational Cameroon ishelping the villages in thefar north region ofCameroon to make themost of the resources onthe ground. Farmers undervarious organizations aretaught simple ways ofpasture establishment,

animal management andother ways of improvingnutrition and hygiene intheir homes.

The knowledge, most ofthese groups are earning iskey to the development oftheir lives and homes.

One of the beneficiaries-Mama Bitang hasawakened her life and thatof her family with 9dependents. This widowhas fought poverty too wellwith Heifer donatedanimals (sheep) andmentoring through herFemmes Ambiteusescommon initiative group.

Unfortunately this stitch intime is not enough as themeans is limited. Peoplewho live in this basin areseeing little or no benefitsfrom international efforts tohelp them. In 2008 aninternational organizationGlobal EnvironmentFacility mapped out a 20year plan as a start to arevolution to reforests theland and change waterdiversion policies in thearea but the task has beentoo slow.

According to HeiferInternational Cameroononly 3% of household in thefar north region ofCameroon with 6 millionpeople have access topotable water.

AS an urgent remedy issort, the efforts to institutebroad base policies is nothelping at all, because thebasin is fragmented bycontroversial policies laiddown by the differentgovernments around theLake basin and theunnecessary numeroustribal conflicts.

With limited means orinfrastructures, informationdissemination is poor,making it a challenging taskto educate people on theissues at stake and tointroduce broad basepolicies.

And despite the best effortsof a community thatdepends on one another, itremains difficult toovercome the stultifyingeffects of the droughts.And who doubts thatViolence erupts whereresources are scanty.

Environment

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Cont’d on pg. 5

People & Events

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Have dinner ready plan aheadeven the night before, to have adelicious meal on time. This is away of letting him know that youhave been thinking about hisneeds. Most men are hungrywhen they come home and theprospects of a good warm mealare part of a warm welcomeneeded.Prepare yourself. Take 15minutes to rest so you will berefreshed when he arrives.Touch up your make up, put aribbon in your hair and be freshlooking. He has just been with a

HoHoHoHoHow w w w w TTTTTo Look o Look o Look o Look o Look After After After After After YYYYYour Husbandour Husbandour Husbandour Husbandour Husbandlot of work weary people. Be alittle more interesting. His boringday may need a lift.Clear away the clutter, makeone last trip through the main partof the house just before yourhusband arrives, gathering upany school books, toys etc. Thenrun the duster over the tables.Your husband will feel he hasreached a haven of rest andorder and it will give a lift too.Prepare the children. Take afew minutes to wash thechildren’s hands and faces (if

they are small), comb their hair,and, if necessary, change theirclothes. They are little treasuresand he would like to see themplaying the part.Minimise the noise. At thetime of his arrival, eliminate allnoise of washer, dryer,dishwasher or vacuum. Try toencourage the children to bequiet. Be happy to see him. greethim with a warm smile and beglad to see him.Some don’ts. Don’t greet himwith complaints or problems.

Don’t complain if he is late fordinner. Count this as minorcompared to what he may havegone through that day.Make him comfortable. Havehim lean back in a comfortablechair or suggest he lay down inthe bedroom. Have a coolingdrink ready for him. Arrange hispillow and offer to take off hisshoes. Speak to him in a low, softvoice. Allow him to relax andunwindListen to him. You may have adozen things to tell him, but the

moment of his arrival is not thetime. Let him speak first.Make the evening his. Nevercomplain if he does not take youout to dinner or to other placesof entertainment. Instead try tounderstand his world andpressure, his need to be homeand relaxed.THE GOAL: try to makeyour home a place of peaceof peace and order whereyour husband can renewhimself in body and spirit.

Condolence

The publisher chronicle Newspaper !!!

At a time we at K24 were stillshaking our babies napkins aheadof her delivery, the news of yourwife’s death made us cry. We knowthis is probably not muchconsolation to you in this darkmoment, but take courage.May God bless and comfort you/family in this time of need and mayyour departed wife rest in peace forall eternity.

In the company ofLove Ones,Treasured relativesand the Okucommunity inB a m e n d a - D rNkaimbi Alfred ofDouala CelebratedThe 1st Birthday ofhis son Afa DerexB a i n k o n gEmmanuel

AnniAnniAnniAnniAnnivvvvvererererersarsarsarsarsary Celey Celey Celey Celey Celebrbrbrbrbraaaaationstionstionstionstions

In Bamenda,Admist laughterand Pomp Afa

turned one lastOctober 22nd 2012.

The Ichim Oku Cultural and

Development Association

Celebrates Its 9th

anniversary in style /

December 2012Ngum Henry NbannThe close knit mountain village of ichim Oku with someseventeen thousands inhabitance will be nine years oldin modern civilization this December 2012. Since theIchim development association was formed in 2003Ahead of the 9th anniversary ofthis year’s development fiestaand congress,the nationalpresident of Ichim DevelopmentAssociation Mr. Keng WilfredNshom, has in an Open letter toall IDA son’s and daughtersnation wide called on them tosink their differences at whateverlevel and to stand up as onepeople so as to make this year’sevent a remarkable success. MrKeng Wilfred noted that theUnity of IDA was its strengthand the bigger the Associationwas better in achievingunbelievable goals for thecommunity.

This year’s which eventwhich happens from the 21 to23rd December 2012, is expectedto mobilize over 77million for theconstruction of an ultra moderncommunity Hall, which will hostseminars, annual generalmeetings receptions, culturalevents and IDA offices to quotethe national president. . IDABranches nationwide have beenstrategizing how to meet up withtheir respective budget lines andexpectations. In Yaoundé, IDABranch President KenkohSolomon Kesam has drawn aroad map for his branch on howto collect the necessary dues forthis upcoming event. The IDAYaoundé branch which has beena formidable think tank for themother association is dreamingof piloting this year’s event inpopulace and cash. The bamendabranch which is hosting thenational president of IDA hasplanned a fund raiser forNovember 4th in OCDA Bamendameeting house as from mid day.To ensure that all IDA branchesare keeping to the wish of thisyear’ s event the nationalpresident of IDA is on a contacttour to all IDA branches across

Cameroon to beef up preparationahead of the event and to reinforcehis message of unity and solidarity..This is the first time in its historywhen IDA Promises to be a crowdpuller as all sons and daughters ofichim roll their sleeves ahead of theevent. The village had of Ichim faiNdifon has also visited Bamenda tohold a working session with thenational President. since its creationin 2003 the Ichim developmentassociation has completed apotable water project estimated tocost more than 50million fcfa,constructed some 5 modernclassrooms for the new governmentsecondary school Ichim, andrehabilitated and furnished thepremises of the Ichim integratedhealth centre.

The Ichim-Oku village isrenowned for its dense populationin the Oku municipality, and notedfor solidarity and a community spiritin every action. The people are alsogifted in choral music. The famousNjang of bey nii nkwaa and theenticing Ngwekoh juju dance whichincarnates the ancestral heritage ofsome of the Ichim Oku forefathersgives the community a high senseof traditional culture and dexterity.

Mr. Ken WilfredIDA National President

Advert

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News

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Some small scale farmers supported by Heiferinternational Cameroon to restore land productionpotentials and to reduce the green house gas

emissions, while improving their livelihoods at theKedjom Ketinguh, Bali Nyonga, Bamendakwe, Akum,

Bio-gas

RRRRReaeaeaeaeaping the doubping the doubping the doubping the doubping the double dile dile dile dile dividends ofvidends ofvidends ofvidends ofvidends of this tec this tec this tec this tec this technolohnolohnolohnolohnologggggy:y:y:y:y:

Heif Heif Heif Heif Heifer interer interer interer interer internananananational Camertional Camertional Camertional Camertional Cameroon supporoon supporoon supporoon supporoon supportedtedtedtedtedfffffarararararmermermermermers ws ws ws ws welcome this neelcome this neelcome this neelcome this neelcome this new tecw tecw tecw tecw technolohnolohnolohnolohnologggggyyyyy.....

Aaron k YanchoNjong Santa and Mbei Santacommunities in Mezam Division of theNW Region are learning to make useof Biogas technology installations totrim utility bills and to avoid fetchingor cutting trees for firewood.

Through this Bio-gas, some 100House holds in these communitieswho have adopted this technology intointegrated dairy cattle farming areenjoying double dividends. At most nocost, this affordable renewable greenenergy, bio-gas also provides a by-product called Slurry) that is a richcrop fertilizer. More remarkable is thefact that the bio-gas units are veryeasy to install, simple and cheap torun and require little or nomaintenance in the first few years of

installation. Over time, the plants, which are installedthrough self help cooperatives pay for themselves,reason why hundreds of farmers in most ruralcommunities in Cameroon are striving for this renewableenergy.

In Cameroon Heifer project international Cameroon withthe support of the small grant programme (SGP) of theUnited Nations Development Programe (UNDP) hasassisted farmers in these communities to learn how tobuild and install the 4 basic units of an underground Bio-gas plant, “the inlet, digester, gas holder and outlet). Theinlet is where these farmers deposit manure (animalwaste) the digester is a dome shaped thing made ofbricks attached to the inlet, in an airtight chamber wherebacteria breaks down the waste until it separate bio-gasand the organic compost the slurry.

The gas holder receives the bio-gas energy before it ischannel through pipes for domestic usage. The outletchannels the slurry to a dump pit where it is used torepair farm land for crop production.

Over the years these rural communities in Cameroonhad depended on fuel wood for cooking. The cutting oftrees reduced soil fertility and encouraged deforestation.These firewood sources also gave a lot of smoke thatcaused harm to the eyes and the lungs. Using bio-gasfor cooking improves hygiene conditions for these ruralwomen, as pollution is eliminated. It has also drops workload on fuel wood for women and girls, and above theBio Gas energy installations have improved sustainablenatural resource management for these communities.

County Director HEIFER PROJECT Cameroon- smile for Heifer sup-ported farmers

CheaCheaCheaCheaCheap and afp and afp and afp and afp and affffffororororordadadadadabbbbble enerle enerle enerle enerle energggggy fy fy fy fy for the ror the ror the ror the ror the rurururururalalalalalcommcommcommcommcommunities in Camerunities in Camerunities in Camerunities in Camerunities in Cameroon.oon.oon.oon.oon.

CACACACACAT CamerT CamerT CamerT CamerT Cameroon boasts eneroon boasts eneroon boasts eneroon boasts eneroon boasts energggggy supply supply supply supply supply in Ry in Ry in Ry in Ry in Remote emote emote emote emote AkwAkwAkwAkwAkwaaaaayyyyya Comma Comma Comma Comma Communityunityunityunityunity.....

Mini hMini hMini hMini hMini hyyyyydrdrdrdrdro poo poo poo poo powwwwwererererer:::::

K erosene lamps and sore eyes were once routine elements of gradingstudent’s home work at the Akwaya community for many decades.. But amini hydro power installation plant has dramatically changed all that this

October 2012. Mr. Enong Mathias can now proudly go through the pile of booksstocked on his table, without worrying that the onset of darkness will put an end tohis night work thanks to this new mini hydro energy. Today, Cameroon remotevillages like Akwaya in the South West Region of Cameroon are tapping this freeand clean energy source from sunlight and waterfall to generate electricity in theirhomes and to meet up with their dreams of civilization.

The Akwaya locality with a population of over 15000 people mostly subsistentpeasant farmers is one of Cameroon landlocked area, with modern communicationgadgets alien to the people as a result of no access road network to the area andthe absolute lack of energy supply. Communication to the outside was a nightmareto the local people, and the proper functioning of government structures in the areawas only a wish. A government installed and run telecenter powered by a generatorin the area was only to assist the fortunate class reach beyond the boarders of thecommunity. These huge challenges nib the economic potentials of the area in thebud, pitifully, school children and students in the area, used kerosene lamps to gettheir assignments done. For the student community of the locality the best alternativewas to do their home work before sunset.

Thankfully this is now a headache of the past. A mini hydro-power funded bythe Akwaya council at the cost of 42 million has gone into use. According to thedirector of CAT/center for appropriate technology Cameroon Njini Victor. Thecontractor of the mini-hydro-power the hydro power is delivering 18watts of clean,free energy in 3 phases which means industrial appliances are already under use.According to Njini Victor eleven government offices, nine households and twelvebusiness premises and some major streets are already lighted. To ensure a sustainable

life span of theproject, someseven councilworkers havealso been trainedto mange theenergy system,i n c l u d i n gm a i n t e n a n c e ,billing of clientsand its security

B e s i d e se n a b l i n gg o v e r n m e n t

offices to function properly and for civil servants to do their jobs well, communicationwith the outside world is a possible reality for the people of the Akwaya community.A lot of average income, peasants are harnessing this new mini hydro energypower fortune to run small businesses. Entrepreneur Ebai James operates a maizegrinding mill with reliable all round available 24 hours energy supply; he can workinto the wee hours of the night to meet the demands of his customers.

The price of a call, at the telecenter once run by a generator has also drop,due to the hydro energy supply. The excitement at the landlocked Akwayacommunities is high and the energy supply is sure to unlock the great potentials ofthe locality.

Society

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TTTTThe Bibhe Bibhe Bibhe Bibhe Bible society ofle society ofle society ofle society ofle society of Camer Camer Camer Camer Cameroonoonoonoonoon

· LauncLauncLauncLauncLaunches its operhes its operhes its operhes its operhes its operaaaaation in the NW Rtion in the NW Rtion in the NW Rtion in the NW Rtion in the NW Reeeeegion ofgion ofgion ofgion ofgion of Camer Camer Camer Camer Cameroonoonoonoonoon

The bible societyof Cameroon isan inter-

denomination organization thatopened its doors in 1959 inCameroon and was inauguratedon the 12th January 1961, thanksto the then prime ministerCharles Assale. The biblesociety of Cameroon has asobjectives to Advance thegospel of Jesus Christ amongthe people of Cameroon. Thistask is achieved thought thetranslation, production anddistribution of bibles in thevarious local languages acrossthe country. The bible societyof Cameroon is credited for thehighest translations in Africawith 48 new testaments and 14complete Bibles. These bibletranslations have beenachieved in joint projects withthe Cameroon bible translationsociety (CABTAL), theSummer Institute of Linguistic

(SIL) and the Lutheran bibleteam and the Lutheran BibleTeam (LBT).

The bible society ofCameroon also operate someliteracy and holistic projectslike the teaching of

communities on how to readand write their local languages,the congregation of children tostudy the bible through gamesand the rehabilitation ofteenage street mothers in toincome generating activities

and the fight against HIV/AIDS.

In the North WestRegion of Cameroon, the biblesociety of Cameroon hastranslated the Holy Book intoeight languages with theMugarkaa language having thecomplete bible. The biblesociety of Cameroon has alsoproduced audio and writtenforms of the good news ofChrist to facilitatecomprehension andunderstanding in thecommunities. On November3rd 2012, the office of the biblesociety of Cameroon will beinaugurated in the city ofBamenda with Mme NdukuAnne Mercy as the Pioneerregional delegate for the NorthWest Regions of Cameroon.This event will bring togetherall Christian denomination withaffiliations to the bible societyof Cameroon and a match

pass across the city will launchthe day which will eventuallysee the government delegate ofthe Bamenda city, the NorthWest Governor and the countrydirector of the bible society ofCameroon Dr Luc Gnowadelivering Keynote speeches.The inauguration of theBamenda offices and itssubsequent Operation will meetthe people of the North WestRegion closely with the gospel.

According to MmeNduku Anne Mercy her visionwill be to see lives andcommunities surrendering toJesus Christ. It should berecalled that the bible society ofCameroon celebrated its 50th

Anniversary in 2011 and anaward for excellence from theCameroon government and theinternational community in theirun relentless fight againstdiscrimination and stigmatizationfor people living with HIV/AIDS in Cameroon was for thebible society of Cameroon andicing on the cake.

By Baka Derick

The financial report of theOku palace constructionprojects has raised

controversy among some Okucultural and developmentassociation’s branches nationwide.The financial report signed1014/2012 and caption “detailexpenditure analysis of the Okupalace projects” failed short ofthe expectations of the OCDABamenda branch. This financialreport which was not signed by

NaNaNaNaNational OCDtional OCDtional OCDtional OCDtional OCDA Financial RA Financial RA Financial RA Financial RA Financial Reeeeeporporporporport brt brt brt brt breeds Contreeds Contreeds Contreeds Contreeds Controoooovvvvvererererersysysysysy.....TTTTThe Bhe Bhe Bhe Bhe B.da Br.da Br.da Br.da Br.da Brancancancancanch Rh Rh Rh Rh Reeeeeponsesponsesponsesponsesponses..... Calls f Calls f Calls f Calls f Calls for cor cor cor cor clarity!.larity!.larity!.larity!.larity!.Tamfu Donald Ngek the national president of OCDA

Shey Ngamkong before anonward transmission to thevarious OCDA branches cameat the request of the nationalassembly meeting of theassociation which held at theOku Fons palace on somemonths backIn a reaction to the report in aletter dated August 19th 2012(letter which we procure) theBamenda branch of the OkuCultural and DevelopmentAssociation alerted the attentionof the National OCDApresident to what they called

the short-comings of the report.The letter decried theunspecified expenditure headslike in the case of KengahHans-10000fcfa, or Hiring ofbike to Bamenda- 12000fcfawithout any specifications orexplanations.. The same letteralso decried what the Bamendabranch allege as “multiple andcontroversial recordings .iecement 1 and 2 orcommunication credit to theengineer, 9500fcfa. The letter also queried thatloan’s appeared as income and

as paid expenditures. TheBamenda branch howevercalled for the separation of theOku palace constructionfinancial report from otherOCDA related projects andexpenditures. To ensure whatthe letter called opentransparency andaccountability, the Bamendabranch demanded a descriptionto every expenditure like“assistance to Oku Doctors”etc . Conclusively the letter tothe national president and themanagement committee of theOku palace project appealed for

an urgent more explicit financialreport to be issued in order toshun controversy and ill feeling.Attempts to talk to the nationalpresident of OCDA and hisexco on the issue were fruitlessbut k24 source’s say the OCDAnational exco will meet soonestin conclave to admen thefinancial report. This presentOCDA regime is credited forhaving initiated manydevelopment projects withoutthe Oku fondom of late.

The Oku fondom whichconstitutes a sub-Division of its own is

made up of over 87.00 inhabitants as of the 2005population census. Thispopulation statistics keepsOku next to Bamenda 2 interms of population in theentire of North West Regionof Cameroon.

Being one of the descendantsof the Tikari, Oku wasreduced down to a mere lotwithin Jakiri sub-divisionwith its sit situated within theNso Fondom. It was based onthis intentional act of

The oku Opinion leader writes to the OkuCommunity

OKU IN THE PAST, PRESNT AND FUTUREreduction that Oku suffers thelost of her splendid identity.As if this was not enough, theNso society to maintain theirauthority in Bui, the Okupeople were encouragedthrough insults (which werequite undeserving) to show alot of disenchantment aboutwhat concerned their ownfondom. After relegating Okuto the background by puttingthem under Jakiri sub-division, they did not getextinct because the messageof polygamy was correctlypreached and the population

grew. Finally when the Okufondom survived eliminationand grow constantly they gavetheir entire strength to oneFon who today stands aloneas the traditional pillar -mediating between the peopleand the government.

It will be recalled thatas a tool of resistance, manyFons in Oku have been harshand stern so as to represstraditional exigencies fromforeign fondoms Gradually,those who ever embrace the

western ideology throughtheir education seem to havebeen taught for the most partthe techniques of everclinching on to power andthreatening the youths.Gradually also, the old boysand their techniques havedroped because the new Okuhas experience the presenceof very young talentedpersons. The first youth in thelist who has moved to the topin his career and made Okuknown at the internationalarena is Messi Mathew

Ngangwa. Other youths atthe scene are NgumJerome,Shey MkongNicholas, NgumE m m a n u e l , Ta t aConfidence, KumbongMartin, Ngokse Francis,Hon Kivei Andrew just tomention a few.they have

Kinkoh Emmanuel: coordinatorOku Opinion Leaders

Cont’d pg 10

taken over the baton ofcommand and arepromising.

In the past, theoku man did notbelieve in himself andstayed mute tonegative decisionstaken against him.Today, BaijongEzekiel as young ashe is, is the principalof a high school. Thissame portfolio couldnot be proposed for MrNdishangong Tadiusand that is why he isretired as the viceprincipal. Thoughfrowning on theattitude of some youngmen who haveremained tophilosophies’ with theold boys, by hangingaround where powerresides so that theycan sacrifice othersfor their whims andcaprices, it is clearthat no change can beabrupt. At the present,political leadership inOku is shakingbecause those at thegrass roots either donot know their role orthe know it and do notwant to work it out.P O L I T I C A LLEADERSHIPCouncilors should getto know their roles andplay with vigour sothat Oku can develop.They should learn tosit with developmentcommittee membersof their quarters anddesign and planproject for the people.They should seekfunding from GO bothwithin and without thecountry. In political

leadership, reflectionshould be made beforeany choice is made. Goodpeople should be broughtin while bad onesdisappear. Sympathyshould not be brought tothe political scene.People should be chosenby merit, individualshould avoidmonopolizing powers asmuch as they can and behonored for doing so.AGRO FORESTRYModern agro forestrytechniques must have tobe developed. Let thefertility of land be madepossible through naturaltechniques. All Irishpotatoes villages shouldbe given a push so thatthis sector can fetchmore income. Coffeefarms should berevamped especially withthe new java and the newcoffee company(OLAMCAM) this couldhelp bring about achange in the standardof living. Also, that theexploitation of theforestry should fall undera degree of surveillanceso as to ensuresustainability. The lakefound in mt kilum shouldbe given a new resort byproviding both playground as to revamp thetourism sector in the Okufondom.OKU HONEYNegotiations should bemade with externalbodies and companies sothat a plant could be putup for the purification ofthe Oku Honey to faceinternational competitionwith courage andconfidence.OKU IN THEDIASPORA

Those Oku sons anddaughters livingabroad shouldremember the land ofMkong Moteh andsupport Okufinancially, morallyand even spiritually sothat the traditionalsanctuary of lumetucan stay untemperedwith.

OKU OPINIONL E A D E R SASSOCIATION.Being a recentlycreated civil society,this association ischarged with the dutyof educating people ongood leadershipr e c o n c i l i a t i o ntechniques. They alsohold firm to thedictates of moderngovernance whichcannot go withoutadvocacy andlobbying. The Oku wehave today as earliersaid is no longer theOku of yesterday. TheOku now love theirtribe and cannot avoidstanding to defend it atall times. Let the peoplehold fast to theirdreams and count onhard work with everyindividuals askinghim/her self whatcontributions he hasmade to take Okufrom where in the pastto the present positionand what he intends todo in the future.

Thanks .Kinkoh EmmanuelNjiah.Coordinator OkuOpinion leadersAssociation.

The oku Opinion leaderwrites to the Oku

Community

That moment is just afew weeks away,when millions of

Americans go to the ballotto decide whether BarackObama deserves fourmore years. The argumentagainst him is compelling.He is accused of not beingable to turn the economy

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Staff writer around, not being able tocontain a staggeringunemployment, seeingthrough a do-nothingCongress, instituting anunpopular health reform(Obama Care), fomentingclass warfare andapologizing for thegreatness of America.This is the punch line ofthe challengers, the

Republican Party andtheir presidential nomineeGovernor Mitt Romney,who ironically is abaggage of his own. MittRomney is a sharpcontrast in almost everysense of the word.Romney the son of amillionaire willsubsequently enter recordbooks as by far the richest

man to ever run for USpresidency. He isdescribed by theDemocrats as being out oftouch with the commonAmericans and lends morecredence to the voice ofhis critics with an erraticbehavior, some of whichinclude, heading ac o n t r o v e r s i a lcompany (Bain)which isbeing accused of vulturec a p i t a l i s m , a l w a y sswitching sides toaccommodate his politicalp e r s p e c t i v e s , ( f l i pflopping},building a multi-million dollar mansion inthese harsh economictimes, placing a 10.000dollar bet during a debate,dismissing 47% of thepopulation as lazy, havingoffshore secret bankaccounts in Switzerland andthe Cayman islands, payingless taxes than the averageAmerican among others.With all these dents onRomney’s image and hisunpopularity even in hisparty, you may want towonder why Republicansare still backing him withhundreds of millions ofdollars, making this therichest ever foughtelections in history. It’ssimple; they will doanything to kick barackObama out of office.However Mitt Romney isalso a bonafide businessman, with 25 years ofacumen and extremelysuccessful at what he does,he is also credited fortransforming the 2002winter Olympics fromshambles that fraught withcorruption, to a highlysuccessful event. This nodoubt qualifies him to bethe ideal person to turn theeconomy around from a

deficit to surplus if heis voted president.Obama, for his part, is farfrom that ebullientcandidate in 2008 whopromised hope and change,but he remains a verydebonair and likeableperson to most Americans.

The political facts on theground suggest a tightrace, with many bumps onthe road for bothcandidates. Obama wasrecently handed a beatingfrom Romney, duringthe first presidentialdebate, making him(Romney) bounceback from the polls andreviving his base.However obama stillretains a gargantuansupport from womenvoters, and minorities suchas blacks and latinos. Butas the unemployment ratestill remains way belowaverage, it is hard to tellwho undecided voters willtrust to lead through 2016. Thus what are the realdifferences betweenObama and Romney,Obama institutes universalhealth care for allAmericans, Romneywants to repeal it in favorof individual health care?Obama wants a tax raiseonly for the rich whilegiving the middle class anopportunity to grow,Romney believes intrickledown economics,with the view that raisingtaxes for the rich who areby the way theemployers,wont help theeconomic recovery.Obama is cutting defensespending and trying tosteer away from conflictzones. Romney wants to

expand American militarymight. Obama supportsthe dream act, wherebyimmigrants who wereborn or brought to theU.S, while young will begranted residency,Romney wants to repealit, and encourages selfdeportation ofimmigrants. Obamasupports gay rights,Romney objects. Thedifference in theirpersonalities too is stark,while Obama is a productof a single mother whohad to endure poverty andracial prejudices; Romneyon the other hand wasborn with a silver spoon. Re-enter the 2012Obama re-electioncampaign slogan“ Forward”, whileRepublicans and Romneyare bent on makingObama a one termpresident, it creates anopening for manyAmericans to seethat some of theirattempts and challengesare still deep rooted inrace and colour, whileothers are just trying toreturn to the policies thatgot the country intotrouble in the first place.Meanwhile PresidentBarack Obama, has goneforward to end the Iraqwar, withdrawnthousands of troops fromAfghanistan and drawn aroad map to end that war,repealed the ‘don’ t askdon’t tell’ policy allowingfor gays to serve in themilitary, introduced the‘Dream Act’, instituted auniversal healthpolicy ’Obama Care’,stabilized the economy,and is running away withthe bumper sticker“General Motors isalive and Osama BinLaden is dead”.

Society


Cont’d pg 10

News


TTTTThe he he he he AdministrAdministrAdministrAdministrAdministraaaaation oftion oftion oftion oftion of Bui Di Bui Di Bui Di Bui Di Bui Division laudsvision laudsvision laudsvision laudsvision laudsMaMaMaMaMayyyyyor Ngum Jor Ngum Jor Ngum Jor Ngum Jor Ngum JerererereromeomeomeomeomeI t was a visibly elated S D O

for Bui Division, N. MesapeBernard who presided at

the traditional annualadministrative, managementand store accounts session atthe Elak ultra communityconference hall on September26th 2012.

Addressing the topnotch of the municipality, themayor, Ngum Jerome andsome 38 councilors of themunicipality in attendance, theSDO exalted the entiremunicipality for its dynamismand profound commitment tothe goals of development. Theadministrator singled outMayor Ngum Jerome as adeeply ariented leader, with ahigh sense of purpose anddevelopment. The SDOthanked the councilors for theirpeace and fruitful deliberations.Mr. Mesape Bernard called formore level headedness andcollaboration within all thecouncil stakeholders in order tokeep the formidabledevelopment track record atthe municipality going. The

SDO called on the councilors toshun black stabbing and rancor,which as he put it was a roadblock to the success of themunicipality. Mayor NgumJerome was tasked by the SDOto ignore detractors andblackmail and to be steadfast inhis duties.

In a welcome addressduring the opening of the sessionthe ebullient mayor NgumJerome said the accounts of theElak council stood at fourhundred and thirty nine million,one hundred and sixty five

thousands, eight hundred andfifty two (439,165.852) FCFA,for revenue in 2011 as againsttwo hundred and eighty fivemillion two hundred and fifty onethousands one hundred and sixtyeight in 2010. According to themayor the expenditures of theElak council progressively movefrom two hundred and fifty fourmillion and sixteen thousand , sixhundred and eleven(254.016.01611)FCFA to fourhundred and nineteen millioneight hundred and twelvethousands four hundred andforty nine. The mayor saluted thesacrifies of the revenuecollection teams in the properdischarge of their duties. Whileacknowledging the publicinvestment credits that were alsoavailable in the council coffers,the mayor called for more extraefforts, from his colleagues tomake the situation much betterin the upcoming years. Thesession was attended by the DOfor Oku, the MP for the Oku

Noni constituency, HRH the Fonof Oku and some politicalbigwigs of the municipality .Highlights of the sessionincluded heated debates anddeliberation and the adoption ofa working plan.

Highlights of mayorNgum Jerome achievement thatwere heighted during this 2011administrative, management andstore accounts session includethe following

Construction of a bridge overreview KetumeleEnlargement of the Elak motorparkConstruction of sales pointsAssistance to schools withinthe muniscipalityConstruction of classrooms,purchase of equipments for thecouncil and a Prado vehicleNo.LT.673cu

One of Mayor Jeromes’ achievements at the Oku Council

By Tamfu Donald

k24 Newspaper

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