Breaking News

2, July 2016

After the Netherlands: British authorities sanctions 14 Cameroon timber companies ⁰

14 importers of timber from Cameroon have been sanctioned by UK authorities responsible for the application and enforcement of the Wood Regulations of the European Union Cameroon Concord News has learned. The sanctions were made public by Chatham House London and follow those already issued by the Netherlands on March 9, 2016. They revolve around the exploitation and illegal trade of wood from the Cameroonian forest ranked among the richest in biodiversity in the Congo basin.

These sanctions supported by the leadership of Greenpeace have confirmed rumors that Wood from Cameroon is the subject of a thorough review by the European Union. The list of the 14 importers has not been published by the British government. However, a leading Greenpeace figure in Cameroon was quoted as saying that the companies are identifiable.

The CPDM government had long been cautioned by the EU following its failure to apply strict forestry rules. Of these 14 importers, 6 received a warning for corrective action while warning letters were served to 7 operators. Since the entry into force in 2010 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) Cameroon has not made much effort to fight against illegal logging.

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News)

2, July 2016

Yaounde: New National Reference Laboratory for Malaria research opens ⁰

The two storey edifice was inaugurated on Friday 1^st of July 2016 by the Minister of Public Health Andre Mama Fouda in the company of the French Secretary of State in charge of Development Andre Vallini; the French Ambassador to Cameroon Christine Robichon and the Director of the Cameroon Medical Research Centre Guy Vernet.

The laboratory which is situated at the Cameroon Medical Research Centre in Yaounde has been created in order to step up the fight against Malaria. It is equipped with modern scientific tools such as high resolution microscope. The National Reference Laboratory for Malaria Research Project was constructed with funding from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy Planning and Regional Development, and the French Corporation.

CRTV

2, July 2016

CRTV: Charles Ndongo takes command ⁴

The newly appointed General Manager of the Cameroon Radio and Television Cooperation, Charles Pythagoras Ndongo and his deputy, Emmanuel Wongibe, have been installed into their functions.

The scantily attended ceremony took on Friday the 1^st of July 2016 at Studio 1 at Mballa II. The ceremony was chaired by the chairman of the CRTV board and Minister of Communication, Issa Bakary Tchiroma.

Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News)

1, July 2016

Elechi Amadi Author of The Concubine dies at 82 ⁰

Elechi Amadi is no more. According to Thisday newspaper, he died on June 29, 2016 in hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State of Nigeria, of an undisclosed ailment at the age of 82. Reacting to the news, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said Amadi was “a consummate patriot, a great literary icon, a soldier’s soldier and development enthusiast.”

Eldred Jones, in “African Literature 1966-1967,” described the novelist as “a Nigerian author of plays and novels that are generally about African village life, customs, beliefs and religious practices, as they were before contact with the Western world.” Amadi is best remembered for his 1966 novel, “The Concubine,” which was described “an outstanding work of pure fiction.” His other works included “The Great Ponds,” “Isiburu,” “Sunset in Biafra,” “Dance of Johannesburg,” “Pepper Soup,” “The Road to Ibadan,” “The Slave,” “Estrangement,” “Les Grand Etangs,” and “The Woman of Calabar.”

Born in 1934 in Aluu, Rivers State, Amadi attended Government College, Umuahia, Survey School, Oyo and the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a degree in Physics and Mathematics in 1959. He was a land surveyor and later teacher in several schools, including the Nigerian Military School, Zaria from 1963–66. Amadi served in the Nigerian Army and remained there during the Nigerian Civil War, retiring as a Captain.

He also served in the Rivers State government as Permanent Secretary, Commissioner for Education and Commissioner for Lands and Housing. Elechi Amadi was a writer-in-residence and lecturer with the Rivers State College of Education (now Ignatius Ajuru University of Education), where he was Dean of Arts, Head of the Literature Department and Director of General Studies.

CAMTRIBUNE

1, July 2016

Biya rejects new Penal Code ⁰

The controversial Penal Code recently acclaimed expeditiously in the National Assembly has been rejected by President Paul Biya. Cameroon Concord News learnt Biya has ordered a second reading of the document from those CPDM comedians passing for honorable members of parliament. The 83 years old leader has asked for a reformulation of the article concerning the immunities of cabinet ministers.

We understand Mr Biya wants the controversial Article 127 of the Penal Code which prescribes penalty of imprisonment from one to five years to magistrates or police officers entrenching on the immunity granted to members of government to be rewritten.

A group of Social Democratic Front MPs had raised an objection before the debate on the amendment and blocked the amendment of the Penal Code, citing non-compliance of the internal regulations of the National Assembly in its Article 64.3. Work was suspended on Thursday with opposition members of parliament insisting that the ruling CPDM MPs must respect parliamentary procedures.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News)

1, July 2016

Cameroon and France to sign the third Debt Reduction-Development Contract ⁰

President Biya and the French Secretary of State for Development and Francophonie, André Vallini, recently held what both men described as “intensive and productive discussions”. Cameroon Concord News learned from government sources that President Paul Biya stressed on bilateral cooperation, the fight against terrorism and the going-on within the European Union.

Speaking of the Development and Debt Reduction Contract (C2D) with his guest, André Vallini, the Cameroonian dictator revealed that the cooperation formula has been “useful, efficient, virtuous and concrete.” Beyond the C2D, André Vallini reaffirmed the commitment of France to participate in the development of Cameroon.

Biya also called for greater coordination in the fight against international terrorism and hinted that there was an urgent need for intelligence sharing among countries of Europe, Africa and the United States. The French minister was accompanied during the Unity Palace audience by a large delegation including the French ambassador to Cameroon, Christine Robichon.

Minister Vallini is expected to sign the third Debt Reduction-Development Contract, aimed at supporting the Cameroon’s development. He will travel to Douala today to inaugurate major urban development projects and sign an agreement with the urban community on the “Douala Sustainable City” project. Lastly, he will inaugurate the new premises of the Pasteur Center of Cameroon for Clinical Research on Malaria and will visit the “Foyer de l’espérance” in Yaoundé, a benchmark institution for the reception, protection and reintegration of children and young people.

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai (Cameroon Concord News)

30, June 2016

Nkoulou signs a 4 years deal with Lyon FC ⁰

Nicolas Nkoulou has been presented officially as an Olympique Lyonnais player. Cameroon Concord News gathered that Nkoulou signed a 4 years deal with the Ligue 1, France side.

The Cameroonian was presented to the public at a press conference on Wednesday by the President of Lyonnais, Jean-Michel Aulas. A native of Yaounde, Nkoulou has replaced another Yaounde citizen, Samuel Umtiti, who left Lyon for Barcelona.

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News)

30, June 2016

Yaounde: Public Health Minister launches European Union Project 48 ⁰

The Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda on the 29^th of June 2016, launched a European Union project aimed at improving on the management of epidemics. The three-year project launched in Yaounde will be operational in 11 countries along the Atlantic Coast of Africa. Apart from improving the management of crisis, the project will also reinforce surveillance and the alert systems.

Dubbed “Project 48”,the representative of the management team of the project, Marie Françoise Saron said the regional team to handle the project was being constituted by national experts. The experts will exchange notes during training sessions so as to be better equipped for the job.

Besong Esther Agbor with files from CRTV

30, June 2016

Penal Code Palaver: No more immunity for cabinet ministers ⁰

The Constitutional Law Committee of the National Assembly met recently in the so called Glass Palace at Ngoa Ekellé Yaounde. The CPDM MPs examined changes to the bill on the Penal Code by the Senate. The members of the Commission led by Zondol Hersesse found themselves once again facing the all powerful Minister of State, Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Laurent Esso to review a text that the whole house had voted for in a plenary session held on 22 June.

This reconsideration of a bill is consistent with the provisions of Article 30 of the Constitution of Cameroon. What is this new examination of the text? An amendment was made to Article 127 of the draft law on the Penal Code at the plenary session which was adopted by the Senate. At the center of many debates, the article concerned in particular “the encroachments of the court on certain immunities.” Clearly, the text adopted and sent to the Senate indicated that any magistrate or police officer who, in violation of laws on immunity stops or prosecute a member of government or parliament shall be imprisoned for one to five years.

The new formulation of the text, according to Senator David Siegfried Etame Massoma, President of the Constitution Acts Commission of the Senate now reads: “is punished with imprisonment of one to five years, magistrate or police officer who continues, stop or judge anyone, in violation of laws on immunity.” Clearly, the CPDM crime syndicate has once again moved the goal post and members of government are no longer covered by this provision.

Senator Etame Massoma also pointed out that the amendment to this article was introduced by the government following the debate that had aroused from this provision in the Penal Code. Pursuant to section 3-B of Article 30 of the Constitution, the text which was discussed yesterday in the Committee of the National Assembly will be again be adopted by the entire chamber. After this exercise, the Speaker of the National Assembly will pass the final version of the text to the President of the Republic for promulgation. The political calendar promises to be very heavy on the side of those pro Biya comedians at the Ngoa Ekellé glass house. The end of the current session is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday 1 July 2016.

Sama Ernest with files from Cameroon Tribune

29, June 2016

Controversial Penal Code adopted despite SDF disapproval ⁰

The National Assembly after scrutinizing the new penal code transmitted it to the Upper House where senators worked for five hours unending to examine the text. It was adopted despite the disapproval of the Social Democratic Front whose members staged a walk out. During the 28th June 2016 session the SDF Senators once again expressed discontentment with certain articles of the bill tabled for adoption.

The party insisted for some articles to be dropped but their views were not taken into consideration. Even though they abandoned the discussion table, deliberations continued and after five hours, the bill was adopted. Those who disapproved of the new penal code pointed out to specific articles therein. Most of those against, argued that the new law favours the rich.

A critical reading of the new text gives the impression that the Ministers are being emboldened unlike the former law where immunity was restricted only to parliamentarians, but now the law extends this immunity to members of government. The two months unpaid rents which leads to an eviction of the tenant, the con say, have been tailored to favor the landlord. The issue of adultery which many believe is a private family affair do not favor the husband who is considered the all powerful within the family circles.

These and other articles of the penal code especially that which relates to religious deceit are some issues that have not gained total approval. That notwithstanding, the Senate worked long hours this Tuesday, June 28 and adopted all 370 articles of the bill that was defended by the Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seal, Laurent Esso.

CRTV