Breaking News

9, November 2016

Nigeria Supreme Court Judge Sylvester Ngwuta charged with fraud ⁰

A court in Abuja has charged a Nigerian judge for money laundering and fraud in connection with an investigation against several judges for corruption. Sylvester Ngwuta reportedly a Supreme Court judge will be named and shamed in a historic corruption trial to begin soon.

Cameroon Concord News was reliably informed that nearly 35.4 million naira (111,995 dollars) was found during a raid by the secret service (DSS) at his home. According to the indictment, the judge had also made false statements to obtain four diplomatic passports from Nigerian immigration service.

Last month, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta and six other judges were arrested for corruption and released on bail after millions of naira and other currencies were discovered in their homes. Since coming to power, President Buhari decided to fight against corruption that has made the Federal Republic of Nigeria an international embarrassment.

By Sonne Peter

9, November 2016

Biya sends his 9th congratulatory message to the White House in 34 years ⁰

President Biya has written his 9^th congratulatory message to the occupant of the White House in his 34 years in power as a Cameroonian democrat. The 83 year old leader has sent his “warm” congratulations to Donald Trump, the 45th president elect of the United States.

Biya stated that “I am pleased to extend to you my warm and sincere congratulations on your election as Head of State of the United States.” In the correspondence, the Cameroonian dictator acknowledged that the election of Donald Trump was a sign of Trump’s “vitality” to the American people and the “maturity” that exist in US politics.

President Biya Biya reassured his new counterpart of his availability to work to further consolidate and promote the excellent relations between the US and Cameroon. Biya came to power in 1982 and has successively congratulated Ronald Reagan in his second term (85-89) .G.H.W. Bush (89-93), Bill Clinton twice (93-2001). G. W. Bush twice (2001-2009) and Obama in 2009 and 2017.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

9, November 2016

Obama calls Trump, invites him to the White House ⁰

US President Barack Obama has called his newly-elected successor Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election victory and invite him to the White House to discuss the transition of power.

Obama made the call on early Wednesday, when Trump had secured enough electoral votes to beat his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, the White House said. The two were slated to meet on Thursday.

Obama also called Clinton, his former secretary of state between 2009 and 2013, to express his “admiration for the strong campaign she waged throughout the country,” according to a statement by White House press secretary Josh Earnest. The president officially endorsed Clinton in June and hit the campaign trail to garner support for the former first lady.

Presstv

9, November 2016

Trump is the 45th President of the United States ⁰

9, November 2016

Liberal filmmaker Michael Moore said Trump would exploit angry white voters in his favor, and Americans are likely to support him like British citizens voted in June to leave the European Union — known as Brexit. ⁰

The 62-year-old liberal filmmaker said Trump would exploit angry white voters in his favor, and Americans are likely to support him like British citizens voted in June to leave the European Union — known as Brexit.

8, November 2016

2016 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations: Francophonizing the sale of tickets ⁰

Following heavy criticism for the delay in the sale of entrance tickets to the stadium for the finals of the 2016 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Local Organizing Committee finally came out of this silence to make available to interested football fans the prices and points of sale of tickets to access the stadium.

Cameroon Concord News learnt that tickets will go on sale today November the 8th, 2016 in Yaoundé. The news was made public by Jules Eloi Minjeme, the Director of Sports in the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education. Jules Eloi also indicated that the prices range from FCFA 1000 for the popular tribune, 5000 FCFA for tribune A and 2000 FCFA for stands A and B, while the rostrum will be reserved for holders of a invitation.

Our chief football reporter say five major selling points of these tickets are now known. They include the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, the Multipurpose Sports Palace in Yaounde, the National Institute of Youth and Sports, the Yaounde Omnisport stadium and the Cameroon Football Federation head office. Thus, only the city of Yaoundé, hosting Pool B of the 10^th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has ticket outlets. Once again, the Anglophone city of Limbe, one of the two host cities has been kept out of the ticket sales.

By Sonne Peter

8, November 2016

Eseka train disaster: Camrail says 45 families already paid money for burial rites ⁰

More than two weeks after the railway accident in Eséka that reportedly killed 79 and wounded over 600, only 45 families have so far received the 1.5 million FCFA promised by the Cameroon Railway Company, CAMRAIL for funeral arrangements. Cameroon Concord News understands, CAMRAIL has been incessantly flashing out signals for families of the victims to contact its representatives in hospitals in Eseka, Douala and Yaounde for payments to be made.

Regarding compensation for damages, which remain the priority and the most important issue, CAMRAIL recently issued a statement that its insurers will foot the bills for personalized treatment and pay damages directly to the wounded and their families. Some 20 experts are engaged on the ground in coordination with health institutions to attend to each passenger affected by the accident.

The railway company has also set up a refunds department for property lost by various passengers in the accident. CAMRAIL says all compensation will be paid in the fastest possible means to all the victims.

By Rita Akana

7, November 2016

Minister Laurent Esso and Common Law Lawyers: Reading from the same script? ⁰

The Minister of State in charge of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Laurent Esso on the 26^th of October 2016 granted an interview to update public opinion on issues related to the OHADA instruments and legal practice which is part of the demands of the striking common law lawyers in Cameroon.

Laurent Esso observed that the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa, OHADA was predominantly French and French was its working language. The Biya acolyte said Cameroon requested that Article 42 of the OHADA Treaty be applied. Accordingly, English, Portuguese and Spanish became other working languages of OHADA.

Minister Esso also said, the adoption was delayed because some legal practitioners in Cameroon opined that the English version provided by the Permanent Secretariat were of doubtful technical quality. The Minister revealed that the committee was now ready to transmit the corrected version to the Permanent Secretariat for the publication in the OHADA Official Gazette.

The 42nd session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa OHADA held a two day session in Brazzaville Congo recently and recommended that the translated version be published in the three official languages.

CRTV

7, November 2016

Talks for the implementation of the Paris climate agreement starts in Morocco ⁰

Talks on climate change and the implementation of the landmark Paris climate agreement have started in Morocco, amid a threatening rise in global temperatures and greenhouse gases to new heights. Negotiations over global warming and climate change kicked off in the western Moroccan city of Marrakesh on Monday, with diplomats from 196 countries across the world discussing the planet-saving deal reached in the French capital last December. As many as 15,000 negotiators, CEOs and environment activists settle in for the 12-day talks from November 7-18.

The Paris Agreement seeks to wean the world economy off fossil fuels in the second half of the century and cap the global average rise in temperatures below two degrees Celsius (36 degrees Fahrenheit). “We have made possible what everyone said was impossible,” French Environment Minister Segolene Royal said at the opening ceremony, adding that 100 countries had ratified the climate deal, which entered into force last Friday.

US election overshadowing climate meeting

The climate meeting this year is heavily impacted by the US presidential election and its outcome, as Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has said he will “cancel” the deal if he wins the election which takes place on November 8.

This is while Trump’s Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, has vowed to uphold domestic energy policies and international climate commitments already set by President Barack Obama’s government.

In the meantime, United Nations climate chief Patricia Espinosa also stressed the need for concerted effort in implementing the Paris deal.

UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa delivers a speech during the opening session of the COP22 climate talks in Marrakesh on November 7, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

“The agreement has entered into force and we are all obliged to deliver on those commitments,” Espinosa said. “No politician or citizen, no business manager or investor” can doubt that the world is determined to shift toward a “low-emission, resilient society,” she noted.

A report by the UN Environment Program released on Thursday said annual emissions must be kept below 42 billion tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) by 2030 for the world to have a chance to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement.

Even if emission-cutting pledges under the Paris Agreement are fully implemented, the predicted 2030 emissions could put the world on track for a temperature rise of 2.9 to 3.4 degrees Celsius this century, the report said.

Presstv

7, November 2016

SDF to conduct investigation into the Eseka train disaster ⁰

Opposition parties, prominent members of the civil society and many concerned citizens are skeptical of the official report of the Eseka train crash that rocked the nation on October the 21^st 2016. Accordingly, each camp has reportedly set up its own commission of inquiry.

This weekend, the Social Democratic Front (SDF), the main opposition party announced that it will conduct its own investigation into the train crash which government sources say claimed the lives of 79 people and wounded 600 others.

The SDF Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi was quoted as saying that a legal commission has been established to investigate the Eseka train accident consisting of 7 members including experienced lawyers. An SDF insider hinted Cameroon Concord News that the commission will burst the truth that the government is trying to bury.

Cameroon’s opposition groups have unanimously described as “misleading” the commission created by the Head of State, composed of members of government, which must render its findings to the President of the Republic by 24 November.

By Rita Akana