Breaking News

2, September 2016

President Buhari Financial Austerity Plan: Will the Nigerian Buea Consulate survive? ⁰

Contrary to rumours of closure, the Consulate General of Nigeria for the South West and North West Regions of Cameroon remained open yesterday (1 September, 2016) and went about its daily business with the current Consul General, Dan Wari Nwazim, on sit in his Bokwaongo office. Their eight Official staff and the local 22 employees in Cameroon were at work.

Early this week, stories drummed wild by word of mouth and on some local tabloids that the Buea Consulate General, one of the three Nigerian Diplomatic missions that cater for over four million Nigerians in Cameroon, after the Yaounde High Commission and the Douala Consulate was one of the seven earmarked for closure. A Diplomat at the Consulate, who explained the criteria for closure of a diplomatic mission to include the fact that a commission must be sent from the mother Country to evaluate the assets, establish the liabilities and report back home for and act to be dressed up ordering the closure of the mission. None of that has been seen in the Consulate General in Buea so far, our source disclosed.

It happened that, on taking over at the helm of Nigerian Federal Government last year, the Buhari Government declared financial austerity to include the closure of seven diplomatic missions that did not meet certain criteria. Such criteria good for closure as indicated by the Nigerian committee set up for that purpose included those missions without property like buildings and land, missions not generating up to a certain amount of money through visas and passports, a mission that might have been closed at least once in the past 20 years.

Of the five criteria, the Buea mission fails only one that of not making money on visas and passport owing to the policies between the two countries whereby citizens from both countries can visit vice versa for up to 90 Days without any visa. So, there is no genuine need except people who intend staying longer.

Cameroon Tribune

2, September 2016

Gabon: 2 killed following overnight clashes between protesters and security forces ⁰

In Gabon’s capital Libreville, two people have died following overnight clashes between security forces and protesters who are against President Ali Bongo’s announced victory in the disputed election of August 27. Bekam Ella Edzang, a 27-year-old law student, succumbed to his injuries in hospital on Friday morning after he was shot in the abdomen. “He was injured at around 9:00 pm (2000 GMT) by the Republican Guard, who were firing tear gas and live bullets,” said Geraud, a childhood friend of Edzang.

Meanwhile, the security forces shot dead another 30-year-old man in front of his home in Nzeng Ayong district of Libreville on Thursday night, the victim’s mother said. Gabon has been in chaos over the past few days in the wake of an announcement by election officials that the incumbent president had won the presidential race.

Bongo gained 49.80 percent of the votes against 48.23 percent for opposition leader Jean Ping. Bongo, who came to power in 2009, will now remain at the helm for a second seven-year term if the results are approved by the constitutional court.

The 57-year-old president succeeded his father Omar, who had come to power in 1967 and passed away in 2009. Ping, who is 73, had been a close ally of Omar Bongo. He called the election fraudulent, arguing that he is the true winner of the contest.

The chaos has raised international concerns. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on the nation to be calm. The European Union and Western countries, including the US and France, have also urged calm and called on authorities in the former French colony to show more transparency about the election results.

Presstv

2, September 2016

Cameroon: SOWEDA donates farm inputs to 63 farming groups ⁰

Some 63 farming groups from across the South West Region have received farm inputs worth over 25million FCFA offered by the development kingpin of the region, the South West Development Authority, SOWEDA. The consignment were handed over to the beneficiary groups during a symbolic ceremony on Thursday August 25th 2016 presided over by the Secretary General to the South West Governor office, Clement Fon Ndikum in the presence of Dr. Andrew Eneme Ngome, SOWEDA General Manager.

The farm inputs distributed included food crop production, seeds multiplication, 502 bags of fortification (50kg each), and 110 litres of liquid fertilizers, 500 litres of herbicides, 375 litres of insecticides and 600kg of foundation maize seeds. The beneficiary groups came from all the six divisions of the South West who went through a selection process supervised by the regional delegation of Agriculture and Rural development.

Dr. Andrew Eneme Ngome, SOWEDA GM reiterated that the distribution of farm inputs to farming groups has become common with the development driver, SOWEDA, and transformed into an annual event. He recounted that since the year 2008, the policy to implement resourceful activities geared towards improving on the agricultural productivity landscape in the region feature among prime objectives. The exercise has also involved the distribution of various quantities of improved planting material to the farming population, he said, continuing that through the extension services of the regional delegation of agriculture and rural development, the distribution of farm inputs to deserved farming groups in the region have intensified.

To the Secretary General to the Governor’s office, Clement Fon, farmers must do well to maximize the advantages offered by the South West Development Authority. The farm inputs are of high breed class and will go a long way to double soil fertility so as to improve on productivity, he said. The farmers were urged to consult regularly their respective Agric posts and delegations of Agriculture and Rural Development on how to implement these improved planting materials.

Clement Fon also strongly advised farmers to plant nothing but the improved materials in order to guarantee very high yields in order to maintain the position of the South West as the bread basket of Cameroon. The Farmers expressed gratitude and promised to make good use of the farm inputs. The donation of farm inputs is timely as the farmers approach the second planting season in the South West Region.

By Cham Victor Bama

2, September 2016

Bishop Bushu of the Buea Diocese says most priests are forced into the seminary by their parents and not a call to serve ¹

The Bishop of the Buea diocese, His Lordship Immanuel Balanga Bushu has revealed that some seminarians who end up as priests are often victims of pressure from parents and not a call to serve. The Roman Catholic Bishop was speaking recently on the side-lines of the 2016 conclave of Bishops in the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province that held on August 16-19 2016 in Buea, South West region under the chairmanship of the president of Bamenda Episcopal Conference, His Lordship Bishop George Nkuo.

Bishop Immanuel Bushu, observed that the seminary is a nursery for future priests and nothing else. He regretted that most minor seminarians who enroll into the seminary are under the influence of their parents and not necessary their call. The man of God noted that it was neither late nor bad for such candidates to quit the seminary and continue with what life holds for them. “What matters is not the number of candidates but the quality”, he added.

The attendance of rectors of Minor seminarians was glaring and provided a unique opportunity for them to express worries and shortcomings encountered in the molding of would be seminarians and priests. According to Rev Fr Killian Ndukong, Rector of the Kumbo minor seminary, some of the challenges the candidates face in the course of their stay in the seminary includes the scarcity of mentors to follow up the spiritual growth of the candidates which as of now approximately 200 candidates can be entitle to just 3 mentors, he cited.

Another major difficulty Fr. Ndukong revealed was on the serious and dedicated nature of the candidates. Here, he explained that getting proper candidates into the Minor Seminary is challenging as most come and portray a different image of what they think about priesthood which is unholy. Father Ndukong added that some parents say the enrollment fees are huge and not affordable. But Rev. Father Ndukong stressed that it takes sacrifice to mold and build a religious mind to be able to transform the world. He however emphasized that only Catholic Christians who are baptized and have received the sacrament of first Holy Communion are eligible to be seminarians. Interested candidates can gain admission upon the recommendation of the Bishop during which they are taught the Catholic Doctrine and administered the sacrament of baptism.

The president of the Bamenda Episcopal Conference, Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo, explained in a soul-searching address that “all the five bishops of the ecclesiastical province of Bamenda, have come together to review our pastoral life, we began with reports from the council of education with all education secretaries and financial secretaries and all our collaborators in education. We reviewed the academic year that just finished and to plan and prepare for the new academic year. Within the week we had meetings on our houses of formation, the seminaries, Minor and Major seminaries. We equally had the opportunity to look at other aspects, the different commissions that are functioning at the provincial level. We have various commissions including health, education, social welfare, justice and peace. We also give instructions and directives on how the Church should operate in the years to come,” he added.

The meeting was attended by several Catholic priests and Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda, Father Marcel Sang the rector of the Minor Seminary in Mamfe, Father Killian Ndukong the rector of the Minor seminary in Kumbo and Father Isaac Alnuchem the rector of Bishop Rogan College Buea.

By Cham Victor Bama

2, September 2016

AFCOM 2017: Indomitable Lions in Victoria without Clinton Njie ⁰

After five days of training at the CAF Center for Excellence located in Mbankomo, some few kilometers from Yaounde, the Indomitable Lions have reportedly moved to the port city of Victoria-Limbe in the South West region without Clinton Njie. Cameroon Concord News understands the new Victoria stadium will host Gambia and Gabon respectively.

The Indomitable Lions conducted a training session at the stadium sports complex upon arrival. The session saw the presence of many cheering fans that were informed that head coach Hugo Broos will hold a press conference on Friday to speak of the Gambian game.

The Indomitable Lions next two matches are no major issues. Already qualified for the finals of AFCON Gabon 2017, Hugo Broos and his boys are going to use these matches to assess in view of the final round of qualifying for the World Cup Russia 2018 Africa area that starts in the month October, 2016.

By Sama Ernest

2, September 2016

US: New polls finds that supporters of both Trump and Clinton more motivated by fear ¹

Supporters of both Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton are more motivated by fear about the other candidate getting elected as president than they are by excitement about their own candidate prevailing, a new poll finds.

The nationwide USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll found that 80 percent of Trump supporters and 62 percent of Clinton supporters say if the other candidate wins in November, they would feel “scared.” Only 29 percent of Trump supporters and 27 percent of Clinton supporters would feel “excited” if their candidate claims the White House, the survey found.

About 30 percent of Clinton supporters say they are mostly voting against Trump, not for her and about 40 percent of Trump supporters say they are voting mostly against Clinton, not for him.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks at the American Legion Convention August 31, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (AFP photo)

“I believe the alternative of a Trump presidency would be disastrous, not just for our country but for the whole world,” says Carol Fisher, 56, a Clinton supporter and registered nurse from Teaneck, New Jersey. “I’ve never been so afraid of a Republican before,” said in a follow-up phone interview.

Noel Hartman, 64, a retired farmer and rancher Humboldt, Arizona, feels the same way about Clinton. “I know he [Trump] doesn’t say stuff right, but I’m so tired of being lied to,” Hartman says. “I’m hoping for change.” Unprecedented negative ratings for both candidates and fierce polarization between the two political parties highlights the challenges ahead for whichever candidate wins in November. The new president will face a significant number of voters who view his or her election as catastrophic for the country.

The poll also found that a majority of Americans hold an unfavorable view of both Trump and Clinton. The former secretary of state is viewed negatively by 51 percent of voters and the celebrity billionaire by 59 percent. About 20 percent of likely voters say they don’t like either major-party nominee.

Presstv

1, September 2016

Criminal Proceedings against Kaiser Franz Beckenbauer ⁰

Swiss federal prosecutors say they have opened criminal proceedings against Germany football great Franz Beckenbauer as a part of corruption probe.

Attorney General of Switzerland announced that Beckenbauer with three other members of the 2006 World Cup organizing committee, Horst Rudolf Schmidt, Theo Zwanziger and Wolfgang Niersbach are under investigation over allegations of corruption in the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany.

The 70-year-old and former Bayern Munich captain has denied wrongdoing.

Presstv

1, September 2016

Douala: Former Camair-Co GM prevented from traveling out of the country ⁰

The former general manager of Camair-Co, the national airline, Jean Paul Sandjo Nana has been told not to travel out of the country. Paul Sandjo was about to board a Royal Air Morocco plane when he was asked to hand over his passport.

Mr. Nana Sandjo was served the exit ban that prevents him from traveling abroad which was issued against him since August 24, 2016 on the recommendation of the Higher State Control (CONSUPE).

Nana Sandjo was asked to return home where he awaits further proceedings in an investigation that will include the almighty Edouard Akame Mfoumou, former Board Chairman of Camair-Co and onetime minister of finance.

By Sama Ernest

1, September 2016

Prof. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle calls for unity among Kupe Muanenguba citizens ⁰

Members and supporters of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) in Kupe Muanenguba Division of the South West Region have been urged to bury their differences and make the division a bastion of the CPDM. Prof. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, CPDM Permanent Divisional Delegation Head for Kupe Muanenguba, made the appeal on August 27, 2016 in Bangem, while commissioning newly elected Section executives of Kupe Muanenguba I (Bangem), Kupe Muanenguba II (Nguti) and Kupe Muanenguba III (Tombel).

The event that took place in the presence of the SDO for Kupe Muanguba, Handerson Quetong Konge, was also the maiden visit of the recently appointed Central Committee Divisional Permanent Delegation. Addressing party adherents who converged on the Paul Biya stadium, Prof. Ngolle Ngolle underscored the importance of the Kupe Muanenguba permanent delegation which he said is made up of powerful people.

The Permanent delegation appointed by the CPDM National Chairman, Paul Biya, is not intended to take powers of the local party officials but rather to help in guiding and supporting them, he said. Prof. Ngolle Ngolle who is also member of the Central Committee and Coordinator of the CPDM Academy, emphasized the importance of working collectively in order to consolidate the party’s victories and win more supporters for the CPDM. “Together we are stronger”. “We should not allow enmity among ourselves because we are the party in power”, he stated. “What the National Chairman has put together, let no one put asunder”, he added.

The Kupe Muanenguba I Section President, Ambriose Mesumbe, in his welcome statement stated that the CPDM, WCPDM and YCPDM Section Presidents are determined to work as a team to consolidate the victories of the party as he counted the achievements of the New Deal. Party militants were also drilled on “the attributes of a good politician by Enongene Andrew Muabe during the CPDM get together that also saw the launching of Kupe Muanenguba Common Development Fund, with over 11 million raised in cash and pledges.

Cameroon Tribune

1, September 2016

Cameroon celebrates the partial solar eclipse ⁰

The annular phase of the solar eclipse was visible in Douala, Bamenda, Yaounde and some parts of the South West and East regions.

It was observed there as a partial solar eclipse. The Moon covers a large portion of the Sun. It was a spectacular sight hinted Cameroon Concord News Yaounde Bureau Chief, Sama Ernest.