It has been revealed that the amount of money transfers from the diaspora to Cameroon is 1.2 billion dollars or nearly 585 billion FCFA. The figures were released by the British company, World Remit, considered the world leader in digital money transfer. Statistically speaking, this means that the diaspora contributed 33% in the Public Investment Budget (PIB) of Cameroon in 2016.

Some financial experts have opined that the figure also an equivalence of over 60% of the necessary funding needed for the implementation of the so called Biya emergency plan or nearly 120% of the funding sought for the construction of the Nachtigal dam.

World Remit also reported that money transfers from the Cameroonian Diaspora have doubled over a two year period.  Generally, these funds are used primarily for the basic needs of families back home. World Remit however emphasized that “remittances from abroad play an important role in the economy of Cameroon.”

By Sama Ernest with files from CIN

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

Cameroon at the end of July this year had a debt situation of 4,754 billion FCFA, representing 27.3 per cent Gross Domestic Product, far below the 70 per cent ceiling set by the Central African Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC, sub-region. This satisfactory situation will be maintained in the long-run if stakeholders continue to upgrade skills on mobilizing resources for the State properly and in a more disciplined manner.

The Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey, however says there is need to remain cautious when analyzing the figures, given the implementation of projects for transforming the country into a middle income economy by 2035 as planned by the Head of State. The Minister made the disclosure in Yaounde yesterday August 30, at a ceremony to present the texts, missions and working procedures of the National Committee in charge of Public Debt, (NCPD). It was set up in 2008 by the Prime Minister to coordinate and follow-up the implementation of the national public indebtedness and public debt management policy with focus on developing objectives for State financial resources.

The Minister, who is also NCPD Chairperson, said government was committed to righting the wrongs of the past with the Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) of the early 2000 that led to the freezing of the country’s debts by partners. Making sure that the country was on the right path to “borrowing cautiously and spending wisely,” with focus on enabling future generations to repay debts normally, was primordial, Finance Minister stated. “We have to be careful in the conception, evaluation and mobilisation of resources to develop the country”, he said, stressing that NCPD members must know the position of the country’s debt policy where; “If we are not watchful enough while looking for resources to finance our development projects, we may end up in a situation where sustainability is not ensured.” Public debt concerns countries all over the world because of the risks involved. The one-day dialogue  was part of efforts to maintain Cameroon’s possibility of mobilizing resources for development. Cameroon therefore needs to maintain the quality of its signature in the financial market as well as with its donors so as to mobilize enough resources for development.

Cameroon Tribune

Paul Biya has signed a decree appointing Ngo’o Cyrus as Managing Director of the Port of Douala. The Biya decree was made public on August 24, 2016, some few hours before the Cameroonian dictator left for an unknown destination in Europe.

Cameroon Concord News understands Ngo’o Cyrus was presented and immediately installed on the same Wednesday evening during a session of the Board of the Port of Douala which held in the economic capital under the direct supervision of the Minister of Transport, Alain Edgar Mebe Ngo’o.

Ngo’o Cyrus replaces Emmanuel Etoundi Oyono who died in Paris in France last month of an illness. Before his appointment, he was responsible for missions at the Prime Minister Office in Yaoundé.  To be sure, he was appointed to the Prime Minister Office only on July the 4^th 2016. So this is the second presidential decree in the space of a month enjoyed by Mr Ngo’o Cyrus.

Sama Ernest with files from Cameroon-info.net

After stagger-a-staggering with Jean Nana Sandjo, the Biya Francophone Beti-Ewondo regime finally decided to move away from their man. At the end of the extraordinary board meeting of Camair-Co that held on Monday, August 22, 2016, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, the head of the transport sector in Cameroon announced that 49 years old Ernest Dikum was the new general manager of the company.

Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o reportedly profiled the new GM of Camair-Co at the end of the Douala session and assigned new objectives. Said the Transport Minister “Ernest Dikum is a great specialist in air transport. He is also an experienced man whose skills and qualifications in the field of air transport are proven and universally recognized.”

Cameroon Intelligence Report understands that after graduating from the Higher Institute of Tourism and Economy in Rabat, Morocco, Ernest Dikum in 1992, got an additional qualification in the management of database systems from a Computer Institute in the United States in 1996. This was followed by an MBA at Usa College in partnership with Coventry University in Britain in 2013.

His professional experience and expertise are particularly eloquent which explains why President Paul Biya decided to entrust the General Directorate of Camair-Co to him.  Ernest Dikum has an outstanding career with Emirates airline, which is considered one of the best in the world. Within this renowned company, Mr. Ndikum has held since 2004, many strategic positions in relation to the African markets including the position of Regional Director for the West Africa region and Sahelian Senegal.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Some 34 years ago, Cameroon Airline Company was flying high. The Ahmadou Ahidjo responsible leadership led to a booming economy and made Cameroon Airline Company the fastest growing and the city of Douala the most competitive aviation market in West and Central Africa. The company acquired new carriers and bought new jets. To be sure, Cameroon Airlines ordered Boeing and Airbus jetliners worth millions of dollars.

On November the 6^th 1982, the office of the president of the republic changed hands from Ahmadou Ahidjo to Biya Paul in a peaceful atmosphere. There was no global recession but a sharp increase in passenger numbers (top CPDM government officials, their wives, children, mistresses and housemaids) traveling to and from Europe without paying a dime to the airlines company. This was bad news for Cameroon Airlines, sad for the Cameroonian people but joy to the new comers in government.  It was the beginning of rigor and moralization of the Cameroon airlines company.

Cameroon Airlines was plagued by financial difficulties, which came along with a poor safety and maintenance record. On 16 September 2005, the airline was indefinitely banned by the French Civil Aviation Authority from operating its prestigious Paris route due to safety concerns that had arisen following aircraft check-ups that had revealed failures to meet international norms in the loading, transport of dangerous materials, navigation documentation and tire maintenance.

In an effort to save the airline from bankruptcy, the Biya regime signed an agreement with SN Air holding, the parent company of Brussels Airlines to ensure the future funding. The plans did not materialize, though. Instead, on 11 September 2006, the launch of Camair-Co as new national airline was announced. Cameroon Airlines stayed operational until March 2008, though flight operations had only taken place during irregular intervals over these last years. Things have taken a dramatic u turn and we of this publication can now reveal that the so-called Camair-Co has only two planes.  The small flight which runs the Douala-Baffoussam route and the 114 seater that goes to the Northern regions.

Camair-Co’s Boeing 767-300 code named (The Dja), which recently returned to Cameroon after six months of inactivity following a routine technical control with the Ethiopian Airline hangar in Addis Abba, is now stagger-a-staggering. After very intensive and productive investigation following a leak published by Alafnet.com,Cameroon Intelligence Report wishes to sound a note of caution that air passengers should avoid using Camair-Co’s Boeing 767-300.

The aircraft cockpit of the Dja completely destroyed by water which entered through a window that was deliberately left open will cost the company billions of FCFA. We understand that there is a war currently going on between the Minister Edgar Alain Mebo Ngo’o faction and the Akame Mfoumou gang. There are reports that Camair-Co plans to put the Dja back on the skies without proper technical checks. President Biya is aware of the situation through one of his relatives serving with the company in Douala.  Camair-Co’s unofficial debt stands at 74 billion FCFA, though Transport Minister Alain Mebo Ngo’o keeps incessantly flashing out signals to the Cameroonian people that it is below 40billions FCFA.

Our intelligence officers who have been working on this Camair-Co saga hinted that the “Dja Window Rain Water” incident remains a diabolic harsh in-house ploy to enable the general manager, Jean Nana Sandjo lease an aircraft through AJW leasing company for the Hajj pilgrimage.

At the time of the window neglect accident in Douala, Jean Nana Sandjo was already in France negotiating with the AJW Group for a plane. Curiously, Nana Sandjo is the representative of the said leasing company and banks a 6 %commission on every deal with Camair-co.  Jean Nana Sandjo’s list of financial crimes is long involving too many dodgy deals.

This is more bad news for Cameroon as Jean Nana Sandjo, an acolyte of Eduard Akame Mfoumou-a behind the scene baron of the CPDM regime has pushed Camair-Co to be weighed down by overcapacity, debt and the CPDM government’s willingness to provide bailouts running to the tune of 200 billion FCFA. With just 2 carriers, Camair-Co has been forced to slash their operations and reduce ticket prices. Cameroon aviation is badly in need of a regime change-a decent Anglophone citizen to run the affairs of this company.

The Southern Cameroons change will include deferring aircraft deliveries, cancelling orders, rationalizing routes and trimming staff to stave off financial collapse.  Our chief economic correspondent noted that it’s going to be tough, but it can be done if Biya mean business.  Our nation is at the mercy of Biya, his family and his appointees. Every aspect of Cameroon’s economic life has been hardest hit by the consortium of CPDM crime syndicates.

CPDM officials say Camair-Co may smile again and resume normal operations once another bailout package is made available by the ministry of transport. But Alfred Bate Bawak former CPDM UK Section Vice President  say that it may be difficult because the industry has yet to solve a basic problem: too many airlines such as Air France, Air Brussels, Ethiopian Air Lines  flying too many flights in a country that, despite its economic growth, is relatively poor.

Lowering fares may attract more African travellers but it may not improve the overall financial health of the industry controlled by corrupt officials. To make profits, Camair-Co needs an Anglophone marketer at the head to shift business models. Above all, Camair-Co has to think, act, breathe and be low cost. That doesn’t happen overnight with an 84 years old man as chief executive.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

The President of the Republic has reportedly given his approval for a criminal investigation to be carried out on Theodore Nsangou, the general manager of the Electricity Development Corporation (EDC). Information has filtered to Cameroon Concord News that prosecutors of the Special Criminal Court have presented the court with a list of people charged with the embezzlement of funds from the company between 2008 and 2009.

The ruling CPDM gang that ran the corporation will have to respond to alleged misuse of public funds estimated at 19 billion FCFA and another 880 million FCFA which the GM, Theodore Nsangou with some of his collaborators swindled.

Our Yaounde city reporter covering this scandal observed that the name Theodore Nsangou was already among the many suspects identified by the general prosecutor of the Special Criminal Court.  He however revealed that because of the position held by the current GM, the judge has split the procedure into two, thus returning to trial Celestin Ndonga and his co-defendants, until the President of the Republic gives his approval for the opening of  the GM’s file making a mockery of the independence of Special Criminal Court.

There are unconfirmed reports that on February 25, 2015, Emille Zéphrin Nsoga, the former prosecutor at the Special Criminal Court, sent the investigating judge an introductory submission in which he stated the involvement of the general manager in corruption practices in the alleged misappropriation of funds at the expense of the company.

By Chi Prudence Asong

The national union grouping operators of bars and other drinking places in the city of Douala, Cameroon’s economic capital, is currently at odds with the leadership of the Douala city council following a press release by the government delegate, Fritz Ntone Ntone, banning the consumption of alcohol on public roads and rights of way.

Apart from forbidden the sitting and drinking outside practice, the Ntone Ntone communique also noted that pub owners who failed to adhere to the law will see their businesses closed and their clients arrested and charged for disturbing public order.

The release that was published on June the 15^th and was intended to fight against urban disorder has triggered a war. A source at the Douala city council that spoke to Cameroon Concord News but sued for anonymity said he hopes the Douala city council will withdraw the statement and work collaboratively with all parties involved.

By Ebong Kingsley