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

Transport Minister Edgard Alain Mebo Ngo’o has announced that the European Union ban on Camair-Co flights to Europe has been lifted. Mr. Mebo Ngo’o in a press release signed in Yaounde revealed that the decision was reached after a very productive tripartite dialogue grouping his ministry, the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority (CCAA) and the Cameroon Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co).

Cameroon Concord News understands that after the approval by the Head of State, Paul Biya of the so called recovery plan for the national airline Camair-Co, which will allow the reorganization and restructuring of the said company and a fruitful discussions held in Brussels on 20 July 2016 with European aviation authorities, the restriction measures imposed on Camair-Co flights to Europe were cancelled.

By Rita Akana (Cameroon Concord News Group)

Germany, the largest economy within the European Union has suspended the financing of micro development projects in Cameroon for the years 2016 and 2017. The official reasons for this decision have not been made public by the Merkel administration.  What we do know however is that applications will be accepted after the resumption of funding.

10 micro-projects were financed in 2012 alone. In total, the development assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany amounts to 679 million FCFA. This amount will, according to the German Embassy, grow to 65.8 billion FCFA.

The new leader at the German embassy in Yaoundé recently revealed that between 2017 and 2019, funds will be invested in three priority areas of German cooperation with Cameroon which includes decentralization and accountable governance, sustainable management of natural resources and natural resources. The health sector will also receive financial support to facilitate the fight against child and maternal mortality.

By Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News)

Government now has a mirror to its 2017 budget. The traditional circular that gives guidelines for the preparation of the State budget is out, with President Paul Biya stressing the continuous implementation of the three-year emergency plan, smooth preparations for the 2019 African Cup of Nations, the operationalisation of the “Special Youth” emergency plan and the strict supervision of people affected by cross–border insecurity.

The circular comes as the country entered the second triennium (2016-2018) programme-based budget, with the executive directives hinging on government priorities and commitments that are aligned to the country’s long term development objectives contained in the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP). Government seeks the acceleration of economic growth and the improvement of the livelihoods of Cameroonians.

The Macroeconomic Context

The preparation of the 2017 budget comes at a time world economies are dangling. The International Monetary Fund notes that global economic growth stood at 3.1 per cent in 2015, is estimated at 3.2 in 2016, but expected to hit 3.5 in 2017 – driven by emerging and developing countries. Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to continue at relatively lower rates than in the past decades due to falling commodity prices.

The circular also comes at a time the Bank of Central African States, BEAC, indicates that growth in Central Africa is stagnating. Cameroon has however shown resilience, facing double shocks from insecurity and falling oil prices.  Projections place growth at 6 per cent, up from 5.9 per cent – with an inflation rate of below 3 per cent in 2015.

Set Objectives

Top on government’s intents is to accelerate economic growth, make it strong, sustainable, inclusive and job creative. The achievement of the objectives is based on the modernization of agriculture (second-generation agriculture), the stepping up of energy supply, improvement of enterprise competitiveness, business climate, access to financing, promotion of the growth of local industry and the processing of local products.

Stakeholders tasked with preparing the State budget have been urged to maintain a real GDP growth rate of 6 per cent, an inflation rate of 3 per cent, an overall fiscal deficit of 3.3 per cent of GDP and a current account deficit of 3.6 per cent of GDP.

Cameroon Tribune

The National Tourism Board, set up in 1999, as an advisory body for tourism development in the country, holds its fourteenth session today July 27, 2016 in Yaounde. The deliberations to be presided at by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang, will centre on the theme “Developing the hotel industry in the perspective of Cameroon’s Emergence”.

The choice of the theme could not have been any better given the present context of Cameroon’s drive towards emergence and the upcoming continental football events in 2016 and 2019. Modernising the tourism industry ahead of these two important African female and male football events coupled with country’s quest to attain emergence, is a necessary impulse.

During the 13^th session of the board in December 2015, the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang who is the chair of the National Tourism Board gave instructions in view of modernising the tourism and leisure industry. The Prime Minister stressed on the intensification of dialogue between the public and private sector as well as the drawing up of a common training programme for operators to boost performance which will induce economic growth. Government’s policy on training of actors (proprietors, managers and personnel) of the tourism and leisure industry is already being implemented.

The Ministry of Tourism and Leisure has been organising a series of regional seminars for stakeholders of both public and private sector to upgrade skills and meet international standards. One of such seminars opened in Bafoussam, West Region on July 25, 2016 and will last for one week. The creation of a reference school for tourism and leisure would further consolidate government’s policy on harmonising training and boosting performance in order to spur economic growth. Thus, today’s session would examine ways of developing the hotel industry so that its pivotal role towards emergence is clearly diagnosed.

Cameroon Tribune

As the security situation caused by the Boko Haram insurgency improves, the Israeli government is bracing up to invest in the domains of agriculture, technology and infrastructure in a bid to revamp the economy of the Far North Region.

Israeli Ambassador to Cameroon, His Excellency Ran Gidor, discussed this and other related issues with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, during an audience in the latter’s cabinet on July 22, 2016. Speaking to the press later, H.E. Ran Gidor said the discussions enabled him to get the Speaker’s opinion on the pressing needs of the people of the Far North Region.

“He drew my attention to specific issues such as the lack of potable water and the need to attract Israeli investments in the domain of drip irrigation,” the diplomat disclosed. He pledged the concentration of Israeli efforts and resources in developing the Far North Region. In effect, he explained, agreements with some United Nations Organisation agencies will be finalised in the coming weeks for the first results to emerge, probably in two months.

Cameroon Tribune

The Vice President of the Committee of Public Investment Budget in the South West Region, Madam Agbor Magdalane has decried what she termed the “so-called miss-placed priority of the BIP projects at the regional level.” The South West Iron Lady was speaking in Buea during the first quarterly meeting to evaluate the level of execution of the Public Investment Projects in the region.

Madam Agbor Magdalane stated that projects at the level of the region have no vision and have no impact on the suffering masses. Lucrative projects such as roads, electricity, water and health have been relegated within the BIP. She hinted that renovation and purchase of equipment has rather preoccupied the development purse in the region.

Said Madam Agbor  “The regional projects are not even poverty alleviation projects. You can’t have regional projects when you always have renovation of office buildings and buying of equipment. Do we have to renovate and buy equipments every year?” “We want to know what they do with the old equipment,” she demanded.

 Constituencies such as Ndian, Manyu, Meme, Kupe Muanenguba and Lebialem that are in dying need of rapid development projects have been reduced to cosmetic attention and the bigger picture buried. It is not only embarrassing but sad. She further noted that “councils are crying for decentralization, they want power and the little power they have been given, they cannot do things, so that people are encourage knowing that they deserve more power. They are never present. If you look at the low recovery rate, it’s because of projects at the level of the council.”

For her part, the representative of the Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Development, Mme. Djomana Christine announced that henceforth the public investment budget for the region would witness an increase. The South West was awarded 383 projects for 2016 financial year with an estimated cost of about 4,692,951,150 FRS. So far, 672,948,051 FRS have been engaged with a total payment of 429,798,202 FRS giving a percentage of 9.16% in actual payment. The physical execution is rated at 33.06%. Ndian division with about 79 projects, amounting to 926,448,300 FRS still stands at 0.00% execution at all levels. The meeting was boycotted by some regional delegates and heads of state corporations in the South West Region.

Cham Victor Bama (Cameroon Concord News Group)