North West Governor, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, Senator Simon Achidi Achu, North West Fons, SDF faithful, friends and relatives were on July 31, 2016 part of special prayers for God’s grace and protection for the SDF National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi at 75 .The event at Presbyterian church, Baba II, home of the leading opposition party leader, inspired Fru Ndi to continue to work towards the betterment of Cameroon.

The thanksgiving event honoured and glorified God for Fru Ndi, whom speaker after speaker cheered as a rare statesman. Family Head and Son, Ni Thomas Ndi and Benjamin Fru Ndi thanked all who have supported and criticized the Chairman to be a better nation builder. Fru Ndi summed it himself when he said ”I will continue  to be who I am when Cameroon is the subject, though I stretched my hand  and the President did not take it the way I like”.

Twenty four hours earlier, Fru Ndi presided over a National Executive Committee (NEC) session of the SDF at his Ntarinkon residence where crucial decisions were endorsed to move forward the reorganization of SDF party structures in some regions that have so far, suffered speed brakes.

Cameroon Tribune

Two years after Samuel Eto’o committed an act that remains today the biggest humiliation ever to a highly placed Cameroon government official, the former Cameroon skipper has apologize to Prime Minister Philemon Yang. The incident occurred during the final phase of the FIFA World Cup 2014 that held in Brazil. The Prime Minister and Head of Government, Philemon Yang, descended on that fateful Saturday, June 7, 2014 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium at the end of a friendly farewell encounter against Moldova to hand over the national flag to the team before their departure for Brazil. The captain, supported by his teammates, refused to leave the dressing room to receive the flag. They wanted their bonuses to be paid first.

The disgrace was complete and total and a beaming Prime Minister Yang Philemon eventually handed the flag to the German technician Volker Finke, then head coach of the Indomitable Lions. Two years later, Samuel Eto’o Fils says he regrets his behavior. Said the Cameroon football legend, “There is someone who has been deeply offended, which is His Excellency the Prime Minister to whom I apologize.  I have never had the opportunity to explain myself before him and to our people”. Samuel Eto’o made this statement during an interview broadcast last Friday, July 29, 2016 on the antennas of the Vox Africa TV channel in an interview conducted by Martin Camus Mimb and moderated by Laura Dave.

Reacting to the Eto’o apology late on Saturday, the Chairman and CEO of Cameroon Concord News Group, Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai observed that it was too little too late. Our chairman added that Eto’o was merely playing the Francophone game “because he understands that an apology to a senior citizen is not made via a foreign television channel.” Mr Soter Agbaw-Ebai blamed President Biya for the invitation he accorded Samuel Eto’o and his wife during the visit of French president Hollande when Eto’o had not apologized to the Prime Minister and the Cameroonian people for such a costly mistake.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News Group)

An important Cabinet Meeting was chaired Philemon Yang, Prime Minister, Head of Government, on Thursday 28 July 2016 in the Main Building of the Prime Minister’s Office. In attendance, apart from his close aides, were the Vice-Prime Minister, Ministers of State, Ministers, Ministers-Delegate and Secretaries of State.

Three items featured on the agenda, namely:

1. a statement of the Minister for Scientific Research and Innovation on ‘the achievements and challenges of innovation in Cameroon’;
2. a statement of the Minister for Mines, Industry and Technological Development on ‘Government’s technological development strategy’;
3. a statement of the Minister for Post and Telecommunication on ‘the guidelines of the digital economy development plan in Cameroon’.

Taking the floor after the introductory remarks of the Head of Government, the Minister for Scientific Research and Innovation indicated that over the last few years, the National Research and Innovation System has achieved much at the policy, institutional, scientific and technological levels in terms of the development and dissemination of research results and innovation.

They include inter alia, the creation of improved seeds which enabled the Institute of Agronomic Research for Development (IRAD) to acquire close to a score of patents, also recently winning four (4) innovation gold medals at the Geneva International Invention Fair in Switzerland; the creation by the Institute of Geological and Mining Research (IRGM) of improved fireplaces, and solar/hybrid driers; the development by the National Institute of Cartography of a software that can avoid overlapping land parcels of mining operators; the production of paving stones from plastic waters and the manufacture of tar based on pozzolan.

Other innovations also emanate from private Cameroonian inventors. These include the CARDlOPAD, the EGUSI Cracking Machine and the production of eco- friendly charcoal from organic wastes. With regard to the challenges of innovation in Cameroon, the Minister in charge of Research said they consist especially in continuing the diversification of the process of transferring research findings to the economic sectors; fostering the culture of innovation and establishing financing mechanisms of the National Research and Innovation System – all of which requires synergy between the research community, businesses and investors.

Speaking next on Government’s technological development strategy, the Minister for Mines, Industry and Technological Development pointed out that, shortly after independence, Cameroon had set up on an experimental basis industrial units in the basic subsectors of the economy. That experiment demonstrated that no industrialization can take place without technological development whose corollary is intellectual property.

So, Government’s technological development strategy consists in linking research results to industrial production in order satisfy the needs of the population. At the operational level, this strategy comes with the creation of Technology and Innovation Support Centres (TISC), seven of which have already been established. A programme to establish technoples was also launched in praticular in the ICT and Agro-industrial sectors. However, several challenges need to be addressed, especially systematizing technology-transfer mechanisms, financing innovative projects and attracting investors into the technological development sector.

Lastly, the Cabinet listened to the statement of the Minister for Post and Telecommunication who presented the guidelines of the Digital economy development plan in Cameroon. He pointed out that the plan hinges on eight thrusts, structured around three pillars: development of service supply; increase of demand by promoting the digital culture via the widespread use of ICTs ; and sector governance and regulation.

At the end of the ensuing discus sons, the Prime Minister asked the presenting Ministers to work in tandem to design thematic strategies covering the underlying issues of innovation, technological development and the digital economy considering the interactions among them. He also instructed the Minister in charge of Technological Development to systematically introduce obligatory technology-transfer clauses in contracts concluded with international providers. Proceedings were adjourned at 12:05 p.m. after consideration of various matters related to Government work.

Cameroon Tribune

The Special Criminal Court has invited the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Essimi Menye, to appear before that body on the 1^st of August. Local media reports say his lawyers have been served with the convocation and the former CPDM baron is expected to meet prosecutors at the Special Criminal Court next Monday.

Cameroon Concord News understands the former minister is currently in the US for health concerns. However, cat calls had greeted his evacuation as he was already at the heart of some financial scandals. He was reportedly interrogated for approximately three hours by state prosecutors in the presence of Justice Minister, Laurent Esso.

The Special Criminal Court will question Essimi Menye in relation to the diversion of 9.025 billion FCFA for the restructuring of Amity Bank Cameroon when he was finance minister. Another issue hanging on his head is that of the Cameroon Tobacco Company. As Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in December 2011, he authorized the liquidator of the Cameroon Tobacco Company to sell it for a token fee of 50 million CFA francs.

Sacked from the Yang Philemon government for disrespecting the Prime Minister and Head of Government alongside Ama Tutu Muna in October 2015, Essimi Menye took ill and was then admitted at the National Social Insurance Fund hospital in Yaounde. After three weeks at the intensive unit, he left Cameroon in December “under the instructions of the head of state.

Chi Prudence Asong (Cameroon Concord News)

A fifteen years old boy fatally stabbed a man in Mbalmayo, some few miles from Yaoundé on Wednesday.  The crime took place at the New Town neighborhood precisely at the mango crossroads, between 10 and 10:40 am.

After a sharp but brief fight, the youth violently left his victim with multiple wounds who died on the spot. The deceased, an engineer leaves a wife and three children all in their infancy. The alleged murderer, a resident of Sakafom district, fled.

Ebong Kingsley (Cameroon Concord News)

A large number of police officers have secured the Autonomous Port of Douala after the death of its CEO; Emmanuel Etoundi Oyono was made public recently.

No access without being identified is now allowed in the area. Heavy police presence has been established at the entrance to the offices of the Autonomous Port. Employees have been reportedly going in and out of the building but the general atmosphere has been cold.

Emmanuel Etondi Oyono traveled to the land of his ancestors at the age of 65. A native of Nyong et So’o, he was a graduate from National School of Administration and Magistracy and the International Institute of Public Administration, Paris.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News)

Martin Belinga Eboutou, Minister and Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic made a public appearance on Sunday, July 24, 2016, at the Basilica of Saint Jean Baptiste Ekié in Yaounde, after a crazy rumour announced his passing to eternity.

The Biya acolyte and the nation’s real number 2 represented the Head of State at a religious ceremony of the Synod of the Orthodox Catholic Church.

During the mass celebrated by His Beatitude Mathieu de Jesus, the Plenipotentiary Metropolitan Primate of the Central African sub-region, the Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic, appeared standing healthy, alive and active.

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai (Cameroon Concord News Group)

Emmanuel Etoundi Oyono who headed the Cameroon Autonomous Ports Authority has passed away. News of his transition to eternity was made public on Sunday July 24, 2016. Cameroon Concord News gathered that he was evacuated to France twice for medical reasons.  Recently, he appeared in public and looked like a living corps.

On September 21, 2015, Emmanuel Etoundi Oyono left Cameroon for a one-month mission abroad and only returned to his native country after three months. He reportedly extended his stay due to a health problem.  The Board of the Autonomous Port announced his replacement par interim on 11 December 2015.

Upon his return, the chartered member of the ruling CPDM crime syndicate flushed out Charles Michaux Moukoko Njoh, who had taken his seat and resumed duty despite his fragile health.

Sama Ernest (Cameroon Concord News)

The late emeritus Biochemistry University lecturer was lowered into his grave in Belluh-Lebang Fontem after a solemn funeral mass by the Bishop of Mamfe Diocese. It was about 2pm last Saturday, 23 July, 2016 when the remains of the vocal and prolific socio-political critic were lowered into the grave at the cemetery of the Roman Catholic Mission Parish Belleuh-Lebang Fontem. Professor Tazoacha Asonganyi died last 3 July, 2016 in Yaounde after an ailing episode.

Hundreds of mourners came from Cameroon and abroad to bid farewell to the late 67-year-old man who had been Secretary General of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), Cameroon’s leading opposition party, from 1994 to 2005. Among the personalities who braved the deplorable road to Fontem were the SDF National Chairman, John Fru Ndi, the former vibrant icon of the SDF, Andrew Akonteh, the deceased’s widow, Florence Asonganyi, offspring and crowds of Lebialem elite, countrymen and women.

The remains of the late Professor of Biochemistry, who earned his PhD in the London University in 1980 and taught in the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, had received academic honours from his peers and laid for viewing in Yaounde on 22 July before his final 400-kilometre journey to his native Fontem in Lebialem Division of the South West Region.

As chief celebrant of Asonganyi’s funeral mass, the Ordinary of the Mamfe Diocese, Bishop Andrew Nkea, recalled the late Professor’s selfless political and social life that bore him media fame. The chapter of the man, Asonganyi, who had become a front-line choice to media columnists, television and radio producers, is closed but his over 100 articles, and volumes will forever be reminiscent of the colossal but short in gait who recently toured the various Regions of Cameroon presenting his last piece titled: “Cameroon, Difficult Choices of a Failed Democracy”. Who would have known that he was just bidding bye to mankind? Adieu Tazoacha!

Cameroon Tribune

The 3 families affected by the fire incident in Molyko, Buea in the South West region have been housed in a three apartment building in Buea.  Mayor Patrick Ekema, made the goodwill gesture saying it is in line with the concern expressed by President Biya that every Cameroonian should have access to food, shelter and medicine.

The Saturday 16th July 2016 fire outbreak in the Malingo junction left devastating consequences and the Buea city council had to provide not only accommodation but new mattresses, gas cookers, pots, food stuffs to the victims. Mayor Ekema has reportedly pleaded with the finance committee of the Buea council to foot electricity bills and other related expenses for those affected by the disaster.

The victims of the fire were lodged at a Bomaka hotel for four days before being moved to their present site. In providing a new kind of responsible CPDM leadership, Mayor, Patrick Ekema made five visits to the victims to take stock of their welfare.

Cham Victor Bama (Cameroon Concord News Group)