Reconstruction of NW & SW is part of the Peace Building Process- Paul Tassong

By Francis Ekongang Nzante 

Tassong Paul, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the Northwest and Southwest Regions has declared that the project is part of the Peace Building Process in the crisis riddled Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon. He made this declaration on Monday June 22nd in Bamenda during a Working Session marking the beginning of an Awareness  and Sensitization Campaign on the Project. This campaign according to the National Coordinator Tassong Paul, is aimed at reaching out to the Beneficiary Populations and other actors in the field.

Paul Tassong Received in Bamenda by the Governor

Highlight was placed on all the reconstruction activities envisaged, the processes and mechanisms for the implementation of the plan, the methods of organisation and support for the various beneficiaries of the plan and ensuring an ownership of the plan by the various beneficiaries.

Speaking during the session marking the beginning of the campaign, the City Mayor of Bamenda Achobong Paul laid emphasis on the deplorable state of roads in Bamenda paying particular attention to the road at the entrance into the Northwest Region from Babadjou. He also drew attention to the deplorable state of teachers in the Private Sector whom he said had gone for years without salaries due to the Anglophone Crisis. The City Mayor equally drew attention to the complete lack of infrastructure for Sports and Leisure. In this vein, he made mention of PWD Football Club Bamenda, recently declared Champions of Cameroon. He said it wasn't normal that the team which would be representing Cameroon at the CAF Champion's League had no good no stadium for training. Attention was drawn to these and many other pertinent issues by the City Mayor.

The National Coordinator of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the Northwest and Southwest Regions Tassong Paul called on those in attendance whom he said represented the people of the region to truthfully present the problems of the Region so that at the end of the Awareness and Sensitization Campaign an appropriate report would be presented to the Prime Minister, Head of Government.

Tassong Paul said due to the sufferings of the populations of the Northwest and the Southwest Regions for the past four years, the Head of State had decided to put in place a couple of measures to make sure that minimum level of stability was achieved. The first thing that was done he said was an Emmergency Humanitarian Plan which saw aid being given to victims of the crisis.

The next step that was taken he said was that of Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintergration of former Separatist Fighters into society.  This, Tassong Paul said was followed by the stop of court proceedings against some 289 people convicted in relation to the crisis adding that after the National Dialogue some 333 detainees were released. 

Tassong Paul said it was on the basis of feedback from the National Dialogue that a draft for the Reconstruction of the Northwest and Southwest was drawn. The President after approving the draft called it the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the Northwest and Southwest.

The objective of the plan Tassong Paul said, was to restore the pride of Cameroonians in the two regions by building the values that support community life. 

The Presidential Plan he further said was structured around three core pillars which he said were the promotion of Social Cohesion, the Rehabilitation of Basic Social Infrastructure and the Revitalization of the Economy. The plan he said was the first phase of a more global development plan for the Structural Transformation of the two regions in the next ten years in order to place them on the path of sustainability. 

Reacting to the disbelief and doubt of many that reconstruction could not take place without without peace, Minister Paul Tassong said the Presidential Plan was simply a process towards peace. He said reconstruction would start from more peaceful and secured areas before moving to the more unstable areas. He said People Centered Conflict Resolution indicated that Humanitarian Aid was a sign of precariousness and people could not live on it forever. "Suffering should not become a way of life" he said. The situation he said had turned the hard working people of the two regions into beggars and had to be brought to a stop.

In attendance at the beginning of the Awareness and Sensitization Campaign were the Gorvernor of the Northwest Region, the Seniour Divisional Officers of the seven Divions of the Region, the Mayors, Traditional Leaders and Development Stakeholders from all the Divisions.

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UBa Reopens under Strict Respect of COVID-19 Preventive Measures

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

The University of Bamenda reopened its doors for a continuation of the 2019-2020 Academic year under strict respect of the COVID-19 Preventive Measures put in place by the Head of State President Paul Biya.

This observation was made by the Seniour Divisional Officer for Mezam, Emile Moh as he rounded up a tour of schools of Mezam Division recently.

Following the reopening of Educational Establishments on the National Territory, Administrative Authorities of Mezam Division in the Northwest Region took out time to visit and evaluate not only the degree of turnout in schools but also to ascertain the degree of the respect of COVID-19 Prevention Measures put in place by the Head of State to prevent the spread of the dreaded pandemic. At the end of this evaluation tour which took place on Tuesday June 2nd 2020, Administrative Authorities of the Division expressed general satisfaction with the turnout and the COVID-19 Prevention Measures put in place by the respective educational establishments to prevent teaching staff and students from being infected.

Speaking at the end of the tour at the University of Bamenda, Mr. Emile Moh,  the Seniour Divisional Officer for Mezam said he was generally satisfied with what he saw.

"We want to express our general satisfaction with the fact that the reopening of the Third Term was a success here. From the level of Basic Education, through Secondary Education to Higher Education it was satisfactory. We just rounded our tour at the University of Bamenda and you can see for yourselves that classes have effectively started. Preventive measures as prescribed by the Head of State have been respected. Primary School pupils, Secondary School Students as well as University Students were putting on their face masks. Bucket taps for washing of hands are available for use. Especially here at the University of Bamenda, at all the six entrances the measures were scrupulously adherred to. The campus was completely disinfected. Its with much satisfaction that we observe that classes have started in the various faculties."

The Seniour Divisional Officer however observed that in one of the Primary Schools in Bamenda II, three pupils were seen without masks. "These pupils said they had forgotten their masks. They were immediately offered masks on campus for them to attend classes. It is however forbidden that students be admitted onto the campuses without masks. Preventive measures therefore have to be fully respected. We are happy that here at the University of Bamenda, those measures were strictly applied."

Still at the campus of the University of Bamenda, this reporter caught up with Dr. Ashutangtang who said the University had a facility for the isolation of suspected cases. She said such cases if spotted are kept in the facility briefly. The isolation unit she said had two beds. "We keep any suspected case here while we wait for the Regional Repost Unit to come and collect the person to the appropriate place. It is a Transit Isolation Unit but we have trained our Doctors and Nurses to be able to handle that."

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HRH Fon Azehfor III of Nkwen Pays last Tributes to Queen Mother

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

HRH Fon Azehfor III has paid last tributes to his mother, Queen Mother of the Nkwen "Fondom". This formal event which took place at the Nkwen Palace on Tuesday June 9, following the demise of the Queen Mother had as highlights a Requiem Mass, payment of tributes as well as reception of Administrators and other Royal personalities that came to bid her farewell.

 Miafo Azehfor III ( Ngegha Emmerencia) passed on to eternity on the night of Monday June 8, 2020 and as Tradition demands could not be taken to the morgue. She was as such laid to rest as prescribed by tradition.

In a brush with the media, HRH Fon Azehfor III said "It is first of all a great loss for the "Fondom". My mother remains the source of inspiration and pillar in the life of the Fon and the Kingdom. My mother as a Queen Mother has always supported me in my administration. She is a major source of inspiration and gives me counsel when we have any difficulties. She always acts on my behalf when I am away for other services. She coordinates the Queens and my wives and all the community looks up to her for a proper management of the village. So when my mother passed on it was very heavy for me to bear because I don't know how I will move on. But with God all things are possible and I want to salute my mother again and pay her special tribute. It was a wonderful job she did for this Kingdom before her departure."

HRH Fon Azehfor III drew attention to the crisis situation during which the Queen Mother died. "I had to take into consideration Social Distancing and the usage of face masks, the use of Hand Sanitizers and spraying of the courtyard. I had to do all of that because we cannot lose our mother and risk the life of the population. While mourning our mother, we apply all the preventive measures given to us by the government and other International Bodies. It was so abrupt because when my mother passed on she could not be put in the mortuary because of tradition to permit us prepare.

 At the same moment she had to be prepared, rituals respected and laid to rest. Today we had a Requiem Mass and thank God the Church understood. Almost all the churches were there. The Presbytarians, the Baptist, Full Gospel and even the Apostolics were all represented despite the abruptness. My mother died on Monday in the Evening so we had a very short time to do all these.

 I am praying that God should protect us while we mourn. I also thank all the Royal Majesties who created the time to come despite the short notice and stand by me. It is in difficult times like this that you know who truly loves you. I thank the whole community. Most of them do not even have the program. My mother was a Catholic Christian and member of the Catholic Women Association CWA and I could not stay without organising this mass for her. I am very pleased because I believe that after this mass God will receive her soul."

The mourning process HRH Fon Azehfor III intimated will take seven days and that the community was expected at the palace for the mourning. 

Also present was HRH Fon Afungchwi III of Bambili who said it was a very sad moment for Nkwen. He said Nkwen and Bambili had for long maintained a very close relationship. "In a moment like this, we must rally behind the Fon of Nkwen to show that solidarity and spirit of oneness. Such a moment is time for Bambili to stand behind Nkwen and show that spirit of cooperation and support." He said he had come there on behalf of the people of Bambili to express their sympathy for what had happened to their brother and neighbour.

Miafo Azehfor III ( Ngegha Emmerencia) was born into the family of Azeh Nkwah and Princess Binwie sometime around 1944 at Manda Quater in Nkwen.

About ten Fons were present amongst whom were also the Fons of Akum and the Fon of Bawok.

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"MIDENO, Committed in the Uninterrupted Development of NW for 39 years" -

-Anye Matoyah Cletus 

By Francis Ekongang Nzante 

The General Manager of MIDENO Mr. Anye Matoyah Cletus has declared that MIDENO has been involved in an Uninterrupted Development of the Northwest Region of Cameroon now for 39 years. He made this declaration on Friday June 5, at the MIDENO premises in Bamenda during a ceremony dedicated to the distribution of Plantain Plantlets, Cassava Cuttings, Environment Friendly Trees and COVID 19 Prevention Equipment to farmers of the Northwest Region of Cameroon.

Mr Anye Matoyah Cletus said the importance of the role being played by MIDENO in Agriculture and Rural Development in the Northwest Region could not be overemphasized considering the fact that the region's economy is dominantly Agricultural. He further explained that at the moment, there were three projects worth 75 Billions FCFA designed by MIDENO presently being executed. These projects he said were funded by the African Development Bank ADB, the Islamic Development Bank IDB and the Government of Cameroon.

These projects he said included the Grassfield Participatory Decentralised Rural Development Project GP-DERUDEP Phase II which started in 2014 which he said had recorded enormous successes in the Agricultural Sector. The GM also mentioned the Livestock and Fishery Development Project LIFIDEP and the Grassfield Participatory Integrated Rural Development Project which started in 2017.

The Input Packages to farmers included 15000 Plantain Plantlets, 100000 Cassava Cuttings and 11,500 Environment Friendly Trees. 

The GM did not fail to make mention of the fact that the event coincided with the celebration of the World Environment Day celebrated under the theme "Biodiversity".

The drive by MIDENO to encourage Tree Planting for Agroforestry and for the protection of Water Catchment Areas he explained was also aimed at preventing Biodiversity loss. Biodiversity loss in the Northwest Region of Cameroon he said occurred mostly as a result of deforestation and Bad Farming Practices. 

Anye Matoyah Cletus said at a time when the world was suffering from the dreaded COVID 19 Pandemic, the farming input packages were accompanied by COVID-19 Prevention Kits. This he said was because people needed to be healthy in order to be involved in farming activities.

The Director of the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Dr Nsame Denis on his part reaffirmed the presence of COVID-19 in the Northwest Region and called on the population to obey the preventive measures put in place which he said included Social Distancing, wearing of Face Masks in Public Places and the constant washing of Hands using clean water and soap or using hand Sanitizers. He also gave the Emergency number to be called and other numbers of the Call Center at the Regional Hospital in Bamenda. He said immediately any of the symptoms for COVID-19 were noticed, concerned persons should immediately call the Center to be attended to,  as early as possible. The earlier treatment started the higher the chances of survival he said.

In a brush with the media after handing over the Farming Inputs to farmers, the GM of MIDENO said "we are out to encourage our farmers particularly in the context in which we are presently living. We want to preempt Food Insecurity, because the population, irrespective of the prevailing condition will always need food. In March we launched the Farming Season by giving the farmers planting materials like Maize, Beans and Agrochemicals and now that we are in June we are giving them diversed Fruit Trees and Trees to protect the Water Catchments because we need all of these to be available."

This reporter caught up with Tamukong Rachael Nchang, Chief of Service for Environment and Social Management at MIDENO and she said "today is the 5th of June 2020 and it is commemorated every year as World Environment Day. The theme for this year's celebration is on Biodiversity.

 MIDENO thought it wise to celebrate Biodiversity. It is in this light that MIDENO is distributing over 11500 trees, 4000 for Agroforestry and 7500 for Water Catchment Protection. You may want to know that last year MIDENO also acquired 6600 trees and distributed to the farmers of the Northwest Region. This initiative will go a long way to solve most of the Environmental Problems that are plaguing the Northwest Region."


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