CAMMA 2017 set to push Cameroon Cinema Industry to new heights.

Gelam Dickson, Project Initiator for Cameroon Movie Award has said CAMMA 2017 will not only push the Cameroon Movie Industry to higher heights but will also do a lot towards boosting the GDP of the country.

GELAM Dickson

Speaking to this reporter recently at HOTEL Des Deputes in Yaounde, the Project initiator said the GDP of countries like Nigeria, Ghana and even the United States of America had been affected by the Movie Industry. Gelam Dickson said after observing this trend in his many sojourns to many countries across the globe, he concluded that the corporate world could be brought into the Movie Industry in Cameroon.

This he said inspired him to create an Award to promote the sector especially from the perspective of promoting talent. As actors compete to outsmart each other in the hunt for awards, quality of Cameroon movies would improve and this he said will directly improve upon the quality of movies produced in Cameroon. The resultant effect he said would be the roping in of the Corporate World and pushing the Industry forward.

Commenting on the structure of the award Gelam Dickson said they had touch everyone involved in the film making process. . Awards he said will touch everyone involved such as the best female actor, lead role, sound , camera, original sound track, best costume designs and every other person involved in the process.

Concerning the build up to this event, GELAM Dickson said “initially the project was initiated by me. I brough the concept and took it to the minister S who assigned the Director of Cinema to follow up. I created a group of collaborators like Fred Tekum, Billy Bob Ndive who is a movie maker, some event planners in Yaounde, the Director of Cinema at the Ministry of Culture among others. Lately I discovered that many other people were determined to accompany us. Five ministries; Labour and SocialInsurance, Ministry ofCommunication, Ministry of Leisure and Tourism and the Ministry of External Relations. Most people are getting involved in CAMA 2017 because of the organizing Committee.”He said CAMA was going to be a success because of the team that he had around him.

He further said for now they were partnering with the American Embassy with an aim of exposing this event to the American movie world with an intention of creating a market for the Cameroonian movie in the western world.

With regards to the Nigerian connection Gelam Dickson said he had more than just links from that quarter. Hear him ‘Brazilians have just sent their endorsement that they are coming. The Novela TV, Nigerians,Richard Murphy Damijo, Yvonne Nelson, in Ghana Jacky Appiah among others. Nigerians are willing to accompany us as a baby industry because I wrote to them as a member of the African Film Consortium. I placed a pledge to them and said we don’t need gold and silver from you but just your blessings to grow. We plan to copy from Nigeria and grow like they have done. I equally went to Asky and they gave us sixteen free for anybody coming in from West Africa. It means that we are working towards achievement.”

He called on Film Makers to place their submissions since the door to submissions had not been closed since they could be opportune to win an award in any category. He therefore called on film makers not just to attend but to also collaborate.

The nomination party comes up this March in Ayaba Hotel in Bamenda while the event itself takes place at the Congress Hall in Yaounde on May 27. 

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At 32 CPDM Brokers Peace in Northwest Region of Cameroon.

-Billions to be spent in Bamenda in months ahead

Against a backdrop of the Anglophone crises rendered more poignant by ghost towns in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, celebrations of the 32nd Anniversary of the ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement CPDM in the Northwest in general and Bamenda in particular were low keyed. While this came as no surprise, attention was however drawn to the fact that Atanga Nji Paul; Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic for Special Duties came to Bamenda this time around with an olive branch and harping on the theme of this year’s celebration which was “All behind President Paul Biya to consolidate Unity, Integration, Social Peace and Sustainable Economic Performance.” In a series of unprecedented Biblical references Atanga Nji Paul referred to the Holy Scriptures as the constitution of the universe. Calling on CPDM militants not to be afraid he said the phrase “don’t be afraid” appears in the Bible 366 times. CPDM he said preaches peace, construction and consolidation of what has been achieved adding that militants had no reason to be afraid.

In the same vein, in a reconciliatory gesture showing the Northwest that atlast something was being done, it was disclosed that Billions were to be spent in Bamenda in the months ahead on road infrastructure. This revelation was made by Vincent Nji Ndumu, Government Delegate to the Bamenda City Council at the seat of the CPDM Mezam 1A Section at Mendankwe.

Vincent Nji Ndumu sent out a repeated message calling on CPDM Militants not to be afraid insisting that they had to forge despite the difficulties that may await them. “The past is the past and the future is ahead of us. Within the next two months you will see machines working on the Bamenda Babadjou road…” He said it was an initiative of Agence Française de development which he said would be visiting on Tuesday March 28, 2017 for survey of roads to be reconstructed. This he further revealed fell within the French Debt Relief Fund.

Condemning the recent influx of activists into the United States, the Government Delegate to the Bamenda City Council said America was not a place where you run to and think you will get better things after causing trouble home.

In a bid to criticize those passionately supporting the secession of English Speaking Cameroon from La Republique Du Cameroun he pointed the case of Southern Sudan presently being ravaged by war since its separation from the Sudan. He further said Cameroon was one of the best countries in Africa and that any dream in Cameroon was achievable if you worked hard. “Let’s not destroy ourselves because we are presently going towards an abyss” he said.

Cletus Anye Matoya, CPDM Section President for Mezam 1B took out time to explain the concessions so far made by the Government with regards to the demands initially put forth by the striking teachers.  among other things, he said lecturers not versed with the Anglo-Saxon system were being moved for redeployment.

He further called on people to be educated on what the government was doing to solve the problems presented by Anglophone teachers. Without specifying the category of children, he said the number of children going to school in the Northwest Region were on the rise.

Governor of the Northwest Region Adolf Lele L'Afrique, with Atanga Nji Paul and SDO for Mezam Division

The Northwest Region it should be noted had one of the heaviest presence of ministers the Region ever had in an anniversary celebration in the history of the party. The Prime Minister, Head of Government was out in Oku, Professor Ghogomu Paul Mingo, Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee was out in Ngoketunjia distributing tracks with 11 points titled “Actions already taken and being undertaken by the Government to resolve the concerns raised by the Anglophone Teachers Trade Unions.” Meantime Atanga Nji Paul took out time to tour three sections of Mezan 1 A,B and C. 

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Sustained Stalemate heightens fears for jailed Cameroon Anglophone activists.

A series of events in Cameroon the last of which was the stone wall reception of the Prime Minister recently in the Northwest Region have further polarized the Cameroon socio-political landscape and left the hitherto peaceful country in an unprecedented stalemate between the governing authorities on the one hand and the Anglophone minority on the other hand. Reactions from a cross section of some Anglophones who had the opportunity to speak during the Prime Minister’s visit revealed that they were very worried about the non release of a host of Anglophone Minority activists presently detained in some cells in Yaounde and the absence of internet in the two English Speaking Regions of the country. This worry was made more justified by the fact that the PM had nothing to say to their request that all detainees in the cells in Yaounde be released and that internet services be reinserted.

More dangerous is the fact that while all attention is being focused on leaders of the disbanded Anglophone Consortium as well as some other outspoken Anglophones like Chief Justice Ayah Paul, Barrister Agbor Ballah, Dr. Fontem Neba, Mancho Bibixy among others, there are many other detainees unknown to the public whose cases remain unaccounted for.

This worry was highlighted recently in a publication titled Desperate Communiqué from disbanded Consortium Published in The Horizon Newspaper No. 315 of February, 06, 2017. This communiqué came in the aftermath of a declaration by some four Teachers Trade Unions calling off the teachers strike. The Communiqué among other things branded these trade unions as detractors and published a list of at least 32 detained Anglophones in cells in Yaounde.

In a related development, there has also been an increase in the movement of Anglophone activists to the Diaspora. It is no more news that Barrister Bobga Mbuton Harmony leader of the Lawyers strike is in the USA and more recently Honourable Wirba, Member of Parliament from Bui Division has left Nigeria and is reportedly in the United States of America. Among these escapees to the Diaspora are some with a long history of activism dating back to university Campus activities like Ndobegang Nkengafac Clarence.

  Clarence joined the University of Buea Student Union (UBSU) in 2013. Its main activity was to advocate for the rights of the students and also ensure that the English system of education was respected in the University. Having joined the Southern Cameroons National council SCNC in August 2011 in Tiko, Clarence continued his activism in this structure following the banishing of UBSU by the Vice Chancellor. After a series of arrests, the most recent wind blowing across the nation took him along. With the increased clamping down on Anglophone activists from late 2016 Ndobegang escaped from one of the most brutal arrests of his life and has become one of those victims for whom Cameroon is too risky to stay in especially with the upsurge of the demand for                                 Cameroon to return to a two state federation by the disbanded consortium.

With the lack of action towards solving the problems presented by Anglophones and the stone wall resistance met by their demand for a two state federation as well as the subsequent disbanding of the consortium, almost all die heart activists believe that the only hope lies in a complete independence of English speaking Cameroon or Southern Cameroons. This has gradually brought together all pro-secessionist movements like SCNC among others. While the Cameroonian governments approach has been that of clamping down on activists, the normal reaction has been for the activists to escape to other countries or stay home and get caught.

Tradex Extends Network to Tombel in Cameroon.

Tradex, one of the largest distributors of fuel and other hydrocarbon products in Cameroon has extended its fast growing network to Tombel in the Kupe Muanenguba Division in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The official launch of the Tombel Tradex Station took place on Friday March 10 at the entrance to Tombel on the Re-unification road under the patronage of the Divisional Officer for Tombel Nyam Leonard Njowun.

This important move towards developing Tombel was realised through the National Hydrocarbons Prize Stabilisation Fund headed by Mr Elung Paul Che.

Speaking during the occasion, the DO for Tombel said the gesture was proof of the fact that Elung Paul Che and other elites of the area had the development of Tombel at heart. Referring to Elung Paul Che as the light, the Salt and the way to development in the area the administrator said this development came as a result of the unalloyed support for President Paul Biya and the New Deal Regime in place and called on everyone in Tombel to follow suit.

Harping on the added advantages of the new Tradex Station, he mentioned the new employment opportunities that the station would bring especially in the domain of security. Cognizant of the bad road network in Tombel Sub Division he said work on the Tombel – Kumba road was ongoing with the tracing and marking process.

The First Deputy Mayor of Tombel, Hypolite Ngalame said this was a Milestone in the history of Tombel and went ahead to thank Elung Paul Che, the Director of the National  Hydrocarbons  Price Stabilisation Fund for making this possible through his connection with SNH.  He said he appreciated the fact that Tombel had been taken into consideration in the efforts to stabilise petrol prices and to make the precious product more affordable in Tombel.

 Ngalame Frankline, speaking on behalf of the Director of HPSF said it took FCFA 600 million for the project to be realised. He further said a three faced transformer to stabilize electricity supply in the area had been installed and that a reasonable number of jobs had been created in Tombel thus impacting directly on the quality of life of people in the area. A 15000 liters reservoir he said had been brought in to solve the portable water problem that has constantly been a problem to the area. The station he said belonged to the state of Cameroon while Tradex would use its expertise to exploit the facility.

Tamnga Emmanuel, the Commercial Director representing the CEO for Tradex said ‘it is a special day for Tradex, which is inaugurating its third  petrol station in the Southwest Region, after Limbe, , and more recently Buea. The entire merit of this day’s celebration is in the hands of the Hydrocarbons Price Stabilisation Fund HPSF’.

Other highlights of the occasion included very colourful traditional dances and a prayer by the Parish Priest of the Catholic Church in Tombel who blessed the new fueling station. The occasion was further given local colour by the presence of Traditional rulers from across Kupe Muanenguba Division.

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African Business Climate Survey presents a support programme for the appropriation of OHADA Law

African Business Climate Survey and the Cameroon Business Forum with the Institutional support of strategic and sectoral ministries concerned have elaborated and presented a ‘support programme for the appropriation of the OHADA Law by English speaking judicial and extra judicial actors in Cameroon’.

Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle moderating at Workshop

This important event took place in the Multipurpose Hall of the Governor’s Office in Douala on Thursday, February 2, 2017.

This move comes against a backdrop of recent developments portraying Cameroon in the International scene as an arena where insecurity reigns due to recurrent social re-vindications. ‘The origin of these tensions which has degenerated into social disorder in the South and North West regions has its roots in a movement that started on the 8^th of November 2016 by English speaking Cameroonian Lawyers.’

According to a document presented by ABCS, public authorities deemed the complaints presented by the Lawyers as legitimate and thus ‘the Permanent Secretary of OHADA completed and published an updated English version of the Uniformed Acts and treaties of OHADA on the 24^th of November 2016. Following suit, Her Excellency Dorothe Cossi Sossa presented the final consigned result of the special edition of the OHADA official gazette to the Minister Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, Mr. Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh representing the President of the Republic of Cameroon, His Excellency president Paul Biya.’ 

Dr. Justine Diffo of  'More Women in Politics Fame' addresses participants at Seminar 

       

This programme it was disclosed is aimed at facilitating the integration of the translated OHADA text in the day to day practice of targeted actors in the regions concerned and to accompany a better and functional access to justice leading to an efficient and competitive business climate.

This awareness raising workshop was also organised within the perspective of starting the OHADA Business School training sessions in March 2017 with the support of the Ministry of Finance.

President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar Association Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle speaking as moderator during the workshop called for a minute of silence for Cameroonians who’ve died since the unrests began in the Southwest and Northwest Regions and for Cameroonian soldiers who have died fighting against Boko Haram. Ntumfor Nico Halle Said most failures in our efforts to solve problems come about because we don’t put God in the heart of things and hardly ever say the truth. For Cameroon to emerge he said, we needed to implant the rule of Law. He said he came to the workshop simply because he wanted to be sure what was being done was well done.

The moderator said Cameroonians needed a change of attitude and that those organizing conferences needed to do things seriously without politicizing them. The good initiative being carried out by ABCS among others should not be politicized if it had to succeed he said.

The Founder cum Chair Person of the Board of Administration of the African Business Climate Survey ABCS Professor Justine Diffo Tchunkam said ABCS plan to work with expertise created within the 17 member countries in collaboration with experts from outside. Among other things she said ABCS was created in 2013 to conduct surveys and monitor analyses on business practices in the 17 OHADA member states. Among the achievements of ABCS she mentioned the reduction of the minimum of capital of Public Limited Companies in Cameroon. She further said expertise will be sourced from both Cameroonian cultures with an intention of pushing Lawyers of the French expression to also master the English Common Law system which is appropriate for the Bilingual landscape of Cameroon. The workshop she further said was aimed at measuring of the OHADA in a very competitive Business Landscape.

Participants were made up of Lawyers from the Northwest and Southwest Regions, representatives from Banking sector and a cross section of the business sector in Cameroon. 

Tata Ngoe Jonas takes mantle of power as Chief of the Orockos in Likomba, Tiko

Tata Ngoe Jonas has been installed as the Traditional Ruler of the Orocko People in Likomba Town and Ndongo Camp Area in the Tiko Municipality. This installation ceremony took place on Sunday January 29, 2017 at the Likomba residence of Tata Ngoe Jonas.

 This self effacing personality was born at Mbuh Bakundu in the Konye Sub Division and went to primary school at GS Mbuh Bakundu and later on at PS Zang Tabi in Momo Division. He eventually obtained the City and Guilds London Stages One, two and three as a Telecommunication Technician. As a civil servant he was sent to Institudes Superieur d’études Maritimes in Paris where he obtained a Diploma in Deep Sea Navigation, Security at Sea. He equally went to the Maritime University of Casablanca Morocco from where he returned home as a Lieutenant in Maritime Affairs. He has served in various capacities in the civil service amongst which includes Regional Chief of Matriculation for Maritime Transport in the Littoral Region. 

  

In an interview with the newly installed Chief of the Orocko Clan in Likomba town, he said the post had been vacant for more than five years since the loss of the second Chief in Likomba. He further explained that his area of command covers the whole of Likomba Town and The Ndongo Camp Area.

Orocko he explained is vast with at least ten tribes which are all represented in Likomba and Ndongo Camp. In the form of a message he said his was a message of love, peace, unity. Hear him ‘Like in our tribal meetings we try to talk about love and peace and stay away from people who are causing problems. We distant ourselves from such and try to call for more unity and love so that together with the government we can forge ahead in a peaceful united country. In a similar manner, the Orocko People should be united and should look upon themselves as one people. When we are one then we will achieve and grow as one.’

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Philip Ngole Ngwese, Elung Paul oil machine for smooth school take off in Kupe Manenguba

The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife Philip Ngole Ngwese and Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Finance in charge of Budgets Elung Paul Che have thrown their weights behind the push by Government Authorities to make sure the second Term of the 2016-2017 Academic year kicks off hitch free. This took place on Saturday January 8, 2017 at the Women Empowerment Center in Bangem in the Southwest Region. 

Philip Ngole Ngwese

Minister  Philip Ngole Ngwese summed up his message in the following words; We are here today to thank the Education Community of Kupe Muanenguba for all the efforts they have been putting in to make sure that schools go on. They have been steadfast in the face of all odds. Despite the unrests in the Northwest and Southwest Regions, schools have been going on normally in Kupe Manenguba Division. I call on them not to relent despite all threats on Social Media. Because no matter the differences we may be having and how strong the points that we present may be, the education of our children cannot be compromised. By we,I mean Teachers Trade Unions and Lawyers Associations.The government through the number one authority in this country has acknowledged that there are problems and has put in place appropriate measures for dialogue. Anyone with things to say should simply make use of the forum created already and abstain from violence and threats. This in a nutshell is the message we brought here today. I am not by this saying that everything on Social media is propaganda. We should be capable of distinguishing between truth and propaganda on social media. We simply came to have a frank discussion with our brothers of Kupemanguba and to tell them that the education of our children cannot be compromised for whatever reason. We met today with the stakeholders of the Educational Sector, administrators, Forces of Law and Order, and Traditional Rulers and we are all agreed that the children should go to school come Monday, January 9, 2017.

Elung Paul Che

  

Minister Elung Paul Che on his part explained that the Bangem rendezvous comes against a backdrop of the creation of an Adhoc Committee to have dialogue with the Teachers Credit Unions and the Lawyers Associations. This he explained will permit all their demands to be put on the table for discussions and subsequent solutions.

Alluding to the 2016, December 31^st speech of President Paul Biya, Elung Paul Che said President Biya acknowledged the existence of all these problems and promised to look into each and every one of them but not at the detriment of the unity of the state. 

Chief Ekwoge Joseph of Ngusi

Among the Traditional leaders of Kupemanguba present, this reporter caught up with Chief Ekwoge Joseph of Ngusi, President of the Nguti Chiefs Conference who explained that traditional rulers in Kupemanenguba were in support of the bid to see that children return to school on Monday January 9, 2017. He said after listening to the explanations of Ministers Philip Ngole Ngwese and Elung Paul Che, they felt there was no good reason not to support them. We are ready for Schools to reopen on Monday, he said.

Meantime, Cecilia Dione, the Principal of Government Secondary School G.S.S. Ngobenyoe said they were completely in support of schools reopening on Monday, January 9, 2017.

Amidst this apparently successful encounter, beneath the surface were signs of some discontent as some teachers who declined identifying themselves said let them take the money, Monday will speak. 

Principals line up to receive stipends

 Though this reporter could not get this angry teacher to speak, it was understood that  his anger came to the surface when it was declared that stipends or perdiems as it is locally referred to had been kept only for Principals, Presidents of Parent Teacher Associations, head Teachers of Primary Schools, Traditional leaders amongst others, he felt frustrated and angered for being kept out from among those who were receiving something from the money that was being dolled out.  

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