Translate

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Cameroon is retrograding rather than forging ahead:Hon Ayah Paul


Hon. Ayah Paul, who is  Secretary-General  of People’s Action Party (PAP) and an Outspoken MP has made the above statement in his 2012 End-of Year Address to the Nation, in which he also stresses that Cameroon is the mother of waste. Hon Ayah then challenges the Cameroonians, especially the  youth and women to take their destiny into their hands, by taking part in active politics to effect positive change. Following is the full address:
Hon. Ayah Paul: SG PAP

 Fellow Cameroonians,
 It is rare honour indeed for us to commune with you through this medium. You very well know as we do that 2012 has not been spared the natural law of ups and downs. The successes were many as failures. There were deaths and births; sorrow and joy. We thank the Almighty for everything, and pray that His will be done in the coming year.

 The Almighty is the highest judge: infallible, incorruptible and most just. That is a stark truism! Therefore are we forbidden to judge – we mere sinful mortals! But it is no less a truism that we have been instructed by the Almighty to be each other’s keepers. We are of opinion then that that window opens unto the realm of appreciation. On that platform are public morals built. It is akin to judgment but it is not judgment itself.

 Availing ourselves of that leeway, we feel emboldened to state without fear of contradiction that the Almighty has more than endowed our country with both natural and human resources hugely enormous to keep suffering at bay. We are of course conscious that every coin has two sides. Naturally then is imperfection human. Yet must bad governance, inertia, corruption, and conscious arrogant leaning on perversity be decried.

 We are all living witnesses that, for the past thirty years and more, our country has been infested with such slogans as “ Rigour and Moralization(?). New Deal. Larges/grands  Debats. Grandes Ambitions. Grandes Realisations. Projets Structruants. Vast Construction Site…” We are all living witnesses that none of these slogans has been translated into any concrete action. If anything it is the reverse that has been true! Take for instance just the most recent slogan of “a vaste construction site from January, 2012”! Look back from December 2012 and tell us…Yes, tell us what you have seen. Tell us what you do see! Yes, tell us…!

 Sad to say, but truly, our country is retrograding rather than forging ahead. No-one can dare to contradict this assertion, conscious of the fact that Equatorial Guinea has only petrol as against Cameroon that has petrol, cocoa, coffee, banana, palm-oil, rubber, tea, cotton, timber, minerals etc. Is not it a shouting ignominy that Equatorial Guinea should bail out Cameroun with 400 million cash even as the two countries have a common central bank? Is not it very like carrying palm-oil to Lobe?

Difficult to understand! Difficult even to imagine! For all that we have! Look at the deplorable state of our roads – mud, lakes, craters everywhere! For all that we have, look at our institutions! Schools without classrooms, without teachers! Health centres on paper only! Hospitals without drugs; with disgruntled doctors, with nurses without salaries! 

 How can anyone explain it: that, in the face of all the chanting about the merits of “budget programme”, the 2013 budget should increase by some 16% and yet the investment budget has gone up only by 1%? That the investment budget is under 30% of the total budget? That, at the time you are reading these words, many are a Cameroonian in need of 5 francs for food whereas the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic has 2.5 million per day for petrol (including Sundays and public holidays when he does not go to work)? How can a country that hopes to develop set aside 82 billions (82 thousand million) for such opaque budgetary line as “intervention directes”? What justifies the “Direction Generale du Budget” having a budget of as much as over 95 billion on top of the budget of the Ministry of Finance of which the “Direction Generale du Budget” is only a unit? Why, and why and why without end Amen!

 The answer simply is that our country is the mother of waste; a country where the masses are languishing in the refugee camp of misery with the term “peace” inscribed in the tents. A country flowing with debilitating drinks that water down thought and lull reaction! A country where poverty is imposed in order to lower the bargaining power of the masses! A country of collosal negation!

 Dear youth of Cameroon,
 You know full well right at the moment of reading these words that, within a certain time period, all the elders of today will die. But it is impossible that within that same time period all the present youth will die. It follows without more that the future is yours – you the youth of Cameroon. It is a grave mistake to continue to allow people on their way to the cemetery to pretend to be preparing a future that they know just too well they will not live. Take your destiny into your hands! You cannot do that without taking leadership positions. Get involved in politics today and not tomorrow that may never come. Register on the electoral rolls now! Put up your candidacy when the time comes! You will change nothing by abstention; by surrender, by resignation, nay sycophancy! 

 Where is your courage, youth of Cameroon? You cannot get to the land flowing with milk and honey by staying put in old Egypt. Verily we say unto you that you must cross the “Red Sea”! That you must do! Get up therefore and get going! To dare is to do! And do remember always that nothing good comes easy! 

We of course agree with you that the waters of the Red Sea may not part in our days; and that you need a bridge to cross to the other side. But the bridge is right there at your doorstep! It has been there all this time! The bridge is People’s Action Party – PAP! Just start the walk here and now! Victory stares at you at the other end! It is even beckoning!

 My dear Cameroonian woman,
 Remember that you joined other women of the world at Beijing to demand for 30% share of decision-making positions. Even the United Nations’ Organization did endorse your demand! But convinced that the Almighty made man and woman to complement each other, we of PAP offered you 50% - the first political party in the world ever to stand for gender equality.
 Avail yourself of the opportunity PAP does offer you! Let us repeat what you know so well already that leadership begins with registration on the electoral roll. Presentation of candidacy follows. Successful election places you in a position to crusade for female causes. Do have at the back of your mind always that a copy can never be like the original, much less the original itself. PAP is the original solution for you, my dear Cameroonian woman! PAP is where no woman is limited to the Ministry of the Interior! Come and see!

 Fellow Cameroonians
 We are on the threshold of 2013. Changing the past is not possible. But shaping the future is, with the Almighty by our side! That endeavour should be ours from the very first day of 2013! PAP counts on you all! ONLY the best for 2013!
 May God/Allah bless Cameroon!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Dibombari Council,Elite Organize Christmas Party For 1000 Children

 By Christopher Ambe in Dibombari
 
Over 1000 children including kids and pupils belonging to and or resident in the Dibombari Municipality on December 20 got a foretaste of the happiness, pomp and pageantry that go with the celebration of Christmas-the day Christian believe Jesus Christ, and our Savior was born. The day proper is celebrated world-wide on December 25.

 The children –all neatly dressed and excited, were invitees at a Christmas Tree Party, organized for them by the dynamic Mayor of Dibombari, Chief Federic Nguime Ekollo, municipal councilors, elites of the locality and other well-wishers.

 The ceremony, which took place at the Dibombari Council premises, was presided at by the Divisional Officer (DO) for Dibombari, Mr Boniface Tene, who described the idea of such a unifying come together as wonderful and worth-emulating.

 The ceremony was characterized by activities such as musical concerts, dancing competition, rhyme recitation.tug of war, creative art displays, and above all the distribution of varied gifts to all children. Colour was added to the ceremony when professional musician such as Ekambi Brilliant, always sang and danced.

  The Dibombari Council, according to its mayor, had budgeted over four million Francs for the purchase of gifts, but much more realized in terms of cash and kind from Dibombari elite and other people of good will.

This year’s Christmas tree party was the second organized in recent memory by the Dibombari Council.

 Some 800 children had participated and received gifts at same ceremony last year, 2011

Mayor, Chief Nguime Ekollo said the party was intended to make children feel that they are part of their council; that it was to prove that adults care about the happiness and welfare of children. “Without these children there will be no future; so we have to prepare and encourage them in every positive way for the future,” the mayor quipped.

 The Mayor thanked all those who contributed in one way or the other in ensuring the grandiosity and success of the event.

 It emerged that Mrs.Nguime Susan, wife of the Mayor, was very instrumental in the smooth organization of the merry-making event. Given an opportunity to speak at the ceremony, Mrs. Nguime Ekollo, advised the children to always take their studies serious and to be obedient to their parents.

  Addressing the large audience, the DO, Mr. Tene particularly lauded Mayor Nguime Ekollo for the initiative, noting that it showed that children of Dibombari are not orphans. "They all have parents",he noted. The DO then challenged the elite to continue supporting the development and unity of the Dibombari.

 So happy were the children that when the MC mentioned the name of the Mayor, they all responded “Correct man” in appreciation of the love their Mayor has shown them .They were even happier to receive parceled gifts from a beautifully dressed Father Christmas.
Dibombari has a population of over 17000 inhabitants and is found in Mungo Division,Littoral Region,
Cameroon.
First published in The Recorder Newspaper,Cameroon,of December 24,2012

50th Anniversary of Re-unification:La Republique du Cameroun Should enter into constructive dialogue with Southern Cameroons

By Mola Njoh Litumbe*
  
The question of hosting a celebration to commemorate “Re-Unification” between La Republique du Cameroun with Southern Cameroons is quite topical at this time, following the official announcement by the Government of La Republique du Cameroun to the effect that the 50th Anniversary Celebrations would take place in Buea on 1 October 2011 or at some other convenient time thereafter. 

 In preparation for this auspicious event, there are frantic activities to give the Municipality an overdue facelift.  Along the Molyko highway to Buea Government Station, non-permanent structures are being demolished, while permanent structures are being painted.  In the last few days, even the Police HQ building, like the DO’s office building,  which has been an eye-sore for years, has also benefitted by receiving a coat of paint which will wash away during the next rainy season.

Work at refurbishing the Buea Mountain Hotel is in progress.  During my inspection visit a few weeks ago, I was impressed by the speed at which work was being performed, but in spite of outward appearances, I observed that provision had not been made for mosquito netting to the aluminum sliding windows, as there is no air-conditioning provided; worse, the elegantly tiled bathrooms lack bidets which, at this day and age, are an indispensable bathroom fitting of personal hygiene for visiting sophisticated ladies and gentlemen!

For whatever reason all this renovation is taking place, it merely heralds the degree of pathetic negligence of Southern Cameroons as a whole, over the past half-century, by the state of La Republique du Cameroun.  The original intention of the founding fathers was to create a robust Federation of two states, equal in status, with English and French as the official languages.

 For starters, the UN Res. 1608(XV) of 21 Apr 1961 which reviewed the results of the Feb. 11/12 Plebiscite over Br Cameroons, and named the date of 1 Oct 1961 when Southern Cameroons was to attain independence by joining La Republique du Cameroun, was vigorously opposed by La Republique du Cameroun that did not want Southern Cameroons to attain independence.  Although the resolution was nevertheless carried, La Republique du Cameroun to this day has never accepted in practice that Southern Cameroons is a separate country and, by virtue of UN 14 Dec. 1960 Universal Declaration of Independence to All Peoples that had not yet attained independence, Southern Cameroonians, as a People, were entitled to independence in their own right.

The so-called Federation established by Law 24/61 of 1st Sept 1961 by the Parliament of La Republique du Cameroun was a mere change of name of the sovereign state that had gained independence on 1 Jan 1960. 

 On 1st Sept 1961, Southern Cameroons was still a UN trust territory firmly under British Administration.  The Government  of Southern Cameroons had no legislative authority over defence or foreign relations of the territory, as these powers were reserved for the Imperial  British Govt in London. How then could LRC pass a domestic law in its Parliament, and allege, shamelessly, that this was the basis of a Federation with Southern Cameroons!   Does one entity create a federation with itself?  Besides, as a UN member state from 20 Sept 1960, LRC failed to comply with the statutory modalities for union with Southern Cameroons, as stipulated by Art. 102 of the UN Charter, thus making invalid any claim for union, with serious consequences to its claim before the ICJ of title over Bakassi that is located in Southern Cameroons.

For my part, therefore, there has never been a valid union between La Republique du Cameroun with Southern Cameroons, in accordance with international law.  The onus is for La Republique du Cameroun to tender the acceptable proofs of a valid union.  In the absence of any legitimate proof, La Republique du Cameroun is guilty of the international crime of colonization of Southern Cameroons, a crime long since proscribed by the United Nations.  To hide the crime under the colorful smokescreen of “Re-unification,” does not mitigate the consequences of violating international law.  Besides, how does one celebrate an event, e.g. a marriage that never legally took place?  It would be like celebrating a lie!

La Republique du Cameroun is strongly advised to heed the advisory opinion of the African Commission on Human and people’s rights to enter into constructive dialogue with Southern Cameroonians, with a view to resolving this major constitutional problem as to whether the two parties ever joined, as well as the fact that there is no Independent Judiciary in Cameroon because the President is constitutionally the  Supreme Magistrate that presides over the Higher Judicial Council that hires, promotes, and disciplines all members of the Judicial core.

I will end by quoting that eminent Nigerian Jurist, the late Judge T.O. Elias, President of the International Court of Justice (as he then was), in “The Role of the ICJ in Africa,” 1 RADIC, 1989. p.8, where he states:

“We are thus faced with a situation in which Third World States, themselves the pre-beneficiaries of resolution 1514(XV) guaranteeing the principle of self-determination of all peoples, become modern colonizers of less fortunate peoples within their area.”

*Mola Njoh Litumbe is a Cameroonian political party leader, retired chartered accountant and minority rights campaigner

First Published in The Recorder Newspaper,Cameroon,of December 24,2012

UK-based Cameroonian Consultant Cardiologist Back Home To Give Health Lectures

Dr. Fred Kemah is a Cameroonian of Southwest origin, who did his primary, secondary and high school education in BGS, Buea and Sasse College, obtaining his GCE Advanced levels .He left Cameroon for Italy to read medicine in Rome some 25 years ago.

He successfully studied Medicine at the University of Rome, sponsored by his family. Dr.kemah who lives in the United Kingdom is currently a consultant cardiologist and honorary senior lecturer of cardiac medicine there.

He has particular interest in Stroke and heart failure. The Consultant Cardiologist, who is now in Cameroon, will in the days ahead give public lectures on the cited diseases and other health –related subject as part of his efforts to keep the Cameroon society better informed about signs and symptoms of the above clinical conditions. During his lectures/press conference, Dr.kemah is expected to lay emphasis on the importance of modernization of the health care Cameroon starting with the Southwest Region. The Cardiologist, while still in the UK, had an online exchange with The Recorder .Excerpts:

Dr.Fred Kemah
Dr Fred Kemah, you are coming to Cameroon after 25 years abroad. Can you tell our readers where have you been and why you have chosen to be back home after this long, long while?

 To be honest I have been visiting our country through out this time frame. One of the reasons I am here is to highlight the importance of primary prevention of non communicable clinical conditions such as STROKE, and HEART ATTACK.

I understand you are a Consultant Cardiologist based in United Kingdom. Where and on whose financial ticket did you receive this specialist training?

I went to Italy a couple of months after my A levels from Sasse.My send- off and education in Rome, Italy was a fruit from family planning and sacrifice. In other words, I had no scholarship, but sponsored by my parents. I am always grateful.

What pushed you to be trained as a cardiologist? What is cardiology all about?

 Prestige. It was and is still the most highly regarded branch in the medical community.
You must have a basic understanding of the heart and its physiology to be a good doctor, irrespective of your specialty. Cardiology  is a specialist branch in internal medicine dealing with the heart and great blood vessels.

What specifically is your mission to Cameroon now? How is your stay in Cameroon going to improve on the health situation?

I will stress the importance of modernizing the healthcare standards in Cameroon. Will emphasis that doctors should put patients interest as their first priority.
Also, I would insist on the fact that doctors should be held accountable for their decisions regarding the care offered to patients.
Most importantly, I plan to offer health alerts to the wider public in conditions like heart failure, stroke, heart attack and sudden death.

More Cameroon-trained doctors, due to poor working conditions, go abroad to seek for greener pastures. I have learnt that over 70 % Cameroonians trained abroad as doctors do not return to heir home country to be of service to their nation. What is your take on this?

 Politics is to blame in this respect. Life clearly states that where there is light there is joy. You can’t move from sunshine to darkness.

You must have heard that Cameroon has an acute shortage of medical doctors, yet about 6000 or so Cameroonian doctors are working abroad. The official national doctor-patient ratio is reportedly one doctor for 10,000 patients. As a Cameroonian and highly skilled medical doctor, what is your reaction to this bleak situation?

No incentive to encourage our return. Let’s wait and see with a little bit of democracy.
Are cardiac diseases, from your findings, common in Cameroon and what can be done to address the situation?

Cardiac diseases are common. Stroke is a major burden as you can see.
Educating the people about lifestyle, risk factors, signs and symptoms of life threatening conditions. That’s why I am around.

The Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Buea will soon graduate its first batch of Trained in Buea medical doctors. What feeling do you have getting this news? And how can you be of help to this Faculty of Health Sciences?
Great. I am a honorary senior lecturer in cardiac medicine with extensive teaching experience in England.
 I am very happy to serve my country. And therefore, happy to give my contribution in forming future doctors.
 First published in The Recorder Newspaper,Cameroon,of December 24,2012

Cameroon:Political Party for Youth Development Launched in Buea

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The legalization of the National Democratic Party for Youth Development (NDPYD) has brought to three the number of political parties with headquarters in Buea.The other two are the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Mola Njoh Litumbe and the Social Liberal congress of Dr.George Dodgima Nyamndi

NDPYD, which has its pioneer chair, Mr.Mbangtang Song Stephen, has for now a 14-person executive body to coordinate activities and the implantation of the baby party. Its motto is equality-peace-development “Change begins with self”

Addressing a press conference earlier this December, Mr. Song disclosed that the NDPYD was accorded legal status by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Rene Emmanuel Sadi on July 24, 2012.

The party has as objectives to " mobilize, rally and galvanize  the youth into a united force to restore a just ,free and democratic society; to reduce to the lowest level unemployment rate for all youth to live in dignity and ensure a safe society”

Answering questions from journalists, Mr.Song said the NDPYD is for meaningful and positive change.
 “We must first of all change self before changing others; then, the process of healing would have become a reality in our country, as we chart the path of redemption for self and the country. Yes, Redemption we need end need abundantly”

It further emerged from the press conference that, NDPYD stands very strongly for a corruption-free society, accountability, and transparency, free and fair election. Peace and justice.
The NDPYD Chair Mr. Song is married, a father and holds a first Degree in Political Science (University of Ghana, Legon).

Mr. Song was one –time President of the International Students Association ,University of Ghana (2004-2006); former president National Union of Cameroon students in Ghana (2006-2007).

He‘s president of international coalition of organizations for Youth Development.

First published in The Recorder Newspaper,Cameroon,of December 24,2012

SEARCH THIS SITE