Society

Rita Akana

A huge fire broke out in the district of Idabato, Ndian department in the South West Region of Cameroon on Sunday Cameroon Concord has learnt.  The Senior Divisional Office in Mundemba the chief town in Ndian Division has released a statement saying 2 hectares of agricultural land and 115 houses have been destroyed and more than 1,500 people are now homeless.

The fire that started on the night of Sunday the 28^th of December has caused great damages which are estimated at over 100 million FCFA. More than 1,530 adults and elderly people are sleeping under the Idabato skies. Information that filtered to our news desk maintains that urgent interim measures have been taken to squeeze the victims, first the minors and the elderly in a church premise and in the classrooms of a primary school.

It is two days after the disaster and no official investigation has been launched to uncover the cause of the fire and not even a word from Minister and Chief Dion Ngute representing the Irokos in the Biya government. This is typical of the Francophone Beti-Ewondo pattern of governance when it comes to reacting to disasters in Anglophone Cameroon. Idabato is one of the beautiful localities of the Bakassi peninsular found in Ndian Division in the Southwest region.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

30.Dec.2014

Hits: 2096

By Tambe Tanyi

In the curiosity of a watcher of Cameroon Concord Magazine over the years, from hard to soft copy and as the year draws to an end, I draw inspiration to carve up my views with readers of Cameroon Concord.

We can all reckon with, that Cameroon Concord has since 2009 through 2014 kept us informed of relevant developments and interesting stories especially of Cameroon and around the world. It is a great way and dais for keeping us up-to-date entirely. In my analysis with readers interactivity, there are some underlining uneasy issues that seem indistinct. While others do enjoy the news content and satisfaction with the presentation, some readers demand more improvement on editorial content, and others aligned neutral. To these I asked the key question “can a newspaper satisfy all its readers?” The answer to it may be revealed in a few arguments away.

Modern journalism is rapidly evolving and detecting the trend is challenging, and more especially the goal to crack journalism's riddle for the ages is becoming more cumbersome even for news media with colossal financial and material resources. Truth within for every newspaper management and editorial board is to figure out how to get more people reading the newspaper more often.

Looking at the arguments of some researchers and think-tanks, and i quote: ” Readers want important stories as long as they are presented interestingly and clearly. "I think this naturally includes looking at the public interest," said one observer. Another think-tank says that watchdog journalism "is like being accurate...it's the price of admission. Another says investigative journalism is key to modern journalism” Without it, no amount of innovation will make any difference." To me is that readers want "a good mix of content, from Big-J journalism to the Jumble puzzle. ”And on and on. Yes, all arguments serve good purpose but each comes with a price tag.

Recalling that almost every citizen on the street nowadays is a potential journalist / reporter. And for a free content magazine, readership may also consider how newspapers balance fixes, continuous readers demands and long-term reform? In the rush towards reader friendliness, unfolds exigent resourcefulness. There are forces outside newspapers' control -- such as the explosion of competition, a perceived lack of consumers' free time, and demographic changes--dwarfed by the things that newspapers can control. Thus even from a non journalistic view of the prism, one can say with certainty that meeting up the demands of every reader may never be achieved.

In my exchanges with the Editor-In-Chief of Cameroon Concord, he says "We have learned, that there is no magic pill to innovate and boost readership. It takes patience, commitment, resources and a management culture of total involvement."

It is true; transforming from hard to soft copy since 2009, Cameroon Concord has evolved with considerable rapidity, sending changes rippling through other Cameroon online news media forums from Atlanta to Zambia, as they mobilize to innovate to the new challenges. Note taken that self-evolution imposes new challenges

It is commendable that readers may consciously sway considerable advancements. We the readers can ignite more modification in the positive direction. Interestingly readers are gradually but objectively reacting to the stories and debates presented. An interaction that has been educative.

As we graduate from 2014 into 2015, irrespective of our stands, sympathizer, neutral or critic of Cameroon Concord, we are called-to-action by being more connected to making our views heard through interactive debate and inspirational sharing, on this medium. Such interactive platforms have not only been educative but more a source of information for leaders to make informed decisions for societies, communities, organizations and governments.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

29.Dec.2014

Hits: 2274

By NFOR Hanson Nchanji

A fire incident at Mobil Bonakouamouang in Akwa Douala has destroyed a popular magazine. The inferno that began at about midday Saturday precisely at Rue FOCHE ravaged the store which belongs to a Nigeria business man, to the extent that nothing was recovered. Fire fighters from Ngodi who arrived the scene 30 minutes after the incident had started faced difficulties because their pipes were outdated and had linkages. The fire fighters commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Mikaila were also not able to get to the top of the roof of the building because of no crane. 

About five vehicles were sent spontaneously but they only succeeded to contained the flames after it had consumed the whole content of the magazine. The fire fighters however succeeded to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas such as Rue JAMOT. Cameroon Concord's senior economic reporter said the material damage caused by the fire is estimated at hundreds of millions of Fcfa.

It is vital to include in this report that hosting the Africa Cup of Nations requires a massive improvement of the services of the Sapeur pompier department.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

28.Dec.2014

Hits: 2043

Rita Akana

A log of wood fell from a tractor-trailer on Thursday 25 December, at Barriere, Yaoundé neighbourhood, killing a pregnant woman and her partner.  The chain protection logs of a semi-truck dropped when Christine Blandine Ezoussoua young lady on the back of a motorcycle, whose rider was her companion, Hervé Mometa Mbitcha, attempted to do an overtake of the truck. The bike got cornered by a vehicle moving slowly. It was at this time that the chain protecting the logs failed.

The two bodies were completely crushed and unrecognizable. The security and administrative authorities, descended on the scene of the tragedy. An investigation was opened. The driver of the semi-trailer fled after the accident and his where about is still unknown to the police. The Barriere district is the southern entrance to Yaoundé, the nation’s capital.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

26.Dec.2014

Hits: 2322

Célestin Djamen, SDF Councillor for Douala 1 has launched a scathing attack on the CPDM government accusing the Biya regime of encouraging the opening of too many bars around the country. This, the SDF front liner added has prompted the lack of political commitment on burning issues by the Cameroonian people. Said Celestin Djamen: “you cannot build a nation with people who drink alcohol every day”.

Councillor Djamen observed that the goal of the CPDM government behind this reckless policy is geared towards preventing the Cameroonian people from thinking about their future.  The Douala SDF leader hinted that the party should make the destruction of the drinking culture in Cameroon an important policy.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

25.Dec.2014

Hits: 2106

Sama Ernest

Paul Biya head of state and chairman of the Higher Judicial Council has signed a decree revoking Etienne Ndjonkou’s status as a Magistrate without suspending his pension rights for deliberate violation of the vow to secrecy. Magistrate Etiene Ndjonkou is reported to have released to a lawyer the manuscript of his draft decision.

Ndjonkou Etienne was newly installed in Bertoua referred to in Cameroon as the land of the rising sun from Douala. He was first suspended from duty by Laurent Esso, Minister of State in charge of the Ministry of Justice and Keeper of the Seals.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

25.Dec.2014

Hits: 2666