Society

Chi Prudence Asong

The Minister of Justice Laurent Esso (seen here) was conspicuously absent on Tuesday in Yaoundé, during the presentation of the Ministry of Justice 2013 report on the state of human rights in the country. The 665-page document written in both official languages (French and English) was presented by the Minister Delegate to the Minister of State for Justice. The report deals with freedom of expression, education, health and justice in Cameroon.

According to the data of the report on the state of human rights in Cameroon in 2013, in 2013, the Ministry of Justice revealed that 114,753 refugees are now in Cameroon coming from the Central African Republic, Nigeria and neighbouring Chad.

On the fight against corruption, the report states that there was an increase in the volume of cases to the Special Criminal Court (TCS), compared to the year 2012.  The report hinted that accused persons have paid into the public treasury, an amount of nearly 2,143,769,110 FCFA, against 253.9 million CFA francs in 2012.

On freedom of expression, the report focused on the sanctions taken by the National Communication Council (CNC), against journalists and the media to violations of ethics and journalistic ethics. The report widely believed to have been written to please public opinion noted that "the effective use of biometrics in the electoral process has helped to guarantee transparent elections."

Ten new political parties were registered in 2013 by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (MINATD) guaranteeing President Biya’s continued stay in power.  The report also noted that prison conditions in Cameroon are "inhuman" even if the government made efforts to improve them. Finally, the report stressed that administrative and judicial sanctions have been taken against some military, gendarmes and police officers.

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Ngwa Bertrand

24.Dec.2014

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Among the 3750 students who graduated Saturday December 13, 2014 in the convocation ceremony, were 64 pioneer engineers, sent out from the Department of Engineering Technology. Four of these students had a first class honors.

In her speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Dr NALOVA LYONGA said the event was a landmark and signals that UB can go places. She disclosed that it was the engineering students who helped UB during her online registration complications. Dr NALOVA called on the students to avoid cyber criminality and work hard in a country plagued with unemployment.

In her academic discourse, Vice Chancellor Emeritus Prof. Dorothy LIMUNGA NJEUMA, told the graduates to be discipline, uphold good morals and patriotism. She regretted that corruption has taken the country hostage but called on the graduates to shun the evil practice. Ulrich Armel MBOU of the Department of Physics graduated as best student with first class honors of 3.7 on 4 GPA.

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Ngwa Bertrand

15.Dec.2014

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Issa Bakary Tchiroma, Cameroon Minister of Communication has denied claims by some Western media outlets that Cameroon is not satisfied with Nigeria’s participation in the war against Boko Haram.  In an interview in the morning of Friday, December 12, 2014 at Radio France Internationale (RFI), the Cameroon government Spokesman and minister of communication noted “We trust the Nigerian government; we do not doubt for a moment that the Nigerian government is not doing what it takes to eradicate this scourge.”

The Communication Minister refused to comment on the functioning of the Nigerian Army over reports that many are constantly fleeing to Cameroon and refusing to be deployed in the North of Nigeria. Said Tchiroma  “I can make a value judgment on the organization and efficiency of the Cameroon army ... but I cannot make any comment on the Nigerian army, which we are really proud is helping us eradicate this evil that has destabilized the economy of the entire region”.

According to Issa Tchiroma, Boko Haram is recruiting Cameroonians from “disaffected, unemployed backgrounds who unfortunately are lured easily with money.”   The controversial Cameroonian politician also hinted that the Terrorism Act recently passed by Parliament appears as a deterrent to prevent both conniving collaborations internally in Cameroon and to deter some people who thus fall under the lure of easy money and indoctrination-a law that, he reassures is not intended to restrict freedoms as expressed by several politicians from the opposition and civil Society.

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Ngwa Bertrand

14.Dec.2014

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 By Jude Abanseka

The Maryvale Institute for Catechesis in Bamenda has graduated its 10 batch of students and equally organised a fund raiser for the ongoing construction of a chapel at the Pastoral Centre that hosts the institute. The twin event took place Saturday December 13, 2014 at the Mankon Metropolitan Cathedral. The day’s occasion started with a Pontifical Mass that grouped the Auxiliary Bishop of Bamenda Mgr. Agapitus Nfon and 20 other priests concelebrants with the Archbishop of Bamenda his Grace Cornelius Fontem Esua as main celebrant.

Amongst several things in his homily the prelate of Bamenda archdiocese noted that he was on that day accomplishing the task Pope Francis gave to the bishops of Cameroon during the 2014 ad limina visit to the Vatican. The said task was for the bishops to ensure the proper formation of the laity in the doctrine of the Catholic Church for the deepening of their faith. Archbishop Esua added that the issue of the proliferation of mushroom churches and self declared prophets have become the order of the day and it is sad to note that many Catholic Christians fall prey to these. This is the reason why an institute like Maryvale and similar ones are of great importance to the church.

To the graduating class, the preacher said they must have the courage to proclaim what is learnt in Maryvale whether they are welcome or not. They equally have to correct the falsehood that is so rampant nowadays and they should do so especially by their own examples. Archbishop Cornelius added that what the church needs now is simply courageous Catechists and Christians like Isaiah and John the Baptist as seen in the First Reading and the Gospel text of the day.

He noted that Maryvale Bamenda has grown to the extent of having branches in Kumbo and Mamfe dioceses since after the link between Maryvale Birmingham and Bamenda Archdiocese began 15 years ago. The founding of Maryvale Bamenda he added was motivated by the call of Rome for the proper training of Catechists who are closest collaborators of Priests. The archbishop went on to express his joy over the fact that many Christians are taking the Maryvale course and not only those who feel called to be Catechists since the programme is open to all baptised Christians for the deepening of their faith.

The holy Mass continued unpertubed till after the post Communion prayer when the graduation ceremony proper took place with the award of certificates to the 96 students of the All Saints 10^th batch. Several speeches and the fundraiser closely followed the certificate awards. Almost the whole congregation took part and the sum of about 4 million FCFA was raised.

There was equally a presentation of gifts from staff and students of Maryvale Bamenda to the two guests of honour who also concelebrated at the Eucharistic celebration. These were the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Birmingham Rev. Monsignor Timothy Menezes and the new Director of Maryvale Institute Birmingham Rev. Fr. Edward Clare. The special guests to the graduation ceremony visited the four diocese of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province during their 5 day stay in Cameroon.  

On the eve of the graduation ceremony, Rev. Monsignor Timothy Menezes and Rev. Fr. Edward Clare paid a visit to the staff and past and present students at the Maryvale institute. The whole visit was entirely for fun and merry making and it was an opportunity for some students to share their experiences on the impact of Maryvale in their lives. The Postulants to the Congregation of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis treated all to traditional dances, recitations and choral music which had “the importance of Maryvale” as theme.

The Maryvale Institute is a college of further and higher education, an International Catholic Distance-Learning College for Catechesis, Theology, Philosophy and Religious Education in Old Oscott, Great Barr, Birmingham, England. It specialises in the provision of part-time and distance learning courses to the lay faithful and ministers of the Roman Catholic Church.

The College has existed in its current state since 1980, on the site of an earlier college, founded in 1794 for both the training of priests and the education of lay pupils. The Institute is part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. Its Doctoral (PhD) programme is accredited by Liverpool Hope University. Its Masters programme is accredited by the Open University. The emphasis of the Institute is on Diocesan catechesis. The validator of the B. Divinity programme is the Faculté-Notre Dame at the École cathédrale de Paris.

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Ngwa Bertrand

14.Dec.2014

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By Nfor Hanson Nchanji

The people of ‘Feu-Rouge’ and Akwa Douala were Thursday December 10, witnesses to a spectacular show put up by a young girl. Stripped naked, the girl in her mid 20s made several rounds around the ‘Feu-Rouge’ roundabout and proceeded to the Akwa neighborhood.

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Ngwa Bertrand

13.Dec.2014

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By Nfor Hanson Nchanji

The people of ‘Feu-Rouge’ and Akwa Douala were Thursday December 10, witnesses to a spectacular show put up by a young girl. Stripped naked, the girl in her mid 20s made several rounds around the ‘Feu-Rouge’ roundabout and proceeded to the Akwa neighborhood.

The lady appeared just as if she was on her second birth, carrying some fetish items along. A huge crowd became spectators of this melodrama which lasted for close to an hour. Onlookers immortalized the day with shots, while others were just being excited.

Many have pondered why the lady who seemed to be in her senses decided to venture on such act. Observers say it may be connected with rituals. Douala police came to her rescue; she was already surrounded by curious crowd. The lady was given a jean to put on and later taken to a nearby police station.

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Ngwa Bertrand

13.Dec.2014

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