Society

Ugandan online news outlet New Vision has revealed that two Ugandan pastors were among the over 100 persons who died in the Eseka Train crash last Friday October 21, 2016.
According to the site, Pastors Nathan Tumusiime and Nicodemus Nuwasiima from City Prayer Towers in Mbarara were identified among the dead. The duo had gone on an evangelical mission in the West African country.

Their bodies are still in Cameroon and families have are appealing to government and well-wishers to help in repatriating the bodies.
According to Anna Tumwine, wife to Tumusiime, her husband had spent over a month in Cameroon preaching the gospel.

"It's a hard moment. I don't know what to say for now. I am just praying that we get a breakthrough and return his body to the country," said Tumwine who was flanked by different pastors from Mbarara churches who had gathered at the deceased’s home in Biharwe.
Nuwasiima is from Itendero in Sheema district.

The cost of repatriating the return of the pastors’ remains is estimated at over sh50m.

Tumusiime has been on the pastoral committee of 10 Western Uganda districts and had been renowned for his love for social welfare.

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Prince Nfor Hanson

29.Oct.2016

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It was a symbolic but landmark stop at the Yaounde Central Hospital and Emergency Centre on Friday October 28, 2016 when the President of The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF), arrived the health unit and voluntarily opted to donate his precious blood.

The blood bank had ran dry following a ghastly rail derailment at Esseka on October 21, 2016, that has so far claimed close to One Hundred (100) lives with many more still in dire need of medical attention in various hospitals. Apparently unperturbed and still strong even after the blood reduction from his system, Dr. Fomunyoh took time to hand gifts of assorted items to the victims as he went around with near wet eyes comforting them to take heart.

He was shown around by the Director of the Yaounde Central Hospital, Dr. Pierre Joseph Fouda and his close staff, to whom the President of TFF handed a financial initiative for their endurance and as a sign of encouragement during these trying moments.

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Rita Akana

29.Oct.2016

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Common Law Lawyers from the North West and South West regions meet in Bamenda, North West region this Friday in a meeting to map out strategies on the ongoing strike action.

Wednesday edition of The Guardian Post newspaper reveals that executive members of four Common Law lawyers’ constituent associations, other Bar Council Lawyers of English expression and members of the Common Law Lawyers council are expected to be there in what has been described as Stormy meeting, coming on the heels of an ongoing indefinite strike action.

The meeting, whose objectives have not been clearly defined, will be a time to take stock as they are yet to decide on their next move. Barrister Agbor Balla Nkongho, president of Fako Lawyers Association speaking to The Guardian Post said, “This is going to be a very important meeting, hence each and everyone should endeavor to attend.”He went further to disclose that after the Bamenda meeting, attendees will decide to on a date to hold another all Anglophone Lawyers conference.

The famous Bamenda meeting comes two weeks after lawyers dropped their tools paralyzing courts in North West and South West regions. They are protesting against an alleged attempt by Yaoundé regime to erode Common Law system in Cameroon. They are also vexed with government’s inability to translate the OHADA law

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Prince Nfor Hanson

28.Oct.2016

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Media professionals have been urged to valorise acts of integrity and expose corrupt practices in the country. The call was made last October 20 at the Yaoundé Hotel Azur by the Chair of Business Coalition against Corruption, Henry Kiven at the opening of a training seminar to sharpen the skills of journalists on reporting corruption issues.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Henry Kiven explained that “Even though Cameroon is no longer the most corrupt country, we are still up there amongst the most corrupt countries in the world. If corruption is such an impediment to development, our 2035 vision for the country would likely meet some challenges. It is your role as communicators to assist the government in ensuring a business environment free of corruption and you definitely need the skills with which to transmit this communication.”

He stressed that “Corruption is harmful. Corruption is unfair because it harms those without a voice to resist it. Corruption results in a loss of values and morality, corruption results in financial loss for companies and for all of us, corruption results in loss of trust in government, justice and public services, corruption results in illegal activities, encourages organized crime; in summary, corruption creates an inefficient society undermined by fear and insecurity.”

In their talks, the facilitator, Mamy Raboanaruaona and CONAC official, Irene Morikang Tche underlined that corruption persists in Cameroon because people are always ready to corrupt or accept to be corrupted.

It was explained that the Business Coalition Against Corruption (BCAC), an initiative of the Business Council for Africa is the private sector approach to join forces with the government and accompany the government in this fight against corruption.

From 2011 to date, the BCAC has achieved the following; 195 members have joined out of 347 companies contacted, 505 Managers trained in 26 sessions in Douala, Yaoundé and Limbe, 21 Companies have in place, or are preparing, their Code of Conduct, 18 companies have benefitted from coaching program.

The Sun

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Rita Akana

27.Oct.2016

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The President of the Cameroon Bar Association, Barrister Ngnie Kamga Jackson has called on striking Common Law Lawyers to call-off their action . Ngnie Kamga said in a press release made public on Thursday, October 20 that he has already initiated steps and seized OHADA headquarters for the OHADA texts to be translated into English Language.

The translation of the OHADA Uniform Act into English Language amongst other issues has been one of the main grievances posited by Anglophone lawyers as reasons for the current strike action that has led them to hang their robes for almost two weeks now.
The strike action was extended indefinitely on Thursday, October 20, 2016 after government gave a deaf ear to their protest.

The Bar President has stepped in with the promise of an imminent translated text that might quell the flaring tempers of the Common Law Lawyers.
“I ask all Colleagues practising in the South-West and North-West Regions to stand down the strike action of the hanging of robes, as we await the availability of the translated English versions of the OHADA texts”. The release reads in parts.
On the instructions of Professor Cossi Dorothé SOSSA, The Permanent Secretary of OHADA, Ngnie Kamga is also expected to designate an Anglophone Advocate, who has wide experience in legal practice and well known linguistic competences, to participate in the working sessions as a Representative of the Bar Association within the Commission that will be in charge of the translation.

The commission shall be in charge of the validation and officialising of the translated English versions of the OHADA texts proposed by the Foundation for the Unification of Business Law in Africa (FOUBLA), based in the United States of America. This shall be financed by the Improved Invest Climate within OHADA supported by the World Bank.

It should be recalled that the appointments of Francophone magistrates in Common Law courts was the immediate cause for the All Anglophone Lawyers Conference that took place in Bamenda in May 2015. According to the lawyers, the most cherished Common Law system practiced in the North West and South West Regions was gradually been eroded with magistrates delivering their submissions in the French language which the lawyers consider as a big injustice to their clients
The lawyers then addressed to the Head of State, President Paul Biya in his capacity as head of the judiciary, head of the executive and principal initiator of legislation in both legislative houses. According to the communique, a copy which THE SUN procured, the Anglophone lawyers draw the attention of the Head of State to the fact that, for over two years since he was served the resolutions arrived at during the Bamenda inaugural conference of the Cameroon Common Law Lawyers that took place on May 9, 2015 and the that of Buea on Febuary,13, 2016, regarding the erosion of the most cherished Common Law in Cameroon by the powers that be, wherein a six months ultimatum was given to the Yaounde regime to, amongst others, return to a federal system of government as was the case before 1972, the lawyers are still to receive even an acknowledgment of receipt to that effect.

In the said communiqué, the lawyers equally state that recently some members, in an attempt to exercise their constitutional rights of freedom of expression through the medium of a press conference, were stifled with administrative bans and police harassments. Moreover, the lawyers observed that after carefully reviewing the attitude of government towards all the complaints of Common Law Lawyers over the erosion of the Common Law in Cameroon as manifest in the Organisation of Business Law In Africa, OHADA legislation, the Insurance Legislation, CODE CIMA and virtually every other piece of legislation since 1972, they have no other choice but to express their vexations to the Head of State through the memo and announce their one week sit-down strike action which was later extended indefinitely .

In the communiqué, the lawyers called on the Head of State to convene an emergency session of the Higher Judicial Council and redeploy all Civil Law Magistrates away from the Common Law Jurisdictions of the North West and South West Regions and to equally redeploy all Common Law Magistrates from the Civil Law Jurisdictions to the Common Law Jurisdictions.

The lawyers noted with regret that the Government instead of responding to their demands is still employing its traditional policy of divide and rule. Consequently, they called on their members to remain resolute, determined, steadfast and focus and not to lend themselves to any Government manipulation.

It is still to be seen whether the Common Law Lawyers will heed to the call of the Bar president since some of their demands are seemingly being met.

A meeting of Fako Lawyers Association FAKLA exco has been announced for today Monday, October 24 at Justice Ntoko’s chambers to chart the way forward. It should however be noted that they are just one of the four signatories to the strike action.

Bar Council President’s Full Release

The President of the Cameroon Bar Association
HEREBY REMINDS all Advocates that since the month of May 2016, he took official steps by written requests to the OHADA headquarters in a bid to acquire the translation of the Revised Uniform Acts into the English language.
HEREBY INFORMS them that he has just received a letter from the Permanent Secretary of OHADA, with the following contents:
“Yaoundé, 20th October 2016
The Permanent Secretary
To the
President of the Cameroon Bar Association
Yaoundé, Cameroon
N°660/SP/OHADA/2016
Subject: Designation of a Representative of the Cameroon Bar Association at the Commission for the Validation/Officialising of the Translated English Versions of the OHADA Texts carried out by the FOUBLA Foundation from the United States of America.
Dear President of the Bar and Learned Colleague,
It is with honour that I announce to you that, within the framework of the putting in place of its multilingual policy, OHADA shall organise working sessions for the validation and officialising of the translated English versions of its texts proposed by the Foundation for the Unification of Business Law in Africa (FOUBLA), based in the United States of America. This shall be financed by the Improved Invest Climate within OHADA supported by the World Bank.
OHADA wishes to associate the different stakeholders, including the Cameroon Bar Association to this activity.
I would appreciate, if you designate an Anglophone Advocate, who has wide experience in legal practice and well known linguistic competences, to participate in the working sessions as a Representative of the Bar Association within the Commission.
The mission of the Commission is related to the validation of the different English versions of the texts proposed and translated by FOUBLA. In carrying out of this mission, the duty of the Commission will be to ensure that the proposed translations shall, in the best possible manner meet the spirit and letter of the original texts. The translated versions should also be able to facilitate the comprehension, interpretation and application of the texts by the Anglophone public. The Commission should ensure that the terminology and style are convenient.
Dear Bar President and Learned Colleague, while awaiting your response, accept my distinguished regards.

Professor Cossi Dorothé SOSSA, The Permanent Secretary of OHADA
HEREBY STATES that this is a significant advance in the issue of translation which preoccupies all of us and indicates that he shall designate a Common Law Advocate, who shall represent the Cameroon Bar Association at the Commission for the Validation/Officialising of texts at OHADA
CONSEQUENTLY ASKS all Colleagues practising in the South-West and North-West Regions to stand down the strike action of the hanging of robes, as we await the availability of the translated English versions of the OHADA texts.
Done at Yaoundé this 21st day of October 2016
The Bar President
Barrister NGNIE KAMGA Jackson

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Rita Akana

25.Oct.2016

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United States and Canada-based former students of Saint Joseph’s College, Sasse, Buea,(SOBANS) have awarded scholarships worth Nine Million FCFA to 50 current students of their alma mater. The benefactors, grouped under the umbrella of SOBA America, handed over the scholarships on October 9, 2016, during their first ever Alumni Day on the campus of Sasse College.

The Catholic college created in 1939 and located on the knoll of Sasse village in Buea is one of the oldest educational institutions in Cameroon. Sasse is known to have produced top grade officials in administration, priesthood, military, journalism, teaching, judiciary, engineering and other corps. SOBA America President, Frederick Mafany Itoe, and his deputy and Co-chair of the Board of Sasse Alumni Association, Dr. Bertrand Fote, flew in from the USA to represent their peers in organising SOBA America Day activities.

The event began with a high mass co-celebrated by Buea’s Ordinary, His Lordship Bishop Immanuel Bushu, and a college of clergy. Present were current and past students, staff and parents of Sasse students, traditional and public authorities and hundreds of guests. The Sasse Alumni Association scholarships were divided into three major categories based on need, merit and morals. There were other awards for best behaved, neatest, most improved, top GCE scorers and top incoming Form One and Lower Sixth students.

Frederick Itoe praised Bishop Bushu, former Principal, Reverend Father Peter Nouck and the current Sasse Principal, Reverend Father Valentine Suum, for their role in facilitating the holding of the annual SOBA America Day in Sasse. He commended the students and staff for consistent 100 per cent scores in the GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations. He challenged the students to henceforth crown their success with higher individual grades.

Itoe announced a future alumni reward of One million FCFA to students who score five “A” grades (25 points) in the GCE Advanced Level and 500,000 FCFA for 11 “A” grades (33 points) in the GCE Ordinary Level in the next three years. A keynote speaker, Dr. Bertrand Fote, recounted how his life was changed by a scholarship he received as student from an alumnus, the late Professor Victor Anomah Ngu, in 1991. The Sasse alumni officials later held mentoring sessions with students of Form Five and Upper Sixth to lay the groundwork for continuous collaboration and success.

Cameroon Tribune

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Rita Akana

24.Oct.2016

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