Society

A teenage Class six pupil who was a candidate of the 2016 Government Common Entrance Exams was killed on the eve of the Exams.

His elder sister recounted that Ngu Henry after getting his uniform and other items set for the exams and with some home chores validated, he decided to follow his sister to the farm on the eve of exams.

Upon returning from the farm, he was asked to fetch water by his neighbor, of which he did and went for his own. 30 minutes later, Ngu Henry was discovered dead in the toilet with a rope around his neck.

Nobody could tell what actually led to the little boy’s death but the family lay claims on a neighbour who for some months had threatened the family with death. It is evident that he must have killed Ngu Henry and tangled the rope around his neck to appear as though he strangled himself.

The alleged murder is presently under Judicial Police custodypending investigation.

Meanwhile the State Council has ordered for a postmortem on the deceased who was a class six pupil at the St Michael Catholic School Bamenda.

CRTV

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Rita Akana

21.May.2016

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Cameroonian authorities   denied entry to over 100 Ghanaian Police en route  to a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan while transitting through Douala.

According to  reports, the over 100 police officers were arrested and deported by the Cameroonian officials on Wednesday on account of improper documentation.

Tension and frustration among the Ghanaians who were on the peacekeeping mission have reached its peak after they were allegedly deported by Cameroon on Wednesday.

The reports indicate that the over 100 police officers were stopped in Cameroon and grilled for over 4 hours before they were released.

It was also reported that some of the police officers who were on a chartered flight to Sudan for the peacekeeping were carrying AK47 and other equipment.

Sources within the Ghana Police Service say the frustrated police officers are angry at the way and manner the processes took place.

“We were due to Sudan for the peacekeeping mission. We were grilled for over 4 hours before we were deported back to our country. We believe that our officials did not do the proper documentations. The fact actually is that we could not go to South Sudan because we lack proper documentation period,” one angry police officer told this paper.

Director of Public Affairs of Ghana Police, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, when contacted confirmed the trip of his men to South Sudan on Wednesday but was unaware of their deportation.

He told this paper that, “I am not sure of the arrest and deportation. Our Formed Police Unit travelled to South Sudan, but I am not sure of the deportation,” he said.

However, deep sources within the intelligence agencies told this paper that the police were not arrested but were not given an opportunity to enter the country.

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Rita Akana

21.May.2016

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Almost 1000 guests, converged on Castle Hall in Douala, May 14 2016, for the Pearl Jubilee celebration of Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle as a legal practitioner.

The event saw the launching of the book “ Nico Halle as I know Him;” a compilation of the works of Nico Halle, a legal luminary, devout Christian, peace and development crusader and a man who supports a free press.

Edited by veteran journalist Teneng Lucas, it celebrates the efforts of Barrister Nico Halle, current President of the Cameroon Bar Association General Assembly's contribution to the legal profession in Cameroon and the world.

For 30 years, he has trained many prominent lawyers like Barristers Abeng Roland, Achu Julius, Feh Henry Baboh and runs the leading and recognized, Nico Halle International Law Firm, http://hallelaw.com/en/.

The legal practice is what made Nico Halle an international legal consultant and election expert. It emerged from the book launch that Nico Halle turned down getting into Cameroon’s School of National Administration and Magistracy, ENAM, considered as training ‘corrupt’ civil servants.

HANDING BIBLE TO FON OF BAFUT, HRH ABUMBI

According to one of the speakers at the book launch, Nico Halle had argued that he preferred to serve the people and defend their rights. Some clients said he always advocates for an out of court settlement.

Nico Halle at one point in his career rejected an offer to defend a former Douala Government Delegate involved in a suspected embezzlement case. He cited his conscience and morality reasons.

As a devout Christian he has served in several capacities in the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon,PCC, and was one time National President of one of the movements in the church, the Christian Men Fellowship, CMF. Earlier on same May 14, at the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC, Bonaberi Congregation in Douala,

there was a “Thank You Ceremony” during which PCC Moderator, Rt Rev Fonki Samuel, prayed God to send more people like Nico Halle who render services to humankind.

In his peace crusading and local development initiatives, Nico Halle spearheaded electricity projects, and the renovation of several palaces in Cameroon.

The Fons of the North West in 1999 crowned him Ntumfor (spokeman) of the Fons.

WE NEED A VIBRANT PRESS

When controversy emerged over the ‘Ntumfor’title his response was: “ A man makes a tittle and not the title makes a man. They can call you Ntumfor 1000 times it would not make you Nico Halle.”

Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle is one of those who value the contribution of the press in building any nation. His subscribes to Thomas Jefferson's belief in a free, democratic and vibrant press.

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Solomon amabo and Nfor Hanson

16.May.2016

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This local label for tontines in Cameroon is also the name chosen by Jules Guilain Kenfack, a Cameroonian computer and telecommunications engineer, to refer to the application he has just invented, and through which it is possible to manage tontines online. Through this application, its inventor explains, friends all around the world can meet all the requirements linked to a tontine.

In concrete terms, through “Njangi”, it is possible to securely pay for one’s contributions via Paypal, Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money; exchange with the members of the tontine through an instant message service; organise automatic lotteries; vote for the members of the board and have the minutes of the previous meetings, take loans from the tontine’s account, write the minutes of meetings which can also be done through videoconference, etc.

According to Jules Guilain Kenfack, “Djangui” which is in the development phase in order to add more functions, is available in French and English. This application, says its creator, is already being used successfully in Germany, by four tontines with Cameroonian members living in Europe. This technological innovation will help to modernise the tontines, which are very much part of African cultures. Indeed, these friends or family groups within which members make different transactions (cash deposits, loans, school savings, etc.) have become for some years now real traditional financial institutions.

According to the microfinance strategy document of Cameroon elaborated by the Ministry of Finance in April 2013, Cameroonian tontines operate globally with approximately FCfa 190 billion. This document moreover indicates that 58% of Cameroonians prefer tontines because the contributions generate more interest and access to loans is less restricted than with banks and microfinance establishments.

BIC

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Elangwe Pauline

14.May.2016

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Some private media in Cameroon are refusing to cover the prime minister after he seized a reporter’s equipment earlier this week. Journalists say they are fed up with government intimidation, mistreatment and difficulties accessing information.

CRTV reporter Teke Julius was covering a visit by Prime Minister Philemon Yang to the Limbe  stadium construction site when reporters say Yang personally grabbed Julius’ equipment and ordered it destroyed. Julius was then detained by the Gendermarie for several hours. 

Newspaper publisher Ndi Eugene Ndi is the public relations officer of the Cameroon Association of English Newspaper Journalists.

"Besides the boycott and blackout on any activity that the PM is present, the PM has to publicly apologize to all the journalists in Cameroon. What the prime minister did is total disrespect of journalists in Cameroon. In fact, total disrespect of the media as a whole," said Ndi. 

Journalists reached out to Cameroon’s National Communications Council to secure Julius’ release.  No charges have been filed.
The president of the NCC told VOA the prime minister’s aides say Julius had disrespected their boss, apparently positioning himself behind the prime minister during a press availability and touching him with the microphone.

Julius says he was doing his job. The prime minister's office declined to comment.
Private media say the government, including the prime minister's office, routinely deny reporters access to information. 

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd, Cameroon's Minister of Communication Issa Tchiroma issued a statement pledging zero tolerance for what he called unethical reporting.

He said the social responsibility of the journalist in Cameroon is undermined by journalists who take advantage of the Internet to report only negative stories about Cameroon. He said all such reporters should know that disrespect for state institutions and individuals, defamation and attacks on people’s dignity will not be tolerated.

Cameroon has been consistently rated “not free” by the watchdog group Freedom House in its annual global press freedom rankings.

Three reporters and a journalism professor are facing charges before a military tribunal in Cameroon for refusing to reveal their sources for unpublished stories about an alleged plot against the government. 

Cameroon's National Assembly passed a law last year that sets a 15-year jail sentence for journalists who announce anti-government protests ahead of time or cover them without authorization, as well as for journalists found to be reporting with sympathy toward suspected terrorists.

The National Communications Council has banned two newspapers and six radio and TV programs in the past seven months, though the outlets have changed their names and continue to report.

VOA

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Elangwe Pauline

13.May.2016

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Bangante, West Region,Cameroon. Government Practicing Primary School in Bangante Sub Division, NDE Division of West Region of Cameroon is now a shadow of itself. The advance state of dilapidation leaves much to be desired.

This institution of learning has hosted pupils like now Senate President Marcel NIAT NJIFENJI and according to the deputy Headmaster of the school, Jouakim OUMBOUDOU, the former pupils needed to come back and help the structure from falling on pupils by reconstructing classrooms. The walls and floor of classrooms have cracked, potholes on the floors, slanted structures are some of the features of this school.

Created in 1930, the oldest primary school in Bangante is situated at the heart of the town, with buildings suffering from the weight of age. School officials say the situation not only affects studies but pose a s potential danger. School officials say just like the regimes uncountable promises, many dignitaries have pledged to help them, but to no avail. Also the school lacks basic necessities such as pipe bone water, electricity and didactic materials.

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Nfor Hanson

12.May.2016

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