Society

Over five months after the signing of a new contract with a French firm, GEMALTO for the production of new identity cards in Cameroon and the subsequent commissioning of the technical supervisory committee for the operations weeks later (on August 12, 2015) by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, the new identification process is yet to see the light of the day. Scores of Cameroonians have been seen in queues applying to get the vital identification document. At the Central Police Station No. 1 downtown Yaounde for instance, the same old application forms were being filled for applicants in need of the National Identity Card. The Chief of the Identification Post at the Central Police Station No. 1 maintained sealed lips and referred journalists to the Police hierarchy. 

At the General Delegation for National Security, the Head of Communication and Public Relations, Senior Superintendent Cécile Mandeng said the contracted firm is yet to begin the operation without giving further details. It should be recalled that the reform in the identification system as was revealed by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguélé while commissioning the committee in charge of overseeing the operation, is intended to secure Cameroon’s identification system. With the new system, national identity cards holders will be attributed a unique and infinite registration number.

Mbarga Nguélé recently stated that the old ID cards will remain valid until the production of the new cards begins. The process to deliver the new cards which he said will be difficult to falsify, he added, was going to be gradual with the committee to prepare the necessary ground work for effective take off of the operation.

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Ngwa Bertrand

18.Jan.2016

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Over five months after the signing of a new contract with a French firm, GEMALTO for the production of new identity cards in Cameroon and the subsequent commissioning of the technical supervisory committee for the operations weeks later (on August 12, 2015) by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele, the new identification process is yet to see the light of the day. Scores of Cameroonians have been seen in queues applying to get the vital identification document. At the Central Police Station No. 1 downtown Yaounde for instance, the same old application forms were being filled for applicants in need of the National Identity Card. The Chief of the Identification Post at the Central Police Station No. 1 maintained sealed lips and referred journalists to the Police hierarchy. 

At the General Delegation for National Security, the Head of Communication and Public Relations, Senior Superintendent Cécile Mandeng said the contracted firm is yet to begin the operation without giving further details. It should be recalled that the reform in the identification system as was revealed by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguélé while commissioning the committee in charge of overseeing the operation, is intended to secure Cameroon’s identification system. With the new system, national identity cards holders will be attributed a unique and infinite registration number.

Mbarga Nguélé recently stated that the old ID cards will remain valid until the production of the new cards begins. The process to deliver the new cards which he said will be difficult to falsify, he added, was going to be gradual with the committee to prepare the necessary ground work for effective take off of the operation.

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Ngwa Bertrand

18.Jan.2016

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The National Labour Consultative Committee has proposed a 55 per cent increase in child benefit allowance, a move from 1800 CFA Francs to 2800 CFA Francs. Following the Head of State’s speech on 31st December 2015 to increase child benefit, the committee met in Yaounde on the 14th of January 2016, to decide on the new value. After a much heated debate that did involve the Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey and the General Manager of the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS), Alain Olivier Noel Mekulu Mvondo, the labour union leaders unanimously agreed that the 1000 CFA Francs increment which they had initially considered was small. 

The Committee Chair and Minister of Labour and Social Security, Gregoire Owona indicated the proposal will be given to the Prime Minister and later forwarded to the Head of State, H.E. Paul Biya. The National Labour Consultative Committee also suggested the next increment should not tarry as was the case with the last rate of 1800 CFA Francs which was decided as far back as 2nd August 1985. Minister Gregoire Owona assured the committee members that Government will put in much effort to meet up with their labour demands.

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Ngwa Bertrand

16.Jan.2016

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The Minister of Transport, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o has received in audience the ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Cameroon His Excellency Wei Wenhua. Both officials reportedly discussed ways of reinforcing cooperation between China and Cameroon in the Transport sector. 

The Chinese diplomat and the Minister of Transport also had a cordial exchanged on the subject of the 2 MA 60 aircrafts purchased from China whose inaugural flight has been scheduled for January 23, 2016.

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Ngwa Bertrand

16.Jan.2016

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Louis Bapes Bapes, former Minister of Secondary Education (MINESEC), sacked from the government on Oct. 2, 2015 was expected at the Special Criminal Court on Friday for the public reading of his indictment. Cameroon Concord Intel Unit is yet to confirm if the former minister made the appearance. Louis Bapes Bapes, who has already been heard many times by prosecutors of the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde remains the first Cameroon sitting cabinet minister ever to have been placed in custody. In March 31, 2014, he was arrested and remanded in custody at the Central Prison in Yaoundé, and released the next day on "high" instruction from the Cameroonian dictator Paul Biya. 

Reportedly, the former minister continued his mismanagement policy at the Department of Secondary Education. His case is related to that of the late Catherine Abena, former Secretary State at the Ministry of Secondary Education sacked from the government on July 2009. Catherine Abena was arrested and jailed in January 2010 for an alleged embezzlement of 250 million CFA francs. Released February 4, 2011, she died March 19, 2014. On January 16, 2015, counsel for former Minister Bapes Bapes paid 35 million CFA francs to stop the prosecution.

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Ngwa Bertrand

16.Jan.2016

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John Fru Ndi, the SDF dictator met the press on January 14, 2016 at his private residence in Ntarinkon neighborhood in Bamenda. It was also an opportunity for the chairman of the so called leading opposition party in Cameroon to deliver his New Year message to the nation. Flanked by some of its employees and members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), the governing body of the SDF, Fru Ndi placed more emphasis on changes that may lay the foundations for a true democracy in Cameroon. Said the SDF leader, "For twenty-six years together we have fought for the advent of a new and better Cameroon. But this important time can not make us forget that for thirty-three years, our beloved country languished under the rule of a dictatorship led by a group of dishonest and corrupt leaders'. 

Fru Ndi listed what he claimed were a list of new requirements posed by the SDF for the development of our democracy. Among Chairman Fru Ndi's new ingredients were consensual electoral code, an independent electoral commission and an electoral calendar that guarantees free elections. The SDF Chairman also added that there was an urgent need to protect multiparty, transparent and democratic principles in the country. He called for a complete biometrics registration on the electoral lists and for limiting the presidential term to two.

With age telling on him, the SDF leader hinted that Cameroon should introduce a single ballot as the only way to fight against the purchase of consciences in voting processes. Ni John Fru Ndi also observed that there should be an effective implementation of Article 66 of the Constitution on the declaration of assets for holders of public office and the adoption of a law on dual nationality.

The President of the SDF also raised other issues that if reviewed could in his view guarantee equitable development. On the Chairman's scale of preference was the law governing broadcasting in the country. As a contribution, Fru Ndi revealed the SDF intends to fight against insecurity by approaching "through proactive and progressive agricultural policies that will address some of the identified obstacles hampering the development of agriculture in Cameroon." He quoted deforestation, soil erosion by water and wind, the uncontrolled exploitation of our natural resources (forests, fisheries, livestock), the insufficient involvement of local people in decision making, legislation and insufficient law enforcement, rampant corruption, inefficiency and inertia institutionalized.

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Ngwa Bertrand

16.Jan.2016

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