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Inhabitants of Njeke, a village in Eyumojock Sub Division in Manyu division were on Thursday 24 July all smiles as they received a water scheme from the South West Development Authority (SOWEDA). The village has gone for more than 25 years without pipe borne water. As such, they were at the mercy of their neighbouring villages for the precious liquid.

Handing over the water scheme that was constructed in a period spanning from May to July 2014, the General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr. Eneme Andrew Ngome told the people of Njeke Village that for the project to last and serve its intended purpose, they must all work together to ensure its proper management. He stated that with the government policy to transform Cameroon to an emergent economy by 2035, it is the place of SOWEDA to accompany the government towards the realization of this lofty dream and projects like the Njeke water scheme is an indication of progress.

The project that cost FCFA 20.5 million has been achieved thanks to the funding provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. On the functionality of this water scheme, SOWEDA Infrastructural Engineer, Ashu Stephen, explained that it has a pumping skim that is designed using renewable solar energy. "Contrary to diesel engines that were used in the past and posed fueling problem to the villagers, we have used solar energy in Njeke wihch is the first of its kind in Manyu. Solar energy is affordable naturally and there will be no problem to the villagers. We installed the direct radian source collector and it shall pump water only during the day using energy from the sun" he stated.

Receiving the Njeke Water Supply Scheme, the First Deputy Mayor of Eyumojock, Ndip Nelson Mboh expressed gratitude to SOWEDA for a job well done and lauded the structure for its Developmental leadership throughout the South West Region. The Chief of Njeke village HRH Arrah Thomas Takang thanked SOWEDA for the water that has brought smiles on the faces of all his subjects. He promised to ensure sustainability of the water as it shall be appropriately used.

A ten man management committee was installed by the Chief Executive Officer for Manyu, Peter Tieh Ndeh who presided over the handing over event. He cautioned them to work for the interest of Njeke village. The committee members have as task to mobilize villagers to participate in community work, put in place a realistic management maintenance action plan and raise funds for the maintenance of the water scheme.

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Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jul.2014

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Inhabitants of Njeke, a village in Eyumojock Sub Division in Manyu division were on Thursday 24 July all smiles as they received a water scheme from the South West Development Authority (SOWEDA). The village has gone for more than 25 years without pipe borne water. As such, they were at the mercy of their neighbouring villages for the precious liquid.

Handing over the water scheme that was constructed in a period spanning from May to July 2014, the General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr. Eneme Andrew Ngome told the people of Njeke Village that for the project to last and serve its intended purpose, they must all work together to ensure its proper management. He stated that with the government policy to transform Cameroon to an emergent economy by 2035, it is the place of SOWEDA to accompany the government towards the realization of this lofty dream and projects like the Njeke water scheme is an indication of progress.

The project that cost FCFA 20.5 million has been achieved thanks to the funding provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. On the functionality of this water scheme, SOWEDA Infrastructural Engineer, Ashu Stephen, explained that it has a pumping skim that is designed using renewable solar energy. "Contrary to diesel engines that were used in the past and posed fueling problem to the villagers, we have used solar energy in Njeke wihch is the first of its kind in Manyu. Solar energy is affordable naturally and there will be no problem to the villagers. We installed the direct radian source collector and it shall pump water only during the day using energy from the sun" he stated.

Receiving the Njeke Water Supply Scheme, the First Deputy Mayor of Eyumojock, Ndip Nelson Mboh expressed gratitude to SOWEDA for a job well done and lauded the structure for its Developmental leadership throughout the South West Region. The Chief of Njeke village HRH Arrah Thomas Takang thanked SOWEDA for the water that has brought smiles on the faces of all his subjects. He promised to ensure sustainability of the water as it shall be appropriately used.

A ten man management committee was installed by the Chief Executive Officer for Manyu, Peter Tieh Ndeh who presided over the handing over event. He cautioned them to work for the interest of Njeke village. The committee members have as task to mobilize villagers to participate in community work, put in place a realistic management maintenance action plan and raise funds for the maintenance of the water scheme.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jul.2014

Hits: 4098

Inhabitants of Njeke, a village in Eyumojock Sub Division in Manyu division were on Thursday 24 July all smiles as they received a water scheme from the South West Development Authority (SOWEDA). The village has gone for more than 25 years without pipe borne water. As such, they were at the mercy of their neighbouring villages for the precious liquid.

Handing over the water scheme that was constructed in a period spanning from May to July 2014, the General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr. Eneme Andrew Ngome told the people of Njeke Village that for the project to last and serve its intended purpose, they must all work together to ensure its proper management. He stated that with the government policy to transform Cameroon to an emergent economy by 2035, it is the place of SOWEDA to accompany the government towards the realization of this lofty dream and projects like the Njeke water scheme is an indication of progress.

The project that cost FCFA 20.5 million has been achieved thanks to the funding provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. On the functionality of this water scheme, SOWEDA Infrastructural Engineer, Ashu Stephen, explained that it has a pumping skim that is designed using renewable solar energy. "Contrary to diesel engines that were used in the past and posed fueling problem to the villagers, we have used solar energy in Njeke wihch is the first of its kind in Manyu. Solar energy is affordable naturally and there will be no problem to the villagers. We installed the direct radian source collector and it shall pump water only during the day using energy from the sun" he stated.

Receiving the Njeke Water Supply Scheme, the First Deputy Mayor of Eyumojock, Ndip Nelson Mboh expressed gratitude to SOWEDA for a job well done and lauded the structure for its Developmental leadership throughout the South West Region. The Chief of Njeke village HRH Arrah Thomas Takang thanked SOWEDA for the water that has brought smiles on the faces of all his subjects. He promised to ensure sustainability of the water as it shall be appropriately used.

A ten man management committee was installed by the Chief Executive Officer for Manyu, Peter Tieh Ndeh who presided over the handing over event. He cautioned them to work for the interest of Njeke village. The committee members have as task to mobilize villagers to participate in community work, put in place a realistic management maintenance action plan and raise funds for the maintenance of the water scheme.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jul.2014

Hits: 5130

The EU-Central Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for trade and development between the EU and Cameroon will enter into force in the coming days following the recent ratification of the agreement by Cameroon. This ‘interim’ agreement will provide a sustainable guarantee of free access to the European market for any product originating in Cameroon and will foster an increase in trade and the diversification of Cameroon's economic activities.

EU Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht stated: ‘The economic partnership agreement with Cameroon is ushering a new era in relations between the EU and Central Africa. The EPA is one of the main cooperation tools to provide assistance to developing countries such as Cameroon in expanding their economies. I would very much encourage other countries in the region to join Cameroon in the EU Central Africa EPA in order to build a partnership suited to Central Africa's development goals.’

The interim economic partnership agreement provides for duty- and quota-free access to the EU market for exports from Cameroon. Cameroon, for its part, will gradually open its market to European exports over a transitional period set to run until 2023. A number of products will be excluded from the process in order to ensure the protection of Cameroon's agricultural markets and industries which it regards as sensitive. Furthermore, the agreement includes provisions on the trade defence instruments, dispute settlement and development cooperation.

This agreement constitutes a negotiated and sustainable framework for trade relations between the EU and Cameroon and provides greater security for Cameroon's exporters than the unilaterally set Generalised System of Preferences (GSP).

The interim EU-Central Africa EPA was concluded on 17 December 2007. It was signed by the EU and Cameroon on 15 January 2009. Cameroon ratified the EPA and notified its decision to the EU on 25 July. The agreement will enter into application on 4th August 2014. This application will be confirmed when all the EU Member States have completed their ratification process. Parliament approved the agreement back in June 2013.

The agreement is open to the other countries in the region (Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, São Tome é Principe and Chad) that wish to accede to it.

Background

In 2000, under the Cotonou Agreement, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the EU opted for more ambitious trade and development relations. These new relations must be developed as part of a negotiated partnership governed by predictable and stable rules and be accompanied by development cooperation actions. These actions aim in particular to strengthen the ACP countries' institutional and production capabilities and support the necessary adjustment processes. The EPAs also strive to contribute to regional integration by promoting regional markets.

Negotiations for these trade and development agreements provided for by the Cotonou Agreement were launched in 2002. The EU-Central Africa negotiation began in October 2003. However, at the end of 2007, it became clear that it would not be possible to finalise negotiations in all the ACP countries before the end of the Cotonou trade regime on 31 December 2007.

A series of interim agreements was thus concluded in order to prevent disruption due to the expiry on 31 December 2007 of the Cotonou trade regime for exports from ACP countries to the EU. From 1 January 2008, the countries which had concluded an interim EPA were able to keep free access to the European market for all their products, while still continuing their internal process for approval of these agreements. At the same time, it was possible to continue negotiations for full regional agreements without any time constraints.

Consequently, the interim economic partnership agreement between the EU and Central Africa ratified by Cameroon must be seen as the first step in a wider and more complete partnership, in line with the objectives of the ongoing regional negotiations between the EU and the Central African region. The aim is to conclude an agreement at regional level that supports sustainable development and fosters the region's integration.

The EPA could potentially go beyond trade in goods and cover services and investment, trade-related fields such as sustainable development, competition, trade facilitation and transparency in public procurement. These subjects are included in the interim economic partnership agreement as clauses which provide for them to be negotiated at a later stage.

A few figures on EU-Cameroon trade

In Central Africa, Cameroon is the EU's leading trade partner. The EU is Cameroon's leading partner for both the country's imports (35%) and exports (46%). The EU's main exports to Cameroon are industrial goods, vehicles, chemical products and medicines. Cameroon's main exports to the EU are petroleum products, aluminium, wood and agricultural products. Agricultural exports are varied and include raw products (cocoa, coffee, banana, rubber) and processed products (cocoa-based products, processed fruit and vegetable products).

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Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jul.2014

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The Boeing 737-700 of the Cameroonian Airlines Corporation (Camair-Co) which was seized in France, has been returned to the company.According to the sources the happy ending came after the payment of $1.4 million which the US-based Aviation Capital Group (ACG) had been asking from the Cameroonian company for a long while with no one taking responsibility.

To date the Camair-Co float is made up of three aircrafts which enables her services across Africa  and stopovers in France which serves as its so called Godfather.

The airlines which is 100 percent owned by the Cameroonian State re-launched its activities on 28 March 2011.

The national career has since witnessed countless resignations of its managers with heavy debts estimated between $19 and 20 million,corruption and interfearance from  Government officials occupying passenger seats with their girlfriends for free  on weekend trips to France.

According to observers the difficulties of the company are mainly linked to such demise , coupled with uneasy social atmosphere.

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Ngwa Bertrand

23.Jul.2014

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  Cameroon Concord's Arrey Echi Agbor-Ndakaw speaks of the prevailing situation since the Biya regime decided to increase the price of fuel--------- 

For some few months now, the talk on everyone’s lips is the cost of fuel and transportation. The sudden price hike in fuel means people have to make some drastic changes in their mode of commuting and going about their daily business of survival and putting food on the table.

For those accustomed to going about in plush comfortable cars, the price hike means very little or nothing for them. However, for the average citizen who has to go through a day hopping from one taxi to another, the pinch of this hike is solely felt and what a painful pinch it is.

In big cities like Douala and Yaoundé where the cost of living is generally high, commuting thro and fro is one of the constant headaches for the Johns and Janes Doe. Add this to dealing with insolent taxi drivers especially during a long tiring day and a glaring picture of what all this means to the average person forms into the mind.

Picture a scenario where being used to paying 400-800 frs a day, a person earning 200,000 or less starts spending between 500- 1500frs a day. Sometimes, trying to bargain a price especially for short distances, while some drivers readily accept and take you, others insult and look down their high horse on you as if by making that bargain you committed the worst crime ever heard of in the history of transportation.

In cognizance of the difficulties this price hike may cause to the average Doe, the government released a statement to readjust the salaries of its workers by about 5%. This may be all good if the press release is actually true and not one of those many rumours plaguing the mainstream media. It might actually help some of the commuters in the quest and struggle for survival.

In this instance therefore, those who will really feel the pinch of this fuel price hike will be those in the private sector unless, the powers that be follow suit with the government press release and readjust salaries as well. It just might be too much to ask for considering the fact that many of these private bodies feel they are doing people a favour giving them jobs and as such what they are paid is enough. Others devise all kinds of means possible to delay paying their workers and yet, they expect them to be at work daily.

This begs for some explanations!  How are people expected to be at work day in day out when they are yet to receive salaries for upwards to three or four months at most? Will they be expected to fly or use the natural vehicles God gave them aka ‘Leggdisbenz’?

When one thinks about the repercussions of this price hike, people somewhere in a rural community feel the pangs doublefold. In addition to the scarcity of cars and roads in most of our rural areas, the few available ones will probably be charging passengers an arm and a leg. This makes it extremely difficult for people in rural communities who probably have to trek long distances from scarcely accessible roads carrying heavy farm loads. While those with cars will continue to enjoy their plush rides, the Johns and Janes Doe will continue to brave the elements, unruly taxi drivers and benskineurs as they adapt or hope for a silver lining in regards to the price hikes while wondering if this will be the only hike or if more will follow?

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Ngwa Bertrand

21.Jul.2014

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