Inside Cameroon

Protesters have taken to the streets this morning in Douala to denounce the death of a trader reportedly killed by police yesterday. Cameroon Concord learnt that the local businessman who owned a small shop at Jamot Street was severely beaten by Douala municipal police. Our source in the economic capital noted that the trader yet to be identified by the police lost consciousness and was completely disfigured. He passed away at the Douala Regional Hospital.

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Ngwa Bertrand

28.Jan.2015

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The Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary is located in the Brong Ahafo region in the central belt of the Republic of Ghana. It is about some 400Km north of the national capital, Accra. The sanctuary was officially established in 1975 by the effort of two communities called Boabeng and Fiema. The two communities are now the legal owners of the Sanctuary. The size of the sanctuary is about 35 hectare patch of woodland including the villages of Boabeng and Fiema, which are about a mile apart.

History of the Sanctuary

According to a local folklore in the community, a hunter who once lived in the Boabeng community discovered the sanctuary long ago. It is said that he came into contact with a spirit being called "Daworo" as far back as 1842. "Daworo" is an Akan language in Ghana when translated in English means, "the announcer". In the course of the relationship with the mysterious "Daworo", the hunter went to the forest one day with the spirit and they saw five monkeys gathered around a pot covered with a red calico (a piece of red cloth). When the hunter asked the spirit about the origin and purpose of the monkeys, the spirit told him to treat the monkeys as his relatives (human beings), for one day, the monkeys will be of importance to the people by bringing fame to the area. The spirit also asked the hunter to take the calico home, and when he did that, the monkeys followed him home. As time went by, the number of the monkeys increased and the fortunes of the hunter also increased significantly. The hunter then attributed his improved material condition to his association with the monkeys and this led to a symbiotic relationship between the monkeys, the hunter and people who subsequently settled in the area with the permission of the hunter.

The Sanctuary

The densely tropical forest at the heart of the two villages of Boabeng and Fiema is home to a host of playful and friendly monkeys of all kinds. Some of the monkeys are believed to be endemic only in that forest alone throughout Africa. The Sanctuary is believed to be Ghana's most famous first example of traditional African conservation in wildlife for special living species only. It is home to over 200 Geoffrey’s Pied Columbus and 500 Campbell's Mona Monkeys. The Campbell Mona Monkeys are brown in color and eat leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, and insects. The Columbus Monkeys are black and white in color and also feed on leaves, stems and mineralized earth.

The Sanctuary is the only place in Africa where one can easily view the monkey species in their numbers. The monkeys come out in their numbers, probably to greet visitors whenever they realize that visitors are in the forest to catch a glimpse of them. The forest itself which serves as a habitat for the monkeys is made up of canopy trees above and a variety of butterflies, birds, and over 90 identified species of trees. The early hours and late evenings are the ideal periods in the day that these monkeys can be easily spotted. It is very common to hear the monkeys shout loudly in calling their troupe members. The monkeys are not harmed by the local because according to the traditional believe, anyone who harms them will suffer some form of calamity and it is therefore not surprising that the monkeys come so close to human beings and sometimes, even steal food from the kitchens of the local people. This has given the monkeys some form of freedom that is not seen anywhere in wildlife conservation forests in Africa. The locals revered the animals with the belief that the monkeys are the children of the god of the twin villages of Boabeng and Fiema.

Some of the monkeys are also seen on the ground, roofs tops as well as jumping from house to house, and in the courtyards of homes. Another feature of the sanctuary worth mentioning is the cemetery where monkeys have been buried over the years. There are graves bearing inscriptions of the types of monkeys and the dates they died. Any monkey that died was buried and funeral rites held for it just like a human being. The forest that makes the sanctuary also distinguishes itself with beautiful plant species, mainly, climbers which enable monkeys to swing and jump from tree to tree. The excellent walking trails cannot be left out when talking about the sanctuary; this allows you and your tour guide to hike in the forest and observe the monkeys from all angles either in the day or night. The monkeys are easy to see if you walk in the forest or the village and the guides are very well-informed regarding the monkey clans and the areas they like to hang out.

There is a small shop in the village of Boabeng where carvings of ebony, cedar and mahogany are being sold by a local man along with some antique traditional beads and locally made jewellery. Crafts of the different types of monkeys mentioned can be purchased from these souvenir shops. The people are so welcoming that all visitors to the community are treated as brothers and sisters. There are forest guides who lead visitors and tourists in touring the two villages of Boabeng and Fiema where you can see monkeys interacting with the people. There is an accommodation facility for those who wish to stay at the sanctuary overnight and the user fee for the accommodation and entry fee for entering the forest is quite moderate for visitors and tourists. A visit to the sanctuary will give you one of the best experiences you have ever had in admiring the beauty of nature.

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Ngwa Bertrand

28.Jan.2015

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The organizers of the Bamenda cultural trade fair have announced that disgraced singer from La Republique Longue Longue will be the guest artist for the event.

It is now an open secret that the people of Bamunka, Bambalang, Bangolan, Babessi, Babungo and Bamali all want the Senior Divisional Officer to leave their MP alone. They say Hon. Njingum Musa has been a target of blackmail and conspiracy.

Lawyers nationwide are reported to be mobilizing to renew confidence in Barrister Sama Francis. Sama is now in his last journey of many dangers.

Justice Paul Ayah is being crucified for dumping SCNC for the Supreme Court job.

The Senior Divisional Officer has declared Pinyin chieftaincy throne vacant.

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Ngwa Bertrand

24.Jan.2015

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Several associations from the Cameroon civil society mobilized yesterday in Yaoundé and paid tribute to the Cameroon military engaged in the war on terror against the Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram in the Far North region and criminal gangs in the east of the country. Cameroon Concord gathered that the match was short and covered some 200 meters at the reunification monument in Yaounde.

A participant at the event who chatted with Cameroon Concord noted that “We are here to support and encourage the good work of our defence and security forces against the terrorist sect Boko Haram. We are here to pay tribute to our valiant soldiers who have lost their lives in defence of the homeland”

The rally which was scantily attended did not record the participation of any Cameroon government official or members of the so called responsible opposition.  Cameroon Concord has been reliably informed that the whole concept to honour our troops have been heavily politicized with the Divisional Officer for Mfoundi banning another rally slated for Friday the 23^rd  in Yaoundé.

It is important to include in this report that the event in support of our troops did not record the heavy participation that was anticipated because some highly placed CPDM officials were prevented from using it for political gains.

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Ngwa Bertrand

22.Jan.2015

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Southern Cameroonians have been seeking to know if the CPDM government bribed Justice Paul Ayah to drop as SCNC Chairman. Justice Ayah was seen recently at a pro-SCNC event but some reports say the much respected Manyu elite stayed “mute” throughout the ceremony.

Some Southern Cameroonians from the North West region who still pay allegiance to La Republique du Cameroun have raised a finger over the recent upgrading of Magistrates by the Judicial Council headed by President Biya. They say that the North West region was marginalized.

The people of Southern Cameroons have again been fed stories ever since the arrival of Chadian forces in La Republique of US and Russia pledging to help their Francophone brothers and sisters to liberate their territory from Boko Haram incursion.

Southern Cameroonians have openly expressed concerns over what many describe as a deliberate delay in the prosecution of cabinet ministers in La Republique charged with financial crimes by the Special Criminal Court. Some have pointed accusing fingers at the Head of State of La Republique.

Rumour is circulating in Southern Cameroons that the leader of La Republique President Paul Biya is now setting the stage for a real football man to take over as president of the Cameroon Football Federation. All fingers are pointing at Bell Antoine as the progressive CPDM barons who now surround the Head of State of La Republique have levied embezzlement charges on the highly-favoured Joseph Owona and FIFA candidate-Tombi Roko.

The immunity of an SDF member of parliament Hon. Fusi Naamukong is reportedly on fire as the Southern Cameroonian citizen is implicated in forgery.

The big bosses of a sister organization of the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement known as ELECAM are at daggers-drawn positions. Mohaman Sani and Fonkam are in a state of kill or get killed. Appointments at ELECAM are now solely for La Republique.

One of the most unpopular mayor in Southern Cameroons history Mayor Ekema of Buea has responded to the great Chief Molinge saying “No one wished him dead”.

Southern Cameroons mayors who are still collaborating with La Republiques’s FEICOM have made it public that its leader Emile Andze Andze has defrauded mayors of their accommodation allowance.

The taxation department of the South West region in Southern Cameroons has announced that it is poised to beat the FCFA 8.97 billion target set by their colonial masters of La Republique du Cameroun.

Finally, some Southern Cameroonians say the images of the late dictator Ahmadou Ahidjo are rare in the National Museum.

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Ngwa Bertrand

22.Jan.2015

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"Southern Cameroons determinism, legitimacy and legality are not predicated upon ancient history and the days of the Tower of Babel. Even then it was the Lord's God's good pleasure to scatter men upon the face of the Earth for men to have their own countries, states and nations. Rather, we are talking about the wherefore of a country, a state and a people who were granted independence by UN vote of April 21, 1961 with October 1, 1961 as the date of effective independence. Go figure why subscribers to the Camerounese con-colonial mentality would conjure up Greek Mythology to justify their con-colonial conquest of Southern Cameroons. That is not happening. Amen".

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Ngwa Bertrand

18.Jan.2015

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