Politics

It is certainly not the biggest catch ever since the re-introduction of Operation Sparrowhawk by the President of the Republic. But a serious client, Ngolzamba Camille Joseph, mayor of Mbang in the department of Kadey, Eastern Region was arrested on December 29, 2015.

The exact reasons for his arrest are not known but some media houses believe that the mayor was accused of misappropriation of $ 2 billion 62 million CFA francs. All indications are that his arrest was the result of numerous investigations made through intermediaries in Mbang on the management of the municipality by the accused, including embezzlement concerning the management of forest royalty.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

06.Jan.2016

Hits: 1633

The annual revision of the electoral register in Cameroon is underway across the country in accordance to the provision of Article 74 (2) of the Electoral Code which states that “the annual revision of the electoral register shall commence on 1 January and end on 31 August of every year”. Given that Monday 4 January 2016, was the first working day of the year, officials of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) Council branches in Yaounde and elsewhere in the country opened the registers for a fresh revision for this year. The exercise in the nation’s capital however started off very timidly in some local ELECAM branches.

At the Yaounde III Council Branch, no case of revision, registration, deletion or modification was registered by mid-day on Monday. The Council Branch Head, Sylvesre Désiré Mvondo acknowledged the timid start but added that they are ready to receive users of their services. He stated that they will as usual adopt a proximity approach where they move closer to the electors because to him, Cameroonians are still very reluctant to come to ELECAM offices for registration. At the Effoulan neighbourhood in Yaounde, the staff held a strategic planning meeting. The mixed commission members for the revision exercise have also been designated by stakeholders. Voter’s cards are also ready for owners to collect.

At the Yaounde VI Council Branch, it was revealed that they are set and are just waiting for the instructions of hierarchy to start combing various neighbourhoods of their jurisdiction. It should be noted that the revision exercise is open for Cameroonians who have never registered and are 20 years old and above, those who changed residence as well as deletion of names of dead persons and those who have lost their voting right.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

05.Jan.2016

Hits: 1496

A quiet debate taking the form of the argument around the egg or the hen continues to make its rounds in the country about who, of President Paul Biya or his ministers or members of the administration, are responsible for what many Cameroonians consider a lacking performance of public services which many citizens blame for their woes today. Many lay the absence of the inadequacy of basic social infrastructure such as roads, medical services, energy supply and decent housing on President Paul Biya’s doorsteps while many others would rather lay the blame on his collaborators or appointees.

It is obviously easy to lay blame on the President on account of the fact that he is the sole duly elected person and into whose hands the people have bequeathed their trust. Granted the President is elected and is responsible before the people; but it is also a fact that the President of the Republic exercises his powers through a number of persons to whom he publicly delegates a portion of his powers. Such persons can be ministers, directors general, managing Directors, Directors as well as personnel of administrative services such as Governors, SDOs, DOs and the like. What do we observe today when there is wanton lack of a public service or utility? The tendency is for the public official to refer to what is perniciously referred to as ‘hierarchy’, a detested word that carries all the germs of inertia and government red tape and which is, to a large extent, responsible for the relative feet-dragging in carrying out essential and, sometimes, life-saving government projects.

In his address last Thursday night, the President laid blame squarely on government and the administration for any shortcomings observed in the carrying out of government projects. This was probably the umpteenth call for government to take an achieving posture. But this year’s call has a specific character because of the fact that the nation is resolutely set on the path of attaining economic emergence status by 2035. At this rate and without a violent wake-up call, this objective may not be attained. So, that is why the President of the Republic desires to see a paradigm shift in government attitude which should work henceforth with ore ardour, a greater spirit of inventiveness, and be more results-oriented.

There has been too much of a Pontus Pilatus posture by many decision-makers who would rather shift the power to decide to others whereas they were well placed to move things. The President last Thursday restated his resolve to improve the quality of life for ordinary Cameroonians. Many initiatives are in the pipeline, notably in the energy and public transport sectors. But for the effects of these dams, bridges and ports to reach ordinary Cameroonians, the government must work harder or even be seen to be doing so, so that the said projects are effectively completed and contribute to the improvement of the standard of life of all citizens in an inclusive manner.

This new year is setting in barely a few months after a new government was put in place with very specific objectives of jumpstarting a number of face-lifting projects, many of which are underway; so is there a three-year emergency plan underway. These are useful platforms on which government can show its determination to produce the results the President has been talking about and which will set Cameroon confidently on the road to 2035. Government must take this presidential admonishment very seriously because the President publicly told Cameroonians where to apportion blame henceforth.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

04.Jan.2016

Hits: 1686

A prominent Benin businessman, Sebestien Ajavon, announced on Sunday he would run for president in an election scheduled for February in the tiny West African state that borders Nigeria. President Thomas Boni Yayi has led the cotton-producing country since 2006. He is barred under the country's constitution from standing for a third term and the election is considered wide open. "I dream of a Benin that smiles and that's why I invite us to turn resolutely toward a clear future," he told a rally at Mathieu Kerekou stadium, which holds 35,000 and was nearly filled to capacity.

Ajavon, who made his fortune through a food product company, will run as an independent supported by various political parties. He called for a reduction in youth unemployment, improved access to energy and less corruption. Leaders in Congo Republic, Rwanda and Burundi have all secured the right to run for third terms in the last year through constitutional changes, in moves that opponents have criticized as stifling democracy. Benin's President Yayi has not sought to change the constitution to allow him to run and Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou said in December he would seek election on behalf of the ruling party, though he has not yet officially launched his candidacy.

A former investment banker and economist, Zinsou has said his presidency would focus on reducing poverty and getting more workers into the economy's formal sector. He was named to head a government in June that aimed to boost the economy. The International Monetary Fund said Benin's GDP growth will be 5.5 percent this year but has been affected by a slowdown in neighbor and major trading partner Nigeria.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

04.Jan.2016

Hits: 1791

Moscow’s sanctions against Ankara over the downing of a Russian jet by Turkey are now affecting various sectors of the Turkish economy, including tourism, construction companies and food exports, a new report says. Russia’s relations with Turkey soured after the Turkish military shot down a Russian Sukhoi bomber plane on November 24, 2015. Ankara claimed that the warplane violated the Turkish airspace near the Syrian border, though Moscow denied the accusation. In reaction to the incident, Moscow has imposed a series of sanctions against Ankara.

Russia has banned the import of Turkish fruits and vegetables, poultry and salt. It has also forbidden the sale of charter holidays to Turkey for Russians. The sanctions also impose restrictions on Turkish firms willing to work on construction projects in Russia. Moreover, Turkish citizens working for companies registered in Russia are facing restrictions. Russia has also stopped working on a new Black Sea pipeline that was to increase its gas exports to Turkey. Turkish economist, Erhan Aslanoglu, said Ankara risks losing USD 3.5 billion annually in income from Russian tourists, who had long been flocking to Turkey's Mediterranean resorts. In 2014, Turkey was the second most popular holiday destination for Russians, attracting some 3.3 million tourists.

According to Aslanoglu, Turkey may also lose USD 4.5 billion each year due to the cancellation of its construction projects in Russia. Regarding the gas export, Aslanoglu said, "If Moscow stops or delays the natural gas flow, that will definitely have a serious impact on the Turkish economy." Turkey relies on Russia for 55 percent of its natural gas and 30 percent of its oil.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

03.Jan.2016

Hits: 1635

Another member of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has lost his life in detention due to the lack of medical care, the movement has announced. According the a statement released by the movement on Friday, Abbas Isiyaku had been shot and injured in an attack by the Nigerian army in the city of Zaria in the northern province of Kaduna in December. 

On December 12, Nigerian soldiers attacked Shia Muslims attending a ceremony at a religious center in Zaria, accusing them of stopping the convoy of the army’s chief of staff and attempting to assassinate him. Dozens of people lost their lives in the deadly assault. “There are some other 13 critically wounded members of IMN still in the prison in Kaduna, Nigeria, alone,” the statement further said, adding that a large number of others, including the country’s prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky, and his wife, were still being held incommunicado at different military barracks and other prisons without access to medical attention.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

02.Jan.2016

Hits: 1480