Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Launches Farming Season in her Mbengwi Constituency

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Foriben, Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi 

Hundreds of farmers drawn from across all the villages and communities that make up the Meta clan, Mbengwi central subdivision rallied in the Nyen hall, Medig zone on Friday 22nd March 2024 on invitation from the Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia for a donation of farm inputs to mark the launching of the farming season in her constituency. 

The items according to the M.P were 5 tons of improved maize seeds and 100 bags of fertiliser. The ceremony was attended by a delegation that accompanied the M.P, made up of the mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam and his second deputy Amadu Kadiri, the former mayor of the Mbengwi Council Tebe Beatrice, the President General of the Meta Cultural and Development Association (MECUDA), Prof. Njoh Oliver, the president of the Meta Fon's Union (MEFU), H.R.H Dr. G.F Fombo, other fons and dignitaries. 

President of Meta Fon's Union Pouring Libation on the Corn for High Yields

Family Photo

Mr. Abugicho Godfred Achekwa is the Momo Divisional Delegate of Agriculture. Before the handing over proper, he schooled the farmers on better planting technics and manuring which if well implemented will result to high yields. He insisted on spacing during planting, number of seeds per hole, quantity of fertiliser to apply and when to apply taking into consideration the type of fertiliser.

While addressing the hundreds of farmers, majority of who were women, the Member of Parliament revealed that the maize seeds and fertiliser are from her humble self and the Minister of Supreme State Audit, Mbah Acha Rose. To her, as both of them are  privileged to be in power,  they see it as their responsibility to empower their people back home.

Tracing their past records, she said in the heart of the crisis they made a similar donation to the people of Acha-Tugi and neighbouring villages including special gifts to the Mbororos. Hitherto as she recounted, they had given out 5.000 day old chicks and agricultural tools to the people of Mbengwi central town but this time around, they decided to chose Nyen in the Medig zone as venue and that their next next target will be in the Tondig zone of the Meta clan where they'll also be able to attain to the needs of the people of Njindom, Zang Tembeng, Fringyeng and all other villages in the zone.

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Brandishing her Award

Beneficiaries

The icing on the cake during the launching of the 2024 farming season in Mbengwi was the award of a trophy and certificate in recognition of the outstanding achievements of Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Foriben towards the development of her constituency, making her one of the most influential M.Ps of 2023 according to The Eagle's Eye Media Group, the award giver. 

"We have come to empower you. In fact we are not just acting drama here but we want practicalities" the M.P cautioned the farmers. Going by the envisaged plan, since the Mbengwi Council runs a feed mill and the main commodity needed for feed production is maize, upon harvest, the farmers will in turn sell their corn to the council. Contrary to the previous donation in Acha-Tugi after which there wasn't any follow up, the M.P insisted that this time around, recipients will have to must show prove of the yields they made from their farms. 

Speaking to the press at the end of the donation, the people's representative at the National Assembly said her gesture is to enable her constituents farm maize to the level of supplying the entire region thereby improving on their economic power, making them able to take care of themselves, their families and communities. With regards to the award she was given, the honourable said such simply draws her attention to the fact that more is expected of her and she prays that with the help of the Almighty God, she will be able to meet up with the needs of her people. 

Symbolic Handing Over

Photo with Some Dignitaries 

2025 will be an electoral year in Cameroon. The 5 year mandate of municipal and legislative authorities in the country will be coming to an end. Consequently there's an ongoing campaign nationwide for potential voters to get registered with Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), a prerequisite for them to be able to vote or be voted. It was for this reason that the M.P also took advantage of the occasion to encourage all present to get registered or renew their registration in order to later fulfil their civic responsibility as Cameroonians. 

She ended by repeatedly thanking the minister of supreme state audit and that of agriculture and rural development for their material and financial support in the realisation of the project.

Beneficiaries in Mbengwi Gain their Share from the PPRD-NW/SW

Some of the Items Donated to Beneficiaries 

The Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West  and South West  regions of Cameroon,  PPRD-NW/SW was created on April 3rd 2020 by the Head of State and placed under the supervision of the Prime Minister and Head of Government. It was one of the recommendations from the Major National Dialogue that took place in Yaoundé from September 30th to October 4th 2019, aimed at resolving the Anglophone Crisis. 

For years now, many individuals, groups, communities have been benefitting from the plan. On Tuesday April 2nd 2023, some thirty beneficiaries in Mbengwi, drawn from several villages of the subdivision rallied in the council hall to take home material assistance that had come to them from the plan. 

Beneficiaries & Items

Ndangsa Kennedy Akam is the Mayor of the Mbengwi Council. He disclosed that before now, a good number of persons in Mbengwi had already benefited from the PPRD-NW/SW. He cited about 4 hairdressing saloons currently operating in the municipality that were funded by the plan together with some poultry farmers and 10 pig farmers who each recieved 10 piglets accompanied with bags of feed for fattening. He confirmed having visited their farms thereafter and was impressed with the improvements he saw. 

The items that were being distributed to the thirty recipients he outlined as 20 motorised cassava mills, 4 palm oil mills, 20 garri frying pans, 4 sprayers, 10 rows of barb wires, 5 water tanks and drums, 5 hosts accompanied with water pumps amongst other juicy items. According to the mayor "this is a great gesture from the president of the republic to beneficiaries in the Mbengwi Council." He used the opportunity to thank his immediate collaborators for the work they've been doing in projecting Mbengwi to the world as a green zone, thereby lobbying for great things to continue coming to Mbengwi.

Mayor of Mbengwi Council, Deputies, Divisional Officer, Security Elements 

As for the others who applied to benefit and are yet to be called up,  he called on them to be patient, explaining that the plan for now is prioritising the realisation of income generating projects but in due course, the needs of those whose properties were destroyed, houses burnt, cattle stolen etc will be looked into.

One of the beneficiaries, Tah Eric appreciated the state for the donation though with a bit of regret that what they applied for is not actually what they're being given but admitted that he understands no item is useless. To Mr. Ewu Fidelis, the assistant Divisional Officer of Mbengwi subdivision that witnessed the handing over with some elements of his etat major, the people have recieved the items with a lot of joy and happiness as seen on their faces and their wish is for such to continue.

Oil Mills & Water Storage Tanks

"I use this opportunity to really thank the donor, our father the President of the Republic who always thinks about the people of Mbengwi" he added. The recipients were cautioned by both authorities; the mayor and the assistant D.O to not dare sell the items but rather put them to proper use for their own well being especially as there are hundreds of other potential beneficiaries around that should be wishing to have been in their position to collect the goods.

Mbengwi Online Political Insights 001

The Current Mbengwi Council Executive 
L-R: Doreen Fonjong (1st Deputy), Ndangsa Kennedy (Mayor), Amadu Kadiri (2nd Deputy)

On Friday 29th March 2024 we dropped a post on our WhatsApp forum titled 2025 in Mbengwi, the Stakes in which we said "It's not going to be a smooth ride for anyone to get there. People will have to prove their worth, merit before getting whatever position." Somewhere in the post, it was also said If we have influenced developmental and humanitarian activities in Mbengwi, the time is around for us to influence who is who on the political map.

However, this doesn't mean we will be teaching grandmothers how to suck eggs but through getting the people involved our new slogan. When people (the electorate) don't care and create room for voter apathy, (amateur) politicians take advantage to fish in muddy waters and make big gains but where the electorate is conscious of their civic rights and are fully involved in the electoral process before, during and after, majority of those who emerge victorious are those who really merited it to an extent. 

It is within this backdrop that we are introducing this new concept, Mbengwi Online Political Insights. It will be a series of publications where we keep our eyes and ears on the ground in readiness to report on anything happening in and out of Mbengwi with traces of politics involved nomatter how minute. We will be covering places, occasions, parties, politicians.

2025 may look far but to politicians, failing to plan is planning to fail and that starts now. To some people, 2025 will be just like any other ordinary year but to politicians, because of the stakes at hand, it's going to be decisive year. While those currently occupying political positions will be doing everything humanly possible to consolidate their grip, on the other hand are others with political ambitions that will also be  doing their possible best by hook or crook to attain their interests.

On a surface level, things may still look normal on the ground now but beneath such normalcy, serious underground works are taking place in Mbengwi. Those who will not want to feed their fowls only on Tad market day have gotten to work already. One glaring example is the recent cross carpeting of a renowned politician in Mbengwi that appeared on front page of a certain newspaper.

Recently celebrations to mark the 39th anniversary of the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, C.P.D.M took place nationwide and Mbengwi wasn't left. A motorbike caravan from the Mbon park ushered militants to the party secretariat adjacent the Gendarme station were speeches, wining and dining characterised the anniversary celebration with a strong call for militants to stay alert as 2025 approaches. 

It will not be long as few days after, The Horizon Newspaper, Edition Number 0875 of Thursday March 28 2024 published a front page  article titled CPDM 39th Anniversary, Momo Division: "Hunter" Minister Mbah Acha Returns with Huge Catch. What catches everyone's attention is the picture attached to the article, that of Tagyen Moris Fokob, standing beside minister Mbah Acha Rose. We learnt it was the official reception of Moris as he was crossing over to join the CPDM. He was presented to Yang Philemon by the minister as the big catch. But who's he?

Newspaper Publication that's Set Tongues Wagging in and out of Mbengwi 

Tagyen Moris Fokob alias Michi Ebeng is a household name on the political terrain in Mbengwi. The firebrand politician cum journalist was once Communication Sectary of the Social Democratic Front (S.D.F) Mbengwi district, councillor at the Mbengwi Council and alternate Member of Parliament, Momo East Constituency.. He's greatly admired for his oratory skills especially his fluency in speaking English and Meta. He used to canvass supporters and voters for the SDF just by using his mouth to convince the electorate and was a staunch critic of the ruling party. 

It should be noted that prior to the Sunday February 9 2020 twin elections (municipal and legislative) in Cameroon, at a time when politicians were prey to non state armed fighters nowadays known in local palance as Amba Boys as they targeted anyone that wanted to exercise their universal suffrage right to vote and be voted. Some were caught and beaten, a few killed, huge sums of money collected from others as many flee for safety to other regions. Some had their houses and other properties burnt as a result of them defying the ban by Amba that there should be nothing related to politics on Ground Zero, a new appellation for the two English speaking regions of Cameroon. 

Faced with such threats to life and property, the leeway most politician found to stay safe was to resign. At least 40 aspirants across the two regions resigned during that tensed period through voice notes and hand written letters that mostly circulated on social media. One of such was Moris Tagyen who threw in the towel by saying "Looking at the Anglophone Crisis which has made the atmosphere really debilitating to talk in terms of politics, those of us who are bearing the brunt could not waste time than to throw in the towel because the Head of State, mindful of his constitutional prerogatives would've seen that to have declared war himself and then convene elections will be counter productive"

That was the Moris of 2020. As 2025 approaches, he's back in the game, this time around signed for a new club. What arrangements went behind closed doors to finally get him over into the CPDM we can't tell. What we know is as a matured, learned man that understands the realities on the ground coupled with the experiences he's been through in politics, to have at the end taken that decision to cross carpet certainly means there's an elephant he's after and it's found on the other side. Who leaves wetland to dry land? There'll certainly be enough fresh nutritive pasture on the other side to flatten his cattle with. After all, politics like some pundits say is all about interest and never are there permanent friends or enemies in the game but permanent interest. With time, his interest will be visible. 

Anticipations are now high amongst many to see how in 2025, he will be mounting the podium, dressed in his new party regalia to now start preaching the "C" gospel in public like he used to do for his former party. The terms of the deal would've certainly been well spelt out before it was struck and certainly a juicy package soon to be unravelled is in the offing for him though his detractors may still look for reasons to discredit the move, terming it as tricks or making analysis that many had been in C.P.D.M for long certainly looking for their own juice and will likely not find it funny for a former rivalry to cross in and goes straight to lick the oil many had been thirsty for. Well, politics remains politics, unpredictable. It's not always about how long you've been in a party but how smart you are. 

With these, we can now begin to see why The Horizon Newspaper titled it's story, "...Hunter Mbah Acha Returns with Huge Catch". Fortunately or unfortunately, the elections of 2020 still went on and voting took place in the Mbengwi Council hall and on campus of G.B.H.S Mbengwi though gun firing scared the hell out of people that morning of Sunday 9 February 2020. Consequently mostly uniform officers, administrators and a few diehard militants voted. When ELECAM finally pronounced the results after, it became clear, that Mbengwi that has since the introduction of multipartism in the 90s been a very stronghold of the S.D.F has been completely taken over by the C.P.D.M. That was how Foo Ngang Prodencia came from nowhere to be M.P, kicking out the then Hon. Edna Enih Mbah of the SDF while Ndang Walters became alternate M.P, a position that was previously occupied by Moris Tagyen. 

The politics that year wasn't only played inter party (S.D.F versus C.P.D.M) but also intraparty, within the ruling C.P.D.M themselves. At a time many had anticipated that the then mayor Tebe Beatrice was going to gain a second mandate, surprisingly she was sent parking and replaced with Ndangsa Kennedy Akam who came from out of the blues to attain the helm of the council. Her two deputies, Chunga Patrick and Fomumbod Bernard were also replaced with Doreen Anwi Fonjong and Amadu Kadiri, the first Mbororo to be Deputy Mayor at the Mbengwi Council. 

The recent cross carpeting by the former S.D.F Alternate M.P for Mbengwi is seen elsewhere as a big blow to the party which some consider as dead and buried. We can't yet tell if the District Chairperson of the party for Mbengwi, erstwhile Hon. Edna Enih Mbah considers the move as a non event or not. What we know is since after loosing her parliamentary seat, Edna has been keeping a very low profile till date. It's like she had folded all of her party dresses and kept under the box. Nowhere has she ever been seen again doing or talking politics. In fact, her name hardly even appears on the list when some online fund drives are carried out for a developmental or humanitarian projects in Mbengwi. She was close to the late national chairman of the party, Ni John Fru Ndi till death and even attended his burial in Baba 2 village, Santa subdivision.

Some may think she's out of Mbengwi but in reality she has continued living in her G.R.A residence and seen in public only once in a while. This however doesn't mean that she's now a nobody when it comes to politics in Mbengwi. She may be mute but not dumb. If one is to go by history, Edna was much loved by the people for her simplicity and goodness. She left from down to the top treating the people she met along the way well and upon her way back down, she still found her space in the midst of the very people. 

No doubt it was as easy as ABC for her to reintegrate herself into society and start living her ordinary life like any other Meta woman, from house to farm, church, market, njangi, cry-die and back. As concerns her plans for 2025 which many of her admirers and political rivalries should be interested to know so as to rally behind her or counter her moves depending on where one's interest in her is, Edna has been keeping her cards closest to her chest. It's said once a politician, always a politician implying that she's a figure to watch out for as the clock ticks. 

The political gymnastics in Mbengwi are still somehow in gesticulation mode but we have noticed the sprouting up of some faces though yet to publicly show themselves and declare their intentions. Award winning Barrister Ndangoh Tah Calvin from every indication is up to something in the build up to 2025. For a while now, he's been frequenting his homeland Mbengwi, at times seating with commoners in bars around Mbon park and offering them drinks. The national legal adviser of the SDF has been leaving the comforts of his Yaounde abode to find his way into Mbengwi. Even with the current road situation, he still meanders his way through the eucalyptus thickets of Bali like others. So, the going of Moris to join "C" and the coming of Calvin to be fully engage into S.D.F affairs in Mbengwi now seemingly makes the equation balanced and like they say in French, Il y a match. 

In all these, where is Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia? Well, unlike some of her peers in other constituencies, Foo Ngang is not an absentee landlord. Her mastery of the terrain beats even the imagination of her political comrades not to talk of her rivalries. How she accesses what others look at as red zones is a million dollar question only her seems to have the answer. She came from nowhere to be M.P but while there in parliament, she's been proving her worth as a firebrand politician that delivers. 

On Friday March 22nd 2024, she led a delegation to Nyen village accompanied by the mayor of the Mbengwi Council, the President General of the Meta Cultural and Development Association,  MECUDA, the president of the Meta Fon's Union, MEFU and other fons for the handing over of 100 bags of fertiliser and 5 tons of maize to farmers drawn from across the entire clan. Of course it was a donation like others she's been doing in the past but the magnitude of this one certainly had an undertone reading, laying the groundworks for 2025 is around. 

In 2020 the C.P.D.M gained everything in Mbengwi, 25 council seats and a parliamentary seat on a platter of gold. It was like a cockroach/fowl dwell. In 2025 will history repeat itself or the S.D.F is going to give C.P.D.M a run for their money? This we ask because we've been reliably informed that Bar. Ndangoh Tah Calvin has visited many wards and relaunched party activities in most areas in Meta for the past months that he's been frequenting Mbengwi and is confident that despite the crisis, the party's card carrying dyed in the wool militants are still there in their numbers and ready for 2025. 

Yes, the dwell may likely be between the two main parties that have animated the political environment in Mbengwi since the introduction of multipartism in the 90s. Others may just surface as distraction. Memories are still in mind of how the Alliance of Progressive Front (APF) of late Barrister Benard Muna was beginning to distort the supremacy of SDF and CPDM in Mbengwi to the point of even having a council seat from 2013 to 2020. One time SDF mayor Fonanih Jonas Asa'ah was A.P.F councillor at that time. He had crossed carpet after divorcing with the S.D.F. The likes of Mukumo Roland Teghen, a popular business man in Mbengwi, promoter of God's Time Enterprise and former BOD member of Mbengwi Central Cooperative Credit Union, MBECCUL before later resigning was also a strong APF militant. Jonas later flew abroad to reunite with his family. Roland is still around focusing on his business and church works. Our eyes are on him and others were surfacing to be militants of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (C.R.M) party of Professor Maurice Kamto

Well, Mbengwi Online Political Insights will be back with more of such in-depth analyses in our subsequent editions. There will be editions in which we will have one on one interview with some of these politicians, profile them, analyse their manifestos, past achievements and promises and why not hear from the man on the street, what they think about which politician or which party. Thanks for your attention. Hope you had a nice read. Continue to rely on us for more as we involve the people in the process.

Hundreds of Factcheckers to Defy 2025 Electoral Disinformation in Cameroon

Family Photo on Day 1 of Conference 

The anti hatespeech organisation #DefyHateNow on Wednesday 20th March 2024 signed a press release saying at least 500 participants are expected to attend the second Africa Factchecking Fellowship, AFFCameroon Conference whose first edition was successfully held in November 2022.

In addition to our over 300 trained factchecking fellows the release stated, other guests include: public and private institutions, political parties, diplomatic missions, international and national organisations, higher institutes of learning, media associations and founders of digital platforms with a huge following.

They met in Yaoundé for two days, 27 to 28 March 2024 to initiate a public discourse on addressing the root causes of disinformation, its manifestation and consequences on Cameroon as a whole; exchange notes on best practices to advance fact-checking in Africa with guest experts from Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria based on their countries’ experiences in countering disinformation and online hate speech during election period.

Cameroonians are expected to go to the polls in 2025 for municipal, legislative and presidential elections and it is feared the atmosphere may likely be characterised by fakenews, hatespeech, disinformation, violence both online and offline within politicians, parties, militants and the general population, this to attain political power or fulfil interest. Some persons even forsee an internet shutdown like the case of 2018.

Yaounde, 12 March 2024, Atanga Nji Paul, Cameroon's minister of territorial administration, overseer of political, association and N.G.O activities in the republic signed a press release prohibiting what he referred to as two fake, clandestine political associations, movements put in place by some political leaders in quest of cheap popularity and in defiance of the legal instruments in force in preparation for the 2025 presidential election on basis of illegality. 

The release furthered that the statues of member of parliament or politician does not authorise anyone to defy state authority with impunity, stir up rebellion, make offensive remarks about authorities and exhibit the deliberate intention to constantly undermine public order. 

From the release, one thing is clear, that government is ready to use any means possible to weaken the opposition and maintain the statusquo while the opposition parties are pulling up their sleeves to effectuate a change. Traditional media (radio, TV, newspaper) and social  media (online space) will be one of the main tools these actors will use to sail through with their agendas, thus need begin preparing to counter such negativities that are detrimental to societal peace when the time comes.

Having noticed the proliferation of misleading statements, fabrication of information (photos, videos, deepfake), pseudo accounts, online scams as well as slanderous, hateful and dangerous discourse on social media and in society targeting individuals and/or inter-ethnic groups, in January 2020, DefyHateNow started the Africa Fact-checking Fellowship dubbed #AFFCameroon, a quarterly training program to promote fact-checking, data journalism and digital rights among journalists, bloggers, content creators and community leaders in Africa. 

Ngala Desmond Ngala, Country Project Manager of #DefyHateNow, Founder of Association CivicWatch Cameroon

Ngala Desmond Ngala, Country Project Manager of #defyhatenow for West and Central Africa told attendees at the opening of the conference that "We cannot ignore the lessons of history, taking us back not only to 2018 and the sociopolitical crisis that followed after gesticulations on the social media but also, we will be taking advantage of these to prepare and plan for elections that are coming."

He will later reiterate why his organisation saw the utmost need for the conference; to mobilise relevant stakeholders in view of working towards sociopolitical stability, good governance, transparency, democracy and peace in Cameroon before, during and  after the electoral period coming in 2025. "This conference is therefore intended to setout a roadmap for these factcheckers to take responsibility for content they put online, correct false information they see online and equip them with diverse skills on how to use digital tools to shape elections" added Ngala Desmond

Mr Ntonye Njoya, Technical Advicer to the Board Chair of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) schooled attendees on "Digital Inclusion, Electoral Integrity and Regulation of Online Communications in Response to Disinformation". Cornered by reporters at the end of his presentation to find out why the choice of topic, he reiterated that it's important to know the differences between misinformation and disinformation. "Our presence here today is to accompany this #DefyHateNow's brilliant innitiative which we are commending and we'll do our best to bring together all the stakeholders so that they understand the importance of combatting disinformation in the electoral process in view of consolidating Cameroon's democracy" he ended, this, after having clarified that with misinformation, the author may have no intentions to harm but disinformation is done with an intention to harm.

Ntonye Njoya, Technical Advicer to the Board Chair of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM)

Jabi Katy Chale and Mbaku Jude are fellows that have undergone at least a couple of #DefyHateNow's trainings on factchecking and hatespeech mitigation. Jabi wants that at the end of the day, kids should be raised in a conducive environment void of prejudice and hate for them on the basis of their background. To her "We may organise thousands of workshops and conferences to fight hatespeech but it will never stop if we don't trace it from the parental level"

Her colleague Jude is Editor in Chief at a Buea based religious media organ, Divine Mercy Radio and Television. As host of mostly political debate programs, he said "I am going to multiply my efforts in ensuring that I bring on set credible stakeholders in very specific areas, most especially in the area of elections to chat on issues that will help our population come out of the ills of propaganda, misinformation, disinformation and other forms of fakenews."

Thanks to funding from the German government through the Foreign Office, the #DefyHateNow initiative was introduced to Cameroon in 2018, working on mobilising Civic Action against Hatespeech, Violence and Violent Extremism online and offline. The initiative by r0g_agency for Open Culture and Critical Transformation is implemented in Cameroon by a youth-led organisation known as Civic Watch.

The second edition of the AFFCameroon Conference that was characterised by panel discusions, master classes and paper presentations recorded a resounding success thanks to support from partners like MTN Cameroon, 237CHECK, the Cameroon National Youth Council, the Association des Bloggeurs Canerounais, StopIntox and others. The trainees have returned to their respective regions to begin putting the lessons learnt into practice so that social stability is maintained even with elections especially as in the advent of any unrest stemming from the ills they were taught to fight against, they too will suffer.

North West Ranking of State Projects Execution; Momo Division Comfortable with its Repeated Last Position?

MINEPAT Momo Divisional Building 

Momo division has seemingly been comfortably maintaing its first from the bottom  position when it comes to the divisional ranking of the level of execution of projects funded from the public investment budget in the North West region. 

For close to three consecutive years now, there has always been the call at divisional follow up meetings for the level of physical and financial execution of Public Investment Budget projects to be improved upon at all cost by vote holders and contractors but ironically, in reality, each time the next quarterly meeting holds, often it's reported that little or nothing concretely has changed.

Year in year out, most contractors and project owners have continued to complain of insecurity as reason why they can't do the task expected of them well but ironically, in other more risky divisions of the region, relatively positive progress is being made in terms of realising such projects. Ironically again, cases of money being paid from the state coffers and collected by dubious contractors for abandoned or uncompleted and unstarted projects have continued to be reported. 

When these committee members met on Wednesday the 10th of January  2023 in the conference hall of the Momo Divisional Delegation of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) for the 4th quarterly evaluation of PIB projects, it was like singing thesame old song. As usual and has been the case always, only the mayor of Mbengwi Council, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam has been physically answering present at such meetings. Those of Andek, Batibo, Widikum despite always being absent didn't even bother to send at least a representative like deputy mayor or Council Development Officer but for Njikwa that was represented at the meeting. 

When the mayor of Mbengwi took to the floor to report about his municipality, he regretted that only three projects came from the decentralised funds from Yaounde this year worth 108 million Francs for the grading of Sam Tabeng  to Bali road, rehabilitation of the stretch Checkpoint to Africa Petroleum station through Pa Kwati junction with pavement bricks, a project that was awarded during the mandate of his predecessor to the tune of 65 million but was never executed. He added that the Ministry of Public Works (MINTP) has sent 65 million this time around far above the 25 million that used to be sent for road works and that the money will be used for the construction of a bridge  linking Njindom to Mbemi.

The representative of the Njikwa council on his part said as usual, nothing much has changed in their municipality except that the projects that hadn't been started are in progress now like solar electrification at Ikweri Health Centre, construction of two classrooms at Government School Njumukod and others. He added that the Njikwa-Bassa road is now better as bikes can at least ride on it after some rehabilitation works were done. 

Having listened to the reports, the Momo Divisional delegate of MINEPAT cautioned that her collaborators need to be careful because the Anti Corruption Commission (CONAC) has warned that it's been noticed most contractors and mayor's plus other stakeholders in the region are taking advantage of the crisis to give fake project execution levels especially as most control team members now avoid going for inspection in most areas said to be unsafe.

Speaking at the tail end of the meeting, the Chief of Service for General Affairs at the Momo Senior Divisional Officer's office, Ankene Mary Adah said "The S.D.O for Momo Division, Mr. Fouda Etaba Benoit Nicaise expressed disappointment with the very low rate of project execution for Momo Division in 2023... Projects executed with these funds should be sustainable and concrete, instead of opening many new roads, they should build more bridges and culverts for example. If other councils in the North West region could attain 100% by October 2023, it means that if the mayors and other stakeholders put in place new strategies, our own Momo Division can also reach this target."

With the recent clichéd call to order, the question on many lips now is, will anything really change? Interestingly, the mandate of these mayor's is gradually coming to and end and they may want to start feeding their chicks on the market day but as usual, someone will likely emerge from somewhere to tell them "sorry, too late Hewett" and that's how they'll  lose their mayoral positions except they seat up now and do the right thing within the shortest possible time left.

Ndakwa Foundation Empowers Youth Leaders in Mbengwi with Bags of Feed

Youth Leaders Carrying Home their Feed

Some selected leaders of youth associations in Mbengwi have each benefited at least a bag of feed. The donation came from Ndakwa Foundation whose Executive Director Ndakwa Karine is based in the U.S and renowned for often carrying out such humanitarian activities from time to time in Mbengwi and beyond. 

The identification and selection of the beneficiaries was done by the Cameroon National Youth Council, Mbengwi Communal Bureau targeting youth leaders that are having at least a pig and such included leaders of Tobho youths, Dynamic youths, Njembeng youths, Wumnembit youths, Guneku youths, Ku youths, Wumnembug youths, Barakwe youths just to name these few.

Speaking at the donation ceremony that was done in two phases in Njindom and Mbon park, the coordinator of Ndakwa Foundation's activities in Mbengwi encouraged the youths to continue leading their various association's relentlessly without expecting any gains but since hard work pays, along the way, it is obvious some fringe benefits will come from time to time like the feed they're recieving now.

The beneficiaries on their part appreciated the donor for reaching out to them with this very important commodity coincidentally at a time when many hadn't feed again at home and where wondering where to have the money to buy another bag. Some of the leaders whose associations are still dormant promised to revive them, taking example from Tobho youths, Njembeng youths, Dynamic youths, Ku youths and others noted to be vary active in carrying out several activities like farming, holding of regular meetings, organisation of end of year parties, exchange visits, sports and socialisation in general.

They were assured that the Cameroon National Youth Council will continue to knock at doors and each time something comes nomatter how small, everyone will at least have a pinch if not as an association, at least as an individual.

Youth Leaders on Familiarisation Hangout at Abbi Fall Resort

Youth Leaders at the Splash Point of the Resort

The recent donation by Ndakwa Foundation came about a month after the Momo Divisional President of C.N.Y.C, Nyamkah Rubby Tangyi had invited all the youth leaders for a familiarisation hang out at Abbi Fall Resort on Tuesday 26th December 2023. During the hangout at the Jungle Cafe of the resort near the fall, the youth leaders, over 30 in number were also given lessons on the qualities of good leadership. The Divisional President during the networking session assured the youths that he will continue to work tirelessly for the well being of youths not only in Mbengwi but Momo as a whole. 

It should be recalled that in September 2023, MECUDA U.S.A donated 3 piglets and 20 bags of feed to Tobho youths for fattening, thanks to C.N.Y.C Mbengwi that succeeded to get the project funds from MECUDA USA. Today, two of the pigs are pregnant and will put to birth in the weeks or months ahead. 

Eversince coming into office in December 2022, the Momo Divisional and Mbengwi communal bureaus of CNYC have not been sleeping. They've already achieved some benefits for their youths and are still hunting for more so that their wellbeing can be improved upon, this by not giving them fish but teaching how to fish and intellectual empowerment. At press time, plans are underway to organise a youth conference in Mbengwi during which at least 100 youths drawn from several associations in the municipality will gather for knowledge acquisition through intellectual presentations by resources persons and practical exercises.

World Habitat Day 2023: What Stakes for Mbengwi, Momo?

H.E Célestine Ketcha Courtes, Cameroon's Minister of Housing and Urban Development 

In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, remind the world that we all have the power and responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.

World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 in Nairobi, Kenya under the theme "Shelter is My Right". Since then till date, commemorative activities have continued to take place annually to mark the day but for the COVID-19 pandemic period that caused a global shutdown thus halting its observance.

Every year, World Habitat Day is celebrated in a host city, where members of UN Habitat and others give speeches and presentations, reflecting on and highlighting the issues faced by people across the world. There is usually a particular focus on urban areas and the homeless. 

Activities marking the commemoration of this year's edition were organised at the international level by the U.N in Zangilan and Baku from the 29th to the 1st of October 2023 under the theme  "Resilient Urban Economies: Cities as Drivers of Growth and Recovery."

Antonio Guterres, U.N Secretary General

According to the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, "Building greater resilience and better protecting vulnerable populations requires far greater investments in sustainable infrastructure, early warning systems, and affordable, adequate housing for all." He adds that "At the same time, we must work to improve access to electricity, water, sanitation, transport, and other basic services–while investing in education, skills development, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship."

In Cameroon, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, led by Her Excellency Minister Célestine Ketcha Courtes held a series of activities in Garoua, North Region including speeches, round table discussions, press conference and prize award for the cleanest city in Cameroon, won by the Garoua II council, a whooping amount of 100.000.000 (one hundred million) Francs. 

Speaking on state media at the end of commemorative activities in Garoua, minister Célestine Ketcha said "When the environment is clean, it's a matter of health and people are happy to stay in a clean place." It has been announced that the 2024 edition of the day will be celebrated in Ebolowa, South Region. 

Anyang Gordin Bah, Momo Division Delegate, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development 

In the Momo Divisional Headquarters, Mbengwi, no activities were carried out to mark this year's World Habitat Day. However, the Divisional Delegate of Housing and Urban Development, Anyang Gordin Bah talking to Mbengwi Online on phone said "On such a day, what we usually do is to sensitise the public and also reflect on how to improve on the urbanisation and beautification of our towns"

Though the erection of houses in the municipality hasn't been following any orderly pattern, Mbengwi still remains relatively beautiful with environmental friendly trees planted along its envisaged commercial avenue, solar street lights and modern standard houses mostly in the Government Residential Area (GR.A). The realisation of the lofty plans the delegation had for all the five subdivisions in Momo division have been hampered by the ongoing Anglophone Crisis. 

The U.N scribe has this year called on all to pledge to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements for all people, everywhere. He says "local action is vital, and global cooperation indispensable."

Mɨchi Əbeŋ Organising Committee Sets the Ball Rolling for the Second Edition

Organising Committee Members During the 1st Edition of the Festival 

Organising Committee Members of Mɨchi Əbeŋ have  set the ball rolling in the build up to the second edition of the festival to take place in March 2024. With barely about half a year to go, discussions have been engaged on how to make the second edition better than the first.

Meeting in the Guneku Palace on Sunday 10 September 2023, the committee members discussed at length beginning with a flash back into the past pioneer edition and projection of the forthcoming one. On the former, they looked through the videos of the various Mukonge dances that were performed during the first edition and made a selection of some distinct dancers, singers, drummers and xylophonists from each of the groups. 

From inception, at the end of the Mukonge Dance Competition that took place in the palace of Guneku on Saturday 15 April 2023, two master dance group were to be formed comprising of selected members from each of the competing groups that stood out distinct in the performance of their roles, one for the elderly and the other for youths only.

Having done the selection, the next phase now will be to bring these members together to begin practicing so that each time a Mukonge Dance Group is needed anywhere in and out of the country for animation, they will be the ones to represent the entire Meta clan since they'll be like an embodiment of the entire clan. Furthermore, discussions during the meeting later drifted to projecting into the next edition who's main focus will be a Kwem Dance Competition. 

It was resolved that the competition will be open to all interested Kwem Dance Groups nationwide upon payment of a registration fee of 5.000F. A deadline for registration will be communicated and only those that complied with the registration modalities will be eligible to compete. According to plans, the 2024 edition of the festival will be staged for 3 days; Thursday for the singing of childbirth songs (Ngwa) otherwise known as "Mbolo", Friday for carvings, weavings and other craftworks, then Saturday for the dance competition. 

The initiator and promoter of Mɨchi Əbeŋ, H.R.H Dr. Fomuki Ticha of Guneku has instructed the organising committee members to leave no stone unturned in making sure the festival this year establishes new records and breaks old ones. Apart from the festival, the main objective is to see Meta people go back to their originality in speaking their mother tongue, cooking and eating their local delicacies, dressing traditionally, singing and dancing their traditional songs not just occasionally but as a daily routine.

C.N.Y.C Mbengwi takes from MECUDA U.S.A, Gives to Tobho Youths' Association

 

In the midst of the ongoing Anglophone Crisis the rate of rural urban migration especially among youths has drastically increased. Many are those who've left their villages in quest of education, greener pastures, better living conditions and security. However, like a Meta saying goes, "not all of the ants will ever leave their hill".  Some have stayed back, braving the odds amidst the crisis to make ends meet. 

The Tobho Youths' Association has been relatively active during the Anglophone Crisis period and has been outstanding in its activities. After having noticed them as a seriously committed youth group, the Mbengwi Communal Bureau of the Cameroon National Youth Council (C.N.Y.C) that came into office in December 2022 went sourcing for funding to reach out to them. 

The Vice Treasurer of CNYC Mbengwi Handing Over Credit Union Passbook to Financial Secretary of Tobho Youths' Association 

The President of CNYC Mbengwi Symbolically Handing Over a Bag of Feed to the President of Tobho Youths Association 

It was in the course of the search that the youth council came in contact with MECUDA U.S.A, submitted to them a project which they accepted to fund it's realisation. On Tuesday September 26th 2023, members of the Tobho Youths' Association, the Cameroon National Youth Council, Mbengwi Communal Bureau and other personalities met in Tobho quarter popularly known as Back Mbon in the Ku fondom for the donation exercise of the agricultural package that comprised of three piglets, twenty bags of feed and a credit union account for better management of the association's finances especially those to be generated from the piggery project. 

Teboh Julius Achu is the president of the Tobho Youths' Association. Speaking to Mbengwi Online, he said "I really want to thank MECUDA USA for this piggery project and equally the Cameroon National Youth Council. We the Tobho youths are so happy because I think we are the first to benefit from this type of project." He will then go on to encourage other youth groups to copy their example. To him, the way they associate,  constantly hold meetings and create activities like cleaning of their quarter are some of the things other association's should copy from them so that tomorrow, such assistance can also get to them. 

Ndetan Nji Cyprain, President, C.N.YC Mbengwi 

Tacho David, Quarterhead, Tobho

The brief ceremony was characterised by speeches, a symbolic handing over and visitation to the pig fence. Pa Tacho David is the quarterhead of Tobho. As one of the elderly persons that witnessed the ceremony, he said "I really want to thank MECUDA USA for giving the Tobho youths this opportunity to have these piglets and the coordinators that connected the Tobho quarter youths to the project. I've cautioned them to handle these pigs carefully and to feed them in a way that when the donors see it they'll admire and be happy they did something better for them."

Prior to the donation exercise, a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed some weeks back between the youth council and the beneficiary youth group with one of its terms being that upon delivery, two piglets will be given back to the Cameroon National Youth Council Mbengwi for onward donation to another youth association. But why the choice of Tobho youths as beneficiary? A question Mbengwi Online posed to Ndetan Nji Cyprain, the President of the Mbengwi Communal Bureau of the Cameroon National Youth Council. 

"Several factors were considered before choosing them" he commenced. "They are hardworking, united and influential" he continued. To him, after about six or seven years into the crisis, most of the youths' associations in Mbengwi have been very dormant but the Tobho youth have remained alive, shinning the limelight for other youth associations in the subdivision to follow. 

Quizzed about what the council has in the pipeline after this major realisation, he responded that "We still plan moving to other youth associations to impact them or we continue looking for funding." He thinks with the successful realisation of the Tobho Youths' Association Piggery Project, other youth associations will sit up so as to stand a chance of also benefiting. 

Ngwe Obed, MECUDA Home Branch President

As to defining the modus operandi of the Cameroon National Youth Council, he disclosed that it's not a political group but rather a bureau that's in charge of controlling youth associations in the subdivision. "You cannot just dive into one association without passing through the national youth council because we are there, we know who is who and what they're doing. We are like a main bridge that links funders to the beneficiaries which are the youth associations" he ended.

MECUDA USA has stood out distinct as the leading diaspora branch in terms of realising concrete projects back home that greatly impact the lives of humanity. Hardly will half a year go by without their name being mentioned for having done one or two things here and there. It is for this reason that the home branch president of the Meta Cultural and Development Association, Ngwe Obed was invited to witness the donation ceremony. In giving his appraisal, he said "What MECUDA USA has done today is a light to the youths here back at home. It is very encouraging because other youths will learn from what those of Tobho gained today."

He furthered that what MECUDA USA has done is in line with the vision of the President General of MECUDA, Professor Njoh Oliver, that of empowering all the branches to support development in the villages back home. "If other branches can support the home with such activities then MECUDA will be lively" he ended. 

It is hoped that in at most three months from date of handing over, at least two of the piglets will be pregnant. With the successful realisation of the Tobho Youths' Association Piggery Project sponsored by MECUDA USA under the leadership of Madam Musoro Olive as president through the Cameroon National Youth Council Mbengwi Communal Bureau of 2023, the question now is, who next?