Fon Organises Christmas Party in Guneku Palace for the Disabled

Fon Organises Christmas Party in Guneku Palace for the Disabled

To mark this end of year 2019, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Mbengwi have feasted with H.R.H Dr. Fomuki Walters of Guneku village in the Meta Clan, Mbengwi. On Saturday December 21st 2019, the palace arena was as busy as a beehive as close to a hundred disabled persons drawn from several parts of the sub division were in Guneku to commune with the fon whom though abroad, had his eyes and ears on the ground.

PWDs Having a Common Meal in the Palace 

Mr. Ngwa Vitalis, the fon's representative in explaining how the gesture came about said early this year, the lone community radio station in Mbengwi, Rainbow Radio broadcast a special report on the challenges faced by disabled persons in the municipality especially in the course of the ongoing armed conflict known as the Anglophone crisis.

H.R.H Dr. Fomuki Walters Ticha Fomujang, during his Coronation as Fon of Guneku Village on 27 January 2015
Photo Credit: GordonShots

As revealed by Mr. Agwe Eric Tata, president of the Association of Persons with Special Abilities (APSA) Mbengwi, first, there's that trauma coupled with inability to run for safety during gun exchanges due to visual or mobility impairment. As such, most are often abandoned to themselves or instead run into more danger. Via social media, the report got to the  fon's ears in Germany where he's based and he felt their pains. 

After being touched by their bitter testimonies, a convivial relationship was thus established between the fon and the PWDs. On June 4th 2019, about 25 of them assembled at the radio house in Mile 18, Ku-Bome, Mbengwi were a financial package from the fon was distributed to them. From the positive feedback gotten after the exercise, the royal authority was inspired to step in again and help this December 2019.

Entrance into the Guneku Fon's Palalace

One good turn deserves another said Mr. Ngwa Vitalis as he went further to explain that the fon thought it wise for the beneficiaries to know his palace since during the first donation exercise, they were only told the package was from the fon neither knowing where Guneku is nor how his palace looks like. So this time around, he decided to bring them right into the inner circles of his palace for a common end of year feast.

While in the palace, the physically challenged were offered a sumptuous meal. Though beneficiaries, they too also offered gifts to the palace through princess Fomuki Carine, herself being a disability expert that has worked with the SEEPD Program of the CBC Health Service. The physically challenged persons, both Meta indegenes, non Metas and the Mbororos spent time entertaining the palace with songs, drama, and a debate on who needs more help, between the cripple and the blind.

Dance by Bryma, Mentally Unstable

Staging by the Mbororos

Presenting Gifts to the Palace

Drama

Before leaving, they were offered a check of 500.000Frs by the fon for their socioeconomic empowerment while promising to always be by them when need arises. In appreciating the initiative and the financial donation, the association's president on behalf of the members said "I give praises to this palace and to His Royal Highness because it's thanks to him that we were able to resume our meetings and activities since the association had died down because of the crisis. After the first donation he promised to do more and today, he has matched words with action." To him, the gesture came just in time to put a big smile on the faces of persons with special abilities within the Mbengwi municipality.

On how some of them plan to judiciously utilise their own share of the money, Mrs. Ngong Cecilia Feh, a visually impaired from Kobenyang village said, "This package will help to enhance our daily activities as some of us keep birds, animals and do agriculture. So, with this, we will be able to afford good species of seedlings, animals and birds plus their feed. By so doing, our livelihoods will be improved upon"

Cross Section of Beneficiaries at the Event 

In biding them farewell, Mr. Ndingwan Primus, the Guneku Traditional Council Chairman tasked the beneficiaries to be courageous no matter the nature of their body for each and everyone has a task here to perform on earth and it should be well done.

It should be recalled that not only did the traditional authority provide aide to the PWDs but also to the channel through which their cries were amplified. Modern microphones were sent to Rainbow Radio in June 2019 and ever since they were installed, the quality of broadcast has been improved upon.

Kwem Dance Group 

The event was greased by the Kwem Dance Group of Guneku. The beneficiaries now look forth to properly utilising the assistance so that apart from the fon, other concerned individuals and institutions may also see need to come to their aide.

CAMASEJ Elections: Victor & Vanquished Demonstrate Political Maturity

CAMASEJ Elections: Victor & Vanquished Demonstrate Political Maturity

Viban Jude is now the  new national president of the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, (CAMASEJ). He beat his challenger Moki Charles during the national elective general assembly that was held in Douala on Saturday 30th June 2019.

Viban Jude (R) & Moki Charles (L) After Declaration of Results

Despite the tensions which is but normal during such exercises, the election went on well and upon proclamation of final results, both winner and loser embraced each other promising to put CAMASEJ over their individual interests

In his acceptance speech, Viban Jude told the electorate "I promise on behalf of the team that we are going to work with everyone because we are all talented in our various ways. Moki is somebody I have a lot of respect for. I count on his support and experience. CAMASEJ remains the winner" Moki Charles on his part congratulated Jude and in also addressing the electorate said "We have an objective to support this team and make CAMASEJ great again. Mr. President you can count on my support."

Moki Congratulating Viban for his Victory
Photo Credit: GPmREDIA

Before now, Simon Lyonga of CRTV was at the helm of the association since August  2015 till November 2019 when fresh elections were conducted. Viban Jude of CAMASEJ Yaounde chapter works for L'Action Newspaper while Moki Charles of CAMASEJ Douala chapter works for a corporation. 

219 delegates from the various CAMASEJ chapters nationwide, that is Douala, Yaounde, Buea, Kumba, Limbe and North West took part in the elections and at the end of the vote counting exercise, Viban Jude had 126 votes while Moki Charles had 92.

Viban's Supporters Celebrating Victory by lifting up their New President

Douala chapter presented the highest number of delegates, 72 followed by Yaounde with 48, Bamenda with 34, Kumba with 30, Buea with 29 and 23 for Limbe. 

The electoral board that coordinated the exercise was made up Obah Rosaline, Station Manager of CBS Radio, Bamenda, Pa Gideon Tarka, Station Manager of Radio Hot Cocoa Bamenda and Comfort Musa, a Yaoundé based corporate communicator.

Prior to the elective general assembly, campaigns were hot mostly on social media. Both aspiring candidates had ardent campaigners that aggressively took social media platforms mostly WhatsApp groups hostage with campaign messages for their choice candidates.

Electoral Board
L-R: Comfort Musa, Obah Rose, Gideon Tarka

Even some Cameroon journalists (social media activists) of  English expression  based abroad sided with their desired candidates in a bit to win more voters for them. While Mimi Mefo of  Mimi Mefo Info was for Moki Charles, Eric Tataw of National Telegraph and Nfor Hanson of Cameroon News Agency backed Viban Jude. The trio each wrote and circulated short messages on social media why they think Candidate "A" or "B" will better serve the association.

Both aspirants are said to have produced rich manifestos reflecting the aspirations of many English speaking journalists in Cameroon as regards salary situation, access to information, arbitrary arrests, international exposure just to name these few. 

Delegates at the EGA

Viban Jude for example in his manifesto told the electorate, "With your support, together we will resurrect the association and take it to an enviable level. It is time to pick 'A New Angle' hinged on advocacy, defending the rights of journalists, training, welfare and career development of our members." 

Moki Charles on his part summarised his manifesto in what he termed The ATAN Model, meaning Advocacy, Training, Awareness and Networking. His plan was to enhance professionalism, encourage respect of ethics and standards, focus on regular capacity building initiatives for members, promote merit and excellence through an annual award and set up a CAMASEJ permanent secretariat either in Buea or Bamenda.

Simon Lyonga, Out Gone CAMASEJ National President
Photo Credit: GPmEDIA

CAMASEJ elections have often been done via the list system, meaning a president is voted and he then builds his team taking into consideration representation of all the chapters. As such the new team to head CAMASEJ National Bureau for a period of four years provided the constitutional mandate duration isn't changed is made up of:

1. President - Viban Jude - Yaounde 

2. Vice President - Maimo Davidson - Limbe 

3. Secretary General - Wanchia Cynthia - N.W 

4. Vice S.G - Bennen Buma  Gana - Yaounde 

5. Treasurer - Ursula Ajebesone - Kumba 

6. Financial Secretary - Nanji Pelagie - Buea 

7. Assistant Fin. Sec - Frida Egbe - Yaounde 

8. Public Relations Officer - Jatto Richard - N.W

9. Social Sec - Richard Shengang - Kumba 

10. Auditor - Tayong Fah Elvis - Douala 

The electoral exercise was preceded by two educative talks from Barrister Nico Halle on peace and Franklin Kiven of UNESCO on humanitarian reporting. Many now await the implementation of the promises the winner made.