Underneath Minister Mbah Acha's Recent Home Visit

Minister Mbah Acha In Between N.W Governor and Momo S.D.O

When the sun rose on Friday 29 November 2024 to offer in a new dawn of the day, traffic flow became tilted towards the Mbengwi municipal stadium. The chairs, canopies, decoration, banners, beefed up security and helicopter hovering around were indicative of something huge to happen. The ensuing seconds, minutes and hours ahead will turn out to be hectic for all and sundry. Material gifts had been deposited in heeps, indicative of the fact that a high personality is visiting to make donations. 

Upon arrival on the Mbengwi municipal stadium where a mammoth crowd had gathered, H.E Mbah Acha Rose Fomundam, Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic Incharge of Supreme State Audit, accompanied by the North West Regional Governor, Adolph Lele Lafrique were entreated to a hilarious welcome, firstly by warm and kind words from a young girl who wished the Minister a happy and comfortable stay before handing over a bouquet of flowers to her.

Mbengwi Municipal Stadium on Day of the Visit

 

On hand to welcome the Minister administratively was the Senior Divisional Officer for Momo, Fouda Etaba Bernoit Nicaise, followed by the Divisional Officers of Mbengwi, Batibo, Ngie , Njikwa and Widikum. It was the same for the Mayors of the five Municipal Councils in the Division.

The minister had come with a plethora of financial and material gifts comprised of basic household needs like blankets, mattresses, cartons of soap, gas plates, buckets, food transformation and preservation machines like cassava and corn grinding mills, sprayers and pressers, basic food items like flour, sugar, rice, salt and vegetable oil, didactic school materials like bags and books to encourage academic excellence in the basic and secondary education sectors, farm inputs like fertiliser, watering cans, cutlasses, rain boots, helmets for  commercial motorbike riders as well as sports equipment to support two football academies in the division and many other items.

.      Mbengwi Municipal Stadium on Day of Visit

The gifts worth over 45 millions greatly impacted a cross section of the struggling population still recovering from difficulties caused by the over 7 year long Anglophone Crisis. In his welcome address, the Mayor of the Mbengwi Council Ndangsa Kennedy Akam lauded the initiative of H.E Mbah Acha Rose Fomundam for maintaining the culture of always visiting her people. He praised her for the strides taken to encourage educational activities as well as food production in the five Sub Divisions in Momo. Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy also presented efforts made by the population of Mbengwi to prepare and ensure effective resumption of academic activities in the two professional schools in the the municipality namely ENIEG and ENIET.

The teaching and learning process in these two institutions had stopped following the eruption of the Anglophone Crisis. With palpable signs of normalcy observed of recent, the hope was that activities will resume in the two schools. Unfortunately, things didn't go as anticipated yet the mayor didn't relent his efforts to continue clamouring for their return and also the allocation to his municipality of some of the faculties of the University of Bamenda.

On her part, the Minister promised that she will be coming again with more items that will positively impact other sectors. "I brought these items with love and I pray you share them with love to everyone, no fighting" she cautioned.  In a straight forward statement, she appealed for peace efforts to continue and called on the people of Momo to be loyal to state institutions throughout the republic and to H.E President Paul Biya, whose confidence placed her where she is. "You can not pick a plum and eat and instead of showing appreciations to the plum tree , you go and do it to a pear tree" she added.

Mbengwi Municipal Stadium on Day of the Visit

Mbah Acha Rose Fomundam became minister in 2015 and one year after her appointment by the Head of State, the Anglophone Crisis started. Before then she had visited Batibo, Ngie, Njikwa, Widikum Mbengwi and Ngie at least once. "If not of these crisis, I would've continued visiting all these subdivisions every time to commune with my people" said the minister. She too has faced the realities on the ground with regards to insecurity as she testified her convoy has come under attack over eight times either when she's visiting Mbengwi or Batibo with the Non State Fighters going as far as using Improvised Explosive Devices in an attempt to harm her.

"Despite all these, I've not abandoned you people. I've kept coming" she told the mammoth crowd as they cheered her determination. Underneath the minister's visit was campaigning for the reelection of president Paul Biya in 2025 and the C.P.D.M party currently controlling all five councils in the division to maintain their grip in 2026 when voters will go to the poles for municipal and legislative elections. To her, there's no need changing the winning team. 

While directly throwing shots at her political rivalries of the opposition that have also been showing face on the ground in the build up to the forthcoming elections, the minister challenged the population to ask them where they've been all this while. To her, they abandoned the people during this crisis period but her party and her have always been there for them. 

Minister Mbah Acha Addressing the Population on the Mbengwi Municipal Stadium

When the M.P for Momo East, Mbengwi took to the rostrum, she began by thanking the minister. In her own words "We are conscious of the fact that you have spent above 40 million to come and see your people at the end of year to make them happy and above all to empower them economically. How else can we express our gratitude to you for braving the odds to come to your base because charity begins at home? Your sisters and brothers have come out to support you because you are a square peck in a square hole."

Like a prophetess on the pulpit dishing out the Word of God to her Christians, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia called on God to continue to uplift and protect the minister, that as she removes from her pockets, she will never lack in Jesus' name and the crowd shouted "Amen". At the end the items were distributed to the various beneficiary groups that were drawn from across the division. The Mbengwi Council was offered a tricycle. Multiple dance groups animated the ceremony.

By Moris Tagyen & Fongoh p. Ayeh

Seta W. Wiertz Awarded for Outstanding Humanitarian Works and Youth Empowerment

Seta Withgodep Wiertz is the Executive Director of Withgodep Foundation and A Better World Organisation. His late father was visually impaired yet a humanitarian, reason why he easily fitted in his shoes to continue his legacy. Since from childhood, Seta has been helping others materially, financially, morally and physically especially the underprivileged, the elderly, the sick and orphans.

After his many years of continuous humanitarian activities, he was on Saturday 14 2024 presented the Golden Awards Certificate of Excellence in the category of Best Humanitarian Organisation. Fah Elvis Tayong is the president of the organising committee of the award that's been running for five years now. 

Seta Withgodep Wiertz with his Award

In tracing how it all started, he said "What pushed us into the awards proper is the fact that we felt as media persons being the mirror to the society and having  been lambasting on the government for wrong doings, at the end we realised in as much as there are wrong doings, there are also right doings. We decided that while we are hitting hard and going, we should also be appreciative when it is good"

To have selected Withgodep Foundation as winner out of the other nominees in the category of Best Civil Society Organisation wasn't an easy decision to take. How then did the jury come to this conclusion? Elvis answered that "What makes Withgodep Foundation to be above the other three contesters is the fact that though the others were media inclined, comparing their activities, his were far in terms of impact and practical work coupled with the fact that the other organisations had moved out of their zones during this crisis period while Withgodep Foundation  remained at their base here in Mbengwi where their impact is greatly felt"

Family Photo

The event to hand over the certificate of excellence to the laureate took place at Abi Fall Resort where Seta doubles as manager. While conferring a badge on his chest, Bih Malvis Chickmana, representative of the award committee in Momo division said "I want to use this opportunity to tell him that the good heart you have towards humanity, may the Almighty continue to be with you and empower you wherever you are."

Present were friends, family members and colleagues of the laureate some of who used the opportunity to also recognise his role model lifestyle especially when it comes to helping others. Tata Valery said "I have learnt a whole lot of skills from Mr. Seta even without him knowing. What I got from him, words cannot say Thank You. I have taken up  various leadership positions in church, in my community thanks to the things I have learnt from him, to be humanitarian."

Seta and his Biological Family Members

To Tangyi Chantal, Seta is doing a great job reason why she has only positive observations to make concerning everything he's been doing. Her views were corroborated by Wanye Julius who started by saying "Seta is someone who forgives even the devil, someone that's generous to a fault until some persons have now taken it as a weakness to play over him, someone that doesn't get angry for up to two minutes no matter the crime the person has commited. He's always smiling, very down to earth and treats everyone equally."

Speaking directly to Seta, Julius said "I've come to learn a lot from you; to put what will benefit others first and I pray I'll keep learning to be a good person too just like you are." Khan Marshall Choh is one time president of Mbengwi Driver's Union and has been closed to Seta for years often running driving errands for him. He told Seta "Congratulations sir, I am very pleased to have a son like you. We are proud of you. You instead made me to be humble. I'm a hard man, very very hard but I changed to be humble because I envied your lifestyle."

Attendees at Ceremony 

At the end of the event, the awardee dedicated the special recognition he was recieving to all who've helped him this while realise his dreams. Hear him "this award is not just for me. I am unable to do one bit of what you're awarding me for doing without the rest of the people who collaborate with me, who have helped me to be who I am and who I still want to be." He will go on to cite such persons beginning with God, his late grandparents, his late father and stepfather, his mother and step mother, brothers, sisters, wife, children and friends. 

Seta Withgodep Wiertz apart from being a humanitarian is also an artist, a diplomat and a leader. He runs A Better World Children's Home in Ka'ajik, Bome where over a hundred motherless and or fatherless kids have been properly raised with at least four of them now out of the country, at least four already recruited into the public service of Cameroon and many are currently pursuing their education. The living standards of the children and structural organisation of the home (he doesn't like calling it Orphanage) are top notch.

Fah Elvis Tayong, 

It should be recalled that before recieving the Golden Award, Seta had on 30th October 2024 also recieved Cameroon Youth Award in the category of Leadership and Service to Empower Young People. Organised by Mountain Hub in partnership with UNDP and the German cooperation GIZ, the award ceremony took place at the Yaounde Conference Centre in the presence of Cameroon's Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, the German and U.S ambassadors to Cameroon and other high ranking dignitaries.

Mbemi Fon Returns to Palace

H.H.R Mbabit H. Tangwan and Some Subjects in front of the Mbemi Palace 

The month of December again came to the limelight in the life of H.R.H Fon Mbabit H. Tangwan. It was on Thursday 12 December 2024 that the traditional leader of Mbemi stepped foot back in his palace, 4 years after he ran away. Before reaching his Mbemi village, Fon Mbabit first passed through the Mbengwi palace then to the Njindom palace, the Guneku palace and finally his own palace.

Coming home at a time when Meta sons and daughters were also planning to hold the 2024 annual general meeting of their development association known as MECUDA in Guneku, the Fon used the opportunity to tour round seeing the level of preparedness key amongst which was the bulldozing of roads. 

Fon of Mbemi and Fon of Njindom

Bulldozer Opening Up Roads in the Medig Zone

While in the Guneku palace, Fon Mbabit communed with students of Momo Educational Development Program in Health Sciences and Technology, MEDPHISATG. In addressing them with words of encouragement, he said "We thank the Fon of Guneku most especially for making this learning facility available to us to serve this zone"

Upon leaving Guneku, the Fon toured several quarters of Mbemi, meeting some of his notables and subjects right in their homes and communing with them. He also visited some projects realised in his village like a newly constructed bridge by the Mbengwi Council linking Mbemi to Njindom. He also visited Presbyterian Church Mbemi Congregation to ascertain the level of realisation of their ceiling project. 

Fon Mbabit Infront of the Guneku Palace Gate

The Fon with Students of MEDPIHSATG

Mbemi has a nursery and primary school functioning in the church yard with over 50 pupils. He went round visiting the pupils and teachers in their various classrooms encouraging them to take education serious. He also gave some financial motivation to the staff of the school to boost their morals. He was received in the church yard by the pastor of the congregation, Rev. Che Jackeus.

Having come face to face with realities in his village, the Fon ended in the palace where he held a consultation meeting with some notables and quarterheads for updates on how affairs have been unfolding in his absence. He had the maiden opportunity to see for himself the level at which his palace renovation project sponsored by the royal family, his subjects and well wishers has reached and was impressed with the distance covered. 

The Fon Inspecting the Level of Execution of P.C Mbemi Ceiling Project

The Fon Communing with Pupils of the Nursery & Primary School in Mbemi

To express his satisfaction, he poured ancestral blessings on the main contractor, Fongom Elvis Teghen by offering him the opportunity to drink palm wine from the royal cup of the Mbemi people. This was preceded by a presentation of the Fon to the ancestors of the village by some notables and kingmakers at a special shrine in the palace, calling on them to recieve him back with love after abandoning them though not out of his own making. Some rites were performed by pouring libation at the shrine. It is believed it is for the ancestors to also drink and commune with them that are still alive.

Asah Celestine Akem is a native of Mbemi. He told us "We feel very excited welcoming our Fon after this while. He left unexpected due to the severity of the crisis which all of us knew. He had this opportunity to come back to the palace and the visit took us by surprise. We hope that he has come to stay nomatter the fact that he is engaged in other life saving duties."

The Fon Blessing the Contractor of the New Mbemi Palace Under Construction 

The New Mbemi Palace Under Construction

Asked to make an evaluation of his tour, Fon Mbabit H. Tangwan started by first extending a vote of thanks to the Mbengwi Council for the bridge and the Minister of Supreme State Audit for her constant motherly care and support to see into it that such projects reach the ground and are effectively executed for the benefit of the population.

In a special word of appreciation to his subjects worldwide, Fon Mbabit said "I want to thank Mbemi sons and daughters worldwide for supporting us realise major projects back home. We had a fundraiser in Limbe for the construction of a new palace in the village and work is ongoing. I thank them for the electricity extension project they've been championing and the school children they've been supporting with scholarships so that they aren't left behind. I'm proud of you all."

The Fon Inspecting a Newly Constructed Bridge by the Mbengwi Council Linking Mbemi to Njindom

The Fon Communing with One of his Notables 

13 December 2020 is a day the Fon of Mbemi village in Mbengwi will never forget. To the villagers, it was an abomination. On this day non state armed fighters locally known as Amba Boys kidnapped him together with his colleague, the Fon of Wumnembug, a neighbouring village to Mbemi. They underwent days of severe torture while in captivity. 

This was during a politically sensitive period as the 9th February 2020 municipal and legislative elections were imminent. The Fon of Mbemi was accused of meddling into politics as his name appeared on the list of potential C.P.D.M councilors to run the affairs of the Mbengwi council while the Fon of Wumnembug was accused of interacting with the military.

Both were later released about 3 days after and immediately they absconded their palaces for safety. It will not be long for the Fon of Wumnembug to return to his palace and went about with his daily routines. As for that of Mbemi, based on the severity of what he faced and the trauma, his stay away took years.

Culturally, it is believed nomatter what, a Fon is never to be punished for whatever wrong doing worst of it to be kidnapped, molested and tortured by rogues. Certainly this could be why it didn't take long thereafter for all fighters that were involved in the act to start falling one after the other in battle certainly as repercussion for rough handling a traditional leader that is believed to incarnate supernatural powers conferred on him by his subjects and colleagues  at coronation. 

The situation of the Anglophone Crisis in Mbengwi that caused him to flee later de-escalated. The Fon started revisiting Mbengwi once in a while but will end only in the central municipality that's well secured and not dare descend to his Mbemi for once beaten, twice shy and once beaten by a snake, even a worm becomes so scary. 

Mbemi, Guneku, Njindom, Nyen, Wumnembug etc that used to be very risky villages where "Amba Boys" were very much present gradually  regained normalcy following a heavy military crackdown on the fighters. Some were killed, others escaped and today the area is completely free of any fighter.