Book on Self Development Now in Cameroonian Libraries

The launching was meant to provide Scholarships for primary school pupils.
Men have been challenged to put aside chauvinists’ ideas and go for a book described as one of quality written by inspiration and by a woman, which will go a long way to improve their thinking, build and develop themselves.
The clarion call was made by Ntumfour Nico Halle who was chairman and chief launcher of the book. He added that the book “Your Journey to Success” is talking about God given potential which people have been unable to actualise.
Talking about the book, Ireanus Chomgwain said the book was written with focus on the growing unemployment and it focused mostly on women and youths. He added that it is a book on self development and one can always find a way forward if there is a determination.
Reviewing the book, Martin Njumbam said the book was published in 2008 and falls in line with other books which have been published in other parts of the world on positive thinking. Njumbam said that the book is deserved to be read especially as it has been written at a time where there is great depression, hard times, unemployment among others, because it acts as a catalyst to relief stress.
In chapter one of the book, the reviewer said the writer puts it there cannot be success without a goal. Therefore in other to succeed there must be goals which will cause motivate, and with which you will run to achieve. He continued with chapter two stating that it takes a crucial look at responsibilities of actions, while the next chapter talks on challenging ourselves and overcoming doubts.
Furthermore, he said in chapter four the writer talks of generosity, which he explained as being open to all ideas, thoughts, volunteer our time, do something without expecting a reward, and also to give compliments to people. In the rest of the chapters, the writer talked of what to do to get out of poverty, which the reviewer added that there has to be a change of mind, set, and learn how to handle success. The next was to learn not to make quick decisions and to learn to take challenges and risks. Then the last chapter was a challenge to take action now but learn to work with people. The reviewer ended by saying “This is a good product”.
The author, Maceline Bih has been in The United States of America for seven years and has decided to return home. She said she has decided to settle here in Cameroon because she believes “The grass is greener where it is watered”.
She said in writing the book she was motivated, she had a desire to contribute towards the development of Cameroon. She added that success is a journey and not a destination.
Maceline Bih has a foundation, (Maceline Bih Scholarship Foundation) and has already offered 48 scholarships to some pupil.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Traders Accuse Société Binyam of Extortion

The traders claim Binyim levies high taxes on them and they do injustice in the levy.
Some traders of the New Bell Gare A market of complained of paying too many taxes and that there are a lot of injustice which the Company Binyam does in levying them with taxes. The traders gave different rates which they pay irrespective of what the activity they carryout in the market. A trader who sells mangoes by the roadside said each day he is levied FCFA 500, while a lady close by to him pays FCFA 100 each day.
Binyam is a company which controls New Bell Gare A market in terms of taxes and represents the Douala City Council in that market and at the same time also controls the tax which has to be handled by the Douala II council in the market.
Talking to Ndedi Thomas Lerond, the Secretary General of Société Binyam, he said traders tell a lot of lies because some of them what to benefit but do not want to pay at all. He clarified the issue of the taxes by quoting a decree of 20th December, 2002 signed by the former Prime Minister, Peter Mafany Musonge, which established the various taxes traders have to pay in the market.
According to the decree, he stated, all traders have to pay the tax Droit de Place which has to be FCFA250 per day. But he said they decided not to follow as stated by the decree but dropped it to FCFA 100 per day for those who sell on the floor. But those who own shops in the market pay FCFA 3000. This tax he said is controlled by the City Council. Added to this tax is the Occupation Temporaire pour la Voie Publique, OTVP, which is paid by those who sell by the road side because that is occupying government space temporarily. It is also FCFA 100 and collected by the Douala II Council.
There is also Impôt Libératoire also paid to the Douala II council and the amount depends on the kind of activity each trader carries out and the volume of activity. It is ranked according to A-E. The Council clashes with the Centre Divisionnaire de Impôts, CDI, as far as this tax is concerned.
Ndedi added that there some traders pay who pay trimester and for a space of two metres square the trader pays FCFA 18,000 while those who have kiosk by the roadside pay FCFA 1500 per month.
There is another tax he said which is paid by those who rent shops from others in the market and the tenant pays the rent fee to the owner of the shop and then pays a tax to CDI and the owner of the shop intends pays too to the CDI. He said sometimes these traders should not be blamed because of the many taxes.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

MINDAF Minister on Working Visit with Trouble Shooting Commission

The minister was working with the adhoc National Commission set up in April to solve land issues.
The Minister of State Property and Land Tenure, Pascal Anong Adibime, has been in Douala for a working visit with an adhoc National Commission which was put in place on April 1by the minister of Land Tenure. This commission was set up because he recognised Douala has so many housing and land problems, so the commission had to handle documents of big enterprises especially in areas where land is widely solicited.
The commission was made up of Regional Delegates, Divisional Officers , Senior Divisional Officers, Mayors and the working session was the fist with the Minister since the commission was set up.
During the session one of the serious cases which came up was that of the land dispute between the Catholic Church and the Islamic Cultural Association in Cameroon, who had a land title for the land which the Catholic Church had built a school. The Minister resolved the problem saying that the Islamic Cultural Association rightfully own the land and because they cannot destroy the school they will give to the Islamic Cultural Association the amount of the school has occupied, so if it is possible to add to their land the used up space that same area but if not it will be given in another area.
The next was that of the land of the University of Douala in Ndogbong and Logbessou which was given by the State. The Rector of the University asked that a land title be issued in the name of the University which the Minister asked it should be done but the University will have to pay for the stamp and the tax. And for the land in Ndogbong which the public has encroached and built their houses he said it should be mapped out again and those who have encroached will have their land titles in that area seized and their houses destroyed.
The issue of Aeroport de Douala, ADC, and the lad at airport zone which has been occupied and some people even have land titles. The Minister said that the airport has to be protected. Though the land was given to ADC by the State, the State is going to take the land again and all those houses will be destroyed and later had back again to ADC.
The case between Denis Fampou and the Ministry of Women and the Family who want to construct a women hall on the land Fampou wants to build a Youth Centre in New Bell. Minister Anong Adibime said the land should be left

Voluntary Cancer Screening at Laquintinie

The exercise which seeks to diagnose various cancer threats will run for two days.
A voluntary cancer screening drive is taking place at the Douala Laquintinie hospital. The tests which include breast, the cervix and the prostate will run from 3-4 September.
Talking to Dr. Tebeu Pierre Marie, a Gynaecologists and Obstetrician, he said the aim of the voluntary screening is to identify manifestations or systoms which are developing or have developed at the level of the breast, cervix or prostate. He said the same tests have been carried out in other regions of the country. Dr Tebeu said each year there are about 1000 new cases of cancer of the cervix and 500 women often end up dying. He added that there are many ways of diagnosing cervical cancer. These include the Visual Inspection of Lugol Iodine, VILI and the Visual Inspection of Acetic Acid. He added that this method is simple, as nurses can apply it easily in rural zones. He also praised the method as cheaper, available and also of good quality.
He added that other tests which can also be used for diagnosis include the Human Papilloma Virus, HPV test, which he said is very expensive and also rare. The second he said is the Pap test where a specimen is taken from the cervix and placed on the side in the laboratory. “There are very few psycho-technicians to read it”, he said, noting that there are quite few in Douala and Yaounde, as well as in the world as a whole. It is because of this reason he said that the World Health Organisation came up with the VILI, VIA method.
As for the breast cancer the method is to rub the breast gently in order to determine whether there are any lumps; and for the prostrate they do a rectal examination to see if the penis has increased in size and touch it if it is still soft.
Dr. Edjangue Sarriette explained that the VILI and VIA methods are the easiest way to pick out cancer of the cervix. She said the VILI liquid is used in the cervix and after two seconds the VIA liquid is used to immediate identify any virus. For the breast she said sometimes it is very hard or the colour changes yellowish.
She added that the exercise is to sensitise and train collaborators, who will intend carry it to local areas.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Butchers Organize Promotional Sales

The prices of meat drastically dropped yesterday front of the Douala IV council, Bonaberi.
In a bid to step up the fight against poverty and reduce the prices of basic commodities in the market, another sales point has been put in place to sell meat to the population of Douala IV at a reduced rate, contrary to what is obtained at the market. The idea is an initiative of the Ministry of Trade, which started last year, January 14, where butchers began selling meat in front of the Delegation of Trade in Akwa.
At the new sales point in Bonaberi, the price of a kilogram of meat with bones costs FCFA 2100 and FCFA 2400 without bones, as oppose to FCFA 2200 and FCFA 2500 previously.With the new prices, half a kilogram of meat without bones costs FCFA 1400, while that with bones is FCFA 1100.
The Chief of the Association of Butchers in the Littoral and the Southwest regions, Alhadji Souley Toro, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, said since the initiative began in 2008, they have succeeded to open this promotional sales point in Douala I; II, and now Douala IV; He said they intend to create similar points in all the councils in Douala. He added that they will not stop selling until the prices in the market drop to normal. Alhadji Souley said fighting the hike in prices of meat is from the level of wholesalers and not from retailers. He added that when they drop the prices of meat the prices of cows will also drop. He said the turn of Douala III will be next week Wednesday, July 29.
On his part, the 1st Assistant Mayor to the Douala IV Council, Djeudje André lauded the initiative, adding that administrators would always cooperate with butchers to make available space for the sales. He said the space is a roundabout which is easily accessible to anyone who wants to get there.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Malta Guinness Now in Bigger Bottles

Guinness Cameroon SA has changed the size of one of its brands, Malta Guinness from 30cl bottle to 33cl bottle. The official launching took place at Akwa Palace, on October 7. Malta Guinness is the only non-alcoholic brand produced by Guinness in the world and the drink which was first produced in Cameroon in 1984 has grown to be the most loved and sought for. It is a nourishing drink that contains 186 k calories in 300ml bottle of Malta Guinness. Its rich taste comes from the finest quality natural ingredients that provide sustained energy.
Malta Guinness now appears in a stylish shaped bottle of 33cl, the bottle embossed with barley on the neck, and distinctive label on the bottle which has a front and back modernised label which introduces all the product’s components and highlights its natural goodness. The logo has been updated to be more fashionable. Then the crown cork has also changed to a cool yellow base that is lively and full of goodness.
Despite all these changes, it is only the outlet that has changed because the liquor has increased in quantity but it still remains the same tasty liquid which earned the product the name “goodness”.
Malta Guinness contains 23.6grams of Maltotriose, which is a long chain of sugar molecule broken down more slowly by the body, 53 percent of Vitamin B1 which prevents muscular weakness and swelling of the heart and leg cramps. It contains 75 percent of Vitamin B2 to prevent sensitivity to light and skin lesions, 46 percent of Vitamin B3 to prevent skin eruption, 75 percent vitamin B6 to prevent kidney stones and skin disorder. Malta Guinness also contains 25 percent of Vitamin B12 which fights anaemia, Vitamin C which maintains connective tissues and Iron which forms the haemoglobin, the red pigment in blood.
The change in size is seen by the producers as a way of rewarding loyal consumers of Malta Guinness. They also believe it is to ensure that the natural nutritional goodness of Malta Guinness is also reflected in the quality in goodness and in the trendy packaging. And also to identify Malta Guinness as a drink for enjoyment, nourishment and vitality.
“I ‘m delighted to reveal the new look for Malta Guinness, which is designed to make sure that the premium status and goodness of Malta Guinness in the inside is also reflected on the outside” said Anne Mambo, Marketing Director , Guinness Cameroon. One remarkable issue is that the price has not changed.
Guinness Cameroon used the opportunity to celebrate the homecoming party of the national street dance champions, who represented Cameroon in Kenya, at the Malta Guinness Street Dance Africa competition to spread the new look of the drink nation wide. Malta Guinness was in partnership with United Dance Organisation, UDO, to bring Africa its biggest international street dance contest. Malta Guinness street dance Africa consist of a series of regional competitions were the best are selected for a national finals. The champions then represent their countries in Nairobi on September 12. Cameroon’s representatives came back as heroes.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Choosing Better Careers for Better Living

The assessment was made in an opening of a two day career fair, organized at Salle de Fete Akwa, Douala.
It is always a difficult task to choose a career after the GCE Advanced level or Baccalaureate, because it is one of the serious decision points in life. Guidance is the best choice for a student at this point. This is the reason why, the publisher of the magazine L’emploi, Debora Ngo Tonye in collaboration with professional institutions in Douala have organised a fair to better orientation students especially those entering the University in the forth coming academic year to be career driven. The career fair has the objective to give students in Douala the knowledge of their careers and different kinds of trainings they could receive to move ahead after acquiring the A’ level or Baccalaureate. The career fair has as theme; choosing your Career after Bac.
The youths are finding it more and more difficult to get involved in the world of professionalism. This is caused by the handicap they get by not being trained professionally or did not get a better orientation on which career to pursue in their higher education. The fair is intended to fill that gap. The career fair falls at a period where parents and students who have just obtained their results can make better choices from the opportunities offered to them, from the orientation they will get from the councillors, heads of companies, representatives of institutions and universities who will be present at the different stands.
The career fair will comprise of two issues, it will be a moment of reflection from talks which will be given to heads of enterprises, economic operators, etc on topics like, understanding the Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D system and its importance in the job market, the careers most needed by companies and professional training. The second issue the presenters on the stands presented their products, flyers to the students and parents who were present at Salle de fete.
Talking to Benjamin Kisso, Regional Manager of the National Employment Fund, he said there are three fundamental decisions in human life, which are aspirations, talents and reality of the environment. He added that if anyone chooses a wrong career, he will spend ¾ of his life in frustration.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Fight Against Yellow Fever Epidemic Kicks Off

Vaccination has already begun in the big towns in Cameroon.
The fight against the outbreak of an epidemic of yellow fever in Cameroon has been launched beginning with the bigger regions after which they will move to the smaller regions. It is believed that an outbreak contamination can easily take place in the big towns than in villages where the houses are more spaced out. So far the exercise has kicked off in Douala, Yaoundé, Garoua and Maroua in all district hospitals.
The fever has been discovered in the East Region in Messamena. In 2003 12 cases were discovered in Bafia and Ntui in the Centre Region and Meri in the Far North Region. In Ngaoundéré rural region in 2004, in Yoko 2005, Messamena, 2006, Akonolinga and Messamena 2007, Abong Mbang and Nguelemendouka in the East Region in 2008.
In a vaccination campaign, pregnant women, very sick persons and babies between zero to nine months are exempted. But babies from 9 to 11 months and travellers are immune or are mostly the ones vaccinated. The vaccine expires after 10 years after which it can be renewed In the case of campaign children from nine months in all 62 districts...
The chief of Service of Health at the District hospital in Logbaba, Dr Nyamsi Beke said yellow fever is a virus, Flaviviridae, transmitted by a mosquito, Ades aegyptii, from monkeys. The illness, he said manifests like malaria but the patient’s eyes will be yellow, his fingers and finger nails will be yellow. He said once a patient comes to the hospital manifesting these threats, he is immediately sent to Centre Pasteur in Yaoundé which is the only centre were yellow fever is tested in Cameroon.
He added that it has no cure and it is very contagious and also kills easily. Once a patient is discovered with the diseases, he has to be isolated and a vaccination campaign carried out fast on those around the area.
Dr Nyamsi said if a patient who is diagnosed yellow fever succeeds to get well, it means that his immune system was very strong but if some years to come he will develop cancer of the liver.
The 2009 vaccination campaign which has begun on May 4, will run till May 11. It is carried out in all district hospitals as well as strategic and temporal points such as schools, chiefs compounds.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Mobile Phone Identification made Easy

Mobile phone companies have embarked on a door to door procedure to make identification possible for all.
For some months now the Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Biyiti bi Essam has instituted a new procedure to get all Cameroonians to identify themselves with their mobile telephone numbers. That is Orange, Mobile Telecommunication Network, MTN and CAMTEL numbers were to be identified with their users. This exercise was supposed to last for six months after which unidentified numbers will be suspended and finally their communication ceased.
In the past six months the mobile phone companies prescribed the identification procedure to be carried out. The customers had to bring a photocopy of their identity cards, a passport size photograph stapled on the photocopy, their numbers written and neighbourhood of the customer. This document was to be deposited in any registration boot where the customer is subscribed.
The procedure was not very easy and made identification slower than expected, especially for workers who had no time to make stops at the identification boots.
By the time the deadline expired in November, three months were added and the month of February is said to be the last month. These companies have now adopted a new procedure to reach out to everybody. This is a door to door approach. Some young boys and girls are sent out to do the job. The customer does not need to give a passport size photography or photocopy of his identity card. The young people who went round from office to office to meet Orange subscribers collected only photocopies of identity cards with phone numbers written on them and the neighbourhood of customers while MTN customers were snapped on the spot and their identity cards snapped too. But at the available boots put in town, for those who can make it there, the customer is snapped with a webcam and their identity cards scanned and numbers registered.
Through the new procedure it is believed majority customers would have registered before the stated deadline.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Challenges of Women in the Media Addressed

A two day seminar was organised at Sky Bonapriso to address the difficulties Women face in the media.
Journalism is mostly regarded as a man’s world and a strange world for women, reasons why in most media houses in Cameroon and abroad there is some degree of marginalisation which takes place. The political and economic articles are done by men and the soft news is handled by women. Besides this there are other situations which the female journalists face in their work ^laces such as sexual harassment, among others. These are issues which media persons sought to address in a two day seminar which took place in Bonapriso Douala.
The seminar was organised by the federation of International Journalists, FIJ and Union of Professional Syndicates of Press in Central Africa, USYPAC, in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Foundation on the theme “Women in the Media and their rights to Syndicates in Central Africa”.
Pamela Morinièr, in Charge of Authors rights, gender equality and projects said the main problem of journalism generally is that their pay package is very low. But added women have a very low pay package, the face gender inequality and are sexually harassed. These are issues she said which they seek to address. In handling these problems, she said they seek to raise awareness to media professionals to be conscious of this ill, put in place more structures and unions to handle these issues, do gender campaign, speak out these issues to let female journalists know they are not alone and to stick together to fight this ill.
The Country representative of Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Dr Klaus-Peter Treydte said the women are not alone in their fight but they are out to support the women and to foster gender equality in the work place. The Foundation presented a research which they carried out on gender Equality in Journalism which they had to expatiate on it during the seminar.
In her presentation, Henriette Ekwe, coordinator of Central Africa, presented the situation of female journalists in Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, and Congo. She pointed on the issue most women not being interested in becoming members of the syndicate because they do not believe in it. And it was highlighted negotiations pass faster with women in the syndicate. She remarked that women are mostly found in the broadcast media as presenters and there are few in the print. Most of them are sent on reports for soft news, there are few who ascend to the position of editors, and they are looked upon as inefficient especially when they have t take off three months on maternity leave.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

There is Still Hope for HIV Patients

Government prepares measures to sustain people living with HIV even without subventions from outside.
There have been worries by some people living with HIV/AIDS and leaders of some non-governmental organisations which take care of people living with HIV on continuity in the treatment of these patients if government ceases from receiving subventions from the global funding body.
The worries stem from the fact that Cameroon has missed the eighth and ninth round of global fund which implies they will miss subvention for two years, 2010 and 2011 because they did not meet up with the demands.
But talking to Dr Noel Essomba, Co-ordinator of the Regional Technical Group in the Fight against HIV/AIDS, he assured patients on dispositions the government is putting in place to handle this situation. He said the Ministry of Health has submitted a project on the Fight against HIV/AIDS at the National Assembly which if approved the government will have to include the fight against HIV/AIDS in the investment budget each year, because he said HIV/ AIDS affects the economy of the country negatively. HIV/AIDS hampers on the economy because it affects the output of the workers which will intend affect productivity. Dr Essomba added that even the Regional Delegation is making efforts to work in closed partnership with the private sector. He said as of 2004 the rate of HIV/AIDS in Cameroon was 5.5 percent.
Dr Essomba added that the World Conference has not yet held to confirmed whether Cameroon has been cut off or not. He said in the global fund there is continuity; countries are not cut off immediately. They still have at least two years again to receive subvention to treat their patients. He said with the measures being put in place by the government, he believes patients will be taken care of more than before.
On his part, the Director of the Association of Brothers and Sisters United for Hope and Solidarity, known by its French acronym AFSOPES, Abina Morris, said for now they really do not have information on what is going to happen if Cameroon is cut off from subventions. He said it is not yet official so they cannot talk about it now. But he added that in a meeting with the Delegate of Health in Yaounde he assured them government will still continue to do what they have been doing such as to subsidise the tests which is FCFA 3000. He added they will also make use of the ARV the hospitals still have in stock now.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Green Forest Programme Committee Members Seek ways to preserve the Forests

A meeting took place on 13th August at the conference in the Governor’s office to adopt a budget for the second semester.
Committee members of the Sectorial Green Forest Programme, known by its French acronym as PSFE, have sought ways to fight against the issues affecting the environment and the forests in Cameroon and the Littoral Region in particular.
The meeting which took place at the governor’s office was also intended for members to seek to understand the difficulties of the PSFE programme, adopt a budget which will be sent to government to execute 2010 projects.
The PSFE is a new approach integrated in the concept of sustainable development and a reference to conservation, management and sustainable forest exploitation. It was created in 2004 when government came up the policy of the fight against poverty, decentralisation and good governance.
The programme has four parts which have to do with, Sustainable forest management for production and to valorise forest products, sustainable management of biodiversity and the fauna, Management of the community Forest and Fauna resources and institutional reinforcement , training and research. The global vision of the programme is to reinforce the economic, ecology and social functioning of ecosystems in Cameroon through sustainable management of its forest resources.
The resource person, Alphonse Marfor Tangala, Service Head of Programmes and projects at the Ministry of Forestry and Fauna, said the structures which also have leaders. He said each leader has to present his plan of action and budget and defend it before the committee for approval. He added that it is the committee which decides the budget for each region.
Some of the problems which the execution process faced in the first semester is issues like lack of trees in littoral which the Ministry of Forestry is in support of the work of the Douala City Council in the tree planting exercise, lack of canoes to go to the mangrove zones, insufficient staff which makes them seem absent in the field.
The Littoral Regional Delegate of the Forest and Fauna said in the first semester their execution was 47 percent while the budget was 80 percent. He said their mission now is to assure sustainable forest resources, plant more trees and fight against illegal exploitation of the forests and participation of the population in resource management.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Neglect of Developmental Journalism Highlighted

A pertinent issue discussed in the 2009 Highway Africa Conference in Grahamstown, South Africa
The Neglect of Developmental Journalism was a main issue of concern to be trashed by academia, media practitioners and consultants during the topic; reporting Development: Media and Africa’s Development Agenda in the Highway Africa 2009.
Highway Africa is a partnership between Rhodes University (School of Journalism and Media Studies) and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), with the support of several partners, development agencies and sponsors. This year was the 13th edition being hosted in Grahamstown with a record attendance of about 735 persons and offers journalists reflection on 2010 in the New Media environment.
One of the panellists, Paula Fray of the International Press Service IPS, pointed out two issues which she said are holding back development Journalism. The environment in which the journalists operate and the perception that sexy journalism is prestigious than other journalism. She said essential training to orientate the journalists is required, adding that journalism is the only profession which has no compulsory further training once they become journalists. She presented a solution, which she said there should be annual training for journalists on new things they report on. She believes the inverted pyramid style is skewed towards politicians and what they say.
“I believe the so called development agenda is not a people’s agenda but that of elite and politicians” said Prof Alfred Opubor another panellists of the West African News Media and Development Centre, (Wanad). He added that when it seems to be the people’s agenda, it does not go far and journalism does not accompany it.
According to Prof Opubor, Journalists cannot report development unless they have a profound understanding of issues. He called for a radical change in the way Journalism is taught in Africa. He said young minds can be trained on developmental issues by going to places like; where oil companies have dumped gas and polluted the environment or industrial areas. He said the problem is that best journalists are stuck on political desks to report political news which they consider is sexier. He proposed that they should rather be made to report development because by the time they ask though questions on policy of agriculture then news on agriculture will become interesting.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Tax Levied on Traders of Dacat Market

The Government Delegate to the Douala City Council has signed a communiqué for the traders to pay tax of occupation of space.
The Government Delegate to the Douala City Council Dr Fritz Ntone Ntone, has issued a communiqué requesting traders of Dacat market in Ndokoti to start paying the tax of occupation of space. The deadline according to this communiqué to pay the tax is September 26. The communiqué he issued also stated that if they do not pay by the stipulated date the council will use force to recover the tax.
The Dacat market is a private market controlled by Sociéte Civil Immobilier, SILI, and was constructed some three to four years ago. Talking to a trader in the market who wanted to be anonymous; he said when the market was created people did not want to move to the market. The market remained vacant for some time before people started moving in gradually. He said the creation of the market was part of efforts to depopulate other markets. “It has not been very difficult to convince people to move to the market”. He added that some people come and even leave after a while, because there is no sensitisation. He said there are some people who stay in Ndokoti but do not even know that there is a market which exists there. He added they do not make sufficient profit yet the council is still adding taxes to take away the little they make from sales.
He said in the market to pay for a shop is FCFA 50,000 before tax declaration to the council which will be determined by goods sold and cost price. “This is already too much and now which other tax do they want to instil?” he asked. The trader said the market is still empty, shops are still vacant and instead sensitising more traders to move to the market and sensitising the public on the existence of the market they are only interested in taxing them. Those who do not have shops he said who sell on empty space or on the corridors of the market have no tax to pay, he said hoping that the new tax will not include them.
The head of the market whose name was got as Benedict was not on seat but after several attempts he was got on phone but refused to comment on the situation claiming the competent person was not on seat.

EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Custom Stresses on Partnership for Better Performance

On the occasion of the International day of Customs the exposés presented stressed on partnership for efficiency.
Custom Officers nationwide have celebrated the International day of the customs which activities marking this day were launched about a week ago. During the event celebrated in Douala, exposés were presented.
Mr Nji George on his paper stressed on the need of partnership which the customs have adopted, quoting the theme of this year’s event: Customs and Business: Improving Performance thorough Partnership, to be the watch word for the entire year 2010.
He added that the World Custom Organisation counts a lot on this principle to remove institutional bottle necks of customs administration. He said they seek to eliminate the old system where the custom officer was the landlord and the business man on the other hand seeking to evade custom dues in order to make profit.
The theme he said puts custom administration in Cameroon on a comfortable stand because they had started making institutional reforms, one of which is the Open Door Nature of Policies. Through the policy they seek to bring stakeholders closer to them so that they can talk better and understand each other. The administration he said has stressed its arm on the problematic areas and signed a memorandum of understanding with SCDP, Bankers, CAMRAIL, Civil Aviation which will ensure fluidity in custom revenue.
In another exposé presented, by George Metuga, he spoke on the Night of Partnership which he said was to reinforce partnership, conviviality, resolve certain problems, thank partners for attitude which custom alone would not have achieved and compensate partners especially enterprises which have yielded a lot through out the year.
Certain measures too he said were outline such as a revision of internal text like the Sydonia, custom taxes, training of personnel and a number which customers can call free of charge in a case of fraud or need of information.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Entrepreneurs Trained on Miro-Project Management

It is a three day training Seminar took place at the Chamber of Agriculture in Bonanjo.
A three day training seminar for entrepreneurs of Small and Medium-size Companies who deal in agricultural products has kicked off in the chamber of Agriculture in Bonanjo Douala. The seminar is organised by the Regional Centre for Training and Initiative in Agriculture and New Technologies, known by its French acronym CRIFAT.
The Divisional Delegate of the Small and Medium-size Company, Joseph Rodolphe Bipoupouth said they noticed there was a lack of knowledge of entrepreneurs in managing their affairs and this lack of knowledge caused set backs in the growth of their enterprises. This he said is the reason why CRIFAT which is an NGO organised the seminar to enhance management activities of these companies.
He stated the objectives of the seminar which he said it is in line with government activity to facilitate management and individual assistance of craft men. He added that they want to facilitate their access to finance from micro finance institutions, “because when in partnership with government they can easily have access to micro finance.
The Delegate said because these entrepreneurs lack the capacity to manage projects the training seminar has a role to train them to increase their knowledge to manage.
He said they expect that by the end of the three days, the entrepreneurs must have been well trained in management, be able to calculate cost of production, fix good selling prices in the production market, and be able to manage loans. He said they will need modern equipment to improve quality of production.
The Coordinator of CRIFAT, Nkonga Puga, said the purpose of the seminar is to teach developers and bring them to the level of competition and also follow them to see them succeed in their projects.
Nkonga Puga said the entrepreneurs need modern tools in production but in order to have them, they have to fist of all be trained to manage projects and then meet micro-finance organisations to finance their projects, which will help them reduce risk in management. In this way he said they can easily acquire modern equipment when applied for. He said the seminar is limited to entrepreneurs and project promoters. The seminar ends on the Friday October 9.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Journalists Empowered to Preach Forest Certification

The media was seen as a medium to better disseminate information on forest certification.
The World Wide Fund for Nature, WWF, has built capacities of professionals in the media on sustainable forest and certification. The seminar took place at Hotel la Falaise in Bonanjo, Douala on February 16.
Forest certification is said to be a new phenomenon which is not known by the community, the reason why some key stakeholders and the public in general may be far from appreciating, participating or understanding the concept and progress that has been made in the domain. According to Elie Hakizumwami, in charge of forest programmes in WWF, one of the main reasons for this situation is lack of sufficient or clear information and understanding of the strides already made and efforts to be made by the various target groups.
To WWF the need to involve the journalists from influential media houses through capacity building sessions and coverage of events related to the promotion of responsible forestry is to enable them better understand the background as well as the concepts and processes related to responsible forestry.
In a brief background, the Congo Basin forest where Cameroonian tropical forest lies is renowned to have one of the highest biodiversity on earth. Most people living in this area rely on the forest for essential resources like meat and non timber products, timber for construction, medicines, among others. Despite this importance, the Congo Basin forest ecosystems are among others threatened by unsustainable forest management, illegal logging and increasing pressure from logging companies and local communities wildlife poaching.
The main objective of the workshop was to build capacities of media for proper understanding and appraisal and promotion of responsible forestry and certification in the Congo Basin in general and in Cameroon in particular through strategic communication.
The workshop had presentations to better understand the functioning and the progress of promotion of sustainable forest management and certification in Cameroon and Congo Basin and discussions on the issues raised from the presentations such as presentation of the Forest Stewardship Council, FSC certification system, partnership for the promotion of responsible forestry, Cameroon forest law and voluntary partnership agreement, field experience with forest certification by a logging company, among others
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Youths Unleash Ideas for Innovation

During the Global Entrepreneur week, youths gave ideas which could be turned to reality.
The Youth Business Cameroon, an organisation which promotes and supports youth entrepreneurship, joined the rest of the world to celebrate the Global Entrepreneurship Week.
The event which took place from November 16 to 22 at the Bepanda Youth Centre, gave opportunities for young people to bring ideas which could be changed to reality so that they could better themselves.
The different talks and activities which were organised for the week, introduced youths to entrepreneurship as a noble profession and as a source of wealth creation, to network young people and organisations to discover new ideas and business ventures, mentor ideas
The coordinator of the entrepreneurship week, Patrick Bekolo, speaking to Cameroon Tribune, he said the Global entrepreneurship week is being organised for the second time in more than 80 countries. He added that it is a global initiative to inspire young people to embrace innovation, imagination and creativity. Bekolo said their mission has been to inspire and motivate people in entrepreneurship as a source of income and a way out of poverty for many youths
Entrepreneurship and innovation, Bekolo said are two great challenges in modern society because the economy is dependent on small and medium size enterprises. They create jobs he said and are innovative. He added that entrepreneurship fights against unemployment which is one of the greatest problems the youths in Cameroon face and also addresses the need for a wide economic opportunity.
For one week topics and their orientations handled were such as; creating an enterprise, business plan, how to present a project, steps into entrepreneurship, marketing in business, pubic relations, human factors, taxes and finances.
There were other light hearted issues like a marathon and other activities in which awards were given to the best candidates during the gala night which was organised to concluded the ceremony on the 22.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

CUD Re-organises Sector for Call Box Operators

In a bid to re-organise the informal sector in Douala, the Douala City Council, CUD, has signed a partnership deal with the Caisse D’Epargne Et De Credit, CAPCOL, Savings and Loans, and Mains Unies des Propriétaires de Call Box et Cabin Téléphonique, MUPROCA to carry out this purpose. The partnership deal was signed on March 12, 2009 with each party having its own part to fulfil. According to the project, they have to ameliorate the sector of call box operators with 500 kiosks in the city of Douala.
The CUD was charged with providing space and selects the model for the kiosks which will be used, while CAPCOL would provide the kiosks, health insurance, and airtime either from MTN, Orange or CAMTEL for the operators. This will serve as a loan which the operators would have to reimburse after some time.
The first phase of the project launched on August 4 they had to begin with 100 kiosks. In this phase they had to select the call box operators, give them necessary training to become real economic operators, learn to use the loan which will be given to them to carry on their job.
The Government Delegate to the Douala City Council said the informal sector in Douala constitutes 75 percent and it is their duty to ameliorate the informal sector. He talked of sectors the CUD had already ameliorated like Marché des fleurs and soon the car wash.
The Director in Charge of the Fight against Urban Disorder, Hervé Ambatta, presented the level to which they have reached in accomplishing their purpose. He said a list of 100 call box operators was sent to CAPCOL, 283 sites were earmarked to place the kiosks in Douala I-V, he said about 80 kiosks have been built which still needs to be ameliorated. He added that of the 100 names sent to CAPCOL only 70 have met the criteria. As for the training he said the resource persons have been identified but training has not begun.
The President of MUPROCA, Atangana Mama Benjamin said their role in this project is to sensitise, organise and follow up the call box operators and protect their interests. He said in 24 months the call box operators will have to pay back the loan which will be given to them. He added that CAMTEL has proposed an offer which the call box operators can make a profit of 22 percent in credit transfer. That is in every FCFA 10000, they make a profit of FCFA 2200.
The Director of CAPCOL, Helen Ndikum, said they will be granted health insurance with Colina Citoyenne, given sim cards and loans. He said just 70 met the criteria and they would begin till they complete the project of supplying 500 kiosks in Douala.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Rehabilitation: Road partially open for Circulation

The road from Axe Former direction des Douanes-carrefour Arno is partially open for circulation.
For some time now there has been construction work carried out and still on going on the from the axe of former direction des douanes to Carrefour arno, to Rue Alfred Saker and the axe of agence orange to Mahima supermarket and right to Cofinest Akwa. All along this roads have been blocked, the reason why there has been serious traffic congestion around this part of the town.
The rehabilitation work is almost through and now the road has been opened partially for vehicles to circulate around axe of former direction des douanes to Carrefour Arno. But more is still to be done to completely open the roads for free circulation. One side of the roads since it is a two lane road has been completed with pave blocks while the other side they have not started with the pave blocks. In some areas the caterpillars are still to enlarge the roads.
The engineer in charge of the work sites in this part of the town, Ntep Ntep Paul René said their job has been to rehabilitate the road and enlarge the road. That is making it a two way lane, with a pave in the middle which separates the two lanes and on which trees will be planted, street lights will also be put in place, and also place a public garden around. For now he said they are working on the pedestrian path. In all, he said they have one kilometre or 1500 metres of road to rehabilitate, build gutters, build parking space.
Ntep said they have done the work from Carrefour Liberté up to Leclerc round about which is about 600 metres already covered. What is left is 400 metres that is 30 percent left on the road.
He added that according to the contract signed with the Douala City Council, they have to be through by October 2009, but he said giving the level at which they are doing their job, by the end of June they will open the road blocks for vehicles to start circulating.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Striking Workers Resume Work

The workers of Douala IV council were on strike because of non-payment of their salary arrears for three months.
Workers of the Douala IV council were on a strike on November 2, because of the non-payment of their salary arrears for three months. The workers came to their work in the morning but none of them went to their duty posts but walked around the office and strolled around and none of them sat down to do their daily duties. When the information got to the mayor, Kumase John, he decided to call some of the leaders and ordered them to get back to work in the next 30mins. The order was not respected. Because the striking workers refused to give heed to the warning. It was said the Mayor was angry and described their action as being illegal, but the striking workers said they had deposited their warning eight months ago promising a strike if their salary arrears were not paid. They said their action was very legal because they had deposited notification letter at the mayor’s cabinet.
The mayor was said to have later collected names of the ring leaders of the strike and it was alleged they were CPDM workers in the Douala IV council. When the press approached the Mayor to react he was not in the mood for any interviews and turned down the request.
But by the time CT arrived at the Douala IV council on November 3rd, the workers were all in their duty posts. The workers were said to have had another meeting were they reached at an agreement. But the Mayor was not reachable to comment because he was in a meeting.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

New Face lift for Bonabassem

The Douala City Council wants the area to be arranged such that a relaxation spot is created on an available space.
In a bid to keep Douala clean and render the town beautiful, the Douala City Council for sometime has embarked in the creation and construction of public gardens around the town. Most of the gardens which have been constructed are centred in Bonanjo and Akwa. These gardens have served as beautiful sites for photographs for most people who celebrate their weddings in Douala. It has mostly served most people who do not stay far from where the gardens are situated.
With the desire to continue in their mission in Douala, the City Council has awarded a contract to a company CARETRANS to render an area in Bonabassem beautiful. The area chosen is along the road to Bepanda where there is a water way which passes under the road.
The space of about 4500metre square has to be beautified with a public garden which will serve the people of that part of the town.
The Head of the construction site Nang Alain said a wall will be built to separate the water way from the garden, such that it does not obstruct the water path. He further stated that this site is also going to serve as a play ground for children because it is going to have some playing tools where the children can swing and enjoy themselves.
He added that the garden is going to have chairs for relaxation and trees planted to shade the area from the scourging heat. A sidewalk will be created with paved blocks to avoid trespassing. Flowers will be planted in bouquet forms to purify the atmosphere and to add beauty to the site.
The Head of the construction site said according to the contract, the city council makes available the material which CARETRANS uses to execute the contract. He said the work will be carried out for two months and it is hoped that the site will go operational by December 2009.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Minister of Culture Defines Amount of Payment for Drinking Spots

The amount was contained in a communiqué signed on April 15th by the Minister of Culture.
The Minister of Culture Ama Tutu Muna has defined the amount of money each drinking spot has to pay for authors’ rights. The money paid is as a result of the fact that bars and drinking spots do use music to relax their customers.
According to the communiqué, the amount to be paid was defined by the type of bar or drinking spot. Bars which people do not seat down to drink but buy and take away have to pay FCFA 29,000, Bars where there is space to sit down for entertainment have to pay FCFA 37,800, Snack Bars which are more relaxing and comfortable, have to pay FCFA 49,500 while bars which have as addition dancing space have to pay FCFA 85,000.
The President of the National Syndicate of Drinking Spots in Cameroon, known by French acronym, SYNEDEBOC, Hervé Nana, this decision they have welcomed with delight because it makes situations better. As a matter of fact he said it was one of their proposals which they forwarded to the Ministry of culture because they wanted that order which come in to the sector. He said before they used to pay the money to SOCINADER, then later to CMC and the amount paid was too high that is the reason why he said they never used to pay and they would suffer constant harassment from the police and their musical equipments seized. Before, he said a small bar is taxed to pay up to FCFA 100,000 and a snack Bar about FCFA 250,000 of which they were not able to meet up. This he said was because the amount to be paid was calculated by the seating space and the price of drinks. He appreciated the way the Minister has partition the amount such that it is within the reach of every seller.
Nana said in every decision taken there are always disgruntled people. He said anybody who is disgruntled is just being unfair because what has happened is really great favour that the ministry has done for them. He added that this amount is yearly and so they have enough time to put this money together and pay at any time within the year and just to make sure to have paid before the year runs out. This money he said will be paid to the competent body proposed by the government.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Public Investment Budget Committee Examines Executed Projects

The meeting took place at the Banquet Hall in the Governors Office on October 29.
The Regional Committee of the Public Investment Budget in the Littoral region has examined the rate of execution of physical projects and the finances allocated. The committee members sought to know how far the projects have been carried out, what were the problems encountered and the proposed solutions to the problems and how to avoid same errors in 2010.
In the meeting chaired by Nkono Ndang, the Regional and Divisional Delegates of the Ministry of the Economy and Regional planning, MINPAT had to present the projects executed of their various areas of jurisdiction. The committee had to examine whether the projects were properly done and whether the finances allocated for the projects was judiciously used.
Presenting the C2D projects, the Chief of the C2D Project at the Douala City Council, Blaise Nkoulou presented the projects and the level of executions. He mentioned road constructions like the Bepanda-Makepe-Missoke road, road rehabilitations like the douches municipales, avenue Amadou Ahidjo, Ndokoti road, Douala II council - New Bell prison and shell New Bell road among others.
After his presentation, committee members were worried about some roads which they considered not to have been well constructed or there has been too much delay in executing the project, roads which have uncovered gutters and the effects, roads with no gutters and deviations or passage for pedestrians. They also emphasised on the issue of protecting the fatherland, where a committee member stated the poor management of human activities which has caused the electricity pools on the road between CCC and Elf roundabout to have fallen on the ground such that there are no street lights in that part of the town.
The committee members added that more care should be taken in choosing contractors to execute contracts.
In a presentation by the Regional Delegate of MINEPAT, he said in their visit of projects in the field, they got information of 15 out of 32projects in Central management, which started badly like the New Bell central prison, multimedia centre of ENIET in Douala among others, 13 out of 27 of Letter commands and 14 out of 18 projects of invoices where the total cost of FCFA five million was almost totally spent. He concluded that of 92 projects earmarked in Douala with sum of FCFA 1,444,473 with a financial engagement of FCFA 391,422, 35 projects were realised.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Baby burnt in Store
A baby of about one year and five months named Feudjio Miranda was burnt to death in the store of her mother in Babebga, Bikoko. The mother, Kengne Balbine had a store which was next door to where she stayed. The mother, who was suffering from some decree of burns on trying to save her baby, recounted to Cameroon Tribune that she got up at about 5:30 am on Monday July 27 to serve a customer. “I never knew my baby had also woken and followed me to the store”, she said. She added that since there was no electricity in the store, she used a lamp to serve the customer. She said she went back to her room to put on her cloth, because that morning she just had a loin tired on her chest and on coming back to the store, the store had caught flames and she started shouting and calling for help. Then she thought of her baby and ran back to the room to carry her baby but could not find her. Just to realise the baby was in the store and fire already caught her. She jumped into the flames to save her baby but it was too late and fire also got her but she was rescued by people who came out to put off the flames. She said her store was worth FCFA 400,000 and she had just bought goods and stocked three days before the incident. Everything was burnt to ashes. They could only carryout some washing soaps which were all burnt and looked like charcoal. She lamented she is now taking refuge in the home of her elder brother. She added that it is thanks to the population which turned out to put off the fire that it did not extend to her house or that of the neighbours. She said her baby was buried on the same day.
Her neighbours said she sells petrol and they are certain it is the cause of the fire in the store. She said her pain is her baby who died in pains. She has five other children who are on holidays and the late child was the sixth.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Secondary Education Minister Bans Cell phones in schools.

Students are prohibited from taking mobile phones to Schools.
The Minister of Secondary Education, Lois Bapes Bapes, has issued a communiqué, banning the use of cell phones by students. According to the communiqué which was released on October 14, he stated that students should not be seen with mobile phones in school especially during school periods, because he believes they promote fraud and other examination malpractices.
The price of cell phones have become so low that any body can purchase a cell phone and giving the method of credit transfer everybody’s phone can be credit worthy.
Talking to the coordinator of discipline masters in the Government Bilingual High School Deido, Bertrand Loteng, he said the communiqué is not complete because it does not state what sanction to be given to a student who is caught with a mobile phone. He added that students are very stubborn and it is certain you would still find some students bringing their phones to school. Loteng said nevertheless they have set internal rules, which is that any student found with a cell phone it will be seized and returned after one week, depending on the comportment of the student. If the student behaves poorly the phone will be given back after one month. Sometimes he said parents come and scold but it does not change anything because the student will have the phone at the appointed time.
On the other hand, a student Endale Ebongue Martine, who is in Upper sixth, said cell phones are good because they may want to inform their parents of any information and they could do so easily. She added that you could forget something at home especially for a patient who may forget the drugs he could easily call back home asking for them. “Generally it is good to have it around because you could be in difficulty and need to send information home”.
Ebongue also agreed with the minister’s decision because, she said students whose phones have options they disturb in call because they play music and besides they do not switch off their phones thereby causing distraction when it rings in class.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

SDO Calls for Fight against Societal Vices

The Senior Divisional Officer presided over the handing of attestations to end of course students.
The Senior Divisional Officer of Wouri, Bernard Okalia Bilai has called on graduates from the Centre of Women Promotion and Family Planning in Akwa, Douala to fight against poverty, prostitution, HIV/AIDS among others. He was speaking while presiding over the handing over of attestations to those who had ended their one year training courses. He told the graduates that this is the time they have to make use of what they have imbibed in the professional programmes in which they have been trained.
In her opening remarks the Coordinator of the Centre Angéle Mbogbe Mogbe said the centre was created in 1969 as a house for women of which today has become a centre which gives professional training to women. They have a mission, she said to give professional education to young girls as well as moral and civic training, health education and reproduction, financing micro-projects, elaboration and project management, among others and their target population is young girls, women and families. As for the different training programmes, she said they have clothing industry, Hotel Management, Hair dressing and Information Technology. She added that they also give training in crafts, fabrication of washing soap, tie and dye, decoration, sewing, fish roasting, among others. All these things she said are done with little means but thanks to the Godmother of the centre who also doubles as assistant mayor of the Douala I council. A part from these training she said the also do counselling to families on family planning.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

Electricity Crisis will soon be over

This was an explanation to the Director General of ARSEL during a walking visit to some of AES-SONEL installations in the Littoral Region.
Some zones in Douala especially around the Bassa neighbourhood will be free from electricity cuts with the operation of the extension in Logbaba thermal plant and in June the operation of the first part of the Yassa thermal plant.
At the production Centre of Logbaba, the new thermal plant with 12.6 megawatts was said to be an added advantage. The reason for frequent power cuts, it was explained was because of a shortage of 30-40 megawatts of current. But with the operation of the new centre at Logbaba there are hopes for better electricity supply. It was explained it is going to be even better when the project in Yassa will go operational by June ending because it is going to add 41 megawatts to the 12.6 which will sum up to 53.6 megawatts and by November another 41 megawatts.
The Director General of Electricity Regulatory Sector Agency, known by its French acronym, ARSEL, Ndouga Hell, visited the Thermal Generation headquarters at Ndokotti, the new thermal plant in Logbaba and the Yassa project in Dibamba.
On his part described the job done by AES_SONEL as positive in work done.
At the centre in Ndokotti, known as Bassa two and three, his mission was to access the machines to know what is working, what is not working and why and also what can be done.
The spokesman for AES-SONEL, Theophile Ekobo Mbongue who is also Director of Regulation and Organisation in AES-SONEL explained the situation of Bassa two, where the giant machine which uses gas oil said to have been grounded for close to three weeks while in Bassa three one of the generators had not been functioning for some time too. These reports the Director General noted and also asked for a report from January to April on the consumption of gas oil.
The new thermal plant at Logbaba is functioning with high fuel which is black and thick and it is said to produce more than the low fuel or gas oil which used to consume more and production not very effective, this is the case of Bassa one which operates on gas oil.
At Yassa, the work done was said to have advanced and the first part is expected to be over in the end of June, which will add 41 megawatts to the output of electricity. The Project manager Chandan Saha was confident they will deliver in June and November respectively because the available material is in place.
The Director General complained of the problem of illegal connections and delays to do installations.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO
Director General and his entourage.

Ancien Route Bonaberi: Brighter Days Ahead

Rehabilitation work on the road was halted because of the rains.
The Bonaberi old road used to be like an eye saw in Douala, because it was the main road into and out of Douala from the South. The rehabilitation process was a sign of relief to many especially the inhabitants of that neighbourhood.
The work started with gutters which were built some of which have been covered others still to be covered. Then the tar was scrapped off and the road levelled. The road has been at this level for a very long time. Passage is so unbearable; cars struggle to use the road because it is very slippery with the continuous rainfall and potholes even at the centre of the road. When it does not rain the road is dusty.
One of the road side sellers told CT the road has become worst than it was before rehabilitation started. “There was a bit of tar on the road that we could manage because it prevented dust and this stagnated rain water”, he said. He added that those who are doing the rehabilitation do it at their paste because “today they can come and work on a little portion and come back again after months to continue the work”.
The contract to rehabilitate this road was awarded to a construction company SATOM and controlled by EGIS. The engineer, Eric LE MAGUET has assured inhabitants and the disturbed population that all is well as far as the road in Bonaberi is concerned. He told CT what has already been done before they were hindered by the rainy season. He said they have cleaned up and enlarged the road which is very visible, electricity poles placed on the road for street lights, seven kilometres of gutters, six kilometres of CAMTEL network already being put in place. The engineer said by December they will open up one kilometre of the road to allow for easy circulation of people and vehicles. He added that the main delay which is for two weeks is the Besseke area which is 700metres and is below sea level. He said when it rains; the water level rises and affects the Besseke area. It is for this reason he said the project in Bonaberi is to be done more carefully. He said they have to wait for the dry season to complete the work and besides the contract states end date for 10th April 2010.
He added another problem is the population which is uncontrollable and need to respect the work regulation and leave their machines when they halt per day.
EFFA TAMBENKONGHO
The road is muddy with standing rain water.

African Child Suffers From Modern Day Slavery

EFFA TAMBENKONGHO

The courage of African child is celebrated every June 16th in the world.
The African child today suffers from a lot of social vices which affects them negatively. The African children are being sold for modern-day slavery from Africa to European countries, they are exploited as domestic slaves, forced to work for hours, cleaning, cooking and looking after other younger children, or put to work in restaurants and shops.

These children are also subjected to physical and sexual abuse; they are ravished by malaria daily. According to a recent figure by the Government's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, it claimed that 330 children, many of them from Africa, have been trafficked to Britain over the past year.

On the occasion of the launching of activities marking celebration of the international day of the African Child, with the theme, Accelerate Activities to Ensure the Survival of Cameroonian Children in an Africa Worthy of these Children, the Regional Delegate of Social Affairs Samuel Ndjog outlined some of the vices which the African child suffers from. The problem of water and health with malaria being an outstanding disease, victims of HIV/AIDS, education, malnutrition and child labour which still continues in spite of sensitisations.

Young girls who suffer from sexual abuse get pregnant and they end up committing abortions which takes away their lives or give birth and abandons the children or throws them in dustbins or pit toilets.

Representing the Littoral Governor in the launching of activities marking the International day of the African child celebrated on June 16, Rachel Sen Nkong said the development and growth of children in Cameroon is faced with obstacles such as poverty, the ravaging HIV/AIDS, malaria, exploitation negligence and abandoned by family members.

She added that government has to act urgently to put in place policies and strategies to better the African or Cameroonian child such as: to disseminate development to make available at the international level good and appropriate strategies. A serious commitment from the community, especially the government, the civil society, the media, the private sector and the international and national organisation of development. And also to make policies and specific projects to bring development which will better the situation of the child.

Challenges of covering 2010

EFFA TAMBENKONGHO in Grahamstown
Reporting 2010 was a cause for concern at the Highway Africa’s Conference in South Africa because it is the year of first world cup on Africa’s soil.

A World Cup does not come without extensive media coverage and it was in this light that the Foundation Director of Agence France Presse (AFP) Robert Holloway hosted a seminar on the challenges of reporting 2010 at Rhodes University.

He said that other aspects surrounding the World Cup should not be forgotten, such as social and financial issues. Among the social issues, the case of the fight against the spread of the HIV/AIDS was a concern to especially the female folks who saw the woman as the most vulnerable person in the spread. Strategies were discussed on the fight against the spread. NGOs and campaign groups which are taking up this challenge have already begun ground work. This cause was said has to be championed by the journalists, so a workshop held by ‘heartsminds’, presented a campaign that aims to humanise the story of HIV/AIDS by bringing in the voices of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). The workshop was aimed at journalists, NGO representatives and other stakeholders.

The session started with a documentary on effective HIV/Aids reporting in which two journalists from Botswana showcased how they tackle the sometimes fatigued subject. The HIV and AIDS and Gender Media Specialist, explained the importance of putting a human face on the story and not just relying on the grey statistics.

He encouraged journalists to look past the disease. “You should convey the feelings but still remain objective and remember that there are human beings behind the statistics,” he said. He listed the four key points of reporting on the disease: academic, content, field reporting and production and critique.

The audience raised pertinent questions about language and cultural issues, accreditation of journalists, and Fifa’s strong hold on broadcasting rights.

Jermaine Craig, an audience member and media manager for Fifa’s World Cup Organising Committee in South Africa said his biggest concern is that African journalists are not taking enough advantage of the 2010 World Cup. “Africa’s best story is unfolding and I’m worried that

Africa isn’t telling it well enough,” he said. It appears that African journalists may not be aware of or used to the accreditation process to cover the World Cup, which starts in December, he added. Craig admits that there are access issues, particularly for broadcasters, but assured that any bona fide journalists are welcome to apply to cover the event.
I think African journalists are best placed to tell the stories of the World Cup.