Yaounde, Cameroon, Africa. (cameroon News)  -  ELECAM’s staff in the Méfou-et-Afamba Division of the Center Region had been urged to begin voting spirits to facilitate the biometric registration of voters when the exercise begins next month in the Division.

ELECAM board member Cecile Bomba Nkolo made the appeal today in full during a meeting with staff of the eight council branches and other actors in the electoral process.

Mme. Cecile Bomba Nkolo board member of ELECAM commenced her working visit in Mfou with staff of the eight ELECAM council branches in the Méfou-et-Afamba where training for kit operators will take place on the 24th and 25th of this month.

Mme. Bomba Nkolo called on them to more than ever before be engaged to educate the population on the need to register when process commences in the Méfou-et-Afamba by November.

In her own words staff should include members of the joint commission to render more credible their efforts, not be dependent on the elite for favors and be polite but firm to the administrative authorities in order to maintain the autonomy.

elecam elections cameroun

Several work challenges on the field were addressed notably logistics, management of human resources and expertise and problems to relay information to the ELECAM central system in Yaoundé when registration have begun.

The ELECAM board member equally met with political party heads, traditional and administrative authorities and representatives of civil society organizations in the division to urge them to persuade fellow militants, members and the population in general to register come November.

Numerous difficulties to this end were enumerated, with Mme. Bomba Nkolo reassuring actors that better strategies will be defined by ELECAM. They were further reminded that the biometric voter registration ends on January 28, 2013 with a possibility for a one month prolongation.

Elecam – Elections Cameroon. Members of the Cameroon Electoral Body in Yaounde, Cameroon Africa

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Bamenda Congress Hall , Bamenda, Cameroon, Africa. (Cameroon News) – Militants of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) have been urged to use their voices and actions of integrity to consolidate democracy and social justice in Cameroon.
The SDF Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi was speaking this afternoon at the Bamenda Congress Hall while opening the eight elective convention of the party.

Ni John Fru Ndi Chairman of Social Democratic Front SDF Cameroon Cameroun

A high level delegation of the CPDM party led by Deputy Secretary General Gregoire Owona is taking part at the convention.
The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front Ni John Fru Ndi has called on supporters of the party to consolidate democracy in Cameroon through the truth, social justice and freedom.
He made the statement in a keynote address to officially open the eighth elective convention of the Social Democratic Front at the Bamenda Congress Hall today.
The SDF National Chairman John Fru Ndi described the elective convention as the forum to solidify the truth, social justice and freedom for all Cameroonians.
The truth, Mr. Fru Ndi said, will set Cameroonian and SDF supporters free. He urged Cameroonians who are discouraged to join the SDF party while calling on the prodigal sons who have deserted to come back.
The ongoing elective convention will witness the election of future three members into the national executive committee of the SDF and a National Chairman with a full year term of office with undetermined possibility for reelection.
For the moment no candidate is challenging the National Chairman John Fru Ndi who will need at least 51 percent of the votes to be cast in order to stay on.
However, elections are due this Saturday, for the first time a unique ballot paper will be used by the SDF party.
In attendance is a delegation of the CPDM party led by Deputy Secretary General Grégoire Owona.

Chantal Biya Paul Biya

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Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – By Kingsley Ako Tanyi, Cameroon Today Agbor Tabi Acussed of Anti-Party Activities. Rival factions of the party organized public manifestations in Mamfe, November 6, 2011 to mark Biya’s 29th anniversary in power, demonstrating a deep rift within the party.

A drama that underlines the tension and distemper within the ruling Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM) party in Manyu Division which has been playing out ever since the appointment of Prof. Peter Agbor Tabi as Minister, Assistant Secretary General at the Presidency has taken a turn for the worse, with the party base accusing the minister of anti-party activities.

The Unity Palace

On the one hand, the drama modulates the view that the Manyu CPDM is a league of pro-Agbor Tabi cronies and knee-jerks who are up in arms against anti-Agbor Tabi bellyachers; but on the other hand, it confirms the widespread view that Agbor Tabi is yet to reconcile himself to the fact that presently, there are several levers of political power in Manyu; and he Agbor Tabi cannot be the only cock to crow in Manyu politics as was the case in the past.

The cracks witnessed within the party shortly after the appointment of Prof Peter Agbor Tabi on June 30, 2009 as Assistant Secretary General at the Presidency, came to public knowledge when rival factions of the party organized public manifestation in Mamfe, November 6, 2011 to mark Mr. Biya’s 29th anniversary in power, demonstrating a deep rift in the party which currently faces the greatest challenge amid the rising crescendo of the People’s Action Party of Justice Ayah Paul Abine.

In a petition dated November 11, 2011, addressed to the Secretary General of the CPDM Central Committee, Jean Kuete, the Manyu I CPDM Section accused Agbor Tabi of practicing dictatorship and terrorism.

The petition, signed by the Section President, (Takor Daniel Emoh); Manyu I YCPDM President (Eyong) and Manyu I WCPDM vice-President (Agbor Sally) also accused Agbor Tabi of anti-party activities and attributed the significant inroads being made in Manyu by the opposition to Agbor Tabi’s actions.

Noted the petition: “Your Excellency this is not the first time we are writing and no action has been taken to bring the Minister to order.

Manyu I is gradually going to the opposition because of the Ministers attitude of dictatorship and terror.

This attitude of the Minister is dangerous for the party since we are getting towards the legislative and municipal elections in a couple of months,” the petition partly read.

The petitioners also exhorted the Secretary General of the CPDM Central Committee to immediately use his high offices to check the excesses of the Minister in order to guarantee the stability of the party in Manyu division.

The petition further states that “on Saturday November 5, 2011, we discovered that one of our banners around the Post office junction was pulled down and replace by a bigger one.

After investigation, we were informed that it was Minister Peter Agbor Tabi, who ordered Mrs. Mary Chu (his cousin) to destroy our banner and replaced it with the one he gave money to be produced”.

The ensuing schism culminated the next day in high drama. The show of shame, ridicule and public embarrassment saw Manyu I CPDM militants storm the Mamfe town hall where Agbor Tabi was presiding at events marking Biya’s 29th anniversary and removed all the party paraphernalia and canopies, including the one on the high table where Agbor Tabi and the SDO were seated, to the consternation of on-lookers and by-standers.

The Manyu I CPDM militants of Mamfe Central sub-division then riled and heckled Agbor Tabi to go and celebrate Biya’s anniversary in his native Eyumojock, as stipulated in the circular order signed by then CPDM Secretary General Emmanuel Rene Sadi.

Cameroon Today gathered that the public humiliation of Agbor Tabi in Mamfe is the by-product of micro nationalism in which Mamfe Central militants have complete and undivided loyalty to their political patron, CPDM Central Committee member, Chief George Tabetando, who Agbor Tabi has vowed to destroy politically and even threaten to eliminate physically.

But it takes more than just a luxurious desire and misguided ambition to destroy a man like Chief Tabetando; an oil magnate with very deep pockets who is revered by the rank and file in Mamfe central, thanks in part to his generosity and his unwavering disposition to bankroll CPDM party activities in Mamfe Central.

Political watchers in Manyu believe Agbor Tabi’s decision to go and organize Biya’s anniversary celebrations in Mamfe town in contravention of the Central Committee edict that directed him to his native Eyumojock was to prove that he is the political leader of Manyu; an issue that does not sit well
with militants in Mamfe Central and especially Upper Bayang which too has a Minister in the person of Eng. Victor Arrey Mengot, whom Agbor Tabi treats with disrespect and scornful disdain, refusing even to acknowledge and recognize his presence at public meetings, let alone shake hands.

Cameroon Today gathered that the Minister schedules political meetings in the division without bordering to inform the other actors, including Mengot.

His supercilious attitude and scornful behavior has alienated many Manyu elite, who now believe that after the President’s election, Agbor Tabi who prides himself as the God of Manyu politics should confront Ayah on the field alone, come the legislative and municipal elections.

As Assistant Secretary General at the Presidency, Agbor Tabi sees himself as the next Prime Minister, a position he is alleged to have been lobbying for over the last decade.

The varsity don is said to be even more convinced about his ambition of becoming the next Prime Minister, considering that former Prime Minister, Ephraim Inoni and current Prime Minister, Philemon Yang, left his current Portfolio to occupy the Star Building.

Analyst hold that because of his self-confidence in becoming the next Star Building occupant, Agbor Tabi has developed a swollen head and bloated ego, thereby disrespecting hierarchy and causing confusion both in Manyu division and the entire Southwest region.

The unpopularity of the Assistant Secretary General at the Presidency and accusations that he could not account for over FCFA 50million of the FCFA 72 million contributed by Manyu elite to fund President Biya’s re-election campaign has further torn the party apart in Manyu thereby denting his Prime Ministerial ambition.

Manyu elite who spoke to Cameroon express but refused to be named, said they are neither contributing nor are they going to campaign for the CPDM party during the upcoming elections with Agbor Tabi as the Divisional Campaign leader.

“We are neither contributing nor are we going to campaign until Peter Produces that money, we shall prefer to vote for Ayah’s party, after all, is he not another Manyu son?” an elite of Akwaya questioned

“The Minister is not sincere to himself, why is he running away from Eyumojock to Mamfe?

Why is he creating confusion all over the place? Political analyst hold that with the dwindling popularity of Agbor Tabi and the refusal of Manyu elite to contribute towards the financing of CPDM political activities in Manyu, Ayah’s People Action Party, PAP will have a field day at the legislative and municipal election come July, this year.

It should be noted that Agbor Tabi’s unpopularity, coupled with bad roads, caused the CPDM party to suffer a humiliating defeat at the October 9, Presidential polls.

But for massive rigging orchestrated by Agbor Tabi with the complicity of ELECAM officials, Ayah would have emerged victorious with over 80% of the total vote cast.

The Unity Palace

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Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – The Ambassador of Germany to Cameroon, Reinhard Buchholz and the US Representative at the United Nations Council on Human Rights, Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe on February 16, 2012 in Yaounde, expressed their respective countries’ commitment to assist Cameroon’s elections managing institution, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM).

elecam elections cameroun

They had separate discussions with Electoral Board members of ELECAM led by the Chairman Fonkam Azu’u Samuel as part of the ongoing consultations to ensure a proper recompilation of the register of electors in the country.

“We could help ELECAM politically and also see how to put our technical know-how at the disposal of ELECAM and other specialized institutions”, Ambassador Reinhard Buchholz said in an interview after discussing with ELECAM Electoral Board members.

He expressed happiness to see ELECAM work in a professional manner ahead of the upcoming council and parliamentary elections, contrary to the case in the October 9, 2011 presidential election which was baptism of fire for the institution.

“We want to give our shared commitment to free and fair elections and work to ensure that people have confidence that elections are done with great care to ensure the outcome that people are seeking,” US Representative to UN Council on Human Rights said.

She said the Council consider free and fair elections to be sensitive.

Elecam - Elections Cameroon. Members of the Cameroon Electoral Body in Yaounde, Cameroon Africa

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Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – Cameroon’s elections and referenda governing institution, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) has decided to carry out fresh registration of voters ahead of the 2012 council and parliamentary elections.

The Chairman of ELECAM, Dr Fonkam Azu’u Samuel announced the decision at an extraordinary Electoral Board meeting of the institution on February 7, 2012 in Yaounde.

elecam elections cameroun

Dr Fonkam Azu’u in a press declaration said the Head of State, Paul Biya gave directives to government to provide ELECAM with the necessary means to successfully carry out the recompilation of voters’ registers.

Most elections stakeholders in Cameroon had been clamouring for new registration of voters to make the upcoming elections more credible.

Before the decision of the Electoral Board of Elections Cameroon, officials of the institution were registering new voters as part of the revision of the electoral register officially started on January 5, 2012.

The new decision automatically puts an end the revision of the electoral register and also renders the register of electors who voted in the October 9, 2011 presidential election null and void.

The recompilation of the electoral register is intended to correct the double registration and names of dead people found the electoral register as was the case in the 2011 presidential election. All electors must register.

Elecam - Elections Cameroon. Members of the Cameroon Electoral Body in Yaounde, Cameroon Africa

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Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – Cameroon’s elections and referenda management institution, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) will resume registration for the 2012 legislative and municipal elections on Thursday, January 5, 2012.

The information is contained in a press release issued by the Director General of Elections in ELECAM, Mohaman Sani Tanimou. He announced that the cleaned up electoral lists used in the October 9, 2011 presidential election, will soon be posted up in ELECAM Council Branch offices for people to confirm their names.

Potential voters, the release stated, would have to register in the Council Branch offices or register when Joint Voters Registration Commissions will move round the in each council area.

Talking during an extraordinary board meeting of ELECAM in Yaounde on December 28, 2011, the Electoral Board Chairman, Dr Fonkam Azu’u Samuel said, the institution wants to adopt the its 2012 budget earlier in order to get to work immediately.

elecam elections cameroun

The budget stands at FCFA 11.5 billion, FCFA 11 billion to serve as the running budget and FCFA 500 million for investment.

ELECAM, the Board Chairman said, sets out to correct the lapses noticed in the October 9, 2011 presidential election in relation to cases of double registration, names of dead people not deleted from the register and inefficient distribution of voters’ cards.

Almost all observers in the election pointed out that ELECAM has to correct the lapses in future elections.

Elecam - Elections Cameroon. Members of the Cameroon Electoral Body in Yaounde, Cameroon Africa

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Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – President Paul Biya of Cameroon has a created a special Ministry in charge of Public Contracts placed under the Presidency.

The Ministry is one of the key innovations in the re-organisation of the government and appointment of a new government President Biya did on December 9, 2011.

The pioneer Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Public Contracts is Abba Sadou, a senior civil administrator who was Special Adviser to the Prime Minister from 2001 to 2011.

Before his appointment, Abba Sadou was government’s focal point in the Change Habits, Oppose Corruption (CHOC) Project, created in February 23, 2007 to enable Cameroon government implement the United Nations Convention on the fight against corruption and draw up a national anti-corruption strategy.

The creation of the Ministry in charge of Public Contracts comes to accelerate the implementation of President Paul Biya’s major accomplishments programme for the just- beginning seven-year term of office.

Paul BIya - President of Cameroon with Chantal & Ouattara of Ivory Coast

Paul Biya announced during his swearing-in speech at the National Assembly on November 3, 2011 that Cameroon will be transform into a vast work site beginning January 2012 as the starting point of the vision to make Cameroon an emerging country by 2035.

This entails that the numerous giant projects in the mining, roads, infrastructure and energy sectors need to start on time and carried out by qualified contractors.

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Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – President Paul Biya, re-elected Cameroon’s Head of State in the October 9, 2011 presidential, Friday night of December 9, 2011 re-organised the government and appointed a government that will start the implementation of his major accomplishments programme.

Paul Biya renewed trust in Philemon Yang, he first appointed Prime Minister on June 30, 2009.

Major innovations in the new government include the creation of the post of Vice Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies headed by the former Vice Prime Minister for Justice, Amadou Ali, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Public Contracts, with Abba Sadou a pioneer Minister.

There is also the post Minister of Arts and Culture with Ama Tutu Muna maintained.

Speaking to the press after his re-appointment, Prime Minister Philemon Yang said, “I am very grateful to the Head of State because he has renewed his confidence in me. This is a difficult job and I am determined to work harder than ever before”, He stated, “My main interest which will be the main interest of a reasonable person, is to continue to serve the Head of State and this country”.

Talking about the major challenges of translating President Paul Biya’s major accomplishments programme into reality, Yang said, “The major accomplishments programme is a challenge, first of all to the Head of State, to the government and to the population”.

President Paul Biya of Cameroon Africa

He specified that, “Everything we have done in the past has prepared us for this eventuality. I am confident that come January 2012, we will be doing things faster than we have done before”.

For the Head of State to succeed in the programme of making Cameroon an emerging country by 2035, Prime Minister Yang appealed, “All of us will have to work together in such a way that we all succeed together”.

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Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – Professor Maurice Kamto has resigned from the post of Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Justice.

The information is contained in a press release published in the front page of Cameroon’s French language private daily newspaper Le Jour of December 1, 2011.

“I have the honour to inform the Cameroon people of my decision to resign from the functions of Minister Delegate at the Ministry of Justice , starting from this day, November 30, 2011”, Professor Kamto declared in the press release.

He further said the decision was not and would never be interpreted as the remittance of the October 9, 2011 presidential election in which he was not a candidate.

Le Jour newspaper reports that the American authorities were proposing Professor Maurice Kamto as the possible successor of President Paul Biya who won 77.98 percent of the votes cast in the October 2011 poll.

In the release, Professor Kamto said he would continue in different ways to make his modest contribution to the exigent and exalting task of building the future of Cameroon in peace and respect of republican values an principles.

Cameroon’s Deputy Justice Minister Maurice Kamto Resigns

Maurice Kamto born in 1954 in Bafoussam, is a law Professor who entered the Cameroon government in 2004.

He is the current Chairperson of the International Law Commission of the United Nations Organisation and also an associate member of the International Law Institute.

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Yaounde, Cameroon Africa. (Cameroon News) – Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Islam leaders during an inter-religious service in Our Lady of Victory Cathedral in down town Yaounde on Friday, November 4, 2011 prayed for peace, love, stability , discernment and wisdom to President Paul Biya as he begins a new seven-year term of office as Head of State.

The service which came a day after Paul Biya took the oath of office on November 3, 2011, was attended by the presidential family, cabinet ministers, members of the National Assembly, Supreme Court, diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations and a cross section of the Yaounde population.

The religious leaders in different supplications, prayed for prosperity, peace, national unity, public office, youths and the nation Cameroon.

“We beg you to put into your loving heart our President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya who is inaugurating another seven years mandate to lead us.

May all Cameroonians under his leadership stay happy, live in peace and become instruments of love and unity”, Reverend Robert Goyek, President of the Council of Protestant Churches of Cameroon prayed.

The President of the Catholic National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Archbishop Joseph Atanga quoting the book of I Kings in the Bible, implored God to give Paul Biya a docile heart, spirit of discernment and wisdom as he gave King Solomon for Biya to rule Cameroon well.

The Archbishop of Yaounde, Victor Tonye Bakot in his welcome speech, congratulated President Paul Biya on behalf of the Church and thanked God for peace before, during and after the election.

He said “Our leaders have been chosen by God” and prayed that the Almighty should give them loving hearts and wisdom to govern the country.

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