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​Wum 2023 Council Budget: Health, Education, Agriculture, Top Priorities By Ruth Che Wachong Sectors such as Health, Education,  Agriculture, Water and Energy shall in 2023 experience a boost as there constitute 54.88% of the Nine hundred Million CFA FRS budgeted to run Wum Council in 2023. Dighambong Anthony Mvo Mayor, Wum Council Christened " The Budget of Local Economic Development and Youth Empowerment"  the 2023 budget balances in revenue and expenditure stands at the sum of Nine hundred and Ninety-eight Million, Five hundred thousand (998.500.000) CFA FRS. Mayor Dighambong Anthony Mvo believes that the 2023  budget execution will go a long way to develope the Wum Municipality, as jobs will be created and youths empowered enhanced through different development programs. Councilors at the Budgetary Session   The installation of Solar lights at the Bu Health Center and street lights in Wum Central, Support to 3 Common Initiative Groups (CIG), Supply of benches, ta...

​ Bafut Council Budgets 1.18 Billion CFA FRS for 2023 By Ruth Che Wachong Denizens of Bafut locality in the Northwest Region shall in 2023 benefit from development projects worth 1.18 Billion CFA FRS. Mayor Ngwakongoh Lawrence made this declaration Wednesday 8th December 2022 during the Councils 2023 Budgetary session. Ngwakongoh Lawrence  Mayor Bafut Council  According to Mayor Ngwakongoh, the opening of farm to Market roads, Rural Electrification, Opening and grading of rural and interquater roads, support to Internally Displaced and Vulnerable Persons in the Bafut Municipality, amongst others, constitute part of developement Projects under the Councils Investment Budget for 2023. Meanwhile the balance of 619.4 Million shall be used as Recurrent Expenditure for salaries and wages. Councilors during the Session During the session, councilors and Administrative Authorities lauded the efforts of Mayor Ngwakongoh who in 2022 spearheaded the implementation of over 20 development ...

​Office of the Northwest Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) educates Elite on the role of the institution.   By Ruth Che Wachong  Tamfu Simon Fai North West PIC The office of the Northwest Public Independent Conciliator recently schooled North  West Top Elites on the creation, organization and functioning of the institution. In his opening statement, the PIC highlighted a number of functions and achievements of the institution since it went functional. " The PIC is a public pacificator, watchdog and advocate. It has a 6 years nonrenewable mandate to ensure good Governance in  Local, City and Regional councils, as well as defend and prevent aggrieved persons suffering from direct and indirect discrimination, marginalization and violation of their rights and freedoms"   the PIC explained. Participants at the Information seminar   " The Public Independent Conciliator exists to see that users and beneficiaries of services of the Northwest Regional Assemb...

​To ensure smooth functioning of councils in the Region: Northwest Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) trains Mayors. By Ruth Che Wachong  Group photo of Participants The office of the Northwest Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) has trained Mayors from 35 Councils in the Region on generalities of rights, freedom, and duties,compliance and ethical policies of councils. This activity falls under the role of the PIC which is to ensure the smooth functioning of councils and address conflicts between councils and users. According to the Public Independent Conciliator for the Northwest Region, Mr Tamfu Simon, the importance of the two days training cannot be over emphasized , given that his office has since January 2022 received and treated over 62 complaints about different councils.  "The Presidency of the Republic has charged the PIC under its functional mandate to settle disputes and propose new legislation to ensure effective functioning of the local, City and Regional Coun...

​People with disabilities (PWD) facing increased risk of injury, death, sexual assault, others in conflict areas. By Ruth Che Wachong  Participants at the Training in Buea   Alot has been said/written about the Anglophone crises, but there still remains a void as far as people with disabilities are concerned. The number of people living with impairments in Anglophone Cameroon has significantly increased daily in the past 6 years either through accidents, amputations, and other forms of violence. There is therefore a dye need to report stories on disability and inclusion. Reason why sisterspeak237 in partnership with the Swiss Embassy in Cameroon recently organized a training for media persons on Disability and Gender Inclusion Reporting. Participants pose with facilitators of the training "People with disabilities have long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in...

​Goventment unmounts control Post at Matazem, travelers heave sigh of relief! By Ruth Che Wachong   The nightmare of walking for long distances to present ID cards at the Matazem Police checkpoints is now a thing of the past. This comes following the dismantling of one of the famous checkpoints at the Matazem boundary between the North West and West Regions. Travelers in a que to present ID cards Bamenda denizens have particularly expressed joy, citing that they can now get to their destinations on time, without being held bound at the checkpoint that was popularly known as "Mandela's walk to Freedom" Commuters at the Control Post    "I was surprised when our bus got to Matazem Tuesday and we weren't asked to go down and present our ID cards as usual. This is indeed a laudable effort and I pray it continues this way so we arrive our destinations and go about our activities on time" a passenger narrated.   "I felt like something was not right when we dro...

​Three years after the Major National Dialogue, Government commends implementation partners for efforts in the return of peace and Normalcy in the North West and  South West Regions. By Ruth Che Wachong  National Dialogue Followup Committee   Members of the Followup committee for the implementation of resolutions of the Major National Dialogue have applauded the gradual return to peace in the North West and South West Regions.    Meeting three years after the Major National Dialogue, on August 4th 2022, members testified that despites all the odds, peace, love and harmony is returning to these Regions hit by the crisis for close to six years.    The Prime Minister and Head of Government Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute in his address as Chairperson, identified the various areas where progress has been made since the Major National Dialogue.     Speaking on schools reopening which was top on the agenda, Prime Minister remarked with great delig...