A truck that left Yaounde early today the 16^th of August 2016 en route to Meiganga crushed a small Toyota car killing all six persons on-board. Eye witnesses say the truck driver was apparently at high speed and did not see the small approaching Toyota heading to Garoua-Boulaï.

The two vehicles collided at the Bibinda Bridge.  The truck reportedly mounted on the small car and killed all its occupants. Cameroon Concord News was reliably informed that some elements of the Garoua-Boulaï gendarmerie brigade intervened and the truck driver was arrested and detained. The bodies were identified and handed over to families.

Road accidents in Cameroon remain an everyday occurrence. According to statistics published by the CPDM government in August 2015, 790 people died on our roads in 2014. The figure was 1,139 people in 2011, down 31%. However, much still has to be done.

By Ebong Kingsley with files from CIN

General Pierre Semengue, the former Joint Chief of Army Staff, 82, has said that he does not consider himself as a retiree. In an exclusive televised interview aired on Sunday, August 7, 2016, Semengue who is now all over the place noted that “I am a reserve army general. I do not have a position in the armed forces. But I enjoy almost all the benefits from the Cameroon army except hardship allowances”.

Pierre Semengue added that he is often consulted on matters of defence and provides advice when needed by the President of the Republic. Semengue also said he was “finalizing” his memoirs in which he has revealed a certain closeness and friendship with some leaders of the Union des Populations du Cameroun, UPC, which he fought as a senior officer of the Cameroon army at independence.

Pierre Semengue also stated that he had UPC comrades such as his kinsman and classmate Woungly Massaga including the late Augustin Frederick Kodock. He spoke negatively of the former secretary at the presidency, the late Samuel Eboua and Dr. Victorin Hameni Bieleu.

By Rita Akana

Former general manager of the National Social Insurance Fund,CNPS  has again been summoned by prosecutors of the Special Criminal Court in Yaounde. Pierre Desire Engo is wanted by the court over an alleged embezzlement of 25 billion FCFA.

The Special Criminal Court, Cameroon Concord News has gathered is operating under the mandate of an international commission into the alleged misappropriation.

The international commission wants Mr Engo Desire to explain the source of the 25 billion FCFA in his bank account at Credit Lyonnais Paris.

By Rita Akana

The population of Foumbot in the West Region of Cameroon is still to recover from the shock surrounding the death of three members of the same Family. They were discovered dead on the 8^th of August 2016 in the morning at their residence.

The three included a 27 year old nursing mother Kamatcha Nicole Armand, her six months old baby boy, and her 10 year old niece. Her husband 29 year old Yannick Wanji was found unconscious and rushed to the Bafoussam Regional Hospital where he is currently receiving intensive treatment.

Security forces are yet to establish what actually caused the sad incident but some eye witnesses have opined that they must have inhaled toxic gas coming out of a stand by generator in their home. The generator was switched on due to power failure. However, others have related the death to food poisoning. The remains of the three have been moved to the Bafoussam Regional Hospital for an autopsy.

CRTV

President Biya signed two decrees on Monday, August 8, 2016 appointing administrators to the Kribi International sea port and the National Football Academy (ANAFOOT), created six years ago by him but which is yet to go operational.

For the Kribi port, Biya appointed eleven CPDM loyalists for a three term which is renewable once. The president of the republic however failed to announce the Chairman of the Board.

The same was true with the so-called ANAFOOT. The decree appointed ten pro Biya comedians for a three years term renewable once.

By Ebong Kingsley

President Paul Biya has signed various decrees indicating a change in the format of most official identification documents in Cameroon.

According to the decrees, National Identity Cards, Residence Permits, Refugee Cards, Entry Visas and Retirement Cards for officials of the National Security will all have a single identification number and not multiple numbers as has been the case in the past.

The documents will also have a sim card allocated to them. The move is aimed at modernizing the system and ensuring security.

CRTV

Armed robbery is now rampant on the Douala-Yaoundé highway, Cameroon security sources have warned. The highway robbers operate between Edea and Pouma, two localities in the Department of Sanaga Maritime deep within the Littoral region.

Cameroon security services announced that the armed men usually plead with drivers of vehicles to stop pretending to be potential travellers who need assistance. Sometimes they are accompanied by women and children, revealed the gendarmerie company commander in Edea.

Once they commit the crime, they take refuge in a forest precisely at Ebombe village, cited as the most dangerous place along the Douala-Yaounde highway. Last weekend, road bandits robbed an entire bus and many personal vehicles.

By Rita Akana

The over 200 newly recruited holiday job seekers of the Buea council annual holiday jobs programme have been told to uphold high moral rectitude and civic responsibility in the execution of their duties. Mayor Ekema Patrick Esunge addressed the temporal council workers on Friday August 5^th, 2016 and urged them to be law abiding and respect the terms and specifications stated within the context of the 2016 Buea council annual holiday jobs. The forum provided a unique opportunity for the participants to have a one and one exchanges with the kingpin of the Buea municipality and examined possible ways to render the one month period less tedious.

The mayor of Buea called on the group who are predominantly students to be committed, respectful and above all improved on the sanitary state of the city. Ewily William, a UB student, on behalf of the group requested for rain coats so as to be able to cope with torrential down pour of rain. Another speaker was Njei Sandrine, a UB student of the Department of English, who requested the mayor to give her an insight into her job description.

Mola Ekema encouraged the holiday job seekers to demonstrate a high sense of punctuality and duty consciousness and reminded them that they were future leaders of the Buea municipality. The over one hour meeting was attended by deputy mayors and some staff of the Buea council.

By Cham Victor Bama

The South West Chiefs Conference has agreed to hold elections soonest to get a new leader to run the affairs of the association. The Bantu, semi Bantu and Tikar traditional authorities announced the decision on Wednesday August 3^rd 2016 following an executive committee meeting that held in Buea the capital of the South West region.

The men with divine power revealed that the chief who will succeed Nfon V.E.Mukete will be known on September the 16^th and 17^th 2016. Cameroon Concord News understand the custodians of tradition from across the South West region will converged in Buea not only to elect a new president but also renew the mandate of other members of the executive committee for the next two years.However, a hue and cry has erupted deep within the Fako Chiefs Conference on who to replace Chief V.E.Mukete.

The president of the Fako Chiefs Conference, HRH Mokoto Njie, told newsmen in Buea that all was now set for SWECC to get a new leadership. Chief Mokoto Njie hinted that whatever happens in September, the winner will be a Fako citizen. Correspondingly, Chief David Molinge of Muea-Buea was quoted as saying the choice of Chief Njombe Johnson Njoke would weaken the credibility of the chiefs as he is unfit and low profile for the witty SWECC presidency. Chief Molinge even suggested that another candidate could well represent Fako in order to raise the reputation and credibility of the union to commendable standards.

We gathered that Chief Njombe Johnson also did launch a vicious attack on Chief Molinge describing him as being incompetent, not decent and an ordinary third class chief. The new SWECC management would have a daunting task to cleanse the chieftaincy sector off charlatans and restore the lost credibility and nobility deserved by royal institutions.

The same is true for the North West Fon’s Union that has been unable to replace its current leadership over claims of constitutional amendment. Fon Teche Njei who also moonlights as a Senator, is still the strongman at the helm of NOWEFU.

By Cham Victor Bama

North West Governor, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, Senator Simon Achidi Achu, North West Fons, SDF faithful, friends and relatives were on July 31, 2016 part of special prayers for God’s grace and protection for the SDF National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi at 75 .The event at Presbyterian church, Baba II, home of the leading opposition party leader, inspired Fru Ndi to continue to work towards the betterment of Cameroon.

The thanksgiving event honoured and glorified God for Fru Ndi, whom speaker after speaker cheered as a rare statesman. Family Head and Son, Ni Thomas Ndi and Benjamin Fru Ndi thanked all who have supported and criticized the Chairman to be a better nation builder. Fru Ndi summed it himself when he said ”I will continue  to be who I am when Cameroon is the subject, though I stretched my hand  and the President did not take it the way I like”.

Twenty four hours earlier, Fru Ndi presided over a National Executive Committee (NEC) session of the SDF at his Ntarinkon residence where crucial decisions were endorsed to move forward the reorganization of SDF party structures in some regions that have so far, suffered speed brakes.

Cameroon Tribune