Minister of Territorial Administration (Minat) Paul Atanga Nji presented a new civil protection bill before the National Assembly’s Constitutional Law Committee. Speaking to Minat TV after that presentation, he emphasized the need to update the current legislation, which dates back to 1986. “The world is facing disasters—floods, landslides, earthquakes. We must adapt to modern challenges,” he stated.

While details of the proposed law remain sparse, the minister highlighted the government’s aim to modernize the civil protection framework. He explained that the Presidential Office envisions a legal system that fosters greater coordination among key actors, including firefighters, medical professionals, and search-and-rescue teams, to ensure an effective and unified response to emergencies.

A key feature of the proposal is to strengthen the operational branches of the civil protection directorate under Minat across the national territory. “These branches will improve risk assessment, containment, and the establishment of more effective protection mechanisms,” Atanga Nji said.

In recent years, the country has experienced numerous deadly disasters, particularly landslides such as the recent tragedy at the Dschang cliff. Flooding is another recurring threat, especially in the Far North region, where heavy rains have compounded vulnerabilities. The National Observatory on Climate Change (Onacc) has repeatedly warned of escalating natural disaster risks. 

Source: Sbbc

Vera Songwe has been appointed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to his country’s highly prestigious Economic Advisory Council. This is an advisory body responsible for proposing guidelines on issues of openness to the ecosystem of members, employability and entrepreneurship, as well as societal issues.

The renowned Cameroonian holds a doctorate in mathematical economics, a Master of Arts in law and economics and a postgraduate diploma in economic and political sciences from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. She also holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Dr Vera Songwe is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, co-chair of the high-level panel on climate finance appointed by the UK and Egyptian governments alongside Lord Nick Stern. She is the former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

She has led many efforts to bring greater prosperity to Africa. She has worked with African heads of government, finance ministers and central bank governors, international organisations and the private sector on macroeconomic stability, monetary policy, financial innovation and inclusive growth, economic integration and trade, and private sector development.

She is a globally recognised and respected leader and has provided policy advice to many continental and institutional leaders worldwide. Previously, Dr. Songwe was Regional Director of the International Finance Corporation, covering West and Central Africa. She oversaw a multi-billion dollar investment portfolio in energy, transport, manufacturing and technology. She has also held a number of positions at the World Bank, including Country Director and Adviser to the Managing Director for Africa, Europe and Central and South Asia. She spent 10 years of her career working and living in Asia.

She joined the World Bank as a young professional. Prior to joining the Bank, she was a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota and the University of Southern California. Dr Songwe was named African Icon of the Year in 2022 by the African Bankers Association for her work on SDRs, inflation, debt management and domestic resource mobilisation. She was named one of the ‘100 Most Influential Africans’ by Jeune Afrique in 2021 as well as the top 50 most influential African women by Forbes magazine in 2019 and one of the 25 Africans to Watch by the Financial Times.

By Rita Akana

A mother-of-three who had spent more than €100 buying clothing to bring home to children in her native Cameroon has been fined after stealing extra items.

Caroline Kepnang appeared before Letterkenny District Court charged with theft at Penneys in Letterkenny on June 13th last.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that Ms Kepnang, of Cruach Mor, Mountain Top, Letterkenny, entered the store and bought a number of items which she paid for.

However, she was stopped by security leaving the store after she had failed to pay for six pairs of leggings and a t-shirt.

She had pleaded guilty to the theft of the other items valued at €17.30.

Solicitor for the accused, Mr Frank Dorrian said his client’s mother had just died in Cameroon and she was returning home for her funeral having lived in Ireland for several years.

She had purchased a number of items of children’s clothing including pyjamas and t-shirts with cartoons on them to the value of more than €100.

She had planned to distribute the clothing to local children once she got home to Cameroon.

However, Mr Dorrian said his client had exhausted her funds and took the other items.

The court was told that Ms Kepnang had a previous conviction for theft but it went back as far as 2017.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham noted there was a previous conviction but said it went back to 2017 and fined Ms Kepnang €100 and allowed her the maximum time of six months to pay.

Source: Donegaldaily

On Tuesday 19 November 2024, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute chaired a cabinet meeting.

Cameroon Concord News understands the meeting focused on the presentation of the aggregates of the 2025 preliminary finance bill: its general configuration and the main thrusts of the public investment budget.

Dion Ngute called on his government team to comply with the guidelines set out by President Biya in a circular dated 23 November 2024 on the preparation of the State budget.

‘I invite my team to respect the guidelines contained in the Presidential Circular of 23 October 2024, and to take into account the requirements induced by the principles of rationalisation and prioritisation’, insisted Chief Ngute.

The circular signed by the Head of State defines the overall objective assigned to the State budget for the 2025 financial year.

‘During 2025, the overall objective of public action remains the strengthening of the economic growth dynamic, as well as its inclusive nature, in order to promote the industrial transformation of our productive fabric and an improvement in the living conditions of the population. To this end, the following levers of action should be implemented as a matter of priority’, states the Biya document.

By Rita Akana in Yaoundé