Douala: A large number of folks continue to receive health, accommodation, dietary and fiscal help from Winner’s Chapel International.  Over a few weeks a large number of the people in Douala have received free health consultation, treatment and hospitalization whenever deemed necessary. This gesture is the result of an alliance between the Winner’s Chapel International, a Pentecostal church, and a neighborhood hospital. More than eighty five percent of patients that have benefited the medical aid happen to be non-Christians; about five per cent are Christians of other churches while Winners make up the rest. Pastor Triumphant Obamoh of the Winner’s Chapel International in Douala made the disclosure while speaking at a news conference at the Bali neighborhood on Saturday on the necessity of helping the less fortunate in society.

The pastor announced that the scheme, whose purpose is to help society develop to its full potential, is now opened to people with disabilities, widows and orphans. The spiritual event will mark the beginning of lasting collaboration with traditional chiefs, quarter heads, and hospitals through which the church will identify and carter to vulnerable people who happen to be at risk. what’s more is that other than nutrition and medication, the target group of people will be catered for in the area of lodging and education.

Already several millions have been spent according to the Cameroon news media. The church is also coming up with a proposal to take care of hospital bills of all persons injured in the course of accidents.. It should be noted that Winners Chapel International established in Cameroon in 1996 and within the past few years it has been involved in helping its communities.

The 50 Americans of Cameroonian origin currently on a fact finding mission in the country have visited Kribi to learn more about the country of their ancestors.

Members of the delegation, before the Kribi visit, went to Bimbia, Foumbam, Douala, Yaounde and a number of towns. While in Kribi, the delegation hopes to meet with the Pygmies.

Highlights of the visit to Cameroon included a grand musical concert organised in Yaounde to mark their first end of year celebration in Cameroon.

As they prepare to fly back to America, Cameroonians remain impressed with this endeavour which was carried out solely based on DNA test results.

Gina Paige co-founder of Africa ancestry noted that DNA testing is the most reliable means of tracing human origin.

Politics – During the evaluation Cameroon Tribune 2010 was published yesterday, there were roses on the legitimate way and Cameroon’s diplomacy has been managed and the many advances have been observed. Speaking at the State House yesterday, on behalf of the diplomatic community in Yaounde, Ambassador of Gabon and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Michel Mandougou literally started in Cameroon Tribune hyperbolic images of Cameroon’s diplomacy in the year under review.

And yes, it was a revolutionary year for Cameroon’s diplomacy and efforts were made very real, not just to get Cameroon known beyond his football exploits, but also apply a picture worthy of the tireless efforts of President of the Republic of Cameroon to a comfortable accommodation for all citizens and a destination prices for foreigners who want to come.

The effort to clean up the nation’s image, marred repeatedly by a number of now-infamous diaspora groups, began two years ago with a massive opening of embassies and appointment of ambassadors. In fact, President Biya’s numerous outings in 2010 were simply a prolongation of the momentum set by these massive investments in opening up, rehabilitating embassy buildings and making available the required human resources to energize the new-found posture.

The move has been so successful that in his state-of-the-nation address last December 31, President Biya paid tribute to the work of Cameroonian diplomats and the diaspora in giving the nation a cleaner image where ever they are found. ” I wish to pay tribute to our representations abroad and our Diaspora who portray our country as serious and dynamic”, he told the nation.

It is no gainsaying that the physical presence of the President in a number of world forums did not only provide an occasion for Cameroon’s voice to be heard, but also showed how pertinent some of the positions defended by our country could be and consequently help, in its own humble manner, in the advancement of the world.

From the U.N. General Assembly rostrum in New York in September, President Biya defended Cameroon’s position on a number of world issues, many of which are even a hot potato. Take the reduction of global poverty. On that occasion, the president laid special emphasis on the “duty of solidarity” of the international community with the disadvantaged countries. “As far as our continent is concerned, such solidarity could take the form of a Marshall Plan for Africa” the Head of State argued. By that suggestion, President Biya was not asking African countries to sleep on their laurels, suggesting, as Cameroon is already doing, that countries make their own efforts.

“That is what we have embarked on with the implementation of our ten-year Growth and Employment Strategy Paper” with efforts being directed mainly to agriculture, energy, water supply, mining and road and port infrastructure: areas that can help roll back poverty and reduce unemployment.”

In 2010, the President went beyond his traditional visit destinations, setting foot on the Latin American continent for the first time. In Africa, he visited Libya for the first time. Beyond, the ritualistic side of the Libya visit, the President used the occasion of the European Union – African Union summit there to make some important observations. There, he posited that relations between Europe and Africa must take into account specific problems of a developing country…. And resulting agreements must accommodate chances of developing into a modern economy. How else could an authentic African leader decry the injustices and imbalance involved in relations between Africa and the “old continent”; especially with the kind of ridiculous price tag they put on cash crop exports and raw materials?

These are just some courageous positions, which certainly gave voice louder and clearer diplomacy of Cameroon in 2010 and the President reminded the members of the diplomatic community yesterday at Yaounde State House.

Visiting Korean mining experts held by the working session with CAPAM officials on Thursday, 16 December 2010.

Operational framework to support and promote small-scale mining (CAPAM), the government agency for implementation in the mining sector is expected to boost Korea soon. This stems from the Korean government plans to finance and build a national laboratory for research in mineral resources in Cameroon, the structure, is the desire of CAPAM.

A Korean delegation of five men on a mission in the country on Thursday, December 16, 2010 held a meeting with officials at the headquarters of CAPAM institution Ngousso, Yaounde. The session was an opportunity for experts to get informed of that fact the country in terms of exploration and mining, and the challenge of revitalizing the sector.

In an elaborate presentation of the institution, CAPAM’s National Coordinator, Paul Gweth Ntep, traced the path covered by the institution since takeoff in 2003. He said the institution has been able to carry on to completion the first phase of its programme of activities (from 2005 – 2009) and has engaged the 2010-2015 second phase to cover the national territory.

Mr Gweth Ntep said their programme consists in supporting mining production, processing of mineral products, improving geological and mining information, among others. The latter being the most difficult of their missions thus far, given that a laboratory is needed to do all that. “Earlier, we had planned to come up with a geological and mining laboratory and a database unit and the coming of the Koreans with plans to build a national mineral resource research laboratory is a welcome relief to us”, CAPAM’s National Coordinator said. “Our laboratory in the ministry is not functioning and we badly need to improve mining and geological information in the country.

And to do this, you need to collect samples on the field and analyse them abroad, an endeavour that has thus far proved expensive; money and time-wise,” he added. Mr Gweth Ntep rejoiced that with the announced laboratory, CAPAM will be able to accompany the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Technological Development in exploring the rest of the 60 per cent national territory whose mineral potentials is yet to be uncovered.

In response, welcomed the chief of the Korean delegation, Jong Ho Choi, moves CAPAM. “We have seen that CAPAM has great potential to further develop in the future and we would also have good cooperation in future too,” he said.

Guinea-Bissau wants to revive bilateral relations with Cameroon, which have been timid.

The Special Envoy of Guinea Bissau, Bai Sanha said in Yaounde on Wednesday, December 22. He handed a sealed message from President of Guinea-Bissau, Malam Bacai Sanha in Cameroon Prime Minister Philemon Yang for transmission to the Head of State, Paul Biya.

After the Star Building audience, the special envoy who is also Guinea Bissau’s Ambassador to Senegal, expressed the wish for relations between Cameroon and his country to be reactivated. Guinea Bissau’s special envoy described his country as an emerging petroleum State.

He said his country wants to tap the potential of Cameroon and expertise in agriculture. The envoy was accompanied by the Prime Minister, as special adviser to the President of Guinea-Bissau, Moussa Mbaye.

Korean company has received approval to develop a diamond mine in South Cameroon.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, C & K Mining, a Korean industrial city of Cameroon, was licensed by the government of Cameroon to work in the Mobilong mine near the border with CAR.

The mine is estimated at more than 420 million carats of diamonds, which is more than double the production of diamonds in the world.

The development license is valid for 25 years and is renewable every 10 years.

Cameroon-backed loans of 366 billion CFA francs from the Export-Import Bank of China to finance water supply projects, the government said Wednesday.

The programmer will rise to 2 million people in the capital Yaounde and villages along the pipeline, marking a significant increase in infrastructure for the central African state, where the UN says only half of the 19.5 million population has access to clean water.

The project should begin in January, Water and Energy Minister Michael Tomdio said on state radio.

China’s Exim Bank, one of three policy banks that extend credit in line with government initiatives, said last month it sees plenty of opportunity to extend loans in Africa as commercial banks steer clear of risk.

Chinese investment across Africa has grown rapidly as the country seeks to secure access to raw materials to feed its breakneck economic growth.

Cameroon’s government hired the China National Machinery and Equipment Corporation on a 28-month contract for the water project, which will involve construction of a 56-kilometer pipeline from the Sanaga River.

Tomdio said, the total cost will be 430 billion CFA.  He also said that China Exim Bank will provide Cameroon with 366 billion CFA “soft loan” and the rest will come from the government of Cameroon.

Cameroon presidential candidate Edith Kabbang Walla, popularly known as Kah Walla, organizes town hall meetings and the Community Forum Dwyer Cultural Center in Harlem on Sunday, December 5 between 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Dwyer Cultural Center is located at 258 St. Nicholas Avenue, has 123 on the road. Centre telephone number is (212) 222-3060, trains are B, C, D, 2, 3, 125 Street.

Come meet and greet Kah Walla, who has been called “the rising star of Cameroon’s political scene.” Kah Walla will: explain how she intends to win the presidential elections in Cameroon; reveal her plans for bringing about change and propelling Cameroon forward; and outline what role the Diaspora can play to bring about those changes. The candidate will offer a Power Point presentation to the public.

Donations will be accepted by all Cameroon O’Bosso and NGOs working on a massive voter registration drives and Kah Walla to the presidential campaign that Cameroonians can donate to the candidate organizers say. Kah Walla as an independent candidate next year against long-serving president Paul Biya.

The campaign to sell sugar directly to consumers at FCFA 675/kg began on November 29 in Yaounde.

A one-week operation available in packs of cube sugar FCFA 675 per package to consumers has gone on Monday November 29, 2010 in Yaounde. Ministry of Trade Launched a spot with wholesalers and stores food distribution activities to stop at the end of price manipulation, which is characterized by the sugar market in recent months in several cities.

According to Valentin Mbarga Bihina, Director of Internal Trade at the Ministry of Trade, sugar cubes in one-kilogram packages is preferred by households in Cameroon is available on the market.

Government, he said, recently authorised the importation of huge quantities of sugar but these arrived as granulated sugar in bags of 50 kg. To increase the supply of cube sugar, the Sugar Company of Cameroon, SOSUCAM resumed production on November 5, 2010 after a break and now produces over 700 metric tonnes per day with the possibility of achieving 11,000 metric tonnes after a month. “During our last meeting, SOSUCAM disclosed that it already had 6,600 metric tonnes ready for the market,” said the Director of Internal Trade.

The ongoing operation is targeting consumers through displays in shops and open air sales at major junctions and roundabouts around Yaounde. Brigitte Fondjo, the Regional Delegate of FOKOU Company, a partner in the operation, said her company had deployed vast quantities of packets of the new “Dethom” sugar brand throughout its network of supermarkets while a mobile van decorated with banners and sound animation was going around neighbourhoods such as Mokolo, Nkomkana, Carrefour Carrière and Madagascar to sell directly to people.

“The Ministry of Trade divided the city into zones. We are incharge of these areas,” she said. At the Yaounde Central Market, another business partner in the “Sugar Week” operation, SOCOPRAL is selling packets of the “Princesse Tatie” brand at FCFA 650 per packet of one kilogramme. “For the first day, we have a stock of 50 cartons each containing 25 packets,” said Colbert Chomnoue, the manager.

After a slow start on November 29, Sugar week is going full speed today with the efforts of various media by the Minister of Commerce, in a press release hope that the population will take benefits from the sales.

The French oil company says the gunmen attacked a ship off the coast of Cameroon, which killed five people, including three guards Perenco Cameroon’s oil sector.

The Associated Press has recognized the other two victims in the attack late Tuesday night as civilian security contractors working for Perenco.

This is the second incident reported this week involving oil rigs and their crews in the region.

Nigeria’s main militant group has claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack on an Exxon Mobil oil platform off the coast of southern Nigeria.

In a statement Tuesday, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has said it kidnapped seven local workers in the raid and threatened future attacks.

Exxon said Monday gunmen had attacked the rig off Nigeria’s Akwa Ibom state, but gave no further details.

In a similar raid on Nov. 7, gunmen kidnapped seven people from an oil platform in the same area as the attack also injured two others.

The region is home to criminal gangs who have a history of taking hostages for ransom. The militants say they are fighting for a fairer distribution of oil revenues.