Joe Dinga Pefok
3 April 2008
The Muasundem Development and Cultural Association, MUADAC, which is comprised of the 10 villages of the Muasundem clan in Tombel Subdivision, Southwest Province, has condemned the attitude a contractor who was awarded the contract to execute the Government-funded electricity project in the villages.
It was revealed that Government has within the last three years reportedly allocated FCFA 85 million for the project but very little has been done.Over 500 delegates and elite, who attended the annual General Assembly of MUADAC recently in Ndom village, were disappointed at the amount of work done with such a large amount of money.
To them, there is very little to show for the amount of money already 'used'. The chiefs, elite and delegates at the meeting, which was chaired by MUADAC's National President, Alfred Sone Metuge, were unanimous that there is a mafia going on with the project.
It was noted that since the project started three years ago, the contractor has installed electricity only in one of the 10 villages.
Though the name of the contractor was not mentioned at the meeting, the National President of MUADAC said the Southwest Provincial Delegate of Water and Energy, Alexander Hardison Nkojo is the authority that the association knows as being responsible for the electricity project.
He quoted the Provincial Delegate as having recently said that the project would be completed by June this year. But Metuge questioned the seriousness of such a claim, as June is barely two months away and nothing serious is happening on the ground.
Metuge pointed out that a Health Centre, which was constructed at Ndom is unable to effectively function due to lack of electricity. He said the people of the villages are forced to go as far as Nyasoso or Tombel for medical attention. Schools too have no electricity, he stated.
In his reaction to the slow pace electricity project, prominent elite of the Muasundem clan, Prof Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, who is also Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, said it was inadmissible for a contractor to play foul with money for such a pertinent project.
He frowned at unscrupulous people in the country saying that they frustrate government's efforts to develop the country and punish the local communities.The Minister vowed to make the contractor either do the work or lick his wounds.
Community Hall Project
Meanwhile, different chapters at the MUADAC annual General Assembly raised funds for a number of projects the association is currently carrying out in the area. Prominent on the list of projects was the completion of the Multi-purpose community hall, which hosted the meeting.
Besides his financial contribution, Prof Ngolle Ngolle also donated 100 chairs for the hall. He also offered to shoulder the burden of raising funds for the completion of the project alongside other elite. He also donated FCFA 200.000 as an encouragement to students of the first batch of Government Bilingual Secondary School Ndom, who will be writing the GCE this year. He said the money should go to assist the students to better prepare for the GCE exams.
Respect For Chieftaincy
In his keynote address at the occasion, the President General of MUADAC expressed happiness with the heavy attendance, which he saw as testimony to the fact that confidence has been restored to the association. He was especially full of praises for Prof Ngolle Ngolle, whose presence he said was a big honour both to the association and Muasundem clan.
Metuge also appealed for greater harmony among members of MUADAC and urged all sons and daughters of the Muasundem clan to be part of the development of the area. He dwelled on the importance of the chieftaincy institution, asserting that it is an obligation for subjects to respect and support their chiefs financially and materially.
Cultural Week
On his part, the Yaounde Branch President of MUADAC, Walter Mbong Mesumbe, said the association should promote the culture of the Muasundem clan. In the above light, Mesumbe said 'kaba' and 'sanja' have been instituted as compulsory attires for members to attend branch meetings, with traditional meals would be eaten during and 'akoose' would be the main language of expression at their meetings.
Mesumbe tabled a proposal from the Yaounde chapter that the Annual General Assemblies of MUADAC be henceforth preceded by a cultural week.On their part, the chiefs of the 10 villages expressed gratitude to President Paul Biya for his renewed confidence in their illustrious son, Prof Ngolle Ngolle, by maintaining him in Government during the last cabinet reshuffle.
The chiefs also declared their "strong support for the proposed constitutional amendment, especially of Article 6 (2) of the 1996 Constitution, without reservation".
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