Public Private-Partnership Turbulent Takeoff

In a bid to pull the private sector into the country’s development chain, government proposed a bill which was incidentally voted into law by the National Assembly enabling a symbiotic

action from both the public and private sectors in the whole gamut of project execution. Hypothetically, the programme went operational in 2009 under the guidance of the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development as well as the Support Council for the Execution of Partnership Contracts better known by its French abbreviation, CARPA. Practically, it effectively took off, unfortunately lazily, four years after when in 2013; nine projects were streamlined for execution. From every indication, none of these projects finally saw the light of day.

The whole scenario continued in 2014 when 14 projects were identified for execution and nothing was done as at the end of the year. This state of affairs has kept no one indifferent. It is for this reason, that government which represents the public sector and is the initiator of the programme, proposed to redefine strategy beginning with the sensitisation of project owners to let them further understand the need to work hand in glove with the private sector in the execution of the country’s project. As to whether or not the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, CARPA and other public structures will succeed in putting the programme on fast track is another question. But the big worry remains. Why should such a lofty programme that is capable of changing the economic face of the nation met with such unenthusiastic attitude?

Even though the President of CARPA denies the lazy takeoff of the programme, the signs are clear for anyone to see. The Head of State in one of his speeches decried the inertia that has gripped the administration. The execution of the public-private partnership programme is a good example. In effect, the contours of the PPP are clear. It is the public sector that proposes projects to the private sector for execution. It all begins with the project master which could be a ministry, a council or any state owned institution. Once the project has been identified, it is sent to CARPA for assess its eligibility. According to the legal expert in CARPA, all projects are not obligatorily eligible for PPP. The question now is, which ones are eligible? On what bases are some projects declare fit for PPP? The answer according to the legal expert is in the financial and technical potentiality for the public contract.

Complexities and Hurdles

That notwithstanding, it is important to underscore the complexity that surrounds the Cameroon public contract system which alone is capable of withholding streamlined projects beyond their expected life spans. The second reason why this lofty idea has not been able to effectively takeoff is the low technical and financial capacity of local companies. In effect, projects that are placed in the PPP pipeline are usually those that the public sector is unable to handle financially, technically or both. It is for this reason that the few projects highlighted for PPP by CARPA are likely to be grabbed by foreign companies that have the financial and technical means. These include the Limbe-Douala-Edea-Yaounde petroleum pipeline, the multifunctional quarry in Limbe, the National Insurance building in Douala and the maintenance of the Hydrocarbons Terminal at the Kribi Deep Seaport.

This whole package of complexity does not exclude the doubtful business climate which hypothetically rekindles lots of hope but practically continues to nurse confusion in the minds of business people. Business people continue to decry the tax system which according to them remains unfriendly. Those who have indicated their intensions to adhere to the PPP continue to pose questions and one of such has to do with the guarantee system. The absence of a guarantee fund where PPP can turn to in case of non execution of a project remains a big obstacle even though the land put at the disposal of the private company is said to serve as guarantee. This does not seem to convince them. In any case, the PPP initiative remains an ambitious one but needs to be well tailored to ensure its effective takeoff. By Lukong Pius

Suppliers And Service Providers UBa

Prof. TAFAH EDOKAT

PRESS RELEASE
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda wishes to inform suppliers and service providers interested in working with his institutions for the 2015 budgetary year that they are required to submit a stamped application to the Vice Chancellor, University of Bamenda on or before the 28 February 2015.
Such an application should include the following documents.
1) A certified true copy of a current business licence (Patente).
2) A certified true copy of the tax payer’s card.
3) An attestation of registration in the trade registrar.
4) An attestation of Non-indebtedness vis-a-vis their Bankers.
5) An attestation of recent Bank Account.
6) An attestation of registration with the National Social Insurance Fund.
7) A valid attestation of Fiscal Non-Indebtedness.
8) A certified attestation of location of business premises issued by Competent Authorities.
9) A localization plan of Company/Enterprise issued by Competent Authorities.
The Vice Chancellor
Prof. TAFAH EDOKAT O. EDWARD

Call for Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program

Deadline: 1 October 2015

The Huberth H. Humphrey Fellowship Program is calling candidates from experienced professionals interested in understanding about issues of common concern in the U.S or fellow’s home countries. It is a non-degree program which offers valuable opportunities for professional development through selected university courses, attending conferences, networking, and practical work experiences.

Fellowships are announced in March the following year and Humphrey Fellows start their program in the U.S. between April and September of the same year, depending on the amount of English language training required. The Program ends the following June.

Fellowship Provisions

• Payment of tuition and fees at the assigned host university,
• Pre-academic English language training, if required,
• A maintenance (living) allowance, including a one-time settling-in allowance,
• Accident and sickness coverage,
• A book allowance,
• A one-time computer subsidy,
• Air travel (international travel to and from the U.S. for the Program and domestic travel to required program events), and
• A Professional Development allowance for professional activities, such as field trips, professional visits and conferences.

The Humphrey Fellowship Program is administered by a Binational Fulbright Commission in 26 countries. In other eligible countries, the Program is in charge of the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Eligible are countries are grouped according to their regions.

List of Eligible Countries:

Sub-Saharian Africa – Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Caboverde, Cameroon, Chad, Coted’ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierraleone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabve.

Europe – Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Turkey, Ukraine.

Middle East and North Africa – Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Gaza Strip, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, West Bank, Yemen.

East Asia and Pacific – Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam.

South and Central Asia – Afganistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzrepublic, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

Western Hemisphere – Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costarica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, ElSalvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Eligibility Criteria

• An undergraduate (first university or Bachelor’s) degree
• A minimum of five years of full-time, professional experience
• Limited or no prior experience in the United States
• Demonstrated leadership qualities
• A record of public service in the community
• English language ability

Selection Process

1. National Screening
2. Screening by the Institute of International Education
3. Candidate Review Committees
4. Approval by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board
5. Placement of selected Humphrey Fellows

How to Apply

Contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy or Binational Fulbright Commission in your country to know application procedures.

For more information, click here.

Pinyin Chieftaincy Crisis Reaches Climax

Fon Victor Asobo II Speaks Out

Fon Victor Asobo II

•          Deceased kingmakers  are responsible for all the maledictions

•          I left because of insecurity and will never go back

•          They should be leaking their wounds quietly and follow the course they chose

•          They should stop crying over spilt milk

•          A Fon is never enthroned when another is still alive

•         I wish them the best

•         Mezam Administration Declares throne vacant with Fon on Seat

•         New Fon to be presented to Administration on 30^th March 2015

The Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam, Nguele Nguele Felix, has received kudos from the Pinyin clan elite and development organization for putting to rest decades of Pinyin chieftaincy crisis. The SDO’s decision to declare Pinyin throne vacant comes after the December 30, 2014 working session presided over by him at Pinyin Fon’s Palace in Santa Sub Division. He arrived Pinyin Fon’s Palace and realized that there was total disagreement between the kingmakers and some natives of the Fondom who have imposed to seat by the Fon of Pinyin. The SDO asked who the real kingmakers of Pinyin were and was told that the Pinyin tradition holds that there exist a group of 7 kingmakers with the Fon inclusive and 9 notables who sit around the Fon.

During the identification process of the legitimate kingmakers, Njighe Jeremiah Awah, Tanyi Awah, Wah Peter Muluh, Amah Christopher Anyam, Mba Meyang, Khan Vitalis Mancho and Godfred Ayaba Tamni II (current Fon) were presented to the public. The 9 notables were, Mokom Jeremiah (late), Awah Tengim, Penn Amah, Tisighe Nkam, Azamah Aaron, Mundi Samuel Muluh, Nkem George, Ndeh Atamenya and John Solomon Warah.

The SDO observed that the working session was to solve the exasperation and serious unrest and intrigue perpetrated by some villagers who had taken advantage of the Fon’s ill health.

Asked whether Fon Godfred Ayaba Tamni II was traditionally enthroned, the kingmakers unanimously said there was no traditional rites performed on him which could have been an error committed by the former kingmakers. The SDO therefore declared Pinyin throne vacant “because Fon Godfrey Ayaba Tamni II is not recognized by the administration”.

In a bid to settle the unrest in Pinyin Fondom, it was agreed that the Pinyin traditional council shall meet the SDO on March 30, 2015 to present the right person to be the new Pinyin Fon.

Fon Godfrey Ayaba Tamni II

The SDO told Fon Godfred Ayaba that his designation as paramount Fon of Pinyin did not reach the final stage of approval by state authorities through the executive order of the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization. In a letter to Fon Godfred Ayaba Ref. 001/L/E.29/P.S of January 2, 2015, signed by the Mezam SDO, Nguele Nguele Felix, he called on him to strictly respect the resolutions of the meeting. “Therefore, you (Fon Godfred Ayaba) should henceforth govern the Pinyin clan in council and any document emanating from the Pinyin Palace to be considered authentic and valid should bear the signature and number of National Identity Cards of at least 3 of the 9 notables”. Besides, he added that Fon Godfred Ayaba whom the SDO addressed as “Godfred Ayaba Tamni II” was enjoined to lead to his office on March 30, 2015 at 10:00am a delegation of kingmakers to request him (SDO) for fresh consultative talks in view of the designation of a legitimate paramount Fon of Pinyin as stipulated by the regulation in force.

When accosted, the provisional administration of development organization of Pinyin clan, Tangne Martin Nji said the legitimate Fon of Pinyin clan was one Asobo Victor II who abbicated the throne in the early 1960s ruling for fifteen years and since then, no Fon has been legitimately enthroned in Pinyin given that North West tradition holds that no Fon could be enthroned when the Fon of the Fondom is still alive. The abdicated Fon, he explained, is one of the co–founders of City College of Commerce (CCC) Mankon, Asobo Victor.

In a chat with the abdicated Fon Asobo Victor II in his Nitop residence Mankon on January 19, 2015, he said he abdicated because of insecurity and for personal reasons “there is no turning back to the throne”. He said at over 80 years now, he was enjoying his retirement and has nothing doing with the throne. Embittered Fon Asobo Victor II said the people of Pinyin should stop crying over spilt milk, you cannot eat your cake and have it. Whatever malediction is befalling the village and villagers is caused by false decisiosn taken by the kingmakers who are of later and their successor are bound to inherit the consequences. There is no coming back or I am not moving back to anything, they are only selling after the market. Let them be licking their wounds quietly and leave me alone. I left them over forty years ago and have never complained, why do they think I may still have interest for that throne? By the way our tradition does not permit a Fon to be enthroned while another is still alive. I am sorry, it is really a pity but they are subjected to ride on the course they chose to take. I wish them the best and well.

By Tamukong Roland

The transfer of authority has been shifted from MISCA to MINUSCA and one of Cameroon’s brave soldiers, Major General Martin Tumenta officially placed as Commander of the Forces.

General Martin Tumenta

Major General Martin Tumenta was officially installed on the 15th September as Commander of MINUSCA in the presence of the Cameroonian Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Edgard Alain Mebe Ngo’o who represented the Head of State, President Paul Biya.

The transition from the African dominated Peacekeeping force, MISCA to MINUSCA, a United Nations force, is in fulfillment of a resolution taken during debates on Central Africa by the United Nations.

Major General Tumenta had served in the Central African Republic as Commander of the African-led International Support Missions (MISCA) since December 2013.

Before heading MISCA, he held many important posts within the Cameroon Military including serving as Commander of the third Combined Military Region.

This rich career began after completing Combined Military Services Academy, EMIA in Yaounde. He also attended a number of training courses in the United States, France and Egypt that earned him specialized skills.

General Martin Tumenta is from the North West Region of Cameroon precisely Babungo-Ndop. He was born in 1954, married and fathers eight children.

As Force Commander of MINUSCA, the General’s immediate challenge is to protect the civilian population of Central Africa and contribute to a smooth transition to democracy in the country.

By Irene Mbang Tata