Day: February 8, 2024

On Wednesday evening, at about 5 PM, February 7, 2024, a fire outbreak in the motor park, Mamfe Central Subdivision, ravaged 10 well-equipped shops. Shop owners and inhabitants of the said area were going about their daily activities when they got shouts from close neighbors indicating heavy smoke and with a blink of an eye, the entire place was filled with fire, a CNA correspondent who visited the site narrated.

Despite efforts to save some goods, the fire spared nothing on its way.

No human casualty was reported as of press hour, but huge material damage was recorded as shop owners are yet to evaluate their losses.

While some shop owners are inconsolable some recovered a few items.

A popular Pepper seller who is known around as ‘Mbut man’ explained that he was told about the incident and before he could reach his shop, the fire was already thick inside.

The administrative authorities in Mamfe including the Mayor of Mamfe town Robertson Ashu, the Gendarme commander, and the first Assistant SDO visited t
he place.

The mayor spoke with a few eyewitnesses and victims and was able to do an emergency evaluation clearly stating it had nothing to do with separatists as rumor had it such.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The west regional Delegate of the Ministry of transport, Mfendou Moussa has warned heads of travel agencies in Bafoussam to shun the illicit price increase on transport fares, if not face regulatory sanctions.

The caution was sounded in a communiqué issued on Wednesday February 7, 2024 following the readjustment on prices of petroleum products from CFA 730 to CFA 840.

According to the West Regional Delegate, the Government has taken constructive measures to reduce the burden of transportation on Cameroonians.

‘I have the honor to bring to your attention that, following the increase in fuel prices at the pump, the Government has undertaken consultations with social partners, with a view to finding a better response to the transport situation in this new context’ the delegate said.

He added that, ‘while awaiting the conclusions of these consultations, I ask you to use the tariff scale in force for the transport of people.’

And failure to comply to the above restriction, the administrator promised sanctions
against those who resist, plus the suspension of their transport authorization.

This memo precedes the inter ministerial conference consisting of members of government notably the Minister of Water and Energy Resources, Minister of Finance, Minister of Transport, Minister of Trade, Labour and Social Security and the Minister of Communication, on Tuesday February 6, 2024 in Yaoundé with three major resolutions being the reconstruction of SONARA, provision of subvention and the increase on the minimum wage.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Kumasi: The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Thursday received the first batch of the objects and artefacts looted from the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi during the Sargrenti War in 1874.

The objects, which were returned from the Fowler Museum of the University of California, USA, were presented by Dr Sylvia Fowler, the Director of the Museum, who led a delegation to Kumasi.

The items were being returned after extensive diplomatic negotiations and lobbying by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Dr Fowler told the gathering of chiefs and people of Asanteman during the ‘Kuntunkuni’ durbar to commemorate the Sargrenti war at the Manhyia Palace,

She said after critical analysis and diplomatic relationships, the board and management of the museum found it important to return some of the objects and artefacts to the Asante Kingdom, after 150 years.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, sitting in state at the durbar, could not hide his joy for the return of the artefacts after many years of diplomatic negotiations and engagements.

B
eaming with smiles, Otumfuo Osei Tutu looked closely at some of the objects and commended the delegation for the honour done him.

The treasures, which were stolen by the British colonialist during the war, had been kept in British and America museums for the past 150 years.

Many prominent people from Africa and of African descent had, over the years, called for the unconditional return of these creative treasures to their original owners.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who is celebrating the 25 years of his installation as the 16th occupant of the Golden Stool, had for many years engaged the British Monarch and Government, as well as the museums keeping the items, to return them to the Stool.

The return of the artefacts is, therefore, a joyous moment for the king, the chiefs and people of Asantemen (Asante Kingdom), who see these objects as part of their spirit and soul.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Sources on the ground have confirmed that on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, four civilians were gunned down by government forces. This massacre happened at a control point mounted by the separatist fighters in Kiyan.

These civilians’ sources say, were summoned by a separatist commander to the control point to defend charges levied against them ( CNA learned that one man called Linus, a radio repairer, had reported a woman to the fighters).

Unfortunately for them, government forces had earmarked that point and when they got there, they gunned down the civilians who were waiting for the separatist commander. Sources also disclosed that the military was well informed that Separatists were going to meet at the Teachers Training School premises, reasons why they did not hesitate to shoot at anyone on target.

Two civilians were part of the meeting, while bullets hit other bystanders, CNA learned.

Kiyan is a village in Kumbo central subdivision and Bui division. Kumbo Central subdivision is currently under a lockd
own that started on Tuesday to mar 11th February preparation and celebration.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

18 students of a Hotel Management Institute in Ndogbong – Douala, who sustained severe burns from the explosion of a gas cylinder on February 7, 2024 are under intense medical care at the intensive care unit of the Douala General Hospital.

The incident happened when they were preparing for a gastronomic event.

‘Immediate care was taken as soon as the students arrived the emergency department of the hospital. Of the 18 students welcomed, we counted 12 women and six men, between the ages 16 and 30. In order of severity, we counted: nine mild cases who can be discharged after treatment, four moderate cases who will need to be hospitalized and 5 five cases of severe burns between 25% and 60% over the entire surface of the body. There is a case of smoke inhalation which also remains very worrying’. Explained the management of the Douala General Hospital.

No death was registered.

Littoral governor Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua visited the hospital to take stock of the situation. He wished them a quick recovery
while urging doctors to grant the hotel management students the adequate care required.

Source: Cameroon News Agency