Dominique Bela is a Cameroonian journalist based in Douala
44 subjects with 33 messages.
Bela
The best moments of my reporting
Looking back to the six months of my participation to the VoicesofAfrica mobile project, I have no doubt that my field-report from the Ibo Park in the Littoral Province and the one I made from the Douala central prison. - Both reports and many others have had direct impact, as the authorities were made aware of certain issues I raised.Cameroon: Rural initiative changes lives
Since 2007, farmers of Edzendouan, a small district located at 40 kilometers from Yaoundé have been benefiting from the rural project aiming at commercializing agricultural products. - Initiated by as Inades Formation Cameroon, the project stresses socio-economic self reliance of the rural population. To achieve this, populations are not only assisted in channelling their crops to the market but also they are trained on conservation techniques.
According to Mr Mama Moumbagna, the Director of Inades, the project particularly targets women and ethnic minorities. On the field, the results are good. Mrs Anastasie Mebea, a farmer, says that this project has changed her life.
“I can b…Douala shines as streets get light
Every area in the economic capital of Cameroon is lighted and the city is bright . The lights were placed by the organ called "Direction des travaux" in the Douala City council for security reasons. - Although the lights were primarily motivated by traffic safety concerns, they greatly contribute to the beauty of the city at night.
Many places were previously classified as dangerous as truck drivers would miss to manoeuvre their trucks on time. Now the lights indicate both to the drivers and to the pedestrians where those roundabouts are locatedGuinness factory pollutes water sources
Guinness breweries and cotton factory Cicam factories dump their chemicals in nature and pollute nearby streams. Green-colooured water has flowed from the Guinness factory (part of Diageo) at Ndogbond in Bassa neighbourhood, down a cliff and into residential area for several years, leading residents to fear for their lives. - Residents also complain of intermittent flow of oil wastes from the factories. The green liquids come from inside Guinness and Cicam.
A raid made in 2001 by government's inspectors in charge of environment led to actions against these two companies for their failure to treat dangerous chemicals. Guinness has announced that they have installed a chemical treatment un…Cameroon: Financial crisis hits timber sector
The lumbering sector in Cameroon has undergone the suppression of 10,000 jobs as a consequence of the ongoing financial crisis. - The timber industry is the first affected by the international financial crisis that has so far caused casualties only in the West and Asia.
According to the ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, it is established that timber export in the first half of this year fell by more than 170.000 tons compared to 2007.
As the threat of collapse hovers the currency-earning timber industry, the government has prompted the ministry of forestry to call a crisis meeting to discuss the matter as more jobs are at risk and stocks of timber grow every day pending their export.
…Hospitals become a danger for public health
Health centres are multiplying all over Cameroon but their hygiene is still far below the standards. - Wastes from those facilities are mingled with ordinary wastes and thrown into nature, where they can cause serious public health issues.
Needles are likely to propagate HIV/AIDS as they might constitute an attractive toy for kids. Blades can cause tetanus and Hepatitis B, not to talk of unknown damages that blood-tainted tampons and human flesh can cause on vegetations, water pipes and crops.
The Lakentini hospital in Douala is one of those hospitals who expose populations to those hazards. It, like other health centres, urgently needs incinerators to burn the wastes it generatesCameroon: 20 percent of fuel illegal
One-fifth of fuel in Cameroon enters the country through illegal channels, causing a loss of 13 billion Francs CFA for the national treasury and investors. - These are the results of an investigation concluded on Monday by the association of Cameroonian businessmen, known as Groupement interpatronal du Camerounâ. The report indicates that 6 million litres of fuel comes in the country illegally each week, especially in the provinces of North and the Far North.
The state’s loses are estimated at 5 billion Francs CFA. The reports also points out the growing market for illegal spare parts and estimates that 70 percent of products on that market are illegal.Cameroon: Palm wine popular than ever
Due to the rising of price of drinks, consumers are turning to traditional drinks, especially the "Matango" palm wine. - Hundreds of gallons of this precious juice are collected every day and sold on the market. The palm wine is a speciality of the central provinces and those in the South and Littoral areas.
The reality today is that the consumers are increasingly fond of delicacies of this beverage. In Douala, Matango pubs mushroom and compete in all the corners of the city. The phenomenon also is noted in the capital Yaounde. Matango is well appreciated for its savour, and its affordable price: 100f CFA the litre.
This video shows how the Matango comes out of the Palm Tree.Bakassi: Rebel attacks increase
Cameroon’s armed forces on Sunday stopped an attack by a Bakassi based group on a trawler, the Cameroonian defence ministry has announced. - Known as Bakassi Freedom Fighters, this rebel group has also claimed responsibility for the killing of a sub-prefect in Bakassi in June 2008. It says it’s fighting for the emancipation of the peninsula.
The group has announced more attacks in the future if the government does start negotiations on the fate of Nigerians living on the peninsulaCameroon celebrates Women's Day
This year's celebration of the National Rural Women's Day on October 15 recognizes the many contributions of rural women in ensuring food and water security in their homes, communities and country. - All along the week, activities will be conducted to mark on the outskirts of the economic city of Douala in the presence of representatives from Cameroon 's Minister of women's empowerment and the Family.
It has become a tradition. The world rural women's day provides an opportunity for the government to support women with farming tool, agricultural inputs and other accessories to improve upon their working conditions on the farm. Cooperatives and rural women's associations received wheelb…Erotic films on Douala streets
With 500Fcfa (¤0,80)one can get erotic film in Douala, and the trade is not regulated which expose children. - The phenomenon is observed in the main crossroads of Douala and major cities. The flowering of these Dvd has become very important and authorities do not seem offended .
Parents are the most worried as their children are discovering sexual life at a very early age, in a country where HIV/AIDS is among the first cause of mortality.Cameroon trains seamen for Bakassi
With more than 320 km of coastline, many navigable rivers and waterways, Cameroon offers to his young citizens numerous possibilities to practise an activity among the panoply of sea profession. - The vitality and security of Bakassi zone for instance, which at present in the center of preoccupations will run with no doubt through a good organization and suitable exploitation of fluvial traffic.
However, despite a high rate of unemployment among the most under privileged population, youths are terrified by sea which discourages them from engaging in maritime jobs. In the same way, that fear of water is a brake to the development of maritime transport.
Authorities are helping youths va…Cameroon: Chlorine threatens lives
Hundreds of human lives in jeopardy as quantities of chlorine left uncontrolled in the nature have started intoxicating inhabitants and damaging vegetation. - “The Chinese detected it and sent us pure air from the skies”, says André Nouck. Nouck lives near the place where a disinfectant factory used to be before closing its doors in 2002. The factory left the deadly chemical behind and no measure has been taken to clear it.
“When I inhale it, I can’t eat as I have nausea”, adds Nouck.
Environmentalist Prince Nasser compares the situation to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and wants the government not only to declare the place a disaster zone, but also to t…Africa embarks on wood based bio-energy
Wood-based energy: An alternative for Africa Africa is considering to end dependence on fossil fuel as source of energy by promoting tropica wood-based bio-energy. - A forum dubbed the ‘African Regional Forum on Promoting Wood-Based Bio energy Using Wood Residues and Wastes’ held in Douala from 3-5 September 2008, and called for the strengthening of country’s capacity to assess, monitor, and report on forest and wood energy related information. Governments, the private sector and the civil society should work in partnership to achieve this goal.
The forum also called for the stimulation of local and communities for the development of wood based bio-energy, especially in …Cameroon: 50 years after founder's death
The ceremonies marking the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of nationalist Ruben Um Nyobe, father of Cameroon's independence have began. - Various activities are planned in the period preceding September 13th. They include a pilgrimage to the tomb of the deceased, conferences and debates, among many others. Um Nyobe was assassinated in 1958.
A true virtuoso of his time, he visited twice to the United Nations through the contributions of poor peasants Cameroon to plead the case of Cameroon. Ruben Um Nyobe will opposed French colonialism and demanded "a full and immediate independence" while creating a national awareness on that issue. The country got its independence in 1960, larg…Fishing season starts in Cameroon
The fishing season in Kribi in Cameroon's Littoral Province started last week with great happiness among fishermen and the population. - On the beaches of Kribi, many fishermen are getting ready with their nets. According Kribi authorities, 300 people are working in the fishing sector including processing and marketing in the area is about 300.
While part of the fish is consumed fresh, another part is generally processed in diverse ways: they are either salted, dried, fermented or smoked before being taken to the market.
Fish is an important part of the diet and culture in the region. People get involved in fishing more for social reasons than for economic ones. Tradition fish proc…Efforts still needed for Kribi attractions
The Kribi coastal line is one of Cameroon's attractions for tourists but much still needs to be done to turn tourism into a big foreign currency generating sector. - Pierre Bata, Palm Beach Hotel marketing manager, says that the beach lacks a clear beach management and planning. He adds that pick pockets to scare tourists away.
Beside the beach, the region has a unique attraction that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet: the Lobe Falls are the only ones of their sort as they are at the same time the mouth of a riverCameroon: Mangrove under extinction threat
Local authorities in Cameroon's Littoral Province are calling the population to stop cutting the mangrove tree as it lays a crucial role in the conservation of the marine biodiversity and the maintenance of coastal ecological balances. - The officer in charge of environment Hermine Tchouamou says that the tree is disappearing despite the special protection it enjoys since 1996. The extinction is largely blamed on illegal lumbering that in which some traders engage in.
In the Wouri River mouth zone, especially on the Cape Cameroun and Na-Massadi islands, two areas exposed to regular floods, people are completely cutting down the remaining trees to settle and engage in the fishing trade. T…Bakassi administration will be challenging
Despite Cameroon’s legal victory over Nigeria in the Bakassi case, hard times lie ahead as to how the reconquered territories will be administered without frustrating Nigerians living there. - Charles Tchougang, the chairman of Cameroon’s Bar notes that it will not be easy to govern an off-shore land that is far from main land Cameroon and whose population is essentially Nigerian. On many occasions, secessionist ideas emerged to demand that Bakassi remain Nigerian.
Another headache for Cameroonian authorities will be curbing banditry and criminality in that area called by many a paradise for traffickers of all kinds. The most pessimistic prefer to remain prudent as to the fut…Nigeria has always been peace advocate
Nigeria has confirmed her role as peace fighter on the continent by handing over the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon in early August after 15 years of occupation. - Nigeria’s Consul in Douala, Wilfred Ndu Obimah, says that Nigeria cannot fight for peace in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan (Darfur) and be at war against neighbouring Cameroon.
In this video interview, Obimah summarises his country commitment to peace on the continent.Douala drug sellers get new facilities
Traders of medial products who used to occupy the location called "Place Independence" around the central market of Douala have now settled on a site constructed by the Douala city Council. - A few months ago, the traders were sent to this spot when construction work was still on and only sellers of drugs installed themselves in the empty space. Now the building looks beautiful, spacious and airy with enough counters.
The space is occupied by both drug and cloth sellers. The traders complain of the fact that their customers do not yet know the market. The president of the market Augustin Kamdem, a drug seller said some of the traders refused to come for their own space at the new market …Cameroon: Dance as a mirror of diversity
Traditional dances in Cameroon are made up of live performances believed to be a continuation of ancestral customs. Different ethnic groups have different dances, cults, war rituals and festivities all loaded with meaning and symbols - The gourna of the Tupuri is a dance from Northern Cameroon. It incorporates long sticks that dancers carry upright in a circle. Cameroon has more than 200 traditional dances, each of which is associated with a different event or situation. Dance is part and parcel of most ceremonies and rituals.
Dances accompany births, christenings, weddings and funerals and invoke the spirits of ancestors to cure the ill a and/or increase fertility. Dance in Cameroon i…Douala shines as rehabilitation progresses
Since last year, more than 170 billions Cfa francs have been invested for the rehabilitation of road infrastructures in the business capital Douala. The city economic activities have been hampered by the poor road infrastructure. - Since last year, more than 170 billions Cfa francs have been invested for the rehabilitation of road infrastructures in the business capital Douala. The city economic activities have been hampered by the poor road infrastructure.
This situation disrupts the urban transport system, provokes accidents and destabilises the schedules and activities of the inhabitants, and event involving neighbouring towns. The initiative taken by the Douala Urban Council since the…Douala people want killer factory relocation
The inhabitants of the Cameroon business capital have been urging their government to order the relocation of Sic Cacao, a chocolate factory located in the heart of the city. - Many cases of bronchitis and other respiratory infections have been reported as a consequence of the inhalation of the toxic powder that the residents of the nearby districts have been exposed to.
“The solution we suggest is to relocate factories from urban zones and to trace clear and sustainable limits for industrial zones”, says Prince Nasser Kemajou, a human right activist.
“Before dying, my grand mother had an infection. Doctors told her it was due to those powders”, adds Eveline Ngo…Cameroon: Towards a new park in West
Do you know the Yabassi landscape area? Four hours separate this virgin forest from the economic capital, Douala in Cameroon's Littoral Province of Cameroon. - Owona Ebambou is a young and ambitious dedicated Cameroonian. He is passionate about his job and works hard to keep the WWF brand high in the programmes' area. He works as sociologist for the Coastal Forests/Sawa Programme.
“In the Sawa Programme terminology, YLSA refers to three main entities: Nlonako, Makombe and Ebo which all are proposed protected areas. For strategic reasons, we decided for a start to focus our work in the Ebo forest that straddles three divisions: Nkam, Sanaga Maritime and Mbam and Inoubou”, says…
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