By Joe Dinga Pefok
The Judicial Police in Douala, on Tuesday, March 14, arrested a retired Director Of Treasury, Peter Awah Akumchi.He was promptly whisked off to the Bonanajo police station, where he was briefly detained, before being transported to Yaounde.In Yaounde, a State Prosecutor reportedly interrogated Akumchi in the morning of Wednesday, March 15, after which he was transferred to the Secretariat Of State for Defence, commonly known by the French acronym as SED and detained.
The Post learnt that no official charges have as yet been pressed against him, even though police sources confirmed speculations that the retired Treasury Director's arrest is not unconnected with the ongoing anti-corruption drive.
Certain quarters are alleging that Akumchi might have soiled his hands when he served as Paymaster General in Douala in the 90s. They readily cite the infamous practice of 30 percent kickbacks usually effected by senior treasury staff when paying out bills to contractors and some civil servants, desperate to lay hands on their arrears. Others yet, hold that Akumchi's woes would have been inherited during his six-year stay in the powerful office of Director Of Treasury at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Yaounde.
Akumchi is the first senior Anglophone personality to be arrested in the ongoing anti-corruption fight. He hails from Mankon, whose Fon, Angwafor III, is the National Vice President of the CPDM.
As Director of Treasury, Akumchi was known to have been extending lavish financial assistance to the CPDM in his Mankon constituency, where he was referred to as the prominent CPDM baron, who spared no effort in supporting the party.
At a CPDM meeting in Bamenda on March 9, this year, Fon Angwafor was quoted to have hailed Biya's anti-corruption drive, describing it as a good campaign strategy for the Head of State and the ruling party, to sweep the 2007 Parliamentary elections (The Post No. 747).
POSTSCRIPT:
As we went to press, we got news that Akumchi has been released on bail, while police investigations continue.
Sooner or later, this arresting and detaining issue will be a means to pick up innocent Southern Cameroonians.
Posted by: Morfaw Rene | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 06:37 AM
yes morfaw i do agree with u the governement of la republique will not miss such a golden opportunity to put those poor southern camerooians behind bars in the name of anti-corruption.fellow southern cameroonians lets watch out.victory is at the corner it is camming sooner than we have espected so it is time to intensify our fight.Federal republic of southern cameroons shall prevail.God blee us
Posted by: samuel | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 07:12 AM
I know that Southern Cameroonians might feel threatened. But whatever the case, if the so called campaign is deeply rooted and is coming from the bottom of the initiators heart, then on one should be left behind. It might be shamefull to see those involved. BUT that is what makes A RICH Cameroon poor. If Biya is a suspect in the mines of many Cameroonians as it seems from their comments. I expected politicians to come up and demand that he step down as chairman of 'anti corruption' whatever. Whatever happens now that this case is hot will matter. Akumchi and others should not be bailed out of detention as that might give room to self extradiction; they will be hard to fine thereafter.
Before I forget, it is time more serious things get attention as well. Bird flu in Cameroon. test results after a month in France. What a shame; who can tell the extend of the spread after one month?!!!!!!When Cameroon got news that Nigeria spoted this seeming pandemic, what measures were taken? Politics OK; but not without citizens that might perish from some bird `Sickness`. Reason why the money that these guys and ladies have stolen from Cameroon shuld come back so we can do our bird flu test and other development iniatives ourselves and in record time. Nonesense!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Collins | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 07:17 AM
This is a funny story. “Catch the thief that fed us” Angwafor III. Again this is a continuation of Biya’s window dressings. The big fish are still out there siphoning the funds as they have been doing. We have seen this many times and let people not be fooled that the so called anticorruption campaign as coined by the present regime is determined to eradicate fraud in the system. A good example only starts from above. Thinking that Biya can clean his dirty act is impossible because he is the most wanted and he taught his subordinators the trick, now it’s too late. The only way Mr president is for you to go on exile and fight extradition for the rest of your life.
Posted by: Willie | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 07:30 AM
Make the old man die give way,from BBC NEWS.
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CAMEROON: Biya suffers malaise in Equatorial Guinea
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]
© UNDP
President Paul Biya
YAOUNDE, 16 Mar 2006 (IRIN) - Cameroon’s President Paul Biya suffered a malaise on Wednesday in Equatorial Guinea while attending a summit of central African leaders, his office said on Thursday.
"The president of the republic, Mr. Paul Biya, suffered a stomach ache while participating at a summit of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC),” according to the statement signed by Presidency Secretary-General Jean-Marie
Atangana Mebara.
"He was taken care of by a medical team comprising of his doctors and doctors of the republic of Equatorial Guinea," the statement went on to say, adding that Biya later "granted audience to the presidents of Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe".
It is the first time the authorities have officially declared 73-year-old Biya ill since he took office more than two decades ago, in 1982.
Pius Njawe, a journalist and publisher of "Le Messager", one of Cameroon's most authoritative newspapers, faced a two year prison sentence when he reported in 1998 that Biya had suffered a malaise during the country’s national soccer finals.
Also during this week’s CEMAC summit - gathering Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe - Chad President Idriss Deby left a day early following what his government said was an attempted coup.
Posted by: kahdah | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 08:09 AM
This country is very funny.Awah Akumchi has helped to impoverish hundreds of cameroonians.he should be re-arrested immediately and imprisoned.whether he is an anglophone or not all we know is that his hands are dirty and has sinned against God and this nation.well time is running out for these fools who think they can escape judgement.they may manage to escape man's judgement but they will be unable to escape God's judgement.it is just a question of time.all those who have pulled this nation down the drain will regret in very lamentable conditions why they ever did such wickedness.lets watch and see.
Posted by: wallyman | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 08:11 AM
Am not suprise that anglophones will be the first victeem in the on going curruption campaign,But the was cases are francophone,who are still moving freely.I will like the campaign to look into the accounts of Goverment dalegates.Some are poor teachers who took the position as delegates became millioniars over night.well sell all those thier mansions and cars and they will languish in prison for what they have done.
Posted by: Nkoh | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 11:19 AM
News like this is often a stimulant for sentiments. Fellow Cameroonians the Journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. We know how corrupt it is in our Country. Yet as an opposition to the system in Cameroon I think it is time we give the a positive remark on the administration. One thing is clear if we do not know what is good we shall not know what is bad.If the administration cannot do it very well then we hope that one day we shall do it well. No situation will be for ever. I will positively support this move and a move for a greater number of arrests, be them Anglo of Francophones. I think it is only when CAmeroonians strongly support this move by the government that it can do more. Rather than saying this or that, lets push them in doing more arrests. In Europe both the oppposition and the government in power unite for the common interest of the country , why not us in the opposition and those in power so that we can fully understand the evils of corruption
Posted by: Don Man | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 11:45 AM
We are all seek and tired of this arbituary arrest without tial, how do we know if these escape goats actually committed the crime they are accused off. until its proven in the court of law no conclusion should be drawn.some of these individuals might not have settle thier boss ,thats why he is boosting their ass,Believe me brothers,if these cases are taken to court, the will be lot's of revelations, This scheme is another smokescreen, I dont believe an iota of it.
Posted by: nyanga boy | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 12:31 PM
Akumchi should not be released on bail. I don't care where he comes from, anglo or franco, if you are corrupt you must pay the price. There are many more thieves out there who use the banner of the ruling party to enrich themselves.
We should all step up the fight against corruption irrespective of where we come from. Akumchi is not clean and must be arrested, if some of you think it is an attack on innocent southern Cameroonians, too bad'''
Posted by: Michael | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 01:59 PM
I am rather disgraced by the way my fellow country men responded to this event.They took it for an Anglophone problem,well thats what we anglophone always do,even when its just.We should be encouring the government to continue with this spirit.
However, we should not be fooled.HOW CAN A BLIND MAN LEAD THE BLIND!.HOW CAN A CORRUPTED GOVERNMENT FIGHT CORRUPTION EFFECTIVELY?.Mr president if u are readibg this,of course i believe u will,i may suggest you hand over the anti-corruption campaign to a neutral institution because even you,can be a suspect.
Dear cameroonians, i pray our desire for a change wouldn't make us too blind to see what's ahead.Lets think of the stability of our country first.Its better for us to leave like this than falling into a state of high entropy.THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN U STUDY WHAT HAPPENED TO OTHER COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD WHO HAD THE SITUATION LIKE CAMEROON BEFORE MAKING 'CHANGES'.
O CAMEROON, A COUNTRY OF PEACE,YOUR CHILDREN ARE LOOKING DESPERATELY FOR A CHANGE,FORGETTING THE FACT THAT A CHANGE CAN BE GOOD OR BAD.
O CAMEROON,YOU HAVE LIVE SINCE FROM INDEPENCE WITH PEACE AND FOR THAT YOU ARE RESPECTED WORDWIDE,THIS PEACE IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TOLERANT,HARDWORKING AND PRAYERFUL.
O CAMEROON MAKE THEM SEE THE DISPARITY AMONG THEM AND UNDERSTAND THEIR DIFFERENCES AND THE NEED OF A WISE STEP AND FAST STEP TO A CHANGE FOR A CIVIL WAR, TRIBAL WAR,RELIGIOUS WAR ETC ARE ALL FRUITS OF FAST STEP.
O CAMEROON,MAY GOD BLESS YOU MORE...!
Posted by: A CAMEROONIAN | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 02:37 PM
I am an anglophone, I have lived in NW and SW. Almost all the principals and even headmasters I know are corrupt - what more of the treasury paymaster. Please, every corrupt official should be arrested even if it is my father.
Posted by: Beybunui | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 03:41 PM
Dear readers i think what the gov't is doing to fight corruption is a good idea but let them not just go out and lay hands on anyway without proof or because that individual once heldf a responsible office.. Akumchi has not been accused of corruption and all what the papers are writing are all speculations concerning what let to his arrest. he was called up for some questioning after that he was release not on bail but by those who called him up for questioning. Is not because Akumchi had been the direct of tresury that u think he was corrupt, he has been one of the best tresurers that this country has produce for those who know what the treasury is all about.lets wait and see how far the gov't will go on with this fight.
abakwa
USA
Posted by: ABAKWA | Friday, 17 March 2006 at 07:34 PM
There should be no brother- or sisterhood when it comes to doing one's job. I think Cameroonians are all eyes to see a Cameroon clear of corruption. A Cameroon where everyone has the same opportunities to utilities, social benefits, and where employment is based on competence and not on Godfather or financial background. Let all of them be put in shackles coz until these "chuku chuku weeds" are pulled out, only then can the crops thrive.
Corruption has rendered families miserable, killed the spirit of hardwork and innovation and has even led to hypertension and death of most Cameroonians. It is no use to work hard coz no one will appreciate your efforts, not even by word of mouth. Cameroon does not know the value of education and research. Where are all our skilled Eng, MSc, PhD graduates and Professors? In Canada, USA, Western Europe, South Africa and u name the rest. Who is to blame.
Please, if the anticorruption stuff is not a screen saver, I stand for the opinion that even the head of state offers himself for trial. If a health minister advises that everyone goes for an HIV test, he should set the good example by doing it first. Nobody should be above the law and we are not interested in people being arrested. We want to see the money and investments handed back to the state and fast too. I hope this is not just another smart attempt to woo Cameroonians and get another term of office.
Posted by: Joshua | Saturday, 18 March 2006 at 06:50 AM
Listen Readers,
Corruption is a product of frenh policies in africa. for them to steal our resources, they must trade with corrupt governments. The current arrest of citizens of southern cameroons is surely an intent by french masqueraders that we too are corrupt. But the real henchmen of the present state of corruption in la republique francaise du cameroun are most the kingmakers from the business and political class. A few of them are also civil servants. We all know them and they should all be arrested. Biya have many relatives in and around la republique francaise du cameroun who are henchmen of corruption in the current mess of la republique francaise du cameroun. they too should be arrested as soon as possible.
Posted by: rexon | Saturday, 18 March 2006 at 02:46 PM
What has Southern Cameroon got to do with this? Yes, Sir, there are quite a few corrupt anglophones!It is true that because we always play second fiddle to francophones,we do not always have 'lucrative' positions and do not have access to huge funds.However thare are many corrupt anglophones and there is no reason why they shpuld not dance to the music the ochestrated.The Akumchis,and all the other anglophone treasures and tax official should be arrested and tried.
Posted by: Courtney Eko | Sunday, 19 March 2006 at 12:51 PM
Good comments against those who want to paint anglophones to look like angels from heaven.
Posted by: Dr. A. A. Agbormbai | Sunday, 19 March 2006 at 02:44 PM
Mr.Agbormbai,
what do you mean?Didn't get the sense.Are you being sarcastic or...'
Posted by: NjifenztB.D.(U.K) | Sunday, 19 March 2006 at 04:43 PM
Southern Cameroonians sworn to the burning ship of Camerounese graft should burn with it. No exceptions; no pity. No brother; no sister. I generally agree with you, but you are wrong about this one, Rexon. A THIEF IS A THIEF IS A FREAKING THIEF ! Have you all seen the new one making the rounds, that Paul Biya is working on an exit strategy? It would not be surprising at all. The plan is that the tennis ball is back on the Foulbe side of the court. France, the referee, on pain of painful death allows only two players. The rest are only allowed to be spectators and ball boys.
That is why Southern Cameroons must be free. We shall work out the tribal issues.
Posted by: Ma Mary | Sunday, 19 March 2006 at 05:27 PM
BTW, Agbormbai, your words count for nothing in the Frogiverse (the Universe created by parisian frogs) if you catch my drift. Did you read the succession story in Togo, where France completely bytpassed the popular will and impossed their stooge. Watch it happen in Cameroun. Biya days are numbered. All that democracy noise will be cavalierly or brutally brushed aside. Watch. And Learn. It is all documented and predictable behavior by the overlords of francafrique.
Posted by: Ma Mary | Sunday, 19 March 2006 at 05:32 PM
Ma Mary, as I have mentioned earlier, your contributions on this forum always demonstrates a fine and principled mind. Nevertheless, I think your faith in anglophone politicians are a tad too trusting. The majority of these anglophone politicians are not as principled as you, or have a Rolls Royce mind like yours...look at the goings on in the SDF and SCNC, to appreciate that anglophones can match francophones for corruption, and worse.
It is over 40 years since we were taken over by LRC. A whole generation of adult anglophones have grown up, close to middle age now, without the faintest idea of what it was like when anglophones literally had their own country. The said generation have studied in the University of Yaounde and trained in the Ecole Normal de "whatever" in Yaounde, their way of thinking is certainly not that of the people who ran West Cameroon. A lot of these people think like francophones. This is the generation, on the ground in Cameroon, who need to make the creation of a Southern Cameroon state a reality. Can they really be expected to fight for something they never experienced? Can they truly believe in a cause whose benefits is limited to what they read in history books?
Posted by: DaDiceman | Sunday, 19 March 2006 at 08:05 PM
Dear Brother DaDiceman:
"Give me a place to stand on, and I can move the earth."
The Works of Archimedes with the Method of Archimedes,
"Give us mere clay, and we shall fashion magnificent works of pottery"
“As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world”
Buddha quotes (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism)
In my own lifetime, I have watched with amazement men and women as black as I am black from Africa transformed into French men in every way but their skin.
We are not naive. We see the corruption. We see the tribalism. We see the backstabbing. We see all these things, and still see fertile soil.
Perspective is a very important thing. Those of us who are in this are in it for the long haul, placing the seeds of institutions that would outlast us. Some of the ferment that you see here are the results of seeds that we planted over 10 years ago. A lot of the people who are talking and arguing here are the same young people who did not see Southern Cameroons and did not see West Cameroon. The imagination is a very powerful thing. How else do you explain the extreme behavior of religious types. They act on the principles of an invisible world to bring it to actuality.
To do otherwise is to doom Africa. A visionless Africa is a dead Africa. AFrica is dying now for lack of a compelling and innovative vision, blown here and there . We want to carve out our portion of Africa, and when we do, we shall be a tranforming force.
Why do you think la Republique stopped dreaming once it joined with us? It did. Think back at the history if you know it. We are bad for each other. The only problem is that they are addicted to our resources like a grown up man who likes breast milk. Get him off the teat so that he can think! I do not want to continue to describe the abnormality in psychological terms tonight.
I part with a powerful statement for action and for achievement taken from the Hindu Holy Book the Bhagavad Gita:
--you have the power to act only
--you do not have the power to influence the result
--therefore you must act without the anticipation of the result
--without succumbing to inaction
To interprete: action without anticipation of fruit or results is most freeing. You just do the right thing. You do not worry about the fruit, and you do it enthusiastically. I have done that since I achieved awareness in my late teens, and have been fulfilled richly materially, socially and spiritually.
Why were you born in Africa? Why were you born in the most challenging continent? It is a tremendous spiritual opportunity, unparalleled. You have the opportunity to live a meaningful, non-bovine existence. What is a bovine existence? Something like what we often see in comfortable places. Be born, be comfortable, eat, enjoy, make kids and die. Little opportunity for meaning. Play by the rules and live fat and large chewing on the cud like a cow. That is so meaningless.
That is personal philosophy my brother. I share it with you to make you understand why I have an optimistic spirit. Only a small sector of my totality is allowed to be glimpsed in these writings, but I have had an extraordinarily rich and fulfilled life. I could ignore the Southern Cameroons and la Republique today and I will be 5 times wealthier in 2 years.
During one of his trips here before he died, I called and spoke to Albert Mukong who was a former Physics student. That man was something of a visionary, and he was convinced in the depths of his heart that the Southern Cameroons is the Archimedes fulcrum fpr Africa, that there are some important attributes that we have at the bottom of our afflictions and imperfections. Now you know why I quoted Archimedes
Let me end here, Diceman.
Posted by: Ma Mary | Sunday, 19 March 2006 at 09:27 PM
Ma Mary
Tonight I realise your creative muse is at its best. Your submission is encased in a passionate plea for a cause that to some looks vain. Indeed its a question of faith. You have spoken about yourself, indicating that you are globally a fulfilled person on the physical and metaphysical plains. People of this specie are rare. It is more rare to find people like you who admit in public of their success.We thank God for this. I now understand that your fight is not out of frustration. May you fight a genuine fight! How do you feed your muse to become so rich?
May God richly bless you and your household.
Posted by: Nkosi Jacob | Monday, 20 March 2006 at 05:02 AM
Now back to our anglophone brother Peter Akumchi: no court anywhere has tried and found him guilty of anything. So why accuse him of corruption or call him a thief whereas he is presumed to be innocent until guilt is proven after due process before a properly constituted court of law? I hold no brief for Akumchi but no one has - including those who are so ready to pronounce judgement - heard Akumchi's version of events. Natural justice requires that the accused party (in fact both parties) be heard before a fair assessment is made.It can be very lonely when one finds himself on the wrong side of the law.Moments of adversity are moments that test a man's mettle. That is when you can count your friends and those you can trust.It is even worse if you happen to be innocent.
On some other matter: to suggest that Akumchi was arrested because he was anglophone really defies reason.My view is that his arrest has little or nothing to do with the fact that he is anglophone or from Southern Cameroons.Reference to anglophone or southern cameroons in this case is a real abuse.Dozens of francophones have also been arrested. They all have to account more or less for the same conduct i.e.their stewardship and the management of the public funds entrusted to their care.
Akumchi will, I hope and pray, have his day in court.If he is found guilty,then can anyone pronounce, accuse and condemn.
Until then, he is presumed to be innocent. So be patient.Hold your fire.
Posted by: Roland Ngong | Monday, 20 March 2006 at 07:11 AM
Ma Mary, as always top notch educative contribution....it is a privilege to have you on this forum. I have copied and saved your last contribution. It is pretty inspiring stuff! If only we could clone you, the future of Cameroon will be bright. Sadly, there are too few of your type in Cameroon, but we live the hope that there might be many more of you someday.
Posted by: DaDiceman | Monday, 20 March 2006 at 03:10 PM
Ma Mary, as always top notch educative contribution....it is a privilege to have you on this forum. I have copied and saved your last contribution. It is pretty inspiring stuff! If only we could clone you, the future of Cameroon will be bright. Sadly, there are too few of your type in Cameroon, but we live in hope that there might be many more of you someday.
Posted by: DaDiceman | Monday, 20 March 2006 at 03:13 PM
IF THEY THINK THEY WILL USE THIS STRATEGY TO ELIMINATE OR BLINDFUL SOUTHERN CAMEROONIANS TO STOP OUR FIGHT THEN YOU ARE MAKING A MISTAKE. RELEASE US WE WANT OUR FREEDOM. WE HAVE BEEN LIVING IN CHAINS AND BONDAGE FOR THE PAST 40YEARS AND MORE THIS IS THE TIME TO GAIN OUR LIBERTY PLEASE YOUR TIME IS UP.
Posted by: TAFON | Tuesday, 21 March 2006 at 09:08 AM
From: dave obnna.
Abidjan. Cote D'Ivoire West Africa
Email: [email protected]
Dear One,
My warmest greeting to you in the name of the Lord.
I am Miss dave obinna and I inheritated an important some from my late father who died in recent crisis in Cote d'Ivoire. I wish to request for your assistance in investing this sum in lucrative venture or manufacturing and real estate management in your country. I have Ten million, seven hundred thousand United State Dollars. USD($10,700,000) to invest in this transaction and I will require your assistance in receiving the fund in your account in your country. I will gladly give you some resonable percent from the total sum for your assistance.
Before his death on September 2005, he gave me all the necessary legal documents to the deposit of the fund in the bank, I am 20 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do. Now I want an account overseas where I can transfer this funds and after the transaction I will come and reside permanently in your country till such a time that it will be convinient for me to return back home if I so desire. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast. The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. I also want to invest the fund under your care because I am ignorant of business world.
I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards. Your suggestions and ideas will be highly regarded. Now permit me to ask these few questions:
1. Can you honestly help me from your heart?
2. Can I completely trust you?
3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is in your account?
Please, consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Immedaitely I confirm your willingness, I will send to you my picture and also give you more details about myself and the bank were my late father deposited the fund, so that you can reach the bank and confirm the existence of the fund as well, because seeing is believing. Please always reply me through this my private email:([email protected])
for security reason.
Awaiting your immediate response and may God bless you.
With love,
dave obinna.
Posted by: jenykone | Monday, 01 May 2006 at 09:59 AM