First Major Shake-Up At ELECAM - Fonkam Fires North West & West Regional Delegates

By Musa Isa

The decision came as no surprise, given the full powers accorded Dr. Samuel Fonkam Azu’u, in the revised text of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM. The Board Chairman (President) of ELECAM thus relieved Emmanuel Ning Formu-Kum and his counterpart from the West Region with other Regional Delegates maintained. They were immediately replaced last Thursday, September 13, 2012 by Gasper Thairinyuy Nga for the North West and Ngounou Gabriel for the West Regions respectively. Both served as divisional heads of Bui and the Upper Nkam divisions respectively.

While performing the installation rite at the North West ELECAM office at Ntarinkon-Bamenda last Thursday September 13, Erik Essousse, Deputy Director General of ELECAM, did not give any clue as to why Formu-Kum was replaced/called to other duties. He however hailed the outgone for his selfless endeavours in keeping the ELECAM flame. Some observers however suspected that Formu-Kum’s poor health condition could have precipitated his replacement. Chronicle gathered that the outgone NW ELECAM boss recently returned from Germany for medical attention and had since seen his health not in very fine fettle.

The Nitty-Gritties

According to the appointment decision 0007/ELECAM/CE/DU of September 10, 2012, issued by the Elections Cameroon Director, Fonkam Azu’u, Nga Gasper replaced the pioneer North West ELECAM Delegate, Formu-Kum Emmanuel ‘called to other duties’.

Erik Essousse, Deputy Director General of ELECAM, who presided over the installation ceremony, observed that Formu-Kum Emmanuel worked very hard in his tenure of office especially as he managed the 2011 presidential elections in the North West Region without any hitches. He stressed that Gasper Nga has taken over the position as North West Regional Delegate of ELECAM and Formu-Kum Emmanuel remains a worker of ELECAM.

“Ranks belong to individuals and functions belong to the state”, quipped Essousse adding that the incoming regional delegate of ELECAM was chosen because of his rich experience.

While Gasper Nga was enjoined to gather the North West ELECAM family together to create a serene atmosphere for success to come his way, he was equally called upon to ensure that he works hard to cause his subordinates embrace biometric registration wholeheartedly as the 2013 twin elections - municipal and parliamentary are at the corner. However, the deputy director of ELECAM noted that Gasper will be given practical guidelines of functioning and entreated the North West ELECAM workers to give their boss the necessary support for all of them to deliver the goods.

Quizzed by newsmen to explain why Formu-Kum Emmanuel was replaced when he was congratulated for having worked hard especially in managing the 2011 presidential elections, the deputy director general of ELECAM elected to remain mute.

Brief Biography

Nga Gasper Thairinyuy comes into the Regional Delegation of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) NWR, with over 10 years of teaching and facilitating English language, English literature, Legislation, Sociology, Psychology, Psycho-analysis and Administration in various higher institutions of learning within Cameroon and in Turkey. He offers part-time lectureship in the Higher Technical Teacher Training College (ENSET) Bambili - University of Bamenda. He equally facilitates communication through leadership trainings, health education and sports-oriented initiatives in collaboration with the National Employment Fund, the Netherlands Corporation Overseas (SNV) and other organizations in Turkey. Before his present appointment, he served as the pioneer Divisional Delegate of Elections Cameroon in his native Bui division - NWR.

Born on the 12^th of November 1971 in Bambui, Mr. Nga Gasper holds a Master of Arts (MA) Degree in English and Humanities from the Eastern Mediterranean University in Cyprus and a B.A (Hons) in English from the University of Yaounde-Cameroon.

He is a song-writer and producer. ELECAM has benefited from two of such songs. He has held various leadership and volunteer positions in the schools he attended and the community he lives in. he also has three publications to his credit.

Mr. Nga is happily married and a proud father of one.