Robertson Tabenchong Ashu is Most Development-Oriented Mayor.

The municipal authority, going by the rating of the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers Association, CENPA, outpaced other mayors throughout 2024 in implementing breathtaking projects. 

It is on this score that the dynamic and results-oriented mayor was declared winner of the Most Development-Oriented Mayor Award. 

The distinction was unveiled during the second edition of CENPA awards. The event held at the Mountain Hotel in Buea on July 5, 2025. 

The CENPA award jury was made up of seasoned jurist and human rights promoter, Christopher Tambe Tiku, as President; human rights lawyer, Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla, as Secretary, and the President of CENPA, Ngah Christian, as member. 

In his address at the event, the President of CENPA who doubles as the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Post, Kristian Ngah Christian, said the award initiative is for posterity.

He said it recognises individuals and institutions that have, through extraordinary ways, gone the extra mile to serve Cameroon and Cameroonians selflessly. 

Jury on why Mayor Tabenchong Ashu was recognised 

Unveiling the prestigious award conferred on Mayor Tabenchong Ashu, the President of CENPA Award Jury, Christopher Tambe Tiku, explained that the municipal authority was singled out among many other mayors for his “matchless strides in implementing breath-taking and lifechanging development projects, which have contributed to the transformation of Mamfe Municipality, amidst security challenges”. 

Tambe Tiku who doubles as member of the Board of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, said the recognitions are not like the type offered by government, where “people apply and follow up to be given medals”.

He said the CENPA award is a genuine assessment, made by Cameroonians drawn from all walks of life, and who monitor the daily activities of laureates and the way they conduct themselves.

Tambe Tiku told CENPA award winners to be proud of themselves, “because some members of the jury outrightly rejected some names with evidences on the ground”.

Mayor expresses gratitude to CENPA

Speaking to reporters after receiving the award, Tabenchong Ashu, expressed gratitude to Mamfe Council staff, administrative and traditional authorities and the population for their collaboration, which he insisted, is helping the council move mountains in local development. 

“Collaborating and dialoguing with the population is my secret. I make it a task to always discuss with the population and that is why the results are glaring,” he said. 

Tabenchong Ashu said the award is a reminded to do more in Mamfe municipality. The municipal authority said the population of Mamfe is eagerly waiting for the upcoming presidential poll to massively vote for the President Biya who has channeled and achieved key projects in Mamfe. 

The mayor cited projects such as construction of the thermal plant, reconstruction of the burnt general hospital, the bridge linking Mfum border among others. 

Tracing Mayor Tabenchong Ashu’s strides 

The tireless mayor has since assuming leadership of Mamfe Council being braving the odds to revive life across the municipality and put it back on winning ways.

His open-door policy has been hailed for the speedy responds to the needs of the population and in revamping Mamfe for the growth and development despite insecurity. 

He has been on a fast lane in rebuilding Mamfe and making it a melting pot of Cameroon’s diversity within President Biya’s new decentralisation vision. 

His determination and passion for his people are moving mountains, especially in bringing solace to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and in defending the rights of people from all walks of life in cosmopolitan municipality. 

Beyond his war against separatist activities, the enthralling community developer has been a strategist in battling enemy forces.

He has remained present in his municipality, working to boost schooling over the years, instilling hope in the people of Mamfe and is continually empowering them to achieve their goals. 

Through his annual Manyu Unity Football Tournament, he has revived hope and fostered the spirit of living together, helped IDPs and the needy. 

In 2023, he staged a historic dialogue with the population and worked hard with stakeholders to reduce commodity prices. He holds a record for outstanding projects execution in the difficult context known of the English-speaking regions, constructing culverts, solar lamps and bridges. 

When it comes to road construction and rehabilitation, Mayor Tabenchong Ashu, is also standing tall with his adaptive use local materials to build roads that last longer.

He is also being praised for entrenching a culture of hygiene among his people. The Mamfe Council under the guidance of Mayor Tabenchong Ashu runs a 19-hectares cassava farm, a 10-hectares maize farm, piggery among others to boost its revenue.

Such local development ingenuity makes him a key implementing partner of the Head of State’s Import-Substitution Policy.

He has been the brain behind consistent mobilisation to ensure the consistent celebration of the Youth Day and National Day in Mamfe. 

Mamfe mayor not new to awards

Mayor Tabenchong Ashu has several awards to his credit since assuming leadership of Mamfe Council. He received a recognition from the Walcatz Development Association, WACODA, for his development exploits. 

In 2022, he bagged Cameroon’s Best Mayor Award from The Voice Newspaper. 

In 2023, he received a Certificate of Congregational Recognition from the 18th District, Texas, United States of America, USA, from Sheila Jackson Lee, Member of Congress, for his exploits as an outstanding business leader in promoting trade between Africa and the USA. He also received another recognition from Mayor Robin J. Elackatt of Missouri City, Texas, in the USA.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3503 of Monday July 14, 2025