45th Mbonge cultural festival: Elite raise 13 million FCFA for dev’t, pledge support for Biya, State institutions.

It unfolded under the watchful eyes of the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Meme, Ntou'ou Ndong Chamberlain; Divisional Officer, DO, of Mbonge, Otto Wilson; DO of Konye, Attah Moses Ntep; the Chairperson of the conference, Dr Okole Blessed; and Senator Otte Andrew Mofa, President General of MECDO, amongst others. 

In a colourful cultural and artistic display, the Mbonge people, in their numbers, all rallied behind their Paramount ruler, Chief Daniel Matta Mokambe, to talk development. It was also an opportunity for the Paramount chief to call for unity, peace and reconciliation amongst the Mbonge people. 

Speaking at the event, the President General of MECDO, Senator Otte Andrew Mofa, said an economic empowerment, education and development fund to assist the population will be put in place.

He recalled the creation of Mbonge Cooperative Credit Union, which was put in place to alleviate the suffering of the Mbonge people.

Senator Otte said sons and daughters wishing to write any public entrance examination will be assisted by the association. 

He encouraged the youth to embrace technical and vocational training to be able to create jobs for themselves. The creation of a farmers’ cooperatives to assist cocoa farmers was also announced. 

Calls for peace galore

Meanwhile, the MECDO President General called on sons and daughters who are still in the bushes with arms to drop them and join the Disarmament and Demobilisation and Reintegration centres. 

According to him the separatists have made their points and its time they join their brothers at home to give government the opportunity to solve the crisis. 

While thanking the government for the interventions in Mbonge so far, Senator Otte said he is confident that if the children give peace a chance it's one step in resolve the crisis.

"Ngolo Bolo is hosting the second conference of MECDO eight years after the crisis and we hope to move to all the villages so that they can feel the presence and exchange with their brothers…," Senator Otte stated.

SDO decries chieftaincy disputes in Mbonge 

In his remarks at the end of the congress, the SDO of Meme, Ntou'ou Ndong Chamberlin, was very happy with the display of culture and tradition of the Mbonge people. He called on them to use all means to bring children out of the bushes. 

He decried chieftaincy disputes in Mbonge, stating that not everyone can be chief of a village and the law governing chieftaincy is clear and people should respect it.

“You cannot be chief but you can be an influential elite and support development in your village. MECDO should continue to play the advisory role and ensure it helps in the process,” Ntou'ou Ndong said. 

He called for unity, peace and oneness for the socio-political development of the people. Ntou'ou Ndong Chamberlin congratulated Dr Okole Blessed and Senator Otte Andrew Mofa for the brilliant organisation of the cultural jamboree and urged them to preach peace, love and unity amongst the people.

Mbonge wants Division

In a motion of support addressed to the Head of State, read by Senator Otte Andrew Mofa, the people of Mbonge called for the creation of a Division in Mbonge, with headquarters in Mbonge Marumba, to better bring the population closer to the administration. 

The people also thanked the Head of State for the ongoing taring of the Kumba- Mbonge-Ekondo Titi road, which upon completion will disenclave many villages in the area, and has created more jobs within the municipality. 

Mbonge indigenes pledged unalloyed support to the ruling CPDM party. The 46th edition next year was slated for Big Nganjo. It should be noted that MECDO is a community-focused association dedicated to promoting unity, fostering local development, and preserving the cultural heritage of Mbonge Subdivision.

It organises major events like the annual cultural and development jamboree to drive social, cultural and economic growth. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3707 of Wednesday February 18, 2026