Madam Foning's remains arrive in Baleng

Francois Foning will be buried tomorrow in her native Baleng village in Nkong-Ni, Menoua Division.

A line-up of the who-is-who in Cameroon is scheduled to witness the event which is the last lap of the official funeral declared for her by President Paul Biya.

Prominent among the personalities is Philemon Yang, Prime Minister who will also be the personal representative of the head of state, Paul Biya.

It has taken the death of Foning for her village to be virtually transformed in preparation for the burial on Saturday, because of the caliber of personalities to be received and the status of Foning herself.

Yesterday, March 19, her remains were transferred to the esplanade of the Douala V council, where Foning was mayor, for her colleagues to pay their last respects.

The casket carrying the body was then driven to the Reunification Stadium in Bepanda for a religious service and wake keeping that was animated by choral groups and testimonies from wishers.

Early this morning, at 3 am to be specific, the remains were transferred to her private residence in Deido where the convoy prepared for her departure to Baleng.

They took off at exactly 6 am from Douala via Dschang with the association of Bafou elements leading the convoy. They had a brief stopover at Foreke village near Dschang where the delegation was received by well wishers.

The convoy arrived in Baleng and the corpse was laid for viewing at the deceased residence. This evening, there will be a religious service at 8pm followed by an all-night vigil.

The official ceremony Saturday at Baleng, will begin at 7 am with the population of the village and other sympathizers gathering at the village square.

Between 8 am and 9.30 am, all guests are expected to be seated to await the arrival of the Prime Minister at 9.50 am. He will be received by the West regional administrative officials and the family of the deceased before the official ceremony starts at 10 am. This will kick off with a religious service and testimonies by close associates of the deceased. The interment will follow after the church service, bringing the official ceremony to a close.

Foning’s official funeral started last Wednesday morning March 18 with the removal of the corpse from the mortuary of the Yaoundé General Hospital. Her casket was decorated with national coulours by the Prime Minister, while the military gave her honours in the presence of other dignitaries.

Top personalities who witnessed the first lap of the official ceremony included the Senate President Niat Njifenji, government officials, Women of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon, CERAC; Mayors from all over the country, officials of the CPDM party, traditional rulers from the West region, representatives of the Association of Cameroon Business Women, GFAC among other personalities from within and abroad.

The funeral convoy then drove to the Cathedrale Notre Dame des Victoire in Yaoundé, where a solemn mass was said for her by the Arch Bishop of the Yaoundé Archdiocese, Jean Mbarga. After the mass, the convoy left for Douala.

Foning, who died on January 23 2015 at the age of 66, was a multifaceted personality who did virtually everything that came her way during her lifetime.

She left her mark as a business woman, rising to the position of President of the World Association of Business Women. As a politician, she rose to the level of Parliamentarian for Wouri constituency on the ticket of the ruling CPDM party and Mayor of the Douala V council, on the same party platform where she died as incumbent.

Foning also left her mark as a front line Cameroonian philanthropist. Her death leaves a vacuum that will hardly be filled by another woman in the country.