Land conflict halts construction of two classrooms for GS Kichakwo

The government of Cameroon in its 2014 investment program allocated Priority Investment Projects to all the 58 divisions of the country.

Boyo division in the North West Region had 31 of these projects to execute – all to the tune of 280MFCA. Most of the Boyo projects were to construct and equip classrooms in some schools across the four subdivisions in the area.

Government Primary School Kichakwo in Bum Subdivision was allocated two classrooms, but a conflict between the Kichakwo people and neighbouring Nkanchi community in Misaje, Donga Mantung, over the piece of land earmarked for the project has since halted work at the site.

According to the project follow-up technician, one Michael Chongwe, the contractor of the project SHAN SHANA ENTERPRISE, reportedly started work but on October 31, a group of over sixty(60) persons from Nkainchi in Misaje invaded GS Kichakwo disrupting classes and progress on the project.

The head teacher of the school Nzi Nfor told the Journal how “classes were going on in the school normally that faithful morning until suddenly at about 9:30am; we saw a group of persons marched into the school accompanied by two masquerades.

They ordered classes to stop and told the whole school to go to the earmarked project site where the masquerades did some incantations and put an injunction there, warning that no one should trespass on the disputed land, which the Nkanchi people claim is theirs” Nzi stated.

The incident was reported to administrative authorities of Boyo Division and the Governor of the North West Region was also informed. The Governor instructed the SDO for Boyo to do an evaluation of the situation on the ground which Oum II Joseph did by convening a crisis meeting in Fonfuka on November 8.

The meeting brought together administrative and municipal authorities of the Bum and Misaje subdivisions as well as traditional rulers and elites of the two communities.

The outcome of the meeting was, however, not fruitful as the two parties did not agree on the real ownership of the land. Boyo SDO Oum II, however, called on the two communities to give peace a chance while waiting for the Governor to look into the problem.

The Mayor of Fonfuka Gwe Philip who talked to the Journal said “I don’t see why the people of Nkanchi are claiming ownership of land on which GS Kichakwo already exist with two classrooms constructed by the Parent Teacher’s Association of the school.

However, I am optimistic the problem will be resolved for the project to continue,” he said.

For now, the fate of the project awaits a decision from North West Governor Aldolphe Lele L’Afrique.