Lawrence Kombe has been publicly installed as the traditional ruler of Small Ekombe village, Mbonge, Meme Division of the Southwest Region seven years after he obtained prefectural order no 36/G.39/D.3/2/BRP of 22 February 2007 mandating him to rule the community as an independent and autonomous entity.

The installation ceremony which took place Friday December 19, 2014 marked the end of a prolong dispute between Small Ekombe and EkombeBonji regarding the independence of the village. EkombeBonji popularly known as Big Ekombe headed by justice Martin Sakwe had long been challenging the autonomy of Small Ekombe claiming that the latter is a quarter under the former.

As a result of the arguments, the installed chief Lawrence Kombe saw a series of installation ceremonies programmed in his honour ending up in deadlocks. In all these occasion, the latter had spent resources in bringing the population together only to receive a last minute circular from the administration that the meeting is postponed.

The Post gathered that, the successful conduct of the installation ceremony was on the orders of the governor of the Southwest Region Bernard OkaliaBilai following fresh investigations which confirm that Small Ekombe is an autonomous village.

Dispute over the independence of the village has seen three successive administrators Clement SoneNgoe, Paul WokamKouam now serving in Limbe III and Buea Sub Divisions respectively been unable to end the deadlock over small Ekombe.

The third administrator in line is Simon Sombe whom The Post learnt was instructed by his hierarchy to carryout independent findings on the situation of the village.

In a speech delivered at the installation ceremony, one of the elders of Small Ekombe Simon KombeNgoe expressed delight that, the administrative authorities have put an end to a problem between them and their brothers of EkombeBonji.

Ngoe explained that, of recent, their brothers in EkombeBonji thought that Small Ekombe was part of its chiefdom a situation which almost spoiled their good relationship.

The village elder traced the origin of Small Ekombe to over 150 years ago noting that it was recognised administratively as a village in Cameroon some 51 years back in 1963.

The recognition he further outlined was registered in the West Cameroon gazette of the then Federal republic of Cameroon No 26 of 18, 1963 issued at Buea with Linus MisoriNgoe Serving as the pioneer chief.

Chief Victor Akama succeeded Misori by prefectural order No 59/1999 of 1 July 1999. Akama later handed over the command baton to Chief Lawrence Kombe.