The Chia Report

The Season of Thanksgiving

Intro Commentary by Innocent Chia

Even as the US and its citizens the world over were celebrating the annual Thanksgiving Day this last Thursday of November, the spirit of the Season had already been transported several thousand miles away to Kom-Cameroon, home to the legendary Afoakom.  Professor Emmanuel Ngwainmbi, a proud son of the soil and accomplished academic, took a first and important step in guaranteeing the basic educational needs for the poor and needy. Pencils, pens, markers, soccer and hand balls, and $200 from his foundation was all it took to get started. The gesture speaks not to how much our riches can accomplish as much as to the reach of our widow's mite.

Hey, Here's a Tip: Try Africa.

By Carol Pineau
Sunday, July 6, 2008 (Originally published in the Washington Post.com)

P ssst. Have I got a great stock tip for you: Now's the time to buy shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. No, really.
I know that may sound like an e-mail from the spam box, but it's actually good investment advice. While U.S. markets have been struggling with the effects of the subprime mortgage debacle and threats of a looming recession, the total value of the stocks traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange has doubled over the past year.
A lot of that growth can be attributed to new companies listing on the market. But next door, Ghana's stock exchange has already returned more than 33 percent this year, and is expected to end the year as one of the world's top growth markets. And it wouldn't be for the first time.

The Foundation for Education, Culture and Health donates medical equipment to Douala Archdiocese

Interviewed by Grace Ongey

 (Originally Published in L'Effort Camerounais - Nov. 6,  2008)

On November 3 the Douala Archdiocese witnessed a memorable event. The adviser of the Foundation for Education, Culture and Health,Marie Ebie, handed over the keys of two ambulances and other medical equipment for the Catholic Hospital in Logpom, to His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi. The ceremony took place at the premises of St Peter and Paul's Cathedral Parish. L'Effort Camerounais caught up with Mrs Ebie .... Excerpts:

 

Foot Soldiers of President Obama's Victory March: An Exclusive Interview with Nfor Julio Barthson (Part II)

Interviewed by Innocent Chia (Picture courtesy of Ann Elstermann with Obama Campaign)

Chiareport: You qualify as “humble” your contribution to this historic moment. You mind sharing what your role has been within the Obama campaign?

Nfor Julio Barthson (NJB) Well, obviously not as much as the dedicated young staffers of the campaign, some of whom had to travel thousands of miles from home and live on couches or room floors for months. But I did what I could. I chose not to join the campaign as a full-time staffer, even when offered the opportunity, because I wanted to continue working for the National Guard on special assignments..

Foot Soldiers of President Obama's Victory March: An Exclusive Interview with Nfor Julio Barthson

By Innocent Chia

In an historic instant when mere mortals would have been basking in the glory of the moment, President-Elect Barack Obama elected otherwise. Without ever missing a beat, the 44^th President of the United States of America dedicated his victory to the legendary ground game that believed in him, in his vision for America and the World. This army of volunteers worked extremely hard to convert some undecided voters into Obama supporters and red States into the blue column.

 
And so, as special as the moment felt for the world, it was an unforgettable sense of mission accomplished for others. Indeed, no one else that I know of has captured it better than Cameroon born Nfor Julio Barthson, an employee of the US Army National Guard that volunteered, on his own dime and time, for the Obama campaign. According to Mr. Barthson, he would have sold his life to the devil to live for that moment. In the first part of what I converted into a two-part interview with Mr. Barthson, he whets our appetites with what was happening in the thick of what pundits have described as a most disciplined campaign.   

President Barack Obama

From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barack Obama

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President-elect of the United States

Taking office
January 20, 2009

Vice President Joe Biden (elect)

Succeeding George W. Bush

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Junior Senator from Illinois

In office
January 4, 2005 – January 20, 2009

Serving with Dick Durbin

Preceded by Peter Fitzgerald

Succeeded by TBA

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Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 13^th district

In office
January 8, 1997 – November 4, 2004

Preceded by Alice Palmer

Succeeded by Kwame Raoul

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Born August 4, 1961 (1961-08-04) (age 47)Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.

Birth name Barack Hussein Obama II

Political party Democratic Party

Spouse Michelle Obama (m. 1992)

Children Malia Ann (b. 1998) Sasha (b. 2001)

Residence Kenwood, Chicago, Illinois

Alma mater Occidental College Columbia University Harvard Law School

Profession Attorney Politician

Religion United Church of Christ

Signature

Website Office of the President-Elect

 

President Paul Biya of Cameroon is not dead – What Difference Does it make?

By Innocent Chia

President Paul Biya of Cameroon has returned to his forsaken nation this Saturday, November 01, 2008.  It is exactly 43 days after hopping aboard the Presidential Jet on September 16th heading to New York for the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. But the absentee landlord’s return comes on the wake of a viral rumor that had the septuagenarian for dead at the exclusive “Clinique Générale-Beaulieu” in East Geneva.

If anything, the Cameroon press mill and other portals of information erred on the side of caution in order not to be fooled for the second time by suspect sources and for reasons unknown. How and why did the local press possibly arrive at the right conclusion that the cauchemar called President Biya still lives?