Youth from Ashong, a village in Batibo Sub Division of the Northwest Region, gathered in Buea on Saturday, July 27, to discuss the development of their village. The two-day event, known as the Ashong Youth Convention, featured activities such as football, handball, and cultural displays.
The convention was organised by Barrister Acha Macklean, the National Youth President of the Ashong Cultural and Development Association (ASCUDA). It marked the first youth convention since Barrister Acha’s election as National Youth President, a position within ASCUDA’s youth wing.
“I decided to call the National Youth Convention to bring together the Ashong people because we realised the people work in displaced ranks,” he explained. Highlighting the need for unity, he emphasised their goal of fostering collective effort for village development.
In his address, Barrister Acha stressed the importance of collaboration in achieving the vision of their Fon and enhancing the village’s development. The event saw a significant turnout, with branches of Ashong people from various locations attending, which left the convenor moved.
“I am overwhelmed. When I called this convention that had never taken place before from the onset, I was not expecting this turnout. Even our parents are surprised. The Ashong people had wanted to gather in a place like this to share among themselves their common issues,” he said.
One of the primary issues discussed was the education of children, as Ashong has been affected by the Anglophone crisis, impacting its educational system. The Buea meeting also focused on fundraising to support education. “We cannot abandon our village. Our children are there, stranded. Right now, we have just three communities where school is going on. They lack pedagogic material. The children are there. Poor parents in the village cannot afford school for their children. So raising funds to promote education in the village, I think, will go a long way toward securing the future of our brothers and sisters,” Barrister Acha stated.
Ashong, located in the North West region of Cameroon, is one of the 22 villages in the Batibo Sub Division and has an estimated population of over 25,000. It is the largest village in the Batibo sub-division, comprising three third-class chiefdoms: Njen, Kon, and the Mbororo. The primary economic activities are trade and agriculture.
Fon MC Mbafor, who ascended to power in 1999 and is considered the architect of modern Ashong, has overseen significant growth in social amenities. Before his reign, Ashong had seven primary schools and no secondary schools. Currently, the village boasts two secondary schools, GHS Ashong and GBHS Wumdeng Ashong. Additionally, Ashong has two health facilities: the integrated health center Mbemi Ashong and the medicalized health center Wonyam Ashong. While part of the village has electricity, efforts are ongoing to achieve full electrification.
The Ashong Cultural and Development Association, led by Mr. Mbah Timben John, continues to focus on youth engagement to sustain and further village development.
