Inter-Comprehensive Buea Opens for New Academic Year Amidst Management Dispute

A sense of cautious calm prevailed at Inter-Comprehensive High School, Buea, as the institution opened its doors on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, for the 2024/2025 academic year. Students were seen moving around the campus, engaging in their usual activities, while teachers busily conducted lessons on the first day of school.

The new School Administrator, Amah Mayah, assured that all necessary preparations had been made to ensure a smooth academic year.

“We began preparations in August with various pedagogic meetings. We expected this great start, and here we are. I am assuring the general public that Inter-Comprehensive High School will be bigger and better this year,” she said.

Amah Mayah’s appointment by the estate administrators of the Mayah family follows the removal of Sylvester Mayah, who had held the role since the passing of their father in 2013. Sylvester, along with his mother, Enni Philomena Mayah, has publicly denounced his dismissal, arguing that it is both illegal and illegitimate.

Disputed Claims Over Ownership

Enni Philomena and her son claim ownership of the school, alleging that it was originally her venture, and that she only appointed the late George Fongoh Mayah, her husband, as administrator after he lost his job.

“I started my school as the Inter-Comprehensive School of Stenographics before transferring it to Buea. In 1991, I transformed it into Inter-Comprehensive College. I appointed my husband as administrator of the school after he became jobless,” Enni Philomena said.

However, other members of the Mayah family have refuted these claims, presenting documents to show that their father was the sole proprietor of the school. Barrister Peter Fongoh Mayah, another son of the late founder, explained, “On November 5, 1990, Pa Mayah sought to upgrade the institution, transforming it from a vocational school into a college, now known as Inter-Comprehensive College.

Due to regulations barring civil servants from running businesses, Pa Mayah listed his wife, Philomena Enni Mayah, as the applicant for the upgrade. The approval was granted in her name, but the document did not list any proprietor.”

Allegations of Greed and Mismanagement

The family has accused Sylvester of greed and dishonesty, alleging that he stopped accounting for the school’s finances to the rest of the family, despite an agreement to do so. “It all started shortly after our father’s death on April 14, 2013. We appointed Sylvester to manage the school while keeping the family informed of the accounts. This arrangement was respected for two years, but after that, Sylvester stopped reporting to the family. Efforts to resolve the issue were unsuccessful, and Sylvester, along with our brother Jacob, introduced a new narrative, claiming that their mother, Mama Philomena Enni Mayah, owned the school and had only hired our father to run it,” Barrister Peter Mayah explained.

Court Ruling and Estate Management

In 2023, the Mbengwi High Court issued a ruling appointing a management team for the Mayah estate. This letter of administration named Enni Philomena, Vivian Mayah, and Peter Mayah as co-administrators, representing the three branches of the family from Pa Mayah’s three wives. The team is now responsible for overseeing all aspects of the estate, including the school.

The appointed team is seen as a move towards fostering unity and transparency within the family, ensuring the continued legacy of the Mayah estate and its proper management.

Notably, the late Pa Mayah had three legally married wives—Enni Philomena, Prudencia Mah, and Lydia Nkongho Bayei—and fathered 21 children.

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