Bilingualism : Commission Evaluates Practice In NW

A delegation from the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism was in Bamenda on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 to assess the implementation of bilingualism and the promotion of multiculturalism as well as sensitize the public on the dangers of hate speech. The visit took them to the Bamenda Regional Hospital and the University of Bamenda where they held meetings with the management and staff of both institutions. 
In his presentations, the head of delegation, Benjamin Itoe said the Commission was created in 2017 to monitor and assess the implementation of bilingualism, raise awareness on the law against hate speech and promote co-existence. Since its creation, he said, the Commission has created a platform of all stakeholders in the promotion of bilingualism, organized conferences and symposiums on hate speech and xenophobia, visited the various ministerial departments to sensitize the Ministers, visited some private companies in Douala and Yaounde as well as established a road-map towards complete bilingualism. He announced the creation of a Regional Antena of the Commision in Bamenda, to be headed by Millicent Ngwe Asangwe.
 “It’s no longer time for words but time for action,” said his fellow commission member, Ngambo Fondjio Pierre Vincent, who added that for there to be action, there must be an analysis of the causes of hate speech, take preventive measures and sanction defaulters. He said hate speech leads to social exclusion and eventually conflict.
The Director of the Bamenda General Hospital, Dr Denis Nsame, said as doctors, they don’t discriminate and make an effort to consult patients in a language of their choice. However, they have some difficulties diffusing some administrative documents from Yaounde which usually come in, in French and they don’t have a translation servi...