By Ndiba William Itoe
The General Manager of Pamol Plantations Plc Mbile Tapea Solomon has been awarded the 2023 most resilient and Innovative General Manager award.
This was during the 2023 edition of The Guardian Post Achievement Award in Ebolowa at Bengo Hotel Chaired by Chief Fritz Gerald Nasako, a seasoned administrator.
While unveiling the award, the secretary of the jury, Theodore Mih Ndze co-publisher of The voice newspaper, mentioned that, the jury selected Mr. Mbile after going through other files and realized that, he has been able to function despite the fact that the company is hard hit by the crisis in the two English-speaking regions.
“We realized that despite the crisis, the workers of Pamol Plantations plc, smallholders and transporters have hailed the management of the company for regular salary payment and clearing of arrears”, Theodore Mih Ndze mentioned.
The award was handed to the laureate by Barrister Akere Muna who emerged as the Man of the Year. He added that the young manager has been outstanding in his performances and should keep up the flames.
Reacting to his award, the General Manager, Mbile Tapea Solomon mentioned that, he didn’t know people were taking note of their work.”I want to dedicate this award to the workers because they are the people who are working so hard and remain resilient despite challenges Mr. Mbile mentioned. He added that, the company is picking up gradually as there has been a great improvement. The General Manager announced the extension of plantations to other areas including the Bakassi area.
Prior to his award, the General Manager was recently in the field to meet with workers and partners. During the visit, the president of the Workers’ Union in Mundemba, Obie Collins heaped praises on the general manager for keeping the company going. 
“Permit me begin by appreciating you and your team for the wonderful efforts you are putting to bring smiles on the faces of the workers and the entire population of Mundemba”, Obie Collins said.
He added “we are happy with the regular payment of workers’ salaries, regular payment of smallholders’ proceeds, provision of contract medical officers for Ndian Estate Hospital, your constant supply of drugs at the pharmacy, reclassification of some staff, payment of accumulated annual leave, just to name a few “
Addressing the workers at the Ndian Estate Office, the General Manager, Mbile Tapea Solomon lauded the resilience of the workers and reassured them of management’s obligation to cater for their welfare and to have regular meetings with the workers who are the backbone of the company.
“We are together as a family…, workers are the number one priority of management without you we can’t be here, as business people we have to set a target with our budget”, Mr. Mbile Solomon explained.
He continued that, since the advent of the crisis which put the company on her knees, there has been impressive improvement and progression on tonnage of crops up to 2023.The general manager encouraged the workers to continue to put in their best so that 2024 can be higher.”Management has the determination and will to accompany you to hit the target and that is how we shall move progressively year after year until we are near the pre-crisis period”, Mr. Mbile added.
The meeting with workers was preceded by that of smallholders and transporters of Mundemba and Ekondo-Titi. During the meeting,the general manager encouraged partners to sell their crops to the company and discouraged oil trafficking.
Mr. Mbile Tapea Solomon reassured them that, the problems raised such as arrears, poor road infrastructure to evacuate their crops shall be handled. He announced to the smallholders that, their arrears were ready for payments; the price per ton of crop has increased from fifty to sixty francs per kilogram that is from fifty to sixty thousands per ton.
Responding to the announcement of the general manager, the president of smallholders of Mundemba and Ekondo-Titi Meboka, Samuel and Bate Ndi prespectively reassured the management that they will supply more crops as their main problem which was the arrears owed even before the crisis have been paid.
Pamol Plantation has been hit by the crisis rocking the North West and the South West Region with workers killed and equipment destroyed.