By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
With objectives to illuminate communities in Fako, empower the population, elevate poverty, reduce insecurity, enhance economic growth, bring unity and improve the living standard of the communities, the Vision Bearer of the Light up Fako project has invited everyone on board to join the team in providing solar lamps to communities throughout Fako Division.
Dr. Molua Smith Becke made the clarion call last Saturday, April 22, 2023 during a mega fundraiser event which witnessed a massive turnout of sons and daughters of Fako who could be seen rallying their moral and financial support behind the great initiative.
In his address to the mammoth crowd at the Buea council chambers, Dr Molua said the project is one so dear to his heart. “One of the most essential needs in life is light. Lighting up Fako is very important because it falls in line with the Biblical prescriptions of God in the book of Genesis where he said there should be light and there was light”.
Access to electricity he said reduces insecurity, reduces poverty, and improves health, productivity and lifestyle. “Electricity is an essential part of innovation, progress and life. No access to electricity will present more than just a loss of potential. With this project my greatest desire is to see that every area, household and neighborhood in Fako has solar lamps especially areas where there are constant power outages.
He added that the ongoing crisis in the South West and North West regions of Cameroon came with several societal ills notably insecurity which has led to loss of lives, physical injury, loss of property and destruction of infrastructure.“This growing insecurity which has generally affected even close relatives and friends led to the burden of my heart; to assist my people back home with the little I have. That is why I came up with the light up Fako project.
“The light up Fako project began in November 2021 with the launching of the project at the chief of Great Soppo’s Palace. The planting and purchase began weeks later in the various villages who were beneficiaries of the first phase of the donation exercise. Lamps were planted along areas selected by chiefs or traditional councils. So far 17 villages in Fako have benefited from this project. He urged everyone to come on board and join the team to buy and plant lamps which will be distributed to villages to the other villages yet to receive”. Dr. Molua Becke revealed.
“The project has a second phase as we plan to plant 200 lamps in the Bojongo court area with 17 villages, 150 or more lamps in Buea town with 14 quarters and the Bonavada area with more than 10 villages. We shall then move towards Muea, Limbe, Tiko and the Moungo area.
“I strongly hold that with the light up Fako project, there shall be great reduction of insecurity and crime rates especially in our local communities as most crimes are easily committed in the dark”. He averred.
Talking to the press, the vision bearer of the light up Fako project revealed that the target number of lamps expected to be planted in Fako stands at about 5600. “We want to make sure we touch every village. We have also given the communities to identify those areas that are in need of these solar lamps so that we could make it available for them. The fundraising exercise is going to be carried out in many other countries. We are also going to train individuals that will be in charge of the maintenance of the light. We have requested two persons from each village to be part of the maintenance’.
With a target to raise above FCFA 9 Million for the project, it is important to state that the Light up Fako team succeeded in their target as more than FCFA 10 Million was recorded from cash donations as well as pledges after the charity fundraiser. It was revealed that everything being equal, installations of the poles and solar lamps will commence in the month of November and the project is expected to be completed in a year.