Northwest Region (Cameroon)

Northwest Region
Region
Country	Cameroon
Departments	Boyo, Bui, Donga-Mantung, Menchum, Mezam, Momo, Ngo-Ketunjia (Ngoketunjia)
Coordinates	6°20′N 10°30′E
Capital	Bamenda
Area	17,812 km2 (6,877 sq mi)
Population	1,237,348 (1987)
Density	69 / km2 (179 / sq mi) (2nd)
Governor	Adolphe Lele Lafrique (2012-)
Location of Northwest Region within Cameroon

The Northwest Region, or North-West Region (Northwest Province until 2008; French: Région du Nord-Ouest) of Cameroon, constitutes part of the territory of the Southern Cameroons. The Northwest region is found in the western highlands of Cameroon. It lies between latitudes 5° 40’ and 7° to the north of the equator, and between longitudes 9°45 and 11°10’ to the east of the meridian. It is bordered to the southwest by the Southwest Region, to the south by West Region, to the east by Adamawa Region. It is to the north by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Administration

The Northwest Province (since 2008 known as the Northwest Region) is the third most populated province in Cameroon. It has one major metropolitan city, Bamenda, with several other smaller towns such as Wum, Kumbo, Mbengwi, Ndop, Nkambé, Batibo, Bambui and Oshie. The province saw an increase in its population from about 1.2 million in 1987 to an estimated 1.8 million people in 2010. The population density at 99.12 people per square kilometer, is higher than the national average of 22.6 people per square kilometer. The provincial urban growth rate is 7.95% (compared to the national average of 5.6%), while the rural growth rate at 1.16%, is equal to the national rate. According to the Statistical Provincial Services of the North-West Province in 2001, the population of the province is young with over 62% of its residents aged less than 20 years. Therefore, the dependency rate is high in the province, particularly in the rural areas.

Divisions of Northwest Cameroon

Like other provinces in Cameroon, the North-West Province is made up of administrative divisions. The province was created in 1972 with five divisions or departments: Bui, Donga-Mantung, Menchum, Mezam and Momo. Today, it has seven divisions: the new ones are Boyo (carved out of the Donga-Mantung division) and Ngo-Ketunjia or Ngoketunjia (carved out of Mezam division). Each division is made up of subdivisions. There are thirty-one subdivisions in the North-West Province. Moreover, the basic unit of local government is the council and there are thirty-two councils in the province.

Population

The population of the North-West Province is a conglomerate of many ethnic groups. In addition to the native population, a significant proportion is immigrants from other provinces and countries. Nigeria has a particularly large contribution, as it borders the province in the North and North-West. The native population comprises a variety of ethnic/linguistic groups. The main ethnic groups are: Tikari, Widikum, Fulani, and Moghamo. The main languages spoken in the province include Mungaka, Bafmen, Oku, Lamnso, Ngemba, Pidgin English, Balikumbat,Papiakum, Moghamo, and Nkom. Colonial masters created administrative boundaries that cut across ethnic groups and cultures. As a result, parts of some ethnic groups now lie in different divisions and provinces. This is believed to be the cause of many land conflicts.

In the province, the social organisation recognises at its head a chief, also called the Fon. The Fons, who sometimes in their tribal area may be more influential than administrative authorities, are enthroned as the living representative of the ancestors.

Economy

The economy of the province is highly rooted in agriculture. According to some estimates, more than 80% of the rural population depends solely on agriculture including a strong livestock sub-sector. Food crops include rice (planted mostly in the Ndop Plain), potatoes (found in the Bui Division and Santa in Mezam Division), and beans (from most of the province). Maize, beans, potatoes, plantains, cocoyams, cassava and yams; many of which food staples for the region. Cocoyams are used for making Achu, a staple for the Ngemba people and a widely consumed delicacy. Many groundnuts are produced in the North-West, mostly from Esimbi. The province is also a major palm wine producer with one of its towns, Batibo, being the palm wine capital of Cameroon. The wine produced from Batibo, though distributed across the country on a daily basis, still lacks the infrastructure and technology to produce at an industrial scale.

Industry plays a very small role in the economy of the North-West province in terms of both the number of industries and the number of people employed. Apart for soap production, the rest of the industry are agricultural processing businesses. Local crafts also flourish in some parts of the province with the production of various works of arts from wood, weaving, and pottery. Fabrication of agricultural tools was once a booming sector but is now less significant.

Politics

The Northwest is the stronghold for the main opposition party of Cameroon: the Social Democratic Front (SDF). Some Northwesteners feel totally marginalized by the government. A secessionist movement SCNC (Southern Cameroon's National Council) with an agenda to secede from Cameroon and form a republic with English speaking regions as its territory exists in the Northwest. In 2008, the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, signed decrees abolishing "Provinces" and replacing them with "Regions". Hence, the Northwest Province became the Northwest Region.

Natural attractions

Rivers of the NW Region

The Northwest region has very unique attractions. The second highest mountain in West Africa is in Oku, home to many rare birds such as the distinctive red crested Bannerman's Turaco which are unique to this region. Also, there are many crater lakes such as Lake Oku, Lake Awing and Lake Nyos. The largest remaining mountain forest is the Kilum-Ijim Forest. There is the Menchum Falls, the Abbi fall in Mbengwi Momo division, and the Lake Nyos near the Kumfutu and Nyos villages, Cameroon.

Medical

The principal referral hospital for the Province is Bamenda Provincial Hospital.

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  The Northwest's mountainous terrain gives rise to a variety of waterfalls.

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  The Northwest is popular with tourists due to its spectacular terrain.

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  View of Bamenda, capital of the Northwest Province.

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References

• "Background Note: Cameroon". 2010. Government of Cameroon. Accessed 11 March 2013.