By Nchendzengang Tatah
Some indigenous persons who once owned several plots have died with no land cut available to lay their remains to eternal rest — it was all sold in their lifetime. This and other scenarios prompted a royal act to suspend land sales on October 9, in Bokwaongo, the mother village of the Membea community at the threshold of Mt. Cameroon, Buea.
Sensitisation on land ownership and sales has, since that decision, taken a decisive tone. In one of such moves, Bokwaongo community members gathered at the village hall on November 18 for a workshop and theatre performance. Dubbed “Who owns the land,” discussions were made and an orientation given on how the local population could better preserve, lease, and or sell land.
Proposals were further made on how the traditional council could effectively accompany the process and improve the quality and value of land in Bokwaongo. Sir George, a real estate solution provider, urged the digitalization of the land deal process, modelling fast industrialized cities around the continent.
He advanced that a digital portal, if created, will significantly solve the challenges of land sale and acquisition that the entire city was facing. It will feature an inventory of all the lands in the various communities and their respective owners.
Owing to the significant role traditional rulers play in the custody of lands, he went on to recommend that villages should create websites with verification portals and a corporate email. This upgrade, he explained, will update first-hand international land buyers and scale up the trust of the community and then its land value.
“The traditional council will respond to verification mails by sending you an authentic land attestation of that land showing you that the land belongs to that person in the community before you proceed with purchase,” George stated. Moreover, he advised the Bokwaongo people to learn to resolve their land disputes amicably out of the courtroom.
The villagers found the exchanges insightful. The Chief of Cabinet at the Bokwaongo royal palace, Samuel Ngoisa, representing the traditional ruler Chief Njie Mbonde, noted that it was timely in shaping the thoughts of land owners. He reminded community members of the importance of fostering peace and community dialogue through the arm of the traditional council.
Moreso, Ngoisa encouraged community spirit and assured the people that the traditional council under the leadership of Chief Njie Mbonde Albert was committed to meeting the needs of the population. He said they remained resolute to make a good settlement of the issues brought before them.
Land sales in Bokwaongo were suspended by a royal act n⁰073 of 9 October, 2025. The same order stated that the suspension will be lifted after an ad hoc committee provides a report from its investigations.
