CAMEROONIAN DIASPORA LADY SUMMONED BY POLICE FOR CRITICISING CAPITAL CITY’S TRASH BINS.

A Cameroonian lady whose identity was revealed as, Apolonie Ngono, was recently summoned by the police during her stay in Cameroon. The summons followed her outburst on social media, where she strongly criticised the deplorable state of the capital city, Yaoundé, Centre region of Cameroon. Unfortunately, her outspokenness earned her accusations of tarnishing the image of her native country.

The courageous woman expressed her observations on the disastrous state of the city of Yaoundé during a live webcast. Her comments pointed to the major challenges facing the city, particularly in terms of waste management, referring to Yaoundé as a “Trash city”.

However, instead of being heard for her legitimate concerns about the urban environment and the quality of life of residents, Apolonie Ngono found herself in a situation where her comments were interpreted as an attack on the country’s honour and image. “These summons to appear before the police, represents a repressive measure against a citizen who has done no more than highlight glaring social and environmental problems », commented a member of civil society.

According to the latter, “this case raises questions about freedom of expression and the right of citizens to express their opinions, even when they are critical of institutions or living conditions. Social networks offer a platform for individual voices to be heard, but these summons, show proof of the limits of this freedom of expression, particularly in contexts where criticism can be perceived as damaging to our country’s image.”

“We must recognise that constructive criticism is often a driving force for positive change. Rather than suppressing these voices, it would be more beneficial for the authorities to engage in open dialogue with citizens to resolve the issues raised. Urban challenges such as waste management require immediate attention and concerted solutions”, he adds.

The lady, Apolonie Ngono embodies the courage of those who dare to speak out about problems, even when it upsets them. She is one of the rare people in the nation who can still come out and air their minds even with the freedom of speech, she tried to speak on the ill seen and to show people so they can figure out how to keep their environment clean and not make it toxic. People still choke on words, as they dare not to speak out their minds, without fear of reprisal.

Delia Nyadi.