KINGSLY AWANG OLLONG | UNIVERSITY OF BAMENDA - CAMEROON (original) (raw)

Papers by KINGSLY AWANG OLLONG

Revista Brasileira de Estudos Africanos, Jan 11, 2017

International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development, Oct 1, 2015

This paper explores business strategies and policies put in place by multinational corporations t... more This paper explores business strategies and policies put in place by multinational corporations to alleviate poverty in Africa with specific examples from Cameroon. The world's population is rapidly increasing and the rich people are getting richer, whereas the poor people are becoming even more marginalized. During the era of economic liberalization the belief was that the opening up of economies to multinational corporations could lead to economic growth and, subsequently, economic development. The activities of multinational corporations have witnessed a tremendous boom since the advent of the twenty first century, that is characterized with advances in information communication technology, and the flow of capital have been the main proxy for MNC activity. MNCs are mainly motivated by opportunities that increase their profits, and the most important factors for MNCs are market size and access to resources. Nevertheless, as markets are getting saturated and MNCs are looking for new opportunities, innovative business strategies have been developed to provide dividends to their shareholders while making sure the stakeholders and communities in which they operate also benefit. This paper explores some business models that MNCs have used to make their products available, affordable and accepted in poor markets that are mostly found in Africa on the one hand and corporate social responsibility initiatives implemented by MNCs to alleviate poverty in the continent on the other. The paper concludes that though the principal goal of MNCs is profit maximization, corporations are making an effort to see that the poor benefit from the activities of these giant companies. To get to this conclusion the paper relied on both primary sources and the exploitation of the already existing literature in books and journals. Given that the sector of activities of MNCs is vast, the paper laid emphasis on fast moving consumer goods companies (FMCGs) in Cameroon.

The operation of African export monopoly boards has been one of the intensively debated topics in... more The operation of African export monopoly boards has been one of the intensively debated topics in the statutory marketing of agricultural produce. Following the reunification of the two Cameroons in October 1961, two agricultural boards were put in place to prevent the exploitation of farmers by freelance produce buyers. Against this backdrop, between 1961 and 1976, two produce boards emerged, the West Cameroon Marketing Board in West Cameroon and the Caisses de Stabilisation in East Cameroon, to control and stabilize the prices of agricultural produce. These boards merged in 1976, leading to the creation of the National Produce Marketing Board (NPMB). This article focuses on the rise, performance and collapse of the NPMB and the significance for produce marketing for the Cameroonian economy. It provides insight into the historical origins of the board, scope, activities, performance and the eventual collapse and liquidation of the National Produce Marketing Board in 1991. It highlights the fate of the coffee and cocoa sector by examining the implications of structural adjustment programmes on the activities of the National Produce Marketing Board.

Journal of Globalization Studies, 2013

The present article aims at proving that the Cameroonian Diaspora, otherwise referred to as 'bush... more The present article aims at proving that the Cameroonian Diaspora, otherwise referred to as 'bushfallers' or 'bushfalling', is an indispensable tool for local development. Through its contributions to local development in the country of origin, it has asserted itself as an important source of financing development projects back home in Cameroon. However, the projects financed by the Cameroonian Diaspora lack coordination simply because the Cameroonians living abroad have not constituted an organization that consolidates the entire Cameroonian Diaspora. Instead, the Cameroonian Diaspora groupings are formed through ethnic or community linings. Against this background, this article has specified and discussed some challenges faced by the Cameroonian Diaspora as far as local development projects in Cameroon are concerned. It proposes recommendations that will make the involvement of the Cameroonian Diaspora in local development projects perceived more at national level and not just at ethnic levels.

Journal of History and Diplomatic Studies, 2012

Advances in environmental engineering and green technologies book series, 2014

IGI Global eBooks, 2016

International journal of public and private perspectives on healthcare, culture, and the environment, 2018

Social Science Research Network, 2015

The South West Region of Cameroon is currently the arena of land acquisition operations for large... more The South West Region of Cameroon is currently the arena of land acquisition operations for large-scale agricultural investments, mainly the monoculture of palm oil. Huge agro-industrial concessions are increasingly granted, very often in obscure conditions. The phenomenon shows a tremendous replication across the country whose geometry is actually difficult to master. But while examining the issue of land grab it should be noted that the agrarian history of South West Region has and still is a history of land dispossession since German colonization (1884-1914) and through British colonization (1918-1961). This paper is an assessment of the historical trajectories of land grabs in this region (an ancient phenomenon), on the one hand, and land accumulation by transnational companies (a new phenomenon), on the other. The encroachment by multinational corporation on farming land owned by local communities has generated to serious conflicts between both parties. The paper also examines the impact this phenomenon has created in the local communities that are victims of this capitalist endeavour. To better inform on the trajectories and impact of land grabs in the South West of Cameroon, this paper will look at the case study of Herakles Farms that is currently expropriating huge portions of land in the Ndian and Kupe-Muanenguba Divisions in South West Region of Cameroon.

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, Dec 1, 2014

In the context of globalisation Africa requires investment by multinational corporations (MNCs) t... more In the context of globalisation Africa requires investment by multinational corporations (MNCs) to improve its competitiveness and to facilitate micro-level structural changes required for alleviating poverty and reducing its riskiness for investment. Economic theory recognises that MNCs can contribute to economic growth in developing countries through generating positive externalities. However, the extent to which Africa benefits from spill-over effects of MNCs remains to be empirically investigated. While some multinational corporations that operate in Africa take the corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies seriously, on the other hand there had been several complaints in many African countries on how these French multinational corporations conduct business within the continent. Thus, this paper intends to analyse the various paradoxes that are surrounding the activities of French multinational companies operating in Africa.

Social Science Research Network, 2016

traffic congestion, energy waste, safety and security and access to trade and enterprise opportun... more traffic congestion, energy waste, safety and security and access to trade and enterprise opportunities. Major companies have developed programmes for small business development in Kenya, crime prevention in South Africa, business education in China, folk culture preservation in Venezuela, and medical treatment and flood relief in Pakistan. A few specific examples follow. British American Tobacco (BAT) had a virtual monopoly in parts of Africa, both in terms of tobacco manufacturing and sales of cigarettes. In eleven African countries BAT had more than a 90% share of the cigarette market (Awang, 2011: 289). The purpose of this paper is to examine the process is to demonstrate how British American Tobacco has used its corporate social responsibility strategy to cloud the controversy surrounding its activities in Cameroon. The paper further examines some of the controversies that surround the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of BAT in Cameroon through issues related to health, social and economic impacts of BAT's activities in Cameroon from 1985 to 2010. The paper therefore concludes that BAT's heavy footprint on the African continent has wreaked havoc on the economy, health and welfare of the people, thus partially contributing to an increase in social spending by the government of Cameroon. Cameroon Tobacco Industry in Historical Perspective The tobacco industry and the consumption of cigarettes are controversial activities in virtually all the countries in the world. Yet the emergence of tobacco processing and cigarette producing companies, and an increase in tobacco consumption worldwide are alarming. In Cameroon, there were two major tobacco processing companies (BAT and SITABAC) and a number of subcontracting firms that dealt in tobacco products. British American Tobacco is one of the leading tobacco manufacturing and trading companies in the world. However, BAT is not the first tobacco company in Cameroon. Thus, we are going to present a historical background of cigarette manufacturing in Cameroon. Secondly, we will examine the factors that favoured the implantation of BAT in Cameroon. Finally we are going to describe the implantation proper of this economic entity in Cameroon. From a global perspective, the production, consumption and trade in tobacco from 1970 to 2000 is demonstrated in Table One below.

International Journal of History and Cultural Studies

Agriculture from time immemorial has stood out to be one of the sustainable strategies employed i... more Agriculture from time immemorial has stood out to be one of the sustainable strategies employed in Southern/West Cameroon before and after its independence. Agricultural endeavours remained a priority as it enjoyed the pride of place in the economic agenda. The main stimulus for the realisation of such pursue was envisaged to materialise through the introduction of agricultural shows by the British colonial administration which subsequently was adopted by the post-colonial administration over the territory. Recognising the multi-ethnic nature of its inhabitants which had seeds of discord sown amongst the inhabitants prevented cooperation. All these acted as a deterrent to the spirit of nationhood especially after 1961 which was most sorted for by the administration. It was therefore realised that no effective economic development could take place amidst such prevalence. This explain why agricultural shows came to be a policy as it was envisage to promote social cohesion/fusion among the inhabitants of Southern/West Cameroon between 1952 and 1973. It is against this backdrop that this paper seeks to demonstrate that agricultural shows was a tool that was employed to foster social cohesion among the multiplicity of its ethnic groups that made up the population and also to enable cultural transformation among the inhabitants for the purpose of developing the territory.The study spans from 1952 to 1973. This period has been chosen because it was when the first agricultural show was organized and hosted in Bamenda in 1952 under the British colonial administration. The terminal date 1973 was use because it was when the first agricultural show event came to be organized as a planned national event shortly after the reunification of West and East Cameroon hosted in Buea. 2. BACKGROUND At the end of First World War, Germany which had Cameroon as a colony from 1884was expelled from the territory by the joint Anglo-French forces. The consequence of this German expulsion was the partition of the territory into two unequal parts as a result of failure to establish a joint Anglo-French administration. France received four-fifth and Britain the remaining one-fifth. By the year Abstract: Agricultural shows in British Southern/West Cameroon constituted one of the policies that the different administrations that came to beover the territory used in encouraging agricultural productivity within the territory between 1952 and 1973. However, the policy was not only limited to stir production but was transformed to a tool that was aimed at achieving social cohesion and cultural revival to the people of British Southern/West Cameroon. Due to the multi-ethnic nature of its population, seeds of discords existed among the people which hindered interaction as it resulted to limited cooperation. This scenario was therefore detrimental to the much needed economic development that was the main pursue at the time. It is against this backdrop that this paper argues that the main factors that precipitated the adoption of agricultural shows as a policy was the quest to foster social cohesion among the multi-ethnic groups that made up British Southern/West Cameroon between 1952 and 1973in pursue for economic development. The paper depended on both primary and secondary sources in arriving its findings as it revealed that through agric shows social cohesion and cultural revival in British Southern/West Cameroon became a dream come true between 1952 and 1973.

Afrika Zamani

Journal of Globalization Studies, 2015

Remittances have emerged as an important source of external development finance. They have grown ... more Remittances have emerged as an important source of external development finance. They have grown in absolute volume as well as relative to other sources of external finance. The World Bank has even purported that they are the most stable source of external finance and have provided crucial social insurance in many countries afflicted by economic and political crises. Many families in Cameroon relied on remittances sent home by the love ones in the diaspora. However, these remittances to Cameroon as it was the case in other African countries witnessed a drop in 2008–2010 as a result of the global financial crisis that affected North America and Europe. Unfortunately, these are among the nations that have been most adversely and directly hit by the global financial crisis of 2007–2009. This paper aims at assessing the real and potential implications of the 2008–2009 economic meltdown on the Cameroon diaspora remittances at the micro level in Cameroon. It investigates the impact of the...

International Journal of Public and Private Perspectives on Healthcare, Culture, and the Environment, 2018

This article analyses the banana economy, particularly its social and environmental consequences.... more This article analyses the banana economy, particularly its social and environmental consequences. The discussion is largely based on the case study of Cameroon, but there are good reasons to believe that many research findings are relevant for the whole banana industry as the global banana production and trade is heavily based on giant agro-industrial plantations. There is, indeed, information from different important banana producing countries indicating that working conditions in the industry all too often include forced labour, child labour, lack of job security, low wages, and health and safety problems. The banana industry, as well documented in this article, is also linked to a range of harmful environmental impacts, including loss of animal habitats and biodiversity and pollution of land and water. Land conflict is one of the biggest problems associated with the production of banana and, therefore, banana industry is strongly connected with the political and economic basis of...

Journal of Globalization Studies, 2013

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2016

International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development, 2015

Revista Brasileira de Estudos Africanos, Jan 11, 2017

International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development, Oct 1, 2015

Journal of Globalization Studies, 2013

Journal of History and Diplomatic Studies, 2012

Advances in environmental engineering and green technologies book series, 2014

IGI Global eBooks, 2016

International journal of public and private perspectives on healthcare, culture, and the environment, 2018

Social Science Research Network, 2015

RePEc: Research Papers in Economics, Dec 1, 2014

Social Science Research Network, 2016

International Journal of History and Cultural Studies

Afrika Zamani

Journal of Globalization Studies, 2015

International Journal of Public and Private Perspectives on Healthcare, Culture, and the Environment, 2018

Journal of Globalization Studies, 2013

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2016

International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development, 2015

I taught Economic History and Social History related course at the graduate and undergraduate lev... more I taught Economic History and Social History related course at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Designed and implement course outlines, Lectures, student assessments/evaluation and grading. Designed research topics and supervise undergraduate and graduate research works.

The focus of this paper stems from an observed general negligence of the informal sector in devel... more The focus of this paper stems from an observed general negligence of the informal sector in development policies and national accounting. This has been the case irrespective of the fact that the sector has been noted as accounting for about 21 percent of total employment in Sub-Saharan African countries, and about 38 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in Cameroon. The rapid growth of the informal economy in developing countries, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), is evidenced by the increasingly important contribution it has to a developing country's GDP. The informal economy is now directly linked to the main objectives of development; increased production, job creation and combating poverty. Many countries in SSA have recognised the importance of the informal economy and policies to assist it are often included in country Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. This paper explores implication of the informal sector in the development of Cameroon's economy.

Since the mid-1980s, tobacco companies have intensified market expansion strategies in several Af... more Since the mid-1980s, tobacco companies have intensified market expansion strategies in several African countries. They have used music to target youths and children. They organised fashion shows to entice women into smoking. They offered kids free cigarettes on the streets and for a very long time undermined efforts by governments to put in place effective tobacco legislation. They actively participated in the smuggling of tobacco products into the continent. Worse still, tobacco companies persuaded some African governments to promote tobacco cultivation as a major source of foreign earnings. And in recent years, the tobacco industry has resorted to using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to massage its image and cover its tracks. British American Tobacco (BAT), which is the focus of this paper, had a virtual monopoly in parts of Africa, both in terms of tobacco manufacturing and sales of cigarettes. In eleven African countries BAT had more than a 90% share of the cigarette market. This paper examines some of the health, social and economic impacts of BAT’s activities in Africa from 1985 to 2010 using Cameroon as a case study. The paper concludes that though the full effects of rising tobacco consumption (namely a steep rise in smoking-induced illness and premature death) was at the dawn of the 21st century, Africa was already in the grip of a major tobacco epidemic. There is no doubt therefore that, BAT’s heavy footprint on the African continent wreaked havoc on the economy, health and welfare of the people, thus partially contributing to the non-realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that were designed to help the world’s poorest people.