Government Abandons 1945 World War Pension-less Veteran In Kejomkeku

In spite the creation of the department in charge of the welfare of veteran soldiers under the ministry of Defense headed by Koumpa Issa as Secretary of State since 2007, there are many unidentified veteran soldiers abandoned to in the Country. One of such case is “Dr.” Ngong Simon, who retired in 1946 after fighting for the British side during the World War II in India. With five wives and many children he is abandoned to feign for himself in his native Kedjom keku village in the North West Region of Cameroon.

National Security Boss, Martin Mbarga Nguele was taken aback by a military salute from a frail looking Old man strapped in the British Military Uniform adorned with medals. He approached the old man and tried to enquire who he was and he was told through an interpreter that Pa Ngong Simon is a retire soldier that fought for the Queen during the WWII and has since been abandoned by government without any pension. This incidence was when the National Security Chief was on an inspection tour at the uncompleted Police College expected to go operational in Kedjomkeku village Tuesday September 22, 2015. The Police Chief who neither understood nor spoke any word in English was so passionate in the old man’s story and asked an aid to furnish him with necessary information concerning the old man probably to draw the attention of his colleague Koumpa Issa. A staff at the Tubah DO’s office was commissioned to get the information which was scribbled on a small piece of paper and handed to the chief protocol of the Governor’s office for onward transmission.

When Eden tried to enquire as to Pa Ngong has been surviving since his retirement in 1946, he said thanks to his children and that a larger part is thanks his traditional medicine practice he obtained training while in the war in India. He further said the queen of England had disburse some loom some to war veterans and that destined those in present day Cameroon never reached them because President Amadou Ahidjo sat on the money. This allegation levied by Pa Ngong against the former Head of State was strongly refuted by Alternate senator Mundi Regina saying it can’t be true. To her, Pa Ngong is living without a pension because he has refused to follow the procedure given that a department headed by Koumpa Issa as Secretary of State, has been created under the ministry of Defense to take care of retired military men and women.