Chief Albert Njie Mbonde speaking to the people of Membea Bokwaongo
MEMBEA BOKWAONGO, Fako Division – Exactly one year after he was enstooled as the Third Class Chief of the Bakweri community, Chief Albert Njie Mbonde celebrated his first anniversary on the throne not with the inauguration of a public toilet—a project he calls a cornerstone of his vision for a new Membea Bokwaongo.
The low-key ceremony, held at the exact spot of his coronation on the 19th of March 2026, drew community members who turned out to witness what many are calling a year of unprecedented transformation. In an exclusive interview, Chief Mbonde reflected on a whirlwind 12 months that have seen him take a machete to old habits and lay the foundation for what he hopes will be a lasting legacy.
“Well, we just saw how time flies. It’s just like the blink of an eye,” the Chief siad, “We wanted to make sure that this 19th of March is always remembered. I see it as a day of a new Membea Bokwaongo. A day where we as a people are recommitting ourselves to building a better community. A community where the leadership only defines the vision and the entire village implements.”
And implement they have. The newly opened community toilet, funded entirely by community coffers, is more than just a convenience; it is a statement. “If you go to all the Pala fields in Fako division, you will barely find a restroom,” Chief Mbonde explained. “Some of the finest Bakweri festivals take place here. We thought that bringing two or three thousand people together for hours without a restroom doesn’t go well. This is one of the pillars of my vision—hygiene and sanitation.”
The toilet project, however, is merely the latest feather in the chief’s cap. Sources within the village confirm a flurry of activity over the past year. The Chief detailed a comprehensive development agenda that has touched nearly every facet of community life:
• Sanitation_The village’s Monday cleanup campaign has been restored and bolstered with new tools.
• Healthcare_The local health center has been rehabilitated, with incomplete structures completed and equipment provided through a mix of state support and community fundraising.
• Water & Power_Three new water points have been constructed, and another was rehabilitated in front of the health center. Electricity, a persistent challenge, has also been restored.
But the decision that has been considered to be the complicated is the suspension of all land sales. In a region where land is both a precious patrimony and a hot commodity, Chief Mbonde’s moratorium is a direct challenge to the status quo.
“It looks like we are going in a different direction from the rest of Fako division,” he admitted, “We are facing stiff resistance because old habits die hard. But we are proud to say that we know what we are doing. We are protecting the land patrimony in the best interest of the sons and daughters of this land. Believe me, we know where we are going.”
The path has not been without its hurdles. When asked about the greatest challenges, the Chief spoke of a deeper, more spiritual mission. “This is a first-class chiefdom, if you go in terms of spirituality,” he said. “What is challenging is how to redirect the village to where it’s supposed to be. And we think that it passes through infrastructure development, peace and social cohesion, hygiene and sanitation, and cultural promotion and preservation.”
For long-time resident Ma Elizabeth, the past year has felt like a decade of progress rolled into one. She explains “Having Albert Njie Mbonde this past one year has been the best moments of our lives. It’s almost like we are celebrating his 10 years anniversary. May God continue to bless him and give him more strength to rule our village in good health.”
