Minister lifts 8-yr ban on former FECAKARATE president, aides.

The decision to lift the ban is contained in a press released signed by the government official this week, a copy of which The Guardian Post Sports has seen. 

“The suspension from all karate-related activities on the following persons; Wakam Emmanuel, Mbopda Jean, Ambani German and Ngo Simb II Marie as part of administrative investigations relating to accusations among them, on the embezzlement of bonuses and sports equipment at the Cameroon Karate Federation has, as from this day, been lifted following the signing of this order,” the minister’s order stated in part. 

Mbopda was Deputy National Technical Director n°2 at the federation at the time of the suspension. 

Ambani was the assistant junior national head coach.  Simb II was the head coach of the women’s national team. 

Detailed circumstances leading to the lifting of the ban by the ministry were not explained. 

However, we gathered that a ruling by the Mfoundi Court of First Instance in March this year established that they were not sufficient evidence against the accused. 

With the suspension now cleared, Wankam and his collaborators are again eligible to fully engage in karate-related activities in the country.

Background

Wakam and his team were suspended on August 9, 2020, by the Cameroon Olympic and Sports Committee. 

The decision followed multiple accusations against some members of the executive bureau of engaging in sexual harassment, attempted rape, blackmail, and the embezzlement of bonuses meant for the various categories of the national team.

Unconfirmed reports at the time stated that the administrator and his collaborators used their position to take advantage of some young athletes under the federation. 

There were allegations of some athletes being favoured to the detriment of those who could not succumb to the said pressure from Wakam and his team. 

The executive bureau was also accused of embezzling funds put aside to run the various affairs of the national teams under the federation. 

The suspension of Wakam and the then bureau was positively received by observers, athletes, fans, and the general public. 

It was described as a good step geared toward only mainly protecting female athletes across the domains but also as one which promotes good leadership and transparency in sports governance. 

Looming uncertainty 

Minister Mouelle Kombi had sated in his release that uplifting the ban doesn’t mean the concerned will regain the positions of responsibilities they held before.

“In accordance with general principles of not non-retractability, the lifting of the suspension does to that restore the concerned persons back to the posts of responsibilities they were holding before their suspensions,” the order had stated.

This means for them to ever hold any post at FECAKARATE, they will have to go through a fresh electoral process.

It should be noted that Wakam and his team had also been suspended by the African Karate Federation, UFAK. 

It is not certain whether UFAK will follow suit by lifting its own suspensions on the former FECAKARATE bureau. 

Wakam was handed a lifetime ban by the UFAK with the continent’s karate body having stated that the reasons behind their sanctions in 2020 were very severe. 

Before their suspension, Emmanuel Wakam was the Secretary General of UFAK. Jean Mbopda who was the Deputy Technical Director n°2 at FECAKARATE was a member of the UFAK Refereeing Commission.