By Richard Nde Lajong
Ntarinkon Cooperative Credit Union Limited (NtaCCUL) has once more stood out as the leading and best microfinance institution in the entire CEMAC Subregion. The union has remained the strongest within the subregion despite the socio-economic and political meltdown that continues to stir the people in the face.
Proof that NtaCCUL is the biggest microfinance in the CEMAC Subregion was seen during its 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Mankon Municipal Stadium and not the Bamenda Congress hall that hosted previous meetings because of the huge crowd and the increase in membership.
Addressing the sea of people that included members of the administration, traditional and religious authorities, Barrister Akuma Miranda Bih, the Board Chair highlighted that NtaCCUL within the past one year with her at the helm has registered so many successes with national and international awards from some credit institutions. “I want take this opportunity and inform you that NtaCCUL remains the only credit union with no injunction from the Banking Commission (COBAC). This means we are in accordance with all the COBAC prudential norms, thus reassurance that your money is in safe hands.” She said.
The Board Chair also said amidst deafening applause from members that NtaCCUL has continued to play a leading role in the microfinance sector with its membership moving from over 104 thousand in 2024 to over 117 thousand in 2025 witnessing a growth rate of 13%.
Members of the Board of Directors
With the positive growth, both vertical and horizontal, the Board Chair, Barrister Akuma Miranda Bih announced that the union has allocated over 4.5 billion FCFA to pay as interest on members’ savings at the rate of 6%. This makes NtaCCUL the only microfinance institution that pays the highest percentage on savings. A practice the General Manager, Divine Ade Muma underscored has gone on for 10 uninterrupted years. “And we are very proud of that because it is just one of so many that NtaCCUL is doing to win more members and keeps the union moving to higher heights,” said Divine Ade Muma.
Digitalisation of NtaCCUL Services
It is on record that NtaCCUL was the first microfinance institution to introduce digital banking and the use of the ATM cards. While members have shown their appreciations in the use of the on-line Application, USSD, and the Visa prepared card, the Board of Directors and Management Board have decided to upgrade its digitalisation with the introduction of the GIMAC cards. Explaining further on the GIMAC Cards, Divine Ade Muma, the General Manager said it is going to facilitate transactions for members without them necessarily visiting any of the NtaCCUL branches but will make use of any ATM machine in any commercial bank nearby. “With the GIMAC Cards, our members can now move with their accounts in their pockets. You can withdraw from any other bank, any other microfinance, using the GIMAC card within the CEMAC Subregion,” he added. It was announced that the GIMAC Cards will be launched in the days ahead in the Buea branch of NtaCCUL that has witnessed some major renovations to welcome its guests.
Unprecedented crowd of NtaCCUL members queue up to register
Creation of Digital Specialised Centres
In order to ease the use of the digital applications of NtaCCUL, the Board Chair announced the creation of specialised centres in all the branches of NtaCCUL to handle the use of the App, USSD platform, and the purchase of the GIMAC Cards as well as provide urgent solutions to problems resulting from all the online applications.
The 13% growth according to the Board Chair, Barrister Akuma Miranda has attracted NtaCCUL to recruit more customer service staff to educate and handle challenges of members.
Expansion of NtaCCUL
As some of the achievements recorded by NtaCCUL within one year at the helm as Board Chair, Barrister Akuma Miranda cited the expansion of branches and infrastructural projects. These include the launching of the Limbe and Ngaoundere branches that led to the increase in membership, completion of the renovation of the Buea Branch with Alucobond panels that gives the beauty it deserves and a face lift that is befitting of NtaCCUL. She said they have also acquired a piece of land in Bertoua that has been fenced and a Prado Land Cruiser bought for the union.
With these great achievements, she has projected the creation of more agencies to support existing branches and the purchase of eight more ATM machines to support NtaCCUL’s digitalisation process and to construct a three-floor building in Bertoua. She also vowed to continue following up NtaCCUL’s debt as CamCCUL amounting to over 400 million FCFA as legal measures have already been taken.
Rainbow-Cam ensuring transparent counting of votes with strict supervision from police officers
Elections into Board of Directors
No position into the Board of Directors of NtaCCUL have always been given on a platter of goal. Sanity only started coming in during the 2024 AGM with the apex body of NtaCCUL, Rainbow-Cam stepped in. the apex body learned from the flaws it registered in the 2024 AGM and set records straights in the 2025 AGM. Rainbow-Cam applied all transparent measures that it needed to make sure elections into NtaCCUL and not found wanting and for the right persons to be elected. Strictly supervised by the Board Chair of Rainbow Cam, His Majesty Fo Angwafo IV of Mankon and the General Manager, Bih Rose Fru, the team put in place an electoral body that managed and proclaimed the results that were described as the most transparent in the history of elections into the Board of NtaCCUL.
Board Chair of Rainbow-Cam, HM Fo Angwafo IV charting with DG, MIDENO, Deputy Mayor Bamenda II
At the end, Barrister Akuma Miranda Bih was reelected into the Board and went further to win as Board Chairperson, challenging two other candidates. She will be assisted as Board Chair by another dynamic lady, Fru Doris Ade.
Observers during the election credited Rainbow-Cam for the transparent process in managing the elections that put in place eligible candidates with sound morals and integrity to pilot NtaCCUL for the next three years. Every minute of the 2025 AGM was watched by the 1st Assistant SDO for Mezam and the Divisional Officer for Bamenda II.
