The Council

Bamenda III Council was created in 2007 by Presidential Decree. No. 2007/117 of 24th April 2007. Since then, it has been operating on a temporal site. However, its permanent site is under construction. From its creation, the following persons have been Mayors;

  1. Prince Pius Ngwa Amandou SDF 2007-2010
  2. Fonguh Cletus Tanwe SDF 2010-Present

Bamenda III Council has 02 main  clans, Nkwen and Ndzah. The Nkwen people who are part of the Tikari group, migrated from Northern Nigeria, passing through Ndop to Njinkwin in Kom, then through bafut to Ateila from where they settled at the present site. Then, there are the Ndzah people who are believed to be part of the Baforchu (Mbu) people who broke away around the 18th Century under the leadership of Chief Ngu Fomumunte Foboingong. They moved through Widikum-Bafut-Mankon-Nkwen and finally settled at their present site. Note should be taken that all these movements were either because of the quest for fertile land, security, or chieftaincy disputes. From time immemorial, these groups have been inter-marrying and even with their neighbours of Bafut, Mankon, Mendankwe, and Bambili. This closeness is evident in their cultures which have a lot of similarities than differences.

Today, there is a great ethnic mix within the council area. It is very common to find the Fulani within the council area whose presence is as a result of cattle rearing which is their main stay. There are also Nigerians, Ngemba, Bamilike, Noni, Nso and Wimbum people. Despite this mix, there is always that strong bond among all inhabitants and they freely inter-relate either for social or other reasons whenever need arises.

The total surface area of Bamenda is 22.9 Km2 hectares and its estimated population stands at 105.244 (according to projection by CAMGIS in Minimum Urban Local Development Scheme (SMAUL) February 2008).

The population of Bamenda III municipality is largely cosmopolitan made up of indigenous Nkwen and Ndzah people, migrants from all over the North West and West Regions, other regions of Cameroon and Nigerians. Bamenda III also accommodates the Christian and