Historical Profile| Fonfuka Council
Before 1894, Lord Lugard, the British Administrator, introduced the local government system when Southern Cameroon was part of Nigeria. He divided Nigeria into the Northern and Southern regions, with the Southern region including Southern Cameroon.
Councils were introduced in Southern Cameroons around 1945 based on ethnic groups. The Tikari group, which included Bum, fell under the South East Federation of councils with its administrative headquarters in Ndop. The chairman was the divisional officer of Bamenda, a British man. In 1948, the administrative structure of the council was modified, and the Wum Divisional council was created, headed by Mr. Lucas Ncham from Biango in Kom.
Two years later, in 1950, another modification of the council structure was introduced, and the Kom Clan council or Kom Native Authority was created. The chairman was the British divisional officer. In 1963, the Kom/Bum caretaker council was established with its headquarters in Njinikom, and its first officially appointed chairman was Mr. Cyril Muteh Mbeh from Kom under West Cameroon. On July 15th, 1968, the Cameroon Secretary of State for the Interior, Hon. B.T. Sakah, issued a revocation letter, reference NO. WCLN. 145, terminating the caretaker council and creating the Kom-Bum Council, with Mr. S.C.Wainfoin from Kom as the first officially appointed chairman.
In 1972, the council was renamed as Kom Bum council, with headquarters moved to Fundong, while Mr. S.C. Wainfoin remained as chairman. By 1978, Mr. Itoe was the divisional officer and the administrator of the council, and its name was changed once more to Fundong Rural Council. From August 20th, 1982, to July 20th, 1985, Mr. Solomon Prombo Pongong was the divisional officer and became the first Municipal Administrator under the new council law of 1972. From July 20th, 1985, Mr. E. N. Ndi from Kom was the first Municipal Fundong Rural Council Administrator when the name of the council was changed once more to Fundong Rural council. From November 6th, 1987, to 1996, Mr. Francis C. Ngam from Kom was the second and last Municipal Administrator of Fundong Rural Council.
Fonfuka council went operational in 1996 from a Presidential Decree. It was amongst the three new councils that were carved out from the then Fundong Rural Council that covered the whole of Boyo Division. The other councils created at the same time in the division include Njinikom Council and Belo Council.
In the municipal election of 1996, the ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) party won by forfeiture because the list of councillors for the main opposition party, the Social Democratic Front party (SDF), was rejected as incomplete. Mr. Wango Muang Emmanuel was the first Mayor, assisted by Mr. Yai Philip Tah, First Deputy Mayor, and Mr. Saidou Balla, Second Deputy Mayor. In the 2002 Municipal election, the SDF won the elections. Mr. Ngong Langha Samuel became the second Mayor, assisted by Mr. Nuhu Saidou as the first deputy Mayor and Mrs. Lengha Nenyoh Trefena as the second Deputy Mayor. About a year in office, a controversy arose that Mr. Ngong Langha Samuel did not win the elections to be Mayor, but Mr. Kwanga Samuel, another SDF militant councillor. A team came from the administration and deposed Mayor Ngong Langha Samuel and installed Mr. Kwanga Samuel as Mayor. Barely four months in office, there was an indication from the administration to the councillors that the election of the Lord Mayor must be reconducted. On
December 9th, 2003, officials of SDF party and the SDO for Boyo came and reconducted the election of the Mayor, and Mr. Ngong Langha Samuel won and was installed on the spot.
In 2007, the CPDM won again under the leadership of Wanlo Chiamua John with Philip Gwe as 1st Deputy, in the 2013 municipal elections, Philip Gwe contested and won under the flagship of the CPDM party. Since 2013 Mayor Gwe Plilip Chia has been the municipal Boss of Fonfuka with Margret Fugwoh as his 1st Deputy.