The new chief of Ashum Dr. Agborbechem Peter Tambi, is about to stir up the village at the gateway into Upper Banyang Sub-division in Manyu Division, South West Region, to the Cameroon development world – again.
On September 27, 2014, Chief Dr. Agborbechem convened the first council meeting to define the functions of each member of the 29-member traditional council.
The following make up the Ashum Traditional Council – Eyong Andrew Ashutabi;Vice Chairman,Etah Clifford Ndip; Secretary, Ashutabi Joana; Treasurer, Nforabang Larry Agbor; Financial Secretary, Tabi Adolf Eyong; Health and Sanitation, Jackson Edet and Enotabi Martin, Tabot Daniel Tata; Water Management, Ashuntantang Simon Mangeb and Tambesong Elias; Forest Management, Agbor Cordelia Manyi and Ashutabi Sarah; Market Management, Ashutabi Elias and Ayukarah Kinsley Nkwa; Protocol, Agbor Felix Ashu and Enow Esther; Social Secretaries, Kiyuo Cyprian Bansir; Coordinator of non-indigenes; Quarter Heads: Tambe Emmanuel Etah, Mangeb Zacherie Besong; Elders: Joseph Agbortogo Tataw, Adolf Tabi Mbuoben, Abraham Ashusong, Ako Ben Ekum, Susana Epse Ashuntantang; Technical Advisers: D.O. Eta Mbokaya Ashu, Dr (Mrs) Some Nee Ashuntantang Gloria, National President ACDA, Limbe; Head Teacher, G.S Ashum and Mangeb Princely.
“With this team, we hope to lift Ashum out of the doldrums that prevailed during the chieftaincy lull,” Dr. Agborbechem told The Green Vision in Mamfe, Divisional capital of Manyu.
Agborbechem was finally established as chief of Ashum following Divisional Order No. 132/2014 of 18th April, 2014.
Ashum village is at the gateway into Upper Banyang through Kupe Mwanenguba Division.
It is the third village when entering Manyu Division from Nguti and one of the biggest villages in Upper Banyang with a population of about 2.800 inhabitants.
Ashum is amongst the highest producers of cocoa, bush mangoes, sand, timber and many other forest products because of the availability of a dense forest and the highest mountain (Apiong).
In the distant past, the Ashum people lived on hunting as their main source of income.