By Noela EBOB BISONG
The deceased Board Chair of the Cameroon Development Corporation CDC, Hope Sona Ebai who passed away last March 4, in Douala, has been laid to rest. His final journey to eternity began last April 23 with a wake service in his honour at the premises of the Cameroon Development Corporation CDC in Bota Limbe.
His remains were removed from the Bota hospital mortuary, early Friday morning, April 24, 2026, and transported to his residence at the Corporations’s premises in Bota, Limbe for viewing, followed by a funeral service at Presbyterian Church – PC Beach.
On Saturday, April 25, after a funeral service at PC Kumba Town, Hope Sona Ebai was laid to rest.
The funeral service at Presbyterian Church – PC Beach congregation, was attended by great names and great numbers, who jammed full the Church to pay last respects to one they held in high esteem. The state of Cameroon was represented by the minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe, accompanied by South West governor – Bernard Okalia Bilai, Fako Senior Divisional Officer – Engelbert Viang Mekala amongst others. Also present was the Secretary of State in the ministry of Basic Education – Dr. Asheri Kilo.
Having identified with the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement – CPDM party while he was alive, a powerful delegation was assigned to represent the Central Committee of the party, headed by Senator Nfon Mukete IV Ekoko.
During the service, the preacher, Rev. Dr. Ngalle Simon Njie, with inspiration from 1 Corinthians 15:44, dwelled on the theme – Death remains a secret of God in Jesus Christ. He assured mourners that there is hope and power beyond death. “Only those who serve Jesus as their Lord and Saviour are able to grasp the mystery of death”, the preacher said.
Rev. Ngalle described Hope Sona Ebai as a champion of good works, one who assisted uncountable people to uplift their lives. “Transform your life now before the time comes”, he cautioned.
The seasoned agro economist and international economic expert was remembered as a distinguished personality who contributed significantly to the establishment of partnership cooperations amongst cocoa producing countries. The late Chairman who was born on July 24, 1954, leaves the scene at 72.
Eulogies pour out
Tributes continue to pour out in memory of the late Chairman of the CDC, Hope Sona Ebai. At the funeral services held in both PC Beach and Kumba Town parishes, coordinated by a college of pastors, speaker after speaker took turns to tell the story of the man Hope Sona Ebai, as they saw it.
His wife, Linda Ebai said, “You were a devoted husband, father… You dedicated your life to educating, providing for and protecting your family. Despite the challenges you faced, you always did your utmost”, she said.
To his son, Terence Ebai, he remembered his dad as an intelligent, debonair, highly skilled professional and a savant in the world of cocoa and coffee. “Growing up, I was proud to call you my father, always admiring the way you carried yourself – your charisma, success and sense of style.”
To his childhood friend, Akere Muna, “Life took us through different seasons and different places, but our bond never changed. It was the kind of friendship that does not require constant proximity to remain strong. It simply endures. We had a name for each other – “Bra” – not as a casual nickname, but as a declaration: brother.”
Hon. Rose Abunaw recalled that, “The Abunaw and the Ebai families both lived in Up Station Kumba as one family because our house was opposite theirs….Brother Sona as we called him, saw me grow up as a young intelligent girl.”
Delivering a tribute on behalf of the Cameroon Development Corporation CDC, the General Manager, Franklin Ngoni Njie, his sorrow visible, regretted that the five years spent by Hope Sona Ebai at the CDC was too brief. “To us, the five year period has been too brief… Big Bros, you have left when there is still quite a handful of work in progress – Diversification, Rehabilitation, Rejuvenation etc. There is still quite some distance to cover. It is not going to be easy but one thing is certain – Your unshakeable optimism will cheer us up as we fare on.”
The man Hope Sona Ebai
He was an alumnus of PSS (PHS) Kumba and St. Patrick’s College – Calabar, Nigeria. He earned a BSc. in Agricultural Economics and Biological Sciences from Wilmington College, Ohio and an MSc. in Agricultural Economics from Ohio State University. Amongst several positions held, he was General Manager of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board, Secretary General of the Alliance of Cocoa Producing Countries – COPAL. He was appointed Board Chair of the CDC in May, 2021, a position he held until his departure to eternity. He was a Knight in the Order of Agricultural Merit of Côté d’Invoire and Knight in the Cameroon Order of Merit. He was married and a father of three, with grand children.
